The Governor wanted to meet Rick again in two days. Rick was very vague about the talk, said it didn't go as planned. He wasn't ready to negotiate, but he managed to make another arrangement again.

Two days seemed to pass by, with each day everyone seemed to get more nervous. Especially Rick, he had started to stay up late, pace around in his cell. Lori had started to talk to me about it, saying she was worried about him. He'd pace around all night long and even when he managed to get some sleep, most of the time he'd wake up gasping, mumbling about 'not knowing what to do'. I'd tried to talk to him about it, but he avoided me like the plague. I figured it had something to do with all the stress. I tried not to read too much into it, but it still didn't settle well with me. Ever since we got back from the meeting with the Governor, he seemed to avoid me, which made me wonder what the Governor had told Rick.

I'd mostly spent my time with Daryl or Maggie, and spending time with Maggie meant spending time with Glenn, which I didn't mind at all. Hershel and Dr. Stevens were busy with Lori, Carol was mostly doing the laundry or whatever she could get her hands on, she also seemed to avoid me. I had no idea why she did, but sometimes I caught her staring at me, more glaring at me. Tyreese and Sasha were always the ones who kept watch, trying to make themselves as useful as possible. I had no idea what Michonne was doing most of the time, I think she didn't really want anything to do with the group yet, like she was trying to observe us before fully joining in. Merle kept to himself, being mostly in another cell block with Daryl as company. I had talked to him a few times, but they were barely conversations.

Like I'd said, two days seemed to pass by and we were all waiting for Rick to tell us who'd join him or what was the plan. I was just thinking about going to Glenn or Daryl, to see if they needed some help with getting everything ready for if the Governor would attack, when Merle came up to me.

''Rick wants us to clear out a tomb. The rest'll barricade it later.'' To say I was surprised Merle came to me was an understatement, I had thought he'd go to Daryl, or maybe even Carol. I shrugged my shoulders, agreeing with the plan. It wasn't like I had anything better to do.

Not even a minute later we were walking down the tombs, my machete was slightly raised as I heard the snarling of walkers coming closer.

''-A breach like this could be an open invitation for the Governor.'' He mumbled and I frowned, it wasn't like him to sneak in, he'd like to announce himself before he was planning to kill us all, try to intimidate us probably. Still, I chose not to say anything. If Rick said it had to be done, I guess we'd do it. Plus, he was already on edge, I didn't need to make him more nervous by questioning his actions.

Two walkers rounded the corner and we silently waited for them as they approached us.

''Why did you chose me to come with you?'' I said as I swung my machete at a walker's head. It crumbled to the ground and I swiftly pulled the weapon back and got ready to charge at the next one that rounded the corner.

''Thought it'd be nice for a chance.'' He mumbled after he stabbed a walker through the head with his weird blade thing. I narrowed my eyes at him, not believing him for a second. If he wanted a chance, which I doubted, he would go alone, without Daryl. He probably wanted something, I was going to ask him about it when a new walker rounded the corner.

I stepped forward, raising my machete a little bit so that I would hit it in one try, when I felt something hard collide with the back of my head and I crumbled to the ground, everything turning black.

A groan escaped my lips when I felt the pain in my head. Like someone was slamming on it with a hammer. A laugh sounded right next to me and I opened my eyes.

We were both sitting in a car, Merle driving with one hand. I tried to touch my head when I noticed my hands were bound in front of me.

''Merle?'' I questioned him and my heart pace quickened at what was going on. ''What's going on?'' I tried to fight against the bound, but stopped when my wrist were starting to hurt.

''Governor made a deal. Rick hands you over, and he'll leave the prison alone.'' I didn't know how to react to that. I wanted to be angry, at Rick, at Merle for doing this, at the Governor, but I clenched my teeth together and kept quiet. None of that would help me.

''So he sent you.'' I stated, leaning my head against the seat.

''Not really, you see your Ricky, he ain't got the balls to do this. So when I heard 'im talking about it, I decided he'd want me to do it.'' I furrowed my eyebrows together.

''What?''

''He wants to do it, he just can't do it. So I did it.'' A lump started to form in my throat, the thought of what could, and would, happen made me sick. I inhaled and exhaled really quick, trying to get rid of the nasty thought in my mind.

''You know he's not going to kill me, right?'' I asked him, trying to make him understand what I was doing. Merle didn't say anything, he just kept driving.

''Why did you do it? Why not just wait for Rick to do it himself?'' Merle scoffed at that.

''Rick ain't got the balls.'' He snorted, still avoiding my gaze and keeping his eyes straight on the road.

''So why you?'' I pushed him. I was trying to get under his skin, trying to make him change his mind.

''I want to be with my brother.'' He confessed, ''My brother, he wants to be in the prison. This little trip maybe it'll keep that place standing. If I pull it off, maybe all is forgiven.'' When I looked at him, I didn't see the Merle that anyone despised, that anyone was wary off. I just saw a brother, that wanted another chance. He just wanted to be with his brother. '' You got to play the hand you're dealt. I only got one.'' He chuckled

''You talk about the weight of what you have to do, how you can handle it. Like you're trying to convince yourself. A bad man, they don't feel a thing. They're light as a feather.'' I said and we were quiet for a few moments, both thinking about what has been said.

I started to get angsty. I didn't want to die yet, I didn't deserve to die like this, not at the hands of that man. I sighed.

''So is this your thing, then? You take out the trash?'' I slightly grinned to myself and looked at him.

''Don't be so hard on yourself, darlin'.'' He said,

''Things are different for Daryl.'' I mumbled and Merle chuckled.

''Yeah, Rick says jump and he wants to know how high.'' He slightly laughed to himself, trying to convince himself of what he said was true, but we both knew it wasn't.

''That's not true. Rick, respects him. Needs him.'' Merle pressed his lips together, not saying anything and I saw I'd gotten to him, which made me continue. ''You could have started over, a new beginning. But you stayed on the outside. You could have gotten a new family, like Daryl.'' I said, lingering for a moment as Daryl's face flashed through my mind.

''Your buddy's turning you over 'cause he's trying to save his own ass, don't talk to me about being on the outside.'' Merle snapped and I clenched my teeth.

''You know, we can go back. The both of us.'' I said, although I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back. I wasn't sure if I could look Rick in the eye, maybe he didn't directly hand me over, but the fact that he'd thought about it or that he didn't even tell it to the group bothered me.

''Ain't happening.'' He stated his eyes narrowing at the road, as if he was trying to intimidate it. ''I can't go back.''

''Why?''

''Don't you understand that? I just can't.'' I flinched when he suddenly stopped the car. ''You go back with them. Get ready for what's next.'' He cut my bindings. ''I got something I got to do on my own.''

Part of my wanted to run away, in case he changed his mind. Another part of me wanted to stay, he didn't seem like he was thinking straight.

''I don't know Merle-''

''Just go.''

''What are you going to-''

''Open the damn door and go!'' He interrupted me and I shrank back at the volume of his voice. Quickly opening the car door and stepping out, he handed me my machete and closed my car door. Driving off without a second of hesitation.

I stood in the middle of the road, watching him drive away.

I was walking down the side of the road, my machete in my belt and my arms wrapped around each other. What was Merle going to do? I had a faint idea, but I sincerely hoped that he wouldn't. It would only get him killed. I hoped that annoying redneck wasn't as reckless as I thought.

I was super anxious and jumped at every sound I heard, scared Merle'd come back and change his mind, or that the Governor found out and decided to come and get me himself. I was also scared about facing Rick, what if he'd be mad I didn't arrive at the Governor? Would he grab me and bring me himself?

It was quite a chilly day today, although we were in Georgia. My short sleeved shirt didn't really keep me warm and I shivered when another breeze formed goosebumps on my arm.

''Aubrey!'' My head snapped up and within a second I was engulfed in a hug. At first, I froze up, but I slowly let myself relax against Daryl's body, slowly wrapping my arms around me. When we broke apart I saw Rick was there too. The air around us started to get tense and I looked away from him, looking down at my shoes.

''Aubrey, I'm so sorry, I wasn't planning on turning you in.'' I sighed, not knowing what to say.

''Where's Merle?'' Daryl asked and turned towards Daryl.

''He wanted to do something, kinda pushed me out of the car. I wanted to come along but-'' I trailed off, thinking about how determined he was to keep me away. ''I think he's planning on killing the Governor.'' Daryl's eyes widened at that and he quickly swung his crossbow over his shoulder.

''Imma get him.''

''I'll come too.'' I stepped forward, but Daryl shook his head.

''No, you just go with Rick.'' Without another word he ran away, leaving no place for an argument. I turned towards Rick and we started to walk down the road.

''Look, I want you to know the whole story.'' Rick mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

''What else is there to know? The Governor made an offer, you hesitated so Merle decided to do it.'' I snapped. I wasn't that mad at him, I understood. It'd be a way to safe Carl, to save Judith and Lori. To safe the whole group, if it had been me I would have hesitated too. But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself I'd have done the same, I wouldn't have. I wasn't mad, just hurt.

''I wasn't planning on doing it. I was telling Hershel about the deal and Merle eavesdropped and took it the wrong way.'' I sighed and rubbed my face, trying to get rid of the thoughts.

''I know. I mean I guess I know, I understand.'' I mumbled and forced a small smile on my lips, trying to comfort Rick. It was clear he felt guilty, I was glad he did. At least that meant he didn't want to do it.

''We're gonna kick his ass.'' I laughed.

Hey guys, what did you think of the chapter? I'm so glad that we're finishing off season 3, can't wait to get to season 4 with you guys. Anyways, reviews are always appreciated.