Once again, The Walking Dead isn't mine.

Thanks so much for all the reviews. I'm overwhelmed by you lovely people.

Carl opened the door to D block and entered, followed by Hershel and Beth, who was holding the baby.

"Where's Daryl?" Merle asked immediately.

"Hunting, I believe." Hershel said, taking a seat. "I saw him take off a couple of hours ago with his crossbow."

"Little brother got his panties in a bunch about something?"

Hershel paused at this. "I expect he just thought to get some food." He said. "Do you think he's upset?"

Merle shrugged. "Don't know what goes on in that sweet little head of his. What's this then?" He gestured to the others. "I ain't running a daycare."

"We brought breakfast. I needed some extra hands." Hershel admitted. "Still getting used to the crutches."

"This is new?" Merle asked, surprised. "How'd you manage that?"

"Rick chopped it off." Hershel said, enjoying the expression on Merle's face.

"Christ! This some kind of house of horrors?"

"Why does that surprise you? You lost your hand." Hershel said.

"Fuck off, you're not going to shrink my head, old man. How'd you really lose it?"

"Oh I didn't lie to you. I got bit, low on the leg. Rick didn't hesitate. He chopped off the leg and saved my life."

Merle nodded, impressed. "Takes balls." He said. "Didn't even know that was possible."

"Neither did he." Hershel remarked.

Merle sat down and started eating. Hershel nodded at Beth who took a seat next to the man, shifting the baby in her arms.

"This is my youngest daughter, Beth." Hershel said, introducing the girl. "You've already met Maggie."

"I never laid a finger on that girl." Merle declared.

"You took her." Carl said, ignoring Hershel who had held up a hand to the boy.

"Hell yeah, I took her. Glenn was going to take off without telling me where Daryl was." Merle said, unapologetic. "I know what you all think of me. I couldn't risk letting him go. What do you think the odds are, us running into each other like that? I asked nice, but he didn't want to play it that way. Too bad for Glenn."

"You could have trusted him." Carl insisted.

"Maybe you could have trusted him, son. Old Merle knows where he stands."

"So what's the plan?" Hershel asked, steering the conversation away from Glenn and Maggie.

"Supposed to take off this morning. Not sure what Daryl thinks he's doing, dragging things out."

"And then what? You can't go back to Woodbury. Where are you going to go?"

"It don't matter where we go." Merle said. "You people have been holding him back. We can just disappear into the woods and we'll do just fine."

"You won't even consider staying here? Not even for Daryl?" Hershel asked.

Merle stared at the older man as he chewed, taking his time before answering.

"And what?" He spat finally. "Stay locked up in this cage? Is that how it would work? I've done time before. Ain't doing it again. I just spent the better part of a year kissing ass and making myself useful to that lunatic. You explain to me how it'd be any different here. I ain't got time for this shit."

"Maybe it'd be different this time." Hershel suggested. "Rick wasn't in charge last time you were with the Atlanta camp, the way I understand it."

"Hell no, he wasn't. He was just some stray that runt picked up on the street. Couple hours later I'm abandoned and cutting off my own hand. Officer friendly ain't gonna sell it for me, Chief."

"I've also been given to understand that you weren't exactly sober, back there on the roof. How long have you been clean?"

Merle sat back in his chair. "Christ, don't remind me." He sighed. "The Governor was a real tight ass about that. Do you know if Daryl still has my stash?"

The baby gurgled then, distracting everyone.

"What? You think that's funny?" Merle asked, softening his voice just a fraction. "Bet you think it's hilarious that old Merle had to wander around with his hand cut off and nothing to take the edge off. Had to feel everything."

"They went back for you." Hershel said.

Merle just nodded, the fight gone out of him for the moment. "Daryl is the only one who's ever been there for me. He won't let me down."

The baby cooed again and Merle reached over and touched her cheek.

"Would you like to hold her?" Beth asked, innocently.

Merle snatched his hand back. "Can't, darlin'." He said, gesturing toward his stub.

"Of course you can." She said brightly. She shifted in her seat and held the baby out to Merle, who curled his arm to catch the tiny child who was suddenly there.

"I might drop her." Merle warned.

"I doubt that." Hershel smiled. "She's barely a handful. I think a big man like you can manage."

"This ain't gonna work, you know." Merle said, not taking his eyes off Judith. "Ain't no woman ever tied me down and I got no problem resisting this pretty face. I'm a cold son of a bitch."

"Oh, I'm convinced. Don't worry." Hershel smothered a grin.