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Will Dixon recalled all hell breaking loose when Merle got home from school or wherever the hell he'd been. The scene that met him once he returned home was his Dad beating the crap out of his little brother and his father's fist raised to deliver even more damage to his already swollen and bloody face. Daryl instinctively tried to protect it and his head while doing his best to get away.

Merle could see that his baby brother was quaking with terror, could hear the pathetic whimpering sounds he was making when he gave him a cursory glance right after he stormed in. Enraged, he'd screamed at his father and rushed forward in full attack-mode. He'd been so mad at him that he even pulled a knife out on him.

Will simply got up in response and yanked Daryl up, threatening to use the belt on him for Merle to see but at least he stopped using him as a punch-bag. The older brother's eyes went black with anger at that, he could clearly see his brother's trembling while he uttered small sounds of terror in protest. He even directed some of his incoherent babbling at Merle, pleading with him to drop the knife.

Will just smirked in answer to this and pulled Daryl tighter to him. Using the love for each other this way for the first time had proved handy. 'Drop the knife.' He told him quietly, calmly and using all his paternal authority.

Merle snarled, baring his teeth like a rabid dog but he did as he was ordered. Will, for his part shook his other son who had a nasty black eye among other bumps in a face swollen and bloody. Merle didn't know how long it had been going on before he'd intervened but he'd have bet his life that there were more bruises all over Daryl's body – he just couldn't see them. The thought of the black and blue marks all over his small frame made him clench his fists at his sides. Even though part of him was angry with Daryl for behaving like a little whiny kid before he took a step back mentally and corrected himself. Because that's what he was – an 11 year-old kid.

"What did he do this time? Must have been somethin' pretty bad, huh? Think ya punished him enough now, Dad?"

Will shrugged, preteending that he really didn't care. Merle's interruption had brought him rudely back to the reality of what he was doing and the rage had begun to finally die away, allowing a little regret to sink in. He couldn't even remember what he was punishing Daryl for. He'd been drinking all day and he knew he'd had a reason to start with but he'd forgotten it once he started beating the shit out of him. But he never seemed to be able to forget those feelings he shoved deep down himself. The part of him that he was forced to keep in check daily - the impulses he made damn sure to carefully slam the lid down on in a hurry whenever the havoc of his feelings for his youngest boy threatened to swallow him whole.

Threatened to make him do something he could never, ever take back.

With that, he looked down at Daryl, who despite his former terror and the pain he must be in, stared right back at him defiantly with his legs astride and arms stubbornly crossed over his chest. Looking for all the world like a Dixon. But Will knew that it was his older brother's presence that had effected this sharp turnabout in attitude, he wasn't like this when it was just the two of them alone. Daryl simply felt safer whenever his beloved big brother was near. This proof of their closeness made his anger rise to the surface again.

'Ya lucky I didn't use the belt on you, you little pussy. Then you'd be really fuckin' cryin'."

'Leave him alone, Dad. He's had enough, whatever he's done.'

Will picked up his now whimpering and cringing son by the scrap of the neck, shook him again like a ragdoll and immediately dropped him to the filthy carpet like so much trash. Daryl cowered down on the floor, not daring to move until ordered to and Merle could see his chest pumping in and out rapidly as he tried to fight to regain some control over his shaky breath. 'Get out of my sight, before I change my mind.' His father snarled down at him.

Daryl didn't need to be told twice. He immediately got up and scrabbled over to his brother – Will was blocking his exit to the hallway, and it was clear that he didn't want to risk going round him.

Merle yanked Daryl towards him and gave him a shove so that he was behind his back, and glared at their father. 'You hit him again and I'll fuckin' kill ya, Dad. He's eleven years old for fuck's sake.'

He only laughed humorlessly at that. 'You try and you better kill me, son. Ya know ya can't beat me. Neither of you are sons of mine – no Dixons. Can't be."

They stood glaring at each other in a tense standoff but Daryl felt safe behind Merle, knew that he would never let Will get at him to hurt him and that he was big enough now for their father not to bother even trying. The fact that he wouldn't was pretty clear in the feral snarl on his face and his fierce expression directed at their father.

'You wanna protect him, go ahead, Merle. But remember, you can't always be there to save him every time he whines.'

'I can fuckin' try! I mean what I said. Ya better leave him the fuck alone in future.'

Their father ignored this outburst and looked down at Daryl instead, addressing him directly. 'You're a little coward, ain't no Dixon. Hidin' behind your big brother jus' like the little pussy ya are. Not takin' ya punishment like one neither. Not for nearly long enough, anyway. Are you feelin' proud of yourself, son?'

Will could see that he had stopped trembling and the terror seemed to have left him. Mostly, Daryl's features twisted from the fearful expression he had just seconds ago to an angry one instead.

'Fuck you!' He suddenly yelled, Will's eyebrows rose at this, sure he had inherited the Dixon potty-mouth at an early age, but Daryl rarely cussed at him. Wouldn't dare. He put it down to it being that he felt safe behind his brother's outstretched arm which was shielding him. 'All I did was make myself a sandwich 'cos I ain't eaten nothin' all day! I ain't bad like you said! Didn't do nothin' wrong!'

Will growled at this show of defiance while Merle smirked almost proudly but leaving him high and dry and feeling vulnerable when he took a few threatening footsteps towards their father. This obviously made Daryl feel scared again and he backed up against the wall searching for something solid to hold onto to help him stand.

Merle looked pissed off to say the least, telling him silently with his baleful glare to leave his little brother alone. Will shook his shoulders casually. Looking at the battered state of his youngest, he was just about ready to reluctantly agree with Merle: he'd punished him enough for today, it was true. But he was too proud to admit it directly.

'You go right ahead and have him then, Merle. He makes me so angry at the moment I might end up killin' him. Snivellin' little shit.'

With that being said, he left the room, to go and grab his wallet and drown his sorrows in the local bar.

Merle sighed in relief that the danger was over. He turned around to check his baby brother over, taking some napkins with him on the way. He crouched down in front of him so that they were roughly at eye level. 'Ya OK, baby brother?' He asked and started to gently wipe some of the blood off his brother's face, carefully avoiding the worst of the bruising while his other hand held him still firmly by his shoulder.

Daryl's head was pounding behind his battered face, one black eye was swollen shut already and there were more bruises on his ribs. But he nodded, holding the pain in, even tilting his chin up as if to suck it all up in front of his big brother.

'You stopped him, like ya always do. I'm OK.'

Merle grinned at this little white lie, choosing to believe it and ruffled his baby brother's hair fondly although his blind faith in him made him feel a little uncomfortable. 'Jus' try to stay out of his way in future, especially when he's been drinkin' or getting' high. Don't give him any excuse to hit ya.'

Daryl nodded obediently. Looked up at Merle like he was his hero.

'And you tell me if he ever does that shit to ya again, OK, little bro? Let's go and get you cleaned up, huh?'

'OK.' Daryl beamed at him in relief. 'Let me go now, Merle, will ya? Ain't made of glass.'

But the way he swayed when he released him seemed to belie his words. His big brother frowned as his sharp hunter's eyes honed in on his brother's limp as he watched him shuffle off but he didn't say anything and merely followed him in the direction of the bathroom. Anyway, the atmosphere had become more relaxed as soon as they heard the front door bang, announcing their father's departure and they had both let out a sigh of relief at the same time, making them laugh nervously. No doubt he'd come back drunk as a skunk but at least he'd probably pass out before morning and not bother either of them.