Chapter Text
It’s night by the time Daryl and Glenn return from the supply run, and although they brought back two minivans filled with canned food and first aid supplies and building materials, Daryl still feels distinctly empty-handed as he approaches Beth’s cell.
The floral bedsheet that serves as a makeshift curtain is drawn across the doorway, but the glow of her lamplight shines through. As he pauses in the moonlit corridor, a cry splits the hush of the sleeping cellblock.
“Shh, it’s gonna be okay, sweet girl.”
Beth’s tired voice, and a soft whimper from the baby.
Shit.
“Hey, Greene? You decent?”
A soft, dry laugh.
“C’mon in.”
When he pushes the curtain aside, he finds Beth perched on the edge of her bunk, still dressed in her ragged jeans and a loose t-shirt that’s damp with drool in several spots. At least he hopes for her sake it’s drool.
Lil’ Asskicker’s in her lap, her face nuzzled against Beth’s chest. She thrashes her head a couple of times, and then gives another whimper and stills.
Beth’s looking up at him, her arms cradled around the baby. There are huge, dark circles under her eyes and her ponytail is a mess, and she looks wrecked. She blinks at him, tilting her head.
“Please tell me you found somethin’ for her.”
Looking at the desperate expression on her face, Daryl can’t even bring himself to say the word. He shakes his head and her eyes drop closed. This is worse than when he had to tell her about Zach. As he watches her chin tremble, he’s absolutely sure that this is one hundred times worse.
“Okay,” she says. She opens her eyes and attempts a smile. It falls extremely short of her usual bright grin. “Thanks for lookin’, anyway.”
“We got painkillers,” Daryl says. “There’s gotta be somethin’ we can give to her.”
Beth shrugs. “Dr. S. says it’s gotta be the liquid kind for infants. He says we don’t have the right suspension, or somethin’, I dunno.”
“Yeah, well, Dr. S. ain’t the one stuck day and night with a teething baby.”
Judith shifts in Beth’s arms, turning her head to look up at Daryl. Her little brow knits into a furious scowl, and she whimpers again. Beth reaches over with one hand to a bowl perched on her chair and grabs a wet washcloth. She wrings it out and offers it to Judith, trying to encourage the baby to chew on it. Judith mouths the cloth for a moment, then abruptly flings it away to land on the dusty floor.
Daryl huffs, annoyed.
“Jesus Christ. We got some booze stashed around here somewhere. Let’s give ‘er some whiskey.”
Beth shoots him a glare.
“Daryl. The book says you’re not supposed to give ‘em alcohol.” She gestures at the thick, dog-eared paperback baby care book that sits on her desk.
“Fuck the book. Doubt my mom ever used anythin’ but Old Harper, and look at me. I turned out just fine.”
Beth snorts a laugh and smiles at him. This time it’s a little more genuine and a little less forced, but not even his shitty attempts at making her laugh can chase away the exhaustion that’s plain on her face.
She needs rest as badly as the miserable baby in her lap does.
“Listen, ain’t she Rick’s baby? Seems to me he’s probably due for a night sittin’ up with his own kid.”
Beth’s expression twists, and she shakes her head.
“Of course, but… She’s everyone’s, though. All of ours. She’s mine. She’s my responsibility.”
Daryl would roll his eyes, except she’s so genuine. She means every word completely. Beth really would sit right there trying to soothe this baby forever if no one stepped up.
“Give ‘er here,” he says, taking a step into the cell and holding his hands out. Beth shakes her head.
“Daryl, no. You and Glenn left at dawn. You must be exhausted. You need to have somethin’ to eat and get some rest. Carol left a plate -”
“Knock it off. Your shift’s over, Greene. You’re officially relieved. I’ll take her, walk her around for a while, then go see if we can’t wake Rick from his beauty sleep.”
Beth hesitates, studying him, but finally she nods.
Maggie’s stubborn as hell, but Daryl’s beginning to understand that her sister could give her a run for her money on that front.
Daryl kneels down beside Beth and scoops the baby up into his arms. Judith kicks her legs furiously for a moment, then relaxes as Daryl cradles her close to his chest. She rests her hot, red little cheek against his shoulder, and heaves a deep, world-weary sigh.
He turns to go, but Beth stands and stops him, her hand light on his arm.
“Daryl.”
He turns back, and she doesn’t move her hand. She just looks at him a moment, her head tilted. Then, so quick he can’t even flinch away, she leans over Judith’s head and presses a soft kiss to his cheek.
“Thank you, Daryl. For everything.”
Daryl’s mouth has gone dry, and he doesn’t even attempt to speak. He just drops his chin and nods, and hightails it out of her cell.
Everything is quiet as he walks Judith up and down the moonlit cellblock, patting her absently on her back as he waits for his heart to quit pounding so damn hard. As he waits for his skin to stop tingling where she touched him.
Kissed him.
“Shit, kid,” he mutters against the side of Judith’s head. “Think I get why she’s your favourite.”
Judith just sighs and wets Daryl’s shirt with her drool.
He doesn’t even mind.