A/N: All rights go to AMC The Walking Dead, only Original Characters are mine! Please also feel free to offer any feedback, as it is much appreciated!

"Well, where do you think you're going sugar-tits?"

I stared at the two men, scared, taking them in. I needed to come up with a plan as quickly as possible. The one on the left was shorter, younger, dirty darker skin, like he had been outside for a good long while, a lot like me and Jackson, his hair was dark, short against his head, but long enough to be able to grab it if I needed to, whilst 5 o'clock shadow was making an appearance on his lower face. Clean clothes, and he seemed like someone you could reason with, the other man on the other hand.

The older one was different, boorish but also trying to come off as playful, his eyes sunken in his head a little, like he's seen a lot. His hair was a lot like the others, except it was more greyish, brown littering his scalp in streaks rather than chunks. He also had a beard, but it was more prominent, unkept, he preferred the facial hair over the feeling of smooth skin. This man seemed to be harder to reason with, especially with his flirtatious remarks. I couldn't help but notice that despite the fact he also looked like he was dirty, his clothes were perfectly clean, save for a few blotches of old blood on some parts.

I couldn't get away from them so easily. If I tried to run, I'd easily get caught, I wouldn't be as fast as I usually would, especially with this bad wrist.

"Yoo-hoo," The older one spoke again and my eyes caught his, staring into the deep, almost black eyes, which did not instil confidence in my ability to get away. "Well hello there, doll," He grinned, flashing his teeth at me, to which I just pulled a face, not liking the way he spoke to me.

Shifting my weight, I noticed that the younger reached for his hip, and it suddenly dawned on me, they both had guns strapped to their hips. Now I know why Jackson wanted guns... I slowly let off a breath, one I hadn't even realised I was holding as I took a step back, eying up the guns.

"Do you speak?" The boorish one just chuckled to himself, speaking slowly, "Or you one of those mongrels," My jaw almost dropped as I heard that, faintly aware of the other guy giving the racist a look of disgust.

"I speak," I let myself sound angry, casting my eyes behind them and noticed Jackson with his finger to his lips. The idea that this racist was gonna call me a mongrel pissed me off more. A sly smile toyed with the edges of my lips and I hoped Jackson could pull off what he wanted to do as I distracted them. "Just not to pricks who try to run me over!"

"Look that was-"

The youngest was cut off by the old man beside him, who straightened up and laughed, "Look I'm sorry about that sugar, didn't realise you weren't one of the biters," My head felt like it was spinning, and I hoped that I could push through it to continue to help Jackson with his plan, secretly watching him get closer.

"Well I ain't one of them, and you tried to run me over, great first impression, old man." It slipped out before I could stop, I didn't want to insult him more than a few name callings, but calling him an old man might tick him off and that's the last thing I wanted to do.

"Dixon," He chuckled, taking a step closer which I mirrored by stepping back, "Merle Dixon, no need to call me old man," I scowled a little, watching their every move, "This is Martinez." I nodded at Martinez, the younger one, before looking back to Dixon, trying to keep a distance between us. "So what's your name, doll?"

"None of your business, I just want to get my car," I told him, wincing as I almost gestured behind me with my wrong wrist. "Then me and my family are gone, this place is yours!" Calling out to him, I realised Jackson was a lot closer, and before any of us could react, Jackson had grabbed Martinez's gun and had knocked him over the head with it, aiming it over at Merle, who turned to hear the yelp of his comrade.

I could feel myself swaying, watching the stand off between Merle and Jackson. "Don't move, Dixon," Jackson warned him, gesturing for me to come over, so I did, taking a wide berth around them before standing behind him. "Give us your weapon," He snarled, gesturing to Merle's gun as I headed for the truck, looking inside it.

There were more weapons inside, and I realised we wouldn't have to rob them fully, we just needed a weapon and some ammo and we would be good, not to mention I doubt any of us knew how to use one of them. I knew for a fact I didn't.

I opened the vehicle door, hearing Merle muttering and trying to talk him down, wanting to talk this out. "We ain't gonna hurt you folks, we wanted to check you're both okay, I did almost run her over." Jackson stayed silent, not answering his question but I knew it was on his mind.

A community would be a good place to go, maybe the Military had one that was still standing, but after what my father said, I doubt we wanted to go to one. Well, I didn't at least. Trying to focus on what I was doing, I searched the vehicle from the driver's seat, my head spinning again whenever I sent a sharp pain through my hand. I really needed to bandage this up soon.

"We have a place called Woodbury," Merle tried to explain again, "Run by survivors, no military, it's a simple place and everyone works together to get things done." He really was trying to sell it, if it wasn't a real place, I had to give him props for trying so hard.

Suddenly, without warning, I had to stop what I was doing and turn around in the seat, aiming for the open window when I finally threw up, and pain was all I could feel. "Mads?!" Jackson called to me, even Merle had stopped what he was doing to glance over.

I sat back, my breathing heavy but my vision was going, fading in and out, but I had realised it too late before I fell to the side, everything fading to black.

A shrill horn suddenly began to blare from the dirty deep blue truck, as Jackson and Merle realised that they were in trouble. She had fallen onto the horn. "Get her off that horn!" Merle called to her friend, unsure what his name even was. Right now they weren't enemies anymore, just a group of people who were trying to survive, and that horn would not help.

Jackson ran over, dropping the gun and grabbing Maddie before pulling her out of the truck, already starting to hear the grumbling of the dead. "We gotta go!" He called out to Martinez and Dixon, lifting his smaller friend into his arms, not giving a shit right now.

"We need to go further in!" Martinez chimed in, Merle helping him to his feet before they glanced around, suddenly realising just how many of the undead there actually was. "Where the hell they comin' from?!" He tried to fumble for the keys to the truck, rushing for the door, looking disgusted at the puddle of puke that was sitting just right outside.

Jackson looked around too, cradling the unconscious woman in his arms, "They were in the building!" He had been careful when he had been in the dealership, it had been littered with the undead, that's why he wasn't there very long. Martinez jumped into the front and attempted to start the ignition to the truck.

Merle knew it wasn't going to work, the truck had been temperamental before this, and just as he was thinking it, the engine just spluttered, refusing to start up. "Get your ass out the truck, it won't start!" He scowled, voicing his concern to his friend, realising just how close the biters were and that there was no way they could fight through them.

"We head for the estate, where we met the girl!" He called to them and he watched the man carry the girl in that direction, running away from the walkers that were less than five meters behind him.

Martinez helped Merle grab what he could before they had to abandon the truck, following their new companion down the path and up towards the estate they had been originally heading to before they met them.

"Just keep going!"

It was a strange sensation, one that filled my whole body as I slowly began to come back to the land of the living. I knew there was something soft between me and the floor, so everything must be okay. "Jackson..?" I called to him, my voice hoarse as I slowly attempted to open my eyes, but I was almost immediately filled with panic as something wrapped itself around my mouth.

"Shh, sugar."

The quiet voice was familiar, it was the sound of Merle, and he was holding my mouth. I panicked, trying to fight him off, but whimpered as I twinged my wrist again, and I went still, looking up at Merle, who had his finger to his lips.

That was when I realised the other noises I was hearing, a large group of the undead must have been close by. After processing all this information, I used my good arm to shove him off of me, and slowly sat up, my head pounding and throat felt rough.

God, I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

Realisation dawned on me and I almost just began to laugh, covering my mouth as I felt the irony of the whole situation before I remembered what was going on around me, and scoured the room for Jackson. I noted where he was, standing by the window, the curtain closed but he was peering out through the side of it, a slight beam of light covering the one side of his face as he tried not to let anymore light in but still see out of it.

We were huddled together, and god knows why, but we were here, and I knew that we must have made amends, not that I was happy about it anyway, they did try to hit me with their truck. It felt like forever before the air seemed to clear and the tension that could've been cut with a knife, had dissipated, leaving just the two groups of strangers together, a situation I wished we could've avoided.

"Well..." Merle chuckled, trying to break the silence, "Thanks for the assist," It was a general statement as he attempted to scoot me over so he could sit beside me, which I allowed, watching as he spread himself out with his arms on the back of the couch we were sat on. I pulled a face, feeling a little disgusted that he was right beside me and went to get up, making a noise as pain shot through me again, this caused everyone to look at me.

"Don't look at me like that," I snarled at the two strangers, not liking that they appeared concerned, "If it wasn't for you I'd be fine!" I got up and walked closer to Jackson, wanting the comfort of a friend right now and not the strangers.

"Merle, just apologise." Martinez told him and Merle just rolled his eyes, shaking his head. Martinez sighed and threw his hands up into the air, and shook his head, turning to me and Jackson. "If he isn't, I can tell you that I am," I watched the younger man who seemed really apologetic walk closer to me. "I am very sorry that we almost ran you over, I told him repeatedly that you weren't one of the dead," He paused for a moment and extended his hand.

"I'm really sorry we scared you. My name is Caesar Martinez, but everyone calls me Martinez." Jackson took his hand, introducing himself, and I decided to bury the hatchet too and follow suit.

"Maddie Turner," I told him, glaring over to Merle as I shook the hand of his friend, "Are you going to apologise?" Asking the man who had been the reason in the first place, he just eyed me up, licking his lips.

"I wouldn't usually apologise," He started, getting to his feet and walking over. He was taller than me, by a good few inches, and now that I looked he was definitely in good shape considering he was older than me by what felt like 20 years at least, "But, seeing as I was the reason for this whole ordeal, I will," He extended his hand out to me, and I just stared at him, realising that the eyes I had once classed as dark were actually a deep greyish blue. "Pleasure to meet you, Sugar-tits."

I scowled and rolled my eyes, taking his hand in mine and giving it a shake, but not giving him the pleasure of hearing me say something back to him. "So, what happened?" I pulled away and headed for the middle of the room, not liking to be crowded by people, let alone those two.

Everyone just stayed silent, glancing between them, and I frowned, faintly remembering that I wasn't well before everything went black. "Jackson, what happened?" I wanted answers, especially if I was being kept in the dark, I hated it, not to mention that it was giving me some anxiety, even though I knew we were all here. "Look someone better fucking answer me!" My voice began to raise and I was starting to feel the anxiety hit me harder.

"You passed out, doll." Merle's southern drawl made me look at him, and I frowned, feeling a lump in my throat, wracking my brain to figure why me passing out would cause this, and after a few minutes of silence, with the gears turning in my head, I realised.

"I hit the horn didn't I?"

They nodded, keeping their heads down and I sighed feeling like the biggest prick in the world, so I walked away, heading into the next room, and up to the sink, seeing that I was in the kitchen. "Good going, Mads." I scolded myself, running the tap to see if any water was going to come out at all. Sometimes these older houses were connected to a different system to the rest of the City.

"Don't blame yourself," Jackson walked up behind me, seeing me playing with the sink, "You had every reason to pass out, your wrist is broken." I sighed, not wanting him to attempt to comfort me, I knew I could deal with more pain than that, and now I had two more people to watch myself around, so I didn't seem weak.

"Are they staying?" I changed the subject and instead turned to the oven, checking to see whether it was attached to anything with propane, something that we could use, but still refusing to even look back at him.

"Yeah, I actually think we should see about what their Community is about..." Jackson trailed off, and I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath, deciding that I at least needed to listen to his point of view.

"It would be good for us both," He explained as I turned to face him, leaning against the counter behind me. "We would have walls protecting us, we have guards and we wouldn't have to worry about sleeping and having the dead attack us again." I flinched at the memory, trying to swallow the guilt that I still held for that day. Where I couldn't save anyone there, not my father, not Bella, and definitely not her baby.

"If you think it's a good idea, I will do it." I told him, not wanting to argue, I just wanted to be around him and If I could, then I would be happy. He was right, not that I would ever tell him that, but he was definitely right about this possibly being a good thing for us.

Jackson seemed relieved and came closer, pulling me into a gentle embrace. I melted into it, needing to feel something around me, so I held him back, careful of my other wrist as I buried my head in his chest.

"Sorry to interrupt," It was Martinez this time, which I was happy for, I wasn't sure how much I could deal with Merle right now, he was brash and had a vile tongue regarding women, which I really disliked. "We left our supplies in the truck, but it's dark now and we don't want to risk the journey back," I smiled and pulled away from Jackson, before I looked for my bag.

"I found some food when we were at the store," I told him and Jackson, heading for the living space where Merle was by the window, looking out of it. After a moment, I tore my eyes away from Merle and headed over, grabbing my bag from behind him, feeling his eyes on me before I went to the couch and sat down, opening it with difficulty before searching through.

It was a basic survival kit, a blanket, some food, two bottles of water, a can opener and a few medical supplies littered around too. It was the best we could do. My stomach rumbled, giving me some grief that I hadn't eaten nearly all day, but I pulled out some cans of soup, holding them out for Merle and Martinez, letting them take the food from me.

"It's not much but it will do," I nodded, smiling weakly as I sat back, seeing Jackson as he sat on the arm of the chair beside me, his bag also in his hands with what he could find from it. With only a few cans of dog food left in my bag, I spoke softly with Jackson, wondering what he had, to which all he could hold up for me was a can of beans and a few bags of rice.

"You have the beans," I smiled, wanting him to have something better to eat than a can of dog food. "I'll have what I got left in the bag," Trying to hide the fact that it was dog food, I reached into the bag and tore off the label, and opened it up, offering the can opener to the others.

The food smelt disgusting, but I braved it, smiling at everyone as we all sat in silence and ate what food we had. I knew what I wanted to do tomorrow, and that was to search the houses nearby for any food. It was the least we could do if the others were taking us back to their home.

"So, you guys haven't had a camp at all?" Martinez broke the silence and I glanced over at Jackson before we shook our heads. Merle caught my eye, watching me as he ate his food, I could feel his eyes drinking me in, trailing down my body and a shiver went through my spine. Not a nice feeling.

"Not really," I piped up, looking away from Merle and back to his friend, "We met up by Atlanta less than two months in, I was alone before that," I chuckled a little looking down, "I hid from the Military," My partial smile left and I remembered the Hospital when the whole thing started.

"What about you, Jackson?" Merle asked him, leaning back now as he just watched us both with a quizzical look. "Where were you?"

"I had left my family, they had turned so I just gathered what I could and headed off, ended up meeting Mads here, in Atlanta. Almost killed us both." He laughed and I rolled my eyes, smiling again.

"We blamed each other, when in fact it wasn't our fault," I informed them both, chuckling a little along with him, "We were there for a good week or so, just gathering supplies, but some asshole decided to use a bright red sports car and blast the car alarm throughout the whole place."

Merle's face fell and he seemed somewhere else for a moment, but I had caught it, and I knew the look, it was the look of panic. "You were there weren't you?" I asked him, bringing him back to us as I spoke.

"Yeah, it was the day I was abandoned by my group, they left me, the biters everywhere," My heart bled for him, and I felt so bad. I knew the feeling of being abandoned, and it wasn't a brilliant feeling. "Martinez found me, and after a while he brought me to Woodbury and that's where I've been since." Merle finished, trying to bring the whole thing onto a good note.

"What is it like?" It was a simple question, I wanted to know what it was like so I could determine if I wanted to stay there. I knew I could do this when I got there, but I wanted to have some kind of idea before getting there. "What's Woodbury like?"

We spent hours just talking about the home they had made for themselves, and their leader, The Governor, who seemed to really know what he was doing when it came to running places, probably a leader before the apocalypse.

The night began to settle in, and we were all situated together on the floor of the living room, a couch we had moved, unceremoniously strewed out in front of the door that led in and out. We were happy with it being there, as there was no backdoor for anything to sneak up on us.

"You should get some sleep," Merle grumbled, shifting a bit as he tried to get comfy. "I'll keep watch." Before anyone could argue, he got up to go to the bedroom, leaving us all to discuss it with each other. Despite the fact I didn't like him very much, it was kind of him to offer that, so after a quick discussion, we agreed, not knowing what the night had in store.

"I'll get him to wake me up halfway and we can swap out," Jackson offered, cutting Martinez off before he could offer instead. Letting them discuss it between them, I clambered to my feet, grabbing the blanket out my bag and following Merle to the bedroom, knocking on the door after I heard him shuffling.

"Dixon?"

Calling through the door, I waited patiently for him to finish what he was doing and answer. "What?" He snarled and opened it, leaving me to stare at him, his jacket had been removed and left him wearing just a white tank top, which he was pulling down.

"I... uh.." I didn't appreciate the way he sounded so I just shoved the blanket into his chest, making him grab it as I let go before I walked away from him, heading back to the rest of the group, but he stopped me almost as quickly as he grabbed the blanket.

"Doll,"

Pulling my arm free, I turned and glared at him, feeling pissed. "No, last time I do something nice to you if you're gonna be rude to me, understood?" I stayed firm with him, poking my finger into his chest as I stared him in the eyes. "You stop treating me like I am beneath you, do you hear me Dixon?"

Merle stayed silent and I walked back to the living room, leaving him stunned as I sat down by Jackson again and let off a breath, grabbing the cushion I had been using as a backrest and dusting it off once again before lying on the floor.

"I'm gonna get some sleep, night." I spoke to them all, closing my eyes and hearing Merle come back into the room and the soft sounds of a couch cushion flattening, signalling to me that Merle had sat down.

"Merle, I'm swapping out with you halfway, alright?" Jackson told him, and Merle grunted in response, his eyes boring holes in me, which I could feel them searching my body. I wouldn't let an ill-tempered man get to me, not now, and not ever.

No matter how hard he annoyed me.