Out of the Woods (The Walking Dead)
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Merle walked through the forest, trying to track any signs of animals passing through. So far there was nothing. There was nothing for hours, so there wasn't anything to really teach to Suzy yet. He kept hearing her giggling behind him for the past half a mile, following Daryl grunting like he was straining himself. Every time he thought it was done, she'd giggle again and hear Daryl grunting. After another two rounds of hearing it in a row, Merle rolled his eyes and shook his head. He turned around and groaned.
"What the hell are you doing?" Merle asked, annoyed.
"Winning a bet," Suzy laughed. She was on Daryl's back while he walked in lunges, making him grunt again.
"Yeah, in your dreams. This is some serious piggyback right now," Daryl replied, taking a deep breath out and grunting into another slow lunge forward. Once he stepped forward to lunge with his other leg, he felt himself losing his balance due to the muscles in his legs weakening. Suzy tried cheering him on when she felt him wobbling towards the side. She yelped when he's knees gave in and they fell, having her roll off his back when they reached the ground. Daryl groaned in pain while Suzy laughed her ass off.
"That's half a mile!" She said.
"All right, you win." Daryl said as he picked himself up, slinging his crossbow back over his shoulder.
"Will you two knock it off?" Merle wailed. Their new little budding friendship was getting annoying real fast. He continued to complain and gestured to the trees in the distance, "Why don't y'all go off and bump uglies while you're at it?"
"Chill out, bro," Daryl replied, helping Suzy stand.
"We're just trying to have a little fun," Suzy said as she brushed herself off, "It's boring as hell out here. I bet he couldn't do that for a full mile."
Merle scoffed and went past them, commenting that he had to "piss like a racehorse."
"Y'all should get on huntin," Merle said while he peed on the nearest tree. Daryl took his crossbow in his hands and looked around.
"We've tried," Said Suzy.
"Yeah. There ain't nothin' out here but mosquitoes and ants," Said Daryl.
"Patience, little brother." Merle said, "Sooner or later, a squirrel is bound to scurry across your path."
"Even so, that ain't much food," Daryl sighed. Got that right, Suzy thought. To go across the three of them, they were going to need way more than one little squirrel.
"More than nothing," Merle shrugged while he finished his pee.
"Optimistic now, huh," Suzy smirked. He could hear the ever slight sarcasm in her tone and grunted.
"I'd have better luck going through one of them houses we passed back on the turnoff." Daryl commented.
"It's not a bad idea," Suzy replied.
"Is that what your new friends taught you?" Merle zipped up his pants, "How to loot for booty?"
"We've been at it for hours." Daryl shrugged, "Why don't we find a stream, try to look for some fish?"
"I think you're just tryin'ta lead me back to the road, man, get me over to that prison."
"They got shelter. Food," Daryl said, "A pot to piss in. Might not be a bad idea."
"You're not wrong," Suzy commented.
"For you two, maybe," Merle grimaced, "Ain't gonna be no damn party for me."
Daryl and Suzy silenced for a moment. Merle wasn't wrong either. There was a reason the three of them were out here in the first place. Nobody wanted him coming back there. She realized they still haven't even mentioned finding time to talk about what happened back in Woodbury. All the things he kept from her. She wanted to know if he ever planned on telling her at all.
"Everyone will get used to each other," Daryl finally said after a moment.
"They're all dead. Makes no difference." Merle said coldly. Suzy turned her head and glared at him as if to ask why would he say that. She saw how Daryl tensed up at that comment.
"How can you be so sure?" Daryl asked.
"Right about now, he's probably hosting a housewarming party. Where he's gonna bury what's left of your pals." Merle then spat and shrugged off what he just said like it was nothing. Damn...He's not wrong on that front either, she thought. After what happened the other night, there was no way the Governor was going to simply let it slide. He had to prove he still had the upper hand. Merle could be honest to a fault. Even though it was hard to hear, it didn't make it any less true. Daryl knew that just as well as she did.
"Let's hook some fish." Merle said as he walked off. He took hold of Suzy's arm and pulled her along, "Come on."
They walked in silence for a while. They let Daryl hang back while Suzy and Merle took the lead. He noticed the look she gave him before.
"You know I'm right," He said, breaking the silence.
"Doesn't mean it's right to say," Suzy replied, "You could learn a little something on selective honesty."
"It don't matter. He's gotta hear it. You and I both know our precious Governor is gonna be pullin' up to that prison guns a-blazing."
"Well there's nothing we can do about it," Suzy said, "Three extra hands aren't gonna make a difference will all the muscle he's got. They cut you loose remember?"
"I know," Merle frowned, "Why do you think I didn't turn around to go back there yet?"
"I tried fighting for you," Suzy gestured back to Daryl, "We both did. They're just not ready to forgive you yet."
"Yeah, I know," Merle replied. He then stopped walking and squatted down, "Get on."
"What are you doing?"
"We still got a couple miles to the creek. Come on," Merle said.
Suzy almost laughed and hopped on his back so he could carry her. He wouldn't say it, but he wanted to take his petty approach and show Daryl up for carrying her earlier. She didn't know whether it was jealousy, the competitiveness engraved in his personality, or a combination of both. Either way, it was funny as hell to watch. She turned and looked back and Daryl who was catching up to them. They discreetly laughed to each other, causing Merle to tell them to shut up.
"Easy now, Merle," Suzy giggled, "Don't act like there's something to be jealous of,"
"I know you didn't just say that," Daryl smirked.
"Nah," Merle said as they continued on, "Just tryin'ta show my little brother how it's done."
"Don't gotta show me nothin, bro." Daryl replied.
"I always gotta. It's my job."
"I'll tell you what I think," Suzy laughed, "Your bickering is already annoying as hell,"
"Get used to it, sweetheart," Merle chuckled.
They traveled a couple more miles through the woods. There was still no wildlife around as far as they were concerned, leaving the creek to be their best shot. It would also be a good place to stack up on water. They reached the end of the trees, all being able to smell the dewiness of the water up ahead.
"Smells to me like the Sawhatchee Creek," Merle said.
"We didn't go west enough," Daryl said, "There's a river down there, it's gotta be the Yellow Jacket."
"You have a stroke, boy?" Merle replied, "We ain't never even come close to Yellow Jacket."
"We didn't go west. Just a little bit south." Daryl retorted, "That's what I think."
"Know what I think? I may have lost my hand, but you lost your sense of direction."
"Yeah, we'll see." Daryl clapped back, making Suzy roll her eyes. This was the bickering she was talking about. Not to mention it always being Merle who started it.
"What, you wanna bet?" Merle said.
"I don't wanna bet nothing. It's just a body of water." Daryl groaned, "Why's everything gotta be a competition with you?"
"For real, though." Suzy muttered.
"Whoa, whoa. Take it easy, little brother. Just tryin' to have a little fun here. You too, Suzy. No need to get your panties all in a bundle."
A sudden cry in the distance made Suzy's head perk up. Daryl heard it too. It sounded a lot like a baby crying.
"You hear that?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah," Merle said while Suzy let herself down off his back when she heard the sound, "Wild animals gettin' wild."
"No, it's a baby," Daryl said.
"Yeah," Suzy agreed.
"Oh come on," Merle rolled his eyes, "Why don't you piss in my ear and tell me it's rainin', too?"
Suzy glared as he continued, "That there's the sound of a couple coons makin' love sweet love, ya know what I mean?"
He laughed even though he was the only one who found it funny. He smirked at her, but she walked away with Daryl.
"Oh come on, honey. Lighten up," He groaned, following them out of the trees. As they got closer, they could hear voices in the distance and screaming. Once they left the woods, they saw the water bed they were looking for with a bridge above. On the bridge they saw almost a dozen walkers going after what looked like a family, the sound of the baby coming from inside their car.
"Hey!" Merle shouted, "Jump!"
He laughed at his joke and Daryl ignored it completely. He immediately ran off to help with Suzy right behind him, immediately with two of her knives at the ready.
"What?" Merle whined and followed them, "Hey, I ain't wasting my bullets on a couple of strangers that ain't never cooked me a meal or felicitated my piece. That's my policy. You'd be wise to adopt it, brother."
Merle heard the scoff of disgust Suzy gave as the ran up the hill to the bridge.
"What?" He scoffed right back and shrugged nonchalantly, "You ended up doing both."
She glanced back to give him a nasty look. Tell him he's disgusting? Or be nice? This wasn't a conversation for right now anyway. Once she caught up with Daryl, they turned towards each other to come up with a plan. The strange thing was, they suddenly felt like there was no need for words to come up with a plan, hand signals, no call outs, anything really. He only gave a simple nod, which she returned. That alone confirmed exactly what they were going to do.
Daryl drew his crossbow and shot at a walker going after what looked like a father and soon trying to get higher ground on another car. At the same time, Suzy impaled the second one with her knife. Daryl took another arrow and used it to stab another coming up from behind. To give him time to reload, Suzy threw one of her knives at another one coming for them.
"Come on, man! We're tryin' to help you out, cover us!" Daryl called out to them. That encouraged the father to leap down and grab his gun he dropped and shot a walker coming for him.
Suzy drew another knife and threw it at another walker crawling on the car. There was another four trying to get inside. Daryl reloaded and shot the next then used his crossbow to bash the other's head in. Suzy removed her knife from one of their heads and tossed it at another across the bridge, while the man used his gun to shoot the one next to it. Suzy noticed Merle sitting on the sidelines just watching the way her and Daryl worked together. He noticed how seamlessly they did so like they were on the same wavelength. He realized that hours ago as a matter of fact. Plus the way they both ran up here to help without a moments hesitation. It wasn't exactly a realization he was thrilled about, but one he deep down always knew was coming. Needless to say, he was not surprised by it all once they reunited with Daryl. That alone made his inner thoughts start screaming at him again.
Daryl noticed a walker crawling through the open trunk of the vehicle and dragged it out, slamming the trunk door on its head, splattering its brains and blood everywhere. Merle helped by shooting a single walker to give Daryl space to run and reload. A walker lunged at Suzy from behind. She wrestled it to the ground easily then stabbed it in its eye. The man shot a couple more until his gun clicked, signaling he was out of bullets. Daryl reloaded his crossbow and shot another, Suzy tossing a knife at one going for the boy.
They noticed the man calling for help in Spanish, since his gun was now useless and the last walker just about had him. He tried fighting it off, but it did nothing to keep it back. Suzy grabbed a hold of it and turned it in front of her for Daryl, who quickly pulled out his hunting knife and stabbed it in the head. She pushed it against the ledge of the bridge and moved out of the way so Daryl could then kick it off into the water. They both looked at the man, not knowing what else to say. He didn't speak English, so they supposed they could just leave it at that. Merle pulled one of the dead ones off the car and opened the door to the backseat. The man yelled something at him, none of them knew what it was, but they knew it was something to protest what Merle was doing. Merle quickly drew his gun and pointed it at him.
"Slow down, beaner," Merle warned, "That ain't no way to say thank you."
"Let 'em go," Daryl said. Merle didn't move.
"Merle-" Suzy said sternly, anger in her voice. She could faintly remember the last time she saw him act this way. She didn't think that was who he was anymore. Was she wrong? Merle waited another moment before he scoffed and put his gun away.
"The least they could do is give us an enchilada or somethin', huh?" Merle joked, but there was definitely truth within it. Daryl and Suzy circled back around to that side of the car and looked at the man apologetically. Merle let himself into the backseat to start looking through their stuff like he had some sort of right to it. He noticed the mother in the front seat crying with her baby, "Easy does it, Señorita. Everything's gonna be fine."
"Hey!" The boy got down from the other car and ran over at the sight of Merle going through their stuff. "Hey!"
Suzy felt herself fuming at this point. Daryl looked at the man then back at her, like he was asking her what he should do, like he wouldn't do it unless they both agreed. She nodded her head, giving him the approval of what he did next. Daryl then lifted his crossbow and pointed it at Merle.
"Get out of the car," Daryl commanded.
"I know you're not talkin' to me, brother," Merle said, knowing he was indeed talking to him.
Daryl looked at the man, "Get in your car and get the hell outta here. Go, get in your car!"
Merle got out once the father and son ran to their car. The man started the ignition immediately and they drove off, Daryl continuing to point his crossbow at Merle's face. Merle glared and swatted it out of the way. Daryl grimaced and picked up his bag and walked off while grabbing any of his stray arrows. Merle glanced at Suzy who was doing everything in her power to not smack him right in the face. He saw her clenching her jaw in anger and sighed to himself. She shook her head at him in pure disappointment. She grabbed her knives out of the dead walkers and put them back on her belt and left to follow Daryl, not missing the sign that read Yellow Jacket Creek.
"What, huh?" Merle said, "You gonna say you're pissed at me?"
"Don't act like you don't know why we're both pissed at you," Suzy snapped.
"Don't you get snippy with me, girly." Merle snapped right back as he followed her. She attempted to ignore him.
"You're unbelievable," She muttered.
"And you, Darylina-" Merle said as he caught up to them, "The shit you doing, pointing that thing at me?"
"They were scared, man." Daryl sighed in response, trying to keep his cool.
"They were rude is what they were." Merle replied, "Rude and they owed us a token of gratitude."
"They didn't owe us nothin," Said Daryl.
"What, you still wanna act like you're with the Governor, lieutenant?" Suzy snapped. Merle gave a sarcastic laugh, not liking that comment at all.
"Oh-" He said, "Now I know why you're so goddamn annoying, sweetheart. You're just like your precious little boyfriend Darylina. Always tryin' to do what you think is right and damning me for everything I do, huh?"
"Shut up, man." Daryl groaned.
"Goddamn twins. You helping people out of the goodness of your hearts. Even though you might die doin' it-" Merle continued pushing their buttons, "Ay, Daryl. Is that something your Sheriff Rick taught you?"
That made Daryl stop in his tracks and turn to face him.
"There was a baby!" Daryl shouted. Merle shrugged.
"Oh, otherwise you would've just left them to the biters, then?" Both Suzy and Daryl knew what he really meant by that.
"Merle, drop it!" Suzy said sternly.
"Man, I went back for ya. You weren't there!" Daryl responded to his comment, "I didn't cut off your hand, neither. You did that! Way before they locked you up on that roof! You asked for it."
"You know what's funny to me?" Merle laughed and crossed his fingers, "You and Sheriff Rick are like this now. Right?"
Merle's expression then darkened as he fought with Daryl, "I bet you a penny and a fiddle of gold huh, that you never told him that we were plannin' on robbing that camp blind."
Suzy's jaw dropped when he said that. Her eyes widened at his words when she realized he wasn't lying. So was that his plan when he brought her back? Save her life, bring her back to that camp to expect something of her in return, only to rob that same camp and leave her behind like she was nothing? Was he even planning on telling her about that either? There was so many things he kept from her. Michonne, Glenn and Maggie, his plan of escaping Woodbury. Now this? She didn't doubt there was probably more to add to the list. Perhaps he never actually changed at all.
"It didn't happen," Daryl replied.
"Yeah, it didn't. 'Cause I wasn't there to help you!" Merle said.
"What, like when we were kids, huh?" Daryl got in Merle's face and yelled, "Who left who then?"
"What! Huh?" Merle yelled, "Is that why I lost my hand!"
"You lost your hand 'cause you're a simpleminded piece of shit!" Daryl yelled back.
"Stop it! Merle!" Suzy saw them now fighting each other and tried pulling Merle off, "Get off him!"
Without realizing, Merle easily shoved her away, knocking her on her ass while he got Daryl on ground and completely tore his shirt. She sat herself up and noticed it got really quiet. Merle gazed at the scars on Daryl's bare back. Both of them looked in shock, suddenly not feeling so angry anymore.
"I-I didn't know he was-" Merle stuttered.
"Yeah, you did." Daryl said, covering himself up and putting the strap of his bag back on his shoulder, "He did the same to you. That's why you left first."
Hearing that made Suzy tear up at the realization. She thought she noticed similar marks on Merle's back, felt them beneath her fingers, but he always made sure to hide them. He didn't want her to ask about them. She always assumed it was from other brawls he got into with other people that got him arrested. That's why he hates talking about his issues...
"I had to, man," Merle said as Daryl grabbed his crossbow and picked himself up. Suzy did the same and stood, brushing herself off, "I would've killed him otherwise."
Suzy stepped forward and stood in between Merle and Daryl who was walking away.
"Where are you going?" Merle asked.
"Back where I belong," Daryl replied. Merle frowned. Suzy never saw him get this emotional before. She could've sworn she saw his eyes watering up, like he was desperately trying not to show it.
"I can't go with you," Merle said. He hesitated, humiliated at what he had done, "I tried to kill that black bitch! Damn near killed the-Chinese kid."
"He's Korean." Daryl corrected. Merle scoffed.
"Whatever! Doesn't matter, man. I just can't go with you."
Daryl sighed, "You now, I may be the one walking away, but you're the one that's leaving. Again."
Daryl was gone in a flash. Merle put his hands on his hips as he thought. Suzy looked at him turning away from her then back where Daryl wandered off. Was this really happening? What was she supposed to do? She couldn't just let this happen. Should she go after Daryl and convince him to come back? She didn't want to force him. He made up his mind, he wants to go be with his new family. She couldn't stop that. But how was she supposed to convince Merle to change his mind? She didn't think she could do that either.
"You can go," He said. She turned to see him with his back still turned.
"What?" She asked, confused.
"I know you wanna go to that prison," He said, "You've been cooped up in Woodbury for too long, and that's on me. All of it is. You deserve to be with good people and that's what they are. If they're still there even. It's what you want, so go with him."
"Merle, it's not your fault," She said, coming over to him. She put her hand on his shoulder, "Will you look at me? I'm not mad at you anymore."
She gripped his shoulder and forced him to turn around. Now she could see why he didn't want to look at her. He was crying. She never saw him do that before. She was starting to think he wasn't capable of it. Why shouldn't he? As far as he knew, he just lost one of the most important people to him and the next was on her way out right after. He was telling her to leave him out here alone because of everything he did.
"You know I'm not going anywhere," She said softly, softening her hand on his shoulder. He only looked ahead through the trees instead of at her, "I know you don't like listening to me, but can you make an exception just this once?"
After a moment or so, he nodded at the ground. She sighed.
"You mean more to me than anyone in the world now," She said, "And you always will. Sorry to disappoint you, but nothing can ever change that. You also know I'll follow you anywhere, but listen. If you want to see Daryl again or have any kind of relationship with him, you need to put your differences with Michonne and Glenn aside. They'll need us because you're right. The Governor is probably on his way there right now or is there already. If you can't, then we can go anywhere you want. I don't care where. But if I'm setting foot in that prison, it's gonna be with you by my side. Deal?"
Her hand traveled down his arm and down to his one hand. His fingers linked with hers tightly and he nodded his head. He knew she was right. Now that everyone's had the chance to cool down, perhaps there was a chance for Rick to change his mind, especially if they returned to help them fight the Governor. Merle suddenly took her into his arms. He gave her the chance to go and she chose to stay there with him. What did he do to deserve someone like her? He didn't think he would ever have a good answer to that question. He knew he did nothing good to deserve her. Why couldn't she turn around and run off to the prison with Daryl? It's what was better for her, but no. She insisted he go with her. He didn't deserve it.
"Let's go," He whispered into her ear. They separated and he took her hand to have her follow him. As they walked, he removed his hand from hers so he could drape his whole arm around her shoulders and kiss the side of her head.
"What would I do without you?" He said, making her giggle.
"Shrivel up and die," She said, making him laugh with her. He remembered when he said that to her so long ago. He was so sure of that now. He couldn't live without her or Daryl in his life. That's why she was right. He just got Daryl back and went through so much to have that happen. It couldn't be in vain. He had to not be himself for a moment and put his ego aside to make things right with his little brother.
"Daryl!" Suzy called out once they caught sight of Daryl up ahead. He stopped and turned around at the sight of both her and Merle coming up to him. Suzy went ahead and gave Daryl a much needed hug. He returned it with a single arm, knowing just as well he needed it too. Once he pulled away, he gave Merle a nod.
"You change your mind?" He said. Merle nodded.
"I'm not losin' you again, baby brother," Merle replied, "Come on. Let's save your friends."
The three went off with Daryl leading the way to the prison. They quickened their pace, knowing time was probably of the essence. After a short while, Daryl commented how they must be at least a mile out at that point. As they got closer, they began hearing gunfire, drawing walker after walker over to where it was coming from.
"They're all over us!" Merle shouted. He couldn't keep trying to bash the heads in with just his prosthetic. While Daryl and Suzy killed the ones surrounding them, he searched around for something he could use. He knocked a biter out of the way and slammed his prosthetic in its head. Next to the corpse, he took notice of a metal copper pipe on the ground. He picked it up and ran over to assist Suzy and Daryl in clearing a path to the prison. Most of the walkers towards the end of the trees were too interested in the sound of the gunfire to notice them. They knew it was coming from the prison. The Governor was making his grand entrance.
As they got closer, they caught sight of the prison gates. Daryl reloaded his crossbow and led the way. Those things were crawling all over the fields at this point. When they observed a group of walkers outside the gate, they saw them swarming someone. Who was outside the gate?
"Rick-" Daryl grunted, aiming his crossbow at the one getting close to chomping Rick's face. Suzy grabbed one of her knives and tossed it at the one coming for Rick from the side. At the same time, Daryl shot his arrow, killing the biters and giving Rick sight at the three of them running out of the trees. Merle gripped the copper pipe and took out another biter coming for Rick. Now free, Rick clocked his silver python and shot down other walkers coming from the trees. The four of them worked together until every single biter on the outside of the gate was dead. Suzy turned and saw Martinez running through the trees, away from the prison. They came, did their damage and fled.
Rick nodded to Daryl to thank him for coming back and saving his life. He turned and looked at Suzy and Merle, all four of them catching their breath from the ordeal. They turned their attention to the inner fields of the prison. It was now crawling with walkers, undoing all the work it took to clear it in the first place. She wanted to say she was sorry, even though it wasn't her doing.
"You came back," Rick said to Daryl as they looked at the field through the gate.
"Couldn't let you do this alone," Daryl replied. Rick nodded and patted his shoulder. He turned his attention back to Merle and Suzy, gesturing for Suzy to come closer. He gave her a pat on her shoulder to thank her.
"Come on, let's get inside." Rick said. He gave a glance back at Merle, "We'll figure this out."
Suzy didn't know what to say when he said that. They finally earned their right to stay. The three followed Rick back to the prison to talk with the rest of the group. She noticed the judgmental glances from everyone as she passed. Maggie, definitely Glenn, Michonne, that lady Carol she remembered from the camp, and that little kid, Carl. Well, he looked bigger now. There were a lot of people missing and a lot of new people she'd never met before. She hoped this would be easy, but now she wasn't so sure. Did she and Merle really belong here? She hoped so. This was home now whether they liked it or not. It was like Rick said.
They had a lot to talk about.