Okay I've played around with cell phone technology. Oh well, I needed them damn it!
"does this story have a point?" Shane sneered.
Merle chuckled. "if ya ever let me get to it there is. Like I said, I was arguin' with buck….."
Merle scoffed. "Fuck that."
Buck stood in front of Merle, the inches of height he had on Merle obvious. "Come on, You're only fuckin' 17! What 17 year old is cookin' crystal meth?"
Merle glared at Buck. "What the fuck do you want me ta say?!"
Buck shook his head. "I want the fuckin' truth Merle!"
Merle glared daggers at Buck before shoving him back. "You want the truth? Fine, I started cookin' when I was 13 because if I didn't, my father would beat me bloody and starve me. My father was the one ta call the cops on me after I stood up ta him one day. Look where that got me!"
Buck eyed Merle. "Don't fuckin' shove me. And when I said truth I meant all of it! You've been on those phones redialin' each night! Who the fuck are ya tryin' ta get ahold of so desperately?"
Merle shook his head. "Fuck you Buck!"
Merle shoved past Buck, headed towards the cell door. Buck grabbed Merle's shoulder, spinning him around. Merle grabbed his hand, twisting away sharply.
"Don't fuckin' touch me!"
Buck raised his hands as Merle glared from where he was panting against the wall.
"Jesus Merle I ain't gonna hit ya! Come on, I'm askin' ya what's wrong, don't flip the fuck out!"
Merle glared as he shoved away from the wall. "What's wrong, is that I have a 6 year old baby brother, who I raised before gettin' locked up. And he's home alone with that fuckin' psychopath!"
Buck's face fell. "A baby brother? How is he survivin'?"
Merle scoffed. "he ain't, I haven't heard from little bro in 3 months, haven't seen him in 5. My father won't answer the phone now. I have written to every god damn person and group I can think of and no one can help! CPS flat out said they won't help! So yeah, I'm flippin' the fuck out, but I have a damn good reason."
Merle stalked out of the cell, leaving Buck standing there watching as he walked away.
"You were abused?"
Merle nodded to Lori's quiet question. "In technical terms Daryl and I were both mentally, emotionally and physically abused by our biological father, Silas Saunders."
Glenn shook his head. "You two are the most badass guys I've ever seen. How…"
Daryl snorted. "Trust me, I didn't start off badass. I play the damsel in distress here."
Merle growled. "You were fuckin' 6!"
Daryl chuckled dryly before motioning to Merle to carry on .
Buck leaned on the wall next to the officer's station to talk to Jackson, a friendly guard. Jackson looked up, and watched as Merle glared as he came down the hallway.
"What happened there?"
Buck sighed. "Found out why Merle's so fucked up. And none of it is his fault."
Jackson nodded. "I've seen the scars."
Buck shook his head. "It's more than that. He has a 6 year old brother at home."
Jackson looked up at Buck. "You've got to be kidding me."
Buck snorted. "I wish I was. Their father has cut off contact. Merle has no idea if his little brother is alive or dead."
Jackson shook his head. " He tried CPS?"
Buck nodded. "They won't listen."
Jackson swore. "Damn."
Buck nodded again. "I got an idea though, but I need your help."
Jackson looked at Buck. "What kind of help?"
Buck shrugged. "Just need ya ta drop a piece of paper on the floor, one with Merle's home address written on it."
Jackson smirked. "I think I can do that."
"So the guard gave out personal information? He could have gotten fired."
Merle smirked at Rick. "Jackson is a big player in this story. That man saved my life, with Buck's help."
Carl raised a hand, causing Daryl to chuckle. "This ain't fuckin' school. Ask ya question."
Carl nodded. "Is Buck a good guy?"
Daryl and Merle both laughed before Daryl spoke. "Yeah kid, Buck's a good guy. A really damn good guy."
Buck stepped up to the phone for his nightly call, dialing the number by heart. There was one ring before the phone was picked up, loud music in the background being topped by a booming voice.
"Hey my boy!"
Buck chuckled. "Hey dad, you at the clubhouse?"
"Yeah here let me get out of… come on people, in the back rooms!"
Buck raised an eyebrow as there was some shuffling and then the music became muffled.
"Sorry about that, damn Striker!"
Buck smirked. "He is a crazy fuck."
"Ah that's true. Well how ya doin' in there?"
Buck looked to where the inmates were lining up for their calls. Merle was at the front of the line, but out of earshot, looking anywhere but Buck.
"I'm good, but I need a favor."
"Whatever ya need kid."
"Got a paper and pen?"
"One second… okay."
"Write down this address."
Buck heard writing as he stated the address to his father.
"Okay got it. What's this to?"
Buck sighed, looking over at Merle who caught his look, glaring back.
"Remember the kid I told ya about?"
"Yeah, said he needs a father, awfully young to be in there with ya."
"Found out why. Seriously abusive father, forced him to cook meth or he'd get starved or beaten bloody. And it gets worse."
A snort came thru the phone. "That sounds like the worst thin' a father can do to his son, how can it get worse?"
"He has a 6 year old brother whose home alone with their father. Who cut off all contact a few months ago."
"Fuck."
Buck snorted. "My point exactly."
"I'll head out now. Any idea what I'm goin' into?"
Buck ignored Merle's glare. "Back country, mountains. Merle dropped out of school at 12."
"Damn…goin' ta be a rough road for that kid."
Buck nodded. "I'm gonna do what I can ta help. Just… gotta let this kid know if his little brother is alive or not."
"Call me tomorrow, I'll have an answer. Night kiddo, I love ya."
"Love ya too dad. Thanks for this. Have a good night."
"Buck sent a biker to check on Daryl?" rick asked.
Daryl snorted. "Buck ain't a common biker. At the time he was vice president of the demons, son of the president."
"So Buck sent the president of a motorcycle club to check on you?" rick asked.
Daryl shrugged. "I suppose it started out as Norman was goin' ta check up on me. Didn't end that way though."
"Get the fuck out of my sight ya piece of shit!"
The second Daryl hit the floor, he scrambled to run to the back door, when a loud bang bang came to the front door. Silas glared at Daryl where he cowered against the back door. Silas stalked the front door, ripping it open.
"What?!"
Daryl looked up and saw a huge man standing in the door way. He was taller than Silas, and covered in muscles and tattoos. He had a long grey hair with a grey black goatee, and he wore a black leather vest, with patches all over it. Daryl was distracted looking at the man, and startled when he saw the man look at him. The man's face grew dark, and he looked to Silas.
"You Merle Saunders father?"
Silas crossed his arms. "Yeah I'm that shit head's father. Who's askin'?"
The man smirked. "No one important."
Daryl was startled again a split second later when Silas flew backwards, the man following him after kicking Silas in the chest. Silas hit the floor just in time for the man to punch him in the face two times. The man stopped and was still for a moment. Silas let out a groan before the man punched him one more time.
Daryl stared at Silas' still form. Merle had tried once to punch Silas, and then Silas had Merle locked up.
Daryl jumped back as the huge man stood up and walked over to him. Daryl pressed himself against the door, hoping the man wouldn't hurt him too bad. He was shocked a moment later when the man knelt in front of him.
"Hey little guy. I'm Norman, what's your name?"
Daryl looked up at the huge man. "D-Daryl."
The man smiled, and not the same smile as Silas, the one that meant Daryl was in trouble again. A real smile, like Merle's.
"Well Daryl, it's good to meet you. Come on, let's take you home."
Daryl went stiff as the man reached out, but instead of being picked up by his hair, Norman carefully lifted him into his arms as he stood. Daryl tried not to shake with fear as Norman carried him past the downed Silas, and out into a truck outside.
Norman seat belted Daryl in before pulling out. Norman looked at Daryl as he pulled onto the highway. The boy was pressed against the door, chewing his lip raw as he shook. He saw Norman looking at him, and instantly dropped his eyes to the floor, a new round of shaking begun.
"Hey easy now little guy. Ya safe now. Let's get ya to Gypsy."
Daryl snuck peaks up at the man, but felt himself nodding off as the truck warmed up. They drove for a long time in silence before Norman pulled a cell phone from his pocket, and hit the speed dial.
"Hey Striker I need you up and at it."
"Aw come on!"
Norman chuckled. " Daisy will be there when ya get home. Your pres has a job for ya."
"What do ya need boss?"
"Need ya to get Gypsy. Take her and get some pedisure or somethin' like that. Need you two ta meet me at the house in an hour."
"Norman what the hell is goin' on that you need pedisure?"
"I'll explain when I see ya, but I need Gypsy there foremost."
"On it boss."
"Pedisure. What a weird one."
Striker snorted as he followed Gypsy into Norman's house.
"You're tellin' me! He's asked for everythin' from C4 in an hour to AK47s immediately! But pedisure?"
Gypsy shrugged as she grabbed a beer for Striker as she looked out the kitchen window.
"We'll find out soon, here he comes."
Striker looked out the window as Norman pulled the truck into the driveway beside his bike. Striker saw something in the front seat, and frowned as he put the beer down and followed Gypsy out to the porch as Norman walked around the truck from the passenger side.
Gypsy gasped when she saw what Norman was carrying. The small boy in his arms was tiny, all skin and bones. He had a clear black eye of multiple shades over his right eye, and a fresh split on his lip. His arms that were exposed were covered in bruises, as well as small burns and welts. The boy was in worn thin clothing and he was clearly terrified as he was shaking. Norman walked up the front path, stopping in front of Gypsy and Striker, who both stared.
Gypsy stepped forward, holding her arms out. Norman smiled at her as he handed over the boy.
"Daryl, this is Gypsy. She's going to take good care of you."
Gypsy couldn't believe how light Daryl was as she held him. He was significantly underweight.
"Come on baby boy let's get you something to eat. Come on." Gypsy said quietly as she walked away, holding the little boy in her arms tightly to her.
Striker watched as Gypsy went by, whispering to Daryl as she took him inside the house.
"Pedisure makes sense now."
Norman sighed as he climbed the steps. "This will take more than pedisure to fix. Buck has his work cut out for him."
Striker frowned. "What's Buck got to do with this?"
"That's the little brother of his new cell mate. Things are about to get real interestin'."
