Author's Note: I've officially gone insane. I don't know if it's the painkillers, or what, but I need some help. The other night when I went to bed, I thought up the part where Lucy gets hit in the jaw stepping between Merle and Glenn, then I woke up yesterday morning with my jaw hurting. Coincidence? Or crazy? Then last night when I went to bed, I thought up this chapter, woke up at four in the morning (I think) and I could've sworn someone was standing in my doorway. Dreaming? Hallucinating? Crazy? I need help. Also, I'm pretty sure I have ghosts in my apartment.
Merle quietly stepped into the cell, and leaned against the wall to push his boots off. He had just finished his shift on night watch, and he didn't want to wake Lucy up. He slid out of his shirt, and then took off his tank top. In the last year, he had become quite skilled at doing things one-handed. He unfastened his pants, and let them fall to the floor so he was left only in his boxers.
He quietly walked over to the cot and looked down at Lucy's sleeping form. Asleep, you couldn't tell how crazy she had become. She seemed so peaceful. The moonlight shone through the cell, illuminating her face, casting a pale glow over her. Her dark hair fanned out, and looked like a dark blue pool of silk cushioning her head. Her small hands were clasped together over her chest. How had he never noticed how perfect she was before now?
He smiled.
"Are you going to get into bed, or are you going to just stand there staring at me all night?" A small smile played across her lips.
Merle laughed, "Of course you're awake."
"All that grunting when you were pulling your shirt off woke me up."
"I tried to be quiet."
"Trying and doing are two different things." She opened her eyes; there was an almost playful look in them.
He raised an eyebrow, glaring at her.
She laughed, and reached up to pat his cheek. "I'm just messing with you."
He rolled his eyes and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her against him. She squealed as he rolled over onto his back. She was now lying on top of him. She smiled and crossed her arms over his chest, resting her head on them, and looking at him, still wearing a smile. "How's your jaw?" he asked.
She shrugged slightly, "I don't feel it."
His thumb gently rubbed the spot where earlier that day she'd had a bruise, "It was my fault, wasn't it? I hit you…again."
Her lips parted in response, but the words didn't come out.
Merle sighed, frowning. He had hurt her again.
"It was an accident," she told him. "I know you didn't mean to." She lifted her head up and ran her fingers through his hair.
He caught her hand in his. "Don't make up excuses for me anymore. You were right; I have to learn to control my temper. Next time I might hurt you worse."
She didn't say anything. He kissed her fingertips.
"I don't want to hurt you again," his voice was almost a whisper.
"Let's just get some sleep, okay." She kissed his cheek. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
When morning came, Lucy woke up to an empty cot. She got dressed and walked outside. Rick, Daryl, and Carol were loading the vehicles with as much as they could; the crib for Judith, boxes of supplies left in the infirmary, and all of the personal effects the group had still managed to hang on to. Beth was sitting with Hershel and Carl, holding Judith. Michonne, Maggie, and Glenn were getting ready to distract the walkers so everyone could get away. Merle was doing pushups, one-handed.
She walked over to him, and stopped in front of him with her hand on her hip. "What?" he asked, looking up at her.
"That's pretty impressive."
"I gotta stay in shape, don't I?"
She smiled and nodded, "I don't want to be with somebody I can beat up."
He glared at her and she laughed. "You can't beat me up anyways; I'm a better fighter than you."
"That's not what our last spar said; I do believe I beat you."
He stood, "You didn't. I'm old; I get tired faster than you."
"Well, I just have to be able to last, don't I? And you're not that old either."
He got up and looked at her, she smirked. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. He wrapped his other arm around her waist to hold her against him, and then pulled her own arm around her neck so that she could choke herself, if he chose for her to. "And if I just cause you to pass out, then what?"
Her only response was a frown.
"I win."
She slipped down, and tripped him. She grabbed his wrist, and pushed him to the ground. She sat on his back, with his arm pinned behind her. She leaned down close, and whispered, "I win."
He rolled over and she fell onto her back. She was stronger and faster, but he was also bigger. He yanked his arm free, and pinned her down underneath him, "Get a room!" Daryl shouted.
Merle smiled, and stood. He reached down, offering her his hand, which she took. He pulled her to her feet, and wrapped his arm around her, "I wasn't too rough with you, was I?"
Lucy shook her head.
