THETRUEFATHER

Daryl sat quietly in English, waiting as the teacher, Mrs. Sculper, wrote the daily writing assignment on the board. Daryl hated them, having to write a paragraph in 10 minutes on what ever the teacher wanted. Most of the time he did badly in the assignments, but as Daryl watched Mrs. Sculper cap the pen, he saw that maybe he could finally write about this one.

"What is love? What does it mean to you. 10 minutes, go."

Daryl opened his notebook and looked at the paper for a moment, before he wrote.

Love is the strength we have for others. Love is why we fight, why we die. Love is powerful. Love is new and scary, sometimes terrifying. Love is why you keep fighting for someone long dead, just so you can be closer to them. Love is something that drives people to do what is right, to become who they are supposed to be. Finding out someone loves you, even though you just met them, it changes you. Love is what I feel for Buck, what I know Buck feels for me. Buck will always love me. Buck will always be there for me. Buck wants me, Buck loves me. I can't ask for anything more, I finally have a father that loves me.

Daryl laid his pencil down and waited out the 10 minutes. As Mrs. Sculper came around, quickly reading each students paragraph, she stopped and read Daryl's. She re-read it, before giving Daryl a smile.

"Very well written Daryl. Good job."

Daryl nodded and Mrs. Sculper continued on. Daryl smirked to himself as he got started on his other school work. Maybe he could get good at this school thing after all.

THETRUEFATHER

Daryl came thru the front door, intending to wait for Merle and head straight out to the woods. He knew Buck was either already waiting or would be soon, and Daryl wanted to get out there quickly. He was worried about how Merle was going to take the news, but he was also excited to see Buck again. The more time he spent with Buck, the more he wanted to be around Buck.

Buck was an interesting person. He was very upfront, didn't bullshit anyone. Daryl knew Buck was a criminal, one with a long and successful career, that put most people on edge just because of his size and history . But to Daryl, Buck was much more then a criminal, he was Daryl's father. And he was proving it every day. Travis never spent time with Daryl, never wanted to. And now Buck was spending as much time with his son as possible, and Daryl knew it was having an effect. Daryl wanted to be around Buck, wanted to be around his father.

Daryl sat down in the kitchen and worked on his homework while he waited for Merle. He heard the front door slam, but by the sound of it, Travis was home, not Merle.

"why the fuck ain't ya out huntin' ya worthless piece of shit?!"

Daryl cringed as Travis stomped up to him, the overwhelming stench of whiskey and cigarettes enveloping him.

"Fuck I'm waitin' for Merle. Give me a chance ta get out there!"

Travis glared at Daryl. "You fuckin' talkin' back to me?!"

Daryl clenched his teeth, he just needed to get out of the house, away from Travis. Daryl put his homework away in his back pack, when he was suddenly pulled from his chair and slammed into the wall.

"You don't talk back you mother fucker!"

Daryl hit the wall hard, slamming his head into the door frame. Daryl's head swam as he tried to stay standing, but the next second he doubled over in pain from a punch to his ribs.

Daryl collapsed on the floor and Travis was on him in a heart beat, delivering one blow after another to Daryl's gut and chest. Daryl curled into a ball to protect himself as the blows rained down.

"you never fuckin' talk back to your father ya hear me!"

Daryl felt a wave of anger pulse thru him, Buck was his father, not Travis. before Daryl could stop himself, he punched out at Travis, catching him in the jaw.

"Fuck you asshole!"

Travis stared for a moment, and Daryl felt a cold sinking feeling wash over, he knew he had just made a major mistake. Travis grabbed Daryl by his left arm, and yanked him up, before using his arm as leverage to throw Daryl into the wall. Daryl felt his shoulder pop out of joint as he hit the wall and screamed in pain as he fell to the floor. Travis kicked him several times in the ribs, before grabbing Daryl by his bad arm and dragging him from the kitchen to living room. Daryl tried to grab at the door frame as he was pulled thru, but a powerful kick to his ribs lift him gasping for air. Travis dropped Daryl, and repeatedly kicked him in the chest until Daryl was a shaking mass on the floor, trembling in pain. Travis kept yelling as he beat on Daryl, but Daryl concentrated on what Buck had been telling him.

"i should have drowned you at birth!"

you should have been born in mexico.

"you are nothin'!"

you are everthin' to me.

"pathetic pussy!"

you are strong Daryl.

"you are a worthless piece of shit. No one will ever love ya, and no one will ever want ya. You're nothin' but a fuckin' dog that needs to be put down."

I love you Daryl. I always will.

Travis spat on Daryl as he gave him one last kick before stomped away, slamming the door behind him as he went outside. Daryl laid still as he heard Travis drive away. Daryl tried to pull himself up to get into the kitchen, where his phone was in his bag. Fuck why didn't he put it in his pocket?! Oh right, he was too worried about dropping it while he walked home from school.

Daryl groaned, wanting desperately to get to his phone, to call Buck. But he didn't have it in him as his eyes rolled to the back of his head, and Daryl passed out.

THETRUEFATHER

"Jesus christ Daryl!"

"Daryl!"

Daryl groaned as he came too, his name echoing in his head. Everything hurt, his shoulder was throbbing, and it was hard to breath.

"Come on brother, look at me. Come on mother fucker!"

Daryl forced himself to focus, meeting Merle's eyes. Merle was crouched over Daryl, his face tense.

"come on, we need ta take ya in for this one. I can't set a separated shoulder, we gotta take ya to the ER."

Daryl shook his head, and Merle growled.

"Daryl I'm takin' ya one way or another. Don't fight me on that."

Daryl shook his head again, before he spat out a mouthful of blood, and hacked a few coughs, before he looked at Merle.

"my backpack, small pocket, get my phone."

Merle frowned. "since when do ya have a phone?"

Daryl groaned. "get it Merle, I'll explain later."

Merle nodded lightly, and left the room, quickly returning with the phone. Daryl took it, flipping it open and hitting the speed dial. Merle watched on anxiously before Buck answered.

"Hey boy, where the fuck are ya?"

Daryl saw Merle frown, but ignored him.

"Travis got ta me."

"I'm on my way, stay there. Is Travis in the house?"

"no, he took off. Its just Merle and I."

"I'll be there in 10 minutes."

Buck hung up, and Daryl flipped the phone shut, leaning his head back to the wall behind him. Merle snapped his fingers in front of Daryl's face.

"Hey what the fuck was that?"

Daryl shook his head. "don't Merle, just wait. Ya wanted ta know what was happenin' ta me out in the woods, you're about ta find out."

Merle went silent, and the two brothers sat in the living room together, Merle leaning against the wall Daryl was. A few minutes later a car pulled up and they heard someone running on the gravel. Before Merle could stand up, the front door was thrown open and Buck rushed in, carrying a black bag.

Buck swore as he quickly crossed the room to Daryl's side.

"fuck we need ta get you to a hospital."

Daryl shook his head. "no, I hate hospitals. You can fix my shoulder, you told me you could."

Buck growled as he examined Daryl, running his hands carefully over Daryl's shoulder and ribs.

"that was in the field Daryl, and it'll hurt like a fuckin' bitch. You need pain killers."

Daryl shook his head again. "please, I don't want to go."

Buck growled again, but nodded. "fuck, okay, Merle, help me get him into the kitchen."

Merle eyed Buck as he scooped Daryl up and stood. "how the fuck do ya know my name, who the fuck are you?!"

Buck motioned with his head to the kitchen door. "open it."

Merle shoved open the door and let Buck thru. Buck put Daryl down on the table, helping him lay back. Merle waited until Daryl was situated before he grabbed Buck by the throat, slamming him against the wall.

"tell me who the fuck you are!"

Buck easily escaped Merle's hold, spinning him around and pinning Merle to the wall.

"I'll tell you everythin'! Right now we need to help your brother, come on, he needs both of us."

Merle growled as Buck released him and walked back to Daryl's side. "watch yourself mother fucker!"

Buck ignored Merle as he opened the bag he had with him, and produced a set of scissors. He cut away Daryl's shirt, growing angrier as every scar and bruise appeared.

"I'm gonna kill that asshole!"

Daryl hissed as Buck pressed lightly on his ribs. Buck sighed as he looked to Merle.

"broken ribs and separated shoulder. We fix the shoulder first, I need ya to hold him down while I set it."

Merle eyed Buck as he came around the table and stood at Daryl's head, leaning over and pressing his weight on Daryl's torso, careful of his broken ribs. Buck maneuvered Daryl's arm, then looked up at Daryl.

"this is gonna suck, ya sure you don't want a hospital?"

Daryl nodded. "do it."

Buck nodded, and swiftly jerked his hands, popping Daryl's shoulder back into socket. Daryl screamed in pain as Merle flexed to hold him down. Buck placed Daryl's arm back down on the table, before running his hands thru Daryl's hair, waiting as he calmed down. Daryl grimaced in pain, before groaning.

"That it?"

Buck shook his head. "we need ta get ya sittin' up while I wrap your ribs."

Buck and Merle helped Daryl sit up, before Buck wrapped his arm up in a sling. Buck directed Merle to hold Daryl's arms up. Daryl bit his lip as his injured shoulder was raised up, but Buck worked quickly, wrapping Daryl's ribs tightly before laying Daryl back down on the table. Merle stood back as Buck continued to work on Daryl, moving on to the lacerations on his scalp.

"These need stitches. Gimmie a sec ta numb it."

Buck measured out the numbing agent, and injected Daryl along the gash on his temple. Buck then carefully cleaned the wounds, before stitching them with exact stitches. He then bandaged the wounds up, and checked Daryl over for injuries. As Buck cleaned the small scrapes and cuts he found, he looked up to Daryl.

"You are not stayin' here any more. I don't give a shit if ya need more time, I'm not lettin' ya live with that man anymore."

Daryl nodded weakly. "i want to go home with you."

Buck smiled lightly. "Good, makes it easier then draggin' ya ass out of here."

Merle growled as he stepped forward. "Daryl ain't goin' no where with someone I don't fuckin' know."

Buck stood and faced Merle. "you may not remember me, but you do know me."

Buck reached into his back pocket, pulling out the letter from Hope and the test results. Merle took them and growled at Buck.

"what's this shit?"

Buck smirked lightly. "the truth."

THETRUEFATHER

it was him. Buck was back.

Merle trembled slightly as he read his mother's letter, confirming what Merle had instinctively known for years, Daryl was not his full blood brother. Daryl was so much different then Travis and even Merle. It had always struck Merle how it was a big coincidence that 9 months after his mother had a visit from an old lover, Daryl appeared.

Merle didn't have much of the memories of Buck left after 16 years, mostly because he had chosen to suppress them. Merle had clung to the hope of Buck's return for many years, before hope had died. For the months after his mother's death, Merle had watched and waited, hoping that Buck would return and free Merle and Daryl from Travis. But it never happened.

Merle bit his lip as he shook his head. Another fuck you from the big man upstairs. Merle always got fucked over, always. Really the only good thing he had going in his life was Daryl. And now Buck was taking Daryl away. Merle was going to be alone, no brother, no family.

THETRUEFATHER

Buck watched as Merle shook his head before handing back the letter and papers.

"So that's it? Ya takin' Daryl away."

Buck shook his head. "Ya Hope's son?"

Merle growled. "what the fuck do you think?!"

Buck smirked. "then ya comin' too."

Merle eyed Buck. "What the hell are ya talkin' about?"

Buck smiled lightly as he looked at Merle.

"Hope, she was my woman, until I got shipped out. The way I see it Merle, I should have been ya dad biologically too. And if I ain't by blood, then who the fuck cares. I want to be your dad Merle, not just Daryl's. Ya both Hope's sons, and that's what's important. Fuck I was adoptin' ya 16 years ago! Would have to if my fuckin' driver hadn't gotten drunk and flipped on me. You were supposed to be my son, and as far as I am concerned, ya are."

Merle shook his head. "i ain't ya son, I'm Travis'."

Buck hissed. "don't say that fuckers name, he ain't the father you deserve."

Merle got in Buck's face. "you're the one that left me to him!"

Buck shook his head. "not by my choice! I wanted to be here, I wanted to stay with you and Hope!"

Merle growled. "but ya didn't, and ya left Daryl to suffer too! You caused all this!"

Daryl stood up, shoving Merle back as he held his injured arm against his body.

"back off Merle! Buck didn't cause any of this, he just wants to help, to be a family!"

Merle shook his head. "you and him are family, not him and I."

Buck stood in front of Merle as he spoke.

"Daryl is my son by blood, you are my son by love. I have always wanted you to be my son. Fuck do ya know what that does to a man? Havin' a taste of fatherhood before its torn away!"

Merle clenched his fist as he shook his head. "you never should have come! You shouldn't have come now!"

Merle suddenly punched Buck in the face, temporarily knocking the older man to the ground. Buck was on his feet in an instant and raised his hands, gesturing to Merle.

"come on, give me more. What ever it fuckin' takes for me ta get thru to ya, I'll do it. Come on!"

Merle was on Buck in an instant, delivering several strong punches before he was yanked back. Daryl threw Merle back a few feet, before he stood between Merle and Buck. Merle was on his feet in an instant, facing Daryl, who shook his head even as he grimaced thru the pain that racked thru his body.

"i won't let ya do this Merle. I won't! Buck's our dad for fuck's sack! He loves us Merle, both of us! And he loves mom too! He want's you to come with us. "

Merle growled as he shook his head at Daryl. "he ain't my fuckin' father!"

Daryl eyed Merle, before pointing at Buck as he stood up.

"this man loves you, loves me. He's willin' to die for us, and all Buck wants is ta be our dad. Come with us Merle, for me!"

Merle shook his head before walking to the kitchen door. He stopped in the door way and turned back to Buck.

"good job. Ya fucked me over again asshole!"

Daryl moved to follow Merle out of the room, before Buck placed a hand on his shoulder.

"give him some time, he's angry right now. We need to give him space."

Daryl turned back to Buck, who pulled Daryl in close. Daryl laid his head on Buck's chest, shaking as he processed what was going on. Buck and Daryl stood there for several minutes before Daryl leaned away, looking up at Buck.

"let me get my shit and let's get the fuck out of here."

Buck nodded. "I'll carry it. Don't worry about clothes, I bought ya some."

Daryl nodded. "i got a bag packed already, its in my closet."

Buck gestured to the kitchen chair. "wait here, I got some shit I need ta say to Merle before we leave."

Daryl nodded and sat down as Buck went down the hall. He moved thru Daryl's room, grabbing the back pack in the closet. Opening it Buck saw several photos, important documents, a change of clothes and a few mementos. Buck zipped the back pack shut and grabbed Daryl a clean shirt, before leaving the room. Buck walked to the next room and knocked on the door, Merle answering a minute later, glaring at Buck as if he wished that Buck would burst into flames. Looking in Buck saw Merle had laid out what he needed to shoot up, and Buck looked up to Merle.

"be careful okay, don't over due ya self."

Merle glared at Buck. "why the fuck do ya care?"

Buck met Merle's look. "because you're my son, wither ya believe that or not. I love you and I don't want ya to overdose. I'm takin' Daryl for tonight, but I'm gonna keep comin' back for ya."

Merle growled at Buck. "what the fuck do ya want now?"

Buck reached into his pocket, pulling out a phone and handing it to Merle. Merle noticed it was the same as the phone Daryl had as he flipped it over between his hands.

"what's this?"

Buck adjusted the backpack on his shoulder as he looked at Merle.

"my numbers in there, as is Daryl's. You can text or call when ever ya need. I'm minutes away if ya need me here, and I'm always open if ya want to talk. Ya need anything, I'm here Merle."

Merle threw the phone onto his bed, not caring as it bounced against the wall.

"Thanks for the free phone. Anythin' else home wrecker?"

Buck looked Merle up and down. "have a good night Merle, be careful. I love you."

Buck turned and walked away before Merle could respond leading him to slam the door.

THETRUEFATHER

Daryl eyed the house Buck had pulled up in front of. It had been vacant for a while, someone had bought it over a year ago. Now it appeared it was Buck who had bought it.

"Ya live here?"

Buck nodded as he helped Daryl out of the car. "had a friend buy it before I got out. I wanted somethin' so you could go to the same school, needed at least 3 bedrooms. This came up, I bought it."

Daryl limped up the front steps, Buck keeping his arm wrapped around Daryl's waist to help him stand. As they came in the house, Buck lead Daryl into the living room and helped him sit down at the couch. Daryl winced as his ribs grated, and Buck quickly left the room, coming back with several ice packs and a few pills.

"take these, they'll take the edge off."

Daryl swallowed the pills dry, and groaned as he leaned back, tucking the ice packs over his injuries. Buck walked over to a small table, pulling a bag out of a drawer. Daryl recognized the scent of weed as it filled the room, and raised an eyebrow at Buck.

"don't ya have to do piss tests?"

Buck shook his head. "don't have a mention of drugs on my record, I don't have ta do the tests. Which is a good fuckin' thing. Ever smoked weed before?"

Daryl shrugged. "tried it with Merle, but he never let me do much, I was too young."

Buck chuckled as he sat beside Daryl. "well you're a teenager now, there's an unofficial law that states you must smoke weed at least once."

Daryl smirked as he watched Buck load up a small pipe before handing it to Daryl along with a lighter.

This was going to be an interesting night.

THETRUEFATHER

"Men build things, then we die. Its in our fuckin' DNA, that's what we do."

Daryl was silent for a moment before he started laughing.

"That sounds like a god damn movie quote!" (anyone that didn't get the quote you are officially shamed!)

Buck smirked as he loaded another bowl. They had been sitting on the couch smoking for nearly an hour, and Buck was having a good time watching Daryl unwind from his stressful day.

"maybe it is, I don't know. But it makes sense. I mean shit, some of the banks I've robbed have already been torn down to make new ones. Human beings build shit but before the dust is even settled we get ready ta tear it down. Its bullshit, we just need ta build shit better ta start with, like we used ta."

Daryl chuckled as he took the pipe from Buck.

"makin' yaself sound ancient old man."

Buck eyed Daryl with a smile. "i may be your old man but I ain't old."

Daryl smirked as he took a hit from the pipe. "older then me."

Buck chuckled. "aye that's true. Well how are ya feelin'?"

Daryl sat back and thought for a minute. Over all he was actually doing pretty good. He was having a great time smoking and talking with Buck. The pills and weed had taken the edge off of the pain pretty well. The one thing that was still bugging him was Merle...and one more thing.

"I'm fuckin' starvin'."

Buck laughed as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "that's the munchies, pizza sound good?"

Daryl nodded. "somethin' with meat."

Buck gave Daryl a dead pan look. "would I ever get anythin' else?"

Daryl chuckled as Buck ordered the pizza. As Buck tossed his phone down on the table, he grabbed the TV remote.

"i ain't actually turned this shit on yet. Wonder whats on."

Daryl and Buck flipped thru the channels, before landing on a movie, that seemed to be about bank robbing. Buck scoffed as something happened on the TV.

"Dumb ass."

Daryl raised an eyebrow. "he got in the room."

Buck shook his head. "in real life he wouldn't have. That fucker could have been up there for hours and not gotten thru. That's Hollywood there, not the real thing."

Daryl laughed. "suppose ya do know more about bank robbin' then the director probably did."

Buck chuckled. "done a good bit of it. And I got away with it. That should tell ya everythin'."

Daryl smirked as the doorbell rang and Buck came back quickly with the pizza, break sticks and soda. As they both ripped into the food, Buck eyed Daryl.

"you feel okay enough for school tomorrow?"

Daryl nodded. "gotta be, if not they'll call Travis'. Merle normally catches the calls, but if one gets ta Travis, he'll come lookin' for me. I don't want Merle caught in the crossfire."

Buck nodded. "good plan. I'll drop ya off in the mornin', but I got to run a few towns over, gotta get my car. I'll be back in time ta pick ya up."

Daryl raised an eyebrow. "thought ya car was in the driveway?"

Buck chuckled. "that Japanese piece of shit ain't mine. Naw, my baby is with a friend gettin' some upgrades. He called today, she's ready for pick up."

Daryl laughed. "ya car is a woman?"

Buck nodded as he smirked. "names black beauty, you'll see why."

Daryl chuckled as he went back the pizza, eagerly eating. Buck and him cleared thru the pizza, before starting in on the bread sticks. They sat back and changed the TV to some cartoon show about an alien and a CIA agent, before Daryl nodded off. Buck chuckled as he watched Daryl fall asleep; between the pills, weed and a full stomach, the boy was dead to the world. Buck let him sleep as he picked up his phone, and sent a text.

B-your little brother can handle his weed, the munchies knocked him out though.

There was no response for several minutes, before the reply came.

M-getting him high already, that didn't take long.

B- he's had a rough day. Between the beating Travis gave him and him stressing over you still being in danger, Daryl needed to calm down, get some food in him and sleep.

M- I'm just fucking fine.

Buck gritted his teeth as he typed out his response.

B-you're not fine, you are in just as much danger as Daryl was. Travis will kill you someday Merle, just like he did your mother. I couldn't protect her but I can protect you.

M-i don't need you.

B-you may not think that but one day you will. And when you do, I'll be ready.

M-fuck off and die.

Buck chuckled at that. Merle certainly had a temper, one that was remarkably similar to his mothers.

B- you sounded like Hope there.

M-my mother is dead, move on asshole.

B-never. I love your mother, always have and I always will. You are my son Merle, you can run from that all you want but I won't give up.

M-fuck off and die.

Buck sighed as he typed back.

B-stay safe tonight. I know you don't believe it but I love you. And Daryl does too. If nothing else, then for your brother, don't shut me out.

M-i don't need you.

B-i don't care. I love you Merle, have a good night.

Buck shut off the TV and took the pizza box to the trash before he gently shook Daryl awake. Daryl yawned as he opened his eyes.

a to bed."

Buck helped Daryl stand up and lead him to a room down the hall. Daryl yawned again as he laid down on the bed.

"i gotta be at school by 8."

Buck nodded. "I'll make breakfast. Sleep well."

"fuck, sorry didn't mean ta pass out on ya."

Buck chuckled. "it's fine, ya need the sleep. Come on, lets get y

Daryl gave a light smile as he quickly fell asleep. "you too. Night dad."

Buck smiled as he clicked off the light. "night son, I love you."