An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet,
regardless of time, place, or circumstance.
The thread may stretch or tangle,
but it will never break.
"Don't shoot the messenger." Danni murmured knowing it was time. It was time to hear from the Governor.
"Waste of an arrow," Daryl muttered as the injured second man made a desperate scramble back into the woods.
Danni shook Daryl's hand off of her shoulder and headed back to Jack writhing on the ground across the road. "Hey where you goin'?"
"There's something I have to do. Cover me." She said more for Jack's benefit than Daryl's.
She bent down and grabbed Jack by his hair and pulled his head back. He started to struggle.
"Watch it." She took her knife and ran the blade across his neck in the same place, the same way he'd done to Daryl. Lightly at first then she applied enough pressure to slice the flesh not deeply but enough cause bleeding and to leave a nice scar. She stepped back and he put his hand to his neck trying to stop the blood.
"Fucking bitch I ought-"
"What, what are you gonna do?"
"Danni!" Daryl shouted to her, a little uncomfortable that she was fighting what he thought was his battle. "Fuck you doin'? It ain't your fight, leave it. It's mine!"
She looked back and realized he hadn't opened his mouth or spoken the words aloud. He'd spoken to her in her mind.
"I know but he hurt you and that hurts me so much. I'm sorry."
"Its okay... when you pulled that knife and stabbed that son of a bitch think I fell in love with you all over again. Forget Bonnie and Clyde, it's us."
"I didn't have time to get man-handled by this asshole, I got our kids at home and other shit to do!"
She saw in his eyes he'd heard her the same way she'd heard him. Neither of them was shocked. It felt natural.
She stood and looked back down at Daryl's torturer.
"Oh and Merle says hi too." She kicked him hard in the ribs, before walking back to Daryl. then there was a disturbance in the brush.
"Who the hell are you?" Daryl called to yet another guy emerging from behind a tree.
"Get me out of here!" Jack called to the newcomer. "I need a doctor, shit look at me!"
"Shut up. I'll deal with you later. Idiot. I knew I shouldn't have let you go ahead. What's this? You were supposed to follow them back and give the damn message."
"Asked you a question!" Daryl said aiming his bow eyes narrowed, his manner cool and controlled.
"Look it wasn't supposed to go down like this." The man was Hispanic; a solid guy, broad-shouldered and capable-looking. He had the calm, cool manner that Daryl himself was displaying. This was business.
"Not important who I am. Look the Governor has a message for you or whoever is in charge of your group."
Danni was aiming at the newcomer also. "We heard, so what is it?"
"He wants to meet to talk about what happened and what's gonna happen. Put something on the table. There's an old feed store farm a few miles out, right between your prison and Woodbury. He wants to meet the day after tomorrow. Noon. Be there or not. Oh and ah, is Merle still with you?"
"Yeah," Danni answered.
"You tell him Martinez says hi." His tone was threatening.
... ... ... ... ... .. .
Fuck.. Shit.. fuck goddamn! Merle looked around the chaotic scene before him. The house was wrecked; a pigsty lately that was not strange but with newly broken furniture and blood on the kitchen floor, his gut did the twist. The old man was gone, his recliner as empty as the bottle of Old Crow beside it. Merle tried to avoid coming back here as much as he could. He was eighteen now and living on his own, with buddies, sometimes camping out in the woods or staying with this uncle. Today he had a couple of extra bucks he made playing pool last night and wanted to give it Daryl, let him go but some candy or a comic or something.
"Daryl?"
Nothing. He looked in their room. Empty. Next he headed to her room. "Momma," he growled, peering through the dim light. He barely made out her form on the bed.
"Dammit!" He stalked across the room and yanked the drapes open, letting light in. "Momma git up!"
She squinted and threw her arm across her light-sensitive, pained eyes. "Merle honey close the drapes I'm' sleeping…"
"Where's Daryl?"
"Huh?"
"What do I got here? Fuckin' Blanche Dubois laying in your underwear drunk off your ass while your husband beat your baby boy near to death and now he's missing and you don't know where he's at? Pathetic bitch. Fuckin…"
She started to cry softly. "Merle why are you so mean. You were my beautiful boy, now you say them hurtful things…"
Merle shook his head hardly able to remember who she used to be, who he thought she was. He looked at the empty wine bottles on her nightstand and overflowing ashtrays on the floor. He stormed out. He had to find Daryl. The kid was only eight and out in the woods... with all that blood on the floor…. who knows what the old man did to him. He could be half dead.
Merle watched the sun start to set behind the row of evergreens west of the house. He thought about Daryl being out in the woods after sundown, alone, it was getting cold too. He watched darkness spreading across the overgrown yard. He walked to the side of the house and called out for his brother several times. He pulled a flashlight from the saddlebag of his chopper and after looking in the dilapidated barn, started across the field behind the house. He hadn't been out here in ages. The night was coming on quick now. Bats swooped down after insects in the field, a nightingale watched him from its nest beneath a bower of honeysuckle He hesitated then started up the dirt patch into the woods. He saw Daryl in the clearing against a log
"Count backward? You sure? It'll help?" Daryl asked.
Merle heard him talking to someone as he approached their hiding spot. He held back and listened.
"Nah...I ain't doing it no more, never helps."
Merle heard his brother pause as if listening to someone. "I am breathing...jeez. C'mon sing it again that song. That helps...sometimes...usually.., please?"
Who was he talking to?
When Merle got closer saw his brother curled up on the ground, alone.
"Hey who you talking to?"
Daryl sprung up quickly not wanting Merle to see him so weak.
Merle grunted. "Sounded like somebody was here."
Finally, Daryl had to ask "Did you see her?" He could never see the girl when she came to him, talked to him, comforted him. If Merle had heard her maybe he saw her?
"What girl? Who was here with you boy?"
Daryl saw how Merle was looking at him like he was crazy. "Nobody...myself. Daryl mumbled. "Just talking to myself."
Merle watched Daryl look around as if searching for someone.
"You got a little girlfriend stashed out here?" Merle chuckled.
Daryl hated being teased. "No."
Merle looked at Daryl's torn shirt and his bloody nose and split lip. One eye was swollen shut.
"Good because you are so ugly right you'd scare any cute lil thing away anyhow."
Merle knew Daryl was different, off in his head most of the time. Always thinking, that boy was always thinking. Now he was talking to himself, hearing things...was the beating affecting his head?
"You do got a girlfriend out here, don't you?" Merle stated. It was easier for Merle to believe that. Only he didn't. He remembered how momma would sometimes do the same thing listen and talk like someone was there when she was alone in the kitchen.
"Let's get you home and cleaned up. "
"Nah I ain't going back there. Merle. I ain't."
Merle was quiet.
"Why can't I go with you?"
... ... ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .
She woke him early. "Big day."
Danni was worried; everyone was worried. For all, they knew the meeting today could be an ambush. A deadly ambush on Rick and Daryl and then an attack on the prison. No one trusted the Governor.
Daryl sat up and grunted shaking the sleep from his head. "Are they.."
"They're fine I fed and changed them already. Look, before you go today I need to do something."
He pulled her onto his lap so she could feel his erection. "Fine by me. He kissed the hollow of her throat.
"That's not exactly what I was talking about."
"So you're saying no?"
She could never say no. She shook her head and he pushed her down and moved on top of her.
"It's early, we got time." He said in that low sandpapered, honeyed drawl. Maybe they needed this, to forget the stress, the nerves. As if reading her mind he said, "I'm gonna be fine today."
Danni loved the feeling of his weight pressing her into the mattress and she eagerly raised her lips to his. Daryl wanted to be in control. She felt his hand on her stomach and lost what little air she had, gasping for breath. He kissed his way down her neck and her chest. He pushed her shirt up. She moaned and writhed, but his arms kept her still. He lightly brushed her breast with his lips, running his fingers lightly around the sides of the other. Her breath was ragged and gasping, and she whimpered in pleasure. Then he took the nipple in his mouth and she was on fire, arching her back and letting out a strangled guttural sigh. His answer was a return groan that vibrated her chest, showing he wasn't as in-control as she thought. He sucked fiercely on her neck and she moaned in ecstasy digging her fingers into his dark shaggy hair. One hand trailed down her side to the boxers she still slept it. He pushed them down over her hips and thighs. "Oh, god..." she gasped. He moved back to open his pants, then he was on her again, pressing her down kissing her, claiming her as his own. She could never have any man but him with her this way. She knew it; he knew it. His hand slid down the inside of her thigh and she parted her legs automatically. He muffled her outburst with his mouth as his fingers found her core.
He parted the folds softly, gently stroking and Danni couldn't stand it, she writhed, but he held her immobile. "Always make me wait. Always still so mean…" She sighed. His touch sent electricity through her. She couldn't stand it, but somehow, like always, she did. She wanted it, wanted him. When they broke the kiss, she moaned, "I want you... So much." He groaned and crushed her beneath him. She could feel the long hard length of him against her thigh. "Hey, " Danni couldn't believe she was so coherent. "We have to use something again...unless you want a bigger family."
"Maybe I do." he said his mouth pressed against her ear. She tried to move over to get a condom from the box Maggie had given her, but her desire was overtaking her and he wasn't making it easy.
"You don't mean it." She answered.
He pushed her legs apart, slowly pushed into her and Danni was lost to him then, knowing nothing but the feel of him inside her; she was home. He was about to pull out, knowing she was right about protection, but she said "No, please, don't stop. I...want this...don't hold back..no teasing not today..." in longing whispers. He moaned like a condemned man and plunged into her to the hilt. He muffled her moans, kissing her fiercely. Slowly, he began to move, and she whimpered with the pleasure and the connection she felt. Hearing her, he began to stroke her body while he thrust deep within and slowly drew out, the pleasant friction growing. Her hands were at his shoulders, her fingers digging into the dense muscle. His lips were on her neck, on her breast again. A heated ache rose in her and he increased his pace, gliding in and out faster and faster. She could feel her climax building, and she struggled for air. They both sweated and gasped like two marathon runners in the last mile. They rode the climax together and she reached her peak, shuddering as stars exploded behind her eyes, he came too. He lay upon her and she wrapped her arms around his waist, both were content to just stay there entwined for a moment. He kissed her gently; her hero, her warrior, her love. Daryl held her like some precious, fragile glass doll. At that moment, there was nothing but Danni and Daryl and their feeling of connection. Reality would come soon enough and he'd have to leave and face the governor with Rick.
When they came back to their senses, Danni said, "that's the last time without a condom I mean it. You might be ready for another baby, but I'm not." She smiled.
He nodded. "Got it. But we're doing the parent thing it right, so if you did get pregnant would it be so bad?"
"Hell yes, right now it would. I am not going through labor again anytime soon. And we aren't even sleeping through the night yet...I just got my shape back...and things around here might get more dangerous and...want more reasons?"
"No, cause you'll go on for hours, jeez. I get it. Now, what was that thing you wanted to do?" He asked sitting up and dressing.
"A protection spell."
He was so used this stuff now he didn't blink an eye. She'd been studying that book she'd gotten from Brigid and telling him more about what she was gonna teach the kids. She felt the warmth spreading in her chest when he just nodded.
She drew a spear on a piece of paper torn from her journal. Symbols of the Tuatha De Danann.
"Your symbol is the spear. I've been studying you based on being a fire sign. It all fits." She stood and read from a passage in the leather-bound book.
"Ruling Deity = Lugh
Ruling Element = Fire
Direction = South
Magical City of Origin = Gorias
Magical Properties and Description =The Spear that never misses the mark.
The spear of Lugh carries far more symbolic weight than just the implications of battle, hunting and victory. The spear is a symbol of the single-minded aim. Direct action. Channeled attention. Tunneled vision with a goal to hit the target. The tip of a spear meets with its target as a sign of contact, making an opening, prompting a beginning, leading to action." She looked up at him, pride glowing in her eyes. "Who does that sound like?"
He smiled a little and looked down.
Danni then slowly turned in each of the four directions saying "I call thee, you who guard the Watchtowers of the North South East and West to guide my man through the darkness, and ensure his safety."
She stood before him and drew a pentacle in the air with his knife. She spoke:
"In the shadows, evils hide,
Ready to draw him from his love's side,
But with your help he shall be strong
And banish all that do him wrong
Send them away, send them astray
Never again to pass his way,
So mote it be."
She folded the paper with drawing of the spear in six parts and put it in his pocket.
She stood back and looked at him. "Take care of Rick too."
"Yeah." he rasped and nodded. "Hey," he stepped forward and pulled her into a kiss. "You are-" he couldn't find words to express his pride and the swell of connection and love he felt as she stood before him chanting those words in deep husky melodic tone.
"I know." She said against his chest.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .
It was eerily quiet when Rick and Daryl, got out of the car in front of the old grain farm.
The late morning sun was lowering and getting hot as Daryl led Rick across the dry grass on point, ready for any threat human or inhuman. They passed old wooden buildings and grain silos as if in a maze. It looked clear of any type of ambush. Daryl nodded back to Rick and they decided to check the main building where the meeting was to take place. When Rick pulled the sliding barn door open, the dark man dressed in black was already at the table.
"We have a lot to talk about." Was all he said.
Rick didn't let his face register surprise. Instead, he motioned for Daryl to go and patrol the front.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I got this." Rick said and turned. "So you 're the Governor."
"They call me that."
What's this all about."
"I think you know."
"I know you've been watching us, spying on us, tried to take one of our own the other day. Makes things pretty clear." Rick approached the table, not wanting to sit.
"I'm trying to make things clear. I could have killed you all by now. I haven't.
"Well, here we are then." Rick admitted, finally sitting.
"I'm gonna remove my weapon. Show I m here to negotiate in good faith. I'd like you to do the same." He held up the pistol. "See no trouble. Now you."
"You want to talk, talk." Rick said refusing to surrender his pistol.
"I wanted you to talk."
Rick nodded. "Too many people will die for no reason."
"Let's end this. Save the bullets for the real threat."
"We can solve this."
"That's why I asked you to come here."
"I know what you've done. I heard about the raids, Glenn, what you did with Merle and Daryl. Taking Glenn and Danni."
"Merle did that."
"No. You know what I'm talking about."
"And what about your people coming in? I lost good men that night. Look unfortunate things have happened. You know all about me and I know all about you." He paused. Rick continued to stare suspiciously, eyes narrowed.
"I don't care about any of that. We're here to move forward. " The Governor said smiling artificially.
Rick continue to glare. He didn't trust this asshole. He was talking too much without saying anything. Rick knew he wanted something. Just get to the point.
... ... ... ... ... .. .. .. ... .. ...
"Why's your boy already in there?" Daryl asked Martinez, the guy who'd been on the road the other day. He was obviously the Governor's second.
Martinez leaned back against his jeep and just stared at Daryl, a small knowing smile playing on his lips.
"Knew we shouldn't have trusted y'all….I oughta go inside." Daryl grunted.
"Boss said to sit tight and shut up."
"Don't you mean the Governor?" Daryl asked with disdain.
"Look, if you and I are gonna be out here pointing guns at each other all day, do me a favor, shut your mouth." Martinez shot back at Daryl.
Daryl grunted and raised his bow moving toward the other man who drew his gun. It was like a standoff on the playground.
You don't need this. If all goes south in there, you'll be at each other's throats soon enough. Daryl heard Danni in his head. He lowered the bow and shook his head. Martinez did the same. After a period of strained silence, Daryl asked, "You army or something?
"Nah, I just...just hate these things." He gestured to a few rotting corpses decomposing on the ground aroiund them.
"Yeah."
"After what they did to my wife, kids." Martinez addded and shook his head.
"Sucks." I got a wife and kids. Daryl thought. Shit. Losing them...like that...
"Thanks."
"This is a joke, right?" Daryl asked, already knowing the answer. "They ain't gonna work anything out."
"Sure, they'll do their little dance in there and tomorrow or maybe the next day... they'll give the word."
"I know." Daryl said.
... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... .
The mood at the prison was tense. Everyone was aware that the meeting could be a trap and attack could come at any time.
"T-Dog come here." Glenn motioned. "You stash these at the loading dock. All right?" He handed T several boxes of bullets. "Maggie, put more up on the catwalk. If anyone gets pinned down, we need to make sure that they have plenty of ammo. I'll go work on the cage outside."
"What we should be doing is loading some of this firepower in a truck and paying a visit to the Governor." Merle stood in the entrance to his cell. He raised his eyebrow at Danni as he spoke. "Queenie knows I'm right don't you?"
Danni sat the babies by her side in their carriers, watching Glenn do his best to step into leadership shoes.
"We know where he is right now." Merle kept on.
"Are you suggesting that we just go in and kill him?" Glenn asked
"Yeah, I am."
"Merle, we told Rick and Daryl that we'd stay put." Danni finally said.
"I've changed my mind, sweetheart. Being on the sideline with my brother out there ain't sitting right with me."
"The two of them are right in the middle of it. No idea we're coming. They could get taken hostage or killed. A thousand things could go wrong." Glenn argued.
"And they will."
"My dad can take care of himself." Carl spoke up.
"Sorry, son, but your dad's head could be on a pike real soon."
"Don't say that to him!" Danni scolded.
"It's not the right move. Can't take the risk of putting them in the crossfire. That's my decision. It's final." Glenn stated.
Merle lunged at Glenn. "My brother is out there!"
Danni ran and pulled him off. "Merle! Come on." She took his arm and dragged him from Glenn. She drew him toward the babies on the table. '"Take one." She ordered "and follow me." She led him upstairs.
"You are a bossy one." Merle muttered, pacing. He put the carrier down. "That Chinese kid's got a nerve-"
"Daryl will be fine. Now breath and try counting backward."
"What you just say?"
"Count backward from ten. It's calming. Why?"
"Think I heard it somewhere's before, that's all." Daryl as a kid in the woods...
"Look." She pulled out Brigid's Book of Shadows. "I found this picture. It's your mom isn't it? And...Daryl?"
Merle bent down and took the photograph Danni held out to him.
The old Polaroid had the faded coloring and light of the early 1970's, but he recognized his momma, sitting beside the red-haired woman Brigid. Her smile lit up her whole face. Her dark chocolate locks spilled around her face and onto her shoulders in the wavy, feathered style of the time. She was beaming with pride, holding Daryl, who couldn't have been more than a week old.
"You show this to Daryl?"
"Not yet."
Merle nodded. "Maybe you should."
"After the blessing" was written on the back of the photo in Brigid's handwriting along with Angelica archangelica.
Merle closed his eyes and felt like he enetered the old polaroid:
"Merle, take your brother, for me." Charlotte handed Merle, the bundled infant. She was jittery, nervous as she grabbed the diaper bag and the one suitcase that held all they would bring with them. She'd made the decision only that morning to leave with Brigid and her family. The clan would wait until midnight. Charlotte had to put her sons first. She'd finally been too frightened. Will had actually threatened Daryl last night. An infant, he'd squeezed his little arm until the baby's screams ripped Charlotte in two. Finally when she'd taken her son back and gotten him calm again, she'd decided she had to get out. Looking at the red and purple bruise forming on Daryl's tiny arm, she asked Danu for aid, for courage from the mother goddess to help her be a good momma. To help her get out. She began singing softly, almost under her breath as she took Daryl from Merle and hustled them to the door.
"Little birdie sing me your song.
I've a short time for to be here
And a long time to be gone.
Little birdie, little birdie,
What makes ya fly so high?
It's cause I have a true heart
And I don't care to die.
I'd rather be here, honey
Than any place I know.
But to help keep down trouble,
Down this old road I go.
Little birdie, little birdie
What makes your wings so blue?
It's aint nothing else but grieving,
Grieving over you-"
When the got out to the porch, Charlotte's heart stopped as she heard his voice.
"Goin' somewhere?"
She heard Merle gasp.
Will blocked their way down the steps.
"You can't stop us."
"Wouldn't dream of it darlin'."
"Good, because we-"
"That bitch waiting for you? This is her ain't it? Devil's whore. I forbade ya to see her...didn't listen did ya?"
"You said you won't stop us."
He moved back and made a sweeping gesture with his arm as if to say, go right ahead. When she and Merle descended the first step, Will said, "But you ain't taking Daryl. Hand him over. "
Charlotte breathed in sharply. "Are you crazy?"
"He is my boy you ain't taking him anywhere.''
She knew he wasn't crazy, he just knew what buttons to push.
"No you don't. " She moved to leave and he pushed her back. She fell on the step, almost dropping Daryl, but managed to hold on to the baby.
Merle suddenly jumped on his father's back and tried to strangle him. "Go Momma! Run! Go!" He shouted as his old man growled and threatened, trying to buck his ten-year-old son from his back.
Charlotte held her now screaming infant to her chest. She stood but couldn't go... couldn't leave Merle.
"Momma go!" Merle shouted as he was thrown from his father's back and hit the dirt hard.
"Will! Stop it leave him! He's just a boy!"
Will leaned over pummeling Merle's face neck and shoulders.
Charlotte felt helpless. "Stop! I'll stay! We'll stay! Please leave him!"
Will stood and turned to her. He approached and took Daryl from her into his bloody hands. "Thought so. You ain't never leaving." He backhanded her hard across the face. "Get that straight right now. I know you Charlotte. And things is gonna be different around here. You ain't never goin over the hill again hear me! You are not to fraternize with that cult of… devil worshippers...no more hear me?"
When he went back into the house, Charlotte ran to Merle, still on the ground. She kneeled and put her hand o his shoulder. He shook off her comfort. He looked at her, his face a bloody mess and said "Stupid bitch. Shoulda' run. Now you'll never get out. Stupid bitch." He pulled himself up and started toward the dark woods.
"She never tried again."
"Did you say something Merle?" Danni asked.
"No, nothing."
... ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
"I know you got guns." The governor said. "That was quite a stash you brought back when you attacked us those months ago. Now, my people, they're not combat-tested like yours are, but I've got more of them."
"So this fight, it will go down to the last man." Rick confirmed what he already knew.
"So let's end it. Today."
"Okay, let's not do this. We can walk away."
"You have something that I want. Something that makes this all alright." The Governor said ominously.
Finally, he was getting to the point, Rick thought. "I'm not giving up the prison."
"No. I don't want your prison. That doesn't sound safe at all. What good would that do me? Best you stay where I can keep my eye on you."
Rick stared.
"I want Merle. He's a traitor."
Rick nodded not surprised.
"And I want that couple Stephen and Danni. They made a fool of me in front of my people."
"Stephen's dead, he didn't make it back that night."
"Isn't that a pity." He said sarcastically. "Well, the woman then." He was more interested in her anyway. The fact that she used her pregnancy to play on his sympathies infuriated him. She had to pay.
"Turn them over and this all goes away."
Rick's gut clenched. He didn't answer.
"Are they worth it? One man and one woman... worth all those lives at your prison?"
Is she?
"You know I'm right."
"You have forty-eight hours to bring them to Woodbury or Woodbury comes to destroy you."
... ... ... .. ... .. ... ... .. ... .. .
Rick was unusually quiet after the meeting. Daryl expected to get the low down but even when he asked "what do we do?" Rick gave him a gesture that said 'not now I need to think'. Daryl could read him pretty well by now. Something about what the governor said was bad. Rick was tortured. Daryl drove while Rick brooded in the passenger seat.
"He wants Merle, don't he?" Daryl finally asked.
Rick remained silent. The road hummed under the wheels.
Merle handed Daryl a 16-gauge Remington. "In this house you best know how to handle a gun 'less you want to starve to death."
"But I don't wanna shoot anything." Daryl said when Merle pointed out two squirrels scurrying along some branches high in the nearest tree.
Merle laughed. "Didn't I see you eating some rabbit this morning?"
"Yeah."
"Somebody, namely me, had to kill and skin it."
"I guess."
"You're seven, just about eight now, boy, high time you started acted like a man."
Daryl swallowed hard and looked at his brother. "I am. I ain't no pussy."
"Look I ain't always gonna be here. You need to fend for yourself boy. Ain't nobody else gonna do it. Nobody never will. Get it through your head right now. All you got is yourself. " Merle's eyes traveled over his little brother's bruised and cut face. He'd suffered anther beating while Merle was out drinking with his buddies the other night. Their momma didn't even try to stop it anymore.
Merle lifted his own shotgun and fired. One of the squirrels fell to the ground and he started toward it. "Just try not to tear em up too bad. He said over his shoulder. "You wanna have something left to put in the pan." Merle picked up the squirrel, then, looking thoughtful said "Earl's got one of them high-powered crossbows. Maybe I ought to get my hands on it, teach you how to use it. Better for hunting what you gonna be eating. Lemme think on that."
"Merle." Daryl said after they'd walked through the woods for a while."Where you going?"
"I'm gonna enlist in the army. Get outta this shit hole. Nothing here for me." Luanne was getting too serious, he was to well-known to the sherriff...his goddamn father...he needed to get out. "Nothin' here for me."
"I'm here."
Merle was silent.
... ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .
"So?" Danni asked as they got ready for bed.
"Dunno. He wouldn't talk about it."
"That's weird."
"Don't seem right. Somethin ain't right or he'd a told me. Think?"
She nodded. "Yes. We need to talk to him."
"Push him? I dunno… he'll tell us when the time's right."
"No, we need to know now. Daryl something is wrong and Rick shouldn't be alone with it. You can go on your own if you think that's best, but you have to get him to talk." Danni said respecting Daryl's position as Rick's right hand.
He nodded. "Just me. Might be easier. In the morning. Hey, that spell musta worked. Here I am."
"Yeah, here you are, to go change those babies." She smiled. "I'm exhausted."
... ... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .
The next morning, Daryl found Rick alone by the fence. "So what's the plan?" He asked.
"He wants Merle." Rick said.
Daryl nodded. "I Figured as much. So what are-"
"That's not all." Rick interrupted.
Daryl looked at him sideways, eyes narrowed, concerned at Rick's tone.
"He wants Danni too."
"What?" He rasped.
"That stunt she pulled with Stephen to get you guys out of Woodbury? Let's just say the governor doesn't forgive and forget. He wants revenge. She made a fool of him and he's out for blood. As much hers as Merle's."
"So? He ain't getting them. Fuck all if he thinks he's getting near either one of them."
Rick swallowed hard and looked out at the yard beyond them. "He's gonna attack. The prison. If we don't hand over Danni and Merle, he's coming in here with, well, Merle told us how many men he has and how much firepower."
"Yeah, well, we fight. Or we find another place." Daryl said softly but defiantly.
"That's what we need to sort out."
"You ain't thinking for one minute I'd gi-"
"Course not." Rick stopped him.
"Right."
... ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .
"Daryl you are an asshole! I handled myself fine! I need to get those plants! A half hour in the woods is all I need!"
"Don't care, you ain't stepping one foot outside the goddamn fence again."
"We'll see!"
'Yeah, we will!"
The babies started crying.
"You fucking woke them up! It took me hours to get them to sleep!" Danni shouted, exasperated.
"You woke 'em up. You're the one who yells all the goddamn time!" He shot back.
"Daryl!" She shouted in frustration. "You deal with this!" She stormed down the stairs. "What are you smiling at? You…" She brushed past Merle, who laughed at their fight.
"No. No it...hell yeah, it is queenie. And look at you all madder than a puffed up toad."
"It's not funny." She shoved her way past him. "The two of you just go to hell!"
Merle found Daryl torn between wanting to follow her but having to take care of his crying children.
"Goddamnit she better not go outside just to fucking spite me. She would, ya know she would."
"Yeah probably headed out there now. Still got your keys on ya?"
"Shit!" Daryl felt for them, the were still on his belt. "Not the first time she did that... took my damn keys and went and did something stupid and got herself in trouble."
"Forgot what a wildcat ya got there little brother. Ha, queenie's really back ain't she."
Daryl was flustered and overwhelmed. "Yeah, sometimes I wish she wasn't."
"Nah, you don't mean that."
"Hey lemme take one of them sprouts there. How about my namesake huh?"
Merle took Ryder from his bin. "What you crying for little corncob?"
Daryl held Kiera. "They like it when ya walk around with 'em." He said. After a few minute, they were still bawling. "They like singing too but Danni's the only one who does that. "
"Hey, lil brother you remember that song momma used to sing? Went something like this. Merle spoke more than sang, his gruff voice giving small inflections here and there but not really holding a tune.
"Little birdie, little birdie
Sing me your song.
I've a short time for to be here
And a long time to be gone.
Little birdie, little birdie,
What makes ya fly so high?
It's cause I have a true heart
And I don't care to die.
I'd rather be here, honey
Than any place I know.
But to help keep down trouble,
Down this old road I go.
Little birdie, little birdie
What makes your wings so blue?
It ain't nothing else but grieving,
Grieving over you.
I'd rather drink muddy water,
Rather sleep in a holler log,
Than to stay here, on this old river
Be treated like a dirty dog.'
The kids settled down.
Daryl was silent for a minute. "Yeah I do remember her singing it." He paused. "Merle, that Governor prick wants Danni."
"That what that little bust up was over? You know you can't keep her safe by locking her up. Never works. You'll drive her away. 'Sides if the Governor wants queenie he'll find a way to get her."
"Aint happening."
"You trust Rick to handle it?"
"Yeah, Rick's done alright by me."
Merle shook his head. "You put a lot of faith in Rick don't ya?"
Daryl took a breath. "Whatever Rick says goes."
"Is he prepared to go in first? Kill the Governor, first strike?"
"Rick's got a plan."
Merle grunted. They didn't know who they were dealing with. He did. He couldn't tell Daryl, but Merle knew the Governor wasn't just gonna kill Danni. He was gonna do things to her, inhuman things. In his 'workshop'. Merle had been privy to the sadism of his former boss. If The Governor wanted him, that was one thing. But queenie? No way he'd let queenie end up in that room.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .
"I'm...sorry. about earlier." Daryl apologized as Danni got in bed beside him. "He wants you, the Governor wants you."
"What?" She sat up. "Me? What about Merle?"
"You broke in to get us and he wants payback."
"Well, he's not getting me." Danni picked up his hand and squeezed. "You'd never let that happen."
"Damn right."
"We might have to go, leave here..." Danni realized aloud. "...find another place."
"Or fight, we can fight. Rick's gonna talk to everybody in the morning."
"That's why he didn't say anything to me, about the meeting. He didn't want me to know, about my part in all this." Danni realized.
"He doesn't want you worrying or feeling like any of this is your fault. I don't either."
"No use worrying now I guess. We can't do anything about it tonight." She sighed. She wanted to bring up the picture of Daryl and his mother, the one she'd shown. Merle. She wanted to ask him about how they were getting better at knowing each other's thoughts, but he had too much on his mind right now. Too much. "Let's just go to sleep. The troublemakers are actually quiet. Man today sucked huh? Just need to sleep." She finally said.
She lay on her side. He moved behind her and put his arms around her. "I worry about you. Can't help it."
She closed her eyes knowing she'd never be able to stop him. She worried about him too. She worried herself to sleep.
"What are you doin' here?" He shook her hand off and looked away.
"You came back alone...and you look so-"
He didn't let her finish. "What? What do I look like? A traitor? How 'bout some weak piece of shit who can't protect his own family?"
He directed his anger at himself more than at Danni.
"I killed him. That what you wanna know? I got there and he was turned. I had to. My own brother. " He sounded stunned.
"Daryl, I'm sorry."
He finally turned toward her. She could see he'd been crying. Suddenly he was furious.
"Don't tell me you're sorry about Merle." He choked out his brother's name. You don't know nothin' about us."
"I know you loved him."
"Shut up. You think you got me figured out. You feel sorry for me, huh? Fucked up family, stupid, violent, backwoods hick. I don't belong here. " He paused and his crystalline blue eyes bore down on her. "You don't know me, so stop acting like you do. You don't know shit!"
Daryl looked past her. "You don't know what it was like to look him in those dead eyes. To fucking stab him in the brain. It was Merle, but it wasn't…..you can't know that."
"Daryl I'm sorry. I should have been there. I should have been there."
"Been there? You don't know where you are or where to go. You're a scared little girl all alone so you been hanging on me thinking we'll be something for each other. Making up some stupid idea of how its gonna be with us. We're both alone. We're nothin'. Hear me?"
"You're right."
Her agreement caught him off guard.
"I might die tomorrow. I'm not gonna spend what could be my last day being talked to like that by you or anyone. I've taken enough shit in my life. I am not doing that anymore. So just get out of my way."
Her shoulder knocked into him as she rushed past. She stalked away, yelling back, "Speechless?" She screeched with fury. "What else is new!"
He couldn't let her have the last word. "We might all die tomorrow, so I'll say whatever the hell I want to all y'all! Even a dog knows the difference between being stumbled over and being kicked."
He immediately regretted his words. There was no time for fear like this. He'd take on a group of Walkers without thinking twice, but his feelings about this goddamned girl terrified him. He had been too late with Merle; too late to fix things, to make it right and that mistake would pain him for the rest of his life. He wasn't going to do that with Danni. He knew that with Merle gone he needed her more than ever.
"Shit." He muttered. Moving quickly, he beat her to the door and blocked her exit. She pivoted and tried to push past, but he grabbed her shoulders. His grip was firm and as she started to struggle and protest he shoved her against the wall. "Just hold still."
Danni sat up shaken by the dream."I should have been there." Was all she said. It was the same dream she'd had when she first met Daryl. She hadn't thought about it since the night at the farm when she'd told Daryl about it, but she'd left out the part about Merle. Back then, she never thought she'd see Merle again or even cared to. So, to dream about his death now was surprising. However, the dream wasn't completely accurate. She and Daryl had controlled their destiny. They'd created a relationship well before the dream's timeline. She told Daryl dreams show you things. A dream is a guide, not a prediction.
"I should have been there."