Thank you all for reading, reviewing. I love hearing the feedback. I've had a few ask about when Merle and Sam were gonna hook up. I have kept things progressing slowly. I feel like it would go slow for a few reasons.

One, she just experienced some trauma and even though they want each other I think they would hold back some.

Two, well its Merle and he's still figuring what exactly is going on in his head.

Three, They've been a little busy with the whole Governor trying to kill them thing. Lol .

Anyhoo it will happen and it will be soon. I promise

I don't own the walking dead, its characters or storylines.

Thanks again for reading

ENJOY!

Prison

When Merle opened his eyes he was greeted with a head full of blonde hair. It was tickling his nose, he couldn't help but nuzzle deep and inhale. She smelled like soap. Sam's body was curled into his, her arm draped over his chest, her leg tucked over and between his. Squeezing her closer with his blunt ended forearm Merle heard her hum. Bringing his hand up he stroked her arm. Her skin was warm and soft. Her whole body was warm and soft. Merle closed his eyes and took in the sensation of her clinging to him. It felt so… right. She started to wake up when he realized he was holding her even tighter.

"Mornin'" she said, her voice rough from sleep. "Sorry I'm crowding you."

"Fuckin' bedhog." He rasped a smirk on his face. Sam chuckled, her body shaking against his. They lay there waking up slowly. His hand still laying on her arm, his thumb brushing back and forth. Merle felt her tucking her face in his shoulder. She fit perfectly against him. So perfect that if he didn't move soon he'd either never get up or maul her.

Merle cleared his throat and said, "Come on. Up. Gotta get movin."

Sam sat up slow, pushing off Merle chest causing him to grunt. "Ain't no piece of furniture girl."

"Shuddup old man." She said with a smile.

Merle looked at her for a moment without responding. He liked seeing her in the morning. Her eyes were sleepy and her smile crooked. His hand moved on its own volition and cupped her cheek. Feeling his neck flush in embarrassment Merle playfully tapped her face, "Go on git girl. Got shit to do."

Sam rolled her eyes and stood up, stretching her arms above her head and groaned. Merle watched as a sliver of pale stomach was revealed, his dick throbbing at the sight.

"See ya later." She tossed over her shoulder on her way to her own cell. Merle lay there for a moment, scrubbing his face.

'Get a hold of ya'self Dixon,' he grumbled to himself. 'Ain't nothin'. Just helpin her sleep s'all.'

He sat up and pulled on a new shirt. A shadow passed over the doorframe. Looking up he saw Daryl, his brow furrowed. "She's sleepin here now huh?"

"What's it to you?" Merle asked angrily.

"Was just asking Merle, shit. Ain't gotta be such a dick." He snapped.

"Yeah well I am so whatever. Just usin' me as damn teddy bear. Has nightmares about that sick fuck." Merle said sitting up pulling his clothes on. He was getting pissed off that his brother saw Sam sleeping in his cell. He didn't need anyone in his business. They would question his motives and probably think he was taking advantage of her.

'Ain't no way she'd be with a old redneck like him,' they'd think.

Merle angrily pulled his arm sleeve on, pissed at the idea that they might think that about him. He could see Daryl looking at his stump and the process he went through to strap himself together in the morning.

"What?!" Merle roared. "Like seeing me all broke huh? Like seein' what I had to do cuz a what you're best friend did huh? I'm down a hand cuz a that stupid fuck." Merle knew he lashing out as his brother with misplaced anger. The thought that people would judge Sam and his relationship pissed him off. Merle knew they didn't think much of him and would think the worst. He was also irritated that his brother was seeing him without his metal armor. His weakness exposed and on display. The mangled limb that made him feel broken and less of a man. Merle never wanted his brother to see him as weak. He'd spent most of his life making sure he was the strong one.

"Man, I went back for ya. Ya weren't there. I didn't cut off your hand, neither. You did that. Way before they locked ya up on that roof. You asked for it." Daryl shouted.

"You know… you know what's funny to me? You and Sheriff Rick are like this now." Crossing his fingers, "Right? I bet you a penny and a fiddle of gold that you never told him that we were planning on robbing that camp blind." Merle taunted his chest puffed up, his hand fisted. His rage spiraling out of control.

"It didn't happen." Daryl said while shaking his head. Merle could hear others waking up, murmurs of them talking about what was happening. He hoped Sam wasn't in her cell. She didn't need to hear any of this.

Merle scoffed, "Yeah, it didn't 'cause I wasn't there to help you."

Daryl stalked forward jabbing a finger at him, "What, like when we were kids, huh? Who left who then?"

Merle looked at him confused. He didn't know why Daryl was bringing up their childhood, "What? Huh? Is that why I lost my hand?"

Daryl shook his head and laughed darkly, "You lost your hand 'cause you're a simpleminded piece of shit."

Merle felt his anger flare dangerously, pushed Daryl, "Oh yeah?"

Daryl turned away and tried to leave. Merle couldn't let him go though. His rage was spilling over and he was lashing out. Merle knew he was fighting because he was scared of what he was feeling, what the girl was making him feel. He felt vulnerable and weak being seen without his prosthesis.

Merle grabbed Daryl pulling him back. Itching for a fight, wanting to punch someone, anyone and scraping with Daryl came second nature. They always fought.

Merle gripped Daryl's shirt yanking him backwards. The fabric gave way tearing and exposing Daryl's scarred back. Merle's heart stopped. The dark knotted scar tissue, so much like his own, exposed in broad daylight. He felt like he had been punched in the gut. All the air left his body.

"I.. I didn't know he was…" Merle choked out, his hand releasing his brother's shirt. Daryl stood up and pushed Merle away from him, "Yeah, he did. He did the same to you. That's why you left first." He stomped away to his sleeping area, yanking the torn fabric away before throwing another shirt on.

"I had to, man. I would have killed him otherwise." Merle shook his head and watched his baby brother struggling to hold back tears. Merle felt his throat close and his eyes burn at seeing Daryl in pain. His normal approach would have been to make fun of him. Taunt him for his tears.

Now?

Now he was grinding his teeth in anger wanting to find their old man and kill him a hundred times over. Ever since that sound. That damn sound and its chain reaction. Ever since Sam. He couldn't ignore someone else's suffering.

Daryl stalked away from him, climbing down the stairs. Merle finally saw the audience around them. He felt his anger rise but stuffed it down, focusing on his brother instead. Jogging after him he grabbed Daryl's arm. They struggled until Merle pushed him against the wall, pinning him with his right arm, the metal digging into his chest.

"Let him go Merle," Rick said finally getting involved.

"Fuck off Grimes," he growled without breaking eye contact with his brother. "Daryl…" he paused shaking his head slightly, "M'sorry. Ok? I didn't know… maybe I did deep down but I didn't admit it ok? And…. Fuck baby brother I'd fuckin do anythin' for ya. Anythin'." Daryl looked away his face red as he held in the pain from years ago.

"Whatever," he growled trying to pull away again.

"NO! Not whatever." Merle growled pushing hard against him, "I'm fuckin' sorry. Ya got it? If I could make it up to ya I would. Lookit me Daryl."

Daryl finally turned to look at his big brother. Merle's vision slightly blurred and his mouth was dry. All he had in the world was his brother.

"I lost ya once, ain't losin' ya again. Ya got me brother?" he rasped, his voice hoarse. Daryl swallowed hard and looked away before nodding stiffly.

"Ya clearin the gates'?" he asked his voice weak. Daryl looked back at him and nodded once again. "Le's go then, daylight's burnin'." Merle said stepping away and heading outside. Once away from everyone he rubbed his eyes. The lump that had developed still lodged in his throat. Pulling out his smokes he offered Daryl one and they stood side-by-side smoking, argument not forgotten but hopefully over.

Sam had sat listening to the argument between the two brothers. She could tell Merle was just pushing for an argument. She knew all to well what it was like to fight anyone or anything just to not feel or think about something else. Hell she tried fighting with Merle the day before because of her hate for the Governor. Sam didn't know what he was avoiding but she could tell he was. Her eye's widened when she saw Daryl's back. Swallowing thickly she realized they were talking about their father who apparently liked leather belts just as much as the Governor. It explained Merle's need to help her and his view on scars. She could only assume Merle's had similar ones.

'Fuck were like triplets,' she thought morbidly.

She stood watching them leave together and could tell they would work everything out. Michonne was walking toward her with a raised eyebrow.

"Boys," Sam said with a wry smile. Michonne let out a rare laugh and nodded. "Wanna go stab things?" she asked.

Sam nodded, "Always." which caused Michonne to laugh again.

Walking outside to the still contained upper yard Sam saw Merle and Daryl stabbing walkers through the fence. They were clearing the area near the fence in order to open the gate. Rick, Michonne and Carl were going on a gun run and needed a clear path to get through. Merle looked over at Sam and frowned. She raised an eyebrow but didn't ask. Knowing he would probably be still reeling in his anger, Sam wanted to avoid any unneeded arguments.

"Are we clearing the yard of just the gate?" she asked Rick who was loading up a car for the trip.

"Just a path for now. Tomorrow we'll all work together to get the gates back up. We'll need everybody's help." He replied shutting the back door. Sam nodded and slide her knife out to help hold off walkers as they opened the gate. Merle came over and put a hand on her arm, "Ya sure your back's ok to do this?"

"I'm fine." she said giving him a small smile. "You good?"

He looked at her for a long moment before nodding stiffly. "We'll be ok."

Sam knew he was talking about Daryl and him. She was glad they were working it out. The world was hard enough without losing family that was still alive. They needed each other. Only thing that made life worth living was the people you considered family.

"Good," she said giving his arm a squeeze before walking over to the fence to get ready. The group stabbed the groaning dead at the gate as the car pulled up to the exit. Opening the gate once it was clear, they drove through while the others held off the approaching corpses. Locking up they killed the rest of the walkers and went inside. They'd have to clear the fence of dead bodies for the others but wanted to avoid attracting more attention to the gate.

Sam helped Carol with the food preparation and then did an inventory of their remaining ammo. It was pretty grim. If Rick and his team didn't bring home gear they'd be in deep trouble. Truthfully they were already in deep trouble but without extra guns and ammunition they'd all be dead for sure.

Sam was just totaling the last of their rifle rounds when Hershel sat down across from her. "How are you doing today Sam?" he asked, stacking the ammo into groups for Sam.

"I'm fine," she replied without looking up, embarrassment from her display the night before making her cringe. Sam knew someone would eventually approach her about the tantrum but had hoped it would be Carol.

"Don't have to lie if you aren't." Hershel stated as he finished stacking the shotgun shells. Sam sighed and finally looked up from writing. "I'm as good as I can be right now. I'm sorry for the…. outburst last night. It was a one time occurrence."

Hershel stopped working and shook his head, "There is no reason to apologize for feeling anger. Now I suppose it could've been less… vulgar. I'm going to assume that's Dixon's influence. "

Sam snorted and shook her head, "Sorry. I have a foul mouth when angry. It's the Scottish in me."

Hershel smiled, "Scottish huh?" Sam nodded while writing another number down. "My mom's father was Scottish. Never met him but my mom used to say he was the only person that could out cuss and out drink a sailor."

Hershel chuckled and said, "If you'll stop by later I'll check all your injuries. Make sure everything is healing well." Sam nodded and let a corner of her mouth curve up. "Sure thing Hershel. Thank you."

The group was placing the thick-topped desks in the catwalk as cover. They wouldn't stop all types of rounds but it would allow from some protection. Everyone prepared packs to grab if they needed to leave quickly and the cars in the upper yard were stocked with emergency supplies. They had them parked facing out to give them the speediest getaways if needed. After all that was done they sat around waiting for Rick to return and watching for snipers or scouts in the forest.

Sam was perched behind a desk on the catwalk while she used her riflescope to scan their surroundings.

"Anythin'?" Daryl asked his narrowed eyes looking at the forest.

Sam didn't jump at his sudden appearance only glanced over and said, "No, not from this vantage point. Kinda limited."

Daryl snorted and said, "Yeah ya could say that again."

Sam smirked and chewed her lip. She hadn't really spoken to Daryl before except in passing and usually while with Merle. "You good?" she asked while biting her cheek.

He looked over with his eyes narrowed and frown, "What's it to ya?"

Sam smirked because it was like talking to Merle but younger. Hot heads. Shrugging she looked back at the forest.

"What cuz you're fuckin my brother ya think ya know me?" he asked angrily. Sam raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat. "I'm not fuckin' you brother and I wouldn't assume to know shit about you, just like you shouldn't assume shit about me."

He glared at her for a long moment before turning back to the forest. Sam stayed silent not wanting to start an argument. Daryl was chewing on his thumb and the rasped, "If ya ain't fuckin' him why ya sleepin in his bed?"

Sam laughed and shook her head, "Because I'm a giant pussy that has nightmares like some little girl scared of the dark. He's humoring me."

Daryl looked away, "Ain't a pussy for havin' nightmares."

"Pfft. Sound like your brother." She scoffed and cracked her neck. It was sore from staying in one spot for so long. Daryl snorted and said, "Guess he's smarter than I thought."

Sam laughed and gave him an evil glint, "I wouldn't go that far." Daryl barked a laugh and shook his head. "Don' let him hear ya say that."

"I'm not scared of that old man." She laughed and looked through her scope again. As her eyes scanned the trees she caught a glimpse of color. She froze, her body tense as she concentrated on the area.

"Got somethin'. Third fence post over, forest line. A flash of blue." She said while still looking. Daryl used a pair of binoculars and watched the area with her. After a full minute passed he grunted, "Yep got a peepin' Tom."

"Keep eye's on 'im. Gonna let Glenn 'n Merle know." He said before jogging into the prison. Sam watched the person in the trees move slightly as if circling the area. A flash of metal on the road made her lose focus. Rick's car was approaching. "Shit," she said. Looking down she saw Maggie on the gate.

"Hey Maggie." She hollered.

"Yeah?" she shouted as she prepared the gate for Rick to enter.

"We got eyes in the forest. Stay covered." She said as the prison door opened, Merle and Daryl entering the yard.

"Still there?" Merle asked Sam.

"Lost him, stay covered, don't let Rick unload yet. They'll see if we got stuff." She said while scanning the trees, her eyes jumping at every movement in the trees. "Fucker, where'd ya go?" she growled.

"Ah hah you bastard. Gotcha." She exclaimed while watching the man move.

"He armed?" Merle asked from below her.

"No rifle. Binoculars. He's a scout." She told him without looking away.

Sam watched him until there was no longer any light. They had parked the car and left the guns and ammo they acquired inside, waiting for the sun to set completely. Sasha took over for guard duty on the catwalk while Glenn took post in the upper yard.

Merle was eating dinner next to his brother. The fight they had earlier was still on his mind. He felt like shit having never admitted to himself that Daryl would've experienced the same abuse as he did. It killed him thinking about what it would be like for a kid to be ditched by the only person who cared for them. Especially a kid like Daryl, a sweet one. Fuck if it didn't make his eyes burn thinking about the sandy blonde headed kid watching him drive away. Daryl with his bare feet and dirt shirt, standing in front of that shithole of a trailer.

Looking at him out of the corner of his eye Merle tried to tell if Daryl was still pissed or hurt about the argument. He hoped they had worked through some shit. It was exhausting to carry around a grudge. Merle had a strong back and carried a lot of grudges over the years but he was tired. Tired of hauling shit. He hoped Daryl wouldn't follow in his footsteps and not because Merle wanted off the hook for his abandonment but so Daryl could be less of an asshole than him. Years of Merle's life spent molding a giant chip on his shoulder. A complete waste of energy and time.

Merle chewed his food slowly and thought about how he could ask if they were good. They didn't really ever talk about what they felt and to some extent even what they thought about. The idea of communicating like that was foreign.

Sam sat down in front of them bringing Merle out of his wandering mind.

"Ladies," she said with a smirk. Daryl narrowed his eyes but it looked less menacing. Merle snorted and stabbed a piece of canned meat from her plate.

"Hey now old man. I'm not sure if that's on you soft food diet." She said stabbing a piece for herself. Daryl coughed over a laugh. Merle would normally snap at someone fucking with him but Sam just amused him more than anything.

"Funny girl." He rasped eating the last of his instant potatoes. Merle finished eating but sat while they finished. Daryl was done before Sam but he continued to sit also. Sam looked up and watched them stare at her.

"What? I got shit on my face?" she asked with wrinkled forehead.

Merle barked out a laugh and dropped his chin to his chest, laughing quietly. Daryl was looking at him strangely. Sam was smiling and finally finished her food.

Merle kept chuckling. He couldn't stop for some reason. It was the combination of her question and her expression.

"You delirious old man? They mix up your meds today?" Sam asked her elbows on the table. Merle scrubbed his face and tried to subdue his first case of the giggles.

Daryl smirked at him and said, "Think that's the most I heard ya laugh before."

Shrugging Merle cleared his throat, "Don' know why but Sam cracks me the fuck up."

Sam smiled, "See comedic prowess. I told you. It's one of my skills."

Daryl snorted and shook his head. "Y'all are crazy. Got watch. See ya nutjobs later." Merle nodded but grabbed his wrist before he left, "We good?"

Daryl looked down at him surprised at the question. Giving Merle a nod and pat on the back before heading outside. Merle looked down, feeling embarrassed to have asked at all, let alone in front of Sam.

When he finally grew enough balls to look up at her she was giving him that crooked smile. The one she gave him that morning. It made the weight lift a little off his chest.

"Ya done yet slow poke?" he asked while standing up, grabbing their plates and cleaning up before heading to the cellblock.

Sam went into her own cell and Merle could hear her rummaging around inside it. He lay there trying to think of what she could possibly be doing making so much noise.

"Girl?" he shouted, "What the fuck ya doin over there?"

Sam's head peeked into his cell, her head poking through the curtain. He contained a laugh at her sudden floating head. "Rearranging furniture."

"Huh?" he asked confused since everything in the damn place was screwed to the ground.

"I'm kidding. I was stacking my mattresses. My back is hurting from these thin POS."

Merle felt a pang of sadness that she was preparing to sleep in her own bed. 'What the fuck Dixon? She ain't your girl.' He thought.

"Thought we were roomies?" his mouth spit out without consulting his brain. Sam raised an eyebrow; her head still the only thing visible. "Figured you wouldn't want that to be a normal occurrence. You can't possibly have slept well with me waking you and then hogging the bed."

Merle shrugged a shoulder, "Just figured ya'd wake me up anyways. This way I don' gotta walk all the way over there to shut your ass up." Sam nodded and said, "Ok but we gotta stack mattresses. Seriously my back feels fucked up."

Merle climbed out of bed and they took two mattresses from an empty cell and added one to the top bunk and bottom in his room. Once the beds were made Merle stopped her from climbing up, telling her to sit down.

"Where's your back hurt?" he asked sitting next to her. Sam reached back and motioned to the whole left side of her back. Merle started massaging the tight muscles of her shoulder and shoulder blade. "Got a bunch a rocks under your skin girl," he commented as his thumb dug into her back. Sam groaned as he hit tender spots. Soon though her back muscles loosened up.

"Better?" he asked while smoothing her rumple shirt.

"Very. Thank you." she said turning around to look at him. Merle nodded to the top bunk, "Ya sleepin up there or forcin' ya'self on me?"

Sam laughed and shook her head, "I'll go up there. No reason to make you uncomfortable all night."

"Slept fine." Merle said as he lay down. He really didn't want to tell her it was the best sleep he'd had since the time he accidently fell asleep with her. It would be admitting way to much about himself. Sam paused for a moment but still stood up, climbing above him. He listened to her settle in. "Oh my god that's much better." She said. Merle had to agree, it was much better.

"Night Merle. Thanks for being my roomie," she said while peeking her head over the edge. Merle smirked at her upside down face and grunted, "s'nothin'."

"You say that now but when I wake you and then steal your pillow you'll change your tune," she joked.

"Nah. Gettin' used to your whiny ass, Sugar." He said with a smirk. Sam snorted and said, "Oh yeah? I'm getting used to your grumpy ass, old man."

Sam jolted awake, Merle's hand on her shoulder. Gasping for air she looked at him with wide eyes. She'd dreamt of his dead body again. This time he had a hole in his chest and had changed. He chased her around the dark room trying to eat her. Not even waiting for an invitation she slid off the top bunk and into his bed. Merle watched her with narrowed eyes but joined her.

"Ya ok?" he asked as she tucked herself into his side. Sam had shivers running through her body, the adrenaline from the nightmare still coursing through her veins. Not trusting her voice she shook her head against his chest. His arm tightened around her and she felt him kiss her forehead.

"Ya will be." he said quietly. Sam timed her breathing with his and felt her body relax. He was warm and comfy. Her body felt perfect next his. Tilting her head up she said, "Thank you Merle."

The room was almost pitch black except for a thin beam of moonlight shining through the curtain. It allowed just enough light for Sam to see Merle's eyes looking back down at her. His hand slid to her face, his warm palm holding her damp cheek. Merle brushed his thumb across, wiping away the spilled tears.

"No need to thank me Sugar." he rasped softly.

Sam felt her heart speed up at his voice. That fuckin' gravelly drawl drove her wild. Especially when close to her, close enough to feel the brush of air across her cheek. She couldn't help but lick her lip slightly and bite down. Merle was frozen holding her but his eyes were dancing around her face as if memorizing the moment completely. Her breathing hitched when he focused on her eyes. His piercing blues.

"I'm gonna kiss ya girl." he drawled, "Gotta tell me no."

Sam's lips parted at the blunt statement. It wasn't surprising completely. Merle said what was on his mind no matter the appropriateness and apparently when he wanted something. At this point Sam realized she hadn't spoken yet, "Why the fuck would I say that?"

Merle smirked and tightened the grip on her cheek. Stretching up to him as he bent down their lips met for the first time. In the future Sam might say it felt like coming home but right then... right then she felt like a goddamn super nova. Heat blossomed throughout her body and when his tongue touched hers for the first time a moan crawled out of her chest. Merle growled as her teeth bit his lip and her mouth sucked.

"Fuckin hell Sugar," he moaned into her neck as he left open mouth kisses. Sam felt a deep pull in her stomach. Merle's hand was gripping her waist while his arm held her close. Sam pulled back gasping for air, her forehead resting against his lips. She felt him leave small kisses along her brow.

"Ya ok?" he asked quietly. Sam felt his hand loosen and stroke the spots he'd been gripping tightly.

"Yeah. You?" she asked feeling slightly overwhelmed with the intensity of kissing Merle but still enjoying it. He laughed quietly and said, "Yeah Sugar. I'm good. We don' gotta do anythin'. Just wanted to kiss ya."

Sam nodded and whispered, "I think… that slow would be good for now… is that ok?" Merle squeezed her close and kissed her forehead. " 'course Sam. Don' gotta do anythin' ya don't wanna."

"I know and I will just don't want rush my fucked up head." She said quietly looking away even though he probably couldn't see her eyes. His hand came up tilting her face towards his just the same. "Ya ain't fucked up. Got it girl?"

Sam nodded and kissed him lightly before nuzzling into his chest. They settled down and both their breathing returned to normal. "G'night Merle." She whispered.

"Yeah it was." He replied softly.

Awwww. First kisses are sweet. A little taste of what will come.

Thanks for reading!