[A/N: Sorrowjunky and xxBlackfirexx, you guys are awesome!

Sorry its taken me a little longer than usual to update, this week just kinda got away from me. Also I realise that there have been more Asha and Merle moments than Asha and Daryl moments so far. I didn't initially plan on Merle having such a big part, but I feel like it fits with the present situation at the prison - and, to be honest, the more I wrote Merle, the more he grew on me. I hope you guys have been digging it too.

However, as I am a good few chapters ahead of you guys in this story, I assure you it does very much become Asha and Daryl focused.]

The cell block was filled with the metallic click and shuffle of weaponry. Glenn had taken charge of fortifying the prison with the weaponry Rick and Michonne had gathered on the run. The contents of the black duffle bags had been upended on the table in the anteroom to cell block C, and Glenn divvied up ammunition and hardware and directed Maggie and Carl to stash them in strategic locations around the prison.

Asha and Michonne were working through the weapons checking for faults, detaching magazines and checking sights. The group had been a little surprised when Asha had stepped forward to help with that job, until she'd explained that there'd been a couple of army boys at her first camp, who had scavenged every bit of weaponry they could locate and had been willing to teach anyone who was interested. She was a pretty average shot, but it wasn't like a semi automatic needed the same precision as a hunting rifle.

The tension was palpable in the single minded focus with which everyone went about their jobs. Rick, Daryl and Hershel were out, meeting with the Governor. Andrea had shown up the night before, roaring through the walker filled yard in her borrowed car as Merle and Asha lay under the night sky. Asha vaguely recalled that Rick had been less than impressed that they were stoned, but his disapproval had mostly slipped off the outside of her smoky glaze. The Governor had agreed to talk, Andrea had set up a meeting. That morning, true to his word, Rick had gone out to meet him. Carol was on watch. That left Maggie, Glenn, Michonne and Merle effectively without supervision—a volatile mix that Asha had been watching brew all morning.

Merle was leaning against a post, wrapping another layer of gaffer tape around the knife strapped to his stump, growling irritably under his breath. He'd been pacing the cell block since Rick, Daryl and Hersel had left. He'd agreed—reluctantly and only at Daryl's insistence—not to go with them, that doing so would only aggravate the Governor and kill any chance of peaceful settlement.

He was obviously regretting that decision. Asha could see his temper building. From the sidelong glances the others in the room were giving him, they'd noticed too.

Merle tore off the end of the tape with his teeth and tugged on the blade with his good hand a few times to check it was attached securely. Then he kicked the unoffending roll of tape across the room, straight into the mismatched plates and bowls stacked on one of the shelves. They clattered to the floor. He glared around the room and the rest of the group looked back at him in silence.

Asha put down the gun she'd just finished checking. This was going to get out of control, she could feel it. He wasn't going to thank her for this—she felt a little knot in her stomach at that—but better to get it out in the open rather than have him lose it or do something reckless behind their backs. 'Spit it out Merle,' she said.

He glared at her.

'Whatever it is that's got your panties in such a twist.'

His eyes went flat.

Least his attention's on me now.

'What we need to do,' Merle said, biting off the words. 'Is take some of these guns and pay a visit to the Governor. We know where he is right now.'

'Are you suggesting we should just go in and kill him?' Glenn asked.

'Yeah, I am.' Merle's voice was grim.

'We told Rick and Daryl that we'd stay put,' Michonne reminded him.

'I've changed my mind sweetheart. Bein' on the sideline with my brother out there, ain't sittin' right with me.'

'They're right in the middle of it.' Glenn said after a long moment. Asha could see the conflict on his face. 'No idea we're comin'. They could taken hostage or killed. A thousand things could go wrong.'

'And they will,' Merle snapped.

'My dad can take care of himself,' Carl asserted.

'Sorry son,' Merle drawled. 'But your dad's head could be on a pike real soon.'

'Merle!' Asha snapped. Carl snatched up a couple of boxes of ammunition and walked out of the cell.

'Don't say that to him,' Maggie said quietly.

Merle wiped a hand across his face. 'Bah.'

'It's not the right move, not now.' Glen said emphatically, eyes fixed on Merle. 'Can't take the risk of putting them in the crossfire. That's my decision, it's final.' He picked up an acetylene torch and headed towards the courtyard to work on the cage.

Merle snatched up a bag and began shoving guns and ammunition into it.

Not good.

'Merle,' Asha said. She went to grab his arm, but he shook her off. 'Don't be an idiot.'

'You're not going.' Glenn had stopped near the courtyard door.

'I don't need permission,' Merle snarled.

'I can't let you.'

'You can't stop me'

'If you're gonna live here with us, its gonna be on our terms,' Maggie cut in. 'If Michonne can do it, why can't you?'

'Cause its my brother out there, that's why.' He looked around the group, eyes stopping on Asha. 'What's the matter with y'all?'

'I get it Merle,' she said quietly. 'I do, really. You know that.' She took a step towards him. 'But be smart about this.' She took another step forward as he slung the bag of guns across his shoulder, so that she was blocking his access to the stairs. 'Going in there, unexpected, You'll do more harm than good. You know that. Just think for a minute.'

Merle snarled and put a hand on her chest and shoved her—hard—out of the way. She staggered backwards, toppling over a discarded ammunition box and slamming into the stair rail. She grunted and pressed a hand to sudden flare of pain in her ribs.

Merle marched up the stairs, where Glenn still stood barring the door.

'I'm not gonna let you put them in danger,' Glenn ground out through grit teeth.

Merle took a step forwards, pressing his face forward into Glenn's space. 'Nut up already boy. This guy cops a feel of your woman and you're gonna pussy out like this? Get outta my way.'

'No.'

Merle snorted and half looked to the side. Asha could see what he was going to do before he did it, but she was too far away to reach him. Merle took a step forward to drive a shoulder into Glenn's chest, but Glenn was expecting him, and he launched forwards wrapping his arms around Merle. They tumbled down the stairs, struggling with arms locked around each other.

As they hit the ground, Asha launched herself onto Merle's back, ignoring the sharp pang in her ribs, wrestling to lock up one of his arms. Damn but he was a big man. Maggie was beside her, wrapping a chokehold around Merle's neck, whilst Michonne struggled with the other arm. Together they dragged him off Glenn, then froze as a gunshot cracked thunderously loud in the enclosed space. Asha peeked a stunned glance over her shoulder and saw Beth, face both furious and disgusted, handgun pointed at the ceiling.

Trapped between the three of them, Merle was breathing heavily—through Maggie's choke hold—eyes flashing. But he was still.

'We need Beth to put that gun on you, or are you gonna settle down?' Asha asked, as she yanked Merle's duffle bag of guns away from him.

'Ya'll are makin' a mistake,' he hissed.

She let him go and moved around in front of him. He peered at her across his nose, head still twisted up and sideways by Maggie's grip.

'Either we are, or you are,' she said, shaking her head a little sadly. 'But it's not your mistake to make.'

He was still angry, but she could see that some of the fight had gone out of his eyes—for now. 'Let him up' she said. 'He's gonna play nice now, aren't ya Merle.'

'Fuck you Asha.'

'Fine, stay there til you calm down.'

Merle continued to glare at her, but he stopped struggling. Asha nodded and they let him go. Jaw clenched, he pushed himself up, shouldered roughly past Asha and headed deeper into the cell block.

There was silence for a moment as those remaining traded glances.

'I don't like him wandering around on his own,' Glenn said.

'I'll keep an eye on him,' sighed Asha.

'You sure you're ok doing that?' Glenn asked. 'Don't reckon you're his favourite person right now.'

'Yeah, well,' she looked around at Glenn, Maggie and Michonne. 'No offense, but I'm probably still the best bet.' She shrugged and then winced at the pain in her ribs. 'And he owes me a damn apology for my ribs.'

'Daddy should have a look at ya when he gets back,' Beth said.

Asha waved her off. 'They're fine,' she said. 'Just a bruise I reckon.'

She set off after Merle, following him into the tombs.

She heard him before she saw him, drawn by the crashes and thuds as he vented his anger on the on the unoffending surroundings. Suddenly, ahead of her, an empty crate flew through out of a doorway and shattered against the opposite wall. Merle was swearing behind it.

'I would have thought most things were bolted down in a prison,' Asha said dryly. 'But you seem to be doing all right for this little temper tantrum of yours.'

'Get the hell away from me,' Merle snarled. He stormed past her, but only took two steps before spinning on his heel and coming back to face her.

'What the hell was that? You siding with those pussies. Took you all of two seconds to sell me out. Ya just tryin' ta get in good with the locals.'

'Hey,' Asha felt her own anger rising, and wished she didn't feel a twinge of hurt that Merle thought she'd betrayed him. 'That had nothin' to do with it. They happen to be right this time—it's just not the right move.'

He paced a couple of steps still snarling. 'I thought ya'd be on my side.'

'I am on your side.' She reached out a hand but he slapped her away. 'I am on the side of keeping you—and your damn brother—alive! Damn it Merle, you know I'm right.'

His jaw rippled as he paced past her.

She changed tack. 'Daryl won't thank you for showing up. Rick either.'

'Shut up. Ya don't know anything about me and my brother.'

'I know he wants you make things work with this group. Sometime that's gonna mean toeing the party line. Don't put him in the position of having to chose between you again.'

'Even if that means lettin' him get himself killed, that ain't a price i'm willing to pay.'

'So you're gonna go out there and increase the chances of that happening—cause in all probability that's what will happen if you go all rogue commando.'

'Don't tell me you be doin' any different if it were Nash.'

Asha took a deep breath. 'You're right. I would be doing exactly what you are doing. Exactly.' She put a hand out again to try to stop him pacing. 'And I honestly hope to god that there would be someone here with a brain to stop me.'

He paused, looking at her in disbelief. 'Bullshit.'

'You've got a blind spot when it comes to your brother Merle, same as me. But you gotta recognise that. You can't always listen to your gut when family's involved— ' She broke off suddenly, fighting down the image of faces that flashed in her mind.

Something of the intensity she was feeling must have been showing, because Merle took half a step back and looked at her carefully. 'What do you know about it?' He asked.

She felt pinned under that unexpectedly perceptive gaze and squirmed uncomfortably. 'Your judgment gets clouded,' she finished lamely.

He scrubbed his hand through his hair and then tipped his head back let loose a string of expletives.

Asha had to grin. He did know an impressive amount of swear words.

'I don't like this,' he fumed when he was abusing the ceiling.

'Obviously,' Asha said still grinning. 'But you don't have to. You just gotta accept that you don't really have any choice about it.'

'Fuck off. I could take all you pussies down if i needed too.'

'Maybe,' Asha shrugged, then winced as her ribs caught. 'But not without hurting some of us seriously' —more seriously than he already had anyway— 'and that sure as hell ain't gonna help you make things work with this group.'

He glared at her, but she had him there and he knew it.

[A/N: Aiming to have the next one up quickly since i made you wait for this one.]