Nothin' or Somethin'

Chapter 3- Hallmark Moment

Sometimes I wonder how the hell I'm still alive. I mean come on, before the "awakening" of the dead heads I was just trying to prove that I wasn't nothing while working as a waitress at a bar to pay for rent and College. Sure it was on the wrong side of town but that was because the pay was triple what it was in better parts of the city and not because I was some badass who wasn't at risk anytime I walked through the doors. I was just a stubborn girl who could sort of handle themselves and was decent enough friends with the bartender and bouncer that if things did get physical they'd help out. But I guess I did sort of become a badass after the "awakening" since I did survive on my own in the now dead city for sixty-one days and then befriended and earned the respect of the badass one-handed redneck Merle Dixon.

Then again Officer Friendly and, possibly the last Asian left alive, Glenn almost did get Merle and I killed only seconds after meeting or in his case re-meeting them and I'm going to have a scar on my leg to prove it when the bullet wound heals. And being shot fucking hurts by the way. Then the Old Man isn't any better, especially with him drinking in a dead town's bar and following the orders of one Mr. Officer Friendly. It's bad enough that the dead is walking around and eating the living and that I've had to deal with Merle and his well, Merle-ness, for the last few days. At least I sort of liked Merle's company, not that I'd tell him that, and that he actually listened to what I said, I mean not all the time but at least when it mattered. Seriously, who the hell in their right mind thinks it's a good idea to shoot two people in a bar, at dusk, and with deadheads and probably the rest of their group out and about?

I'm so not looking forward to meeting the rest of the group who cuffed Merle to a roof and left him there, regardless of the fact that he deserved to be cuffed there for a few minutes while coming down from his high and after getting into a fist fight with one of them. Then again this isn't counting the shit show that was going to happen if Merle's brother wasn't in said group anymore. Though who knows if he ditched them long ago or if they got him killed already. But I only know what Merle has told me, so who knows.

At least it seems that Merle's "need" for revenge against Rick was on the back-burner as he was currently sitting calmly with me in the back of the car. Or maybe they hashed it out while holding off the other group. Though the thought has crossed my mind that I should've just let him beat him and Glenn to death. At this point thought I'd settle with just getting out of the car as the kid, who informed us, when we stopped to cauterize his wound, blindfold him, and tend to my leg, that his name was Randall, groaned in pain anytime we hit a bump. And I mean every time, not just the bad ones either, even the small ones elicited a half yelp and groan. It's bad enough that I'm stuck in the back of the car with Merle, that I'm desperately in need of a shower now, that I was going on almost a day of no sleep, and since the bullet is still in my leg, I'm under strict orders from Hershel not to put pressure on my leg or basically move it. All because it doesn't seem to have hit anything important in its current location and putting pressure on it or moving it could move the bullet to a place neither I nor Hershel want it to be when it comes time to get it out. So I don't need to hear groaning every time the car moves as Merle wasn't even that bad and he cut off his own hand, cauterized the stump, and made it however far he did before collapsing.

Unfortunately it wasn't until it was already morning when we got to the farm and as soon as the car stopped near the house it was essentially swarmed by people. Rick gets out and is hugged by a small boy and a skinny brunette, who must be his family as the boy had yelled "Dad". I frown at how "Hallmark" it was and when I looked at Merle I knew the feeling was mutual. Sure both of us probably had the remaining members of our families here but ours thought we were dead and would probably have the same reaction as Hershel, disbelieve and anger that we didn't come back sooner, and neither of us were the let our soft side show type of person. Though that didn't mean I didn't chuckle seeing Maggie run up and bypass Hershel to hug Glenn. Who would've thought that my sister would've found herself a boyfriend after the world ended? Then again she never really had trouble finding one before the world ended.

"Patricia, prepare the shed for surgery. Glenn, let them out." Hershel says when he walks away as Glenn shrugs out of Maggie's hold causing almost everyone to draw their attention to the car. "Who the hell are they?!" a male voice voices what everyone was probably thinking so Glenn motions to Randall answering "That's Randall." As he comes around to the back and opens it for us to get out adding "Merle found us and she's Nai…Nai Greene." This causes Maggie who was following him with her eyes instead of looking in the car to run to the back breathing out "Oh my God." As a voice similar to Merle's growls "What the hell did ya just say Chinaman?" while other voices whisper different versions of Glenn's reaction to seeing Merle again. "Merle's back." Glenn says as Maggie screams at me "We thought you were dead! Where were you?!" and Merle climbs out of the car. "I was trapped in Atlanta." I answer before scoffing "Ya'd think my own family would've had more faith in me." As a rugged man, who was arguably attractive and held a resemblance to Merle, with a crossbow appeared next to Glenn looking at Merle like he was looking at a ghost. Merle softly chuckles at my words before greeting "Hey there baby brother." As he turns and scoops me up again while Maggie screeches "What were we supposed to think?! Why is he carrying you?!" blocking his path from carrying me to the house. "Well, my dear sister, since we've been together since we ran into each other in the city and I got shot while saving your boyfriend's skin he insists on carrying me. I am under orders from Dad not to move my leg until he gets the blasted bullet out after all." I answer placing an arm around Merle's neck and then patting my wound, knowing she was probably going to get the wrong idea no matter what I said so I played it to the extreme. This of course causes her to freeze, blush, and breathe out "Together? Boyfriend?" and Merle to look away from his still stunned brother and down at me with a smirk obviously wanting to play up her misunderstanding. I give him a 'No.' Look as I point towards the house saying "Just go that way before she snaps out of it."

He huffs but listens only for us to get stopped yet again by someone blocking the path. This time by Daryl who was now out of his shock and angrily says "We thought you were dead man but you were just getting some ass." While not even once looking in my direction. Before I can say anything Merle snaps "Ya best watch yer mouth baby brother! Nai ain't just some piece of ass! Ya'll show her some respect!" A collective gasp was heard then as everyone else got a look of shock and looked between the three of us while Daryl's face changes from annoyed anger to actual anger as he looks between the two of us. This was probably the first time that Merle had defended someone, let alone a woman, against him. I admit I felt kind of bad that I was the reason Merle was looking at and treating his own brother how he was but at the same time I wanted to make Daryl suffer a little for basically calling me a slut. But before it could escalate any more Hershel decided to call "Although I appreciate you defending my daughter it's time to get the bullet out of her leg." In response Merle huffs before giving Daryl one last warning look before walking past him and sending a glare at the other who had yet to stop staring at us as he walked towards Hershel who was waiting in the doorway.

Merle follows Hershel inside and up the stairs with a grumble under his breath while the door slammed shut behind us, meaning we weren't followed. "I'm not that heavy." I state which causes Merle to grunt out "Heavy enough." "I think yer out of shape Dixon. Besides yer the one who insisted on carrying me." I state causing him to growl "Whatever." I roll my eyes at him as he steps into my room before Hershel tells him "Just set her down and head outside." Merle sets me down on the bed but doesn't leave causing Hershel to look at him and go to tell him to leave again only for him to say "I ain't leavin' her." While looking at me with an 'I'm staying.' look. So I sigh out an "It's fine. He isn't gonna leave no matter how many times ya or I tell him." It seems that in the thirteen days that I've known him Merle's become annoyingly protective. Then again neither of us would be alive if it wasn't for the other so I guess it was his way of repaying me.

Hershel sighs and nods at Patricia, when she walks in, so she comes over and, as gently as possible, slides off my pants after Hershel unwrapped the binding. "Th-"Hershel starts to say but I cut him off with a "I know. Let's just get this over with." He sighs before grabbing the tweezers and after Patricia had the tourniquet in place went for the bullet. "Mom, Shawn, Beth, and Otis?" I ask then trying to block out the pain causing Patricia to explain "Annette, Shawn, and Otis are dead while Beth is in some sort of state of shock." "When?" I breathe out so she gives me a comforting smile as she says "Annette and Shawn not long after it started. Otis when getting medical equipment to save Rick's son's life after a hunting accident." "Hunting accident?" I question holding a hand up to Merle before he could comment as Hershel get the bullet out and drops it in the metal pan so she answers "Otis didn't see him standing behind a deer. The bullet broke up through the deer and hit Carl." "I see." I bite out watching as Hershel cleans the wound and the area around it. "We're lucky. It missed the arteries and didn't hit the bone. You should be able to walk normally in a few days." Hershel says then wrapping gauze around my leg causing Merle to growl "She still got shot." "True, but she's not dead or permanently disabled because of it. I'm grateful for that as should you." Hershel tells him wiping his hands with a washcloth which causes Merle to huff, grumble something under his breath, and suddenly become interested in the books on the bookshelf instead.

Hershel looks at me then so I shake my head with a 'ignore him' look. He sighs before looking at Patricia saying "We need to go tend to Randall now." She nods so he looks back at me and tells me "I'm glad you're finally home, Nai." "Me too." I say with a small smile so the two of them return it before Patricia picks up the equipment as Hershel takes the washcloth with him as he walks out. "He always like that?" Patricia whispers to me then motioning to Merle, who was surprisingly looking in/possibly reading The Road. "Worse." I mutter causing her to chuckle and shake her head before saying "By the way, if you want to pay your respects they're buried near the big oak tree." And leaving the room.

The door didn't even have time to shut before Maggie came in pleading "Please tell me you're seriously not dating that guy." "I'm not dating him Mags." I state pulling my pants back on causing her to say "Good. He's more than double your age." "So what? Age is just a number." I state standing up, careful not to put too much weight on my injured leg and giving Merle a 'Don't you dare say anything' look. "Nai, you can't be serious." She breathes out causing me to roll my eyes and tell her "Look, if it wasn't for him I'd be dead or worse and if it wasn't for me he'd be dead. No matter if I'm dating him or not or what anyone says I'm stayin' with him." "And I'm stayin' with her." Merle adds causing me to send him a glare as Maggie huffs and says "Fine. You could have just said that from the beginning, you know? Anyway there's going to be a group meeting in the dinning room in a few minutes." Walking out before I could retort.

Sighing I sit back down on the bed and shake my head at how stupid this has gotten. "So-"Merle starts so I cut him off with a "Don't ya dare." "Come on Peepers. Why not make it official?" He asks smirking with a look of 'You started it' causing me to state "Yer a goddamn child." "But I'm yer goddamn child." He responds chuckling, meaning he was purely just messing with me now, before coming over, offering his flesh hand, and asking "Ready to meet the rest of the fuckers?" "Not really." I say but take his hand anyway and let him pull me up as he chuckles at my response.

Coming down the stairs we see that the group was starting to gather. Merle got a couple of hateful looks from Merle's old group while I just got judging ones when I stand next to Maggie and Merle stands next to me. I roll my eyes and ignore them before I glance and see that Merle's busy giving them a deadly glare in return. It was sort of funny that Merle was the one that knew they weren't the ones who were in charge here or the ones that had the power to kick him out. That would be Hershel, but he wouldn't do that without my permission or if Merle got violent with me, which at this point I highly doubt would happen.

Once everyone, minus Hershel who I assume was finishing up with Randall and Daryl who I assume was pouting at getting scolded by Merle, was gathered Rick starts talking "We couldn't just leave Randall behind. He would've bled out, if he lived that long. We wouldn't have made it back at all if it wasn't for Merle and Nai." That's when Glenn pipes up with "It's gotten bad in town." So I add "Deadheads have taken the town. Bad's an understatement." With a huff of annoyance. "What do we do with him?" The blonde questions, diverting the subject back to Randell, before Hershel joins the group saying "I repaired his calf muscle as best I can, but he'll probably have nerve damage. Won't be on his feet for at least a week." "When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road, send him on his way." Rick says as Daryl silently joins the group as well before the blonde questions "Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?" "He'll have a fighting chance." Rick says as I catch the look the older woman gives Daryl causing me to glance at Merle to see if he caught it too.

He had as he glanced in my direction at the same time with a look that screamed 'are you seeing this?' I gave him a small nod as the bald man says "Just gonna let him go? He knows where we are." This causes Rick to counter "He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat." "Not a threat. How many of them were there? You killed three of their men, you took one of them hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking for him?" The bald man counters causing Rick to respond "They left him for dead. No one is looking." "We should still post a guard." The African American says then so Hershel informs "He's out cold right now, will be for hours." "You know what? I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy." The bald man starts before scoffing as he starts to leave while adding "Look at this, folks! We back in Fantasyland."

"You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet." Hershel states then causing me to stop mid-sigh and fully pay attention to the conversation now while Hershel continues "Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all. This is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor. Keep your mouth shut." After the guy stopped and looked at him. Luckily the guy keeps quiet and just sighs and places his hands on his head and pulls them down as he heads out the door. Whatever he did pissed Hershel off enough that he was willing to kick him out and reinforce the fact that ultimately he was in charge of making decisions on the farm. It seems that our reunion dropped us into a group ready to break.

"Look, we're not gonna do anything about it today. Let's just cool off." Rick says then placing a hand on Hershel's shoulder and with this the group starts to disperse. So much for an introduction. Merle's old group obviously didn't care who I was just that I had come with Merle since they just sent me one of their judging looks as they went past me. "Nai." Hershel says then so I question "Yeah?" while looking at him. "I'd like you to check out Beth too. See what you think and for her to see you." He tells me so I nod before looking at Merle with a 'don't follow me' look. "Why not?" He questions with a smirk, that said he already knew the answer, so I just sigh out a "Ya know why ya big child." And follow Hershel into the spare room where Beth lay on the bed staring at the ceiling.

"Hey, Bethy Boo. I'm finally home." I say going over and taking her hand while Hershel leaves without a word. I assume to leave me alone with her to see if she'll come out of it with me. But she barely blinks or registers that I'm there so I sigh and squeeze her hand a little before I can hear a muffled Maggie ask the question "What's going on with you?" "Your dad saved my life today. And Rick saved us both with the help of your sister and Merle. While I…I froze." Glenn's muffled voice replies causing Maggie's to respond "Well, you were being shot at. Nai even got hit." "No, that…" He starts trailing off so Maggie says "You don't have anything to prove." "All I've done. Then this…okay…it's because of what you said." He responds causing me to raise an eyebrow before both shoot up when Maggie questions "That I love you?" "Yeah. A bullet hit the wall behind me. And I…I thought of you…losing me, hurting. Then Nai got hit and I couldn't take it. So I hid…to stay alive." He says causing her to say a soft "Glenn." But he then says a sort of angry "No, no, no. No, you don't get it. Rick, Merle, your dad…they were counting on me and I...I only thought of myself."

"Well, that was interesting." I sigh out before Hershel comes back into the room so I move so he could check her again. Maggie comes into the room then so I move so she could see Beth too before Hershel looks at her questioning "Has she eaten?" Maggie just shakes her head in response so Hershel says "I'll give her a sedative. Stop her body from working too hard." "You were drinking." Maggie says then in a pained voice only for Hershel to say "That was the least of my worries." "You left and I didn't know what to do!" Maggie cries at him then before looking at me and saying "And you…you come back after weeks of this and with the brother of Daryl Dixon no less." "I know Mags." I tell her with an apologetic smile while Hershel just stays quiet causing me to sigh a "Let's go Mags." As I pause next to her on my way out and place a hand on her shoulder.

She sighs and turns so I pat her shoulder a little as we leave with an "I need a shower." "Yeah. I'm sorry Nai but you really do." Maggie says then with a forced laugh so I say "I know…I'm sorry that I wasn't here for Mom, Shawn, and Otis." "I know if you could have been here you would have been. It's just…" She says trailing off so I nod saying "I know. Merle isn't really one I'd associate with. But like I told ya I'd be dead if it wasn't for him and he'd be if it wasn't for me. And if you hadn't noticed he's now annoyingly protective because of it." "Everyone's noticed Nai and their group isn't happy about it or him being back." She tells me seriously so I nod muttering "I noticed." "I'm really happy you're back and surprisingly happy that you found a friend…Even if it is Merle Dixon. And…" She says seriously trailing off before grinning and chuckling "You really need that shower." Causing me to chuckle "Thanks Mags." "Oh…" She says then trailing off so I look at her and she continues "I should probably tell you what happened here while you were gone."

****Time Skip****

"It's almost like someone wanted all this to happen." I mutter as I stand in front of the four graves in fresh clothes after my shower thinking back on the ball of coincidences that got me here. These graves belonged to Annette, Shawn, Otis, and Sophia, a little girl from Merle's old group. Apparently the whole reason the group stopped was because of a horde that separated her from the rest of the group. Then Otis accidentally shot Rick's son, Carl, and they came to the farm. If it wasn't for that…they would have been long gone by the time Merle and I got here and he probably would have never seen Daryl again. Hell, if I hadn't have decided to start going home that day I would have never met Merle and probably would have never made it back here at all. I also couldn't believe how Hershel had just thought that they were sick and locked them in the barn. He should have known that they were no longer breathing not have to have one shot multiple times in major organs. It would have been a major fight between us if I had come home when he was still having them locked in the barn.

"Nai…I…uh." I hear the voice of Daryl forcefully say, like it was hurting him to do so, from behind me so I turn to look at him saying "Get to the point Dixon." His face morphs into minor rage then as he scoffs "Forget it." Causing me to roll my eyes and start to walk past him only for him to grab my arm harshly, stopping me. "Dammit Dixon. What?" I practically growl looking up at him to see he was looking away from me with a clenched jaw as he muttered something under his breath. Narrowing my eyes I question "What was that?" "I'm sorry." He repeats barely over a whisper causing me to sigh "Don't worry about it. I've been called worse." He doesn't respond to that but lets me go so I roll my eyes again and continue on my way back to the house. It was a little early but I'm going on almost a day of no sleep and now had a bed to sleep in again so I was going to get some sleep. I mean, who knows what this next week will bring us?