OK SO THIS IS MY NEW FANFIC ABOUT DARYL (IMAGINE THAT)… THIS ONE IS ABOUT DARYL TAKING CARE OF A LITTLE GIRL HIM AND MERLE FOUND IN THE VERY BEGINNING… THIS STORY FALLS IN LINE WITH THE NEW SURVIVAL INSTINCT GAME AND THE SHOW… IT STARTS OFF SEASON 1 THE DAY BEFORE GLENN'S GROUP GOES INTO ATLANTA, THERE WILL BE FLASHBACKS AND OTHER THINGS ALONG THE WAY, I WANTED MERLE TO BE INVOLVED A LOT IN THIS STORY CAUSE I FEEL LIKE HE DESERVES IT AFTER WHAT HAPPENED THIS LAST EPISODE :'( HIM AND DARYL ABSOLUTELY RIPPED MY HEART OUT SO YEA THIS IS A PARTIAL TRIBUTE TO MERLE, YOU RULE DIXON! ALRIGHT I'LL LET YOU GUYS READ, HOPE YOU LIKE IT! FEEL FREE TO REVIEW PLEASE!

LOVE

J

SEASON 1 PRE-EPISODE 2: Guts

CHAPTER 1: New Responsibilities

-Fear makes us feel our humanity.

~Benjamin Disraeli

"Ri! Get yer ass over here!" Daryl's voice rang out calling from across camp to Riley. She quickly brushed away her drawing in the dirt as he called her name again. "Come'n!" She said wiping dirt off her ragged pants and running from behind the Winnebago to where the redneck's voice was coming from. Her small feet dusted up the dirt as she ran through the camp past the fire pit where Lori and Carol sat with Carl and Sophia about to start teaching them. "Riley… time for studies." Lori called out to her as she ran. "Yes ma'am… I'll be back." Riley said not stopping. "Riley!" Lori called out one more time in authority. "Just one minute!" Riley shouted behind her as she continued to run to where Daryl's voice came from.

"Excuse me!" Riley said as she almost collided into T-dog. "Slow down lil girl!" T-dog yelled out to her as she continued to run. "Sorry T!" She yelled back to him as he shook his head. She rounded the corner of a tent, fast as a deer running from a hunter, before finding someone in front of her. She ran into them hard not being able to stop in time and knocking her to the ground. "Damn! Watch where you're going!" Daryl stood over her as she held the elbow she landed on. "You ok?" Daryl asked as he helped her off the ground. "It stings!" She hissed at her dirty and now red elbow. "Le'me see." Daryl ordered holding out a gentle hand to examine the small elbow. After a while of examining it he scoffed. "Suck it up, you're fine."

"It hurts!" She exclaimed looking at her bloody and scraped up elbow. "Don't be such a pussy… you'll live. Now you wanted to learn to hunt right?" Daryl asked knowing it would get her mind distracted from the elbow, which was all she needed. Her face lit up immediately in excitement as she nodded. "Come over e'r." Daryl nodded to a stump and chair. She followed him eager as he sat in the chair and stuck a hunting knife in the short tree stump. "Sit." He said pointing to the ground in front of the stump. "Now to start off you have to learn the basics."

Riley watched in horror as he reached behind him and pulled out a dead squirrel laying it on its back across the stump. He smirked as he saw the disgusted look spread across the small girl's face. "Eww…. thought you said you were gonna teach me how to hunt!" She protested annoyed. "I am, there's no point in knowing how to hunt if you can't clean your kill." Daryl retorted as she crossed her arms. "Can't you just clean em for me?!" She pouted looking at the redneck. "You wanna learn or not?" Daryl asked her and she rolled her eyes before nodding her head yes. "Than watch…"

Taking the knife out of the stump, Daryl waved the tool in front of her. "You see this?" Daryl asks her, before she returned with a nod showing that she did indeed see the knife. "You hold it like this." Daryl voiced out holding the knife in a certain way with his right hand. "Here you show me." He said holding out the knife to her, so she could reflect what he just taught her. Riley's small delicate hand brushed his as it grasped around the knife's rubber handle, removing it from his hand. "Like this?" Her small voice asked meekly as she held the knife with her right hand in the same fashion he had moments before. "Good, just a little tighter or it'll slip while you're cutt'n." He told her, clasping her hand so it would enclose around the handle tighter.

"Is this good?" Riley asked curious to know whether she was doing it right. "Yea… now here le'me see it." Daryl ordered holding out a calloused hand to retrieve the knife. Once again their hands brushed as she held it back out to him. "Now when you first make a kill you slice its throat to drain the blood. See here?" He pointed to the neck of the squirrel with his knife, revealing a clean cut to the vermin's throat. "Gross." Riley exclaimed in disgust drawing her face back after seeing the cut. "You ain't seen noth'n yet lil lady. We ain't even begun." He sneered. "Great." She huffed blowing a few strands of long chocolate hair from her small face.

"Now when you cut its stomach open—"Daryl begun before being interrupted by a shocked Riley. "We're cutting its stomach open?!" Riley asked horrified. "What did you think we were doing? Becoming friends with it?" He laughed. "Now watch… when you go to cut it you cut away from you and hold its tail so it doesn't move on ya, like this." Daryl than with one hard stab started to cut its stomach. Riley's face scrunched up in pure disgust. Sitting the knife down Daryl spread out the stomach wide, showing its contents. "Oh yuck!" Riley's hand flew over her mouth in pure instinct.

"Come on… you're gonna remove the guts." Daryl informed Riley turning the squirrel to face her. "What?! No! That's gross!" She protested without hesitation shaking her head and crossing her arms. "Hell come on now you big pussy! You eat this all the time and love it! Don't be such a girl!" Daryl teased her making her angry. "But I am a girl!" She pointed out to the redneck that was annoying her. "Fine than… guess you don't need to hunt. Maybe you should go play with some dolls or someth'n instead of waste'n my time." He bit harshly at her.

"Fine I'll do it." She said taking a deep breath as she stared at the squirrel. She didn't know what to do, even if she had wanted to in the first place. Daryl grew restless while watching her stare aimlessly at it. "Come on I ain't got all day. Squirrel's not gonna gut itself." She gave him an annoyed look before taking a deep breath. "So I- I just reach in and pull stuff out?" Riley asked needing guidance from the experienced hunter. She received a nod followed by an answer. "Yep just reach in the bastard and grab someth'n… I'll tell you whether we're keep'n it or not."

Sighing and taking a deep breath, Riley's tiny hands finally reached in between the layers of skin and fur to its insides. Daryl watched in amusement as her face shriveled up feeling into the squirrel with her dainty unlabored hands. Daryl than watched in surprise as her shriveled face turned into a smile. "It's squishy!" She laughed pulling out the small entrails of the squirrel and holding it out to Daryl. "Do we keep this?" She said smiling not bothered any more by the dead squirrel like she had been before.

All of a sudden they heard the sound of Lori clearing her throat. They both looked up, Riley still holding the entrails in her hands, smiled at the brunette woman standing over them. "Mrs. Grimes look!" Riley got up quickly to show the woman the squirrel guts. The disgusted judging look from the woman's face told Daryl everything. Lori like most people in the group didn't like the idea of the two Dixon brothers having guardianship over the impressionable little girl, but that's how it was going to stay as far as Daryl was concerned.

Lori shot him daggers obviously angry he would let a little girl gut a squirrel. "Ri, throw that crap away we don't need it. No meat there." He ordered the girl so that she would leave the woman alone. "Okay." Riley said and quickly went to the stump and dumped the warm entrails next to it causing Lori to almost gag. "What'd you need?" Daryl asked with hostility towards the pamper chef hostess standing in front of them.

"Was gonna see if Riley here was gonna join us for studies today." Lori looked towards the little girl with an annoyed authoritive glare. Riley put her head down to avoid the woman's look. Riley tried to get out of studies every way she could even hiding in a tree once, she despised them. One thing about the world ending that benefited her was no school, but the women of this group insisted on making them do it anyways.

"Go on then. Studies are more important…" Daryl ordered Riley. "Wish someone woulda told me that when I was your age." Daryl's comment got a brief smile from Lori, but her smile went away as soon as she looked at Riley's dirty and now bloody hands. "Come on let's get those hands clean before we do any studying." Leading Riley by a hand to her shoulder, Lori only looked back to glare at Daryl as her and the little girl walked to the RV. "Bye Daryl." Riley waved a small and bloody hand cheerfully at the redneck making him smile.

"So how's yer lil orphan Annie?" The sound of his big brother's scratchy white trash voice came from behind him washing away his smile. Daryl looked up to see Merle sneering his same toothy ignorant grin. "Jackass." Daryl whispered under his breath turning back to the squirrel to finish the cleaning job Riley started. "Oh come on Darylena! I'm just play'n with ya! No hard feel'ns." Merle teased his brother slapping him on the back. Daryl only shrugged his brother off to plunge his hand into the squirrel entrails taking his anger from Merle out on it.

"Still don't see why ya don't just let the group take care of the lil bastard… more room in the tent and that's what they want anyhow right?!" Merle's comment does nothing, but makes Daryl angrier by the minute. "Ain't happening." Daryl quickly protested. "It is if we plan on robbing this camp blind after I get back. Not take'n that lil shit with us, she's stay'n… so you can just get over it, baby brother." Merle's laugh irritated Daryl as he continued to gut the squirrel in anger. Robbing the camp wasn't something he wanted to do, along with leaving Riley behind, but where ever Merle went he followed. That's how it was and that's the way it always would be.

.o.o.

"Dale, could you help Riley wash her hands off so I can head back to help Carol with the lessons?" Lori asked the old man as she stepped into the RV with Riley at tow. "Sure thing." The old man smiled. "And Dale? Make sure she gets to studies." Lori eyed Riley with the same mother hen look. Dale nodded with assurance and winked at Riley causing the little girl to smile as Lori left the Winnebago.

"Let's see the damage." Dale knew the routine. Riley was constantly sent to the RV to be washed over one thing or another. She was the mischievous child of the group always getting into something. Riley also knowing the routine held her hands out to the old man showing him the squirrel blood covering them. "Yikes! What happened? Are you hurt?" Dale had cleaned the small child's hands plenty of times, but had never had to clean them of blood. Riley only laughed. "No… Daryl let me clean a squirrel!" Riley said excitedly.

With a sigh of relief Dale smiled. "Ahh… I see. Okay, climb up." Dale continued the routine as he pointed to the counter and she climbed up it. Riley watched as he went to the back of the RV to fetch a rag. He returned with a small white rag and ran it under the sink to get it wet. He than rang it out and looked at Riley. "Give me your hands dear." Riley followed the old man's orders and laid her hands in his as he rang some water over them than began scrubbing, the white rag quickly turning red from the blood.

"Daryl's gonna teach me to hunt." She said simply and excited. Dale began to smile at her comment as he washed away the grime from her small fragile hands with care. "Really? Is he now?" Dale asked her smiling. "Yep… said so himself." The little girl was obviously excited on the topic. "Although he wanted me to gut a squirrel first… He said "You can't hunt if you can't clean the kill."' She said mocking Daryl in her best impression of him making Dale laugh. Dale continued to wash her hands, but soon ran out of blood and dirt to wash so went ahead and decided to wash the girl's arms also.

The rag moved up Riley's arm scrubbing away the dirt that managed to find the little girl, but stopped at her elbow once Dale saw the scraped up mess. "What happened?!" Dale asked concerned about the injury. "Oh I kinda fell while I was runn'n." Riley confessed. "But don't worry about it. Daryl said I was fine… I was just being a pussy." Riley said with no thought on what had just came out of her mouth. The language from the little girl's mouth shocked Dale as he examined her elbow. "Hey watch the language little girl." Dale said with a stern smile. "Oops sorry!" Riley said covering her mouth with a giggle. "Is that a bad word?" She asked the old man and he laughed. "Yes it is… don't repeat stuff from Daryl and Merle, alright?"

Riley returned his order with a nod as he dipped the rag in more water. "Well even if you're ok, we still need to clean this up and put a band aid over it." Dale said as he headed to the back of the RV to retrieve something. "Why?" Riley asked in her naturally curious kid like manner. Dale came back to the counter and sat a bottle of alcohol down on it. "Because if not it could get infected." Dale informed her while opening the bottle. A look of horror spread across her face at the sound of the words 'infected'. "Like a walker?!" Riley asked terrified. Dale realizing that he had scared the little girl, rests a hand on hers. "No not like a walker, but it hurts and you don't want that." His statement calmed her.

"Now this is gonna sting." Dale informed her while pouring alcohol into the rag. "Oh no." Riley pouted. "How bad?" She asked in fear. "Not bad it'll be over before you know it." Dale reassured her with his humble smile before reaching out and grabbing her elbow. "Get ready." Dale warned her as he drew her elbow closer to the rag. Riley quickly looked away, squeezing her eyes shut, bracing herself for the pain.

She began to hiss at the stinging as the cold rag sat on her elbow sending tiny shocks of pain through the bend in her arm. "Oww! Ow!" Her small voice yelled out as Dale rubbed the wound cleaning it of any dirt fragments. "Shh-shh now." Dale said whispering to soothe her than slowly pulling the rag away from the now clean scrape. Dale than proceeded to blow on it making some of the sting go away before he patched it up with one large band aid.

"There ya go good as new!" Dale patted her on the back making her smile. "It's over?" Riley asked in excitement. "Yes, now why don't you head to studies?" Dale replied to her as she jumped down and headed for the door, but was stopped by Dale's voice once agin. "And don't you think about going anywhere, but studies I'll be watching you." His statement received a pout from Riley's face. She knew she wasn't getting out of it today. At least she was gonna be able to hang out with Sophia and Eliza, the only other girl's in camp.

.o.o.

"Mrs. Grimes are we almost done yet? I'm starving!" Riley pouted as she finished a fraction with the help of Sophia that was a natural at math and she was older making her more experienced with the topic. Riley besides Louis who was seven, was the youngest person in camp. Whenever she needed help she could ask anyone, one of the benefits of being the youngest. She sighed they had been studying for an hour and a half and her belly had started to growl like a walker. "Only a few more problems… and what have I told you about calling me Mrs. Grimes? You can call me Lori sweetheart." Lori said from across the table at Riley who was wedged in between Eliza and Sophia, all three of them sharing a math book they'd found on the road. "Daryl said not to… to call you Mrs. Grimes cause it shows good manners." Riley said in a bitter way. "I listen to Daryl."

"Teach Daryl some good manners." Lori scoffed under her breath whispering to Carol beside her, causing the short haired woman to smile. Riley moved onto the next problem sighing and bored. "Mommy I'm hungry!" Sophia pouted to Carol getting bored with the math too. "I tell you what guys…" Lori said giving up. "Do one more problem with no complaints and I'll let Glenn give you guys something that he found on his last trip to the city." The children's faces lit up at Lori's words in excitement. Glenn always brought back the best stuff and Riley knew it. She had to get this problem done fast and by the looks on the other kids faces they knew it too.

The fraction was difficult, but Riley got through it fast, the first to get done. "Done!" Riley said excited. "Le'me see." A voice came from behind them and Riley recognized it immediately as her favorite person's, Daryl Dixon. Lori shocked that he would want to see it, looked at him with a look of 'What would you know?' Daryl only sneered at the woman as Riley handed him the paper anxiously.

"It's wrong." Daryl barely even looked at the paper before handing it back to the little girl. "But it's what Mrs. Grimes taught me to do." Riley said in a pout to the redneck. "Well she taught ya wrong." He replied quickly causing Lori to glare at him. Taking the paper away from Riley Lori looked it over shaking her head. "No this is right." Lori said annoyed at Daryl. "No it ain't." Daryl retorted. "Bet ya a pretty penny." Daryl sneered crossing his arms. "Well than I wanna see that penny, Daryl. Cause Riley got it right." Lori handed back to Riley the paper with annoyance and triumph.

"Nope. It's wrong, look..." Daryl continued his fight taking Riley's pencil and erasing part of the problem than pointing with it. "You carry the decimal over here… not there." Lori took the paper back as Riley fixed the problem to what Daryl told her. She stared at the paper in disbelief. "I'll be damned." Lori said shocked to the paper. "Mom, swear." Carl scolded his mother. "I'm sorry hun…" She directed at Carl than looked back at Daryl. "This is right Daryl. Guess my math's a bit rusty." Lori was in shock that Daryl had corrected her. Lori looked at him apologetically, she had underestimated him. "Guess so." Daryl told her before Riley jumped up startling them all. "So can we go get our rewards from Glenn now?!"

Defeated Lori threw her hands up giving them the go. "Yay!" Riley yelled out and sprang from the table before the rest of the kids had any time to react. She made her mad dash through camp to find her Asian friend. "Yo! Ri slow down!" Daryl scolded her, but she ignored him she wanted to see what Glenn had, her curiosity was killing her. Dust flew by her as she eyed Glenn standing by the RV talking to Dale. She ran only looking towards Glenn when she hit something hard, more like someone.

Liquid spilled all over the redneck before her as he started cursing. "GOD DAMNIT!" Merle yelled at Riley's tiny figure frightening her. "You spilled my beer you lil shit!" Merle said angrily wiping his shirt. "I'm really s-s-sorry Mer-Merle." Riley's lips quivered as her voice came out in a scared hoarse whisper. Merle's commotion had caused the whole group to stop what they were doing and look at the scene. "YOU SEE THIS?!" Merle asked kneeling over to get in her face and wavy his now empty beer at her. No answer came from Riley as she backed up in fear. "I asked a question! You see this?!" Merle repeated and she quickly nodded her head.

"This was one of the last beers left on good mother earth! And you! You lil girl… YOU JUST SPILLED IT ALL DOWN MY SHIRT!" Merle screamed at her throwing the beer bottle with a shatter of glass making her flinch and start to cry. "Oh now you're gonna cry?" Merle said in a boohoo voice as tears fell down her dirty face. "MERLE! BACK THE HELL OFF!" Daryl shouted at his brother as he marched to the scene. "You see what this lil shit did?!" Merle stood screaming and the whole group watched doing nothing as the little girl sobbed.

"Ri get over here." Daryl called out in a calming voice to the little girl and she quickly ran to him as Merle continued to ramble and curse. Daryl got down on his knees for her, as she met his arms' warm embrace, crying into his bare shoulder. Daryl ran a hand through the little girl's long locks as she wrapped her tiny arms around his waist in a sobbing death grip. "Shh-shh." Daryl whispered into the Riley's ear as she laid her head upon his shoulder. "Ah look at this ain't it sweet!" Merle shouted out sarcastically. "Who's gonna get me another beer! Hmm Anybody? Show of hands?" Merle called out to the group as they all stood around. "YOU BES' SHUT THE HELL UP!" Daryl yelled out to his older asshole brother.

"OR WHAT? You gonna come stomp my ass baby brother?!" Merle quickly retorted as Daryl continued to try and soothe the crying lil girl in his arms. "Hey Merle, man why don't you just relax a bit? Okay?" Shane walked up with his hands on his hips annoyed at Merle. Any other day Shane would be Daryl's pain in the ass, but today he was his savior. "Screw you man! I'm gonna go get another beer!" Merle said walking away his temper tantrum dieing out, Daryl could tell he was working on getting drunk and was already half way there. Riley continued to sob as the women approached where Daryl knelt down with the girl.

"Daryl…here we can take her." Lori tried approaching, but Daryl felt the little girl's grasp tighten around his waist not wanting to leave him. Daryl than felt the soft hand of Lori lay on his shoulder insisting on taking Riley. "No." Daryl protested quickly shrugging her off. "I got her." Daryl insisted hoisting the crying little girl up to a carrying position before standing up and cradling her small body in his arms. His shirt was soaked by Riley's sad tears. She was the type of little girl that had a good life, good parents, and family before the world went to shit. She wasn't used to being screamed at and certainly not to Merle's degree of it.

"Daryl." Lori said looking at him wanting to help the situation. "I said I got her. Damn just leave us be!" Daryl tightened his hold on Riley. "I got ya Ri." Daryl whispered to her running another hand through her hair and carrying her away. "Shh-shh." Daryl soothed the little girl's sobs as he walked with her in his arms. She had her face buried in his shirt, her arms wrapped around his neck tightly. Their tent finally came into view and he walked hurriedly towards it so he could get her to calm down.

Daryl ducked into the tent carefully cradling Riley so he wouldn't drop her as he made his way. Once they were in the tent Daryl pulled Riley away from him and made her stand in front of him as tears came down her face. "Hey now… you okay?" Daryl said as he brushed hair out of her face and wiped away a few small tears. Riley's head quickly nodded yes, but her face proved otherwise. "I'm sorry." Her small voice quivered out. Daryl than pulled her back into a hug. "Hey… you don't have to be sorry. You ain't done noth'n." Daryl said with bitterness in his voice. He was angry at his older brother.

"Why does Merle hate me? I don't mean to be stupid—"Riley's voice cried. Daryl quickly pulled her out to look at him again. "Hey! You ain't stupid I don't want to hear that shit come out of yer mouth ever again...ya hear?" Daryl looked at the little girl. She had the look Daryl hated. It was the look of abuse he knew it all to well. Riley was already showing signs of a damaged person thanks to Merle. It was true Merle had despised the little girl from the moment they had found her, Daryl didn't know why though. Merle was just that way. Once he decided his opinion about you it didn't ever change. Daryl was a grown man now and Merle still treated him like he was some dumb kid left in his care.

Riley had been a bundle of light and joy since they had met, but as time had gone by and Merle's put downs on her grew, the little girl's light was going out. She wasn't doing as much kid stuff like she used to and hadn't even been spending time with the kids of the group anymore. She was growing hard, becoming a Dixon instead of keeping her Dawson title. Daryl didn't want that, maybe it was a good thing him and Merle were leaving, maybe she'd be raised right by the women of the group and not end up like him, cold.

Daryl was at a loss now, he didn't really know what to tell the girl or what to do, and he sucked at these things. "Merle's an asshole Ri… don't let him get to ya." Daryl reassured her looking into her cold baby blue eyes as she began to giggle. "You said a bad word." She laughed making him smile as he rubbed the top of her head. "That's my girl, here…" He said with a grin picking up a bear from her area in the tent. "Why don't ya take Mr. –uhh-Uhmm, whoever he is and lay down." The little girl quickly took the dirty stuffed animal from his hands with a look of anger. "His name is tiger." She reminded him. "But he's a bear." Daryl said in confusion at the name. "My daddy thought it would be funny if we named him that." Riley said grimly at the thought of her dad.

"Daryl when do you think we can find my daddy and Sean?" Riley asked in innocence and false hopes. When Daryl had first found her she was cornered into a closet by her mother who had turned, but her father and older brother had went on a fishing trip in Newnan when the whole thing started. Not wanting to crush the little girl's spirits and tell her that they were most likely dead, Daryl had promised her the hopes that they would try and find them. It had been a while since she had asked about it so Daryl was thrown off guard by the question. "I don't know Ri, soon I hope." Daryl answered to hold her off on the idea. He knew sooner or later though someone was going to have to tell her the truth.

"Here lay down." Daryl ordered her as he unzipped her blue sleeping bag. Reluctantly Riley crawled inside it tucking Tiger under her arm. "Daryl?" Riley looked up at him. "Do you think my daddy and Sean are looking for me?" Riley asked sincerely. Daryl didn't hesitate on his answer. "Everyday Ri… We'll find em don't you worry." He said. "Get some rest before dinner… kay?" Riley nodded to the redneck before he stood up to go to the tent door. Suddenly he was stopped as a young Asian face popped its head through the door. "Hey, uhmm I heard someone was looking for a reward." Glenn said nervously as Daryl eyed him.

Riley's face lit up she had forgotten about Glenn and her prize. "One candy bar for a Miss Riley Dawson." Glenn said pulling out a somewhat melted Hershey's bar. Daryl snatched it from Glenn's grasp before handing it over to Riley. "What do ya say?" Daryl asked towards Riley as he gave it to her. The little girl than looked at Glenn with a huge grin as she unwrapped the chocolate. "Thank you!" She said excitedly before taking a large bite making Glenn and Daryl both smile.

"No problem… enjoy." Glenn said waving before backing out of the tent and leaving. Daryl followed his lead, but was stopped when Riley's full mouth muffled out. "Daryl wait!" He turned to the little girl with chocolate already splattering her face. "What chocolate fiend?" Daryl asked playfully. "Here." She said holding out her hand and dropping a piece of chocolate into his. "Ri… nah I don't need it." Daryl said holding it back out to her, but she shook her head no and batted his hand away. "You eat it… it's a gift. It's rude to give back gifts." She ordered him in her ever so innocent and child like way. Daryl let a smile spread across his face before putting the sweet and savory chocolate in his mouth.

.o.o.

"Ouch!" Riley shouted as her hair was busy being pulled and brushed. "That hurt!" Riley told the young blonde sitting behind her with a brush. "Oh come on I barely touched your head!" Amy defended herself as the little girl crossed her arms. It was late afternoon and the group was busy getting ready for the famous meal of squirrel around the fire. Riley had came out of the tent after taking a small nap to calm her nerves after Merle's tantrum. "I don't care it still hurt!" Riley protested. She hated getting her hair brushed, she was tender headed and had a lot of hair. "Don't be such a baby." Amy told her and Riley knitted her eyebrows. "You sound like Daryl." Riley pouted. "Oh don't say that… Daryl's the last person I wanna sound like." Amy joked smiling at Riley causing the girl to smile back.

"Amy? What day is it?" Riley asked curiously. "I don't know… Friday I think." Amy answered her puzzled as to why she was asking. "No I mean like the date… what is the actual date?" Riley asked as Amy began to braid the girl's long hair. "I don't know, why don't you ask Andrea there…" Amy winked at her older sister who sat near them listening to their conversation. "She keeps a calendar." Amy said smiling and Riley's face lit up. "You do? Really?" Riley asked towards the older blonde.

Andrea laughed with a nod. "Yep and I don't know how accurate it is but by my count I'd say it's the 14th of August." Andrea told her smiling. "Really?! My birthday is in three days! I'll be twelve! That means I'll be as old as Carl and Sophia now!" Riley announced excited and happy making the women smile. "Oh wow that's cool Riley… me too!" Amy said excited as she finished the small girl's hair. tying the end of the long braid off. "We have the same birthdays?!" Riley asked excited and turning to face Amy. "Yep, cool huh?" Amy smiled and talked to the little girl in a child like manner. Andrea only smiled grimly. Birthdays were a happy topic, something to look forward to, but with the world how it was now she didn't know what kind of birthday they would be able to hold for the two aging girls.

"You think we could celebrate and still have presents and stuff?!" Riley asked the two older women excited. "I don't know Riley." Andrea spoke up serious. "We'll see." Andrea said sorrowfully with a small smile. Amy's smile went away knowing the truth. They probably wouldn't be able to do much for their birthdays and the two women grew solemn knowing the little girl would be disappointed when the day came. Their thoughts were quickly interrupted though by the sound of Jacqui's voice as she approached them.

"You girls ready for some dinner?" Jacqui said in her sweet manner smiling at Riley as she drew near them. "Yes I'm starving!" Riley said enthusiastic as she got up. "Come on Amy!" Riley said excitedly as she pulled on the young woman's arm. They all smiled at Riley's enthusiasm towards the meal even if it wasn't the best. Amy followed Riley's lead as they made their way towards the RV where a table with food was laid out.

"Slow down Riley!" Amy called to her as the little girl dragged her to the food. Riley was used to running through camp and Amy just wasn't matching her speed. "Come on Amy!" Riley shouted once again, but was interrupted as she was scooped off the ground all of a sudden. "What have I told you about running?!" Daryl's voice said playfully as he held the little girl upside down. "Huh what've I told ya?!" Daryl said as he started tickling her. Riley burst out in laughs and screams. Amy couldn't help, but smile even if she didn't like the redneck, he was good with her. "Daryl! Put me down!" Riley screamed out in short burst of laughs.

"What do you say?!" Daryl laughed as he tickled her. "No!" Riley refused to admit what he wanted her to say. "Say it!" Daryl ordered playfully as the tickling and laughs grew. Everyone stood around laughing as they gathered their plates. "Daryl is my favorite redneck!" Riley screamed in between laughs. "I'm sorry! I couldn't hear you!" Daryl shouted back laughing. "Daryl put me down!" Riley laughed as she hung helplessly upside down. "Not until I hear you!" Daryl said continuing to tickle her. "Daryl's my favorite REDNECK!" Her voice traveled through camp in shrills and hysterics.

Daryl finally gave in and turned her upright before putting her down in huffs of laughter. "Now go get you some food… and slow down." Daryl said rubbing her head and smiling. She stuck her tongue out at him before heading off to the table where Amy helped her dip a plate. Daryl smiled as he watched her laugh and joke with Amy as the two gathered their plates. His smile vanished though as he watched Merle walk into the woods with his rifle and a pack of beer.

"Jackass." Daryl huffed under his breath towards Merle. All of a sudden Riley's small voice broke his attention as she called out to him. "Daryl! Come get some food! It looks really good!" She said happily from where she stood with Amy next to the RV. "Yes ma'am!" Daryl said in a salute. He gave in and walked to the RV to fix his plate of Squirrel, beans, and stale chips.

.o.o.

Daryl scooped a fork full of beans while listening to Riley tell the group about the time she saw a snake in the woods while mushroom hunting with her father. "It was huge!" She shouted over the fire to the whole group in excitement. They all laughed at her innocent enthusiasm as she told her story. "Daddy freaked out though when I brought it back to him… He snatched it out of my hands and slung it! Screaming 'Copperhead!' Whatever that means… I think he was off his rocker." Riley finished her story. They all burst out laughing including Daryl who almost spit his mouthful of beans out. Leave it to small and innocent Riley to pick up a deadly Copperhead snake and find it interesting. If it wasn't for Daryl watching her every move she'd probably own a walker on a leash.

Riley sat next to Daryl on a log in confusion on why her story was so funny. "What's so funny?" Riley asked innocently looking around which caused more laughter. "No more picking up snakes alright?" Daryl said patting her on the back laughing. Riley rolled her eyes and chose to ignore the groups laughing as she stuck some squirrel meat in her mouth. After the laughter died out the group broke into each of their own conversations from their spots around the large fire.

It had just fallen into night time and Daryl watched all the group members in front of him in the light of the fire. Lori, Shane, and Carl sat together laughing at Lori who was just trying squirrel meat for the first time. Amy sat laying her head on her older sister's shoulder as the two of them listened to Dale telling them something wise most likely. Jim sat talking to Glenn about cars. The Morales family all huddled together laughing with their children. Lastly T-dog and Jacqui sat laughing and talking about god knows what.

Than Daryl's eyes shifted past their fire to another small one just off camp where the Peletier's sat in silence as Ed drunk a beer and smoked a cigarette. It made him sick how pathetic the family looked. Ed the overbearing asshole and Carol and Sophia the two innocent victims backed into a corner. Daryl didn't have time to worry about them though as he eyed the woods where Merle was still missing. All that played through his mind was Merle drunk and stumbling through the woods being the target of any lucky walker out there.

"You worried?" Riley's soft and innocent voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked down at the little girl puzzled. "About your brother, I mean." She stated looking solemn. He shook his head in denial. "Nah… the idiot's fine." Daryl said in confidence to her. "I saw him head into the woods, walkers are in the woods." She said worried. No matter how much the little girl didn't like Merle, she hated the thought of losing someone else even more. Daryl thought on her comment before shaking his head once again. "Nobody can kill Merle but Merle… I ain't worried. Eat up…" He told her to get her off the topic. "Gotta be head'n to bed soon."

Riley sighed taking in some beans she hated having to go to bed so early all the time. Since they had no way of knowing really what time it was Shane had set a strict curfew that come night time everyone was to head to their tents. As on cue Shane stood up to speak to the group. "Alright y'all, you know the drill once you're done head on to your tents. Glenn you got watch tonight." Shane ordered the young Asian receiving a nod. Shane than turned to Daryl. "Dixon you seen your brother?" Shane asked noticing his absence.

"Probably went off somewhere getting shit faced… he'll be back." Daryl said. Merle going off in the woods wasn't out of the ordinary, he'd come back drunk or high eventually. Lori covered Carl's ears at Daryl's statement and glared at him for cursing in front of her son. "Whether he is back or not, can't have him hung-over for the trip to Atlanta tomorrow, if you could—"Shane started but was cut off by Daryl. "I'll find him." Daryl bit at Shane. Daryl knew they didn't really care about Merle's whereabouts they just needed manpower in the city and that's it. "Ri hurry up so we can get ya to bed." Daryl said to the little girl.

Riley huffed not really liking being rushed through her meal. "We can get her ready for bed while you go out, if you want." Amy offered nervously. She didn't usually speak up to Daryl or really spoke to him at all, this was new. Really any of them speaking to him was new. "You sure?" Daryl asked Amy not sure he should leave the young woman with the burden. "Yea it'll be fun." Amy said smiling more towards Riley than Daryl. "Alright than… see ya later lil bit." Daryl rubbed Riley's head playfully before standing up and thrusting his Horton scout over his shoulder.

He walked away from the fire but stopped when he heard Riley call out. "Daryl!" He turned back to her. "Yea?" He looked at her pair of baby blue eyes staring at him over the fire's light. "Stay safe." She said sincerely and caring towards him. "You too." He nodded towards her before trekking off into the woods.

.o.o.

Daryl stalked through the Georgia woods silently and quickly tracking Merle's stumbling footprints left on the forest floor. He had been one of the easiest things to track in a long while. His steps were easy to see with a flashlight, Daryl would find him in no time. Daryl just hoped he wouldn't be too drunk by the time he found him. Daryl than heard the rustling of leaves and quickly turned to have one of his arrows meet a squirrel's eye. Daryl marched to where he had pinned the squirrel to a tree. He stopped though upon hearing the crunch of a can beneath his foot. He looked down to see a newly emptied Budweiser can. Merle was close.

He yanked the squirrel from the tree and slit its throat before sticking it in his belt. "Merle!" Daryl shouted through the woods. If Merle was close enough he would hear him. Daryl stood in silence to see if he would be able to hear his most likely drunk and high brother, but no luck. He continued following tracks and every few feet he'd find a new beer can until finally they ended. He all of a sudden heard grunts and growls. "Shit!" He said to himself before making a mad dash towards where he was hearing a struggle.

He came to a clearing and saw his brother and a walker, but it wasn't what he expected. Merle was toying with it and laughing. The walker was the remnants of what used to be a small woman. Daryl watched as Merle jumped behind it tapping it on the shoulder and laughing. "Sweetheart over hear!" Merle got the walker's attention, but as it turned to try and get him he quickly jumped behind it once again. "Merle what the hell!" Daryl shouted towards his brother. Merle looked over laughing as he continued to toy with the woman walker.

"Come on Darylena! Have some fun!" Merle shouted playfully. Daryl watched his obviously drunk brother in disgust, before sending an arrow to the toy walker's skull. "What the hell was that for?!" Merle slurred through playful laughs. Daryl only ignored him as he marched up and pulled his arrow out of the walker's skull, wiping the blood on his tattered pants. "Stick in the mud is what you are baby brother!" Merle teased Daryl.

"Asshole!" Daryl said under his breath loud enough for Merle to hear. "Come on now, have some balls…" Merle said to his little brother. They than heard more snarls as another walker approached. Daryl raised his crossbow defensively. "It's ok to have some fun every now and than." Merle laughed as he took his knife and plunged it into the new walker's chin. Daryl rolled his eyes as the walker fell and Merle shouted in triumph.

"You ever seen em' this close to camp?" Daryl asked never before seeing walker's come even close to camp. "Hell if I know…" Merle slurred and threw his hands up. "It ain't our problem anyways, tomorrow we'll be gone and these city slickers can deal with em'." Merle said as he kicked one of the downed walkers. "Come on…" Daryl rolled his eyes. "Gotta get yer ass back to camp." Daryl gestured, grabbing his older brother's arm.

Merle shoved him away. "I am fine right here!" Merle slurred before stumbling and falling to the ground in a heap of laughs. "Come on lets get you back." Daryl said as he grabbed his drunken brother's arm and hoisted it over his shoulder. Merle's breath almost killed him as he helped his brother stumble through the woods back towards camp.

.o.o.

"Daryl is that you?!" Glenn's voice rang out frantically from on top of the RV as Daryl lugged Merle out of the woods and into camp. "Yea hold your panties!" Daryl shouted out to him. Daryl neared the RV close enough where Glenn could get a good look at the two Dixon brothers. "Shit! Is he drunk?!" Glenn asked Daryl nodding towards Merle who leaned on him. "As a skunk lil man… Everyone in bed?" Daryl said as he looked up at the young Asian barely visible in the moonlight. Glenn sighed upon hearing that Merle was drunk, that meant they'd have to deal with his hang over tomorrow which was almost worse. "Yea Amy got Riley situated awhile back… she's probably asleep by now." Glenn informed him.

Glenn was wrong though and Daryl knew it. Riley couldn't go to sleep unless Daryl was present. She was probably sitting up in the tent waiting for him to return as they spoke. "Alright… Guess I'll get this asshole in bed." Daryl called out to Glenn before walking Merle to his truck. If he was right and Riley was indeed awake she didn't need to see shit faced Merle trying to stumble into a sleeping bag. Merle was just going to have to sleep in his truck tonight. Daryl carefully opened the ford's door and propped his brother against the seat. Merle began to laugh for no reason as Daryl untied his older brother's boots. Daryl slowly slipped off the mud soaked boots and stuck them in the floor board of the old pick up.

"Come on Merle, why don't ya lay down." Daryl said coaxing his brother to go into the truck. Merle all of a sudden put a hand on Daryl's shoulder and looked at him in the eyes. "I ain't- I ain't like that…. I ain't like him… I ain't- ain't nothing like him. Nothing like him!" Merle slurred sincerely to his younger brother. Daryl knew exactly what his brother was talking about, well more like who he was talking about. He was talking about their good for nothing dad. Merle as hard as he pushed to not be like their father was only pushing more towards being like him. Daryl sighed grimly and patted his brother's shoulder. "I know Merle… I know." Merle satisfied with Daryl's answer stumbled his way into the truck repeatedly whispering 'I ain't like him, I ain't nothing like him'. Daryl slowly and grimly closed the truck door after Merle climbed in all the way.

Daryl sighed as he walked through camp towards his tent where Riley was waiting for him. Merle was like your drunken uncle at a Christmas party. Daryl was embarrassed to be related to him, to even be in contact with him, but at the same time Merle was blood. As much as Daryl hated to admit it he loved and depended on his older brother. If he had hated Merle he would've just left him on the rooftop of that police station in Fontana, but he didn't. Merle was all he had left and he'd die protecting him.

Daryl continued his walk scuffing the dirt as his crossbow bounced off his back with each step. Along with taking care of his older brother Daryl had now taken on the responsibility of taking care of an eleven year old girl which he had to get back to. He didn't know why he was so focused on taking care of her, but he was and it was too late to go back. The tough part was he would have to decide what he was going to do when it was time for Merle and him to pack their shit and go. What was he going to tell her? Would he tell her anything at all or just leave? Questions raced through his mind as he neared their small green tent.

Daryl slowly pulled back the door to the tent. His eyes immediately fell upon the small body of Riley Dawson laying in her blue sleeping bag her arm around her bear, Tiger. She had her eyes closed, but Daryl saw right through her act. "Ri… I know you ain't asleep, you can hold the theatrics." Daryl whispered setting down his crossbow at the edge of the tent. "I couldn't sleep." Riley's voice echoed through the tent to from her spot in the sleeping bag, her big blue eyes now open and looking up at him. "Well you can now." Daryl whispered back, as he sat down next to her and started to pull off his boots. Her soft blue eyes stared up at him. "Did you find Merle?" Riley asked concerned about the redneck. "Yep." Daryl answered her with a nod.

"Is he ok?" Riley asked her eyes showing worry. It puzzled Daryl. The little girl's eyes showed that she cared. She cared about his older brother for some odd reason. No matter how much Merle was cruel to Riley she had always been compassionate and kind to him. As a matter of fact, Daryl couldn't remember a time when Riley had ever been rude or mean to someone. Yes, she didn't follow rules and was always looking to break them, but she was never out of line. Riley put Merle to shame. She cared about him and others and all he could do was be harsh to the little girl.

"Yea he's just fine… you get some rest okay." Daryl said pulling the edge of the sleeping bag over her small frame. "Are you sure?" She asked once again the worry in her voice spilling out. Truth is she didn't want anyone getting hurt, especially the Dixon brothers. They had been the only constant and non changing things in her life since the apocalypse had started. She didn't want to lose either of them even Merle. "Yea… now get some sleep." Daryl issued her as he rubbed her head and pulled himself into his own sleeping bag next to hers. "Night, Daryl." Riley whispered.

Daryl disappeared in thoughts as it came across his mind, this was the last night he was going to hear that simple two word phrase from her. It was simple, but effective 'Night, Daryl'. He didn't know what would happen to her after Merle and him left, but the not knowing was killing him. Daryl hoped that the group of idiots would be able to take care of her, keep her alive, but he wasn't sure. He watched as her tiny eyelids closed over her blue eyes before whispering "Night, Riley."

.o.o.

TO BE CONTINUED:

NEXT CHAPTER THE TRIP TO ATLANTA

~O~

I hope you all liked it, because it is really fun writing this. I kind of spaced writing my other fanfics because of this one. My view on Daryl has changed a bit since these last few episodes of Walking Dead, in a good way I might add, so with this story I feel like I am being more true to his character now so that's probably why I like this story so much. And for those of you who like the romantic fanfics where Daryl finally gets a woman… I promise this story will eventually have that, but I like focusing on little sweet and innocent Riley and the Dixon Brothers so it will take awhile. Have faith please and review so I know how I'm doing.

RIP Merle Dixon

From

Season 1 Episode 2~ Guts

November 7, 2010

To

Season 3 Episode 15~ This Sorrowful Life

March 24, 2013

-You went from handcuffed on the roof… to saving the group.

Thanks, Big Brother

We'll miss you big brother Merle! Especially me I cried my eyes out… Sorry for all the times I called you an idiot and an arrogant asshole, I didn't really mean it! I just want my racist redneck back :'(

LOVE, J