Merle pulled Daryl along behind him "c'mon we ain't got time for this."

"You said we'd eat" Daryl whined they had been walking for hours and hadn't had a proper meal since they left home four days ago.

Merle was growing frustrated with his seven year old brother "there's a small diner up the road we'll stop there" pushing Daryl along so he would keep moving. As they reached the diner Merle noticed the closed sign as they got closer "let's keep going."

"No" Daryl shouted loudly running up to the diner doors "I'm hungry, Merle you promised."

"Daryl it's shut keep moving" Merle approached Daryl annoyed by his attitude.

The door to the diner opened, Merle moved Daryl away not knowing what to expect he came face to face with a woman maybe in her early thirties "come in" she said moving aside.

"No we'll just be on our way" Merle stepped back just as Daryl ran past him inside the diner "Daryl."

"She said we could" Daryl pulled himself onto a stool.

Merle sighed following Daryl inside "sorry for him, ma'am."

"Less of the ma'am my names Carol now take yourself a seat" smiling as she walked toward Daryl and gave him a menu "a big strong boy like you must be hungry" Daryl simply nodded as he looked over the menu not knowing how to pick from so much choice.

"I want a cheeseburger and coke" Daryl pointed to the menu so he was sure she knew which one he wanted.

"And for you?" Carol glanced at Merle.

"You've already shut for the night, don't worry about it" Merle shook his head.

"I'm already cooking for you brother" she paused to make sure she had guessed correctly, Merle gave her a slight nod "now what are you having?"

Merle sighed "I'll just have the same thing."

"Sure thing" Carol smiled at him before heading into the kitchen, Merle looked around the small diner but the more he looked the more he kept getting the feeling something was off. Daryl was talking away even though he knew Merle wasn't listening anymore. "Here you go" Carol placed full plates in front of both of them and took the seat opposite Daryl.

"Thank you" Daryl grinned as he dug in.

Merle dug the last of there money out of his pocket and placed it on the counter, he slid it over toward Carol not even sure if it would cover what he owed "put your money away" she pushed it back toward Merle "I never caught your name."

"Merle Dixon, my brother Daryl" he gestured.

"Who are you running from?" Carol asked, Merle glared at her not liking her questioning "ok where are you headed is that easier?"

Merle shook his head "away from here" he offered as an answer biting into his burger "I just hope I'm doing the right thing" ruffling Daryl's hair who whined at him to stop.

"You are" Carol assured him, she stood up hearing the back door slam open. Merle tensed up and gripped the knife in his hand tighter "it's my husband" she told him telling him to put the knife down. "Carol why are the lights on, who are these people" Ed shouted grabbing her arm pulling her towards him violently.

Merle stood up and put himself between Carol and her husband "don't you touch her."

"Get out of my way" Ed stumbled pushing into Merle, giving him a good sense of what he had been drinking.

"Ed, Ed stop" Carol moved past Merle knowing he wasn't helping her situtation.

"Stupid bitch" he struck her causing her to fall into a near by table, Merle was enraged he took a swing at Ed and kept swinging as he went down.

Carol got back on her feet looking to her husband who was bleeding on the floor to Merle who was wiping his hands in his jeans and then to Daryl who was finishing off his food like nothing had just taken place a couple of feet away. "Daryl get your shit together" Merle helped him off his stool.

"Wait" Carol walked into the back room and came back out with a bag of food.

"I can't take that" Merle refused.

Carol shook her head "It's not for you" she helped Daryl pack the food into his bags, she then proceded to the cash register out emptying it of all the bills "this is" she took Merle's hand and wrapped it around the bills "you take care of him."

"Why?" Merle looked between her and the money confused.

"Run as far as you can" Carol sighed.

Merle looked at Ed on the floor "you could run aswell."

She shook her head "I can't, it's more than just him keeping me here."

They heard Ed stir "what will you tell him about the money?"

"You stole it, so get going he will call the cops" Carol opened the door for them "go now."

"Daryl move" Merle gave Ed a good kick to the ribs before he exited the building "thanks" he nodded to Carol in appreciation. Daryl followed Merle away from the main road and down a couple of back streets. "We'll get some camping gear how does that sound" Merle suggested knowing he couldn't afford anywhere proper to stay. Merle grabbed Daryl's jacket and pulled him into a alleyway hearing sirens getting closer.