"We need to talk," when Daryl approached Merle, he was already barely controlling himself.

"Now. Outside."

Merle wasn't surprised by his brother's request. He slowly got up and followed Daryl, who stormed out of the door.

Daryl stopped when he was sure no one was around. Merle leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

"Did you do that?" Daryl immediately cut to the chase. He was clenching his fists so hard that his nails were leaving bloody marks on his palms.

"Regardless of what I have ever done lil' brother, I've been always tryin' to keep us both alive." Merle's voice was wary, not really knowing what he should expect from Daryl.

"What the fuck were ya thinkin'? I have talked to the group on yer behalf, convinced them to give ya one more chance! Ya lied to me!" Daryl was suddenly square in Merle's face, his whole body shaking with barely suppressed fury.

"You gave me no choice bro!" Merle finally found himself fed up with all pretending and behaving nicely, "I've a good plan, I'll save you worthless ass again, but ya haven't seem to be ready to hear it out yet!"

"Plan?" Daryl repeated dumfounded, "your plan? We all have the plan…we'll fight if this is what this son of a bitch wants. We ain't leavin' the prison."

"Listen to yourself boy!" Merle hissed irriated, "you keep babbling 'we' like fuckin' broken record! Who's 'we'? Bunch of kids and women! The Governor won't even waste his bullets on ya!"

Merle was breathing heavily, trying to talk some sense into his younger brother, knowing this was his last chance.

"There is couple of good guys in Woodbury, who would follow me into the prison. Once Rick is out of the way we can…," he fell silent, looking into Daryl's face.

"You've been planning this all along and I've just invited you in…," the realization of Merle's intentions hit Daryl full force and for a moment he was afraid he would puke. What kind of idiot was he, thinking that Merle could ever settle down with the group like he did?

"Ya don't belong with them pal! Stop shittin' yourself! What are ya for them? Some kind of fuckin' redneck hero? Does it turn ya on to be the strongest dumbass among this flock of sheep?" Merle was spitting the words out, trying to make Daryl realize he'd chosen the wrong side.

"You're wrong," Daryl didn't want this argument to turn into the fight but he was on the edge.

"I've never belonged anywhere. But I do belong here now. I ain't leaving these people."

Merle looked at him in shock, speechless for a moment.

"Ya knew I care and still you wanted to kill them. Ya lied to me. Ya manipulated me. As always," Daryl's voice was suddenly flat.

Merle shook his head in disbelief and suddenly shouted into Daryl's face.

"I've done it all for ya, you fuckin' asshole! Look what they've turned ya into! Ya act like pussy most of the time! Feeding baby for fuck's sake? Riskin' your fuckin' life for some old bitch? I bet she's a real good fuck! Has anybody kicked your brain out boy?"

Daryl's vision blurred and his face darkened. He felt the blood roaring in his ears, his body getting ready for the fight.

Before Merle could react, Daryl knocked him to the ground.

"Daryl's beating the shit out Merle!" Carl's insistent voice immediately got everybody up.

"Or Merle's beating the shit out of Daryl, I wasn't sure," Carl confessed.

"Watch your mouth boy," Hershel told him automatically, heading to the door together with Rick and the rest of the group.

Angry panting and dull sounds of hard blows quickly guided them towards the fight. Carol's stomach knotted at the scene in front of her. Daryl was bleeding and his left eye was already turning black. But Merle didn't seem to be in the best shape either.

Ricked stepped forwarded but Carol grabbed his arm.

"Leave them alone," she said quietly.

Rick looked at her in surprise.

"Daryl said he would deal with anything regarding Merle himself. We need to respect this. Let's go back. If anybody can handle Merle, it's Daryl."

Rick glanced from Carol back to the fighting brothers and nodded.

"Let's go back."

Soon they were too exhausted to carry on fighting. Daryl was sitting on the dusty ground, breathing heavily and wiping the blood from his chopped lip. Merle was trying to stop his nosebleed. He tried to get up but tumbled down again.

"What the fuck was that?" Merle snarled at his brother.

"It was for makin' an idiot out of me…for lyin' to me…for fuckin' with my people," Daryl spat out some blood, exhausted to death.

Merle finally scrambled up to his feet and stretched his good hand to Daryl.

"Come on baby brother. We are even. It's time to go, we can still make it."

Daryl look at him, completely astound.

"Have you listened to anything I just said? I ain't leavin', I wanna stay here."

They stared into each other's eyes.

"Where does it leave me?" Merle's voice was suddenly quiet.

Daryl's stomach twisted as he nodded to the gate.

"Ya have to leave Merle, this ain't place for ya," he said, dropping his eyes to the ground.

"I got it lil' bro. I fucked up with 'your' people, your only family you have now. Enjoy the rest of your days in peace."

Merle's voice was muffled and defeated. Daryl was not able to look at him, fearing his messy emotions would betray him.

"But hey Daryl…,"

Daryl finally looked up but the lump in his throat didn't allow him to speak.

"I really did it for ya baby brother. I know I'm an asshole sometimes and my methods might not be perfect, but ya are the only person in this fuckin' world I've ever cared for."

Merle smiled and looked at his younger brother pensively: "So after all, I guess it's only right that it'll be ya having my blood on your hands."

With these words Merle went inside to get his stuff and left.

Daryl sat on the ground and didn't move for a long time. When he came back into the prison, everybody turned to him. He ignored it and quickly ran up to his cell. Although he hated sleeping behind the bars, he did something he'd never done before. He closed the bars behind him.