What Can You Do?
Disclaimer: I would like to thank everyone again for the reviews, followings, and favor. So please keep the reviews coming and I only own the OC.
If there are any A/N in this chapter, they will be marked(*) and the meaning behind them will be at the bottom.
Thank you to Darkangelfirekitsune for being my beta.
Chapter 11
The first couple of days there was nothing for the group to do, while they waited for Merle to get better. They were hoping that he would tell them where his brother was, so a small group could go get him, and once Merle was well enough to travel, they would continue to make their way towards North Carolina. But he refused.
He kept mumbling, saying that his brother would not believe anything anyone said. That he was just as bad as old Merle was. Everyone in the group was frustrated; they just wanted to continue on their journey. With winter coming, the group wanted to have a place semi set up before then.
With the brake, everyone tried to relax. Something that they were not able to do since the dead started to walk. Unable to move and not having to fight for their lives, it let everyone think and process what had happened, so far. With nothing really going on everyone sat and talked about what to do once they got to the gated community. Realistically they knew that there was a chance that it had fallen or was too much of a risk, but it was a start and it gave them a little bit of hope. It was at this time they started to plan their next steps. The plan they came up with, would mean that it would be slow and time-consuming, but the group felt good about their decision.
It was on day three that Merle was able to keep down what he ate with no nausea and move around, with bearable pain, that everyone was happy. It meant that they could continue soon. They knew that he still had a while to go before he was fully healed, but happy none the less.
That night, over supper, Harry told the group members that in the morning, Him, Merle, and Arika were going to leave to find Merle's brother. Things were finally looking up, a little. It was what everyone needed. That night after supper Arika and Harry went to bed early since they were leaving right at sunrise. Wishing everyone a good night they went into the tent and checked their bags, to make sure they were ready to be grabbed in the morning. Harry looked over at Merle who was already on his cot sound asleep. His bag next to him just waiting for its owner to grab.
Crawling onto their claimed cots they wished each other good night before sleep claimed them. What felt as if a blink of an eye, Luna was waking them up signaling that it was time to start their trip into town. Getting up the three of them grabbed their bags, while George and Bryan handed each of them a couple of granola bars and their water bottles. Saying bye, the three set off.
It was a slow start, but by the time they were all fully awake, they were making great time with only having to stop, for a couple of brakes. By midday, Merle said he knew where he was and had them change directions. Making sure that the street was clear he walked up to a truck. Taking out his knife he raised up his left arm and brought the hilt down breaking the window. Arika and Harry tried to stop him, but it was too late. They each grabbed their knives ready for the alarm to sound and a horde to start making its way towards them, but when no alarm went off, they both let out a breath. Merle seeing their faces and actions let off a little laugh.
"What? Ay know what I'm doing," Merle said with what Harry was starting to call Merle's signature smirk on his face.
"That is great, but next time let us know before you give us a heart attack," Harry said glaring at him.
"What? The 'larm wasn't set an even if it was, we were going have ta steal a car ta get ta the quarry anyways. So, what is the big deal?" Merle continued.
"What do you mean we were going to need a car to get there anyway? Why did you not say that at the beginning?" Harry asked going from annoyed to pissed.
"Cause ay just thought of it. That's why." Taking in a couple of deep breaths Harry walked away before turning and glaring at Merle.
"Is there anything else you fail to mention? And if I was you, I would think before I say anything because if you piss me off too much this will turn from getting your brother to dropping you off with him," Harry said with irritation in his tone. Merle looking at Harry saw that he was serious and raised his hand up in surrender.
"S'rry, princess. Didn't think it was that big a deal. If we get there and it's night, we could just crash with the assholes an leave in the morning. Ay promise they wouldn't mind 'specially if it means that Daryl and ay are leaving."
"What, not everyone's favorite?" Arika asked, a small smirk on her face.
"Enough," Harry shouted.
"I am taking it that you know how to hotwire that if there are no keys correct?"
"Ya."
"Good. Do that while Arika and I talk," Harry said motioning from Arika to walk with him. Nodding her head Arika started to follow Harry as he was walking away. Once they were far enough that they could still see Merle, but he could not listen in, Harry turned to look at her.
"I know you dislike him and right now he is my least favorite person. He is an asshole, but we agreed to give him a chance. Can you lay off just a little? I am not saying that his old group was the worst or that he was any better with them than us, but they did chain him to a roof and left him to die. It sounds weak, even to me, but I think he is trying to see where his boundaries are. I'm not giving him an excuse, but we don't know him," Harry said frustration coloring his tone and face. Letting out another lungful of air, she looked up at the sky then back down at Harry.
"I understand, but he just rubs me the wrong way. We have wasted to much time and supplies dealing with him. He says that he can be useful to us, but we still have to wait for him to heal to see, and by then we might as well keep him. And what about his brother? I can bite my tongue with one but two. I don't know if I can do that," Arika said just as frustrated as Harry.
"I understand. With the way, he talks and acts it rubs me the wrong way also, but I do believe that a back-water redneck from Georgia will be able to pull his weight, and if his brother is as capable as he is then we should be good. But I promise that if I think that it will not work, you and I will get far enough away from them to appriate. Leaving them. I will not let anyone into this group that will put us in danger, again. We said that we would give him and his brother a chance, so we need to," Harry said seeing the understanding set in on Arika's face.
"Agree. Don't like it but agree. I am just giving you a heads up that if he says or tries anything, I will punch him the fuck out." Letting out a laugh Harry raised his hands up in surrender.
"Fine. Just let me know before you do. I hate this. I don't want anything bad to happen, but we can't live with just the five of us for the rest of our lives. Not saying that it would not be fun, but a man has needs that none of you meet," Harry said raising one of his eyebrows up along with a corner of his mouth. This caused the tension in Arika to release the rest of the way along with a laugh. Still giggling and shaking her head; she turned around and started to walk back towards Merle.
"Just to let you know most of you do nothing for me either," she said over her shoulder at him. Shaking his head Harry followed her to find Merle sitting in the driver seat waiting for them.
"So, we done with the feelings talk now?" Merle asked trying for a raise.
"Yep and I don't get to kill you…yet," Arika said motioning for him to get out of the seat. Hearing this Merle's eyes went wide before he let out a laugh.
"Who knows we might get along girly. Get in ay'm driving since ay did the hard work of getting it runnin' and know the way," Merle said not moving.
"Yes, but I am not the one with a fucked-up wrist now am I. So out cowboy. You can sit in the passenger seat and boss me around this one time. This one and only time," Arika said her face going from playful to serious. Merle looked her in the eyes and a staring match started. Harry jumped into the bed waiting to see if they could end it between themselves, without him stepping in. Merle finally smiled a little before motioning for Arika to move back before getting out of the driver seat.
"It's all yours. Hope you can get us there in one piece," Merle said while walking to get in the bed of the truck. Lifting the handle to lower the tailgate down and he sat on it.
"You either need to go sit in the passenger seat or make your way up here. Can't really give directions from back there," Arika said shaking her head.
"Ay'm workin' on it," Merle said in anger.
"Go sit in the front seat. Your wrist is still healing, and it will be faster than waiting for you to make your way up here," Harry said.
"Ay can still pull my weight don't worry about me," Merle said anger still in his voice.
"That is great, but you are healing and if you hurt yourself it will take longer. We are giving you a chance, so stop being an asshole and worrying. We are not going to kick you out anytime soon as long as you don't do something stupid," Arika said getting into the front seat and shutting the door.
Surprise made its way onto Merle's face. He was shocked to hear that from her and not Harrison. Getting off the tailgate, he picked it up with his good hand and shut it before walking over to the passenger side door and getting in. After shutting it behind him, he side-eye Arika before letting out a huff and started to tell her where to go. Starting the car, she started to follow what he said.
"I will get us there in better shape then if you were driving, by the way," Arika said after she started on a dirt road, causing Merle to let out a true laugh. Harry sitting in the bed was looking around, keeping watch when his sight landed on the sky a smile started to form on his face, he closed his eyes for a second and thought that this might work after all.
~~~~~~~~Slytherin~~~~~~~~
A/N-Also if anyone has any questions about the story please ask.
I am sorry that it took forever and a day to post this chapter. I have been writing and rewriting this chapter for longer than I want to believe. I am finally happy with it and I hope you guys enjoy it. Again sorry for the wait.
KK
~~~~~~~~Ravenclaw~~~~~~~~
Special thanks to:
blaketiger
DiLayla
RainRaven
Secret Fantasy Reader
blue moon
kaose
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