AWWW! Got enough fluff from that? They didn't SAY they loved each other, but I love showing characters express their feelings in different ways. They have yet to be physically close, and we know how Daryl can be with that. Would Angela be the same? Find out! Enjoy!
They all piled back into the cell block, Andrea took in the sights of the survivors, her old group and friends. Glenn was along the catwalk as Hershel hobbled out of the cells on his crutches. Rick stood by, seeing Carol come over and the two women hugged one another. Everyone followed in after ignoring the sweet reunion the two were having.
"After you saved us, we thought you were dead." Carol mumbled, remembering she saw a walker tackle her down back at the fall of the farm.
Kay lingered on the steps, careful of getting down. Andrea turned to the teen who smiled shyly at her. She eyed up her leg, then took the teen in. She had thought Kaylee was dead this whole time, her mouth covered by her hand in shock.
"You made it." She whispered.
Kay got down to the bottom step and limped over to the table sitting down, Andrea couldn't help but stare at her leg. "Just barely."
Andrea turned to Angela who was giving a steely stare by the steps as Merle closed and locked the barred doors behind her. She wanted to apologize, those words she said before and making her think her sister was dead. Angela walked down and passed her without a word, sitting down between Daryl and Kaylee. Andrea then spotted Hershel, who also changed, now only one leg and crutches to help him move.
"Hershel, my God…" She muttered, looking around at how much everyone had changed. "I can't believe this." Though, someone was missing, in fact, a few people were missing.
"Where's Shane?" She asked.
Angela's teeth clenched, of course she would ask that. "Dead." She spat at her. "And good riddance." Rick looked away, Daryl glanced to her knowing she still held hate toward the man who tried to kill her.
"And Lori?"
Kay and Maggie looked away, Angela put a hand on her back in a comforting notion. "She had a girl." Hershel answered, as Rick looked down unable to answer. "Lori didn't survive."
"Neither did T-Dog." Maggie added.
Andrea was shocked, three members gone. "I'm so sorry." Her eyes fell on Rick's son, the sweet shy boy. "Carl." But, he wasn't the sweet boy anymore. He gave the same untrusting stare that Angela held. What had happened to him?
"Rick, I-" Rick stepped back, avoiding eye contact from her. Common defensive motion, Angela thought. Andrea looked to her, walking over to Angela who tightened the grip on her gun, Daryl's hand on her shoulder.
"Angela, I'm so sorry." She only glared her, feeling Daryl squeeze her shoulder in assurance to keep her calm.
Stepping back, Andrea looked to everyone. "You all live here?"
"Here and the cell block." Glenn answered.
Andrea noticed the open door in the back, pointing toward it. "There?" Glenn nodded. "Well, can I go in?"
Daryl and Angela grew tense when she walked over, but Rick stopped her. "I can't allow that."
"I'm not the enemy, Rick." She told him.
"May as well be." Angela hissed, adjusting her legs to lean on her knees.
"We had that field and courtyard until your boyfriend tore down the fence with a truck and shot us up." Rick explained.
"He said you fired first." Andrea was confused.
"Well, he's lying." Rick replied.
"He killed an inmate who survived in here." Hershel told, Andrea folded her arms at that news.
"We liked him." Daryl told, Angela nodded. "He was one of us."
"I didn't know anything about that." Andrea shook her head. "As soon as I found out, I came." She spun around, seeing Maggie and Glenn. "I didn't even know you were in Woodbury until after the shoot-out."
"That was days ago." Glenn told her.
"I told you, I came as soon as I could." She looked to Angela, staring at her newly becoming scar. "Angela-"
She turned away, hiding her face as Daryl rubbed her back. She pressed her face against his knee not wanting her eyes to stare at her. "He kept my sister, beat her and was going to use her as bait."
"What?" Andrea spun over to Michonne. "What have you told them?"
"Nothing." She replied calmly.
The ugly glares and attitude she was receiving seemed unfair to the blonde. "I don't get it. I left Atlanta with you people and now I'm the odd man out?"
"He almost killed Michonne, almost blinded Angela, and he would have killed us." Glenn told.
Andrea pointed an accusing finger at Merle up at the steps. "With his finger on the trigger! Isn't he the one who kidnapped you? Who beat you?"
Kaylee stood, "He may have done that, but he helped us escape and stopped the Governor from beating me." Andrea spun around in shock, thinking Merle had done that. Merle couldn't help but grin at the teen who defended him constantly.
Andrea sighed, "Look, I cannot excuse or explain what Philip has done. But I am here trying to bring us together." she looked around at them. "We have to work this out."
Rick shook his head. "There's nothing to work out. We're gonna kill him. I don't know how or when, but we will."
Andrea denied this claim. "We can settle this. There is room at Woodbury for all of you."
"I won't go back there." Kay said, sitting back with her sister, folding her arms. Andrea turned to her, seeing she was scared of what she witnessed there.
Angela wrapped an arm around her sister, leaning from Daryl. "We lived through someone like him once, and I won't let Kay go through that again."
"I agree." Merle chuckled at the blonde's stupid claim. "Besides, you'd know better than that."
"What makes you think this man wants to negotiate?" Hershel asked. "Did he say that?"
Andrea looked to him. "No."
"Then why did you come here?" Rick questioned, finding this whole conversation a waste of time.
"Because he's gearing up for war. The people are terrified. They see you as killers." She explained.
"They see us as killers?" Angela stood, Kay sat up watching her sister. "They were cheering on for Merle and Daryl fight to the death. Those people are lunatics."
Andrea shook her head, "They were scared and Philip made them think it was right. They're training to attack." she tried to reason.
"I'll tell ya what." Daryl spoke, Angela sighed returning to his side as Kay sat close to her sister. "Next time ya see Philip," His hand rested on Angela's shoulder defensively. "Ya tell him I'm gonna take his other eye." He growled.
"We've taken too much shit for too long." Glenn agreed. "He wants a war? He's got one."
No one argued against Glenn's word, Andrea turned to Rick for a final try. "Rick, if you don't sit down and try to work this out, I don't know what's gonna happen." She approached him, but Rick only looked past her. "He has a whole town."
She scoffed and turned back to everyone. "Look at you. You've lost so much already. You can't stand alone anymore."
Rick stepped forward, speaking up. "You want to make this right, get us inside."
"No."
"Then we got nothing to talk about." He shoved past her, to return to the cells.
"There are innocent people!" She called after him.
Angela was fueled by those words, she stepped up to Andrea. "You think they're innocent? Didn't you see how they acted. They are fucked up, over there."
"Angela, you don't understand."
"You think I don't!?" Her bark echoed out, Kay stood, looking to Daryl in worry. "I know you're not looking at me, but staring at what's on my face. While you were busy fucking about that son of a bitch, my sister, Maggie, and Glenn were being tortured by his men and him. But you still defend him and those psychos!?"
"I'm trying to make peace between the two-"
"Peace is over, Andrea. This isn't the world where we can make deals and everyone can live happily ever after." Angela felt her sister reach for her hand, but only marched toward the cells. "You seem to love fucking lunatics, go crawling back to his bed!"
Everyone was dead silent at Angela's words. Merle held back the risk of letting out a good laugh, couldn't have said it better himself. She may have hated him, but Merle had to admit, the Hot Head -as he dubbed her- had a way with words.
Michonne nodded for Andrea to take a walk outside, they left the cell block, with Merle unlocking it for them as they exited. A baby cry was heard from the cells, Angela's barking must have woken Judith up. Carol and Hershel returned to check on her. Maggie and Glenn left with Carl to keep watch. Kay and Daryl looked to one another, something then came to mind.
"Daryl, can you do me a favor?" She asked.
"I think it's best we let Angie cool off." He told, Kay shook her head. "Somethin' else?"
Merle walked down the steps as Kay got up and rushed to the cells best she could. Daryl rested his crossbow on the table as Merle did the same with the rifle he held. "Gotta hand it to ya, Darylina, she's got bigger balls than you do."
Daryl gave his brother a look, "The hell's that suppose to mean?' he questioned.
Merle patted his back hard, sitting down. "Ya really picked a special one, Little D." He leaned in, as Daryl sat down in a chair. "If she's that fiery, she should be just as much in the sack."
Daryl shoved his brother away, putting a distance between them. "Could ya not, especially now?"
"Okay, later." He chuckled, nudging his brother with his elbow.
Kaylee returned, sitting herself between the Dixons. In her hands was a small box, she placed it on the table. "Maggie said it needed to be fixed, but Angela is well…" Her eyes looked up to Daryl pleading like.
"Want me to fix it?" He asked, she nodded.
"I got it for Judith, I plan to carve her name in so she knows it's hers when she gets older."
Merle picked it up, opening it to hear nothing come out. It was a simple cheap music box, half the size of a water bottle in Merle's hands. "Seems like a simple fix, Little D."
Daryl took it, giving the mechanics a good look. He looked over to the shelving, getting to his feet, Daryl looked for what he could use for makeshift tools. Kaylee and Merle watched as Daryl found little things to use to fix the small mechanics inside. Kay was fascinated by the work Daryl was putting toward it, Merle was barely paying attention. Daryl tightened parts and repositioned others, he opened and closed to test the box a few times. The baby's crying continued, making Kaylee grow anxious. Soon, Merle moved to his cell laying in his bed to relax.
Daryl did a final test, and the soft melody played making Kay beam. "Awesome! I owe you, brother!"
She smiled as Daryl ruffled her hair in response. "Don't mention it." He got to his feet, nodding for her to follow. "Let's play this for Little Ass-Kicker." The two stood and walked over to Beth's cell.
"Here, I'll take her, Beth." Kay offered, holding her arms out. Beth stood from her bed and gently laid the baby in her arms. "I think Angela spooked her awake."
Kaylee turned to Daryl outside the cell as he opened the music box. It played, the gentle melody echoing out through the cells. It took a moment, but Judith seemed to have noticed the music, and slowly calmed down to hear it. She soon went silent, sucking her fingers at the smooth melody. Kay smiled, looking up to Daryl who grinned down at the baby.
"Ya like that, right?" He whispered to her, as Kay gently bounced her in her arms. Kay hummed with the tune of the music box, rocking Judith back to sleep.
Hiding once again, a habit Angela had to break some point. The sound of soft music caught her attention, echoing out through the cell block. It stopped, but started again. Curious, she got up from her bed and peeked outside the block and over the railing to see Judith with Daryl and Kaylee. Angela cringed to herself, she must have woken the baby up from her shouting. She walked down the steps trying to be quiet, as they soothed the baby in Kaylee's arms.
"Sorry about waking her up." She apologized, seeing Beth by the cell door. "It's working, I see."
"Daryl fixed it." Kaylee told. "Remember the tune, sis?"
Angela stood by Daryl, as she listened to the tune. "It's Rockabye Baby."
Soon, the music box stopped again, gaining the four's attention. Daryl inspected it, trying to see the problem with it now. "Damn, I must have missed something." He muttered, shaking it.
Carol came in, just as Judith started crying once more. Seeing the struggle, she came over, gladly taking her out of Kaylee's arms. "Think she needs more than to go back to sleep." She suggested, taking her up to her changing table.
The time for Andrea to return to Woodbury arrived. Glenn and Angela set a car from the prison up for her to take, much to Angela disagreeing with this. She was all for Andrea walking all the way back, but Rick dismissed it. Glenn drove it up as everyone kept watch, Kay and Merle lured the walkers away for them to open the gate.
"Can you spare it?" She asked, unsure if they'd need it more than she did.
"Nope." Angela said, earning a look from Rick.
"It's fine." Rick assured.
Andrea looked around, seeing the changes her once were members. Hershel lost a leg, Carl was cold and distant, Lori and T-Dog died, and Kaylee had survived. She expected a better welcoming, but saw the damage they had taken and pain they were suffering from. Her eyes fell on Angela standing by Daryl, seeing the two had grown closer since she last saw them. The growing to be scar on her face, Philip had done that. She can't deny that, or that he beat up her sister.
"Well, take care." Andrea gave, climbing into the car and shutting the door.
"Andrea." Rick walked over, handing her the knife and gun he confiscated. "Be careful."
She looked up, nodding to him as she took them. "You too."
Starting the car up, Andrea drove up to the gate as everyone stood by watching their old member leave. Merle ran over to unlock the gates as Kay kept the walkers busy along the fence. Andrea looked back through the mirror, seeing everyone stand in defense watching her leave.
"Go!" Merle barked, pulling the gate open.
Andrea drove past the walkers and off the prison property. Merle and Kay shut the gate, she helped him relock it as he had trouble doing it one handed. He kicked at the gate see the walkers line up against it then followed Daryl and Angela back to the cells. Kay jogged after, as they all returned to Cell Block C.
That night, it was silent among the group. Beth, Glenn, Carol, and Kay sat by the lantern barely illuminating the block. Michonne sat away from the others and Maggie at the steps. Hershel and Daryl leaned by the cells, Angela sitting by Daryl's legs, her eye covered for the night so she wouldn't hurt herself when she slept. In case she rubbed or scratched at it. Everyone thought about the day, and their new situation. Angela looked up at the windows, what she wouldn't give to sit outside and look at the stars again. She leaned her head against Daryl's knee, he glanced down checking on her, seeing she was okay.
Beth and Kaylee looked around, seeing the gloomy and stressed expressions around them. Beth thought, maybe something to lift the spirits would help.
"They hung a sign up in our town." She sung softly, looking over at Carol and Glenn. "If you live it up, you won't live it down. So she left Monte Rio, son. Just like a bullet leaves a gun."
Rick stepped down the stair, Judith in his arms wrapped in a blanket. Kaylee clapped her hands to help Beth with the beat, who smiled towards her.
"With Charcoal eyes and Monroe hips. She went and took the California trip." Rick came over, the teens looked up, giving a kind smile to the father. Glenn got up, and sat beside Maggie at the steps.
"Well, the moon was gold and her hair like wind. Said don't look back now just come on, Jim." The singing must have caught Merle's attention, as he came through and leaned on the barred door to listen. Kaylee smiled toward the Dixon, but Angela scowled and closed her eye to try and relax against her hunter.
"Hold on. You got to hold on. Take my hand, I'm standing right here. You got to hold on."
Rick sauntered over to Hershel and Daryl, heaving a soft sigh. They looked over, seeing Judith was sleeping in her daddy's arms.
Beth nudged Kay for her to sing with her. She blushed, and joined in, knowing some of the song. "Well, he gave her a dime-store watch."
"And a ring made from a spoon." Kay sang, looking to Carol who smiled at the teens.
"Everyone's looking for someone to blame."
"If you share my bed, then you share my name."
"Some reunion, huh?" Daryl asked the two as the girls sung.
Rick shook his head. "She's in a jam." he concluded, about Andrea.
"We all are." Said Hershel. "Andrea's persuasive. This fella's armed to the teeth. Bent on destruction."
"So, what do ya want to do?" Daryl asked, Angela opened her eye and looked up at the men.
"We match it." Rick replied, looking to him. "I'm going on a run."
"I'll head out tomorrow." Daryl offered, Angela stood.
"I'll go too."
"No, you two stay here." Rick's eyes fell on Merle. "Keep an eye on your brother." Daryl and Angela glanced over. "I'm glad you're back, really. But if he causes a problem, it's on you." Rick warned.
Daryl nodded, "I got him." he confirmed.
Rick bounced Judith gently, hearing her mumble and waking up. "I'll take Michonne."
"Ya sure that's a good idea?" Daryl asked.
"It'd be best if she and Merle aren't in the same room." Angela muttered, earning a look from Rick as if she had no room to talk.
"I'll find out." He assured. "And Carl. He's ready." Rick looked up to Hershel and Daryl. "You hold it down here."
They nodded, "You got it." Daryl confirmed.
Rick looked to Angela, taking a few steps toward her. "I know you want to go, but you're still recovering."
"He's right." Hershel nodded. "Could still get infection, keep it covered for now." He told, as Daryl placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Understood." Angela nodded, looking down for a moment at her boots.
"Hey," She looked up at Rick, he looked right into her eyes. "We'll need you for this fight, in your best condition."
Angela looked to the other two, nodding at his words in agreement. Rick stepped back, rocking Judith back to sleep as the singing continued. She looked to Daryl, sighed as she leaned her head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder pulling her close, spotting Merle grinning at him. Ignoring his brother, he leaned his head against hers just enjoying the peace they had for now.
The next morning, Rick was piling the Hyundai up as the others took watch. Kay and Beth were bidding Carl a good luck while Angela and Daryl talked with Rick.
"Where do you plan to look for weapons?" Angela asked, her eye covered as it was still early morning and the sun barely in the sky.
Rick shoved a bag into the trunk and slammed the door. "King County."
"Isn't that your hometown?" She asked.
"It's not far from here, my old police station had loads of guns I left behind." He explained.
"Ya think their still there?" Daryl asked, arms folded.
"Gotta be, I had the weapons locked up. Town was abandoned when I left."
Kay and Beth gave Carl hugs, "You be careful. Don't end up like me." Kay teased.
"We'll be back with weapons, like dad said." Carl assured.
They all bid them good luck, as Merle and Kay opened the gates as the car drove down and out of the prison. They shut the gate, as Merle handed the keys back to his brother. They all entered the block, Carol at the stove cooking breakfast.
"Just in time." She smiled as Daryl placed his crossbow against the bench of the table. "Ready for breakfast?"
"I'm gonna head back to bed, sorry." Angela told, waving at her.
Carol looked up with concern. "Didn't sleep?"
Kaylee sat down, picking up the music box Daryl had fixed again yesterday. "She scratched her cut open and we had to clean her face and get the bleeding to stop."
Carol frowned, "Maybe Hershel should put in stitches." she suggested.
"Hershel said it's risky how it went across my eye. I just have to be more careful." Angela dismissed.
"Try handcuffing yourself before you sleep." Merle suggested, bobbing his eyebrows suggestively.
She gave a disgusted look, "I could say the same to you, sleeping with that knife attached to your arm. Hope your nose itches in your sleep." Angela turned and left toward her cell.
"Lay off her, man." Daryl told, getting a bowl of oatmeal and sitting on the table. "She's worse when she's tired." He warned.
Merle shrugged, walking over and lifting his foot onto the bench and leaned on his knee. "She's pretty fun to mess with. Reminds me of when you were younger, baby brother."
Kay took out her knife and started to try and carve into the lid of the music box. Because the box was so small and the hunting knife was so big, she had trouble keeping balance between the two. She almost sliced her finger when she dropped the box.
"Watchya doing, Princess?" Merle questioned, watching her struggle.
Kay picked up the box with a sigh, "Trying to carve Judith's name into the box." she explained.
Merle chuckled, placing his foot down and sitting on the table's edge. "Only thing your gonna carve is your fingers, if ya keep that up."
Kay sighed, putting her knife down. "I don't have my switchblade, I would use that if I could."
Merle reached behind up, holding out his own switchblade to her. She reached for it, he flicked it up making her flinch. He chuckled and handed it to her. "Ya can borrow it, this one time."
Kaylee giggled and put her knife away. "Thanks, Merle." Merle chuckled and stood, seeing a look he was given by his brother. Giving a snort, he turned back to his cell to try and relax before the others woke up.
Kay turned to Carol, "Carl spelled it, J-U-D-I-T-H, right?" she asked.
Carol nodded, stirring the oatmeal to keep it fresh for the others. "What other way could you spell it?" Daryl asked with his mouthful.
"You'd be surprised." Kay turned to start carving the J into the box. "Whenever my school had my name down for attendance, they spelled, K-A-Y-L-I."
"Wouldn't that pronounce, Kay-Lie?" Carol asked, sitting down at the bench by Daryl.
"Yup, I stopped caring by 10th grade." She nodded. "They pronounced it like my name, but couldn't spell it right."
Daryl scoffed, "At least they pronounced your name right." he said.
A chuckle made him regret his words, as Merle joined the conversation. "That's right, Darlyina." He cackled as he came back around, Daryl rolled his eyes. "No one understand how to say your name."
Kaylee looked to Merle, than back to Daryl. "I've been saying it wrong?"
"Don't matter." Daryl shrugged, now not wanting to be the center of attention.
"Aww, don't back down, baby brother." He walked back to Kay and sat at the table. "You say his name without the right, guff."
"Guff?" She raised a brow.
"Ya'll say, Dae-Rhil." He said, Kay now noticing the difference to how Merle says his name. "It's really said, Der-ral."
Daryl shook his head, he honestly didn't care anymore. Better pronouncing his name wrong than what his brother chose to call him. "Who cares, Merle. It's just a name." He stood, putting the bowl in the sink and walking over to pick up his crossbow.
"Where ya going?" He asked his baby brother.
"Gonna check on Angie." He replied over his shoulder, walking toward the cells.
"Got that leash tight on ya, don't she?" He teased, Daryl stopped and turned around. "Does your tail wag when she gives ya attention?"
"Merle, leave him be." Kay scolded.
"What?" She shrugged at the teen. "Little D get's a woman and I finally get to tease him about it. Never got the chance before." He laughed.
"Shut up." Daryl grunted at him, turning to go to Angela.
Kay shook her head, "Why you gotta tease him?" She asked.
Merle shrugged again, sitting down next to her. "You get teased by your sister, dontcha?"
"No, she was just bossy. We fought more than made jokes at each other."
"Really? Threw some fists?" He asked, "Or just some girl fighting."
"If girl fighting, you mean pulling out hair, biting arms, scratching faces, and trying to draw blood." Kay nodded, "Yeah, girl fights." she chuckled at Merle.
Merle shook his head, watching her carve the J. Despite a better knife, she still had trouble with it. "Ya never carved wood before, Princess?"
"Honestly? No." Kay admitted sheepishly. "I've cut wood in woodshop back in high school once, and we were making shapes with a saw."
Merle shook it head, "The things they teach these days." he grumbled.
Carol watched as she cleaned the bowls, Merle took the knife and looked around the room. No wood was found nearby, so he looked down at the table and stood, placing his foot on the bench and leaning over the table. Scraping was heard, Carol turned away to wipe the bowls and turned back seeing he was carving into the table.
"Are you craving my name?" Kaylee asked, watching him.
"Yup." He grunted, finishing the E making it askew. Merle whistled at his work and grinned to her. "See how jagged and shit that looks?" She nodded. "With wood, ya gotta figure out how deep to make the words. Metal, ya just scratch the damn thing and the marks are there."
Merle walked over to the shelving, knocking cans over causing Carol and look over. Kay giggled behind her hand, shockingly, he found a marker. He bit the cap off and spat it across the room, sliding the marker over his wrist. Seeing the ink seep out, he walked back over and handed her the marker.
"What's this for?"
"Your stencil." He told, taping his finger on the top of the box. "Write the name, and carve out the name using the marker as a stencil." He explained.
Merle stood and watched as Kaylee was careful writing Judith's name. With the box small, she wrote the name thinly, and neatly. Merle leaned over, telling her to make it thicker. She did so, worried about the ink bleeding and making the words too big. He then instructed her through on carving the name. Merle lead her through, Carol was surprised by how patient he was- or almost was. He did get on her about how hard she stabbed the wood or how she was being too careful. It fascinated Carol, Merle was rude to everyone else, but was the nicest to Kaylee. She wondered what had the teen said to find the soft heart in the redneck?
When she got done the J, Kaylee dropped the knife and rubbed her wrist. "Damn, carving is harder than I thought."
Merle laughed, patting her back. "It'd be easier with the proper tools. But, not bad for a first try." he praised.
"Thanks for helping me, Merle." She smiled up at him.
Merle shrugged her off, walking toward his cell. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Give your hand a rest before it falls off so you don't end up like me."
Kay stood, holding the box. Merle dusted some scraps of wood off the top before she jogged to the cells to show her sister. He chuckled, shaking his head and leaned on the table.
"Hm, impressive" Merle glanced to Carol who couldn't stop smiling. He remembered the discussion they had beforehand, how she threatened to slit his throat.
"What?" He spat, finding her grin annoying.
"You really made her day, she needed that." Carol praised, turning back reheat the oatmeal as she heard Glenn and the others' voices. Kaylee's excitement must have woken the others up.
Merle scoffed her off, "Whatever." he mumbled.
Seeing Glenn came in, eyeing the redneck, persuaded Merle to return to his cell laying back on his bed. From his view, he could see Kay showing Daryl and Angela the carving she did at the stairs. The two were praising her well, Merle saw how much his brother had changed. He grew soft, the brother he knew would keep his distance from the others and never follow some woman around like a lap dog.
Merle snarled from his spot, watching Angela reach up to touch her face. Daryl noticed, asking her something, she nodded. Kay jogged up the stairs as Daryl and Angela walked into his cell. Kay soon returned with a nearly empty bottle of water and a cloth. Merle guessed it was cleaning time for the Hot Head.
Hours had gone by since Rick, Carl, and Michonne's leave. With small food in their bellies, Daryl got to work assigning jobs to the others until Rick's return. Hershel was checking on Glenn and Angela's injuries, seeing Glenn healing perfectly fine. Angela was kept back, despite annoyed, she still understood by Rick's words last night. Daryl assigned Glenn and Maggie on watch duty, saying he and Merle would cover later in the day. Beth and Carol tended to Judith who was more restless than usual today. Carol guessed with Rick gone, Judith was having a fit with her dad and brother gone for the day.
By mid morning, Kay was back to carving the box, working on the letters U and D. Angela watched, her wound clean and unwrapped to get some air. Hershel determined the scabbing should start in another day, then heal within two weeks at most. He noticed when she made certain facial expressions, it stretched the cut and bled again. Nothing too serious, just a slow drip now and then.
"Did Rick say when he'd come back?" Beth asked, feeding Judith in her arms of a freshly made bottle.
"Said he'd be back before dark." Carol told, sitting with her as she helped
"Getting anxious?" Kay asked, glancing over to the other table where they sat.
"A bit." She confessed.
Angela looked up, she was cleaning her gun best she could. The pieces were disassembled on the table sitting beside Kay. "Still on the U?" She asked.
"Almost done." Kay answered, tilting the knife a bit. When she cut the last bit of wood, she let out a yelp, dropping the knife and box onto the table. Everyone looked over, seeing her hold her finger tightly.
"Did you cut yourself?" Angela asked, leaning toward her sister in worry.
"No," She hissed out, showing a big splinter had lodged into her index finger where the joints met. "Stupid splinter."
Daryl glanced over, "Damn that's a huge one." he commented.
"Do we have tweezers?" Angela asked, getting to her feet.
"Ask Hershel." Carol suggested, standing to go with her as they entered the cells to find him.
"She okay?" Beth asked, pausing in her feed to turn toward them.
"It hurts like a bitch." She grumbled, curling her hand.
"Don't make it worse." Daryl scolded, pointed at her hand. "Keep yer hand out."
"It really hurts though." She told, shaking her head.
"Ya serious, Princess?" Merle came out, shaking his head at her painful endeavour. "Almost lost your leg to a bear trap and your crying over a chunk of wood?"
"Piss off, it's really huge." Kay held her hand out showing the 'chunk' in her finger.
Merle snorted, "Bite the damn thing out. Doubt they're gonna find tweezers." he told.
"Bite it out?" Kay questioned. "What is a tinier piece stayed in or I cause horrible bleeding by biting my skin off?"
Growing annoyed by her whining, Merle grabbed her wrist and held it down against his prosthetic. Hand now free, he pitched the splinter and yanked it right out of her finger. He flicked it away, and let her arm free.
"There, stop your whining, already." Merle watched her look over her hand, waiting for the bleed to start, but nothing red had been spotted.
"Thanks Merle!" She beamed up at him.
"Ah, whatever it took to shut your gobbing." He joked, leaning on the table.
"Hey! Hey!" Angela came running in, shoving Merle off the table, then shoving again for extra space. "What did I warn you about being near my sister?"
"Wait, Angie." Kay stood, waving her hands to stop her sister's sudden rage.
She glared her green eyes toward Kay, "I told you too, not go near him." she scolded.
"He was just getting the splinter out, see?" She showed her hand, now splinter free.
"I don't care, no matter what, you do not go near him." She turned, pointing a finger at Merle. "If I see you near her again-"
"Or what?" He challenged, folding his arms.
"Did you forget Rick isn't here?" She growled at him. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I just locked you up in your cell til he got back."
Daryl and Carol came over, standing between the two. Daryl keeping his brother away and Carol trying to pull Angela away. "Calm down, Merle did nothing wrong." The hunter told.
"Not yet." Angela spat. "He's just biting his time, waiting to fuck up. Like he has before."
"The hell does that mean?" Merle stepped up, Daryl placed a hand on his chest to keep him at bay. "If ya got something to say, say it!"
Beth walked back into the cells, the shouting was spooking Judith that she started crying. Ignoring the echoing cry, Angela scoffed. "How about Daryl? All those years, abandoning him. If he's such a 'precious baby brother' why weren't you there or him? Huh?"
"That ain't any of your business!" Merle barked, Daryl using his full strength to keep his from possibly tackling Angela.
"It became my business!" She retorted, now Carol and Kaylee keeping her from tackling him as well.
Merle laughed, stepping side to side to try and get around Daryl who kept blocking him. "Merle, stop it." He told his older brother. "Just leave it be."
"Nah, nah." He shook his head. "Think because your in bed with my baby brother, you gotta know everything about us Dixons?"
Angela froze at that claim, was-was he calling her what she thought she was calling her.
"Yeah, that's how ya work, huh? All smarts up here, but the real action is down South, ain't it?" Merle cackled at her seething reaction.
"You'll never be one of us!" Angela yelled loudly, making Kay jump from her high pitch claim.
Angela turned, shoving past the women to go back to her cell. "Yeah, go back and hide!" Merle called after her.
Daryl shoved Merle's shoulder. "The hell man? What do ya think yer doin'?"
"What?" Merle shrugged, leaning back again the metal of his cell. "She'll get over it."
Carol jogged after to check on Angela, maybe she was wrong about Merle's soft side after all. He was just someone willing to hurt people for his own entertainment. "We can't keep this going, Merle." Kay said, looking disappointed in him.
"Hey, she started it." Merle accused, throwing his knife arm toward the cells. "She should be thankful I got your splinter out."
"Dumbass." Daryl grumbled, picking up his crossbow and peeked into the cells wanting to check on her.
Merle shook his head, "Bunch of pussies." he muttered to himself.
Thankfully, before dark had arrived, Rick, Michonne, and Carl had returned safe and sound. The amount of weapons they found was much more than they had expected. The crew unloaded them into the block in a hastey way to keep any risk of a spy or sniper watching them to see.
Rick was glad to see everyone back at the prison was alright. He was holding Judith as Daryl was informing what had happened.
"They almost fought?" He asked the hunter, feeding Judith her dinner on the perch.
"More like Angela almost kicked Merle's teeth in." Daryl shook his head, arms folded as he leaned back on the railing. "I kept Merle back, don't think he'd hurt Angela though."
"Not while you're around." Rick told. "If it was just them, who knows what would've happened."
"I should've-"
"No, don't blame yourself." Rick scolded, pointing a finger at him as he held the bottle. "You say Angela started it, maybe I should've brought her with me."
Daryl sighed, "I can't keep track of both Merle ad Angela at the same time, unless their in the room. When they are," he tossed his hands in the air in exasperation. "Angela finds any reason to fight with him."
Rick nodded, looking down at his daughter. "I know Merle riled her up, but if she started it, it'd be best to keep her from him for a while."
"Can't just lock her up."
"I don't plan to." Rick sighed, feeling a new level of stress add onto what he had already.
Within two days, Rick and Daryl worked to keep the two apart, which only worked well if Kaylee was with Angela. It got to Kaylee stuck in her cell carving the music box. She wanted to ask Merle if it was going well, but couldn't with Angela watching her like a hawk.
A chance came a day later, when Andrea came by again. She informed the group that the Governor was actually willing to meet. A meeting place and time was set up for the following day. It was then, everyone wondered if this would end peacefully, war would be upon them, or the chance to kill him right there would happen.
Thanks MsAriKari for the follows and favorites!
RedVelvetPanPan-Hahaha! I've had that happen to me as well. There's still slight tension indeed with Merle in the group. I'll tell ya this, she won't be getting along with Merle for a long time. See you next time!
Guest- It's there, but it's not crazy long like in season 5, as I said.
Gryffindor Rat- Thanks so much! I was always on and off Merle, one moment I hate him then the next loved him. Holding a grudge like Angela is doing is something she has a habit of doing, while Kaylee does the complete opposite. Well, Kaylee isn't a kid anymore. She's eighteen, old enough to decide to make a risk or not. Yes, it was wrong for her to sneak off without telling, but that was her own decision. Carl was going off on his own, and yes, he got scolded by Lori many times. That's mostly how Rick is, and what Rick says, goes. Yeah, it makes ya more tense right? Good! Hahaha! See you next time!