Hand for a Hand: Part 3
Welcome back my faithful readers and hopefully some new ones as well! I know it has taken me FOREVER to start this Part 3 and I hope you think it will be worth the wait. If you haven't already read "Hand for a Hand: Parts 1 &2" then you will be lost so please go back and read those first. I am weaving in bits and pieces of the path followed by the tv show but there will be lots of veering away and telling my own story. Please take the time to review and give me your feedback. This is a work in progress and if you don't like the direction I'm going in I want to know that too! As usual, I don't own any rights to the characters or storyline of the show. This is just a tribute to one of my favorite characters. There's no time gap from Part 2 to Part 3, this picks up right where it left off. Hope you like it too!
Chapter 1:
Rick walked out into the courtyard area and noticed Merle tinkering under the hood of one of the vehicles. "I know it seems like the right thing Merle but just like we're expecting them to hit us, they are expecting the same thing in Woodbury…."
Merle backed away from the vehicle slightly and turned towards Rick. "I don't know whatcha talkin' 'bout…."
Rick laughed a little to himself. "Let's not play games here Merle….I know what you're planning and it's too dangerous…."
Frustrated Merle threw his screwdriver against the concrete. "Let me guess….good ol' Derylina went cryin' to ya…..damn brother ain't nothin' but a pussy."
"It wasn't Daryl…." Rick replied as he rested his hands against his hips.
Merle scratched his chin for a moment and his eyes widened. He marched past Rick, his shoulder knocking into his as he made his way back into the cell block.
"MERLE…." He heard Rick call out.
Merle could feel the anger building up as he walked into cell block C. "GWEN!"
"Sssssh!" Beth tried to hush Merle. "You'll wake Judith…."
Merle just ignored her as he marched up the stairs. "GWEN!"
Gwen walked out of their cell, looking startled just as Merle walked on to the upstairs platform. "Merle what's wrong?"
"This is how it's gonna be now? Ya don't like my plan so ya just go rat me out to Rick or whoever else will listen to ya?" Merle barked at her.
"It wasn't like that and you know it….I told you I couldn't let you take on Woodbury on your own….it's too dangerous and you know it….you're just so damn stubborn sometimes." Gwen snapped back at him.
"I ain't alone….Daryl and me can take that place down and you know it…." Merle insisted.
"No we can't…." Daryl came up behind Merle from the staircase.
Merle turned to face his brother. "She's poisoned you against me too…."
"Stop it Merle….ya know it ain't like that….yer still limpin' and I ain't gained all the strength back from bein' shot neither….." Daryl explained. "It'd be a suicide run and you know it…."
"No it ain't….ya gotta have a little faith there brother…." Merle replied.
Gwen had walked back into her cell and walked back out with Ethan in her arms. "It is a suicide run but maybe that's what you really want.…." Gwen passed by Daryl as she headed towards the stairs. "He doesn't listen to me…maybe you can get through that thick skull of his."
Merle and Daryl just stared at one another as Gwen headed down the stairs. Merle stepped closer to the railing and watched as Gwen headed out of the cell block. "She can get as pissed as she wants….the only way this will end is to kill the Governor….and I ain't waitin' around here for him to show up….ya can come with me or ya can stay….I don't care anymore…"
"Why don't ya just listen to Rick's plan….that's all I'm askin' ya to do…..just listen…." Daryl pleaded with Merle.
"I'm tired of all this talkin'…..it's time for doin'….."
"Merle if you'd just hear us out I think you'd be on board….Daryl's right….we're just askin' you to listen." Rick remarked as he approached up the stairs.
Merle glared at Daryl and turned his back as Rick stepped closer.
"You can pretend not to listen all you want but goin' into Woodbury like the Lone Ranger and thinkin' you're gonna take everybody is just stupid….even if Daryl went with you it would be the two of you against the whole town….do you really believe you're gonna walk out of there alive?" Rick's voice became stern.
Merle laughed a little to himself and shook his head. "Alright Officer Friendly….let's hear this brilliant plan of yours….."
Rick took a deep breath and stepped closer towards Merle. "You may know Woodbury inside and out but so does the Governor….what he doesn't know is this prison…..that's where we have the advantage…..the element of surprise is what's going to allow us to protect ourselves. You know he has us out manned and out gunned…..but we can out smart him if we stay and defend this prison…."
.
Gwen approached Carol and Axel as they were walking back towards the cell block. The last few days had been spent fortifying the prison
"Carol…..if you and Axel are done could you watch Ethan a bit? I'd ask Beth but she has her hands full with Judith and I don't want to overwhelm her." Gwen asked.
"Of course I don't mind…" Carol stated as she turned towards Axel, resting her hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for all your help…."
"Course….I don't mind….just want to do my part….'specially to help keep these little ones safe…I can't believe…" Axel abruptly stopped mid-sentence as they heard a cracking sound and Carol realized his blood had spattered across her face. Quickly his body slumped to the ground and Carol dove down next to him attempting to take cover as the sound of automatic gunfire erupted. Gwen felt a burning pain in her shoulder but quickly lunged towards the fence in attempt to take cover by an overturned metal table. She clutched Ethan to her chest and did her best to protect him as she rolled to her side, jumping with each sound of the bullets striking the metal table that shielded her. Ethan wailed louder than she had ever heard before and the feeling of dread washed over her. Gwen felt helpless….afraid one wrong move would jeopardize them both. Gwen closed her eyes and held her son close as she listened to the gunfire all around her. It seemed to last forever but eventually the gunshots stopped and all she could hear was shouting. Gwen opened her eyes and slightly lifted Ethan away from her. He continued to cry but Gwen soon was horrified by the deep red staining on his clothes.
"Oh my God no…" Gwen frantically felt all over him, looking for his wound.
Merle dropped to his knees next her as Rick rushed up behind him. "Give 'em to me Gwen…." Merle demanded.
"I CAN'T FIND IT….I CAN'T FIND WHERE HE'S BLEEDING!" Gwen handed Ethan to Merle as he quickly searched for a wound himself.
Rick's hand rested against Gwen's shoulder. "It's not his blood…it's yours…." Rick glanced back at Merle as Merle started to nod.
"It ain't his….not a scratch on him…." Merle kissed Ethan's cheek in relief as Ethan's crying soon settled into a whimper.
"Let's get ya inside and let Hershel take a look at that…..Can you walk?" Rick asked as he helped Gwen to her feet.
Gwen looked over and saw Axel's body on the ground with Daryl nearby helping Carol up and leading her back to the cell block.
Rick gripped the rifle in his hand as he looked over his shoulder towards the gate, his other arm around Gwen as they followed Merle and Ethan inside.
.
"You're lucky…..the bullet only grazed you…." Hershel remarked as he bandaged Gwen's shoulder.
Gwen couldn't say much. She just sat there, her hands trembling as she watched Merle pacing slowly with Ethan. All of his focus was on his son at that moment but Gwen knew as soon as it shifted, Merle would be out for blood and there would be no stopping him. Not by anyone.
" Here….I'll change him if ya want…" Beth started to reach for Ethan but as soon as she looked into Merle's eyes she stopped herself and slowly backed away. Startled as she backed into Daryl, she turned towards him. "I was just….I mean…..here…." She handed a onesie to Daryl and walked away.
Merle's silence was unsettling to Daryl. He thought they had him convinced of Rick's plan before all hell had broken loose or at least close to it. Now Daryl couldn't help but worry what Merle would do next.
"It ends tonight…..one way or another….." Merle stated.
"He wants you to react Merle….he's baiting you….don't play into what he wants….Rick's plan is solid…." Daryl tried to convince him.
"Merle's right Daryl…." Rick stated as he approached. Both Daryl and Merle looked at him confused. "We are out of time….but we need to move the plan into action today….we can't wait any longer….he's bound to hit us again soon. This was just a trial run to check our responses….."
"I'll have everyone start packin' up….Merle?...Ya gotta be on board with this….." Daryl insisted.
Merle sighed heavily. "Once he comes here again, he ain't leavin' alive…..I'm goin' after him no matter what and I ain't stoppin' 'til he's dead….."
"Fair enough…." Rick remarked.
Daryl and Rick reluctantly left Merle to inform the others. Daryl passed by Gwen and handed her the onsie Beth had provided. "Pack your stuff…"
Gwen did her best to fight back tears as she approached Merle and Ethan. Gently she took their son from his arms and sat on the floor with her back against the wall as she began to change Ethan. As soon as she got him into clean clothes she held him close and gently kissed his cheek.
"Get up…." Merle remarked coldly as he grabbed hold of her arm and helped her to her feet.
Gwen was almost too afraid to speak, she felt like anything coming from her at that moment would be wrong. "This was my fault….our son almost died because of me…." A tear streamed down her cheek.
Merle shook his head and cupping her face in his hand, he kissed her firmly on the mouth. Roughly he pulled away from her and she could see the angry brewing in his eyes. "Ya should've been safe in the courtyard….ain't like ya were down by the gate…..only one person to blame for this…..and he's gonna be beggin' for death by the time I'm done…."
Merle turned away and headed out of the cell block. Gwen just stood in silence as he walked away. She knew Merle meant every word and she knew if he didn't kill the Governor, he'd sure as hell die trying….