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Chapter 2.
Izzy sat in the RV; she tapped her fingers against the table and looked out the window. The group should have been back from the city by now. If anything happened to Merle she would never forgive herself, Merle would never have gone into the city if it wasn't for her breaking the news of their child.
The RV door opened and Dale stepped in, he looked at his niece and smiled. "You okay sweetie?" Dale was starting to worry about Izzy, since the group had left for the city she had just sat in the RV by herself. "You missed lunch and you haven't had any water, it's hot out today you should drink."
Izzy gave a Dale a weak smile. Izzy loved her uncle dearly; he was always looking out for her. Every summer Izzy would take a trip to visit him and his wife Irma. The couple were unable to have their own children and over the years Izzy had become the next best thing to them.
"The groups been gone for a long time, I'm just a little worried." Izzy placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hand.
Dale took his hat off his head and sat next to Izzy. "Don't worry, Andrea will be fine." Dale wrapped his arm around Izzy's shoulders.
Izzy remained silent, she was happy to let Dale believe it was Andrea she was worried about. Dale and Izzy had picked up the blonde sisters on the road when the outbreak first started, and the girls had instantly hit it off. Amy and Izzy had found themselves bonding over art and music while Andrea and Izzy shared an interest in men and books.
Amy flew into the RV as if the devil himself was after her. "Dale, Andrea and the others are trapped in the mall. Shane won't let us go and get them." Amy looked like she was close to tears.
Dale gave a small sigh and stood up he looked down at Izzy, he knew there was something wrong with his niece but it would have to wait for now.
"Come on I'll talk to Shane." Dale led Amy out of the RV.
Izzy felt her heart race, Merle was trapped and it was all her fault. Izzy stood up and walked out of the RV, the whole group stood arguing with each other. Izzy walked towards the group, she noticed there was a whole lot of shouting but no listening.
"If they're trapped in the mall they're as good as dead, y'all know the rules we don't go back that's how we survive." Shane stated firmly.
"I'll go." The group turned to look at Izzy. "On my own, I went on a run with Glenn once I'm sure I remember most of the safe routes."
Dale shook his head. "No, I'm not risking losing you as well."
Shane placed his hands on his hips. "Nobody is leaving we're all..."
Shane was interrupted by a loud car alarm wailing, with in seconds a red Dodge Challenger screeched into view.
"Pop the hood!" Shane yelled angrily. Shane moved under the hood of the car and disconnected the alarm. "Are you stupid? You just rang the dinner bell for every walker around."
Glenn stepped out. "Sorry, we had to use it as a decoy."
Izzy pushed her way to the front the group, relief swept over her. "We?" Izzy looked towards a white van pulling up towards the camp. "You all made it back?"
Glenn looked around the group nervously; he couldn't see Daryl in the crowd. "Merle, he got left behind."
"What do you mean left behind?" Izzy asked as a white van stopped. "Did he get bit?" Izzy felt a surge of panic hit her. if Daryl ever discovered why Merle went on the supply run he'd hate Izzy more than he already did.
Glenn's story was cut short by the excited cries of Lori and Carl. A dark haired man ran towards them and embraced the woman and child.
"Dad." Carl's voice was filled with disbelief and joy.
One by one the rest of the group left the truck and were greeted by family members and loved ones.
Morales patted Rick on the back. "Officer friendly here saved our asses that's for sure."
Izzy hugged her body tightly she felt sick; she was the reason Merle was dead.
Glenn pushed his hands deep into his pants pockets. "Well except for Merle Dixon."
"What happened?" Izzy tried to hide the emotion in her voice.
The newcomer spoke up. "He became volatile and dangerous I had to cuff him to the roof." The man looked full of remorse. "I had no choice."
Izzy's world felt like it started to spin. Merle was chained to the roof like an animal, left for dead. If the walkers didn't rip him to shreds he'd soon die from the heat or starvation. The group's words became nothing more than muffled whispers, Izzy's legs went from beneath her and her body hit the ground with a heavy thud.
"Izzy." Dale rushed to her side. "She passed out." Dale ran his hand over Izzy's face. "We need to get her to the RV and out of the heat."
Shane walked over to the fallen woman and scooped her up in his arms. "I'll put her in the RV, someone get the first aid kit."
Shane placed Izzy gently on the bed in the RV, he moved to one side to let Jacqui check Izzy over.
Jacqui looked at the men. "She seems exhausted. A good nights rest should sort her out."
Dale held Izzy's hand. "She's not been herself lately I don't know what's wrong with her."
Jacqui rubbed the old man's back. "Things will look better in the morning."
Daryl dragged a heavy deer corpse through the undergrowth of the woods, sweat ran down his body and his muscles ached. He had spent the night tracking the deer through the woods; it had been a long time since the group had venison.
"Fuck...you..Merle." Daryl grunted as he pulled the deer along the ground. Daryl knew that carrying a deer was a two man job and it would have been a hell of a lot easier if Merle was with him. "Stupid...fuckin' bitch." Daryl grunted again.
It wasn't the first time Merle had left Daryl for the promise of a good fuck, but it didn't mean it hurt less. Merle had once again abandoned Daryl.
Daryl pulled the deer into the camp area, a walker moved between the trees. "Must have smelt the blood." Daryl mumbled to himself. He turned and headed back into the woods to take care of the threat.
Daryl moved between the trees like a ninja, the walking corpse didn't stand a chance against the Jedi redneck. Daryl released a bolt it hit the walker straight through the head.
Daryl strutted forward and retrieved his arrow. "Dumb bastard." Daryl muttered giving the dead geek a few heavy kicks with his large boot. "Better get back to the deer."
Daryl felt proud of himself. He walked back towards camp with the satisfaction of knowing the camp would eat tonight because of him. Daryl also couldn't wait to see Merle's face once he learnt that Daryl had managed to drag a whole deer back to camp by himself.
Daryl walked back into the clearing to see a few members of the group staring at him. Daryl looked confused by the welcome wagon until his eyes drifted down to where his deer sat. The deer had been torn apart and lying on the floor next to it was a decapitated geek. Daryl felt a sudden surge of anger take over him. He had tracked the deer for miles and dragged it back to camp all for nothing.
"Son of a bitch. That's my deer! Look at it. All gnawed on by this... filthy, disease-bearing, motherless poxy bastard!" Daryl kicked the walker's torso around the ground.
Dale tilted his head at Daryl. "Calm down, son. That's not helping." Dale tried his hardest to diffuse the rednecks temper.
Daryl's eyes snapped up towards Dale. "What do you know about it, old man? Why don't you take that stupid hat and go back to "on golden pond"?" Daryl spat angrily. "I've been tracking this deer for miles. Gonna drag it back to camp, cook us up some venison." Daryl pulled his arrows from the deer and examined the body. "What do you think? Do you think we can cut around this chewed up part right here?"
Shane shook his head. "I would not risk that." The group knew little about the virus and he wasn't about to risk Lori and Carl's lives over some tainted deer.
Daryl sighed in frustration. "That's a damn shame. I got some squirrel… about a dozen or so. That'll have to do."
The severed head of the Walker started to move its teeth and growl. The small group looked disgusted.
Amy grabbed Andrea's arm. "Oh god." She squealed.
Daryl gave a snort at the girl. Daryl hated when the women of the camp acted like precious princesses, they were in a damn apocalypse after all. He loaded his crossbow. "Come on, people. What the hell?" Daryl aimed his crossbow and put the moving head down. "It's gotta be the brain. Don't y'all know nothin?"
The group exchanged nervous glances with each other, each of them knew the situation was about to become explosive. The men followed Daryl back into the camp.
Daryl placed his crossbow down and pulled his rope of squirrels off his body, holding them tightly in his hand. "Merle! Merle! Get your ugly ass out here! I got us some squirrel! Let's stew 'em up."
Daryl's hollering had brought Izzy to the door of the RV. She watched Daryl looking around for his big brother. Izzy's heart felt like it was about to break, Merle may not have been perfect but he was Daryl's brother, Daryl's blood, Izzy couldn't imagine losing Dale.
Shane called over to Daryl. "Daryl, just slow up a bit. I need to talk to you."
Daryl looked around at the group, he realised instantly that something wasn't right. Every member stood with that same pitying look on their faces, it was a look Daryl hadn't seen since he mom burnt to death all those years ago.
"About what?" Daryl looked at Shane.
Shane placed his hands on his hips. "About Merle. There was a… There was a problem in Atlanta."
Izzy watched Daryl's face show every emotion she felt when she learnt about Merle, fear, anger and finally guilt.
"He dead?" Daryl asked softly
Shane wasn't sure how to answer the question, so he answered it honestly. "We're not sure."
Daryl's upset quickly turned to confusion. "He either is or he ain't!" He yelled angrily.
Izzy watched the new man wade into the conversation. He kept his body language and tone calm. "No easy way to say this, so I'll just say it."
Daryl didn't seem to care for the newcomer. "Who are you?"
"Rick grimes."
Daryl gave an angry snort. "Rick grimes, you got something you want to tell me?"
Rick took a deep breath and calmly tried to explain the situation to the rage filled redneck. "Your brother was a danger to us all, so I handcuffed him on a roof, hooked him to a piece of metal. He's still there."
Daryl walked around in circles, he couldn't believe what he was hearing and this group had abandoned his only family. "Hold on. Let me process this. You're saying you handcuffed my brother to a roof and you left him there?!"
Rick took a deep calm breath. "Yes." Was his only reply.
It wasn't the answer Daryl wanted; he threw his rope of squirrels at Rick. The man skilfully dodged the squirrel attack. Daryl lunged at Rick only to get pushed to the ground. With his rage building Daryl pulled out his knife and attacked the man again. Shane leapt to Rick's defence; he moved behind Daryl and pulled him into a strong chokehold. Daryl gave a squirm and a whimper.
"Let him go." Izzy cried. "You're hurting him."
Rick looked over at Izzy and then back down to the struggling Daryl. "I'd like to have a calm discussion on this topic. Do you think we can manage that?"
When Daryl didn't answer Shane intensified his grip on Daryl's throat forcing an answer." Mmm. Yeah." Daryl whimpered
Shane released Daryl.
Rick used his calm, cool police officer tone hoping to get through to Daryl. "What I did was not on a whim. Your brother does not work and play well with others."
T-Dog spoke up. "It's not Rick's fault. I had the key. I dropped it."
"You couldn't pick it up?" Daryl sounded like he was about to cry.
"Well, I dropped it in a drain." T-Dogg explained.
Daryl wiped his nose. "If it's supposed to make me feel better, it don't." Daryl sniffed. "Hell with all y'all! Just tell me where he is so that I can go get him." Daryl yelled.
Izzy wanted to comfort Daryl, she wanted to hold him and let him know everything was going to be okay. Daryl looked so small and lost.
Lori walked towards Daryl. "He'll show you. Isn't that right?" She looked over at Rick.
Rick nodded. "I'm going back."
Lori glared at Rick and shook her head; she walked back to the RV and entered the vehicle with a short huff.
Izzy watched as the men gathered supplies ready to leave. Daryl was sitting by himself working on an arrow. She made her way towards the youngest Dixon and sat down next to him.
Daryl didn't look up; he continued working on the arrow. "What, Merles missin' so now you after me?" Daryl didn't hide his dislike for the woman.
Izzy scowled deeply. "No, I want you to know, I know how you feel." She spoke softly.
"Pftt. You were just a fuck to Merle, don't you dare fool yourself into thinkin' you were somethin' special." Daryl finally made eye contact with Izzy. Daryl noticed how sad and haunted the young woman's eyes looked.
"Daryl, please...I'm sorry." Izzy felt her throat tighten and her eyes start to well with tears. "Merle and I had a fight and he left."
Daryl tilted his head and squinted. "Bout what?"
"We're ready to go." Rick yelled to Daryl.
Daryl looked over at Rick and nodded. He looked back to Izzy; he wanted to know what the woman said to make Merle leave. Daryl scanned Izzy's face for an answer. Whatever the argument was about it had taken its toll on the woman, she looked liked she had aged overnight.
Izzy stood up, she couldn't tell Daryl, how could she? He'd hate her for being so careless. "Merle can tell you when you find him." Izzy walked back to the RV, she felt like a coward but the secret wasn't hers to tell Daryl, that was Merle's job.
Izzy stood on the step of the RV and watched the van pull away. She silently prayed that Merle would return with the men.
