Thanks for all the reviews and favorites. Sorry for the delays. I injured my neck and have been trying to limit my time writing on my laptop etc. My neck is feeling much better so hopefully my updates wont be so staggered. Saving Valentine will be up soon also.
I don't own the walking dead or it's characters/plot. OC and non-canon is mine.
ENJOY!
'From a Friend' the note claimed in permanent marker. The group stared at the stack of water with untrusting yet desperate eyes. Merle scanned the forest line with Abraham, looking for signs of sabotage.
"What else are we gonna do?" Eugene asked looking at the pile of much needed liquid.
"Not this. We don't know who left it." Rick replied looking at the note clenched in Daryl's hand.
"If it's a trap, we already happen to be in it. But I, for one, would like to think it is indeed from a friend." Eugene drawled licking his dry and cracked lips. Sam shifted uncomfortably, her neck prickly with anxiety. She could sense eyes on them but couldn't find any real sign of a trap. Walking slowly she used her riflescope to scan the woods for shifting shadows or changes in the shades of green. Nothing caught her eye but the tension did not leave her body. Sam's back muscles ticked at the tension in her frame.
"What if it isn't? Like they put something in it?" Rosita suggested looking equally torn with just drinking the liquid gold. Merle glared at the tempting bottles before moving to looking closer into the woods surrounding the road.
"Eugene." Rosita shouted as the man yanked out a bottle trying to guzzle down mouthfuls. Abraham smacked the bottle out of his hands, spilling to the ground.
Tara exclaimed, "What are you doing, dude?"
"Quality assurance." He muttered his face crumpling at the sight of the bottle spilling to the dirt. Sam swallowed thickly and her eyes would have teared up if she had the moisture in her body.
"We can't." Rick rasped adamantly and then slowly his mouth quirked up as thunder clapped above them.
Rain began to speckle their clothing, water soaking them thoroughly within minutes. The group laughed and sighed at the sudden cloudburst. Sam tilted her head up and opened her mouth, the cool rain rehydrating her dry tongue and throat. Merle closed his eyes next to her and let the water rollover his sunburned face, his hand found Sam's and they wove their fingers together.
"Everybody get the bags. Anything you can find." Rick ordered the group to collect any water they could. Another set of rolling thunderclouds darkened the skies and the wind picked up, the sound whistling through the trees. In the distance the sight of an even darker storm approaching had the group clamoring to move on.
"Come on!" Rick shouted over the wind and Judith's scared cries, "Let's keep moving."
"There's a barn." Daryl hollered over the whipping wind pointing towards the thick brush. As quick as they could the group followed Daryl and Merle into the forest, towards shelter. Upon entering the weathered yet sturdy barn they found one highly decomposing biter as well as a workable shelter from the storm.
Sam wrung out her hair and clothing, a chill working into her bones despite the warm weather. Merle wandered over after securing the doors with a thick chain. She watched him wipe his face down with the front of his shirt, his abs and sharp hipbones showing from the low rising jeans. Sam couldn't help but watch him with hungry eyes. It had been awhile since they'd last had time alone together and she couldn't stop but consume the view.
"Whatcha lookin' at sweets?" He rasped as he noticed her darkening eyes. Sam snorted and hide a blush before muttering, "Nothin'."
"Oh I think ya were looking' at somethin'," he drawled hoarsely pulling her into his damp chest. "Ya lookin' at me like the last piece of chocolate cake."
Sam moaned at that statement and threatened, "Don't talk about food Merle or I'll beat you with one of those rakes."
Chuckling he kissed her temple and spoke against her wet skin, "Maybe we could find us a nice dark corner 'n this here barn tonight."
"Maybe." She whispered, "I wouldn't mind you buried deep inside me."
Merle groaned at her statement, his fingers flexing on her hip and pulling her closer than before. "Sugar, you're playin with fire. I'll bend ya over a hay bale in front of all these fuckers."
Laughing she peered up and whispered, "Liar. You wouldn't share that view with anyone."
Grunting he kissed her slowly and rasped," s'pose ya ain't wrong about that. No one deserves t'see your sexy ass but me."
The others were settling in for the night, the wind and rains thundering overhead. Merle sat with Daryl by a tiny fire they'd built. The group didn't have much food and opted to feed Carl and Judith before everyone else. The rest was distributed evenly. Water was still scarce but they'd left buckets outside to collect rainwater. Merle listened as Rick spoke with Michonne about his son.
Rick's head was bowed, his eyes troubled as he looked at his son holding his daughter while sleeping. Her little fuzzy head tucked against his neck. Michonne spoke quietly, "He's gonna be okay. He bounces back more than any of us do."
Rick grunted and threw a broken twig into the fire and drawled, "I used to feel sorry for kids that have to grow up now. In this." He waved his hand around before continuing, "But I think I got it wrong. Growing up is getting used to the world. This is easier for them."
"This isn't the world." Michonne responded her voice sounding strained. "This isn't it."
"It might be." Rick countered his eyebrows raised and when Michonne and Daryl shook their heads he repeated, "it might be."
"That's giving up." Michonne added her eyes looking angered. Merle sighed and drawled, "He's just being realistic. Ain't no way back to before and no where's safe from the dead and the type of assholes that're out here."
Merle watched Daryl shake his head but didn't respond. He could see his brother struggling to hold onto the hope for something more. Daryl needed them to find a safe place for the kids and the grief stricken to recuperate and grow.
'Always the sweet one.' Merle thought with a sad smile.
Rick nodded and spoke lowly, "Merle's right. It's reality. Until we see otherwise, this is what we have to live with. When I was a kid... I asked my grandpa once if he ever killed any Germans in the war. He wouldn't answer. He said that was grown-up stuff," Rick looked away a moment and continued, "So I asked if the Germans ever tried to kill him. But he got real quiet. He said he was dead the minute he stepped into enemy territory. Every day he woke up and told himself, 'Rest in peace. Now get up and go to war.' And then after a few years of pretending he was dead... he made it out alive."
The others were quiet and Merle could tell they were confused and saddened by Rick's story. He understood perfectly having spent time not only in the military but also prison. Being distracted by emotions and human nature wasn't an option while fighting for ones life. Merle was used to focusing on the present, not the future, had been since he was a kid. Survive the day, to see tomorrow. He was used to doing what needed to be done to keep himself and his family alive.
"That's the trick of it, I think. We do what we need to do and then we get to live. But no matter what we find in DC, I know we'll be okay. Because this is how we survive. We tell ourselves... that we are the walking dead." Rick finished while staring at the fire, pushing the glowing wood around.
Daryl broke a twig in half and chucked into the fire angrily, "We ain't them."
Rick looked up seeing Daryl's upset expression and tried to reassure him, "We're not them. Hey. We're not." He put up a pacifying hand as Daryl climbed to his feet and snapped, "We ain't them."
Merle watched his brother stalk off into the other side of the barn, his wide frame pacing the floor angrily. Huffing out a breath Merle drawled, "Good one Sheriff. These folks need upliftin' stories not tales from walking dead World War II vets."
"I know jus'... I gotta get them prepared for not finding anything."
"Grimes, we all know disappointment pretty fuckin' well nowadays. Ain't gotta prepare us for shit." Merle responded before climbing to his feet to join his brother.
As he got near he saw Daryl pushing on the doors, walkers hands bulging through the narrow gap. He whistled their signal for trouble and joined him, his shoulder firmly pressed into the worn splintery wood.
"Fuckin bastards." Merle growled as the weight from the other side increased. The wind was howling and the biters snarling as the entire group pushed on the flapping doors. Sam was pressed in between the Dixon brothers, her hands firmly planted and heels digging into the packed dirt floor. Merle looked down and met her eyes as the wind picked up and the herd of walkers surged against the barn doors. They kept eye contact as the storm raged and the undead swarmed.
"I love you." She gasped her eyes strained and forehead worried, sweat dripping down her temple. Merle's chest clenched at the sight of Sam looking so fearful. They were in grave danger and he would die for her but that wasn't happening yet. "Ain't gettin' in." He rasped before adding, "Love ya Sug."
They kept eye contact as the next half hour of rain and thunder pummeled the tin roof while the undead slammed against the walls. Soon the howling winds moved on and the undead were swept away with it. Hours later the evening settled down and there was no longer a herd outside banging to get in.
Merle had Sam curled into his chest, her face tucked under his chin. He stroked her back as a dream crept in and made her restless. She whimpered, her hands clutching his shirt and face pressing closer.
"Gotcha Sugar." He whispered gravelly into her ear, "I got ya sweetheart."
It took a moment before she settled down and her breathing evened out. Merle yawned and tried to sleep but couldn't help but feel on edge. The amount of walkers that were outside had been too many for even a large group like them to handle. Merle needed to be awake to be prepared for it. He watched as Daryl spoke to Maggie and Sasha, both women looked like the world had chewed them up and spit them out. Sasha had lost everyone that meant something to her while Maggie lost the hope of a cure. She got her sister back but it didn't seem to be enough for her. Merle could see some of the group fracturing from the pressure. Abraham spent most his day drinking booze from a scavenged bottle and Noah was looking more like a biter than a human after losing his family.
Merle agreed with Rick about the world and what they had to do in order survive. It made sense that they had to live like they were already dead. It didn't make it any easier though. In fact it probably made it harder since being a walking dead man kept them from enjoying what little they had left. Merle wasn't going to let himself become just another dead guy. He had the reason why curled against him. Sam kept him going and would continue to do so. He wouldn't lose himself to the world outside the barn as long as he had the woman in his arms.
Sam left the barn with Sasha and Maggie to use the restroom. Outside the earth was torn up, trees pulled up by the roots and shorn in half. There were undead men and women strewn across the ground and impaled on trees.
"Look at this." Maggie gasped her eyes looking at the path of destruction the storm left. Sam shook her head and gasped, "Jesus that was a tornado last night."
Sasha spoke with confusion wrinkling her brow, "It should've torn us apart."
Sam nodded and stepped over a tree limb, stabbing a walker pinned underneath it. She saw the other two heading for the edge of the woods but walked the other direction. She wasn't sure why but she needed to clear her head. Her stomach was churning and she felt more exhausted than ever before. The whole trip North had been treacherous and the night before downright frightening. Moving into the woods she relieved herself and then sat down against a tree trunk, groaning at her aching limbs. Sam was not looking forward to walking another 60 miles. Taking a deep breath she felt her stomach cramp. 'Fuck,' she muttered rolling to the side and gripping her abdomen, getting sick in the grass. Taking in a few quick pants she felt the cramping subside and nausea pass. Sam wiped her brow and sat back on her heels feeling confused at her sudden ill feeling.
'Jesus Christ,' she thought startled while looking down at her stomach. Blinking a few times she counted back the weeks. 'Shit. Shit. Shit.'
Sam was always irregular but as she took stock of her body she began to suspect their lives were about to get even more complicated.
Scrubbing her face she sighed and looked up at the clear sky. If she hadn't been in the eye of the storm the evening before she wouldn't have been able to tell that such destruction had happened. The clear blue and pure white clouds seemed so innocuous. Sam knew she needed to head back but stayed seated, her fingers pulling out grass and tearing it into little pieces. Fear started to take hold of her as she tried to think of how on earth she was going to tell Merle her possible condition.
A crack of a branch had Sam on her feet, rifle raised. Merle came charging through the brush his eyes wild. Sam lowered her gun and asked, "What?"
"What the fuck are ya doin?" He hissed pulling on her wrist. Sam grunted in pain and yanked her hand away, "Jesus Merle calm down. I just had to pee."
"We got company. People." He snapped grabbing her arm and pushing her towards the barn. Sam had her weapon up and ready, her eyes scanning the woods for threats.
As they entered the barn she saw a man on his knees, his hands up. She made eye contact with him and looked him over. His clothing looked clean and brand new, his face shaved smooth and hair washed. Narrowing her eyes she walked around the group her rifle ready, her finger braced against the rifle's barrel. She listened as he spoke to Rick about a community he was from. A place with walls and water. A town with electricity and safety. Sam's eyes connected with Merle's and she could tell he was thinking exactly what she was thinking about.
The Governor. Woodbury. Terminus. All traps.
Rick must have been thinking about the same things because suddenly he pistol-whipped Aaron, knocking the man unconscious. "Tie 'em up." He drawled moving to the man's bag as Carl searched it.
Sam watched them work but couldn't help but think about the stranger's statements. A spike of hope burned bright in her chest. If what Sam suspected was true the only way she'd survive would be finding a safe place.
The group had split up, some circling their perimeter, others going to look for the supposedly vehicles of the recruiters. Aaron stayed tied up while Rick, Sam and Judith stayed behind. Merle had been hesitant but Rick wanted her to stay as a sniper just in case. She crawled up into the rafters to get a view of the entire area.
Sam tried to keep her mind clear of her worries and focus on scanning the woods but she was struggling. She listened to Rick speak to the bound man below.
Judith began crying and Sam felt her focus falter. She peered through the rafters at the small girl red faced and teary eyed. Her heart began racing as the noise grew louder. They'd always been able to keep her from crying by feeding her but they'd been short on supplies, feeding her the last of the baby food the night before.
"You did see the jar of applesauce in my bag, right? This isn't a trick. This isn't about trying to make you like me." Aaron spoke from the beam he was tied too. Rick paced with Judith, her wails increasing. Sam whispered, "What can I do Rick?" She was getting anxious just like the man below. "Keep your eyes open," Rick snapped his piercing eyes snapping to hers. Feeling properly scolded Sam moved back hearing Aaron continue, "It's self-preservation. If the roamers hear her and come this way, I know I'll be the first to go."
Rick didn't respond only spoke in a low to Judith, her small frame bouncing in his arms. Sam watched him grab the jar of applesauce and open it, smelling it for something abnormal. The idea of letting the kid eat something unknown made Sam want to jump down and smash it out Rick's hands.
Turning to the woods she listened as Rick forced Aaron to eat some first.
After he survived the bite, Rick began feeding a starving Judith. Aaron kept talking about the community and how they have fruit trees, how the walls are big enough to keep the small girl safe. How the monsters beyond wouldn't hear her cry and how nothing could get to her. Sam squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for the man to be real. For safety to be a short distance away.
Merle and the other finally found the vehicles. He was shocked the man was telling the truth, well at least about the transportation. They searched them while Merle scouted the area for tracks. He found two sets of tread nearby but nothing else. It looked like there were only two recruiters, at least in the immediate area.
Inside the RV the group found a large supply of canned goods and water. Each person took a refill of their water and split a few cans of food. They'd hiked pretty far and most hadn't eaten in days. Merle sat with Glenn eating a handful of stale trail mix.
"You think it's real." Glenn asked lowly, his eyes skipping to his wife. Merle grunted with a shrug but eventually rasped quietly, "Bes' be otherwise Imma rip him limb from limb. I'm mighty sick of getting shit on."
Glenn nodded and wiped his sweaty brow, "I wanna get Maggie and Beth to somewhere safe. I owe it to Hershel to keep 'em safe."
Looking over at the younger man Merle drawled, "Old man'd be proud of ya kid."
Glenn looked shocked at the compliment and only nodded in response, his hand squeezing Hershel's pocket watch.
They eventually got moving to the barn, everyone stretching out to relax their tired feet. Merle groaned, rubbing his stiff shoulders. He couldn't stand the grueling hiking. He was used to it to a certain extent but that didn't make it any easier.
"Fucking old." Abraham grunted rubbing his knee with a groan.
Merle snorted and rasped, "Oh come on Big Red I got like ten years on ya."
The large man chuckled and joked, "Shit man I thought you were older than that." Merle smacked him in the back of the head without the normal heft and threatened, "Shut you're pie hole Ginger."
The two cars pulled up to the barn shortly after and Sam exited, her rifle still poised to shoot. Once they began climbing out she relaxed, her shoulders dropping slightly.
"All good?" He asked her, brushing her sweaty hair from her forehead. Nodding she glanced at the vehicles and cocked an eyebrow, silently asking what they found.
"Just like he said. Lots of food too. Let's get ya somethin'. You're lookin' pale ." Merle spoke while moving into the barn. Aaron was still bound and Rick was inventorying the supplies they'd brought in.
"This, this is ours now." Rick drawled, his hand resting on his low-slung holster. Sam watched the bound man nod and assure, "There's more than enough."
Rick shook his headed and rasped, "It's ours whether or not we go to your camp."
Maggie stepped forward and asked, "What do you mean? Why wouldn't we go?"
Rick interrupted, "What if he's lyin' or if he wants to hurt us?"
Michonne added, "He isn't, and he doesn't. We need this."
Rick scratched his beard while contemplating everyone's input. A few spoke quietly to each other while Michonne continued, "So we're going, all of us. Somebody say something if they feel differently."
Everyone nodded and seemed in agreement. Rick cocked an eyebrow at Merle and Daryl who had been quiet through the whole exchange.
Daryl nodded and muttered, "This barn smells like horse shit."
Merle snorted and teased, "That's just your shorts baby brother, need a warsh."
The group snickered while Daryl shoved Merle away with a scowl. Rick grinned and drawled, "A'right. Yeah. We're going." Some of the group hugged and Sam saw Beth and Maggie crying. Rick kissed Judith on the head before walking towards Aaron. "So where are we going? Where's your camp?" he asked crouching in front of the man.
Aaron looked them over, his demeanor more nervous than before. Sam felt her skin prickle at his hesitation. Stepping forward with narrowed eyes she watched him explain, "Well, every time I've done this, I've been behind the wheel driving recruits back. I believe you're good people. I've bet my life on it. I'm just not ready to bet my friends' lives just yet."
The result conversation had everyone edge, Rick and Merle were the most anxious. The group would take the two vehicles a different path than Aaron suggested. He was upset for the decision especially since Rick insisted they travel at night also. The idea of driving through the night on uncharted territory had Sam wringing the skin off her hands. It was all the more worrisome.
The group relaxed the rest of the day, eating and drinking the water Aaron provided. Sam was leaning against Merle as he stood talking to Abraham. They were planning emergency routes if the trip went south. They finished talking and Merle wrapped his arms around her, his face pressing against her neck.
"Ya a'right Sugar." He rasped as he straightened up to look down at her. Sam felt her heart rate speed up. She couldn't tell him her suspicions yet. He had more than enough to worry about so Sam shook her head and kissed his chin. "Wanna know what we're facing. Just nervous."
Merle nodded and then peered over her shoulder at Aaron. The man was watching them with a slight smile.
"Keep you're fuckin' eyes to ya'self." He snapped at him. Aaron pursed his lips and looked down at his lap.
Sam felt Merle grumbling under his breath about the man's gaze while turning her to the side essentially blocking the bound man from seeing her.
Smirking she joked, "Are you my human shield now?"
"Always was Sugar." He drawled with the boyish grin Sam loved. His right arm held her close while his palm cupped her jaw. She felt almost feverish and couldn't help but think it was another sign. Merle's thumb brushed across her flushed cheek and he drawled, "Ya feelin' a'right? Feel warm."
"I'm fine." She replied moving closer to him to keep his too astute eyes from analyzing her further. "Sleepy."
"Well let's sleep until it's go time."
Merle combed his hand through Sam's hair as she rested her head on his thigh. They we're leaving soon to find the so-called safe zone. He was tense, tenser than he'd been for a long time. They were walking into an unknown situation guided by an unknown man. It made Merle's back stiffen and his toes to curl with anticipation. He wanted to be ready for anything that could come their way but didn't know how.
Merle looked down at Sam and watched her eyes roll around under her pale lids. She'd looked sick that morning, pale and drawn. It made him pause in concern but after having food she seemed better. Then as she looked up at him before her nap she had been all pink faced. Sam's cheeks were flushed and she seemed feverish. Merle hoped it wasn't anything serious especially since they were soon entering a new shelter. He was pretty sure no one would want to let her in if she had some kind of illness. Merle started to think back about Woodbury and the Governor's practices. People showing signs of illness rarely made it past the gates unless they had skills or in Andreas case knew someone inside. Merle even recalled a family he turned away because the women were pregnant.
Merle glanced down at Sam and then cocked his head to the side. Something inside him clicked into place and a strange buzz filled his head. He thought back about when he found Sam by herself instead of with the other girls, how she seemed sick until she ate their lunch of stale crackers and trail mix. Sam had been pickier about the canned foods she ate, her stomach never feeling quite right. His eyes widened as he began to realize things were falling into place.
'Fuck.' He thought, his hand brushing hair off her forehead. 'You're gonna be a daddy Dixon.'
Shaking his head in disbelief he watched Sam sleep and couldn't help the grin from taking over his face. The idea of Sam growing his baby right in front of him made his heart race and head to spin. Lying right next to him was the love of his life and possibly… maybe his first-born child. He wanted to palm her stomach and speak to it. The idea of her belly growing and being able to kiss and stroke the new life inside her had Merles eyes burning. He'd never wanted something so bad, not even when he was jonesing for illicit drugs. It made him feel all the more anxious knowing that depending on what they found in Alexandria, Sam may or may not have to give birth while on the road. Merle couldn't allow that, he wouldn't allow it. If the place were real, they'd settle in, if it wasn't and they could overtake it he would be the first climbing the walls. No one and no thing would keep Merle from providing for his family.
HOLY MOLY!