Thank you all so much the kind words! I am enjoying writing for Merle :)
I don't own TWD or its characters. OC is my own imagination.
Sam sat in her cell looking at the wall that separated her room from Merle's. She had stopped by to tell him to not bother waking her up if she was dreaming again. Feeling silly for having nightmares she didn't need him babying her. He had sounded pretty pissed off for being interrupted so she left but there was a niggling of worry in her head. She wasn't sure why since he was a grown man but something in his voice bothered her. Sam decided to go see Hershel about a sleeping pill when she saw the tube roll out from under his curtain.
Looking past Merle's insults and anger she saw he was hurting. It was obvious not only because of the first aid paraphernalia but the fact that Merle right arm was conveniently hidden. Sam put two and two together and figured out he was having issues with his amputated limb.
Having taken care of her Grandfather's amputated leg she knew exactly what needed to be done for him. From her experience, even in a modern world it's hard to keep an amputation healthy. Cleaning it and bandaging it was like second nature to her. Sam made a promise to herself to keep track of his care of the wrist. It would be easy to get an infection if he didn't take care of himself. She also decided to speak to Hershel and see if he had anything he was using for his own lost limb.
'He's gotta have somethin'' she thought while picking at her nails.
Closing her eyes she rested her head back on the pillow. The sleeping pill forgotten she took deep slow breathes trying to calm herself. Sam wasn't scared of sleeping; she was scared of waking others up with her hysterics. Sam had no idea how loud she had been the night prior but if it woke Merle it had to have been loud.
The ground was cold cement. It was dark. So dark. Sam kneeled by the metal wall. She could hear others crying. It was echoed and distant. The rattling of chains dragging along the floor and clanging against metal walls sent chills up her spine. Sam opened her eyes wide as she tried to catch a glimpse of anything but it was so dark. Infinitely dark.
Crawling along the floor she felt the edges of the room and soon ended up at a door. Reaching up she turned the knob but nothing happened. It spun and spun but never opened.
Her heart rate was speeding up. The feeling of being trapped, being found made her adrenaline kick up. Sam's eyes were jetting all over but she could still see nothing.
"Fuck." She muttered as her hand felt something wet and sticky on the floor. Rubbing her fingers together she tried to figure out what the substance was. Shuffling closer Sam couldn't help but grope around to find out the source. Deep down she knew it was bad but couldn't stop her search. The sound of footsteps nearing made her freeze. The thumping of her heart beat her ribs bloody. Gasping as the fear spiked throughout her the loud steps stopped just outside her door.
The door was thrown open and light poured into the room, blinding her. Holding her hand up to block the intense beam Sam tried to focus on what was in front of her. His voice slithered toward her, that snake oil salesman, southern gentleman cadence that turned her stomach. The false sincerity covered in regional charm. It raised bile in the back of her throat.
"Glad to have you back, Sweetheart. I see you found my welcome home gift." He drawled. Sam blinked to clear her eyes, the bright light stinging her. Looking at her hands she saw the dark red blood, sticky and slick covering her hands. Glancing down she saw the source. Merle's dead eyes looking up at her. His throat cut. The blood spilling and pooling underneath her. Her knees were deep in it and she slid forward.
"No. no. no. no." she chanted as she tried to hold his throat together. Laughing in the background and her gasping breathes reverberate in the metal room.
"No." she screamed as she held onto the body in front of her.
Sam shot up in bed, her shoulders being shaken.
"Hush girl," Merle rasped, his hands grabbing her shoulder. Sam gasped, her heart felt like it was going to explode. Her eyes were wide as she looked at Merle's concerned face. She couldn't stop herself from clutching at him, her hands gripping his shirt while she buried her face into his chest. Merle was kneeling in front of her bunk stiffly while she grabbed him but eventually he patted her back.
"Hush Sugar. You're fine." he said hoarsely. "Stop the blubberin'."
Sucking in air she squeezed her eyes shut but kept picturing his once piercing blue eyes dead and black, pale skin drained of blood. Shaking her head and clenching her eyes even tighter.
"God." She gasped, "I can't."
Merle pushed her back and sat on the bunk with her, his hand gently holding her bicep. Sam sat there with her face in her hands. Her whole frame was vibrating with adrenaline. Taking in deep breathes like he told her the night before she finally calmed down. Merle sat there with her while she worked through the panic attack. Once she opened her eyes again she saw his worried face.
"Better?" he asked, his brow furrowed as he released her arm. Sam swallowed thickly and nodded. Her tongue wasn't working and she wasn't even sure what she would say if it were.
"Gonna go sleep. Ya gonna hassle me more tonight?" he asked gruffly but she could see the concern in his eyes.
Sam shook her head and looked away. The images and the terror of the dream were still drowning her. Merle stood and left the cell. She didn't look up to see if he glanced back at her. It was taking everything in her power to not grip him as if he'd disappear. The dream rattled her. It was bone chillingly real.
Sitting there for a few moments she took another shaky breath and looked out the cell door into the dark cement room. She could hear the sounds of snoring and people rolling over. Crawling out of bed she pulled on a long sleeved t-shirt and padded quietly out of her room. Walking down the metal steps she made her way to the bathrooms. She needed to get away from everyone and reel in her emotions. Using a little flashlight she made her way into the cavernous tiled room and used the bathroom. Once finished she sat on the benches near the shower stalls. Scrubbing her face she sighed and then rested her elbows on her knees, tears dripping off her face to the cold floor below her. The dream still causing ripples of tension through her body and shivers down her back. Taking in deep breathes she felt her eyes burning. The visual of Merle dead eyes kept flashing behind her eyelids making her heart clench. Sam rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands and let out another shaky breath.
She sat up and stared at the dark room. The moonlight coming through the tiny barred windows was the only light but it was nowhere near as dark as the dream. That darkness had been so complete, all encompassing. Sniffing loudly and wiping her nose on her sleeve Sam stood up on shaky limbs.
Shuffling out of the bathroom Sam opened the door and was greeted with Merle leaning against the wall. "Jesus fuck Merle," she gasped in surprise, her hand clutching her chest.
"Well Sugar no need to use my formal name." he drawled and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Ya good?"
Sam shook her head and swallowed, "I didn't mean to wake you."
"Ya well ya did. I'm here, now what?" he rasped his voice feigning irritation.
"Nothing. I just. Nevermind. I'm ok." She muttered and moved toward the cellblock. Merle grabbed her elbow. "Stop." He said firmly.
Sam sighed and chewed her lip. "Just a bad dream. I'm sorry."
"Ya gonna talk 'bout it?" he asked his voice gravelly from sleep. Sam shook her head and looked away. It felt like voicing it would make it happen. Swallowing she whispered, "Just go back to bed Merle. I'm fine."
Merle stared at her for a long moment before he nodded, "Le's go." He motioned for her to walk back also and followed her with quiet footsteps. Once in front of her cell he gripped her shoulder for a moment giving it a slight squeeze before moving into his own room. Sam sat down and scooted back into her bunk. Sitting with her back against the wall and her arms wrapped around her knees she waited for daylight to come.
Merle laid down facing the wall between his and Sam's cell. He knew she wouldn't be sleeping anymore that evening. The terror in her eyes had actually scared him. Her eyes were that of a wild animal. Panicked and cornered. Merle knew it had to be dreams of the Governor. It made him hate the guy that much more. She was free of him and still being held captive.
'Fuckin' asshole.' He thought while rubbing his face.
He lay there for another hour before the sun started to rise outside. The first tinges of orange stretching out from the horizon. Blinking his eyes he watched the windows light up slowly, the day unfurling before him. Groaning he sat up and stretched his arms above is head, rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck.
"Getting fuckin' old, Dixon." He muttered under his breath.
Merle grabbed his pack and pulled out a new sock for his limb and slide it on. He'd make sure to take her advice and change out the wrappings more often. Just what he needed was to die from an infection of a blister. The metal sleeve felt like home and once he was belted in he stood up, stretching his back.
Walking out of the cellblock and outdoors he saw Sam standing at the edge of the courtyard. She was looking at the sunrise. Shaking his head he realized he hadn't even heard her leave the cellblock again.
"Whatcha doin' out here girl?" he asked strolling up next to her. He could see the dark circles from lack of sleep. Her black eye concealing it partially.
"Enjoying the sunrise." She said with a mirthless smile.
"Right." He drawled slowly. "More like avoidin' your bed."
"I'd never do such a thing." Sam said with a smirk and looked back towards the sky. Merle stood there next to her. She was close enough that he could the warmth from her body. He had the urge to wrap himself around her. Protect her. It was a foreign feeling.
"Wanna tell me 'bout it?" he asked pulling his pack of smokes out and offering her one. He realized she was the only person he frequently offered a cigarette too. It's not like they were easy to find. Hell he pack ratted them from his own brother but handed them freely over to the short blonde.
"No," she said flatly and took the smoke, lighting it quickly. He watched her cheeks hollow as her lungs took a deep drag. Merle chewed his lip and inhaled slowly. He could see she was still filled with tension. Sam's shoulders were tight and her arms were wrapped around her torso as if they were holding her together.
"Might make ya feel better." He stated, scratching his lip with his thumb.
"Or it might make it come true," she said quietly looking over with watery eyes.
"Ya got secret powers I don' know 'bout Sugar?" he asked humor in his voice but understanding in his eyes.
Sam rolled her eyes causing a few tears to spill over. Angrily wiping them away she took another drag. "It's fine. I'm fine." she said hoarsely and then cleared her throat. "I gotta help with food." Sam muttered before walking back inside.
Merle stood there watching the door close loudly behind her and then turned back to the sunrise. Flicking the cigarette butt away he sighed loudly. He didn't know why he gave a shit about the girl's sleeping habits or her feelings but seeing that desperate look in her eyes was making his chest ache.
Sam stood with Carol while she showed her the food storage and cooking equipment. Having mainly cooked for herself and a couple others she'd never cooked large meals for people.
"Breakfast is easy. A large pot of oatmeal or grits. We do sides of fruit or whatever we got." Carol was telling her as she poured water into a large pot. "I marked the sides here for how much water for oats, grits, beans."
Sam nodded and asked, "Is this water boiled already or am I waiting to purify it before adding the oats?"
"We boil all this prior otherwise people will use it without thinking." Carol said wryly. Sam smiled and watched her get the large pot on the camp stove. After breakfast is made Sam followed Carol to the laundry area. The group's clothing was washed daily to avoid it piling up. Carol had two huge tubs set up with metal vents from an ac ducts as washboards.
"We gotta find washboards still," she muttered when Sam raised an eyebrow.
Chuckling Sam shrugged a shoulder, "Whatever works I s'pose."
They worked quietly and efficiently. "So how are you adjusting?" Carol asked as she wrung out a flannel shirt with no sleeves. Sam smirked at the fabric knowing it was Daryl's instantly. 'Man's allergic to sleeves' she thought wryly.
"I'm good." She replied instantly.
"No reason to lie." Carol said with a smirk but didn't push. "Were you with a group before… Woodbury happened?"
"Yeah. Ten of us were staying in a cabin in the woods. Mainly elderly and kids, a pregnant woman." She said scrubbing a pair of pants. "Me and two guys were the security and scavengers. My uncle was there but he was sick."
"Sick how?" Carol asked hanging up another shirt.
"He had cancer. Was diagnosed a few months before the turn. Had just started chemo." Sam said and chuckled humorlessly. "Kinda silly. Had prostrate cancer but dies of… well however the Governor killed him."
Carol looked at her a moment, "You don't know what happened?"
"No. Merle said they were raiding it the night we escaped." Sam said swallowing down her guilt for not going back. "I just hope they did it fast. He… he was a good man."
Carol nodded and asked, "What about the rest of your family?"
Sam chewed her cheek thinking about the rest of her family. "Mom and I… I left home young. Hadn't seen her in maybe fifteen years. Never knew my dad. I helped with my Gramps for a while, he was sick a lot. He passed away when I was 18. My uncle helped me out here and there. I had just hooked up with him a couple weeks before everything fell apart." Carol smiled sadly and scrubbed a pair of filthy jeans.
Sam's arms were sore but she kept scrubbing. The skin on her back felt tight and every once in awhile she felt a scab break open. Sharp stinging licked her shoulder blades.
"Did you know Merle before he helped you get out?" she asked her face concentrating on a stubborn bloodstain.
"No. Hadn't seen him. He was just there and yanking a shirt on me. Pulling me out and then we were running. It happened so fast." Sam said and laughed. "I really had no idea who he was but figured anyone was better than the last fucker."
Carol laughed loudly and nodded, "I suppose so. You two seem to get along well enough though."
Sam swallowed and felt her cheeks burn slightly. 'Shit. Divert. Divert.' She shouted inwardly.
"He's tolerable." She quipped and smirked before standing up to hang the pants she was working on.
"Most wouldn't think that." Carol remarked. Sam looked back and smiled at her. Sam rolled her eyes and kneeled back down. "I grew up and worked with guys like him and Daryl. It's like coming home."
Carol smiled and nodded again. "Gotta say he's… different than when he was first with this group."
"I heard him mention being clean now. I guess he was a raging dick while on meth." Sam asked wiping her brow of sweat. 'Fuckin' laundry is more work than killing walkers.' She grumbled in her head.
"Yeah you could say that. He was… difficult. Still is but less volatile I suppose you could say." Carol explained and added with a grin, "He still likes to push buttons though."
Sam chuckled and responded, "Yeah I've noticed that."
They worked quietly until the rest of the clothes were done. Standing up Sam cracked her neck and rolled her shoulders. The strain of scrubbing made her joints ache. She could feel sweat dripping down her back.
"Oh My God!" Carol exclaimed making Sam turn around quickly, her eyes wide. "What?" she asked her eyes jumping around for the threat.
"You're bleeding." Carol said turn her around to see Sam's back. Sam let out a relieved breath. "That all? Jesus Carol I thought…"
Carol looked at her sadly, "Sorry. It just surprised me. You should've told me you were hurting."
"I'm not really. I mean it hurts all the time so it wasn't much different." Sam said shrugging her concern off.
"What tha fuck girl?!" Merle asked loudly, "Ya bleedin to death."
"I'm fine, Jesus H." Sam sighed. "The cuts just open when I use my arms."
"Well stop bein' so fuckin' stupid." Merle grumbled as he tried peeling the shirt up.
Sam smacked his hand away, "I'm not being stupid you old bastard. I gotta use my arms." Carol stood there watching the two argue her eyes bright.
"Ya don' got to do shit. Ya should be restin'." Merle grunted, "Turn 'round lemme see how fucked ya're."
"I'm. Fine." she said loudly while smack his hand away again. "Merle you wanna loose another limb?"
He glared at her and clenched his jaw shut. Sam glared back and raised an eyebrow. "I understand your concern. I am fine. I'll have Hershel look at it. Does that satisfy your morbid desire to see my bloodied back?" she asked, her arms crossed.
"No." he said flatly. Carol chuckled and shook her head at the two.
"Too fucking bad for you then." Sam said before walking away.
"Ya always a bitch?" he growled at her bloodied t-shirt.
"Only to you Merle. Only to you." Sam hollered over her shoulder.
"Goddamn stubborn bitch," Merle muttered while watching the prison door close. Carol cleared her throat making Merle look over at her. She raised an eyebrow, "Soooooo."
"So what woman?" Merle snapped his forehead wrinkled.
"So why don't you just tell her you care if she's hurting instead of yelling at her and calling her stupid?" Carol asked crossing her arms.
"Cuz I don' give a fuck if she is." Merle responded knowing full well the woman could smell the bullshit he was shoveling.
Carol smirked and nodded, "Ok then."
The gray haired woman walked away and into the prison. Merle stood there and scowled. His face deeply furrowed while thinking about the stupid blonde and the know-it-all gray haired lady.
"Fuck 'em both." He muttered before wander away from the courtyard into another cellblock.
"We have guns and ammo placed around the courtyard and within each exterior door. The catwalk has pallets and spare metal as cover. We also placed some filing cabinets and desks through the courtyard as cover." Glenn was explaining to the group. Rick was there but staring at the walkway above the room rather than looking at Glenn.
"We need to keep eyes on the road and the woods. Look for dirt kick up from tires. Might give us a heads up." Hershel stated.
"I have a question." Carl said while leaning against a wall, his arms crossed. Sam watched him narrow his eyes while looking at her. "Why don't we just make them leave. This governor won't have anything to find here then."
Merle glared at the kid and huffed an irritated breath out. "Son, ya don't know shit."
"Shuddup Merle," Daryl grunted. "Carl even if they ain't here the guy's gonna want this place."
"Just sayin'. Why keep them here if its causing all the trouble?" the kids asked while fiddling with his gun.
Sam watched his dad glance at him and look away. 'Jesus, excellent parenting at its finest. 'Go on son keep playing with a loaded firearm',' she thought while shaking her head. Sam didn't respond, she'd rather Merle handle it. She knew he'd make a strong argument, he was a conniver.
"Look jus' cuz he's lookin' for us don' mean he's not lookin' for a good thing too. He's gonna see walls and walls hold valuable shit. It's what he does." Merle drawled.
Maggie stepped in, "Don't you mean 'it's what you do?" You were his lieutenant or whatever!"
"Come on now. Don' be like honey." Merle taunted, hand over heart. "Imma changed man after all." Sam hid a smirk. Merle amused the shit out of her.
Daryl stood up between the two. "Stop."
Sam watched everyone argue while biting her thumb. She felt bad that their presence was causing such turmoil for the group. If Merle and her hadn't shown up they would be going about their business. Then again they wouldn't have been prepared at all for the sadistic bastard and he would have eventually found the prison.
"We keep doing what we're doing. Be alert, no going beyond the fences unless necessary. Get cars ready to leave at a momnets notice. Have bags packed. Keep yourself armed." Glenn said looking at each person.
"Ya gonna give Sam here a weapon or she fightin' hand to hand?" Merle asked nodding his chin towards Sam.
"Can she even use a gun?" Carl asked haughtily.
Sam nodded and cleared her throat, "I'm an excellent shot actually."
"Riiiight," Carl muttered and wandered over to a rack of rifles, grabbing one with a silencer on the end. "Here."
Merle raised an eyebrow, "Ya up for a trial run Sugar?"
"Sure," she answered standing up and taking the rifle. She slid the bolt handle open, seeing the empty chamber and put her hand out. "I need ammo to show you I can shoot."
The kid handed over one bullet and they wandered outside. Sam walked to the edge of the courtyard and said, "Point out which walker you want dead and I'll kill it."
"Sugar ya gotta move closer," Merle said, his hand pushing on her lower back.
"No, no I don't." she responded. Sam knew she could kill any one of the rotting corpses from her spot. When she was young her uncle used to take her shooting. In her teens he would enter her in shooting contests to keep her off the street. Despite her time in prison her skills stuck or so she learned after the dead started walking the earth.
"Walker in the yellow shirt," Carl said his arms crossed.
Sam looked through the scope, took a breath and pulled the trigger gently. The walker's head turned into a pink mist as the body fell to its knees, its hands still gripping the wire fencing.
"Hooooleeee shit Sugar." Merle hooted, clapping her on the back.
"OW fuck Merle, watch the back." Sam shouted slapping his hand away.
"Fine keep it," Carl grumbled before strutting off to the prison.
Merle chuckled and said, "Well hot damn. I thought ya was talkin' out your ass."
Sam laughed and shook her head. "I told you I took care of shit for my last group. I've been shootin' since I was young."
"Well then, when shit hits the fan you're my back up." Merle smirked and held the door open for her to walk back in. Carl was nowhere to be seen.
"I'm guessing by Carl's angry scowl you hit your target?" Carol asked.
"She's a goddam sharp shooter," Merle bragged flinging an arm over her shoulder. Sam rolled her eyes. "I'm ok. I'm no sniper."
"I reckon he pointed 'n you killed," Merle argued. " t's nuff in my book to call ya a killin' machine."
"You should raise your standards then old man," she snarked and handed the rifle back to Carol. Merle snorted and wandered away toward the cellblock. Glenn approached, "We'll get you a blade, hand gun and rifle. I'm sure you know to conserve ammo?"
"Yeah. I never use a bullet if a knife will work," she said chewing on her lip.
Glenn nodded with a smile, "Good, good. Ok well hopefully we won't need your sniper skills"
Sam smiled back but knew it didn't reach her eyes. Merle was right, the Governor would come sooner or later. Sam vowed to herself if it came down to it, she'd save one bullet for herself. The bastard wouldn't take her alive.
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