Chapter 2: Merle

It had been only two days since they first arrived at the quarry. They were all just getting to know each other but because of Merle the people left Daryl alone most of the time. Daryl didn't care. The less distractions the better. He had always been one to distance himself but once he grew close to someone he didn't want to let go. That's what happened to him and Brooke. It didn't take them long to become friends and for her friends to become his. He trusted Brooke with everything he had even though they had their ups and downs. He thought Merle would be the major down in their relationship but Brooke was stronger than he thought. While he was preparing some squirrel for the group when he overheard the group talking

"What about the Dixon brothers?" Lori asked. "Doesn't Merle seem kinda dangerous to the group?"

"The worst he's done to me is calling me sugar-tits," Andrea said. " but I'm kinda afraid too Lori."

"Of both of them?" Shane asked. Carl was shortly behind him.

"Well if Daryl was raised with Merle wouldn't he be just like him or do the same stuff that Merle does?" Jacqui asked.

"Also if Daryl can't even handle Merle then who can?" Jim asked.

"Guys I've known only one person who could whip Merle into shape for a short amount of time." Shane admitted sadly. "I've known Daryl for a long time and he's not like his brother. He may be tough but he's nothing like Merle. He ain't even half as bad and trust me Jacqui, Daryl doesn't do any of that stuff." Daryl could hardly believe that Shane was defending him but he was right and he thanked Shane in his head. The group could quickly tell that Shane was upset for many reasons and Carl signaled that Daryl was behind them so they switched to some other story that Daryl didn't give a shit about. He thought about the story Merle told him of before he walked into the café the first time Merle met Brooke.

It had been two months since Daryl and Brooke met. Brooke didn't really know much about Daryl's personal life but she always noticed the bruises and cuts he came into the café with. She never asked him about it though. If he started bleeding, or if his mother did, she would just clean it up and put a bandage over it. If he wanted to tell her about it he would in due time. Brooke was working on a Monday with the girls the week of Christmas. It wasn't a busy day but most of their regulars had come in. Everyone in town was out of town or keeping their company comfortable.

"Brooke that man in the corner wants more coffee." Amber said. She clearly had an Indian accent but spoke English better than all of the hicks in the town.

"That man has had five cups of coffee!" she said "How much coffee can one person drink?" Becky came behind the counter with the pot of their specialty coffee. They took care of the shop today because Brooke's mother was feeling weak once again.

"You should be the one to talk honey!" Becky joked handing her the pot. "You drink more than anyone I know." Brooke laughed and walked over the bald man in the corner. He was maybe about six to eight years older than Brooke.

"What's yo name sweetheart?" he asked in a very country accent. Brooke ignored him and served him more coffee. She walked away. "Milk!" he called out after her. Amber grabbed the milk and walked over the table in the corner.

"Why does he need milk? He's already making it Irish and he smells Irish too." Brooke whispered to her as they walked past each other. Amber giggled and sat the milk on the table.

"Sorry about that." She said. "We're just a little tired." She had always tried to give people a chance even if they did hit on teenage girls.

"What's your name curry?" he asked. Amber looked back at the two girls with a disturbed face. Becky rolled her eyes, having enough of this guy.

"I'm Becky, she's Amber, and she's Brooke. Now drink your coffee." She said. Brooke hid her smirk and secretly high fived Becky.

"How old are you fine pieces of women?"

"Younger than you that's for sure." Amber replied. Becky gasped in laughter but hid it back quickly. According to Mrs. Gina "A customer's a customer." But Brooke was pretty sure her mother would've kicked this pervert out of the store by now. One, for putting some cheap liquor into his coffee and two, for hitting on her girls.

"Now don't you have a smart mouth, curry." He replied. Amber walked over to another customer. Not only was this guy a pervert but he was a racist son of a bitch. She pulled Becky over.

"Who the hell is that guy?" she asked.

"I don't know but I've seen him around before." Becky answered. "I think he just got out of jail."

"That actually explains a lot and doesn't surprise me." She said. It had been about thirty more minutes and only the racist pervert was still in the corner.

"Table ten left you a tip honey!" Becky said. She could hear a snicker when she called her honey from the man in the corner. "All in quarters too!"

"Ooo yay some bubble gum!" Brooke enthused sarcastically. She went over to the table and of course dropped some on the floor. She bent to pick them up and felt a pinch on her bottom. She squeaked and turned around right into the face of the pervert. Becky and Amber tried to pull him off but he shook them off.

"Damn girl." He growled. Brooke tried to push him off but of course he wouldn't budge.

"Let her go Merle." A voice said. He let go of her and she ran towards the girls. She saw Daryl in the doorway.

"Just let me have my fun!" Merle whined. He went over to Brooke again and had his hands out towards her chest. She took his arms slammed him against a wall. He winced and groaned in agony.

"You touch me or my girls one more time and I'll make sure your hands come off! You hear me?" Brooke warned. Merle nodded against the brick. "Good!" she let him go. "Now get out of my mother's store!"

"You know I like 'em feisty." Merle said but quickly ran out when Brooke clenched her fists.

"You okay Brooke?" Daryl asked.

"Yeah I'm fine. He just pinched my butt that's all. Nothing I can't handle." She said to wear off his concern.

"You okay girls? He didn't hurt you did he?" Daryl asked.

"No Daryl but thanks." Amber replied.

"Who the hell was that?" Becky asked.

"Merle."

"Merle who?" Brooke asked.

"Merle Dixon." He replied. The girls looked at each other wide eyed. He could see Brooke was about to apologize. She had nothing to apologize for, if anything he did. "I'm sorry he did that to y'all."

"Daryl don't be sorry. You're not the one who's a pervert." Brooke said.

"And a racist." Amber grumbled.

"I'll come back by later Brooke. I'm gonna make sure Merle gets home."

"Be careful Daryl." She said. He left the café and Brooke turned to the girls. "That pig is Daryl's brother?" the girls shook their heads. "But Daryl is so different. He's never done anything like that before. He's always so polite and nice."

"I know!" Amber said. "He's never said anything negative towards me before!"

"Just because that dog is his brother doesn't mean he's just like him, girls." Shane said walking into the café. "Daryl filled me in. You girls okay?"

"For the millionth time yes!" Becky said. Shane lifted his hands in a defensive motion.

"Sorry!" he said. "Can I get some coffee."

Daryl had never seen someone do that before. Hell, he'd never slammed Merle to a wall before. That was when he knew that he could trust Brooke. He didn't know why that particular moment but it just happened.