Since I'm heavily influenced by the music I'm listening to while I write, I thought it would be interesting to make a playlist to go along with this story. I think I'll post it with chapter 11 or maybe 12. Either way, it's happening.

By the way, you guys are awesome. Seriously, if I could bake you guys a batch of awesome cookies just because of how awesome you are…you'd have some pretty awesome cookies. For the millionth and one time, thank you for showing Cherish some love.

Won't be the victim- Well, thank you. I try as hard as humanly possible not to make cookie cutter stories. I'm excited for more too. I think I might need an intervention; I'm having too much fun writing this story =)

Hussy- Extra awesome cookies for you! Glad to see you're sticking around.

MelkS- The rate of the chapters being posted is mainly due to the fact that most of the story was already written. I couldn't decide whether or not I wanted to post it. I edit the chapters for mistakes before I post them, and add a few things here and there. After chapter 10, it will be a little less frequent. However, I will accept your frequency award haha.

JericaMichele- I loved the Boondock Saints reference too. That's my absolute favorite quote from the movie, so I had to use it.

"Sorry about shooting at you. I thought you were one of them,"said the Asian man who's name I'd learned was Glenn.

"Well, I'm alive," I said as I turned to look at Daryl, who was still out cold. "But you'll probably have to explain a few things to him when he wakes up. He's got a bit of a temper."

He laughed nervously, then sat down. Shane sat in between us.

"You never did tell us your name," said Shane.

"I'm Chris."

"Well Chris I gotta ask, what were you two doin' up there?"

"We ran out of water. We were just trying to fill up our bottles."

He leaned forward and clasped his hands together. His head bobbed up and down as he stared at the ground.

"We didn't mean to scare you guys. Honest. We'd been a couple days without water, an-"

"No need to explain," said the older gentleman, Dale, put his hand up and interrupted. "Any of us would have tried to do the same."

He looked at Daryl lying beside the fire.

"Is he going to be okay?"

"Yeah. It'll take more than that to take this one out," I said. "He's as stubborn as his brother."

I'd forgotten all about Merle.

"Oh God, Merle!"

"Who's Merle?" Shane asked.

"Daryl's brother. Y'know that flare I set off? That was to alert him that something had gone wrong. He's probably on his way here."

"Does he have a temper too?" asked Glenn.

I snorted.

"I'm pretty sure that's where Daryl got his," I said while thumbing towards him.

"Is he gonna go crazy when he sees his brother?" Shane asked.

I nodded, "Probably, but he'll be fine once I have a word with him."

I looked up and noticed another portion of the group staring towards me and Daryl like we were circus clowns. I didn't know what else to do, so I waved.

"There's a ton of people here. Did you all come here together?"

"Nah," Shane started. "We met them as we went along. 'Cept for Lori and Carl. They were with me."

"Your wife and kid?"

"Nah, a good buddy of mine. He…uh..."

"You don't have to explain. It's nice of you to be looking after them."

"He'd do the same for me."

I smiled at him and touched his shoulder. You could tell he'd been through so much. Just like the rest of us.

"Someone's comin'!"

The lookout on top of the RV had a set of binoculars and peered out towards the long, winding road. Sure enough, I heard the loud roar of Merle's motorcycle. I got up and ran towards the road. I had to be the one to talk to him before anyone else did. I stopped just before the road inclined and watched Merle drive down.

"Is that Merle?" Shane asked.

"Yeah. If I were you, I'd step back a bit."

He took my advice and stayed back a few feet from where I was standing. He sat on a rock and waited.

Merle stopped the bike in front of me. I could tell he came here expecting a fight. He picked up his shotgun, cocked it with one hand and raised it up towards Shane.

"You okay? Where's Daryl?"

He started walking towards Shane, who drew his gun. I gripped the barrel of the shotgun and pointed it down.

"There's no need for that. Put it down."

He looked at me before lowering it all the way. The heat in his eyes said it all, he'd been ready to come in shooting to get Daryl and I out.

"Y'aren't hurt?"

He grabbed one of my shoulders and spun me around. He lifted each of my arms, and lifted my hair to search for anything out of place. I took my arm back.

"Stop. I'm fine. I promise."

"Why are you all wet?"

"I had to go for a swim."

"What about Daryl?"

"Well…"

He lifted the gun at Shane again.

"What did you do?!"

"Knock it off, Merle! They thought we were geeks, so they shot at us. They missed and busted one of the water jugs. Daryl fell into the lake."

I took the shotgun from him this time.

"You calm down, and I'll take you to Daryl," I said. "He's alive, he's just unconscious."

He wouldn't take his eyes off of Shane. I'd never seen his glare get so intense. I cupped my hand on his cheek and pulled it towards me.

"Hey. We're fine."

He softened his face.

"Let me see my brother."

"Alright."

I nodded towards Shane, and he led the way back to the camp. I could feel Merle's eyes on the shotgun. He didn't feel safe without it. We walked up to the fire where Daryl was resting. Merle's gait quickened to a jog. When he was next to his little brother, he looked at him for a moment. The panic was instantly wiped from his face. He looked around the area for a second and found a cup of some type of unknown liquid; he splashed it on Daryl.

"C'mon bitch tits, it's time to get up."

He lightly slapped the side of Daryl's face; he began to stir. I sighed with relief and took the empty cup from Merle. The rest of the group was starting to crowd around the fire. I giggled to myself; I knew they were expecting some heart-warming reunion between the brothers. If they only knew.

Daryl sat up, and jumped back a bit. He was startled at the sight of so many people grouped around him.

"Which wonna you assholes shot at me?"

Merle looked just as interested and looked up towards the group. I walked in front of the brothers and blocked their view.

"It doesn't matter. We're both okay."

"Like hell it doesn't matter," said Daryl.

I put my fists on my hips.

"These people kept you alive."

"'Least they could do for nearly gettin' me killed."

Merle just stood there with his arms crossed, grinning.

"No, he's right. I was the one that shot. I thought you were a walker," said Glenn as he walked out of the group.

Merle uncrossed his arms.

"Almost shot down by a yellow-faced China man. How'd ya like that, little brother?"

I couldn't believe what I'd just heard. I wanted to go hide in a big black hole.

"Merle, please don't," I said. My face was in my palm. I didn't want to see their faces.

He walked over and put an arm around my waist.

"What? Am I embarrassing you in front of your new friends?"

I pulled his arm off of me and stepped back.

"Why don't you two start walking up so I can apologize to these people? Hm?"

Merle smiled and took a bow in front of me.

"C'mon little brother. She's got some Asian dick to suck."

My mouth fell open and I glared at him.

Daryl picked up his crossbow, then he and Merle walked up towards the motorcycle. I turned towards the group; mainly Glenn.

"I'm really sorry. They're…not always so right in the head."

They looked perplexed and confused. I knew what they were thinking: what was I doing hanging around with them?

"Thank you, very much. We'll be going now."

I twisted my fingers, and started to walk away. My head was hung. I felt terrible.

"Wait!"

I turned, it was Shane.

"You ever need water, come and get it. But, I don't wanna see those two around here, got it?"

"Yes sir. Thank you."

I shook his hand, and carried on towards the brothers. I walked to the shore of the lake and looked up. Daryl was at the top of the rocks again, gathering my bow, the backpack, and the last water jug. I started to walk past Merle and the motorcycle. I was still holding the shotgun, so I figured I'd be safe walking back to camp. Merle grabbed me by the arm on my way by.

"Where you think you're goin'?"

"Who? Me? I'm walking back to camp."

He smiled as I pulled my arm back.

"You gonna back up some stranger? Some chink? That ain't your group."

"It doesn't matter. I don't care what hang-ups you've got with race, but please, do NOT speak like that around me. Especially when we're in the company of the people who helped your brother and I. Now, Shane told me he'd let me back for water. Which I think is very gracious, considering."

"I don't need no lectures from some uptight bitch."

I sighed heavily.

"Goodbye, Merle."

I started to walk up the road. I heard him turn on his motorcycle. The roaring came up behind me. He turned in front of me and cut off my path.

"C'mon, you can ride bitch."

"No thank you!"

I started to walk around the bike.

"Look, either you get on the bike, or you give me back my shotgun and walk back. Your choice."

My fists clenched, digging my nails into my palms. I turned and walked towards the bike and threw the shotgun at him, which he'd caught much to my dismay. He stood up on the bike to balance it while I threw my leg over the back. He revved the engine, then jerked the bike forward causing me to grab hold of him so I wouldn't fall. I could hear him laughing over the motorcycle's engine.

He thought this was the perfect time to take a long ride around the area so I could "cool down". We drove down an abandoned highway outside of Atlanta. The morning sun lit up fields of golden grasses. It was beautiful, even if there were dead people walking through it. It amazed me that while everyone had died, nature was still alive and thriving. It was a relieving and welcomed sight. Merle was right; this did make me feel better.

He stopped the bike in the middle of a bridge that had another dirty river flowing underneath it.

"What are we doing?"

"Gotta piss."

"Oh."

Merle stepped off to the other side of the bridge. While he did his business, I looked over the side to watch the filthy water flow beneath. I noticed the carcasses of small animals along the river side that had no doubt been munched on by the geeks. There were a few geeks about a half a mile down the river. I saw them brainlessly roaming around the area with no intention.

I heard Merle coming up behind me.

"What you lookin' at?"

"Dead people," I said casually.

He leaned against the rail of the bridge and watched with me. The wind blew that oh so familiar scent of the dead through our hair and clothes. I doubted that there was any escaping that smell by now.

"You still upset 'bout the Asian fella?"

I slowly turned my gaze towards him.

"I won't lie, it was a dick move," I said.

"I'll apologize to you, but I ain't sayin' sorry to any of those people."

That was as good as I was going to get. I was amazed I even got that out of him.

"I'll take it," I said. "If you don't mind me asking, what do you have against…you know."

"It's nothin' personal. Just don' like 'em."

"There has to be a reason."

"Guess it's just part of my southern charm."

"That's what you call it?" I laughed.

"Yeah, what do you call it back home?"

"Hmm…I guess if there was a term for it, it would be 'being a dick'."

I turned to head for the motorcycle, but stopped and leaned back against the rail.

"Although, I won't lie, you sure did bust your ass getting to the quarry. If anything had really gone wrong, I believe you would have got us out of there."

I leaned in and pecked him on the cheek.

"Thank you."

He looked at me like my hair was on fire.

"That's it?"

"I haven't completely warmed up to you, Merle Dixon. That's it."

"It's a start," he shrugged. "Ready to go back?"

I nodded.

He made another joke about me and the bitch seat of the bike. I punched his arm, and we drove off into the horizon.