In the middle of vacation so I'm throwing a hell of chapters! Approaching the season three midseason finale time zone.

Reunited

Daryl was coming awake from sleep, it had been about ten minutes and he was in and out as always. Maggie was against him and a bit of snow was seen, that's when he noticed the uncomfortable look on her. She was shivering and her lips were the lightest shade of purple since she was in a light long sleeved shirt.

Daryl stumbled to the rack and grabbed his poncho, and returned. Daryl placed it over Maggie like a blanket, then smirked at it. It looked sexy on her, she was so cute in it. Daryl lay beside her. She shifted into a comfy look and a sheepish smile in her sleep. Daryl decided to seal the deal by wrapping his warm, big, and strong arms around her shoulders. Drawing her close and tucking her head under his chin, Daryl was able to sleep knowing she was at peace now. Seeing her asleep and comfortable made him forget about his own shivers.

"Shane, what is it?" Glenn asked jumping down and walked to the gate. Glenn gulped and saw no sign of anyone. "Shane" Glenn called and heard a gun cock back behind him. "Shane? Name's Martinez and this is Richard" the Hispanic man said. "Who's Richard" Glenn looked around. A man had him at gun point and smiled. Shane showed up with his gun, "don't touch him" Shane warned. "We won't kill you or your friend, you're just coming back with us" Martinez chuckled. "And why would we do that?" Shane tested.

"Because you're out numbered" Martinez said as Shumpert and a lanky man with a baseball cap trained their weapons on them. Any second could've been the last. These men were dangerous and they would be killed. The only thing in thought came to action. Shane's adrenaline hit, he growled and charged Martinez. Without time to react, Martinez took the fall. Shane lifted Martinez in the air and dropped him flat on his ass, leaving him out of breath.

Martinez tried to retaliate but couldn't put much of a fight against Shane. Shane swung his right fist hard against Martinez' left cheek. Spewing blood, Martinez passed out, facing the woods. Shumpert and Richard were able to pull Shane off and threaten him, training their weapons on him. "One more move and we'll blow your friend's head off!" The man in the baseball cap ordered.

"Get up, and get in the car, Now!" Richard threatened as the pair went to the car. Martinez came awake several minutes later. He stood up and passed Shane. "No more funny moves or you're a dead beat"

Shane chuckled, "That's funny cause you need a gun to beat me, that's the only way" Shane seemed relaxed. "Then we'll see in the interrogation room" Martinez said.

Merle came awake when rain started tapping against the window. "Now the damn rain keepin' me up" Merle snarled stepping up and stretching. He figured he'd rather surprise his baby brother earlier.

Daryl lie awake in bed watching Maggie now. She looked so beautiful in her sleep. Her hair barely falling down her face and her eyes were gorgeous even when they were closed. She was on her side since she was resting her head on his chest, but he set a thick pillow under her instead. Watching her intently, Daryl was dragged out of attention when he heard rustling. Who was sneaking around? Where was Shane? Did he let someone in!?

Daryl grabbed his Horton Scout crossbow and slipped through the door stealthily, looking around. The source of the noise was behind the second cabin. Daryl quickly jogged there and trained his weapon on the figure. "Get on your knees, now!" Daryl growled.

Merle saw a truck pass by and saw familiar figures in there. 'That the chink?' Merle thought and noticed a burly man next to him. 'Daryl?' They were being taken by Woodbury folk. Merle saw the same African American man instead a holding the same Remington.

"So I gotta save all o' officer friendly's bitches" Merle muttered but let a chuckle out. Quickly packing his duffle bag of belongings, Merle had his M1911 in hand and rushed to the scene.

Stepping close to the figure, Daryl could see this was his leader, Rick. The way he held his gun, outstretched and a bit downward. His hair was slightly falling long. His full grown beard but it was plastered to his face. The slightest of gray hairs.

"Daryl, I can't find Shane, and Glenn was supposed to be on watch next but he isn't here" Rick looked around. With the silencer on his Beretta 92, Rick led Daryl around the perimeter one last time. "It's a bit after two, what're we doin'. We gotta get em' fast Rick" Daryl urged. Rick could only wonder where they'd went.

Rick and Daryl looked back at the three walkers remaining by the fences, a group of ten were there by counting. Seven were decapitated, who used a sword? Were they responsible for Glenn and Shane?

Rick and Daryl approached the gate to see the walkers walk towards a figure on the fence. A dark skinned woman, holding a katana and a shotgun. A big shotgun, Shane's shotgun.

The woman fell on the ground, unconscious. The men could tell, she had a gunshot wound on her mid thigh. The walkers were going to clobber her face, "Rick" Daryl said looking over to the fence with slight concern. Daryl changed since their farm encounter, he'd become opened up to the group, like a silent guardian. He'd saved Carol, Carl, Sophia, Maggie, and Rick himself. He'd saved them all. He'd been kind and controlled his temper to the group who'd lost his brother.

Rick was glad to have this man in his group against this world. The loyal man who'd put everyone else in front of him. Going from careless, angry, and vengeful. To kind, mannered,but still vengeful. This time it was for his group.

He could only wonder how this transformation occurred. Was it Maggie? Rick was staring into his eyes still and Daryl felt a bit weird. "Rick" he called again and Rick looked toward the woman about to get eaten. Rick nodded.

The woman looked up at the walkers, the three about to gnaw her to bits. Then she'd seen an arrow hit the side of the walker's head closest to her. Falling lifeless, she rolled over and got on her knees. Rick shot the other walker with his silenced pistol. "Stay right there" Rick ordered, his gun trained on her. Daryl stabbed the other walker and grabbed his arrow.

Daryl checked her for any weapons and sheathed her katana, holding it. "Who are you?" Rick looked dead at her. "Michonne" she said looking down. "Why're you here?" Rick asked.

"Your friend left his weapon behind. The big guy and your Asian friend were taken" Michonne pointed west. "Did you have to do with any-" Rick was cut off. "No" she flat out just said. Rick grabbed the shotgun from her hand and handed it to Daryl. "What happened to yer' leg?" Daryl asked with no concern but sounded like anger.

They could tell this girl wouldn't be afraid of anything but Daryl Dixon made her look puny when he was alert. "Got shot in the leg by this soldier from Woodbury."

Daryl and Rick exchanged looks and looked back. "Woodbury?" Rick played with the word. He was thinking of trusting this woman. "Ran by some pretty boy, The Governor. Has soldiers" Michonne warned. "The Governor? Ain't too bright of a place" Daryl said readjusting his crossbow around his neck. "I can take you there, it isn't too far of a place" Michonne offered. "Don't get too comfy, don't know you" Rick said cold and flat.

"Alright, it's a place called Woodbury. We're gonna be there by sundown" Rick looked over to Daryl and Michonne beside them. "This is Michonne, she'll come with us, and we don't know what they're capable of. But we won't lose any more" Rick said finally.

T-Dog quickly stepped beside them with his GC36. Maggie had really become a fighter, but they had thought out bringing her. Hershel watched as Maggie walked towards the duffle bag. "Maggie, are you sure?" Rick asked. "Yeah" was the answer.

Maggie looked over at Daryl who nodded and began to install the clip to his AKMS. Rick took the AR15 and handed Maggie an M16. "Head out now, the sooner the better" Rick backed up out of the cabin giving his wife, daughter, and son one last look. Dale and Hershel would take care of things until Rick returned.

Andrea was on watch, deciding there were more things that needed to be done back by the camp. Carol would definitely be able to aid Dale while Andrea was on watch so they had just enough at home. Michonne walked in front with Rick, "We'll walk, said it wasn't too far" Rick looked next to him. "Fine by me" she muttered.

Daryl was beside Maggie in the middle of this rescue squad. He wasn't speaking, he was just alert of his surroundings. She decided to take the time to talk. "Sleep well last night?" Maggie felt the rain starting to hit her. Daryl shrugged and looked behind him. T had it under control, making sure to check if they were being followed. "Not really the time ta' talk about night problems" Daryl said seriously. Maggie bit her lower lip and looked around trying to avoid him.

Beth awoke to the sound of birds migrating, when would this winter end? She ran outside to see if Glenn was on watch. She stopped at the front, "Glenn?" She called looking beyond the cabins. Andrea almost choked, Beth wasn't informed of this. Maybe she could improvise.

Hershel and Dale came outside to Beth. "Daddy, where's Glenn?" Beth looked around and noticed the silence. "Um, and Maggie, and Daryl? Where's Rick and T-Dog? Shane?" Beth looked worried. As if she was in a coma.

"Honey they went down to a place, Woodbury. They're trying to settle on an agreement, so they had to go down there today" Hershel explained, lied. "Will they be okay? When will they be back?" A clueless Beth asked.

"Who knows.." Hershel looked beyond the woods to what other surprise could jump into action.

Shane and Glenn were both in separate rooms, interrogation rooms. Down a slim hall, two different doors. The first one held Shane with the Governor and in the second was Glenn and a man they'd call Warren. "I'm not here to kill you but that's gotta go both ways" Warren introduced himself. "You're Glenn I'm guessing" he started to walk around.

The Governor and Shane made eye contact. "Shane, don't get much of people like you anymore. Now there's only one easy way to do this" the Governor tried sounding slick.

"Don't think for a second a guy like me would give a guy like you the directions, supplies, numbers, or anything" Shane cut in. The Governor looked down and smiled and let out a huff. "You wanna die that bad? We'll be there anyways" he smiled devilishly. "Martinez, take care of him but leave him alive, he'll think twice."

Merle walked down the dirt road path, already shoveling his duffle bag in an unknown area. He was gonna give those Woodbury people an old fashioned ass whooping for thinking twice of crossing his baby brother. Merle wasn't in thought when he'd already crossed their wooden fortress. Their territory. He learned the hard way now, he was held at gun point. Normally Merle was a gun slinger who could take down two men with one bullet. But these were three men armed with heavy automatics. And one stepped out the truck to cuff him.'So much for that' Merle thought.

Martinez swung his left fist across Shane's face, Shane felt slight pain. But he never flinched, because he knew he was superior to this asshole. "Not doing much?" Martinez noticed Shane's face still with no emotion. Martinez punched Shane dead on the nose then up his chin. This time blood was falling from his mouth and a bump was forming on his nose. Martinez smiled and stepped back. "I think the Gov needs me, lucky shit." Martinez said walking to Glenn's room.

Merle started walking towards the gates of Woodbury. He would be honest as hell that chances were he wouldn't get out alive. But at least he's see his brother and they'd definitely sabotage the place. He wouldn't go down without a fight. A sly grin spread across Merle's face.

Daryl looked over at Maggie who seemed uncomfortable, they had a walk left, it was gloomy out since it was raining but it could be around seven and they would be there in a while. Daryl looked back at her and she felt him staring. "Slept fine, coulda' been better if ya' weren't a bed hog" He teased looking ahead smirking. Maggie was surprised his sense of humor kicked in at the moment. She smiled up at him and purposely bumped into him lightly, "I don't think that's the case" Maggie giggled and Daryl raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?" Daryl asked ready for the battle. "Yep, small girl and a big guy" Maggie tested. Daryl chuckled. "Ain't so small" Daryl grinned walking a bit faster and Maggie's jaw dropped open. "Jerk" she muttered catching up to him.

"How long's a way from here?" Rick looked down through a wood trail. "We'd be there by sundown" Michonne answered him. "Okay, lead the way" Rick ordered with her now in front of him. The group walked deep Into the woods where there was no reassurance of safety. Daryl was now walking beside Rick leading the pack. Michonne and Maggie were with T-Dog directly behind them.

"So we meet again? Merle" The Governor said. "How do all o' ya' know my damn name?" Merle demanded. "You dropped your dog tag, never knew you were in the army" The Governor seemed impressed. "Got booted off in a month for punchin' my damn officer in his face" Merle chuckled.

"Where's the Governor?" Martinez looked at Glenn. "How should I know?" Glenn was confused all day but that never overcame his dominance. Sure Martinez would take him down but Glenn would fight. Martinez walked over and kicked Glenn's chair down and he was now on the floor. "Smartass" was all he said before leaving to the next door.

Shane had heard Glenn form the other room. "Glenn!" He called, "Everything okay?" Glenn grunted and shifted. "Yeah, I'm good!" He yelled from the other room. "You okay?" Glenn called over. "Hell yeah, assholes can't hurt me. We're gonna find a plan to do this okay?" Shane said, declared. "Yeah."

Martinez entered the third interrogation room, "Who's this?" Martinez looked over at the pair. "This is Merle Dixon. Merle, Martinez" The Governor introduced smiling. "Now this is a stubborn one, more stubborn than Shane. Give you some time" The Governor left them alone. The Governor took mental note of Merle's tattoo on the bicep of his arm. 'Wolfpack' is what it read.

Daryl and Rick continued walking, "I know it's been awhile" Rick started. "Haven't seen people in a while, we don't know what to expect. Any wrong moves, we take them down" Rick ordered continuing to walk. The six kept walking until a twig snapped. Daryl put his index finger in the air, "Hold on" he whispered. "Down, now" Rick whispered and the group crouched and looked around. Four walkers were passing by. Letting the walkers pass, they continued walking until the end of the woods were reached.

Martinez and Merle were now alone, "Shane here huh?" Merle asked smiling. "Yeah, and Glenn. Why? They friends of yours?" Martinez looked over. Merle thought for a second. "Wouldn't exactly say friends, just been with them til' they left me on a rooftop" Merle explained. "Don't ask me too many questions, I'm not goin' prey." Merle grinned.

Shane used his strength to shift his chair close to the wall. When almost touching the wall he heard for Glenn. "Glenn, can you hear me?" Shane whispered. Glenn was quiet for a second, "Yeah, I hear you."

"Alright, when we get out of here, follow my lead" Shane ordered. He could tell Glenn nodded and sat back to see how this would play out.

Martinez stepped closer to Merle, "I'll do as I please, you little redneck shit" Martinez spewed venom. "Take a swing at me and I'll break you, in two and no Mexican likes there bean in two" Merle spat back. He was the man tied to a chair but seemed as the dominant one. Martinez didn't notice himself take a step back and give up on this guy. "I'll be right back, with a jack knife for you" Martinez tried threatening. He exited and Merle went back to work. He reached for under his wrist and began cutting the tape with the jack knife he grabbed from Shumpert.

Merle debated on whether he should free Shane and Glenn. Well, he always picked on the Asian and he didn't have much against him. He'd also scared the shit out off Shane, letting him know he could take control of the group if he wanted. So he'd decided to free them, if he could himself.

Back outside the gates, Rick and company were in between jammed cars by the entrance. "Any way around?" He looked over at Michonne. She left them to lean against the gate. They were all pressed against the gate slowly walking across to the other woods. "Before I left, I left a little opening no one noticed yet" Michonne said. Rick nodded, and almost slipped. "What's 'ere?" Daryl grabbed the shovel and began to dig. A duffle bag, "'S my old bag" Daryl narrowed his eyes.

"Merle" he muttered and began digging. Maggie and Rick exchanged looks "Merle's alive?" T-Dog asked a bit scared. "It won't be like that for ya'. Any of ya'" Daryl promised digging. "I gave up a lot. I put my own dad down. Watched my mom lose her third son. And she went with em'" Daryl's voice trailed and he huffed. Looking back into Rick's eyes, Rick saw his hopefulness but sadness.

Maggie had unshed tears and looked away from him. "Merle was always there, he won't admit it but he ain't what he looks. He's jus' as scared as we was" Daryl picked up the bag. "Damn heavy bag" Daryl grunted, opening the bag. Inside were a bunch of guns.

"You'll need this" Rick handed Michonne an MK18. He also put an M1911 and handed T the shotgun Shane held. He'd respect Daryl wishes and held a Glock-17 for Merle. Rick left the bag there for when they come back out. He nodded and the group walked through the tiny hole Michonne left and entered Woodbury.

Merle was untied and stood beside the door when footsteps approached. Thankfully, it was only a pair of feet. The door opened and a bald man walked in with a hammer. "Okay-" Merle swept in. Putting him in a chokehold, Merle stabbed his chest and let him fall dead. Gripping his knife, Merle moved on to the next room.

As night hit, the rain was faint, barely a drizzle hit them. Rick stood with the group inside an empty ground floor to a jewelry store. "Okay, we'll throw a smoke outside and head out back for a distraction" Rick looked from Daryl to T-Dog. "Someone's coming" Michonne informed.

Shane called again, "Glenn he's gonna open my door and-" the door flew open and Shane couldn't believe his eyes. "Merle" Shane was wide eyed. "Hurry up, can't believe I'm doin' this rescue shit" Merle was disgusted and ran out with Shane and busted down Glenn's door. "Merle!" Glenn laughed excitedly but his smile soon faded. "Shit" he muttered as Merle returned and untied him. "What I thought" Merle muttered.

"Why'd you free us?" Glenn asked being led out the door. "I ain't a deserter like your people lil' Asian" Merle looked forward leading them out.

A man with a trucker hat and plaid shirt opened the door, hand on his holstered pistol. "You know you ain't allowed in here" he said as Rick and Daryl lurked from the shadows. Rick slammed him against the wall and pressed his Python against his temple. Daryl had his AKMS trained in the man while the others trained their guns outside.

"You're holding some of our people, where are they?" Rick growled at him impatient. "I..I don't know, really" the man was scared shitless, a weird turn of events. Rick quickly out a sock in his mouth and Daryl knocked him out cold.

T-Dog opened the door and quietly stepped out. Michonne and Maggie followed slowly. Rick and Daryl took the front of the store and Rick tossed a smoke grenade, going off and three soldiers backed up. "Move" Rick ordered and the group of five ran towards the painted arrow to the holding rooms.

Merle led the three towards the last door when two men armed, halted them. "Down, now!" Merle kicked one to the floor and a smoke came down to the room. "Go!" Merle yelled pushing the others out the door but being held behind.

Michonne gave Shane his shotgun and Rick handed Glenn a Glock-17 and they rushed to the nearest house. When the group of five were now seven, Daryl inspected them. "Your face, what happened?" Rick looked at the damaged look on Shane's face. "Martinez, his right hand man threw hits at me" Shane started as Daryl handed Shane his red rag to wipe off his blood. Shane took it thanking him and cleaning off the blood.

"Daryl, Merle was here, he saved us. But they held him up. Not sure where he is" Glenn looked around. "Merle's here? He's my brother I gotta get em'-" Daryl was cut off when Rick stood next to him. Intensely. "Daryl, we're holed up, and j can't afford to lose you. We gotta get out of here" Rick looked out. "Bet he's my brother he saved em' we gotta-" Daryl was panicking. Maggie had never seen Daryl so needy. Wanting his brother more than anything right now. It sort of shattered her heart to see him like that.

"Daryl you're not thinking straight. Look, we're in deep shit right now. We need to save ourselves now, are you with me?" Rick almost touched foreheads with Daryl. The group intensely stared at Daryl and he looked around to this family. "Yeah" was his answer and Rick couldn't stop his lips from slightly turning up. He nodded and led them out again. Rick and Daryl were the first out and started to fire at the other side of town.

Rick was crouched in the middle of the street, firing rounds of his AR15 wherever he found enemy combatants. T-Dog was by a shrub with Glenn and Michonne trying to flank the soldiers. Firing bullets Shane took cover by the bus. Daryl was across the street, covering Rick. Maggie was behind Daryl firing at a bench where Daryl's general firing direction was.

Taking down one of the men, Daryl took the moment to underhand toss a smoke grenade at the center of the town. This gave Rick and T-Dog the chance to open fire at more soldiers, taking down two or three soldiers. "I'm running low!" Shane yelled. "Me too, alright let's get out of here" Rick ordered. Maggie rushed beside Rick in front of Daryl.

"Keep moving, I'll lay some cover fire" Daryl said. "No, we have to stay together" Maggie yelled at him. "I'll be right behind ya'" Daryl's voice softened and the group moved. Daryl began firing at more Woodbury soldiers, taking down at least a group of soldiers.

Rick and Maggie made it out by the jammed cars, counting that they were missing Daryl. "Dammit Daryl" Rick grunted. "He got held back, we gotta get him and Merle" Rick admitted. "You sure that's a good idea? I mean he saved us, but he always picks on Glenn, almost killed T and held you and Andrea at gun point" Shane explained. Maggie heard that Merle was ruthless but she could only imagine what he was capable of beside that.

"We'll see how it plays out, but they're the priority now. Maggie and I will go to the sight. Shane, I need you and Michonne to hold up the bus and make sure we aren't followed. T and Glenn keep watch" Rick ordered the group.

Rick nodded at Maggie and rushed to the arena.

"Today we were attacked by a group of terrorists!" The Governor yelled at the crowd. "What should we do with these people since we'd found two who were the biggest threats!" He yelled again. "KILL THEM!" Chants came from the crowd. "Our first attacker is Merle Dixon!" He shouted, pushing Merle up to the middle, handcuffed.

Martinez and Shumpert pulled Daryl out with a bag over his head. Struggling to drag the man, they pushed him up to the center. "Our second terrorist!" The Governor's voice trailed. Merle saw the back of him, angel vest and hair slightly falling down his neck.

"Merle's brother!" The Governor could tell it was his brother since his Wolfpack tattoo was directly on his chest. Daryl looked over at Merle and the stare came back, locking eyes the Dixon brothers stared out to the arena side by side.

That's how I like the midseason finale! Let me know how you felt! Having a lot of fun with the story!