A/N- Wow! I can't thank you all enough for your reviews! Is it weird that whenever someone quoted a part of my story, I got all giggly like a little girl who's crush just talked to her? Oh well, I think you all are awesome!

Dani- Thank you! You read my mind ;). I think you'll be pleasantly surprised in the coming chapters (at least I hope you will be ;))

Witty Nickname- Thank you! I'm trying to go for humor with an edge of seriousness so hopefully its working! I really don't want it to be monotone and stressful, and honestly in the middle of an apocalypse you're going to need to laugh! Thank you very much for your compliments and reviews-they honestly make my day!

.RealityxX- Thank you very much! I'm trying my hardest to just go with the flow when I'm writing so I'm glad you like it! I'm glad you find it funny as well, all too often my humor gets me in trouble so its great when people like it!

Lahey- Thank you very much! It's nice to know she's being viewed as realistic and relatable! I'm sorry to hear about your friends mom as well. :(

FanFicGirl10- Ha ha yes they do! They just don't really want to! Poor Ann even when she's smooth she's awkward! Thank you for the review!

starbright37- Thank you! I'm really trying to keep her on her toes! I'm glad you're enjoying this as well!

~hateofme

"Wake up ya damn cunt!" Merle's voice shouted at her as what she assumed was a giant wad of smelly dirty clothes hit her in the face. She bolted upright tearing the offending garments off her face and gasped for breath.

"What the fuck!" She shouted quickly noting that Daryl was up and dressed sitting at the edge of the cot. Merle was stomping around the small area angry as fuck tearing the tent apart.

"Where is it ya' bitch!" He roared lunging at her before Daryl caught him and pulled him back. "Git the fuck off me! You bes' get me my shit little girl!"

'Ooohhhh' well she knew this was coming. "Get over it Merle." Ann snapped pulling on her dilapidated tennis. "It's gone. You don't need that shit." She purposefully shook back her hair to reveal the bruise from his hit yesterday saddened as the recognition and guilt flashed across his face. In a gentler voice she told him "You should be sleeping." Standing, she exited the tent to his yells.

Twenty minutes later a battered Daryl stalked out of the tent and grabbed her by the arm, careful to stay away from the bruise, and dragged her off to the edge of the woods.

"He ain't gonna' be happy wit' you fer a long time." He muttered starring hard at her.

"I know." Ann replied somewhat regretfully.

"Then why you pullin' this shit, huh? They all think that we're nuthin' but trash already so why you stirrin' up trouble!" Daryl snarled at her trying to keep his voice from rising.

"Oh stop with the pity us crap!" She threw her hands in the air. "He's going to get himself or someone else killed if he keeps this up! And if that someone were you he wouldn't be able to live with himself!"

"Merle don't care bout no one but Merle." He spat at her.

She laughed mockingly "If you really believe that then I'd have to say that maybe you're the most fucked up of the two of you."

"You don't know us ya' damn harpy! So quit pretendin' that ya do! We ain't no ones charity!" He shouted releasing her arm and pushing her with the force behind it.

She stumbled and regained her balance before yelling back "Oh boo hoo! The poor Dixon brothers! Can't ever have someone be nice without it being charity can you! You're right-I don't know you, but I know bull shit when I hear it!" She shoved him in the chest "You both are so busy pitying yourselves and putting yourselves down you've made yourselves blind to how much you mean here! And what's worse, you've got half the people here believing it to!"

She shoved him again enjoying the expressions running blatantly across his face. "Well I've got news for you and your asshole brother! I'm not fuckin blind! And I don't pity your sorry asses! Be a fucking man for christ's sake and own up! You hunt, you skin and clean, you protect everyone in this camp, and to me that's something of value! I don't do charity Daryl Dixon so you'd best bet your ass that if I'm going out of my way for you two then I know how important you both really are!" Ann shoved his chest again for good measure before storming off "And I know you heard me Merle! That goes for you to you damn hick!" She screamed as she passed the tent, kicking in a corner.

Merle slept fitfully the rest of the day and Ann went out of her way to avoid Daryl, which wasn't very hard since he was off hunting. She spent all of her time helping out around the camp and cracking jokes like she didn't have a care in the world. She felt drained after dinner and dreaded sleeping on the bench in the RV. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that that's where she'd be sleeping tonight, after Merle's apocalyptic fit that morning she wasn't going to chance sleeping on the log and being caught unaware. She cleaned up the dishes and then morosely made her way to the RV, and was startled to hear Dale's voice calling to her from the roof.

"Ann?" He asked hesitantly.

"Yeah Dale?" She sighed up to him.

"Come on up, I've got an extra chair."

She slowly pulled herself up the ladder and plopped into the chair next to him. "What's up Dale?"

"I was hoping to get the chance to apologize." He started "I worry about you, and everyone here...and sometimes I admit I go overboard." He said sheepishly.

Well this certainly wasn't what she had been expecting. "It's fine Dale. We're ok." They weren't really but she was too tired to deal with this right now.

He understood and nodded his head. "Get some rest." He sighed watching as she sent a strained smile his way and slid down the ladder.

"What'r you doin' over here?" Daryl's voice grumbled behind her.

"Getting ready to go to sleep. What do you want Daryl?" Said Ann quietly, she was worn out-emotionally and physically-and she just wanted to sleep, save the fighting for tomorrow.

"Well c'mon then." He jerked his head at the tent.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

He looked at her perplexed "Why not?"

Good god it just never ends! She thought. "Because you told me to stay the fuck away I believe, and right now Merle's not my biggest fan."

He scoffed at her. "I cin keep Merle away from you. Ya know when he snaps outta' this he'll be pissed if he finds out yer sleepin' out here anyway."

"Why?" She shot back.

"Whaddya mean why?" He looked at her like she had just asked the dumbest question in the world.

"I mean, why does he care where I sleep, and for that matter if he's the one who cares then why are you the one who comes to get me? I don't understand either of you and its starting to get on my nerves." Ann snapped

Daryl uncomfortably shuffled his feet for a second before looking at her and answering. "Merle likes ya'" seeing her panicked look he rushed "I don' think he likes ya' like that. I mean if ya' decided to put out he wouln' say no or anythin' but...he respects ya. And if you can get him to respect ya' then you've got my respect." He looked anywhere but her as he continued "Now are ya' commin' or not? I ain't waiting all night out here fer ya to make up yer mind."

Ann rolled her eyes. Did she trust Daryl enough to make sure Merle didn't go ape on her? She thought the answer was yes and sighed as she called up to Dale "Dale I'm going-"

"I heard. Go on and get some sleep Ann." He said quietly.

"Lead on." She said sardonically to Daryl, ignoring the way he tensed, just like he was ignoring her.

Ann walked into the tent unsure for the first time. She waited for Daryl's "You gonna' stand there all night?" As her invitation to sit down on the cot and pull off her shoes. Unlike the past two nights she wondered if he slept in his boxers could she just take the damn jeans off? She shook that thought away quickly, and lay down on the cot awkwardly, as he covered them both.

Ann tried not to squirm around, she tried to relax and sleep, but she just couldn't. She lay in the dark thinking and trying to figure out why tonight was so much different than the past two nights. She wasn't really that worried about Merle kicking her ass with Daryl there so that wasn't it. There was a rhythmic sound that was driving her crazy and she wanted to scream when she realized the tent flap was flopping lazily in the breeze. Sighing she crept out of the cot as quietly as possible to secure it. As she fastened the edge of the little flap it hit her-what was so different about tonight, and sleeping in the tent. She had been asked, not just carted off, given a choice and she had said yes. She had walked through the flap she was holding of her own accord, and she didn't know why, but somehow that felt significant. She smiled as she crept back into the cot she shared with Daryl and swiftly fell asleep.

-the next morning-

She woke much like she had the first morning-arm around waist and morning wood. The difference between this morning and that? Well, she was invited in here this time and pretty much told she was welcome to sleep there whenever instead of as a temporary solution. That's why she smirked and that's why she felt the confidence to turn and face Daryl, smiling wide when she saw he was still asleep.

She leaned up to his ear, "I'm starting to worry that the blood flow to your brain is severely limited every morning, you really should talk to someone about that." She whispered as she nudged his dick quickly with her knee. Without waiting for a reaction she rolled quickly over him, grabbed her shoes, and rocketed out of the tent with Daryl's swearing and Merle's laughter at her back. She stopped when she reached the fire and sat down to put on her shoes smiling widely, she was in a damn good mood.

"Did you finally get laid?" Andrea laughed only half kidding.

"Oh, please. You know that if I'm not with you I'm with Glenn." Ann grinned back. "I woke up today! That's a good enough reason to be thrilled in my book."

Andrea smiled at her "I still think you got laid."

Ann laughed loudly, the sound filling the quiet morning air "Trust me, I have sex the whole camp will know-I've been told I'm rather loud." She winked at the woman.

"I can't decide if all the talking about sex you do is because you have a really sexual nature or if you just really need a good lay."

"You got me." Said Ann dramatically "I'm in desperate need of a good fuck."

"Well now darlin'." Merle's drawl cut through their conversation. "If ya woulda' tol' me that I'd've been happy ta' help ya."

Andrea turned embarrassed about to say something bitchy she was sure, but Ann beat her to it. "Merle baby, if your brother wasn't packing twice as much as you I might take you up on that." With that she winked at him as his jaw dropped and flounced away. Yes, she was in a damn good mood.

"Wakie wakie!" She called to Glenn and T-dogs tents, laughing at the swearing and groans she heard within.

Figuring she had given Daryl enough time to get over his embarrassment and get dressed she rushed back to the tent; her memory was stuck on the morning before-being woken by dirty clothes. Not only was she determined that that was never going to happen again, she was a little disgusted that she was pretty sure their idea of washing clothes was jumping in water with them on. Ann wrinkled her nose at the thought. She was pretty damn sure she hadn't seen their clothes being washed down at the quarry. Reaching the tent she dove in quickly on her hands and knees, grabbing clothes and placing them in an empty bag she had scooped up from the floor.

"The fuck you doin'?" Daryl's voice snapped at her.

She turned on her knees slowly, turning bright red when she realized she was staring straight into his crotch. It didn't matter the barbs she had made to Merle about how much he was packing or what sexual jokes she made about him because the reality was in front of her face. In tune with her complete inability to say things at the right moment, a momentary lapse of sanity had her muttering to herself "I really, really need to get laid."

His arched eyebrow let her know that, yes, she had indeed been heard, and no, she hadn't learned to keep what she was thinking from shooting out of her mouth.

"I'm doing laundry. " She said expertly avoiding his gaze and answering his earlier question.

"Hey Darylina! Hurry up in there! I though' we was-" Merle stepped into the tent and went silent. "Well sweetness I gotta say I'ma little disappointed. Ya' had me thinkin' you was funnen' with me earlier when ya was talkin' abou' my baby brothers package."

Ann swore it was like a car crash in the old days when they were rare, no matter how horrible it was you just couldn't look away. Not that his crotch was in any way horrible-FOCUS! She thought to herself tearing her stare away from Daryl's pants.

"I'm just doing laundry!" Ann tried to shout.

"Darlin' ya cin do my laundry any time." Winked Merle.

She stood, still avoiding looking at Daryl, and shoved the bag into Merle's hands "Fill the bag, I'll wash what's in it." She snapped, embarrassed and stalked out of the tent.

Walking over to Amy and Andrea she smooshed herself between them groaning. "I hate today."

"Wow, about face much?" Asked Amy. "What happened?"

Ann just groaned and shook her head on Andreas shoulder. "Is it wrong that I find myself still able to be mortified while the dead are attacking and chewing on people?" Amy and Andrea exchanged glances over her head.

"Not at all." Andrea assured her. "What happened? I have a hard time imagining something that could embarrass you."

"I went into the tent to get laundry to wash and ended up staring at Daryl Dixon's crotch, on my knees, for at least five minutes." Ann waited for them to say something, anything. "Please, don't be any slower in assuring me that I did something that's not as completely painful as I'm making it out to be." She remarked dryly.

Andrea cleared her throat "Umm, was he-I mean did he notice?"

"Of course he noticed! He was standing there looking down at me, and honest to god I don't even know if he spoke at all! I think I said I need to get laid out loud at that point, and to top it all off Merle walked in!"

"Merle walked in on what?" Asked T-dog coming up to sit beside them.

"Ann eye humping Daryl's crotch." Amy supplied oh so helpfully.

Ann heard a choking cough from the other side of T "Glenn! Get back in your tent! I've come to the conclusion that I need to get laid!" She shouted into Andreas shoulder. The coughing grew and T laughed loudly. "At least that's still fun." She mumbled. A loud thump in front of her had her jumping.

"Darlin' I ain't never claimed to be the better man, so no matter how much I catch ya lookin' like a bitch in heat at Daryl I ain't givin' up on ya. In't tha' nice of ole Merle?"

Ann looked up to see Merle smirking at her dripping false sincerity. "Shut up you pig." She groaned up at him. He answered with a booming laugh and walked off to Daryl who was waiting for him at the edge of the woods. As she caught sight of Daryl she saw him smirk at her before disappearing with Merle. "Use protection!" She hollered determined to get the last word. There was no answer, just more laughter.

Ann stared at the overflowing bag of laundry in front of her and groaned. It was like both Dixon's were here saying nay ner nay ner nay ner, every time she chanced a glance at it throughout breakfast. She stood and stared at the damn thing with her hands on her hips, spinning when she heard a light cough behind her.

"Can I talk to you?" An uncomfortable Lori asked.

Ann caught herself before she rolled her eyes. "Do you want to head down to the quarry with me? I have laundry to do." She smiled crookedly at the woman.

Lori nodded her head and, surprisingly, bent and helped her carry the over large bag to the water. When they stopped they both wiped their brow slightly out of breath. Ann grabbed a disgusting shirt of Merle's and started to work looking over at Lori.

"What can I do for you?" She asked trying to be polite. She was shocked as Lori's eyes filled with tears.

They spoke for hours until the laundry was done, and Ann was surprised at everything Lori had told her. Lori's husband was not Shane as she had assumed, but a man that had been shot and died in the hospital when the outbreak occurred. She could see Lori's self loathing as she spoke of her broken marriage, finding that her husband had been shot in the line of duty, his death, and hers and Shane's newfound relationship. Even worse she could tell that for Lori at least it wasn't even a relationship, but a way to assure herself that she was alive, and able to care for Carl. This woman was broken and it cut at her heart. They lay the laundry out to dry and made their way back to camp, if anyone was surprised to see the two women together they wisely kept it to themselves.

That night before Daryl and Merle had come back Shane had an announcement. "We're running low on supplies." He told the group. "I'd like to have some volunteers to go to Atlanta tomorrow and round some up."

The members of the camp looked nervously at each other and she was shocked when they all looked to Glenn. He sighed and agreed to take whoever would go. The group broke up in a much more somber mood then when they had gathered. Ann quickly gathered the clothes from the quarry and set about putting them away her mind a jumble of thoughts.

"Hey there Suzie homemaker." Drawled Merle stepping in the tent and watching as she folded and put clothes away. She simply nodded in return and he frowned. "What's wrong darlin'?"

She smiled wanly at him "Ever forget why we're out here?"

He frowned at her again sitting on his cot and patting the spot next to him in more of a command than invitation. "What'r ya talkin' bout?" He questioned when she complied.

"Supplies are running low. Shane's asked for volunteers to go to Atlanta in the morning." Ann whispered leaning her head on his shoulder. He looked uncomfortable at the contact but she couldn't bring herself to care.

"An' what'r you frettin' fer'?" He seemed genuinely confused.

She sighed "Being here with everyone...it was just easy to forget that this isn't a fun camp out, you know? Easy to forget why we're out here...what we're hiding from."

Merle awkwardly placed his arm around her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. "Ya' thinkin' bout goin'?"

"I don't know. I...I don't work well out there in a group setting." She confessed ashamed of the glaring weakness.

He grunted at her "Daryl an' me-we'll look out fer ya'. Ya' don' have ta' worry bout that." He looked away from her while he rubbed his hand up and down her arm.

"It's not me I'm worried about." Ann whispered closing her eyes in an effort to keep the tears in and the world out.

"Merle! We gonna' skin them-" Daryl's voice stopped short as he stepped into the tent and took in the scene in front of him.

Ann's eyes snapped open to reveal an angry Daryl looking at Merle's hand on her arm and her head on his shoulder. Before either of them could utter a word Daryl spun on heel and stormed out of the tent. Merle dropped his arm from around her like she had burned him.

"Dammit!" Hissed Merle angrily. "Stay the fuck here." He ordered pointing a finger at her and promptly chased after Daryl.

Of course she didn't listen. Ann quickly jumped up after Merle and looked around camp. An uneasy nod from Glenn had her creeping in the right direction. She stopped when she heard the raised voices of the brothers.

"Fer fucks sake Daryl! It's not what it looked like! She's worried is all!" Merle's angry and desperate voice snapped.

"Why you tellin' me this shit?" Said Daryl angrily "S'not like I care."

"Don' fuck aroun' with me baby brother." She heard Merle growl. "I ain't stupid-not abou' you. An I know ya care so jus' shut up an' listen."

"Fuck off Merle." Barked Daryl.

Ann watched as Daryl stood trying to shoulder past Merle and stopping as Merle caught his arm. "Poor Darylina, got yer feelin's hurt did ya'?"

She clamped her hand to her mouth to quiet the shout that threatened to escape her as Daryl turned and punched Merle in the jaw. Merle seemed to boil over with anger as he stumbled back, before launching himself at Daryl. Her knuckles went white over her lips trying to keep in the sounds she wanted to make at the brawl breaking out before her. Just as quickly as it began the fight was over. Merle reached a hand to Daryl offering to help him up but was rebuffed. He sighed shaking his head at his younger sibling.

"Do yerself a favor baby brother." Merle sighed "Don' be like me. Don' fuck up shit a'fore it has a chance ta' even start." He spat at the ground angrily before turning away from Daryl and stalking away.

A hand squeezed her shoulder and she jerked "Come on Ann, its time for dinner." Glenn said quietly, looking sadly at her.

She nodded her head and stood with his help and slowly walked toward the fire. She sat, snugly nestled between Glenn and T-dog, desperately soaking up the comfort they provided.

Shane's voice sliced through the air. "Any thoughts or volunteers for tomorrow?" He questioned heavily. Slowly members of the group spoke.

"I'll go." Morales said giving a sad smile to his wife.

"I'm goin'." T-dog spoke up from next to her.

"Me to." Said Andrea confidently into the group. Ann looked at her shocked noticing how Amy sat, tense and angry. She had already known.

"I'll go." Jacqui piped up from the sidelines by Jim.

The last voice to volunteer shocked everyone "Bes' sign ole Merle up fer this little party. Sweetness over there needs some shoes." He nodded at her before going back to his stew like he volunteered to help people out on a regular basis. The remaining blood drained from her face.

"I don't need shoes." She spoke up her voice cracking.

Merle gave her a look that clearly said she was an idiot before glancing down at her feet. The soles were coming off and there were sizable holes in both. Ann shook her head stubbornly "I don't want shoes."

"Shaddup darlin' and eat yer' damn stew." He barked at her.

The rest of the meal was quiet, only talking when Shane had told them all what time they were leaving. The group finished the food and picked up their mess quietly, before going to their tents. Ann felt numb-too many people she had grown to care about were going to go risk their lives tomorrow, and she wouldn't-couldn't be with them. As Ann left she saw Shane and Lori sneaking into the woods, luckily Carl was going into the RV so at least someone knew where he was. She shook her head, apparently some things don't change.

Ann approached the tent slowly having no idea what she wanted to say to Merle and Daryl. Part of her wanted to plead with Merle not to go-and part of her knew it wouldn't make a difference. She also wanted to know what the hell their fight had been about! She braces herself when she went in the tent and then slumped in relief, it was empty. Ann sighed and then turned rummaging through a small pile of clothes she had made by Daryl's cot and pulled out the pair of boxers she had hijacked from him. She swiftly pulled down her jeans and kicked off her shoes trying to get the damn things on. As soon as they were up they fell, just like she knew they would. She sighed again, and grabbed the small rubber-band that she had kept for this very reason, gathering up the extra material she wrapped the rubber band tightly around it. The look wouldn't win any fashion contests but she didn't give a flying fuck- this was about comfort.

"You mad at me to?" Grumbled Merle uncharacteristically as he slumped on his cot.

Ann shook her head. "No, just worried..." She chewed on her lip before adding "And so is Daryl."

"God dammit woman! Leave well enough alone!" He snarled and promptly lay down facing away from her, tugging his sleeping bag over his shoulders, and within minutes he was asleep.

Ann looked up at the ceiling of tent from hers and Daryl's cot. There was no way around it-she would have to go get him. After all hadn't he been the one to get her every night since her first? She could damn well return the favor. Sighing she swung her feet over the edge of the cot and slipped her shoes back on, not even bothering with her jeans. Ann crept out of the tent and walked toward the dying fire, she could see his silhouette on the log she had mentally christened "hers" as he was messing around with his crossbow bolts.

"Fuck off Merle." He said without turning. "G'on in an' fuck yer whore. I'm given ya' time ain't I." He spat viciously.

"I'm not Merle and unless he's got a blow up doll folded up in there he's not fucking anything." She added almost as an afterthought "And I'm not a whore."

Daryl froze as he heard her voice. "Fuck off."

"Oh stop it Daryl." She said exasperated "I don't even know what I'm supposed to have done this time, but yours and your brothers mood swings are giving me whiplash. Now are you coming to bed or not?"

He finally turned around to look at her, glower fully fastened in place, when he saw what she was wearing. "The hell you wearin'?"

Shit! She belatedly thought she should have asked, but they were ripped and dirty, she honestly thought he wouldn't have missed them. Besides she washed them and sewed them up! Well sort of- sewing had never been a strong suit.

She shook her head to clear the mental ramblings "Pajamas." She said trying to sound vague.

He shook his head in disbelief "Ya stole my boxers?"

"No, not stole, borrowed." Ann narrowed her eyes at him "Besides I cleaned them and I sewed them, and dammit I'm sick of sleeping in my jeans!"

Daryl looked at her for a moment before motioning her closer. She hesitated but then thought what the hell, at least he's talking to me now. She stopped a foot away from him and looked down at his sitting form. He said nothing just stared intently at his boxers on her.

"What?" She snapped

Still he didn't talk, instead he reached out his hand and inspected her shoddy mending, scoffing and shaking his head. "Girl, Merle cin sew better'n this crap."

"Oooh, way to knock me down a peg or two, insult my sewing skills that'll teach me." She snarked still unsure at what was going on and crossing her fingers that he couldn't see the goose bumps on her legs.

"You fuckin' Merle? Or that china man?" He asked abruptly not responding to her barb.

"Honestly?"

He nodded still not looking at her.

"Well honestly I think this shit is getting old. You and your brother are going to cause me to have a mental break! You both flip-flop more than a dying fish-and yes I just said something that dumb, I heard Andrea say it once and it sounded a lot smarter but-mmpph!"

She was silenced from her unending word vomit as Daryl's strong arms pulled her down to his lap and he slammed his mouth on to hers, pulling at her hair. Just as quickly as it started it was over.

He pushed at her and stood up looking slightly red. "C'mon, I ain't waitin' all night fer ya. It's been a long day an' I want to go to sleep so hurry the fuck up." He snapped at her as if he had been the one to come out and get her, not the other way around.

Ann stood there with a silly smile on her face looking after his retreating back, with one hand touching her mouth. He stopped when he noticed that she wasn't following him, and looked behind his shoulder, shaking his head and stomping back to her.

"God damn woman, stupid as shit." Daryl grumbled grabbing her arm and hauling her back to the tent.

She was still smiling when she fell asleep, curled tightly back against Daryl's chest.

-the next morning-

Ann woke up before everyone else the next morning. As quietly as possible she slipped out of bed exchanged "her" boxers for jeans, grabbed her shoes, and tip toed outside. She sat on the log pulling her shoes on and wincing as she heard a loud tear, and half of her foot slipped out of the toe.

"Guess Merle was right about those shoes." Andrea said tentatively.

"Guess so." Ann responded in a dull voice.

"Amy's just livid at me...are you mad at me to?"

Ann tried to smile and shook her head "Nah, I know people go stir crazy here." She paused and bit her lip "I just wish there wasn't any danger."

"Don't you worry about us!" T-dogs voice boomed as he gave a halfhearted grin.

"Oh, I'm not! Each and every one of you is going to come back here safe and sound without a scratch on them." She said in a steely tone that brokered no arguments.

"Aww darlin'" Came Merle's voice from behind her as he slapped her ass "I didn' know ya' cared."

"Don't touch my ass Merle. And of course I do you stupid jackass, that goes for you as well-not a damn scratch." She said pointing a finger in his face.

His eyes shifted and she found herself looking warily at him. Was he even ready to go out there? He'd only been clean for a couple of days, admittedly he seemed to be doing better than she expected but would the stress of the city get to him?

"You doing alright Merle?" Ann asked him softly.

"Jus' fine baby girl, jus' fine. Now what size shoes do ya wear on them china doll feet?" Merle questioned with a small grin.

She arched an eyebrow "I'm actually shocked that you know enough about china doll feet to compare them to mine so I'll let that slide." She smiled at him but inside she was worried; she didn't want him or anyone else risking their neck for a pair of stupid shoes.

"Size woman, we ain't got all day." He griped at her.

"Size 5 women's, unfortunately for you the only shoes I want are kick ass knee high combat boots and those take sizing so I'd have to be there. Other than that there were a pair of black and neon green Jordan's that they stopped making a few years back that I've always wanted. I guess we're both SOL Merle. I'd advise you to just go out and get necessary supplies-not shoes-and then get all your asses back here safe and sound."

Merle gave her a glare before stomping off toward the van, flipping them all off as they chuckled. The goodbyes were sad and filled with worry. She hugged everyone tightly even Jacqui and Morales, giving T, Glenn, and Andrea a kiss on the cheek. Walking back up to Merle who had been talking to Daryl she paused and waited till he noticed her.

"I'm dead serious Merle, everyone including you, back here safe and sound." She told him. He froze when she jumped up placing her arms around his neck and gave him a quick hug, before walking back to their tent. Ann listened as the others said goodbye and then to the sound of the van driving away. It was going to be a long day.

"I'm goin' huntin'." Daryl said as he popped his head in the tent. "Maybe I find that deer you were talkin' bout when ya first got here, cook us up some venison." When she said nothing to fill the silence he pulled out of the tent and started walking away. "Prob'ly be back in the mornin'." He muttered.

Ann snapped out of her pity party at that. "Wait!" She hollered running to catch up with him. Looking back at he distance she had run to get to him she arched a brow. "Did you run away from the tent or something?"

Daryl looked at her slightly confused before she saw it click. "Nah, I'm jus' not kiddie size like ya." He grinned as she started to respond "Don' fight it ya got short legs. Hell ya got short everything. Bigger strides ya know." He motioned to his legs.

Of course she looked where he motioned and of course her eyes got stuck on his crotch. She felt like a bug drawn to a bug zapper-stay away from the light! He coughed and her eyes shot back up to his, her face burning.

"Ummm...so tomorrow you said?" Ann desperately tried wracking her brain for any semblance of conversation that didn't have to do with sex. Although Daryl had a slight blush a cocky grin was present as well making her all the more red.

"Ok then, well be safe and all that and I, well, yeah, umm, just be careful out there." She rushed sure that it had all sounded like one sentence before turning and walking quickly toward camp.

-later-

It was starting to get late and they still weren't back. Ann chewed the inside of her cheek willing herself not to panic. Of course Amy was doing enough panicking for the both of them...

"It's late, they should have been back by now!" Amy stressed.

Ann said nothing as Dale began to try and comfort the girl. He paused to give her a concerned look. "Are you ok Ann?" He asked

Honestly she still wasn't a hundred percent with Dale after everything that had happened with Shane so she just nodded and tried to drudge up a smile, returning to staring at the road. She was trying desperately to ignore Amy wringing her hands; she either wanted to nail them still or join her, and neither was an option according to her. Then the CB went off and Ann rushed to it.

"Trapped...department store...th...hundreds...walker...s..." T-dogs voice came out garbled and choppy but it was easy to figure out what was going on.

"Hello? Hello? Do you read me?" Dale called into the speaker. "Hello? T-dog?"

"We have to help them!" Ann cried only to be cut off angrily by Shane.

"No!" He barked at everyone "We do not go after them! We do not risk the group."

"So we're just going to leave them there!" Amy just about shrieked.

Ann's ears were ringing and she felt like everything was going in slow motion. "Let me see if I've got this right Shane," she sneered his name. "People, our people are out there calling to us for help, and you just want to leave them there?"

"They knew the risks! If they're trapped, they're gone!" Shane stated firmly.

"My sister is out there! We're just going to leave her there? She volunteered to help the rest of us!" Amy shouted.

"She's trapped, she's gone and you're just going to have to deal with that." Shane reiterated.

Ann slowly walked up to Shane until she was inches from his face. She could see Merle, Andrea, Glenn, T, and even Morales and Jacqui in her minds eye, and her rage boiled over. The next thing she knew Shane was on the floor staring up at her shocked and her hand hurt like a bitch.

"What the hell Ann!" He tried to shout through the blood flowing through his nose.

Ann looked down at him in distaste "I suggest you deal with it Shane." She spat at him and ran after Amy.

"Oh my god what happened?" Amy cried at her when she finally caught up.

Ann looked at Amy and laughed dazedly "Is it bad that I was so mad I can't remember?" She chuckled some more as Amy grabbed her hand. She winced at the pressure.

"Normally I'd say yes but this time I'll make an exception." Muttered Amy. "We can't just leave them there Ann!" She looked up her eyes bright.

"No, and we're not." Ann told her firmly. She had told Shane before, his word was not law, not with her. She didn't care if she had to steal a car, she would get their crazy fucked up family back. "I think our best bet is to wait for Daryl. I know he has a truck and I'll bet he lets me use it."

"Just you?" Amy asked incredulously

Ann winced "I-yeah just me. I'm not good at being around people out there Amy. I'll fuck up and get someone killed."

"So why would you go at all if you're just going to get someone killed." Amy argued.

"Because... when I'm by myself, I'm really ...good at killing shells." Ann sighed.

"Whatever Ann, you're just like Andrea! You could just say you think I'll get you killed! That I'm shit in this place! That I couldn't save my own life or anyone else's!" Amy burst into tears and Ann launched herself at the girl holding her tight. All of Amy's insecurities had just burst forth and Ann couldn't help but feel awful for her.

"It's going to be ok Amy." Ann whispered in her ear.

"How do you know? This isn't some silly joke Ann! Andreas out there! This is real." She cried sobbing into Ann's shoulder "How do you know?"

"I don't." Said Ann simply. "But if I let myself get carried away with what ifs I'd go crazy. I have to believe that they are going to be just fine. Otherwise I'd end up a weepy mess."

"Like me?" Amy hiccoughed

"Weeeellllllll..." Ann hedged as Amy mock punched her. "Come on kid, lets make a plan."

Later that night Ann and Amy had the start of a plan, now they needed Daryl. They exited the Dixon's tent hand in hand and headed toward the fire. Then suddenly the silence was shattered by a loud wailing noise.

Hands to their ears Ann shouted at Shane "Is that a fucking car alarm?" Watching as he shrugged and ran to the road. Suddenly a bright red challenger driven by and ecstatic Glenn screeched to a halt. Where was everyone?

"Where's Andrea! Is she ok? Why isn't she with you?" Amy yelled at Glenn.

Jim reached over and turned the car alarm off thankfully, and Glenn shouted to the group "Everyone's fine! Well Merle not so much but."

The water was back in Ann's ears and she didn't care when the van got there, or care about the tearful reunions all around, she barely noticed when the new guy wrapped around Lori and Carl. She walked slowly up to T-dog.

"Where is Merle?" Ann asked in a shaky voice.

T-dog looked at her obviously distraught. "I'm sorry Ann...I-"

"WHERE IS HE!" She shouted hitting T's chest before she felt someone grab her arms and pin them behind her.

"Ma'm?" Said a calm voice that she didn't recognize behind her. She should tell him that calm voices only piss her off.

"Where the fuck is Merle." Ann asked again in a much steadier voice that was hard as steel.

"He is safe for now ma'm I handcuffed him to some pipes on the roof, and T-dog chained the doors." The voice said in her ear. "He was a danger to our group ma'm, he was on drugs, he tried to kill T-dog."

She slumped and the arms let her go. "Your lying." She said simply before calling out "Andrea!" One look at Andreas face had her knowing the truth "How?" She croaked out.

"I'm sorry Ann! Rick threw the box off the roof, but it was, it was the same one. I'm sorry I don't know how he got it." Andrea cried at her.

Carl piped up hesitantly "A red box?"

Ann whirled on him "Yes! What do you know about this Carl?" At his scared silence she tried again "Please, Carl, I know you guys don't like him much, but he's important to me. I need to know about that box."

Carl looked at the tears gathering in her eyes and then he hung his head. "I got it for him. He told me that you and him were playing a hiding game, but that you cheated because you knew he couldn't go in the camper. He told me what to look for and I looked for ages till I found it. He was really happy. I'm sorry Ann!"

The young boy put his head on her shoulder and sobbed. "Shhhh shhhh shhh. It's ok." She said patting his back gingerly before looking hard at Lori. "I don't blame you." Tearing her glare away from the woman she put her hands on Carl's shoulders "Look at me." Ann said with a finger under his chin. "Crying never solved anything, all its ever done is tried to make people feel sorry for you, and you know what?" He shook his head trying to stop his tears "The only one that anyone needs to feel sorry for is Merle, cause I'm going to kick his ass so hard he shits sideways." Ann winked at the boy who snickered at the foul language, and then stood to address the newcomer.

"Who are you?" She asked her mind fuzzily replaying an embrace with Lori and Carl earlier, and she was dreading the answer.

Carl piped up happily "Thats my dad!"

Shit. Thought Ann as she had a flash of guilt for practically accusing Lori in the middle of a mini crisis. "Of course it is." She smiled at the man "We need to talk."

Not ten minutes later had her a private conversation with Rick Grimes. "So Mr. Grimes-"

He winced "Call me Rick."

Ann nodded, Rick it was "Alright. So Rick back in your sheriff days did you normally handcuff men to pipes on rooftops to die of exposure or heatstroke? We'll leave out the fact that there's walking flesh eaters out there as well, don't want to complicate things do we?"

Rick hung his head "M'am-"

"Miss. Beck." She interrupted; it was petty but she wanted a sense of supremacy.

"Ah, ok Miss. Beck, like I said he was out of control and he was endangering the whole group. He made racial slurs at Morales and T-dog and put a gun to his head. I did what I felt I had to do."

Ann nodded; she knew how Merle was but she was going to rip him a new one for pulling a gun on T. "Ok then Rick." She said rolling the r and putting extra emphasis on the k. " I can see that, I really can-the part I'm having trouble with, is him being left up there, you see what I'm saying? He doesn't believe he's worth anything and he doesn't believe that anyone would care enough to come back for him. You know what that could do to a man in his situation?"

Rick hung his head again. "I'm sorry Miss. Beck, I truly am."

"That's all well and good Rick but what do you plan to 'do' about this." She asked arching a brow.

"I'm going back." He said firmly. "That's no way for anything, let alone a man to die."

'That' was what she wanted to hear. "We're leaving as soon as Daryl gets back and you tell him your little story." Ann shook his hand firmly "And Rick? If anything's happened to Merle I just might kill you myself."