Gone
"Kill them! Kill them!" Were the shouts coming from the Woodbury residents. With about seven soldiers around the arena, Merle didn't know what to make of the situation. With this now one eyed bastard giving his brother and him the death stare, there wasn't an escape. Martinez was watching the two of them and Shumpert along with Haley were by the exits, making sure they didn't move. Then there was Richard directly behind them, Daryl could feel him aiming his gun at him.
Rick and Maggie rushed to where the noise was coming from, "Here" Rick pointed towards the arena's entrance. There was a far distance from soldiers but close distance to their priority. Daryl.
Standing watch, Glenn, Shane, T-Dog and Michonne gathered by the bus. "So you lived here, who's this Governor?" Shane looked over at her. She grit her teeth just at the thought of him. "Dictator, psychopath" she started. "Runs this place and manipulates people to kill or attack innocent, like this group" Michonne snarled.
Merle didn't see it any way around, they were fucked. He was spun out of thought when the Governor started.
"These terrorists took innocent lives! Warren, Ashley!" The Governor began yelling.
"Fight! Til' the death!" His voice began to crack out of raw anger. Cheers and agreements came from the crowd. He smiled and walked back by the crowd. "Winner walks away!"
The chants weren't hard to miss from the entrance. Shane heard it well, Daryl and Merle were gonna get executed or die somehow. And just then, an African American soldier with a young Asian man approached the bus. "The terrorists!" One yelled firing at the four, deflecting off the bus.
Climbing under the bus and out to their flank, Shane had fired a bullet directly into the Asian man's right chest. As for the other being pinned down, T-Dog had the last shot directly at the vocal chord of his neck. One of the bullets he sprayed as he collapsed nearly hit Glenn before Michonne grabbed his shirt, pulling him down.
"Brother against brother!" The Governor finalized. After another agreement cheer, he walked towards Daryl. "Better pray you're stronger than your brother" he added, walking away. Daryl stared at Merle, the first time in a while. He missed his brother and he finally got him back. But this Union wasn't the way he'd planned it.
Either way, if he died, it would be beside or to the hands of his brother. Merle looked less pessimistic than Daryl. Although he didn't have his devil smile on, he was working up a plan in his head. Daryl noticed that Merle looked a bit different, Merle probably thought the same. But Merle got much more leaner and gained a light grey beard. His hair grew a bit too. But Daryl had completely changed in Merle's eyes.
The whole complexion really. His hair used to be short and almost blonde. But now it was growing almost on his neck and a darker shade of brown. His facial hair had grown a bit thicker but was patchy. His eyes looked like they were restless from work. His whole body looked as if he were almost one hundred percent muscle. He was a bit proud of his brother.
Looking at the display before her, Maggie didn't know how to react. She was watching their groups' most valuable, her most valuable member being held close to death. No, Rick and she couldn't be letting this happen to Daryl. She looked over at Merle, that's what Daryl called him.
Looking at the man, she could tell that they were brothers. His depth in blue was unmistakable to be exactly like Daryl's. He had a bit more lean but still muscular physique like Daryl. He didn't look like a bad man, they needed him too. Maggie trained her AR15 on the Governor this time.
Rick wasn't paying attention to this Governor. His eyes had been on Daryl the whole time, and Merle. He only hoped that he'd be okay until Rick was ready. Instead, he had trained his M16 on Martinez, who was closest to Daryl.
The fire in Daryl's eyes began to show as the chants grew louder. Noises from around went slow motion in his head, and his adrenaline began to rush.
"Maggie I heard gunfire behind us, make sure everything's okay" Rick ordered. "Are you sure?" She looked over. "Yeah, I'll hold it down here, just try to be sneaky" he advised as she crouched slowly away.
Rick looked back forward into the arena. They were still normally talking, but Daryl wouldn't have any of it. Merle seemed to have his emotions control, but Daryl. His eyes were bloodshot and a bit glossy. He seemed ready to meet his fate, but was going to do something stupid. And he was.
Shumpert walked beside Daryl, with his gun cocked and Daryl snarled. Taking one step forward, Daryl l collided the back of his head against Shumpert's nose. Stumbling backwards, Shumpert fell to floor, bloody and cupping his nose. Martinez and Richard dragged Daryl off into the first room. 'Shit' Rick was now in panic as Daryl was taken off.
Being dragged into the room, Daryl was hit in the side of the ribs with a large stock. He barely flinched as the second blow was Martinez, who punched him in the face. Looking over, Daryl then was pistol whipped on his mouth by Richard. He was sure his lip was busted as he felt the swelling and crimson liquid dripping.
Daryl was all over the place, being tied up. He'd grunted as Richard and Martinez both were taking shots at him. First a blow to the ribs, then to his temple. Hie felt his right eye swell and was sure it would leave a black eye. As for his lip, he was sure it was busted and bloody. Daryl's hair had been sweaty and roughed up, messy. He also had a bit of a horizontal cut on his upper cheek. "Hope you're ready now, bastard" Richard said as he and Martinez dragged Daryl up and out of the room.
Maggie had come back by Rick's side and went prone where she couldn't be seen. Looking around for Daryl, all she saw was Merle. "Where's Daryl?" She whispered to Rick almost frantically. Rick really didn't wanna spill the news to her but began. "He attacked one of theirs and-" he was cut off when they both looked forward. Daryl had been dragged to the center and set still with the bag over his head. Rick saw Merle's eyes go red and couldn't stand to see Daryl. He knew what he looked like, he could tell.
Maggie put a hand over her mouth with wide eyes as the bad was removed from his head. She saw the cut drawing blood from his cheekbone and his already formed black eye. It also wasn't hard to miss the busted and fat lip he got. Those assholes couldn't do that to her Daryl!
Maggie bit her bottom lip as the girl in pig tails approached Daryl, Rick saw Maggie raise her gun. She didn't know what the girl said but it was obviously flirtatious and looking back at Daryl, he looked a bit disgusted. Maggie was more than pissed off, no one could take him.
"Name's Haley, and if you make it out alive, I got a spot for you" she winked at Daryl. He glared at her, "Already got someone, you can't compare to. Keep walkin' bitch" he spat. She fired a billet in front of him, which he didn't even flinch at and kept walking.
The Governor walked back towards Shumpert, "Let em' in"
Shumpert along with three other soldiers, brought out walkers. Leashing them as approached Daryl and Merle. "Fight!" The Governor ordered as Merle and Daryl looked at one another.
Without much thought, Merle punched Daryl and had thrown him to the ground. Maggie and Rick looked over in surprise and fear. Was Merle really going to kill his own brother? If that was the case, they both hoped Daryl would beat his ass and they'd take down the soldiers.
It hurt Maggie to see Daryl in this state. He was fighting his own brother, the man he'd been looking for and needed since the start. In confusion, she could just watch.
Daryl quickly rolled over as Merle stepped to him. Having the upper hand, Daryl punched Merle over and stood up. They grabbed each other and Merle tossed Daryl over on to the ground. Daryl coughed as Merle now wrapped his hands around Daryl's neck. Daryl had started choking Merle as well. The first words conversation he'd had with his brother in two years wasn't the best greet.
"You really think this asshole's gon' let you go?" He coughed as Merle squeezed. "Don't worry baby brother, we're getting' out of this. Right now" Merle promised and Daryl let up on his grip. Thank god this was it. Daryl knew kin would never betray one another.
Dragging Daryl up, Merle and he were back to back with their hands held high. There were four walkers being held by Woodbury folk. There was also Haley and Martinez holding their weapons at the brothers.
Maggie didn't know how, but she actually smiled at the display before her. The two brothers were acting the whole time. Just to save each other.
Though she was still terrified of the situation, Maggie felt a glimmer of hope pass by her. These were two strong men that would help themselves. The Dixon brothers truly were men of steel. Warriors.
Merle kicked one walker back as they closed in on the two. Daryl had punched one directly in front of him and threw the walker towards the crowd. With many screams of the walkers, the long haired man tried controlling his walker before a bullet had hit it in the skill. Daryl and Merle tensed and jumped back. Then Daryl looked over at Haley. A bullet hit her directly in the chest and she fell dead.
'My man, bitch' Maggie mentally said as she fired rounds of her AR15 at the arena. Rick also came in, firing at any Woodbury soldiers he could find.
Daryl was in shock as the bullets whizzed past him to the Woodbury people. He and Merle were now sticking close to each other. A smoke grenade was thrown into the arena, blinding everyone in sight. Daryl looked over to see a flashlight clicking on and off. The gesture was unmistakable to be Rick. "C'mon!" Daryl tapped Merle as they ran out to Rick.
Shumpert held Daryl's crossbow and Merle wouldn't have any of it. He punched Shumpert in the face and Daryl grabbed his crossbow from him. He was now unconscious, laying on the ground. Merle picked up a Walther P99 he'd found on the floor. They both rushed to Rick and Maggie.
The four eventually made their way out to the streets of Woodbury to see the others gone. Rick panicked for a moment before seeing a chalk lining on the floor. It was a faded trace of directions. The four rushed to it and found the gate locked. "This way!" Merle called as their was an opening by the side gate.
"Hey, you aren't coming back with us!" Rick yelled.
"We ain't got time for this shit!" Merle yelled back leading the way out.
Daryl looked over at Maggie and nodded, she smiled and stayed close. "Thank ya'" he said entering the woods. She followed behind him, happy they were all reunited. All that mattered was the Merle and Rick conflict.
When they were deep in the woods, they'd eventually slowed down and found Merle's already sunken bag. It had useful resources and they couldn't afford to leave it behind. Rick picked up the small shovel and handed it to Merle. "Dig" he said coldly and Merle only smirked. Daryl looked between the two and knew where this was going. Merle never took shit like that and Rick was about this close to getting jawed so he'd taken action.
Daryl stepped in between and grabbed the shovel from Rick. "Ain't gotta be no problems man" Daryl said calmly in his deep and rough voice.
Rick nodded and u holstered Merle's pistol. Merle looked over at Rick and almost pulled out his knife. "Whoa officer friendly, that there was a gun I earned" Merle said taking a step toward Rick.
"Don't know if you could handle holding a gun near me and my group" Rick spat back. Daryl let out a deep breath and dragged the duffle bag out.
Michonne was sitting beside Glenn and T-Dog against a thick fallen branch as Shane stood against a tree parallel to them and had his shotgun ready. They heard rustling and a whistle from the woods and quickly stood as the groups of four became eight. T-Dog and Merle locked eyes and he immediately pulled out his gun, training it to Merle's length. Rick stepped between them and put his hand up. "Drop it T, he's unarmed" Rick said.
Carol was sitting outside drinking the hot cocoa she'd made for the kids and herself. She'd known six of the people who went out to the battlefield. If they didn't return, she didn't know what she would do. Hershel and Dale were certainly not the best leaders over Rick and Daryl. They'd already had problems, and those two made this group as strong as they could.
Beth stepped outside to sit beside Carol. "You okay?" Beth asked Carol.
"Yeah honey I'm fine. You alright? Seem a little nauseous since yesterday" Carol studied Beth's features and Beth looked out to the woods.
"I just really miss Maggie. I miss Glenn too" Beth sighed. Carol put a hand on Beth's back, consoling her. "Maggie's a strong woman, and Glenn he's fine. I'm sure Daryl and Rick would never let anything happen to them" Carol smiled.
"I mean, they said it was a serious thing, Woodbury" Beth hated saying that now.
"Yeah, but they had a lot of people go with them and I don't think it'll be easy to get rid of a group like ours" Carol smiled at Beth. "As for Glenn, I know you two are together, I know how it feels" Carol added as Beth cheeks reddened.
She stood and gave her a hand up. "But everything will be okay, nothing'll happen to our family" Carol promised.
Andrea stood from the roof and looked down at the two girls. "Two people coming in. Get Dale and weapons. They're armed" Andrea whispered.
Dale rushed outside beside Carol and Beth handing them each an M4A1 as he held a small pistol. Carl stepped beside them with a silenced Beretta 92 and told the others to stay inside. The two approached the fence and had their hands raised.
"We mean no harm to you and your people, just need a place" the burly man with a beanie said. He had a young woman beside him, they looked like brother and sister.
Dale and Carol propped open the gate and let them enter, "Weapons" Andrea said on the roof.
The pair lowered their weapons letting Beth and Carl step closer and confiscate their weapons.
"How many of you are out there?" Carol asked looking out into the woods. "None, we were with a guy, Merle" the big man said. "Only name we've gotten in the last year, he went to look for his brother, man named Daryl" he continued.
Everyone's heads jerked dead upon the man before them and he raised his hands. "Whoa, uh-" he started before Beth spoke.
"They're in our group, have you seen them?" Beth said hopefully. The woman beside the man shook her head.
"Sorry, we haven't seen them in three days. I'm sure they're okay though" she added.
"I'm Tyreese, this is my sister, Sasha" he introduced.
Beth smiled. "I'm Beth, this is Carol, Dale, Andrea, and Carl." She started. "Everyone else's inside, well except the ones who went out to Woodbury" Beth said.
"You're welcome to stay here, but I wouldn't get too comfortable. Rick is a reasonable man, but he's not letting anyone slip through anymore" Carol mentioned. Tyreese nodded and seemed to understand. "Don't worry, we've crossed those people before and slip ups don't occur much anymore."
The group back at the cabins eventually settled in wit the addition of Sasha and Tyreese. They'd taken the bottom floor of the first cabin. Where nearly no one was. Noon was going to hit and Rick's group should've been back by now.
T-Dog didn't know how to feel when he saw Merle appear in front of him. The man that nearly killed him back at the roof. They'd already cuffed him, so he didn't know what to expect from Merle.
"Listen, I explained this shit already dammit! It's been two damn years since that rooftop!" Merle exclaimed. Rick exchanged looks with Daryl then T-Dog. "You held your own group of people on a roof, and beat the shit out of him" Rick started. "Sexually spoke to Andrea, who is still alive, so I could imagine how you'd behave with our other girls"
"Hey! I was an asshole doing my job, ain't no damn rapist!" Merle cut in.
"I don't trust you or that Merle. No one could sleep without one eye open, and it'll be two with you around" Rick started again, slicing him coldly with words.
"We'll all be at stake and up our necks when you can't cooperate" Rick said again. Merle started to get angry. "Listen sheriff!" Merle started.
I saved both your deputy and the rice ball's asses last night! I stayed back for their safety when I should've killed em'! Ain't nothin' keepin' me away from my brother! I don't need your camp neither!" Merle finished.
"Rick, he has a point" Glenn said, Maggie hoped that Merle would leave with them, as long as Daryl was.
Rick looked back to the large group with them. He wanted everyone at home to be safe, so he was gonna split this. "Shane, take Maggie and T-Dog back home, we'll talk this here" Rick said.
Rick walked over to Maggie and T-Dog. "After what we've been through, if I had to cut him loose..." Rick's voice trailed. He walked back to the situation as Shane took T and Maggie to the end of the woods.
Tyreese was on watch with Carol, she found him to be a kind and gentle giant. "Where were you before all this?" Carol looked over at Tyreese. "Jackson, got overrun" he simply said and before he could say anything else, rustling came from the woods.
"Stop right there!" Tyreese ordered as the rustling stopped and they appeared at the gates. Shane looked at him bewildered, "Who are you?" Shane saw Carol beside him as Maggie and
T-Dog approached. "Those are out people, Shane T-Dog and Maggie" Carol said pointing them out as Andrea opened the gates.
"Maggie!" Beth yelled running into her arms, squeezing her tightly. "Where's Glenn?" Beth asked suddenly worried. "Daryl? Rick?" She continued. Maggie gave her a sheepish smile and shushed her. "They're on the highway, they should be here soon" she finished and Beth smiled again.
Merle was standing by the second tree in the woods, and Michonne was leaning against the Hyundai Tucson meters away. "Listen, I think Merle's still a bit of danger and an asshole" Glenn said and looked over at Daryl. "S' my brother, don' gotta put it on em' like that" Daryl cut in.
"He'll put us all in risk, you're his brother but it's not safe" Rick argued. Daryl shook his head. "Ya' don' get it, he's my brother. Can't let em' go, jus' found im'." Daryl calmed down.
"Daryl, you don't know the man we saw in Atlanta, we could be dead tomorrow. You can't change him" Rick said as if it were just a dangerous animal.
As soon as Daryl came to realization, he slightly put a brave eye narrow and looked down, nodding. Then looking back up he saw Glenn's eyes already reading his.
"Fine, we'll fend for ourselves" Daryl muttered.
"Daryl, that's not what we were implying" Glenn motioned downward. "We don't want you to go-"
"Yea'? Well you sure are implyin' it. Ain't no space, I get it" Daryl answered. Glenn started again, "That's not what we want, what are we gonna tell Maggie?" Glenn started shaky. Man the loss of Daryl would do a number on them. Rick just stood in disbelief that this was happening with Daryl. The man who would keep them well fed and mainly helped Rick throughout all his troubles. And at some points took charge when needed.
"What's Maggie gonna think when we say that Daryl's gone?" Glenn kept trying. Daryl shook his head. Maggie was his favorite, his best friend and maybe something more. He hadn't planned on it but you had to lose some to get some, and he wanted this for the group.
"She'll understand" he said lowly, hopefully. It was all for the best. Daryl started to walk and Glenn slumped and called him one last time. Daryl passed the street where Rick followed him. "Hey, there's gotta be a way" Rick stopped and looked into his eyes looking for a sign.
"No him no me" Daryl declared. Rick shook his head. "Daryl, we have to work this out. We started something last night" Rick tried reasoning.
"Like I said, no him, no me. Sorry Rick" Daryl finished as he began getting his belongings. He looked over at Daryl who had his duffle bag of weapons.
"Take care of Maggie for me, Hershel, Beth." Daryl started remembering the others. "Lil' ass kicker, Carl. One tough kid" Daryl gave Rick a crooked smile. Walking off, Rick looked over at them, into the woods.
Merle had an arm around Daryl and walked off. Daryl looked back one last time before walking off, disappearing. Rick ran one hand through his hair and the other on his hip. They'd lost cards without Daryl.
Rick slammed the trunk shut and opened the Hyundai doors. "Let's go" he ordered angrily to Michonne and Glenn.
The ride was more than short when the three had already gotten back. "They're back!" Beth and Carol ran to the gate. Opening the door, Rick, Michonne, and Glenn entered and Maggie clasped a hand over her mouth.
"Where's Daryl?" Maggie ran up to Rick and everyone began tensing up. Maggie already knew the answer and began tearing up, Maggie's lip began trembling. "Is he.." Maggie's voice trailed and she broke into a few sobs. Beth and Hershel moved to her side and comforted her.
Rick's eyes went a bit glossy, because the truth was that Merle could've changed. And irresponsibly, Rick let the man who kept them safe and fed out in the dangerous world. When all he wanted was peace.
Maggie's cries became louder as she was being soothed. "Daryl.." She whispered.
Rick looked up and locked eyes with Shane then Maggie. "Daryl's gone.."
Hopefully this answered some questions. Enjoy!