THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN UPDATED AND THE MEETING BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS HAS CHANGED SLIGHTLY. HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS VERSION.

Disclaimer: I do not own the walking dead or any of its characters, but if I did I would definitely have Daryl Dixon.

Rate M for language and I'm gonna apologise in advance just in case any of the names or language the Dixons use causes anybody any offence.

This is set just before the Dixons meet up with the rest of the Atlanta survivors but will then continue on through season 1.

Enjoy

Daryl's POV

I raise my bow as the owner of the footsteps comes into view. She ain't the scariest walker I've ever seen. She's small, about 5ft 5. She's got bare feet and is wearin' a white and yellow dress that looks like its seen better days. She rounds the corner but comes to a stop about 20 yards away from where Merle and I are stood. The wind is blowin' her long, black hair into her face, making it impossible for us to see how grotesque she actually is.

"Damn, she got one tight little undead body". I roll my eyes at Merle's comment but otherwise don't say anythin'. I aim my crossbow at her head and prepare to fire. I freeze with my finger on the trigger and lower my bow slightly when she takes a sudden step back with her hands raised in surrender.

Merle breaths out roughly beside me, "Well fuck me". She runs her fingers through her hair to remove it from her face, allowin' us to get a look at her face. She has a few dark smudges on her skin but that doesn't diminish how beautiful she is. Oh man, if merle could hear this he'd kick my fuckin' arse and call me a pussy. I lower my bow completely and swing it round onto my back. I then hold up my hands to try and show her I mean no harm. I cast a quick glance at Merle to make sure he's doin' the same.

I turn back to the girl. Her eyes are flickin' between both me and Merle. She's terrified, although I can't blame her. We ain't the cleanest or the nicest people around. I take a step forward but I stop myself from movin' any closer when she takes another massive step back.

"Hey squirt, it's alright. We don't mean no harm. We're just tryin' to get back to our truck". She doesn't seem to believe Merle but if I didn't know him as well as I do then I wouldn't believe him either. I know I should be tryin' to back Merle's statement up but I ain't got a clue on what to say. Nobody ever believes anythin' we say so why would she? Merle takes another step forward and passes me. "Ma names Merle". He then points at me, "and this 'ere is ma brother Darylina". I scoff at him. He really needs to stop callin' me that.

The girl frowns at me and even from this distance I can see the questionin' look in her brown eyes. I shake my head and smile slightly at her.

"The names Daryl", her features smooth out and I may be imaginin' it but I swear there's even the slightest hint of a smile formin' on her lips. I take this as a cue to move forwards.

We manage to walk a few more feet forwards but our advance is halted when a look of horror replaces her smoothed out features. Her hand flies out and she points at me, no not at me, behind me. I turn round and find that comin' towards us is a fuckin' shit load of walkers. Merle tugs at my shirt forcin' me to move backwards. It's the only encouragement I need. I spin round and race down the alley towards the girl with Merle followin' close behind.

She hasn't moved she's still starin' horrified at the crowd of approachin' walkers. I reach out and grab her wrist leavin' her no other option but to run along beside me. Merle passes by and heads towards a door up ahead. He pushes it open and disappears inside. He then slams the door shut just as we make it inside. I let go of her wrist and allow her to step back. She stares nervously at the door as the walkers start poundin' against it. Merle and I share a quick look, neither one of us knows what to do know.

Our problem is solved when the door creaks and the lock snaps. The door swings open and the walkers start to pour in. Merle takes a few of them out while I her push her towards the only other door in this entrance hall. She doesn't hesitate to open the door. We step out into an open plan office area.

I hear the groan before I see the walker but at least it gives me enough time to reach out and wrap my arm around the girl's waist so I can pull her behind me. I then grab my knife and stick it right in the top of the walkers head. Merle comes up behind me and slaps me on the shoulder.

"Ya alright bro?" I nod my head at him before we both then look at the still unnamed girl before us. "How 'bout you sweet cheeks?" she nods her head.

"Yes. Thank you for", she trials off and instead gestures towards the door. She then looks at me as I continue to stare unashamedly at her. She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth as a blush spreads up her neck and onto her cheeks. Merle coughs to break our attention away from each other. She looks at him and sticks her hand out for him to shake.

"I'm Danny".

Danny's POV

I wince at how raw and croaky my voice sounds. I haven't spoken for nearly a month, there was no need to. I've been on my own for a long time. It feels weird talking to these two. A grin stretches out on Merle's face as he steps forwards to grasp my hand in one of his own large ones. I was going to do it to Daryl but every time he touches me goose bumps break out on my skin. It's those piercing blue eyes, that half smirk and his deep gravelly voice. There, well there's no other word for it except hot.

I remove my hand from Merles and fold my arms around myself as I wait for the questioning to begin. I know their dying to ask me things. You can see it on the faces. Merle sits down on the edge of a desk and stares intently at me. I try to keep his gaze just so my eyes don't flick over to Daryl.

"So, what's a small thing like ya'll doin' out 'ere all by ya self? Actually I suppose a better questions is how 'ave ya survived out 'ere all by ya self? Ya don't exactly look like ya hidin' an array of weapons in that dress." He doesn't waste any time, he's definitely a get to the point kind of guy.

"I've been hunkered down in the building next door for about a month. I haven't come across any of those things that I can't hide from yet, well until today that is. I ran out of food, I was on my way to try and find some". Merle just stares at me. He knows I'm avoiding his first question. I take in a deep shaky breath, step back and collapse down onto a seat. "I was down here with my mum and dad, visiting a place near here. We listened to the broadcasts and came here just like they said. We actually got into the city, was on our way down to the camp they set up but before we even got close to it those things started appearing. Knew then and there that it wasn't safe, wasn't what they said it would be. The military started firing at anything that moved. Didn't care whether they were dead or not. My dad, he um." I stop and run a hand nervously through my hair. I can feel tears burning at the back of my eyes but I try to keep them at bay. "He grabbed me and told me to run. He said he'd meet at the little book shop three blocks from where we were. It was the only place I knew the location of. He said he had to go and find mum because she got separated from us in the panic. Well I'm sure you know where this is going but well, he never showed up, neither of them. About two hours after I arrived at the shop the helicopters came in, started dropping napalms into the city. I hid down in the basement to wait for it all to pass. When I came back up, well, there was nothing left except those things." I avert my eyes when I can feel a tear slowly making its way down my cheek. "Their either walking around as one of the undead or they're just dead. Either way I wish I'd gone back out with my dad, at least that way I'd be with them. I have no one left, I'm on my own. Do you know how hard that is? Having no one to talk to, having no one to keep safe or to keep me safe." I drop my head down into my hands and just let the tears flow. A hand is placed on the back of my neck so I lift my head up slightly to see who it is. Daryl is knelt down beside me staring at me, he's probably worried about my well-being I would be if I was him. I've just broken down crying in front of them and I don't even know them.

I sit back up straight and wipe my hand over my eyes to wipe away the offending tears. "I'm sorry. You probably didn't want to hear my whole sob story. It just came flooding out, sorry". Neither one of them says a word. They just look at each other in silence well that is until Merle suddenly jumps to his feet. He reaches out for my hand and pulls me to my feet.

"Well today's ya lucky day squirt. I wouldn't normally go around pickin' up strangers but I like ya and ma brother 'ere can't seem to stop starin' at ya." I blink in surprise and cast a quick glance at Daryl but he doesn't deny Merles statement. "So I'm gonna offer ya a choice, either ya can come with us for good or ya'll come with us so we can stock ya up on supplies and help ya find a safe place to hold up". I stare at him utterly gobsmacked. They don't even know me. Merle looks down at the floor before looking back up at me with his eyebrows raised.

"There is one thing I need to ask ya before we set off. What the fuck 'appened to ya shoes?" I look down at my feet and wiggle my toes. A small chuckle passes through my lips. The truth is I was wearing sandals, which are not good for running in so I had to ditch them. I've done better without them.

I shrug my shoulders at both Dixons. "I have no idea". Merle lets out a bellowing laugh while Daryl only chuckles lightly, which I have to admit goes with all the other things of his that I find utterly hot.

Merle turns around and walks over to the other side of the room, towards a door. He opens it and peers out before shutting it and coming back over to us.

"We better get movin', truck ain't too far from here and we gotta get to it before it gets dark". He doesn't wait for either of us to agree. He just arms himself with his rifle and walks back over to the door.

Daryl gestures for me to go in front of him as we head over to the door. We step into the next room but my steps falter when the room is pitch black. I can't even see Merle. Daryl walks into my back and sends me stumbling forward. His hands latch onto my hips to keep me up right.

Merle switches on a flash light and points it at me, just to see where we are. He then scans it round the rest of the room until he finds another door. Daryl's hands are still situated on my hips and he doesn't seem in any hurry to remove them. Well that is until Merle opens the door and light floods in, he then turns back to look at us wearing a smirk.

"Are ya comin' or not?" He then steps out into the alley. Daryl removes his hands from my hips but doesn't stop the contact. He slides one of his hands round to rest on my lower back, not that I'm going to complain. He then pushes me out into the alley.

Merles already halfway down the alley, heading towards the blue Chevy at the bottom. I am a little confused on why there's a bike in the bed of it because surely it's not really practical to drive but I'll save that question for later.

I slide into the cab and move so I'm sat right beside Merle so Daryl can get in. Merle does a U-turn and heads off away from the centre of Atlanta.

TWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWD

We've been cramped in this truck for the best part of an hour. I've got my eyes shut and my feet up on the dash trying to get some shut eye because I haven't exactly been sleeping well. I should really put the emphasis on the word trying because I've not managed to get any because something is running through my head, something Merle said.

"Are you implying I'm short?" I really need to sort out my priorities straight. Both Dixons laugh but Merle still casts me a confused look out of the corner of his eye. I clarify my outburst. "You called me squirt. I'll have you know I'm perfectly proportioned".

"I've got eyes sweet cheeks, I can tell how 'perfectly proportioned' ya are but the fact remains that ya do only just come up to our chest so". He trails off with a wink in my direction. A blush floods onto my cheeks as I lightly punch Merle in the arm while calling him a pervert. He drums his fingers against the steering wheel and shrugs his shoulders.

"What can I say kid. I'm a man and well, how can I put this nicely, ya hot". I try to ignore the last part of his speech and just go straight to the most important part.

"I'm not a kid. I'm legally an adult, only just though". He stops drumming his fingers.

"Huh really?" that seems to end the conversation. I've never really looked my age, mainly due to my height. I glance beside me at Daryl who has remained quiet throughout mine and Merle's little chat. He's sat like me with his feet up on the dash and his head resting on the seat with his eyes closed, his arm is even hanging out the window. It's unbelievable how sexy he looks right now. The wind is blowing through his light brown hair, he looks so relaxed.

His eyes suddenly open so I hurriedly avert my gaze, praying that he didn't catch me staring.

"We should find someplace to rest for the night. We need to get somewhere before it gets too dark". I look at Daryl as he talks, when he finishes he smirks down at me. I bite my bottom lip as the warmth rises up my neck and spreads out onto my cheeks. He definitely knows I was staring.

"Yeah we'll go to that housin' estate we passed on our way 'ere. Looked empty, should be ok". Daryl makes a small noise of agreement before resuming his previous position.

TWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWD

Merle pulls into a small cul-de-sac and comes to a stop right in the centre of the road. Neither of them waste any time, as soon as the engines switched off they both climb out. I hesitantly slide out after Daryl. I wait for them to grab their bags and also allow them to pick a house. They go for a house with its front door closed. It may have walkers inside it but for some reason it makes it seem just a little bit safer to go into. Merle leads the way, once we reach the porch Daryl looks down at me.

"Stay with me". He doesn't have to tell me twice. I'm already basically clued to his side. Merle swings the door open and steps inside. He flicks on his flashlight and shines it up the stairs. I take it he wants Daryl to go up. Of course I go with him.

We come to a stop at the top. I have no idea what we're waiting for. Well I don't until Daryl taps his crossbow against the banister. I think he's trying to draw out anything that may be up here. When nothing appears he hands me a flashlight and points towards the two open doors at the end of the hallway.

I shakily walk towards the first door and use my fingertips to push it open all the way. I sigh in relief when I find it empty. At least I've found the bathroom. I head over towards the other door. This one's open further than the other one, allowing me to see the décor. It's pink, a really bright shocking pink. This room most definitely belonged to a little girl. I slowly push the door open all the way and use my flashlight to scan the room.

The torch slips from my fingers as my hands fly up to cover my mouth. On the floor is a mass of teddies and lying amongst all those stuffed bears is the little girl herself. Her parents lay beside her, holding each other with her in their arms.

A small muffled sobs breaks through my lips as I step backwards, away from the scene before me. A set of hands clamp down onto my hips, pulling me back into a hard, warm chest. Before I can stop myself, I've spun around in Daryl's arms and buried my face into his shirt.

The image of that small family, lying curled up together sits on the back of my eyelids, permanently there for me to see. Each one of them had a bullet hole in the head, even the little girl, who couldn't be more than two years old. They opted out together.

My senses come flooding back so I quickly step out of Daryl's embrace. I hurriedly swipe at the few tears that have escaped while trying to avoid Daryl's firm blue eyes.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to, I mean sorry if I made you". I trail off because now I'm just making myself look stupid. I mean I hardly know him and I'm already throwing myself at him. He shakes his head and grabs my wrists in both of his large hands. He pulls them away from my face and places them between us.

"It's fine darlin'". My breathing stutters as I stare up at him. I've been called darling before but the way he says it is just, I don't know, it's just hot. I can feel the start of a blush making its way onto my cheeks. Daryl does his famous smirk, he's noticed my blush, he then quirks an eyebrow up. "Ya ready to go get somein' to eat?" No matter how hot he is being, the opportunity of actually eating food is too good to miss. I moan and bounce back on my heels.

"Please, I'm starving". He chuckles and keeping hold of one of my wrists, he drags me after him as he makes his way back down stairs. The scene from the little girl's room is forgotten.

We emerge into the living room where Merle has been busy setting up a little fire, so he can cook what little food they have. Merle quirks an eyebrow at us when he notices Daryl's hand still holding onto my wrist. At least he doesn't say anything. Daryl leads us both over to one of the couches before releasing his grip on my wrist. He then drops down onto the couch while I opt for sitting on the floor. Before I make myself comfy on the carpet I lift up the front of my dress so I can reach into the pocket of my shorts. I can barely hide my smile as Merle stops rifling through his bag to look up at me with his mouth agape. The smile soon to turns to a frown though when he sees that I'm actually wearing shorts. I reach into one of my front pockets and pull out my second most prized possession, my IPod. Merle smirks up at me,

"Really?" I frown at him and sit down with my back up against the couch.

"Yes really", I place the headphones in my ears and press play. I lean back and close my eyes so I can listen to the music while enjoying the smells from the food that is cooking.

A hand nudges me knee so I peel open one of my eyes to see who's disrupting me. It's Merle but he has good reason. He's holding a plate of food in front of me. I yank my headphones out and snatch the plate from his outstretched hands. Before I can stop myself a deep moan escapes from my lips. I then, without any thought start to shovel the food into my mouth in a very un-lady like manner. Only when I realize that it's very, very silent around me do I look up at both Dixons. They're staring at me once again with shock and amusement written all over their faces. Daryl leans forwards to look me in the eye with his eyebrows raised.

"Ya hungry by any chance, when was the last time ya ate?" I swallow my food and shrug at him.

"Dunno, maybe two or three days ago, at least". Daryl just continues to stare at me, with a gaze so intense it's hard to look away. Well that is until Merle snaps his fingers at the two of us. Daryl is the first to look away which I'm grateful for because a blush forms on my cheeks at being caught. Merle chuckles at our awkwardness and points at my plate.

"Eat up sweet cheeks. We'll get more tomorrow". I smile thankfully at him and eat up the rest of my food, only this time I eat it properly instead of just shovelling it in. I try to keep my eyes from drifting to the man sat next to me. I nearly succeed, until he stands up and steps over my outstretched legs. My eyes can't help but follow his retreating form or more accurately his backside in those trousers as he walks into what I assume is the kitchen.

I finish up and pass my plate back to Merle with a quiet but truthful "thank you". He nods at me but continues to rummage through his bag. With nothing else to do, I put my headphones back in and slide back down until I'm slouched down against the sofa with my legs spread out in front of me. Another very un-lady like thing, but it is comfy.

TWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWD

I must have dozed off because I'm startled awake when a hand that is getting all too familiar, latches onto my upper arm. Daryl's deep voice comes from right by my ear.

"Get up now". I comply reluctantly with a small childish huff. He doesn't let go of me once we're standing, instead he pulls me rather forcefully towards the stairs. I was comfortable where I was but by the look on Daryl's face, I don't think I should argue with him.

We're halfway up the stairs when the kitchen door slams against the wall followed by Merle who comes strutting into the room. He looks around the living room before finally spotting us on the stairs. He makes his way over to us so I tug on Daryl's hand to stop him from dragging me up the stairs. As Merle gets closer a very strong smell hits me. I've never done drugs before but even I know what heroin smells like, and he absolutely reeks of it. Not only that but hanging out of a pocket on his vest is a baggy which is full of white powder.

"Hey sugar tits, is he takin' ya to 'ave a good time cause I can do that. I can show ya a fuckin' real good time". My mouth drops open, I'm utterly gobsmacked, I'm speechless. Merle steps forwards and reaches through the banister but I take a step back and press myself up against the wall before he can grab me. This is not the Merle I met earlier. This is not the man I want to keep me safe.

Daryl suddenly steps down to stand in front of me. He grabs one of Merles hands and bends it up at a painful angle.

"Ya try to lay a hand on her again I'll chop the fuckin' thing off. I don't give a fuck if ya ma brother, I have no problem feedin' ya to them dead bastards outside". Daryl's voice is low and menacing, it's definitely not something I ever want used against me. What's hitting me the most though is the fact that Daryl's threatening to leave his brother just to defend me, he doesn't even know me.

"Fine whatever just get ya fuckin' hand off me." Daryl lets Merle's arm go. Merle then steps back with a few unsavoury words and collapse down onto the couch. I guess he's done. Daryl tugs at my arm and pulls me the rest of the way up the stairs. He leads me over to a bedroom which holds a double bed.

"Get some sleep, we've got a big day tomorro." I cross my arms over my chest, there is no way he's getting away with not explaining about Merle.

"You could have told me. I'm not sure I want to stay here, not with him downstairs. Merle gave me two options back at them offices and right now I'm leaning towards option 2. Leaving"! He just ignores me and points towards the bed.

"I said go to bed". I decide I might as well leave this argument till morning that way I'd have slept on it and Merle will be back to normal.

I climb under the covers. Once my head hits the pillow I moan, I can't help it. This bed is amazing. I whisper goodnight to Daryl who is still stood in the door way, he smiles the smallest of smiles back. I expect him to leave but he doesn't, instead he places his back up against the doorframe and slides down. He rests his arms against his knees and looks back over at me.

"I'll make sure he don't come up 'ere tonight". I'm extremely grateful, I don't think I would have slept if I was left on my own. I close my eyes knowing that I'll be ok and that this maybe the best night's sleep I've had in a long time.

I hope you've enjoyed the updated version, I'll redo chapter two after I've completed chapter 11. Please review