When Merle decided to swagger back into camp from wherever he had been- though the bag that Rick later found out was filled with small game explained that, it was several hours after his grand arrival into camp, Rick had just finished setting up his tent, and was in the middle of sorting through his supplies, The cop was taking a count of everything he and Morgan had brought into camp so he had an idea of just where they sat supply wise. Since he had gathered things as they headed in this direction everything was a mess in their small cruiser and the cop felt an intense need to know just what they had avaliable to them so he could focus on what they still needed to gather on thier next run out into the city or along their way to the prison- whichever came first.
He could think that they had enough supplies for now all that he wanted, but the reality of the situation would always be different since he knew that this wasn't about to end anytime in the next eight years after all. The Cop was actually pleasantry surprised by their current medical supplies though. He had done the right thing in raiding the hospital before he left it, and he had picked up every single one of the vitamins, over the counter medicines and bandages he could find along the way into Atlanta. They now had a great stock of pain killers, antibiotics, supplements and bandages to work with this time because of that.
Hell they had enough of those things for about six weeks even if they used everything he had gathered everyday, and Rick know that they needed a hell of a lot more if they were going to survive this in good shape though. This thing wasn't about to just fix itself and it wasn't like he had seen society even beginning to recover in the eight years he had survived before. Rick knew that all of this stuff wasn't going to be made again anytime soon, and they were in a competition with anyone else who survived out there for whatever was left. The Rick that started this all would have been worried about leaving things for the people who came after them, but he wasn't. They had hell coming up on them in the form of injuries that would require supplies to be treated and illnesses that would need medicine to be cured and they needed to be prepared for it all. His people's survival came before a stranger's that may not even come along. It had taken him far to long to come to that conclusion before, and he wouldn't be making that mistake again.
He was in the middle of repacking his supplies in the privacy of his own tent when he heard a gruff laugh above where he was sitting. He stiffened and looked up to see the man he had expected to meet in Atlanta looking at him with a smirk painted over his scraggly face. Rick was prepared for any number of things to come out of Merle Dixon's mouth at the sight of him- he remembered how the man had been when they first met after all. Except apart from the smirk and the laugh Dixon said nothing to him at first. If fact the gruff looking redneck crouched down so they were eye level, and so the cop wasn't craning his neck to look up at him. Rick stopped what he was doing to look over the other man curiously, wondering what the hell was going on here. There had been too much change for his liking in this timeline so far, and he didn't know what would happen now.
Even just looking at the other man that was just sitting there patiently the cop was struck by the fact that older Dixon wasn't the dick that he had been in the other time line. Well not exactly the dick he'd been to be correct, the other Merle- even later on in this hell that they were living in wouldn't have lowered himself to be equals with another man. At least not untill the very end and even then there would have been something in his stance that marked that he thought that he was better than whoever he was talking to. This Merle seemed humbled somehow and that put Rick on edge. Merle Dixon didn't do humble at all.
In fact as the other man took in Rick's supplies and they way he was holding himself the other man just groaned, shaking his head as he lowered himself all the way to the ground- sitting cross legged in front of Rick's tent. There was something playful in the other man's eyes as the smirk turned into a grin, and considering Merle had just began turning his behavior around when he had died before that was more than a little confusing to the time displaced cop to see in this version of Daryl's ususally impatient brother. Merle Dixon actually seemed friendly right now and that was unnerving all it it's own right.
Rick chalked his sudden burst of confusion to trying to readjust to this time line and keeping everything in order in his mind. Hell when he had decided to fix things this time around he hadn't really thought everything that would have to be done through completely, he had just come up with a vague plan and hoped it would work. Morgan had helped hone that plan some, and Daryl being his version was just icing on the cake. Daryl was going to be his saving grace through all of this and not just because of how he felt about the other man. Having the hunter remember everything took some of the stress of being responsible for doing the same thing off of the cop, just like the other man had been doing for years before the reset had happened. They were a team, and that was the way that he preferred it. Merle speaking dragged him out of his thought though, and he focused on his newest mystery.
"Well lookie, what do we have here now? Officer Friendly finally decided to show his ugly mug back at Camp Freeloading. Maybe now Darellyna will quit moping around this place acting like he's lost his damned puppy and we can actually do something about finding a secure location for this lost tribe of ours to settle into. Preferably somewhere with damned walls so I don't have ta worry about getting my ass chewed off in the middle of the night." Dixon intoned with a a drawl and his eyes flashing with amusement as he watched Rick for a reaction to what he was saying with intrest. Rick couldn't resist rolling his eyes at the other man's words, but his lips twitched upward at them all the same. Someone up there liked messing with him, that was all he could think of to explain what was happening right now. Well at least he wouldn't have to fight the older Dixon, if his friendly behavior was anything to go by.
Somehow this was the Merle who had died before, and then some if he was reading the other man's calmer temperament correctly because this Merle was even mellower than the one that had died had been. Seeing that Merle remembered left Rick wondering just how many of his makeshift family would remember what had happened in the future in the end, though he was pretty sure that no other adult from this camp remembered based on their behavior since he had arrived in a different fashion than before. Rick also was wondering just how people remembering would change how the future played out from here out.
He couldn't guarantee that just his people would be the ones who remembered the future though. God forbid if this little reset included people like the Governor, or the people from Terminus or Grady in it. People who wouldn't think twice about killing his people in revenge for the vendetta's that they had formed during thier interactions in the future. Hell he should have thought about those possibilities the moment he had realized that he was in the past, if not after he realized that Daryl remembered the future also.
But no he had focused more on the moment that he was living in and not thinking of any implications that were still just speculations not even formed yet. Implications he couldn't ignore now. Damn it to hell. Rick needed to make lists of all possible people that could end up posing a problem to his group if they remembered like Daryl, Merle and he had. And then Rick needed to figure out how to either avoid those people all together or explain why they were after them to his people if avoiding them wasn't an option- like the Governor for example. Rick couldn't let that man go on, not with the danger he posed to his family.
"Off the wagon or on it Dixon?" He asked sarcastically, dragging himself back to the conversation at hand and the older man who was looking at him with amusement painted on his face. Since Daryl hadn't seen fit to warn him about his brother remembering Rick was trying to get a feel for just what this man was about this time around. He didn't seem to be holding a grudge about being abandoned on the roof like he had before- but then again Rick had no idea how long Merle had remembered the future since he had died well before Daryl and Rick had and Daryl's memories coming back had coincided with Rick waking up. Well at least he knew why Daryl had been at the store, besides wanting to meet him there first. Merle had probably happily let his brother take his place so there couldn't be a chance of history repeating itself, not that Rick blamed him there. Leaving Merle behind had been one of his biggest regrets.
A regret that had stayed with Rick even after they found out that Merle was still alive. That one action had fostered so much hostility between the man and his people. Hostility they hadn't really been able to overcome even after Merle had rejoined thier group. The other man had died still tainted by it in fact. Merle snorted at his ambiguous question, looking over to where his brother and Carl were resting by Daryl's tent in the shade. After a couple moments he looked back at Rick, and his gaze was hard, serious.
"On the wagon Officer no need for ya to cuff me and make me detox the hard way like Atlanta." He replied sarcastically, and there it was that hint of resentment that made the cop relax slightly. He didn't think he'd be able to trust Merle is there wasn't still some of that resentment rolling around in him. The other man had been through too much involving his group for all of it just to be gone like it had never existed and that resentment was like a baseline in Merle's very personality.
Rick nodded at the other man's response- satisfied for the moment. He looked at his lover and son fondly as his mind settled, and had to smile in spite of himself. The two males looked like a family, the relaxation something neither of them had been able to enjoy for a long time in the future. Carl was lounging against Daryl's legs, still not talking but just relaxing. It was clear the preteen trusted Daryl to keep him safe, and while that was odd given the fact that Rick knew his son shouldn't be so comfortable with Daryl is was nice to see. The trust that his son felt for the man that would become his second father was apperent from their positioning at least. Daryl was alert, looking around with one hand on his crossbow and clearly ready to act if need be. Rick had no doubt that he'd be ready to shoot in a seconds notice because he had seen his lover lounging like that so many times over the years. Merle followed his look, smirking widely.
"I always knew he had a thing for you Grimes, even before I actually knew the two of ya actually ended up a thing. Darleena's already warned me off from antagonizing ya in any way, not that I needed it considering how long ya kept the kid alive. I noticed the difference in him when he remembered a week ago, surprised the hell out of me considering I remembered the night the outbreaks started getting reported- though he didn't say much about how he bit the bullet other than it was down ta the two of ya. I have ta admit that he's stronger than I ever gave him credit for being though." Merle taunted, looking back at him.
"I aint laying down like a damned dog and dying this time around Grimes. We need to get the hell on finding a stable base and fortifying against the fucks who'd think that they can take what's ours. I see you've already started on supplies- good on ya. We'll need a hell of a lot more than that though. Yer people are still lazy fucks and they'll go through it pretty damn quick if they can." He added roughly in a taunt voice, looking back at the cop and his rather full tent with a grime glance that relayed how serious he was.
Rick chuckled at his response, unable to help himself from responding to that statement in the way that he had, because the other man was right. The semi-innocence of his people in this timeline made them lazy- lax compared to the finely honed group they had become later. But only time and experience could fix that. Rick would have to be the bad guy and ration the supplies he and Morgan had gathered, though he was pretty sure Morgan would be more than happy to take that job. Merle smirked at him knowingly as he gathered his thoughts together. He knew Merle had a sharp mind hiding behind what used to be a cloud of drugs. He had to have to have survived as long as he had with the world like it was, and he'd have information that could help Rick guide this group in the beginning of this- before things changed too much.
Information that Merle had gathered when he was on his own, and then later in Woodbury while he had called those people his own. Things Rick could use to his advantage if they were lucky and god- or whoever had put this redo into motion- hadn't seen fit to include people like the Governor into this second chance. He could handle the people of Terminus and Grady remembering if he had to but the Governor remembering would spell more than trouble for his people than they might be able to take, considering the crazy asshole knew where a damned tank was and had already proven that he wasn't above using it against them to destroy the lives that they had built. Damn it the prison had been the best place they ended up in over the years, they couldn't loose it this time around.
"I'm already planning on doing just that Merle, though any advice you might have will be appreciated. We need to pick Hershel and his people up before we do that though. The prison's still our best idea, we can make it great with the right planning and fortifications to it. But we're going to have to take care of the Governor and his goons sooner or later, they're too close ta us and too damn volatile ta chance them taking an interest in us again." Rick finally replied, looking the older Dixion straight in the eyes as he spoke and keeping his voice as level as he could and failing all the same when the emotions that he felt when speaking about the man who had killed so many of his people bleed through. Merle snorted, nodding his head in agreement, but not saying a thing yet. It was almost as if he knew that Rick wasn't done speaking yet..
"There will be no second chances this time for assholes like them, we can't afford ta take up and be wrong if we're going ta actually live this time around. The first chance I get he's going to die before he gets obsessed with us and kills my people trying to take what we built." He added under his breath, his voice dark as he spoke about killing another living man without hesitation. He'd long passed giving people the benefit of a doubt in the future and that belief stuck with him here in the past. Rick grunted as Merle slapped his back hard, laughing as he did with a wide grin and a wicked look in his eyes..
"You're going to be alright there son. Ya were a good enough leader for the lot of them before when ya were just stumbling around like an idiot trying ta find yer head and all but now. Now ya know just what people get like when the world is dead and gone and ya can be better fer it this time around. If ya keep that attitude Grimes we might just be able ta build something out of this mess after all." Merle sing songed, still chuckling under his breath as he looked away from the cop. The older Dixon started walking over to his tent with a swagger in his walk that made Rick laugh under his breath himself as soon as he was able to breath normally again, but the other man didn't bother looking back at him at the sound. Smug asshole.
Damn it if Dixon didn't hit hard though, and the other man hadn't even been aiming to hurt him with it either- he'd just been joking around with that back slap- treating Rick like he had seen him treat Daryl when they were joking around. Hell wasn't that a odd thing to experiance- Merle Dixon as a friend and not just someone who tolerated him. Rick sighed, he needed to heal sooner rather than later because they didn't have time for him getting the wind knocked out of him like this. A reaction like that during fight could be the moment between life and death out here and Rick couldn't have his weakness get Carl, Daryl or anyone else killed. It was shocking to see just how weak he'd been physically here. He hadn't felt it at all the last time around, not like this. He'd been too high on finding Lori and Carl, and the adrenaline of that run back into Atlanta and the fight at camp afterwards to notice he supposed.
As he steadied his breathing to a normal rate Rick heard a sharp whistle and looked over to see Daryl watching him with concerned, sharp eyes. He shook his head at his lover- indicating that he was fine and smiling at him soothingly. Rick could see Daryl narrow his eyes in reaction to his motion before he looked at his brother suspiciously. The cop bit his cheek to stop himself from laughing as Merle flipped his brother off in response to the look, looking haughty as ever as he opened up his tent. The recovering man could have sworn that his lover was going to jump up and confront his brother over whatever he thought had happened at Rick's tent, but then Carl leaned into him more and Daryl was looking at him in concern.
"You okay there little man?" Rick heard Daryl rumble and the cop prepared himself to get up from his spot in his tent and head over to them. But Carl just nodded, closing his eyes and Daryl huffed, shooting the tent where his brother had now disappeared into another glare. "Alright, I get it. I'll leave ol Merle alone for now, but I'll be asking him just what he did ta yer daddy over there later. Ya hear that?" Daryl added with a wry grin toward thier son. Rick smirked to himself and went back to his packing the supplies he had.
Daryl had whatever was going on with Carl in hand for right now, and if he wanted to continue to foster whatever relationship was forming between the two he shouldn't butt into their moment. They could only wait for the preteen to speak and actually tell then what was wrong right now, because pressuring Carl to talk before had never turned out well for them in the future. Hell it had only made things worse in the end, before Carl had left them and taken Judy with him. Rick wasn't about to make his son resentful of him this early on into his second chance, so he had to be patient with his son. Carl would tell him what was going on in his head sooner or later, he just needed to process what had happened today, or so the cop hoped as he continued cataloging and packing the supplies he'd laid around him and thinking of what was to happen next.
