A/N: Thank you all so much for your amazing reviews and for your favorites and follows. I am so sorry for the delay but I've been totally struggling with this chapter. Two of the last three chapters have been almost stand alone with very little Daryl and little to work with. And tonight, I am so sad about Merle. So I am going into a different direction.

Chapter 16 - Rescue

"We got a message from the Governor," Rick came walking into the Cafeteria with a weary look on his face, carrying a large rock still wrapped with string that had been used to secure the paper note to it. Behind Rick followed a determined Daryl and Merle.

Lane's head snapped up the moment the door opened, as if she had developed some sort of 'Daryl-dar' where she could sense him near. But the look on the three men's face made her stomach tumble around and her fists instinctively gripped the cotton cloth she was using on the already dry dinner plate a little tighter. She wasn't the least bit surprised that everyone else also reacted with similar trepidation.

"And? What does it say?" Lane only said aloud what everyone else was thinking.

"It says they wanna meet. Just me and the Governor... face to face," Rick explained what little was on the note. "This afternoon on an old stretch of road," Rick clarified.

"You can't really be considering going? Not when we all know it's a trap!" Lane snapped before she even recognized her gut was literally spasming from intense fear.

"It had Andrea's signature," Rick told the others, in spite of Lane's snort of disbelief. "She thinks she can work something out. Maybe things have changed in Woodbury?"

Lane looked around at the group and to her amazement, the only other person in agreement with her was Merle and to some extent, the new people. Shit, Lane thought. Maybe I do need to reconsider?

But then her sanity returned. There would never be peace with the Governor. This she knew.

"We have to at least consider it," Rick shrugged his shoulders and looked around at everyone. Tyreese and his people, the Dixons, Carol, Hershel, Glenn and the Greenes...Lane and her aunts. Then finally at his son and daughter.

"You know a man like the Governor will never negotiate!" Lane snapped, terrified again that Rick's judgment would get them all killed.

"Andrea believes the people of Woodbury will insist," Rick explained while trying to wrap his head around all their options. "Maybe she's been able to do some persuading?"

Lane sighed heavily as she took in everyone's face. They were all scared and weary, but the ones who knew Andrea best seemed to not only like her, but respect her. Except for Michonne that is, but Lane had to wonder how much of that was simply hurt. Maybe Lane should defer to those that knew Andrea best?

"I know why you want this...I really do. People will die if we don't at least try," Lane leaned over the counter, propping herself up on her arms as resignation set in.

"If we attack Woodbury without even trying, killing indiscriminately... then how are we any better than him?" Rick seemed to hear Dale's voice telling him this was the right thing to do.

Lane looked over at Daryl...then back at Merle. They both had the same expression of reluctant acceptance. Like they both knew the train was about to crash, but were helpless to stop it...so were just holding on for dear life.

"If you are committed to having this meeting, then how do we prevent an ambush?" Lane accepted that she'd given in to the fact this meeting was going to happen, despite her concerns.

"They want to meet at the old mill here," Rick pointed to a nearby point on the map they'd spread out over the table.

"Okay, we got exit points here, here and here," Daryl analyzed after walking over to examine the map. "Hey Glenn? What do ya think?". Daryl had long admired and respected Glenn's brilliance in issues such as this. It also seemed Daryl was trying to patch things up with Glenn.

"It's a good plan. We can keep watch from all the way up here," Glenn pointed to a point on the map. "It will give us a chance to see if they're up to something," Glenn quickly began mentally evaluating all the pros and cons.

"Daryl and Hershel will go with me. And Tyreese too, I need you to keep watch from up here," Rick pointed while he explained the plan to the group.

"No way Rick. Take me with you and Hershel can stay here," Glenn insisted, Maggie instantly at his side in agreement.

"Hershel can drive and shoot just fine. But in case this is a trap, they'll be assuming that we left the prison unprotected. And they'll be wrong!" Rick's eyes fired with anger and determination as he spoke. And Lane prayed Rick was right.

-/-/-/-

Daryl had his crossbow already packed, but this time it was more for good luck than anything. Instead, they loaded up the semi-automatics and enough ammo to kill every citizen of Woodbury ten times over. Overkill, but necessary. A powerful show of force.

Lane leaned against the concrete wall of the prison as she watched Daryl toss the last bag into the back of the Hyundai. The dread that permeated her was heavy and nearly overpowering. Watching him drive away so soon after nearly losing him was almost more than she could bear.

Daryl caught sight of her and he slowly walked over, resting his palms against the wall on either side of her ears, effectively pinning her in his arms.

Not that she minded, of course. She rested her hands on his hips then looked up.

"I hate not going with you," Lane admitted. "It's like I lose a part of myself whenever you leave." Hearing her feelings verbalized suddenly made her realize just how desperate and pathetic she sounded.

"Oh God, that sounded awful! Pathetic and clingy and ...pathetic!" Lane turned her head away in shame.

"I like it when ya say things like that...ya know, nice an' all," Daryl tipped her chin up to look at her. He only wished he had the words to say similar things back. To tell her what she meant to him. But whenever he tried, it was like his brain shut down and froze.

"It makes me feel like I matter to ya," Daryl had trouble expressing himself even this little bit. But he felt better after saying it.

"Oh Daryl! You matter' So much, it hurts. I hate it that you're going, but I know there is no way you'd let Rick go into this without you...which only makes me love you more," Lane's eyes were so emerald green in the sunlight it hypnotized him.

"I'll come back! I'll always come back to ya!" Daryl bent down to lightly kiss her lips.

"Yeah? Well you'd better because I'll be waiting! Doesn't mean I won't have worked up a heck of a mad by then so if you do anything to make me worry, Well...I'm just warning you," Lane teased him by sliding her tongue seductively over his lower lip.

"S'alright. I'm kinda likin' the makin' up part," Daryl had enough with the teasing and thrust his tongue into her warm, wet mouth and was soon eagerly sliding and sucking. He'd also realized he had just flirted with her...without sounding completely like a stupid redneck.

"Yo Daryl! Ya ready to go?" Rick hollared from the passenger seat. While he and Lane had been having their 'discussion', Rick and Hershel had already gotten situated in the SUV, both smiling at the younger man who reluctantly pulled himself away.

"Comin'!" Daryl's head snapped around. With one last quick kiss he left her, doing his best to focus on the task at hand and not his hard on...and fulfilling his promise to return.

-/-/-/-

"Ya know this is just one of the Governor's mind games dontchya?" Merle creeped up behind her so quietly, she startled. Guess her Merle-dar was off.

"I do. But what are our options?" Lane lightly punched Merle's shoulder when she spun around to face him.

"Hey? What's that fer?" Merle pretended to be hurt.

"You Dixons need to stop creeping up on people before I put catbells on you both," Lane teased the older Dixon who seemed strangely pleased by her gumption. He also appreciated that she and her aunts were actually speaking to him at all...after everything he'd done.

"Yer good fer him, ya know. Ain't never seem him smile like that. Least not since our mama died," Merle admitted, actually smiling himself for once.

"Thanks for saying that, Merle." she patted his rough hand, then sat down beside him. She knew that wasn't an easy thing for him to say, which made it that much more meaningful.

"So, I overheard you talking with Michonne? You know, about what you think we really should do. Assuming things don't work out, then what do you suggest?" Lane respected Merle's and Daryl's instinct and ability for survival.

"Ain't no shame in runnin'. We can find us a new place. There are better places out there ya know... more secluded places. Fixer uppers so to speak, but better...and safer. Or we can attack Woodbury head on. You all are better fighters than them but we just don't have the numbers. There'll be heavy losses in the group even if we win," Merle admitted what Lane already knew from her brief time in Woodbury.

"And if we cut the Medusa's head off, so to speak? What then" Lane alluded to the assassination of the Governor. "If we assassinated him! Would the people accept it? Accept us?"

"It's either that or we have to bug out. There is no middle ground! No living side by side," Merle patted her shoulder, both sharing the same sense of helplessness. He refused to allow himself to think about what Mariel was going through. At least that's what he told himself.

"Merle? I know this Mariel matters to you, more than you're willing to admit to any of us anyway. And Andrea matters to the group. Can you think of a scenario where, if it all goes to shit, we can get them both out of there and with us?" Lane looked hopefully up at Merle.

Merle stared into Lane's guileless eyes and knew why she was so perfect for his brother. But Mariel deserved better than him. She deserved someone like Fuckin' Officer Friendly or some of the decent. Which was why he had satisfied himself with one of the 'looser' women back in Woodbury, even though every second, and every breath and touch he pictured Mariel.

"It'd be dicey. The only way it can work is if I go in by myself...basically sneak in and let them know what's really going on." Merle knew that would never happen if Rick knew his plan.

"I can go with you...,help cover you!" Lane needed Merle to know this wasn't all on him.

"Sorry, but it's somethin' I gotta do alone. Sides, my brotha'd kill me if I let ya go back ta Woodbury wit' me!" Merle insisted and his concern was surprisingly genuine.

"What do I tell Daryl when he gets back?" Lane's eyes pored into Merle's.

"The truth, baby gerl. Always the truth!" Merle patted her strong shoulders and began to prepare to head back to Woodbury...behind Glenn's back.

"Hey Merle! Get your ass back here safe and soundok?" Lane told him, and the shock and surprise in Merle's eyes told her more than words ever could.

-/-/-/-

"We're goin' ta war!" Rick announced once the entire group had assembled together after their return. "We have no choice!"

Lane slumped against Daryl's chest, but his arms held her tight. She'd known this was coming all day...ever since the attack really. But here it was. In her face. In all their faces. She absorbed and the news and its implications as Rick continued to relay bits and pieces of his private conversation with the Governor.

"And we've got news here! Merle's gone! Thanks to Lane!" Glenn spun around to glare at her, his face leaving little doubt as to his feelings of betrayal by her in that moment.

"Better back off her chinaman!" Daryl still didn't know the details, but out of pure instinct to protect he immediately stepped in front of Lane. Glenn's head snapped around at the sudden return of that nickname.

"I'm really sorry Glenn, but we knew you wouldn't agree. But Merle has a reason ...an important reason to go back. One you yourself should appreciate. He IS NOT THE ENEMY! The Governor is. And everyone needs to stop treating Merle like he's the enemy!

I know he's done horrible things, to you especially, Glenn. But he's afraid for Andrea and this nurse back in town and he wants to help them get back to us...if there is no chance for peace...which Rick just said there wouldn't be." Lane finally finished and Daryl knew he loved her more than anything else at that moment. More than his own life.

"How do we know he isn't giving the Governor valuable information about us?" Glenn glared at Lane, earning a stern 'Tssk' from Ethel.

"Because Merle loves his brother and he hates the Governor!" Lane's certainty never waivered. As if dismissing a naughty child, she turned away from Glenn and focused her attention back to Rick.

"Rick? If we are really going to war, then how do we win? Because without a plan to win, we seriously need to consider packing up and leaving as soon as we can," Lane voiced what many of the group were already thinking, and also what Merle thought.

"This ain't gonna be no honorable fight. Not if we wanna live. Them days are long gone. This is a man that drove a walker filled van into our home" Daryl reminded them all and took into consideration what his brother had told him. "If we're gonna have any chance ta win, it's terrorist warfare all the way," Daryl laid out the hard, cold, ugly truths.

"The Governor will do whatever no matter how dirty, I guarantee ya! Will we? Will alla ya'll? Cause as we stand here jawing, the Governor's got these pits where he collects walkers," Daryl looked around the room and it shocked him. He knew Michonne understood, but did the others? Part of him just expected them to be the same innocent people he remembered meeting at the beginning.

But they all turned to him with eyes ablaze and resolve of steel, each more than willing to do whatever was required...no matter how heinous. And he knew in that moment he'd underestimated them all. And it gave him hope... That was their strength! The Governor would likely underestimate them as well.

"The Governor said he'd call a truce," Rick interrupted the group's vibrant discussion. But everyone halted after hearing this, some unsure if they'd heard right.

"But only If I turn Michonne over to him...as retribution for his eye," Rick finally finished. Everyone immediately broke out into heated discussion. But it was Michonne who commanded the floor.

"Let's not forget I also killed his walker daughter that he was kept in a straightjacket and locked in his closet. But if you really think this will provide all of you safety, then go ahead," Michonne had come to care deeply about the safety of these people and was prepared to offer herself up...or was that a healthy dose of sarcasm in her tone?

"No Way! Absolutely not. What if he demanded we turn over Judith? Carl? Beth? Maggie? Glenn? Me? Daryl? Hershel? Carol? Are any of us worth more than others? We cannot let the Governor divide us like this. His mind games are far more dangerous to us." Lane walked the room until she finally stood face to face with Rick.

"I told him I'd bring her to him. In two days at the same place," Rick admitted to the group. But the fact he was telling the group with Michonne present told Michonne that he had no intention of actually following through.

"What if we were to sneak in, identify and arm those who don't support this war?" Lane asked, unable to accept they'd exhausted all options.

"The Guv has only six or seven hardened soldiers left at best. The rest have no idea and would likely piss their pants at the sight of their first walker. Didya hear Andrea? He's tryin' to arm kids an' old ladies," Daryl supported Lane in her brainstorming.

"So Sun Tzu, what's YOUR big plan?" Glenn snarked at Lane, still pissed about her helping Merle.

"It's not pretty, but short of running we have to assassinate the Governor... rush in and take control. It doesn't sound like there would be a giant uprising, especially after we explain the Governor's heinous acts," Lane's voice was crystal clear as everyone listened intently.

"I agree with Lane," Carol finally spoke up and the sheer magnitude of her words created a hush over the entire group. With a pause followed by a heavy sigh, Carol eventually continued.

"I told Andrea when she was here," Carol paused and took another deep breath. "I told her she should give the Governor the night of his life...then while he slept...she should end it...for all of us" Carol's voice was cold and utterly devoid of emotion.

Everyone was silent as they absorbed the fact that Carol, of all people, would have come up with such a plan... So Mata Hari!

"Holy Shit!" Glenn finally admitted aloud.

"You sent in Andrea back in as Pussy Galore?" Daryl finally spoke up, his tone devoid of judgment and instead held obvious admiration of Carol's gumption and craftiness.

Soon everyone was joining in, and talking about other plans to save the prison and keep everyone alive.

-:/-:/-/:-

"Mariel, what's the situation in town?" Andrea was terrified and had been walking on eggshells ever since she got back from the sad farce of the so-called truce negotiations.

"Everyone's really confused and terrified. Many are scared of the Governor but unfortunately they are more afraid of the walkers. They know nothing else." Mariel sighed. "How did today go?"

"Terrible. Phillip kicked me out and I saw the real Phillip. He is an evil like I have never known and if I could shed my skin like a snake, so I could purge every touch, I would in a New York minute," Andrea ran her hand through her curls.

Mariel took a deep breath and stared at Andrea and all hope dissolved. She had been holding out that this issue might be worked out diplomatically. And now she knew without a doubt, this was nonsense.

"The folks I was able to talk to really liked the idea of Rick and the others. Most everyone has had doubts about Phillip after what was done to Merle." Mariel tried to verbalize how complicated everyone's feelings were.

"Phillip is ready to go to war," Andrea leaned against the fence, her voice laced in frustration. "Not only that, but he set terms but still plans on a slaughter even if they comply. We have to convince everyone to stand up to him. He is just a man. One-eyed at that."

"Don't be upset. You must understand that most of these people are not like you. I'm not like you! We have never been outside these walls," she felt the need to defend the people she cared for as well as herself. She lead Andrea to her small home.

"Mariel, after what I saw today, I'm terribly scared for you. Can you be tracked back as the source of the flyers?" Andrea's eyes welled with tears as the reality of the danger she'd sent her friend into set in.

"Of course it can. I only spoke to those I trust...but it could easily get tracked back to me. I've been visiting with people almost every night " Mariel explained, as tears threatened and she fell onto her worn sofa.

"I'm afraid things are going to go to shit...really fast. And I'm scared for you...and me. The Guv gave my friends only one choice. Surrender or all out war!" Andrea collapsed beside her.

Mariel rested her head on an exhausted Andrea and frantically tried to figure out what to do.

"Should we run off! Now! Just the two of us?". Mariel suggested, knowing her bag was already packed.

"I think that's our best option. I just worry about everyone else. Like Milton," Andrea admitted, "And poor Mrs. Jacobs, and what about Liam? And his asthma?" Mariel waited for Andrea to come up with a brilliant plan, but Andrea just lay beside her.

"Andrea, I'm getting a really bad feeling from you. An urge to just jump the fence right now," Mariel admitted just how desperate she felt.

"Just gimme one day? Not even that really. Just til morning. If things aren't what they should be by tomorrow, I'll take you to the prison myself," Andrea pleaded with such sincerity that Mariel almost felt better.

"One day...that's it! If I don't hear from you by tomorrow, then we're taking our chances." Mariel's goosebumps weren't satisfied, but she pretended to be ok.

-::-:-

"The town is changing. They are really scared. Like terrified! They want you to make peace like those flyers all over town are asking for," Milton tried to explain to the Governor. "You look like the bad guy."

Milton was deeply disturbed by the Governor's plan to slaughter this group of people. People who he found decent and honorable in his brief encounter with them. And he had known Phillip long before he had assumed the role of Governor. But he had no doubt what Phillip would do if he defied him.

"Flyers? What Goddamn flyers?" the Governor's one eye nearly sparked flames, he was so furious at the idea of his authority being questioned.

"Ummm, just this sort of thing," Milton unfolded the paper and handed it over, his face downcast as the Governor snatched it from his hand.

Milton kept his head down while the Governor absorbed what this meant. After a good few minutes, the Governor finally spoke.

"Get Martinez and send him to me! NOW!" he ordered and stormed away to his office, leaving Milton alone in the street to do Phillip's bidding.

-/-/-

Mariel was still uneasy as she prepared for bed. So the knock on her door nearly sent her jumping through the roof.

As she walked to look out the window to see if maybe it was Andrea, the door slammed open and Martinez barged in, immediately looking around the room for her, ignoring the fact he had slammed her across the room.

"Good lord Martinez! You scared the life out of me," Mariel's long red hair cascaded down her back and over her shoulders. His presence was alarming but some instinct told her to play it cool.

"Sorry Mariel, but the Governor wants to have a little chat with you," Martinez slowly approached as if she was prey.

"It's awful late. Can't it wait for the morning?" Mariel softly pleaded. But the look in Martinez' eyes told her otherwise.

"Ya need ta come with me now" Martinez insisted and reached for her as if to grab her.

"Of course. It must be really important if he needs me at this hour," she smiled at Martinez. "I just need to use the restroom real quick," she headed to the small room and shut the door before he could stop her. She had to think quick as her options were rapidly vanishing. She had to plan for the worst and pray for the best.

She grabbed an old eyeliner and wrote a brief note for Andrea and prayed she would find it. As she was writing, she called out to Martinez.

"Do I need to bring my medical bag?" she waited for his reply.

"Nah! The Guv has what he needs," Martinez' tone was eery, which only terrified her more. She could only think of one thing to do. She tossed the pills back and swallowed.

When she finally accepted she couldn't stall any longer, she stood up straight ...head held high and left the room and left her room with Martinez.

"Here she is!" Martinez shoved her into the darkly lit room. It was even more terrifying that the room she was being escorted in, she'd never even known existed in the basement of the Governor's house.

The Governor was standing in the middle of the room, holding one of the flyers she had given to some of the townspeople.

But what caught her eye was the mid-evil looking chair in the center of the room. It was part dental chair and part gynecologic torture apparatus.

"Mariel, it seems you've been quite busy the past few days. What you have been doing used to be called treason back when we had a government and a Constitution," the Governor approached and slowly circled.

"I prefer the term freedom of speech! You might recollect it as the veru First Amendment?" Mariel's gumption returned with a vengeance. It would likely get her killed, but she was damned if she'd beg or take Phillip's shit.

Before she even knew what happened, she'd been thrown onto the chair and strapped down. But the look on Martinez' face as the Governor kicked him out told her this was not sitting well with him. She'd patched Martinez up at least a dozen times so she had a hard time believing he was ok with this.

"Now that we are finally alone, I think you should tell me where you got these?" the Governor slowly paced back and forth with a scalpel in his hand.

"Maybe you should explain to me and the townspeople why you are so intent on slaughtering innocent people? People you kidnapped and then beat the hell out of? People who would be thrilled to live side by side as neighbors...as trading partners," Mariel snapped back, then her face contorted in pain as his fist made contact.

"You were saying?" the Governor sneered at her as he watched her fair skin mottle and bruise.

"You are a psychotic narcissist!" Mariel tried to grind out, but the words came out garbled and slurred.

"You are going to tell me everyone you have spoken to about this and exactly what you said," he kept at her, obviously needing to know how much damage control needed to be done.

"Is that all? Then this will be easy. I spoke to everyone! And now they all know just how batshit you are!" Mariel was finding it hard to focus as her eye began to swell shut.

"I want the names of all the people you've tried to manipulate," he insisted as he stood over her, small scalpel in hand. "And those you've swayed to your side."

Instead of answering, she just laughed, ever more thankful for the handful of pills she swallowed in her bathroom. If she was going to die, it would, by God, be on her own terms. And hopefully she had taken enough medication to give her the strength to hold out... As images of Mel Gibson in Braveheart yelling 'Freedom' while being tortured kept reverberating in her psyche.

Mariel felt the punches in a vague, numb sort of way as her head involuntarily lolled to the side. Then she heard the faint sound of fabric being cut and soon her pale skin was shivering. Little did she know that was the least of her worries.

Things were now getting faint and dreamy, except for the rapid slashes of sharp pain...along her breasts, abdomen, her thighs. The Governor had long forgotten about obtaining information and was now just enjoying himself. His dick strained against his pants but this was just too perfect a situation to rush.

Merle snuck into Woodbury easily but still kept to the shadows. He easily made his way to Mariel's house but frowned when he found the door slightly ajar. He silently entered and his emotions rapidly transitioned from concern to fury. He meticulously went through the house...now in hunter mode, looking for clues as to where she might be.

It was when he reached the bathroom that he found something to give him pause. A small wrapper with a hastily written note on it.

"Andrea...a day was too long. Martinez is here taking me to HIM. I wont talk but get out. NOW!" Merle looked at the note...Then his attention was drawn to the near empty bottles of Oxycontin and Xanax in the trash.

"I'm gonna fuckin' kill him!" Merle muttered as the strength of his emotions shocked even him. He was overwhelmed with this visceral need to find Mariel, but even more by the physical shaking he was experiencieng.

And, even more terrifying, he had an idea where she'd been taken...and that's what was causing the churning in his chest. Merle stormed out of the house, no longer concerned if he was seen or not.

Merle saw Martinez first. Without warning, Merle snuck up behind him and slammed him up against the wall.

"Where the fuck is she?" Merle had his knife against his throat, and his eyes told Martinez he was just begging for a reason to slit his throat.

"He has her in the basement. Ya know that freaky room he has under the house," Martinez was actually relieved that Merle was back. Shit was just getting too outta control.

"Mother Fucker! How could you? Listen up Martinez! This is yer last chance. You are gonna go grab a car and get Andrea and meet me back here. If ya don't then the next time we meet it'll be when I'm slitten' yer throat!" Merle promised and Martinez knew that Merle meant every word.

"Meet me back here in five..." Merle had the sick feeling Mariel wouldn't be capable of walking. He refused to consider that Martinez would betray him.

Martinez nodded his head and Merle felt somewhat assured the ride would be there. But if it didn't, it wouldn't matter...he'd get Mariel outta here somehow. Someway!

He crept down the stairs and ended up in the quiet landing that overlooked the torture room. He saw Mariel's red hair sweaty and damp, strewn around her limp head. The Governor had already cut off Mariel's clothes...and her pale skin was now marred by hideous bloody seams. And at that point he lost the ability for rational thought as rage flooded his entire being.

He raged down the stairs and slammed through the door, causing the Governor to jump in surprise.

"Well...Well..,if it isn't the prodigal son! Are you here asking my forgiveness? Shall I kill the fatted calf?" the Governor snarled at the interruption, but Merle couldn't miss the Governor's hard on.

"You sick Fuck!" Merle raged ahead and slammed the Governor into the wall. Within seconds the Governor was bent over and his ribs pulsed in pain and it was difficult to even focus. He screamed for Martinez to help him.

"Merle? Are you really here or am I dreaming?" Mariel's raspy voice finally broke through his violent fugue state.

Merle punched the Governor one more time, before rushing to Mariel's side, He immediately snapped off her restraints and yanked her up off the chair and into his arms. He couldn't focus on how light she was in his arms or the way her blood seeped so freely down into his hands.

Merle wanted to end the Governor right then, so badly it physically hurt. But the way Mariel fell limply into his arms made him realize he had to get her outta here now and get her to help.

Mariel woke once again momentarily then fell unconscious and naked and bloody in his arms, and he didn't have the time he needed to end the Governor. With a last warning look at the Governor's collapsed body, he carried Mariel up the damp stairwell, praying Martinez wasn't a complete asshole.

Merle was beyond relieved to find Martinez and Andrea waiting in a Ford Expedition, both nervously waiting for Merle to show up. Merle hurried into the back seat, trying to be as gentle as he could as her settled her into the backseat with him.

"Get us the fuck outta here!" Merle yelled, far more concerned with Mariel. "NOW!"

-:::/-:/:/-:/

"We got visitors!" the walkie rumbled against the tabletop in the cafeteria. Lane and Daryl both jumped since both had been on edge ever since Merle had left.

"I'll go! Cover me?" Daryl grabbed his weapons and raced toward the gate. grabbed his guns and headed out, accepting and amazed that she'd follow him into hell if asked.

Daryl raced to the gates, confident Lane would deal with any stray walkers. Daryl's first instinct when he saw Andrea and Martinez, was that this was a trap. But then he saw the look of raw pain on Merle's face in the backseat and he understood. Without hesitation Daryl slammed the gates open and let them in. But still his weapons were at the ready as he urged them to get out of the truck. Andrea and Martinez slowly exited but it was Merle looking so vulnerable that caught Daryl's attention. Merle exited the SUV, carrying an unconscious woman in his arms, her red hair falling around her and her pale skin was marred by bloody incisions which seemed to look even more ominous in the moonlight.

"She needs yer doc, Hershel! Please, help her?" Merle cried out as he walked forward, carrying Mariel's limp, bloody body in his arms. "Please help her!"

Lane ran forward to lock the gates behind them, stabbing at least three stray walkers while Daryl guided his brother and others inside.

-:::::/;:/-/

"Yo Doc? Is she gonna be ok?" Merle pleaded with Hershel to tell him what he wanted to hear.

"For now," Hershel hobbled over to Daryl's brother. "She took enough pills to kill herself which likely saved her life. Fortunately the prison had Narcan, so I was able to keep her from going into complete respiratory distress. But the things that monster did..." Hershel couldn't continue.

"He'll pay!" Merle swore as he clenched his fist.

"She's been asking for you." Hershel admitted, intrigued by this softer, caring side of Merle.

"I don't think I can." Merle sat down and ran a hand over his hand.

"This wasn't your fault! But talk to her. She needs you Merle," Hershel cajoled.

"I always let people down, especially the ones that matter," Merle admitted, not quite understanding how he was able to speak so openly to the old geezer.

"Then don't!" Hershel ordered. "For a long time I was not the man I should have been. To my amazement, my wife was there when I finally decided to stop being that man, and became the man she deserved," Hershel hoped he was getting through to him.

Merle absorbed the older man's words for a minute, then with a heavy sigh he stood up and entered Mariel's room.

The Guv had chosen to spare her face and Merle knew why. It wasn't compassion he knew. It was simply a calculation that if he was to eventually whore her out after he was done, then there was no point in damaging the merchandise. It only served to tell him just how confident the Governor was in their defeat.

"Merle!" Mariel croaked his name when she saw him enter the room. But the way she struggled to smile and mask the pain managed to shatter at least one layer of his strong defenses.

Mariel looked up at the rough man who she knew was capable of immense tenderness.

"Merle?" Mariel called for him and reached out for him. Merle was frozen in place and he couldn't help but focus on the stitches along her arm, but her eyes finally broke through.

"Thank you," Mariel intended to sound strong, but the moment she said the words, she lost it and started sobbing. To her surprise she felt Merle envelope her in his arms and for the first time in years she felt safe.

"I knew I was going to die. The moment he walked in, I knew it." Mariel sobbed into his shoulder.

Merle held her in his arms, utterly dumbfounded. He couldn't remember ever holding a woman to comfort her. Maybe he mama after a beat down, but that was it.

"Now, you just shut the hell up. I ain't gonna let him hurt ya ever again..." Merle's voice began to crack as he spoke.

"Merle, would you kiss me like you did with...you know? Those other girls?" Mariel knew she should turn away, but just couldn't. To her horror Merle pushed her away, and just stared at her.

"Nevermind... Just forget it..." Mariel turned her head, realizing she'd asked for too much.

She never anticipated she'd feel such a tremendous loss. She was even more surprised when Merle gripped her head and pulled her back around, but when his lips touched hers she came to life. Like a spark to a flame.

Merle had never kissed a woman the way he was kissing Mariel. And for the first time he felt hope.