ShutxThexFrontxDoor: Thank you. The actual RP is just as fluffy. In our last exchange I kissed his forehead and he curled up to sleep against me and I'm singing to him.

Summary: AU, I guess, where when Merle got left in Atlanta, he didn't have to cut his hand off. Also, I'm borrowing Lucy again, because I love her, and I don't want to make a new character. And I should rename these 'a series of Merle one-shots'.

"Lucy, c'mon," T. Dog held the door to the fire escape, waiting for her. He had just dropped the key to Merle's cuffs down the drain and they had to get out before the walkers got up.

She looked between the two men, "Just go," Merle told her. "You don't owe me anythin'."

She sighed and shook her head, "I'm staying."

"Are you crazy?" T. Dog yelled, and Merle looked up at her, his eyebrows arched.

Lucy shook her head again, "Do you realize how pissed Daryl's gonna be? You can go on."

T. Dog sighed reluctantly, but did leave, chaining the door shut behind him. "You didn't have to do that," Merle told her. "Now yer gonna die up here too." She rolled her eyes, ignoring him. "Just admit it; you wanna bump uglies with ole Merle before it's over."

Lucy rolled her eyes, "That has nothing to do with it."

"But you don't deny wantin' to."

Lucy scowled at him, "I stayed because of Daryl. He's gonna go crazy when he finds out what happened to you, and I don't wanna be there for that."

"So you're gonna stay up here and die with me, how sweet."

She took a deep breath and turned her back to him, going through the debris and other things on top of the roof to see what she could find to break Merle free.

"What're you doin'?" he asked.

"What's it look like? I'm gonna get you out of those cuffs."

He looked around before spotting the hacksaw; he laid down and tried to reach it, his fingers just barely brushing it. "There's a saw over here, but I can't reach it."

She stood straight and looked at the thing lying on the ground, "Stop, that's useless."

"Like hell it is!"

Lucy sighed, pressing her hand to her temple, "It won't saw through the chain. It'll break. You'd have to cut your hand off, that would be bloody, painful, and take a long time. The cut won't be clean, and you'll probably get an infection."

Merle sighed, "Then what do you suggest?"

"This," she told him, walking back over with a sledgehammer.

"You gonna break my hand so I can get it out?"

She rolled her eyes, "That thing inside your skull is called a brain, it helps you think. Use it."

"There's no need to insult me."

Lucy ignored him and lifted the hammer above her head, then swung it down on the pipe Merle was cuffed to. It bent. She lifted the hammer again, swinging it down, using all her strength. The metal broke and Merle was able to slide the cuffs off the pipe.

He stood up and smiled at her, "Beauty and brains," he smiled.

She was about to give him a sarcastic comeback but stopped at the sound of the moans coming from the door. They turned and looked to see faces gnashing their teeth and hands reaching through trying to get to them on the other side.

"You got any other bright ideas?" Merle asked.

Lucy shook her head. Merle looked around, trying to figure out what to do. His eyes fell on Lucy again, her black hair pulled back into a messy bun. She wore shorts and a tank top; sweat glistened on her tanned skin. He grabbed her and pulled her to him, "What're you—"

Her words were cut off by his lips against hers. She felt his hands snake around her waist and one of them squeezed her ass. She put her hands against his chest and pushed herself away from him. He grinned at her. "What the hell do you think you're doin'?"

"I just wanted to check and see if it's as good as in my dreams. Since we're probably gonna die, I figured now was my last chance to do it."

"I'm better than you could imagine, and you'll just have to keep dreamin'."

"Yer a feisty one, huh?"

She walked over to the side of the building, looking across to the other one.

"What're you thinkin'?" he asked, even though he was sure he already knew the answer.

She didn't reply as she tossed the hammer to the other rooftop.

"Are you insane?" he asked as she backed up to get a running start.

"Yes," she replied without even looking at him. He watched her run; she leaped as soon as she got to the ledge. As she flew across the gap, her legs kept working, her arms flailing too. She hit the other side and stumbled forward, falling onto her knees. Lucy stood up and looked at him, "What're you waiting for?"

He rubbed his temples, not prepared for this. He backed up, copying her actions, and lept across to the other building as well. "Damn girl, look at yer knees."

She looked down, her knees were bloodied and her shins had a few scrapes too. She picked up the sledgehammer and shrugged, "Better than waitin' over there to get eaten."

"Guess you got a point." She started walking to the door, and Merle followed. She tried to hide it, but he could tell she was hurt worse than just a few scrapes. They made it down a floor and Lucy sat down on a table. "You okay?"

She nodded, "I'll be fine."

He knelt down in front of her, looking at her knees. She had some tiny rocks embedded in her skin, and he started picking them out. She winced as his fingers worked. He held the back of her leg in his calloused hand, and the handcuffs still attached to the other one ran up and down against her leg. The cold metal sending shivers down her spine.

"I didn't know you could be so caring."

"Daryl's had his share of scrapes when he was a kid. Somebody had to take care of him."

"You love him a lot, huh?"

Merle frowned and didn't answer her question.

She smiled, "It's okay. You don't have to play the emotionless tough guy all the time."

He moved to the other knee, ignoring what she said, "We should probably try to find some bandages so we can wrap your knees up. The smell of blood will probably attract more."

She nodded in agreement, "Look at you, usin' your brain."

He frowned and she chuckled. They both stood back up and started trying to figure their way safely out of the building, and out of Atlanta.

"Think they'll come back?" Merle asked as they walked.

Lucy shrugged, "Daryl will."

"You honestly think so?"

Lucy nodded, "You're his brother, all he has. He's not gonna let you go without a fight."

Merle smiled and kept pace beside her. "They'll probably come back for you."

"You worried nobody's gonna come lookin' for us?"

Merle shook his head and she grinned.