We're in the home stretch now of this story. Not much left to go :D Merry Christmas and Happy New Years everyone.
Kira jumped from the vehicle at the ready the second that they were parked and in the court-yard. Rick hadn't told her everything that much she was sure when he had climbed back in the vehicle. His face was calm and sure the same stuff she had seen with all cops when they wanted you to remain calm. She had kept it together on the ride when he was just giving her placating answers.
Now though in the court-yard as the doors swung open and a different man other than Daryl or Mac stepping out of the truck. Kira stopped in her tracks as he came fully into view. He had an air about him that had her on edge instantly. When his swept around the yard they barely even focused on her but she seen him sneering at everyone else. He looked familiar but she couldn't place him. Kira searched her mind but felt like she was grasping at smoke. It wasn't until Daryl walked around that she realized who it was.
Daryl walked straight for him and the back door was pulled open but it was the man there that had her attention for a second. He smiled broadly and slapped Daryl on the back and laughed loudly. "Calm the fuck down you know he's had worse."
Those were the words that had her feet moving. Kira raced across to them and moved under Rick's outstretched arm when he tried to catch her. Where the fuck was Mac? Kira's eyes finally registered the blood on Daryl and she felt her stomach churn.
"Where is he?" Daryl's eyes swung to her the same time Merle's did and she locked eyes with Daryl. Seeing just how much blood really was on Daryl Kira felt her chest closing up and her heart thudding. "Is...i-Daryl is h-" She choked on her words fighting for air.
Merle didn't speak but instead kept his eyes on her and Daryl looked at her wide-eyed, "He isn't bit." His voice was firm.
Kira nodded tears flooding her eyes as she swiped them away. Daryl leaned into the vehicle and grunted but Merle was there swatting him away, "Quit before you hurt yourself more." Merle growled. When Daryl didn't move Merle physically moved him his self and glared at him, "I aint fuckin' around Daryl."
When Daryl stood back Kira rushed to him her hands fluttering all around him. He had a blood hand print from where someone had grabbed his throat and she knew without question that it was from Mac. It matched bruises from him she'd seen more times than not on Daryl already. He let her as his eyes stayed fixed on his brother but his own hands were gripping her tightly and she was suddenly flush with the length of his chest. Kira grunted at the movement but didn't resist as she felt the tremor that washed through Daryl's hands along her back. He was touching her like she had been the one out there and went through something.
Merle turned and had Mac upright but his eyes were closed his head tilted down. "Open your eyes." Merle demanded.
Mac muttered below his breath but didn't move to listen to him. Merle's eyes flashed to Daryl and Kira seen him raise a brow and look at her before looking to his brothers. She got the distinct sense then and there that Merle wasn't pleased with seeing her there. Daryl let go of her and walked over and she trailed after him even as Merle shot her warning looks.
Daryl stepped into Mac's personal space and wrapped his arm around him taking the rest of his weight, "Gotta look at me Mac." Daryl was talking low his mouth close to his ear, "Open your fucking eyes."
"Fuck you." Mac snapped. Daryl snorted and she seen Mac smile as he lifted his head, "And fuck you Merrrle" Mac's voice slurred and Daryl took a step at that. Mac groaned at the movement.
Kira was trying to get a good look at him when his eyes met hers and they cleared. She seen rage building in his eyes and his body went from needing both his brother's till he was stepping away from them. He started walking on his own his rage masking any pain he felt and she flinched from the look. She didn't know what to make with the look, Mac had never looked at her like that. Never. Not even when she had made the mistake of binding him that time.
Kira fell in step with Daryl just as Merle did and she waited. She had heard enough about their brother and what little minuscule things she could remember had her tense. Her hand was holding tightly to Daryl's wrist and he was focused on his brother ahead of them but she felt his finger's brush against her. She knew whatever had happened was bad but she was still shocked at the reaction of Daryl jerking her to him. He wasn't one for any public displays but he didn't hesitate.
"Who is she?" Merle questioned like she wasn't there.
Gritting her teeth she leaned around Daryl and smiled, "Kira."
"I aint asking names sugar tits." Merle leered "I'm asking who the fuck you are to my brothers."
Daryl's hand gripped hers tightly in warning and he growled, "Not now." He hissed at them both. He let go of her and took off faster after Mac when he came to the large doors that opened into the prison.
Merle chuckled and looked at her before saluting her and striding after his brothers. Kira already felt Merle building walls around his brothers but she wasn't about to let him come in and fuck everything up. She loved those two and she knew that Merle did too but he was going to have to learn to share. He wasn't on the play ground and she wasn't about to be bullied.
Mac groaned sliding on to the bunk and waiting on Hershel. He felt like shit and after marching off like he had his ribs felt like he'd went twenty rounds with Ivan Drago. He should have let his brothers help him but seeing Kira standing there all wide innocent eyes that were scared for him he just couldn't. He needed to get away from that look before he done something stupid and got himself hurt more.
Hershel walked in with Carol trailing him and motioned to his shirt, "Need to get the shirt off son."
Mac groaned but before he could move Daryl was in front of him with his knife splitting his shirt up the middle. He didn't even remember putting a shirt on actually and from the look on Daryl's face he knew that Daryl had done it. Mac wasn't a some bashful bastard and everyone knew it so he knew Daryl had done it to keep Kira from immediately seeing the damage.
Mac met his eyes and Daryl gave him a tense look before stepping away. Mac caught his arm making sure to not grasp his torn wrist and pulled him back over and jerked him down next to him. "He's hurt too."
Hershel looked at them both, "Then Daryl needs to quit slipping away and my questions are for both of you then." He gave them a small smile.
Mac chuckled at Hershel's jab at Daryl. Any time Daryl managed to get hurt Hershel almost had to have Mac hold him there to keep him from escaping. Even when he'd taken the arrow to his side Mac had to make sure he wasn't taking off then. Daryl grumbled but complied but Mac didn't let go regardless as Daryl's pulse beat in his palm steadily. He felt some of his anger dissipating and tried to breathe without feeling like he was going to die.
"How many fingers am I holding up."
"Three." In unison.
"Any nausea?"
"No." In unison.
Carol smiled, "Can I see your wrist Daryl?" She motioned down to them and Mac let him go so she could check him over.
He was watching as she cleaned the blood away and Daryl flexed his finger's getting anxious from being touched. Mac wanted to calm him but couldn't with the way Hershel was in his space. Carol was stitching his wrist quickly and efficiently and motioned to the next. Daryl gave it to her but his face was closed off.
A soft clearing of throat at the door had him looking up. Kira was standing there now without tears in her eyes but a fire that he was use to. She was worried for them and he knew that they wouldn't be able to fight her off with a stick until she was sure they were okay. Mac jerked his head towards Daryl and Kira slipped in the room and moved next to Daryl. Her hand slid over his shoulder and up the back of his neck into his hair. He could hear her nails raking through his brother's hair and Carol's words of caution for his wrist.
"Mac is there anything else that hurts besides your ribs and wrist?" Hershel shined a light in his eyes, "You have a concussion but nothing bad." He leaned over and done the same to Daryl and nodded, "Your clear."
Mac just motioned to his chest and the long gash that rest over his heart, "Just this shit"
Hershel nodded and pulled a chair around, "You two get hurt more than anyone I've ever seen."
Mac grinned, "Should have seen us before."
Hershel cocked his head to the side swiping the blood away from the cut and smiled, "I imagine that you and your brothers were...well" His eyes went to Carol and Kira and he looked back at Mac, "You all were far from gentlemen."
Mac snorted feeling his head ache dull some with the shit that Hershel had given him. "He was a dick." Daryl's voice was low.
Merle stood looking out over the yard as Rick came over. He remembered this motherfucker well and sneered at him, "Something I can do for you officer?"
"Are you doing to start trouble?" Rick cut to the point.
Merle turned and leaned against the fence, "You going to hurt my brother's in there?"
"I"m not the one who brought them back blood soaked." Rick snapped.
"You think I done that to them?" Merle stepped forward. Rick stood his ground but Merle looked down at him, "If you think I'd do that to my own brother's then you better keep that in mind when thinking about what'd I'd love to do to you."
Turning without a word he walked into the prison in search of his brothers. He wasn't sure if he was going to be able to stay here and he refused to be separated from them. Those two it seemed came with another from attachment here lately. Kira he was sure was her name but couldn't remember clearly. Problem was he wasn't sure which of them was fucking her. One minute she was in Daryl's arms then she was freaking out of Mac and that just didn't fit.
Daryl stepped out of a cell at the same time he stepped into the cell block. He followed him easily and looked over seeing the damn girl in the cell with Mac while some old man looked him over. She was talking quietly to him and Mac's eyes met his as he passed. There was something in his brother's eyes that he'd only seen once before. He got glimpses of it when their ole man was brought up but that was nothing like this. It was usually Mac who reacted so openly to it and showed his anger like that and let it burn his eyes in blue fires. It wasn't Daryl but there they were looking like they were ready to carve hell out like a Christmas ham.
Stepping into the cell Merle looked around and it hit him. Her stuff was with all of theirs mixed equally and it fit her reactions. She was both of theirs. Merle snorted and then looked at Daryl just curious how the bitch got beyond his walls.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Daryl looked up pulling his bloodied shirt from his body. Merle's eyes went to the thick scar that ran over his ribs and onto his back. He'd never caught Daryl with his shirt off and it was obvious that where his head was at it was this moment. Daryl was private and it was clear as ever what he'd been hiding all those years. Merle stepped forward and spun Daryl before he could get his shirt in place. He stiffened and the shirt fell in place as Merle let him go.
"You never told me." Merle's voice was hoarse.
Daryl turned and took a seat looking up at his big brother, "What was the point? He done the same to you."
Merle nodded, "I had to get out of there or I would have killed him baby brother."
Saying the words didn't make him feel better knowing that the same shit that marred his youth was painted across Daryl's back in angry history that repeated itself. Daryl gave him a look that had him standing up. The pain in his eyes washed through Merle like it was his own and he studied his brother. Mac appeared and took one look at them and then walked over setting down next to Daryl almost flush with him.
Whatever was going through Daryl's head started to clear in his eyes as Mac leaned into him elbowing him, "She is on a fucking crusade apparently."
Daryl looked over and Merle watched in interest trying to figure everything he'd missed out. Merle moved to the chair that set in the room and took his seat the same time Mac motioned to something. Reaching over and handing it to him the snap flick of his Zippo was as immediate as Daryl's reaction. Merle grinned, some things never change.
"Fuck." Daryl hissed out a breath.
"Carol mentioned that we probably hadn't eaten and that was all it took." Mac chuckled and winced as his ribs moved, his face twisted in a sneer looking down at his torso. "Your ass is on her radar too Merle." Mac looked up at him.
Merle leaned back and regarded them, "Anyone wanna tell me who the fuck she is too you? A bed warmer? Who the fuck she's with?"
Mac waggled his eyebrows at him, "Act pissy all you want I remember you talking about her ass back before you went full fucking retard and got your ass lost."
"Suck my dick." Merle snapped.
Mac closed his eyes and leaned against the wall heavily, "You aint my type."
Merle made a face and Daryl barked out a laugh that echoed through the cell block loudly. Everything went silent following his life and Mac chuckled as did Merle. Daryl's face flushed at the outburst and Merle waggled his eyebrows at him at the sounds of boots on stairs.
Kira appeared with that rail thin bitch with her. Merle raised a brow at the woman and she flushed before handing him his food and waving to them and telling his brother's she hoped they felt better. Kira didn't hesitate when she crawled right up in the bed with them and they shifted giving her room to set between them. She kept going through and got around behind Daryl both of her legs going on either side of him and she started tugging at his shirt.
"Off." She demanded.
Daryl growled and kept eating his eyes flicking up to Merle a before taking another bite. Merle watched silently as she didn't relent and Mac set back next to her both of them further back in the bed then Daryl. He was watching her and started smiling nodding at her. Merle couldn't see what she was doing but Daryl hissed through his teeth seconds before the sound of material being split met his ears.
"What the fuck?" Daryl snapped.
Kira made a noise in her throat and Mac's eyes focused on Daryl. "Did you tell Hershel about these?"
"Nope." Daryl quipped.
Merle watched them as she leaned into Daryl and pushed his shirt further off. Her hands slid over his shoulders and then down his back. Daryl groaned his head dropping and Mac looked at him. He made a face like he was sleeping and then look at Daryl. Merle watched as she started kneading the muscles over Daryl's back and his breathing started slowing. The tension bled away from Daryl for the first time since he seen him in that room strung up and wild-eyed.
Merle took is food from his hand setting it the side and watched as Mac pushed him over. Daryl grunted and mumbled something but went without a fight and sprawled out on his stomach. The damage on his back was made worse looking from the bruising there but both him and Mac watched as Kira kept sliding her hands over it as if each pass of her hand was going to make it better. Mac was watching quietly before looking back at him.
"We need to talk later when he wakes up."
Merle nodded, "Lot to catch up on."
"You see everything that's changed." Mac motioned to Daryl and Kira paused looking at him as Mac's hand ran over her ass before dropping to Daryl's knee that was bent . "What I want to talk about and he will is different." The bite in his voice was dangerous and threatening.
Merle growled, "I didn't have shit to do with that."
Mac nodded, "I know, he knows.'
Merle stood and looked at his brother's watching as Mac tore his shirt over his head and tossed it away before dropping back next to Daryl. He was lucky he found them before the Governor had gotten bored like with so many others. He got fucking lucky is all he knew. He was going make that man pay though for the shit he'd done to his brothers. No one spilled Dixon blood and lived to fucking talk about it. His eyes went unwillingly to Daryl and the thoughts of their father. He knew when he seen Daryl's eyes what he'd done and he regretted not being there to do it and keep that burden from his brother.
"Find me when you're ready to talk." Merle watched as Kira stood and started picking up after them.
She looked up at him and smiled, "I made up a bed for you...thought you would be tired. It's up on this stretch too."
He nodded to her and she went back to cleaning up the mess his brother's had made in mere seconds. She kept looking over at them worry creasing her face and he shook his head. He wasn't sure how that came about but he swallowed after seeing how quick she had calmed Daryl and Mac. She ran the gauntlet at how easy they could calm each other. Though he figured that whatever was eating at one was eating at the other and it was hard to calm someone down when you were just as pissed as they were. He'd never seen anyone get either to calm like they could make each other though but it was amusing to see her there with them. With one last look at the pair and raising a brow seeing bow sprawled out with Mac's leg kicked up over Daryl's own with him on his back he chuckled. Seeing both bruised and bloodied though...someone was going to pay for that.