Chapter 7

May woke up with a start, realizing she should have been up fifteen minutes' prior. She bolted for the boy's room, but heard them downstairs laughing. She made sure her nightgown wasn't riding up, then headed downstairs. The boys were dressed, sitting at the table eating pancakes, being rowdy.

Hap started shouting when he saw her. "Mama! Daryl made pancakes! Yours are on the counter."

"Can we have lunch money today?" Alfie piped up; "Its pizza day, and..."

She sat and ate with them for a moment, before getting herself dressed and getting the boys off to school. When she got back, Daryl was in the same spot, straddling his chair backwards at the table. She sat down across from him with her coffee. "So," she said firmly; "how would you feel about going to see Merle today?"

His arms wrapped around the back of the chair, hand covering part of his face. "Alright, I suppose."

She ran her fingers up and down her neck, her eyes boring into him. "Something's up your ass. I can tell." He kept drinking his coffee, not looking at her. "Thank you, by the way. For this morning. You took care of them like a champ."

"Was'nt nuthin."

"No, it's something. Nobody knows better than I do how they can be, and that was the best morning we've had in a long time." She paused and took a drink. "You worried about what he's going to say?"

"Merle?" He made a sad little chuckle. "I'm always worried about what gunna come outa his mouth. He runs his trap like his life depends on it. And now he's gunna be gone- for fifteen fucking years."

She stood up, came around the table, and ran a hand down the back of his hair. "Oh sugar. If I could wave a magic wand and fix it all I would. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"

He swiveled in the chair until he faced her, his fingers fidgeting together and his hair covering his eyes. She brought one hand up, brushing it to the side, and he smiled and looked away. 'He's like an old stray alley cat that I just want to pick up and squeeze the shit out of but I can't because he'll scratch and bolt.' She thought with a little giggle.

"Why you always laughen at me?" His tone was light, but a little searching.

"Oh sugar, I am definitely not laughing at you." Her voice got a little softer and a little deeper. "I was just thinking 'bout how handsome you are and it made me light headed."

He laughed; "I been accused of a lot of things in my life, but I ain't never been called that."

"Well ain't I the lucky one then? To be the only woman in the state Georgia with the ability to see straight."

"Are you hittin on me?"

"Baby, if I hit on you any harder you'd be unconscious." They both laughed at that, and she took the momentum to move in even closer to him. She got one leg on either side of his hips, moved his hands, and sat her ass down on the chair between his legs. "That ok?" He nodded, wrapping his hands loosely around her back. "Because I don't want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable..."

"No! I mean yeah. Whatever you want to do, I do too." She rested her forearms on his shoulders, and played with the short little hairs on the back of his neck. He shook his head. "I just don't- I just don't get it."

She slid her palms under his jaw and pushed his face up to look at her. "You're a good guy, with a handsome face, who I can rely on. That's kind of a rare combination." He laughed, looking down and away from her. "What? You think I'm corny?"

"Naw, it's just..." he licked his lips and whispered; "...you scare the shit outta me."

She leaned over and kissed him, and this time he kissed her back. It felt like it had been forever to get here, to get something as small as a gentle kiss or a soft touch. But she knew it was worth it, pulling him out of his shell slowly, like a wild bird eating out of her hand. His fingers were resting on her hips, picking nervously at the seam of her pants. She ran her nails through his hair, willing him not to stop. They stayed that way for a minute, clinging to one another, until he pulled away. "If ya still want to go to the jail, we gotta go."

She moaned dramatically; "Oh my god Daryl, you're killing me here." She stood, and ran her hands over his broad shoulders. "But you're right. Besides, what would you think of me if I put out after only one date?"

"That I'ma lucky son of a bitch." He mumbled under his breath.

She giggled and hugged him, his face pressing into her breasts. "Damn it Daryl, where have you been all my life?" He was pretty sure he had never been as happy in that one moment, then he had been in his whole miserable existence. She leaned in and kissed the top of his head. "Come on tiger, let's go and visit your brother."

An hour later they were sitting in the car, looking at the county jail house from its parking lot. Daryl wasn't happy to be going in, but May looked white as a sheet.

"You alright?" He looked at her from the driver's seat, his eyes working her over.

"Yeah. Just not my favorite place. Just the idea of being in there with all those bars- it makes my skin itch. Doesn't it to you?"

"Not no more. Just somethin' I got to do."

She ran her hands over her arms, despite the warmth of the day. "Well just looking at it makes me want to run the other way."

"Best get it over with then. Come on."

They had made it to the front door of the jail when May uttered a little 'shit' under her breath, and broke away to speak to a woman who was walking out. Daryl smoked a cigarette while he waited for her, watching the other woman give him little looks while they spoke. Finally, the other woman turned to leave and May rolled her eyes at him.

"What the fuck was that?" He barked, holding the door open for her.

"Jana, from the HR department. Has her head up everybody's ass."

"Huh. What'd she want?"

"To know if you were my new boyfriend." Daryl was left to ponder what that meant, as they were going into the security area. They got through with no issue, and were led to a room with a partition between the prisoners and their guests with dirty phones to speak through. They sat for several minutes while Merle was being brought down, Daryl a nail chewing mess. She leaned over, giving him the slightest squeeze on the knee that wasn't bouncing, and a small smile.

Merle was finally led in, orange jump suit and cuffs on. Him and Daryl picked up the line, but May didn't, letting Daryl call the shots as to how their discourse continued. But it was only a few seconds before Merle was knocking on the glass, gesturing for her to pick up the other receiver.

"Why hello Merle;" she purred, "you're looking well."

"And you're looking as fuck-able as I remember Marion. Or is it May? I'ma go with May since it's what my little brother here calls you." She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh Darlina comes in here all the goddamn time, runin his mouth..."

"Damn it Merle what's your problem? We got serious shit to talk about." Daryl cut him off, clearly starting to lose his temper. Not that it made any difference to Merle.

"Now I tell you what, if you're a good girl- put money on my books, write me while I'm away, and send me naked pictures of yourself, I might just..."

She laughed, trying to interrupt his tirade. "I'm sorry Merle, but I'm already sweet on your brother."

"What? Him? He doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground, much less what to do with a fine piece of pussy like you."

Suddenly Daryl's fist came crashing into the partition in front of Merle's face. "I said to cut it the fuck out!" The guard shook his head, clearly not amused at the little outburst. May waived at the guard and he nodded. She pulled the phone away from her face and spoke to Daryl.

"Hey. You want me to go?"

"No, just... You know he's just going to get worse, right?"

Merle started tapping at the glass, getting a little annoyed at not being the center of attention. "Here, let me fix it. I think I have an idea." He looked at her askance. "You can get mad at me later if you want."

"May..." his tone was a little threatening, but it didn't stop her from picking the phone back up and turning to Merle with a smile.

"You know I like visiting you Merle, but I'm a little surprised at you- hitting on your own brother's girl like this."

Merle let out a deep laugh. "You and him? Fuck off. Daryl hasn't had a girlfriend since he was 23 years old."

"What do you want for proof? To just blow him here in the booth? Would that convince you?"

"Baby, I would pay to watch you lick a drain pipe. But it would take a lot more than a BJ to convince me. For starters, Daryl couldn't talk to a girl if his life depended on it."

She looked over at Daryl, hunched over and completely humiliated. He looked deflated, like every word Merle said took a little more out of him. "Merle, you can call me whatever names you want to. I doubt you have anything in your repertoire that I haven't heard before. But I'm going to ask that you refrain from shitting of Daryl while I'm around. Or so help me, I will be standing at those prison gates when you get out, and the very first moment of your freedom will be my shoe going straight up into your balls."

Daryl turned to her, barking; "Hey! What the hell?"

Merle, however, was laughing his ass off. "Goddamn it girl. If you weren't my brother's old lady I would tear you up." He smacked his lips. "Darlina aint gunna know what to do with you. You sure you don' wanna wait for ol' Merle?"

"You know I love you Merle, but I wouldn't fuck you if my pussy was on fire and your dick was made of ice."

Daryl pointed a finger at May. "That's enough. You know we ain't got all day." She laughed and raised her hand in surrender and let him talk. "Merle yur' boys came by, looking for their deer meat. From your last hunting trip. And their causin' me all kinds a' problems."

Merle had been laughing but he sobered up quickly. "You need me to wipe your ass for ya too little brother? You can't handle a few rough necks?"

"It's your goddamn fault Merle! Talk to your friends in there! Figure this the fuck out!"

"There ain't nuthin' to figure out." He ran a hand over his neck. "I ate it."

"All of it? Are you fucking kidding me right now? What the fuck?"

"Aright, settle down little brother. I got about a fourth left in the freezer. But yeah, the rest is gone." Daryl gave his brother a glare through the glass and Merle shrugged.

"I got bored."

Daryl dropped his phone back on the cradle, and rested his face in his hand. He felt so hopeless that he wasn't even sure that he could get back up out of his chair, much less save his- whatever she was to him. He heard May clear her throat next to him and address Merle.

"Merle? How about this. You tell your friends that you were selling it, but you were waiting for payment from the guy you gave it to. Ask for a couple of weeks for your guy to have the money. Can you do that?"

"May," Daryl grabbed her arm a little roughly. "What the fuck are you playin at here."

"It's a hell of a lot easier to come up with money then that much deer meat." She growled through clenched teeth. Daryl picked the phone back up to hear Merle's reply.

"What's in it for me honey?" Merle offered back, a little sarcastically.

"For me taking care of the issue that you caused? Well there's always the health issue. I would hate for all the stress to cause you any... stabbing pains."

Merle looked at her through lidded eyes. "You ain't the little suburban house wifey I thought you were, are you honey?"

She ignored him. "You're gunna owe me a favor Merle. But I'm gunna keep you alive. Maybe even get you probation. We got a deal?"

"Why you gunna help old Merle? You really that sweet on my baby brother?"

"Apparently. Because otherwise I just would have called the cops and had your asshole friends arrested. But I think I have something worked out in my head. That will benefit us all."

"Alright, alright. Sure you do sweetheart. I'm sure you'll talk my lawyers' ear off about it. Now why don't you go wait outside while us men have a little chit chat. Go on now. Shake yur perky lil' ass outa here."

She got up and rolled her eyes as she left, trying not to ruminate on the fact that both men were probably watching her walk away. When she was gone, then Merle addressed his brother. "So, you really think she has a plan?"

"She's smart Merle. Crazy smart. And she ain't just some middle class bitch, she grew up like us."

"Like us huh?" He licked his lips, looking at the door she just passed through. "Well she's a long way from there now. And here we are still here. She may have been redneck before, but she's doin' pretty well now."

"No, man. You don't know her..."

"You gettin' soft on me boy? You gunna let a piece of pussy drag you around? You carry her purse too?"

"Shut the fuck up man, you don't know shit. I ain't some pussy whupped asshole."

"That's good to hear little brother. Because a woman like that, with a little bit of money, can be real good for us Dixons. Real good. You fuck her yet?"

"Fuck off man."

"A woman like that has a libido like a cat in heat. You can tell by the way she walks." He licked his lips again. "A woman like that needs a firm hand, someone to show her who's boss. You sure you gunna be able to handle that? After 24 years of sluts, whores, and ur old right hand?"

"Will you just focus on your own problems? Like those Savage Son mother fuckers who want to fuck you up?"

"I would much rather focus on your new little girlfriend there Darlina."

"Are you gunna do as she asked? Tell um someone else has their stuff?"

"Yeah I guess. It's as good a plan as any. Hey, you got any cash on ya?"

"Yeah, I got twenty bucks I'll put on your books before I leave."

"That a boy. Hey, you gunna come to my hearing?"

"I suppose." He mumbled, sounding downtrodden.

"Oh, don't be sad for old Merle. I'll be out before you know it. And you'll come up and see me at the prison now, wont ya?"

"Yeah."

"Alright then, off you go. Oh, and make sure and give your girl a picture of me to look at when you fuck her. We want her to have a good time, right?" Merle grinned as Daryl slammed down the phone and flipped him the bird.

They were back out in the car when he finally asked her what the plan was. She was a little cagey, fearing that he wouldn't want to take so many risks, and she told him so. She gently took his hand as she spoke. "I trust you Daryl. I've let you into my home, my family." He nodded, other hand over his face. "So just trust me a little with this. I know how much that old sack of dicks means to you. That's kin, that's blood. Let me just talk to some people, see what they say. Alright?"

"Alright." He nodded, as she gently worked her fingers over his.

"Hey, after all this is over we should go somewhere. Somewhere in the Caribbean, with nothing but a shack, a beach, and a boat to fish in."

"That'd be nice." His free hand now picking nervously at the steering wheel cover. "Ya know, I ain't never left Georgia."

"Really?" He looked at her with those eyes, always ready for a fight or a heartbreak. She reached up and brushed his hair behind his ear. "Well then you are in for the experience of a lifetime. Soft white sand, warm water, cold beer, a little white bikini..." she smiled and batted her eyelashes. "And two screaming little boys who just want to set everything on fire that they can get their sticky little goddamn hands on. You will LOVE it."

He laughed and let go of her hand to start the car. 'Sounds like heaven to me.' He thought, squirreling away the fantasy for later; like a child with Halloween candy, hoping to make it last forever.

"Where to then?" he asked, pulling out of the parking lot.

"The public defender's office." She let out a deep sigh, and looked out the window, quiet for the rest of the drive.

She got the attorney's contact information from public defender's office, then went and visited them as well. Daryl sat in the car, waiting for her for almost an hour. When she came out she looked worn out and pissed. She got in the car, reclined the seat a little, and let out a deep sigh. "I hate lawyers Daryl. The whole flippin' bunch. All the fuckin' double talk and the argh..." She rubbed her eyes and sighed again.

He whispered, tentative. "How'd it go?"

"He'll put some gears in motion. Or I'll come back and ride his ass like hound on a fox."

"You ain't got to do this May. I don't know what you're thinkin' but just go to the cops, turn those other assholes in. Merle an' me, we'll find a way around this."

"No. I've never backed down from a fight and I'm not gunna start now." She patted him on the thigh. "Come on baby, let's go home." He gave her one of his shaky nods and they headed back to the house. He spent the rest of the day outside on the roof repairing shingles before the next big storm. While alone with his thoughts he pounded out a plan of his own. Whatever May was up to she wasn't sharing all the details, but she did admit it involved law enforcement- which he didn't like at all. And neither would Merle. This, he thought, he could do for her; fix this mess and let her get on with her life. Late afternoon came by the time he was done, and when he came inside the house he noticed the lights had come back on. It was time to act on his plan.

He told May he would be gone for a few days out hunting wild Turkey for the end of the season, but would be back for Merle's hearing. She seemed a little disappointed at the news, and he felt bad for the little twinge of happiness it gave him. He wanted to kiss her, to feel her face buried in his chest, his arms around her; but he did know to move into it. It was like watching a trapeze act and understanding what was happening, but being fairly confident you could never reach that level of competency. She approached him before he could ruminate on it any longer, taking one of his hands in hers, giving him a little kiss between the knuckles. It felt so intimate that he had to look away.

"I'll miss you while you're gone. Take care, alright?" She was using her deep throaty voice on him, the one that gave him the shivers. He got a nod out, and quick as a flash, put his hand behind her neck and gave her a quick kiss.

"I'll be back soon." He whispered, bolting for the door before his heart actually beat right out of his chest.

May felt a little heart broken, and more than a little confused about why turkey hunting was so important right at this very moment, but still resigned to helping Merle. After all, she had given her word. The hearing was for Wednesday, and she would need too light a fire under several asses to get the work done in time.