Hi guys! So I cannot believe the reaction this getting already. Thanks for all the reviews they honestly push me to write even more. This is my first fic so the fact y'all being so nice is amazing.

Just a quick update on how the timeline correlates to the group. When Merle and Heather were at the college and Merle said it had been 85 days since the outbreak I think that's around the time season 2 ended? So the group should have then been on the highway after being pushed off the farm by the horde.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to make the story appeal more? I have a rough outline of where this is going but obviously change it every time I sit down and write.

Also! I know Merle is waaaaaaay AU and much nicer than he would be. I'm working on making him more...Merlish, bare with me.

Thanks again for the reviews and follows!

x

Chapter 10

Heather had woken up to find Merle gone, his sleeping bag still in its usual place. Assuming he was downstairs sorting supplies Heather continued her morning routine, stretching out from the night before she happily starred out of the window, noting how the low winter sun bounced off of windows around the mornings and evenings getting colder now, Heather planned in her mind practical clothing they'd need for the colder weather.

When Heather finally found Merle he was unconscious, she panicked, she assumed he'd somehow been bitten. Practically ripping his shirt she checked for bites, scouring his body she found nothing. Heather was getting hysterical now, tears filled her eyes as she shook Merle's lifeless body. Thomas stood by, watching, saying nothing (for once).

Five minutes and he still hadn't regained consciousness. Thomas had finally reasoned with Heather that for Merle to have been bitten he would have marks, and there would have had to have been a Walker, which there wasn't. This didn't help, Heather sat with Merles head in her lap, hardly listening to Thomas' rational words.

Realising he wasn't getting anywhere trying to calm Heather down Thomas started to look through the boxes Merle had been sorting, attempting to get out of Heathers way. Two minutes later he was calling Heather over, his voice shaking, holding something in his hands.

He held a small ziplock bag filled with pill bottles.

"No..." She couldn't comprehend what this meant. Looking from the bag to Merles unconscious form she just shook her head unwilling to believe what was obviously true. Thomas made several noises as if he was about to say something, but words seemed to fail him.

"What do we do? How do we save him?" Grabbing the bag from Thomas she started looking at all the pill bottles, unsure of what any of them were.

"I don't know...I don't know."

"You're the fucking biology expert come on."

"Is he breathing?"

Heather rushed over to check, he had been before they discovered the drugs but it was feint, his chest hardly even rising and falling.

Holding her fingers to his neck she struggled to find a pulse, her own breathing becoming quick and heavy, tears still streaming down her face. Thomas pushed her aside, placing his steady fingers on Merles neck. The silence dragged as Heather sat, crumpled, unable to look away.

"It's there, he has a pulse, he's still alive." Letting out a long breath Heather sat still.

"What do we do?" she asked again. Thomas didn't answer, was still just starring at Merle. He got up and started pacing, face still stoic, hands still steady.

"We should leave him." He finally said, back to Heather facing the boarded up door.

"What?!"

"He's a fucking druggie Heather, hes a volatile, racist, sexist nut job...we should just leave him here."

Still on the floor a foot away from Merle's body Heather looked up at Thomas. His long frame loomed over her but he still wouldn't face her.

"Get out."

"What?"

"I said get the fuck out."

"Heather, c'mon...how did you not see this sooner? He's been high on God knows what every day. He's violent, has these fucking crazy highs and lows."

"You knew?" Heather's voice was low, now looking at the man staring straight at her, pleading.

"How did you not?"

Heather racked her brains, there were times Merles behaviour had been unpredictable sure, he flew off at the smallest things especially with Thomas. He was wild and uncontrollable, never caring if he interrupted someone to say whatever was on his mind. Heather had somehow convinced herself that this was just Merle. She had thought his behaviour might even be a reaction to the apocalypse and losing his brother.

"You're so fucking niave. Just because he's saved your life a handful of times..."

"It's not about that."

"Then what is it about? You in love with him?"

"Fuck off."

"You're pathetic. The first guy that comes along and you're smitten."

"Fuck off."

They were shouting now, where they were forgotten. She'd never seen Thomas like this. The whole time she'd known him he'd be calm, confident and hopeful. Heather stood up now and was inches away from Thomas, not caring that the top of her head was only grazing his shoulders.

"You're the one that's pathetic. Have you ever even killed a walker? Sure you did in your detailed description of your cross country heroism...but actually? Or was that just a nice fictional story to get us on side?"

Thomas didn't say anything, they were practically circling each other now, ready to fight like boxers in a ring.

"Is that why Tabby left? You too much of a fucking pussy to even survive. If I'm pathetic what does that make you?" Heather had hit the mark, Thomas' once so confident face was full of fear.

"Get out." Heather was walking towards the door that led to the shop floor when she heard it. A groaning that struck fear in her. Turning around she looked for the walker knife already in her hand from her waistband, seeing nothing. The noise was coming from Merle. His breathing labored, eyes still closed.

Thomas forgotten Heather ran towards him, skidding on her knees as she got to the ground.

"Merle...Merle...c'mon Merle." Grabbing his torso she put her ear to his chest shaking him.

His breathing got heavier, as Heather continued to hold him.

"We need to move him...get him upstairs."

She expected Thomas to argue or to leave. Instead he didn't hesitate, moving to stand over Merles head he grabbed him under his armpits heaving him upwards and Heather took his legs. It was a struggle to get him up the stairs, Merle was heavier with each step. Finally they reached the door, Thomas kicked it in behind him as Heather silently steered him towards the room they used for storage.

Placing him carefully on the ground Heather quickly put his body in what she thought was the recovery position, they had taught her at the beginning of camp, shaking her head she again wished she'd listened properly.

Sitting vigil next to his body, she could see his chest rising and falling more steadily than before. Ignoring Thomas standing behind her she sat and waited for any other sign of life.

It was another hour before Merle regained consciousness properly. His breathing had become steadier while Heather watched and finally his eyes snapped open. He coughed violently, attempting to sit up and steady himself with his arm.

"Careful there..." Heather held out a hand to his chest, steadying him as he struggled to sit up.

"Mornin' Sugar."

A disbelieving snort came from behind her, ignoring it she simply glared at Merle.

"Seriously Merle?" she sat over him ready to grab him as he propped himself up.

"I miss somethin'?"

"Drugs Merle? What? The dead coming back to life not exciting enough for you?"

"Now Sugar..."

"No! I don't want your fucking excuses Merle. You've been using this whole time?" She didn't give him the time to answer, she didn't need it "We were looking out for each other. You could have got me killed."

She wasn't crying anymore, tears still made tracks down her face but she starred Merle down, daring him to use any excuse he could.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"What you do?" His voice still croaky, he was propping himself up now.

"I got rid of them, you're whole stash of pills."

In a flash Merle was on her, face red, swearing and screaming. He kicked a box, water bottles spilling across the floor. Thomas was in between them quickly, hands out to either side protecting Heather. There was a silent standoff as Merle stood breathing heavily. Pushing Thomas out of the way, glaring at him as she did so Heather stood in Merle's line of fire.

"No, let him."

Merle didn't do anything, just stood nostrils flared looking like a wild animal.

"Heather, c'mon he's fucking crazy."

Turning to Thomas she sneered. "I thought I asked you to leave."

"What's this? Trouble in paradise?" Merle didn't miss a beat.

She ignored him, still staring at Thomas.

"You've got to be kidding? And leave you here with him? He's a druggie Heather."

"Get out." Grabbing his arm and pushing him toward the door she was surprised at what little resistance Thomas put up. Maybe he was as shocked at Heather as she was herself. Hardly having to put pressure on his arm she let hers fall to her side as she walked ahead of him down the stairs.

"Heather...this is crazy. You're not safe."

They could hear Merle coughing loudly upstairs.

She didn't answer, merely kept walking across the shop and started cranking the shutters up.

"Heather..."

"You wanted to leave him. Now's your chance."

He didn't reply. She didn't look at him, scared that his face would break her resolve. The shutter was all the way up before Thomas made a move, taking her eyes off her he walked out onto the street outside. Barely leaving the store before Heather started bringing the shutters back down. He turned to look at her, standing outside starring in. When the shutter was all the way down Heather turned and walked to the back room, not turning round.

Back in the staff room Merle was stretched out on the sofa, water bottle in hand with a few empty ones on the floor in front of him.

"That stuff isn't limitless you know."

"Look, Sugar..."

"Heather will do just fine." She had never minded the nicknames before, even thought of them as playful banter. Now they just felt insulting.

"Heather," the name sounded foreign in Merles mouth "you were never in danger. I functioned fine."

"Fine? So what if you were on watch when it was just us two? Decided to get high and overdosed. Would you have been functioning just fine when Walkers attacked?"

"I managed just fine before, you never even fucking knew."

"I was an idiot...I hardly call it managing Merle."

"You're going to get clean. Then we're heading for Fort Benning."

He snorted "Getting clean? This ain't AA, not about to introduce myself to the group."

It was Heathers turn to laugh "Group! Not sure if you noticed Merle but there isn't any group. You left yours probably high on God knows. I'm starting to understand why you were handcuffed to the roof."

Heather left him there, resting on the sofa. Knowing if she spent anymore time around Merle she would more than likely punch him. The rest of the afternoon she spent sorting the office out, cleaning up from Merles tantrum.

They didn't speak until later that evening, over noodles that Heather had made them.

"So why'd you give twinkle toes the boot?"

"It doesn't matter, he's gone." She wasn't about to give Merle the satisfaction of exactly why Thomas left.

"He comin' back?"

"I don't know."

They lapsed again into silence, Heather flicking through one of the sci-fi novels she'd taken from the library, not really reading any of it. Stretching out on the floor she kept reading, trying to get lost in the fantasy.

"He's outside." She hadn't even heard Merle get up, he was at the window, lifting the flap of the cardboard.

"Leave him Merle."

"What'd he do that was so wrong huh?"

"What does it matter? You were hardly his biggest fan before."

"Just seems a bit..."

"A bit what?"

"Just a bit unlike you Heather."

"Yeah well we obviously all have our secrets..."

They went to bed that night in silence. Heather lay, head straight back starring at the ceiling, listening to Merle's uneven breathing.