Andrea soon departed from Nora's side, eventually venturing to where the majority of the group was gathered so she wouldn't have to watch the grueling sight of the needle digging into the flesh of her friend. The blonde soon came upon the yard of the prison, where Glenn, Maggie, Jose and a few others were settled on the ground, passing a bottle of wine between each other. Lithe steps trekked towards the sight, almost feeling like a high school kid again, meeting her friends in the playground to drink booze so their parents wouldn't know.
"I still don't get why he's here." Glenn spoke. Andrea knew exactly who he was talking about.
"Who?" Maggie inquired as her boyfriend passed the bottle to her. The farm girl took up the neck and tossed back a swig while she awaited an answer.
"Merle." Andrea announced as she scooched into the circle and settled her butt on the pavement beside Jose. Maggie and Jose exchanged blank faces, then curiously glanced betwixt Andrea and Glenn for further explanation. "He was… with us before." She motioned to Maggie. "Before we came on your farm."
Jose's brow perked as he studied their faces. They didn't exactly seem too fond on whatever memories it was that they carried of this Merle guy. "Wild guess, but y'all didn't exactly get along well, huh, ese?"
Glenn shook his head vigorously. "Merle was…" His forehead wrinkled as he averted his eyes. He could remember just how violent and ruthless the redneck could be. How the group could barely keep him in order. He had been ten times worse than Daryl at his worst. "He wasn't exactly the easiest person to get along with…"
"He doesn't seem all that bad…" Beth spoke softly.
Andrea shook her head, "he was a nightmare. Hardly as civilized as everyone else in the group. It was a mess, keeping him under control." Maggie passed over the bottle of wine to the blonde and kept her eyes on her lover, who seemed to say nothing in Merle's defense. It was difficult, trying to find the proper way to describe someone like the eldest Dixon brother. He held a certain chaos about him that was all his own.
"Mess was an understatement. Merle was… racist-"
"Fascist, rude, self-absorbed, ignorant…" Andrea trailed off.
"I think we got it." Maggie chimed. Andrea offered the bottle to Jose. "So he's not a guy t'be 'round."
"He does seem pretty shaken up about his brother, though." Beth said, wringing her hands together in her lap while she denied Jose's offer after he took a swig of the alcohol.
"I think it's fair to say that Daryl is probably the one thing that seems to be Merle's weak spot…" Glenn mentioned, thoughtfully.
"Wait… so… are they brothers?" Maggie inquired. Glenn nodded.
"Kinda makes sense." Jose chimed in. "Might've beat the hell outta my brother, but I protected 'im jus' as well. Family is family."
Glenn shook his head at Jose's statement. It was clear that he just didn't quite get why some people felt the need to be violent with one another. Especially when they were your blood. Though Glenn, or anybody for that matter, had no idea that Merle would have never laid a hand on Daryl. None of the others knew the lengths that man would go to keep Daryl safe and protected. No one knew that Daryl was the one thing Merle Dixon would never physically harm.
"I don't see the point…" The asian breathed, the trouble he felt in regards to the topic reflecting itself upon his face as he lifted his eyes to meet the other's. "Why even bother going through all the trouble that Merle has if you're just gonna beat them down later? Can we really ensure that Merle's going to remain docile once Daryl's better? Or, hell, even before that - what's he going to do now?"
"Well… how do we know he beats Daryl?" Maggie inquired. Jose passed the bottle to Glenn, who took it up solemnly.
"C'mon. A guy like Merle? I wouldn't doubt it." He said. Andrea shook her head in response.
"I would. Merle's a violent guy. He's lashed out on everybody, but I've never seen him lay a hand on Daryl."
Glenn seemed to disagree with her there, as he straightened up from his position on the ground, "Are you kidding me? Have you seen the way Daryl behaves around Merle?" He inquired, with a furrowed brow. "He was like an abused dog whenever Merle was around. Never spoke out of turn, and never opposed him - you don't really see people withdraw like that unless they've been dealt some serious abuse."
"You remember Carol's husband, right?" Andrea countered. "Men like that openly abuse those they've abused before. Never hold anything back. Merle's never laid a hand on Daryl. Maybe Daryl was abused by their dad, but I honestly don't think Merle's ever harmed him that way." Andrea seemed convicted in her speech. They had been around too many chaotic people and as a well-educated woman in criminal justice. She knew these types of people well.
Beth and Jose looked back and forth between the two as they fought, their interest peaked as they listened intently to the two. Glenn seemed to be stumped at Andrea's last words, because she had made a very good point. He couldn't really argue with the fact.
After a brief pause Glenn finally let out a sigh before he looked at her with curious eyes. "Okay, so you think Merle never beat Daryl, but that still doesn't mean that any of us are in the clear." Glenn licked his lips as he shifted in his seat, his brows pulling together as worry crossed his visage. "Merle isn't the forgiving type - we left him handcuffed on a roof! And if he's been rolling around with that Governor guy, doing God know's what to people, I don't want to even think about what he's going to try to do to us."
Maggie and the others seemed alarmed at this. The mentioning of the Governor and the notion that Merle might want to seek revenge upon his former group was enough to make any of them wary with the idea of his presence.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Andrea countered, waving off the situation. "For now, let Merle be with his brother in peace."
Beth glanced from Andrea, back to Glenn. "You...handcuffed him to a roof?" She questioned, totally disregarding the fact that Andrea had just brushed off the topic. Glenn turned his attention upon her and exhaled heavily. He shook his head toward her, as if to tell her not to ask about it, before he got up from his place on the bleacher. He was just about to dismiss himself when Rick came walking out of Cell Block C. They all turned their attention upon the Sheriff as he approached them.
"You goin' somewhere?" Rick questioned as he watched the asian get up from his seat.
He quirked a brow in response, "Do I need to be?"
The Sheriff shook his head, "No, I would rather you stay put. I want t'have a group meeting, 'cuz there's some things that need ta be discussed." Glenn seemed to take this as an indirect order and re-seated himself beside Maggie as he held his gaze upon Rick.
Rick searched each of their faces and it was then that he noticed a couple of them were missing. "Where are the others?"
"Nora and Carol are indisposed." Michonne announced - appearing like a ghost from behind the Sheriff. Rick tossed a semi-startled glance her way and stepped aside to permit her into the circle of people. "Nora was stabbed in battle. Carol's just finishin' with the stitches."
"She got stabbed?" Rick inquired. Michonne merely nodded, then motioned to his shirt.
"Looks like you got some'a her blood on you."
Rick looked down at his shirt where she had motioned. He seemed to make the connection that it was Nora's blood and not someone else's that she had most likely killed. "She came back covered in it. I...I guess I didn't think any of it came from herself. She didn't look t'be bothered. I thought she might'a returned without a scratch on her."
"Comin' from a fight like that, I'm not surprised." Andrea announced knowingly. "She's probably in total shock over the situation."
Michonne gave Andrea a look. "No shock. She's a fighter. Right now, she's stuck in that mind. She'll come out of it." The ebony woman reached into her pocket to retrieve a folded handkerchief, offering it to Rick so he could wipe off some of the blood.
He accepted her offer, "Thanks." Rick dabbed at the red substance and once he had gotten most of it off, he balled it into his hand and returned his eyes upon the group. "I, uh…" Rick shifted, his right hand moving to rest upon the butt of his gun that was secured in his leg holster. "I wanted to talk t' y'all about Merle." His eyes scanned across their faces, taking notice of how a few of them seemed to have a look of disapproval at the mention of the redneck.
"Now, I know sum of you don't take too kindly t' Merle, n' I know ya got real good reason not to. He wasn't the nicest person before n' I don't reckon y'all think he's changed much since we last saw'im. But, whatever he did in the past, it doesn't matter anymore. There's a lot that can happen in'a year, and after the one we've had, there's no tellin' what things might'a been like for'im." He paused as he shifted his weight and fidgeted with his fingers a little.
"There isn't one person here that can say they haven't been at fault for sumthin' they ain't too proud of. I know I'm guilty of things." Rick admitted, and a part of him felt weak for saying it. He had fucked up so many times in the past year that he didn't see how anyone could still look to him as their leader. He frowned lightly at the thought and blinked a few times before he continued, "I'm not sayin' Merle's anyone t' trust. N' I ain't saying that he's not gonna pull anything - 'cuz truth is, I got my own worries in regards to the things I did to'im, and what might happen. But, what I do know is that he deserves time with his brother. As long as Daryl's in the state that 'e is, Merle has every right t' be right there with'im."
"So we're just… gonna let him stay here?" Glenn asked. Maggie, Jose and Beth didn't seem too disheartened. Much to the Korean's surprise, neither did Andrea. "We're actually going to let this happen?"
Jose gave Glenn a helpless shrug. "Family is family, ese. Can't say much against it."
Glenn turned his attention upon the mexican. "Last I checked, we're family." He gestured between all of them in the circle. "This, right here, is my blood. My family." He returned his sights upon Rick. "But, Merle? I don't think -"
"It ain't about what you think." Rick interrupted. His expression hardened just a little as he returned the asian's gaze. "Or any of y'all, for that matter." He announced, as he looked upon them all. "This is 'bout what's right and wrong, n' I ain't gonna kick Merle out when his brother could be dyin', unless I got real good reason to."
"I've got a couple good reasons." Glenn piped up, shooting a hard glare towards Rick, who returned it tenfold. Glenn huffed, allowing the scorching look to lower his courage a little. "Fine. You wanna keep a reckless person like that here? Fine. Everybody better get into the habit of locking their cells at night - because it might be you who Merle takes his revenge on."
"Well, well…" the southern drawl caught everyone off-guard. All eyes turned to the dirty, beaten redneck as he made his way into the conversation. "Good t'see y'all ain't lost yer sense'a humor." Merle's presence seemed to bring everything to a complete standstill. All of their eyes were glued upon him as he approached the group. The air became thick with tension as he looked upon each of their faces. Glenn seemed to freeze in his spot, biting his tongue immediately as though he were pretending he hadn't said a thing to begin with. Promptly, Michonne graced herself to the side to avoid knocking shoulders with the eldest Dixon. Merle almost grinned at the amount of shock that glimmered in their eyes. "But the Chinaman's right. Got myself a cutthroat attitude." Those piercing, accusing eyes tossed madly to the Sheriff. "Can't say s'much better'n yours, though… Officer Friendly."
Rick's eyes stiffly sized the redneck up as he spoke dryly and with a hint of venom in his tone. Making it clear that he still held resentment from what was done to him in Atlanta. He even remembered his little nickname he had given the Sheriff. Rick's jaw flexed as he tried to think out the best way to handle this. This was a very delicate situation - and with Merle's type anything could set them off. He had to tread carefully. "Nobody here's got attitude, Merle." He spoke gentle, but firm. "I know we didn't get off on the right foot when we first met, but I'm willin' t' change that, if you'll let me."
"Well, ain't you the good samaritan." Merle turned his full attention on the Sheriff. As if the staredown hadn't been intense before, it multiplied tenfold the moment the redneck turned to face Rick. Glenn braced himself, ready to regather his courage and step in if required. Michonne simply remained completely still, out of the way and off to the side. She doubted her skills would need to be called upon. Merle was grieving. Lashing out was the only thing he knew right now. She couldn't help but understand enough to keep a fair distance. "Protectin' yer crew… when y'left one on a roof t'cut off his own damn hand t'keep from gettin' ate by walkers 'n another to a twisted sunovabitch like the Gov'nor." Rick's lips thinned in disapproval.
"'Kay, guys, this isn't the-" Just as sure as Glenn had rushed between the two men to stop the fight, he was dropped to the ground by a single, well-aimed punch catapulted from Merle's only hand.
"Ain't nobody talkin' t'you, boy!" Merle's face contorted in rage, shaking the minimal sting of his fist off. "Mind yer damn manners!"
"Glenn!" Maggie cried out. Worried sick of her lover's condition, she scrambled from her seat upon the ground and bee-lined to Glenn's side. Gently and with a kindness only a woman could offer, she ferried the Korean back to where he was sitting before, looking over the damage.
"Hey!" Jose shouted, getting to his feet. His brows twisted together angrily as he moved to place himself in front of Merle. His dark eyes blazed with fury as he growled, "Don't fuckin' touch him, puta!"
Merle's eyes trailed down to rest upon the mexican. The eldest Dixon's eyes blazed with fire. The lone fist clenched. He forced a foot forward, almost putting him chest-to-chest with the much shorter fellow. "Or what, Spic-a-roo?" The voice that emitted to form the somewhat comical insult was terrifying to Jose: deep, raked over gravel, raw… almost animalistic. "You gonna stop me?"
Despite how fiercely intimidating Merle appeared, Jose managed to hold his ground. His brows knitted together tightly and his facial features twitched with pure rage in response to the scumbag in front of him. Beams of sweat had coated his forehead and cheeks, causing his face to glisten under the moonlight as his eyes bore into Merle's very soul. He nearly looked cross-eyed as he stared into Merle's face, due to how close they had gotten. "Yeah. I'll show you how us 'Spic-a-roos' handle our brooms and sweep you off your ass!"
It was then that Merle forced a maniacal, hearty laugh to bellow from his chest at the comment. Jose's expression contorted in confusion. The redneck's head tossed back in true humor before the thick skull then thrust forth and clashed with Jose's nose. The Mexican crumbled to the ground, shouting in pain as he clutched his broken nose.
"That's enough!" Rick shouted, stepping forward to grab Merle and pull him away from the Mexican before he did any further damage. In immediate response, Merle ripped his arm from Grimes' hold and redirected his fury.
Merle's hostility arose to the greatest pinnacle. Fire burned bright in the redneck's eyes. His painful shouts of anger pierced through the hearts of every person in that group. "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WHEN I SAY IT IS! ITS YER FAULT THAT MY LI'L BRUTHER IS WASTIN' AWAY LIKE ONE OF THOSE DAMN GEEKS!"
Rick hardly got to shift his feet to restrain the elder Dixon before Michonne was right beside the raging redneck. In one fell swoop, her sheathed sword swung into his legs, knocking him onto his back with a destructive force. Merle landed on the pavement with a loud thud, soon finding the ebony woman's boot tucked directly under his chin. "STOP!" Rick finalized before Michonne could unsheath her blade and hold it to his face.
The woman never faltered, keeping the redneck's eyes in a tight lock. Merle stared at the tough-as-nails lady with an almost bewildered look.
"Ain't them you gotta be angry at." Simple. Stifling. Michonne's gaze hardened to steel. "I was the only one with Daryl when he got snatched." That was that. Michonne had spoken her piece. Her toned leg lifted, relieving the pressure on Dixon's neck. Merle coughed a little, clearing out his throat with a wad of spit as he remained on the ground to collect his exhausted self. Dixon was a wreck - emotionally and physically.
Rick stepped forward, his forehead deeply creased as he peered at Michonne and then down to Merle. He gave his head a little tilt as he questioned, "You done? Or do you wanna keep this goin'? 'Cuz by th'looks of it, y'don't have much chance'a walkin' outta here if ya really wanna pick a fight." He let those words sink in for a moment as Merle continued to compose himself before he pressed on, "I'm tryin' t' do you a favor, here. Don't go bitin' the hand that's tryin' t' feed ya." His eyebrows arched further, "Now are you gonna play nice?"
Merle forced himself up onto his feet, staring at the group. But his face was no longer resentful. It was blank. Shocked - riddled with a certain humanity none of them had seen before.
"Hell with all'a y'all." He cursed before he turned on his heel and made his way back towards the prison.
Once Merle had cleared the Yard, a brief silence lingered between the lot of them before Glenn could help himself. "I told you this was a bad idea." He groused, as he gingerly touched his freshly acquired black eye. Somewhere on the ground where Jose had been laid out, his hands tended to his bloody nose as he groaned in agreement. The mexican finally understood the asian's attitude toward the redneck.