Title: He Whispers Poison
Summary: 'They left you. Jus' like they left me'. Daryl glanced his way but only for a moment before looking away. It was too dark for them to see one another anyway. 'Told ya, didn't I? Right back before it all went to shit, told ya that group would cost us. Nearly cost us our damn lives!'
Daryl & Merle's journey from Woodbury back to the prison is tough. But getting to the prison, will be the easiest thing they have to do.
Notes: I've made a decision not to include one of the main developments from 'Made to Suffer' involving some certain characters. It's just easier for me to do it this way.
I also don't think this is what will happen, but who wants someone to write a fic that's exactly what ends up happening?
Also worth noting that I don't read the comics so there's no spoilers for them in here.
Warnings: Spoilers for 'Made to Suffer', the mid-season finale for season three.

1. He Whispers Poison

He whispers poison.

It's like he's never been away, let alone months without him. They'd escaped, somehow.
A distraction, a miracle. An angel.
They had no vehicle, no weapons and so they'd relied on their stealth and they'd been careful. Stayed out of sight of walkers and those from Woodbury who might be trying to track them. They'd never find the Dixon boys if they didn't want to be found though.

They didn't talk about what they were doing, where they were going. Daryl just started to head back to the prison. And Merle followed. It took them longer than it should have though. They couldn't get caught.

They were armed with sticks and stones and hoped that they may indeed, break some bones, or at least crush a skull.

He walked until he had to stop. He couldn't go on any more even knowing that they weren't safe, he had to rest. And without saying anything, Merle knew too. So they stopped and sat beneath a couple of trees, backs resting against the harsh bark, facing one another so that they could watch for danger approaching the other.

That was when the words started.

"They left you. Jus' like they left me," Daryl glanced his way but only for a moment before looking away. It was too dark for them to see one another anyway. "Told ya, didn't I? Right back before it all went to shit, told ya that group would cost us. Nearly cost us our damn lives!"

Daryl wanted to protest. Say that it was all Merle's fault anyway. Kidnapping Maggie and Glenn, living in such an insane place to start with but he didn't really have the energy for it. Because everything was fucked.

He could barely defend the very group that had left Woodbury while he was still there. He wondered if they'd even waited, hoped he turn up.
Had they noticed at all?
Of course they had. How could they not notice? Maybe it wasn't about that, maybe it was that he just wasn't worth the trouble.

How long was it? Back in Atlanta? I can't really recall the hours I spent on that rooftop, waiting for them to come back. Was light when they left... two days? Does that sound 'bout right?

Daryl shrugged. If Merle didn't see it, he didn't seem to care. He didn't have the energy to hate right now.
Merle always did.

A stab of pain made Daryl wince and his hand lay across the tender area. He wondered how far they were from the prison. Wondered whether Rick had managed to get Glenn and Maggie back safely. Wondered if the others back at the prison were okay, if Carol was worrying over him. Wondered a little about the woman with the sword who'd vanished while they were at Woodbury and where she was.

"Get some rest, bro. I'll keep an eye out for trouble for a few hours".

It wasn't a request, so Daryl closed his eyes and let exhaustion take him.

Merle had all but pushed Daryl into the bush when he'd seen the walkers up ahead.

Merle crouched down behind a tree and watched the walkers as they made their way through the trees, thankfully none of them heading in the brothers direction. They waited a few minutes after the last one was out of sight before Merle stood up and took in their surroundings. The walkers were gone for now and he looked down into the bush where Daryl was hidden.

"Ya can come out now," Merle encouraged. He knew when his brother was pissed and he saw it in his face as he emerged.

"Couldn't you just have told me?" Daryl exclaimed.

"Don't get all pissy with me, bro. Don't want to have to slap you round that thick head of yours to remind you that talking will draw them walkers to us quicker than the sound of a bush rustling will. So untwist them panties and lets get moving."

TBC.

Note: I've never written much of Merle before. I need to get to grips with him so you know... sorry if he's lame.