My nets been in and out a lot what time I've had to even write or update. Hope everyone is warm tonight!

Merle looked over at his brother and regarded his sleeping form. Daryl was completely still except that he wasn't. Every so often Daryl's hand would drop to the ground and search close to him before realizing even in his sleep Carol wasn't there. At first he wanted to call his brother a pussy and mock him but that wasn't so easy anymore. He didn't dislike Carol, it was the opposite actually. She was family and there was nothing to be done about it. Even if somehow these two fucking jackasses messed it up and weren't together anymore- Carol would still be family. Sophia would still be Daryl's. Blood gave you family but when someone who wasn't blood became family it was because you picked them and sometimes that meant more.

He wish he didn't have to bring Daryl out here but he needed one of his brothers. He couldn't track and watch the flank. Daryl was a better track of all three of them and had more of a level head. Mac could walk into that camp though and kill every man woman and child in there and never look back if it meant his own family was safe. Merle, well Merle could kill for his family so he took Daryl. He didn't want to think about what Mac would have done if given free reign on these men after Michonne told them just how bad she seen some of the women get it.

A scuffing sound made Merle look over his shoulder to see Daryl's hand searching for her again. This was why he was here doing this. This was why he could kill someone and never feel an ounce of guilt. For the first time he could remember things were right for his family Fuck everyone that the world had to end for them to get it but that's just Dixon luck to begin with.

Daryl's eyes blinked open and he turned his head looking next to himself scowling. Merle chuckled getting his attention and Daryl setup and nodded at him before his eyes went outside. The sun wasn't up yet but it would be by the time they were getting to the group. It was time to move.

Daryl stood kicking out the embers before nudging Michonne. Merle didn't bother speaking to her because she knew just as well what they were out here to do. If she couldn't kill then that was on her and her conscience. He wasn't out here to hold hands.

They exited and Daryl took the lead guiding them back to where they'd been lastnight. With a sharp caw he heard a resounding one letting him know that the others were moving. If they didn't get this done in time then Mac was liable to start a manhunt. Anyone caught in his crosshairs would die.

After an hour of walking Daryl came to a stop and motioned him over. Merle waited for it knowing there was something that got his attention. The breeze was faint but it was there. Smoke. Merle regraded him and they both took a deep breath before heading towards the wind. Michonne was silent behind them and Martinez and Carter fell in with them after another mile.

When they got to the camp everything was quiet and the sun was just starting to shine into the camp. No one was stirring and Merle regarded them. It was odd that men who were dead set on taking camps didn't think to guard their own. Or were they so cocky they didn't think anyone would dare.

"Something..." Michonne's voice was cautious.

A twig snapping to the left was all Daryl needed before his bow was up and a bolt was flying. The first man fell. From there mayhem took over and Merle was hard pressed to keep an eye on his brother and a knife from being buried in his own back. More than once he spun only to see that the man was dead due to his own brother. Chest heaving, arms dripping, and snarling he cut men down left and right. When he ran out of rounds he drove his knife into them with savage accuracy.

He heard Martinez barking at someone and he heard Carter's voice of the roar in his ears. Daryl was everywhere and nowhere as he fought. One minute Merle was sure he was seeing his brother right next to him but the next it was nothing but the wind. The bodies were there but not him. Michonne was violent flashes of arcing blood and feline hissed threats. It was over before it begun. It was easy, way to easy and that left him unsettled.

"Fuck." Martinez's voice was rough.

Head snapping over he watched as Martinez pushed his hand flat against a wound. Dropping to his knees he grimaced watching as blood rushed through Martinez's fingers even as he tightly compressed the wound. He met Carter's eyes and could see the knowing in them. He smiled and it was the furthest from comforting that it could have been. His bloody smile was forlorn and something in Merle's chest heaved. He'd basically watched Carter grow up. He's spent his time in the military serving under Merle only to die because a fucking rapist couldn't keep it in his fucking pants.

"We can stop the bleeding and get him back." Martinez's words were frantic.

Carter caught Martinez's wrist and shook his head, "You remember when we were over there in the sand and we use to think about coming home. The shit we said we would do?"

Merle nodded and Martinez chuckled, "You were going to start telling people Daryl was your dad and Merle was your uncle."

"I did that." Carter laughed, he coughed and blood slipped past his lips, "Half the men in those barracks thought I was your nephew."

"Who all did you tell that too?" Merle laughed.

"Anyone who would listen." Carter smiled and looked off.

Daryl padded over then and Michonne was next to him. Merle could see the blood dripping from Daryl's hand and the sick feeling that he could be hurt too sunk in.

"Well you can let Brian know he won." Carter grinned and then shifted.

He started sliding off holsters and sheaths. Merle's chest tightened further but nothing they were saying was making him budge. He was as stubborn as Daryl that was for damn sure. Daryl squatted down by him and Merle couldn't hear what he was saying but Carter was nodding. When he stood and Martinez and him moved back over Martinez offered to even carry him back. It was no use though because what time they did try to move him he'd almost blacked out and started bleeding worse.

Breaths shallow Carter leaned back into the tree he was at. He closed his eyes and Merle watched the rise and fall of his chest. He was left standing in a pool of blood that the over saturated ground didn't want to absorb. He watched as blood ran down his arms in rivulets, he watched as the last breaths were exhaled from men dying. He sneered at them not caring that he'd came here with the intent to wipe them off the face of the earth. How many Sophia's had been raped? How many Carols? Or Andreas? How many Daryl, Mac, Brian's and himself had been forced to watch? Too goddamn many was how many.

"Merle."

He lifted his head adrenaline racing through his body. Michonne was looking around a frown marring her face. Despite that her face was serious and her eyes were concerned.

"What?"

Michonne met his eyes, "This isn't all of them."

A wet rasping voice rang in his ears, "Go."