"Where are we?" Merle lifted his right arm, but stopped halfway to his face, seeming to realize his hand wasn't there anymore. He stared at the stump and turned it this way and that.
"Woodbury. It's a town. I guess it has walls to keep the walkers out. That's what they told me, but I haven't seen outside," I sat down again, a sense of normality overcoming me.
Suddenly, it was like the apocalypse never happened even though I was currently talking about it. For a moment I forgot all about Sam and the pain in my hand. It were as if I was back in Atlanta sitting at home talking to a friend who was sick and needed company.
"Walls, huh?" Merle grunted and looked around the room.
I hummed in acknowledgment and propped my elbows on Merle's bed, resting my head in my hands. Now that I knew Merle was safe-that we were both safe-I was overcome with exhaustion. I felt like I could have slept for a week.
"How long we been here?" Merle rubbed his face with his one remaining hand.
"I don't know. They had me hooked up to an IV. Could have been a night, could have been a few days," I responded with a shrug. I didn't feel like I'd been out for a really long time, but I'd never been unconscious for more than a few hours.
Merle grumbled for a few seconds and then sat up stiffly. I straightened up and watched him carefully. He was in worse shape than me and I'd felt awful when I first moved. He winced, stretched his arms out, and twisted his back. I grimaced at the amount of sharp cracks emanating from him.
"Do you want me to get a nurse? You probably shouldn't-"
Merle ripped the IV out of his hand and I stopped talking. For a moment I was nauseous. Not only did I hate the feeling of needles under my skin, but I also hated seeing them in anyone else's. The fact it was being ripped out didn't make me any less sick.
Merle swung his legs over the bed and I rushed over to make sure he didn't face plant or do anything else to further his injuries. I didn't touch him, but my hands hovered around his body, ready to catch him.
"I don't need your help," Merle swatted my hands away. I moved them away, but stayed close.
The door opened from across the room and Anne poked her head in.
"No, no, no," Anne rushed into the room and to Merle's side. "You shouldn't be standing yet. You shouldn't even been awake," She took his shoulders and sat him back on the edge of the bed. He glared at her, but didn't protest.
"You lay back down and I'll go get you something to eat," Anne pointed a finger in his face and then turned to me.
"You make sure he doesn't get up," I nodded in understanding.
Anne rushed out of the room, tutting to herself. The second the door shut Merle started to get up again.
"No, she-" I reached for him, but once again was waved away.
"I ain't about to take orders from a woman," He snapped and once again found his way to his feet. I knew that even in his condition I couldn't get him back in bed. Not only that, but I didn't want to piss him off. I finally had someone on my side and I wasn't about to run them off.
Merle fisted his hospital robe and growled in disgust. Since waking up I'd been given an oversized T-shirt and some fluffy pink pajama pants that were a little too short for me. They probably belonged to a fourteen year old girl.
Merle leaned against the wall and walked himself to a closet. I stayed close behind him, just in case. He opened the door and almost immediately ripped his robe off.
Shrieking, I covered my eyes.
"What are you doing?" I exclaimed, peeking through just enough to see his upper body. Merle laughed and glanced briefly back at me.
"What? Don't act like you ain't never seen a man in his natural state," He seemed awfully proud of himself.