He's got a Plan
I'm honestly not really skipping a whole lot it seems lol. Just in this, I've decided that the Governor will have wanted to have a "talk" with Rick and has Milton deliver the location rather than having it all be Andrea because, let's face it, she's not there and there's no one else. I figure the Governor will have realized that Milton helped Bo but he's playing it sneaky.
And what's going on with the people that were reviewing? I miss seeing feedback, it makes me worry that I may be doing, or have done, something wrong when people stop reviewing. Oh dear, anxiety.
Hershel glanced sideways at Rick, watching as the man stayed silent in the truck. Ahead of them, Daryl rode his motorcycle. Nothing had been said since Rick and the Governor had stepped out of the barn and silently gone to their own vehicles. Anxiety rose at the prospect of something unpleasant happening or being decided.
Carl let them into the prison and all eyes moved to Rick as the leader surveyed the group. Shane knew the look on his friend's face and frowned, something wasn't right.
"We're going to war." Rick announced simply. All the faces around him looked scared by resigned. He locked eyes with Shane and headed away from the group, his old partner following behind him.
"So what happened?" Shane asked quietly.
"He wants Bo." Rick muttered, glancing back at the others, watching the aforementioned woman nudge Daryl playfully and say something that made him grin and shake his head. "Two days...if she gets brought to him...he won't attack."
"And if he's lying?" Shane questioned.
"We prepare for a war." Rick stated simply. "There's a reason I didn't tell them the other option."
"You thinking about it?" Shane asked. Rick frowned and didn't answer.
Was he thinking about it? Truthfully, it seemed too easy to work but still...no, he couldn't even consider it. Bo was part of the group, she was family. Whatever the Governor had in mind for his daughter, it likely wasn't going to be pleasant if the wounds Bo had returned with were anything to already judge by. Course, she had been the one to stop Rick from shooting Milton when the scientist had showed up, leashed walker on hand. She had been the one to convince them to give up a car so he could get back safer after delivering the message. There were too many things going on to make a safe decision.
How could they even be certain that the Governor was going to stay by his word and leave them alone? Nothing was ever certain anymore, people were never what they used to be.
Although in some cases, they never change.
Merle watched the two from close by, having gone unnoticed by either former officer. He frowned slightly and looked over at the group, watching his brother and the med student discuss possible attack plans. He frowned slightly, watching and considering.
Something needed to happen, he knew that. He also knew that these people wouldn't be able to do what needed doing. He frowned and walked off, not wanting to really think too much into anything. This wasn't his group, these weren't his people, he didn't need to give a damn about them.
"How are you feeling?" Anna's voice suddenly caught him and he turned to look at her with a frown. "Seem a little flustered there, Merle."
"Ain't flustered." Merle ground out.
"If you say so." Anna shrugged, putting her hands on her hips. "You really enjoy being a loner don't you?"
"Suits me just fine princess." Merle declared, crossing his arms. The cool metal reminding him yet again of his lack of a right hand. "Ain't got no reason to make friends with a bunch of tight knit folks."
"Would make things easier on Daryl." Anna pointed out, causing the man to pause. "There's a lot of shit going on and...we need everything we can get. So if you're going to be here then be with us. Don't be skulking off on your own and watching as people gun each other down."
Merle considered her for a moment, taking in the fear that was cleverly veiled behind determination. She didn't want to kill people, didn't want this mess to happen. He scoffed and gave a single nod before turning away from her and continuing on his way, thoughts forming in his head.
***TWD***TWD***TWD***TWD***TWD***
It was surprisingly easy to get Bo away from the others two days later. She was already separated from them when he approached her and got her to follow him. She didn't even seem sceptical and for some reason, that twisted something in his gut unpleasantly. Was she trusting him? What for? Lord knew she had absolutely no reason to even want to be around him, let alone trust him.
Things had to happen though. Having watched these people over the last two days, he knew they weren't ready for another attack, weren't capable of defending themselves against what he knew the Governor had. His actions weren't going to earn him any real favours with the group, in fact it would likely damn him further, but hell, someone had to do it and he was already the parasite to them.
"You know, when you pulled me aside, I figured it had something to do with some twisted big brother thing." Bo remarked, following Merle through a corridor of the prison. "So what's this really about?"
"Told you girl, had to clear out some geeks." Merle shot back.
"Uh huh, you know you have the same tick that your brother has when you're lying." Bo pointed out, looking at the back of the man's head as he paused. "It's subtle but I've noticed."
"Overheard the coppers talking." Merle stated, turning to look at her.
"About that meeting." Bo guessed softly, frowning. Merle grinned. "What do you know?"
"Big daddy wants his kid back." Merle declared. Bo narrowed her eyes then sighed. She should have seen that one coming. Even when Milton was there at the prison, the way he avoided looking at her, even when he spoke to her, should have told her something was up. There was a price to be paid for every action and her tab was coming up.
"So there was an ultimatum." Bo muttered. "Figures. Seemed like too much fuss to just call Rick out to tell him there's no hope and they're going to attack." She crossed her arms and looked at him. "So when do we go?"
"Right about now." Merle replied, not overly surprised by her ease. He thought back to how Daryl had reacted when they didn't get Bo the second time through Woodbury and that twist in his gut came back. Shaking his head, Merle led the blonde woman through the corridors and out of the prison. He frowned as she even allowed him to tie her hands up. He did a poor job of it, almost actually wanting her to make a break for it.
Damn noble self sacrificing bitch.
Well fine, if she was game for this then it wasn't his problem. He was just the delivery boy. She seemed more than willing to give up herself to save the rest of the prison.
His gut was saying differently though.
"Planning on walking the whole way?" Bo asked, trailing along behind the older Dixon brother. Merle glared at her over his shoulder as he looked around, trying to locate a car they could use. He found several in a parking lot and looped her restraints around a pole. Bo sighed and just watched him as he got to work on the car. "You know Daryl's gonna be pissed, right?"
"He'll get over it." Merle argued. Honestly, he didn't actually think about how his brother would react to all this and the sudden thought process didn't sit right. Bo flinched when the car alarm went off and she frowned, glancing around for in the impending herd. Sure enough it was barely a minute later before several walkers came stumbling their way.
"Damn it...MERLE!" Bo yelled, trying to be heard over the alarm. He made no sign of hearing and she tried to wiggle her hands around enough to either get free or get untied from the pole. To her own surprise, her hands came free relatively easily but she was tackled down by a walker, agitating her still sore head.. She pushed up at it's chin, groaning when it pushed down on her shoulder. "Son...of a fucking...bitch!" Merle's gun rang out and the walker slumped off of Bo.
"Get your ass up, woman!" Merle barked, shooting down another walker. Bo frowned and got up. She made her way over to him and then yelped when he shoved her into the car. She scurried across the seat before he got in, not wanting him to sit on her, then watched as he plowed through the mass trying to surround them.
***TWD***TWD***TWD***TWD***TWD***
They were silent in the car, Bo rubbing at her wrists and looking out the window. Merle glanced at her several times, watching and waiting. His gut twisted again and he felt like punching it, telling it to stop. He wanted her to say something, wanted her to do something. Was that too much to ask?
"Are you sure about this?" Bo asked finally. She lifted her eyes and looked at the man driving, glancing down at where his bladed arm rested between them. "You don't have to do this, you know. He's going to attack either way. He wants everyone dead."
"You saying you want me to turn back now?" Merle mused, laughing slightly.
"I'm saying...you helped save people." Bo remarked. "You can be with us, you don't have to alienate yourself all the time."
"You and the Sheriff's girl been talking or something?" Merle asked, frowning. Bo just raised an eyebrow at him and remained silent. He glanced at her and sighed, finding her watching him. "Goddamnit, woman!" He slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a halt. "Get out."
"What?" Bo was honestly surprised by that.
"I said get out, what, you go deaf now?" Merle leaned over her and forced the door open. "Get! Go back to the others."
"You're...not coming." Bo spoke slowly, a frown crossing her face.
"Got something I gotta do now." Merle decided, looking out the front window. "Now go."
"Merle..." Bo started.
"You die...and Daryl goes to a dark place he ain't ever coming out of." Merle cut her off, looking at her. Bo blinked, surprised by the statement. "Don't matter who's around, they ain't helping him out of there. I die...least he's got you to help him."
"He's not..." Bo tried to start again.
"He loves ya, Doc." Merle cut in again, staring her right in the eye. Bo was silenced again, eyes wide. "He's a good man, better than me, better than I could have ever made him. Lot of that, I figure, is cuz of you. Man needs you, Doc, so you gotta live. Now get the fuck out!"
"You're coming back with me." Bo insisted. Merle just growled and reached in the back seat, tossing out Bo's crossbow, gun and bag with her knife and ammo, then gave her an almighty shove. Bo yelped and her upper body tumbled out of the car. Her hands hit the pavement and she looked back at the older Dixon.
"Sorry Doc but things need doing and you gotta keep your nose clean." Merle remarked as he slowly rolled the car forward. Bo twisted, dropping her legs out of the car. She crawled out of the way and got up, making a move to get back to the car but by that point Merle had sped up and was driving away, door flapping in the air.
"MERLE!" Bo screamed. She stared after the car then looked around, hands on her hips. "Fucking ass!" She frowned then picked up her gun and crossbow. Her gun went at her waist and her crossbow went over her shoulder and her bag across her back. She contemplated going after Merle, but he was in a car and she wouldn't catch him on time. Shaking her head, she turned and went back up the road, hoping the walkers were gone so that she could hot wire another car. She ranted and cursed and screamed as she walked, finding a rock and kicking it along until she lost it.
When a foolish walker stumbled out of the trees towards her, she dug her knife out of her bag, ready to take it down because now she was just pissed. She was all set to stab at it's head when an arrow shot through the back of it, dropping the dead body.
"What the fuck happened?" Daryl's irritated voice only calmed her slightly and she looked at him carefully before turning and going back up the road, the direction she had originally been going with Merle. "HEY! BO!"
"COME ON!" Bo called back. Daryl jogged to catch up to her and frowned. "Your brother's being a fucking noble asshole."
"Shit." Daryl muttered. "Why'd he have to go and pick now to get a fucking conscious?" Bo sighed and shook her head, deciding to stay quiet. They hurried along the road, Daryl apparently knowing where to go now. She glanced at him, wondering about the things Merle had said. She had no idea what to do with that kind of information or even if it could be true. Merle could have just been trying to kick up some shit.
***TWD***TWD***TWD***TWD***TWD***
Bo wasn't sure what to expect but it definitely wasn't what they found.
Walkers all over the place, eating the bodies of the dead. Her stomach churned, actually recognizing a few of the walkers as people from the town. She gripped onto her knife, waiting for a reaction but they were all too busy eating. Bo looked around, keeping behind Daryl. Aside from the munching, there was no noise. Neither of them spoke, neither of them needed to.
And then Bo walked into Daryl's back and stumbled slightly, blinking and trying to figure out why he had suddenly stopped. She leaned to the side to look at him and was surprised to see he actually looked sad, heartbroken. Her eyes drifted slowly to what was ahead of him, afraid to see what it was, and then she was stuck staring at Merle. He wasn't as she had last seen him though, not even an hour before. He looked at them, dead eyes, blood running over his chin. He staggered to his feet, the bloodied mess on his shirt making it clear how he had died. His blade still attached to his arm and his other hand missing fingers.
"Oh God." Bo whispered. Merle stepped over the body he had been feasting on and made his way to the live food. Daryl frowned and shoved him backwards. Bo wasn't sure what to do as she tried to ignore the cries that issued forth from the hunter's mouth. She just watched the brothers, struggling, tears building in her eyes. She flinched when Daryl finally rammed his knife up through Merle's jaw. Her hands covered her mouth as she watched him stab his brother repeatedly.
Daryl fell back off the unmoving body, eyes narrowed and swimming with tears. His head was screaming at his brother, wishing...demanding a reason as to why he'd suddenly pull such a stunt. Why he'd give up trying to hand over Bo and get himself killed instead. A shadow dropped over him and fingers brushed at his head. His hand snapped up quickly, grasping onto Bo's wrist and pulling her down. She dropped to her knees willingly then wound her arms around him. For once he didn't resist, his head falling into her chest as he tried to piece together the fucked up situation.
"I'm sorry." Bo whispered, one hand holding onto his shoulder, the other on his head. "God, Daryl, I'm so sorry. He shouldn't have...I mean...why would he..."
"Don't." Daryl muttered. Bo paused then nodded, staying silent. She looked around, thankful that the rest of the walkers in the area were obviously too distracted. Add on top that Daryl was now covered in blood from Merle which had effectively been transferred over to Bo and chances were, they just smelled bad enough to be ignored.
So they sat there in the blood stained grass silently. Daryl fingers curled in Bo's shoulder and hers just ever so slightly flexing in his hair, needing something to do. This was going to be a moment that she damn well would not say anything about to any of the others. All other times in his life that had been hard, he had yelled, gotten angry, not now. She didn't know what to do, if she should say something about the fact that it was getting darker. Her eyes shifted around and she found the car that Merle had stolen crashed into a silo but it didn't look too bad. If there was still gas, they could take it back to the prison.
But she had to make Daryl move first.
He had been quiet for a while, the crying he had done fading off into nothing. She knew her shirt was going to have a wet spot and she wondered about how she could explain that if it didn't dry up in time to get back. She untangled herself from the hunter long enough to fire an arrow into a walker that had long since finished off one body and had attempted to make a move for Merle's. The shot seemed to the trick and Daryl moved himself away from her to look around at the surroundings.
"We should go." The hunter muttered. Bo just nodded her agreement, watching him carefully as he got to his feet. He held out his hand and she gratefully took it, rising up off her sore knees. "This whole thing..."
"I know." Bo whispered softly. She leaned over and kisses his cheek softly. When she was moving back, she was caught off guard by him grabbing her head and kissing her. She succumbed to whatever he needed and then leaned her forehead against his. "Did you wanna...do something...with him?"
"Don't got the time." Daryl replied. He glanced just once at what was left of his brother and then as a side thought, reached out and took the blade from his arm. They both looked at his stump for a minute, contemplating different things about the man, before Daryl put an arm around Bo's shoulders and lead her over to the car to see if it was salvageable.
So how about that? Merle's wise words of wisdom, huh? I was debating on keeping him but there's already a lot going on in my head and rustling into that asshole redneck part of my brain to access stuff for him might not have worked. He was a little more insightful here than I think he was in the show, especially with telling Bo that Daryl loves her. Not something that's gonna be brought up anytime soon but maybe someday it might, who knows.