Happy holidays! Now that WD is back on I'm going to start popping up a ton of chapters a day. (Starting with 10 today because I have it all written, just slacking on the posting part) Loving season 5... can't wait for y'all to see what happens with Kylie/etc.

Reviews make my heart happy.

Chapter 11: Silence is Broken

Abby Joy Marks

I heard the deafening splash from the docks and knew exactly what had happened. I only wished I'd been there in time to see it. Merle and I ran through the trail and came out by the docks to find Kylie and Daryl laughing and splashing each other with water, both soaking wet. I just laughed and shook my head. I wanted that. I wanted Merle to be like that, even though he never could. I wanted to feel like someone cared about me, instead of just what I could do for them. I didn't want to be his property anymore.

"Aw, how fuckin' sweet." Merle grumbled beside me. He'd just crushed my happy drunk mood. I pursed my lips and rolled my eyes at him.

"At least your brother's not a total douchebag." I muttered. He raised an eyebrow at me in disbelief.

"What you jest say?"

I sighed, starting to walk away before the alcohol in me made me do something stupid. "Fuck's sake, you heard me, Merle."

His arm shot out and he clutched my arm, pulling me closer so his face was millimetres from mine.

"Stop." I said evenly, surprised my voice carried off as more confidant then I felt. This was the last time I was taking this crap from him. I was done with it. Out the corner of my eye I saw Kylie and Daryl walking back towards camp and it made me fire up even more. Merle's eyes went dark and they burned into mine.

"No, bitch, you come back here and tell me what you said, y'hear?"

"Stop." I repeated, shrugging out of his grip. "Don't touch me. I'm done with this." I turned and started toward the cabin.

"Don't you fuckin' walk away from me!"

I took a heavy breath, and kept walking.

"Abby!"

I kept walking, all the way back to the cabin, hiding myself in my car. Whenever I got upset, I would sit in the front seat and stay there until I cooled off in case I did or said something dumb that I'd regret later. I slammed my head down on the steering wheel in frustration. Tears streamed down my face, dragging my mascara with them.

Suddenly the door was wrenched open, and I shot a glare up at Kylie for interrupting me.

"What the fuck you want?" I mumbled.

"Abby, what happened?" she asked, annoyed. She motioned behind her at the two Dixon brothers, who were fighting it out in the dirt. I started breathing heavier and my eyes narrowed as she watched. I climbed out of the car and shoved past Kylie, beer in hand.

"MERLE!" I shouted. "DARYL! KNOCK IT THE FUCK OFF!"

The blinds on the cabin shuddered and a second later Shane was at the porch, Lori tailing behind and Carl hovering nervously in the doorway.

"What the-"

"Shane!" Lori pretty much ordered him, her hand on her hip. He ran for them and jumped between them to yank them apart. I ran forward and helped Shane hold back Merle while Kylie and Lori struggled with Daryl.

"Fuck you, cop!" Merle shouted.

"Now just calm down, man," Shane told him. Daryl was shooting angry and confused glares at his brother and stopped struggling against the sisters. Lori loosened her grip and let go, but Kylie knew better and kept her hold on him, just in case.

I put myself between the brothers and faced Merle.

"Merle, just stop. It ain't his fault."

"Fuck all y'all!" He shouted, shaking as his voice roared out, "I'm out'a here!"

He yanked his arms free of Shane's grip and started storming to Daryl's truck to get his bike. Everyone watched him go, but I ran after him.

"Merle!" I called to him, "Wait!"

"What? Wait?" He sneered, "Wait for you? Yeah fuckin' right, woman."

"What the hell is yer problem?"

"ME? Fuck's wrong with you? What the hell was that?"

"I don't fucking know!" I screamed. "I'm just fucking sorry, okay?"

He scoffed and continued to unstrap his bike from the bed of the truck.

"Don't go." I said. "Ya can't go."

"Why th' hell not."

It wasn't a question. But I answered anyway.

"'Cause the fuckin' world's gone t' shit. An' I need you."

He chuckled darkly, "Yer fuckin' kiddin' me."

I started to get angry again. I'm trying to be nice, here. And he just won't have it.

"Ya know Merle d'it ever occur t' you that maybe I actually do care 'bout you?"

He rolled his eyes, "Like hell you do, Abby."

I reached out and shoved him back against the truck. "Merle, shut up for a second! You stupid redneck idiot!"

"Why are you so fucking bitchy?"

"BECAUSE I SLEPT WITH JUSTIN, AND I'M FUCKING SORRY!" I screamed.

"You what?" His face turned pale. Red. Purple. Blue.

Ah, shit. Shit shit shit shit shit. My eyes hit the floor and I took a deep breath.

"After tha' last big fight we had, when you threatened t' leave- I just needed someone! And he was there! You weren't!"

His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white and I was completely prepared for him to just reach over and hit me, but like always, he never did. He let out a bellowing scream of frustration and kicked the side of Daryl's truck instead. He turned and shoved past me and took down his bike and this time I didn't argue.

I watched him as he pulled away down the road and stood there long after he'd disappeared.