Another story when I'm not done with my other ones? Yup. But this one is complete! It's finished! Yay! (Though there might be a sequel)

Merle's backstory is a bit different in this story. You'll see overtime. He's still an ass but he has good reasons and you know, we love a good guy Merle, even if it is buried really deep down. But this story is more about Daryl and the OC.

Also, there's a comment about the Dixon's bike, it's not the same as the show but that's just because...well, you'll see.

There's a few little and big details that are different from the show. Obviously.

Words: 2,423

Harley Fox had always thought she'd die before seeing the end of the world. But here she is, still alive, still here to see as the dead rise only to eat the living. And to think she thought she'd seen every evil this world has to offer. How wrong she was.

The beginning was full of chaos. Terror, screams, confusion. Harley had almost thought to hold up in her crappy apartment, but she knew better. She'd thrown on some dark cargo pants, a tank top under a t-shirt with her leather jacket and packed a single backpack. Something the military had taught her was how to easily fit a lot of things, things she needs, into a small bag.

She loads her weapons last for easy access if necessary. She straps a single handgun to the holster on the back of her belt, covering it with her loose shirt. A single knife on her waist hidden the same way and one in her boot. A tip given to her by an old friend turned habit a long time ago.

Combat boots securely laced up, Harley strides purposely to her door. She stops when her hand wraps around the handle, her other going to the chain around her neck. She takes a deep breath before exiting the building. It's not like there's anything keeping her here, anyway.

As luck would have it, she just had her bike serviced last week. Only at the thought of her mother's disappointed look does she slide her helmet over her head before setting off.

She takes the highway out of curiosity more than anything. It's a stupid decision but she figures she can maneuver well enough through the cars if she needs to. And she does. Most people are annoyed at her, angry that she's passing by them while they're stuck in their own cars but she pays them no mind.

Eventually, she stops. Most people are out of their cars, talking amongst others, trying to figure out what's happening.

She meets a man, a cop. She asks him about the signal when she hears him listening to the radio but he shakes his head with a sigh. He's traveling with a woman and her son who converse with another couple and their daughter in the car next to them.

Shane and she speak about the situation, but their combined information doesn't give them much to go on. Harley is about to scout ahead some more when it happens. Helicopters fly overhead and her heart sinks. She knows what's coming before it does.

They see the lights first before the distant sounds of explosions reach their ears. Screams sound out around them, some people crying, some gasping. Harley's breath escapes her as she stares at the bombs being dropped over the city.

She's seen war zones, plenty enough for a lifetime, but it's always been somewhere else. She never thought she'd see it in her own home.

After everything on the highway, Shane and Harley manage to get a sizeable group away unharmed. They find an isolated area at a quarry. One side is surrounded by tall stone walls and water and the other a forest. Harley is less happy about that but with the former cop's help, they set up alarms with rope and tin cans. It's not the best, but it'll have to do.

It takes a while to get settled. Some people are reluctant to believe they'll be there for long. They hold out hope that this whole thing will be over soon. Harley leaves Shane to convince them that they need to set up camp for the time being.

A few people trickle in overtime, not many but they do. They're all so...normal. Civilians. Harley can't help but feel that they're all helpless people who just need protection. When the noise and her thoughts become too loud, Harley takes a silenced gun into the woods to hunt. She's not a fool to believe that the food they have will last a while. Hunting isn't just an excuse to get away and clear her head, it's a necessity.

Hunting was something Harley never saw herself doing as a child. But as life would have it, that changed. Now it's something she quite enjoys. In some situations. She never likes taking an animal's life, doesn't enjoy it, but she understands that it needs to be done. She knows she won't lose any sleep over something as simple as the lives of a few animals.

At the end of the day, after she finally decides to head back to camp, Harley has six squirrels thrown over her shoulder. It's not a lot for the number of people they have, but it'll do for now. She can worry about more tomorrow.

With her head down, Harley drops her kills next to a log with the plan to skin and gut them. She's even worse at that than hunting but if she doesn't do it, who will?

After dropping her stuff off at her tent, Harley looks up only to freeze when she sees a face she never thought she'd see again. It takes a moment for the shock to leave her system before she can bring herself to speak.

"Dixon?" Two men turn at the sound of her voice. Harley's eyes are only on one, the one she knows. She doesn't recognize the other man but she somehow knows exactly who he is. "Merle Dixon?"

The large man lets out a loud guffaw when he sees her. His arms spread out at his sides while his lips form a large grin on his aging face. "Well, I'll be damned," He says, no caution to how loud his voice becomes. "I must be seein' things! Is that really you, Fox? C'mere, kid."

"Not a kid, Merle," Harley gives an exasperated sigh but she smiles at the older man and moves towards him. They both stop a few feet from one another and lift their arms at the same time. Both with strong holds, they grab onto the other's forearms and shake them slightly. "You got old. And even more ugly. Didn't think that was possible."

"Ha," Merle snorts and scoffs at the same time, tightening his hold a moment before releasing Harley's arm. "I sure did miss that mouth of yours, little Fox," Harley rolls her eyes at his tone while Merle looks over his shoulder. "Get over 'ere little brother, there's someone I want ya to meet."

"This," Merle starts again when Daryl reaches his side, the younger Dixon's eyes switching curiously between the woman and his brother. "Is Harley Fox," He announces her name like she's someone famous and she shakes her head at him. "The best damn combat medic you'll ever meet."

"What, you two served together?" Daryl finally speaks, his confusion lessening but not his surprise. Harley isn't sure what to think about that.

"For a short while," She answers vaguely. Neither she nor Merle elaborates anymore on the subject. "I saved his life a few times."

"That's not how I remember it," Merle starts but Harley cuts him off.

"Well, you've hit your head far too many times for me, or anyone, to trust your memory," She shoots back but her lips are still turned up into a small smile. "How's the arm, anyway?" As an answer, Merle twists his left arm towards her, showing the long, ragged scar down the back of it. "Oh, look at that," Harley mumbles and leans in to get a closer look.

"Not very pretty," Merle turns straight again with a fake pout. Harley rolls her eyes once again.

"I was more focused on keeping you from bleeding out," She reminds him. "Not like it matters, nothing can distract from that face of yours." Grumbling, Merle reaches up to ruffle her hair and pushes her head to the side. "Please tell me you have more sense than your brother." Harley directs her words at Daryl and she thinks she sees his lips twitch up.

"I'm not gonna stand here if you're just gonna insult me," Merle announces, his hands rising from his sides as if he's going to turn away, but Harley stops him.

"No, I'm sorry," She chuckles. "I'm sorry. It-it's really good to see you again. And it's good to meet you," She once again turns to Daryl. "I've heard many things. Mostly good, I promise."

"She's lyin," Merle says to his brother. "I only told her the bad shit."

"Stop," Harley lightly smacks his arm and Merle hops away from her with a laugh. Daryl observes the whole scene with an unreadable look on his face. It annoys Harley, she prides herself on being able to read people, but she can't seem to read him.

"That your bike?" Merle gestures to the motorcycle parked next to his own and Harley nods, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yeah, told you I was gonna get one,"

"That you did," Merle nods approvingly. "Still think you shoulda got a Harley."

"Didn't want you to think I was copying you," She says, smiling at him. Daryl stands on her other side now, also looking over at her preferred mode of Transportation. He's not much of a talker, not compared to his brother, at least. That's pretty much all Harley has been able to figure out about him so far. "Besides, mines faster."

"You willing to bet on that, little lady?"

"I am," Harley responds confidently.

"Let's go look at this," Merle starts towards the bikes and Harley follows. She notices quickly that Daryl doesn't but makes no comment. "This is a fine piece of machinery." The older man nods while throwing his leg over the bike and grabbing onto the handlebars.

"Yeah, don't get too comfortable," Harley warns. "You've got your own."

Merle chuckles, the sound deep but when he sits back onto the bike, he turns serious. Or, serious for him. "How you been?" He questions, his eyes looking around before finally landing on her.

"I'm good," Harley nods after a moment, her lips pursing. "Some days more so than others." She adds honestly. "You know."

"Yeah, I know," Merle sighs with a small nod of his own. "What happened? After I left?" He ventures to ask. If you could ever get whiplash from a person's change in behavior or mood, Harley has no doubt Merle would be that person.

"They transferred me to another unit," She informs him while shifting her stance. She bites the inside of her cheek and lowers her eyes. "That was a shitty thing that happened," She tells him. She hadn't gotten the chance to, all those years ago. "It wasn't fair, what they did to you."

"Eh, life ain't fair, Fox, you know that," He says, a more forced smile on his lips.

"I do know," She mumbles. "I never thanked you, for what you did. But I am grateful."

"Hm," Merle bites his lip, almost looking uncomfortable. But it's gone a moment later, replaced by that cocky smile of his. "They ever say how many teeth he lost?"

"Five," Harley happily informs him. She crosses her arms back over her chest and leans back o her heels. "Knocked clean out. Except one, got stuck in his lip."

"Well, damn," Merle slaps his knee, looking proud. The two speak for a little while longer before Merle wanders off somewhere. Harley turns and catches Daryl's eye. He still has that look on his face. He almost looks...confused. Harley smiles and waves to him and he nods back before turning away.

Sighing loudly, Harley wipes her sweaty palms onto her pants before going back to where she'd dropped those squirrels.

The fire crackling and the sound of bug is the only noise that fills the silence. The moon and stars shine down, providing little light over the sleeping camp. The Dixon brothers sit across from each other in silence. Until one of them breaks it.

"Who is she?" Daryl finally asks, nodding towards the tent Harley entered not that long ago. He's been curious since the moment he saw her approaching them after calling out his brother's name. He knew he'd never seen her before, never heard Merle mention her either. Then he learns they served together. It was a surprise because Merle never talks about those days.

Merle seems to think about the questions a bit before answering, his eyes shifting away from the tent and back to the fire. "She's a good kid," He mutters. "Deserves better than she got."

Humming, Daryl looks away from his brother and back to that tent. He's still confused. He hasn't seen Merle act this way since...in a really long time. It's weird, almost like he's a different person.

He doesn't know what to make of Harley. He was surprised to learn she was in the military; he didn't realize you could be that small and serve. She smiles a lot; he knows that for sure. Though earlier when he saw her skinning those squirrels, blood covering her hands, she'd almost looked menacing. Her face had been completely blank, no sign of her earlier smile, her eyes filled with something he couldn't quite place.

Daryl shakes his head to himself. He doesn't know why he cares, he's even more confused as to why his brother seems to care. It's just been them for a while now, Daryl didn't know Merle was capable of feeling anything for anyone else. But this girl, this woman, it's like she's brought out another part of him that Daryl thought died a long time ago.

"Best get some rest, baby brother," Merle's voice pulls Daryl from his thoughts and the younger Dixon looks to him, but Merle continues to stare into the fire. "Got a long few days ahead of us."

Nodding, Daryl hesitates before pushing himself to his feet and turning into his own tent for the night.

First thoughts?

I love this story so much! It gets much better every chapter, I promise.

I'll probably try to update every day or every other day. It depends on the response I get.

'-'