I had begrudgingly agreed to go back up Merle with his attack on Martinez. It had been a fairly easy task. Under the cover of darkness, we slipped into the house that Martinez had claimed as his own, and Merle had slit his throat so deeply Martinez had never awoken to fight it, and also without even waking the younger man who slept beside Martinez. Then Merle reached over and slit the throat of Martinez's sleeping companion before I could protest.

"You sick fucker, we're here for Martinez and the Governor." I huffed out angrily in a whisper.

"Yeah I know that but ya think he wouldn't have woken up once he felt the warm blood hit his flesh and then went out of here yellin ta the high heavens?" Merle defended and as much as I disliked the motherfucker he did have a point.

"Look you know where the Governor's keeping Andrea, you go free her, I'm going to help Daryl, and then we can get the hell outta here." I instructed and was actually surprised that Merle nodded in agreement. I thought for sure we'd have to waste time arguing over who would go back up Daryl.

"I'm all for that, 'sides we do need to hurry this up cuz I know if we're not back by the time I told Carol we wud be, she's gone blab ta Rick, and knowing him he'll come in crash our lil party, and fuck everything up." Merle said as he lead the way back out.

I made it to the Governor's place without being seen though it was difficult, it looked like he had beefed up security and there were more people out with guns patrolling, since I was last there. As I approached the only door that was cracked enough to cast light out into the hallway I could hear the Governor's voice."

"So Rick's sent you here to kill me," The Governor said and as I approached I could see through the jarred door that he was seated behind a large oak desk that took up most of the space in the room. Daryl stood before him with his bow aim and at the ready. "Naw, I think Rick would have probably come himself he seems straightforward that way, which tells me he doesn't know you're here." Daryl said nothing just stayed focus which was what made him the best hunter I had ever seen. "You do know you're wasting your time right. You kill me Martinez will just take my place and still mow you all down."

"Ah aint too worried 'bout that," Daryl spoke and I could see the smile on his lips. "Ah'm sure my bruther Merle, you 'member him right, well right about know he's prob'ly putting your dog down." I smirked at the way the Governor's face paled and the look of absolute horror filled his eyes.

"Oh he's down alright," I spoke out as I entered the room with my blade in hand. I then realized a second too late that I had just made the biggest mistake ever, I had distracted Daryl who swiftly turned his head and let his surprised eyes settle onto me. Daryl's distraction was the Governor's opportunity, and that's when a shot rang out. "Noo!" I cried out and rushed to Daryl, reaching him just as he crumbled to the floor. I rested his upper body against my knees as the tears rushed out so quickly my vision blurred. Blood immediately soaked Daryl's black shirt and onto the carpeted floor, and when he coughed up some blood my heart clenched in my chest.

"Hurts don't it?" The Governor asked as he stood from behind the desk holding the gun he had apparently been aiming at Daryl underneath the desk. He had been waiting for a moment when he could get off a shot without Daryl noticing and I had given it right to him. "Standing by helplessly as someone takes away someone you love. So tell me Michonne how much does it hurt?" I looked up at the monster standing before me with such hate, so much hate that it scared me, but before I could give him a replied the Governor's body hit the floor with a thump and an arrow through his head.

"How much does that hurt ya son-of-a-bitch?" Daryl's winded voice touched my ears and I settled my eyes back onto him.

"Daryl," I cried openly not caring, for the first time in a long time, who saw me or whether I looked weak. "Oh God I'm so sorry…Oh God…"

"Shhh…" He quieted my words by reaching up and placing his bloodied fingers against my lips. "Aint got time fer bein sorry, somebody prob'ly heard that shot, so we gotta move, so c'mon woman help yer ole man up and let's go home." He commanded and I knew he was trying to make light of the situation but I could see it was dire, and it was only my desire to get him help that moved me. I struggled to get him to the sewer entrance which was how we had gotten in. By the sound of running footsteps I knew that others had heard the shot and had come to investigate. When I made it to the sewer grate I could see both Merle and Andrea there waiting.

"Daryl…" Merle called out as he released Andrea who he had been supporting and rushed to us, he took all of Daryl weight and rushed to the sewer entrance. Merle didn't waste time asking what happened because he knew we didn't have the time. I moved to Andrea and helped her to her feet and we left.

It had been a slow trek back to the prison due to the old blood that coated Andrea but mostly due to the fresh blood still gushing from Daryl. We had to cut down several small groups of walkers that had been attracted to the smell of the blood. We had also stopped long enough for Merle to rip his shirt and tie it tightly around Daryl's waist. By the time we made it to the gates of the prison we didn't care about sneaking back in so we yelled until Glenn had made his way over and let us in.

"What's going on, what did you do?" Rick raged at us as we rushed in and towards the infirmary. I knew that he hadn't noticed the severity of Daryl's situation.

"Shut the fuck up and help him!" I screamed at Rick and he blinked as if I had slapped him and then focused his eyes onto Daryl, who was now so pale from the loss of blood that his skin held a blue tint.

"Oh God Daryl," Rick gasped out as he took part of Daryl's weight off of Merle's shoulders and then they both ran Daryl the rest of the way. "HERSHEL!" Rick yelled and within seconds the older man hobbled out from his cell and made his way to us.

"Put him up on the table so I can reach him better," Hershel instructed as he moved to the sink and began washing his hands. "And get those clothes off the wound." I grabbed the knife strapped to my waist and cut away the shirts and then turned away, buckled over and vomited right there on the floor at seeing the large bloody hole that marred Daryl beautiful abdomen. I tuned everything and everyone out at that moment as I fell to my knees and crawled to a nearby corner where I curled up into myself. I don't know how long I had zoned out but it took the sharp slap from Carol's hand to bring me back around.

"Michonne?" She called to me and I focused in on her and blinked a couple of time. "He's still alive." She whispered the words I wanted to hear and needed to hear. I closed my eyes and let the tears fall. "But…Michonne…it's bad. Hershel doesn't think he'll last long." Carol said choking up on the words. I don't know why her words angered me so much, I had figured as much when I saw the wound, but nonetheless what she said pissed me off. I must have snarled or made some off putting sound because Carol scurried away from me and Merle stepped up in a way to protect her. I stood up from the floor and scanned the bloody room until my eyes fell on Daryl who had been cleaned, bandaged, and lay resting in one of the beds that lined the far wall. He had been tied down to the bed and everyone else was gathered within the room or hovered by the door, watching. Some of their eyes were closed and lips moved in prayer.

"He's gonna be fine," I said not realizing I had spoke out loud.

"Not this time," Merle said and I whipped around to settle my hate filled eyes on him. He stood with his good arm wrapped around Carol who cried softly against his chest.

"You of all people should know not to count out a Dixon." I said venomously.

"Yer right I do know," Merle replied and held up his bladed hand, and I thought of the story Daryl had told me about Merle cutting off his own hand. "But I've also seen that kind of wound before." He then pointed to Daryl's still body and my eyes followed. "Hell I've inflicted enough of them myself, and I know it aint survivable." I clinched my fists to my side and shook my head in denial as I stalked past all the nonbelievers and took a seat in the chair at Daryl's bedside. "When it happens I want ta know, its gotta be me ta do it." I bunched my brow in confusion but kept my eyes on Daryl as I mulled over Merle's words and then it hit me as to what he was referring.

"It aint gonna happen," I said calmly as I reached out and stroked Daryl's choppy bangs back from his forehead, where it then spiked up due to its dampness.

"That's 'my' blood gurl," Merle spoke in a menacing tone. "And when he turns 'I'm' gonna be the one ta put him down."

"He won't turn," I said out loud and then silently thought 'And none of you motherfuckers will touch him even if he does'.

"Well only time will tell the tale," Hershel stated diplomatically. "We should all try to get some rest."

"Glenn," Rick spoke out. "I want you to take the first watch, Merle you can relieve him in a few hours."

"I can take the first watch, I'm not going anywhere." I offered and there was a moment's pause before I heard Rick speak again.

"Will you be able to do what needs to be done whe...if Daryl turns?" He asked me and I could only sit silently, since there won't no use in wasting a lie. "Glenn," Rick called out again.

"I'm on it," Glenn replied and I then heard the others shuffle from the room.

We had sat there for at least four hours, me at Daryl's bedside and Glenn closer to the door, but still close enough to see Daryl clearly. The first light of the new day was already casting shadows on the walls.

"Shouldn't you be going to get Merle now," I said casually to Glenn even though I didn't care one way or the other, I was just tired of hearing him yawn every few seconds.

"Ye…" He began to answer but the words died on his lips as a low groan filled the room. We both jumped from our seats.

"Uhhhnnnn," Daryl groaned out and I held my breath and prayed harder than I ever had in my life. I think Glenn had stopped breathing as well as we both waited to see Daryl's next reaction. After a few seconds Daryl's eyes opened and his beautiful blue eyes looked faded, hidden behind a familiar white hue, the distinguishable characteristic of a walker.

"RICK….MERLE!" Glenn called out as I shot my eyes to him and saw that he had back up to the door and had his gun drawn. I instinctively pulled my Katana and maneuvered myself between Daryl and whoever was brave enough to come at him. I knew my body was blocking a 'kill shot'. I heard several footsteps rushing up and soon the room was filled once again with everyone. "He's turned," Glenn announced and I can honestly say that was the first time I felt hate for the younger man, and wanted to do him serious harm.

"Step aside Michonne," Rick said gently and I gripped the katana with both my hands and held it out in front of me as I parted my legs slightly.

"Make me," I countered.

"Now c'mon Michonne you know as well as I do that Daryl wouldn't want ta be one of those things." Merle chimed in and my resolve faltered because he was right, I did know because Daryl had told me as much on more than one occasion. I lowered my sword just a bit as I turned and looked back over my shoulder at Daryl, who bunched his brows and cocked his head to the side a bit as he stared back up at me. Just as I was about to completely lower my sword and step aside to allow Merle to do what needed to be done a familiar voice stopped me, and froze everyone else in the room as well.

"'Chonne."

Author's Endnotes: Sooooo whatdoya think? :D Crazy idea I know but I see it as plausible in my head, and the show is already playing around with the idea already. I just hope I can explain it believably. Oh and I am excited by the possibilities this has opened up, ideas are flooding my head and I'm actually having to write them down on paper (which never do). I hope you are enjoying reading this as much as I an enjoying writing it. Stay tuned. ~ Pari