Disclaimer :- I don't own anything except Cassie and as usual I am playing with the timelines and plot of the show.

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Chapter 8

Cassie was waiting anxiously with Maggie, Glenn and the others. Rick, Daryl and Herschel had gone to a meeting with the Governor, a madman who had already attacked the prison once. Merle had been part of the Governors' team until he had taken Maggie and Glenn, beating Glenn badly and giving Maggie to the Governor. They had been rescued just in time but Daryl had been captured and the Governor had pitted him and Merle against each other in an arena in his town of Woodbury, forcing them into a fight to the death situation. It was only the timely arrival of Rick and Maggie that had prevented it from becoming far more serious. At first Merle wasn't welcome at the prison but people were now starting to accept his presence even if they didn't like him.

Now he was sitting with Michonne and Carol, telling them how he should go and kill the Governor. He said it would be easy as they knew exactly where he was and he wouldn't have as many guards around him. Eventually he was talked down when he realised that Daryl could be caught in the cross fire of any attack.

Finally the three men returned, stern faced and quiet. Once everyone was gathered together Rick told them the Governor wanted the prison and was prepared to take it by force. The only choices they had were to run while they still could or prepare to fight. Nobody wanted to leave; they had worked too hard to make it theirs. They decided to stay and fight.

"We need to prepare, we're going to war" Rick stated grimly.

Later Cassie found Daryl tinkering with his motorbike. His face was drawn and she could see he wasn't happy about something.

"What's wrong?" she asked, startling him. He'd been so deep in thought he hadn't heard her approach.

He shrugged, not facing her "Rick had to make a decision that's not right but we aint got a choice" he told her, but would say no more. She left him absently cleaning the bike's engine and went to help Carol in the kitchen. When they all gathered for the evening meal she noticed that Merle was quieter than usual and kept shooting glances at Michonne.

The next morning she woke early and couldn't get back to sleep so she slipped out of bed and dressed before going outside. Movement caught her eye and she saw Merle leading a bound Michonne through a gap in the fence. He was holding her katana and pulling her along with a long length of wire. Cassie waited until they were out of sight then slipped through the fence, following them at a distance. She followed until they stopped at a roadside bar. Merle tied the wire holding Michonne around a post and opened the door on a car parked on the road. He started to hotwire it but accidently set the alarm off. Several walkers started heading towards the loud noise.

Michonne yelled for him as a walker approached her, when he didn't hear she managed to wrap the wire holding her around its neck and pull it back against the post, decapitating it. She turned to see another reaching for her but could do nothing about it. Its grasping hands had almost reached her when it dropped to the ground. Cassie was behind it, her knife in her hands. Michonne nodded her thanks.

"The hell you doin' here girl?" Merle bellowed as he finally stepped away from the car, seeing her and the downed walkers. "You tryin' to get my brother to kill me?"

"You're taking her to this Governor aren't you?" Cassie demanded. Merle didn't answer, his expression said it all.

"You can't just hand her over, even you know how wrong that is" Cassie had heard enough about the Governor to know what sort of man he was and what would happen to Michonne if he got his hands on her.

"He says he'll leave the prison alone if we hand her over. I gotta keep my brother safe. He's dumb enough to get himself killed trying to help Sheriff Rick and the other assholes there." Merle squirmed under her accusing glare.

"You really believe that?" Michonne stated calmly. "He'll kill you once he's got me, then when he's finished with me he'll go after the prison. He won't just walk away until everyone's dead."

Merle untied the wire and pulled her towards the car. He turned to Cassie.

"Can't leave you out here alone, you better get in the damn car and hide out while I sort this. It all goes to shit you get the hell out of there. Warn them at the prison." He snarled at her.

Cassie slid into the back of the car and they set off to the arranged meeting place.

"Does Rick now about this?" Cassie asked. Merle let out a laugh.

"That pussy?" He snorted "He was all for it to start with, then backed out. I figured it was worth doin' anyway" They drove in silence for a while. Merle deep in thought.

He suddenly slammed the brakes on and bought the car to a halt. He pulled Michonne's hands free.

"Get out" he told her "Gonna sort this my way" Wordlessly she opened the door and slid from the seat. As he handed her back her katana he turned to Cassie.

"You get out too, go back with her. Take care of my baby Bro." he gave her a sly grin "He likes you, I can tell 'cos he gets real pissed off when I talk 'bout you."

She shook her head.

"I'm coming with you" she informed him "Someone's got to watch your back"

He protested and argued then finally gave up.

"Damn stubborn bitch" he muttered as he pulled away "You just do as I damn well say and keep out the way"

They headed off leaving Michonne jogging back to the prison.

Merle stopped the car outside a diner and put a CD in the radio. He turned the volume up loud as he faced Cassie.

"You sure you ready for this girl?" he asked her "Could get messy" He looked her over again suddenly realising something.

"You even got a weapon on you?" He asked in disbelief. She gave him a rueful smile.

"Only my knife, I wasn't expecting to leave the prison" she confessed "there wasn't time to go back and get one"

He shook his head and swore before pulling a handgun from his waistband and handing it to her.

"Take this just in case it all goes to hell. I aint lettin' you get too close to all this shit but you need to be able to defend yourself" She took the gun and checked it had a full clip before tucking it into her jeans.

By now several walkers were clawing at the car, drawn by the sound of the music. Once Merle thought there were enough he moved the car several yards down the road before stopping and waiting for them to catch up. He did this until they were almost at the grain store then accelerated, giving them a few seconds of space. He told Cassie to jump and hide in one of the sheds. Once she was safe he steered the car towards the centre of the buildings and silos. He rolled from the vehicle and ran into a store room. Once inside he went to the window and aimed his rifle. It wasn't long before the sound of the music caught the attention of the Governor's men. They hurried to investigate; several were taken by surprise and attacked by walkers. Merle fired through the window and took out a few more of the men. Suddenly a walker lunged at him and they both crashed through the door. At once he was grabbed by the Governor's men.

Cassie saw him seized and drew her gun before leaving the shed. She crept closer and saw him being dragged in front of a tall man in a long black coat. She saw he was wearing an eye patch and knew this was the Governor. She saw him lay into Merle, several hard punches to the stomach and face. Merle swung back and the Governor sank his teeth into Merle's hand, severing several fingers and spitting them to the floor. He stepped back and aimed his gun, staring coldly at the bleeding man in front of him. Merle raised his head and spat at the Governor.

"I aint begging for nothin'" he snarled.

Before Cassie could get a clear shot the Governor smiled coldly and shot Merle point blank in the stomach.

"I know you won't "he smiled.

Cassie moved closer and took aim. As her finger tightened on the trigger the Governor sensed movement and jumped to one side. The shot went wide and before she could fire again two of the other men grabbed her, snatching the gun from her grip. They dragged her to the Governor. He studied her for a few minutes before speaking.

"You're a new face. What's your name?" When she didn't reply he gripped her chin and forced her head up to look at him.

"I asked you what your name was" he demanded. One of his men stepped forward.

"I don't know her name, but I saw her at the prison. She was with Merle's brother" he smirked "if you know what I mean" The others chuckled but the Governor just stared at her harder.

"Are you sure, Martinez?" he asked "Because that might make her very useful indeed" he questioned the man. Martinez moved closer, peering at Cassie before nodding.

"Yeah I'm sure of it. It was her" he confirmed.

The look the Governor gave her sent a chill down Cassie's spine. She realised she was in big trouble.