Chapter 36

"You gotta learn to relax...I'll give ya credit...yer a natural but ya ain't gotta white knuckle the gun...just gently squeeze. You grip it too tightly yer bound to make yourself jerk when ya squeeze the trigger and that's gonna throw off yer aim." Merle remarked as he gently rested his hand against Naomi's back as she stared down the barrel of the gun, taking aim. "Once yer finger is on the trigger ya need to be ready to fire."

Naomi took a deep breath and tried to relax. She gently squeezed the trigger, firing the weapon, hitting her target. "Just makes me nervous I guess..." She remarked as she lowered the gun.

"Still...ya hit the mark...that's what counts...but yer sure as shit gonna be nervous the first few times yer shootin' at a biter comin' after ya...ya just gotta stay in control." Merle told her. "Come on...it'll be dark soon...that's enough for the night."

Naomi and Merle started to head back when Milton cut them off along the way. "Merle...the Governor wants to see you..."

Merle nodded and headed towards the Governor's home as Milton stood before Naomi smiling. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No Merle and I were just doing some firearms training..." Naomi told him.

Milton extended his elbow to her. "Well come on then, I'd be delighted to fix you something and some of my special tea."

Naomi didn't have any real desire to spend any time with Milton but she didn't want to be rude or hurt his feelings. With it starting to get dark she wouldn't be able to leave Woodbury to search for Caleb anyhow so she decided to grin and bear it. They went back to his home and he led her to the kitchen table then began preparing their food.

"I was hoping to run into you this evening anyhow...we haven't had much time together lately with Merle teaching you in so many things." Milton remarked.

Naomi remained silent. The truth was Milton had given her the creeps from the moment she met him. He seemed quiet and harmless but there was just something about him that didn't sit well with her but she couldn't put her finger on it. He had been nothing but nice to her so she couldn't help but feel slightly guilty feeling ill towards him but still, she did.

"I hope you're hungry and enjoy what I prepared." Milton turned back towards her and smiled.

"I'm sure it will be fine." She forced a smiled.

Milton did most of the talking over dinner. Naomi tried to engage in the conversation in hopes of making the time go faster but every minute seemed to slowly tick by and she was anxious to leave. She and Merle had talked about coming up with a stratedgy for what areas to search leading away from her old camp.

"Dinner was lovely Milton but you really shouldn't have gone to the trouble." She told him.

"Oh it was no trouble. I've been wanting to spend more time with you but Merle seems to always be monopolizing it. It's a shame you have to put up with him so much." Milton told her.

"I happen to like Merle...he's a good man." Naomi told him.

Milton laughed slightly to himself. "A good man? Is that what you think? Clearly you haven't seen Merle's true side."

Milton got up and fixed them both a cup of tea.

"I really think I should be going..." Naomi said.

"Have some tea first...please I insist...I brewed this batch especially for you...you wouldn't want to hurt my feelings would you?" Milton smiled.

Naomi paused for a moment as she stared at the tea cup. "Fine...but please don't bad mouth Merle anymore...I know the two of you don't get along but he doesn't speak ill of you so don't do it of him."

"Oh I find that hard to believe..." Milton replied.

"I'm serious Milton...Merle's helping me find my son...granted he's hoping to find his brother in the process but that is what we spend our time worrying about...not you or anyone else." She said sharply.

"Of course...I didn't mean anything by it...please...drink up." He insisted.

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Merle headed towards the rooming house after leaving the Governor's and knocked on Naomi's door. He was surprised when she didn't immediately answer and knocked again. He walked into his room across the hall to make sure she wasn't waiting for him there but when he discovered she wasn't he went back to her door and tried to open it but it was locked.

"Shit..." He mumbled as he pulled the knife from his pocket and slid the blade between the door frame and the door, forcing the lock.

He entered her room only to discover it empty. He thought it was strange at first but then remembered Milton lingering around her when he left her earlier. He laughed a little to himself thinking that Milton probably weaseled his way into spending time with her and nothing would entertain him more than interupting it. He closed her door back and headed towards Milton's place.

"I really should go...I need to meet up with Merle to go over a few things..." She told him as she started to stand but as she rose to her feet she immediately felt light headed. Naomi paused as she rested one hand against the table to steady herself and the other against her head.

"Are you alright?" Milton rose to his feet and quickly rushed to her side of the table.

"I guess I stood up too quickly." She remarked.

Milton slipped one arm around her waist and gripped her arm with the other hand. "Maybe you should sit back down."

"No I'm sure I'm fine..." Naomi started to take a step forward but the room started to spin as she struggled to keep her eyes open. "I don't know what's wrong with me..."

"You're exhausted...probably just pushing yourself too hard...please...let me lead you over to the couch before you hurt yourself. Milton stated as he guided her across the room to the couch. She stumbled along the way but he held on tightly to her to keep her from falling.

She tried to sit on the couch but just ended up slumped over almost as if she couldn't control her own body. She tried to speak but couldn't form the words. Milton lifted her legs and rolled her onto her back as she lay on the couch. No matter how hard she tried to fight it, she couldn't keep her eyes open.

Milton sat on the edge of the couch next to her and patiently waited for her to fully pass out. He gently brushed the hair away from her face and caressed her cheek.

"You'll understand soon that this is for the best...the Governor just wants to keep you safe...I want to keep you safe." He told her even though he knew she couldn't hear a word of it.

He lifted her limp hand and kissed the back of it. "I can't imagine how awful it must be having to spend so much time with that neanderthal...you deserve more..."

Milton ran his hand down her neck towards her shoulder. He couldn't help but admire her as she lay there. He ran his hand down the length of her arm and rested it against her hip. He felt his heart race as he watched the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. He started to lean closer when a loud banging at his door made him jump.

Frustrated, he got up and walked over to the door but only opened it a crack.

Merle smirked at Milton as he peeked out the door. "I need to speak with Naomi...we got business to take care of..."

"I'm afraid I can't help you..." Milton remarked as he started to shut the door but Merle stuck his foot in preventing him from closing it and pressed his left hand against the door.

"Oh I think ya can...Come on Milt...I ain't dickin' around with ya...where is she...ya had to have brought her back here...she ain't in her room and she ain't at the Governor's." Merle couldn't help but love the irritated look on Milton's face.

"I'm sorry Merle...but she's not here..." Milton told him.

"NAOMI! COME ON GIRL...GOT SOME PLANNIN' TO DO FOR TOMORROW..." Merle shouted as he grinned at Milton. He knew she was there and she'd come if she heard him.

Merle waited for a moment but didn't hear any sound. Milton looked at him almost pleased as if he had proved him wrong somehow. The smiled quickly left Merle's face as he stared harshly at Milton. Without warning Merle pushed his handless arm against his chest and forced his way in the door.

"You're lyin'...where is she? NAOMI?" Merle said as he busted into the apartment. With the door no longer blocking his view he noticed Naomi lying on the couch seeming asleep. Merle stomped over to the couch and shook her but she didn't wake up. "Naomi?...what the..."

Milton started to panic as Merle turned back towards him looking like a rabid animal. Before he had a chance to explain, Merle had rushed back over towards him and grabbed hold of his shirt. He shoved him hard against the wall.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YA DO TO HER? YA LITTLE FUCKIN' PERVERT! I OUTTA RIP OFF YER SORRY LITTLE DICK! WHAT DID YA GIVE HER?" Merle's face was inches from Milton's as he trembled trying to force out words of explanation.

"It wasn't my idea...I swear...I didn't do anything to her! The Governor told me to...I was just doing what I was told." Milton frantically spoke.

"What are ya blabberin' about?" Merle asked confused.

"He asked me to drug her...just knock her out for the night so she wouldn't wake up in time for the run, you could be gone in the morning without her...it's for her own safety..." Milton told him.

"BULLSHIT!" Merle snapped at him. He pressed his wrist guard against his throat and drew back his fist.

Milton raised his hands defensively, trying to shield his face. "I swear Merle...it was the Governor...I was just doing what I was told...please...please don't...don't hurt me!"

Merle watched silently as Milton trembled and groveled, looking as if he was about to cry. "Yer nothin' but a pussy!" Merle snarled as he shoved Milton to the floor. He turned back around and scooped Naomi up into his arms and carried her back towards the door.

"OPEN THE FUCKIN' DOOR!" He ordered and Milton scrambled over and opened it. As Merle headed out, Milton quickly followed out after.

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Merle carefully laid Naomi onto her bed and covered her with a blanket. He mumbled, cursing to himself, pissed he hadn't beat the living daylights out of Milton but he had the suspicion that what he was saying was true and his priority was to get Naomi out of there...he'd get Milton back for what he did but when the time was right.

"He was telling you the truth...I told him to do it..." The Governor stated as Merle turned around and saw him standing in the doorway.

"That's bullshit...ya ain't got no right to do that!" Merle remarked.

"Just hear me out before you blow a gasket Merle...I don't doubt that she has worked hard to learn to defend herself...to try and be prepared as she can out there...but you know as well as I do that she is safer here." The Governor told him.

"Ain't that up to her? Whether she goes out there or not?" Merle asked doing his best to contain his own anger.

"She's my family Merle...I'd think you of all people would understand the importance of wanting to keep your family safe..." The Governor stepped into the room and towards the opposite side of the bed as Merle.

"Even more reason to help her find her son...ain't he yer family too?" Merle snapped back.

"Tell me Merle...deep down do you really believe if it is in fact your brother she gave him to that he would've kept him alive all this time? I'm not saying he wouldn't have wanted to but do you really think it was possible?" The Governor asked.

"Don't underestimate a Dixon..." Merle said without hesitation.

"Think about it Merle...don't just give me an impulsive answer...Caleb's always been a gently boy...not tough and a boy growing up without a father...what if you find Daryl and Caleb isn't with him or God forbid we discover he is dead? Do you really want her to learn that out there? Do you really want to watch her devastation while you're having a joyous reunion with your long lost brother? Don't you think she will resent you just as much as him for it? She may be fond of you now but she won't forgive you if something has happened to Caleb...it'll be guilt by association."

Merle glared at him in silence. He had never thought of it that way. He looked back at Naomi on the bed.

"You know what I'm saying is true Merle...we'll go out...you, me and some of the other men...we'll scavenge the area near her camp for supplies...if we find your brother and he has Caleb then you'll be the hero bringing him back to her...if he doesn't and your brother wants to come join us here in Woodbury then it would give us time to come up with a way to break it to her gently..." The Governor remarked.

Merle glared back at him not knowing what to do. He did know what he was saying was true and he hated every word of it.

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