Chapter 9-Atlanta

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl opens his eyes the next morning and looks at Merle who was staring at the ceiling. "You hungry?" Daryl asks.

"Yes," Merle says. "How long am I going to have to stay in this damn tent?"

"We don't have crutches and you need the rest until your leg has healed," Daryl says. "I'll go get us some food," Daryl says as he opens the tent and leaves. He walks up to the campfire where Carol and Lori were preparing food. Lori glares at the younger Dixon brother who looks at Carol. Carol gives him a reassuring smile as she hands him two plates.

"Does Merle need anything?" Carol asks Daryl who shakes his head.

"No, but thank you," Daryl says as he walks back down towards the tent. He climbs inside and holds the plate towards Merle who takes it as they hear footsteps. Daryl looks outside the tent and sees Amy and Glenn.

"Your friends have decided to join us," Merle says sarcastically.

"I came down here to talk to you about Atlanta," Glenn says.

"You know I can't go; I can't leave Merle alone."

"Man, I don't need a babysitter," Merle says. "What I need are crutches."

"There's a clinic near the highway," Glenn says. "Not too far into the city, you and I could hit it," Glenn says.

"Go with your Asian friend baby brother. I'll be fine," Merle says and Daryl looks at him. "I know he's Korean."

"I'll stay with him," Amy says making all three of the men with her. "I can make sure Shane doesn't try anything while you are gone."

Daryl stays silent for a moment before he nods. "We'll leave in twenty minutes," Daryl tells Glenn who nods.

"So you and the Asian man are going to the city and I get…my brother's crush as a babysitter?" Merle asks.

"She isn't my crush," Daryl says with a blush on his face.

"Sure she ain't," Merle says. "Just get me something to walk with," Merle says as Daryl stands up.

"If you becomes too much of a problem, you can hit him over the head," Daryl says to Amy who chuckles as he leaves the tent to go prepare.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane watched Daryl and Glenn as they set their bags and some supplies in a truck. "You know, if looks could kill, they would be dead," Travis says as he walks up behind him.

"How's your hands?" Shane asks.

"Better than Merle's leg," Travis says. "So what is your plan today?"

"I'm going to try and convince the others to get rid of those two," Shane says.

"Shane—"

"Don't say my name like that. Daryl and Merle have problems since the day they got here. Merle finally gave us a reason to get rid of them yesterday. I'm not convincing Amy or Glenn, but I can convince the others," Shane says. "Don't worry, when Daryl and Glenn come back from that run, Daryl's bags will be packed," Shane says before he walks away from Travis who sighs.

Amy's P.O.V

Amy sat in Merle's tent reading a book. "What are you reading?" Merle asks.

"Just so romance novel Dale has, it's not great," Amy says as she sets the book down. "Do you read?"

"I've read the bible, while I was in prison, there wasn't much to read and otherwise I was moving with Daryl," Merle tells her. "Why do you care about him?"

"Is it so hard to believe that I could care about him?" Amy asks.

"People like you, you look down on people like us," Merle says.

"People like me?" Amy asks.

"Your average joe," Merle says. "You grew up with both parents, you weren't beat or berated, you weren't smoking or doing drugs before you were twenty or in prison, you had teachers who gave you a chance and helped you get ahead. People took one glance at my brother and I and thought these people are the trash of society," Merle says.

"You're right, you have had a harder life than me. I grew up in a nice house with parents who loved me. With a mother who took me to the park, and dance class and helped me with homework. With a father who took me finishing and never hit me. Who would do anything to make sure his little girl was always safe. Sure, there were times when I judged people like you and Daryl just by looking at you. But all those things, they don't matter anymore, the dead are walking, if this is everywhere, most of the human race is probably dead. The old world is gone, who you decide to be in the new world, it's your choice, I think Daryl has made his choice, he doesn't want to be your shadow anymore. He wants to be his own person. Now you have a choice, are you going to continue to be a racist, drug using asshole. Or are you going to see if people will give you a chance?" Amy asks Merle who stares at the blond. "We don't know when our last day on earth is Merle. Better make your choice fast," Amy says as she stands up. "I'm going to go get some water," Amy says as she leaves the tent and Merle watches her.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane climbed the latter to the R.V and looked at Dale who was watching the woods. "What can I do for you, Shane?" Dale asks.

"Yesterday, you were on of the ones who said Daryl and Merle should stay," Shane says.

"I was," Dale says as he looks at him. "My opinion on the matter has not changed. Merle is injured. Sending him out there would be a death sentence and Daryl is a good guy, they both provide meat for the camp and you heard, Glenn. You sent them away he will go with them."

"We don't need them."

"Fine, Amy cares about Daryl and she isn't letting him leave without a fight and if she leaves with him, I'm gone with Andrea and the R.V. Let this go Shane, it won't end well for you or this camp," Dale tells him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I would like to sit in silence."

Shane doesn't say anything as he goes to the latter.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl drove the truck down the road. "This is still a stupid idea," Daryl says.

"You agreed to it," Glenn says from where he sat. "It isn't as stupid as you think. The walkers will mostly be on the streets, we can use the roofs and the alleys to get around the city, with your crossbow and my knife, we should be able to stay quiet," Glenn tells him. "Not many people are going to enter the city, not with that many walkers."

"They are smarter than we are," Daryl says. "Would you leave? If they kicked Merle and I out?"

"Before the end of the world, I didn't have any friends, everyday was the same, I would work, come home, eat and go to sleep and then rinse and repeat. As weird as it sounds, you and T-dog are two of my only friends and I care about you guys, so yeah, I would go to make sure you didn't die, but they're not getting rid of you, You and Merle are apart of this group. Whether Shane likes it or not," Glenn tells Daryl. "Also Amy would hang him up by his balls before she let him kick you out."

"I got myself my own blond protector," Daryl with with a smirk as they start to see Atlanta. "Here we go."

Madison's P.O.V

Madison unwrapped Travis's hand. "How do they feel?" Madison asks.

"I'm fine, Maddie," Travis says. "Have you checked on Nick?"

"He hasn't left his tent today," Madison says. "I tried to talk to him and he told me to leave me alone. He's blaming himself for what happened. I thought he had moved past it, Travis."

"So did I," Travis says. "Hopefully this will help him leave it behind him," Travis says as Madison wraps his hands. "Shane is trying to get rid of Daryl and Merle."

"You disagree?" Madison asks.

"What happened yesterday, everybody handled it wrong. But Daryl and Merle do provide food for this camp and we need the food," Travis tells his wife. "I got patrol, you wanna join me?"

"Sure."

Nick's P.O.V

Nick laid in his tent listening to footsteps as people walked past the tent. He raised his head when the tent opened and Alicia stepped in. "Go away, Alicia," Nick says.

"No," Alicia says as she shuts the tent and sits down. "You've been in this tent all day. Time to feel sunlight."

"I'm fine in here," Nick says as he looks at his sister. "This camp is better off without me. We haven't had any fights in this camp and my need for pills. It could have gotten someone killed, it got Merle's leg broken and sure the guy is an asshole, but none of this would have happened if I didn't try and take his things."

"You can't change what happened, Nick. It happened, now you have to move forward. Try to make up for it, make this the reason you stop looking for pills. That you give up this addiction," Alicia says. "Cause it will probably get you or someone else killed and that will be worse than the guilt you are feeling right now," Alicia says. "So you need to stand up, stop feeling bad for yourself and start doing better," Alicia stands and holds her hand out to her brother who slowly takes it.

"I liked it better when you hated me."

"I still hate you," Alicia says before she leaves the tent.

Glenn's P.O.V

Glenn cut a hole in the fence and pulled it open. They stepped on the railroad tracks. "How far is this clinic from here?" Daryl asks him as they jog. "If there wasn't dead people, we could get there in ten minutes. We'll have to go through a couple of buildings to get there, maybe we can find a alarm clock or something loud so we can distract the walkers," Glenn offers.

"Are there any apartment buildings near the clinic?" Daryl asks Glenn who nods.

"Yeah, there is one two blocks away," Glenn tells him.

"Go there, I have an idea," Daryl tells Glenn who nods as they continue to jog.

Thanks for reading. Next chapter Glenn and Daryl make their way through Atlanta. Shane continues to continue to talk with members of the group as Merle continues to talk with Amy. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.