Trixie and Beth had just put the babies back down when Rick came in, giving a side glance to them both as he continued to walk over into the cells where they kept their ammo and guns. Trixie nodded to Beth and followed, unsure of what was going to happen but knowing that she should be around incase she was needed. When Rick passed Maggie, who was grabbing ammo from a cell, he nodded her way.
"Take watch, eyes open and head down. Fields filled with walkers. I didn't see any snipers out there but we'll keep Maggie on watch." Rick glanced up to Michonne, Glenn, Hershel and Daryl as he stopped near the stairs to the second floor, Trixie stopping right behind him.
"I'll get up in the guard tower, take out half of them walkers, and give these guys a chance to fix the fence." Trixie shook her head.
"We could use some of the cars to put the bus in place." Trixie liked that idea, but Hershel didn't.
"We cant access the field without burning through our bullets." Trixie nodded at that thought as well when Glenn sighed.
"So we're trapped in here. There's barley any food or ammo left."
"Been here before. We'll be alright" Trixie nodded, watching as Glenn turned and looked over to Daryl.
"That's when it was just us." Trixie nodded again, thinking Glenn was talking about the babies but he had to keep talking. "Before there was a snake in the nest."
"Glenn!" Trixie put a hand on his shoulder and snatched him back right in time as Daryl turned and glared to him, trying to get into his face but Trixie's back held him back. She might not like Merle right than, but she knew you never say something about another person's family.
"Man we gonna go through that again! Look Merles staying here. He's with us now. Get used to it." Trixie sighed when she felt Daryl easing up off of her, turning to look at everyone else though for a moment. "All yall."
"Daryl." Trixie turned to grab at his arm but he shrugged her off, going to go upstairs and away from the group as Glenn kept trying to push his luck.
"Seriously Rick. I don't think Merle living here is really gonna fly."
"I cant kick him out."
"And you wont." Trixie turned to glare to Rick who seemed to understand and then to Glenn who was understandably upset.
"I wouldn't ask you to live with Shane after he tried to kill you." Trixie knew that was a low blow and went right up to Glenn, now having enough of his petty bullshit.
"Look, Merle yes maybe an asshole but he has military experience. You might have known that about him if you took the time to get to know him before you locked him up on a roof for dead! He may also be erratic and believe me Glenn I am on your side first and foremost not wanting to live with him, but that's because he pissed me off. He has loyalty to his brother just like Daryl has loyalty to him. Don't underestimate that." Glenn stared wide eyed at Trixie for a moment, then glanced to Rick who was nodding in agreement as was Hershel. Shaking his head though Glenn tried for one more option.
"What if we solve both problems at once?"
"What the hell you talking about Glenn?"
"Give the Governor Merle, his traitor, and maybe declare a truce?" Trixie now stared at him, wide eyed and furious before shoving Glenn away from her. Rick hollered at her to stop, throwing his arm around her and pulling her back while Hershel stepped between them both.
"Don't do it Trixie, don't do something stupid."
"Think about it!"
"I am! And don't you dare think about it again! Look he might not be the best man there is, no one is anymore, but you better not ever utter those words around me or god forbid Daryl ever again! We wouldn't ask you to give up your family we aren't asking him! He might be crazy, stupid, an asshole, and a killer….wanna be in your case, but haven't we all done something we regret to this day just to survive! I know I have. And you have too Glenn. Remember back at the farm? Remember voting against Dale and that boy. Remember how well that went? Don't think his past can judge his future." Trixie glared to Glenn, happy to see he was a bit ashamed but she did deep down understand where he was coming from wanting to protect his family as well. Shrugging Rick off of her though she stormed off out of the cell and into the common area before she noticed Carol and Michonne watching her with guarded looks.
"Want something to eat?" Trixie glanced to Carol, sighed, then shook her head. No she knew what she needed to do and she was going to go ahead and do it before she lost her rage. Maybe if she got the hot head to understand she could get everyone off his back. But why in gods name was she doing this? Wasn't she supposed to hate the guy for making Daryl leave her? Of course he did come back. God she really hated Merle right then.
She hadn't been walking through the cells long, wanting to really think about what she was going to say to Merle before she faced him when she heard Carol speaking softly. She knew the woman was in an upper cell, possibly Daryl's, and when she got under her she stopped to listen.
"He's your brother. But he's no good for you. Don't let him bring you down. After all, look how far you've come. You got a family now, outside of him."
"Yeah screwed my chances up there though didn't I?" Carol chuckled as Trixie shook her head, hating that she was eavesdropping but needing to hear this.
"No, you didn't. She still loves you, she's just hurt. She thought after everything you told her he did that you would never chose him over her ad the baby."
"He's my brother."
"But he's always done something to bring you down. She always brings you up. Which is more important?" Daryl sighed but nodded, even though Trixie couldn't see, then smiled. He knew who mattered more.
"She is. Always will be."
"And I'm sure she doesn't expect you to just throw Merle away, but be careful how much power you give to him. Brother or not, know where he stands beside you before you let him in again. He could mess things up for you and her." Daryl nodded again, knowing Carol was telling the truth but Trixie only bit her lip. She also knew Carol was saying the truth and that was something she couldn't live with knowing Daryl would fear. She didn't want to have to put him in a position where he would have to choose her or his blood family. Turning away from whatever else they were saying she made her way down to the cell Merle was in, he had been freed to walk a few of the select cells but it was of course against everyone else's wishes. She didn't think much of it. When she got close though to where he was she heard Hershel talking to him about a bible verse, something about cutting off your own hand if it saves the whole body and that made Trixie see red. Everyone was either for killing Merle or just not saying what they really thought at all. Shaking her head though she stood aside where Hershel wouldn't see her as Merle described then to him what the Governor would do to everyone when he came back. Thinking that he would only do that over her dead body made her grit her teeth before hearing Hershel walking out of the cell block and leaving it to her and Merle alone. She knew she wouldn't have long so taking a deep breath she turned the corner and stared right into Merles unwavering gaze and smile.
"Thought you'd never come out."
"You knew I was there?"
"Could hear your heart beat a mile away. Remember who taught Darylenna to hunt girly." Trixie glared then, wanting to growl and snap at him but she bit back her response and just shook her head.
"Look, I just came to talk to you."
"Oh wouldn't ya know it you ain't the first to say that today. If ya here to tell me to behave or to leave just forget it. Been told that already by famer and Sherriff too many time today. And again not so nicely by the Asian kid."
"He's Korean, but that's besides the point. I'm not here to tell you to leave…"
"Really?" Trixie glared at Merle now even though he was genuinely shocked by her admittance.
"Really, I'm not. Even though I should and I should be the one booting your ass to the door. But I'm not. I'm not even here to say you need to behave and don't interrupt me again!" Trixie glared this time, snapping a bit and making Merle smile as he held up his hands, well hand and contraption, as she continued. "I am here though to tell you that you better not fuck him over."
"Who? Your precious Sherriff? Don't worry toots I don't tend to help…"
"Daryl." Merle froze, slowly turning his gaze over to Trixie as she crossed her arms and waited for the smart ass remark she figured he would give her.
"What are ya talking about girly? I wouldn't fuck over my blood." Trixie nodded, taking a deep breath before she started.
"I know about your past, his past, everything he wanted to tell me and I can assure you that if what he told me wasn't good the parts he left out mustn't be either. So, after hearing everything he said I can honestly say that to me it sounds like you got used to belittling him, picking on him, practically being a live in bully with him and then when the going got tough for you, you ditched and left him to take the brunt of daddy's anger. Am I close to right?" Merle, who had been seeing red immediately jumped up and glared right to Trixie, towering over her and making her smirk slightly.
"You better watch your mouth girly."
"Oh I don't think so, now sit down you big asshole." Shoving one finger against Merles chest Trixie made him sit again before towering over his stunned self now. "Again, you better not fuck Daryl over Merle. I know you think this is going to be the usual thing you do with him. Leave him to deal with shit on his own, come back after god knows how long and tell him to beg and he does, then you have an errand boy for god knows how long until you leave again and leave him to deal with your shit storm. Well I got news for you. This Daryl you came home to this time, he had help from someone other than a self-centered bastard. He had help from me, and the rest of the gang here at the prison. He has family that loves him, takes him for who he is and not who we want him to be and accepts him flaws and all. He has me now, someone he talks to and someone that will kill for him. Ask a few of the guys we met along the way after you left. I am a deadly shot and even deadlier with a machete. Don't try me. Now you want to come back and be all buddy buddy with your brother, I get that, but you ain't gonna get rid of me that easily. You'll have to kill me first Merle and I don't think you have the guts or the ability to do that easily, not without me killing you as well. So for our future together and for Daryl's sanity lets go ahead and get this out of the way. You are going to behave with him, I don't care about the others, but for your brother you are going to behave. He has a home here and you won't take it from him. He has a son here and you won't dare get your blood nephew kicked out with his daddy all because you decided to be an ass. I know you ain't a rapist, a killer by heart, and you all talk and no game. So whatever the Governor asshole had you do you did to survive and I get that. But here you aren't only taking care of yourself but your brother as well. What you do reflects on him and ultimately me and Hunter. So just think before you act, try not to piss anyone off, but I am in no way asking you to not be yourself. YOURSELF Merle, not what the Governor made you but the old you that I first met and loved back at the quarry. I felt safe around you than….now…I'm not even sure. If you can do that for me though, if you can just try to be right, by your brother, than maybe I can try to keep the others off your back so much and make your time here more enjoyable. Do we have an agreement?" Trixie smirked down to Merle seeing that he was really taking everything in she said before he finally smirked up to her and nodded once. Trixie nodded back to him and turned to leave before he stopped her, speaking to her and making her listen as he for once, was being sincere.
"You know, I never really thought my brother was everything I said he was. I just didn't want to see him make the same fucking mistake like me or our piece of shit father. I'm glad to see he actually has some balls and grabbed a good enough woman for himself. And that she would dare to stand up to me of all people. Maybe he doesn't need me after all." Trixie sighed, turning to face Merle as he rubbed his own chin.
"No, Merle, he doesn't need you, not like you think. But he does need his family, his blood, and he needs his bigger brother to be there for him as support. Someone who will help him the way he needs, not the way you think he needs. He's not complicated like you say he is. He isn't confusing and he can make a decision without anyone else. Stop putting him down for once and let him show you that he isn't what you were afraid he'd turn out to be. He isn't damaged, he isn't hurt…if anything what happened to him made him stronger and smarter. Let him show you Merle. Be a brother, not a bully." Merle nodded, then smirked up to Trixie.
"And here I thought you'd be taken with me. Damn, guess I missed out on that sweet train." Trixie chuckled but shook her head as well.
"Sorry, I only go for the guys that have two hands." Merle acted offended but held his metal contraption up anyway as he glanced from it to her and back again.
"Hey, this thing is better than anything you'd ever meet! Cant get wounded or hurt and can hold any weapon I see fit." Seeing that he was trying to edge them into a more comfortable form of chatting Trixie just shrugged and sat down on a bench across from him, taking the bait and trying to get along with Merle like she had once done back a long time ago.
"I see, but why the knife? Why Rambo? Why not all Texas chainsaw massacre and use a chainsaw?" Merle laughed then, staring to show off his home made contraption and then starting to slowly unveil what had happened to him after Atlanta. Trixie of course stayed there, listing and taking it all in, much to the surprise of the two men watching. Turning to look at each other Rick and Daryl smiled as they snuck away, thinking that maybe something good was going to happen. If Trixie could get everyone to leave Merle alone, and get Merle to see what was best for everyone, maybe they would have a chance. Even if she only did it for Daryl's sake.