"Well there, Officer Friendly, nice to see you this fine morning." Merle grinned wide as he wandered up to the washing station. Splashing some water on his face, he eyed Rick as the other man stepped back from him, just giving a nod of acknowledgement. "Ya seen my brother? He managed to sneak out of the tent without me knowing at some point."

A light of something flashed through Rick's blue eyes which Merle believed could be worry. Well, I'll be damned, baby brother, you done found yourself some people, Merle thought to himself. He sighed, wondering if these people cared enough for Daryl to let him stay with them without even having to offer himself. But then again, he could have something to hang over their heads if one of these two men fucked his brother. Blackmail always wins.

"No… maybe he went hunting early this morning, but he normally tells us when he's going to do that." Those blue eyes darted over towards Shane's tent. The two men had taken to going into the woods together. Rick briefly thought that surely if Shane were still in camp that would mean Daryl had just gone wandering on the farm property somewhere and they couldn't see him. As if on cue, Shane emerged from his tent, pulling a t-shirt on over his head.

"Ah well, he'll be back, just like a lost little puppy. Need to talk to you anyway."

Rick rolled his eyes, not willing to hear a damn word that this man had to say. Taking a purposeful step forward, he crowded Merle's space as Shane walked up to them, whispering to him in a deadly tone. "I don't want to hear anything from you, Merle. The only thing that's keeping us from putting a bullet in your head is your brother." Turning quickly, Rick walked away, hand on his holster at his side, almost regretting not pulling his gun on the son of a bitch just for emphasis.

Shane sidled up to the wash basin, completely ignoring Merle as he stood there staring at him. "You lookin' to put a bullet in me too, there Sheriff?"

"Ain't no sheriff, Merle." He splashed some water on his face, pulling his toothbrush and some toothpaste out of his back pocket. "'Sides, if Daryl hadn't-a been in those woods when we met you out there, I would have shot you and left you for dead without a word to anyone."

Merle scoffed, looking appropriately offended before turning his back on Shane to head back to the Dixons' tent. A hand on his arm stopped him. Shane pulled him back in, whispering in his ear, "If you even so much as give Daryl a dirty look I will kill you on the spot, no questions. You got that?"

Merle snorted, shaking the other man's grip from his arm. "Well well, looks like my baby brother has gotten himself some protectors, huh? What makes you think I'm gonna hurt my brother when I just got him back? Sounds like you guys don't like me none. Goin' to kill me in my sleep there, officer?" That shit-eating grin was back on his face and Shane just wanted to smack the snot out of him just to get that look gone.

"Daryl changed after you were gone. He's a good man. Better than you ever were, no doubt." Shane spit on the ground, close to Merle's shoes, the smell of mint lingering in the air.

The grin turned into a snarl. "He such a good man you been lustin' after him, huh? Ever since Officer Friendly came back to claim his wife? Bet you ain't had a good piece of pussy since then. I've heard Daryl's got a nice little man pussy, but I'm sure ya already knew that."

Merle never saw the first swing coming, but he sure as hell felt it as it jacked his jaw bone to the side. The second and third swings hit their mark and finally he started fighting back. Both men fell down to the grown, wrestling in the dirt, trying to get the best of the other. On one roll, they spilled the wash basin, all of their fresh water for washing for the day going to waste. On another roll, they hit the wood pile for the fire. Merle saw his advantage and took it, taking up a large piece of wood from the pile and smashing it over and over again into Shane's head as he straddled the larger man. Large hands were pulling him off as blood began to stain the wood and his hand with people's screams echoing in the background.

He was pulled over on the ground and laid on his back, staring up into the pissed off face of his brother. "I leave you for a fuckin' hour to go and shoot some breakfast and you're fighitng all ready? Jesus fuck, Merle." Daryl stormed off, tossing his squirrels in the general direction of the kitchen area. "Shoulda never brought your ass back here."

Merle looked back at Shane, blood running down the left side of his face like a faucet had turned on. "Might need stitches in that, Sheriff," he mumbled, following after his brother. Daryl was busy throwing things around in their camp, grumbling to himself. "Look, Dar-"

"No you look here, Merle. These people took me in and kept me after you were gone. You didn't even come back to look for me. We went back up on that roof that same day to come and get you and you weren't there. You'd think I'd just let them leave you out there like that? But you didn't even come look for me." Tears were threatening to fall from cerulean eyes as he tossed a log at their fire pit.

"Look baby brother, he provoked me. Said I'm not allowed to talk to you. You goin' to stand for that? How the hell am I not supposed to talk to you. That's why I need for you to do me that favor… get me back in their good graces. They like you. Use your magical powers for me again, Darleena," Merle pleaded, getting closer to his brother and trying to make himself look as pathetic as possible, waving his stump in the air to drive the point home. "Blood is blood."

Daryl grumbled, tossing another log before losing his steam. "I don't know, Merle. These ain't your kinda people. I don't think something like that would work."

"Baby brother, Shane would throw you down and fuck your ass until you bleed. It'd give us leverage at least."

Daryl stared down at the dirt. If his shitty ass brother could see what was going on between the three of them, then surely everyone else in camp is on to them. Why hadn't anyone said anything? He snorted to himself. They were probably afraid of getting an arrow in their asses, which served them right for nosing into their business. He looked back over at the camp. What harm would it do? He had already been thinking about doing it anyways. Shane was clearly interested, being the more tactile between him and Rick. Rick might need some coaxing and planning but if he even mentioned it to Shane, the man would probably drag him into the woods. Daryl sighed, long and deep before standing up, grabbing his crossbow. "Ima take Shane and go huntin'. You keep your ass here and help out. Play nice, Merle and maybe they'll let you stay just 'cause-a your winnin' personality." With that, Daryl left, wandering into camp towards Shane sitting on the bench, holding a cloth to his face.

"Ya know," Shane mumbled as Daryl approached him, "I'm about tired of gettin' into fights with Dixons."

Daryl smirked at him, sitting down on the bench and giving him a playful tap with his shoulder. "Come huntin' with me."

Shane quirked an eyebrow. "After your brother just tried to kill me? My face is fuckin' throbbin' and you're here all 'come huntin' with me.'"

Daryl nodded, looking back over at his brother sitting on a stump at their camp. "Yeah… wanna make it up to you. Finish what we started yesterday in the woods."

Shane's already raised eyebrow, arched dramatically higher. "Oh… hunting. I dunno, man. I'm throbbing… Don't think I'd be able to think straight."

"Ya ain't gotta do any thinkin'..."

Shane grinned, tossing his rag on the table. Daryl was finally able to see the extent of the damage his brother had caused. The entire left side of Shane's face was swollen; his lip and eyebrow were bleeding but it looks like they were starting to scab over. He wanted to stomp back to camp and just beat the shit out of Merle. Bringing a hand up to Shane's neck, his gaze softened. "Damn ya need some ice."

"Yeah well, ain't got much of that considering that we're in hell and all."

Daryl just nodded. "Well if ya don't feel like it…"

Shane grunted, but stood up. "Let me see where Rick is and let him know we're going. Just give me like five minutes."

Not twenty minutes later they were deep in the woods, Daryl leading the way, being as quiet as necessary to avoid walkers, but not really looking for game. Shane trudged along behind him, being only slightly diligent about his noise. Shane stopped in his tracks suddenly, sitting on a stump off the path. "Look, Daryl," he said, once the other man turned around to see why he had stopped. "Can I talk with you about Merle?"

Daryl grimaced but nodded, waiting patiently for the other man to continue as he adjusted his crossbow and shifted in his stance for a long conversation.

"I know he's your brother and all and blood is blood… but he ain't a good person man. You've become such a better person since he's been gone and I'd hate to lose that now. And what you said before about what your brother made you do to pay off debts… I don't trust him, man. I don't want him to hurt you."

Daryl stood, stunned. When had he said how he helped pay off Merle's debts? Fuck… "Ain't like that no more…," he lied, shifting his feet in the dirt. "I know Merle is a dick, but I can't just kick him out. If he goes, I go."

"And we don't want that, Daryl. We're willing to work with you and Merle, but he's gotta work with us too." Shane stood up, pulling Daryl into him, wrapping his arms around his waist. "I don't wanna lose you 'cause of him."

With a soft smirk, Daryl chided, "Who said ya had me?"

"I gotcha right here, don't I?" Shane joked back, tightening his hold. He swooped in, pressing his lips chastely against the hunter's.

Daryl deepened the kiss, holding Shane's body ever tighter. He pushed the words Merle said to him out of his head. There was no way his brother was going to make this about him. The words had been following him out here deep into the woods, echoing in his mind and haunting him. With each step he took, the Merle in his head added another ounce of guilt to the mantra. He was certain that this would be where he and Shane, or he and Rick, would have ended up at some point. Shane was just much more… available given the fact that he didn't have a pregnant wife and a ten year old kid hanging around. Perhaps Merle's reappearance and sudden need to be a part of the group again may have pushed Daryl into this position, his hands suddenly gaining confidence in roaming the broad chest and tracing the defined lines down to the waistband of his cargos.

A soft growl emitted from Shane as he nipped at Daryl's lower lip. "We shouldn't…"

"Bullshit. You been wantin' to."

"Yeah… I ain't gonna lie. I've been thinkin' about it, but I don't want it to be because of Merle." Shane stepped back, adjusting himself.

The blood in Daryl's veins went cold. "What do ya mean cause of Merle?"

"I don't want you to try to get in my pants for him. Believe me, Daryl, I'd fuck you right here in these leaves if I thought you really wanted it, but I ain't about to do something you ain't ready for just 'cause Merle wants you to use my dick to get him back in the group."

Daryl didn't know whether to swing on the man or thank him. Instead, he settled for what he had always done. His left hand came up to his mouth as he reshouldered his crossbow, chewing on the cuticle on his thumb. "Ain't 'bout Merle," he mumbled, sounding very much like the teenager he used to be whenever Merle's friends would be pawing all over him.

"Bullshit, Daryl. You were damn near terrified of me back at the lake. Then you were stoned out of your head on those pain killers and I jacked you off. Then you tell me that we can't be doing whatever it was that we had goin'. Now we're here in the woods and you're trying to get my pants undone. Either somethin' ain't right in your head, or Merle is puttin' you up to this and I'm going with the Merle theory." Shane huffed, hands on his hips as he squinted in the midday sun cascading through the branches of the trees.

Daryl just shrugged, finally relenting. "He saw that there was somethin' going on between you and me and Rick and wanted me to get you to let him stay."

Shane shook his head, pulling Daryl back in close to him and kissing him softly. "I'd let him stay because he's your brother, not because you let me fuck you. If and when we fuck, I want it to be something you enjoy, not something you feel you have to do for anyone else."

Daryl gave a quick nod, instantly back to feeling awkward about the whole thing. He hated how when he knew that he was supposed to be playing the role of the seductor for his brother, that he could feign confidence but when he was back to being just Daryl, he had no idea how to be so he fell back into old habits. Turning on his heel, he stalked deeper into the forest, this time quieter, looking for game. Shane, in all of his boorishness, picked up on it, and mimicked the hunter's motions, quiet enough to impress even the most seasoned of hunters.

That night the group ate on a decent amount of quail that the two men had happened upon in the forest. A nest of about 6 birds had remained undisturbed until Daryl cleared them out, complete with a few untouched quail eggs that were being saved for the morning. With full stomachs all around everyone was in good spirits, laughing and joking around the fire. Rick sat staring at the farmhouse in the distance as the merriment around them began to die off as people started to retire to their tents for the night. His conversation with Hershel had not gone well that day. The old vet was keen to have them off his property as soon as possible to leave him and his daughters alone. Looking back over at his wife, pregnant with another man's baby and his son, he knew he had to make some decisions for the betterment of the group. He just wasn't sure what those decisions were at the moment. Stay and continue to plead with Hershel? Move on and try to find another place as plentiful as this area? Perhaps the old man would let them stay while they scouted the area for another location.

Daryl stood up across from him as Merle stood, the two glued to each other's side it seems since Merle reappeared. That was another enigma Rick was not prepared to figure out. Though Daryl had still taken Shane hunting with him that morning and early afternoon, which they were all thankful for their success. He wondered what was going through the hunter's mind about his brother. Was he afraid he was going to be tossed out? Probably why they hardly left each other's sides… Hell Daryl probably felt the need to convince Shane to not kill his brother after their fight this morning.

Rick nodded at the brothers as they left and started walking back towards their tents. Merle, for the most part, kept to himself most of the day. His snide comments had been kept to a minimum and he even helped Carol with a few things around camp. Rick sighed, standing up and stretching. He was on first watch tonight. Kicking dirt onto the fire to snuff it out, he grabbed a blanket to fight off the cool night air, kissed his wife and son goodnight and climbed up on top of the RV, relieving Andrea of the duty.

The time alone on top of the RV, eyes staring off into the distance always gave him time to think and consider their future. It felt like that was all he was doing nowadays. Especially with his marriage nearly disintegrated and whatever this thing was with Daryl that they had going… or maybe not going. Shifting in his chair, he grunted at the thought. Daryl was just confused and hurt. First he lost his brother then got shot and lost Sophia and now he got his brother back. His emotions were probably fucked to all hell. A sound of a zipper being pulled down slowly echoed in the still night air. He figured it was probably someone heading for a tree to pee on, but was surprised to see Daryl step out completely clothed and shuffling his boots on. For a split second, Rick panicked, thinking that maybe this was it. Maybe this was Daryl making his great escape with Merle. They were going to leave without a goodbye. But Daryl bent over, zipping the tent back up and leaving Merle inside. That made the ex-sheriff rest a little bit better, but he watched the younger man, just in case. Instead of going for the treeline though, he came towards the camp, staying in the shadows. If Rick hadn't of heard that zipper, chances were he would have never known the hunter was there. With a keen eye, he watched the thin shadow skulk through the few trees and tents scattered around until he stopped, standing awkwardly in front of Shane's tent. Rick shifted in the chair again, sitting up straighter to watch and wait for action.

Daryl shifted on his feet for a good five minutes until another zipper, this time less careful and more forceful was pulled and Shane poked his head out. To his credit, he looked as though he had been woken up and was confused as to why this man was essentially on his door step. It only took seconds before Shane's head disappeared back inside and Daryl slowly stepped into the tent, leaving his boots on the outside. As he disappeared into the tent, Rick caught a glimmer of those blue eyes as they locked in on his, a look of challenge, hurt, and pain all etched in that one look. But in a flash it was gone as the zipper was pulled back and he was once again left to the cicadas in the night.