Chapter Fourteen
General POV (Joelle)
She woke in a bed that wasn't hers, or Beth's, or Daryl's no this bed belonged to the older Dixon; Merle. Said Dixon however was nowhere to be seen. She sighed heavily, tired from the nightmares and stressed for the impending attack. She stretched her limbs before walking to the small makeshift cafeteria; her eyes automatically searched the crowd for familiar blue eyes , Merle noted her search and waved her over.
"He ain't here, he's helping Glenn and Maggie secure the prison," Merle said, speaking low.
"I was looking for you actually," she lied, after all he left her, he deserved the hurt.
"Sure, believe what you want firecracker, I know my little brother and he's pissed," Merle was dead serious at this point.
"He doesn't have that right, he's the one who left!" Jo snarled back.
"To get me firecracker, remember that," with those words Merle left to go do something.
Fuck it, Jo thought, she was going to give him a piece of her mind. She stormed towards where Daryl, Maggie and Glenn were laying down spikes. Marching up to them she harshly took Daryl's arm and pulled him away from the other two.
"What the hell is your problem? How the fuck do you have the right to be pissed?" Joelle yelled.
Daryl's southern drawl became heavy with his anger "How do I have tha righ'? I look out for ya, held ya when yer scared shitless an' ya go to my brother. My brother. How the fuck is tha' righ'? Not ta mention you said nothin' about knowin' him, not one fucking word. All those times I mentioned him an' ya fuckin' stay as shut as a clam. Ya lied to me an' now I don't know what ta believe. I don't know you. Now leave me be!" he snarled, he walked away quickly not giving her a chance to respond.
Joelle opened her mouth to call out to him and give him shit but she couldn't, he was right, she had fucked up bad. She walked back to the cell block slowly trying not to cry as she realized what she had just lost.
Her eldest brother just l ooked at her and to her great surprise frowned, "he didn't deserve the shit he's gotten from you Jo, I was talking to Rick, he's worried, Daryl's nearly completely back to his closed off, angry self, he said it's worse than when they thought you dead. So grow some fucking balls and apologize to that man. I know you love him, it's clear as crystal. This shit that's going on is tearing you both apart!" he was breathing heavily, "I knew you were stubborn, I didn't know you were a fucking bitch too."
"How fucking dare you! You don't know shit, you have no idea what I've been through," she shouted back.
"You're right I don't, but Daryl's like a brother to Rick and I protect my family, so grow the fuck up and stop acting like a spoiled little brat," with those harsh yet silencing words he walked away.
Joelle walked into her cell and started cleaning her weapons, thinking as she went. It calmed her frazzled nerves long enough for her to work out some sort of plan, but first she needed to find the one person who knew Daryl above all others.
She found Merle ripping up mattresses, like he was looking for something, "What you doing Merle?" she sounded drawn.
"Lookin' for stashes, you didn't work it out with my little brother then," he stated matter of fact. "You should say sorry firecracker."
"Why the fuck do you people keep saying that," she said sharply, "I was hurt here too."
"Yeah and he apologized maybe not verbally but he did an' you know it but now, now you're just causing pain."
"That doesn't help, and I can't apologize to someone who won't even talk to me, it's like he doesn't care," she bit her lip to keep it from trembling.
"Do you know why he had that bruise across his jaw," she shook her head and Merle continued, "he took a beating from Lucas for hurting you, he took it in silence and when Rick asked why he said that he deserved it, deserved that beating and I didn't even stop 'em cause I agreed." Joelle's diamond like eyes had started to glisten with unshed tears. Merle's voice was soft, something rare for the hardened redneck, not even Daryl saw this side of him. It was reserved for his little firecracker of a sister, for Joelle.
"TELL ME HOW TO FIX IT," she roared at Merle, a river of tears falling from her eyes.
"You need to work that out yourself, I can't help you fix this, you're on your own little sister," with those uninspiring words he left.
Dragging her feet she turned towards her cell, she slumps down on the bunk, her eyes wandering around the cell lazily. Her cheeks are red and damp from her tears and she knows she looks horrible. She had fallen for him so fast she'd forgotten what drew her to him in the first place. Jo sighed before the riot gear caught her eye.
Maybe Daryl didn't need her anymore and if that was true she would do him one last thing. Gearing up her weapons she pulled on the riot gear and snuck through the tombs of the prison. She knew where they were supposed to meet the Governor, a guaranteed trap. Jo started her trek towards the meeting place.
The hike was tacking some time, so when she saw a car by a motel complex she knew she had to get it working. Quickly breaking into the car she began to hotwire the car. The alarm went off no doubt drawing walkers to the area but she was confident in her abilities to get it moving quickly. She vaguely heard the sounds of walkers being killed and minutes later numerous shots being fired. The car roared to life and Jo sat up and met the sight of a smirking Merle and a pissed off Michonne.
"Hey guys you heading to meet the Governor? Want a ride?" she questioned the two, noting quickly that Michonne was tied up nicely.
"Ahh that's my firecracker always a few steps ahead," he grinned before shoving his prisoner into the front seat, Jo herself getting in the back and Merle driving.
They drove away from the encroaching walkers quickly and before long only desolate road lay before them.
"Is this your thing then?" Michonne questioned after a short time, "take out the trash."
"Don't be so hard on yourself Darlin'," Merle replied usual bravado in place.
"Governor, Rick, anyone who needs their piss-bucket emptied and you come a runnin'," Merle chuckled. "things are different for your brother." Joelle sat up becoming interested when Daryl was mentioned but said nothing.
"Yeah they are, Rick says jump and he wants to know how high," he smirked back, Michonne shook her head.
"Nah uh Rick needs him, respects him, didn't ask him to do this little job now did he," Joelle bit her lip at the other woman's comment, it was true.
"No, cause he wants it done," he said back.
At his response Michonne laughed, "you keep telling yourself that," silence stretched before she continued, "the truth is this could've been your shot, with your skills… a whole new beginning, but you choose to stay on the outside… No one's going to mourn you, not even Daryl. He's got a new family," with those harsh words the dark skinned woman sat back.
Merle's eyes met Jo's in the mirror before he spoke, "you keep tryna get under my skin, I'm gonna cut that tongue out," he said that but by the slight change in his voice Joelle knew Michonne had succeeded in doing just that. "Your buddy's turning you over cause he's tryna save his own ass. You're as much on the outside as I am girl."
"Maybe… at least once the Governor's done with me I won't have to live with myself." The car again became silent and Joelle briefly wondered what Daryl was doing at that moment.
What seemed like hours later, which was in fact only minutes, Michonne spoke again, "you said you killed sixteen men since this thing started, you ever kill anyone before?" her question was unexpected but Merle answered anyway.
"No."
"And how about before Woodbury?" she pressed "before you met him."
The silence was her answer and she smiled. Jo began to get pissed, Merle may be an asshole to everyone but her, he had his reasons though and it didn't give this outsider bitch a reason to talk.
"You best watch your words Michonne, because I don't take to0 kindly to people insulting my family," Joelle said softly and the words unbeknownst to Jo, touched Merle's black heart.
Michonne continues on as if she hadn't heard, speaking to Merle, "so he saves your life, cleans you up, fed you a line of bullshit. Why would you kill somebody else for him?" silence again greets her question. "You know we can go back," Merle smiles and shakes his head at that.
"Ain't happenin'."
"Both of us." She looks at him imploringly, "we could just go back."
It took a while for Merle to find his words, "I… can't go back, don't you understand that? I can't."
"Why?" Merle stops the car leans over and removes Michonne's ties.
He nods, "you go back with him, get ready for what's next," he leaned over and opened the door, "I got something I gotta do on my own," he turned to Joelle, "out you get firecracker."
Joelle swiftly kissed his cheek before getting out the car, a whispered "stay safe brother," reaching his ears. Leaving the car with her weapons in hand, Joelle turned to Michonne giving her a nod before Merle drove away.
She started following on foot, "hey, the prison is this way," Michonne pointed out dryly.
"You think I'm gonna just let him go get killed? He means so much to Daryl and me, I can't just let him go on a suicide mission," she turns to walk away before stopping and looking towards the Samurai, "don't tell them where I am, for all they know I'm at the prison, thank you Michonne." Without waiting for a reply the chestnut haired woman began a steady jog down the road.
After a long time running Jo stumbled upon a clean and fuelled truck, not questioning her luck she quickly drives to the meeting place, parking the truck so it was hidden in the trees. Quickly gathering her gear she finds the place overrun with walkers and the Governor's men occupied.
She starts shooting both men and walkers her aim deadly. She rounds the corner right as Merle is being dragged into the shed by the very man he had worked for only days earlier. She aims at the men guarding the door, only to hear a click when she presses the trigger.
They smile at her, with predator like grins Joelle cocks her head to the side before smiling sweetly. Bringing her unloaded gun up she smashes him in the face before he has time to think, he drops to the ground unconscious blood spurting out of his now broken nose.
The other guy moves towards her and like her seems to have run out of bullets, thankfully. He's the guy who was talking about taking the prison only a few weeks ago. He looks at her a cocky smile on his face, she raises an eyebrow as he charges. She sidesteps the attack but he flings out his fist at the last second hitting her in the chest; right where she was bruised. Jo gasps for a second before ramming her foot into his crotch he drops to the ground with a moan of pain, like the pussy he is. Taking her pistol she rams it into the son of a bitch's temple. He too is now unconscious.
The shed is filled with grunts of pain and the sound of flesh pounding flesh, Joelle finally sees where they are and rushes to Merles aid. She slams the heavy pistol into the back of the Governor's head, he drops. Without a second thought she takes Merles hand, he stumbles and she realizes why the Governor had had the upper hand; Merle was fucking drunk. Shaking her head she leads him out of the shed and they begin to run for the road.
The Governor stumbles out of where they had just vacated, Jo hadn't hit him hard enough, he aims and pulls the trigger. The shot sounds louder than the others as it speeds towards them. Joelle dodges at the last minute but it isn't quick enough. The bullet tears through the muscle and fat sinews in her shoulder. The force pushing her forwards, she trips but before she can fall Merle is there steadying her.
They don't give him another chance to fire as they disappear into the trees, she leads the way to the truck she left hidden. She staggers into the passenger seat her arm clutching at her shoulder to try and slow the blood flow. Merle is quick to take off, driving fast; he's seen wounds like this before and knew if she didn't get help soon she'd die.
Merle POV
He pressed his foot to the gas pushing the truck to its limits, the blood is pooling onto the leather seat fast, faster than he thought possible. He watched from the corner of his eye as she struggled to keep her eyes open. He thanks the fucking stars she had been in the military as a medic; she knew what she had to do to stay alive.
They're halfway to the prison, halfway to safety and help when Merles sees the familiar sight of his brother; crossbow slung over his shoulder. He honks the horn once getting his attention. Slowing down quickly before stopping he leans over Joelle and opens the door, "Help her into the back seat brother, NOW!" he shouts at his little brother.
After Daryl recovers from the shock of seeing Joelle bleeding out in front of him, he quickly lifts her into his arms and transfers her to the back seat. Slamming the doors shut, Daryl climbs into the back and pulls out a relatively clean rag, folds it into a pad and applies pressure to the wound.
Merle had started driving as soon as the doors were shut, "what the hell happened?" Daryl demands, anger and worry clear in his voice.
"She saved my life little brother," he replied softly, "I went to give that black bitch to the fuckin' Governor. Got surrounded and she, she saved me, knocked him over the head. I'd left her back with the bitch and thought she was going back to the prison but she followed me. She knows me better than I thought, enough to know when to argue and when to sneak around."
"The others think she's back at the prison, killing walkers in the tombs but she was with you all along," Daryl replied unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
"I see her as a sister and she sees me as a brother, said as much when she defended me from Michonne's words. She did this for you, knowing that it would hurt you if I died. Every hurt she's felt has been for you."
Daryl was silent after that, trying to believe his brothers words. The ride was longer then the way there and Merle reckoned it had something to do with the dying woman in the back seat. Once the prison came into view Merle felt his shoulders relax slightly. Rick and Lucas opened the gates that led straight to the cell blocks.
As soon as the car stopped Daryl and Merle were out. Daryl covered in blood that wasn't his, the others gasped when he lifted her unconscious body from the car, "Somebody get Hershel now!" screamed Merle and Beth hurried to do just that.
Lucas looked at Daryl, "the Governor will die for this."
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