Kit was taking inventory of the food supplies, trying to estimate how much longer they would last the group without another run when she felt two sets of eyes boring into her. She turned around to see that those two sets of eyes belonged to Sasha and Tyreese who were standing in the doorway of what had become the 'pantry'. "What?"

Tyreese decided it would be best to be straightforward. "What's up with you and Rick?"

She was a little taken aback by how blunt he was but when she thought about it, it actually was a fair question; the siblings probably didn't want to get in the middle of a feud. "Well, I suppose all that can be said about Rick and I is that we have not gotten along basically since day one and I've always had one bone or another to pick with him. Don't worry, though: you won't be forced to pick sides, or anything. It's simply an ongoing disagreement he and I have with each other."

"What did he do to make you hate him since day one?"

"First of all, I don't hate Rick. I don't get along with him, but I don't hate him, either. Second of all, that is not a story for me to tell. Talk to Merle, then talk to Rick. They're the two people who were primarily involved in the incident." The two made a face when she mentioned talking to Merle. "Hey, he isn't that bad, really."

They gave her dubious looks before saying "thanks" and walking off. However, Kit's work was soon to be interrupted for the second time that morning. "Give me one good reason to trust you."

She turned around to see Rick standing morosely in the doorway. "What's the occasion that has you second-guessing me again?"

"I need you to promise to keep your mouth shut or else I have to keep you out of the loop. Do you understand?"

Kit was not used to be addressed so aggressively by Rick. "What is going on, Rick?"

"Funny that you should want an explanation from me when you refuse to give explanations for your own actions." So he was going to be whining about that again, was he?

Rick, personally, did not want to involve Kit in his impending conversation with Herschel and Daryl but he didn't believe he had much choice in the matter. Given how close she was with the old man and the redneck, Rick deemed it unlikely that either one of them would keep her in the dark, especially Daryl. The fact that his own cabinet was keeping secrets from him was not exactly a comforting thought and it made him ridiculously paranoid that his power over the group was failing. In times like these, with the Governor threatening their very existence, Rick had to maintain his control over the group. "Give me one good reason to trust you," he repeated, hoping she would not be able to supply him with one.

"You know I won't lie to you."

Damn it, she had him there. In fact, that was the only reason Rick put up with all of Kit's crap: he knew she would be honest with him no matter what and she would put it bluntly, too. "Fine," he said tersely. "Follow me."

Rick led her to a private area by the fence where a few walkers were hissing through the grating and where Daryl and Herschel stood patiently waiting. "Took ya long enough," Daryl muttered.

"I needed to make double sure I could trust her." Daryl didn't argue, but it was clear in his face that he was not happy Rick didn't trust his wife. "Now, I have something important I need to tell all of you."

"It's the only way." This earned Rick and eye roll from Kit. His way wasn't the only way and in this case it could lead to the death of an innocent woman. "No one else knows."

"You gonna tell 'em?" Daryl asked.

"Not 'til after."

"They won't be happy that you've made an executive decision like that," Kit informed him.

Rick ignored her. "We have to do it today, it has to be quiet."

Daryl and Herschel looked as uncomfortable with the idea as Kit was.

"Have you ever stopped to consider the probability the Governor lied to you?" Kit asked. "He could take Michonne and then attack us in the same breath."

"It just ain't us man." Daryl felt as if he had to explain his reasons behind disliking the plan.

"No it isn't," Herschel agreed before leaving Rick with the others. He clearly did not agree with their leader on this particular issue.

"If we do this, we avoid a fight," Rick insisted, ignoring the fact that a member of his cabinet had left. "No one else dies."

"No necessarily," Kit grumbled. "I don't like this, Rick."

"Do you intend to ruin the plan?" Rick asked her accusingly.

That was the big question. Kit knew she was not at the top of Rick's favorites list at the moment and blabbing about Michonne would only worsen her already precarious position. She also couldn't have this on her conscience – especially now. But, despite how much he advocated for this particular path, Kit knew that Rick could not feel comfortable with this, either. They had their disagreements but ultimately, Kit knew he wasn't capable of killing someone who had become part of the group in cold blood. A stranger, maybe, but not one of them. "I won't say anything, but only because I know you're better than this, Rick. I have hope that you'll do the right thing in the end." She could only hope her assessment of Rick's character was accurate.

This statement appeared to unnerve him more than if she had said she would go straight to Michonne. "You won't get any help from me," she added before leaving in a fashion similar to Herschel's.

Merle was ripping away happily at mattresses when the goddamn sheriff approached him, talking about some deal with the Governor…handing over Michonne. This didn't sit well with Merle any more than it sat well with anyone else. "Who else knows about this?"

"Me, Herschel, Daryl, Kit and now you."

"The inner circle," Merle scoffed. "Surprised you included Petite. I would think she would have some sort of self-righteous moral streak in her."

"I didn't have much of a choice but to include her," Rick mumbled. "And she doesn't like the idea."

Merle didn't blame her; he didn't like the idea, either – especially knowing the Governor. "You know, when we'd go on runs, he'd bash someone's skull in, slash their throats…and he's say 'never waste a bullet'. I always thought it was just an excuse. Go on and give him that girl. He ain't gonna kill her, ya know. He'll do stuff to her…take out her eyes and you'd let that happen for a shot? The Governor ain't exactly a man of his word." It did not get past Rick that Kit and Merle had said the same thing about the Governor: he may not be quite as honest as Rick hoped he would be. "Yer cold as ice, Officer Friendly." Rick didn't appear perturbed by Merle's assessment. "You're going to need wire, not rope…nothin' she can chew through."

Merle looked Rick up and down and shook his head. "I know you, Rick, and you ain't got the spine fer this sorta thing. I bet ya Petite said the same thing. She always was too smart fer her own damn good." The former Sheriff walked away, outwardly ignoring Merle's comment but inwardly disturbed by the fact that even Merle was showing superior morals at the moment.

The ex-convict chuckled a little bit, happy to have unnerved the ex-sheriff, causing Rick to turn around. "What is goin' on with Kit an' Daryl? We all know you an' Herschel know somethin' but you ain't willin' to share."

"What makes you think I would tell you a single goddamn thing, Officer Friendly? I always liked Petite well enough an' now, far as I'm concerned, she's blood. Ain't gonna turn my back on blood, Sheriff."

"I'm responsible for the safety of this group and if someone is puttin' that safety at risk…"

"Petite an' my brother ain't riskin' no one's safety," Merle explained slowly, as if to a child, causing Rick's face to turn slightly red. "I suggest ya let the thing go. Petite already don't like you an' if ya keep it up, my brother'll join her."

Rick didn't want to take Merle's advice but he could tell already from Daryl's reaction to his plan that his relationship with Daryl was slipping and that was the last thing Rick needed or wanted. He left again, this time for good, leaving an amused Merle. But the smirk on Merle's face melted almost as soon as Rick left because apart from making Rick squirm, there was very little humor to be found in this situation.

He decided it was high time to have a heart to heart with his sister-in-law.

Merle found her preparing food for the group, completely alone. "Well, well, well, what have we here? Never took you for the housewife type."

She looked up from her work and Merle was expecting, at the very best, a good-natured eye roll but instead received a smile – a weak smile, but a genuine one. "Hi, Merle."

"You'll never guess what Officer Friendly just talked to me about."

"Don't tell me he's trying to involve you in his plans with Michonne." But of course, she knew already what her answer would be.

"Seems a little cruel even for him." Merle still hadn't forgotten or forgiven the fact that he had been left on a rooftop to die.

"I think Rick's trying to pull the same shit he tried to pull with Daryl: making you do the dirty work. I don't like that any more than I like what he's doing with Michonne. I'd really rather not talk about it, though. I just hope that he'll come to his senses before it's too late."

"I'm surprised yer not raising hell right now."

"Well, my position with Rick right now isn't exactly solid. Theoretically, he could have me thrown out; I guess you and I have that in common."

"I don' think he'll have you thrown out, Petite. Me on the other hand…"

"I never got to thank you," she said quietly, changing the subject. "For saving my life twice now, so I'm not about to let him throw you out."

"Twice?" he asked with surprise. "I remember what happened in Woodbury but you'll have to refresh my memory on the other time."

"You convinced me to come with you and Daryl to Atlanta."

His eyes widened slightly with recognition. "I forgot about that," he said awkwardly. Merle was not accustomed to people feeling grateful towards him. "I hope you got some sleep last night."

"I slept better than I have in quite a while. Thank you for that, too."

There she was feeling grateful again. How was he supposed to react to that? "How are them abortion plans coming?" Her head shot up from her work in shock. "I ain't stupid, Petite. I know you ain't plannin' on goin' through with this an' thas alright by me."

"Currently, the plans aren't going too well. I only have two items needed for Herschel to safely perform the procedure and I'm running out of time."

"I'll make a run," he offered. "I'll get anythin' you need."

"You can't go out with the Governor's patrols everywhere, Merle. He'd be all too happy to get his hands on you."

Kit was just full of surprises for Merle: he wasn't used to anyone but Daryl being concerned for him. Maybe there were some perks to having a sister after all. There wasn't really much that could be said in response to such concern so Merle opted not to say anything at all and instead sit with Kit in silence for a while as she prepared the food. Before they could continue the conversation any further, Glenn stormed into the room.

"Tell Daryl he needs to stop."

Merle took this as his cue to leave and immediately fled to wherever he had been before he sought out Kit.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Glenn," she said irritably.

"Oh, please. You're both working together to make me forgive Merle. After what he did to Maggie, I refuse to forgive that fucking bastard."

Kit raised an eyebrow. "You mean what the Governor did to Maggie?"

"Merle handed her over to him."

"And what does Maggie think of your grudge? Is she grateful that you're doing this or has she personally forgiven Merle?"

Glenn looked down. "I haven't talked about it with her."

"She may not be interested in you defending her," Kit informed him. "And if we're all going to be living together, our lives would be made a lot easier if you would be willing to put the past behind you at least so that you can be cordial with Merle. After all, Rick chained Merle to a fucking roof and Merle still manages to play nice. Can't you at least do the same?"

This clearly hadn't occurred to Glenn. "I'll think about it."

She sighed in relief. "Thank you. Look, you're both important to me. You know that, right? Even if we haven't been acting much like it lately, you're still my best friend."

"I know and I'm sorry things haven't been…right between us lately."

"It's an easy enough fix."

"Look, talk to Merle, and if you can get him to give a decent apology to me and Maggie then I might consider being a little more friendly. Seems like you have him wrapped around your finger so convincing him to do that shouldn't be too hard."

Kit began looking around the prison for Merle, hoping to find him so he could make things right between him and Glenn but she couldn't find him anywhere. After a while, she began to worry because she hadn't seen Michonne anywhere, either. It was time to make sure her brother-in-law didn't fuck up big time.

"Carl!" she yelled around the prison, looking for the younger Grimes.

"What?" he finally answered, looking a bit miffed that whatever work he had been involved with was interrupted.

"I need you to open the gate so I can drive my car out of here."

"Why?"

"I'll explain later, just do it!"

Carl, unlike Rick, had begun to respect Kit since the incident when she knocked out his dad, so he nodded and said, "I'll meet you by the gate. Be fast, though."

Before too long she was driving down the road in her minivan with a pretty good idea of exactly where Merle was headed and worried sick about him. Would they both be alright when she found them? Or would one or both of them be dead? She soon found at least half an answer when she saw Michonne walking down the road.

She pulled up beside the other woman. "Where's Merle?"

"He said he had something he had to do and I have a feeling you won't like whatever it is."

"Do I follow this road?" Kit asked desperately. "I can't let him get himself killed."

Michonne nodded before saying "He isn't a really bad man and you seem decent enough. I hope you both live through this." Kit did, too.

She continued on the road until she heard some very loud music playing. Merle? Leaving the car running off the road behind some brush – in case she needed a quick getaway – Kit silently crept towards the source of the noise, though she didn't dare get too close to it. (No one would be able to hear her car running with the music playing so loudly.) From behind a small grove of trees she could see a swarm of walkers surrounding a car which was clearly the origin of the music but she couldn't find Merle anywhere. While she was scanning, she noticed a group of the Governor's henchmen approaching. Shit!

They began dispatching the walkers despite how confused they were as to how the walkers got there and Kit began to panic. There was no way she would be able to look for Merle or even begin to track him with those cronies around and even worse, she didn't even know whether or not Merle was in the immediate vicinity. That is, until she saw two of the Governor's men go down. The only tactical position in the area was an old barn-like building so Merle had to be in there. The only question was how to get there without being seen. With very few other viable ideas, Kit decided to army crawl; it was far from ideal as far as speed was concerned, but she had little choice.

When she finally made her way into the barn, she found the Governor about to bury a knife into Merle and her reflexes immediately kicked in. She pulled out one of her own knives and it buried itself into the Governor's back; the knife missed the governor's head by almost a foot but it was enough to send the man to the ground which gave Kit enough time to grab Merle's hand and book it out of there.

Thankfully, he didn't question her as she shoved him into the passenger seat of her minivan and as soon as she was in the driver's seat, she hit the gas as fast as she could. "What the fuck were you thinking?" she demanded as she looked in the rearview mirror for anyone in pursuit.

"I thought I could take out a few of their good men," he grumbled.

"And kill yourself in the process?" she hissed. "Do you have any idea what that would do to Daryl?"

"He has you an' the group. Daryl woulda been fine."

"You're his brother and he only just got you back! There's no way in hell Daryl would have been fine. We both need you to stick around."

"Ya know, Petite, I think yer the only person in the group 'sides Daryl who does want me 'round. Everyone else either looks at me like I'm the devil or jus' don' give a shit. The Asian sure don' want me 'round, 'specially after what happened with the Governor."

"If you give a good apology, Glenn might be willing to let things go. You can't just give up on the group, Merle. Believe me, I know they can be assholes sometimes – Rick especially in my opinion – but it's worth having a group nonetheless."

He gave her the most forlorn look she had ever seen adorn his face. "Not for me, sweetheart. I ain't goin' back there only ta be treated like Satan himself. Jus' drop me off anywhere an' I'll go off on my own."

She pulled off the main road onto a dirt path in the woods. "What the hell am I supposed to tell Daryl? That I just let his brother leave?"

"Tell him I knocked you out."

"Do you honestly think he'd believe that? You've never laid a hand on me."

He sighed. "I can't go back there, Petite. I can survive on my own, I promise." She felt the beginnings of tears welling up in her eyes. Despite how little time they had spent together, Merle had still treated her better than just about anyone else in the group with few exceptions. "Don't fuckin' cry," he growled uncomfortably before adding in a much softer tone, "You take care of yourself and my brother, ya hear me? Do what's best fer you two an' not what's best fer Officer Friendly."

Kit nodded before pulling her rifle out from behind her seat. "I want you to take this," she said, handing him the gun and some ammo to go with it. "Having an extra weapon never hurts. Take this knife, too." It was her extra long one that she usually used to extend the reach of her arm.

"I ain't takin' yer weapons," he said, trying to give them back.

"You can and you will," she insisted. "Besides, I expect you to give them back the next time we see each other. And we will see each other again because I still have a debt to pay you. You saved my life twice and I've only saved yours once so you better stay alive long enough for us to be even. Where will you be going, anyway?" Seeing each other again was not an incredibly likely event, she supposed, but it had happened once, so maybe it could happen again.

"There're a few places Daryl an' I used ta hunt an' I'm thinkin' I'll go there first. So, if you two decide yer sick of the Sheriff, then stop go ta one of those places an' stay there 'cause I'll be rotatin' 'tween them. I'll leave ways ta find me if things….change."

"Please be safe," she begged. He nodded before she pulled him into a hug. This time, instead of feeling incredibly uncomfortable, he just hugged her back.

"Bye, Kit."

She started as she realized that was the first time Merle had ever called her by her actual name. "Bye, Merle." Then, he stepped out of her car and disappeared into the woods.

She drove back to the prison slowly, still trying to process the fact that Merle was gone again when she saw a familiar figure standing on the side of the road so she pulled over and unlocked the door for her husband. Once he was inside the minivan, he immediately said, "Do you know tha' you scared me shitless? Merle disappears with Michonne then we can't find you anywhere…" He noticed that Merle wasn't in the car. "Where's Merle…what the hell happened?"

"He left," she said quietly. "He couldn't stand being in the prison anymore so he left."

"An' you let him?"

"It's Merle, Daryl. I barely stopped him from completing his suicide mission against the Governor. Do you really think I could have stopped him from leaving?"

"Suicide mission?"

"He led a one man attack against the Governor and took out a handful of his men. When I got there, the Governor was about to stab him so I threw one of my knives at the Governor. I'm not sure if he'll live or not because I certainly didn't stick around long enough to find out. After that, I drove away with Merle in the car and he told me he wanted to leave the group. He said he'd be hiding out around some of your old hunting areas and if we wanted to find him, all we would have to do is find one of them and stay there. I'm sorry, Daryl. I really wanted him to stay, too."

"He was always a stubborn asshole," Daryl muttered.

They were silent a long time before Daryl finally asked. "Do you think he'll be able ta survive on his own?"

She wouldn't lie to him, but the truth wasn't as bad as it could have been. "If there is someone who can survive on their own, it's Merle Dixon. Nothing can kill a Dixon except a Dixon," she said, repeating someone Daryl had said a long time ago.

"Well, we have ta stay with the group fer a little while, at the very least." That much was true.

"I know."

"Thank you fer tryin' ta convince him to stay."

"I just hope he's okay."

They both knew the Governor would soon retaliate after such an attack and they would have to warn Rick.

A/N: Hey, sorry for the long wait but with dead week and finals, there was no way I could have gotten a chapter out and it took me a handful of days to write this chapter. Hopefully you all enjoyed it and will let me know what you think about what I did with Merle. I promise I won't make you wait as long for the next chapter.