Merle paced in the hallway as he processed what all had happened. Daryl was with Carol. Ed nearly killed Carol. Leading Daryl to nearly kill Ed. Daryl trusted Buck more than him.

That hurt. Merle had done everything for Daryl! Taken his hits more than once. Hell when Daryl was 16 Buck nearly killed him! It was Merle that stopped Buck that day. And now Daryl trusted Buck?! What the fuck!

Merle stalked back towards the door. Those AA fuckers treated Buck like he was a nice guy. Buck Dixon was a bastard that tried to kill one son and beat the other. Buck Dixon was a piece of shit!

Merle reached for the door knob, but stopped when he heard Bucks voice.

"it ain't all that Merle takes Daryl's side. From what Daryl's told me, when Merle's high he'll say almost anything. Hell that's why Daryl didn't tell Merle he was seein' Carol for nearly 4 months. And the second Merle saw the two of them, when they were even doin' anything, he told Ed. If Merle tells Ed where Carol is, there's a good chance Daryl will kill Ed, or die tryin'."

as the group began speaking, others taking their turns, Merle slid down the wall to the floor. Buck was right. Merle knew he was an ass when he was high. And he often said things that were best kept secret out loud. Hell more than once it got Merle arrested or in a fight. Even a few times into bed. But often, all Merle's talk did was piss Daryl off. But this was another level.

Merle bit his hand as he realized he was the catalyst for this whole situation. Daryl met Carol when he picked up Merle. And it was Merle telling Ed what he saw that led to Daryl skipping town, Carol and Sophia in tow.

Fuck. He started this. Merle Dixon was a piece of shit.

D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C

Buck said his goodbyes as he walked towards his bike. Merle was seated on his, his arms crossed and his face unreadable. Buck stood in front of him and waited until Merle looked at him.

Merle sighed. "I'll come with you next week."

Buck raised an eye brow. "ya serious about this?"

Merle nodded. "I didn't realize Daryl was missin' for 3 days. For the last 10 years, if I didn't come home at night, Daryl would find me by the next evening at the latest. He'd find me, goin' thru back alleys, crack houses, ditches and hospitals. Even when I finally realized he was missin', it took me two times as long before I gave up and ran to daddy." Merle scoffed at himself as he finished.

Buck walked to his bike, sitting on it but not turning it over. "Daryl didn't mean ta run ta me. He just drove. Saw a freeway exit, realized he could at least con a place ta stay for the night. Carol was in bad shape, Sophia scared and hungry. He turned ta me for the sack of his girls. I'm just lucky he stayed. Otherwise we'd never know where he was. The bit of the plan he had come up with involved Seattle."

Merle swore. "Shit, could he have picked someplace farther?"

Buck shrugged. "not really. He wanted in the country so Sophia could go to school, but wanted the biggest distance possible. Daryl's not screwin' around here. These girls are his. Carol, she's good for him. Ya should see them together. I don't remember ever seein' him smile after Mary died. When Carol's around, he lights up. And she's mental about him. Couldn't stop cryin' she was so happy when he proposed. And Sophia calls him daddy. Has for over month apparently."

Merle smiled lightly. "sneaky bastard collected himself a family right under my nose. That boys more Dixon then I thought."

Buck snorted. "same here. Always figured he would be a tiny thing, considerin' how small he was. But he's grown over the last 10 years, hell he could give either one of us a run for our money. Ed was easy for him. Only broke one finger and just barely at that."

Merle chuckled. "he broke more than that on Ed. I think Ed broke 7 ribs, his right arm, jaw and nose."

Buck gave a low whistle. "well it's just the start. Ta be honest, Daryl and I both figure the second Ed gets the divorce papers, he's gonna be all over this state for Carol. Daryl and Ed are goin' to meet again, and it will be bloody. Our jobs are ta limit the blood."

Merle nodded. "what do you need me to do? I'll do whatever, just ain't gonna risk little bro and his girls."

Buck smiled to his son. "come home with me tonight. I wasn't kiddin', Daryl and I were dead certain you'd choose to join us. Got a room set aside for you. Stay tonight, tomorrow go back to Atlanta. Keep an eye on Ed, and when you think he's gettin' close, you call. I figure as long as we can keep Ed from bringin' a gun to the fight, we should be good. Daryl's more than capable, he'll take care of ed."

Merle looked over to Buck. "and when they meet?"

Buck shrugged. "that endin' ain't set in stone. While Daryl wants Ed dead, Ed disappearin' right after bein' survived papers is gonna be suspicious as hell. Doin' our best ta keep Daryl out of jail, even if he's okay with goin'."

Merle nodded, but his face turned almost gloomy. "Buck, I'm gonna give this my best shot. I swear I ain't fuckin' here. Not when Daryl's on the line. But I've tried ta get clean before, and every time it just gets worse."

Buck leaned forward on his bike. "I did the exact same thing. Maybe not as deep for as long, but there were moments. But you're goin' ta have somethin' I didn't have: A supportive family. Daryl wants ya clean Merle. There were several times this week I had ta stop him from goin' back ta Atlanta. He was scared shitless you were gonna overdose. That boy loves ya Merle, ya gotta do this for him. Plus ya got me. I'm gonna sponsor you, and I'm goin' ta do it the exact same way Hershel did it for me. By ridin' your ass. I wasn't kiddin', I ain't missed a meetin' in 5 years. And I ain't touched a drink or gotten high in 6. I'm goin' ta be drivin' ya crazy. But I would much rather ya be annoyed with me, then dead. I love ya too much."

Merle tried to not smile but couldn't help the small smirk. "as Daryl can tell ya, I'm already annoyin' as hell."

Buck chuckled as he started his bike. "yeah, he did mention that. Round about the same time he unloaded that crossbow."

D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C

Daryl took a look down the list Carol had handed him.

"think target will have most of this? We can go with Buck in the mornin', he was gonna go get some more furniture then."

Carol nodded. "I think they'll have all of it. Most is just household stuff, but some is cooking."

Daryl smirked. "yeah Buck didn't have a whole lot of kitchen supplies. You saw his freezer, if it wasn't microwave it was a pizza."

Carol laughed. "that's true. I can't wait to get back to cooking once my arm is better. You boys will certainly eat a lot."

Daryl chuckled as he heard the sound of a motorcycle. No, two motorcycles.

Daryl walked to the front window and watched as Merle pulled up beside Buck. The two men got off the bikes, and Buck said something to Merle that nodded and waited at the bikes as Buck walked in. as he came in the house, Buck turned to Daryl.

"you have him pegged. He showed up right as I was headin' out to my meetin'. Didn't take much ta get him to go."

Daryl nodded. "ya think he's for real?"

Buck looked out to where Merle stood. "I think he has the best shot possible. He has a long way to go, but he's fightin' for it. You turnin' up missin' scared the hell out of Merle. Once he found out the whole story, Merle took your side. He's ready to do what he needs, just as long as you're not at risk."

Daryl smiled lightly. "I hope it sticks."

Buck walked in front of Daryl. "he's tryin'. Don't get me wrong, Merle very well could relapse. But he's goin' ta do whatever he can not to. Now go on, get your shit said, and get him inside."

D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C

Daryl walked over in front of Merle, the two brothers staring at each other. For a moment they were both silent before Merle broke the silence.

"you're one sneaky bastard." he said while smiling.

Daryl smirked. "too you long enough asshole."

Merle's smile faltered. "that's partially cause I was on a bender. Didn't even fuckin' realize you were missin' for 3 days."

Daryl looked up at his brother. "I pinned it would take ya a week ta find me. I was still correct."

"Then you make it a bitch and a half ta find ya!"

Daryl shrugged. "got to protect them Merle. They're my girls. Ain't gonna make it easy ta find them."

Merle nodded. "ain't that the damn truth. Ya did good gettin' them out, I'm sorry I didn't realize what was goin' on earlier."

Daryl looked hard at Merle. "didn't realize Ed was a piece of shit? Or didn't realize I was stealin' his wife?"

Merle looked down at the ground. "both. You know me Daryl, ya know I never would have stood by Ed hurtin' that woman. I didn't think he even knew he has a daughter."

"had a daughter. She's my baby girl now."

Merle smirked at Daryl. "got a two for one deal there. Hear ya gettin' hitched too."

Daryl nodded. "she's mine Merle. She's my woman. I can't go back ta who I was before I met her."

Merle looked up to Daryl. "don't. Don't go back. You're happy. That's all I want."

Daryl took a step closer to Merle. "what do you think I want? All I've wanted my whole life is you safe. But you make it hell ta try and keep ya inline."

Merle nodded. "I know. And the next few weeks ain't gonna help with that. But I'm gonna do it Daryl. Just...I'm only human."

Daryl smirked. "think I don't know that? Hell Merle I've been ya roommate for 10 years. If ya weren't human I probably would have noticed."

Merle chuckled. "ain't that the truth."

Daryl heard a noise behind him, looking up to a certain second story window. Merle followed his gaze to see the blinds moving. Daryl chuckled as he turned around to Merle.

Speaking rather loudly, Daryl spoke out. "maybe if a certain someone finishes unpackin' her boxes, I'll put on sponge bob."

Merle laughed when he heard the response. "the boxes are empty! Can I have a juice box?"

Daryl laughed alongside Merle. "check with ya mom, but fine by me. Just brush ya teeth after!"

turning back to Merle Daryl smirked. "Ed's gonna be mighty pissed I stole his girls. Even if they like me better."

Merle smirked. "well don't worry about Ed. I'm gonna head back in the morning, set about makin' his life shit. Knife his tires, bitch to his boss. General hell. Stole his keys a while ago, anything Carol need from his place?"

Daryl shrugged. "let's go ask her."