Just another quick word from me! This chapter is a little boring...I'm not 100% happy with the way it came out but I needed to get something down in between them leaving Oxford and what's going to happen next. Don't worry it isn't all going to be this quiet, it is a zombie apocalypse after all.

Thanks again to everyone for all of the favorites, follows and reviews they mean so much to me. I know there's only a few Merle fans and I'm grateful for each one of you :)

Chapter 12

They hadn't been driving long, two hours maybe before Thomas asked them to stop, he had been feeling sick the whole journey and needed some air. This gave Merle the excuse for a bathroom stop and Heather stayed in the van, her feet up on the dashboard stretching out. The journey so far had been peaceful, Thomas had fallen into a comfortable silence while Merle and Heather sung along to the songs they recognised on Merle's CD's, country was the only genre they could both agree on. Johnny Cash was coming through the speakers now, making Heather nostalgic for her family, looking at Merle she realised they might have that one thing in common. Being out on the road had made Heather realise how cold it was getting, winter was setting in and they'd have to think of more practical ways to keep warm, a fire wasn't always available. Especially if they were planning on a long road trip.

Minutes later they were back on the road, Merle humming along to a song Heather didn't realise. Thomas looked decidedly more peaky than when they'd started their journey, and fell asleep soon after getting back in the van. They drove until it started to get dark, Merle saying they'd be better off staying in the van, driving off of the main roads and parking up, like they did before Oxford. Heather agreed and they found a suitable place, not too close to the road but enough to make a quick get away.

"You guys get to sleep...I'll take first watch."

"No Merle, you've been driving all day, go lay down."

"Ain't tired English."

"Neither am I...Thomas?" He was still fast asleep, shaking him gently he opened his eyes slowly, they were bloodshot.

"Are you feeling alright Thomas? Get in the back of the van...get some real rest. There's a box, second row in with some pain killers in, take some and go to sleep yeah?"

He silently did as Heather instructed, swaying slightly as he walked the back of the van. Once he'd finally got to sleep, his breathing slow and rhythmic, Heather turned to Merle.

"Do you think he's alright?"

"Looks sick."

"Could he..." She trailed off unable to finish the sentence, too scared of what her mind was thinking.

"Have been bit?"

Silence followed Merles question, Heather didn't want to confirm her suspicions, feeling guilty that she'd even think that about Thomas.

"S'only one way to make sure." Merle had a dark look on his face, he was looking straight ahead of him, gritting his teeth. He unbuckled his belt, still refusing to look at Heather. She motioned to do the same, but Merle shook his head.

"You're stayin' here English, don't take two of us."

"What if..."

"Whatever happens, I can handle...get in the drivers." And with that he got out of the van, staring intently in the wing mirror at Merles retreating form, Heathers heart was practically pounding in her ears. The creaking of the back van doors shook Heather and she realised Merle wasn't in the mirrors reflection anymore. Turning in her seat she saw him, creeping up quietly on Thomas' sleeping body. Instead of checking him for bites, Merle put his hand on Thomas' head, more gentle than Heather thought possible.

Merle looked up, still crouched over Thomas and shook his head. Getting back out of the van Heather shuffled back to the passenger seat as Merle lifted himself into the van.

"Boy ain't running a fever, if he'd been bit he'd be on fire." Heather nodded, relief washing over her.

They sat in silence, unsure of what to do next.

"We'll be fine Sugar...we will be."

The silence didn't last long, Merle starting chatting away, a story about when his little brother, Daryl, was sick when they were younger. Merle was a few years older than him it sounded, so did a lot of babysitting. He had made Daryl squirrel soup, which apparently was the cure for everything.

"You should make some...see if it helps."

"You'd eat it?" Merle sounded shocked.

"Why wouldn't I?" His laugh was contagious.

"You seem more suited to...venison?"

"Are you saying you couldn't take down a deer?"

"You want venison? I reckon we can make that a reality."

"I think you should stick to squirrels, just for now."

The conversation carried on, Heather found her eyes getting heavy the more comfortable she became and she slowly drifted to sleep.

She was woken by a gentle shake, Thomas leaning over her.

"Hey...go to the back, get some rest, we've got this covered." He nodded towards Merle who was still wide awake.

"You okay Merle? You haven't slept."

"I'll wake you up in a couple of hours...you can take over."

Heather nodded and made her way over the seats to the back of the van, falling asleep almost as soon as she got in the sleeping bag.

It was another four hours till Merle was in the back of the van, not so gently kickin Heather with the toe of his boot.

"Mornin' princess."

"That's a new one."

The conversation with Thomas was stilted, Heather felt as if she constantly had to push to keep it going, push to even keep him awake. Now that they were closer Heather studied Thomas more intently. It wasn't just his physical appearance that had changed, the way he was carrying himself, he wasn't as confident, something seemed to have broken in him. Merle slept for a good five hours, he needed it. While Thomas gradually drifted off as well Heather just sat, enjoying the stillness, wondering how everything had changed so much.

When Merle woke up they were on the road again, heading quickly down the winding roads, carelessly hanging his stump over the steering wheel, hand hanging out the window. A few times they had to stop for Walkers. Heather and Merle would jump out the van, quickly as they could and get rid of them. Thomas just sat still, watching with fear in his eyes.

They started driving on the I85, this however was blocked, which Merle had predicted. They kept going on smaller roads, a day passed until Thomas was too sick to carry on. Merle decided to drive away from Atlanta, it may have been a long detour, but Merle was sure going anywhere highly populated would be a bad move. He studied the map, a twizzler sticking out of his mouth, tutting when he couldn't find somewhere suitable.

When he finally decided on a town, hawkinsville (Heather imagined because it reminded him of where he lived, Blairsville). They traveled for another couple of hours, taking it slow and avoiding walkers at all costs. The town, when they got to it, was larger than Oxford, but Heather hardly got to see it. The wide main road through the town, with stores on either side, was packed with Walkers. Shuffling steps filled the air and moans carried to the van. Merle did a sharp turn, some of the walkers heard but none could keep up with the van.

"What do you think they're doing there?"

"Must be something in that town...someone."

"We should go back...if there are people there."

"That's certain death Enlgish, did ya not see that back there? 'Bout fifty walkers."

"Can't we...I dunno create a diversion?"

"This ain't scooby doo Sugar."

"All you'd have to do is beep, make a noise, we can drive off, around the town there was a clear road you saw it."

Merle grumbled, not wanting to admit Heather was right. Coming to a stop the town was still in sight, Reaching across him Heather punched the steering wheel, the sound made Thomas jump as he had practically gone to sleep leaning against the window.

"What are you trying to do? Attract every Walker for miles?!"

"Yeah actually!" Merle laughed as his sped off, taking the turn of the road at speed, causing Heather again to slam into Merles side, just making him laugh louder, Heather joined in, seeing the walkers from town struggling to catch up. It wasn't a fair race, they had a head start, and four wheels.

The road they were driving down curled around the whole town, heading towards a bridge over a river. Merle kept driving, looking keen to get as much distance between themselves and the town as possible. They came to stop at a shack, full of car parts, three cars without wheels sat outside. The sign above the building read 'Land Tire & Automotive'...a huge billboard boasted that there was a best western hotel just 2 miles away.

"C'mon Sugar..lets check it out." For once Merle wanted Heathers help, normally it was stay in the van, this job obviously required back up.

Grabbing the knife from her waistband she took the gun Merle was passing to her, carefully tucking it in the back of her jeans, letting her jumper fall over it. They carefully and quietly approached the building, it had three green doors across the front, something, thought Heather, that they would have to think about boarding up if they were going to stay there. Merle whistled to get Heathers attention, nodding at the door closest to them. Heather nodded back, saying she understood and carried on toward the shack, knife out in front of her.

Merle got there first, pressing his side against the door it creaked open, making a noise not indifferent from a horror movie. The place was dark, dust covered the floor Merles boots making large prints in it, Heather followed behind him looking at the own marks she was making. The room was narrow but wide, a door at the end of the room signified there was another room off of it. Heather carried on behind Merle as he searched each corner of the room with a torch, making his way towards the door.

They heard them before they saw them. Two walkers were clawing at the door in what Heather realised was the office of the building. Merle stepped aside, motioning for Heather to make a move. Shaking her head she walked forward, kicking one of the walkers knees she winced at how soft it felt under her boot, the skin broke easily revealing rotting flesh underneath, the bone peaking out through the Walkers trousers.

Her knife easily impaled the Walkers head, blood flew across the room hitting Merle, who hardly seemed to mind. He was already holding down the other Walker, ready for Heather to take care of it.

"Lets get him in here before we block the doors."

They carried Thomas in, he was practically asleep, Heather couldn't understand what could be making him react like this. Merle was right, his skin was almost cold to the touch, which worried Heather more than anything. Putting him down in the corner of the room, Heather covered him with the sleeping bag. They got to work, cleaning out the office of the mess the Walkers had left behind. Smashing up the table and using it to board up two of the doors. A quick clean up of the main room, pushing all the chairs and car parts to one side of the room and they were done.

"What do we do? He's sick...I don't know what's wrong with him."

"He ain't running a fever, no cuts so it ain't blood loss. Dehydrated? Maybe just tired."

"So what? We just let him sleep?"

"Not much we can do English." Walking towards the door they'd left clear Merle looked behind her "If he ain't better by mornin', well do something eh?" Heather nodded, following him outside.

There were four plastic chairs sat on the veranda of the shack, the both sat themselves down, looking out of the wide roads, trees surrounding them either side. The sky was clear making the night cold, Heather shivered, untying the flannel shirt from her waist she put it on, pulling her knees up to her chest she rested her head on them, looking sideways at Merle.

"What?"

"You think he's gonna be okay?"

Merle shrugged "Dunno Sugar."

They couldn't see the town from here, couldn't hear anything either. It always shocked Heather how quiet the world was now.

"You think Daryl is gonna be at Fort Benning?"

"If Officer Shane had his way, yeah I reckon so...that's if its still standin'." Heather nodded "Why?"

"Just nice to think you'll have someone waiting for you."

"You know English, I reckon he'd like ya...and even if he don't he's gonna have to get used to ya...I certainly have."