A/N: This is my first Meth (Merle & Beth) story.

Anyway, this is the first chapter. I'm very nervous about it because Merle is a very intimidating character. Please let me know what you think of it and if you think I should continue it.

Also slightly AU because, well, Merle ain't dead.

-Angie

Chapter 1

Beth POV

Over the past two months, I have heard stories about him from everyone, including Daryl. The only difference was that Daryl knew why he was, the way he was and would forgive him for anything.

Merle Dixon, he seemed very intimidating and every bit the stereotypical Southern redneck so I stayed as far away from him as possible, even though I watched him from afar. There was something strangely mesmerizing about him.

But today was different, I was on a run with Daryl and Merle. Not the ideal pair to travel with but it was out of necessity.

Three days ago, The Governor and his men had attacked the prison while Daryl and Merle were out huntin' and though it wasn't a full out attack to destroy us, almost everyone that was there was hurt, except me because I was in the prison with Judith. Those who weren't injured badly were still unable to go on a quick run and other than daddy, who had been shot, I was the only one who knew what we'd need.

"Bethie!" I turned around to see Daryl runnin' towards me.

"Hey Daryl," I smiled, "Is everythin' okay?"

"Yeah," he slung his crossbow over his shoulder and an arm around my neck, "C'mon, we gotta go."

He was leanin' on me as we walked towards the building Merle was in. I didn't know why he was doin' that until I saw his eyes roll back into his head.

"Daryl?" He fell, pulling me down with him, "Daryl! Wake up!"

"Merle help! Daryl needs help!" I yelled over and over until he came.

"Damn, lil girl. You gonna draw ever' walker to us. What tha hell happened?"

"I...I don't know. He was fine and then he...he just collapsed."

"Gotta get 'im inside."

Merle picked him up and headed into the pharmacy. Once inside, he looked Daryl over and found he had a huge gash on the back of his head and deeper one on his stomach.

"Fuck. Ya daddy teach ya anythin' 'bout stitchin' anyone up?"

I shook my head, "Yeah."

"K suga. Ya gonna have to sew lil brotha up. Think ya can?"

"Yeah, I think so."

He started takin' off his prosthetic while I gathered up the stuff I'd need.

"What're doin'?" I asked.

"Tha fuck you think I'm doin'? Gonna hold Darylina down for ya, 'less ya'd rather him be jumpin' 'round," he growled.

I was too scared to form words so I just shook my head "no" and proceeded to stitch up Daryl. When I had finished, I tried to lift his side up to see if there were any cuts on his back but Merle grabbed my hand.

"Whatcha doin' there, girlie?" He growled angrily.

"I'm...I was just checkin' to see if anythin' was on his back."

"Ain't nothin' there. No need fer ya to go lookin'."

I tilted my head and glared at him, "There's no need for you to get mad," I said, "I've seen his scars." He pushed my hand away and walked out of the room angrily.

Daryl was still out so Merle and I packed the truck and he loaded Daryl into the back seat.

No words were spoken as we headed back to the prison. It was a good 4 hour drive and from the looks of it, it was gonna be silent and uncomfortable. At least when Daryl was awake, I had someone to talk to.

"How old are ya?" Merle said, startling me out of my thoughts.

"17 maybe 18 by now," I replied.

"Huh, guess lil brotha likes 'em young."

I glared at him, "Excuse me?"

"Didn't think he'd go fer lil girls."

"What are you talkin' about?"

"Ya fuckin' Darylina, ain't ya? Didn't think my lil brotha was inta jailbait."

"I'm not sleepin' with him. We're friends and I'm not a little girl."

He chuckled and smirked. That pissed me off. After a good while we heard Daryl groan in the backseat.

"Too fuckin' quiet," he said, "why don't ya sing somethin', Bethie?"

I glanced back at him, "What'd you want me to sing?"

Before the prison, it would've seemed odd that he'd ask me that but since we've been there, Daryl has become like a big brother to me. He was always checkin' up on me and Judith and would even carry me on runs. It was nice actually. It's how I would imagine Shawn being, if he were here.

"Don't care. Jus' sing somethin'."

"Darylina goin' soft," Merle murmured.

"Shut up Merle," Daryl muttered.

I looked back at Daryl, smiled and started to sing:

"Standing at the back door She tried to make it fast One tear hit the hard wood It fell like broken glass She said sometimes love slips away And you just can't get it back Let's face it

For one split second She almost turned around But that would be like pouring rain drops Back into a cloud So she took another step and said I see the way out and I'm gonna' take it

I don't wanna' spend my life jaded Waiting to wake up one day and find That I've let all these years go by Wasted"

["Wasted" by Carrie Underwood.]

"Well damn, lil girl can sing. Cain't believe she an' lil brotha ain't fuckin'. They gotta be. Girl looks like a fuckin' angel though." Merle thought to himself.

Beth POV-

Halfway into the song I heard Daryl snoring so I stopped.

"Whatcha do that for, darlin'?" Merle asked with a smirk.

"Daryl was the one who wanted me to sing, I figured you'd rather I stopped since he's asleep."

"Naw, ya jus' keep on singin'," he said. So I did until we reached the prison.

"Oh my God!" I was in shock when we pulled up to the gates. "He must've come back!" I cried out.

"Damn," was all I heard from Daryl and Merle.

I was the first one out of the car and I was headed into the prison when both Merle and Daryl grabbed my arms.

Daryl looked at me and shook his head, "Get back in the car an' stay there 'til we come back."

All I could do was nod in response. I got back in the car and waited patiently for them to return. Just as I was about to get out, I saw Merle runnin' towards the car with Judith in his arms. He quickly got in and handed her to me before starting the car and leaving the prison.

"Merle, where's Daryl? Where's everyone else? What happened?" Judith was cryin' along with me but he didn't answer, "Merle!"

"Dontcha worry, darlin'. Daryl'll catch up ta us."

"Okay but where are we goin' and where's everyone else?"

"No one was in there 'cept her."

This wasn't good. Nobody would've left Judith there alone, not willingly anyway. Where had they all gone? Were they dead or alive? Were they with the Governor or on their own? My mind was reelin' with questions I was sure would remain unanswered for now.