Chapter 52: Daryl

Daryl was lying on the couch reading a book when he heard Hannah's familiar footsteps trailing down the hallway. He paused as she entered the room, watching her out of the corner of his eye. She stumbled a little, trying to keep herself up right as the towel slid off her still wet body. He could feel his cock stiffen at the sight of her curves and he watched as she shivered slightly. She cast him a playful look over her shoulder and he got up before he could help himself.

He wrapped his arms around her and rolled her hardening nipples between his fingers. He felt his cock swell at her tiny gasps. She broke away, heading for the door and he was scared for a minute that he'd come on too strong. But to his surprise, she closed and locked it before strutting back to him, throwing him onto the couch and crawling on top of him. He could barely contain himself as she kissed and bit his ear and trailed her way down his chest. She didn't even make it to the first button before he had flipped her over and hungrily took a nipple in his mouth. She moaned softly and pressed herself to him as he played with her other nipple.

"Ohhh. Fuck me, country boy." She pleaded quietly into his ear.

"You're gonna have to earn it, girly." He gave her a mischievous smile before he nibbled his way down her stomach. She was already wet and he wanted nothing more than to fuck her until both of them were broken. But he knew that foreplay was almost as good as sex. He kissed his way down to her slit and stopped, watching with sheer pleasure as she writhed with anticipation. He slid a thumb around her clit twice before she was practically begging for his cock. He was so hard that he was sure his dick was going to burst through his zipper. Hannah took advantage of his distraction and pounced on him like a wild animal. He closed his eyes and felt her hands as they practically ripped the shirt from his body. Her hands were soft and she smelled like soap, he noticed. His thoughts slipped away as he felt her undo his belt and zipper in a flurry of hands and delicate nips. His cock was throbbing and forced himself not to jump on her right then and there. He picked her up and threw her onto the couch as he stripped off his clothes.

Her eyes wandered his body and he was happy to see that she wasn't even flinching at his scars. Wordlessly, she sank to her knees in front of him and took his swelling cock into her mouth. Daryl stiffened and gasped as she stroked his dick while sucking on the tip. It had been a while since he'd gotten head and no one had ever sucked his dick like she was. He couldn't take it. If she kept on like this he was going to cum in her mouth. He scooped her up and threw her onto the couch, a craving smile stretching across her face. He plunged his bulging cock into her wetness, watching the pleasure spread across her face. He planted harsh kisses down her neck and chest as he thrusted harder and harder, leaving bruises as he tried to steady himself.

"Oh…god. I'm…I'm gonna…" Hannah managed before he felt her cum over his cock. It was enough for him to lose it and he pulled out, managing to cum all over the couch. He collapsed next to her and the room was filled with their heavy panting. She rolled onto her side and stretched a hand lazily onto his chest. He hadn't been laid in a while and he was trying just to keep his eyes open. The entire bottle of whiskey he had drunk wasn't helping either. Hannah placed a kiss on his forehead and he heard her start to get dressed, peering out of one eye as he did. He took in the perfect curve of her ass before she slipped into her camo cutoffs again. He smiled at her as she took her time getting dressed, singing quietly to herself under her breath as she did. Daryl shifted, putting his hands under his head as she lit a smoke and gave him a satisfied smile before she sat down next to him.

"I think you've earned this." She said, handing him a freshly lit smoke of his own. He took it thankfully and puffed away, watching as Hannah's mind drifted off. He wondered if she was thinking of Noah, or Cooper. He'd only been dead for less than a day for fuck's sake. Just as he opened his mouth to say something smart, Rick's terrified face appeared in the doorway.

"Daryl. You need to get in here. It's Merle." He said and Daryl was across the hallway in a flash. He already knew that Merle was OD'ing. This certainly wasn't the first time he'd seen Merle like this. Blue and cold, sweating but icy, but he couldn't think about that now. He pounded on Merle's chest as the panic rose and he could see people pouring into the room.

"Back the fuck up! Get me some water!" He practically screamed as Hannah pushed everyone but Rick from the room before disappearing.

"GET UP YA SONOFABITCH!" Daryl howled, frantically working on his brother's body. Merle couldn't die, not like this. Not now. Seconds ticked away like hours to him as he wailed on his brother's chest.

"HANNAH WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" He screamed before she came rushing in, slopping a bucket full of cold water everywhere. She splashed it onto Merle, the fear screaming from her eyes.

"Daryl, it's not working! Get him into the shower!" She said but her voice sounded so far away. Daryl felt like he was dreaming as Hannah and himself dragged his unconscious brother into the bathroom. He could see the color draining from Hannah's face as she hopefully watched Merle being soaked in the freezing shower. They were both drenched and Daryl's heart fluttered into his throat as his brother stirred.

"The hell, Daryl!" Merle mumbled, swatting away something they couldn't see. Daryl's panic slipped to relief and then to anger. But he wouldn't let the anger show. It was between Merle and himself and he'd be damned if he was letting the whole camp in on their lives. He ignored his brother's ramblings as himself and Hannah drug Merle back to his bed. Rick was pacing and Daryl could hear him whispering frantically to Shane before they walked in. They weren't stupid men, they knew what had just happened and Daryl was prepared to defend Merle until he was blue in the face. Junkie or not, Merle was the only family Daryl had left and he'd take his chances with that. Before Hannah, Daryl hadn't trusted a single soul in the world besides his brother. The room was humming with tension and Daryl watched as Hannah stripped off Merle's wet clothes and lay a blanket over him. She checked his pulse and his breathing quietly.

"He should be okay, but I really think we should sleep in here tonight. Just in case." She said softly, taking his hand in hers. Hannah was eyeing Rick down, bracing herself for whatever he was working up the courage to say.

"Daryl. I think we need to talk about your brother." Rick said gently. There it was. Daryl did his best to contain the anger that was boiling in him. The last thing they needed was to get kicked out, especially with Merle the way he was. They wouldn't stand a chance out there.

"He's my brother, Rick." Daryl said, his voice taking a warning tone. Shane puffed his chest out, looking ready to jump to Rick's defense at any second.

"I understand that, I do. But it's just not safe to have him with the group." Rick said, cautiously picking words.

"He's sick, Rick. He needs the group to help him, not leave him." Hannah reasoned and Daryl was surprised how quick she had stepped up to bat for Merle.

"There's children here. My son is here. I can't and won't let him around that. It's dangerous and he could get us all killed." Rick said, finally getting to the real reason he was worried about Merle.

"So you're tellin' me to put my family on the line fer yers? Who the hell do you think you are?" Daryl said, his heartbeat racing. He couldn't care less about Rick, or his family for that matter. Good riddance, let 'em all get eaten for all he gave a fuck. Daryl shot a look to Merle, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest as he slept off the rest of his high. There wasn't a thing in the world he wouldn't do for his brother.

"So you just want me to ditch him along the road like a broken table?" He asked as Hannah forced him to take a step back. She looked like she didn't like the situation any better than him.

"Yeah, pretty much." Shane said, the sneer clear on his face.

"You better watch yer tone, dumbo." Hannah threatened, her temper just as on edge as his. He realized in that second that Merle was just as much her family now as he was Daryl's. Or the closet thing she had to family, at least. But it was something worth fighting for.

"Or what? It ain't my fault you hang around with junkies." Shane said defensively. Before Daryl knew what was going on, the machete that Hannah had in her hand was clattering to the ground and Shane was pressing her up against the wall. Glenn and Lori had run in after the commotion and Hannah pushed Shane off of her in a huff.

"Next time you put yer hands on me boy, I'll feed you to the walkers." She threatened before taking her place next to Daryl and wrapping an arm around him. Rick signaled for Shane to leave and Daryl was tempted to blurt out that Shane and Lori had been fucking. But despite half the shit the dumbass did, Rick was a good man and Daryl knew that. He watched Rick rub his eyes mostly out of exhaustion.

"Look Daryl. I understand that's your brother, and that he's….sick. But if he can't get it together, you're gonna have to choose a side." He said and Daryl could tell that as much as Rick didn't want it to come to that, he had a family of his own to protect. Daryl gave him a polite nod and waited for Rick to leave the room before scooping Hannah into his arms. She didn't say a word as she just wrapped herself up in him. Daryl's mind was reeling with what he needed to do next. It was either get Merle sober enough to stay with the group, or head out on their own. Daryl knew that even in a good scenario, Merle died of an overdose and not by the walkers. So, the only option he had left was the toughest one he would ever have to do. He was going to have to get Merle sober. If that wasn't asking for a miracle, he didn't know what was.

A/N: I'm SOOOOOOO sorry this took me forever to get out! Between my new job and my writer's block, it's been a bitch. Hope you all enjoyed! Reviews would be fantastic! I love you all!