Jesus I am one of those authors who leaves their readers hanging. I am so very sorry. Thank you all for your reviews, follows and favorites. You're the best! I've missed Merle and forced myself to complete an update for this fic. Hopefully this long chapter will make up for the delay.
I don't own the Walking Dead etc. OC and non canon storylines are mine.
ENJOY!
One month later
Merle listened as Rick detailed the plan for the quarry mission. He couldn't believe the residents of Alexandria had been ignoring the hole in the ground filled with undead assholes. A huge pit in the ground had slowly been collecting the dead from the area, the more that fell inside, the more noise they made and the more were brought to the area. Eventually thousands of undead bastards were collected in one spot and only contained by two large semi-trucks blocking the roads out of the pit. When they got out, because it wasn't if they got out but when they got out, they would be headed directly towards his growing family.
'Dumbfucks.' He thought angrily, his piercing blue eyes scanning them in disgust. Merle hated most of the people in the safe zone, none of them knowing how the real world worked any longer.
Glancing at Sam, Merle nudged her with his elbow and whispered, "You see all these wide-eyed fucks?"
Dipping her chin she asked, "What about them?"
"They got no fuckin' clue what's comin'."
"Is it real bad?" Sam asked, her pretty face turning up to look him in the eye. It was in the way she did when reading the inside of his skull like a open book, nothing got passed her. His wife was one of the sharpest people he'd met. The petite blonde was like a heat-seeking missile for bullshit and Merle couldn't lie worth a damn to her because of it.
"It ain't gonna be a walk in the park."
"Yeah, it's going to be a walk down the freeway with thousands of dead fucks following you." She huffed, as they left the house to return to their own. Merle's eyes narrowed as he peered over at her, the tone she had letting him know she was about to push her luck again.
"Don't start."
"Merle-." She began, her voice rising but still muted by his frustrated growl.
"I said. Don't. Start." He snapped, his heated blue eyes, narrowed and angry. "I ain't talking about this bullshit again, girl."
"I can help." Sam growled, her hands in tight fists. Merle looked her over, his gaze landing on the obvious shape below her shirt. It was becoming more and more obvious that she was holding precious cargo inside.
"You ain't coming with, not with my kid in ya." He rasped, pulling out a pack of smokes, before glancing down at her swelling stomach again. Sliding the pack back into his pocket with a sigh, Merle reached out and palmed her stomach. "This. Right here, is your job. You keepin' the lil' one alive is what ya gotta do. Ain't nothin' more important to me, sugar."
Sam sighed deeply, her hand covering his while leaning forward to press her forehead against his chest. "I don't want you out there without me." She confessed softly, her head grinding into his breastbone as though not close enough.
"Ya gotta stay here." Merle replied softly, his hand smoothing up and down her back. "If you're out there, all I'm gonna be doin' is worryin' 'bout ya."
"All I'm going to do is worry in here about you." she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Don't gotta worry 'bout me, sugar." Merle drawled gruffly, his hand cupping her jaw to tilt her face up. "I can take care of my damn self but Daryl will be with me too, ya know he ain't lettin' anythin' happen to me out there."
"I'm worried about both of you. I can't lose either of you."
"I know." He replied his voice hoarse yet gentle, his thumb tracing her bottom lip. "But it'll be a'right."
Merle had never been the soft one, his kid brother held that title, but there was something about Sam that brought it out in him. Ever since he found her in the Governor's little playroom, he'd been drawn to her. That connection had softened him in ways he would've ragged on Daryl for, until the cows came home. He had become a giant pussy when it came to his little wife, but he couldn't find it in himself to change a damn thing about it.
Kissing her deeply, Merle sank his hand into her hair and guided her closer with his blunt ended forearm. She was soft and yielding everywhere except her growing stomach, the shape of it making his chest ache with something pleasant, yet painful. He wasn't sure how but Merle felt like the luckiest son of a bitch on the planet. Not only had he found his brother after everything they'd gone through, but he had a wife and a kid on the way. Merle wasn't going to lose any of them for as long as he could help it, so Sam would be safe and sound behind the walls, while they took care of the herd.
"Once it's done, we'll start plannin' for the rugrat. Gotta get all that shit that kids need." He murmured against her neck, his lips brushing across the soft warm skin. "I'm gonna get ya whatever ya need too, sugar. I'll get ya whatever ya want."
"I just need you, old man." Sam replied her voice unsteady as his hand slid up her shirt to stroke the developing shape. Merle hummed into her temple as he stroked her stomach and ribs, his thumb sneaking underneath her bra to brush the soft skin. "Fuck darlin'. Lovin' all your curves."
"I'm getting fat."
"You're keeping our kid healthy and I'm findin' it hot as hell." He grumbled, nipping her jaw.
"Merle." She gasped, as his hand sunk into her pants and underwear to cup her wet folds.
"Fuckin' hell." He groaned into her neck as he found a slick, hot cleft waiting for him. Pressing a wet kiss to her heated skin he panted, "Shug, you're so wet. Why ya so wet?"
"You." His wife moaned, as his fingers smeared the arousal through her core.
The heat radiating from the tight hollow he wanted to bury himself in was overwhelming. "Me, huh? I get ya'll hot 'n bothered, sweetcheeks?"
"Always."
"Mmhm. I'm gonna take care of ya, sugar." He pulled back to look at her flushed face. Sam's cheeks were rosy, beads of sweat wetting the hair at her temples. "I'm gonna make ya cum so hard."
"Fuck, Merle." She moaned as his fingers slid inside her, plunging with a slow pace as his thumb pressed against her clit.
"Soon, sweet girl, soon. First I'm gonna ya scream."
Sam was already over being pregnant. She couldn't stand how big and awkward she felt and she was a few more months out from giving birth. The only thing holding her together was Merle's insistence that she was still not only beautiful, but capable. He trusted her to keep his kid alive and there wasn't much more in this world that Merle valued, other than blood. Sam would do anything to keep their kid safe and Merle knew that as well.
Leaving the bathroom after her millionth pee break, Sam rejoined everyone in the living room. She smirked when she found Daryl and Merle playing cards, the older brother goading his kid brother with blatant jabs at his manhood.
Rolling her eyes, she brushed passed them, kissing Merle's temple and murmuring, "Be nice."
"Ain't doin' nothin' but teachin' this poor excuse of a Dixon how t'play the game, sugar." He rasped, his eyes bright and smile taunting. "But Darylina's 'bout as sharp as a hog's nutsack."
"Oh you know all about hog's nutsacks, huh?" Sam quipped, before flashing Daryl a playfully smirk. "He ain't got shit."
"Goddamnit, Shug." Merle bellowed in frustration, throwing his cards down as Daryl collected the pile of cigarettes with a subtle grin. "That ain't no win, boy. That was a draw!"
Chuckling as she joined Michonne on the sofa, she sighed when she plopped down heavily. "Seriously, I'm not even close to pushing this kid out and I'm already peeing every five damn minutes."
Michonne laughed, bumping shoulders with her playfully. "Get used to it. It was like that the whole time for me."
Sam cringed inwardly but joined her friend by laughing softly. She'd never given her friends loss more thought than just the loss of a loved one. Now that Sam was pregnant, she couldn't understand how Michonne survived the loss her child. The idea of losing the baby she was carrying, before even meeting them was crushing. She couldn't imagine the pain it would be after giving birth and caring for them.
"Hey you okay?" Michonne asked, her brow furrowing, as Sam's expression must have fallen. Shaking her head slightly, Sam blinked away the tears burning her eyes and smiled shakily. "Hormones."
"Yeah get used to that too." Michonne chuckled, her grin wide and untroubled.
Merle watched as the Alexandrians ventured into the wilderness like one-day-old fawn, all wobbly kneed and dazed. Shaking his head, he sucked the last drag of his cigarette, before flicking it onto the sunbaked blacktop. Peering down the roadway, he could see the waves of heat blurring in the distance. There were a few dead heading their way but they wouldn't be a problem for another half-hour at best. Turning back, he hauled a piece of scrap metal with one arm, his sheathed limb balancing it with his bayonet. He sauntered passed two men carrying a similar piece together, flashing them a cocky wink as he did.
"Ladies." He drawled, rasping out a gruff laugh at their shocked faces.
Stopping at the newly construct barrier that would steer the herd away from the safe zone, he handed off the sheet metal to Abraham who tipped his wide chin towards the others. "Looks like they're learnin' to salsa while wearin' two left shoes."
Snorting at the big redhead, Merle retorted, "More like they each got a load in their shorts and nowhere to be."
Abraham bellowed, smacking Merle shoulder loudly only to stop instantly at the others cried for help.
"They're coming!" A man shouted, stumbling from the woods as a few dead headed their way.
"Jesus Christ, ain't you dumbfucks ever seen no meatbags before?" Merle grumbled, heading towards the group with his bayonet blade ready.
"Hold up." Rick drawled, placing a hand on his chest. "They gotta learn."
"Yeah, well they're greener than a leprechaun's ass, sheriff. Don't bitch to me later when we got a bunch o' holes to dig back home." Merle rasped, standing back to watch the mess unfold.
After what seemed like a lifetime, in Merle's opinion, the walkers reached the flailing group, who showed no knowledge of how to deal with them.
The others stepped in before anyone was hurt, but it showed both sides where everyone strengths were. As far as Merle was concerned, they were all more trouble than they were worth. He'd bet his remaining hand that Sam could out work and out fight any one of them, even being knocked up with a Dixon whelp.
The thought made him smirk, as they went back to work, the metal wall moving along quickly. He loved his wife, but goddamn if she wasn't the most stubborn woman he'd ever met. If he had a brain cell left in his head, he would lock her up until the kid popped its baldhead out. Keeping her behind the walls, safe and sound, had been near impossible. Not only had she wanted to help build the barriers, but also wanted to help the day of the shitstorm. Merle was not having it, not even if hell froze over would he let his wife and kid be a part of it.
Lighting another cigarette, he watched the others finish the last piece of metal, a few giving each other high fives or rough pats on the back. He grinned at Carol as she approached with lemonade, like some neighborhood soccer mom hydrating the team.
"Well, ain't you just sweet as pie." His gravelly rasp, heavy with sarcasm. "You got any cookies to go with that ice cold beverage?"
"Oh dear, I gave the last one to the gentleman who had a fright with one of those awful monsters. He had low blood sugar." Carol replied nicely, her small smile close to mocking.
Chuckling under his breath, Merle took the glass and gulped down the sweet but tart liquid before belching loudly. "Thanks, sugartits."
Carol's lips twisted into a frown, her eyes scanning the crowd before hissing. "Shove it, Dixon."
"I would but I'm a married man, sweetheart. Ya might wanna check in with Darylina, he ain't the bes' Dixon, but he'll get 'er done." He called after her, making her roll her eyes and walk faster.
"Leave her alone, Merle." Michonne grumbled next to him, her unamused eyes sliding to his. "Do you always gotta be a pain in the ass?"
"Oh come on. I was just teasin'. 'sides those two just need t'bump uglies already." He thrust his hips graphically, while wiggling his eyebrows.
Making a gagging sound, Michonne shoved him away, as he cackled with laughter. "Get outta here pervert and get back to your poor wife. Honestly I don't know how she puts up with you."
"Well, that's as easy as a fat girl on prom night, sugarlips. I can lay the pipe like nobody's business." He drawled, his blue eyes sparkling as Michonne trudged away with a signature scowl. Laughing gruffly, he climbed into the van taking everyone home. Smacking his hand on the passenger door, he drawled to Abraham, "Roll out, Sergeant."
"The dry run is tomorrow." Merle drawled, his hand sliding up and down Sam's nude back. He pressed a kiss to the side of her head and murmured, "You gonna be a good girl and do as I say?"
"Jesus, Merle. How many times do I gotta tell you? You're like a stray dog with a bone." Sam huffed against his chest, her breath warm and sweet despite her irritated tone.
"I'll ask ya as many damn times, as it takes for ya to get it through your thick skull."
"First, fuck you and second, yes, I'm staying inside. I won't leave and I won't do anything stupid. Happy?"
"Yeah, good girl." He rasped, chuckling as she huffed and puffed like an angry cub. "That's all I wanted t'hear."
"Yeah, well I've said a billion fucking times already, get the shit outta your ears, old man." She sneered, giggling as he tickled her side in revenge. "Stop!"
"Damn bratty lil shit."
Merle chuckled dryly, his rough laugh making her even more irritated. Curling an arm around her shoulders, Merle held on as she struggled to get away.
"Fuck off, Merle." Sam grumbled, halfheartedly fighting with him. Nuzzling into her neck and gently kissing behind her ear, Merle murmured gruffly, "Easy, shug. Easy. I'm just teasin'. Don't get all riled up, my lil' hellcat."
"Shuddup." She muttered, her lips twitching, as he kissed and nipped her neck.
"Awww. Come on babygirl. Don't be like that, ya know how I like y'all hot bothered. Your cheeks are all pink and mmm-mm, those titties. They're just heavin' 'n ho'in'." Merle's voice was lolling her into a haze, his fingers sliding along her arm and shoulder, down her back and around her waist. The digits travelled up the center of the curved stomach, between her breasts to eventually cup her neck and jaw.
"Mhmm. You're so damn beautiful when you're mad, sugar. Don't blame a man for lovin' ya like that."
Sam rolled her eyes, as Merle slowly grinned that crooked sly smile that let her know he was working her over and loving it. He had a silver tongue and he knew all her weaknesses. That southern drawl, uttered into her ear, filled with dirty sweet nothings got her going. He'd bet she was soaked between those lush thighs.
"You uh.. forgive me, sweetheart?" Merle spoke, his chin resting on his chest as he gave her his best sorrowful eyes. Chuckling, Sam pulled him closer, his forehead butting into hers. "Jackass."
Merle wrapped his arm around Sam's shoulders, pulling her into his chest while nuzzling into her neck. He took in her sweet scent and hummed deeply.
"Gonna miss ya today, girly." He rasped, his lips brushing along her jaw. "We should be back before dark though."
"You'll be safe?"
"Its just the dry run, shug." Merle drawled, sliding his eyes down her body. "Later we'll have a wet one."
Sam rolled her eyes at his teasing words, chuckling a little as he tickled her side. "Shush. Look just be safe okay. It's never a dry run out there."
Merle sighed, his hand sliding through her hair comfortingly. "A'right, a'right, sweetheart. I'll be safe."
Sam peered up at him and murmured, "That's all I wanted to hear."
Pulling away, Merle kissed her one last time before climbing into the truck taking a group to the quarry.
"See you soon, sugar."
"You too, old man."
Sam was lying down after having spent her morning on watch. Her feet and back ached from not only standing all day, but the added weight she now carried on her front. Rolling on her side she nestled into a pillow, the stuffing supporting her just right. Merle gave her shit about all the added fluff to their bed, complaining about feeling suffocated by the Michelin man. Sam never brought up the fact that he was to blame for it by searching and hoarding the collection to find the best fit for her sleeping issues.
'Fuckin' softie.' She thought with a quirked lip.
Sleep had just taken her when the sound of the front door being thrown open had her sitting upright. Instantly grabbing her handgun, Sam climbed from bed in only her tank top and sweat shorts. She walked barefoot to the door, pressing her ear against the wood. The sound of someone moving downstairs in a rushed fashion, as well as the echoes of breaking glass, made Sam aware they weren't family.
Grinding her teeth she caught herself looking down at her stomach before wringing the handle of her gun. If it had been a few months ago, she would've been out the door with her gun poised and ready. No fear, no hesitation. It wasn't then though and now Sam had something more important to worry about. With her ear still pressed to the door, Sam no longer heard anything in the home, an eerie silence took over making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
With her heavy panting and loud thudding of her heart deafening her senses, Sam steeled herself to open the door. She couldn't hide when her family could be dying.
'Don't let this be a mistake.' She murmured before slowly turning the brass doorknob, her hand slipping with sweat. One moment she was peeking through the crack and the next she was flat on her back. The door had flung inwards the moment she exposed her position. The heavy wood connected with her temple, the loud crack of its solid shape hitting her forehead rocking the woman dizzy.
"Ugh." She grunted as the back of her head smacked the ground, her gun clattering away and under the bed. Suddenly a man was on top of her, his dirty clothing and filthy hair flashing across her blurry vision. His hands wrapped around her neck as he snarled in her face. He spoke crazy words and growls that made no sense to Sam, as she fought for her child's life.
Her feet kicked out desperately, her hips arching off the ground, as he shook her violently. Sam's head bounced off the ground yet another time, her eyes clenching shut as the brain bruising hits repeated. She clawed at his arms and face, desperate to free herself from his clutches. In a last ditch effort, Sam jammed her thumbs into the man's eyes, causing blood to pour down her hands and wrists.
The wild man screeched in pain, his body rising up and away from her grip. She watched as he panicked, his hands swinging out at her, when he realized he was blinded. Sucking in jagged breaths, the injured woman struggled to inhale past her constricted throat. The burn of oxygen entering her throat had her grimacing while coughing.
Shoving away from him, Sam was just out of his reach when she watched him pull out a knife, his long arm slashing outwards. While dodging the swings and scooting away, Sam's leg touched his free hand, the man realizing where she was. In horror, she watched as his knife came shooting out and into her abdomen. Her stomach lurched as she felt the blade pierce her skin and stomach muscles with gruesome awareness, inch by inch sliding inside her.
Grabbing his wrist, she forced the blade out and away. Screaming a rage filled battle-cry she tackled the man, kneeing him in the groin and ribs while trying to steal the blade. She did never felt such unadulterated rage before.
They were wrestling for control, when Sam resorted to head butting him. Groaning in pain as her head took another beating, she wretched the weapon from him, before plunging it into his face and throat until her arms shook violently. She was sobbing as the adrenaline burned straight through her, her head fuzzy and vision spotty.
Shaking from head to toe, Sam stumbled away from the body, her hand touching her stomach in fear. Blood soaked her front but she couldn't tell what was hers and what was the assailant's.
There was another clattering downstairs, causing Sam to scramble for her gun, her body smearing blood all over the ground as she reached for it under the bed. Her fingers barely brushed the metal when feet came running up the stairs.
Aaron burst through the door, his eyes wild and body tense.
"Sam?" He gasped as he took in her blood-covered body. Struggling to her feet, she held her stomach and grunted, "I need a doctor."
The man paled as he realized her situation, the woman lifting her shirt to show the gaping wound now splitting the side of stomach.
"Jesus." He exclaimed, grabbing the closest fabric to shove against the wound. He picked her up carefully and quickly descended the stairs of the house and porch. His eyes kept jumping from her paling face, to the road in front of him. She could hear gunshots, yelling and the echoing sounds of the dead beyond the walls. Something had gone wrong and they were now surrounded.
"What happened?" She rasped, her voice sound frighteningly weak.
"Don't worry about that right now." He murmured, rushing into the medical clinic. "Denise!" He hollered, "we need you NOW!"
Sam had never heard Aaron so loud and forceful, it made her realize just how bad of shape she must be in. Things began to fade in and out, the sounds of voices and orders being called out. At one point she thought she heard crying but wasn't sure if she was doing it or not. Pain shot through her periodically, bright and sharp agony making her body arc off the bed. Eventually there was only darkness and a thick blanket of numbness surrounding her.
Merle crouched near the alleyway he saw Glenn and Nicholas run down, the two men followed by the stray herd. The echoing moans of the dead ricocheted against the brick walls making the cacophony of sounds rattle his head.
The dry run had turned into a disaster when one of the semi trucks holding the horde back slipped into the gully. The undead army, that had once been contained behind the barrier, was released a day early.
Merle's job had been to move along the opposite side of the woods as Rick, guiding any wandering dead back onto the blacktop. Everything had been going well, despite the early send off, until one of his team lost his footing and was overwhelmed by dead ones. Merle got the few others moving along, some of them however, became even more terrified after witnessing the death. His team broke up as two Alexandrians ran into the woods away from the approaching herd.
The blaring horn was when all hell broke loose, the horde wandering towards the sound. Merle's chest clenched as he realized it was coming from the direction of the safe zone. He'd radioed Rick for information but was told to keep rounding up the corpses. Despite he desire to run back home to Sam, Merle kept on task knowing if they all abandoned the mission, the herd would follow them back. He couldn't risk Sam's life because of the unknown threat when the very real one was biting at his heels.
He did what he could and had hit the rendezvous point he was to meet Glenn's team but found it vacant. Merle used the time to kill any deadfucks who came his way, leaving a trail of bodies through the tiny town. When he'd seen Glenn and Nicholas through the horde he was killing, they were running for their lives. It took him a while to get to the alleyway and what he saw, sent a bolt of fear straight down his spine.
Glenn and Nicholas stood atop a dumpster surrounded by dozens upon dozens of walkers looking for a meal. Growling at the sight, Merle looked around for a way to distract the herd but was torn from that thought as a single gunshot was fired. His critical blue eyes watched as Nicholas fell towards Glenn, his head blown to bits from a self-inflicted bullet to the brain. The coward had finally given up and as expected, took someone with him. Merle could feel his old black heart stop as Glenn fell into the horde of jagged maws, Nicholas's heavy body knocking him into the crowd. The sounds of ravenous monsters increased tenfold as they received a meal, the wet sounds of tearing flesh still audible over the ruckus. He could hear Glenn's screams reverberating over the horde's feasting.
"Motherfucker." He growled angrily, his eyes sliding shut a moment as he realized they'd just lost one of their own, someone who had been there from the start. Merle had grown to like the Asian kid, which he would never have admitted to before the change because of his prejudices, but now he didn't have that problem. Glenn was a good guy and a valuable member of their ragtag family. They would all feel that lose, even Merle.
Clenching his fist, he weighed his options. Merle could stay and see if there was anything left to bring home to Glenn's wife or he could save his ass and head home to his own girl. Sighing at the idea, Merle realized he had to try to bring home a body to Maggie. If he were in that position, he wouldn't want Sam rotting away in an alley like garbage. Grabbing a steel pole laying on the ground, Merle began making noise at the mouth of the alleyway, drawing the undead from the garbage bin at the end. He'd gotten most to follow him, while slamming the metal pipe against vehicles and street sighs. Once the majority were following, Merle jogged around the block and out of sight, his heavy boots taking him back to the alleyway. His bayonet blade took care of all the stragglers, slicing through the rotten heads and necks as though they were made of softened butter. He was splashed with gore and covered in sweat by the time he'd finished clearing the narrow alley.
In front of the dumpster was a huge blood stain, the stray pieces of meat were not recognizable as a human, let alone enough to bring home. Growling in anger, he kicked a stray can down the pavement.
"Goddamn coward fuck!" He shouted, his hand in a tight fist, as rage boiled straight through him. Nicholas had finally gotten Glenn killed. He had been insistent that Nicholas wasn't ready to be out beyond the walls, the coward had gotten too many people killed by running away and wasn't trustworthy. Merle hadn't thought too much of it, with it being a dry run, but now that the plan had gone to shit, he couldn't help but feel guilty.
A scuffle of loose gravel and the rattle of metal had Merle glaring at the dead held behind a chain-link fence. Thinking the noise was the biters, Merle strode over and began stabbing the leftover dead fucks, taking his anger out on the corpses clawing to get at him.
"Fucking meat bags." He growled when the last dead fell to the ground.
Merle was about to leave the alleyway when the same rustling of fabric and trash brought his angry eyes to the trash bin. Slowly a hand reached out from underneath and Merle's heart stopped for the second time. Walking slowly towards the pale hand, Merle grabbed the wrist and drug the body out thinking it was a stray dead one.
"Hol-ee shit boy." Merle rasped, his eyes taking in the sight below him. Glenn was alive, at least for now, his body covered in blood. "Ya bit?"
"No." He rasped, coughing through a dry throat.
"I cann't believe you fucking survived that shit." Merle chuckled roughly, helping Glenn to his feet. "You are one slipper little fucker."
Glenn looked down at the huge blood smear across the ground, bones, pieces of torn clothing and shoes seemed to be all that were left. "He killed himself."
"I saw. Pussy fuck." Merle sneered, looking around the area for the horde he'd out run. "We need to head home, something is happening there."
The sound of a window opening had both their heads turning upwards. Enid's young face popped out the opening, surprising both men.
"Enid?" Glenn croaked, wandering towards the building she disappeared back into.
"The fuck she doin' out here?"
"No idea, but we need to find out what happened back home."
When Sam woke her whole body felt numb, her legs heavy and arms liquid. Grunting as she rolled her head to the side she could tell it was now evening, the sun gone and the stars now out.
"Hey." A voice croaked from next to her and she found Rick propping his elbows on his knees. Sam blinked a few times trying to get her vision to clear up.
"Merle?" She rasped, her voice impossibly rough.
"Not back yet. There was a problem with the dry run." Rick drawled hoarsely, while sweeping sweaty hair from his forehead.
"Is he okay?" She choked, the words to hard to speak as the emotions of the day began to catch up to her. Sam wasn't sure who had attacked them or why but the idea that Merle was still out beyond the walls had her heart racing.
"Last I spoke to him, he was fine. You know Merle. He can handle himself out there."
Nodding once she swallowed thickly, "What happened?"
"The quarry's barriers failed. Herd was released early."
Cringing Sam asked, "Did it work?"
"It was until that horn went off. The people who attacked drove a truck into the wall. It's holding right now but we need to repair it."
"I didn't hear it. I was sleeping."
Rick nodded, his hands folded in his lap. "Yeah, I talked to Aaron."
Shifting her legs she began to feel the scorching pain in her abdomen, reminding her of what happened. A cold sensation swept through her veins as she looked back towards Rick. She noticed he avoided her eyes for a moment before he began to speak.
"The knife didn't hit anything important but ya lost a lot of blood." He paused, clearing his throat carefully. Sam felt her heart thudding painfully in her head and her eyes began to prickle. Deep down she knew what the man was about to say, she could see it in his eyes and feel it in her bones.
"I lost 'im?" She whispered, hoarsely.
"What?" Rick rasped before shaking his head, "Nah. Nah, Sam ya didn't lose 'im."
Sobbing once, Sam clamped a hand over her mouth and felt tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Oh sweetheart, m'sorry." Rick drawled, leaning forward to cup her face. He pressed his forehead against hers and assured, "Ya didn't lose the baby but the doctor's worried. She wants you on bed rest 'til ya ready to have 'er."
Nodding, she gripped Rick's hand and asked, "Promise?"
"Promise." He replied, smile softly before leaning back, "Gonna be ok Sam."
Nodding slowly, Sam relaxed back into the bed and glanced around the room. She saw a couple other people being tended to by Denise and heard the soft murmurs of their voices. Soon sleep over took her again, her body too worn out from the injury and adrenaline of the day to stay awake.
The town was surrounded by dead fucks and had been attacked by outsiders. Merle couldn't believe his damn luck. The place he'd left his wife because he wanted her to be safe and sound, turned out to be the real threat. He tightened his fist as he thought about the death trap his wife and kid were stuck in, the undead army beating on their doors and the savages that had attacked. Merle didn't even know if Sam was alive inside the steel walls and there was no way of finding out with the radio out of juice.
"What's the plan short stack?" Merle rasped next to Glenn as they stared at the walls surrounded by dead fucks. "They don't got much time left before they get in."
"Are you actually asking me?" Glenn replied with wide eyes.
"Well you're the sneaky fuck who can get out of just about everything." Merle drawled lazily, his eyes sliding over to Enid who stood with her arms crossed. "How the fuck did you get out?"
"I climbed the wall but we weren't surrounded like that." She muttered, her eyes flicking to the woods. "It doesn't even matter, their all dead anyways."
"Shut your mouth." Merle growled, his eyes raging at the statement. "My wife and kid ain't dead and if ya say somethin' stupid like that again, I'll smack that snotty look off your face."
"Merle." Glenn grumbled next to him. "Easy, she's just a kid."
"Ain't no such thing no more. She fuckin' knows better." Merle muttered, his angry eyes flicking back to the teen. "Ain't dead because we know how to survive. Not like these safe-zone pussies. My girl's alive in there and you're gonna help us get back inside. Got me, princess?"
"Fine." she grumbled, pulling out a handful of green balloons she found as they scavenged the meeting points. "Maybe we can use these to distract them?"
Sam was in and out of consciousness all evening and afternoon, pain from her side and head, making life miserable. Denise had tried to keep her comfortable but the anxiety of Merle being missing and the town surrounded by more dead than they could handle, had her more than a little stressed out. When more people entered the doctor's residence with frightened faces and weapons in their hands, Sam found out the walls had finally failed. She sat paralyzed with fear knowing if she needed to fight, it could mean the loss of her child.
"Stay in bed." Aaron ordered, his hand gripping her shoulder as she tried to sit up. "You can't move."
"I'm not going to lay here and be eaten alive, Aaron."
"You won't. I'm not leaving your side."
"But-."
"No buts about it." Aaron demanded, his eyes meeting hers with deadly seriousness. "I mean it. I'm not leaving your side and if they get it, I'm here to fight them off. Got me?"
"Yeah." She murmured, her hand resting over her swollen stomach. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. You haven't even seen what a terrible shot I am." Aaron spoke with a smirk, her lips twitching as she rolled her eyes.
"I heard you held your own out there when those bastards were attacking." She commented, sinking back into the pillow watching the others crowd around the windows.
"I did my best." He replied softly, his eyes slowly sinking as he confessed. "I think… I think it's my fault they came."
"What do you mean? How?"
"One of them had my bag, the one I lost while me and Daryl were out there recruiting."
Sam frowned at the mention of the mission gone wrong. Daryl and Aaron had almost died in a trap, only to be saved by Morgan. The people, who had climbed their walls, were the ones out rounding up survivors like stray dogs to be euthanized.
"It's not your fault."
"It is. You being hurt, your kid being almost…" Aaron trailed off, his eyes closing for a moment before opening to look at her with determination. "Nothing else is going to happen to you. I won't let it."
Glenn, Enid and Merle could only stand and watch as the walls caved inwards and the dead flooded their once secure community. Grinding his teeth Merle was only held back by Glenn's tight grip on his arm, both men watching as the ones they loved were possibly being eaten alive.
"We got to go now." Merle growled, yanking his wrist form the tight grasp. "They need us."
"They need us alive. " Glenn muttered, his breath catching as he caught sight of Maggie perched on one of the security watch towers. The wood was shaking with the strength of undead clawing at it, the unsteady perch making Maggie barely hang on.
"Shit." Merle grumbled, his face turning towards the asian man. "You ready to say fuck it and go?"
"Yeah." Glenn replied hoarsely, "Enid… I'll distract them, you help Maggie."
Without another word, Glenn was off running towards town. Merle followed closely, his boots slamming against the pavement as they took out walkers on all sides. Enid ran off to the side, climbing a bare spot of wall near Maggie. Merle was stabbing his way through a huge group of dead ones when he watched Glenn become almost overwhelmed by biters. He could do nothing but keep himself from being eaten alive, his bayonet blade stabbing through skulls and slicing of grasping hands. He was almost swallowed up by the dead when several gunshots blasted brain matter all over his face and chest.
Perched on a large fuel truck, Abraham and Sasha began shooting the dead surrounding both Glenn and Merle, the rapid gunfire distracting some of the horde crushing Merle into the steel wall. He caught sight of Daryl driving the truck, his hand outstretched firing off round after round into the undead fucks invading their home. The gunfire was making his ears ring but Merle did not stop plunging his blade into anything nearby. When the last corpses surrounding him fell, he panted out heavy breathes and stumbled through the piles of dead bodies.
He watched as Abraham backed the truck up to the lake near the edge of town and let gasoline pour from the back into the water. In confusion, Merle tried to climb over the large pile of dead in the way to find out what they were doing, but found himself near the walls crumbled shape.
A huge flash of bright light caught his attention and he found Daryl standing atop the large truck with what looked like a rocket launcher propped on his shoulder. The small lake in the center of town caught fire from the explosive round, the dead suddenly drawn to the huge blaze. Merle stood near the front end of the truck and watched as the shambling corpses lazily trudge into the water towards the flaming water.
"Where'd ya find that thang?" he rasped, his eyes rising to Daryl's.
"Piggly Wiggly." Daryl deadpanned, his eyes dropping to his older brother's. "Ya good?"
"Yeah… yeah I'm good." He muttered, his eyes drifting to the town. "Jus' hope Sam is too."
Sam was drifting off to sleep when the door to the house flung open, the knob slamming into the drywall. Merle's huge form filled the doorway, his shoulders rising and falling heavily as he huffed out heavy breaths. She looked over his blood covered body, his eyes so bright and blue they seemed to drill straight through her. His hand was balled into a tight fist and his blade was dripping blackened blood onto the floor.
"Merle?" she rasped quietly, her voice shaking with emotion.
"Sugar." He replied hoarsely before lurching forward to her side, his hand cupping her face as he brought his lips to her forehead. "M'sorry darling. I'm so fucking sorry."
"Shhh." She murmured, kissing his sweaty temple and cheeks before placing them onto his lips. "I'm okay. Peanut's okay."
"Coulda been killed. I shoulda brought ya with me. I shoulda stayed." He muttered, his eyes flicking over her prone shape, her injured stomach covered by blankets. Peeling them back he found her bare skin wrapped in bandages speckled with blood. They both looked down and silently let the knowledge that they had both been close to losing the precious cargo nestled inside her.
The walls had been climbed and toppled, the dangerous beyond wrenching its way inside. The Alexandrians however, despite their outward weakness, had banded together and fought off not only the living, but the dead. Many had died and many were injured but once again, the living had prevailed. The safe zone would survive, the walls would be raised and the group within would live on.
Thanks for reading and being so patient with me. Reviews are always welcome!