"Merle..." Brannigan announced, no humanity entering her eyes just yet. No. She was cold. Icy... not herself. "Good t'see you again." But with the way she had been abused by the likes of the Governor... it wasn't surprising to the Redneck. She entered the room, beginning to push the door closed, but it stalled when one of the severed arms were blocking it. She kicked it into the room, then pushed the door closed with the tip of her sai. "I wonder... what would a bastard like you... be doing helping a man like dis one?"

It didn't matter to Merle that he was unarmed and had four guns aimed at him. He came here with it set in his mind that he was going to rescue his baby brother and god damn he was going to do it! A broad grin formed upon his lips as he braced himself. He was prepared to go down fighting. And just as he was about to get ready to dodge bullets, in came Nora to save the day - or rather, Daryl.

Merle clapped upon his stump in response as the Irish closed the door behind her, shutting them in. A taunting chuckle fled his lips. "Well, would yah look at that." he began, allowing some distance to come between him and his brother. "That was some real Braveheart-Samurai shit." He shook his head, finding a certain comedy in the situation. "Not bad for a mick." Merle stated mockingly.

The grin on his face slowly faded as he responded to her question, "Ain't none'a yah concern what my business is." His voice bore a warning, one that told her not to pry on the matter. He had witnessed the full fury of Lenora Brannigan and though she was a tough kitten, he still had no worries or concerns that he could not handle her. He was ignorant that way. Merle was bold and cocky and even in the face of death he would laugh at it, ready to go down fighting like a man - or at least in his definition of what a man was. Merle's eyes shifted upon Daryl, who was now laid out on the table again, unconscious and barely breathing.

He returned his attention to her, his eyes trailing up her figure to lock firmly with her eyes. A look of amusement twinkling in his sadistic eyes as he grinned once more at her. "I gotta admit: with a track record of leavin' people behind, I'm surprised one member of the Scooby Gang actually pulled through t' come n' save Daryl. Where were you n' Officer Friendly when my life was on th'line?" He questioned, with bitterness in his tone. He was pissed that Rick and the others had left him stranded on the roof. Even though Lenora had no idea it had happened to him, she was apart of that group and if he didn't have the group to physically beat the shit out of or blame, he'd go for the next best thing - which was her.

The wee Irish narrowed her gaze upon the horrendous title. He had to go directly for the sweet spot. As if Nora wasn't seeing red enough already.

"Looks like yer pullin' through t'save 'im just as well." She said, her tone almost sadistic. She was here for one purpose and all this man was doing was wasting her time. But in light of his obvious resentment to the group, Nora hadn't responded in the manner assumed. Instead, a wicked grin formed upon her face and she tilted her head almost psychotically to the side. Clearly, the past held no meaning to her. Nor did his present circumstances. She had come here for her Beast and she would leave with him, no matter the cost. Even if it meant cutting down this right son of a bitch and dragging Daryl out into danger, she would do it. She would ensure his survival, not Merle's.

The right corner of her lip twitched. "Oh." She cooed, her grin growing wolfish. "Struck a nerve, 'ave I? Poor bairn." She pouted her lower lip, strolling closer as she stole a glance to his stump. "Well, you seem to 'ave survived just as well wit'out the... Scooby Gang, was it? An' wit' all the shite you and your little boss put me an' the girls through... I can't say I blame 'em for leavin' ye behind." She took steps even closer, causing Merle's senses to pique. If she attacked, she might very well win... but he'd be ready to knock her a few good ones before she got the gold.

"Enough'a dis chatter." Brannigan stated with a cold wave of her hand as she withdrew her katana. "I'm tight on time, so I'll make dis simple. I take Daryl and you don't get mutilated like yer little buddies in the hallway. He only 'as so much time dat I'm not willin' ta trifle wit'. You have five seconds to make your choice. Five..."

Her taunts hardly phased Merle. A laugh erupted from him as she boldly started her countdown. "You got guts, I'll give yah that." He raised his right arm to show off his blade as a grin pulled at his lips. "Well, c'mon little girl. It's rude t' keep a man waitin'." Merle mocked as he prepared for her oncoming attack.

Brannigan grinned at the response. She'd have to be sure to avoid the blade. Keeping in his blind spots would be easy enough.

"You've just made my day." She announced, lunging for his feet and striking upwards. Merle was quick to react, blocking her blade and jamming his elbow into her skull. Nora took the pounding migraine that followed and barreled out of reach, tossing her leg at his feet and tripping him successfully. He swung, striking the outer part of her thigh and making her cry out in pain. Nora reacted with a boot right to his nose, making him bleed.

The battle ensued.

"Why fight so hard, Merle?" She teased finally as both of them stared at each other in a bloody mess. Now she had his arms pinned and her hands around his throat, choking the life from him."Clearly yer not gonna win this one, so why fight it?"

Merle choked a laugh through her strangling him. "Yer one t' talk, mick." He seemed amused, despite his disadvantage. "You're fightin' awfully hard fer that sack o' shit that claims t' be a man." Merle continued, hoping to poke a little fun as he stated, "You'd think yah love'im. That it, Lenora? Yah here t' rescue th'love o' your life?" He cackled once more.

Lenora's breath caught in her chest when that word struck her. Love. She'd never thought of it before. Whatever connection her and Daryl held, she knew it was strong. But to compare it to something as common as love; to generalize it was... something else. She froze; glared to the point of venom practically seeping from her eyeballs.

But her grip had faltered. Her heart raced in being found out by the one man who's hatred she bared grew with each passing second. Her breath stopped and her eyes had gone wide in shock.

Love. Fuck!

She loved him.

The second her grip released slightly and the blood rushed back to his head, Merle acted quickly, getting his amputated hand free and jamming the blade into her shoulder. Nora screamed out as the tables turned. His foot slipped up and kicked her in the gut, knocking her square off of him and allowing him the window to roll over onto his own feet.

His left hand raised to check the damage she had done to his nose earlier, as he laughed. "Well, I'll be damned." He breathed, his raspy voice carrying a sense of humor as he looked upon the Irish woman. "You really do love'im." He chortled mockingly as he stumbled abit on his feet. "I get it... fucked yah once and ya got hooked, eh?" Merle grinned like an asshole at her as he added, "gave your pussy alittle TLC?"

Her shoulder pulsed and throbbed in intense pain. She leered through blurry eyes at Merle, her fury only multiplying tenfold when he mentioned the likelihood of her getting fucked and hooked on a man like Daryl Dixon that easily. He didn't understand. It ran so much deeper than that. No sex, hardly any physical contact at all, really.

But a bond that was enough to make the Irishwoman kill in his honor just to get him home and safe again.

But still. The matter at hand was this: pure, unbridled rage. She clutched her shoulder a little longer, allowing the fury to build until she let out a cry of pure animosity. No more games. He would die. Right here, right now. She catapulted herself into action, dragging her katana from the floor and bolting in his direction, intending on ending whatever reign he had over the man lying on the table.

Merle watched as she sat on the floor and clutched at the fresh wound he had made upon her shoulder. A hint of satisfaction twisted itself upon his features as he watched the fury in her eyes ignite and light up like a forest fire. She had all kinds of rage - one that had initially started off aimed in the direction of the Governor but was now steered full force at him.

He stiffened in his position, his eyes studied her movement as she bravely took up her katana and charged at him and let out a warrior cry. Merle was prepared to somehow dodge this oncoming blow from her, but unfortunately - or maybe fortunately, he was left unable to do anything. A second scream had erupted from somewhere off to their side; one that was growing increasingly loud and closer with each mili-second that passed.

Daryl had awoken and heard just enough and seen what was about to happen to know that Merle's life was about to come to an abrupt end. His heart raced, threatening to explode out of his chest cavity, and the adrenaline rush took over, numbing all of the pain of his weakened body - enabling him the will power to get to his feet and rush to defend his older brother. "NOOOO!" He shouted as he stumbled his way between Nora and Merle.

Merle seemed surprised by his baby brother's capability to even get himself off of the table in the first place, but another glimmer of satisfaction played visibly upon his features at his brother's sudden defense.

The Redneck Saint huffed and heaved, his body wavered as if the weight of his body was unsure of where to settle itself as he glared with one eye at Nora. Fresh blood dripped from the corners of his mouth and trailed down his already blood stained chin.

"That's m'boy." Merle praised Daryl's actions and his words would smack Lenora in the face.

Nora acted on instinct. Almost swinging her blade in full force downwards. But it stopped millimeters from the very neck she was trying to save. Daryl's eyes shot daggers in her direction. Fresh blood poured from his mouth and Nora realized what was happening.

Boy... boy... what the hell was going on here? Nora immediately stopped. Humanity returned to her gaze and the beast within her was instantly caged behind walls of emotion that threatened to pour from her eyes. She lowered her katana, not daring to put another thought towards fighting just yet. For Daryl, she would submit to a draw if it was required. And since she was already losing blood from her wound on her shoulder, she wouldn't strain herself further.

She would have to save her energy for those who's fate she had control of.

"Beast..." she whispered after finally putting away her weapons. "I..."

Daryl remained where he was, his eyes never moving from Nora. His body swayed from side-to-side, barely even able to support his own weight as he stood between his brother and the Irish woman. He noted the way Nora had submitted to his will by lowering her katana. The look in her eyes told him that he knew she was in question over his actions but that she would not go against him and strike Merle down.

"Easy, li'l bruther." Merle cooed as if he was speaking to a loyal pup. He extended a hand out to clamp down onto Daryl's shoulder, to which the Redneck nearly lost his balance. Daryl stumbled back and fell into his brother. "Woah, woah! Hey, now." Merle supported his brother's weight which rested against his frontside.

Little... brother. Little brother. Little... fucking... brother?! Nora's face fell into shock as Merle had reached a hand out to his younger sibling; almost as though he were basking in his superior state. Brannigan couldn't even compute that Daryl Dixon would have ever been related to... that.

The moment her Beast had stumbled into his sibling, however, she knew that this would have to be something processed later when they weren't toying with time.

"Shut up." Nora seethed when Merle spoke. No matter how miniscule the words were, his voice was enough to make her head pound harder than a sailor on shore leave. "Pick 'im up. Carry 'im out." She snapped viciously as she brushed past Merle, who was already gathering his brother up to hoist over his shoulder. "I'll take care o'the rest..."

Merle didn't say another word on the topic. Nora opened the door for him, allowing him to step ahead and bleed into the shadows outside of the building they'd stolen Daryl back from. Nora had vanished from sight a few times, but had returned to Merle's side when any unexpected visitors came into play. Essentially using the Dixon brothers as a vague form of bait, Nora utilized them to navigate out of Woodbury, where the walkers weren't gathered.

"Car! Y'said y'had one!" Merle huffed as he jogged, trying to keep pace with Nora as she rushed through the woods, keeping the path clear.

"No' far! We're almos' there, keep pace! Can't be losin' ye." She shouted back to him, carving down a few walkers and ensuring that Merle was following close behind.

Upon reaching the car, Merle had placed Daryl into the back seat and turned to Nora. "The prison, huh?"

"It's the only place Daryl will get th'elp 'e needs." She replied breathlessly as she got into the driver's seat. Merle took a deep breath and shut the back passenger door, rounding to the other side quickly to get in.

He could've run. Could've fought her for the damn car. But his baby brother's life was on the line. For now... selfishness would have to sit out.

From there, it all seemed to be smooth sailing... aside from all the horrid comments Merle had made along the way. Nora had said nothing; too busy with her own thoughts to even acknowledge that he was in the car.

By the time they'd reached the prison, nobody was ready.