The next morning, my dad took Michonne and Carl on a run. I could have gone if I wanted to, but I decided to stay here and help look after things. Besides, I figured something interesting would happen with Merle being here.

I just got done feeding Judith, and she went back to sleep, so I laid her in her box.

I went to get Beth, who was on watch, to switch places with her.

"Hey." I called to her. "My turn."

She nodded and went inside. Now it was just Maggie and I.

"I hope they're able to find more guns." I said. "If they're preparing for war then I wanna be ready."

"We will be." Maggie stated.

I was really worried about one of us getting hurt. Carol is pretty good at taking care of us, but she's no Hershel.

"Things sure are a lot harder without your dad around." I said. "I'm real sorry that he didn't make it."

"Yeah, well…we'll deal with it, right?" She sounded like my dad when she said that.

"Right." I stated.

Glenn came out a little later and said he would take my shift.

"It's not time yet though." I stated. "I'm still on watch for another hour."

"It's okay," he said, "I'll take your shift…and I kinda want to talk to Maggie."

I frowned. "Okay, sure." I didn't like messing up the schedule, but I let it go.


I walked around the area. Truthfully, I didn't have anything to do. I was supposed to be on watch right now, but Glenn took over. Beth, Carol and I took turns taking care of Judith. I had her all morning, so Beth had her this afternoon, and I guess that meant she was all Carol's later tonight. So, I had no idea what to do.

When I looked up, I realized that Merle was staring at me.

"What are you looking at, ugly?" I said.

"Easy, darlin." He grinned one of those Merle grins. "Just wondering what the hell you're doin."

"Glenn took my shift so I don't know what to do now." I admitted.

"Well then, why don't cha come hangout with your ole pal, Merle?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Yeah? And what for?"

"Why don't you come in here and find out?"

"Oh, yeah? You'd like that wouldn't you?"

He just laughed.

"No, thank you." I said.

He laughed loudly. "I'm just teasin." He said. "You're just a wee lil thang."

"Yeah, so is something else," I casted my eyes down, "apparently." Smoothe, Abby.

He laughed again. "Ya know what?" He grinned at me with that evil look again. "I like you."

I wasn't really sure what to say to that, so I just looked at him smugly.

"Say, ya got anymore of that weed?"

"No!" I snapped. "Because someone took it all." I actually did though, I found some in one of the storage units. I couldn't believe it. I haven't really had the time to smoke any though…or maybe I just forgot about it.

He laughed for a long time. "Come on, you can't fool me." He started. "A pothead's a pothead." He brought his face close to mine, and grabbed onto my shoulders. "Ya GOT some." It was more of a statement than a question.

I was about to answer when I saw Daryl standing there. He had a questioning look on his face. Merle let go of me immediately.

"What's goin on?" Daryl asked.

"Nothin little brother," Merle said, "just talkin to my new friend here."

There was an awkward silence.

"I'll let you two talk." I said. Daryl watched me leave.

Well, that was weird.


A while later, when I figured it was safe, I went to find Merle.

"What do you want?" He said when he saw me.

I didn't say anything; I pulled the bag of weed out of my pocket just enough so that he could see it. He grinned evilly at me.

"Let's go down to the tombs." I suggested. "No one can see us."


We were smoking and talking. I know Merle can be a jerk, but he reminds me of what it was like before all this. When it was just my friends and I messing around.

"So…what was up with, Daryl?" I asked him. "He looked kind of concerned when I left."

Merle laughed. "Mmm…he thinks we're screwin around."

Ewwwww!

"What, really?" I almost laughed. Then, I remembered something. "Hey, when we were back at that camp, after everything happened with you…what did you tell Daryl about me?" I demanded.

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about." He laughed.

"Daryl asked me what we were doing, and I told him that we were just smoking, but he said that's not what you told him." I said slowly. "So, what's he talking about?"

"…I may have told 'em something about you throwin my meat stick around." He admitted.

I grimaced. Ew! What? He did not!

"Oh my God!" I said. "Please tell me you didn't."

"I didn't…"

I sighed in relief.

"…or did I?" He grinned evilly.

I gave him an annoyed look. "Merle, please."

"Okay, I didn't." He said, but then he winked at me.

I just sighed. I guess I'll never get my answer.


A little later, he asked about my mom, so I told him. I didn't go into too much details though, he didn't need to know.

"I'm sorry." He said seriously.

I just kept my head down. "Yeah, well…sorry about your hand." I just kind of blurted it out because I didn't really know what else to say.

He snorted. "Pretty cool now though, right?" He held up the metal piece he had in place of his hand.

"Yeah, but…all you had to do was cut your thumb off." I stated.

He glared at me. "And how would you know?"

"'Cause I just do. My dad was a cop, remember?"

He snorted again. "Yeah…children of authority figures are always rotten." He said.

"You think I'm rotten?" I laughed.

"Hell," he said, "I wouldn't exactly call you sweet."

I actually took that as a compliment. It made me laugh.

"We should probably get back." I stated.


We didn't walk back together so the others wouldn't get suspicious. It reminded me of sneaking in after coming home late from friend's houses; it gave me an anxious feeling in my stomach.

I walked out first. Daryl saw me, and approached me immediately.

"Ey, seen my brother?" He asked angrily.

"Oh, uh…I think he was just…"

To my relief, Merle walked out in perfect timing. Daryl went over to him, and I went to join the others.

Everyone gave me a weird look. This is not going to be good.

I went to my cell to change my shirt. I probably smelled like weed.

Beth was standing outside my cell holding Judith. She gave me the same look that everyone else did.

"Hey, what were you doing?" She asked.

"Oh, nothing." I said. I pulled my shirt off.

"Oh my God!" Beth said. "You have your bellybutton pierced?"

"Oh, yeah." I looked down. "I had it since I was thirteen."

"Does your dad know?" She sounded so surprised. I laughed inside. Miss Goodie Goodie.

I cocked an eyebrow. "Yeah, he knows."

"My daddy would've killed me if I did that." She said. "Was he mad?"

"Believe it or not, my mom was the one who flipped out, not my dad." I stated.

I went to get something to eat. I sat down at the small table with everyone else. They were all looking at me funny.

"Why's everyone looking at me?" I asked.

No one said anything, just continued eating.

"Okay, no one's going to say anything, so I'm going to." Glenn said. "What were you doing with Merle?"

"Nothing." I tried to act like I didn't know what he was talking about.

"Why were you down in the tombs with him?" Maggie asked me.

Damn it. They know.

"…we just went to…secure the area and make sure no more walkers were coming in." I lied.

"Really?" Glenn asked. He didn't seem totally convinced.

"Yeah…I just figured that…if he's going to be staying here, then he should start helping out, ya know?" I said smoothly.

The three of them continued to stare at me.

"Okay." Glenn said, and they all went back to eating.

I'm a good liar.

Carol finished her food first, and went to get Judith so Beth could eat. She didn't say anything to me the whole time. I hope she's not mad at me.


A little later, I was in my cell when Carol walked in with Judith.

"Can I talk to you?" She said.

"Sure."

"Stay away from him." She said immediately.

"What?" I was a little taken aback.

"Merle is the kind of person that can get inside your head. He's not good for anyone."

"I know he can be a jerk at times, but…he's not really that bad of a person. He's just misunderstood." I stuck up for him.

"Well, I'm going to have to talk to your dad about this." She stated. "It's not that I don't believe you, it's just I can't trust him."

I don't believe it. She's telling on me?

"Carol…" I started, "I understand where you're coming from, but I really don't think that's necessary. I mean…it was no big deal, and-"

"If it wasn't a big deal, then you shouldn't mind if I tell your father." She cut me off.

"Okay." I said. I didn't really have a choice now, did I?


I decided to stay in my cell for the rest of the day. I didn't really want to talk to anyone. Plus, I'll have to deal with my dad when he gets home, if Carol really is going to tell him about Merle.

My dad walked in my cell moments later. He looked more concerned than angry.

"Abigail?" He said. "I think we need to talk."

"Okay." I said. "Go ahead, talk."

He sat down on the bed. "I'm not sure I like the attitude you've been giving me."

"Sorry." I said. I'm not sure myself if it was sincere though.

He stared at me for a minute. "Carol told me about Merle."

I kept my eyes casted down. "Oh, yeah? What did she tell you?" I tried to act normal.

"That you two went down to the tombs, that you apparently befriended him."

I sighed. "We were checking for walkers."

"Mmm." My dad said. "Maggie or Glenn would have gone with you…or Carol."

I started to feel uncomfortable.

"Well…Merle and I went." I didn't know what to say to that.

"Why?" My dad continued to interrogate me.

"I don't know."

He sighed. "I don't want you around him anymore."

"Why?"

"Because I just don't."

He was being unfair. And then I had a thought, I know how to deal with this. I was going to be unfair too. I'll tell him I won't so he won't worry, but still do it anyway.

"Okay." I smiled.

"I mean it, Abigail." He said seriously.

"I know." I got up to give him a hug, and then I kissed him on the cheek.

"I'm glad you're home, daddy." I said sweetly. "I missed you."

He smiled at me. "Me too."

"You look tired." I said.

"I am." He stated.

"You should get some sleep."

"I will." He said. However, he didn't leave yet, so I had to play the sick act.

"I think I'm going to go to bed too. I don't feel very good."

He looked at me concerned. "Are you okay?" He felt my forehead.

"I just have a headache." I lied.

"Okay." He said getting up. "Remember what we talked about."

I hugged him. "Goodnight, daddy."

"Goodnight, sweetheart." He kissed my forehead, and walked away.

Well, that was easy. Hehe. I love being a daddy's girl.


The next day, my dad and Daryl left to meet up with the Governor to talk, like Andrea wanted them to.

And so, the rest of us were here. Merle was mad because he wanted to go. He kept complaining that he wanted to go kill the Gov. himself. Glenn wouldn't let him leave though. He was trying to convince everyone to make a sneak attack.

"We told Rick and Daryl that we would stay put." Michonne said.

There was some arguing, and then Carl said, "My dad can handle it."

"Sorry, son, but your dad's head could be on a stick right now." Merle said.

"Don't say that to him." I warned him.

Merle started gearing up like he was going to leave.

"Hey, you're not going!" Glenn said.

"Can it, boy." Merle said. "He feels up your woman and you pussy out?"

"We're all mad about the Governor, but we need to stay here." Maggie pointed out. "If Michonne can do it, then why can't you?"

"Because it's my brother out there!" Merle yelled. "What's the matter with y'all?"

Things started to get heated.

He started to walk out, but Glenn stood in front of him.

"You're not going." He stated.

"Try and stop me." Merle said.

The two of them started fighting. Maggie and Michonne tried to break it up. I stayed out of it. Then, Beth shot at the ceiling, which made them settle down.

"Let me go!" Merle yelled, and took off upstairs.

I went up there a few minutes later.

"Hey." I said.

"Yeah, what do you want, darlin?"

"To talk."

"'Bout what?"

I sighed and walked more into his cell. "I know you're worried about Daryl, and trust me, I get where you're coming from. I have a younger brother too and now a little sister, but you got to let them handle it. They'll be fine."

"Hmm…" He thought for a minute. "Wanna get high again?"

I smiled. "I don't think now's a good time."

"You're right." He actually agreed. "So…what do you think about this whole situation?"

I huffed. "Do you really care about my opinion?"

"Yeah." He grinned his Merle grin. I feel like he really doesn't.

"To be honest," I started, "I think it's gotten out of hand."

"And what do you think should be done, then?"

I shrugged. "Might be easier if we just killed the Gov."

"Hmmm…why don't you and I head out of here? Go kill him ourselves."

I shook my head. "My dad would kill me."

"Come on." He urged me. "We could save everyone."

"Or…we could ruin a plan that's being made." I suggested.

"I'm gonna tell you something." He got real close to my face. "The Gov. ain't gonna make no plan."

"But…we can't just…"

"You said it yourself." Merle said. "Might be easier if we just killed the Governor."

"…I don't know."

He snorted. "I should've known…you're just a scared little girl, anyway."

"Wait…" I said.

If we do this, then that's it, that's the end. We could seriously end this whole thing, and no one else would have to die.

"Let's do it." I said.

"All right!" He said.

"How are we going to get passed them though? And to a car?"

"We don't need no car!" He said "We'll run. Just leave everything to me."

"Okay." I said.

"Meet me outside in ten minutes."

I can't believe we're actually doing this!


Merle and I snuck out as quickly and quietly as possible. We ran down the road until we were far enough away, then we started walking.

"I hope this works." I said.

"It will."


We reached our destination. We stayed hidden in the woods until the right moment.

"Can I ask you something?" Merle said.

"Sure."

"How come you always come around me?" He asked.

"Why do you let me?"

"I asked you first."

"I don't know, I guess you just remind me of what things used to be like." I said. "I had friends like you."

"Hmm…besides my brother, you're the only one who doesn't look at me like I'm a criminal." Merle said.

I smiled at him. He gave me a kind of awkward smile back.


We could see Daryl talking to some guy outside. Then, the doors opened and my dad and the Gov. came out.

"Okay, go go go." Merle said.

We moved closer, and on Merle's signal we jumped out.

"This ends now!" Merle said with his gun pointed at the Governor.

"Merle?" Daryl said.

"Abby?" My dad said.

Right as Merle was about to attack, the guy that Daryl was talking to hit him in the side with a bat. Merle fell to the ground.

"Hey!" Daryl yelled, coming towards the guy.

While the guy with the bat was distracted, Merle pointed his gun at the Gov. but the guy quickly shot him in the chest, in the heart. Merle died instantly.

I tried to attack next, but he shot me in the shoulder. I lay on the ground in pain. Daryl put an arrow through the guy's head, and the Gov. got away. Before he did, I heard him say, "The deal's off, Rick, your people tried to attack me. Prepare for war."

My dad kneeled over me.

"Abby?" He said. "Abby, hold on! Do you hear? Hold on!"

He carried me to the car.

While driving back to the prison, he kept telling me to hold on. I was losing a lot of blood though. I thought that this could be it. And I blacked out…


The next time I woke up, I was back at the prison, in my cell. My dad was sitting at the foot of my bed. I touched my shoulder; it was patched up, but still hurt like a bitch.

"Dad?" I called.

"Abby?" He said sitting up. "How are you feeling?"

"Like a peach." I weakly said.

"Glad you still have your sense of humor." He said.

"How's everyone else?" A thought occurred to me. "Oh my God, dad, how's Daryl? Is he okay? Merle's dead."

"Calm down." My dad told me. "Daryl's fine. Yeah, Merle's dead, and you could be too."

I put my head down. Our plan failed terribly. I don't know how I'm even going to face everyone.

"Jesus, Abigail. What were you thinking?" He threw his hands up.

My eyes welled up with tears. "I don't know." I sniffed. "It was Merle's idea. I should have never let him talk me into it." I admitted. "I hate myself!" I began to sob. Carol was right, Merle really could get inside your head.

"Hey, hey." My dad soothed. "You were trying to help…it just so happens that it was the wrong call."

"I'm so stupid." I said.

"We all make mistakes." My dad said wiping my tears away.

"Yeah, but this was a big one."

He got up and gave me a hug.

"I can't go out there, with everyone." I sniffed. "I can't face them."

"It's okay." He reassured me. "You stay in here for as long as you like. Come out when you're ready. Ya hear?"

I nodded, wiping at the old tears.

"I'm so sorry, daddy. I'm so sorry."

He stayed with me for awhile. I sat there with my head on his chest for a long time. I missed this a lot.


Daryl walked into the cell.

"How's she doing?" He asked.

"Better." My dad said.

"I'll sit with her for a while." Daryl said.

My dad nodded. He kissed my forehead, and told me that he would be back later.

Daryl awkwardly stood in the doorway for several seconds.

"You can sit down." I told him.

He slowly made his way in and sat down on the desk on the other side of the cell.

He cleared his throat. "Hey, what ya did.."

"It was stupid." I cut him off. "I know."

"It was dangerous." Daryl said. "I thought I told you not to put yourself in danger again?"

I hung my head. "I know. I shouldn't have went along with it…I'm sorry about Merle."

"That could have been you too." He said.

I just looked down sadly.

"Why don't ya come out and join the rest of us?"

"No." I said. "I can't go out there."

He got off the desk and walked towards me.

"I know ya feel bad about what happened, but hiding ain't gonna do no good."

I looked up at him sadly. Maybe he's right. The sooner I get it over with the better.

"Come on." He said. He held out his arm.

I carefully got up, and he put his arm around me, being careful of my injured shoulder. We walked out into the room where mainly everyone stayed.

Everyone looked so shocked to see me. It made me nervous.

"Didn't think you'd be up and about so soon." Carol said. "How are you feeling."

I cleared my throat. "I'm okay."

Everyone was still looking at me. Carol was the only one who said anything.

I let go of Daryl. "You guys don't have to look at me like that." I said. "I know what I did was stupid…and dangerous. I just wanted help, and I thought if the Gov. was gone then everything would end." I swallowed. "And, so, I took matters into my own hands. And I'm sorry."

"No." Maggie said walking closer to me. "It wasn't just you, Merle talked you into it. He took matters into his own hands."

"But he's…gone." I looked down.

"Ain't your fault." Daryl said.

"Yeah, Abby." Beth said. "We're just glad you're okay."

I gave her a small smile. "So…you guys aren't…mad at me?"

"Of course not." Glenn said, and smiled. "Just don't ever do something like that again."

I was so relieved.

"Although," Daryl started, "I did tell you that the next time you put yourself in danger, I was going to paddle your ass."

The room fell silent. My face flushed. I just looked up at him not able to tell if he was joking or not.

"Yeah, I'm kiddin." Daryl said. Everyone laughed.


The next day, we all packed up our stuff, and loaded it in the cars. We were trying to make it seem like we left, so when the Gov. and his people show up, we can ambush them, and they won't be expecting it.

Carl, Beth, and I stayed out in the woods. Beth had Judith. Carl was pissed because he wanted to fight, not hide. My dad wouldn't let him though.

We could hear the gunshots as the Gov. and his people took off. We won!

Suddenly, a boy around my age, ran towards us.

"Drop it!" I said. Carl and I pointed our guns at him.

"Okay." He put his hands up. "Take it." He slowly started to put his gun down.

Suddenly, Carl shot him dead.

"Carl?" I questioned.


We all went inside. My dad ran to us, giving a kiss to Judith first. Then, he hugged Carl.

"Dad, I'm going to Woodbury." Carl said.

"Carl…"

"I did my job out there." Carl said cutting my dad off. "I took out one of the Governor's soldiers."

My dad gave him a concerned look.

"Oh, really?" I questioned. "A scared kid running away?"

"He drew on us!" Carl snapped.

"I'm sorry you had to do that." My dad said.

"It's what I was there for." Carl said like it was no big deal, and walked off.

I looked at my dad, and we hugged.

"Dad, he killed that kid." I said. "He didn't have to. He had every reason not to."

"Carl said he drew first." My dad questioned.

"No." I said. "He was handing his gun over, and…I'm telling you. He gunned that kid down."

My dad looked lost. I hated seeing him like that. He shouldn't have to have anymore worries than he has to.


"Rick." Glenn said. "Maggie and I are staying here. We can hold them off if they come back."

"Okay." My dad said. "Thank you for staying."

"So, it's just us three?" Daryl said, meaning my dad, he, and Michonne.

"Be careful." I said to them.


When they came back, they brought all the innocent people from Woodbury back with them.

"What's this?" Carl asked my dad.

"They're gonna join us." My dad stated.

Carl looked angry and ran off.

I smiled at my dad, and hugged him. I was proud of him.

He told us that the Gov. wasn't there, and that Andrea didn't make it. One of the survivors said that the Governor fired on all the soldiers that just attacked us, and then fled.

That means that he's still out there, and we'll have to keep looking…