Early Governor and Woodbury, much more AU from here on out.

Merle watched Connor saunter up to the walls surrounding Woodbury with nothing to protect him for these possible loonies but his "faith", well, that and Merle, who was currently hiding in the bushes with his and Connor weapons. They had scoped out the town for the better part of the morning and it was now or never, Emily needed medicine.

He tightened his grip on the shotgun in his hands, he'd kill every last one of these people if they didn't want to help, Emily was sick, she was real sick, she hadn't woken up when he went in to see her, not even when Murphy and him got in a shouting match and started throwing punches. Connor had managed to get them both under control by mentioning that disturbing fact.

Connor was talking to a tall man, Merle studied the area, from what he could tell there were guards but they weren't pointing their weapons at Connor. Finally the light haired Irishman turned and waved Merle over. Letting out a deep breath he hide one of his guns in the bush and stood up. He couldn't believe he was putting his ass on the line like this.

"Merle," Connor said with a grin on his face. "the…uh…Governor here has agreed to help Emily, he says they have a doctor."

"That a fact? Governor huh?" Merle looked the man up and down.

"It's a nickname." The Governor answered with a small smile. "If you bring your friend and," he looked at Connor, "your brother we could help, we would be happy if you want to join up. We need able bodied men and women."

Merle scratched his chin, maybe Daryl wouldn't mind joining a community for a bit. "And if we don't, you won't help?"

"We'll help," the Governor smiled again.

"We'll bring them." Connor answered for both of them. Merle gave him a harsh look but nodded his head.

"Great," the Governor slapped his hands together. Merle didn't like his enthusiasm.

"I ain't the kind to take charity." Merle scowled and took three rabbits out of a sack he had thrown over his shoulder. "We'll pay for the medicine and the help as long as we're here." He held out the rabbits.

The Governor got a strange look on his face as he took the payment. "You can hunt?"

Merle nodded catching the glint in the other man's eye, ah now you see I'm useful he could practically see the gears turning as the man turned to look at Connor.

"And you?"

"Na," Connor gave him an easy grin, "I don't hunt…..animals…furry animals." He laughed a little. "Me and me brother were peacekeepers before all this."

"As in police officers?"

"More freelance." Connor shrugged. "Wherever we were needed."

The Governor looked between the two men, "I let you in here and you agree to follow the rules, my rules."

"Sure," Connor shrugged again.

"I ain't one for rules," Merle scowled thinking of Emily's unconscious pale form on the bed. "But so long as you ain't tryin' to control me I ain't gonna be causin' no problems."

"They are simple rules to keep the group safe, nothing more."

Merle nodded, "Alright then."

"We'll be back in a hour then." Connor shook the Governors hand and clapped Merle on the back. "She'll be ok my friend, I can feel it."

Merle turned around and began the short walk back to their car without answering.

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The Governor sat at his desk, ever since his daughter Penny had been infected his mind had sharpened to a single purpose. He was going to keep his small growing community safe, no matter the cost, he would make a real community and when Penny got better she would have a real home and a real life and nothing would ever hurt her again.

He thought about the two men that had come to him for help today, they were useful but smart, maybe too smart. He turned his chair to look out the window, the older man had said he didn't like rules, he was a redneck if there ever was one, if he didn't like rules that meant he wouldn't be trying to make them up, he didn't think that man had any interest in running a community. He wasn't a threat to his power. The other man the Irish and his brother were "peacekeepers" for some reason that felt like more of a problem, he sighed. The man had said he and his brother were making their way back to Boston, they wouldn't be sticking around, that was good, he thought. The man, Connor, hadn't said anything about the Redneck, Merle, going with them, that was also good, he could think of a million uses for that man. Merle made it clear he didn't like to owe anyone so the Governor would make sure he owed him, he was going to save that girl if possible.

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They drove to Woodbury with Merle driving, Connor in the passenger's seat and Murphy in the back with Emily's head on his lap. Merle gritted his teeth, seeing Murphy with Emily made him want to kill everybody, it's your own damn fault you fuckin' idiot he clenched his fists.

"Are we sure these fuckers aren't psychos?" Murphy asked.

It pissed Merle off even more that neither of the Irish seemed to be stupid.

"As sure as we can be brother." Connor answered. "We don't have much of a choice do we now?"

"If they try and hurt her…." Murphy let the sentence trail off.

"Ay," Connor answered.

Merle pulled the car over. "What the hell are you two." He turned and faced the two men. "And don't tell me y'all were some damn peacekeepers neither. You know how ta kill and ya know how to do it together. What the fuck are ya?"

"Merle we don't have the time for this." Connor scolded.

"I'm goin' in there with you two fucks at my back." Merle glared. "We're makin' time, so make it quick."

Connor opened his mouth but Murphy answered, "We are peacekeepers." Merle turned to argue, but Murphy cut him off. "We kill anybody that needs killing, anybody who deserves it. Murderers, Rapists, Abusers."

Murphy kept his gaze locked on Merle, a bit surprised when the Redneck stared back without flinching. "Y'all kill drug dealers?"

"If they kill others." Murphy answered.

Merle nodded, "Y'all assassins then?"

"In a way," Murphy looked pensive.

"An not in a way also." Connor answered, smiling when Merle gave him an exasperated scowl. "We didn't kill for money. We kill evil men, only evil men, and we make the decisions with the help of God, nobody sends us."

"Kill any child abusers?"

"Ay, we killed several."

"Alrigh', lets go." Merle turned the car back on and pulled out onto the road without another word.

Murphy and Connor exchanged a knowing look behind the rednecks back.

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Merle looked down at Emily's sleeping form, it had taken all his cunning to get in her room without the brothers being around. He brushed her hair from her forehead, scowling at his stolen touch. Emily could have been his, if he hadn't been such a damn fool, he wouldn't have had to steal a touch, he bent and kissed her lips lightly, he wouldn't have to steal a kiss. He threw her away for his brother and for pride, well where were his brother and his damn pride now? Merle shook his head, he wasn't any good for Emily anyway, he'd fucked Andrea, he'd thrown it in her face, cause he was an asshole, he'd always been and asshole and always would be. She deserved better. Once he found Daryl they'd go and look for the farmer's daughter, he wasn't a fool, Daryl would want to find her eventually, better get her now before the little cutie found someone else. Maybe his brother would have better luck, maybe Daryl could manage not to fuck it up. He ran his finger down Emily's cheek.

"Get better Emily. I just wanna know you're alive out there, somewhere." He stole another kiss, before jerking his head up, he heard footsteps in the hallway and slipped out the window before he could get caught.

"Merle?" Emily mumbled, half asleep. Merle was already gone.