Nox: Oh do I love Carol and Merle together. So while Promise might be the best fic I will have ever written, this one may have echoes of it. Please, so many of you have favorited and alerted (like a unique 30 of you) - all it takes is writing something so simple in that little box at the bottom. And you would make me the happiest person on the planet. Do you know that?

letmefallasleep - this is for you, because I miss talking. Hope it's good.

Disclaimer: The Walking Dead belongs to Kirkman and AMC.

Safe

He couldn't believe what they were doing. Goddamn fools is what they were. Coming out there in the middle of all them walkers just to get them. Hell they probably left Jude and Beth alone in the damn prison. That pissed him off.

But what really set his teeth on edge was watching Carol patiently take down any walkers that came within her range.

He couldn't deny though, the swell a pride in his chest at the way she took them down without any fear.

He'd given her that.

He heard Merle laugh under his breath behind him. "Dumbasses," he muttered.

Daryl turned on him, glaring. "Those dumbasses are comin' ta save our asses," he barked, feeling the rush of anger swallow him.

Those were his people coming for them. They'd made the choice to come out there, in the middle of all this shit, for them.

"Hey," Rick called, pulling on his shoulder, pulling him away from what he knew would become another fight if he didn't back off. "Let's help them out," he said behind him, and started walking, catching his gaze as he went passed.

He took a step back, and rolled his shoulders. He couldn't start this shit with Merle now. He followed behind Rick, brushing passed Merle's shoulder.

"Right behind ya brother," he murmured darkly, clapping his hand over the spot where Rick's had just been.

He couldn't help glancing back at the group, his gaze falling on her, as his gut twisted.

Carol watched them from out of her peripheral vision. Watched them make their way along the fence, taking out walkers as they went. She thought it would go slow, would kill her to see him just out of reach. But it happened faster than she thought it would. There were so many, and they kept coming in through the gate she was sure they'd never get them all. But they moved through the walkers fast. She waited until each walker came close enough, and then she would reach forward and stab her knife through the part that looked softest. The reassurance of the others at her back kept her calm, made her feel strong.

Her hands and arms were covered in thick, black blood by the time they reached the others.

By the time she saw his face.

He looked worn out, and broken down. He had some cuts on his face that she couldn't even guess as to where they'd come from, and his shoulders were hunched as he ran toward them.

"The hell ya'll think your doin'?" He called, rushing forward to meet them, shooting a walker down. Rick followed close on his heels, using the heel of his gun to bash in the head of a walker. Daryl retrieved his arrow, looking around, coming in close.

So close.

And Merle, he held back, walking with that easy, cocky gait of his, waiting behind them both. Waiting specifically behind Daryl.

She didn't like the way his eyes roamed over them all, calculating, like he was hunting for prey. There was a dangerous aura around him then, and she couldn't place on why.

He checked out Glenn and Carl first, watching their weapons. His eyes moved to Michonne next, lip curled up when he saw her and the sword in her hand.

And then his eyes fell on her, and they narrowed. They watched each other for a moment, and she knew he could tell just what kind of woman she was, if he didn't remember her from the quarry.

When you're wounded, damaged, you always seem to find others who were like you, could recognize them. She knew Merle was no exception to that, no matter how tough he liked to make himself out to be. And he was a broken man, deep inside. She could see that from the way he tried to puff out his chest, by the way he walked. Ed used to have a walk similar to that. But it was his eyes that gave it away, the distance behind them. He was hiding something, just like Daryl always was.

It was that realization that rocked her, making her head spin. He was so much more like Daryl than she had ever thought he would be.

It made her chest clench, for him.

And then Merle's lips tilted up, his grin cocky. "Little brothers right," he crowed, and slammed his metal arm into the walker that had been slowly closing in on him. She grimaced, watching the gruesome scene unfold as black blood and brains oozed over his arm. And then the distance was gone, and the arrogance was back.

"Ya'll a bunch a goddamn fools comin' out here like this," he laughed, cackling high. He couldn't believe that they'd made it this far.

Maybe the crazy-ass black chick, and the Chinaman. And hell, that filly with the small titties and the nice ass weren't too bad with a machete neither. But the kid and the broad with the short hair? That was a fuckin' joke. Bitch was too old to be doin' nothin' but washin' clothes and cookin' him some dinner. And the kid weren't taller than his fuckin' chest. Hell, he'd take the little bastard out with one swing of his arm.

It was a goddamn joke is what it was, his brother callin' them family.

Carol could literally feel the atmosphere around her change. Daryl's face twisted, guilt and shame all over him. His chin dropped, eyes cast downward. She felt her chest constrict at that, at the way he fell submissive to Merle like that was his role.

Daryl was his own person, had grown into his own man. That he fell in check behind Merle, after they had only been together for a couple days, left her feeling empty inside.

Glenn tensed, the pipe in his hands held dangerously high, as Maggie took a step toward him.

"We came out here to save your sorry ass," he said through clenched teeth, the pipe now shaking in his hand.

Maggie reached down, placing her hand over his. But he jerked away, taking a step away from her, and toward Merle. Michonne went with him, both of them advancing on Merle now.

It was the wrong place to be having this conversation. They were still surrounded by walkers, still in possible danger of the Governor coming back and leading another attack on them. They were tired, they were vulnerable.

They were weak.

Rick stepped in, looking more exhausted than she had ever seen him before. He looked like he had been through hell and back.

"This isn't the time for this," he whispered hoarsely, eyes wild. The gun and his hand were all coated in blood, the guts of his last kill hanging from the trigger.

Glenn ignored him, eyes narrowed dangerously. "We could still leave you out here, you stupid hick," he spat cruelly, taking a threatening step forward. Michonne lifted the sword, her eyes never wavering from Merle's form.

"Hey now!" Daryl called, stepping forward, looking unsure of who he wanted to defend.

Merle held his arms up, laughing again, like he didn't care at all. "Never asked fer yer help, Chinaman." And Glenn's face dropped, shocked. His fists closed at his sides, tightening, and his face grew red.

"I'm Korean," he screamed, and raised the pipe, about to swing for Merle.

Maggie yelled, reaching out to grab Glenn's arm, and Carl looped his fingers through Michonne's belt loops as she raised her sword high, her face pinched in fury.

Daryl felt coiled, wound too tight. He didn't know where to point the crossbow, or if he should draw his knife. Because if he did both, it would be on his people, and he'd not done that in a long fuckin' time.

And it didn't feel right.

Especially not when he was suddenly looking at Carol's back, as if she were protecting him.

"Enough!" She stood there, breathing hard, the knife in her hand heavy. She gripped it harder, the blood slimy between her fingers. She could feel herself shaking, her chest tight. It was as if her heart were trying to slam its way out of her chest.

"Look at where we're at," she breathed harshly, eyes holding Glenn's. She could feel Daryl behind her, the weight of his stare scorching her. Rick stood beside her, watching, waiting. He was breathing hard, the darkness under his eyes thick. His eyes shifted frantically.

She knew immediately he was in no condition to be out there, to be doing anything.

"This is no place to be doing this," she could feel her confidence wavering, as her voice cracked. All she wanted to do was turn around and see him. To look at him and make sure he was okay. To tell him, in their own way, that she was there for him.

Daryl couldn't believe what she was doing, standing there, standing up to the group. He was fuckin' proud of that.

It was watching her then that he realized just how much he had missed seeing those strong shoulders, that defiant chin. She'd always given them hell, pushed back, even if she thought otherwise.

And then Merle was pushing passed him, giving him that look as he went. He froze, unable to do nothing, but knowing he needed to do something.

He knew that look. Knew just what Merle could do when he was in that mood. He was pissed. And he was going for Carol.

Going for the soft spot that he must have seen on his damn face. He was such an idiot.

"Bitch is right," and Carol flinched, as an arm fell heavily across her shoulders. Everyone froze, their faces shocked still. She looked up as the smell of sweat, and stink, and earth hit her. Merle stared down at her, eyes glinting and that cocked grin still on his face.

He pulled her closer, his arm wrapped tight around her. His body was rock solid against hers, lean and wiry. Much like Daryl's if she thought about it.

And she could just make out the discolored scar, trailing down his collarbone. One that wouldn't have been visible if she wouldn't have been so close to him. It was ugly, and twisted, just concealed by the dirty strap of his tank top.

She could feel the pain, could feel the breathe catch in her throat the more she stared at it.

"Hell's yer name woman?" She flinched, looking back at his face, hoping he hadn't noticed where her gaze had been lingering. But he was too busy to notice. He was looking at her, from the side as best he could, like he was appraising something. She felt a shiver run up her spine, but she didn't pull away.

She felt just a little annoyed that he hadn't remembered her at all.

"Back. Off. Merle." Daryl couldn't watch Merle, couldn't stand to see his brothers arm around her. There was this feeling in him, that gripped him hard. Something that possessed him. Merle's arm around Carol made his blood burn.

There weren't no way he was gonna stand by and watch him handle her, like she was his.

Fuck if he was gonna let that shit fly.

Carol felt Merle stiffen at her side a little, his face hardening just enough for her to see. Suddenly the smile wasn't cocky, but hard. She could see the hairline anger simmering underneath.

"That's the second time today you've had that shit pointed at ma back, little brother." He kept his arm looped around her, his hand gripping her shoulder tight, but he looked back behind him.

"Startin' ta wonder if I ain't got some big ass target painted on me," he said chuckling, trying to make light of something. But she didn't miss what he'd said. The second time that day.

She turned to look back, and found Daryl pointing his crossbow at Merle's back, his face a contorted mess of anger, and hatred, and fear. Her eyes widened, and she couldn't breathe right. The image of Daryl, his crossbow pointed so threateningly at Merle, didn't seem like a good idea but felt right too.

"Daryl," Rick said, reaching out a hand. But Daryl only stepped forward, jabbing the crossbow into Merle's back.

"Let her go Merle," he growled out, eyes flicking between her and Merle. He was panicking.

She didn't think she'd ever seen that look in his eyes before. Panic.

Like he wasn't sure of what was going to happen. Like he wouldn't know what to do if something happened.

What would happen? Would Merle really take that chance and ruin this? She may have thought many things about Merle, but she'd never thought he would have hurt her.

But now that she watched Daryl, his actions, that fear on his face, she suddenly felt unsure. The doubt rose up, began to eat at her. Daryl was taking a huge gamble, using force on Merle like that. There was so much tension between them, she felt like Michonne could come in and cut it with her sword.

But it was the sound of the walkers moans, growing louder around them, that cleared it up.

"Let's get back inside," Maggie said gently, eyes on the walkers slowly advancing on them.

Merle's arm tightened around her, his grip suddenly too tight.

"Why don't you show me the place?" he asked, leaning into her, eyes glinting mischievously. She swallowed hard as the weight of his body started to make her feel trapped.

Started to make her feel like she had nowhere left to go.

"Why don't you take your hands off me," she said as her voice cracked, meeting his blue eyes, the same blue as Daryl's and holding them firmly, "and we can see about that."

Merle couldn't believe the broad, this mousey bitch talkin' to him like that. Woman had some fuckin' balls on her. He could see it in her eyes, that spark of a challenge in them. He liked that. Liked that she wasn't afraid to stand up to old Merle. Least somebody wasn't gonna put up with his shit. Least somebody was gonna give him some fun.

And he didn't miss the way Daryl wouldn't stop looking at her, like she was some kinda holy shit. Little brother probably had some goddamn pussy-ass feelings for the bitch. Just like Daryl to go an' get himself a girlfriend while he was gone. Never had no woman before, never wanted no woman before, and now?

Now he couldn't keep his damn eyes to hisself. Couldn't hide the fear and anger from his face neither. And he knew Daryl weren't never scared of him before. But he could be scared of him for her.

He was gonna remember that.

They stared each other down for a moment before he laughed and pulled his arm from around her. She didn't miss the way his eyes narrowed for a fraction, the way they flicked back to Daryl.

"Well, why didn't ya just say so!" She could see Daryl lower the crossbow, just barely, as he watched her. His arms were flexed, strained as he tried to control himself.

This was a Daryl she hadn't seen since the days at the farm, when he wouldn't let anyone in.

The lone wolf.

She didn't want to see him go back to that. He deserved better than that.

If anything, they were a pack now. They stuck together, took care of each other. She would take care of him. Merle was the rabid. Merle was the only one who didn't belong.

Daryl only needed to see that.

"We can talk later," Michonne said evenly, her lips tight, and she turned around taking off for the prison. She took out three walkers around her, not even waiting to see if the others followed her.

Maggie gave Glenn a look, and took off, following behind Michonne. She drove her knife into the heads of two walkers, running to catch up with her. Glenn took one last fleeting glance back at Merle, his lip curling up, before he dashed after Maggie.

Carol watched them go, as Rick's eyes found Carl. He reached out, and pulled him into his arms. Carl buried his face into his father's side, quickly, pulling him tight against him, before pushing away just as fast.

"We should go dad," he said gruffly, taking a hesitant step toward the prison. Carl's eyes sought her out, and he smiled a little.

She placed her hand on Rick's arm, and squeezed gently. "He's right," she said, trying to breathe again, trying to make sense of the thoughts that she couldn't hold onto. "We're just putting ourselves in danger out here."

Rick nodded and looked around, the walkers still around them. He found Daryl, held his gaze, before he shifted to Merle.

"There'll be conditions," he said roughly, moving for the gate, Carl following him.

She looked back, finally, and their eyes met. And her chest deflated, like she could breathe again. It didn't matter that he looked exhausted, beaten. Ready to give up. It didn't matter if he avoided her gaze. All that mattered was that it was them.

If she ignored Merle.

She stepped toward him, away from Merle, and tilted her head towards him. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but could feel Merle's eyes on her, distinct.

"Are you…okay?" She asked hesitantly, hoping he would understand the weight of her question. He avoided her gaze, kept his head down. He shifted on his feet and pulled the strap of the crossbow further across his chest.

Daryl didn't like the way she'd focused on him, didn't like the way she didn't follow the others back to the prison. Never mind the fact that the walkers were right fucking there, but so was Merle. And she had that look, like she wanted to ask him about his damn feelings.

He couldn't do that shit now, not while Merle was right fucking there.

And then Merle came up behind him, clapping him across the shoulder, squeezing hard. "Hell you askin' that fer?" He looked between the two of them, but Carol never took her gaze from his. He watched her fingers twitch, her arm raise slightly toward him. He pulled his back, quickly.

"What ya think he is some goddamn pussy?" Merle leaned forward, leaning passed him, and into her face. He stiffened. Did he pull Merle back, single Carol out? Or did let this continue, let her face the mild side of Merle, and get off easy?

Fuck he didn't want neither.

Carol didn't back away, didn't let Merle scare her. Not after she'd seen Daryl's face. The scar glared out at her, prominent on his worn, weary body. She couldn't help that her eyes kept finding it, against everything that was telling her not too. His eyes hardened, growing dark. She felt the threat down to her toes.

"He's fuckin' fine." She didn't back away because she didn't want him to see her fear. But she was afraid. She was afraid of what Merle was going to do to Daryl now that he was here. She was afraid of losing him.

He turned to Daryl, the smile back on his face. "Ain't ya brother." Daryl glanced at her quickly, shame clear in his eyes as they grew distant, before he looked away just as quick.

"I'm fine," he murmured, and shrugged free of Merle, walking ahead of them. His shoulders were hunched, and his head down, but he still kept walking, his legs determined to get him far away.

"Listen here bitch," he growled, leaning down into her face again now that Daryl was out of ear-shot. He was surprised that Daryl had left him alone with the mousey bitch, who was probably his woman, though he wouldn't admit to that shit. But hell, now was his time to set shit straight. He weren't gonna let no woman treat his brother like some goddamn pussy.

His brother weren't no woman who needed coddlin'. They were Dixons. They didn't need nothin'.

"No you listen," she spat harshly, thrusting her finger in his chest. He looked down at her hand; eyes widened a fraction at her brazen gesture. He couldn't fuckin' believe it. The mouse was standing up to him. Telling him to listen. Hell, this was something fucking new. He'd never seen no woman like her before have the balls to stand up to him and tell him what the shit was.

"Daryl belongs with us," she muttered lowly. Belongs. He was gettin' sick of hearing that fucking word. He was sick of it applying to everybody but him. He was a goddamn person too. Why wouldn't nobody see that?

"He's ours, and if you continue to hurt him," she said, pushing herself further up on her toes, holding his gaze like a man, "I'll make sure you pay." And that got him. How the hell would some old bimbo like her make him pay? Like she could do shit about that? She think he was fuckin' stupid?

He was gettin' fuckin' tired of people assumin' he was just gonna roll over like some damn dog.

Hell, then the bitch goes an' looks like she's fuckin' scared of him, like she couldn't believe she'd gone and done the shit either. And that was fucking funny.

He reeled back, and couldn't help the laugh that slipped passed him. Bitch was crazy thinkin' she could take on this Dixon.

But you had to be crazy to be with a Dixon. Maybe little brother had done right pickin' this one. Hell, if he looked at her good, she weren't that bad to look at. Decent enough tits, if she'd lose the fuckin' shirt. Nice set of legs on her. Bitch even had a good enough lookin' face. Shit if she didn't want Daryl, there was always another Dixon.

He liked'em fiesty.

"Fuck, you got guts woman!" Carol felt the heat rise to her face, and she dropped back to her heels, her head dropping back.

Embarrassment consumed her, and she wanted to take flight. Wanted the earth to swallow her whole. She looked away, her eyes finding Daryl suddenly. He was approaching them fast, his face filled with concern, the crossbow raised again.

"Though, did ya mean to say he's yers darlin'?" Merle whispered, suddenly close to her again, his hot breath washing across her face.

Carol flinched, backing up two steps. She almost tripped over her feet, but caught herself before she did. She could see the cruel humor in his eyes, his twisted smile, and that hurt her.

Hurt her at the same time that it renewed her anger.

He must have seen the way she looked at Daryl, the way she had reached out to him, as if they weren't just friends.

"Glenn's right you know," she said loudly, her voice coming out cross, "we can still leave you out here." Merle's eyes sparked, and he pulled her toward him again, this time with the metal arm. She flinched, unsure of the contraption, as it rested against her chest.

Merle's roaring laughter echoed around her, the oddest thing she'd ever heard. "I like this one brother," he said loudly, and she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

Daryl stormed toward them, the crossbow shifting higher in his hands. She felt her lips tilt, just at the corner. But she didn't feel the threat then, from Merle. She was only curious.

"You're not what I expected," she admitted, looking up passed his haggard cheek, into his blue eyes. And this time, she caught the flecks of gray buried in them.

Caught the sorrow.

"Neither are you," he said quietly, easing up his grip around her shoulders.

And for a moment, she felt safe, wrapped under his arm, the metal resting softly against her heart.

A/N: So yeah, Merle and Carol different. Initially only one more chapter is planned...but you know me, and my plans. They can get shit out the window. So maybe two. For everyone who has reviewed, I truly do appreciate it, love it really.

Your reviews would mean the world to me.