We've reached Chapter 20! I'd like to thank every one of you for supporting Dead Hearts and for giving this story a read, and thank you to my followers and to those who favorite the story! And to those that have given such kind reviews, I thank you so very much. They make me smile and make my day whenever I see them! I hope everyone continues to enjoy the story and I hope you all have a wonderful day! Thank you! :D

Is anyone else freaking out that Mae and Merle aren't together? Because I sure am!

:)

Chapter 20: Keep on Dreaming

Mae sat in a small room somewhere within the infirmary. She had spent most of the day in there, waiting and resting. She was able to get a shower and receive some new clothes, although the only things she was given were basic undergarments and a cheery sunflower printed dress that she wasn't too fond of. It wasn't that she didn't think it was pretty, but of all the things to be given, she would have preferred to be given men's clothing if there had been a shortage of clothes in her size. A dress really wasn't practical for an apocalypse. It made her feel ten times more uncomfortable than she already was feeling, being in a strange town alone with a manic man running around.

Still, she couldn't help but also feel nice in it. Mae examined herself in the mirror, fixing her newly washed hair. It felt good to be clean once more, although now that her skin was clear of dirt and grime, Mae could see every scar and scrape that had nicked her skin more vividly than before. Her arrow scar, normally covered up by her jeans, was fully visible now. They were two small indents lying diagonally on either side of her thigh, casting the smallest of shadows against her skin. It had healed better than she could have hoped for. Although, one scar that never really healed Mae received well before the apocalypse, and it haunted her every time she casted her eyes upon it…

Mae's fingers traced the pale scar that lay at the bottom of her throat and ran across her collar bone. It gave her chills as memories of Mr. Lucas came flooding back, and Mae could almost feel that cold scalpel against her throat once again. Mae stopped herself before she let her mind wander. She placed her long hair over her shoulders and did her best to cover the scar. Perhaps she'd be able to find a jacket she could use or a different outfit entirely. She had packed clothes with her, but she had her things taken away to be looked through. Martinez told her it was just a precaution and she would get them back later tomorrow.

Every moment spent in Woodbury didn't feel right. She didn't feel the way she did back when she lived at the prison. This place she was in now, it wasn't home. Nothing felt inviting or safe about it at all. She began to wonder how Audrey and Max made it here the past two months… perhaps because they didn't know. They didn't know the dangers they were in and the impending danger the Governor had set up for them. Audrey and Max were totally oblivious.

Looking out of the small window in her tiny room, Mae saw that it was now dark outside and began to wonder when Martinez would come and get her. She was getting rather hungry, and she would have preferred to eat alone, but she didn't want to offend her host. She had no idea what the Governor wanted to talk to her about. The only person Mae really wanted to see at the moment was Andrea. She thought for sure she would have come back to see her, but she hadn't seen or heard from her at all and that worried Mae terribly.

Mae walked over to her bed and sat down on it. Her stomach was writhing with nerves and her throat felt weak and dry. She had to continuously tell herself that everything was going to be fine, that she could do this if she just kept a clear mind. Mae brought her clasped hands to her lips and closed her eyes, reminding herself to breathe. She sat there breathing for a while, hoping for better things to come as she waited for what seemed like ages.

Merle had reached Woodbury just before nightfall. He had driven one of the cars from the prison and parked it just out of sight. He didn't want any of the guards to spot it or hear its engine as he pulled up. That was the last thing he wanted to do. As long as Merle stayed low and didn't draw any noise, he would be good. He placed the car at a safe distance but also close enough if he needed to make a quick getaway, which was what he intended to do if the plan went smoothly.

The risks and dangers Merle would place himself in once he walked into Woodbury would be severe. There was no doubt in his mind that if the Governor found out he was there, he would have Merle killed without any hesitation. It was suicide, really. The odds of Merle coming out of this alive were very slim, but he was willing to take that chance if it meant getting Mae out of there. He'd risk it all, wagering what the Governor wanted most.

His life.

There was a back way into Woodbury that Merle knew about. There was a weak spot in the fence that he knew the men were too lazy to fix. He remembered the day he was watching them as they slid a flimsy aluminum sheet in-between the gap and propping up a few planks of wood against it. Merle was always nagging them to fix it properly, but now he was glad they didn't listen. It would save him the struggle of trying to climb over it.

Just as Merle had hoped, he found the aluminum sheet was still there. He pushed against it carefully, the sheet digging into the dirt as it glided to the side. The boards propped against it trembled under the strain, and as Merle gave the sheet another shove, one of the planks split, sliding free and banging against the side of the gate. Merle paused, hoping the noise didn't draw anyone's attention over to him. After a few seconds, seeing that things were still quiet, Merle gave one last push against the sheet and slipped in. He made sure to fix the planks in place before he took cover in the alley just a few steps away.

Peering out into the street, Merle found the town silent and deserted. Lamps were lit and a few torches were still burning, giving enough light to see where one was going. Merle could see a group of men at the other gate, talking and having a smoke; just like usual. He even spied Martinez taking with a young boy. Merle could have sworn he had seen that kid's face before, but he put that thought aside as he surveyed the rest of the area. He wanted to get to the Governor's apartment as fast as he could.

Merle had no idea where Mae was or where the Governor would be keeping her. She could be staying in the infirmary or in one of the apartments, or the Governor could be keeping her somewhere… somewhere she couldn't get out. Merle shook his head free of those fears. He'd find Mae and get her out of where ever she was. Milton… he'd know where Mae would be. However, he stayed in the same building that the Governor did. Merle would have to be extremely careful. Any run in with the Governor would be fatal, and Merle really didn't want to get caught.

As Merle quickly ran through the street, making sure to stick to the shadows, he was suddenly reminded of the night he was reunited with Daryl and how they fought their way across these streets to be free of the Governor and to be free to start a new life once more. Now, Merle was walking back into his clutches, but only this time, he wasn't starting over. He was coming to redeem what made his life worthwhile; what gave purpose and meaning to it. Even if the Governor challenged to fight him to the death, Merle would make sure he one.

Daryl would be extremely pissed with him once Carol told him and the others where he had gone. Not that he left to save Mae, but that he left to save her alone. Merle didn't have time to sit and explain to everyone what he was going to do. Time was something he couldn't afford and every second he wasn't in Woodbury trying to find Mae could be a second closer to the Governor putting her in critical danger. Knowing his brother, Daryl would probably come after him. Merle was hoping on that just in case things went bad and Merle was stuck with no way out. Perhaps Merle would have a clearer idea of what he was doing once he found Mae.

Merle was hiding in the alley against the building that held the Governor's apartment. He thought if he'd make it up the fire escape, he'd be able to come in through Milton's window. It was late enough that he could be there, but Milton could also still be in his office doing research. Merle hoped for Milton's sake that he was in his apartment. Merle really needed to catch a break. He was losing time.

Just as Merle grabbed ahold of the fire escape, he saw a shadow loom across the brick wall before him. He turned, only to find the Governor standing, baring a sick smile behind him.

"Welcome back, Merle."

Before Merle could react, the Governor had grabbed Merle and thrown him against the brick wall, punching him as hard as he could. Once, twice, a third and even a fourth time until Merle's nose was gushing blood and he could barely stand up. The Governor held him up by his collar and looked him in the eyes, laughing before he said:

"You're too late."

And with one final punch, Merle collapsed.

His ears began to ring as he hit the concrete floor. His head was buzzing and scrambling his thoughts, disorienting him from his surroundings. Blood was trickling down the side of his face and he felt the stinging pressure of the gash that was drawn near his temple. He couldn't hold himself up anymore. No matter how hard he tried to pick himself back up and give a swing, his body fought against him and collapsed at the feet of the Governor. His eyes saw black spots until they finally rolled back in his head and he was out.

Merle was suddenly sucked into a film of darkness, and in that darkness he stayed for a while. His thoughts were still scrambled and could see nothing but the giant void that surrounded him. There was no moving or feeling, yet there was a strange sense of knowing that was even more frightening then the dark. After a while, Merle did feel something. He felt a numb warm feeling coursing through his body, like his entire form had fallen asleep and it was now tingling back to life.

The darkness that surrounded him was fading like an old picture into a new image. Something bright tugged at Merle's eyes, beckoning them to open. When they did, he squinted, for his head was pointed up at the sky. He blinked a few times, bringing his hand to shield his eyes and took a look around him.

He stood on a dirt road, a vast and deep green forest lying behind him. In the distance he spotted a lake, glistening from the sun's rays, deep and cool and blue. Around the bend of the road there laid a cabin with its chimney billowing with smoke. The lights were on and two cars were parked in the drive. Everything around Merle seemed to be illuminated by the sun as if halos and sunbeams had wrapped themselves around the trees, around each blade of grass, and around each breath he took. Light was pouring from everywhere, settling a deep warm glow around Merle. It was like this place had gone completely untouched by the apocalypse; the lawn was cut, the cars looked recently used, and there was no horrible odor of rotting flesh coming from anywhere. Merle stood there staring, looking around to see if there was anyone around him.

This place was unfamiliar and Merle knew he had never been to it before. He didn't even know how he got there. The last thing he remembered was walking into Woodberry and then… nothing. Had he been dreaming, and this was just another dream he was pulled into? Merle was curious as to why he was in this place. As beautiful as it was, it unsettled him. He was wide out in the open for Walkers to come and get him, or someone else to spot him. He needed to find shelter before the sun went down.

The house seemed like the first place to check out. Merle walked up the soft dirt path and onto the houses front porch. The door was open, except for the screen door, but it appeared to be unlocked. Merle gave a knock and opened the door, suddenly realizing he had opened it with his right hand.

Nearly falling back in amazement, Merle marveled at his hand, raising it up to eye level. It was still attached and moving on his person, and that delighted him more than anything. He felt each finger bend, twirling his wrist around and admiring it fondly. This is definitely a dream, Merle thought, but he hoped to God it wasn't. He'd give anything for it to be real.

"Merle, is that you?" A voice from inside the house lightly called out.

Merle paused once more. Someone inside knew him, and he swore he could recall their voice. Stepping inside, Merle was led into a hallway that connected to very nicely decorated living room. He peered inside in and found it to be empty. Going down the hall some more, Merle was greeted by the smell of something good cooking. He hadn't smelled food like that in a long time and it made him hungry just thinking about what was in the kitchen. He followed the aroma, but paused in front of a mirror in the hallway, the image reflecting back at him taking him off guard. The man staring back Merle was himself, but different somehow. He looked, in a way, younger, perhaps even healthier. What took him by surprise the most was that he was wearing a cop's uniform. His badge had Dixon etched across the shining gold plate. He had to read it a few more times before he convinced himself that he didn't steal it. It was his.

"Merle?" That voice called for him again.

Its soft velvet tones made Merle's skin shiver, as he connected whose voice it was that was calling for him. He made his way down the hall and into the kitchen. That's where he found the source of the voice and where his heart skipped a little.

Turning from the stove to look over her shoulder, Mae Greyson's face lit up when she spotted Merle behind her, ripping off her oven mitts and coming toward him with open arms.

"I thought I heard you come in!" Mae said, greeting Merle with a hug. "I'm so glad you're home."

Mae leaned in and placed a kiss on Merle's lips that took him by complete surprise. The kiss had left his head spinning, drawing him forward when she pulled away. Even then, he was still a little dazed and confused as to what was happening, but whatever it was, he didn't mind at all.

"What's wrong?" Mae asked, seeing Merle trying to collect his thoughts, but took it as displeasure.

"Nothing. Nothing, honey." Merle made up, smiling down at Mae. "Just a long day."

Mae wrapped her arms around Merles neck and pecked him on the cheek.

"Just rest yourself. I've made your favorite for dinner. Should be done soon. Oh, and Lori brought over a cake for dessert. Isn't that nice?"

Lori… where had he heard the name Lori before? Merle watched as Mae walked over to the sink to load up the dishwasher, following her where ever she went about in the kitchen. He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"I was afraid they were going to call you in for a night shift." Mae said. "I didn't want to be eating all this food by myself."

"Night shift?" Merle asked.

"Rick's given you three night shifts this week. I think that's a little much if you ask me. You should ask Rick about vacation days. It would be nice to get away for a while together." Mae smiled at him.

"Rick… as in Rick Grimes?"

"Of course. The same Rick Grimes you work with and have been friends with for years, silly," Mae said, taking Merle's odd questioning as him being playful.

"Me and Rick?" Merle asked, still unable to fathom it.

"You did have a long day! Go sit down, I'll get you something to drink." Mae smiled as she loaded a few more plates into the dishwasher.

Merle was about to sit down at the table, but found Mae much more inviting. He came up behind her and took in the soft delicate smell from her hair and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly.

"What's this?" Mae giggled, hugging his arms that lay around her.

"I've missed my girl, that's what." Merle smiled and placed a kiss on her cheek.

He turned her around to face him and marveled at how beautiful she looked. Her hair was curled and shiny, flowing around her shoulders like a dark veil, and she stood in a floral sundress, her skin glowing under his touch.

"I've missed you too." Mae said, her eyes twinkling before she leaned in and kissed him again.

The oven beeped and Mae pulled away, a smile playing at her lips.

"Dinners ready." she said. "Go ahead and sit down. I'll bring it over."

Just as Merle was about to sit himself down, he heard a knock coming from the front door.

"Anybody home?"

"Is that Rick?" Mae asked in a cheery manner.

"Something smells mighty good!"

In walked two men Merle immediately recognized and perhaps was not all too pleased to see at first. One was Rick Grimes and the other was Shane Walsh. He hadn't seen Shane since Atlanta after he took him and his brother into his group. Never liked the guy much; didn't morn him when he heard he had died.

"What are you two doing here?" Mae smiled as she greeted both of them with a friendly hug.

"We smelled your cooking half way up the road and had to come and check it out." Shane said, looking back at Rick.

"Sorry to barge in. We didn't know you were havin' dinner. Want us to come back later?" Rick asked.

"No, you're fine! You boys are always welcome. Do you want to stay for dinner?" Mae asked.

"Hell yeah!" Shane said.

"Shane's always sniffin' out places to get a free dinner." Rick said.

"That's 'cause I don't have a woman back at home to cook me meals." Shane said dryly.

"Don't worry, Shane. I'll send you home with some left overs." Mae said grinned.

The two men approached Merle like old time friends, and surprisingly, Merle got on along fine with them. He even enjoyed their company. They all finished up dinner and relaxed at the table, chatting about taking a hunting trip next weekend. Mae had finished cleaning up and packed Shane his left overs just like she promised, joining the men's conversation when she was done.

"I left you food on the counter for you, Shane." Mae smiled.

"Man, you sure married a wonderful woman, Merle." Shane complemented him.

Merle was taken aback for a moment. He hadn't made the connection that he and Mae were married. He never thought about marriage in all his life, and now he was finding out he'd been hitched. Looking between Mae and the gold band that adorned his left hand, Merle smiled.

"Damn right I did. Too wonderful for words." Merle said, smiling at Mae and causing her to blush.

"Better keep an eye on her, man. One day I might just steal her from you." Shane teased, taking a drink of his beer.

Now Merle remembered why he didn't like Shane. He remembered how he'd look at that woman back at the camp… Lori was her name? He'd be damned if he was going to let him lay a finger on Mae.

"Oh Shane, you know that if you did that, I'd have to kill you." Merle tried to joke as light heartedly as he could without sounding threatening.

"I know man, I know." Shane laughed.

"Stick to stealing people's food, Shane." Rick said, patting his friend on the back as he rose from his chair.

"You heading out?" Mae asked.

"We actually came over to see if Merle wanted to come play cards over at Shane's." Rick said.

"Plenty of beer and plenty of smokes." Shane said, trying to entice Merle.

"You've stolen him every night this week for work, though!" Mae sighed.

"Sounds like the missus don't sound too happy about it." Shane smirked at Merle. "Let the man live, Mae!"

"Oh alright." Mae sighed, giving a smile. "Go play your cards and have fun."

Merle was never one to turn down cards, smokes or a drink for that matter, but he just found out he was married. The cards could wait for another day.

"How 'bout you fella's go ahead, I'll join you another time." Merle said as he pushed in his chair.

"Aw, come on man!" Shane said as he collected his Tupperware of leftovers.

"Let 'em be, Shane." Rick said, pulling his friend along with him. "Thanks for the meal, Mae. We really enjoyed it."

"You're welcome, Rick. Glad you enjoyed. You boys take care now. Travel home safely!" Mae smiled and waved to them as Merle walked his two friends to the door.

After Merle had watched Rick and Shane leave, he returned to the kitchen, expecting Mae to be there waiting for him. However, the kitchen was empty, leaving Merle confused. A loud whistle brought his attention to the back door that was creaking open slightly, and he approached it with caution. As Merle stood in the frame, breathing in the soft evening air, he caught sight of Mae standing in the backyard, barefoot and smiling spiritedly at him.

"Aren't you coming?" She asked.

Her floral sun dress swirled around her as her hair drifted in the gentle wind. Her entire being glowed with the last rays of the sun, catching her and illuminating her form. She beckoned him with her smile, and he ceased making her wait for his company. Merle crossed the yard and approached Mae with a grin.

"What are we doing out-"

Mae interrupted him by pecking his lips, laughing, and taking off toward the woods. He quickly followed after her, smiling to himself, and taking her hand.

"You gonna tell me where you're taking me?" Merle asked.

"Just here." Mae said brightly and paused.

Merle looked around him and realized they were in a field of wild flowers, billowing all around him. Each petal and each leaf was giving off an incandescent glow from the setting sun, but Mae shined brighter still. She looked at him like there was nothing more perfect, more comforting or more enjoyable than being there with him in that moment, and Merle in turn felt the same. He took her in his arms and rested his forehead against hers, taking in her glow. He gave a small laugh that Mae chimed in with.

"What's so funny?" She asked, looking up at him.

"You… all of this." Merle said. "I hope this is real. I hope to God this is all real."

Everything felt real enough. He couldn't place any of it in his head at first, but as this life he lived continued, he began to remember it all. He recalled every day like this, being with Mae and working with Rick. He could place his first day as a cop and the day of his wedding, the day he bought his house with his new wife and countless evenings they had spent under the stars together. He remembered it all and suddenly this was Merle's reality. It had to be because he didn't want anything else. This was the life he wanted to have and no apocalypse could take it away from him.

"Of course it's real." Mae leaned in and kissed him. "Was that real?"

Merle smirked. "I don't know. Why don't you do it again so I can figure it out?"

Just as Merle was about to lean in and kiss her, Mae pulled away, suddenly alert and worried.

"Did you hear that?" She asked.

Merle looked around. Nothing but the quite woods stood around him.

"Just the wind, darlin'." Merle said, but Mae slipped from his grip and went off toward the woods.

She kept going, disappearing behind the trees.

"Mae!" Merle called out, hurrying after her.

There was no sign of her once Merle entered the woods. It was another world entirely in between those trees. All light disappeared and the heavenly glow had dimmed to a sickly grey. The forest towered over him ominously, and the air wasn't as clean as it had been when he first arrived. Birds echoed shrill calls from above, almost as it they were telling him to run, but he wouldn't leave. Not without finding Mae first.

"Mae!" Merle's voice echoed around him.

As Merle walked on, he found he stepped on something hard. Looking down at his feet, there laid a rusty hacksaw stained with blood amongst the fallen leaves. Merle took a step back at the painfully familiar object, his heart pounding in his chest and his right hand suddenly going numb. He moved on, calling out Mae's name again, panic dripping from his voice.

"What, you miss her?"

Merle turned around quickly, shaken by the eerie voice that came out of now where. He frowned to see Shane smirking at him.

"What has she done for you, Merle? Almost got you killed, that's what. She ain't right and she won't last long. Not in this world. Believe me on that one." Shane said.

"Where is she?" Merle demanded more then asked.

"You think she needs you when she has Daryl? Everyone trusts him, everyone likes Daryl. No one likes you. Piece of redneck trash. Why would Mae trust you when she has Daryl? She doesn't like you, Merle. She never has and never will," Shane said, smiling malevolently as he teased Merle.

"Shut the hell up!"

"You gonna yell at me now? You think yellin' is gonna bring her back? Better yell a little louder because I don't think she can HEAR YOU!" Shane roared, disappearing before Merle could take a swing at him.

The woods swirled around him like misty clouds. Shane had vanished into them, leaving Merle furious and lost. Merle's head felt full of static and dead noise. He couldn't get a thought across even if he wanted to. The mist around him made it hard to see and breath. The nagging impulse to fall down and just lie there was all too prominent, feeling like each bone in his body weighed a hundred pounds each.

"You need to stay away from Mae."

Merle turned to find Rick behind him, appearing threw the mist.

"You're not good for her. You'll get her hurt or worse. She's better off with her cousin. You need to let her go."

"I… I can't just leave her. She could be in danger or-"

"Why do you even care? Why are you throwing yourself back into Woodbury for? You could get yourself killed, Merle. Why do you even care?" Rick asked.

Merle found that his passion was stronger than his exhaustion.

"Because I do, that's why! She ain't got no one else and she… she trusts me. She trusts me and I can't let her walk to her death."

"She didn't trust you enough to not go to Woodbury." Rick said.

"That don't matter. I'm gonna get her out of there and get her home."

"How?" Shane reappeared, circling him. "You're in here, and she's out there."

"Then get me out." Merle demanded of them, but when he searched for them, they had disappeared.

The mist swirled around him still. Trees were visible, but Merle didn't dare move from the spot he was in. He didn't know what else was lurking through the mist. If he was dreaming, he thought, he'd better wake up soon. He held his face in his hands, repeatedly telling himself to wake up, but every time he opened his eyes, all he saw was mist rolling against the forest floor.

"Wake up, dammit! Wake up! Get yourself out of here!"

"Merle."

He looked up at the sound of his name and could have broken down at the sight he saw in front of him. It was the Governor, splattered with blood all over his clothes and his face. He smiled malignantly and stood as if he had just won a great battle. Merle cringed at the very sight of him, wishing he would disappear as well.

"Quite a handful, she was." The Governor chuckled. "Shame she had to go. She was such a pretty thing…"

Merle's blood boiled over with rage and couldn't help but lunge at the Governor's specter. His form melted under his grasps, leaving Merle empty handed and in an irate frenzy.

"You get back out here and fight me! You fight me! I swear, if you show yourself again, I'll kill you!"

"Merle…"

The soft and tender sounds of that voice pulled at Merle's heart and almost made him too fearful to turn around. He didn't know what he'd find when he'd look behind him; the way this dream way going warned Merle that it was not going to end well, but he turned around anyways, hoping for the best.

He gave a premature sigh of relief to see Mae standing a few feet away from him, unscathed and unharmed. She looked to be distressed or in pain as she looked at him and Merle couldn't understand why. He went to approach her, take her in his arms and get her out of here when suddenly she looked down at her stomach, petrified.

Mae's floral sundress was hastily seeping through with a surprising burst blood. The dark ink-like stain penetrated the soft fabric and consumed the flowers printed on it, spreading forth and gushing like a busted pipe. Blood… blood was all over Mae. Tears spilled from her fearful eyes as she looked up at Merle, clutching her wound, not knowing what to do.

"No!" Merle cried as he ran to her before her body crumpled to the forest floor, taking her in his arms.

She trembled and gasped for air as her entire dress became overwhelmed with blood. Merle tried to put pressure on the mysterious wound on her stomach, but it proved pointless to save her as her body grew cold and her breathing started to slow. Merle rocked her in his arms, and found he was crying himself as he watched her die before him. She grasped his hands, looking up at him with already a touch of the other side about her.

"Hey, hey look at me… look at me, Mae. You keep your eyes open, you hear me? Don't go… don't leave…"

He cupped her face, the blood on his hands mingling in with the tears that streamed down her cheek. She smiled through her pain, the light in her eyes slipping from sight as her body grew colder by the second.

"I'll be okay." She smiled, holding back a sob.

Merle rested his forehead against hers; shutting his eyes, wishing it could all go away. Her hand grazed the side of his face, holding on to the last moments before her body went limp and the light in her eyes went out. The sound of footsteps rustled the leaves behind him. Someone stood at his side, but Merle didn't bother looking up.

"Hey Merle…"

Merle knew that voice anywhere; it was his brother. Merle glanced down at Mae, her dead eyes staring straight through him. He dragged his hand across her eyes to shut them and went to let her go, but he found that he couldn't do it. Clutching on to her was the only thing that kept Merle sane for the moment. Things were just not making sense here.

Daryl suddenly raised a gun in his hand and pointed it at Mae's head.

"You best better point that thing in the other direction." Merle growled at Daryl.

"It has to be done, Merle. You know it has to be done."

Merle didn't want to let go. He didn't want this to be the end. The static feeling in his mind grew and he struggled with his thoughts and against the cruel manipulative world he had been sucked into. Was there an escape to all of this? He had thought this place to be paradise, and now it was the complete opposite. Where could he wish himself to now? The real world? He didn't want to be anywhere. All Merle wanted to do was be with Mae, stay with her and keep her company in whatever veil she had fallen into. Perhaps he could pull her out and bring her back…maybe he could fix things.

Merle heard the soft click of the gun cocking back.

"Sorry brother." Daryl said, taking aim with him gun and firing it.

As the shot fired, Merle lost all connection with his thoughts and suddenly, the world around him started to fade. He was thrown back into that veil of dark and light, engulfing him completely as he struggled for control. As he shook himself awake, jolting his entire body, he found his arms and legs too heavy to move and his head felt like he had been hit by a truck. A dim harsh light was there to greet him as he fought to keep his eyes open.

"Rise and shine."

Merle lifted his head up to the voice that was so close, his vision still blurry, straining against the sudden flash of a light overhead. He knew it was the Governor. There was no mistaking his voice. Merle tried to move, but he realized his arms were tied down to the chair he found himself strapped to, his legs tied to it as well.

"I was wondering if I'd be seeing you again." The Governor said, circling around Merle. "Have a nice rest? You were dreaming, you know. Talking away…"

Merle chuckled, even though it hurt to do so.

"Oh yeah? What'd I say?" Merle grinned. "Must have been about how much I've missed your warm hearted greetings."

Merle was fighting to keep his eyes open. His head was so heavy and his mind so weak.

"No. You were talking about someone else." The Governor paused in front of Merle. "You said her name quite a lot, in fact."

Merle's face fell, trying not to make eye contact with the Governor. Shit. He screwed everything up. The Governor quickly grabbed Merle's face in his hand, lifting it up to look directly at him.

The Governor gave a fowl smile.

"You're little 'rescue mission', or whatever this was… it failed." The Governor said. "As you can expect, I'm a little curious as to how this situation pertains to you. Please, enlighten me."

"I'm here for you." Merle grinned. "You should know that."

"No, you're not. I know you're not that stupid, Merle. You knew what I would do if I ever caught you in Woodberry again. No… you came back for something, and it wasn't for me."

Merle sighed. His head was throbbing and his eyes were pleading to be shut.

"Stay with me, Merle!" The Governor shook Merle's head and laughed.

Merle seethed in pain as the Governor's clutch tightened around his jaw.

"It's a shame you couldn't join us for dinner. I'm sure she would have enjoyed seeing you." The Governor said, letting go of Merle.

He began to head towards the door, his hand resting on the door knob before he turned back to Merle; his eye's burning with something dangerous. Merle's own eyes began to flutter, sleep begging them to close. Although his vision was fading, Merle could still hear the Governor, his last words to him lingering in his ears.

"Who knows? Maybe she will."