AUTHORS NOTE! So I made this story all on my own, yup, no help from anybody!...Fine, story idea credit is going to melkS. Thanks for putting up with random questions, and letting me keeping pushing back the day that I finally finish chapter 1! Just know peoples, that we don't condone the use of drugs in anyway other than medicinal, don't be like Merle! And without further letters from me, I give you: THE DRUG IN ME IS YOU!

The whole drive back from Atlanta was a tense one for the group, one lone man sitting in the back corner of the truck seething and shooting murderous daggers at the driver who, for the most part, was doing his best to ignore the glares that he could see through the rearview mirror.

" 'ey there sugar tits. Why don' you come keep ol' Merle company back 'ere?" The short haired man with a thick southern drawl threw the blonde haired woman a wicked smile, throwing his head back to rest against the cool metal of the truck, letting a small giggle escape his mouth when he saw her immediate disgust.

"Merle, I would rather handcuff myself to that rooftop back there and take my chances with those walkers." Andrea was already being pushed to her breaking point with the eldest Dixon brother. From the moment the redneck brothers walked into camp, Andrea could already see there were big differences between the two. While the burly elder was sitting before her spitting racial slurs at T-Dog for dropping key, and sexist remarks to her, she could picture how the younger brother would have just sat there, eyes downcast, maybe not agreeing with his brother but definitely not making a move to stand up to him either, it was clear this man didn't stand for back talk.

"Aw c'mon now. Ain't no reason for ya ta be all hoity toity! I mean, when it comes d'wn to it, you really g'na shack up with black beauty 'ere o'er white meat?" Again, Merle laughed to himself at the thought that Andrea would rather be with T-Dog than himself. "Or maybe ya prefer yella bellies!" This elicited a loud barking laughter, making everyone cringe with disgust.

"I'd prefer 'shacking up' with a walker than to even consider the 'white meat'!" She made air quotes around his own words, smiling internally when she saw the firm scowl settle over his face, at just her use of the phrase 'shacking up', but letting out a chorus of cheers when he looked downright murderous when she practically sneered 'white meat'. Slumping back in his seat, all Merle could do was glare at the floor.

The rest of the drive back was spent in silence; Andrea reveling in her small victory, and Merle was left grumbling from his corner, still glaring at the floor, but he would occasionally lift his gaze to scowl at everyone. Though he glared at T-Dog from time to time, he was silently grateful the black man had turned around at the last second and tossed him the key, and though no one stuck around to see if he was able to get free or not, he was smart enough to keep his comments to himself as he jumped in the back of the truck, just as they were about to close the door, with walkers hot on his heels.

"That's our camp up over there." A Hispanic looking man named Morales said, pointing to where Glenns' red car could be seen, and heard.

Merle looked up from where he had dropped his head to rest his chin on his chest, having given up glaring for the time being, and looked at "officer friendly". Now that he was sobering up, Merle was sizing the man up; he didn't even come close to comparing to Merles' size if it came down to an actual hand to hand fight. It was clear this man liked the element of surprise, which he no longer had now, and Merle was sure to be keeping at least one eye on him. While he may have been silent to this Rick guy now, that didn't mean he was about to forgive and forget, and if Rick didn't watch his back, he could at least bet that Merle was gonna do it for him.

With the truck coming to a halt, and everyone starting to pile out, Merle could hear sounds of relief as various loved ones welcomed them back home safely, but all was thrown into silence when a small cry was heard across the camp.

"Dad!"

Merle looked at the group from his own camp site, huffing in pure annoyance. To say he was surprised that Rick and had found his family here of all places was an understatement, but what made him down right seethe was when he saw that he also knew that other shit-for-brains cop.

Looking at them from over his own dim camp fire, he saw them all smiling, occasionally laughing; Rick holding his son in his lap, while that walking stick who called herself his wife leaned on his shoulder, beaming like she had just won the lottery.

Merle threw his bowl down, done picking at whatever measly meal they had managed to whip up, and call dinner. At least Daryl would be back tomorrow, hopefully with fresh meat. Maybe it was time they started using the meat as a way of getting what they wanted around the camp. Merle and Daryl were after all the only ones that knew the woods like the back of the hands, and knew how to track certain big game.

Walking into his tent, Merle flopped himself down on the sleeping bag closest to the back "wall", there was a chance that it was Daryl's' but at the moment it didn't matter. Sitting back up, he pulled a black backpack over in front of him and fumbled through zippers, finally smiling as he pulled out a small bottle filled about half way with what looked like flour. He didn't feel a need to keep his drug use a secret from anybody, even before the world went to shit it was no secret, only difference now was that he justified it as "letting loose from all the stress", but he never tried to really convince people of that, as he was never really stressed about anything. He tipped the bottle slightly, letting a small pile of white powder fall on his hand, just above his thumb, before quickly snorting it.

Lying back down on the sleeping bag, Merle let his eyes shut, thinking of what they could get out of withholding the meat his baby brother was due to bring back sometime tomorrow. From there his thoughts wandered to getting revenge on "officer friendly". He was certainly going to keep his eyes open for any opportunities he saw. Eyes growing heavy, Merle gave in, letting the thoughts of revenge lull him to, what Merle considered, a deep and peaceful sleep.

Ok guys, I know its short, but what do yall think so far? Should I be like Merle and hold the story hostage for reviews? lol Noooo, Im not that mean and I think melkS would kill me...a little lol. But reviews would be great! Til next time...SHOOT EM IN THE HEAD!