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Merle didn't have to watch Jillian while they moved through the woods. He knew she'd never take off running because she'd never leave her sister or his brother behind. She wouldn't be able to free Daryl so Merle wasn't worried. He had them right where he wanted them. He grinned to himself as they crept through the woods.

" Merle?" Jillian started.

" Huntin, Darlin, not talkin." He said. Jillian sighed but fell silent. The last thing she wanted to do was piss him off.

They walked through the woods for almost two hours, she guessed. He had killed a few rabbits and had her pick some berries and mushrooms before he decided to head back. Jillian kept her pace with him. She needed to stay on his good side if she was going to be able to convince him to let them go. If nothing else, she might be able to convince him to let them take Sophia back to the camp then take her and Daryl. After Daryl had left with Merle, Jillian decided there was no way she was going to be without him. Either she was going with the brothers or she was going to figure a way to get Daryl away from him.

" Can we talk now?" Jillian asked as they started back to the farmhouse.

" Darlin, do you always talk this much? Daryl should be keepin his dick in your mouth more." Merle said.

" Oh it's in there plenty, trust me." Jillian said. Merle stopped walking and looked at her. She shrugged her shoulders a second before he started to laugh.

" Always liked you." He said as he started walking again.

" So if you like me so much, you should let me have Daryl." She said.

" I ain't stoppin you from havin him. Seems like you two been havin each other a lot." Merle said.

" What I meant was that you should let me take Daryl and Sophia back to the camp. It isn't safe out here alone. You could come back, you know. It's safer with the group." Jillian said. Merle narrowed his eyes.

" Yeah right." Merle said. " I'll just head right back there to that fucker who chained me to the roof."

" I can't excuse what Rick and T-Dog did, and I'm not trying too, but we came back for you. Rick, me, Daryl, Glenn and T-Dog did. We hunted for you but lost you when you took the van. Daryl was so upset when we lost you." She said. Merle stopped walking and grabbed her arm tightly. He yanked her to him.

" Who do you think my lil brother would choose to be with now?" He asked, his voice was low. " You think he'd choose me or you? I can tell you if I gave him the choice he'd pick you and that ain't right. I'm his kin, not you." She could see the hurt in Merle's eyes and she was stunned.

" Is that what this is about?" Jillian asked. " Are you upset because Daryl wants to be with me?"

" Dixons' don't fall in love, that's for chicks not dicks! He had not right to fall for you! He aint supposed to do that! He's needed me his whole life than one day he finds you in a field and I'm nothin! I made him the man he is today, I did that and look at the thanks I get for it! I'm left all alone! Fuck that! He's comin with me and that's it! I'm gonna retrain him, reprogram him!" Merle snapped. He pushed her away from him then started back to the farmhouse.

" But you said you always liked me." Jillian said as she hurried to catch up to him. She was rubbing her arm where he had held onto her. She was going to have a bruise and Daryl was going to be pissed.

" I do like you but you ain't for him." Merle said.

" And why's that?" Jillian asked as they walked.

" What's gonna happen when the group moves to Ft Benning? Let's just say there's a whole mess of people there and you meet someone else, someone who smart and handsome. You know Daryl ain't smart, you know it, I know it, hell even Daryl knows it. Him and I ain't meant to be in the real world." He said.

" So is that what this is really about? You're scared I'm going to meet someone and leave him?" She asked.

" Gonna crush him when it happens and I ain't gonna let that happen. I'm gonna show him that he don't need you, that he just needs me." Merle said.

" Merle, I promise you, that's not going to happen. I don't care where we go, I'm not going to leave him. I love him." She said. Merle shook his head.

" Can't take that chance, Darlin. Just can't." He said softly. " He needs me cuz I ain't ever gonna leave him."

They fell into silence again as they walked. Jillian needed time to think of what to do next. Merle took Daryl away from her because he thought he was protecting him and because he was jealous. He hadn't said that but Jillian could see that. He had some good intentions for his brother, even if he was going about it the wrong way. She needed to convince Merle that she wouldn't break Daryl's heart, that she wouldn't leave him high and dry.

XXXXXX

Sophia was watching out of the window while Daryl sat in his chair and thought. He had already tried to free himself but the windowsill was stronger than he had originally thought it was going to be. He had pulled and tugged on it for almost an hour. He had even had Sophia help him by tugging on it but the window sill had not given way. He had Sophia look around for anything she could find that he could use as a weapon but there was nothing.

" They are coming back!" Sophia said quickly.

" Listen up, Sophia," Daryl started quickly. " 'member what I said, no cryin in front of him." She came back to Daryl and sat down on her knees beside his legs.

" Okay." She said softly.

She took a hold of his pant leg and rested her face against his leg. He glanced down at her then back towards the doorway as they waited for the pair to come in. It didn't take long before they heard the front door open then close. Jillian appeared first. She smiled at them, making Daryl frown. The last thing he had expected was to see her smiling but he felt his heart lighten up seeing that she was fine. She came over to him as Merle filled the doorway. She placed her hands on Daryl's shoulders and leaned down to kiss him.

" You alright?" He asked softly against her lips.

" I'm fine." She said. His eyes shifted to her arm and his frown deepen.

" Where the hell she get that bruise from?" He snapped. Jillian stood up straight and covered her arm quickly.

" It's okay!" She said. " I'm okay. I fell, that's all." She said. Daryl looked behind her to Merle. Jillian grabbed his face and forced him to look at her. " I fell, Daryl." She said sternly. Merle came forward and over to the fireplace. He sat at the mantel and started getting their lunch and dinner ready.

" Yeah, that's right. Girl just fell. She's clumsy, Daryl, real clumsy. Ain't worth nothin in the woods." Merle said.

He started cutting into the animals. Daryl looked up at her but his frown did not change. He knew something had happen. The bruise was in the shape of a hand print. Merle glanced up at them then back at his task. Jillian slipped onto Daryl's lap. She slipped her arms around his neck and leaned into him. She planted a kiss against his neck as she closed her eyes. Merle was frowning when Jillian opened her eyes into little slits and looked at him. She sucked in the skin on Daryl's neck. Daryl grabbed her quickly as he sucked in his breath.

" Ain't the right the time for that, Jill." Daryl muttered so low only she could hear him. She smiled and as she pulled away.

" I love you." She said as she rubbed his shoulders. He looked to his side to see if he could see his brother then he looked up at her.

" I love you too." He said. She winked at him.