So I'm really curious how you guys feel about this one... Review please!

Chapter 20

-Lexi-

Lexi's stomach was doing summersaults as she stood over Merle. His leg was soaked in blood, and despite Caitlyn's ministrations more blood continued to ooze from the horrifying hole in his leg. Rick's teeshirt was soaked through, and an ugly blood smear covered Daryl's scarred torso.

"Lexi."

Caitlyn's voice broke through the shock that was beginning to set in and brought Lexi back to the present. She shook herself and looked down at her friend.

"I need your help. I need you to hold his thigh down while I go into his leg and clamp the artery," she whispered, and Lexi crouched down putting her arms on either side of his wound.

At Caitlyn's bidding Tyrese went to hold down Merle's legs. Glenn and Maggie however refused to help. They turned from the scene and began to walk together back up the hill to the prison. Lexi couldn't blame them, she'd seen the fading bruises on Glenn's face and learned it was Merle who not only caused them but abducted them in the first place. Were it not for Daryl, she doubted any of them, accept for Caitlyn would have given Merle anything more than a less painful death. She certainly had her own reasons for hating Merle Dixon.

"I need to go into your wound and clamp your artery," Caitlyn explained to tones. "It's retracted, so I need to do it now before it's too late."

"Ready?" she said louder, looking up at Daryl and Rick, then back at Lexi and Tyrese. When they nodded she picked up a clamp, took a rolled up shirt and put it between Merle's teeth to bite down on, and then plunged her clamp into his wound. Merle let out a blood curdling scream as she roved around in search of the artery and began to writhing underneath Lexi's hand.

" I know it hurts but you've got to hold steady!" Caitlyn pleaded, but it was no use, Merle continued to convulse under Lexi and Tyrese's hold.

"Ian please I've got it but I can't hold it..." but Merle bucked with all his might, knocking Caitlyn backwards and sending the clamp flying.

Rick let go Merle's arm instinctively as his pregnant sister tumbled backwards, and Merle twisted his good arm out of Rick's grip pulling the shirt out of his mouth weakly. The efforts seemed to have drained him of his last ounce of strength.

"No more." he panted. "I 'spect it ain't no use now anyways."

Caitlyn's eyes filled with tears as she started to protest but he cut her off reaching out to her. "Don't you cry now doc, you done more'n enough to help this ol' bastard out. Can't risk hurting you in your state to try to save a dead man. Now why don't you and your femi-nazi friend over there go run up and find ol' Merle some oxy to take my mind off things, addiction ain't gon hurt me now."

Caitlyn nodded tears streaming down her face as she pulled a bag of pills out of her pocket. Lexi had seen her grab them as they ran out to help. She poured out 5 and put them into the palm of Merle's remaining hand. He smiled back at her weakly, an odd expression in his eyes.

Lexi had always convinced herself that Merle hadn't given two shits about Caitlyn, it made hating him simpler. But as she watched their exchange she knew that she'd been unfair to the man. However she felt about what he had done, she couldn't honestly pretend he didn't care for her. The thought made her eyes sting, and she looked away, mixed emotions clamoring in her brain.

"Thank you kindly sweetheart, he said laying back down. Now if y'all would be so kind, I'd like a word with Darylina, just the two of us."

Daryl was still kneeling by his brother's arm staring at his leg wide-eyed with his mouth pressed into a thin line. The sight of his face as they pulled away broke the last of Lexi's resolve, and silent tears began to run down her face as she took Caitlyn by the shoulders and began to lead her back up towards the prison.

-Daryl-

Daryl watched them walk away as his the feeling in his chest got tighter and tighter. This couldn't be happening.

Merle watched as Lexi led Caitlyn away, a strange look in his eyes.

"She may be meaner than a bull dyke, but that bitch is alright," he said smiling. "S'pose she had ta be mean, ta take care of the doc all this time."

Daryl stared down at his brother in confusion. Why the fuck was he talking about Caitlyn and Lexi? And why the hell was he giving up?

Merle looked up at him and chuckled. "Don't think to hard Darylina, it ain't never been one a yer strengths. I gotta tell you somethin' and u need you to listen good. I suppose stubborn miss Lexus ain't told you yet but that there baby growin' in the docs stomach is mine."

Whatever he had been expecting, this wasn't it. He stared at Merle again, more confused than ever. "What? But how?"

"If I have to explain that to you baby brother your even more of a bitch than I thought."

"Ain't what I meant."

"I know what you meant. Doc's the one that took care a me after that sumbitch made me cut off my own hand. Didn't realize she was bat shit til a few weeks in hen she started callin me Ian... Still," he said a flicker of sadness crossing his face, "she's a good'un even if she ain't right in the head. Point is, that baby's kin to you. That makes her and the little fucker your responsibility. Ya'understand what I'm sayin to you don't cha?"

Merle stared at him hard. His breathing was becoming ragged now. Still shocked, Daryl nodded. "Course I do."

"Good," he said exhaling and laying his head back to rest. Daryl could see his eyes beginning to glaze over, but whether it was from the oxy or the pain he wasn't sure.

A small sad smile crossed Merle's face and he looked up at his brother again. "Well there's just one thing left then. I ain't becoming no fuckin' geek. So you best do what needs be done now. Ain't no sense in waitin."

Daryl jumped back horrified. Shaking his head but Merle's eyes turned to daggers and his mouth set in resolve. "Listen here baby brother, I ain't lettin no pansy trust fund fuck kill me slowly. It's over when I say it's over. Ain't nothin killin this Dixon but a Dixon, so stop your staring, man up and do what's gotta be done. I ain't lettin him have the last word."

The conviction in Merle's eyes bored through Daryl, even as the weakness in his voice broke his heart. Only Merle would insist on deciding when to go like this. Too horrified to speak Daryl pulled the pistol from his waistband.

Relief spread over Merle's face and he exhaled squeezing his eyes shut. "There's a good sport Darylina," looking up at him again Merle's eyes changed. If he hadn't known any better, Daryl would have sworn there was real emotion in them.

"You take care of yourself, little brother. You take care of that kid."

Then nodding at him one last time, Merle closed his eyes, choosing for the first time in his life not to comment on the tears beginning to form in Daryl's.

Flicking off his safety, Daryl took a step towards his only brother, bringing the barrel of his gun directly over his scarred and prematurely aged brow. Cursing with in anguish, he breathed out just like Merle had taught him years before, and fired.