I do not own Walking Dead or it's characters only my own. Please R&R and all that good stuff! :D

Daryl looked up at the two children who just entered the shed Merle and he had found for quick protection against the storm with surprise. "Daryl!" She said running to hug the older man she knew from her group. "Where's my mommy?!" She asked looking from him to another man she vaugly remembered from somewhere.

"She's okay we're all camped out at a farm I came to find you." He said a little shocked at the little girls hug. "Once the storm passes we are going to leave." He said starring at the young boys piercing grey eyes. "Who's you're little friend?"

"This is Brenden...I found him in a house and we can't leave! We have to find Rora!" She said and Merle looked at the kid.

"Blonde girl?" He asked as the young girl nodded. "Where did she go?" He asked looking to see she had her bag.

"Well we were getting chased by the monsters and Auora put us in the trees then ran away to lead them away from us. She said wait 30 minutes and leave if she wasn't back."

"How long ago was that?" Merle asked

"I don't know maybe 45 minutes since she left." She said as the two childrens eyes filled with tears. "It was so scary!" She said sobbing. "I didn't want her to go I tried to get her to stay!" She said obviously blaming herself for Aurora not being there. Daryl looked at the children and immediently grew uncomfortable as did Merle.

"it's okay...I'll find her." Merle said getting up and grabbing his things. "Daryl you get the kids back to the farm as soon as the storm lets up enough." He said pulling his jacket on as Daryl just nodded. 'Alright girly better be okay.' He said surprised that he cared so much.

Merle had asked the young girl which way she had come from and which way she had seen Aurora run and set out in that direction hoping that he could find her soon.

Aurora had made it to the camp only to find no one was there and no walkers were around. "Thank god!" She said as she began to make her way out of the tree and was startled when the body that once hung there lifeless sprang to life causing her to fall hitting her head on the wet hard ground. Her vision began to fade and as the world grew more and more hazy she attempted to reach the tent passing out a few inches from the entrance.

"Aurora!" Merle yelled above the thundering clouds and lightening flashing knowing that he needed to find her soon. He had been trekking through the woods on his own for an hour and knew that if he couldn't find her he would have to turn around and head back to camp. "Can't leave her out there." He said to himself pushing forward looking for any sign of his compainion. He had headed in the direction which the little girl told him. The storm was still beating down and Merle knew that he had to find some form of shelter if he was going to be able to find the young woman catching his death would mean he was no good for either of them. Luckily he came to a small clearing with a bright yellow tent however in a few more minutes he would find out how lucky of a find it truely was.

He crept towards the tent machete drawn ready to attack any walker when he spotted the walker hanging from a noose wrapped around a tall oak tree. "Damn idiot. Didn't he realize only the head could kill 'em?" He said to himself exaimining the body for himself pushing it a bit to let it sway back and forth. "Well let's see what you left 'Ol Merle." He said as he bagan to go through the bags laying against the tree until he noticed a knife laying on the ground. He picked up the weapon and survayed it more before he realized it was the same exact knife Aurora had gotten from the hunting store. He quickly placed the knife in his pocket and began looking around until he found the girl he was looking for laying on the ground covered in mud.

"Aurora?" He asked moving towards the young girl who looked like an old ragged doll left in the rain by some snot nosed kid who didn't want it anymore. "Girl you alive?" He said inching closer to her fearing for the worse. Once she didn't respond again he grabbed her and looked over her body for any bites. Luckily there were none and she looked to be still breathing. "Alright let's get out of the rain." He said grabbing her and carrying her to the tent making sure there was no walkers around. He laid her on the pillows making sure to elevate her head a bit and covered her up tightly with the blankets. "We'll head back once the storm passes." He said more to himself as he looked at the girl actually happy that he had finally found her.

"Daryl the rain has slowed down!" Young Sophia said looking out the window. "Do you think Merle found her?" She asked her eyes filled with worry.

"Uhhh yeah of course!" He said as he began to gather their things. "But for now lets not worry and get back to the farm." He said slinging Aurora's bag over his shoulder followed by his cross bow.

"I'm tired." The little boy who haden't spoke said which startled him as he looked down at the young boy.

"You think you can walk for a little bit?" He asked as the little boy nodded slowly rubbing his eyes.

"I miss Aurora..." He said his big grey eyes full of sadness Sophia immediently got the same look in her eyes as she nodded in agreement with him.

"She wil be fine I promise." Sophia said grabbing the little boys hand and quietly following behind Daryl as they headed back for the farm.

The group was thirty minutes into their walk before Brenden stopped and looked at Daryl. "I'm tired." He said not wanting to move anymore.

"We're almost there. Think you can make it a little further?" He asked looking at the boy. This time the little boy shook his head no and Daryl rolled his eyes shifting his belongings before holding his arm out to the little boy. Brenden didn't think much of anything as he crawled into the older mans arm resting his head on him. Once the young child was situated Daryl Sophia and Brenden began their trek back to the farm where everyone was anticipating their return.

The trip back was uneventful no walkers to be seen or killed and Sophia did good taking care of herself Brenden slept comfortably against the rough redneck the whole time only whimpering a few times in his sleep. Daryl looked down at the kid with a certain awe about him; Sophia had told him how she found him in the house his parents laying there dead not even ten feet from him. He had cried a lot but who could blame him he was a five year old alone in a world not suitable for anyone let alone children. He wondered how something so small could have so much will to live and courage to boot. Soon he found himself lost in his own thoughts remembering how he was at that age. Running around his neighborhood trying to stay away from his house as much as possible. Of course his parents didn't give a rats ass where he was even being five years old. His dad was usually gone at the local bar or off with some hussy and his mom was in her own drunken abyss oblivious to anything around her. She hadn't always been like that matter of fact around the time he turned five was around the time she detached herself from his life. Before she had been the world's most loving mom and that was all he had in the world yet it had found a way to even strip that little bit of happiness from his world.

He was snapped from his little pitty party by Sophia shouting and running into the open arms of her mother which caused the group to stop what they were doing and surround the children and him. "Oh my god I never thought I would see you again!" Carol said enveloping her child as tears of joy fell down her face freely. "I will never know how to repay you." She said her eyes focused on Daryl who just stood there not used to the attention. Her attention quickly went back to her daughter as she hugged her even tighter.

"Uhh Daryl who's that?" Glenn asked looking at the redhead boy against Daryl's chest.

Before Daryl could answer Sophia sprung from her mother and looked at the Korean. "That's Brenden...I found him in a house then Aurora found us..." She said her voice trailing off before her eyes filled with tears and she hugged her mother even tighter. "It's all my fault I let her go...I should have made her stay in the tree with us!" She sobbed into her mother as Jameys attention went from Sophia to Daryl and her eyes filled with hurt and sorrow.

"Was Aurora blonde? with bright green eyes and kind of short?" She said desperatly wanting to know if the Aurora who was trekking through the woods was her baby sister and if all hope was lost finding her alive. Sophia simply nodded then mentioned that she had a sister she was looking for and Jamey felt her world crash around her. "Is she alive?" She asked her voice not much bigger than a mouse.

"I don't know." She said returning her head to her mothers shoulder.

Jamey felt as if she had to get away from everyone there was no doubt in her mind it was her babysister all alone in the woods and only god knew if she was alive or dead. Jamey walked away from the group quickly knowing she should be happy for the small girls return and the finding of the little boy but she couldn't not with the fact that she wouldn't know whether or not her sister was alive. Whether or not the abominations had torn her apart just as they did her cousin a mere couple of weeks before.

Merle Dixion looked out the opening of the tent to see that the rain had ceezed to all but a trickle and the lightening and thunder had stopped. "Time to get cha back to your sister girly." He said pulling the blonde out of the tent as easily as he could with one hand watching her head. It took him a bit longer than thought to get her in his arms but he managed and began his walk back to the farm to meet up with his brother. "Second time I ended up having to carry 'ur ass girly. You owe me." He chuckled making sure not to make any loud noises to attract any unwanted guests.

"You know girly I never would admit it but when you helped me the other night with my withdrawl that ment a lot. No one ever helped me and I guess I don't blame them I mean I am a son of a bitch and a bastard to boot." Merle said knowing the young girl couldn't hear him. "The night we first met you said not everyone in the world deserved help well I think I am one of those people who just don't deserve it."

With him making his peace for her helping him he continued foward the calming silence of the dense woods calming his minds. Before the world went to shit he never really cared for the silence of the woods not like Daryl did but now he was learning just how amazing it could be. No smart ass remarks loud music or obnoxious people just the wilderness around him. Surprising the whole apocolypse didn't seem to affect the local wild life to much as there were birds chirping praising the ending of the storm. "Almost there." He said mentally taking notice of where they were and she began to stir in his arms. "You awake girly?" He asked not even bothering to look down at her.

"Kind of...am I dead? or dreaming?" She asked not really knowing much of anything her head still in a daze as Merle stopped for a moment letting her sit on a fallen tree. "Merle is that you?" She said looking at the familiar face and rubbing her tender head.

"Nope it's Jesus." He said in an obviously smart ass tone. "Who else would it be lookin this good even at the end of the world."

"I know you're not talking about looking good stumpy." She said in a playful tone that took him back a bit.

"Already got jokes? and to think I just saved your life little girl. Shoulda just left you there." He said as she looked at him rubbing her eyes.

"Thank you for saving me." She said as he handed her a bottle of water which she basically chugged soothing her dry throat. "Oh my god the kids!" She said her eyes shooting up as she tried to figure out where they could have went.

"Sophia and the little boy?" He asked and she instantly looked at him and nodded. "Daryl took them back to the farm everyone is at...that's where we are heading now." He said not bothering to bring up her sister as to not get her hopes up if it was the wrong person.

"You found him?!" She said her face lighting up with happiness for the man besides her. "That's amazing Merle! Well what are we waiting for let's get back there." She said slowly standing to her feet as he followed and they began their journey again.

"Why did you run off into the woods?" Merle asked breaking the silence he was once enjoying.

"I saw the little girl run off into the woods and I couldn't help it. No one that young and innocent deserves to be lost and alone in a world like this." She said feeling much better than she had been a mere few minutes ago. Merle didn't reply instead he let the calming comfortable silence take over once more and the pair both seemed to be enjoying it.

The hike back was quiet no walkers in sight which both Merle and Aurora were thankful for not wanting to deal with anything at the moment just wanting to rest and get some sleep. "Merle be careful it's a little slick right here." She started to say but before she could continue Merle fell down the slope his ankle making a sickly popping noise and landing with a stick in his side.

"God Damnit!" He shouted as the younger person rushed to his side.

"Holy shit are you okay?" She said examining the stick knowing that it that it wasn't deep enough to be life threatening unless she didn't get it cleaned soon. "How's your ankle?" She said remembering the popping noise hoping he didn't break it.

"I don't know!" He said through clenched teeth holding his side feeling the warm blood oozing out.

"We have to get this stick out..." She said tearing the bottom of his shirt to tie it off. "This is gonna hurt like a bitch..." She said looking Merle with pity.

"Just do whatcha gotta." He said clenching the ground around him as she quickly pulled the stick from his side pressing his shirt to it to put some pressure on the wound.

"Alright I'm going to wrap your shirt around it then check your leg. We have to get back to the camp...how far away is it?" She asked double knotting the shirt so it stays on before moving to his ankle. "Can you move it at all?" She asked more worried about his side getting infected then his ankle which put her at ease when he was able to move it in circles and up and down. "What about your toes?" She asked as he nodded to her. "Think you can walk on it?"

"You ask to many damn questions...and the farm in about ten minutes away." He asked struggling to sit up knowing that they had to get back sooner rather then later. "Let's just get going." He said hoisting himself up refusing to let her help him. "You need all your strength." He said limping ahead of her as she followed.

Jamey sat by her tent staring into the embers of what was left from the fire she had built to heat water to wash dishes with. She was off into her own little world poking and proding the smoothering ashes with a stick she didn't even hear Daryl walk up besides her.

"Hey." Daryl said interuptting her thoughts causing her to jump.

"Hi." She said quietly not moving nor looking up. "Where's the boy?" She asked referring to the boy who once clung to his chest.

"Sleepin' in Merle's and my tent...Merle went after your sister and I know he's gonna come back with her." He said causing her to look up at the young redneck her eyes iced over showing no emotion at all.

"How do you know?" She asked her tone colder than a winters night in Georgia. "They could both be dead for all we know."

"Well they ain't!" He said turning to walk away from the woman in front of him when Andrea stopped him.

"Walkers! I see walkers in the field coming from the woods!" She screamed aiming her guns.

"Don't shoot that will only attract more. We will go deal with it!" Rick said ordering the blonde to put her gun down as he nodded to Daryl who began walking towards the spotted walkers with Rick. "Let's take care of them easy put everyone at ease and hurry and get back to the camp." Rick said as he and Daryl met up walking together. Daryl nodded looking towards the walkers when he noticed that it wasn't walkers but his brother and who he could only guess was the girl everone was worried about.

"Rick that's Merle!" He said running towards the limping figure who seemed to be in rough shape. "Merle!" He shouted causing his brother to stop and stare but little known to the four Andrea was raising her gun once more aiming her cross hair at what she thought to be the bigger of the two walkers before placing her finger on the trigger.

"Baby brother am I happy to see you." He said as Daryl reached him and a shot rand out silencing the farm.

"No!" Daryl screamed reaching for his falling brother as Aurora immediently grabbing Merle letting his body slide down hers to soften the impact and Andrea gasped realizing that she didn't shoot a walker but she shot a human.

"Hey Merle?" Aurora asked as they were reaching the edge of the woods happy their journey was finally coming to a breif end and they would be able to rest.

"Hmm?" He grunted focusing on walking and trying to keep his mind off the pain.

"When you found your brother was there a redhead? You know my sister in the group?" She asked wanting to know if her search was over and she would finally be reunited with her last living family member.

Merle went to answer when they both noticed to figures running towards them followed by a man shouting Merle's name. "Well I'll be dammed." Merle said a smirk forming on his face. "Baby brother am I happy to see you!" Merle said looking at his baby brother before her felt something graze his skull hearing the shot ring out through the air he thought he was dead. That his time was up and he was going to meet his maker. He looked at Daryl one last time before his vision went black and he felt himself falling to the ground gravity finally becoming to much for his body to handle.

Daryl yelled something that Aurora couldn't understand but she quickly lunged to her side grabbing Merle's body and letting it slide down hers knowing she had to slow his fall somewhat. She felt her body give way under the added pounds of Merle as they both fell her quickly moving to his head to check and see if it was the end of the man she had come to know...her closest friend from the past few days. She felt tears begin to blur her vision as she saw blood leaving his newest wound at an alarming rate. "Come on you son of a bitch! You are not dyin on me know!" She said ripping her shirt as applying pressure to the wound.

"Is he okay?!" Daryl and Rick was know besides her kneeling down to look at the redneck who was passed out.

"I don't know there is to much blood we have to get him somewhere I can see properly..." She began as she heard them mention someone named Hershel who was a doctor and she let them take the man who was against her legs as she sprung up to follow them. "What the fuck happened?! Who the fuck shot him?" She said the inital shock calming down as she saw a blonde woman who looked to be older than her run up to them.

"I am so sorry! I thought he was a walker I didn't know it was him!" She said in one breath looking at what she did with guilt weighing her down. Daryl went to speak but before he could he saw the blonde covered in his brothers blood lunge at the other blonde fist first sending her tumbling to the ground from a right hook.

"I swear if he dies I will fucking kill you bitch." She said spitting on Andrea before returning to the men caring Merle. Daryl was taken back why did this girl care about Merle so much? Did they fuck? 'Probably...' He thought as he rushed Merle's lifeless body to the house.

"Hershel! Hershel please come help. One of ours was shot..." Rick said as an older white haired man came out of the big farm house to be met with Rick and Daryl carrying another man with a blood covered woman close behind.

"Hurry and get him inside." Hershel said holding the door open as they all rushed in.

"Ror?" Jamey said as she gathered with everyone else around the house causing her sister to turn and look at her.

"Me Me?" She said running to her sister falling into her arms. "It's really you?!" She said sobbing into her sisters shirt which cause everyone to turn from Merle and look at the sisters. "I have to go help." She said as she was wipping her tears not wanting to leave but knowing her nursing skills might come in handy. Jamey nodded knowing that her talent for nursing was one of the most valuable talents in todays world.

"We'll catch up after." She said hugging her sister one last time before she ran to the house. She ran through the doors looking for where they went following the voices that she heard.

"Is he okay?" She asked bursting through the doors causing everyone to look at her.

"You shouldn't be in here." Rick started to say to the new girl who immediently scolded him.

"I am or was a nurse. I worked in the emergency room for five years before the end of the world." She said recieving a nod from Hershel.

"Grabb that cloth and begin cleaning the wound. It looks like just a graze luckily. What on earth happened?" He asked as he unwrapped Merle's side and began looking at that wound grabbing tweezers to pluck any bark from the wound.

"One of our look outs thought he was a walker and shot him." Rick said looking to Daryl who's eyes was trained on his brother. The woman who Merle had been traveling with said something under her breath while she was cleaning his head wound.

"He also had a pretty bad fall. I have to make sure he didn't break his ankle." She said sighing in relief at the sight of the graze. "You were right just grazed his head. It's not life threatening just a surface wound which would account for all the blood." She said taking a minute to breath. "Do you have a needle and surgical thread to stitch it up?" She asked as Hershel pointed to a cupboard and she immediently went to it and began rummaging around until she found it.

"If you guys could give us a bit of space to work that would be much appreciated." Hershel said to Rick and Daryl as Rick left easy Daryl taking a bit more force to leave. "I can't tell you how amazing it is to have another medical person." He said relief evident in his voice.

"Yeah I bet must be a big responsibility." She said working on Merle's head.

"You have no idea." He said as they returned to their work. "Do you know him?" Hershel asked pointing to Merle as he took the last of the bark from his wound and began cleaning it.

"Yeah met him a few days back...saved me more than twice." She said unlacing his boots now done with cleaning stitching and bandaging his head. "Ankle looks to only be a high ankle sprain of course can't really tell without an xray. Mind if I grab an ace bandage I saw some in the cupboard while I was grabbing the needle and thread." She asked as he nodded working on stitching Merle's side carefully. "Thank you for helping." She said wrapping his ankle.

"You're welcome. I am just going to finish up you should go get some rest." Hershel said more demanding she leave then asking and with that she left out the door but was immediently bombarded by Daryl and Rick.

"Is he okay?" Daryl asked the new girl his piercing blue eyes catching her bright green ones.

"Yeah...sprained his ankle the bullet grazed his head so not much damage and his side should heal up fine." She said never looking away from his eyes.

"Good." He said walking away leaving her standing there with the man wearing a sherrifs outfit.

"Thank you for your help..." He said waiting for her to let him know her name.

"Aurora. My name is Aurora." She said putting her hand out for him to shake.

"Well nice to meet you...my name is Rick and that was Daryl. Are you the girl Merle was traveling with on the highway?" She nodded her head as he did the same. "So you are Jamey's sister?"

"Yeah...and I'm sorry I would love to stay and talk but I need to find her." She said leaving the man she now knew as Rick standing by himself.