Bethany Sutton Chapter 5

Beth felt she was going to faint. She literally felt as though she’d tipped over into an abyss and she was in freefall. Acting purely on thought, she tore her eyes away from Negan and turned, seeming to move in slow motion, to stumble back into the bathroom.

Once inside the bathroom Beth’s knees gave way. She expected to hit the floor but a pair of strong arms encircled her and tilted her back. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them she expected to see Negan had gotten hold of her. Instead she found herself looking up at Daryl.

“Bethany?” he said, tapping her face softly. “Bethany, can you hear me?”

She nodded, feeling shaky and weak. Daryl lifted Beth to her feet, turned the cold water on the faucet on, and then wet a paper towel. The cool water helped to focus her a bit. She stared at him, feeling like her knees had turned to jelly.

“Bethany,” Daryl said softly, his face full of concern. “What happened? Who is that man?”

      She couldn't answer Daryl's question and he didn't pressure her to. Instead he remained with her, keeping his arms around her while she trembled in his arms and thought how certain death stood only outside the door. She, and anyone in Negan’s way, was dead if he realized she was so close.

      “Bethany, are you okay?” Daryl asked, stroking her hair and trying to soothe her.

“She suffers from low blood sugar.”

Michonne. She’d entered the bathroom and was now turning Beth to face her.

“Excuse you!”

All three of them turned their eyes to a woman who’d entered the bathroom and now looked at Daryl in outrage.

“This is the ladies room.”

“I’m nothing if not a lady,” Daryl said, using an effeminate lisp and putting his hands sassily on his hips. The woman frowned in confusion before going into one of the stalls, eying Daryl with unease. He turned back to Beth and Michonne, who were now smiling at him.

“I’ve got her,” Michonne said to Daryl.

He nodded and tucked a lock of hair behind Beth’s ear. “I’ll see you around, Sutton.”

He left then, and the woman from the stall poked her head out. “He isn’t really gay, is he?”

Beth and Michonne ignored her.

“Is he still there?” Beth asked.

“Who?”

“Negan.”

“Negan's here?”

Beth nodded weakly.

“Come on,” Michonne said, leading Beth from the bathroom. Daryl was still at the counter and now Ruby was approaching Beth with a sheet of paper. She took one look at her and stopped.

“My God, Doll, you’re as white as a sheet!”

“She almost fainted,” Michonne said. “Low blood sugar.”

“Did we work you too hard?” Ruby asked in concern.

“Oh, no. I’ll be fine.”

“Sit down and eat something,” Ruby said.

“I’m taking her home to get her something,” said Michonne. “No need to worry, she’ll be fine.”

Ruby nodded and then handed Beth the paper. It was her work schedule.

“If you need me to cut your hours let me know.”

“Did anyone ask about me?” Beth asked, taking the paper from Ruby.

The older woman shook her head. “No, why?”

“If anyone asks about me, don’t tell them anything,” she said.

Ruby squinted at Beth and then looked Michonne over with more interest. “You in some kind of trouble, Doll?”

“It’s Daddy,” Beth lied. “I don’t really want him to know I’m here.”

A look of understanding suddenly crossed Ruby’s face. “I see,” she said. “Nobody will say anything, Doll. Don’t you worry.”

Beth passed Daryl as Michonne led her out of the café but she was too distracted to notice his look of curiosity and concern. Rick was outside, keeping watch on the street for any sign of a threat, though he didn’t yet know what that threat was. Beth thought perhaps he assumed she’d been located by Negan or one of his men. He wasn’t far off the mark.

“Negan’s here,” Michonne informed him.

Rick’s sharp eyes studied the people and the cars on the street. He saw no one he’d been told to look out for. He nodded toward their apartment building. They crossed the street and then headed up to their building with Beth tucked in between them.

*~*~*

“How did he know I was here?” Beth asked.

She’d waited until she was in Rick and Michonne’s apartment to speak, as though she feared speaking aloud outside would help Negan to zero in on her.

“We don’t know that he does,” said Michonne. “That was good thinking at the café, when you asked Ruby if anyone had asked about you, and then you palyed on her sympathy by making out you’re on the run from an abusive father.”

Michonne looked at Rick. “What?” he asked.

“Dixon may be a problem. He saw Beth in distress. He was tending to her when I got to the ladies room. He knew Beth was upset by a man she saw at the counter. He didn’t buy the low blood sugar story for a second.”

“Beth,” said Rick, and she had an idea what was coming. He sat down beside her. “You may want to rethink any kind of friendship with Dixon. You could put him in danger.”

Beth swallowed the surge of self-pity and anger that welled up within her. “What am I supposed to tell him? He’s gonna want to know why I won’t talk to him anymore.”

“Tell him you’re hiding from a bad man. It’s unfortunate but a lot of young women are on the run from stalkers,” said Rick. “Tell him you can’t make any new friends, you’re afraid of putting him in danger. It’ll be the truth.”

“I guess this means I can’t go back to work,” she said.

Both Michonne and Rick nodded.

“It was blind luck that he didn’t see you today,” said Rick. “What if you’d been behind the counter when he came in? He could have shot you right there.”

Beth knew they were right but she hated it. Even unintentionally Negan had managed to destroy the new life she was building before the roots could even take hold. It took everything in her not to scream and pull at her hair in sheer frustration. With Rick and Michonne watching, she called Ruby and told her she would have to quit after only one day on the job.

“Your Pa sounds like a really bad man. I hope you find peace from him someday, Doll,” Ruby said. “You can have your job back anytime you’re ready to come back.”

“Thanks, Ruby. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before.”

“Oh, Honey! No need to apologize. I get why you wouldn’t want to talk about running from a bad man. Believe me, I know firsthand what you’re going through.”

The idea that Ruby had lived on the run from a man--without protection from the government--made Beth feel close to the older woman. She really liked Ruby and she wished she could keep her work schedule at the café.

“If anybody comes asking for you I’ll make sure that the staff knows to pretend like they don’t know you exist.”

“Thanks Ruby.”

“You take care, Doll.”

Another hour went by before Rick gave Beth the clear to return to her apartment. During that time Michonne dyed Beth’s hair the same shade of strawberry blond that was in her driver’s license photo. She’d also cut Beth’s hair so that it was short. It was cute, and stylish, but it wasn’t Beth Greene. It was Bethany Sutton. It was just another piece of her old self that had been put to rest in a grave of lies and fear that had become her life.

The previously pretty day had long since clouded over, matching her sour mood. She went back to her apartment and collapsed on her bed. It didn’t take long for the tears to come.

*~*~*

“We could have used some warning that the Threat was going to be in the area,” Rick snapped.

Shane’s face filled the window in the center of Rick’s computer screen. “I’m FBI, not God, Rick,” Shane snapped back.

“Send that in a memo to the rest of the agency,” Michonne remarked mildly.

“I just found out today that he likes to spend Memorial Day in your area. I’ve got a man on his tail now. He’ll let me know as soon as the Threat returns to Senoia.”

“You’re positive this is just bad luck? It’s just coincidence that he came to this town and walked into the same area that Hummingbird was in?” asked Rick.

“I hate coincidences but as far as I know, yes,” Shane answered. “Look, we’re trying to determine the depth of the Threat’s reach. We can’t trust police, the FBI, the Department of Justice, anybody. That’s why I’m using The Operatives. You’re private and I know you can be trusted. Hell, I served in Afghanistan with Michonne so I know the girl is in good hands. Keep Hummingbird inside. Stay close to her. As soon as the Threat’s back back, I’ll call.”

Rick disconnected and sat back to look at Michonne. “If she’d been behind that counter…”

“I know. We let her loose too soon, but we had no way to know he’d come almost two hundred miles out from Senoia to holiday,” she said. She was fully aware of how badly it could have ended for Beth had Negan spotted her. Feeling the need to act, Michonne grabbed the keys to their second vehicle. It was a white Buick LeSabre with some special modifications, including bullet proofing. It was a lot less conspicuous than the big black Escalade they’d arrived in.

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t just sit on my ass. I’m going to canvass the area, see what I can see. Call Viper. You know we need her.”

Rick flinched. “Do you really think so?”

“What’s wrong? Don’t wanna talk to your ex-wife? The woman you dumped me for while I was serving my country in the military?”

“I knew you’d throw that up in my face. We’ve been over this. Long distance relationships don’t work,” said Rick.

“You cheated on me with her,” Michonne said, trying to keep her voice mild.

“I did not. I broke things off with you first,” Rick insisted, though he didn’t think Michonne believed him.

“Whatever. Ancient history.”

“Apparently it isn’t since you keep bringing it up,” Rick said.

“Just call her.”

Michonne slammed the door behind her harder than she’d intended. When she was gone, Rick heaved a sigh and pulled out his phone. He was the Ringleader. The Operatives were his people. He didn’t have to call anyone in that he didn’t deem necessary but Michonne was right. Viper was a handy resource to have on hand. She answered on the third ring.

“Yeah?”

“You’re needed, Lori. I’ll text the info. Leave Carl with my mother.”

“Understood. How long on the assignment?”

“Unknown.”

She didn’t say anything but he could imagine she wasn’t pleased. She didn’t like to be away from Carl for too long. She was a good mother. She’d been a good wife, too. He always felt some guilt at how things had ended. He’d used her to comfort himself, to keep from being lonely, while the woman he loved was away serving long stints in the military. Lori had ended the marriage because she’d felt she deserved better than being Rick’s pacifier while he longed for Michonne. She’d been right.

“Understood,” she finally answered.

The line went dead and Rick settled in to do the job of monitoring Beth and waiting.

*~*~*

Daryl Dixon came home from work, glad he had the rest of the day to himself. He would spend the rest of the week doing his three jobs. Painting during the days, and alternating between keeping massage appointments and fucking one of his three clients.

For today, however, he could relax and enjoy his shower, which he did. With that done he popped open a cold beer and reclined on the couch to enjoy the silence and solitude of his home.

Of course his thoughts went to the mysterious young woman who’d moved in across the hall from him. Bethany Sutton. Who was she? Could she be trouble? The idea that she was, indeed, trouble, made her interesting. Daryl had had his fill of interesting women. He wanted dull. He wanted ordinary and uncomplicated. That’s exactly what Bethany had seemed to be at first. Now it looked like there was more to her than met the eye.

The day that had started off so clear had clouded over. He considered Bethany and the man and woman who so obviously shadowed her as he watched the clouds roll in the sky outside his living room window. Who were they? Why did they have a tendency to show up whenever Bethany was in distress? It obviously wasn’t coincidental that they’d shown up on the roof yesterday during Beth's altercation with Ophelia, and then again today.

He’d stopped into the Flower St. Café for a late lunch. He’d watched Bethany emerge from the restroom and meet his eyes with a look of pleased surprise. Then she’d taken one look at the bruiser standing at the counter and turned completely white. The guy had cop written all over him and Daryl wondered if Bethany was on the run from the law.

There was a moment that Daryl had been sure Beth would faint. Somehow she’d managed to make it into the ladies room and he’d followed, worried she wouldn’t keep to her feet for much longer. He’d been right. He’d barely caught her before she hit the floor.

Then Michonne had shown up, as though she’d been alerted that Bethany was in distress. Lo and behold Rick had been outside when Daryl left the ladies room. Something was going on with the three of them. Something was off about Bethany Sutton. He recalled their talk on the rooftop the previous evening. She owed him the answer to a question and he was going to ask it. He just hoped she’d be as honest with him as he’d been with her.

*~*~*

Dreams of riding horses on the farm with Maggie were interrupted by a knock on her door. Beth awoke from what she called a stress nap. She’d taken plenty of them when her stepmother, Annette, the only mother she’d ever really known, had passed away. It was escapism and it wasn’t good for her, even if it was a normal response to loss.

Beth expected Rick or Michonne to be at the door but no one was there when she cautiously peered through the peep.

“Hello?” she asked, and listened.

With no answer, Beth left the chain on the door and cautiously opened it. There was no one there. She took the chain off and opened the door fully. The hallway was empty but there was a note taped to her door. It surprised her that the paper was real parchment, something expensive. She carefully unstuck it from the door and then opened it. Inside was script that had been beautifully written with a fountain pen.

Don’t miss the sunset.

“Daryl,” she sighed.

Beth recalled how she fully expected to hit the bathroom floor at the café. At the last second his strong arms had caught her, encircled her, and saved her from a fall. She’d been too distressed at the time to appreciate the feel of another person holding her, seeking only to offer comfort and kindness and expecting nothing in return. She could still feel his touch, and it was as comforting now as it had been, then. That was what she needed. Not sex, or, she thought, not just sex. She needed comforting.

Though it was probably not a good idea to leave the safety of her apartment Beth decided she would meet with Daryl on the roof at sunset. It would be good to see him again, even if it meant she would have to end their budding friendship. It was with a lighter heart that she cooked dinner and ate, but her heart again grew heavy while she freshened up, and then left her apartment to meet Daryl on the rooftop courtyard for what would probably be the last time. 

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