AN: After much delay and waiting, here it is! The next chapter. Well, enjoy! :)
Daryl was shoving the squirrel meat he grilled that afternoon into his mouth when he heard the front door open. Normally, he would be up and about, his crossbow at his shoulders and checking on it.
But sadly, Daryl didn't give a crap about precaution now – not with the sounds of torture from his unsatisfied belly. He was more concerned at the overwhelming threat that starvation was posing to him
Eating was now his priority.
Besides, he thought at the very least it would just be his brother. Going outside, taking an afternoon stroll – whatever that was. There was also the thing that nobody dared fool with them in this neighborhood. No one would even step a foot in their yard.
"Merle?!" He yelled, his mouth full of food that he nearly choked.
No answer came.
Daryl shrugged, solidly convinced that Merle took off on his own again. At that thought, he visibly flinched. "No more of that."
Daryl hastily wiped his mouth of any grease then stood to follow his brother.
When he rounded the corner out of the kitchen, a hand rested at his chest stopping him.
Daryl's eyes trailed from the hand and to the face that owned it. He looked past the man in front of him and saw his brother sleeping on the couch, drunk.
Daryl groaned, but stepped back into the kitchen once again.
"Afternoon, Daryl."
"Rick." It was short but held all the questions Daryl wanted to ask.
It had been five days exactly since he last saw Rick Grimes, which was when they were searching for Merle and they had escaped. The two officers had stopped following them when it was confirmed that the Dixons weren't causing any real harm.
So it brought to the surface, why was he here in Daryl's home prancing around like he owned the place?
"Momma never teach ya' to knock? This is trespassin', ya know." He spat out.
Rick gave him a laugh, and then pointed his thumb to the living room.
"Sorry, door was unlocked."
"Yea, it's still trespassin'. " Daryl groaned, he knew why the man was here. There was always just one reason. "What'd Merle do now, huh Officer?"
Rick shook his head, smirk played on his lips. "He ain't the one catching squirrels at the local park, Daryl."
"You're shittin' me…" Daryl eyed the cop. "That's what this shit is all 'bout?"
Rick laughed, leaning towards the counter for support. "That was true? Shane wasn't bluffing after all, huh. But you know, that's not really it. Why don't we go to the living room and have our little talk there?"
Without waiting for a response, Rick trudged towards the small room up by the front. It somehow annoyed Daryl how at home the cop felt, this was their turf yet Rick Grimes was acting like it was a local bar where waitresses gave smiles and free cookies.
He followed though.
Rick Grimes stood leaning on the wall beside the couch his brother was dozing off on, while Daryl stood opposite of him.
"The blonde girl, few nights ago. I think if I'm right, her name was Beth."
Daryl felt his blood ran cold and glared at Rick dead in the eye. He could never get off his head how that blonde girl looked at him. All frightened, fearful – like he was out to hurt her.
The simple mention of her was enough for Daryl to raise his guard.
His brother nearly harmed that chick; yeah Daryl did right by her but still… He didn't really think she'd let them past so easily. She seemed like someone who went to church on Sundays, wore flower dresses and probably memorized what was legal and illegal.
"What's with her?" He said warily.
Rick shrugged. "She got home safe. Thought I'd let you know, since you helped her and all."
"That it?"
Rick hummed a response.
Daryl glared at Rick. For a moment, he thought wholeheartedly that she might have sued them. He didn't care if she got home safe or whatever. That didn't concern them.
He knew for a fact – he wasn't stupid so he knew – that was not the reason why Rick was here. Daryl couldn't help feel offended that the police officer thought lowly on him – that he wasn't keen or smart enough to catch up on that something wasn't right.
The officer was either fooling around with him, testing his patience or he was beating around the bush.
Either way, Daryl didn't like it one bit.
"Don't care 'bout some dumb blonde! Ya know what I'd like to know?" He jabbed a finger at Rick's chest. "Why are ya really here?"
"Alright, calm down." Rick studied him, pushing Daryl's offending finger from his chest. "You really have no idea?"
"Of what?!"
Rick tore his gaze from Daryl's heated ones and opened the barely used television.
He flipped it towards the news channel and put it on full volume.
Daryl only raised his eyebrows at confusion. "What is this?"
Some news reporter was announcing that a notorious gang of long-wanted criminals, drug-dealers and terrorists were now identified – in which five of them were arrested and imprisoned.
It said that the leader and five more were still on the loose and wanted by the FBI.
"Perfect timing." Rick commented.
Daryl scowled. He didn't find any significance in this. Was this what he wanted to discuss? Criminals on the run? Daryl was waiting for the favor to come out of Rick's mouth, or the preaching of the good and evil – that shit.
"I ain't known any of those guys, if that's what ya'll askin'. So if ya done wastin' my afternoon, I've got some dinner to-"
"You sure you don't know any of them?"
Daryl stopped in his step and looked back towards Rick, who held the most unusual look he'd ever seen.
"Just watch, Daryl."
The announcer started to name the 6 more criminals on the loose – above the name was a picture. One by one, and then Daryl saw it.
He suddenly felt all the air suck right out of him.
"What the…."
Then there was silence. Daryl could not – no – he refused to believe his eyes. For right there on the screen, the familiar face of his brother was smirking right at his face.
Merle Dixon was wanted. Not just by any people, but by a whole organization.
Daryl didn't talk for a long while, processing how on earth it had happened. A year they were together and nothing as suspicious as Merle being part of something notorious ever came by.
Did it just pass under his nose?
You'd think Daryl of all people would've known if his brother was a full-fledged criminal.
And then he realized why Rick Grimes was here. There was no time to escape. He was a good man, Rick – he would never break the law.
Or so Daryl thought.
"I'm not here to arrest him though," Rick said.
Daryl looked at him, but said nothing.
"I'm risking my profession… but I'm giving you a chance." Rick went to the window, ignoring the untrusting look Daryl gave him.
"What are you talkin' 'bout?"
"The police will be here tonight. So you better move on, now. You can't go out of town though; they've become pretty strict in letting people out. They demand identifications – that's a sure way to get caught so don't even attempt."
Daryl blinked.
"But there are plenty of places to hide here in the city. That's what you need to do Daryl. Hide your brother, stay low. His face is practically everywhere, if someone recognizes him – they'll turn him in. Do you get me?"
"Wait…Ya helpin' us?"
Rick smiled. "Like I said, I'm givin' you a chance. You need to start scraping of this road you built for yourselves and start paving a new one. I believe you're a good man, Daryl. Your brother though? Not so much."
"I'm going now. You should too. And Daryl?" He paused, catching the younger Dixon's attention. "I was never here."
Before Daryl could respond, he was out the door and gone.
For a moment he just stood there, at a lost on what to do. There was only so much he could process. Rick calling him a good man shook him to his core the most. Daryl had been called a lot of things but never good.
Perhaps it was a momentary lapse of judgment for Rick. Undoubtedly, he would regret it later on. But now, Daryl couldn't help but feel unbelievably lucky for getting on the Officer's good side.
He started to turn information over in his head. Where would they hide? They knew a lot of people but not so many that could be trusted.
Then he turned to his brother, and the rage that was set aside from his confusion ignited once more.
He stomped towards Merle, grabbed him by the collar and shook him awake.
"What the… Fuck ya brotha, was sleepin' tight here!"
Daryl slammed him on the wall. His brother's eyes shot open and now that he could see the anger in Daryl's face, he frowned as well.
"Merle? Ya wanna tell me somethin'?"
Merle only returned his glare. "Nah I don't. If ya wanted a chit-chat partner, ya should'a gone to a parlor! I ain't no mood, Darylina. I've got this shit-crap hangov-"
"Ya wanted by the FBI, Merle. Now, ya wanna chat 'bout that?"
Merle's eyes widened. He grasped his brother's hands at his collar and aggressively pried him off. "I ain't known what ya talkin' 'bout!"
"It's on the news! Why was your face in the fuckin' television?!"
"I don't know shit, I ain't join any American Idol so-"
Daryl punched him in the face. He turned his brother's head towards the television that was once again replaying the news earlier that afternoon.
As Merle watched, his face grew angrier.
"I left 'em! I left that fuckin' group a year ago, b'fore I met up with ya 'again. Can't believe they're draggin' me back into this."
Daryl closed his eyes, breathing heavily. It infuriated him that his brother never even had the courtesy to tell him this. It was like, he had nothing to do with any of it and now it's biting him hard on the butt.
Of course it wasn't that hard to believe that Merle was involved in this. But he never thought of something as big as being wanted in the whole country.
It was a load of horse crap.
"Good thing we were warned! Or ya would've been rottin' tha' ass of yours in jail for the rest of your sorry life!"
Daryl shoved his brother away.
Merle started to babble about things as Daryl walked out of the room and into their closet. He couldn't even begin to understand what his brother was yapping about now; frankly he didn't really care.
Escaping was now his priority.
Merle would come or not but Daryl was sure as hell not gonna burn his ass in a freakin' jail cell.
...
"Stay here. I'm gonna check this out." Daryl warned his brother as he slammed the door of their pick-up shut.
They were in the part of the city that was mostly under-development. Houses were still being made; some were done and already inhabited while some still had the 'For Sale' sign on their yard.
The subdivision was well-done – soon lots of people would be taking interest in it.
At the very most, it seemed like this was the less populated part of the city – for the time being - but at the same time the last place anyone would've thought a criminal would hide in.
It was too friendly, too much greenery and trees. Too much light for Merle's liking.
But alas, Daryl thought they could take refuge in one of 'em uninhabited houses for the night and then when morning comes – they'll leave and find some other place.
Merle couldn't give a damn. They could bunker into a sewer for all he cared.
Yeah being wanted was anxiety-making but it wasn't like they'd be caught anytime soon. Police here were shit.
Though it annoyed him to a great extent that he wouldn't be able to hang out now. He'd have to stick his face in shadows and dark places. His freedom was worth more than any cheap prostitutes or drugs.
But then again, Merle thought those things were what made him free.
If he knew that group was gonna get caught and he'd be dragged, he shouldn't have left in the first place. He made good bucks in there. He should've continued until they were caught.
He'd be in jail yeah, but he'd be a rich man in jail.
It made a difference.
"We can stay there," Daryl said, approaching their vehicle. Merle could see he was pointing towards a house – that was for sale obviously.
He stepped out of the truck and grabbed his duffle bag, slinging it to his shoulder.
"Gonna hide this junk by the park. Jus' go there, Merle." Daryl referred to their pick-up truck and drove away once he climbed in.
Merle walked by the sidewalk, looking towards the house that Daryl picked. It was one of the newly made. Some parts were still unpainted.
He could already feel his back hurt. They weren't gonna be any mattresses in there. Why couldn't they just like hijack a house?
"Oh right. 'Cause Darylina is such a pussy." He snickered to himself.
Across the street was a house that was as identical, only it was done and inhabited. A girl stood at the yard, a hose in hand and watering some flowers.
It was an itchy feeling Merle felt – like he knew the kid. Then she turned to his direction and Merle could feel the smirk on his lips when he recognized who she was.
Blonde, all creamy skin and Merle could never forget that fragile figure of hers. No doubt, it was that girl a few nights ago.
That kind of beauty was hard to overlook.
He was so sure of it. And suddenly, like the smart-ass he was, he had a plan.
When the blonde girl turned around, her back facing to him, Merle found his chance. He quietly strolled to her until he was just a meter.
She was humming a tune, happily working away her gardening. Merle had to fight off a bark of laughter. She wasn't gonna know what hit her.
This girl right here was a gift from heaven to ole' Merle. No hard cold grounds for him tonight. Daryl was just gonna have to live with how Merle dealt with things – he was gonna thank him later for this anyway.
The girl then turned around, oblivious to the man behind her. She yelped in surprise and when she saw who it was, she froze.
Merle could see the surprise, recognition, fear and panic swirling in her expressions for no more than a second. He flashed her the most intimidating grin he could muster and looked straight into her blue eyes.
"Well well well. Hello there, Angelface. Ya miss 'ole Merle, didn't ya?"
The garden hose landed on the grass.
AN: So there you have it. It's shorter you know, but I just got the feeling that I needed to cut it there. The exciting stuff, is next chapter! Bethyl gets to meet properly, well maybe not so proper but well, as proper as you can get. What does that even mean? Anyway again, I wanted to thank everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed. Like I got 38 followers for this now? I'm ecstatic! I can't thank enough. I'll be updating, maybe next week if the schedule fits. It's currently summer here now and damn it's really hot - so headaches everywhere.
Anyway, let me know what you guys honestly think - I'll accept anything (questions, suggestions, comments, criticism) so yeah, just throw them at me. Again, review if you can. It makes the author very happy and inspired.
xx Spritelight