Falling into the Undead

Chapter Four

Merle Dixon Doesn't Care

So, I'll be updating every Sunday. It works out better for me. Weekends have been busier for me than normal and I don't see that ending any time soon. So, Sunday nights have been the only nights where I get to sit down and chill out.

Merle gets a lot of screen time here. Honestly, I don't know how or why he took over as he did, but I love writing him.

Please, enjoy!

Be not so nervous

be not so frail

Someone watches you

you won't fail

Be not so fearful by A.C. Newman

Her mind felt foggy, and her body hurt, mostly her head, but that wasn't what caught her attention. She had been dragged from her slumber by the growling dog who had shoved her sleeping body over on the couch. Remington was now laying half off, her head spinning, as she softly shoved at Nala who was standing on top of her.

"Nala, down girl," she said, her voice raspy. The dog ignored her, focused on whatever was happening on the other side of the glass. "Nala."

"You shouldn't curse in front of her," Landon's voice drifted from outside. It was raised in pitch, frightened, but determined to be brave. Remington frowned as she tried pushing herself up into a sitting position. The weakness in her limbs made it hard, and she worried about the haziness of her mind. Why was Landon outside? Hadn't she mentioned that they weren't allowed to leave the cabin? She couldn't have been out long, and the kids had always followed her instructions without a fuss.

"Maisie," she called out, her voice hardly at a normal level. Her eyes darted around the room, but she saw no sign of the girl or Pixel. "Fuck." Was she outside as well? Narrowing her eyes Remington forced the dog off her as she slowly picked herself up from the couch. It was slow work, and once on her legs, the world tilted on its axis, throwing her out of balance. Nala abandoned her task of barking at the window as she helped steady the woman from falling over. It was hard to stay on her own two feet but by gripping at the wall she managed to slide across the room toward the door. Twisting the door handle Remington hastily pulled it open as she heard the voice of a man replying to Landon. It sounded familiar, but in her fever-induced haze, the name slipped from her memory.

Stumbling through the door she heard how the wood slammed against the side of the building, but it sounded far away in her ears.

"Who ta fuck are yah?" came the deep voice of the male from before. His southern drawl was thick, and alarms began to go off inside her mind, but she pushed them aside as her eyes landed on the two children who stood in front of the man. Landon had pushed the smaller girl behind him, standing defiantly between the two. Pixel was at his side, his hackles raised, and a growl low in his throat.

"Get away from them," she tried to say but the words were weak as she stumbled down the steps and across the lawn. Her eyes were focused solely on the children, missing what the men looked like, and in her daze couldn't focus on more than one task at a time. Right, this instant she thought it was far more important to get them away from him first. Her hands gripped their shoulders, tugging them behind her, but the action caused her to be pulled off balance again, as she barely caught her footing. Landon's hands shot out to help her, and she gripped his arm to steady herself.

"Yah bit or something," the man grumbled, his voice growing cautious.

"Not bit," Landon said quickly. "She came back yesterday. Hit her head."

"Yesterday?" she whispered. Her body swayed a bit. "No. I was only out for a bit."

"It's been over a day, ma'am."

"Momma," Maisie said. "They're here to help you." Daryl shuffled wondering what the hell was going on. If Merle had his way they were here to steal from the poor family, but his stomach was clenching, and he didn't like what was going on. The little girl was causing him to be uncomfortable. The whole situation was.

It was growing hard to think, Remington had yet to catch a good glimpse of the men but had heard the quiet mutterings of the second male. Her fingers curled around the gun at her hip, the only thing she had taken the time to grab on her way out. Behind her Nala had stalked out from the house, coming to stand beside Maisie as she growled low in her throat.

The first male whistled.

"Seems ta me if you're not bit we should make ourselves a deal. Yah hear?"

"Get off my property," Remington said, ignoring the fact that she didn't own anything here.

"Yah got plenty of protection 'round here," he said, trying again completely ignoring her. He had an agenda and wasn't planning on leaving without it. "Why don't yah give us that beaut of a dog there, and we'll call it a fair trade."

"Fair trade?" Landon said, grunting a bit as Remington's weight leaned more on him. "We don't want to give him up, mister."

"Fair trade," Merle said confirming. "I take the dog and nothin' else."

"Merle," Daryl scoffed, his stomach flipping as the little girl's blue eyes landed on him.

"Are you trying to take Pixel?" she asked, a frown forming on her lips as her lower lip began to quiver. "You can't have him!" Her voice had risen as her tiny fingers clenched into a fist. She took a step forward, Landon missing her by an inch as he tried to balance Remington. "He's my dog! I love 'em!" She grabbed at the dog, hugging him around the neck, as Pixel placed himself more firmly in front of the girl. He grew more hostile at the realization that she was upset because of the man in front of them.

"Maisie!" the sound of fear and disbelief filled Remington's voice, her fingers spasming, but she was too weak to grab at the girl herself.

"Now listen here, girlie-."

"No!" She stomped her little feet. "You're just a meanie! You should be helping us! I thought you were nice."

"Just yah listen," Merle said. "Merle ain't in no way a 'nice' guy."

Remington could feel the panic growing inside her mind as her lungs screamed for air. Her eyes widened as her head shot up, away from the back of Maisie's head, to look at the two standing in front of her for the first time.

"Merle, man, let's just leave 'em alone," Daryl said. "She's got kids and is sick. Let's just go back to camp." He wasn't sure why he was speaking up, he never had before, but that little girl's sad eyes pulled at his heartstrings and had an unfamiliar emotion taking over.

"Darlena yah need ta shut that fucking mouth of yours before I do it for yah."

Landon finds himself sweating as he was now taking most of Remington's weight, feeling as her body begins to shift, as he yelped out a startled cry.

"Remi!" He scrambled to regain his hold over her.

"Momma!"

Breaths were leaving her at a fast pace as she continued to stare at Merle. He frowned at her, finding himself a bit creeped out.

"Merle Dixon?" Remington said out loud before she could stop herself. "Oh, shit."

"Do I know yah or something sweet cheeks?" His eyes trailed up and down her body. He was frowning, growing curious about the woman and her daughter. Both seemed to know who he was, but Merle was certain he had never seen her before. There was something about her eyes, and her body, that told him he wouldn't have forgotten a night with her.

Remington is trying to wrap her fevered mind around the fact that she was in The Walking Dead. Somehow, they had been placed within the show, and Remington wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. As Merle tried to question her about how they knew each other her vision began to grow dark. The last thought she had before passing out was that at least the kids were safe. Landon's grip faltered, the dead weight far too heavy for him to keep up, and she came tumbling down hitting the ground hard.

"Momma!" Maisie hollered out, her grip slipping away from the dog, as she ran over toward her mother. Tears began to fall from her eyes as she began to shake the woman's shoulder. "Momma! What's wrong, Landon?! What's wrong with momma?"

Landon grabbed at her, gently pulling her away, his fear from earlier coming back full force. She just dropped. What if she died? What if she becomes one of them?

"Get back inside, Maisie," he ordered. "It's not safe out here."

"No! I want my momma!"

He began to tug at her arm, pushing her toward the cabin, but the little girl refused to go, her hands gripping harshly at the unconscious woman. Merle, who had been eyeing the scene could only frown, his eyes landing on the dog, but his curiosity about the little girl and mother had him far too interested to just take the dog and leave them. He ignored the emotion deep down in his chest about how the little girl had amused him, and it triggered some kind of protective instinct he didn't realize he had.

"They're just kid's brother," Daryl said. "We can't just leave 'em alone."

"Yah, supposed we can't," Merle said as he smacked his lips. "Yah got some food round here. I'd give mah right nut for some grub." Landon glared at the older man; his arms wrapped around Maisie who was still crying as she stared at her mom.

"You can't curse around her," he stated again.

"Y-you sure curse a lot, Mr. Dixon," Maisie said, remembering his name after her mother had muttered it. She remembered seeing him but mostly his brother when Remington would turn on the television every Sunday night. She remembered another little girl would always call the younger one Mr. Dixon and figured it was the right thing to do. Her mother always said to be respectful.

"Supposed I do." He eyed the kid before waving at her to come closer. "Why don't we git your momma inside and yah show me where the good stuff is? Kids know that shit, right."

"Are you gonna help her?" Maisie tugged herself away from Landon. The boy let out a huff of annoyance as he glared at the stranger.

"We'll get her inside, kid," Daryl said, moving past his brother as he knelt down to check her pulse. "She's alive."

Merle didn't say anything as he scooped up the unconscious woman, ignoring the distrustful glare from Landon, as he knocked his boot against the girl's shoe. Pixel and Nala had begun to growl, their snarls filling the air, as Pixel moved to lunge threateningly forward.

"Why don't yah call off the mutts, girl," he said, nodding toward them. Daryl had raised his crossbow in defense.

"We can't trust them," Landon said.

"Yes, we can," Maisie said confidently. The tears had begun to dry up as she wiped at her eyes. "Momma trusts them."

"We can settle in and while we eat yah can tell me all about how yah know good ole' Merle," Merle said as the girl turned to the dogs. She raised her hand and immediately made a slashing motion, signally for them to ease up. However, she did not make the sign of trust even though she felt that she could trust them. That was for her momma to do. Only her momma could make that decision. For now, the dogs would calm down, but they would continue to be on their guard around the new men.

Maisie raised her hand and tugged lightly at Merle's shirt as she began to walk toward the cabin door.

"We can't just let them in!" Landon said. "We don't know 'em."

"Momma does," Maisie said with a shrug. "Momma would let them in."

"Your momma isn't even awake!" Landon said, growing frustrated with the girl and the decisions being made.

"Hush, boy," Merle said as they crossed over the threshold. "How else are yah gonna get the woman inside." Landon clamped his mouth shut as he stubbornly crossed his arms and leaned against the wall right beside the front door. Daryl was the last to walk in, his eyes searching the woods, making sure nothing had noticed all the yelling and drama that had just taken place.

"Place her on the couch," Landon said. "That's where she sleeps. I doubt she'll be up again before Maisie goes to sleep. She won't like it if she knows she took the bed from us."

"All right, now you're bein' helpful." Merle followed the instructions placing the woman on the couch before turning around to size the place up. "Girl where's the food." He turned to silence the boy before he could even talk. "Now, listen here, we're being nice helpin' yah out while your momma is sick. Not right leavin' a couple of kids ta fend for 'emselves. Anything could happen."

Daryl ignored what was going on between his brother and the kids. He wasn't being a complete ass, so Daryl left him to it. He eyed the outside through the window. The bigger dog, the one built like a tank, came to stand next to him. She had lifted half her body up onto the side table so she could stare out the window, almost as if she was keeping watch for danger as well.

"Only about an hour of sun left," Daryl said, as his gaze drifted up to the sky. "No point in trying to make it back to camp tonight. Won't make it."

"And you're a dumb fuck if yah try ta travel in the dark," Merle said, grinning down at Maisie. "One of 'em Walkers might grab yah."

"I don't like them," Maisie whispered. Merle found himself frowning, not sure why he was still talking to the kid, instead of taking what he wanted. He was hungry, and tired from a day of hunting, with nothing to show for it. Where he should have ignored her as he began to search the place, Merle found himself entertaining the girl.

"Not so scary when yah know how to deal with 'em." Maisie frowned, her brows furrowing, as she thought over what he said. "Now, girlie, yah owe me some food."

Not responding vocally Maisie grabbed at the bottom of his shirt and began to lead him over to the kitchen. Opening up one of the cupboards under the counter she showed him where a part of their food was. It was only a week's supply. Remington had left a couple of weeks' worth in the car, and the rest she had hid out in the drums out back. She had stated it was for emergency use and was just smart if someone were to come poking their nose around the cabin. If they found part of it the small family would still have more. Maisie didn't quite understand it all, but she did know enough that she shouldn't say anything to this man. Her mother may have known him, but even she knew that Remington wouldn't have told him about the other hiding spots, so she wouldn't as well.

"Darlena, get that stove started up," Merle said, as he began to rummage through what they had.

Daryl sighed but did as told.

Maisie stared at them with interest as Merle grabbed a squirrel and plopped it down on the counter.

"Watcha gonna do?"

"This sorry piece of crap is gonna be our dinner ta night," Merle said. "Not much, but slim pickin's out in ta woods lately. Y'all got enough here ta make a stew." Maisie scrunched up her nose at the idea of squirrel stew.

"That sounds gross."

"Yah won't be sayin' that when yah stomach's full."

Even though she had stated how gross it was Maisie stood there and watched in fascination as he gutted and skinned the animal. Well over an hour later there was a pot only a quarter full of stew, not enough to be completely satisfying for the number of people in the room, especially when Maisie insisted on saving a bowl for her mother, but it was enough.

"It wasn't completely gross," Maisie said, as she licked the spoon clean of the last drop.

"What I tell yah." Merle licked the bowl clean. "Tell me girlie, how do yah know ole' Merle?"

Maisie frowned as she absently began to pet Nala. Even at four, she was aware that maybe she should wait for her mother to explain. It sounded strange in her mind when she thought about seeing these two men on the TV. Would they believe her? Or would they think she's just being imaginative?

"I just remember seeing you," Maisie said avoiding the dog trying to lick her. "You're familiar. From before."

It wasn't much of an answer, but Merle simply stared at the girl, the bowl still in his hand, as he rolled the spoon between his fingers.

"What's your momma's name?" Maisie frowned, scrunching up her face, she knew what her mom's name was, but it was a bit of a mouthful. It was hard for her to pronounce on a good day. Now she was put on the spot to get it right so that they would know.

"Re-rem-remton," Maisie tried, her mouth forming the words, but she got mixed up as it came out. The frown on her face began to grow.

"Remington," Landon said softly.

"Yeah!" Maisie crowed in happiness. "Remington Solace! And my name is Maisie Solace!" Merle nodded at the information, his gaze wandering over toward where the mother was still sleeping.

"I think yah momma and I have lots ta talk about when she wakes up."

"Do you think she's all right?"

Landon scoffed as he stood from his place on the floor. He placed his bowl in the sink, knowing in the morning he would go out and get water from the well if Remington wasn't up by then so that he could do the dishes. He didn't expect, nor think, that these men would help out in such a way. He was surprised that they had lingered for as long as they had, but assumed it was as the younger one had said, dark would settle in soon.

"Your momma's tough," he said, interrupting whatever Merle was going to say. If he had planned on saying anything at all. "She's not gonna just leave you. Not until you're safe."

"Momma said this world isn't safe," Maisie said, her lip jutting out as she glanced over to where the woman was sleeping.

"Exactly. So, she's not just gonna leave you."

"What if she does it by accident?"

"She's strong." Landon turned around; the room was only lit up by the lanterns set out on the table. It was dark, had been for a while, and he knew Maisie would need to be getting to sleep soon. "Don't worry about your momma. It's time to get ready for bed, Maisie."

"I wanna stay up."

"It's time for bed. Your momma would want you to not stay up late. You know that."

"I don't wanna!"

"Girlie yah betta' listen ta that boy, now," Merle warned.

"You're not my daddy!"

"Thank fuck I'm not. Yah acting like a brat. Now git ta bed."

Merle wasn't sure how he had gotten roped into responding like that. The girl was right. He wasn't her dad. She wasn't blood. There was no reason for him to step in or do anything beyond using the space as a spot to stop for the night. He took the food because he was hungry and brought up the dog because he was bred to help with hunting. Merle was in for things for himself and his brother, and no one else. He only stayed with the group to benefit himself. Being talked into making enough food for these kids, to leave out an extra bowl when it could have been used to make his stomach full, it wasn't like him.

That damn kid sitting in front of him, her lips in full pout mode, and big blue eyes wide open pulled at something inside of him. He wasn't sure where it came from. Hadn't been aware it was an emotion he could even feel. He didn't much like it and decided that come first light he would be awake and ready to go. Regardless of whether or not the woman was awake to help those kids. It didn't matter to Merle. Even when the strange girl told him goodnight he shoved down any curiousness he would have felt at the idea that they knew him when he didn't have a clue who they were.

Merle Dixon didn't care about others, and he wouldn't be starting today.

The moments between Merle and Maisie have been my favorite. It's only going to get cuter. I swear. And Landon being protective toward Maisie and has an obvious dislike for Merle.

We get to meet the rest of the camp soon, but not quite yet!

We'll see more of Daryl in the future. I just don't see him as the one being very talkative in the beginning and a friendship or anything with him would take time. Especially at this point.

What's your favorite part of the story so far?!