Summary: When circumstances change, so do people. The group has grown closer, but when strangers threaten and bonds are broken. Will this group make or break?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for my three characters :)
WARNING!
IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE NEW EPISODE, DO NOT READ ON. MAJOR SPOILERS AND I DON'T WANT HATE :)
"Are you serious?"
Stone stared at Rick, her eyes wide as plates while she tried to roll the idea in her mind. Rick gazed back at her blankly, unmoving in his decision to hand Michonne over to the Governor. He was staring at her expectantly, silently asking her to join him in his plan.
"I'm not doing it Rick" She declared heatedly, "I won't betray someone that has done so much for us, and for Rivers"
Rick frowned at her, "Don't you understand Stone? If we give her over, we stand a chance in living"
Stone glared at him, "And to live forever with the guilt of handing her over? No, I'm sorry Rick, I won't help you on this one. I respect every decision you make, but this is stupid. That man is a sick bastard, I've heard the things Merle has said about him. I hate to think about what he would do to Michonne" She argued.
Rick stared back at her, "I guess we'll need someone else" He muttered.
"I guess so" Stone spat. She pushed past him, shaking her head angrily while Daryl dithered in his spot.
Daryl glanced at Rick hesitantly, "Do you agree with her?" Rick asked stonily.
"Ah dun thank this is righ' Rick" Daryl answered honestly.
Rick sniffed, "We haven't got a choice" He stated, "We'll need someone else then" He looked at Daryl pointedly, when Daryl got the message, he offered to go talk to his brother. Rick refused, "I'll talk to him" He mumbled, before walking off towards the cleared cellblocks.
Daryl hesitated in his spot, before heading off to the front area of the prison. There, he found Stone, Michonne and Rivers loading a long barbed piece of medal onto the bed of the pickup truck. He shuffled over, shifting his gaze to the ground while Stone stared at him.
"Wha' ya'll doin'?" He asked curiously.
Rivers moved around the truck, "We're getting Maggie and Carl to distract the walkers, while we put this out in the field. It'll blow their tyres up" He explained, beaming brightly at the great idea.
Daryl's eyebrows raised, "Good plan" He praised.
"It was Michonne's" Stone interrupted, she glanced at Daryl pointedly. He stared back at her with matching intensity.
Feeling the tension between them, Michonne and Rivers excused themselves and exited into the front field with the truck. Maggie and Carl's shouts echoed out to them, filling in the silence between Daryl and Stone.
"Don't tell me you agree with Rick" Stone said softly, she glanced around warily and kept her voice low.
"What he says, goes" Daryl said simply.
Stone scoffed, "And I suppose if Rick told you to shoot yourself, you would do that too" She hissed.
"Wha' ye wan' me ta say?" He growled.
"I want you to talk him out of it! We aren't animals. We can't just judge Merle for what he did to Maggie and Glen, and then turn around and do the same thing to Michonne" Stone snapped, her voice raised briefly.
"Dun ye understand woman? If we give 'er away, ah won't 'ave ta worry 'bout that crazy sonofabitch hurtin' ya" Daryl hissed.
"This isn't the way and you know it" Stone scowled at him, "What if he wanted me? Would you give me over Daryl?" She asked.
"Ye know ah wouldn't!" Daryl snarled.
"Then why are we passing Michonne over?" She asked.
"Wha's yer attachment ta her anyways?" Daryl bit out.
Stone shoved his chest angrily, "She's the reason my best friend is alive! Not only will I be angry if you do this, but you'll be dealing with Rivers, and I know that as tough as you are Daryl, you would get your ass handed to you" She promised heatedly.
With that, she turned on her heel and marched back into the cellblock, not bothering to glance back at him. He huffed angrily to himself, running a hand through his hair with frustration. He knew she was right, but how could he risk her life when there was an option to save it?
#
Rivers veered the truck off the dirt track and back into the safety of the prison. He clambered out of the vehicle while Michonne jumped off the bed and adjusted her sword on her shoulder. She squinted at Rivers, seeing him in a new light.
He was nervous for once, fumbling with his hands while he stared out into the fields.
"You nervous?" She asked, she lent against the truck and peered at him.
"Kinda" He admitted, "I don't know what to expect"
"The worst" Michonne sighed, "At least they'll have difficulty leaving this place"
Rivers grinned at that, "If I fall, I'm gonna drag a whole lot of those bastards down with me" He promised.
Michonne chuckled, nudging Rivers shoulder with her own. "I'll take the Governor then" She snickered. She brushed past him quietly, slowly making her way back to the cellblock. Rivers stared after her, he watched her walk and it brought a smile to his face.
"Ahem"
Rivers jumped and looked to his side. He found Maggie staring at him with amusement, the corner of her mouth curled up into a smile. Rivers cleared his throat and scratched his head awkwardly.
"I was just making sure she didn't trip on the ground" He said lamely.
Maggie snorted, "Sure"
#
"Merle?"
Daryl raised his crossbow warily, he rounded the corner only to falter in his step. He found Merle leaning against a counter, twiddling the screws on his arm brace and staring right back at Daryl.
"Was jus' 'bout ta holler baby brudder" He drawled, a sneaky grin stretching his lips. Daryl sighed, lowered his crossbow and peered around the room.
"Wha' ye doin' down 'ere?" He asked.
"Lookin' fer sum crystal meth" Merle lied, Daryl looked at him sharply and he raised his arms in defence. "Ye ah know. Why screw up ma life when it's goin' alrigh' now?" He mocked snidely.
Daryl furrowed his eyebrows, deciding to ignore his comment. He placed his crossbow on the counter and studied the room, he wondered why Merle was actually down here, but he knew he'd never get that information from him.
"Ya 'ave an argument wit yer broad?" Merle asked, a teasing tone in his voice. Mere had watched the pair bicker, before disappearing into the laundry room. Daryl gave him a strange look and Merle dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Dun gimme that look liddol brudder, ah can see as plain as day that the girl is wha' baby Daryl is a yankerin' fer" Merle teased.
Daryl scowled at him, "Shut it Merle" He hissed.
Merle grinned even further, "She been pullin' yer twig Daryl?"
Daryl's hands formed fists and he growled.
"Ah dun blame ye, she's hotter than a goat's butt in a pepper patch" Merle admitted, "Ah dun thank pa would approve, tha no good dead beat hated half casts, especially pretty ones" Merle added.
"Well he ain't 'ere" Daryl snarled, "Quit talkin' 'bout it"
Merle snickered, "Now ah know tha old Daryl wouldn't of gotten his feathers ruffled easily. Darn, wha' 'appen ta ye boy?" He asked.
"Forget it" Daryl muttered.
Merle looked at him seriously, "Ya'll seem snug as a bug in that cell room of hers, ye been creepin' down thar baby brudder?" Daryl flushed and Merle barked out laughter. Daryl gritted his teeth and ignored his brother.
"Rick talk ta ya yet?" He asked quickly.
Merle raised his eyebrows at his brother's avoidance but remained silent. "Yeah, he talked ta me" He admitted dryly. "I'm in" He added.
Daryl deflated inside, if Merle was in, then the job would be done. Merle could read it immediately, he cocked his head to the side with interest.
"Ye dun wan' Officer Friendly ta pass her ta tha Governor?" He asked.
Daryl shrugged, "Dunno" He mumbled honestly.
Merle shrugged, "He won't" Daryl's head snapped up and he stared at Merle seriously. "Yer boy will buckle, he ain't got tha stomach ta handle it. Dun worry 'bout our nubian queen, she ain't goin' no where"
Merle was right and Daryl knew it, Rick wasn't going to go through with it.
"Ah know" Daryl admitted.
"'n ye" Merle added, "Would ya be able ta do it?" Daryl gritted his teeth while Merle observed him, "Naw, ah didn't thank so. Ye changed Daryl, when are ya gonna stand yer ground?" He asked.
"Whatever Rick says, goes" Daryl told him shortly.
Merle scoffed, "Ah 'spose Ricks got yer balls too" He mocked. Daryl glared at him, and Merle swallowed a lump in his throat. "Ye needa grow up. Yer people look at me like I'm tha devil. Treat me like tha bad guy, hows that hit ya?"
Daryl's face softened, "Ah jus' wan' ma brudder back" He admitted, touching Merle's arm softly. Merle choked up, his eyes casted downwards and his eyebrows fused together. He swallowed again and turned his face away.
"Git outta 'ere man" He muttered.
Daryl loosened his grip on him and nodded, he backed away and turned towards the door.
"Daryl" Merle called. Daryl glanced over his shoulder at him, "I'm sorry fer snatchin' up yer girl 'n other stuff" He mumbled apprehensively. Something flickered in Daryl's eye, he chewed on his lip and nodded before disappearing back into the hallways.
"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle, girl got 'im wrapped 'round her liddol finger" Merle remarked.
#
Stone sat quietly in the watch tower, her eyes never leaving the fields as she was joined. She adjusted the rifle of her lap, glancing quickly over her shoulder and seeing Rivers settling into a seat on the other side of the room. She observed his behaviour and sighed.
"You're nervous" She stated.
Rivers glanced over at her, "Incredibly" He admitted. He scooted his seat over to her until he was right beside her. "What if the Governor wins? What will he do to us Stone?" He asked desperately, unable to hide the anxiety in his eyes.
Stone placed a hand on his shoulder, "I can't reassure you Rivers, I don't know what will happen, but I know that if any of us die, we won't be going down in vain" She promised, she squeezed his shoulder lightly. Rivers cracked a smile at her.
"It's awful, all this waiting. I just want him to make his move" Rivers complained. He lent back in his chair and sighed. "This is all just so complicated"
"I probably wouldn't of found you though" Stone added.
Rivers nodded, "If it wasn't for the farm being overrun, we'd all be back there and living like we were" He murmured.
Stone raised her eyebrows, "But some goods things came out of it" She reasoned.
Rivers scoffed, "Like what? Death and more death?"
"Like Michonne" Stone interrupted, "I don't think we would have her here if it wasn't for the invasion" She said. Rivers sighed and nodded, he wasn't going to argue with that. He glanced out into the fields.
"Do you ever just want it to be like old times?" He asked seriously.
Stone nodded, "Sometimes-"
"I suppose you don't really. You found Daryl in all this chaos, someone who's a perfect match for you" Rivers interrupted.
Stone snorted, "But he comes with a racist older brother, jealously and emotional damage" She retorted.
Rivers grinned at her, "At least you didn't get cheated on." He broke into laughter, "The world has turned to shit and I'm the only person to get cheated on. It shows you how much of a sad loser I am"
Stone chuckled, "You aren't a sad loser."
"Only you think that" Rivers mumbled.
"Michonne does too." Stone waggled her eyebrows at him and he flushed. "I see the way you two have been acting."
"There's nothing there Stone!" Rivers argued weakly, his bright red cheeks were giving it away.
Stone snickered, "Michonne and Rivers, sitting in a tree. K.i.s.s.i.n-"
"Stone!"
Stone's head snapped around and she stared at the two figures at the top of the stairs. Rick and Daryl were breathing heavily, staring directly at her.
"Yeah?" She asked hesitantly.
"Come outside, we need to talk to you" Rick demanded urgently.
"I-"
"No time for arguing, c'mon" Rick urged.
Stone obligingly stood up and accompanied them to downstairs, leaving Rivers to stare after them with a baffled expression. Once they reached outside the guard tower, Rick stared seriously at her.
"Did you see Merle on your watch?" He asked desperately.
"No. Why?" Stone asked.
Rick cursed and looked over at Daryl, "Merles gone missing and so has Michonne. We think he's taken her" He claimed.
"Then why aren't you out looking for them already?" Stone snapped, she narrowed her eyes at Rick. "Unless this was your plan"
Rick shook his head quickly, "No, I called it off but Merle was already gone by then" He glanced at Daryl who was inching further and further away from them. "Where are you going?" He asked curiously.
Daryl sighed, "He's ma brudder, ah gotta go afta him" He said.
"We'll come with you" Rick offered.
Daryl shook his head, "Naw, ye stay 'ere, jus' incase" He murmured. Rick hesitantly nodded his head, before hollering that he needed a meeting and leaving Daryl alone with Stone.
Stone opened her mouth in protest but Daryl cut her off, instead planting a kiss on her lips.
"Let me come with you" Stone pleaded, "You can't go alone"
Daryl frowned at her, "Tis ma brudder, ah gotta bring 'em back. Ah know ya, yer jus' gonna go off at 'im" He stated.
"Would you blame me?" She joked wryly.
Daryl's mouth quirked at the corners, "Yer ma family too" He muttered, "Ya gonna stay 'ere y'hear?"
Stone sighed, "Well be careful then" She said softly, she kissed him briefly only to have Rivers wolf whistle from the top floor. She flipped him off irritably, only to have a bark of laughter from him. She kissed Daryl one more time, before letting him rush off after his crazy brother.
#
The heat of the afternoon was beating down on the vehicle, suffocating Merle inside while he swigged on a bottle of whiskey. He had music blaring out of the car, attracting walkers while he muttered to himself. His eyes were closed, blinking back anxious nerves that filled his being. He chugged back another mouthful, hissing as it burned its way down his throat.
He roughly stuck the key in the ignition, revving up the car while a herd surrounded him. He lurched the car forward slowly, gaining momentum as the group of walkers started to follow obligingly.
"C'mon ye bastards" Merle hollered. He stopped the car and let the walkers gain on him, before bringing the vehicle forward again. He continued his actions until he reached the end of the road, carefully pulling into the 'meet-up' spot.
He made sure the car was hidden from the main area, before he turned up the stereo and rolled out of the car with surprising grace. The car stopped further away, the heavy metal still blaring out of the speakers while the herd of walkers started to increase by size.
Triumphantly, Merle turned away and snuck into a shack. He pulled his rifle off his back, peered curiously through the window until he found Woodbury's group armed in the main area. He gritted his teeth with a sneer.
"Sonofabitch!" He cursed, "Ya'll weren't gonna stop tha fight"
He shook his head, and raised the rifle. He took aim as the group moved towards the vehicle, trying to find the source of music. He watched them start to panic as the walkers turned their attention off the car and onto the group of flesh. He grinned and took better aim, finally shooting as Woodbury started their assault on the wall of walkers.
He shot with expertise precision, his stump never faltering his perfect shot. The group started to drop, some growing suspicious while the others continued to panic with the advancing walkers. The men Merle had shot were starting to feed the walkers that remained, screams echoed through the field and made Merle oblivious to the advancing walker.
His arm jerked as he shot the kid next to the Governor, dragging his attention away from the fight to the walker snapping at his arm. He growled and dropped his rifle, turning his attention of the walker while he jammed his knife through its head. He pushed the walker backwards, toppling out of the shack floor and onto the ground. He grunted as he landed, only to grunt in pain when he received a swift kick to the stomach.
The kicks kept coming as Merle was pushed back into the shack with strength, his body was held in a lock while the assault restarted. His head was dragged up making him stare into the eyes of a man he began to loathe.
"Merle!" The Governor hissed, he brought his fist down on Merle's face.
Merle was pushed into a piece of machinery, held in place by a pair of strong arms while the Governor held his neck in a tight hold. Merle struggled, turned his head away and looked up into a pair of black orbs that thundered with inhumane rage.
Oliver stared back at him, face contorted with anger while his hands gripped his arms tightly. They started to break skin while the Governor released his hold on his neck.
"Ah ain't beggin'!" Merle snarled, he struggled out of Oliver's hold, who was more than willing to release him. "Ah ain't never gonna beg!" He shouted much more louder.
Oliver walked away from him and the Governor raised his gun, he stared at Merle directly, a smile turning the corners of his mouth up. Merle stared back in shock, he blinked while time started to slow down, the Governor's actions slower than usual. Merle delved into his thoughts.
He had Daryl in his mind, he had Daryl's broad there too.
Now, staring back at the Governor, he was ready for it. Knowing his brother had someone to protect him, even if that person was a stubborn british broad with an iron fist. He closed his eyes and thought of home, sweet home. Where his grandmama baked him and Daryl a pie each sunday after church, playing on the swings while their grandpa played the guitar. Merle smiled, ma baby brudder.
#
"Damn asshole" Daryl huffed, "Why would ye bring 'er out 'ere then ditch 'er on tha road?" He complained to no one.
He squinted while he searched the road, he could see fresh vehicle track marks on the road. He shook his head, why the hell was his brother going to the Governor? He gritted his teeth and pushed himself to walk further, he was glad that the afternoon was starting to cool with the falling sun.
Daryl muttered angrily to himself, he was angry that he had to walk all this way to get his brother and was also angry at Michonne for not convincing Merle to go back with her. He knew he sounded crazy, muttering to himself while he walked into the 'meet-up' area. He knew Merle would probably pop out of nowhere and start to laugh at him soon.
"I'm gonna enjoy tha walk home" He said sarcastically.
His steps faltered when he came upon fresh blood. He instinctively raised his crossbow, loaded it up and took aim. There were more trails of blood, half eaten corpses scattered across the ground with re-killed walkers laying next to them. He furrowed his eyebrows and walked on, he rounded a corner of water tanks and saw the main area was filled with new corpses and some walkers bent over them and eating.
Daryl aimed at the first walker, releasing his arrow and letting it puncture the walker's brains. The living dead fell forward and slumped over it's meal, sliding the arrow through even further.
Where are you Merle? He thought nervously.
And then he saw him.
Hunched over a dead corpse, hungrily chewing through his last meal, was what use to be his Merle. His face pale, already decaying from the turn and fatal death, his one hand was gripped tightly in an organ, yanking the part into his mouth and chomping on it thoroughly. He glanced up and Daryl's breath caught in his throat, Merle's once blue eyes were a poisonous green.
No, it couldn't be Merle, not his tough as nails big brother.
The man stared back at him, frozen mid-chew while his eyes bore into him.
Daryl's face crumbled, his heart stopped and his body was ready to collapse. A sob escaped his lips, breaking the silence and starting Merle's motor skills to life. Daryl tucked in himself, he dropped his crossbow and fought the urge to bury his head into his arms.
His big brother, his protector was gaining on him. Stumbling towards him with his eyes transfixed on Daryl keenly.
Daryl's face resembled a child's, scared to see his brother but too frightened to look away. Daryl screwed his face up, sobs ripping through his chest and vibrating his body harshly. He cowered away as Merle walked forward, almost touching him while Daryl flinched with grief.
He shoved Merle, pushing him away with all his strength, another dry sob rushing through him.
Merle came back for more.
Daryl pushed him away again, a louder cry drowning out Merle's deadly grunts.
Merle came back and this time Daryl pulled out his knife. He jammed it into Merle's neck, sending the pair of them back onto the ground with Daryl on top. Daryl whimpered with grief, he stared at his brother for a moment as he struggled beneath him, snapping his jaws with intent. Daryl's face contorted into rage, he plunged his knife into Merle's skull before doing it repeatedly and grunting loudly with the force of his stabs.
He scrambled off Merle once his face became unrecognisable, collapsing into the ground. His cries convulsed through him, he howled in pain as his narrowed eyes remained on his brother. Grief surged through his body, tightening every organ and stabbing him in the chest. His body heaved out sobs, his cheeks soaked with tear stains while the memory of his brother laid next to him.
He flattened himself on the ground, curling up into a ball and cried loudly. He didn't care about the sound of his screams, he hit the ground while he screwed his face up. He had lost his blood, the one thing that protected him in his past life. Daryl curled his hands into fists, tears running down his face, while he promised vengeance for what he had lost.
