Dear Readers,
Thank you so much for your favorites/follows and reviews to this story. I really didn't think it would be that well liked with it being Daryl/Beth/ Merle. I call it Methyl. I hope you all enjoy this chapter as well as you did the last.
I'm done for the night, I updated a chapter to not only this, but my other story, Respectfully, CMC Dixon tonight as well. 6000 words is pretty much my limit for the day.
Please, leave me a review on your way to the lobby, they make me feel good and get you chapters sooner!
Merle rubbed his stinging jaw, his face turning bright red from the embarrassment of Jenny smacking him in front of their son. Danny didn't need to see a woman laying hands on a man, that wasn't masculine. Merle, even in his anger would never raise a hand to a woman. He'd grown up watching his father beat the hell out of his mother, and he swore he would never be like the old man. Merle swallowed, taking a few breaths.
"Didn't mean nothing bad by it Jenny, I'm just glad to see you is all. And that little girl laying upstairs with Daryl woulda died had I not patched her up. Ain't nothing going on between them, he was just holding her still while I sewed and he fell asleep. Didn't think I needed to wake them. So what ya say we go inside and talk?" Merle looked between Danny and Jenny, hoping someone would make a move.
Jenny's face turned up in a scowl, she couldn't turn the Dixon's out, especially with their friend injured. Danny bounced on the heels of his feet, looking excited that Merle was back in his life. Danny never called Merle Dad, but he always treated Merle as if he was his father. Which if Jenny was totally honest with herself and Merle, she would make it be known that Merle was indeed Danny's father. Twenty years of not saying anything about it seemed like more of a heartache than a help. Jenny bit at her bottom lip, nodding as she spoke.
"Yeah, let's get inside and get the house locked down for the night. Find you something to eat, I'm sure you're hungry Merle. I won't worry about Daryl and your friend until the morning, but Daryl's gonna have to answer to me when he gets his ass up. You know I'm still sore over him running out on Natty like he did." Jenny saw that look in Merle's eye, the one that told her she was pushing just a bit too far. It was best for her to shut up and leave it be.
"Woman, leave it be. He had his reasons why he left when he did. Ain't no one's business but his and we all need to respect that. Natalie's done better for herself without him, and he's made due." Merle wrapped his arm around Danny's shoulder, pulling him towards the front door. He'd worry about Daryl and Beth in the morning, right now he was more concerned with rebuilding the bridge with Jenny and Danny. This could be something long term if things worked out right, and with the prison a burnt out relic, somewhere safe for a while was a smart idea.
Jenny moved around the kitchen putting plates of food together for the men seated at her table. It wasn't much between the deer and the vegetables, but it was better than starving. Jenny sat across from Merle picking through the deer on her plate. While she was glad to have him back in her life, especially with how life was now, it was like a knife in her heart.
Danny listened carefully as Merle spoke about what had happened the last two years since hell rained down. Jenny realized that for the last year Merle was only twenty five miles away at the prison, and now that prison was gone. She was thankful that she and Danny never had to deal with this horrible man Merle called the Governor. Jenny cleaned up the dinner plates before making up a spot on the couch for Merle.
"Sorry Merle, it's the best I got with your brother and his woman up in the guest room. Don't even think you're sleeping in my room anytime soon. You got to earn that place back with me." Jenny poked Merle in the chest as Danny snickered.
"Fine woman. I gaurendamntee you I'll be back in your bed by the weekend. Goodnight sugar tits." Merle laughed at the sour look on Jenny's face as she went up the stairs. It felt good to be back somewhere he was comfortable. Merle stretched out on the couch, his belly full and his body tired. Sunrise would be coming soon, and that meant checking in on Natalie. No one, even military trained Natalie should be out there on her own with a little girl like Allie. Merle had plans to convince Natalie to come stay with them at the McCaffrey's, or at the very least convince Natalie to give Daryl a second chance. Daryl needed Natalie as much as Natalie needed him.
Daryl jerked awake, feeling a warm body up against his own. His eyes locked on Beth's blonde hair, her neck inches from his face. It all came crashing back when he saw the line of sutures on her side, covered with the purple derma-bond. He remembered kissing her neck lightly when she finally passed out, he was relieved that she had finally gave up the fight and was without pain. He crawled out of the bed carefully, as to not wake Beth and make her problem even worse.
Daryl followed his nose to the kitchen finding Jenny cooking up eggs. Daryl leaned against the wall, watching her move deftly around the kitchen. It wasn't her eyes locked on him that he spoke up.
"Hey Jenny, my brother around?" Daryl's sleep thick voice cracked in the middle, as Jenny handed him a plate with deer and eggs on it.
"He went over to Natalie's to thank her for the supplies for your girlfriend upstairs. You two were the last people I thought I'd be seeing anytime soon." Jenny handed Daryl a biscuit with honey slathered on the halves, seeing him nod in appreciation.
"Well, I guess it's better him than me going over there. Natty'd probably shoot me on sight. Thanks for letting us crash here. It's been a rough couple of days." Daryl spoke between bites, savoring the small meal.
"I can't lie and say Natalie's still in love with you. I don't know what happened between you two, but I will say it broke her heart when you left. Even after we met up with you guys at the bar and then the lake, she still was hurt. Merle says things have been rough for you. But I'm gonna make it clear as day, you want to stay here, you got to help provide." Jenny had no problem speaking her mind to the younger Dixon, he had better manners than his older brother.
"I can live with that. Was thinking of going out hunting today. Would you mind keeping an eye on Beth? She's not my woman. She's a girl that lived with us at the prison. Her Daddy got murdered, and I felt it was doing the right thing bringing her with me. I plan on going back and burying her Daddy sometime soon, once things cool off over there." Daryl finished what was on his plate, Jenny exchanged the plate for a cup of coffee.
"You go hunting, you take Danny with you. He misses both of you, was so glad to see it was you guys in the house. I'm rather glad myself it was you guys than someone else. Especially that Governor Merle mentioned." Jenny sighed, seeing Daryl tense at the idea of taking Danny with him hunting. It had been at least five years since Daryl had come around to spend time with Danny, Daryl had no idea that Danny did most of the hunting to keep them fed.
"Where's Danny at?" Daryl gruffed, his eyes flickering around the kitchen, looking for the sink.
Jenny took the empty coffee cup from his hand, dropping it into the sink. "If I had to guess he's probably already out in the east pasture looking for rabbit."
Daryl slung his crossbow higher up on his shoulder, heading out the backdoor.
He found Danny crouched down in the brush, staring off in the distance watching deer move.
"Hey kid." Daryl whispered, making Danny jump and turn around to look at him.
A broad grin lit up the young man's face when he realized who was crouched down behind him. Danny stuck his hand out, shaking Daryl's hand in his own. "Fucking yes. So glad to see you Daryl. Mom said you were upstairs asleep with some girl that's like my age. Are you and her together? Is she cute?"
Daryl gave Danny that look that told him to leave it be as a low growl formed in his throat, "Danny, just let Beth rest alright? She's been through some shit lately and just needs to heal."
Danny nodded, hearing Daryl's threat loud and clear. "Alright, what do you say we track those does down?"
Daryl slapped Danny's shoulder, standing up to stalk through the brush. Deer was meat, and meat was life.
Merle stepped off the bike, walking up to the Kendall house. Something felt off, his gut was clenched as he pulled his pistol out from his waistband. Merle crept around the back of the house listening for any sound, seeing the kitchen door hanging open. Stepping into the kitchen he saw a man lying dead on the floor, half of his face blown off. Merle quickly put the blade of his knife through the man's forehead, his eyes following another blood trail through the house. He followed the trail down to Roy's offices, hearing grunts of pain and panting coming from the farthest room.
Natalie was on the floor, leaned up against the cabinet, a pool of blood forming around her as she attempted to sew her own stomach together. Merle knelt down next to her, taking in the wound and stopping her shaking hands. Natalie's eyes flicked up to Merle's, a pained smile crossing her bloody lips.
"Thank god you're here Dixon. The bastards got the jump on me, I was cleaning up breakfast when they came storming into the house. I got one of them and the other took off running when I blew his buddy's face apart. Wherever he's at he's got buckshot in his ass. But they got me before I could get the scattergun. I think I've lost too much blood." Natalie struggled to breathe, her panting getting worse.
"Aw Jesus Natty. You're gonna be okay, I just gotta get ya put back together that's all." Merle knew he was lying to her, the wound was hip to hip and he could see her intestines pulsing. "Where's Allie? Did they take her?"
Natalie shook her head. "No, she's hiding in the barn like we planned if something like this happened. I need you to take her with you. Promise me Merle. You got to take care of your blood."
"My blood? What the hell are you talking about Natty?" Merle felt his blood pressure rise, how the hell could Allie be his blood? He'd never slept with Natalie as far as he was aware.
"Allie's Daryl's daughter. Tell him I love him alright? Don't let her forget about me." Natalie's eyes rolled back in her head as her body slumped. Natalie Kendall gave her life to protect the one thing she valued more than anything, the daughter Daryl had given her so many years ago that he knew nothing about.
"Goddamn it!" Merle roared, punching his knife through the back of Natalie's skull. He kicked up to his feet, bounding up the stairs. He walked straight for the stable, listening intently for any sign Allie was in the barn. It was towards the farthest stall that he heard the strangled sobbing of a child attempting to be quiet. He stopped walking; softly calling out her name, hoping she would remember his voice and know he wasn't there to hurt her.
Merles' heart broke when the little girl peered around the door of the stall, sapphire blue eyes red from crying. "Mister Merle, is my mama ok?" Allie was so tiny and scared, Merle crouched down to her level, trying to alleviate some of her fear. He would never hurt his niece, if anything he was now her guardian until Merle saw fit to tell Daryl that Allie was in fact his own flesh and blood.
Allie ran into his arms, sobbing against his chest. Merle picked her up, tucking her tightly against him. "I'm sorry baby girl, your mama didn't make it. But Uncle Merle promises he'll watch over you."