Soooo sorry for the delay. I am hoping to continue providing you with Merle love but I am definitely struggling to stay on task. I can't wait for Merle being a dad chapters though so I am going to trudge onward.

Thanks for sticking with me.

I don't own the Walking Dead or its characters etc etc. OC and non canon schtuff is mine.

ENJOY!

"Over my dead fuckin' body Darylina." Merle growled, jabbing his finger into his younger brother's chest. "It'll be a cold day in hell when I let ya walk out there with some queer as your only back up to bring other possible threats back here… Where my wife and kid are gonna be? Hell fuckin' no."

Daryl glared at him, his feet pacing him back and forth like caged animal. The man was just holding himself together but Merle couldn't stop himself. There was no way he was letting his kid brother go off with a stranger to meet the neighbors. Fuck no. Never. Not happening.

"Ain't your decision. M'goin'." Daryl growled, his eyes drilling holes into Merle. "Everybody's got somethin'. This is what I got."

Grinding his teeth, Merle pleaded, "Ya got shit here too baby brother. I ain't gonna be able to protect ya if ya go out there. I can't leave Sam."

Begging wasn't a tactic Merle usually employed but there was desperation in his words he couldn't hide. He didn't want to risk losing his brother again.

"I don't need ya t'protect me. Can take care of myself." Daryl insisted, his eyes flitting away when he muttered, "s'ides I'm better out there."

"Bullshit Darylina. I ain't buyin' what you're shovelin'."

Scoffing, Daryl rolled the tension out of his shoulders and drawled, "Whatever Merle. Ain't askin' just tellin' ya I'm leavin' soon as we get the bike workin'. Thought ya'd like t'help get 'er runnin' with me."

Sighing inwardly, Merle scrubbed the back of his neck roughly. He was pissed because the idea of working on a bike with his brother brought back good memories, days when he hadn't shot up or drank his way through a whole bottle of whiskey. They'd shoot the shit and work of his harley, Maribel.

He would love to revisit those times now, make new memories. Better even, now that he was sober and they were closer. The only problem was the faster they completed the task, the sooner Daryl would be out in the world without Merle at his back.

"Ain't talkin' ya outta this?" he asked gruffly, his arms crossed and head cocked to the side as he watched Sam walking away from the supply building.

"Nah."

"I'm gonna tell Sam. She ain't gonna have it neither." Merle threatened, his secret weapon for arguments with Daryl. The damn blonde was frightening in many ways, one of which was getting others to either stop doing something or do shit they didn't want to.

"She knows." Daryl replied softly, avoiding Merle's angry glare, "tol' her the other day."

His eyes narrowed at the idea that Sam not only knew before him but that she hadn't told him immediately.

"I told her not to tell ya. Wanted to tell ya myself." His brother explained, his thumb chewed raw as he flicked his gaze from the floor to Merle's irritated face. "She said I'd be good at it... That she trusts me to only bring back good people."

"I ain't sayin ya wouldn't be good at it Daryl." Merle said with a sigh, his head dropping as he braced his hand on the porch railing. "Gonna make me say this shit like some kinda pussy huh?"

Daryl looked baffled, opting to stay silent as he watched Merle struggle to speak.

"Fine. Fuck. Ok. I don't want ya to go because I don't wanna lose ya again, a'right? Lost ya in Atlanta, lost ya at the prison. I ain't doin' it again. I don't know this fuckin' fag-."

"Merle!" Daryl snapped, his teeth clenched and his tone threatening, "Don't be an asshole."

Rolling his eyes, Merle continued, "Whatever. I don't trust her to bring ya home safe. I want ya near in case shit goes south."

"Ya know I can take care of myself." Daryl muttered, his shoulders rolled forward as he leaned against the porch railing. "I'll come back."

Growling Merle glared at the road in front of the house like it killed his dog. "Can't promise shit baby brother, least of all promises of coming home. Not no more. Too much can go wrong out there and if I ain't with ya…"

Daryl cleared his throat and stood up taller, "I'll come back."

Sighing Merle cracked his neck and ticked his chin towards Aaron's home. "Well. Ya gonna show me this new hog or what?"

Sam wasn't exactly sure how long morning sickness was supposed to last but her time spent wrapped around porcelain was getting old. She knelt in front of the blasted thing, her forehead pressed into the cool surface while panting. The last few minutes of sickening roils had been exhausting.

"Sugar?" Merle rasped from the other side of the white door, "ya a'right Sam?"

"Perfect." She deadpanned, grimacing at the taste in her mouth. The door opened and she felt him enter, the sink turning on instantly.

"Here darlin'." He murmured while crouching nearby, his hand holding a glass of water. As she swished her mouth with it Merle placed a cool cloth on her neck, the sensation soothing her instantly.

"Thank you." She croaked, her eyes closing and body leaning into his chest. His hand raked the hair from her sweaty forehead and he assured, "s'nothin Sugar. Ya all done?"

"Mmhmm." She hummed as Merle picked her up from the cold tile. He carried her to their bedroom and grunted, "bes' eat more Sugar. Ya too light. Got our kid to fatten up."

Nodding she muttered, "I'm tryin'. Everything comes back up."

Once settled in bed Merle helped her undress and climb under the covers.

Merle tucked Sam into bed, his hand using the washcloth to wipe sweat from her temple. "Better?" He rasped, sitting beside her. "Comfy?"

"Yeah. Thanks old man." She murmured, her hand squeezing his. "You're the best."

Laughing gruffly, Merle leaned over her, nuzzling his face into her breasts. "Best wha?"

"Best husband ever." She spoke with a smirk, her fingers stroking his back and shoulders, "gonna be the best daddy ever too."

Snorting, Merle drawled, "s'long as I'm better than my shithead Pa I'll be happy."

"You'll be infinitely better than that asshole." She insisted with a smirk. "I know you're gonna do great."

Merle's ears pinked as he swallowed thickly. "Wanna."

"And you will." She assured, her hand cupping his rough jaw, "Our kid is gonna love you so damn much."

Curling over her, Merle wound his arms around and under her, hugging her tightly. Tucking his face into her neck, Sam felt his hot breath behind her ear. A throb warmed her core making her clench her thighs and swallow a moan. The hormones that were making her sick to her stomach had also made her into some kind of nympho.

Merle seemed to sense the change in mood, his hand smoothing a long path up her thigh and hip to her ribs and eventually her breast. She watched as his thumb circled her hard nipple, the peak pushing against the thin cotton of her tank top.

"Ya needin' some lovin' Sug?" He rasped in his thick southern drawl while his wet lips sucked a delicious path up her neck. "Cuz might be I could suffer through it."

Sam chuckled quietly while sliding her hands up his shirt to stroke his broad chest and stomach. "I'm glad you'll take one for the team."

"Jus' who I am Sugar. I'm a giver." He joked, yanking his clothes off while she watched, her wet walls clenching at the sight of his hard cock standing proud when his jeans dropped. "Commando huh?" She quipped as he crawled over her with a predatory look in his eyes.

"One less thing I gotta take off to please my wife. I know ya like easy access."

Smirking she gripped his swollen head, stroking him tightly and firmly. "Bet your ass I do."

Merle's chin dropped to his chest as he sat above her, straddling her thighs. He watched with lust filled eyes as she worked both her hands up and down, her wrists twisting a tantalizing path up and around.

"Fuck Sug." He growled, yanking her hands away before sliding down the bed. Spreading her thighs with his wide shoulders, Merle looked up at her with a playful glint in his eyes. "I'm gonna have dessert first, then I'm gonna bury myself so deep, ya ain't ever gonna wanna let me go."

"Merle." She moaned, her fingers raking into his short hair, blunt nails scratching his scalp as his mouth dipped between her thighs. "Never want ya to go anyways."

Pete smoothed the cold gel over her abdomen with ultrasound wand while pushing a few buttons on the machine next to him. After a few maneuvers he informed, "There we go."

Merle looked at the blurry image, the mess of swirly shapes made no sense to him but the doctor pointed out the tiny shape nestled in the middle of it all. The thing was a speck compared to what it would turn into but as Merle gazed at it with burning eyes he realized the tiny person had more power over him than anything before. More than drugs and booze. More than the uncontrollable rage he used to harbor. More than anything else that ever tried to control Merle.

That tiny little person growing inside the love of Merle's life had the ability to bring him to his knees by simply existing. Holding Sam's hand he watched as her eyes flooded and she smiled with quivering lips, "That little shit is causing a lot problems for being as tiny as it is."

Pete pressed a few buttons and a picture printed out, the first real proof that they were going to be parents.

"Alright. Keep taking your vitamins. Lots of food, water and rest." Pete informed, scribbling a few things in her chart before mumbling something about another patient. Merle glared as the guy walk out of the room as he helped Sam from the table. "Guy's a asshole." He muttered under his breath as she pulled her shirt down.

"Only option we've got at the moment so don't beat him up." Sam instructed with a grin. Merle smirked and shrugged his shoulder, "Fine I'll wait 'til after the kids born."

The couple wandered back home, the picture of their baby safely kept in Merle's shirt pocket. "We need to tell everybody." Sam spoke while they climbed the stairs of their house. Merle grunted, opening the door to let her enter first. "Ain't no reason to."

"They need to know I'm going to be worthless soon." She replied as they climbed the stairs to their bedroom.

"Ya ain't ever gonna be worthless Sugar." He replied, taking the picture from his pocket and holding up for her to see. "You're gonna be keepin' this lil one safe and sound. Ain't no more important job than that Sweetheart."

Smirking she replied, "Pretty sure security and supplies are more important than me getting fat."

Rolling his eyes he pulled her into his chest and kissed her fiercely for a moment before pressing his forehead against hers. "You and this kid are the most important thing here. Ain't nothin' ya can say to me that'll change that. Now I gotta go help Daryl with the bike, how 'bout ya rest up and tonight we tell everybody? Sound good?"

"Yeah. Sounds good." She replied watching him tuck the picture into his pocket again. Cocking an eyebrow at his obvious attempt at keeping the image for himself he sighed, "Jus'… I wanna show Darylina before everybody else."

Smiling she cupped his cheek and assured him, "He'll appreciate that. You're a sweetheart you know that?"

"Fuck off." He growled without any real bite. Smirking over his shoulder as he left the room he added, "Gonna leave before ya wanna braid my hair."

Merle sat on a stool next to the bike, which was in pieces around them. He was hunched over peering at the engine when he rasped, "Saw the Doc today."

Daryl's hands stopped cranking a bolt into the frame, he eyes narrowed, "Everything a'right?"

Nodding Merle sat up and wiped his hand with a shop rag before sliding the little slip of paper burning a hole in his pocket. Smoothing his thumb across the little shape he stretched his arm out to Daryl. Taking the picture from his big brother Daryl peered at it with a furrowed brow.

"This 'im?" he drawled, his lip twitching slightly as his eyes flicked up to Merle's. Nodding, Merle lit a cigarette and exhaled a deep drag. "Ain't no bigger than a damn dime man and it's already got me by the short hairs."

Daryl chuckled gruffly and then smirked, "Bet it's gonna be a girl."

"Shuddup." Merle grunted, sucking another deep drag as the anxiety of having a little girl made his skin crawl. Just the thought of having a tiny baby girl in a world full of monsters had him sweating bullets.

"What? Don't wanna deal with your lil girl datin' guys like ya?" Daryl teased further his eyes lively and amused. Merle glared at him and ground the cigarette butt out and barked, "Ain't no goddamn way anybody's datin' my lil girl, 'specially no low life like her daddy."

Daryl grinned while going back to work and huffed out a laugh, "Man, ya really are gonna be a dad ain't ya? Shit. Never thought I'd see the day that ya not only knocked someone up but stuck around."

Merle rolled his shoulder and he drawled, "Prolly never woulda if it weren't for Sam. Ain't been no one else like her."

They worked silently for a long while until the garage door opened and Aaron joined them. "How's it goin' guys?"

"Jus' fine Princess." Merle snarked, the anger for the man taking his brother on a fool's errand causing him to jeer like his old self. Merle had changed over the course of year, dropped a lot of the hate for others and the world. He used to be a rage filled asshole that liked to torment those who were different. It was the way of the south, different races and homosexuals were barely tolerated where Merle grew up but after the turn he'd let most of it go. Like Rick said all that time ago on a rooftop in Georgia, "There's only us and the dead." The old worlds divisions no longer existed.

Merle still taunted of course but the days of beating the shit of minorities was gone. This however wasn't really about Aaron being a gay man, it was about Aaron taking his kid brother on a dangerous mission in a dangerous world without Merle as back up. The easiest way to get under the other man's skin was to taunt him about his sexual preference.

"Merle." Daryl growled under his breathe, "Don't be an asshole."

"It's fine Daryl. I haven't lived this long without developing a thick skin." Aaron informed while leaning against the tool bench, his arms crossed, "Besides. It just means Merle thinks I'm as pretty as a princess."

Merle huffed out a breath, "Whatever. Curly. Ain't no pillow biter."

"Shuddup." Daryl grunted, throwing his shop rag at Merle while standing up and stretching his back. "Stop bein' a dick."

Merle grunted, slipping the ultrasound picture back into his pocket before lighting another cigarette while hoping Aaron hated the smell of smoke. He couldn't help but want to piss the guy off since he couldn't do anything about his brother leaving.

"Was that an ultrasound picture?" Aaron asked, his lip curling into a smirk.

Glaring and the man Merle growled lowly, a fierce desire to protect his blood filling his chest. Standing up he sneered, "Ya got somethin' to say about it Tinkerbell?"

Aaron had the audacity to chuckle at the insult and then give him a shit-eating grin. "I haven't heard that one in a long time."

Merle ground his teeth in irritation but couldn't help but snort, "What can I say I'm old school."

Daryl rolled his eyes and grunted, "Sam's pregnant."

"Congratulations." Aaron replied, his eyes honest and smile friendly. "It's just what we all need. A little hope."

Merle rolled his shoulder lazily and felt his neck heat. "Ain't planned or nothin'. Jus'… happened."

"Doesn't mean it's any less amazing."

Pursing his lip, Merle scrubbed his rough jaw and muttered, "Got no fuckin' idea what I'm doin."

Daryl looked shocked at Merle's open statement while Aaron looked understanding. "I don't think anyone really does when it comes to being a parent." He laughed and scuffed his shoe across the cement. "My brother had two kids and the only time I ever saw him scared was when he brought his girls home. Twins, cutest things that ever lived." He swallowed thickly, the haunted memories that everyone now carried passing over his features. "Anyways. He um, he was a man's man, the butch one I guess you could say."

Merle snickered which had Daryl punching him in the shoulder. "Wha'?"

"Shuddup." Daryl grumbled.

Aaron just smiled and continued, "He was a fire fighter, ran into burning buildings instead of out. And when he held those girls he looked both overwhelming happy and utterly terrified."

Daryl laughed lowly and taunted, "Merle's gonna be shakin' in his size 12's."

Growling Merle smacked Daryl upside the head, "Fuck off."

The men laughed quietly and then Aaron offered, "I used to babysit all the time so if you guys ever need an extra hand let me know."

Merle squirmed slightly as he felt the beginnings of guilt for being a dick to the man in his own home. Nodding once he grabbed his jacket and slide it on before bumping Daryl's shoulder with his fist. "See ya later brother. Gonna tell everybody at dinner."

"A'right. See ya later."

Clearing his throat awkwardly Merle offered, "Guess you can come too Tink."

Aaron smirked giving him a nod, "As long as I can wear my tutu."

Snorting Merle drawled, "Whatever pulls your trigger man."

Sam sat next to Merle at the dining table while everyone ate, a few different conversations going on. She couldn't help but bounce her leg nervously as they waited to tell everyone about the baby. It wasn't necessarily nerves about their reaction to the news but rather the announcement making it real. Once everyone knew she wouldn't be able to avoid it. The group would be all over her and she wasn't too sure she could handle everyone in her business. However, she also knew they all deserved to know.

"Got ants in your pants Sugar?" Merle joked, elbowing her playfully, "You wanna tell 'em?"

"No!" she gasped, shaking her head with wide eyes, "I-."

"Shuddup!" Merle barked, standing up with narrowed eyes. Everyone stopped talking and stared at him with confused expressions. Slowly he grinned at Sam and drawled, "Go on Sugar."

"Merle." She growled, slapping his side.

"What's goin' on?" Rick asked, his expression turning hard. The man obviously still settling into the town was instantly on edge with the turn in conversation.

"Well see Sherriff it seems this lil' group of yours it gettin' a new member." Merle rasped, looking down at Sam with a tiny smirk. The room was silent for a moment until Beth exclaimed, "You're pregnant?!"

Biting her lip harshly Sam nodded causing most to grin and some cheer out. Maggie and Beth hugged her while others congratulated Merle.

"This is good... no great news Sam." Rick rasped, hugging her tightly while motioning to Judith. "Now she's gonna have a friend."

"Ya gonna let a Dixon play with you're kid Grimes?" Merle asked with a mocking grin. Rick rolled his eyes and joked, "Hopefully they take after their mother."

"I'm goin' on a run Sugar." Merle drawled, while buckling up his apparatus. "Some place with shit for the solar power."

Sam pursed her lips and joined him in the bathroom, her hands smacking his hand away. Smirking he watched as she wound the leather straps and fixed the buckles, carefully adjusting them. Nimble fingers tugged firmly without leaving him uncomfortable.

"Who's goin'?" she asked after finishing, her eyes narrowed with worry.

"Glenn, Tara, that Noah kid and the Tennessee Tophat."

Chuckling at Eugene's newest nickname she asked, "That all?"

"A few of the townies, so dead weight. Be aright Sug." He rasped, kissing her forehead and squeezing her into his chest. "Be home before dark."

Nodding again she hugged his waist tightly, his large hand splayed between her shoulder blades. Tucking his face against her neck he inhaled slowly, the man memorizing her scent before murmuring, "Love ya Sam."

"Love you too old man."

Merle left the house to meet up with the supply team. Glenn and Maggie were saying goodbye as they loaded the van. Deanna stood with her son, Aiden and her husband Reg, all three turning as Merle joined them.

"Mr Dixon, good to see you." Reg announced, his hand outstretched towards the man. Merle cocked an eyebrow at it but held his bayonet out with a grin. "Put'er there partner."

Reg chuckled as Aiden sneered, his nose wrinkled and he muttered something under his breath.

"Wanna repeat that Junior?" Merle drawled, his eyes narrow and challenging.

"So Merle I was curious. How did your prosthesis come about? Did you design it?" Reg asked, changing the subject as his gaze landed on the contraption. Snorting Merle messed with a few buckles despite them being fitted perfectly by Sam. He wasn't fond of speaking about his arm even with the loss being close to two years ago, the event was still clear as day. Sometimes Merle could feel the missing appendage, a strange tingle of loss.

"Found me a orthopedics hospital and did some trial and error work." He replied cooly, thinking about how difficult it had been to make it one handed and more than a little pissed off. Merle had been working with the Governor by then, selling his soul to the devil if you will. It was a time in his life he regretted but also would never change because it brought Sam to him. The woman was the best thing that had ever happened to the old bastard.

"Well it's clever. I'm not an engineer or anything but I have a penchant for figuring out how things work." Reg spoke with a friendly smile, "you be safe out there."

"Will do." Merle replied giving Deanna a nod and then joined Glenn and Maggie. A handgun was given to him and then he was offered high-powered rifle.

"Nah. Don't need it." Merle answered, climbing into the back of the van. Aiden and Nicholas took the front seats while the others joined Merle. Tara, Eugene and Noah chatted together as Glenn and Merle sat quietly near the front. Loud music clicked on, a heavy dub step making everyone cringe.

"Jesus fuckin' Christ." Merle snapped, "can ya fucking wait til we're outta the gates? Gonna bring more this way Junior."

"Don't worry about it old man." Nicholas shouted over the thrumming beat.

"Fucking kiddies runnin' this shit show." Merle bitched to Glenn who nodded along. They pulled out the gates and began to draw a group of undead, almost too many to drive through.

"Idiots." Glenn mouthed to Merle who smirked. The van eventually got free of the group, driving slowly to draw the horde away from the gates which barely closed before they invaded.

The group pulled up to the large warehouse which contained the parts they needed for their solar power system. Merle watched as they argued about which exit to enter. Glenn pushed to circle the perimeter to check all exits before moving inside, a smart decision that showed experience. Nicholas rolled his eyes, "we'll go out the front if we have to. Calm down, we know what we're doing."

"So you've been here before Curly?" Merle rasped, "recently? Because might be that somebody's barricaded it or maybe that side of the building is covered in deadfucks. I ain't bettin' my life or theirs over your shit experience out 'ere. I'd like t'go home to my wife in one fuckin' piece tonight."

"Glenn's right..." Aiden started, glancing at the older man, "Merle to. We should make sure we know what we're walking into."

Nicholas looked not only betrayed but irritated that his friend was now listening to who he saw as outsiders. Merle smirked at the guy and drawled, "well Junior, ya got more sense than I thought. Keep that up and ya might live til 30."

The group broke up, Merle joining Aiden and Nicholas after Glenn motioned for him to follow. It was obvious Glenn didn't trust the two anymore than Merle and wanted him to make sure they actually did their job.

The side Merle and the Alexandrians took wasn't anything but cinder block and narrow windows near the roof top. There wasn't any escape route for the group but the area was clear of walkers.

"Glad we wasted our time looking for exits." Nicholas bitched while glaring at Merle. Snorting the older man rasped, "ya got somewhere t'be Curly? Maybe ya boyfriends waitin' at home for ya?"

"Fuck you redneck." Nicholas snapped, stepping forward aggressively. Smirking with a taunting edge, Merle drawled, "might wanna step back boy. I got four decades of ass kicking experience, I'll stomp a mud hole in your ass without breakin' a sweat."

Growling, Nicholas opened his mouth to retort back angrily but Aiden put a hand on his chest, pushing him away. "Shut up Nick. Let's go find the others and get this shit over with."

"Yeah fuckface. Le's get this done, I got more important thangs t'do than beat your ass into the ground." Merle jeered, shouldering past the smaller man roughly.

"Fronts a no go." Glenn informed while checking the magazine in his gun one last time. "It's crawling with corpses."

Smirking Merle sent a taunting grin towards Nicholas while rasping, "well good thing we checked it out, right Curly?"

"Fuck you."

Once inside they split up, searching for the dead and the pieces of equipment they needed. Merle could hear the echoing sounds of undead inside but none appeared. Glenn informed from the aisle next to his, "got walkers but their trapped."

"They secure?"

"For now." Glenn replied before adding, "let's do this fast, Eugene go with Tara and find the parts."

Merle moved down a darkened aisle by himself, his flashlight scanning boxes for anything a familiar. "Hey egghead. What're we looking for?" He asked through the shelving as they passed by.

"Microinverters."

"The hell is that?" Merle started to ask when a large scuffle broke out a few aisles over. The sound of gunfire echoed out as Aiden and Nicholas began shooting undead. "The fuck?" Merle growled, "Keep it down fucktards. Gonna rile 'me up."

The gunshots didn't cease until a large explosion rocked the room. Merle was knocked back as boxes and crates rained down on top of him. Grunting as a piece of wood hit him in the face, he shoved a bunch of cardboard and broken plastic parts off his body. With ringing ears, he stood up to find himself dizzy from the bomb's concussion.

"What the hell happened?" He shouted as he clambered over debris. Glenn was shouting for Eugene and Tara, the sounds of more gunfire going off. Chaos was breaking out and Merle could hear the dead moving in the cavernous room. The moans and snarls of the released walkers had his heart pounding and chest heaving, the place was a death trap now.

"Ya a'right Chinaman?" He shouted as the group began tearing through the rubble to get to Tara.

"Tara's hurt." He informed frantically. "Need your help man."

Shoving a few crates out of the way, Merle crawled through the shelving unit and found Tara crumpled on the ground, her head bleeding profusely. Grabbing her arm, Merle pulled her over his shoulder, Glenn providing him cover as the dead began to surround them.

"Go. Go. Go!" Glenn shouted, pushing Eugene and Noah away from the incoming horde. Reaching the office, Merle laid Tara down as Noah began putting pressure on the wound. The cloth began soaking through with blood, her head injury becoming more concerning by the moment.

"We gotta get outta here." Nicholas spoke frantically, his eyes jumping towards the window as the dead pressed into it.

"Where's Aiden?" Glenn asked the terrified man, who was sweating bullets.

"He's dead." He replied, "come on we're trapped like rats in a cage here."

"Shut your piehole Curly, while the adults talk." Merle sneered, turning back to Glenn. "I'll carry her. You cover." The sound of someone screaming though had the group looking through the office window. Outside, beyond the shelves, they could see Aiden pinned to the wall, his limbs flailing.

"Thought ya said he was dead?" Merle growled, fisting Nicholas's shirt violently.

"I thought h-he was." Nicholas stuttered, his eyes wild and nervous while he gripped Merle's forearm.

"We gotta get him!" Noah pleaded, Glenn nodding along.

"A'right. Egghead, ya stay here. You three with me." Merle ordered before growling at the others, "stay tight. we're in and out, I ain't dyin' in this shithole."

The group killed the dead surrounding the office, blades shoving through skulls and gunshots blowing away rotten faces. When they arrived at the wailing man's body, they saw his torso was skewed by giant broken support beams. His hands were trying to stop the blood gushing from his stomach, his face cringing in agony.

"Shit." Merle cursed as he reached the gored man's side. "We can't help him." He muttered to Glenn, the other man looking just as horrified.

"H-help." Aiden choked, blood splatter flying out of his mouth as he coughed. "P-please."

"We have to go!" Nicholas screeched, the dead snarling behind him. "He's fucked."

"We gotta try." Glenn insisted, his hands grabbing Aiden's bicep. Merle follows suit and the others eventually grabbed the injured man's legs.

"On three!" Merle barked, counting down as the men tried to lift Aiden off the spears. The keening howl that erupted from the seizing man had the group stopping instantly, the sound igniting the undead behind them.

"Fuck." Merle rasped, his troubled eyes meeting Glenn's.

"We gotta go!" Nicholas screamed, before running from the group and out of eyesight.

"You yellow bellied fuck!" Merle shouted as the younger man ran away.

"Guys. They're close." Noah informed, his gun firing off round after round before the slide stuck open. The young man's gun was empty and his back up magazine followed quickly behind it. They didn't have anymore time.

"Go." Merle ordered loudly, before shouting, "I said go!"

"We can't leave him to be eaten. " Glenn exclaimed as Aiden screamed in pain.

"I won't let 'em. Now go Chinaman." Merle barked, shoving the man away with a pointed look. After pausing a moment Glenn ran with Noah in the direction Nicholas took. Looking over his shoulder as the dead closed in, Merle fired his gun a few times taking out the closet corpses. Turning back to Aiden he listened as the younger man confessed to leaving the former supply team members behind. Their deaths were caused by cowardice, not the undead. Merle was far from surprised having seen the groups behavior at the construction site. Alexandrian's were weak cowards.

"Ya did good today though, Junior." Merle rasped despite his disgust while moving his bayonet out of view, pointed upwards. He leaned in and murmured, "gonna be ok."

"P-p-please. Don't let them get me. M-m sorry." Aiden choked out, blood leaking down his chin onto his already soaked tshirt. Grimacing Merle gripped Aiden's neck and assured, "gonna be a'right, Junior."

With a sudden plunge his blade entered the base of Aiden's skull with a crack, the young man dying instantly and his anguished cries ceasing.

"Sorry kid." Merle muttered, closing his eyes for a moment before turning around. The dead were even closer, their limbs finally getting them over the fallen boxes and debris.

"Try me fuckers!" Merle shouted while pushed corpses out of the way and stabbing them as quickly as possible. "Ain't gettin me you deadfucks." He cursed as he shot a few dead. Bodies fell to the side, tripping others but there were even too many for Merle. He was going to be surrounded soon.

"Take that you shithead." He jeered, cutting the skull open of a rent a cop. He could hold his own when facing large numbers of walkers but the space was crowded and they were funneling in too fast. Shoving his way through, yanking out of the clutching fists he made a path out of the crowd while barely dodging gaping mouths and clawed hands. Climbing through a large shelving unit he found himself free of the dead, Merle finally escaped the horde.

Merle ended up jogging out to their initial entry point since the dead had been drawn towards Glenn and Noah. He exited the building only to find their van gone and the others no where in sight.

"Goddamnit, can't anythin' go right?" He grumbled shoving the door closed behind him to keep the dead inside. The sound of loud music caught his ear making him realize the group hadn't left yet. Running around the building towards the sound he saw Eugene driving away with a large group of dead following close by. Merle followed him as the mullet wearing man got the dead away before circling back towards the warehouse.

"Good t'see ya egghead." Merle rasped, out of breath from the whole experience. "How's the girl?"

"I-I don't know. She is still unconscious."

Nodding he looked inside to see the others hadn't made it back. "Where the fuck are they?"

"They were in the building. I took the dead away."

Turning to return to the building he saw Nicholas running towards them, his eyes wild and face splattered with blood.

"Go!" He shouted, "get in the van. Go!"

Glaring at the man, Merle growled, "where are they you cowardice piece of shit?"

Grabbing Nicholas by his shirt he slammed the kid into the side of the van, spitting and snarling threats into his face. He was about to bludgeon him to death when Glenn showed up. He was sneering angrily, his eyes enraged.

"You killed him!" Glenn screamed while slamming his fist into Nicholas's jaw. Merle stepped back as Glenn began pummeling the other man until his was passed out on the ground. Glenn's chest was heaving, blood covered his hands and arms.

"He fuckin killed him. He-" Glenn choked on his words, tears filling his eyes. "He fucking killed Noah."

Merle jaw was so tight he wouldn't be surprised if he cracked a tooth. "Anything left to bring home?"

"No. He's gone." Glenn answered almost robotically while glaring at Nicolas's downed body, "We should just leave him here."

"Nah. That ain't you." Merle drawled, gripping Glenn's shoulder. "I'll get 'im. You drive. Rick'll take care of this piece of shit."

Sam was in the tower when the supply group's van came tearing down the street. Ice cold fear trickled down her spine as her gut told her things had gone to shit on the run. Firing a few rounds, Sam cleared the gate for the van to enter. As they pulled in, Sam packed her equipment and ran down the steep stairs towards the exit. Her feet weren't taking her fast enough, time slowing down as the dread creeped into her chest.

"Please. Please. Please." She begged inwardly as she reached the gate.

"Let me in." She screamed, pounding on the gate until Holly opened the metal barrier. "Whos hurt?!"

Holly's eyes were pensive as she replied, "Aiden's dead and one of yours. I'm not sure."

Growling at the woman for not providing her with more information, Sam jogged towards the medical building where the van had parked. The back door was opened showing off a puddle of blood and gory towels.

"Fuck." She muttered, her unsteady feet carrying her up the porch and into the building. Bursting through the door she found Rick and Glenn speaking while Pete was treating an unconscious Tara in the background.

"Who?" Sam gasped, her hands trembling as she realized Merle was nowhere in sight.

Glenn's saddened eyes met hers making her lungs seize closed, her gaze moving to Rick's. "Is he-"

"He's fine." Rick drawled stepping forward to grip her shoulders. "Hes ok. He's out back."

Sucking in a shuddered breath with teary eyes she asked, "Who?"

"Aiden and Noah." Glenn answered hoarsely with his own glassy eyes.

Rick was grimacing, a troubled expression on his face. "Go on." He motioned to the back door. "He needs ya."

Exiting the medical center she found Merle pacing on the back porch, his shoulders tense and a cigarette in his mouth. His piercing eyes met hers before looking away, thick smoke trailing out his nostrils. She could see a vibration of anger running through his broad frame.

"Are you ok?" she murmured, walking slowly towards him. Sneering at her he snapped, "I look a'right to ya sweetheart?"

Startling slightly at his harsh tone, Sam shook her head once and asked, "Are you hurt?"

"Nah." he replied, flicking his smoke away before leaning on the porch rail, his large arms crossed defensively. Sam looked over his blood splattered clothing and face, the man hadn't had a smooth run and she couldn't help but worry he wasn't telling her the truth.

"Are you sure?"

"What I just say woman!?" he snarled, stepping forwards aggressively. "Ya think I'm just gonna go down like some kinda pussy? No undead fucks are gonna take me down."

Pursing her lips she asked, "What happened out there Merle."

"Don' wanna talk about it. It's fuckin' done now so whats the point." He growled, his gaze avoiding hers. Narrowing her eyes she started to get angry with the big angry redneck. It was common for Merle to lash out when pissed but it had been a long time since he took it out on her.

"Ok. When you feel like treating me like something other than garbage come find me." she sneered, her hormones not keeping her from snapping herself. Climbing down the stairs she headed away from the fuming man only to stop when he hollered, "Wait! Fuck just… Wait."

Turning around slowly she cocked an eyebrow as Merle sauntered towards her. Frowning Merle grumbled, "Look. Things went t'shit a'right?"

"No shit?" she snarked, her irritation slow to fade while ordering. "Speak."

"That fuckin' coward got Noah killed and I had to put someone down. Today ain't just another shitfest. Today was a goddamn horror show."

Frowning Sam approached, her hand landing on Merle forearm. "Tell me."

"Aiden shot some grenade on a dead jarhead and blew the shit outta the warehouse. He ended up a damn pincushion, Tara got a head injury and Noah got pushed into the mouths of biters by Nicholas. I put Junior down before the dead got 'im."

Clenching her teeth she pulled Merle into her, wrapping her arms around her tightly. "M'sorry."

"Don't gotta apologize t'me Sugar." He rasped against the crown of her head. Swallowing thickly she murmured, "Ya did what ya had t'do."

"I know." He muttered, his hand holding her tighter. "Don't make shit better."

"No but it's still true. You did that kid a favor."

Pulling back he looked down at her with conflicted eyes. "Isn't any easier just because it was right."

Smiling sadly she cupped Merle cheeks and spoke softly, "M'sorry you had to do that but I am so fucking happy you made it home."

"Said I'd be home Sugar." He rasped quietly, his own hand joining hers, weaving his fingers into hers. "Nothin' could keep me from comin' home Sam. Nothin."

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