Chapter 25

The incessant sound of a baby crying woke Merle.

"Someone shut that baby up...how the hell is anybody supposed to get any sleep around here?" He shouted.

The crying continued but he couldn't hear anyone else. Merle struggled to his feet and limped to the doorway of the cell. The crying abruptly stopped and the prison was eerily silent. Merle stepped out, passing by the other cells but no one was there.

"They all left you...again..."Merle heard a familiar voice behind him and quickly turned around and saw the Governor standing before him.

"What did ya do with 'em?" Merle clinched his fist trying to keep himself under control.

"Why Merle...I'm hurt...I told you...they left you...even that brother of yours...he found himself a new family he cares more about." The Governor told him.

Merle remained silent for a moment. He couldn't help but wonder if what the Governor said was true.

"I took care of you...brought you into my town...my home...I made you a part of my family and this is what you gave it up for? I must say Merle, I don't understand..."

"You shot me!..." Merle snarled.

The Governor stepped closer towards him. "You weren't yourself...I was just trying to protect you..."

"And Gwen...you let Lincoln try to kill her..." Merle glared at him.

"Ah Gwen...But they didn't take care of her here either..." The Governor told him.

Merle's eyes widened and fear came over him. "Gwen?...What are you talkin' 'bout?"

The Governor looked up towards the second floor. "Go see for yourself..."

Merle turned and hurried up the stairs as quickly as he could with his sore leg. He rushed to Gwen's cell. He felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach and couldn't help but drop to his knees at the sight. There was Gwen's lifeless, blood covered body on the bed.

"No...nonononono!" Merle started to cry as he crawled towards her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. "No baby, don't leave me..."Merle closed his eyes tightly not wanting to believe she was gone.

"Even you Merle can make a beautiful child...it's a shame it's dead too..." The Governor stated.

Merle released Gwen and looked at her abdomen then looked up at the Governor standing in the doorway. He could see he was holding a lifeless child in his arms...also covered in blood.

"It's a shame Merle...you let this happen..."

Merle sat up abruptly in bed, barely able to breath and his heart was racing. The prison was dark and silent. He leaned off the bunk and grabbed the clothes Gwen brought him earlier from the floor. He pulled the t-shirt over his head and struggled to put on the boxers and pants. Finally he pulled himself up against the bunk and started to make his way towards the doorway. Pain radiated through his leg as he put his weight on it. He hobbled as best he could, making his way out into the open. He looked around but didn't see anyone. No...it was a dream...it has to be...Governor don't have a clue where you are anyhow.

He passed by the first cell heading towards the stairs and saw Hershel sleeping on the bottom bunk and Beth sleeping on the top one. See...they're still here...everyone is still here...ain't nothin' happened.

Merle made his way to the foot on the stairs. He leaned against the railing and tried to catch his breath but he was already exhausted. He looked towards the top and felt like it was miles away but he just had to see her. Just to make sure she was ok...

Merle grabbed hold of the railing and hoped up the first step on his good leg. He took each step one by one, pausing briefly to keep his balance until he reached the top. He leaned against the railing, resting his head against his arms taking a few full deep breaths. He looked towards Gwen's cell. Just go...she's there...she's fine...see for yerself...

Merle limped his way to the doorway, grabbing hold of the bars to keep himself from falling. Gwen was asleep on her bed, the blanket wrapped tightly around her as she lay on her right side. Merle leaned against the foot of the bed and started to pull himself up behind her. Gwen was startled awake from the movement in the bed.

"Merle? Is that you?" Gwen asked, shocked to see him.

"Ya expectin' someone else?" Merle muttered as he moved closer towards her trying his best to keep his left leg straight. It steadily throbbed from the pain.

"Of course not you idiot...how the hell did you get up here?" Gwen asked as she pushed the blanket back and turned to face him. "You're gonna hurt yourself!"

Merle cupped her face in his hand and just stared at her as he tried catching his breath. Gwen rested one hand on his hip and slipped the other behind him, resting it against his shoulder blade.

"Are you ok?" She asked as she stared into his eyes. Merle could see the concern on her face.

He didn't know what to say now that he had managed to make his way all the way up there. He slipped his hand through her hair against the back of her head, pulling her closer and covering her mouth with his. Gwen pulled slightly away from him.

"Merle...what's gotten into you? What's wrong?" Gwen asked as she pressed the back of her hand against his forehead.

"What? Ya think I'm sick now just cause I wanna kiss ya?" Merle asked feeling somewhat rejected.

"Of course not but you just dragged yourself up a flight of stairs on one leg, one handed and last time we talked you were busy yelling at me..."

Merle looked down and sighed heavily. " Well I ain't yellin' now...just wanted to see ya is all..."

Gwen cupped his face in her hands and lifted his chin back up towards her. She leaned in, pressing her soft lips against his. Merle eagerly returned her kiss, slipping his tongue in her mouth as he pushed her onto her back and attempted to crawl on top of her. A sharp pain radiated down his leg when he moved and he couldn't help but turn his head away and hollar out in pain.

"Alright...that's enough excitement for you...lay back down." Gwen ordered as she sat up and helped guide him onto his back. He cringed in pain the whole way.

"Naw I'm fine..." Merle argued as held onto her arm as she hovered over top of him. "Ya wanna be on top? I'm good with that..."

Gwen laughed at him. "Stop...you're in no condition for much of anything."

Gwen sat up, leaning against her hip next to him with her legs bent behind her. She rested her hand against his chest. "But really Merle...it's the middle of the night...why the sudden change?"

"Just cause yer knocked up don't mean I don't want ya no more..." Merle remarked.

"Gee Merle...you sure do know what a girl wants to hear..." Gwen smiled. A part of her was relieved by him wanting to be with her but at the same she couldn't help but be concerned by his behavior.

Merle knew Gwen wasn't satisfied with his response. Whatcha gonna say? Ya had a bad dream and got scared like a pussy? "Does there gotta be more of a reason?" He smiled.

"I know it's a lot to take in...finding out I'm alive after thinking for all this time I was dead...being around new people you don't know if you can trust...being injured...and toping it off with a baby you don't want, would be overwhelming for anyone..." Gwen told him.

The smile quickly faded from his face. "That what you think?...I don't want it?"

"Do you?" Gwen's heart raced waiting for his response...she knew what she wanted to hear but she wasn't sure what he really wanted.

Merle pushed himself back up to sitting and stared at her. He wanted to tell her he did want the baby. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked as he watched her hold Carl's sister. He wanted to tell her that even if he couldn't say he'd be a good father, he would do anything to protect them both. He wanted to tell her he loved her...but he said nothing.

Gwen waited for him to respond but once a few seconds passed of silence she knew he wouldn't. "Try to get some sleep...You'll probably be sore in the morning."

Gwen laid back on her right side with her back towards Merle. He stayed propped up on his elbows and just watched her until her breathing settled and became slow and steady. Merle laid on his back and stared up at the ceiling.
.

The voices from the main floor woke Gwen. Merle had curled up on his side behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist. She could feel his warm, steady breath against her neck. She wanted to know what the commotion was downstairs but at the same time she didn't want to move from that spot. Suddenly she heard what sounded like a herd of elephants on the stairs.

"GWEN!...GWEN!..." Daryl came running into her cell and stopped abruptly when he saw Merle lying in bed with her.

Merle stirred, pulling away from her, propping himself up on his elbows. "Damn baby brother...whatcha hollerin' for?"

Gwen sat up, running her fingers through her hair.

"Merle?!...how the hell you'd get up here...no one knew what happened to ya!" Daryl remarked but before giving him a chance to answer, he turned back around and leaned over the railing. "HE'S UP HERE!" Daryl turned back towards Gwen and Merle. "Ya can't just disappear like that!"

"I ain't disappearin'...ya found me didn't ya?" Merle remarked.

"That ain't the point..." Daryl started to say but Gwen interrupted.

"Daryl I'm sure Merle didn't mean to worry you or anyone else...right Merle?" She nudged Merle in the side with her elbow. Merle jerked slightly and shot her a dirty look.

"How's Hershel supposed to check on ya now?" Daryl snapped at him.

"I'll keep an eye on his wound Daryl...and on him...he won't be makin' more trips up and down the stairs until he's better..." Gwen tried to reassure him.

"I swear...you two are perfect for each other...neither one of ya want to take care of yourself." Daryl turned and headed back down the stairs.

"He's right ya know...you've got to take care of yourself if you want to heal." Gwen told him.

Merle leaned in close and began kissing her neck. "Guess we'll both just have to stay in bed then..."

"Nice try..." Gwen stated as she got up and got dressed. "Stay here...I'll get us some breakfast and supplies to change your bandage."

"So ya are wantin' to get my pants off..." Merle smiled at her as she walked out of the cell but looked over her shoulder at him, shaking her head as she smirked.

Once she was gone Merle laid back, folding his arms behind his head. Daryl's right...I gotta get better if I want to protect them proper...