Rick cares about Daryl enough not to make him chose between him and Merle and allows Merle to come back with them. Merle seeing how much Rick means to Daryl has no choice but to accept their relationship and this group. Mature content established relationship between Daryl/Rick. Skip is this anit your thing.
"Daryl he can't come back. He's dangerous." Rick pleaded with his lover who was damn near close to tears and Rick felt like shit for having to do this to the man that had so recently became more to him than Lori ever was.
Daryl sighed and looked at Rick pleading.
"He's not. I know my brother. When he's sober like this he's not the bad guy yall know. Please, I can't leave him again. If he can't come I'll have to leave with him. Don't do that do me. Give me a chance to prove he's ok. HE only took Glenn and Maggie to find me and he had no idea the Governor would do anything like that to Maggie. Merle anit like that please." Daryl pleaded and Rick knew that Daryl never begged for anything. Never ask for anything and for him to be reduced to this meant a lot to his lover. Sighing Rick nodded and wrapped his hand around Daryl's neck and pressed their foreheads together.
"If he comes back will it change anything between us?" Rick ask and Daryl shook his head no.
"Naw, Merle might rib me some but he'll accept it. If he don't or if he causes problems I'll ask him to leave myself I'm only asking for a chance." Daryl told his and Rick nodded before pulling back.
"Ok. For you." Rick said and walked over to tell the others Merle was coming back for now. They weren't happy with it but Rick's word was law to the group so they nodded and didn't say anything else.
"You and officer friendly got pretty cozy while I was away." Merle said coming to stand next to his brother. Daryl turned and looked over at Merle.
"Yes we have and nothings gonna change that. You got one shot to be the brother I know you can be or you're gone. I just want my brother back so please for me if you give a shit don't mess this up." Daryl told him and walked back over towards the truck and got in beside Rick. Merle stood there for a moment thinking over what his brother said and nodded to himself. He'd do this for his brother.
He hopped into the back of the truck as they followed the others that were in the car back to the prison. When they got there Daryl ran over and helped Michonne into the prison so Hershel could treat them. Merle stood outside and pulled Rick to the side.
"Hurt my brother and I'll kill ya. I'll never take from him something he wants and he wants ya and this group so I'll play nice for him but hurt him and I your dead." Merle told Rick. Rick looked into his eyes and only saw a concerned brother and gave a nod.
"Understood and you don't have to worry. Daryl's done more for me than anyone ever has and he's good to my kids. I couldn't ask for better." Rick told Merle who nodded.
"No you couldn't." Merle said before walking inside to meet everyone.
So far Merle and Michonne had been living with them for over a week now. After the first few days they were given their own cells and now were included in meals, watches and group discussions. Rick had to admit that both Merle and Michonne were trying to fit in. He had even seen Merle apologize to both Glenn and Maggie explaining why he did it. It took Maggie forgiven Merle for Glenn to but now they didn't look at him with hate or anger anymore and actually talked to him.
Rick could tell Daryl was happy that everything was working out and he didn't have to lose his brother. And to see the smile on Daryl's face when he saw his brother laughing and talking with the group was enough for Rick to agree it was a good idea.
They knew the Governor would come for them. They were expecting it. Rick had even took Michonne and Carl on a run back to his old town and brought back a lot of weapons for them and with Merle's insight to Woodbury they were ready.
What Rick wasn't ready for was the governor to meet with him and demand Michonne be handed over. When he got back and talked with Merle Daryl and Hershel about it Merle told him what the Governor would do. What he did to Maggie would be nothing compared to what he did to Michonne and then once he was done with her he'd come for the rest of them.
"He won't stop Rick. He'll come for all of us. Kill us one by one. He'll save Daryl, and you and your kids for last. He'll take Ass kicker for a replacement for his dead daughter. He'll torture and kill Daryl and Carl in front of you and then add your head to his collection. He can't be allowed to live. Not unless you want to spend the rest of your life running from him." Merle had told him and Rick thought it over carefully.
Carl liked Michonne. Wanted her to stay and Michonne was a good person and a strong person. They needed her and Merle in there group to keep everyone safe and he didn't know what would happen to Daryl if he lost Merle. He didn't want to find out.
Sighing Rick walked into his and now Daryl's cell now that Carl decided they need to be alone more and moved to his own cell and saw Daryl sitting on the bed cleaning his new crossbow.
"Hey." Rick said as he sat his took off his gun and belt and draped them on the table next to the bed. Daryl grunted and Rick knew something was on his mind. Sliding out of his boots he sat behind Daryl and kissed the back of his neck.
"What's on your mind Daryl." Rick ask and Daryl tensed for a moment before sighing.
"Ya anit. Ya anit gonna give him Michonne are ya?" Daryl ask and Rick could tell this was really bothering him. Today was the last day Rick had to make the call.
Sighing Rick sat back against the wall and looked at Daryl's back.
"It anit right Rick. I've been behind you on everything else but I just. I can't be behind ya on that if you decide to. Michonne's good and if we do this were just as bad as that one eyed bastard." Daryl said sitting his bow down and holding his head in his hands propped on his knees.
Rick leaned forward and pulled Daryl back against him and Daryl relaxed.
"I wasn't going to Daryl. I couldn't do that. It's not right I'm not the governor. I just hope no one I love dies when he comes for us." Rick said and Daryl nodded before spinning around and kissing Rick.
That night Daryl topped. They liked to switch back and forth, but tonight Daryl made love to Rick. Several times to the point Rick past out in exhaustion not able to take anymore.
When he woke up he knew something was wrong. Daryl was not in bed with him and when he went into the common area he knew why. Daryl, Michonne and Merle were gone with only a note.
Gone to finish this shit so everyone is safe. Be back later. Daryl, Merle and Michonne. P.S. Don't be mad Rick. D
"Damn it." Rick cursed as he stomped out of the prison, slamming the door closed behind him. If Daryl got hurt he didn't know what he'd do.
Everyone was on pins and needles as they waited for word from the trio and Rick paced back and forth in front of the fences waiting. Carl knew that if his dad lost Daryl he'd never survive it.
Finally just before sun down Rick heard the sound of Daryl's bike followed by their silver truck and a bus full of people from Woodbury.
When Daryl dismounted the bike and saw the look on Rick's face he knew Rick was pissed.
"What the hell?" Rick hissed getting right in Daryl's face. Merle and Michonne chuckled as they slid out of the truck.
"Had to do it, Rick. Couldn't have that bastard and his men hanging over our heads just waiting to take out the people we care about so we got rid of him." Daryl said and Rick just turned his angry eyes away from Daryl and looked toward Merle and Michonne.
"Well?" he ask and Michonne rolled her eyes.
"He's dead. Chopped his head off myself and his men too. All gone. The bus is the women and children that were left behind. We went to Woodbury to try and find Andrea but the bastard tied her up in a room with a walker and she got bit. We stayed and made sure she didn't turn. Tyreese and Sasha here helped round everyone up and they want to join if it's ok with you. We can go back later and collect everything there we can use and burn it to the ground." Michonne told him. He looked at everyone and nodded.
"Carol, Hershal. Get them settled in Block D. Daryl come with me." He said and turned and marched into the prison.
"Whoo wee little brother. Gonna get your ass spanked tonight." Merle teased and Daryl just flipped him the bird as he followed behind Rick knowing he was pissed but hoping not mad enough to end things with them.
Daryl followed Rick in silence all the way down to the boiler room when he was inside Rick slammed the door shut and locked it before advancing on him. Daryl backed up until his back hit the wall and he dropped his bow on the ground.
"Rick." Daryl tried but Rick shushed him.
"Don't speak. Don't ever do that to me again. How would you feel if you woke up and I was gone doing something stupid. If you had died, if all 3 of you had died how would I have known what happened? Hum. Did it cross your mind that if you failed to return by the morning I was coming to hunt your asses down?" Rick said and Daryl could tell he meant it. Meant every word and Daryl's heart clenched and not only the concern he was showing but the fact that Rick could have been hurt looking for him and Daryl never want that to happen.
"M'Sorry. I was doing what I thought was best. I couldn't have you and the kids of anyone else hurt. Can't lose you." Daryl told him and Rick sighed before bring his forehead down to Daryl's.
"Were a team Daryl. You and Me. We don't get to go balls to the wall anymore. We have people that care about us. I care about you. I love you damn it. If I lost you I wouldn't survive that shit." Rick told him and Daryl gasp at the on slot of emotions that filtered through him.
"I Love ya too." Daryl mumbled not use to the words at all but loving how they made him feel. Before he know what happened Rick's mouth was on his in a heated kiss and Daryl could tell Rick need to confirm he was ok.
Rick couldn't stop himself. He had to feel Daryl, know he was here with him and they were safe. Sliding his vest and shirt off Rick checked him over for bites and scratches. When he didn't see any he pulled Daryl over and laid him on the bed they had set up in there long ago and spent all night worshiping Daryl's body. Showing him over and over how much Rick cared for him and telling him over and over to never do that shit to him again and Daryl promised he wouldn't.
Life after that in the prison went back to normal. Merle and Michonne to everyone shock ended up together but they still fought like cats and dogs but that seemed to be what they were into. Daryl and Rick were never too far apart and that was fine with them.