Expect a pace pick up after this chapter...Time jumps. Just a few but getting us where we need to be in the story. :D I hope you enjoy.

Merle looked over at his brother's where they stood watching Sophia. Both of his brother's were flanking her as she made her way down the incline towards the water that was running. She was giving Mac down the road and had a scowl that rivaled Daryl's. Goddamn if he didn't know any better he'd swear that girls was Daryl's at times.

"We don't have much further till we're there...you think we should scout ahead." Martinez was looking at him seriously, "If we do I...I don't think it'd be best to take Mac till we know what we're walking into."

Merle sucked his teeth and nodded along, "We'll just tell them we're going to scout the road ahead and make sure it's clear. I don't want to walk him into something before I know what's happened there."

"You think Hannah and Brian listened?" Martinez looked at him again and then to where the other's were.

Thinking about his nephew was something he tried to not do a lot. It wasn't that Merle didn't care for him or that he was being a heartless bastard but he just didn't want that on him. He didn't want that on him while he was watching over his brother's trying to keep them from getting killed. He didn't want to think about the possibilities of Mac's boy being killed. No, Merle didn't honestly think Brian was dead. Boy was too much like his daddy to have kicked it so easily. He was a fighter just like his bloodline was.

Merle looked at Martinez and shot him a broad smile, "That woman aint ever questioned Mac when it came to the safety of that boy."

"So you think they stayed? What if the place is over run..." Martinez broke off and held his hands up, "Listen I get it..he's family and you don't want to think about it but the possibility is there that the place got over run."

Merle spit to the side and growled, "Hannah would have gotten him to her parent's place if it looked like something was going wrong."

Mac was glaring at him and Merle just stared him down. He wasn't about to let him go and Mac knew it. He also knew that Mac wouldn't go and leave Daryl behind. Those two stayed together and the one time they had separated Daryl had been gone for days. When he'd gotten back he'd been damn near exhausted and starved with a shadow tagging along.

Merle's eyes went to Sophia and she was leaning into Daryl's side her eyes wide and serious looking at him. He heard Mac growl and knew his point was driven home.

"Fucking shit." Mac hissed through his teeth, "We aint far Merle and I know this aint just checking the road."

Merle stepped forward and pushed Mac away from the others, "You best calm your ass down boy. Rushing in there aint gonna do you know fucking favors." Merle stared at him trying to keep his own temper in check but the look Mac was giving him made it hard. "Be smart about it."

"That's rich coming from you." Mac snapped.

Merle's hand flashed out and he slapped Mac in the back of the head and then caught his wrist when he moved to hit him back. He heard Daryl behind them and then he was stepping around them and between. He shot them both looks and pushed them apart.

"Calm the fuck down." Daryl hissed his eyes going to the girl.

All three sets of eyes fell on her and she looked nervous shifting on her feet looking at them all. Martinez was talking to her and pulling her further away from them but her eyes were wide enough that he knew she was getting scared. Merle looked at Daryl and seen anger flashing in his eyes.

"She don't need to deal with your alls shit." He snarled, "Get it the fuck together and go." He looked at Mac and pulled him along, "And you need to drop it till he's back."

Mac was bitching at Daryl as they walked away but Mac was walking with him. Where Daryl could cool Mac's temper in seconds Merle had always been the one to set it ablaze and they fought more often than not. Even if it wasn't to cause harm they were usually fucking with each other and always had. Daryl barely tolerated them before this shit happened and was always disappearing into the woods leaving them behind but now he was stuck. Merle chuckled and Daryl flipped him off pushing Mac further ahead.

Merle and Martinez made good time and parked the truck in the mess of vehicles. Making sure nothing was in there that a raider would see and take they started walking. Merle was already on edge. There was sure signs of traffic here and not many walkers. There actually wasn't any that they had seen and he seen Martinez's eyes sweeping quickly his gun at the ready.

"Merle I think we should circle this." He gestured to the tangled mess of cars, "It looks like someone set these up blocking these road ways."

"Only one way in and out." Merle chuckled.

Walking a bit further Merle lowered his weapon and brought his hand around flipping the latch on his sheath keeping his knife in place. The slight shifting and break in steps let them know they were being followed and watched. Martinez didn't look at him and didn't change a thing he was doing when they kept walking turning down a road that stopped with a large wall erected across it and spreading further out.

"Hands in the air." A voice snapped ahead.

Merle shook his head at the man and the gates swung open. Martinez was tense and his gun was held up and at the ready but Merle let his swing and walked forward. The man who walked beyond the gates started laughing and nodded when he seen Merle and he lowered his gun and whistled lifting his hand and signaling his men.

"Damn it's good to see you Dixon." Carter smiled, "We knew you and him were going to get your brothers but didn't think it'd take this long to get back." Carter clapped Merle on the back and his eyes swept the area, "Where are they?"

Merle shot him a look, "Close."

"Merle Atlanta is gone when it fell me and the rest of the men checked the base." Carter gave him a grim look, "Nothing there but bodies and charlies."

"Rest of the men here?" Martinez looked over.

"All four of us that broke away from the rest when you two took off." Carter looked at them both, "We got here when we realized that the base was gone. We followed the shit you marked out on that map and we've been waiting to see what to do next."

Merle gave a swift nod and the gates slammed behind them, "We need to get my brother's before this goes any further."

A man was walking towards them and Carter mumbled something under his breath that sounded like douche. Merle looked at him but Carter was smirking looking at the ground.

"Welcome to Woodbury, names Phillip but you can call me the Governor." He held his hand out to Merle and he gripped the man's hand tightly. "You mus the men our soldier's have been talking about."

Carter cleared his throat, "Dixon is our CO."

Phillip's eyes were appraising and Merle already didn't like the man. "Well that's good news men, though I was under the impression there were going to be more than two of you..."

Martinez chuckled and Merle smirked, "There is."

Things were fast paced after that as they started losing the light. Making plans to get his brother's Merle kept his eyes on the man who claimed to be in charge of the town. He had a smooth face plastered on but he was biting back a look as the men that had served with Merle immediately fell in line with him and started asking what he wanted them to do. He seen his look break though when the men asked if they needed to get their gear and get ready to go. Merle didn't mention Brian and Hannah and neither did the men. He smiled when he realized that even the men knew that the Governor was uneasy with this power exchange happening.

"How long will it take you to make this round trip?" Carter questioned.

Martinez looked at him, "Driving no time at all, be back before night has fallen."

Carter shot them serious looks, "I'll keep the gates ready."

The Governor nodded along, "SO long as you men and your brother's are willing to defend this town we are welcoming."

Merle looked over but didn't speak and Martinez had ahold of his arm pulling him to the gates, "I'll stay here and keep and eye on this fuck you go get them before Mac takes off anyways. "Just think wont be long till we can get him back to that boy and you'll be bitching about how annoying they are together."