A/N: There's a bit of a time jump from the previous chapter.

Let me know what y'all think!

WARNING: There's a lot of drug use in this chapter.


Chapter 9


Beth-

I didn't realize just how sick I was gonna get from that stuff Merle had been giving me until I didn't have anymore.

He promised he'd find me somethin' to help while he was out scavengin' through some houses but that was three days ago and he hasn't came back yet and I haven't had any sleep.

I prayed this mornin' that he'd come back soon but it's well past dark and freezing.

"God, please let Merle make it back! I don't wanna lose anyone else," I whispered as I rocked Judith.

When she quit fussin' and fell asleep, I carried her to the bedroom and placed her in the middle of the bed with pillows on either side of her.

I wasn't gonna get any sleep so I knew if she did move around, I'd be in there before she got hurt.

When I left the bedroom I immediately went to the bathroom to throw up.

I was shakin' so bad but I made it to the couch and passed out.


Merle-

"Fuck!" I yelled out when I opened tha door an' saw Sugar on tha couch.

She was pale an' shakin' somethin' awful.

She looked up, "Merle?"

'Fore I knew what was happenin' she had 'er arms 'round me.

"Hey there, Sugar, how ya feelin'?"

"Like shit," she whispered an' I chuckled.

"Told ya that's how'd ya feel."

She glared up at me but didn't move.

"Go on an' sit back down. I got ya somethin'. It ain't as good as tha other shit but it's good."

I got 'er some water an' a couple different pills an' carried 'em ta 'er.

Fuck! What am I doin' to 'er? Tellin' 'er this shits good. I should be helpin' 'er not givin' 'er somethin' else.

She looked at me funny, "Merle, what's wrong?"

"Nothin', Sugar," I handed 'er tha water an' pills, "take these."

"What are they?" she asked.

"Ya don't wanna know. Jus' take 'em."

I watched 'er take 'em an' it made me feel like shit. I cain't believe I'm doin' this to 'er.

She leaned back on tha couch an' patted tha cushion beside 'er.

I sat down an' took off my prosthetic an' leaned back.

She put 'er head on my shoulder an' closed 'er eyes.

I must've sat there with 'er fer an hour, waitin' fer 'er ta go ta tha bedroom or go ta sleep so I could carry 'er in there.

"What took you so long?" she whispered jus' when I was 'bout ta get up ta carry 'er ta bed.

"Mmhmm," I replied.

She opened 'er eyes, "Don't ya dare lie to me, Merle Dixon. I was worried 'bout you."

"Sugar, ya ain't gotta worry 'bout me," I laughed.

"Yes, I do!"


Beth-

Why the hell was he laughin'? He's gone three days and tells me not to worry about him?!

I clenched my jaw and sat up on my knees and stared at him.

Somethin' happened and he's not tellin' me.

He stared back at me, "Ya aight, Sugar? Ya ain't said nothin' fer a minute or two."

I don't know what came over me but I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his.

He didn't move at first but then he put his arms around me and pulled me onto his lap.

He suddenly stopped and pushed me away.

"This ain't gon' happen, Sugar. Ya fucked up on that shit."

I crossed my arms, "Exactly what kinda shit was that?"

"What I jus' gave ya was Xanax an' E."

"E? What is that?"

"Ecstasy," was all he said before he lifted me off his lap and carried me to the bedroom.

He laid me down next to Judith.

"Ya stay tha fuck in 'ere with lil' Angel," he told me.


Merle-

Fuck! I laid down on tha couch an' rubbed my hand over my face.

I sat back up an' reached inta my bag. I pulled out tha bottle of Xanax an' shook out three in my mouth an' laid back down.

Shoulda told Sugar why I was gone fer three fuckin' days but I couldn't tell 'er it was 'cause I found some better drugs an' took 'em 'stead of comin' back 'ere.

Two goddamn months in this trailer with 'er an' Asskicker had been drivin' me fuckin' crazy.


Beth-

I didn't sleep at all after Merle brought me in here and from the sound of it, he didn't either.

I started to get up to go see why he was making so much noise but Judith started cryin'.

"Shh, Judy. It's okay," I picked her up and opened the bedroom door.

We were met with a burst of cold air so I grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her.

The front door was open and Merle was on the porch smokin' a cigarette.

I found that kind of weird 'cause he usually just smokes in here.

I shrugged it off as nothin' and tended to Judith.

After I had fed and changed her, I put her in the little playpen Merle had found for her.

I leaned against the front door, "It's freezin'. Why are you out here?"

"I ain't smokin' this 'round 'er," he motioned towards Judith but he didn't bother lookin' at me.

"You've been smokin' in there around her. One more cigarette ain't gonna hurt."

"This ain't no goddamn cigarette, Sugar."

"Oh," was all I could manage. I looked down, "Where'd get it and the other stuff?"

He shrugged, "Knew a place."

I looked around and decided to go back in and find somethin' to eat.

I found a can of fruit cocktail and opened it. I had already taken a few bites when Merle came back in.

He dug around in some bags before he sat down next to me.

"'Ere," he held out his hand, "yer shakin' worse than a dog shittin' peach seeds."

I sat down the can and took the pill from his hand without askin' what it was. I didn't wanna know.

I almost didn't put it in my mouth but I figured it was better than feelin' like I had the last few days.

I suddenly felt really sick and when I stood up, I was dizzy.


Merle-

Asskicker started cryin' when Sugar hit tha floor.

I jumped up an' rolled 'er over.

She was pale an' she wasn't breathin'.

I picked 'er up an' carried 'er ta tha bathroom room.

I stepped inta tha shower with 'er an' turned on tha water. It was fuckin' cold as ice. I could hear Asskicker cryin' but I couldn't do nothin' 'bout it. She'd have ta wait.

When Sugar started coughin', I turned tha water off an' pulled 'er out.

I left 'er on tha bathroom floor while I went ta put some more wood on the fire 'fore I got 'er inta some dry clothes.

She was shakin' again when I got back to 'er but 'least she was breathin'.

It wasn't easy pullin' 'er wet clothes off with one hand but I got 'em off.

I'll be damned. Sugar wasn't wear a bra under 'er shirt.

Shit, Merle! She's a kid! Quit thinkin' with yer fuckin' dick an' get tha girl inta some dry clothes 'fore she gets sick.

I got 'er clothes on an' carried 'er ta tha couch so she'd be by tha fire.

Asskicker was still cryin' so I picked 'er up an' walked 'round with 'er 'til she stopped.


Beth-

I woke up freezin' though I could see a fire in the wood stove.

The whole trailer was dark except for the little bit of light comin' from the fire.

I groaned when I tried to sit up but someone pulled me back down to the couch.

I rubbed my eyes and looked down to see Merle layin' on the couch with me.

"Ya feelin' aight?"

I started to nod my head but it felt like I had been hit with a ton of bricks so I just mumbled somethin' and laid my head on his chest.

"What happened?" I asked him.

"Ya passed out. Been out fer two fuckin' days."

"I have?"

"Yeah. I ain't givin' a fuckin' thing else after that shit. Ya jus' gon' have ta suck it up, Sugar."

I groaned.

Daddy and Maggie would kill me if they knew about any of that.

I watched as the sunlight started peekin' through the boarded up windows and I listened to the sounds of Judith and Merle breathing as they slept.

I felt myself gettin' choked up as I thought about everyone from the prison. All of my family was gone.

Tears rolled down my face and I couldn't control myself.

Merle's arms tightened around me and I could hear him mumblin' somethin'.

Through my sobs, I tried to make out what he was sayin' and when I finally did, I could feel myself calming down and I could hear what he was sayin'.

"Well if they freed me from this prison, If that railroad train was mine, I bet I'd move it on a little further down the line, Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away"

Merle Dixon was singin' to me!


A/N: For more Meth, check out my one-shot, "Playin' the Missus" and also "The Dixon's" by jazznsmoke.

Also, what did y'all think of Merle in this chapter? Was he too OOC?