The Walking Dead doesn't belong to me.

Carol had turned away from the scene below her. She couldn't watch anymore. She just hoped they would leave without any prolonged goodbyes. She didn't have the strength to face him again. The most she could wish for now was that he'd be gone quickly, without a fuss. She intended to remain exactly where she was until she heard the sound of his motorcycle driving away.

Carol kept her gaze out toward the perimeter, but she wasn't really seeing anything. She struggled to escape her thoughts, but there would be no relief. Perhaps she should have gone to him the night before. It's not like she had slept. But she'd known he was with Merle. And besides, if he'd wanted to see her again, he knew where to find her. And now it was too late. Everyone was gathering outside to say goodbye. She'd missed her chance to be alone with him.

She heard the door behind her opening, then and felt a surge of hope that Daryl had come up to see her one last time. She turned and was at once struck with disappointment and fear. It was Merle.

"No need to look at me like that, Sweetness. I know I'm the wrong brother." Merle smiled and continued to make his way toward her.

"How did you get out?" She asked, trying to remain calm.

"Daryl forgot to lock the door. Guess he's distracted this morning." Merle grinned.

Carol forgot her fear as anger quickly replaced it. "How can you be so cruel?" She asked. "Can't you see what he's made for himself here? What it means to him? How can you ask him to give up everything?"

"What?" Merle leaned back against the rail and stared at her. "You think anything here means as much to him as his own brother?"

"Yes!" Carol said immediately. "What kind of brother have you been to him? You share blood, but family means more than that. That's what he has here. You're taking him away from his family."

"You're just sore 'cause you're holding a torch. It was hopeless. You must have realized that. Daryl's different." Merle cast a look behind him and spat to the ground below.

"Not so different." Carol said coolly, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt.

"That so?" Merle asked. He gave her a once over and then broke out into another grin. "Forget it, sister. I know him better than you do."

"It's not just about me." Carol pushed on. All the thoughts that had been plaguing her, rushing out. "Everyone here loves Daryl. And yes, we depend on him a lot. But he needs us too."

"Oh yeah? For what?" Merle asked. He looked genuinely curious and Carol was struck dumb. What did Daryl need them for? Nothing, was the first answer that came to mind.

"What do you want?" She asked Merle. "Why did you come up here?" She wasn't going to beg him for Daryl, when clearly he had no intention of staying.

"Last chance to change your mind." Merle shrugged. "I know Daryl wants you to come with us. I know you probably don't want to go anywhere with me. But I don't bite, I swear. I wouldn't lay a finger on any woman that belonged to my brother. I don't have any issue with you. You weren't on that rooftop. As far as I know, your only crime was staying with that prick of a husband of yours for so long."

"What?" Carol was speechless for the second time in as many minutes.

"You think I don't care about Daryl? That I'm some kind of monster? I love my baby brother." Merle said. "I want him to be happy. Of course I do. And if you're the ticket, then you should come along."

"I'm not going anywhere with you." Carol insisted, wide-eyed.

"Why not?" Merle asked. "You love him. None of these babies are yours. You got no strings here."

"Didn't you hear me when I said we are a family?" Carol asked. "Those kids are as good as mine. And Hershel and Glenn and Maggie and Rick. They're all mine. Daryl too. I've lost too many people to turn my back on anyone now."

"You're just gonna let him go?" Merle asked.

"It's his choice." Carol said firmly.

Merle glanced down at the yard again for a moment. "Well, Hell, it ain't nothing to me." He said finally.

"It should be." Carol said. "Rick would never force Daryl to make a choice like this. He loves him like a brother should."

"You don't know nothin' about me and Daryl."

"I know that you need him." Carol said. "You need him. You don't have anything else. Daryl is the only one who cares about you. You need him more than I do. So take him."

Merle's smile turned ugly and he took a step toward her. "I don't need your permission, Sweetheart. Like you said, Daryl's already made his choice."

"Then what are you doing here, asking me to tag along?" Carol asked, boldly. "You feel guilty. You know he's just coming out of obligation. What does he owe you, exactly, that he's willing to hand over his whole life to you?"

"I don't expect you to understand." Merle said, his voice steady and low. He was hovering over her now. She could feel his breath hit her face. "You judging me? That's a laugh. What would have happened to your little girl if her daddy hadn't got bit? How long do you think you could have kept her at arm's length? Women. You're either whores or doormats."

Carol stared back at him but remained silent. He couldn't say anything to her about Sophia that she hadn't already said to herself. She'd obviously hit a nerve. She'd hurt him and he was trying to hurt her back.

They both jumped and turned at the sudden sound of a sword being unsheathed.

"Stand back." Michonne commanded.

Merle raised his hands up but didn't move away from Carol.

"Hold up there a second, Michonne." Merle said, his tone friendly again. "Carol and I were just having a chat."

The woman's eyes didn't move from Merle as he started to move around. "I get that you're pissed about what happened. It was a lucky shot. Christ, you were trying to kill me too. Now that we're away from the Governor, why don't we call it even? Clean slate."

"Move." Michonne commanded and Carol realized what she wanted to do.

"He's not armed." Carol pointed out. "You can't just kill him."

"Move." The woman repeated.

"Best stand back." Merle said then, taking Carol's arm and pulling her behind him.

"Merle isn't worth it." Carol tried, knowing how it would hurt Daryl to lose Merle now.

"I don't know why you defend him." Michonne said. "It's obvious his brother was better off without him."

"Well Daryl wouldn't appreciate you making that decision for him. And no one will appreciate you killing one of our own."

"This man?" Michonne looked skeptical.

"Yes. He's a part of this group." Carol insisted. "You need to back off." Carol stepped in front of Merle then, pointing her gun at Michonne.

Michonne looked annoyed, but lowered her weapon. "I heard what he said to you."

"Yes, well, sometimes that's how it is with family. His bark is bigger than his bite."

Merle was about to respond when Michonne held up her hand. "Wait. What is that sound?"

Carol listened, her heart filling with dread. "I know that sound." She said. Her eyes scanned the perimeter. "Herd."