AN: Sorry, I know it's a short chapter but I wanted to get something out sooner than later and this seemed a good place to stop. I hope it lives up to everyones standards, this is my first ever fanfiction so please let me know, I'm open to and can handle criticism so bring it on! :) Also, I apologize if there's any confusion with transitions within a chapter, this shouldn't be a problem in this one but in the first chapter I had a couple breaks I'd put in that didn't carry over. All I have to upload with right now is notepad (yuck) so please bear with me on that. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I forgot to put a disclaimer on the first chapter but I don't own TWD or its characters in anyway shape or form; this will be the only time I'm stating so because I think that's fairly obvious.
Daryl lowered the crossbow but continued to stare, speechless. One half of him was overjoyed; his brother was alive! The other half couldn't believe it; there was no way this was real, he must be dehydrated and hallucinating.
"Well if it isn't little brother," Merle laughed, "you look like you done seen a ghost."
"I thought you were dead," Daryl said quietly, still rooted to the spot, still not quite believing his eyes. Was he dreaming? That laugh certainly sounded like Merle and he was missing his right hand. But these were things that his own mind could easily concoct. Merle began to approach him and he actually found himself taking a few steps back.
"What the hell! You scared of your own brother Daryl?" Merle snapped at him, "You damn fool, prolly really do think I'm a ghost, fucking pussy! Always was a pussy! I oughta whip the shit out of you for being so damn stupid; you know I could do it too, one handed or not you fucking jackass!"
Seemingly out of nowhere, Daryl started cracking up. "You always was one to get worked into a rage Merle!" he sent his brother a grin before closing the distance between them and giving the other man a hug, "I can't believe you're alive you crazy son of a bitch!"
For a moment Merle returned the hug before shoving his brother off, "Alright, alright that's enough." Daryl looked his brother in the eye, "You know we went back for you, but it was too late, you were already gone."
"Of course I was fucking gone! Those dick bumps left me to boil in the fucking sun and dangling from a goddamn pipe as walker food! How the hell was I supposed to know ya'll would come back anyway?" Daryl couldn't quite place the glint in his brother's eyes, it was almost maniacal, but not quite; all the same it set him on edge.
"You think I would've just left you there? You know better than that Merle! As soon as I found out I was setting out to go get you, I can't believe you'd think any less of me," he scowled at his brother, "I'm sorry that shit happened to you but it's not like you gave them much choice did you? Things ain't the way they used to be, we can't afford not to work together anymore; the world's gone to shit, you've gotta learn to get along with people Merle."
He expected Merle to go off on him for that statement, to bash his face in or something; the last thing he expected was for Merle to sling his right arm over his shoulders and give him a bit of a squeeze, "You know, I guess you're probably right Daryl," when all he got in response was a dubious look he continued, "Really, I mean it. I've had a lot of time to think since then and I did bring it on myself back in Atlanta; I was acting a fool and we were already in deep enough shit, didn't need me making matters worse."
Handless arm still draped over his shoulders, Daryl was still a bit skeptical. This wasn't like Merle at all, could he really have had a change of heart? "Really Merle? You're gonna let it go? Try to get along with the others?"
The next thing he knew his brothers arm was squeezing painfully on his windpipe, effectively cutting his air supply in half, then there was the unmistakable feel of a gun barrel pressed harshly against his left temple, "No, I ain't gonna let it go!" Merle's voice hissed in his ear, "Now drop the fucking crossbow!"