"We are more than the worst thing that's ever

happened to us. All of us need to stop apologizing

for having been to hell and come back breathing."

- Clementine von Radics

It was getting late and the expedition had not returned. Glenn, on his own, usually took no more than a few hours. Almost the entire day had passed. Just as she started to worry, Danni heard vehicles approaching. She didn't recognize either one. Glenn sped up the dirt road in a red sports car. A white delivery box truck followed close behind. Danni actually found herself running to meet Glenn. "Glad you're back," she said hitting his arm. Then, looking at the car added "Nice ride."

"Me too, we almost didn't make it. Walkers trapped us, we had no way out."

"How...?"

"New guy. Saved our asses." Glenn answered.

"New guy?" Shane asked overhearing

"Yeah. He's a cop, like you. Hey Rick, come on meet everybody!"

A tall lanky man wearing a sheriff's uniform slowly emerged from the driver's side of the truck. What happened next happened so fast Danni could hardly comprehend it. Carl ran past her yelling "Dad!" and was in the sheriff's arms within seconds. Lori, her face blank from shock, walked over and joined her husband and son in their desperate, tearful embrace.

Looking past the newly reunited family, she had to check twice before she was sure. Andrea, T-Dog, Glenn. No, Merle.

"Should I ask about Merle?" She handed Glenn some water.

He took a drink. "Its bad. I don't even like Merle, but man, it is bad."

"We left him." Rick was suddenly behind them. So were Dale, Andrea, Lori and T-Dog.

Rick spoke with a heavy southern drawl. He related the story of Merle's hi jack attempt and attack on the group. Merle attempted to murder T-Dog which culminated in his being handcuffed to a pipe on the roof of a building.

"He was dangerous. I had no choice." Rick said with conviction.

"Yeah, but I had the key." T-Dog stepped forward. "I dropped it down a drain." Guilt defined his posture. His expression pained. "But I chained the door to the roof. The geeks can't get to him."

"Don't worry." Shane surmised."No one's gonna miss Merle. Truth is, he's been trouble around here from day one." He said, more to T-Dog than anyone else.

"Nobody except Daryl," Glenn added.

"Who's Daryl?" Rick wanted to know.

"His brother," Danni informed him. "I don't want to be around when he gets back and finds out."

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. .. .. .

Glenn and Danni were the last to stay up by the campfire that night. The odds that Rick could reunite with Carl and Lori fascinated Danni. If Glenn hadn't seen him out there, it never would have happened. She couldnt stop thinking about the cosmic forces that must have been at work.

"Why did you bother helping Rick today?" Danni asked him. "That was really risky."

He shrugged. "I have this crazy hope that if I'm ever in a situation like he was, some dumb bastard will do the same for me."

"That's karma Glenn. You have a lot. I can tell." She smiled.

"Rick must have some too, don't you think?"

.. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... .. . .

The next morning, Danni awoke to angry shouting. As she got up and headed closer to the RV, she had a feeling Daryl had returned.

"Is he dead?" Daryl stalked back and forth between Rick and Shane.

"I don't think so," Rick answered.

"Either he is or he ain't. Nothin' to think about." His voice was unsteady although he tried to hide it. Daryl couldn't stand still. He was walking faster in smaller circles, dust flying up around his feet.

"Look, your brother was a danger to us all. I made a call. In case you haven't noticed he doesn't play well with others. I had to handcuff him on a roof." Rick had the steady, calm tone of a police officer.

"Aint you got a key?" Daryl asked as if Rick was an idiot.

"It's my fault," T-Dog spoke up. "I had the key. I dropped it."

"And you couldn't pick it up?" Daryl sounded incredulous looking at him.

"Down a drain."

At that, Daryl drew his knife and lunged at T-Dog. Shane quickly put him in a police choke hold.

"Lemme go!" Daryl growled.

"I think its best if I don't," Shane said in the calm tone of a cop, on duty, echoing Ricks steady vocal inflection. Both lawmen were in stark contrast to Daryl's wild, emotional behavior. Daryl was enraged and violently acting out on instinct.

"This is brutality, choke hold's illegal!" Daryl coughed out the words as Shane's arm tightened around his windpipe.

"File a complaint," Shane answered sarcastically.

"Look I was hoping to have a calm discussion about this." Rick's voice was steady.

"Okay, okay." Daryl surrendered.

"Let him up," Rick told Shane.

Daryl got to his feet, face red, eyes still flashing with rage. "Where's he at?"

"Why?" Rick asked.

"So I can go get him." Daryl's voice broke with emotion and he quickly swiped his arm across his eyes making sure no tears would escape and give him away.

Danni thought she noticed him blinking furiously, a sign he was trying not to cry. She was almost shocked at the display of emotion.

"He'll show you," Lori said hoarsely, looking at Rick. "Won't you." It wasnt a question. She was playing with fire, knowing her recently found husband would be leaving again no matter how much she wanted him to stay.

"Yes, I will," Rick's answer was no surprise. It was a painful certainty.

Lori turned and walked into the RV, slamming the door behind her. Everyone looked down.

"Well, all right then." Daryl's satisfied voice broke the silence. Suddenly he seemed fine.