Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I happy everyone is enjoying the convergence of canon to non canon storylines. I hope to keep it up!
I don't own the walking dead, its characters or storylines. Direct quotes will be used but I own nothing! OC is mine as are non canon storylines.
Thanks again and ENJOY!
Merle was jolted awake by sudden screaming somewhere in the prison. Sam grumbled, "Wha the fuck?"
"Heard a scream get your gun but stay here." Merle said quickly while grabbing his handgun and leaving the cell. He jogged down the stairs seeing Daryl already ahead of him. They heard more screaming coming from the other cellblock housing the Woodbury residents and new arrivals. A few gunshots went off and more screams ricocheted off the cement walls. When the brothers entered they found a few bodies on the ground. There were walkers attacking residents as they tried to flee from gnashing mouths. Merle stabbed through skulls and bashed in heads of the infected. Daryl was grabbing a kid in his arms while shooting a bolt into the eye of a walker coming at him. Merle shot a corpse in the head as it chewed on a woman's neck. Finally no more screams or shots were fired. Only the sounds of mourning residents crying over the dead could be heard. Merle looked away from a woman weeping over her child's dead body. They climbed the stairs where Rick was examining a body that had been locked in its cell but turned.
"What the hell happened?" Daryl muttered as he met up with everyone. They crowded around Charlie's body that was locked in his cell.
"No bites. No wounds. I think he just died." Rick said crouched near the body on the cold cement floor. Dr. S replied from his spot by the head of the body, "Horribly, too. Pleurisy aspiration. Choked to death on his own blood. Caused those trails down his face."
Rick chimed in while rubbing his scruffy jaw, "I've seen them before, on a walker outside the fences." Daryl grunted, "I saw 'em on Patrick, too"
They all looked at each other with concern. Dr S explained what they were most likely facing, "They're from the internal lung pressure building up, like if you shake a soda can and pop the top. Only imagine your eyes, ears, nose, and throat are the top."
Merle grunted in disgust and backed away from the cell slightly. He didn't want to be anywhere near a body covered in some kind of deadly illness. It was bad enough he was now covered in walker blood. The thought of bringing back some sickness to Sam was weighing on him as he listened to the others talk.
"It's a sickness… from the walkers?" Bob asked, his hands on his hips, his brow furrowed. Dr. S explained, "No, these things happened before they were around. Could be pneumococcal. Most likely an aggressive flu strain."
Merle grumbled, "Looks worse than a fuckin flu bug Doc. He's bleedin' out his fuckin' face holes."
Hershel scratched his head and ignored Merle's pessimism and tried to find the bright side, "Someone locked him in just in time."
Daryl grunted and shook his head, chewing on his cheek, "No man. Charlie used to sleepwalk. Locked himself in. Hell, he was jus' eatin' barbecue yesterday. How could somebody die in a day jus' from a cold?"
The others looked around at each other feeling the gravity of the situation. If people were dying within a day of symptoms showing the prison residents were in grave risk. Merle felt a rock settle into his stomach.
"Ya think it came from workin' the fences? Charlie was on fence duty the last few days." He asked his eyes getting hard. Daryl glanced over at him realized exactly where Merle's head was. Sam worked the fence almost everyday. Despite wearing gloves and aprons the teams came in covered in gore. If walkers were victims of the flu bug they could be spreading the illness to the fence clearers.
Rick tried to settle his nerves by suggesting another source, "I had a sick pig, it died quick. Saw a sick boar in the woods."
Hershel hummed thoughtfully before adding, "Pigs and birds. That's how these things spread in the past. We need to do something about those hogs."
Dr S stood up crossing his arms, "Maybe we got lucky. Maybe these two cases are it.
Bob let out a humorless laugh, "Haven't seen anybody be lucky in a long time. Bugs like to run through close quarters. Doesn't get any closer than this."
Daryl chewed his lip and looked at Merle who was pacing slightly his fist opening and closing as if close to punching something in frustration. Hershel didn't make anyone feel any better by adding, "All of us in here, we've all been exposed."
Rick sighed loudly, wiping his face with a bandana and looked up toward Daryl. They all backed out of the cell to tell everyone in the cellblock to stay away from anyone who wasn't inside. The council members were meeting in the library while Merle started to remove the bodies from the cellblock.
"Merle wear gloves and a mask, wrap them in sheets to keep exposure limited," Hershel told him firmly, "You may have been exposed but no reason to risk it even more."
Merle grunted and made his way to the supply closet for sheets and work gloves. He tied a bandana around his face and pulled on a large construction glove. As Carol walked out of the cellblock to head to the meeting he hollered, "Hey Carol can you send word to Sam to stay away. I'll talk to her in a bit."
Carol nodded and gave him a sad smile before exiting the prison block. Merle worked on wrapping the bodies of the dead and piling them in the courtyard away from view of the others. He wasn't sure if they were going to bury them or burn them. It would be safer to burn them but the others may be against it. After moving out the bodies Merle went to check in with Daryl but he caught up with him instead.
"Gonna dig holes. The sick are getting separated to Cell block A."
"That'll give 'em hope baby brother. Death Row for the deathly ill?" Merle drawled, popping a cigarette in his mouth, cupping the flame before taking a deep drag. The thick smoked flooding his lungs as nicotine rushed into his system. 'Fuck I need a drink,' he thought wryly.
"Yeah well it's fuckin clean. Dr S. is settin' up for medical care there. Karen 'n David are showing symptoms." Daryl said watching Merle realize the connection between Charlie, Karen and David.
"Goddamnit!" Merle shouted flicking his spent butt away, "They work right fuckin' next to Sam all fuckin' day on the fence."
Daryl grunted and picked up a shovel, "Yeah. Is she.."
"Fuck if I know. I can't go fuckin near her… Fuck!" Merle growled yanking a shovel out of the shed, "Lets go dig some fuckin holes." He was furious that a new danger made it's way behind the walls.
He stomped down the hill toward the makeshift cemetery and began digging furiously at the earth. Merle would shove the tool into the earth, stomp his foot on it and heave the dirt out with one hand. 'Fuckin' stupid stump. Worthless piece of shit,' he grumbled to himself, irritated he did everything with one hand. Vibrations ran up his arm as the shovel slammed into the hard packed earth with every plunge. He put all his anger into opening up the earth for the numerous dead bodies. Daryl watched him out of the corner of his eye and eventually suggested, "Slow down Merle. Gonna need energy."
"Fuck you Darylina." Merle snarled while tossing the shovel aside and climbing out of his finished hole. He started another one without pause and ignored his brother for the rest of the holes. Rick came up and spoke to Daryl about the situation but Merle ignored them. He didn't need to listen to their powwow about Rick's need for a vacation and his sensitive feelings.
'Stupid fuckin' pussy,' Merle growled to himself angry at everyone and everything. He didn't like worrying about shit. He hated the Sam was always on his mind. It wasn't that he hated her, obviously, but the thought of losing her to some stupid illness was making him feel out of control. He is jogged out of his internal tirade as screams echoed out from the fence line.
"RICK! DARYL!" Maggie screamed form the other side of the yard. She pointed at the fence which was bending toward the ground, walkers pushing and climbing against the wire.
"Oh shit!" Daryl shouted, "Come on!"
They ran to the fences grabbing tools to kill the herd shoving themselves against the wire fence. The weight of bodies bending and buckling the defensive line of the prison. The snarls became even louder as they approached to fend off the corpses. Merle watched as Rick struggled with killing the dead.
"Come on Sherriff join the party or become dinner." Merle growled his blade sinking into dead head after dead head. The former leader grimaced at the corpse in front of him and began stabbing slowly. Merle shook his head in disbelief of the man's hesitation but continued to stab.
"Fuck it's gonna come down." Merle snarled as his pushed against the weight crushing the fence.
"Are you seeing this? Is someone feeding these things?" Sasha exclaimed pointing the ground covered in gutted rats. Merle scowled at the sight and remarked, "No wonder their all pilin' up."
Daryl grunted in response, his hand stabbing corpse after corpse, blood splattering his arms and face. Merle watched feeling his gut twist at the idea Daryl might get sick.
"Heads up. This part of the fence, now!" Sasha shouted as the fence bent and creaked. The whole panel began buckling under the pressure. The group stabbed and puncture softening craniums while pushing the fence upright. A walker was crawling it's way up the almost horizontal fence.
Daryl shouted as the wire was about to fall, "Hold on, hold on. Hey, hey, hey."
Glenn screamed loudly, his shoulder jammed against the failing barricade, "It's gonna give! It's gonna give!" The wire creaked loudly as the body pushed further toward their desired meals. Daryl, "Everybody back! Come on, back, now."
Sasha, "The fence keeps bending in like that, those walkers are coming over it." Rick looked around and kept glancing at the crops and pigpen. Merle watched him struggle with a decision but finally said, "Daryl, get the truck. I know what to do."
Merle raised an eyebrow as his brother ran off to the vehicles.
"Share with the class Sherriff?" he drawled stabbing his blade into a few more heads. Rick shoved his gloves in his back pocket and said, "Gonna feed 'em so we can get some more braces up. Round up some more beams and once they back away brace the fence. Clean up the rats and other shit to keep 'em away."
Merle nodded and watched as he met Daryl at the pig pen. They found a bunch of wood beams and poles to help support the fences while Maggie cleaned up the gutted rats.
"You really think someone was feeding them?" she asked Merle from her spot on the ground.
"Looks like it. Ain't sure why someone'd want to have us overrun." He drawled as Rick and Daryl exited the prison fences, driving toward the group of walkers. Merle watched Rick slice the hide of a squealing pig open as he tossed it to the dead ones to eat. It was a pity to give up the food but if they were infected with the virus they wouldn't be able to eat them anyways. It wasn't worth the risk.
Once the fence was clear of walkers they got the braces up and the fence supported. Any stragglers were taken out and the emergency was taken care of. Merle helped Daryl and Rick bury the dead all the while looking toward the prsion as if he'd be able to see Sam.
"Go check on her, just don't get close." Daryl said gruffly the last shovel of dirty landing on the final grave.
"Can't go in there." Merle responded sounding almost sullen. Rick responded, "Have someone who's not exposed call her out."
Merle grunted and stabbed the shovel into the ground before walking up the hill toward the courtyard. As he approached the cement patio Sam exited the cellblock. She gave him a tentative smile and stood far away from him.
"I heard we aren't allowed to get close. Are you feeling ok?" she asked her arms crossed, her face nervous. Merle nodded and pulled out a smoke, lighting it quickly before drawling, "I feel fine. Dixon's don't get sick."
Sam laughed and shook her head, "That doesn't surprised me at all. To fuckin stubborn to get sick."
Merle smirked and nodded, "Reckon if that's true your immune also."
Sam smiled widely and nodded, "Probably so. How many did we loose?"
"Lost count, ten or something." Merle answered shifting his feet anxiously. He ached to reach out and touch her. Her hair was falling out of its holder, strands sticking to her cheek and mouth. He wanted to tuck it behind her ear and kiss her cheek. 'God girls got me so soft.' He thought without a hint of anger.
"Girl you be safe, don't touch anyone and use that santizer shit you love. Ain't got time to worry 'bout ya."
Sam nodded and asked quietly, "Is it bad?"
"Real bad. I don't wanna worry 'bout ya getting' it so don't fuckin' get sick ya hear me girl?" he asked roughly. Sam smiled softly and nodded once more, "I gotta go clean. We're gonna try and sanitize the cellblock just in case there's any germs lyin' around. I'll wear gloves and mask."
"Good girl. I'll…. see ya later Sugar." He rasped his chest feeling tight. Sam chewed her lip anxiously and whispered, "Be safe Merle. I…. I don't wanna worry about you getting sick either."
"I'll be fine. Dixon's don't get taken out by some fuckin' germs." He replied confidently but added, "I'll be careful but only cuz I like ya some."
Laughing she entered the cellblock with one last wave before the door closed loudly behind her. Merle watched her go as he tried to shove down the worry about her getting ill. The walkers on the fence were showing up with bleeding eyes and it was the most likely cause of infection in the prison fences. Everyone who had become sick worked the fences almost daily. Merle wasn't worried about himself. He never got sick, the only time he felt like shit was when he was hungover or coming down off coke or crystal. Daryl was the same way. Dixons were hardy folk apparently.
Merle sighed and scrubbed his dirty face before heading back to Daryl to see the next plan of attack.
Sam was inside the cell block scrubbing all the common room tables and surfaces down. They needed to take some kind of proactive steps to stop anyone else from being infected. Sam finished washing down the food table and stretched her back, her hands digging into her lower back, massage the tense muscles.
Taking a sip of water she swallowed hard, her throat feeling scratchy and tight.
'Shit,' she thought anxiously. 'No…. I am not sick. I am fine.'
Moving toward the rest of the cellblock she walked to her cell to sit down and rest for a moment. She passed by Beth who was bouncing a fussy Judith on her hip. Suddenly Sam felt the urge to cough. Turning on her heel she walked away quickly to keep from infecting anyone if she was sick. She entered the bathroom and washed her face and neck with cool water making sure to not touch anything with her bare hands. Standing there she took stock of how she was actually feeling. Her throat was scratchy and she felt like she needed to cough. Rolling her shoulders she felt achy but she had been working the fence nonstop for days now. She was always sore nowadays.
'Your fine,' she told herself before returning to her cell. She sat down and sighed, wiping her neck with her bandana. 'Just lay down and take a nap.' She thought while closing her eyes. She felt a chill run across her body and sweat breakout on her neck and between her shoulders. 'Just tired s'all. Get some sleep and get back to work.' She told herself as her eyes drifted shut.
"Daryl! Rick!" Carol called form the prison courtyard. Merle turned on his heel and followed the three up to the prison. They entered the tombs and exited into the tiny courtyard off the dark corridors. Tyreese stood there, chest heaving and fists balled. At his feet were two badly burned bodies and long blood smears. Merle looked around and saw the trail of blood leading from the tombs to the courtyard. He glanced at Daryl who looked just as concerned at the sight. Carol was standing behind them all her face stoic but eyes troubled. Merle narrowed his eyes at her and saw a glimmer of something but wasn't sure. She seemed a lot less upset at the sight than the three grown men looking at it. Shaking his head slightly Merle glanced back over to the others.
It reeked of burnt flesh and gasoline. The thick smoke coating Merle tongue and throat. He sneered in disgust at the sight and leaned against the wall, arms crossed. 'Day keeps getting' better 'n better.' He thought humorlessly.
Rick stood to the side looking down at the blackened corpses, "You found them like this?" Tyreese kept his eyes trained on the bodies and replied, "I came to see Karen... and I saw the blood on the floor. Then I smelled them." He walked around the bodies and pointed at the ground angrily, his voice raising even louder, "Somebody dragged them out here and set them on fire. They killed them and set them on fire!"
Tyreese got closer to Rick, his hand now jabbing him in the chest. Merle shifted forward to help break up a possible fight. Daryl was stalking behind Tyreese wanting for him to break and take a swing. Merle smirked recognizing Daryl's protective stance. He used to do the same thing while breaking up the endless stream of bar fights Merle got into back in the day.
"You're a cop. You find out who did this and you bring 'em to me. You understand? You bring 'em to me!" Tyreese screamed his chest puffed up and shoulders tense. Merle moved closer to his brother hoping they didn't need to hold the guy down. He was a huge dude and with both of them it'd be fine but they'd probably end up with some bruises.
Daryl moved closer putting a hand on Tyreese shoulder, "We'll find out who…"
Tyreese shrugged off his shoulder and screamed in Rick's face, "I need to say it again?"
Rick shook his head and tried to keep his voice calm, "No. No. I know what you're feeling. I've been there. You saw me there. It's dangerous. "
Tyreese growled, "Karen didn't deserve this." he shoved Rick in the chest, "David didn't deserve it. Nobody does."
Daryl moved forward and tried to pull the large man back, "A'right, man, let's.."
Tyreese shoved him hard, Daryl stumbling backwards into Merle. Merle growled grabbing the large black man by the arm pulling him away from Rick, "Man, I ain't going nowhere 'till I find out who did this!" Tyreese screamed his hands throwing random punches toward anyone near him. Merle caught a right in the jaw before he lost his cool. He shoved Tyreese into the wall, pressing his face into the iron bars while Daryl tried to calm him down. "We're on the same side, man." Daryl rasped, his voice rough.
Rick stepped forward his face close to Tyreese as he spoke, "Hey, look, I know what you're going through. We've all lost someone. We know what you're going through right now, but you've got to calm down."
Tyreese shoved Merle away making him stumble into Daryl. Tyreese shouted, "You need to step the hell back!"
Rick put his hands up and tried to reason with him again, "She wouldn't want you being like this" Tyreese charged at Rick with the mention of her name. They grappled at each other, throwing punches and kicks. Merle grabbed him throwing him to the ground pressing his face into the scorched cement but not hitting him.
Carol screamed from the sidelines, her voice cracking, "Stop! Stop!"
Daryl yanked Merle off shouting, "That's enough. That's enough." Rick pushed them both out of the way and began slamming his fist into Tyreese face landing punch after punch. Tyreese's face blossomed with blood and bruises. Daryl hollered, "Rick. Stop." Merle yanked on Rick pulling him away from the almost unconscious man.
Rick flipped out and began screaming, "Let go of me! Let go of me!" Merle kept a grip on him dragging him away from Tyreese and the courtyard. Tyreese was laying on the ground sobbing from wither pain or grief while Carol tried to help him up.
"Jesus fuckin' Christ Sheriff calm down." Merle rasped while pushing him down the hallway toward the cellblock. Rick shoved him away and shouted, "Fuck off Merle."
"Me fuck off? I was just tryin' to stop you too from killin' each other for no fuckin' reason. Man's upset his girl just died. Shit. Even I didn't land one on him and I'm an asshole." Merle drawled walking away from the whole mess.
"Fuck this bullshit," he grunted under his breath on his way outside. He was over all the drama and decided to check the fences again. They needed to keep up on killing the walkers to keep the perimeter safe.
"Hey Merle!" Daryl hollered while shoving a pack into a car. "We gotta make a run for meds. More are sick!"
Merle jogged up the hill form the fence line and asked, "Who?"
"Everyone from the cellblock who survived the walkers. Dr S is sick, Hershel's goin in." He replied with tense eyes. "Sam didn't go in there, she's probably ok."
Merle nodded but felt his stomach churn with worry, "Where we headed?"
"Veterinary hospital, fifty miles. You, me, Michonne, Bob and Tyreese." Daryl rasped before saying, "Gonna grab a couple things and then we're leavin'."
Merle stood by the car nervously tapping his fingers on the car when Sam walked out of the prison door. He smiled at her as she climbed down the stairs. "Hey Sugar," he drawled and walked toward her.
"Stop," she said roughly, her voice sounding weak.
"Sugar?" Merle asked his chest clenching at the cold dread washed over him. Sam shook her head and rasped, "Don't come any closer Merle. I gotta.." Covering her mouth Sam coughed violently into her elbow, a rattled breath escaping once done.
"Oh Sugar…" Merle choked out, his hand flexing through the desperate urge to grab her. Sam grimaced as she tried to swallow through a sore throat and croaked, "I'll be ok. I gotta go into A though baby. I…" she clenched her eyes tightly as she tried to hide her fear. Merle's heart was breaking, his whole body screaming to reach out and hold her. He couldn't risk it though, the chance of possibly getting sick when he was needed couldn't be taken.
"I love you Merle. I want ya to know that." She choked out, her eyes watery. The prison door opened and Daryl stepped out. Merle glared at him, his jaw aching with the pressure he was inflicting on them. His teeth would turn to dust soon. Daryl's eyes widen as he saw the utter devastation in Merle's eyes.
Daryl's eyes slid to Sam and he saw her pale, feverish state. His heart broke at the sight. Merle stepped closer to her and hoarsely whispered, "Sugar ya gonna be ok. Gonna get those meds. ts'gonna be ok."
Sam nodded and swallowed thickly, the pain evident on her face. Merle saw her body tremor as he rasped, "Go in and see Hershel, he took over for Dr. S, He'll take care of ya….. Sam." Merle looked over at Daryl feeling too exposed. Daryl lowered his eyes to give them privacy despite his ability to hear everything that was being said. Merle growled lowly but turned back to his girl, "Love ya Samantha. M'Gonna take care of ya ok?"
Tears fell over Sam's flushed cheeks and she smiled at Merle. It was a sad but sweet smile and it crushed him. His hand was fisted so tightly it throbbed but it was the only way to keep from grabbing her and running away. He wanted to pick her up and try to escape the grasp of the illness.
"I know you will Merle. You always do. Be safe and I'll see you soon old man." She whispered roughly, her voice finally giving out. Merle scrubbed his face roughly trying to stem the burning in his eyes, rubbing his forefinger and thumb into his eye sockets. They snapped open quickly though, Merle wanted to see her before she was gone. 'Not gone. She ain't dyin' Dixon,' he told himself firmly.
Sam smiled once more and gave Daryl a tiny wave before croaking out, "Take care of each other."
Daryl nodded while chewing on his cheek to stop himself from tearing up with his brother. She gave them both one last look before knocking on the sick bay door. Hershel looked through the window and frowned at the sight of another sick resident. The rusty door squeaked out loudly as Hershel propped it open for her. Sam shuffled in, her body obviously weakening. Hershel hollered, "I'll take care of 'er. Be safe out there."
Merle nodded and then stalked away into the empty field. He could feel his brother's eyes on him but noticed Daryl was letting him breath. Dixon's were all the same. They could take a punch or kick in the face but expose them to the human heart and all its entanglements and they become crippled. Dixons were not made to feel things comfortably. Anything but anger was foreign.
Merle rubbed the back of his neck as he picture Sam walking with him. Her dark blonde hair pulled up into a ponytail. The strands swish across her back as her feet bounced with each step. The little hop Merle made fun of. He would throw a heavy arm over her shoulders and pull her in close, her tiny arm winding around his waist.
'Fuck Sugar, don' die or I'm not far behind ya and we ain't goin' to the same damn place. Ya can't leave me yet girl.' He thought while stopping, his head tilted to the sky in aguish.
"Come on Merle! We're leavin'" Daryl shouted from the car's driver seat door.
Merle huffed out a huge breath and jogged toward the others. Getting the medicine was a high priority before and now that Sam was sick there was a new fire under his ass to get what they needed. Merle wouldn't fail her. He wasn't expecting to keep her forever because god knows he didn't deserve her to begin with but he couldn't lose her just yet. They haven't had enough time together. Losing her was just not an option.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
