I'd like to inform that unlike the last story that ended right before season 3, this story handles season 3 and 4. Season 3 speeds right by story wise, since we don't follow Woodbury and skip those episodes. This is posted on my area's Township Day! I'll be posting pics on twitter so check it out! Anyway, enjoy!
That night, Angela discovered Merle was allowed to have his own cell with the others. Keeping track, she noted how many cells were left to the slowly growing group. Angela and Kaylee, Maggie and Glenn, Hershel and Beth, Carl and Rick with Judith in her own makeshift crib, Michonne had her own and Merle bunked with his brother, Daryl leaving six cells left and six cells taken. This was troublesome for Angela, that night she was walking down to see Daryl. The night was cool and the scarred women was gonna offer she and Daryl take the night watch, she was itching to see the night sky. They haven't looked at the stars since their first night in the prison.
As Angela was approaching the cell, she let out a groan, turning around at the sight of Merle sitting on the upper bunk. He had spotted the girl and chuckled, sitting up. "Looking for Darlyina, Hot Head?"
Angela spun back, and pressed on the cell as she leaned into it. "One, don't call me your little nicknames. Two, don't call Daryl that."
"Ya wanna know where he is, don't ya?" He questioned, as if she was in favor of finding this out.
Angela scowled, "I'll find him myself." she retorted. "Or just ask someone of my own group." Angela chuckled in a mocking manner that made Merle frown. "Which isn't you."
"We'll see." Merle told, waving his hand at her in a shooing manner and laid back down. "Darylina is on guard duty."
"Yeah, right." She muttered, leaving the cell and going to Rick's three cells down. She found the leader feeding his baby daughter in his arms before bed. "Rick, where's Daryl?"
"On guard duty." He replied, glancing up at her. "Something wrong?" He asked when she frowned at his answer.
Of course Merle was telling the truth, "No, it's nothing." she dismissed.
Angeal turned leaving, ignoring Rick's soft calls for her not wanting to spoke his daughter. Before leaving the cell she leaned into the Dixon cell and took the poncho before Merle could say another word to her.
Daryl paced around the guard tower, his crossbow in his arms. He paused now and then to use his scope to check the area. Spotting a walker now and then emerging from the trees. Some just wandered around the fenceline, he doubled check to make sure it wasn't a Woodbury soldier sneaking about. The sound of a door opening made him glance to the side to see Angela joining him. She smiled, holding his poncho out to him as she shut the door quietly.
"Thanks." Daryl reached over, he put his crossbow down and threw it on.
"Thought you might be cold." She told, watching him with a rifle in her arms.
He picked up his crossbow, turning back to his watch. Angela stood by the railing the sounds of walkers below in the silent night. Her green eyes shifted toward the sky, smiling at the sight of the stars.
"Beautiful night." She muttered.
Daryl grunted in response, glancing to her then to the sky. "Been too long." He commented.
"Where is-"
"There." Daryl pointed at the sky, finding Scorpio for her. "N' there's the archer." He pointed his finger toward the centaur in the sky.
Angela was impressed, she grinned at the hunter. "Have you been sneaking at the sky without me?"
No, he stared at the sky all night when leaving with Merle. His baby blues were glued to the stars, memorizing the constellation positions. Like he was going to tell her that. How he kept thinking of her as he watched the sky until he thought he saw her in the stars.
"Guilty." He replied, shifting to stand beside her.
The two enjoyed the silence between each other. Just being within a few feet eased the two. Possibly threat around the corner put them and everyone on edge. Daryl looked to Angela, the cut on her features brought anger inside. If he had been more careful or close to her during the search, she wouldn't have ended up like that. Seeing her today with meeting the Governor, he wanted to just shoot his other eye right then and there.
"Can't sleep?" He asked.
"I was actually looking for you." She admitted, raising her rifle to check through the scope. "I didn't know you took night watch."
"Needed fresh air, more than anythin'." He told, watching how she held the rifle.
"It can get crowded when stuck in a prison. Now I see how convicts feel." She amused, or tried to as Daryl shrugged at her. "I was actually looking for you to take some time from the others."
Daryl glanced to her, he turned and circled with her following behind him. "Bit risky, ain't it?" He questioned.
"We can still watch, I just want-" Angela bumped into the back of Daryl not seeing he paused as she watched the prison yard filled with walkers. "Sorry, I just want time together."
Daryl glanced at her, time together. As in, time together like Maggie and Glenn had? The hunter was silent at her request, he had never gone any further than hugging and the two hadn't shared a kiss yet. Maybe Angela needed some distraction, after today he didn't blame her. But still, he didn't need a distraction… or his nerve shook at the thought of this possible advancement.
"That all?" He asked.
Angela looked at him, feeling a sense of air around him. "Well, I mean, yeah."
Daryl eyed her up, then turned back to patrol as he motioned his crossbow toward the field. "Best we just keep watch."
The hunter walked around to the other side of the tower leaving Angela there. Sighing, she looked about, her eyes gazing up at the stars a few times. Well, they were together at the tower but not what she had in mind. Sure, they had to keep watch, though she didn't want to be separated like this. Feeling disheartened, Angela focused on her watch for the remainder of the night. Maybe Daryl needed space or was still bothered about Angela's grudge against his brother. Possibly the stress was getting to him from the meeting and the fact a war was upon them.
"Do you think we'll survive?" She asked, earning silence. "I mean, this war with the Governor." When no response was still made, Angela spoke more. "My brother, Nolan, before he became a cop he was in the military. He was in the National Guard, so it's nothing big compared to your brother."
A scoff was heard from the other side, "Did he finish his tour?" he asked.
Glad he was finally speaking, she nodded. "Yeah, then he pursued being a cop. He wanted to protect more people."
"Better than how my brother left."
"Did he shoot someone?" She retorted, expecting that of the older redneck.
"Close," Daryl told. "He punched his Sargent."
Angela spun around, she walked around and approached him on the other side. "Dishonorable discharge?"
Daryl glanced down to her, he peeked down to the grass below seeing a walker growling annoyingly louder than the others. He aimed his crossbow and fired a bolt into its skull. It fell backward into the tall grass, bringing better silence to the two.
"Court-martialed, sixteen months in prison." Daryl lowered his crossbow and bent down to reload it. "When released, he took me up North in the mountains. Did some drug dealin' for a while, then got arrested again in Fontana. That's where he was at the start of it all."
Angela stayed silent, hearing Daryl pour this out to her. Do the others know how the Dixon brothers got into this apocalypse at the beginning? She remembered Daryl telling her how his father died, unable to kill him during his suffering.
"I went there to fetch him when the walkers came about."
"After your father?"
Daryl nodded, he brought the crossbow back up looking at her. "Found him on the roof, shootin' at some survivors there. The car alarms were goin' off, attractin' them. Makin' it a bitch to get to the damn bastard."
Angela shook her head, sounds like Merle. "Did he know you were down there trying to get to him?"
"Nah, when I got to the roof, he shot at me."
"What?" Daryl shushed, not wanting to get the walkers to act up while the night was silent. She placed her hand over her mouth, forgetting for a moment where they were.
"He accused me of imitatin' 'his long lost baby brother'." He told, giving Merle's tone of speech. "I had to get him off the roof, he was drunk n' sufferin' from heat stroke."
Angela looked up at the sky, spotting the stars shining above them. "Why are you telling me this?" She asked, looking up at him.
Daryl looked down at her, their eyes locked together. "Because Merle can be the a gorilla piece of shit pain in my ass. But he's still my brother, only family I got left. When our dad and soon Uncle Jesse was gone, Merle was the first person I went to. Only person I had."
Daryl turned back to focus on his watch. "Just sayin'." He finished.
Angela thought on is words. She knew he wanted her to understand, having only her sister left. Daryl near died trying to find her when she was missing back at the farm then risked his life again They stood beside one another all night, keeping watch to protect their family.
Two days passed, Rick made the decision on telling not only Hershel but Daryl as well. He met with the hunter outside at the fence line with Hershel. A few walkers were snarling against the fence, though the men ignored them not finding them a bother, let alone a threat.
"What's up?" He asked, squinting at him from the early rising sun.
Rick sighed through his nostrils, looking at Daryl. "There was a deal offered, between us and the Governor. He wants Michonne," He paused watching Daryl as he shifted his footing, listening. "And Kaylee."
Daryl went stiff at that. "Kaylee?" He growled.
Rick shook his head, "Judging by what Michonne did to get Kaylee out, and what she went through-"
"Don't matter." Daryl cut him off, shaking his head. "He ain't gettin' her." He told defensively.
"We're not letting him have her." Hershel assured. "It's Michonne Rick was thinking on."
Daryl looked to Hershel then to Rick. "Give him Michonne, he leaves us alone. It's the only way." Rick told. "No one else knows."
"Ya gonna tell 'em?" Daryl asked, wondering if Angela should know or not. "Angie?"
"Not till after." Rick answered. "We have to do it today. It has to be quiet."
Daryl turned on his footing, "Ya got a plan?" he asked.
"We tell her we need to talk." Rick started, walking up to the hunter. "Away from the others."
Daryl glanced to Hershel, he looked down showing he was against this idea. His eyes shifted to Rick, seeing this was a struggle to do for the two. He didn't have to ask Rick if he was doing it, the hunter could tell just by looking at his leader.
He shook his head, feeling the same as Hershel. "Just ain't us, man."
"No," Hershel spoke. "No, it isn't." The older man moved and limped to leave, not able to hear any more of this plan.
Rick swallowed and turned back to Daryl. "We do this, we avoid a fight. No one else dies."
"But he wants Kay too." Daryl countered. "If ya don't hand 'em both over, it'll be a fight."
"We know why he wants Michonne, a grudge for what she did. Kay-" Rick shook his head, "I don't want to think why he wants her."
Daryl sighed, looking down at the dirt. "To torture Angie? Look what he did to her already."
"If we do this, Kay and Angie will be safe. You want that, right?" Rick asked, trying to convince him.
"Don't even ask me that, man." Daryl told, turning his shoulder toward him. "I'll do what I can to keep 'em both safe from this war."
Rick was sure Daryl was in now. "We need someone else." He told, hinting at a certain someone to do the dirty job.
Daryl got the message, nodding to Rick. "I'll talk to him."
"I'll do it." Rick told.
"I'll come with ya." Daryl offered, anxious on what his brother would say without him.
"Just me." Rick stated, turning to leave and find the older Dixon.
Daryl watched him leave, debating inside his mind if this was really the right thing to do. He felt a boiling heat inside this stomach, thinking about how that son of a bitch wanted Kay as well. She was already beaten and possibly traumatized enough for the rest of her life and he wanted to torture her more.
"Merle? Merle!"
The hunter turned, finding Angela emerge from the back and jogging around the courtyard. She spotted Daryl and ran over to him, he noticed grew concern. When would she ever be calling for him, had he done something again?
"Angie, everythin' a'right?" He asked, as she stopped in front of him.
"It would be if I could find your brother." She told, going to the fence and kicked it when the walkers blocked her sight of the yard. It only snarled back as she peeked over its balding head.
Was she looking for him? What for? "Need to start a fight with him?" He asked, surprisingly not earning a look from her. Angela was silent, growing the hunter to be more concerned. She wasn't acting herself. "What's wrong?"
She turned, stepping away from the annoying walkers that growled in her ear. "I thought about what you said the other night, about how you searched for Merle when this all started?" She shifting her footing, kicking a rock a few feet from her. "I understand what he means to you, the only family you got like Kaylee to me. I just can't stop thinking how angry I am over how-"
"Did he say sorry?" Daryl asked her.
Angela shrugged, "Hard to say if 'sorry' is correct. He wanted to let 'bygones be bygones' between Michonne, him, and I." she told.
Daryl nodded, "Yeah, he said sorry. Just in his own way." he assured.
The scarred woman nodded, folding her arms. "So, you know where he is? I asked Kaylee, but she hasn't seen him." She told, looking around seeing Michonne approach with Glenn, Maggie, and Carl. Daryl didn't answer, knowing Rick would be talking to him right now.
The sound of fabric ripping echoed out in the cell blocks. The teen, Kaylee, stood by the open doorway of the Cell Block D cells, watching a certain redneck tear the beds apart. With Axel staying in Block C, the D Block was unoccupied at the moment. So, Kaylee showed him the beds, at first thinking he wanted to bring the beds to C Block. That was proven wrong when he went to town and now parts of the fabric and bed pieces were all over the place in the block.
Footsteps up the stairs echoed, approaching the two. Rick ascended up the stairs, finding Kaylee standing there watching Merle tear apart the bed in one of the cells. He was really going to town, though why he was doing it was what boggled Rick's mind.
Merle spotted the once was sheriff, "Just looking for a little vacation." he told. "Best dope I ever had was in a mattress."
Kaylee turned to Rick, who just looked around astounded at the mess around the entire block. "I thought he wanted to take the beds back to the others." She told, seeing Rick's expression she raised her hands up. "I didn't know he was looking for drugs."
"Nothing," Merle grunted, sitting back against the ground, resting his prosthetic on his knee. He looked to Rick, "I wasn't gonna give her any." Merle assured.
"Did you really expect to find some?" She asked, looking down at him.
Merle shrugged, "Worth a shot." he said. "This place must have been no fun at all."
Rick looked up at the teen, "Kay." she turned to him as he nodded his head toward the exit. "Your sister was looking for you."
The teen raised a brow, Rick urged her to go. Sighing, she left the two, walking down the steps. Rick stepped up, "We need your help." Rick states to the one-armed man.
Merle just laughed at the words escaping the man. Rick sighed, approaching the cell as Merle just sat against the wall. "Do you even know why you do the things you do?" He questioned. "The choices you make?"
Merle stared up at the wall opposite of him, as if trying to find the answer. He seemed to be having a difficult time finding the said answer, if there is one. Rick sighed, turning around at his spot thinking over what to tell the redneck. Maybe having Daryl would've been better.
"If we give the Governor Michonne, Woodbury stands down." Merle stood up at attention to that. "I don't like it, but it's what needs to be done. We need to make it quiet. We need your help with that."
"You ain't told any of the others, huh?" Merle asked.
"Just Hershel, Daryl, and you." Rick answered.
Merle scoffed, "The inner circle. I'm honored." he chuckled. "Miss Hot Head out of the loop?"
Rick looked down, sighing to himself. "He wants Kay too." Merle frowned, his features forming from amused to offensive. "We're not giving her to him."
"Hell no, you won't." He said, surprising Rick by that defensive tone. "If Angela knew, she'd go off and try to kill him herself." Merle shook his head, glancing down. "You know, when we'd go out on runs, he'd bash somebody's skull, slash somebody's throat, and he'd say, 'Never waste a bullet' ."
Rick listened, staying silent to hear what Merle had to say over this information.
"I always thought it was just an excuse." Merle nodded to him. "You go on. Give him that girl- Michonne." He added, noting the correct female he was talking about. "He ain't gonna kill her, you know. He's just gonna do things to her. Probably take out one of her eyes. Both of 'em, most likely."
"Not providing Princess, you think he's still going to keep up on the deal?" He asked.
"Worth a shot." Rick responded.
Merle leaned against the wall, watching Rick listen to the words he was informing him. "You'd let that happen for a shot." He scrutinized Rick for a moment, trying to see if saying anything of such would make him change his mind.
The redneck smirked, "Whew." he scoffed. "You're as cold as ice, Officer Friendly. You're gonna need wire, not rope." Merle informed him. "Wire. Nothing she could chew through."
"Kaylee stays out of the loop, so I'd like you to keep your distance so she doesn't get suspicious." Rick suggested.
"Think she'll figure it out?" Merle asked, tilting his head.
Rick shrugged, "She has the tendency to get herself involved in dangerous situations." he nodded at the man. "She ran off to fetch you and Daryl back then, has gone on her own to prove herself before."
Merle chuckled and shook his head, "Spitfire, that girl." he praised. "You know something? You're right." Rick looked away, shaking his head wishing he'd just take the job and stop talking. "I don't know why I do the things I do." Rick turned back to him. "Never did. I'm a damn mystery to me."
His blue eyes stared down the leader, stepping into the light as he pierced his gaze into the other's blue eyes. Merle was reading him, looking at him like an exposed opened book. "But I know you, Rick." He tilted his head. "Yeah, I thought a lot about you. Ya ain't got the spine for it."
Rick shifted his footing, not wanting Merle's words to take effect on him. "We need to get her to the Governor by noon." Without another word, Rick turned and walked down the steps to let Merle handle the deed.
Merle leaned out against the cell, watching Officer Friendly leave the block. He locked his jaw, thinking over the job he was given.
Down below, unbeknownst to the two men, as Rick walked out of the block, Kaylee hid in a cell listening to the entire thing. Her hand over her mouth, keeping herself silent as Merle made his leave. He paused, as if listening for anything in the block. He shook his head and left the block leaving Kay alone to think over what she had just heard.
The second Rick burst out of the block, he had heard screaming and yelling from outside. He ran to the fence, seeing his son and Maggie banging pots and screaming for the walkers to get distracted in the yard. The truck was spotted, Glenn, Angela, and Daryl nailing down barb wire down the path. The last person he spotted was Michonne, slicing the heads off walkers to clear the yard more. His eyes followed her as she jogged to the truck, spotting Beth driving. Michonne climbed into the passenger seat, as Daryl, Angela, and Glenn sat in the back of the flatbed. The truck was making its way up to the gate, Rick adjusted the rifle on him and ran to the gate.
As the truck approached, he opened the gate, allowing the truck to enter the prison. Rick slammed the gate and locked it as the Daryl jumped down from the truck. The redneck turned, holding a hand out to help Angela jump down as Glenn hopped off. Beth and Michonne got out of the truck, they were grinning as Rick was confused as to that was happening.
"Then try to drive up to the gate again, maybe some blown tires will stop them." Glenn told as they approached Rick.
"That's a good idea." Rick praised.
"It was Michonne's." Daryl informed, giving Rick a certain look.
"We don't have to win." Michonne told, Rick looked to her. "We just have to make their getting at us more trouble than it's worth."
Maggie and Carl returned with pots in their arms. Rick watched them, the two were grinning as well. He turned to look at Daryl as Angela was standing back smiling. Daryl was nodding to him, as if giving him the notion that Michonne was worth keeping.
"Let's go." Rick told, taking lead to head inside. Daryl and Angela shared a look, as they and the others followed. He placed his hand on her back, walking beside her.
Inside C Block, Merle watched from the catwalk at the window of the other members. He eyed up Miss Hot Head as his baby brother stuck close to her side. Merle sighed, "Ain't no way." he mumbled to himself.
"What?" Came a voice, Carol's down below tending to Judith.
"Nothing." Merle dismissed, turning to lean on the railing, spotting Kaylee carving into the music box.
"What happened here?" Carol asked, referring to the mess of torn fabric on the table. Kaylee ducked her head, Merle shrugged as he glanced to the teen.
"We got any whiskey?" Carol gave a look as she laid the sleeping baby down in the playpen. Kaylee glanced up at him. " Hell, I'd even drink vodka."
"Go to hell, Merle." Carol replied, walking over to the table and loading the clips with bullets.
Merle just laughed, grinning ear to ear. When his eyes fell on the teen, she looked down trying to focus on her carving. Merle started walking along the catwalk around the corner and toward the steps.
"Are you with us?" Carol asked, counting the bullets in the clip.
"Sure." Merle answered, sauntering slowly down the steps. He paused and propped his leg on the second bar railing.
"I'm not talking about occupying the same space." Carol turned looking up at him. "Are you with us?" She once more.
Kaylee looked between the two, hoping a fight wouldn't happen. Though, she didn't expect one since this was Carol instead of her sister. Kaylee tried to just focus on her carving, almost screwing up the T.
"I'm here for my brother." Merle answered.
"Well, he's here for us." Carol told, looking back to the pack of bullets on the table. "It's not time to do shots." She gave him a look. "It's time to pick a damn side."
Merle couldn't help but chuckle to himself, hearing the threats and words escaping this once was little-scared woman he knew before. "You ain't like you was back in the camp. A little mouse running around, scared of her own shadow."
"It wasn't my shadow, it was my husband's." She countered at him, backing the bag with the clips she's been working on.
"Well, you don't seem scared of nothing anymore." Merle recalled.
"I'm not."
Merle nodded, humming to himself. "You're a late bloomer." He told her.
Carol stood, taking the bag full of clips and gave him a softer look than before. "Maybe you are, too." She looked to Kay, "Watch Judith for a moment?" she asked.
The teen nodded, watching Carol leave the block as the door slammed shut, echoing out in the room. Merle chewed his lip, he stepped down and spun around the end walking toward Kaylee. She avoided his gaze, as he leaned his knuckles on the table and peeked at the box.
"Lookin' good there, Princess." Merle praised as Kaylee blocked the box from his sight.
"Thanks." She muttered, turning away to clean the wood chips off the lid.
Merle frowned at her reaction. Assuming it was some hormonal thing, he let her be. Merle had other things to tend to right now.
Glenn was busy fixing the barred doors that were broken apart, giving Andrew access to the prison a while ago. They didn't have the proper tools to put them right back into the hinges, so Glenn got to work on just chaining them together.
"Hey." The Korean turned spotting Daryl and Angela walking over toward him. "Ya seen Merle 'round?"
Glenn didn't answer, not that he didn't know, but he didn't honestly care where he was. Daryl and Angela shared a look, she offered to take his crossbow as the hunter went over to help Daryl. Angela felt the weight of the weapon in her arms as he passed it to her, holding the handle as she folding her arms in front. Daryl took the end of the door and started chaining it up.
"He say he was sorry yet?" Daryl asked him.
He attached the lock, looking to Glenn who didn't even spare him a glance. Angela watched silently behind the men letting them handle this.
"'Cause he is." He added.
Glenn picked up the crate of bottles off the ground, walking around Angela and placing it on the table to her right. Daryl turned, shoving his thumbs into his pockets watching him.
"He's gonna make it right. I'm gonna make him." Daryl insisted, Glenn looked to Angela then to Daryl. "There's got to be a way. Just needs to be a little forgiveness is all." He motioned to Angela standing a bit away. "Even Angie wants to forgive him."
She held up a finger, "I want to talk to him, forgiving is still too far from happening." Angela explained.
"But yer willin' to try." Daryl told.
"I'm with Angela." Glenn started, walking around the table looking to Daryl. "About forgiving. He tied me to a chair, beat me, and threw a walker in the room. Maybe I could call it even. But he-" Glenn paused, taking in a breath before continuing. "He took Maggie to a man who terrorized her, humiliated her." Glenn nodded to Angela. "Not only that, he also got Kaylee beaten and-"
Angela looked away when Glenn glanced to her. Daryl shifted his squinting eyes at her, then to Glenn. "I care more about Maggie than I care about me." He finished what he had to say, and returned to the table tearing some cloth he picked up.
Daryl eyed him up, waiting to see if anything else to be said. Angela stepped forward, about to say a word, but Daryl took his crossbow from her roughly. More roughly then he intended to do so, the hunter marched off leaving the two alone. Angela sighed, looking to Glenn who snuck a glance then back down to tearing the fabric. Angela shook her head, walking away to not follow Daryl as it'd be best to let him and Glenn be.
Kaylee had been searching for the one-armed Dixon for a while. She felt her stomach had been heavy and chest tight over the words she had heard with the exchange between Merle and Rick. She wanted to know more, on the whole taking Michonne to the Governor and maybe talk him out of it. There had to be a better way, Kaylee didn't want anyone else to die.
The teen stepped slowly and silently with her gun held in front of her.
"Merle!" Kaylee froze, hearing Daryl's voice reverberating through the halls. "Ya down here?"
Kaylee looked behind her, waiting for Daryl to come out from behind her. She heard him call his voice again, she turned back, assuming she was actually behind him around the corner. She peeked over, spotting Daryl had just entered the room.
"Hey, little brother!" Greeted Merle, hearing his voice from the room Daryl entered. Kaylee tiptoed to the opening, peeking around the edge to see Daryl walking over and Merle at a table grinning at him.
"What the hell?" Daryl questioned, looking around as to wonder what Merle was up to down here. The wide grin on his features meant trouble.
"I was just about to holler back at ya?" He told, leaning off the surface and bringing a hand down his mouth, pinching his lips.
"What ya doin' down here?" Daryl questioned, giving every inch a glance as he walked around the room.
Merle shrugged, walking over to block his brother from the back of the room. "Just looking for a little crystal meth." He brought his arm up to press against the generator and back against the counter.
Kay rolled her eyes, she heard about him being into drugs. Daryl gave him a look, shaking his head and he turned around in the center of the room.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Merle told, looking down to the cemented floor. "Shit will mess my life up when everything is going so sweet, right?"
Daryl turned to him, his crossbow hanging at his hip in the loose grip of his fingers. "Yer keepin' Kay out of this shit right?"
Merle shrugged, "More or less." he laughed seeing Daryl's usual accusing stare. "She's been out of my hair lately." Kay tucked herself back, listening and watching the best she could. "Ya know, that teenage hormonal shit? Pissy, bitting heads up, acting all bitchy?"
Kay resisted to barking some choice words at the man. Deciding to change the subject, not liking talking about Kay like this, Daryl brought up an important subject. "Ya talk to Rick yet?" He asked.
"Yeah. Oh, yeah. I'm in." He confirmed, moving back to the counter seeing his brother give space from invading the back area. "But, uh," He gestured his hand out, Kay hid back thinking he spotted her. "He ain't got the stomach for it. He's gonna buckle. Ya know that, right?"
Kay looked back over, concern over this whole deal. She didn't know Daryl was in on it, did her sister know? Hm, no, Angela would be flipping her shit or keeping her sister close to her.
"Yeah." Daryl nodded, looking down at the floor then back up with a shrug. "If he does, he does."
"Ya want him to?" Merle questioned.
He thought it over, not wanting to answer it as a yes or no. Rick was still recovering from the loss of Lori and this whole Woodbury thing was making it worse. "Whatever he says goes." Daryl answered.
Merle scoffed, looking disappointed in his brother. "Man. Do ya even possess, a pair of balls, little brother?" Daryl looked down, knowing what was to come from the ape of his brother. "Are they even attached?"
Kay frowned from her spot, what was Merle saying? Was he accusing Daryl of being a wimp? She heard Merle a few times gripe at Daryl about being a real man and being pulled on a leash by her sister.
"I mean, if they are, do they belong to you? Or Are they under the proud ownership of Miss Hot Head?" Merle gave a look when Daryl glared at him. "Am I wrong?"
"She's got no control over me." Daryl told, taking a side step with his shoulder turned to Merle.
"Ya used to call people like that sheep. What happened to ya?"
It was true, Merle saw how much Daryl had changed. Not in his hair or swagger, but his beliefs and who his crowd was these days. Following these pussies to certain death, Merle was sure. He was also sure Angela had a large role in it, with how she stuck around and he followed her like some lost puppy.
Daryl countered it quickly. "What happened with you 'n Glenn, Maggie, 'n Kaylee?" Daryl kept hinting at something his brother, expecting him to understand where he was going with this. "Hell, look what happened to Angie. She-"
"I've done worse." Merle excused, not wanting to hear Daryl go off about the scarred woman. "Ya need to grow up. Things are different now."
Kaylee looked toward Merle, seeing his lips curl into a snarl at his next statement. "Your people, your woman, look at me like I'm the devil," He took a breath, keeping an even hard stare toward his brother. "Grabbing up those lovebirds and the Princess like that, huh?"
The teen didn't look at Merle as such, if anything, she looked to him as family. Why can't anyone else do the same? Kay frowned in worry to see how this was affecting Merle, keeping the feeling hidden away from his brother and the others.
"Now ya'll want to do the same damn thing I did-" Daryl looked down, avoiding Mere's own glare. "Snatch some up and deliver 'em to the Governor. Just like me."
So wait, Kay thought on this. They were giving him the dirty deed of delivering Michonne, yet claim Merle is just as worse? The teen's mind was boggled, how hypocritical could the others be? She wanted to voice in, that she didn't see the man as such, if anything, she saw some as a brother like how she saw Daryl and Rick. She saw Merle Dixon as family.
The younger Dixon stepped to the side, listening to his brother rant on. "Yeah. People do what they got to do or they die. Those sisters, the teen and scarred one?" Daryl finally looked back up to him. "I heard what they've been through, the shit they've seen. That's why your woman is messed up," he pointed at the temple of his head. "Right here."
"Ya don't know her like ya think ya do." Daryl retorted, taking defense of Angela. "We helped each other, Angie an' me. When ya weren't around-" Merle just scoffed, leaning back against the counter not wanting to hear about Merle being absent from Daryl's life again. That didn't end well before, revealing some scars. "Can't do things without people anymore, man."
Merle nodded to his brother as if to agree. "Maybe these people need somebody like me around, huh?" He offered, letting his arms fall to his sides. "Do their dirty work. The bad guy." He nodded to himself. "Yeah, maybe that's how it is now, huh? How does that hit you?"
It didn't hit him at all. Daryl just stared at his brother, seeing the man that's been missing if not most of his life, then most of this apocalypse. After the death of his father and Uncle Jess, he searched for Merle, the only family left. Finally, back together, he didn't want to lose him again, be it walkers or narcotics. Kay watched from her corner, seeing Daryl step forward to Merle, clapping a hand onto his shoulder tightly.
"I just want my brother back." He told, with sincerity.
Merle looked a bit spooked by that moment, shrugging his hand off and giving him a look. "Get out of here, man."
Kay took the chance to leave as Daryl made his way toward the exit with lazy slow steps. Once he felt alone enough, Merle turned to uncover an old rotary phone he found from under a cloth. He gathered it up with the telephone wire and placed it in a bag hidden behind the generators he kept Daryl from. Sitting with the bag was bolt cutters and a shotgun.
Outside, Rick had found the pile of trash and junk they had taken out of Block C when they first arrived. He kicked a shard of glass as the paper fluttered about on top. He saw a sight of blue and knelt down, picking out a thick internet wire coiled like a snake. Rick checked his wrist, testing his size then started wrapping it around the wrist to test it against his strength. Michonne was strong, could she break out of this? He wrapped it around about over five times before and pulled, feeling his veins pulse under his skin in his hand. He pinched his eyes, feeling eyes staring down upon him. His blue eyes caught a figure on the upper caged catwalk. Lori, he saw his pregnant wife Lori, staring down with judgmental eyes.
He looked down, his now shaky hand rubbing his eyes thinking seeing her was over and done with. He sighed, trying to keep himself calm. "You're not there." He mumbled to himself, wishing her away and to be rid of her in his thoughts and vision. "She's not there."
Rick looked back up, she was still there. Her brown eyes showing not disdain or love, but disappointment. Almost like she was being a conscience to him, telling him something was wrong. No, she was telling him his plan with Michonne was wrong. Giving her up was a wrong idea, and Rick deep inside, knew this was true.
"Rick? Rick!"
He almost fell back from his crouching position, thinking he heard Lori's voice. Getting to his feet and turned he found Angela looking up at him with worry. Her green eyes squinting from the sun, but he saw that concerned look she would send to anyone she cared about.
"Rick, you okay?" She asked, same green eyes shifting down to spot the blue wire wrapped around his wrist. "What are you doing with the wire?"
He glanced down, and in a rush, unwrapped the wire best he could, as he wrapped it over ten times. Angela spotted his struggle when the wire friction kept it from being undone. She took her hands towards his to hold his arm still as she delicately took the wire off. Once free, Rick threw the wire down back into the pile with disgust.
"Angie," Rick started, getting her attention again as he looked her in the eye. "Angie, there's something you gotta know."
"So where is it?" Michonne asked as she and Merle walked along the halls toward the Tombs.
"Around the corner." He told, leading her through, deeper and deeper into the underground halls.
They rounded a corner, unbeknownst to them that a teen was following behind them slowly and silently. She had failed to find Michonne, seeing Merle taking her outside mentioning a job Rick ordered them to do. Kaylee kept her gun on her and the knife Merle lent her, hoping she didn't need to use it.
"We got to clear some walkers, then get the others down here to barricade it." Merle explained, passing some locked cell doors. "A breach like this could be an open invitation to the Governor." He stepped back when a walker shot it's arms through the bars to reach for them. Michonne barely flinched, giving a good disgusted look at the bloody wide jaws of the creature.
"He's not much for subtlety." Michonne gave, the two continuing on. Kaylee stopped at the corner, she almost jumped back when the walker saw her as it clawed at the wall to get out. Thankfully the two paid no mind behind them.
Merle stopped, two walkers came around the corner before them, the clothing proved to be the walkers that invaded the prison. "Ya want to take your chances?" He challenged her.
Michonne didn't hesitate as she stabbed her sword through the first walker's skull before its arm could even make it close to extending out fully toward her. She pulled back, letting it fall to the floor. Merle used his own bayonet to stab the second one just like she did, and shoved it down to the floor.
Kay grew tense, the knife tight in her grip. Would they be alright? Three more walkers emerged around the corner, Michonne waited for them to approach as Merle stood behind her. Before she could make a move to attack the walker, Merle used his stump to slam against the back of Michonne's head, knocking her out. She fell to the ground with a thud, a gasp echoed out from Kaylee, instantly covering her mouth. Merle was quick, he sliced the skulls letting chunks of brain and flesh fly as the walkers fell one after another. The redneck looked around the halls, swearing he heard a gasp checking inside a nearby cell.
Deeming he was indeed alone, he bent down to pick up the sword tucking it under his arm. He grabbed her ankles and dragged her down the hall and around the corner. Kaylee instantly followed, stepping over the walkers, only to have her foot be captured under a walker's body. She grunted out and fell over the rotten corpse with a thud.
"Hey!" Kay looked up, seeing Merle glaring down at her. He carelessly dropped Michonne's legs to the ground and pointed the sword at the teen's face. "Whatchya doing down here, Princess?" He asked, darkly at her.
"M-Merle…" She stuttered, getting to her feet with the blade inches from her nose. His usual soft eyes toward her were now narrowed at her. "You don't have to do this, there could be another way."
"There is no other way." He told her lowly, looking her up and down before nodding his head. "Pick her up."
Kay frowned, her brows furrowed at his order. "What?"
"Pick. Her. Up." He told, pointing the sword now at her neck. "You decided to follow, now your involved."
Without a choice and with a weapon to her throat, Kay brought her hands up, ready to drop the knife. "Nah," He shook his head, taking it from her and placing it into the sheath at her hip. "Ya still need it. Now, c'mon now." Merle urged.
Gulping, the teen walked around Merle as he held the sword pointing it at her. "Sorry." She muttered to the unconscious Michonne, picking up her ankles. "Where-"
"Down to the generator room." Merle ordered.
With a sigh, the skinny brunette pulled at Michonne's ankles, dragging the woman down the hall with Merle in tow. If she had stayed out of this, Kaylee wouldn't be in this mess, now she was entirely involved. That, or maybe Merle was not only going to hand over Michonne, but Kaylee as well.
Thank you 95 for the favorites and follows!
RedVelvetPanPan- As you can see, the deal was only half given. Not to mention, so many were against wanting to give Kaylee, especially Merle when he first heard it. Hope you had tissues ready. See you next time!
Gryffindor Rat- My parents despise the Governor so Goddamn much! Really? Well, I can see why. Negan had good intentions then turned bad. Hope we see a good side of Negan soon enough. When with someone long enough, their own language is created. I blame Milton so much, because he knew what was wrong with Philip and kept allowing it to get worse and worse. Hershel, the peace keeper of them all. Noticed she hasn't found out completely yet! Another week to wait on that reveal! As you can see, even Merle was against it until the end of this. Some people don't change, huh? See you next time!
Bruna Pereira- The Governor is the one bastard I would not hesitate to kill next to Dawn. Season 3 speeds by way to fast, in my opinion. It could be how I wrote this, but I finished season 3 from morning to lunch. While season 2 it felt it took from morning to dinner, could just be me though. I haven't seen anything on JDM not coming back, they haven't needed him or else that would've been announced. He just hasn't been called into the set yet, that happens in TV at times. Same as season 7 Norman did a lot on his own show cause Daryl wasn't in as many episodes. Hahaha, it'll be a while before they actually say they are, with this 'war' shit going on. Thanks and same, this was held off on the recent news and I had to go into some gaming to get back into a good mood. Thanks again! See you next time!