Chapter Forty-Three

Merle breathed in the fragrant smell of rich soil and verdant foliage as the sun caressed the back of his neck where it flickered through the leaves above. Gawd, how he'd missed it, he mused. He missed what he deemed easy days of camping out in the woods with his brother, hunting and fishing, living off the land. His brother had thrived out there in the wilds of Georgia. Now it was a necessity to live like that. It was all about survival and he could take comfort in the fact Daryl was well-equipped to handle this new world.

He shot a side-eyed glance at the man trudging along next to him through the brush. Martinez wasn't the outdoorsy type, at least not in the sense the Dixons were. Merle had learned early on the man had lost his wife and two daughters fleeing Atlanta. Before the outbreak he'd been a diesel mechanic and local delivery driver. He'd had a nice home in a decent neighborhood, and had worked himself ragged trying to provide a good life for his family. It was one of the reasons he knew Martinez didn't care for the governor's underhanded tactics. Despite everything he'd had to do under Blake's regime, he was a good man.

Martinez cursed as he ran head-long into a spider web, the strands invisible to the naked eye. "Damnit, Dixon, what the hell are we doing out here traipsing through the woods when we could be helping the others?"

Merle hadn't been comfortable leaving Marty to lead the others on a scavenging run a few towns over, but he'd found it necessary. He didn't like the worry he saw every day lurking behind her jade green eyes. He needed to know who he could trust, and Martinez was a wild card. Once and for all, it was time to find out where the man's loyalties lay. "I found a group," he lied, looking for familiar landmarks which would show him the way to the farm. "Been watchin' 'em for a while now."

He didn't miss the way the shorter man flinched. "So, we're just scouting?"

"Yeah, y' could say that. Think they'd fit right in at Woodbury."

Merle lowered the sleeves on his jacket over the cuffs Marty had made for him. He didn't need the sun glancing off of them and alerting his ever-watchful brother to his presence just yet. Just last week, he was sure the sheriff had caught sight of him, but he'd been mistaken. Either that, or Officer Friendly was an idiot. He threw out a hand to stop his companion as the farmhouse and its wide-open fields came into view. He crouched down and dug in his pack for his binoculars as Martinez followed his lead and did the same.

"This place is so open. There's not the least bit of protection. How is it they haven't been overrun?" Caesar asked, mild shock tinging his deep voice.

Merle shook his head. "Dumb luck, I suppose." He squinted through the glasses. "There's about seventeen that I've been able to count so far. Governor's always lookin' for new blood. Whatcha think?"

Martinez scanned the grounds, taking in everything. There was a woman atop the RV with a rifle on watch, and tents scattered beneath a grove of trees to make up their small camp. Women and men alike were setting up a table on the front lawn and bringing out covered dishes. Children were carrying chairs to be set up, and a huge grill was smoking away. It looked like a Sunday afternoon barbeque. He could just imagine Blake getting his hands on good people like this, and he shuddered. He'd take everything they had and force them to bend to his will, much like he'd done to him until he'd agreed to fall in line.

"I dunno, Dixon. They might not be right for Woodbury," he murmured, feeling defeated. He knew if Merle really wanted to drag this group back, there was little he could do about it. He didn't know how much longer it would be before Blake ordered him to do something he just wouldn't be able to do. His life wouldn't be worth squat should he disobey a direct order.

"S'that right?" Merle drawled. "Don'tcha think those kids would be safer behind our walls? Those women? What about th' ol' man? He don't look like he'd come out too well if'n he had t' fight through a herd."

Martinez clenched his jaw, continuing to watch the group as they prepared to sit down to supper, their happy smiling faces and relaxed postures. "We can't," he said, shooting up to his full height.

The whoosh of a blade was the only warning before the man felt the bark of the tree digging into his back as Merle wrapped a hand around his throat and pressed the cuff's bayonet into his neck. "Why?" Dixon hissed. "We have direct orders t' find people like this an' bring 'em back. Blake wants numbers. So, y' best look like tellin' me why, friend."

Caesar gulped audibly as he stared into Merle's cold and calculating blue eyes. "Because I don't trust the bastard not to hurt them! Fuck, you've seen what he's capable of. Do you really want their blood on your hands?"

Merle chuckled, his lips curling up into a satisfied smile. "Knew I was right about y'." He let go, giving the man some room to breathe.

"What? You going to kill me now?"

He shook his head and leaned a shoulder against the tree Martinez had just been pinned to, retracting the blade. "Now why would I wanna do that? Y' passed th' test."

"Test?" Martinez glared at him.

"I had t' know," Merle drawled. "Schumpert woulda been all for draggin' those people back t' Woodbury, being the governor's flunkie as it is. But you … you're jus' tryin' to keep yer ass in one piece. Y' hate what Blake is doin', but y' know th' second y' try t' leave, yer dead."

His shoulders slumped in obvious relief. "I thought you were just like him."

Merle snorted. "Not even at m' worst could I be like that fuck. He hides behind that politician's oily smile. If'n I'm gonna kill y', yer gonna see it comin'." He pointed a long finger in the direction of the farm. "That group … he ain't touchin' 'em as long as I'm still breathin'. Well, I'd happily hand over the good sheriff, but not the rest of 'em."

Martinez narrowed his eyes. "You know them." It wasn't a question. Somehow deep in his gut, he knew.

Merle nodded, gesturing for the man to raise the binoculars to his eyes. "See th' silver fox in th' white shirt? That's m' brother's woman. He's th' one with th' crossbow. The girl with th' bow on 'er back? That's m' peach. I would die for them, kill for them. Blake ain't touchin' 'em," he said fiercely. "What I wanna know is … are y' gonna help me burn his ass t' th' ground?"

Caesar continued to watch the girl through the binoculars as she teased the boy at her side and then ran around to hide behind the man Merle had pointed out as his brother. "Oh, yeah. I'm with you, Dixon."

Merle hooked his thumbs in his belt loops and made himself as comfortable as possible. He'd have to wait until dark, wait for the camp to settle until he could approach his brother. "Glad t' hear it. I really didn't wanna have t' kill y'."

*.*.*

Daryl held Carol's hand, their fingers twined loosely. Her head rested on one of his shoulders, Sophia slung over the other. He wasn't surprised she'd fallen asleep there on Hershel's porch on the swing. He found it hard to suppress a yawn of his own. He'd had very little sleep, and the day had been busy. Ducking into the tent, he laid his daughter gently upon her bedroll and covered her with a blanket.

He turned swiftly and pressed a brief kiss to his wife's lips. "I'ma do a quick walk around an' check in with Dale. I won't be long."

Carol grinned sleepily and began pulling out her sleepwear to get ready for bed. "Be safe."

Daryl nodded, hurrying out of the tent. His thoughts wandered back to that morning, and he couldn't keep the smile off his face. Carol was his now … well and truly his. She'd committed herself to him by her own vows. No more pretending for strangers, and anyone who looked closely enough would see his ring on her finger. As much as he would have liked to have had his brother there to celebrate with them, he was glad he hadn't been there. He could just hear Merle ribbing him and calling him all sorts of unflattering names for some of the mush which had come out of his mouth while pledging himself to Carol. It had been worth it, though … to be able to call her his wife.

He smirked off into the darkness as his eyes scanned the perimeter for danger. It was quiet. He hadn't been able to wait to have her, dragging her off to the loft in the barn. He'd kept her there for hours, unable to get enough of her, knowing she'd never be with anyone again the way she was with him. She was no longer shy and timid, finally having banished her demons. Now she was fire and silk, and more than a match for his own appetites. Hell, he hadn't even known he had such an appetite for sex until he'd met her. Nothing in his past could compare. Before it had just been an itch to scratch, and that had been if he'd wanted to bother with it at all. But with Carol, he could let go and be himself. His past couldn't touch him when he was in her arms.

Rick had practically ordered him to come out of the barn to join the festivities. He'd griped and grumbled, preferring to keep his new bride all to himself, but Carol had insisted. The Greene family and the ladies from their group had pulled together a nice little shindig to commemorate Carol and Daryl's impromptu wedding, and his girls had enjoyed themselves immensely for which he was thankful. T-Dog and Shane had volunteered to go on a beer run, but Rick and Hershel had shot them down. Everyone needed to keep their wits about them with no fences or walls to hide behind.

"Daryl … Thought you'd have found your tent by now, son," Dale called as the hunter approached the RV.

Daryl glanced up and waved a hand around the camp. "Jus' wanted t' do one last sweep. Everythin' quiet so far?"

"Far as I can tell."

He gave Dale a nod and then scowled at the boy sitting next to the old man before moving off. Rick had decided to give Randall a chance. The boy had proven himself to be docile and more than willing to integrate himself into the group, trying to be as useful as possible. Really, Randall hadn't given them one reason why he couldn't be trusted. Though Daryl didn't like it, Rick had given the boy a small pup tent they'd had stored away and told him to pick a spot to set it up. Carol had been pleased Rick was willing to give Randall a chance, but Daryl still didn't trust him. Maybe now that he had a measure of freedom he wouldn't be spending so much time with Carol and Sophia.

Daryl narrowed his eyes as he scanned the tree line in the distance, a prickle of unease making its way up his spine to raise the fine hairs along his nape. The unmistakable feeling of being watched was nearly overwhelming. He quickly let his eyes drift over the scattered tents before they moved to the barn, stables and outbuildings and then finally up to the house. The lantern was still on in Rick and Lori's tent, their shadows playing against the nylon walls. He briefly thought of disturbing them before pushing the thought aside. He couldn't see interrupting their evening because he felt weird.

He passed by Shane's tent, rolling his eyes when he heard a giggle from Andrea. Over the past few days, the pair had grown closer. It was rare she ever slept in her own tent anymore. Their relationship seemed to have eased some of the tension between Rick and Shane, for which he was relieved. Maybe now they could get down to leading this group as they should. Daryl could hear loud snores coming from T-Dog's tent, causing him to shake his head. Sounded like a bear was trapped in there. Glenn's tent was quiet. Either the boy was asleep, or he'd run off for a few hours in the loft with Maggie. Nothing at all was amiss. There was no reason he should be feeling so off, but he couldn't seem to shake it.

Daryl widened the perimeter, intent on checking between the outbuildings. His tent was in sight at all times, and his people were on watch. Carol and Sophia were safe. But he had to know if his instincts were off, or if he was just letting his worries spill over too sharply into his consciousness.

The crossbow was a comforting weight on his arm as he moved silently through the night, his smoky blue gaze searching the shadows. His heart leapt as he approached the small path between the chicken coop and the generator shed, a small family of racoons nearly trampling his boots. "Fuck!" he cursed, lowering the bow. Now he was jumping at small woodland creatures. What the hell was wrong with him?

He let out a breath, ready to abandon his paranoia and return to his tent. He'd been away from Carol and Sophia long enough.

Daryl grunted as he was slammed back into the rough wall behind him, a callused hand over his mouth as another gripped his wrist, knocking the bow to the ground.

"Brother!" came a furious whisper as Daryl struggled to free himself.

The hunter froze, his eyes round and wide as he tried to see through the shadows, that familiar whisper sending a chill of alertness coursing through his wiry frame.

Merle chuckled lowly. "Think y' can control yerself if'n I let yer ass go?"

Daryl nodded, his heart pounding furiously in his chest. He was still for a full five seconds before his fist shot out and caught Merle square in the mouth, forcing his brother back into the wall of the coop behind him. "Fuckin' hell, Merle! Where th' hell y' been?!"

"Th' fuck was that for?" Merle growled, fingering his split lip.

He glowered at the other man. "Y' made Sophia cry! That's what th' fuck that was for."

The elder Dixon sighed heavily. "Yeah, I suppose I deserved it then."

Daryl retrieved his bow from where it had fallen, and raked a hand through his hair. "C'mon."

"I cain't stay," Merle said as Daryl paused at the mouth of the path to gauge his surroundings.

"What th' hell y' talkin' about. Of course, y' can."

"Got somethin' big goin' on, baby brother. You'll understand when I explain, but I want t' see th' girls first."

Daryl fumed silently. Wasn't that always the way with Merle Dixon? Everything was always more important than his family. He made sure Randall and Dale were both looking the other way before shoving his brother in the direction of their tent. None too gently either.

Carol's eyes bugged, a hand rising to her mouth as she sat up and stared at their missing brother. "Merle!" she gasped.

His grin was wide and warm as he held open his arms to her. "Hiya there, Mouse," he breathed quietly. His eyes went to Sophia where she lay sleeping as he looked over Carol's shoulder. Carol nearly squeezed the breath out of him.

"Are you alright? God, we've been so worried about you," she whispered, her hand reaching up to rest alongside his stubbled jaw as she searched his face.

"I'm good," he assured her. "Got a lot t' tell y'all."

Daryl flopped down to sit on the bedroll next to her, still scowling. He wouldn't deny he was thrilled to see his brother alive and well, but he was angry as hell Merle couldn't stay with them.

Merle let her go and crawled over to sit at Sophia's feet. His chest hurt with the feelings constricting his cold heart. He was the man he was today because of that little girl. A shaky hand reached out to her, his fingers brushing over the sole of her bare foot. The child never could stand to sleep with her feet covered, he remembered with amusement. She twitched, grumbling into her pillow. He repeated the action and she sat up, reaching for whatever it was irritating her skin.

She stared wide-eyed, wondering if maybe she were dreaming.

"Hey, Peach," he murmured in greeting, a huge smile on his weathered features.

Her eyes filled with tears a second before she threw herself at him, knocking him back onto his ass. His arms closed tightly around her, his eyes slamming closed to keep the tears from falling. He was Merle Fucking Dixon and he did not cry. He looked over to his brother, but Daryl was staring down at his hands. Carol was staring at them, tears in her own eyes as Sophia wept softly against his neck.

Which was why he was so surprised when she sat back on his knees and slapped the fire from him. "What took you so long!? Do you have any idea how worried I've been for you?" she hissed, glaring at him. "And the nightmares I've had since you've been gone!"

"Peach …"

"We had to leave the bunker, and I really thought I'd never see you again, despite Dad telling me you'd find us."

Merle arched a brow in Daryl's direction, mouthing 'Dad?" Daryl blushed crimson.

"Then Rick and Shane wanted us to go to Fort Benning, thinking the military could help us. Which was totally stupid! And then I got lost in the woods for three days and never thought I was going to find Mom and Dad."

"Peach …"

"All the while I was out there, all I wanted was for you and Dad to find me, but you were gone, and I felt so guilty for making you go on that run …" Her little voice hiccupped as she fought back another sob, all the anguish she'd suffered for weeks pouring out of her. "Dad finally found me, and he got hurt and then I get back here, and Shane had been shot, Lori and Rick were fighting over her having an affair with Shane when they thought Rick was dead, Otis got bit and fuckin' died, walkers were in the barn. It was a total mess! And, where were you? GONE!"

Merle's mouth gaped open halfway through her little tantrum and stayed that way. Daryl sighed and dropped his head into his hands, and Carol looked like she was fighting laughter. Th' fuck? "Uh … y' finished?"

Sophia narrowed her eyes. "No! You missed the wedding, Merle! Mom and Dad got married this morning and you MISSED IT!"

Nothing she'd said before could have floored him as much as that last tidbit of information. His eyes swung to the blushing couple. "Married?"

"Shut up, asshole!" Daryl growled.

Sophia laid a hand against his jaw, pulling his gaze back to hers. "Did you get my letter? Have you been being good?" she asked softly.

Merle softened, hugging her a little tighter. "I got it, Peach. Don't know so much about bein' good, though. I been tryin', but it ain't always that easy."

"But you tried. That's what matters."

"Sometimes …" he began, his voice rough. "Sometimes, y' gotta be bad in order t' find somethin' good. An' I have all kinds o' good in store for y'."

"That why y' cain't stay?" Daryl grumbled, glaring at his brother.

"What does he mean you can't stay?" Sophia asked in a panicked little voice. "You have to stay, Merle! We need you," the last was uttered in the most pitiful tone he'd ever heard in his life. He hadn't thought his tough little peach was even capable of such.

Merle sighed, adjusting her on his lap so she could lean back against his chest. When she was settled, he rested his chin atop her head and just took a moment, reveling in being with his family once again. It had been so hard to be away from them, much harder than he'd ever thought possible. The running, hiding, and constant fighting … it was difficult enough, but to do so without those you love just made it worse. It was too simple to lose sight of what you were fighting for.

Carol cleared her throat, dragging him from his reverie. "Merle, where have you been? What really happened in Atlanta?" she asked, leaning into her husband's side as she stared questioningly at her brother-in-law.

"Were you high?" Daryl asked, the muscle ticking in his jaw.

Merle sneered. "No, I wasn't high, dipshit. You know I gave that shit up not too long after we got t' th' quarry. Hard t' keep a habit when there's no suppliers left."

"Martine –"

"Gave it up too! Think we could move on now, Darylina? Or y' got more questions?" he sneered. "Wanna know if I like chocolate milk on m' Cheerios? How many times I shit a day? Th' fuck is wrong with y'?" His icy blue eyes flashed fire. "I made y' a promise, an' I ain't gone back on it."

"Dad, stop!"

Daryl's narrowed gaze landed on his daughter. "Baby girl, y' don't know what he was like before."

"Yes, I do!" she huffed. "He was mean, and he scared me, but he got better! He wouldn't go back on a promise to you. You're his family, and he loves you … even if he is too pussy to admit it."

"Sophia!" Carol shrieked.

Daryl's face broke out into a smug smirk as his brother gaped at her.

"I oughta flip y' over on m' knee an' tan your hide, girl," Merle growled.

Sophia grinned up at him over her shoulder as she shrugged. "Y' won't though, because you love me, too."

"Brat."

Carol rolled onto her side and propped her head in her hand, her fingers pulling at a loose thread on her quilt. "Enough, you two," she chuckled. "I want to know what happened. Rick told us you were out of control, and that you got in a fight with T."

Sophia's excited gaze swung to her uncle before he could begin his story. "Ohmygod! You should've seen Dad when him and mom got back to camp after their hunting trip. He was furious! He threw half a dozen squirrels at Rick and then pulled a knife on him."

"Is that right?" Merle chuckled.

"Yep. Then Shane snuck up behind him and had him in a choke hold, but mom drew on him and made him let go. It was awesome!"

Merle looked at the blushing duo, his eyes wide. "What th' hell did y' do t' Mouse? I ain't been gone that long!"

"You shouldn't have been gone at all!" Daryl snapped through clenched teeth. "You shoulda been there t' watch m' daughter. We trusted y' t' keep her safe!"

Carol's hand wrapped around his bicep, her eyes pleading as she looked up at him. "Daryl, please don't do this now."

"I woulda been there when y' got back, dummy, if yer new best friend hadn't left me cuffed t' a fuckin' roof!"

The hunter was well and truly pissed off now. His eyes blazed with anger, the tick in his jaw prominent, nostrils flared. "We went back for y', Merle. All y' had t' do was wait! But y' wanna know what I came back t' at the quarry? Walkers! Everywhere."

Merle paled, guilt not an emotion he was at all familiar with. It ate away at his gut, and he held Sophia a little tighter.

"Carol an' Soph were up on top o' th' RV, tryin' t' kill as many as they could. An' that ain't even th' worst of it."

"What th' hell could be worse than fending off an attack?" Merle asked quietly, raking a hand over his close-cropped hair.

Daryl glared at him.

Carol lowered her gaze, remembering all too well. "When it started, Ed grabbed Sophia to try to get me to go with him, to leave."

Merle looked as if he were going to be sick. The thought of that man, his hands on Sophia, dragging her away … "Gawd!"

Sophia turned slightly, her fingertips soft against his jaw. "I stabbed him in the leg, though, and got away. I made Mama crawl on top of the RV with me. Walkers got Ed. He can't hurt us ever again." She turned her sad pale eyes on her father. "Daddy, you can't blame Merle. It was my idea for him to go on that run."

"You're a kid!" Daryl drew in a deep calming breath and gentled his tone as he looked at his daughter. "He's a grown ass man, Soph. He knew he needed t' stay an' protect y'. That trip t' Atlanta was jus' an excuse for him t' run."

"Daryl," Carol gasped. "How can you say that?"

"It's what he's good at," Daryl sneered.

"An' y' ain't never gonna let me forget, are y'?" Merle asked, hurt evident in his clear blue gaze. They all could see it. "I ain't like that no more, brother. I know it's too little too late, but I'm tryin' t' make it up t' y'."

Daryl watched him warily. He brought his hand to his mouth, chewing on his thumbnail. It was the closest he'd ever heard his brother try to apologize. Carol settled once again at his side when he didn't resume the argument.

Sophia broke the strained silence. "Tell us what happened in Atlanta?" she asked, doe eyes wide and pleading. She was determined to find out what had kept him from their family for so long.

Merle rubbed his free hand over his face and nodded. "Th' run actually went okay until that cop showed up. He stirred th' shit pot real good when 'e rode into town. Had walkers comin' outta th' woodwork tryin' t' get at 'im. Of course, Hop Sing, had t' play th' hero an' try t' rescue 'is stupid ass.

Sophia rolled her eyes. "His name is Glenn," she corrected him.

"Hush it, you," he grinned. "Anyway, Glenn was able t' get Officer Friendly outta th' tank an' lead him back t' the group. In the meantime, I may have started firin' off into the herd."

"Why?" Daryl scoffed, confused. "Y' know they're drawn by sound."

"He was scared, Dad. Leave him alone," Sophia admonished.

"Says who? I ain't scared o' nothin'." There was no way he was going to admit he'd had a severe panic attack atop that roof. "T-Dog an' th' taco bender came runnin' up there with th' rest of 'em, tellin' me I was wastin' bullets, an' things escalated from there."

Daryl snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, y' got your back up an' started a fight. Typical Merle Dixon bullshit."

Merle shot him a rude gesture. "Th' good sheriff clocked me in th' back o' th' head with his gun, an' th' next thing I know I'm cuffed t' a pipe an' everybody's blamin' me for bringin' more o' those geeks down on us."

Sophia laid her head back on his shoulder, looking up at him. "T-Dog said when they were getting ready to leave, he was going to release you, but he dropped the handcuff key. Are you still mad at him?"

"Of course not, baby," Carol said, but her gaze was locked with Merle's. "He knows it was an accident. Merle is trying to be good now, and holding a grudge isn't very nice, is it?"

Merle scowled at her, but didn't dispute her claim. "Naw, I ain't mad, Peach."

"How'd y' get loose?" his brother wanted to know. "All we found was a broken screwdriver and th' part o' th' cuffs still attached t' th' pipe."

Merle pulled up his sleeve and released the straps on his cuff, showing them the ugly purple scars on the inside of his wrist. "Yeah, lucky th' bastards left Dale's toolbox behind."

Carol winced. "You're lucky you didn't nick a vein, Merle."

"I made m' way t' th' bunker. Marty nearly shot me," he chuckled. "There I was, bleedin' an' covered in walker goo, dehydrated an' starvin'. She thought I was a walker at first."

"Another Dixon trait," Carol murmured dryly as she looked at her husband.

"Shut up, woman."

"So, Marty patched me up. I wanted t' come straight back t' th' quarry, but she was worried about those brothers o' hers. They'd been due back two days ago an' still hadn't showed. I owed her, little brother. I had t' help her look for 'em." He sighed. "They didn't make it."

"We didn't stay at th' quarry for very long after th' attack. Rick wanted t' go t' th' CDC for answers."

"Find any?" Merle asked, studying the unease which seemed to cloak his brother.

"Bunch o' dead ends. Jackass in charge – actually th' only one left – tried t' lock us in with him, then told us th' building was gonna explode t' wipe out all th' nasty shit they kept hidden there," Daryl growled lowly. "Carol talked him out of it, but we only jus' escaped. Sophia saved all our asses."

Merle looked down at Sophia's blushing face. "Is that right? How?"

Carol chuckled. "Because someone doesn't watch her closely enough when in a gun store, we found grenades in her pack. We used one to blast a hole in the shatter-proof window."

The elder Dixon gaped at them for all of thirty seconds before he burst out laughing. "Sneaky little shit. That's m' girl!"

Daryl shook his head. Leave it to his brother to praise the girl for stealing heavy artillery. "We really didn't have nowhere t' go, so I brought th' group back t' th' bunker t' hole up for a few days. We waited as long as we could for y' t' show up before we had t' leave. We were headed t' Benning when we ran into a herd an' Soph went missing."

"I almost stroked out when I saw that message you'd left for 'er on th' highway." He shuddered as he recalled the fear he'd felt not knowing if his little peach were safe or not. "It's how I found y'all. Followed what was left of your trail through th' woods."

Carol's head jerked up. "You've been spying on us?"

Sophia shot an angry look his way. "Have you? Why didn't you just come to us and tell us you were here, that you were safe!?" She jabbed her pointy little elbow into his ribs. "Butthead!"

Daryl fell over laughing, his head coming to rest on Carol's lap as she sat up. "Don't even think about scoldin' her either, woman."

Merle glared at his brother. "I told y' earlier. I got somethin' big goin' on. Somethin' I want badly." He held up a hand to forestall Daryl's protests. "Don't look at me like that, y' little fucker. It ain't just about me. This is bigger than all o' us."

Daryl groaned. He knew Merle better than anyone. From the time they were kids, it had been one scheme after another. Usually, it was Daryl pulling Merle's ass out of the fire when they blew up in his brother's face. He couldn't chance it this time, however. He had his girls to watch out for. "Merle –"

Merle cut him off. "This ain't about me, Darylina. This is about Peach being able t' grow up, about Mouse bein' able t' have a home, about Marty bein' safe."

Carol's face lit up with curiosity. She'd never seen her brother-in-law speak so passionately about anything other than his own interests. She could see clearly whatever it was meant a lot to him because he was trying to protect his family. "Then I think we need to discuss this."

He shot her an approving smile and urged Sophia off his lap. "A'right, Mouse. I think it's time we invite the good sheriff t' join th' party."

A/N: Next time: Merle reveals his plans to the group and Marty delivers unwelcome news.