Daryl lifted his head as the blaring sounds of a siren rang around him. Standing he moved closer to the crowd forming and seen Glenn step from the car while Shane was barking. Daryl leaned back watching as the idiots tried to figure out how to shut it off. Dumbasses only needed to jerk the fuse out and the shit would have shut down with out the connection.

Glenn was smiling brightly as another vehicle rolled in and Daryl let out a breath knowing Merle would likely be with this group. Daryl watched as the group climbed down all cheering and talking about the run. He shot his eyes around quickly searching out his brother feeling his heart picking up speed when he didn't see him.

Stepping forward he seen Glenn tense and shift on his feet avoiding him. He was stalled before he could say anything and question where his brother when the boy that had run with Carol's daughter yelled out. He watched the boy race to a man who was dropping to his knees embracing him, Lori wasn't that far behind.

His eyes landed on Shane as he took in the scene and he felt a smirk grip his face. He didn't like that uppity cock sucker from the start and had watched since day one as he had tried to get into the grieving woman's pants. Snake like bastard that he was. He weren't no kind of friend if that was the shit he was trying before his supposed friend was even cold.

Having enough of the home-coming scene in front of him he let loose a whistle commanding the attention of everyone around him. All eyes landed on him and he grit his teeth not liking the attention but it was better him than Mac. Mac would have ripped the camp apart before ever asking the first question and then stomped anyone out who challenged him.

"Where the fuck is Merle?" His voice washed through the group like a strong tide and they all shifted.

The man who had newly arrived stepped forward, "Are you his brother that I've heard about?"

Daryl shot him a look, "Who the fuck are you and where is he?" His voice came out like steel.

"There was a problem in Atlanta." He started his hands rubbing together.

Daryl jerked at his words feeling them like a hit, "He dead?" Rick shot him a look he didn't understand he felt his hackles raise as he started pacing. "Well?"

Rick tracked his motions, "He was left on a roof."

Daryl growled, "Why the goddamn is he on a roof!"

"Your brother doesn't play well with others." Rick concluded.

Daryl snorted at the appraisal and turned glaring at him, "Don't explain why the fuck he was left behind!"

Rick shifted, "I handcuffed him."

Daryl's chest heaved and he stepped closer to the man, "You couldn't let him fuckin' loose!"

T-dog stepped forward and Daryl glared at the man, "I tried but dropped the key."

Daryl snarled, "AND YOU COULDN'T PICK THEM UP!"

Rick stepped forward blocking him from the other man, "Things happened to fast."

Daryl moved quick Rick not having expected the move and slammed the other man to the ground. Rick hit hard all the breath he thought he owned leaving his body on a groan. Daryl moved closer to him but felt someone slam into him as he went to the ground hard. He growled as Shane maneuvered him into a choke hold bearing down on him with more force than necessary.

He felt panic swell in his chest as flash backs of his father tore through him as the man had more than once gotten him in this exact hold. Daryl struggled harder against Shane the man hissing in his ear but Daryl just fought harder against him. His heart was beating erratically and he felt like he was gonna smother if he didn't get out. He wasn't hearing Shane's words in his ear, he wasn't seeing the panicking of the group around him, he was only hearing and seeing his father coming at him with his belt wielding the buckle against him.

"MOTHERFUCKER!"

Daryl tried to refocus his eyes at the sound of the voice but it was no use. A hard pained groan sounded in his ear and Shane's hold broke loose and Daryl leaned forward sucking in much-needed breath hearing his brother tearing ass behind him. There was the sounds of flesh meeting flesh, boot meeting soft skin with a hollow thud, it was all moving to fast for him. He was likely doing more damage to the man than Shane had done to him.

Moving to stand he seen Shane pinned to the ground blood speeding from his nose with Mac's knee bearing down on his throat. Daryl coughed trying to get attention and Mac's eyes raised to his. They were wild and Daryl grimaced not having seen that look since the last time he had seen his father alive.

He watched as he pushed harder shutting Shane's breathing off as he turned again, "Who the fuck you think you are?" He snarled.

Daryl moved towards him seeing Rick coming up behind him. As soon as the man seen Daryl up he stepped back something passing between them that he was still unsure of.

"Mac." He called.

"We hunt! We get the goddamn food you greedy lazy sorry bastards have been living off and this is the shit you try to fuckin' pull!" Mac barked.

Daryl moved fast seeing his hand shooting for his sheath. Daryl gripped his wrist pinning it behind his back and his arm came around his brother's heaving chest and wrenched him up and against his chest backing him away from the other man. Rick moved in helping Shane while Daryl restrained Mac's fighting form.

"Hold the fuck still!" Daryl barked spinning Mac to face him.

He could see Shane and fought smiling at the damage done. No doubt the man had a broke nose and was gonna carry some heavy bruises around his throat. Daryl could see from here that there was other places on him but his eyes went to his brother hearing his breathing still harsh.

Mac was looking him over his eyes still wild, "Why, why the fuck he try to put his hands on you?" Mac lifted his hand running it across Daryl's reddened throat, "If this bruises I'm taking his balls."

Daryl shook his head at him, "Calm the fuck down."

Mac growled went to move when he heard Shane's barking voice close by. Daryl jerked him back around forcing him to meet his eyes, "We aint got time for this shit! Merle got left."

Mac sobered up and locked eyes with him, "What the fuck you mean he got left?"

Daryl shot a look at the nervous crowd before coming back to his brother, "We're going to get him."

Mac whipped around, "Where the fuck is he?"

Rick stepped forward but T-dog moved quicker, "I chained the door, aint nothing getting through there."

Mac sneered at him, "Aint no talking to you!" His eyes slammed into Rick, "Where the fuck is Merle."

Rick laid everything out for them and both brothers split away grabbing their gear up. Mac's eyes kept slicing through the group keeping them back but Daryl was focused on his own shit. He didn't want to look at or think about the men around him that left his brother behind. It was a fucked up situation that he planned on fuckin' remedying.

Daryl moved in tandem with Mac as they finished getting their shit together. He looked up seeing Andrea heading for them a determined set to her jaw and eyes. Daryl made a soft animal call under his breath that they had used as kids and Mac lifted his eyes searching the area for what warranted the call.

"Shit." He sighed.

"I'm going." She said as soon as she stepped up to them.

Mac looked at her, "Not a chance tits."

She shot him a look before her eyes went to Daryl, "If it was me out there and Amy was left...I'd hope someone would look for me."

Daryl understood what she meant but Mac growled and shook his head, "No."

"Listen Mac you can either swallow it down or shut up. Either way it's happening. It wasn't right him being left and I'm going." She hissed.

Mac's back straightened and Daryl watched the pair of them for a minute before stalking off and leaving them to argue it out or fuck one. It could go either way with the way they were looking at each other.

Rick appeared next to him, "I did not intend to leave a man behind. "

Daryl looked at him as he jumped up into the vehicle, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions, officer."

Rick nodded his head and climbed in the truck despite Lori's protest and settled in. Mac made his way over jumping into the vehicle and glared at the wall as Andrea climbed in behind him. She shot Daryl a triumphant look that made him smirk despite the situation.

"He best be there." Mac drawled as they rode towards the city.

Daryl met his eyes and Mac's were clear and piercing. Daryl nodded his head at him and Mac shifted around moving next to his brother his eyes locking on Rick. Daryl looked at Rick and then to Glenn, "It's all we got to say on the matter."

Daryl watched Glenn's adam apple bob as he swallowed before his eyes closed and he let his mind clear. He needed to get his shit together before they got to the city. It'd do no one any good to go in there and lose his shit and get himself killed. He felt Mac relax next to him his side flush with his own their breathing syncing like it done as they were kids. It was something that had always calmed and comforted them both when they were running hot.

"You better warn your goddamn pig friend, he touches anyone in my family again I'll fuckin' end him in the worst way." Mac snarled.

Rick raised his eyes looking at the brothers, "Shane reacted strongly but so did you."

"Fuck that." Mac leaned forward but Daryl's hand flashed out gripping Mac's forearm. He settled back into his side and Daryl shot Rick a look. The man gave a imperceptible nod at him.

Mac's eyes went back to him looking at his throat, "Gonna bruise brother."

Daryl tilted his head back, "Had worse."

Mac growled deeply under his throat and Daryl regretted his words. He knew Mac was dwelling in the past now his mind on the same things he had been thinking about has Shane had him in the hold. Mac was rigid next to him and Daryl slumped more forcing Mac to take his weight or straighten up.

"I'm fine Mac." His voice was low so just his brother heard them.

Mac looked at him his eyes a dark storm of denim rage, "I can't stand by and see shit like that you know. I'll kill someone first. Fuck I have over you Daryl."

Daryl nodded chewing his thumb, "Let it go. We need to get Merle then we can work out from there what we do."

Mac nodded his head, "Walsh is gettin' his either way. Him and Ed both."

Daryl snorted at his words and Mac grinned as they neared the city. Daryl relaxed some feeling the tension leaving Mac the further they got from Shane.