….. Chapter 45 …..
Daryl was sitting on the cement floor of his cell when he heard footsteps descend down the stairs from the far side of the basement. Not knowing what to expect, he glanced over to see Merle clear the landing and start to make his way towards him. Upon realizing that it was his brother, he huffed a resigned sigh out under his breath. The steely look in the elder Dixon's eyes said that he had a serious bone to pick, the determined measure of his stride indicating that he was ready to get to picking it. Either way, it was bad for everyone involved.
As Daryl watched him get closer he could feel the rigid set of his shoulders as they locked down tensely on his frame. It was a childhood defensive mechanism that couldn't be helped. With his left arm hurting like a son of a bitch, the inherent reaction brought with it a sharp shooting pain that only added to his shit mood. Merle stepped around the last of the teetering piles of junk in his path and as he did so, Daryl could barely fathom that he was about to engage in a conversation with his brother that he neither expected, asked for nor wanted.
"What tha fuck do you want?"
The belligerent question was spat out like the deterrent it was meant to be.
''Easy there baby brother,'' Merle said placatingly, grabbing the only chair from against the basement wall to swing it around in front of the cell. Straddling it, he set his good arm on its back rest and made himself comfortable. "Ain't no need ta be hostile."
Daryl sullenly watched him situate himself through the bars that separated them, wishing more than anything that he would just do what he did best and go the hell away. The predicament he was in was already fucked enough, the last thing it needed was the inherent grievances that came with a little bonding session with Merle to make it more so. Unfortunately, the resolute look on his brothers face told Daryl that he wasn't going to be given much choice in the matter.
''This is one hell of a situation you've gotten ya self in here Darylina,'' Merle sighed, ''...one hell of a situation.''
Daryl turned away to stare at the wall across from him, decidedly not needing Merle to tell him a damn thing he didn't already know. Wasn't like he hadn't been sitting there on the floor of the modified wine cellar he was stuck in thinking the exact same thing. He had been stewing on it heatedly for hours, the whole time cursing the fact that he hadn't just killed that fucking piece of shit Len when he had the chance. With the skinny bastard dead, the situation in question and everything that came with it could've been easily avoided.
''Yeah, well… you would know.'' Daryl ground out bitterly, the five words being five more than he initially planned upon saying. What the hell was his brother even doing here anyway? The chances that their paths would cross again now of all times were almost too coincidental to be believed.
''What...'' Merle responded indignantly, seeming to resent the implied accusation, ''Ya talking 'bout that beatin' ya took? I didn't know a damn thing 'bout that.''
Just hearing the bullshit excuse and the belligerently testy tone it was given in was enough to get the simmering anger brewing inside of Daryl threatening to overflow. With the blood in his veins beginning to throb from it, the headache he had been trying his best to ignore immediately bloomed behind his eye socket. Between that, his arm and the shit poor sorry situation itself, he had enough on his goddamn plate without doing this… whatever this was that Merle was attempting to do right now!
Struggling to draw a calming breath, Daryl let his head rest uneasily against the wall behind him, forcing it stay there until the painful haze abated. With the cage he was in steadily closing in on him, all he wanted was to be left the hell alone. ''Whatever. Don't care.''
Merle leaned forward in his chair as though the point he was about to make was damn near insisting on it. ''How tha fuck was I supposed ta know that while I was outside beatin' the shit out of that Len fella, Tony was down here doin' tha same ta you? How was I supposed ta know that, huh? Joe said Len needed ta pay up, I was just sent ta cash tha check. When tha man supplying tha room an' board says ta do somethin', ya don't fuckin' question it!''
Daryl looked over, almost thankful for the bars that stood between them, ''Didn't I jus' tell ya I don't fuckin' care? Get tha hell outta here!''
Merle flew to his feet, the chair scraping out noisily from underneath him. ''You got some fuckin' nerve being pissed at me, ya know that?'' He spat, the dark veins in his neck jumping, ''I'm tha one that saved ya ass out there, despite tha fact that ya left me ta rot Atlanta like a piece 'a fuckin' dead meat! An' then ta find out that ya shackled your wagon ta Rick fuckin' Grimes? That ya been with him ever since? What tha hell?!''
Taking the bait despite all intentions of not doing so, Daryl shoved himself to his feet as well, storming over to the gate to meet his brother head on. His eyes narrowing in barely contained fury, he jabbed his finger through the bars to yell in true Dixon family form, ''I don't owe ya an explanation for that! I don't owe you jack fuckin' shit! I went back to Atlanta ta look for ya an' all I found was ya hand and nothin' else. What was I supposed ta do, huh? Wander the fuckin' city alone an' hope we crossed paths?''
Merle stepped in closer as well to bark out incredulously, ''Somethin'! Guess it's too damn much ta ask for a lil' family loyalty, 'specially from my own kin!''
''You can jus' stop right there, take that loyalty an' shove it right up your ass!'' Daryl sneered, everything within him refusing to back down, ''You never gave a shit 'bout me an' what's more, ya still don't. Tha only thing you've ever cared about was ya self. Ya knew where that camp was just as much as I did. I made it back, ain't no reason why you couldn't have too… ain't like ya didn't find tha truck an' then steal it! You were jus' lookin' for a chance ta bail. Ya took off then only ta show up now tha same fuckin' asshole ya were before!''
The elder Dixon backed away, the solid set of his jaw locked in utter disbelief. ''Y'know what, you got a big set of brass balls on ya sayin' a thin' like that ta me. You're neck high up shit creek without a paddle an' you're gonna stand there an' say this is my fault? Only reason I came down here at all was tell ya how this thing's goin' down tomorrow but I'm guessin' you're too damn comfy on ya high horse that ya don't need ta know.''
With the huffily spoken statement giving him little choice in the matter, Daryl backed away himself, his face flushed with anger. After a few tense moments of the two of them just glaring at each other pointlessly, he grudgingly conceded and slumped back down into his initial position on the floor. What else could he do? He was stuck between a frustrating rock and a hard place, needing the information Merle could provide but preferring to take a bolt from his own crossbow than to go so far as to ask for it.
As if somehow knowing he had his younger brother by the brass set he had just mentioned, Merle fetched the chair and sat down in it again as well, his demeanor significantly more composed for doing so.
''Goddamn, you're somethin' else… comin' at me like that. Ya lucky these bars are here or you'd be gettin' ya ass beat twice in one day.''
Daryl glowered over at him, not much appreciating the additional commentary. ''If ya got somethin' ya need ta be sayin', then say it!''
Merle leaned in and set his prosthetic on his knee, completely ignoring the uneasy look his brother was giving the thing now that it was up close and personal.
''Joe's dumpin' tha girl in the woods somewhere… somewhere only he knows about… an' whoever finds her first 'wins'.'' Letting the information sink in, he paused to make sure he had Daryl's full attention, ''That ain't all baby brother. Him, tha fat man an' tha kid? All three of 'em will be out there with ya, jus' ta throw the both of ya off her scent an' make things interesting. Bad news is that they'll be armed to tha teeth… you know what that means, don't ya? Whole damn things a hunt an' it ain't just for tha girl.''
Daryl just stared at his brother in shock, his brain reeling as it attempted to process the nature of what was being said. Whatever he'd been expecting, it sure as hell wasn't that. It was one thing to do this fucking scavenger hunt against Len himself but now three of his buddies would be out there too, all of whom would love to see his head sitting on a silver platter. The mere prospect had the already harrowing situation spiraling that much further out of control. The odds already near insurmountable as it was, Daryl knew that every one of them would need to be taken out before he could even begin looking for Beth, which couldn't be worse for him because finding her and leaving this fucking place was the only thing he even remotely wanted to do.
Completely discouraged, he glanced over at his brother to ask warily, ''Ya said that's tha bad news… what's tha good?''
''There ain't no good, little brother.'' Merle sniffed regrettably, shaking his head like it was a given. ''There's bad an' there's worse. Game plans was for one of y'all ta walk out of that forest alive, supposedly with tha girl in hand. Well, that ain't gonna happen. Overheard the kid sayin' that neither one of ya is supposed ta make it. If you an' that Len fella don't get ta killin' each other, then someone else out there's gonna see it done.''
Daryl stared on incredulously, a chill running down his spine. ''What tha fuck?! What about Beth?''
''Who can say,'' Merle shrugged, ''If she ain't found before all 'a this goes down, I wouldn't put it past Joe ya leave her ass out there ta rot.''
With the connotation of such a thing lingering heavily on the air, Daryl pressed his palms to his brows, now completely and utterly overwhelmed. ''Christ! This whole fuckin' thing sucks! How tha hell do ya know this asshole anyways?''
''We did time together in Macon, both of us bunking in D block. He was there for larceny theft an' me for resistin' and evading. We both knew people that ran in tha same circles.'' Merle said, believing the information to be inconsequential in the greater scheme of things. ''What can I say, them circles jus' happened ta cross each other not but a week ago. Up 'til then I weren't even planning on stickin' around these parts. Thought I was takin' tha better of my options but... well, there ya go.''
Daryl regarded his brother as he spoke, not really surprised in the slightest. Merle attracted unsavory types the way honey attracted houseflies. Knowing it, he couldn't help but wonder just how deep his loyalty to his new circle of 'friends' ran. Taking the only opportunity he might have to find out, he looked back over to ask, ''What 'bout you, bro? Ya get ta go huntin' too?''
''I've been told I have 'ta stay behind… '' Merle drawled in response, taking the moment to pull a toothpick from his pocket and shove it between his teeth. ''Guessin' they don't trust me as much as I thought. Bottom line is Joe's a spectator, he loves ta watch… always has for as long as I've known him. He'd instigate fights amongst tha inmates for shits n' grins, jus' ta see who got shanked first. He's like a kid with a stick fuckin' poking at an ant hill. Man can't help himself.''
Daryl gingerly pushed himself to his feet again, hoping that the simple act of doing so would help him clear his head somewhat. Cradling his injured arm, he paced around the small area allowed to him before pausing to say, ''If ya so pissed 'bout Atlanta, why ya tellin' me all this?''
His brother grinned, the sight of it unsettling considering that he had been nothing more than the harbinger of bad news.
''What can I say… never thought I'd see ya again Darylina. Guessin' my unresolved issues need ya around so I can hash 'em out with ya." He hesitated for a moment, his gaze turning serious. "My hands are tied in this. I'm indebted to tha man in a way that I'd rather not get into but none ta say, its got me by tha short hairs. Not jus' that but Tony's all over me like stink on shit. Hate ta say it but ya on your own on this one.''
''Yeah, well… I'm used to it.'' Daryl groused, the words infused with a residual double meaning that he didn't feel the need to expand upon.
The not-so subtle jab went completely ignored which wasn't surprising considering that Merle's overall mindset was to believe that both Daryl and the world in general owed him an apology and not the other way around. Instead, the elder Dixon pulled the toothpick out from in between his teeth and used it to point over and say, ''Ya just may be, but what about that girlie of yours?''
Daryl paused, the question having been unexpected. ''What about her?''
It sounded defensive as shit even to his own ears.
Merle's gaze narrowed as he went in for the kill, ''You're in love with her, ain't ya?''
When his younger brother just glared at him, Merle sniffed knowingly. ''It's written all over tha both of ya. Never much figured ya for tha type, but then what do I know. Ain't no room in this world for that kinda shit... an' I'm thinkin' deep down ya know that. Be it today, tomorrow or next fuckin' year, it'll only end badly for one or tha both of ya. Maybe now's a good time ta walk away.''
Daryl stepped toward the gate that separated them, his hackles inadvertently rising. ''First up, don't recall askin' for your fuckin' opinion. Secondly, that ain't an option… not now, not ever.''
''Hmm, if that's how ya feel an' you're stickin' to it, best watch ya ass.'' Merle muttered, not looking to be his brother's keeper either way. ''I mean it. If Joe catches a sniff of it, he'll use her against you, mark my words.''
Already on the defensive and with his back against the wall, Daryl growled through the bars, ''Yeah, well…it's too damn late for that now ain't it, he already is! Ain't no reason for her ta be out there anyways! What kinda bullshit game's this asshole playin' here?!''
Merle held his arms up placatingly, wisely choosing not to throw fuel on the fire. ''Whoa whoa whoa! Easy there lil' brother... ain't no need ta slay tha messenger! I already done told ya, the man likes ta watch. You didn't think that pool outside was there for Sunday fuckin' barbeques did ya? Puttin' her in the middle is what makes it interesting. However shit goes down, ya best hope she can handle it.''
''She's a hell of a lot stronger than she looks. 'Sides, it ain't her that needs ta be worried an' trust me, she's tha only one in this shithole that can claim that. Whatever goes down tomorrow, one way or tha other… this place ain't happenin'. I'm warning ya now, try an' step in tha way of that an' I'm considerin' you ta be part of tha problem.''
''Fair enough.''
With himself duly warned, Merle got up and pushed his chair back to its original position against the wall. Looking back over as though he had something more that he wanted to say, he changed his mind and instead went to head out of the basement the way he came in. He was almost at the stairs when a quietly spoken question was asked from behind him.
''You talk ta her?''
Merle turned around as though it was a given, for some reason finding the inquiry amusing. ''Did I talk ta her? Yeah, I fuckin' talked ta her. Right before I came down here. Why?''
Daryl hesitated on the edge of responding, not sure if he should be relieved or upset. The question had just tumbled out of his mouth, doing so despite the fact that his brother was the last person walking the face of the planet that he would ever want to ask. Unfortunately, it was the only option available to him and he wasn't going to squander it simply because he'd rather bite off his own tongue than give Merle the satisfaction.
Worrying at his lower lip for it, he knew that anything he said from this point on would be considered fair game by his brother. That was just how the shrewd son of a bitch operated. For Beth's sake though, he had to take that chance. The two of them were being forced to participate in this post apocalyptic insanity going down tomorrow on the whims of some dickhead riding high on a power trip. By himself, he could do it… but it was knowing that she was to be out there too that had him faltering on the edge of losing it. The focus on which everything was to revolve around, she'd be placed right in the middle of things, having been dragged out there through no choice of her own.
The whole goddamn thing was fucked up and made absolutely no sense... but his feelings about it ran a far distant second to what was really worrying him.
''She scared?''
''Pfft, scared for you maybe,'' Merle tsked, somewhat surprised by the fact. He came back over to the cell to say, ''Didn't much seem ta care 'bout herself. Tha girl took me ta task, said I was a shit brother… looked like she wanted ta straight kick my ass. Truth be told, I'm still tryin' ta wrap my brain around the fact that she had tha balls ta mouth off ta Joe like she did. She's a feisty lil' thing, ain't no doubting that.''
Daryl sniffed for knowing it, having thought the same thing many times himself. ''Where is she now?''
''She's safe enough, least for tha time bein'. Locked upstairs until shit goes down tomorrow. Told Joe I'd keep an eye on her, figuring it's tha least I can do seein' as I'm stuck in tha role of bein' a supposed impartial bystander. Len's holed up too but don't trust them other fellas for shit, not even tha top dog himself. Who knows when tha last time a woman was seen 'round these parts. Wouldn't wanna have ta get in an unnecessary confrontation jus' because some asshole couldn't control his baser urges, y'know? Anyways, I gave her some food an' told her tha same. If she's smart she's gettin' some shut eye as we speak.''
Daryl dropped his gaze to the floor, painfully aware of just how personally exposing his next request was going to be. ''Hey man, if… if for some reason I don't make it… don't let nothin' happen ta her, a'right? You said ya weren't planning on stickin' around these parts anyways… jus' take her with you.''
''Man, what tha hell am I gonna do with a teenage girl?''
''You ain't gotta do nothin' with her, she can take care of herself. Her sister's out there somewhere with Rick an' the others, jus' help her find 'em.''
When Merle just looked on without saying another word, Daryl threaded his fingers through the bars to add more earnestly, ''She's strong, but she ain't strong enough to withstand tha livin' hell these bastards have planned for her, ya jus' said as much ya self. Tha shit Len's promised alone would kill her an' I can't have that. Ya said you can't help tomorrow an' I ain't askin' ya to… but if ya do this for me, I'll consider us even no matter what tha outcome. You're tha only one here I can trust with her. Will ya take care of it?''
''Look, right now all ya doin' is speculating 'bout shit that ain't even happened yet," His brother insisted, running a frustrated hand down his face, "It ain't gonna come ta that. What ya really need ta be doin' is worrying 'bout ya self.''
''Man, I can't! Whatever's gonna happen will happen one way or tha other, but if she don't make it…'' Daryl swallowed hard at his feelings as he laid them on the line, ''… well, then that's it for me too… 'cause I don't wanna do this without her.''
''Jesus, Daryl... what tha hell...'' Merle groused, his broad shoulders dropping heavily under the weight of what was being said. When his younger brothers gaze still didn't waver, he gave a resigned sigh before finally concurring begrudgingly, ''Fine, if ya feelin' that fuckin' strongly 'bout it, I'll look out for ya jailbait girlfriend.''
If Daryl hadn't been holding onto something solid he probably would've slumped over in relief. His brother could be many things but he was a man of his word, much like himself. Entrusting Beth's safety to him was the only thing he could think to do to ensure that she would survive this ordeal. It wasn't the best option by any means but it was a hell of a lot better than the none that would've been available to him if Merle hadn't been there.
''On one condition…''
Having considered the conversation over, Daryl felt his gut clench. He should've known that it wasn't going to be that easy… with Merle nothing ever was. Accepting it as such, he regarded his older brother through the bars that separated them, his gaze serious as he waited to hear what the stipulation might be.
Merle stared back at him just as seriously, pointing a hard finger in his direction to say, ''Ya school these motherfuckers tomorrow, ya hear me? Ya get in, take care of business, find that girl and then get tha fuck on outta here an' don't ya look back. Do that an' I'll be tha one considerin' us even. Don't ya come back here for nothin'. You take that girl an' run.''
….
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