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“Rick. You ain’t ever gonna see Maggie again”
“Daryl! Just stop.”
Daryl's’ voice broke
“The Governor rode right up to our gates.”
Beth came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him.
“Maybe I could have done something” he said, letting the tears fall
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“Daryl, you always work yourself sick, you did what you could. You saved me, right?” she said, turning him around to face her and brushing away his strayed hair. She Immediately put her hand back to his forehead, “You’re sick right now, aren’t you?” she said more than asked him. “ ‘s just a cold,” he mumbled. “Oh yeah? Well, I say we go in and hole up for a few days, let your illness run its course instead of aggravating it.” she said, raising her eyebrows at him; he rolled his eyes “Yeah, sure Greene, until this place goes bad too”, Beth just shook her head and took his arm, practically dragging him into the house.
It wasn’t until a while later that his sickness started to show signs of taking over. Daryl kept sniffing to keep his nose from getting too stopped up or from running. He finally just gave up and swiped at his nose with his wrist. Beth tapped his shoulder and outstretched her arm “Here, you gave it to me in the woods. I thought you might need it” she said handing him his handkerchief, “Thanks” he said under his breath. Beth smiled at him and went back over to the table she was sitting at.
Daryl coughed harshly, making Beth jump, “Are you okay?” She asked and he nodded. Beth got up and tossed around some stuff “Hey, where is that ‘internet’ you were talking about” she asked “in that crate” Daryl said pointing next to the door. Beth walked over and rifled through the crate, picking out a few newspaper articles and walking back over to the table. She pulled one from the stack she picked and began reading. “What’d you find?” Daryl asked; Beth turned around, “He’s got some good ones: Princess Diana, The Titanic, and John F Kennedy,” she told him “I’m sure those weren’t his, never liked to read much, he probably sported home one of them smart girls from the bar and she read them.” Daryl said swiping at his nose with the bandana. Beth looked at him softly “Why don’t you blow your nose” she suggested, and he shook his head “‘m tryin’ to be polite, ‘m with a lady,” he said making Beth roll her eyes.
About an hour of listening to Daryl sniff and him wiping his nose was all that Beth could take “Blow your damn nose!” she shouted, making him look surprised. He grabbed the handkerchief and gave his nose a loud honk, Beth raised her eyebrows “Better?” she asked, But Daryl didn’t even have time to reply before he let out 3 loud sneezes. “Bless you” she said as he wiped his nose again, Daryl just grunted in response she wasn’t surprised about that. Beth turned back to her newspaper and Daryl laid back in the armchair.
After a few minutes, Daryl started snoring, Beth sighed and stood up from her spot at the table. Beth began going around the room, picking up things and putting them either where they belonged or in a crate to take with them when they decided to leave. Beth found a small camo throw sitting in a pile of clothes and she closed the door to the closet. Beth picked up the blanket and gently laid it over Daryl's sleeping figure. He stirred and looked at her “What are you doing?” He asked her, “I thought you looked cold,” she said timidly. “I don’t need help from no damn girl” he said, throwing the blanket off and walking towards the door “I’m going out to smoke” he said, and Beth sighed. Daryl Was never going to be good at taking care of himself, but right now he had Beth, and they were just as good as family.
La Fine