Welcome, my lovelies, to the next cubic butt-load of chapters that me and my unofficial Beta have nicknamed, the Hell Chapters.

Yeah. Damn.

SINCE these chapters are going to be nothing but continuous shotgun blasts of bad shit/drama after bad shit/drama all leading to a climax of epic proportions at the end that involves the long awaited for lemon between Daryl and Tessa (climax - no pun intended (I am also probably gonna get some major hate reviews too in-between, but I promise you that its all gonna come out good in the wash at the end!) I have gone ahead and written them out in advance. So, hopefully, there will be no prolonged bouts of inactivity in-between the chapters like there have been lately because if there are, then the chapters are not going to have the effect that I want them to have. So yeah, you will know when the Hell Chapters end because there will be a totally awesome lemon at the end and I will tell you - any questions?

Good - anyways! Yes, HaloHunter89, Rick will eventually get his ass handed to him by Daryl, don't worry - that's part of the drama in the upcoming chapters. Keep reading and I promise that you guys won't be disappointed :)

And OH yeah, since these chapters are so damn drama-filled, if I don't get lots and lots of reviews for them (which I probably will lol) I will not be a happy author and God only knows what I'll do if I'm not happy . . . ;)

So, please, ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seat-belts and make sure your tray-tables are in their upright and locked positions, because this ride's about to get a Hell of a lot interesting :)

- Nagiana.


The day Rick finally came back, they were all grouped in the common room eating. No one there made any sudden movements or seemed especially excited that he was back. Truthfully, not one of them knew exactly how to be around him at that moment and by the look on his face when no one immediately jumped to greet him, he fully realized that.

"Is everyone doing okay?" He asked as he opened the gate and walked in. He was wearing fresh clothes, was clean shaven and had definitely bathed. Tessa nodded as he moved over to the table she was sitting at with some of the others, where he placed a gentle hand on the square of Carl's back. Tessa shifted Aayla in her arms slightly and the little girl let out a sound of protest, one that Danny mimicked as Wren shifted him as well. Rick's baby was off sleeping in one of the cells where Tessa could get up and quickly check on her if need be and she could see that everyone thought it was strange when he didn't immediately wonder after the health of the baby.

"Yeah . . . yeah, everything's fine – you don't have to worry." He nodded as Hershel pinned him with a searching look.

"What about you?" He asked and Rick nodded again.

"I'm fine. I'm just here to check on Carl . . . make sure everyone's doing okay. I cleared out the boiler room, so hopefully we can get some hot water in here soon." He spoke and Daryl nodded to him from his spot sitting on the steps beside Oscar.

"How many walkers were in there?" Rick shrugged.

"I don't know. There was a dozen . . . two dozen, maybe?" Glenn stood then and held Rick's gaze with his own for a moment.

"Look, Rick, we can help with the bodies, if you need the help . . . burning them, I mean." Rick shook his head.

"No . . . no, I can do it," He moved over to Daryl then and everyone turned to watch him – giving him their complete and undivided attention. "Does everyone have a gun and a knife on them?" He asked and Daryl nodded.

"Yeah, but we're runnin' low on ammo." He answered and Glenn nodded.

"Me, Maggie and Tessa were planning on making a run into town soon – maybe find a gun store or something that isn't complete overrun with walkers and that way we won't have to use anymore ammo." Rick nodded as Daryl spoke.

"We cleared out the generator room too. Axel's been tryin' to fix it and since Seth's good with that kind of stuff too, he's been down there as well. In case of an emergency, we're gonna sweep the lower levels too." Rick nodded as he turned and headed back to the gate from whence he had come.

"Good . . . you guys are doing good. Keep on keepin' on."

Hershel called his name as he exited through the gate and closed it shut behind him. He walked off then, ignoring the older man's call for him and the group sat there and fell into an awkward silence then. It took a minute before Hershel got slowly to his feet. "I'm going to go talk to him . . . see if he needs anything." He spoke and although Tessa could see the look of apprehension echoing in Maggie's eyes, she stopped her from protesting with a gentle hand on her shoulder. Maggie glanced at her and Tessa nodded. Glenn had tried to get through to him and then Tessa had tried. They hadn't succeeded (although Tessa liked to think that she made some headway with him the other day) so why not allow someone else to try? It seemed pretty clear they weren't gonna get him back by leaving him alone.

Maggie watched warily as her father made his slow, careful way through the gate and it was then, when they watched him disappear, that she got to her feet with Wren, Danny and Aayla in their arms. Daryl's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he watched them make their way over to him and Tessa smiled a small smile.

"We're going outside for a minute – before I go on the run with Glenn and Maggie. Wanted to give the twins some fresh air and sunshine, you know?" She asked him and he nodded as he scooped up the last bit of food in his bowl.

"Yeah, tha's a good idea - they need it. Take Ethan with ya tho'?" Tessa smiled a small smile and nodded as she bent down and pressed a kiss to his forehead. She felt him relax somewhat underneath her and when she withdrew from him, she found that Ethan had quickly moved to join them. Daryl turned his eyes up to her and finished chewing his food before he spoke. "While ya three do tha', me, Carl and Oscar are prolly gonna go check out the lower levels . . . make sure they're safe, ya know?" She nodded.

"Go easy on him, okay?" She asked him while her voice lowered and he knew she meant Carl. "He's been through a lot, okay? He seems like he needs someone to talk to, too and since Rick a no show, Hershel's too old and Glenn, Seth and Ethan have been too busy, your all that's left. Not-to-mention, you have affinity for kid's that isn't exactly a common thing around here!" She gave a laugh then as she shook her head. "And you don't have to do all that psychoanalyzing bullshit too, just . . . give him someone to vent to if he wants to, okay? You can do at least that, can't you?" Daryl sat there for a minute and thought before he nodded.

"Yeah . . . yeah, I can do tha'. Ya comin' back in 'fore ya three leave?" He asked, nodding towards Glenn and Maggie and she nodded.

"Of course; I can't exactly go with the twins, now can I?" She gave him a smile then – a smile that bordered on a grin. "Why? You want me to kiss you goodbye before I go?" She asked and Daryl returned her smile – a smile that also bordered on a grin.

"Maybe . . . or maybe I'm jus' lookin' for an excuse to kiss ya."

She continued to smile then as she bent down and pressed her lips to his. His hand moved into her hair, keeping her there as they kissed for a minute and when they finally broke apart, she couldn't help but allow him to nuzzle her for a moment.

"That's for if you're not here when I come back in." She whispered to him and she could feel his grin against her cheek.

"Tha' better not be the last one . . ."

"Not on your life, Daryl Dixon."


"The town seems pretty deserted . . ."

Maggie nodded at Tessa's quiet words as Glenn pulled the truck alongside the right-hand curb and cut the engine. The three of them got out then, Maggie squinting slightly in the harsh glare of the sun as she withdrew her gun from the holster at her hip and as Tessa withdrew her hunting knife from the almost identical holster at her hip as well. "Yeah, it seems to be clear outside." She spoke as they moved to join Glenn, who nodded.

"Okay, let's give the town a quick once over." He spoke and they nodded before Maggie stopped him with a murmured 'hey' and a gentle hand on his shoulder. After placing a chaste kiss on his lips, Tessa simply smiled and had the tact to turn her back when Glenn placed his hands on her neck and returned the kiss. It was still a chaste kiss, but she got it, nonetheless. Not everyone was as big of fans as she and Daryl were at some kinds of PDA, but to them, that was just a simple part of their relationship that had first started when her stomach started to grow. Everyone had quickly grown to pay them no heed when Daryl would place his hands on her stomach and then give her a deep, loving kiss just out of the blue (of course, then again, try telling Daryl that he couldn't do that!). That was simply just Daryl and Tessa. But she could totally understand how Maggie and Glenn were – having to be being secretive with their feelings for each other had started out the gate being a way of life for them. They had started out by hiding their relationship from Hershel while she and Daryl had never been ashamed of theirs. But then again, Tessa had never had as domineering a father as Hershel hanging over her head like Maggie had in the beginning, so she supposed she should give them that.

"It's a beautiful day, ain't it?" Tessa spoke loudly but good-naturedly, and the two of them grinned and laughed behind her as Glenn reach into the truck to grab the bolt cutters, where he unclipped the chains wrapped around the handles of the store. He pulled open the doors and the three of them immediately cringed when a group of birds trapped immediately flew out into the bright daylight. Glenn headed into the store as Maggie and Tessa remained outside shining their flashlights in to give the man more light. Maggie grinned.

"Hey Glenn, grab that duck there," She said, motioning towards the plastic duck decoy lying on the ground and Tessa furrowed her eyebrows in slight confusion as she glanced at her friend. Glenn apparently had the same idea, for he shot her a similar look.

"What?"

"That duck decoy there – get it!" He gave a laugh.

"Are you serious?" He asked and Maggie nodded as she and Tessa gave a couple of laughs as well.

"Yeah, your damn right I am! Kids growing up in the prison need some toys." She spoke and Tessa nodded in agreement, unable to see any fallacy in the younger girl's argument.

"She's right. The kids will need some toys eventually and we mine-as-well start collecting them now so we don't have to make useless little runs every time Aayla and Lori's baby want a damn Barbie!" She spoke and Glenn rolled his eyes but complied nonetheless as he bent, grabbed up the duck and then threw it to them. Tessa caught it expertly and grinning, tossed into the back of the truck in turn. Glenn moved further into the store then and they stood there in silence for a minute before a grinning Glenn returned a few moments later, the bags he was carrying, positively bulging with stuff.

"Ladies, we have hit the powdered formula jackpot!" he spoke and Tessa and Maggie grinned and nodded.

"Oh thank God!" Maggie spoke as he bent down and unzipped one of the bags, showing them his cache, as well as the grocery basket full of the tins. She shot Tessa a grinning look then. "Maybe now you can give the, uh . . . twins a break." She spoke with a wink and Tessa grinned and shook her head as she bent down and started observing the tins in the basket, making sure that Glenn had gotten the right stuff.

"No, it would be selfish for me to switch the twins over when Lori's baby needs it the most and while I have two perfectly good breasts that are working wonders so far!" She shook her head as she glanced up at her friend, the both of them ignoring the way Glenn paused for a moment in organizing the stuff at the mention of Tessa's breasts. Maggie grinned and shook her head. Typical man. "I'd feel bad too. So no, I think the formula will remain strictly for Lori's baby. I'll only start using it if I inexplicably feel the need to wean the twins off me." Maggie gave a shrug then.

"Yeah, I guess that's true, but at least now you and Daryl can some date nights of your own without you guys having to worry about feeding Danny and Aayla. 'Cause I can guarantee you now that one or two nights of three babies feeding on formula ain't gonna make a dent in our supplies for a good long while!" She told her and Tessa grinned and nodded. "And besides, when was the last time you and Daryl had a night for yourselves?"

When was the last time that her and Daryl had, had a night strictly for themselves; to where it was just them, whatever food they could sneak and then complete and utter silence that they would use to just relish being in each other's presence – for relishing how they had each other another day with the other? It was a silence to where they would learn never to take the other for granted and not once had they.

Had it been since the farm . . .?

Tessa shook her head, unable to remember. It had been way too damn long, that was how long!

"I also got beans, batteries, cocktail wienies, fruit cocktail, various mustards – all the food we can possibly carry!" Glenn spoke up, not giving Tessa a chance to reply and while Maggie shot him a look, Tessa simply grinned at his excitement. She shook her head as she re-zipped the bag of baby formula and got her feet as she slung the bag over her shoulder. "All we gotta do is check the gun store down the street and then it's a straight shot back to the prison from here."

"I don't know about you guys, but I like the quiet here; that's the one thing I miss about the farm," Maggie spoke as she picked up the grocery basket and Glenn picked up the other bag. Him and Tessa made their way over to the truck as Maggie languidly followed them. "Back at the prison, no matter where you are, you can always here them outside the fence – snarling and moaning," She gave a shrug. "It's nice and peaceful out here, ya know?"

They stayed in a comfortable silence then as Glenn figured out where to place his bag and the one that Tessa's had handed him, but then suddenly, like a gunshot that entered her spine that immediately paralyzed her, Tessa heard a voice that immediately made her freeze in horror and fear and her eyes to grow wide in the same emotion. It was his voice.

"Now, where is it tha' ya'll good people are callin' home?"

Merle.

Goddamnit - it was Merle!

Maggie immediately noticed Tessa new change of body language, and her eyebrows immediately furrowed in worry. She moved to ask her what was wrong, but that was before they heard the click of a gun's safety and she froze. Tessa's back remained facing him but she knew the gun was pointed at her back and she knew – eventually – that she would have to turn around and face the demon that had haunted her for thirteen long damn years – the man that had positively ruined her life and her relationship with his brother.

"Merle?" Glenn asked, his voice filled with awe, and Tessa, who had yet to turn around (even though she knew she was only delaying the inevitable) let out a laugh of disbelief as well as he moved to place his pistol on the ground.

"Hey, hey, hey – back the Hell up!" Maggie called out and Tessa knew it was because he had been taking a few steps towards them. Her heart pounded in her chest but she seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move, and only heard Merle's laughter echoing in her head as he told her to calm down.

"You made it . . ." Glenn spoke, his voice still filled with disbelief and Tessa could practically see the grin that split Merle's face.

"Can ya tell me if ma brother's alive?" He asked and it was then that Tessa let out a laugh and nodded.

"Yeah . . . yeah, he is, Merle . . ."

The look of stunned disbelief on Merle's face when Tessa finally gathered enough strength to turn around and face her rapist and practical brother-in-law, was almost comedic gold. The look on his face was something akin to him almost seeing the ghost of someone he had killed long ago and Hell, he had killed something in Tessa all those long thirteen-years-ago, when he had bent her over that stack of haybales and cruelly took advantage of her. She didn't know what exactly it was but then again, she didn't exactly feel like digging up old skeletons.

"T-Tess . . .?" His voice, when he spoke, was quiet and filled with disbelief. She nodded.

"Yup . . . and I'm in the flesh, too." Merle shook his head and let out a laugh then.

"Damn girl, where have ya been? I thought ya were dead!" She nodded.

"Yeah, I bet you did. Told Daryl the same damn thing, didn't you?" A stern look appeared on his face then as he shook his head.

"Now ya see here, girl! Ya walked out on him -"

"I walked out on him because of you!"

"Ya walked out on him in the middle of the night, without a Goddamn word -!"

"You fucking raped me, you motherfucker!"

"Ya walked out on him in the middle of the night, without a Goddamn word, after ya fucked him! He was understandably torn up – what was I supposed to tell him?" Tessa stood there for a moment, gazing at him with a look of blatant disbelief.

"You could have told him anything but that!" He laughed again as he shook his head.

"Look, Tess, how about we jus' let bygones be bygones, huh? Ya guys take me to Daryl and I promise ya guys that we'll call it even. Everythin' tha' happened up there in Atlanta, everythin' that happened back there on the farm – there'll be no hard feelin's -!"

Tessa shaking her head interrupted him. Tears filled her eyes the longer she stood there and gazed at him but she was amazed to find that they weren't tears of fear – they were tears of anger. "You raped me, Merle! You raped me in that barn while that good-for-nothing friend of yours just stood by and kept me from struggling - kept me from fighting you. Do you think Daryl wants to see you right now?" Merle's face darkened then.

"Now ya listen here, ya little squaw – if ya turned ma brother against me -!"

"Turned him against you?! Merle, I didn't have to – all I did was tell him the truth! He made up his own mind about you after that!"

They fell into a silence then – a heavy, uncomfortable silence and it took Tessa a moment to realize that Lori and Daryl had been the only two people in the group that she had told about Merle raping her. Maggie nor Glenn knew and she realized that she might have Hell to pay for not telling her friend's later but at that moment, there were more important things and by the way that Glenn was glaring at the contraption on Merle's missing hand, she guessed that, that was one of them to Glenn at least.

Merle laughed. "Ya like that? Well, I found myself a medical supply warehouse after I escaped from the roof, and rigged it up myself. Pretty cool, huh?" Glenn glanced at Tessa then, immediately taking notice of her tensed body language and by the way things were going between them, he could tell that they had best get Tessa out of there and quick.

"Look, we'll tell Daryl you're here and he'll come out to meet you -"

"If he wants to even see you, that is!" Tessa added, scarcely giving Glenn time to finish speaking and Merle shook his head as his eyes connected with hers again. Merle immediately shook his head and protested but Maggie and Glenn's firm line of sights on him, as well as their firm orderings for him to 'hold on' quickly diffused matters.

"Look, we finding each other out here is a miracle!" He immediately began and Tessa's jaw hardened. She hated how Merle always tried to talk his way out of shit – it had always been a sore spot with her, in fact. "Come on now! You can trust me! Tess, come on!" He turned his pleading eyes onto her and Tessa let out a snort of derision.

"I'm the wrong fucking person to be asking for her trust right now, Merle!" She snapped at him and his eyes flickered back to Glenn's.

"You trust us!" He returned, his voice brooking no argument. "You stay here, okay? And if Daryl decides he wants to see you, then he can come here."

They stood there again in an awkward silence before Merle gave a laugh and lunged for Glenn, withdrawing a pistol he had hidden in the back of his pants. All three of them dropped to the ground as a bullet pierced the back windshield of the truck, shattering it instantly, as Maggie and Glenn moved around the truck. They found Merle huddling to the ground with Tessa in his grip and a pistol pointed squarely in her head.

It had all happened so quickly . . . all Tessa comprehended was the glass shattering above her and then someone taking ahold of her and bringing her down to the ground.

Shit.

"Hey, hey, hold up there, Glenn, hold up!" He quickly spoke, and Tessa's teeth gritted as Glenn and Maggie stood there, gun's pointed at Merle but helpless to do anything while he had an itchy triggerfinger against Tessa's head. Her hands were white-knuckling the metal arm he had jammed underneath her chin and they could see her trembling against him. Their teeth gritted in anger as they stood there, rooted to the spot but unable to do anything to save their friend for the time being. Merle grinned upon seeing how quickly they got it.

"You let go of her . . . you let go of her!" Glenn snarled and Maggie nodded as their guns remained unwaveringly on him.

"Put the guns in the car – the both of ya. Put them in the car . . . that's it!" He watched, his grip tightening slightly on Tessa as Maggie and Glenn quickly moved to place their pistols in the truck, Maggie's wide, terrified eyes meeting Tessa's. Tessa tried to send her a reassuring look but quite frankly, all of Tessa's fears were majorly beating down the doors and walls of her skull and she was about to lose it herself.

"There ya go. Now, we're gonna go for a little drive, okay?" Glenn shook his head.

"We're not going back to our camp." He immediately told him, his voice firm and Merle grinned.

"No, we're going somewhere else. Now get in the car – the both of ya! Your driving, Glenn – now get!"

"Don't hurt her!" Maggie quickly spoke up as Merle carefully got to his feet, dragging Tessa with him and forcing her to get to her feet as well. Glenn and Maggie reluctantly acquiesced to Merle's demands as Glenn rushed to get in the driver's side and Maggie into the passenger seat. Tessa opened the back door of the truck and Merle threw Tessa into the back as he quickly got in after her. He pulled her back against him before she could grab anything to hurt him with and grinned and laughed as she immediately let out a grunt and struggled against him.

"Glad to know tha' ya still the same firebrand ya once were, Tess! Means we're gonna have some fun when we get to ma place!" He spoke and as Tessa spat out a venomous 'fuck you', Glenn found himself desperately apologizing to Daryl over and over again in his head.

By God, what was going to happen to them?

And then, almost like another shotgun blast to the chest that immediately brought tears springing to her eyes and stilled all movement, Tessa wondered if that kiss she had given Daryl earlier would be their last kiss.