"So lil brother you and little mouse gonna be parents again?" Daryl shrugged hs shoulder as he pushed the door open to the pharmacy, his crossbow ready to aim at anything that came out. The Sun was up in the sky casting shadows within the shop, the far corners they were unable to see, he could not hear anything and his gut instincts told him they were alone, yet you never knew with the way things were.

"Leave it Merle" dropping the bow to his side, he headed in the direction he thought he would find the test.

"If she is ya may want to get her some vitamins shit" Merle headed further into the shadows, Herschel had mentioned they needed all the medication that was in the store, best to be fully prepared then caught out further down the road. As he filled the bags, his eyes watching all around, he had a feeling ,one of those that told him they were being watched, but by who?..

"What the hell do ya know about damn vitamins?" Daryl smirked when he came on the tests that were on the shelf, so many. He had no idea what to pick so pushed them in his bag, heading towards the next aisle.

"Andrea and I tried ya know, thought she was at one point. So yeah we got all the stuff in they say ya need" continuing on with his task, Merle often wondered what their child would have been like

"You never said"

"Not something a man wants to shout, that he's firing blanks" he felt saddened as Andrea would have been a great mum, his brother a good dad, life sucked at times.

"Ya would have ,made great patents ya know, ya great with Sophia and Carl, I' m sorry bro so damn sorry" Daryl felt it deep, for him, realising even more how damn lucky he was to have Sophia and now maybe another on the way.

"I know lil brother, I know" turning away Merle moved his hand to wipe his eye, not often the big man showed his emotions but this was tough on him, when he spoke of it.

Pa Dixon had worked the young man over, using the skills he had picked up over the years. Leaving what was left of the body, he asked Shane to make sure he never rose again. Heading into the farm they had to move out and fast, the Governor sounded like a psychotic lunatic, he knew his family were in danger. When the man mentioned Ed, his gut instinct told him to get his son and Carol out and fast, if Ed found out Carol was alive, he would come for her, it would kill Daryl if anything happened to her now he had located her again and made her his. Storming into the farm, he slammed the door behind him, the sound echoing through the peaceful house.

"You ok there son?" he turned to see Herschel at the table reading as he ate, a calmness washed over him as Pa Dixon smiled, hell he was almost the same age as the old man give or take a few years, and he still called him son

"Almost same age as ya Herschel and ya still call me son." sitting down next to him, he grabbed a cup and filled it with the cooling tea

"I know, now want to tell me why you are taking your anger out on my door, what has it done to you?" Herschel waited until the man had drunk, whatever ailed him he would soon know.

"Got ourselves a problem Herschel, don't think we are safe here much longer. We found two men on the edge of your land, Daryl took one down, the other I have just got the details from. There is a man called the Governor thinks he owns the damn world, has a town held hostage about eight hours drive from here. He took out most of the men, I don't need to tell ya, what has happened to the women, or what is going to. There is another by the name of Ed, he's dangerous, Herschel we need to leave"

"The farm is safe. We can protect ourselves, you know that. Your boys are good shots, Shane, Rick, Glenn, are too. Us older ones can easily ….." Pa Dixon slammed his hand down on the table

"Ya don't understand Herschel the men are raping the women, do ya want that to happen to Maggie, little Beth. Carol, who maybe carrying Daryl's second child.?.He will make us watch especially if Ed is involved, he would take Carol and..." Herschel held his hand up stopping the man in his tracks

"You are right, at times I forget the dangers, I would hate for anything to happen to our women, but I am also fearful of leaving here, Where would we go? What with the walkers and now this it is dangerous out there"

"Herschel it has always been dangerous, you have been lucky that it has not hit you as hard this end" Pa Dixon rose up, he had to let the others know, yet keep the women out of it, if he could. Yeah right the minute his daughter in-laws found out he was keeping something from them hell would break loose. He laughed at himself, at least his sons could attempt to control their women.

"What do you suggest then Dixon?. I trust you with my family and will follow you where you go. Hate to leave the farm though and we need to make sure T dog is up to travelling. I know Carl will be in another few days" looking at him, he saw the other man shake his head

"We don't have a few days do we?" Herschel frowned, how could their safety be threatened so quickly, due to one or two individuals that thought they owned the new world.

"No. when my boys get back I want us to make a decision, the sooner the better"

"Ok, I will go find some maps of the local area and states there has to be somewhere we can find, somewhere safe and away from these mad men, Not as if we have nothing better to do, fighting the dead, now they have to get in on the act. Not right women being hurt, for the sake of power."

"My thoughts exactly old man" he smiled as he placed his hand on Herschel's shoulder and squeezed, leaving to find the group, his boys would be coming back soon, the afternoon was leading into dusk. Both men knew their women would worry if they weren't back by dark.

"MERLE WE GOTTA GO!" Daryl moved his crossbow in front of him, as he heard the distant sound of vehicles, it was too damn close for his liking, to close to the farm and to close to his family. Merle looked up gauging the distance between their bikes, which were hidden, and the speed the vehicles were travelling, he knew they were sitting ducks.

"Ain't got time Daryl, they will be on us before we set off, quick" nodding his head towards the small bar they rushed inside, hoping the cars would pass. Their breathing sounded loud to both brothers as they sat waiting, the vehicles came closer, both praying they would pass, today their prayers were not answered, as they heard the cars stop. Merle edged towards the window quickly glancing out

"Two cars, eight men, fuck!" looking at Daryl they both nodded and moved deeper into the shadows of the bar, hoping an exit at the back would be available to them, as they moved slowly and quietly they heard the shouting outside

"GET WHAT YOU CAN THE GOVERNOR WANTS US BACK" Daryl stopped in his tracks his eyes on Merle he knew that voice, the slimy tones. He knew that bastard's voice anywhere and if in any doubt the next words confirmed it

"Yes Ed" Merle pushed Daryl forward

"Leave it lil bro we're outnumbered" Daryl stuck his feet in, that bastard had ripped his relationship apart, had hurt Carol, had destroyed her. Merle moved him again, his grip on him tightening, as much as he would like to see the other man crushed to bone, they needed more men to take them out, now was not the time

"Move!" he spoke through gritted teeth "Ya woman and daughter need ya alive, we can fight him another day," They heard footsteps coming towards the door, both men ran, grateful when the steps stopped

"Leave the damn bar,we have the alcohol, get the food God all you men think about is drink, we have the women back at home to service us. Come on guys move it! I plan on getting me some tonight we have plenty back at town"

"Governor said we can have our pick tonight Ed" another shouted as they laughed between them, the Dixon's cringing at the thought of what could happen to the innocent women back at the town they had mentioned.

"After I have finished with them..."

"Hell Ed ain't nothing left of them when you have had them"

"Gotta teach a woman right, only place good for them is on their knees or back servicing me" Daryl tensed, he knew this was how he had treated Carol, luckily Merle had hold of him, otherwise he would be out there, after Ed, hell with the consequences.

"We will follow them, easy to track on bikes calm it down lil bro, his time will come" all Daryl could do was nod, his brother was right, Ed's time would come. Staying where they were, they waited hearing the doors slam and the engines start-up, they slowly moved out from their hiding place.

"Heading towards Woodbury, that's a good eight hours away or more, think that could be the town. Come on Merle ain't long till sun down and I wanna see if they are" both climbed on their bikes heading in the direction the others had gone. Hitting the highway, the vehicles could me seen in the distance, the road went one way and one way only into Woodbury, they now knew where they were, just had no idea how many. Merle slowed down, edging his bike to the side, Daryl followed confused about why he had stopped

"Lil bro daylight will be leaving us, we need to head back to the farm, don't want Carol worrying about ya ass. She's waiting for that test, we need to re group find out ya situation and make plans"

"But ….."

"No but's Daryl, we are heading back, ain't telling Carol I lost ya. We can fight another day, ya time will come then ya and Ed can slug it out" knowing his brother was right and hating that he was so close, he gunned the engine and headed back to the farm, neither men aware they were being watched.