Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead. Sadly.
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Carol had her cheek resting against the coolness of the Hyundai's partly opened window, savouring the cool air circulating through the car. No-one had spoken for the last few miles, and that was something she was only too thankful for. She was glad not to hear the steady rumble of Merle's voice from behind her seat. He had been vocal for the first few miles, despite repeated warnings and elbow nudging from Daryl. Eventually he had given up and fallen silent when he finally realised that he didn't have his captive audiences full attention.
Rick pulled the car into a small cul-de-sac, parking at the side of an over grown grass verge. Carol had to stifle the smile as she heard one of the back doors of the car swing open, the clomp of boots hitting tarmac, and she knew only to well that it would have to be Daryl first out of the car. She took a peek, and nodded to herself. He was already tugging the crossbow off his back, his eyes partly concealed by his unruly fringe of hair, but she knew that he was warily watching as Merle clambered out. Clutching her backpack out of the well in the car, she climbed out herself.
"We'll split into pairs," Rick said closing his door, shielding his eyes against the sun as he squinted at the row of small shops that lined the street.
"Do you think that's wise Rick?" Carol glanced hesitantly at Daryl and Merle. She cast her eyes to the road, glancing back to the small square of shops. So far she couldn't see any walkers.
"We ain't splitting up, no way man." Daryl shifted the crossbow in his arms, scuffing at the ground with the toe of his boot.
Rick gestured with one hand towards the buildings, "Look we get in, we get out, it'll be quicker if we split up. I'll take Merle with-"
"Like shit ye will! No offense Officer Friendly, but last time you cost me my goddamned fuckin' hand," Merle hissed angrily, brandishing his prosthetic limb.
"I went back for you Merle, we went back for you," Rick said wearily, "How many times do I have to say that it was a mistake? A mistake that we tried to make right? You had gone."
"Yeah, yeah..you an' that big ole Spear-Chucker both. An' I bet you can't sleep at night with all them boo-hoo tears you shed. Might even believe it when I see those damn pigs flying."
"We did Merle, and you wasn't there, just ya damned hand. Just quit it bro', it ain't getting us nowhere," Daryl glowered.
Merle looked at Daryl, his eyes narrowing angrily, "Quit being his lil bitch, baby brother."
Carol looked at Rick, feeling a sudden pang for the man as he glanced at her, indecision written in his eyes. He raised one hand, lightly pinching the bridge of his nose. She knew then, that he was worried that Merle might just try to take off with Daryl, leaving them all over again, although when Daryl had shown back at the prison gates, him and Merle both saving Rick from the walkers massing there, that that had pretty much decided Daryl's loyalties. She didn't really know how she knew, but she just had a feeling that Daryl wouldn't be in such a rush to ditch their group. She also realised that Rick was putting a lot of faith in Daryl by bringing him and his wayward brother on this run.
And as much as she hated saying it, and knowing she couldn't stop the words from venturing out of her mouth, she said quietly, "Alright. I'll go with Merle."
Rick glanced at her, blue eyes scrutinizing her closely, then he nodded at her imperceptibly, "Thank you." Unsheathing the knife at his waist, he said to the others, "Now we know what we are here for, ammunition- whatever we can find, food and any medicinal supplies, and we need stuff... for Judith. Formula, diapers, whatever we can find and carry." Giving another small tight smile he said, "Let's go."
Carol took the knife from her belt, grasping it firmly in one hand. She glanced up as Daryl moved towards her. His eyes darted towards where Merle was stood impatiently, sighing under his breath. His hand reached out towards her, and she wondered then if he would actually touch her, but then his hand palmed fresh air as it fell just short of her, returning to the safety of his crossbow. As if he was suddenly embarrassed by his action, he murmured so softly that she hardly heard him. "Stay safe. 'n watch out that jackass brother of mine."
"You too, stay safe Daryl," she replied, giving him a small half smile. She noticed Merle observing them, his brow creasing into angry squiggly lines.
"C'mon ya buncha fuckin' pussies," Merle spat, striding from them. "Darlina?" He stopped briefly, calling over his shoulder. "Go an' hold the good sheriffs hand. I'll take the mouse with me. Reckon she might just have bigger balls than the lot of you put together."
Carol rolled her eyes, silently cursing Hershel. She watched as Rick moved off with Daryl in tow, wishing that she could have traded places with Rick. Merle unsettled her, made her feel anxious. He was unpredictable and a hot head. She had grown to know Daryl over time, could almost anticipate his actions now...Merle from what she had seen and known, confounded her the best of the times.
"You just gonna stand there an' murmur sweet nothin's to my baby brother, or ya gonna move yer feet an' get this done?" Merle hissed quickly at her ear. She gasped a little, standing back and frowning at him. She hadn't even noticed him invading her personal space. While Daryl had many issues-he would still flinch even now if she so much as touched him on the arm, it appeared that Merle didn't have any of those insecurities that affected his younger brother.
He smirked, smoky blue eyes narrowing as he inclined his head towards her, "Saw a drugstore, what ya waiting for, mouse?"
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she glanced quickly across to Daryl, watching as he moved stealthily after Rick, crossbow cradled at the ready in his arms.
"Biters!" Merle whooped suddenly. He laughed largely as he thrust upwards with the bayonet on his prosthetic arm, the walker dropping heavily to the floor, dark blood pooling rapidly as it's head thumped to the concrete. He glanced at her, smiling smugly. "An' that's how it's done, sister."
Carol shook her head at him, and stepping to his left hand side, rammed her knife firmly through the eye socket of a young female walker that had focused its attention on him. "As you said Merle, that's how it's done."
"Well my, ain't you quite the surprise?" he chuckled approvingly.
"Mhm," she said glancing over his shoulder, "I see more walkers."
"I see 'em too. Stay close behind me, cover my ass," Merle replied, the grin he gave her slipping of his face as he saw her still stood at his side. His eyes narrowed. "I mean it mouse, stay behind me."
Carol only nodded at him, watching as he strode across the tarmac. She kept close to him, putting down a walker who'd wandered within her range. Merle dropped two more walkers in quick succession, his bayonet streaked with sticky blackened goo. She glanced down at her own knife, flicking the blade suddenly, watching momentarily as blood dripped off her blade, smacking onto the tarmac thickly.
"C'mon," Merle murmured, grabbing her arm and drawing her into the drugstore with him.
The only walkers in the building were long dead, three dusty dirty husks. Shelving hung haphazardly, torn and twisted, the shop floor strewn with beat up bottles, some burst, spewing up their desiccated contents. The air felt thick and cloying with accumulated scents and general disuse.
She watched as Merle shuffled to a stripped down shelf, his hand brushing against a bottle of shampoo, knocking it to the ground. He looked at her slyly then, and Carol felt her breath catch awkwardly in her throat. He had a packet of condoms in his hand and was staring at her brazenly. Silently appraising her.
"You never know mouse. Pays to be prepared," he grinned. "An' ain't I the regular boy scout?"
She felt the heat rise to her face, "Those have an expiration date Merle? I think it's going to be a long while 'til you get laid."
"Was thinkin' you and our Darlina," he said, lips curling downwards into a sneer. "Say, our boy put the wood to you yet?"
"None of your damn business. It isn't like that," she spat.
"Huh, jus' as I thought. Little brother always was slow on the uptake." He turned from her, chuckling before palming the condoms into a pocket.
She swore she could still see his grin despite his back facing her.
Carol sighed as she watched Merle walk determinedly to the prescription isle at the back of the shop. "Fuck," he spat angrily. "Goddamn place been torn apart here too. Ain't much left. The better shit is kept out'a sight, store room. There's gotta be one here..." he chortled triumphantly opening a small back door, peeking his head in.
She found a couple of granola bars and hurriedly stuffed them into her backpack, her hand pausing, then ramming three dented, dusty bottles of water she found there too. Her eyes skimmed the nearly empty shelves, despairing as she saw the majority of the good stuff taken. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she glanced towards the front of the building, a sudden movement out in the bright sunshine catching her eye.
"Merle? Come here," Carol called out, unable to keep the tremor out of her voice as her heart pounded suddenly, almost painfully in her chest. "You should see this."
He stomped his way back towards her, one arm brushing against her as he shoved past. "What the hell?"
Carol caught his black shirt tightly in her fist, yanking him suddenly backwards and up against herself.
"Ain't really the time or place, sweetheart," he drawled lazily, peeking at her over his shoulder.
"Shut up Merle," she hissed behind him. "Look!"
He glanced in her direction, eyes widening as he saw a throng of walkers stumbling across the street. The breath whistled in his chest. "Well shit."
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