Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead.

Her Angel, His Strength

3 Tell It to the Frogs

Lily knew for sure they were just a few steps behind the camp now. To think the buck made so far with two bolts in its body was a wonder. She wished she could hurry ahead to see if Glenn and Merle were safe, however, Daryl hadn't ever let her go ahead of him. He was tense and would always push her back whenever she tried and no amount of huffing seemed to make the point. She knew something was wrong, but he was not letting her on it.

When they finally broke out of the woods, they were met with several weapons pointing at their faces. Startled, she looked around to see what made the group so wary and saw a walker on the floor next to the now dead deer. Lily had seen them before, when she tried to make out of the city, though she never had had to deal with them, seeing she was captured.

Lily watched warily as Daryl left out his frustrations on the dead walker, feeling tired and disappointed. She could only imagine how Daryl felt. She made her way towards Glenn who was watching Daryl with nervous eyes and she hugged him tight. He returned the hug somewhat distraught and Lily knew immediately that something was wrong. Glenn started all kinds of physical contact between the two of them and he always seemed to enjoy it when she returned.

Just as she opened her mouth to question him, Daryl left the group and started calling for Merle, and Glenn, seeming nervous followed behind. Lily furrowed her brows. Did something happen to Merle?

"Your brother was a danger to us all, so I handcuffed him on a roof, hooked him to a piece of metal. He's still there." Lily gaped at the man, having not met him before. They left Merle behind. With no means to escape. She turned to Glenn, but he could not meet her eyes.

She felt herself in a fog, not being able to break out from it. Distantly she heard Daryl shout. How could they do that? Why would they do that? When she saw Shane get Daryl in a chokehold, she marched forward.

"I'd like to have a calm discussion on this topic. Do you think we can manage that? Do you think we can manage that?" She heard the new person say. How could he even ask that? The man had just locked Daryl's only family into a hoof and left him alone and with no means to escape. How could anyone be calm about that?

"Let him go." Her voice was serious, firm, and her glare did not wave from Shane's surprised eyes. She saw him sent the new guy a look before realising Daryl.

"What I did was not on a whim. Your brother does not work and play well with others." Lily could hardly believe that was a good reason for leaving Merle behind.

"It's not Rick's fault. I had the key. I dropped it."

"You couldn't pick it up?" Lily asked incredulous, T-Dog looked surprised at her.

"Well, I dropped it in a drain."

"If it's supposed ta make me feel better, it don't." She could see the tears in Daryl's eyes, knowing herself was close to crying as well.

"Well, maybe this will. Look, I chained the door to the roof… So the geeks couldn't get at him… With a padlock. It's gotta count for something."

"Hell with all y'all!" Daryl shouted, glaring at everyone. "Just tell me where he is so that I can go get him."

"He'll show you. Isn't that right?" Lori said from the front of the RV.

"I'm going back." Rick nodded, and Lori walked away. While Lily was angry with the man, she appreciated the fact that he was trying to fix his mistake.

Walking up at Daryl, who was preparing himself to leave, she stated:

"I'm coming too."

"No. Ya aren't." He did not even look at her, so she frowned and made to stand in front of him.

"Yes, I am. He's my friend."

"Ya are not coming. That's that." Daryl's face was hard, his eyes glaring a whole into her own. "I'll have my hands full with Merle, can't be worrying about ya too." While she hated the fact that Daryl thought her incapable, she could understand the sentiment. It was not fair of her to be mad at him when he was already down. Letting out a breath, she nodded and started to walk away when he grabbed her arm. "Ya wanna me ta come back?"

Lily stared at him wondering just what he was getting at.

"Of course I do." She said, suddenly starting to worry that he would not.

"Then I will." He said, turning away from her.

She frowned watching Shane and Rick discuss about going back for Merle. She just could not believe Shane. How could they not go back? She knew most people at the camp did not like Merle, but to leave him behind like that was just inhuman. At least this Rick seemed to have some kind of conscience.

"You mad at me?" T-Dog asked her silently.

"Did you try to save him, at least?" She asked, seriously.

"Yeah. Went back for him, but I dropped the key. I swear I tried, I couldn't leave the man behind." She nodded with a half-smile. At least someone tried.

"I just can't believe people would just leave him like that. Even if he was being a jerk, Merle didn't deserve that." T-Dog nodded, though he did not look so sure of that. Of course, Lily knew nothing of what Merle said and did to him while in that roof, though he was not about to tell her. He and Glenn had talked a few days before of her relationship with the Dixons brothers, and while they could not understand it, they had seen how the brothers treated her differently. How Merle did not make many crude comments about her as he did the other women, how Daryl actually had a few conversations with her and did not seem to mind her following him around.

T-Dog told Glenn that perhaps it was because they both found her. He could remember the day she was brought into the camp in Daryl's arms, a pile of blood and bruises, barely looking a human being, and at first glance, he thought she was dead. He could only just imagine what was done to her. It'd seem she saw the two of them as her saviours, and while he couldn't describe the Dixons as that, he knew that's what they were for her, especially with them being the first faces she saw after who knows how long of pain.

What he couldn't understand was why they would let her tag along when they went to hunt. They were against anyone following them, making a point to everyone how they'd leave them behind and never go back if they lost themselves or disturb them in any way, yet, they let this 5 foot woman follow them. Merle Dixon even kissed her goodbye!

"We'll get him back." He nodded to her and walked away. Lily sure hoped so. She knew that after that, Merle would never want to come back to these people. She herself felt that maybe it'd be best for them to go. If they were capable of leaving Merle behind, who provided meat for them, they sure could do the same to her.

That's when she realised that's probably what Daryl meant when he asked if she wanted him to come back. Relieved that he was still coming back for her, she felt herself relax that at least they weren't leaving her behind.

Glenn came up to her with a sheepish smile.

"It seems I'm going again." She nodded and smiled at him. While he was there when they left Merle, Lily couldn't bring herself to feel mad at him. Glenn was her best friend at camp, and she knew without a doubt that he would always come back for her. The thought made her feel guilty at their plan of leaving, but she figured she could always ask him if he wanted to go with them. She doubted he would, considering he didn't like the Dixons that much, seeming almost afraid of them, but she could try.

Glenn came up closer to her, asking with his eyes if it was okay to get a goodbye hug. Lily rolled her eyes and smiled at him, pressing herself against his torso. The both of them jumped at the horn beeping.

"I've no idea what you see in that guy." Glenn said as he stalked out.

"What?!" Lily shirked after him, but he just smirked wide at her and got into the van. She blinked at him, not understanding just what to make of that statement.

Shaking her head, she decided to make herself useful and went to see the plants she had gotten from her trip into the woods with Daryl the day before. Lily was so focused on her work she didn't feel Amy approaching her with a basket full of clothes.

"Hey, Lils! We're going down the quarry to do some laundry, wanna join us?"

Nodding, she cleared up the few meds she had made and set aside a few berries for after dinner.

It was more fun than she had thought it'd be doing laundry with the other women.

"I miss my vibrator." Andrea said and Lily knew her face was bright red.

"Oh my God!" She laughed with the others, felling just a bit uncomfortable about that. When Carol, the quiet woman that never spoke her mind agreed, she knew her face was comical, all wide eyes and gaping mouth.

The laugher stopped when Ed made himself know. Lily remembered Amy's words about the man. How everyone thought he abused his wife, and maybe even his daughter, Sofia. She always tried to stay clear of him, never wanting to attract his attention. She felt she had enough of a man's dirty hands on her. Apparently, Andrea had others ideas.

"Ed, tell you what… You don't like how your laundry is done, you are welcome to pitch in and do it yourself. Here."

Lily watched the scene unfold before her, holding her breath. As soon as Ed's hand went out on Carol, she leapt into her feet, holding the woman close and trying to get away from the man. Shaking, she begged with the others for him to stay away, but she knew they could not do much for her if Carol did not fight for herself.

Shane grabbed Ed and Lily watched in horror as the cop pummelled the other man's face. Carol was crying in her arms and she could not do anything but pray it would all end soon. When Shane walked away, Carol freed herself from her arms and went on to beg her husband's forgiveness. Lily watched sadly, no knowing what to do with herself. She didn't want to be around them anymore, though the only people she was close to was Glenn and the Dixons, and they were all away. Biting her lip, she walked away silently, not wanting to bring any attention to herself.


If there's no one reading, there will be no update.

English is not my mother tongue, if you find a mistake, please let me know.

Thank you,

Mel.