Chap 12...

As Daryl paced back and fourth his panic worsened as the sun began to set. Emery was lost. They had no idea where she went. "We have to go get her." Daryl was instant that they went looking right that very minute.

"Daryl it's getting dark. If the rest of us get lost out there then were no help to her." Rick tired to make him see that. But all Daryl could see was Emery alone in the dark. Cold, hungry and crying for fear. Sitting somewhere waiting for him come save her.

"Besides if she's turned she just wondering around in circles." Shane's voice came from the back of the group. He was the last one Daryl wanted to hear from. He moved toward Shane ready to beat the shit out of him. "What are you gonna do redneck?"

"She hasn't turned. She can take care of herself."

"You mean like the time she wondered off into the woods alone and got lost?"

Daryl wanted to snap him like a twig but he had more important things to focus on. Rick told him they would go first thing in the morning. It would almost kill him to wait. But he knew it would best. That night he waited on the front porch. If she came out of the woods he wanted be the first one she saw. As the night drew on the reality consumed him like a cold wet blanket. She wasn't coming back that night.

The next morning Rick gathered the people that would be going. They met in front of the main building. Rick and Shane would head south, Glen and T-Dog would head east, and Merle and Daryl would head north. Just before they were ready to walk off T-Dog approached Rick where no one else would be able to hear them. "I don't want to start any shit." T-Dog started then stopped.

"What is it?" Rick could see that he had something to say.

"Yesterday, Merle disappeared for a while." T-Dog looked around. Rick looked back at Merle then back at T-Dog.

"You mean when Emery went missing?"

"Yea."

"Okay. Don't say anything to anyone else. Give me some time to think." Rick told him before the two men returned to the group.

In the woods Rick replayed the words over and over in his head. 'Merle disappeared' what could he have been doing? He'd made his feelings about Emery perfectly clear. And if he felt that she was becoming between him and Daryl. Well who knows what he'd do to fix that problem. At that point Rick wasn't sure if he'd be looking for a walker or just a pile of body parts.

"You think Merle would really hurt any one in the group?" Rick asked Shane as they walked just a few feet apart. Shane looked at him like he'd just asked the stupidest question ever asked.

"I wouldn't put anything past that hick." Shane answered him.

"T-Dog said that Merle took off for a while yesterday."

"What?" Shane stopped and looked at Rick. "If you knew that then why in the hell do you have us out here hunting for her. Why aren't we back there beating the truth out of him?"

"Because we don't know he did anything."

"Are you serious? He's knocked the shit out of her, made it very clear that he didn't like her. And he just happens to be no where to be found when she goes missing. And you still seem to think that he didn't do anything?" Shane half laughed. Putting his gun on his shoulder he started back they way they came.

"Where are you going?" Rick asked.

"I'm going back. When Merle gets back we'll know what happen to her." Shane continued to walk off. Rick just let him go.

It was late in the evening when Daryl walked out of the woods with his head held low and a somber look on his face. He didn't speak to anyone he just went to the room he shared with her. Sitting in the middle of the floor he picked up her shirt. It still smelled like her. It was the shirt she was wearing that last morning they made love. Standing up with the shirt in one hand he walked to the wall. In the blink of an eye he reached out and punch a hole in the wall.

Outside on the porch Shane sat waiting. When Merle walked onto the porch Shane stood up and walked toward him. "Find her?" he asked just as sarcastic as he could.

"She ain't with us is she?" Merle looked him with a smirk on his face.

"Of all of us I thought for sure you'd find her."

"And why's that?"

"You tell me." Shane grew agitated.

"What you getting at?" Rick herd the two of them and came out on the front porch. He knew what Shane was doing and how this confrontation would end. He didn't know however, how Daryl would react to the news of his brother maybe being responsible for all of this.

"Where did you go yesterday while we were out in the woods?"

"Well now I don't think I have to answer that." Merle smiled knowing that he was getting to Shane.

"Mere we know you weren't yesterday for a large part of the day." Rick stepped in trying to get something out of him.

"I see, you think I'm the reason that girl is missing. Little bitch probably got lost and is a walker by now. Better her than me. "

"Where were you Merle?" Rick raised his voice.

"What's the problem officer, you gonna arrest me if I don't tell you." Merle looked past Rick to the door of the building. Daryl was standing there. He'd heard most of what was said.

"What did you do to her Merle?" Daryl got right in his brothers face. He grew up with Merle he knew exactly what he was capable of.

"Baby brother come on."

"No, tell me now asshole!" Daryl yelled. Merle paused then suddenly he punch Daryl right in the face knocking him to the ground.

"Remember who your talking to." Merle stood over Daryl as he looked up at him. "Not that it's any of your business. But I had something to smoke and I wanted a little peace."

"That makes sense, the druggie is off smoking god knows what while the rest of us are working." Shane laughed.

Daryl got to his feet as Merle went into the building and out of sight. Rick stayed by his side. He had no idea how to comfort him or what to say. The sun was starting to fad. Daryl was doomed to spend another night alone. He had to spend the night wondering where she was, if she was okay and why wasn't she coming back on her own.

Rick was about to go inside, leaving Daryl alone on the porch. Where he would surly spend the night waiting for Emery. When they herd voices and four people emerge from the woods. Rick ran from the porch to see who these people were. When he got close enough he could see that T-Dog and Glen were bringing the other two people by gun point.