Merle tracked Michonne for a mile or so before he ran into another small herd of about five, it didn't take too long to take them out but he had fallen even more behind. He could tell by her tracks that she was injured, maybe he'd help her, let her know that she could never go back to Woodbury, not ever. Up ahead he spotted a shopping strip and a head full of dreadlocks ducking behind a tan car.

He almost jumped for joy when he saw the little Asian fellow and a cute brunette come out from one of the stores only to have his stomach drop as Michonne came out from behind the car and limped over to them.

"Fuck me." he mumbled to himself as he watched her gesture over in the direction of Woodbury and point to her leg. He had to come out and talk to the kid before Michonne painted him as a bad guy.

"Well, well lookit who I found." he came out of the forrest with his hands up as Michonne swung her sword in his direction.

"That's him." she shook in anger, "That's one of the ones that hunted me. He's the one who shot me."

Glenn looked at him, eyes widening in shock, he stepped in front Maggie protectively.

"I'm also the one that missed." he shrugged his shoulders. "on purpose. Ask Glenn and Maggie here, I'm a hunter. A damn good one at that. I. Don't. Miss. Not unless I want to."

"Bullshit." Michonne spat out.

"Could have shot you from the woods there, nooo problem." he smirked. "but it ain't what I want to do. I wanted you to get out, just had ta make it look good for the rest of the boys."

"Merle?" Glenn's voice brought him out of his stare down with Michonne.

"You seen my brother?" he swallowed hard, getting ready for another disappointment. Glenn glanced at Michonne then back at Merle.

"Yeah."

"Yeah?!" Merle stepped forward eagerly, causing Michonne to hiss.

He turned at looked at the angry woman, "I'm done havin' this argument with you. I got a gun you got a sword, I coulda killed ya a hundred times already." he turned back to Glenn who nodded and gestured to a black SUV,

"He's with us, come on."

Michonne hissed again, even angrier. "She should come with us." Merle snickered as the woman's head whipped around to face him, eyes nearly popped out of her head in shock that he was speaking up for her.

"We don't know her, she could be dangerous." Glenn eyed Michonne suspiciously.

"She is dangerous." Merle nodded. Michonne's eyebrows scrunched up as she looked him up and down. "But, she's smart. Saw right through the Governor." Michonne's chest heaved as she fought the urge to argue with him. She didn't like him and didn't trust him, all for good reason as far as she knew.

"What she said about Woodbury, it's true?" Maggie finally spoke up.

"More than likely. I'll explain when I see Daryl. This woman is only dangerous to you if you are a danger to her. Ain't that right Michonne." He laughed when she didn't answer, her pride was fighting her practicality. She was hurt, she needed help, but she didn't want it from him.

"You need help for that leg woman. Come with or stay and die." he shrugged and walked over to the SUV, Glenn and Maggie followed hesitantly.

Maggie was about to close the passenger door when Michonne called out "Wait!"

Merle opened the back door and jerked his head, "Well, come on then."

Michonne limped over with a scowl on her face and got in the seat next to him.

Merle could barely contain his joy, he'd found Daryl. The grin on his face slipped a little when he thought of Emily, he'd have to figure out what to do about her later. Right now he was finally off to see Daryl.

XxxxxxxxxxXXXxxxxxxxX

"Hey yo! Daryl!" Axel called out to him across the yard. "Looks like Glenn and Maggie is back"

Daryl lifted a hand to shade eyes as he stood up and wiped his other greasy hand on his dirty brown pants. His bike had been giving him a hard time, Merle would know what was wrong, he was a damn genius when it came to bikes. He could just see the SUV coming down to the gates and hurried over to help Axel keep the walkers at bay.

It didn't take long to get his friends inside safely, he was already turning away eager to get back to his bike and be on his way when a gravelly voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Ain't even gonna say Hi. I tried ta teach ya some manners boy. I guess they didn't stick."

Daryl's heart started racing, there was no way, he had to be hallucinating. Beth was walking across the yard towards him an expression of shock and happiness on her face. It was that look that convinced him to turn around.

Merle was standing there, a smirk on his face as he looked him up and down.

"Merle?" Daryl breathed out.

"Last I checked little brother."

And fuck it, he didn't give one rat's ass if he was being a pussy, he ran to his brother.

So very AU, mostly because I couldn't make it work anything near how it went down in the show and also because I never liked how it went down in the show. Daryl is your friend Glenn, how could you keep his brother from him for even a second? You left Merle handcuffed to a roof, desperate enough to cut off his hand, why in the world would you expect him to trust you? Make no sense to me, so I fixed it for myself.