About to get a lot bloodier and smuttier in the next few chapters... Sorry... Pease review!

Chapter 19

-Lexi-

Daryl had barely seemed to see her as he brushed past her down the stairs with that odd expression on his face. As much as she hated Merle, Lexi prayed that nothing would happen to him as she watched Daryl make his way the stairs. Desperate to do something she ran back to her position, snatching up her gun.

"...so we've com to pay you back in kind..."

She'd just dropped to the ground and begun peering through her scope again when she heard the shot. Terrified, she locked in on the Governor and fired, catching him in the bicep and throwing him back against the car. In spite of herself, she felt relief flood through her body when she realized the original shot hadn't hit Daryl, even as she felt her stomach turn from the slight of Merle writhing on the ground in pain.

Daryl was sprinting across the yard towards his brother and Lexi causing panic to well in Lexi's chest. Without hesitating, she turned to her left and fired at one of the men, catching him in the chest and dropping him instantly. His name was Andy, she remembered, before adjusting her position and hitting one of the men helping the governor into the SUV in the shoulder, and he had always been a perv towards Caitlyn.

the others must have joined in the fight because shots rang out across the courtyard and she saw another man fall and the windshield of the first SUV shatter.
"We'll leave him for you to put down!" the Governor cried out again in a shakier voice than before.

'Good,' Lexi thought. 'I hope the blood loss kills him.' Today's encounter had erased any doubts in her mind she had harbored about conflicting loyalties. She knew now she'd kill anyone who threatened this group.

She got off one more shot shattering the passenger's side window of the first car before they sped out of range and then pushed herself up and bolted down the stairs.

She hated to do this but she knew it was the only chance Merle had at survival. She sprinted past Hershel towards the entrance of the prison.

"All clear, but we've got a man down!" she cried, "Caitlyn I need you out here with all the medical supples stat!"

-Daryl-

He watched the men drop like flies as he sprinted across the yard towards his brother. Merle's hood had fallen off as he thrashed on the ground in pain. The sight of his face twisted in agony sent waves of fury and adrenalin through Daryl's body.

"Merle! Merle!" he screamed out as if to reassure his brother that he was on the way. True panic had taken over his body now. He reached the gate as the second SUV was pulling away , and he ripped his pistol from his side, shooting out their back left tire as the car sped away.

He was about to take aim again when he saw a walker coming from the other direction and fired at it instead. the blood and the gun shots has drawn a number of the. And he could see them walking up from the distance.

"Open the fucking gate!" he screamed as Rick came running up to join him. As soon as it was unlocked he charged out, Rick close on his heels to where Merle lay. Blood had begin to pool under him ow from his leg.

"Little late with the rescue party Darylina," he croaked through gritted teeth, but Daryl wasn't listening. He ripped off his shirt and dropped to the ground tying it around Merle's thigh just above the entry point.

"Need help liftin him," he grunted at Rick as he bent to get his arms under Merle. "Your goin be ok Merle, just put your arm around my neck."

"Dont tell me you let them turn you into one of those Kumbaya faggots," Merle said through gritted teeth, but he slung an arm around Rick and Daryl's shoulder nonetheless.

A shot rang out and Daryl whipped around to see a walker fall ten feet behind him. Turning he saw Lexi running gun in hand towards the gate, with Caitlyn following closely behind.

'The Fuck is she doing here," he thought as he shuffled towards the gate carrying Merle trying to ignore the blood still dripping from his brothers's leg. But as Glenn pulled the gate shut behind gem she sprung into action.

"Sir, young man I need your shirts. Lay them down on the ground before they put him down," Caitlyn said to Glenn and Tyrese, beckoning Rick and Daryl over to a flat patch of grass.

"I'll need you to hold his arms down," she said to Rick and Daryl as they put Merle down on the makeshift mat, "And Lexi I'll need that hunting knife."

Daryl did as he was told, holding Merle's stunted right arm firmly in his own, surprised to see the look of genuine affection that crossed over his brother's face as he looked upon Caitlyn. And there was something else in his face, it almost looked like...relief?

As Caitlyn look the knife from Lexi and began to cut Merle's pant leg off above his wound he piped up.

"Careful with that knife now sweet cheeks, can't be cutting up too high," he said smirking despite his paling complexion and the cold sweat that had broken out on his brow.

Seeing Lexi, his grin widened. "Lexus! Betcher glad to see you old pal Merle again. Shoulda known it was you when that bastard behind me got sniped from 200 yards away. You done with your Femi-Nazi bullshit yet? What d'ya sugar tits? You ready to give dick a chance?"

Daryl felt his face redden and he tightened his grip meaningfully on Merle's arm refusing to look at Lexi, when Caitlyn spoke up.

"Hush now love," she said softly, tightening the shirt Daryl had tied above Merle's wound. "You'll need your strength for this, Ian."

A sad but knowing smile crept across Merle's face. "There you go breaking my heart all over again, sweetheart."