A/N Thank you all so much. What now?!

00

Fire Down the Mountain

Daryl's so angry he's practically on fire, "The fuck Merle? Tell me you didn't bring them fuckin' assholes up here with ya. Son of a bitch, man."

"Whoa there brother, slow your ass down. How bout ya say hello ta me and the Missus before ya start all that yellin' and accusin'. Shit man, you really think I'm stupid enough ta bring them low-lifes here?"

Beth is apparently oblivious to the yelling and accusing, she's only paying attention to the fact that he's finally home, and the alcohol she's been drinking is making her a little more bold than usual, "Daryl! You're here!"

She's on her feet and hurrying to him, and what he does next, there was a time he would not have behaved this way in front of Merle, but those times were before she came into his life. He's so glad to be with Beth again, and so happy and relieved she's safe, that he's not even thinking about what his brother might have to say. He takes her in his arms and pulls her to him, and he's completely forgotten how mad he was as he's nuzzling his face into her neck and whispering, "Damn lady, I missed ya bad."

Beth Whispers back, "I missed you too Daryl, so much."

Jack is at his feet and whining for attention, and Daryl smiles as he bends and rubs the dogs' neck, "Yeah, I'm home Jack and I missed you too."

Merle's been taking in the whole scene and he just can't help himself, "How come I never get a fuckin' hug? All ya ever do is yell at me. "

"Fuck you, Merle."

Now Merle's chuckling, "There's the little brother I know and love, ya can't keep your ornery side hid for long, can ya?"

The brothers don't typically show affection, but in their way each of them cares deeply about the other, and that comes to the surface now as they share a brief embrace, and Daryl says, "When I heard they opened the gates of that fuckin' prison, I knew you'd be the first one out."

"Hell yeah I was, I couldn't risk them changin' their minds, and the only place I thought ta come was right here. I knew you'd be here kid, makin' something good outta the shithole this place was.

Daryl keeps an arm around Beth's waist as he asks, "Did ya drive that hippy van up here? And what the fuck did ya do with them two assholes that was in it, shit, and all them women?"

"Well now that's a story brother, why don't ya take that coat off and warm up a minute. Have some a this delicious stew and a little shine ta wash it down, then we can all chat." He looks at Beth and nods, "Ya got ya a good woman here brother."

"Yeah, I know that."

Beth just shakes her head and smiles, gosh, it's kind of fun to listen to these two rough looking men have a conversation. She asks Daryl to sit, sets a big bowl of the stew in front of him and rests her hand on his shoulder, "I'm so happy you're home, but Merle's right, my God, even your clothes feel frozen. Eat your stew, it'll help warm you up."

He looks at her and says, "Yes, Ma'am, you're the boss."

She shakes her head at him, "Don't be that way, I missed you and I've been worried."

His voice mellows and he reaches for her hand, clasping it gently, "Lady, you got no idea how much I missed ya, and I done more than my share of worryin', but I'm here now and it's all good, ain't it? We good?"

"We're very good."

Merle can't stop grinning, "Well if you two ain't the cutest."

Daryl responds, "Yeah, we're adorable, now what the fuck happened ta them guys from the hippy wagon? They ain't gonna be followin' ya up here ta get that piece a shit back are they?"

"Oh hell no, they ain't ever gonna follow anyone anywhere ever again."

Daryl's sure then, Merle's put an end to that problem for good. "Them same assholes tried ta shake me n Beth down when we went for supplies. I had ta rough em up a bit. So, what the hell happened?"

"Well, it was like this, as soon as I got the hell outta that prison, I started makin' my way here ta Rosewood any way I could manage. I come across a couple a cars I could hot wire, ones that still had a little gas, and I drove as far as I could 'til they ran dry. Then I was on foot, with things the way they are now, I wasn't even thinkin' about tryin' ta hitch a ride."

"I got as far as Smithton and jimmied my way into an apartment. I could see the folks who lived there had packed up and got the hell out, but they was nice enough ta leave behind a half ate jar a peanut butter and I's hungry enough ta help myself ta the rest of it. I had a nap then, shit, it'd been a couple days since I slept."

"When I woke up I planned ta walk right out the door and find me some kinda car, or a motorcycle, a bicycle, shit, I didn't care. Whatever would get me on the road and at least close ta this mountain. I was about ta walk outta the apartment when I seen some keys were hangin' next ta the door. I thought, yeah that makes sense. If they had two cars they probably left one behind."

"I went out ta the parkin' area and the spots had the same numbers as the apartments, that made it easy and sure enough there it was, a nice little Ford. I was just walkin' to it when I heard the commotion. Some gals was a screamin' and fightin' off a couple a guys who was tryin' ta force em into a piece a shit van. I was all rested up and feelin' like I might enjoy gettin' in a fight, so I went over ta see what kinda trouble it was."

"Shit Merle, did ya even have a gun?"

They've all settled into sipping their shine and Merle's smiling, "Oh hell yeah, I had a couple of em that I took off some dead guys, and a real nice knife, and some other things I helped myself to courtesy of a deceased prison guard, a blackjack and a billyclub. I was fully weaponized."

Daryl snorts a laugh as his brother continues, "Anyway, I hurried over there and the older guy had a woman by the arm, trying ta force her in van. She was cryin' and beggin' and screamin' for him ta let her go, and the other ladies was cryin' too but they couldn't help her out cuz a skinny little piece a shit fella had a gun on them. Bein' as how I'm a natural born hero to all women, I decided I should do my part ta help em."

"I went after the older asshole who was pullin' on the gal's arm first. I hit him on top a his head with the blackjack. I didn't expect it ta kill him, I thought I'd just stun him, but damn if it didn't kill him. Maybe his head was too soft. Anyhow, no sooner did I do that job when here came some a them dead men walkin'. They musta heard the ladies screamin', so I kinda picked up the fresh dead guy and tossed him over ta them."

Beth's hand is over her mouth when she whispers, "Oh my."

Merle asks her, "Does that sound harsh ta you Sugar? If it does, just think about what kinda plans those boys probably had for them women. I was pretty sure they weren't plannin' ta take em out ta dinner and a movie."

She agrees, "No. You're right."

He smiles at her and says, "Well I'm not right very often, but I'm pretty sure I done the best thing this time. So anyway, then I had a mess a them dead things around me and I hurried up and killed em off. As soon as I did all the dirty work, the skinny fella turned his gun on me like he was gonna shoot me and said, 'stop right there'. I couldn't have that, so I pulled my gun and shot him before he could do any harm ta me or the ladies."

"Shit Merle, who are you? Billy the Kid? Ya make it sound like the wild west."

"Nah, it's not nearly as civilized as the wild west. Anyway, them girls was all cryin' and they told me them men were gonna trade them to some guy who kinda collects women. He's got a camp and he's got himself a harem goin', he can't seem ta get enough wives." He smiles and shrugs, "Not a bad way ta go really, but shit, them gals gotta be willin' ta go along, right Beth?"

She's nodding her head and answers, "Well yes, everyone has to consent, but I can't imagine anyone agreeing to that."

"Yeah well, these chicks sure didn't seem ta care much for the plan. Anyway, they had some place they thought they could go and be safe, some camp, but they didn't wanna take that hippy van. They was sayin' something about bad memories. So I said shit, well it's got a full tank so I'll take it and you ladies take the Ford. They was grateful and they gave me a couple bottles of water and a box a crackers. I drove that thing slow n easy and managed ta make it up the mountain on that one tank of gas and a little I siphoned in Rosewood."

Now Daryl's shaking his head, "Only you Merle, only you. Right now, you n me are gonna go get a fire going in the outside kitchen and get the place warming up. There's a good bed for ya in there."

"I appreciate it, but ain't ya gonna tell us your story about what ya been doin' all week?"

"Sure, but for now, c'mon and let's get that fire goin' then I'll tell ya."

They get two fires burning brightly in the kitchen building, one in the wood stove and one in the big fireplace. When that's done Daryl turns to his brother and demands some answers, "The fuck Merle, I saw that van and thought for sure Beth was being…well ya know what I thought."

"Hold on a fuckin' minute there Daryl. First of all, I ain't dumb enough ta let anyone follow me up here, or ta bring anyone up here besides myself. Ya think I wanna die? Ya think I wanna expose what might be the only safe place left on the whole fuckin' planet to a buncha no-accounts? Shit man." He gets why his brother panicked though, and he adds, "Listen man, you got nuthin' ta worry about with that little blonde. She looks so sweet and helpless, but let me tell ya, she held me at gunpoint and damn near made me dance before she'd let me in. She's quite the gal."

His brothers' words lift a lot of weight off Daryl's mind and heart. Beth really does know how to defend herself. That's a relief. There's just one other thing, "Don't be bothering her Merle."

Merle reacts to the thinly veiled accusation, "What the hell you sayin'? I oughta drop ya right now. I can see you're all in love, so is she. I got no reason ta get in-between that. Shit Daryl, I always knew ya thought I was an asshole, I am an asshole, but not quite that caliber."

Shit. It's true and Daryl knows it. Merle's a lot of things, and a lot of those things aren't good, but he'd never do something like that, it's not his style. It's all Daryl's reaction to seeing his brother and Beth together, having a friendly drink and talking. He was feeling threatened. "Hey man, I'm sorry. I know better. I didn't mean it."

"I get it brother, I'm the handsome brother who gets all the chicks, so ya worry."

The brothers laugh, but that's not the end of it. There are other questions, "Okay man, I'm sorry, but I got one other thing I gotta talk to ya about."

Merle's giving his brother the hard eye when he asks, "Yeah? I can't wait ta hear."

"Dope. I don't want it around here; I don't want ya gettin' high while you're here. It changes ya Merle, ya ain't the same guy."

Merle's exasperated, but with his history he can't blame his brother for worrying, "I ain't had a taste in over a year. That's when my stash and my sources dried up, and I sure as shit coulda used some when this flesh eatin' bullshit started, but no. I ain't got it and I wouldn't bring it around here if I did." Then he laughs, "Beside, why would I wanna do that around you Daryl? You'd go outta your way ta harsh my high."

They both know that's true, Daryl comments, "You got that right," and asks, "Are we cool then?"

"I'm cool as ice little brother and ya know, I ain't even decided how long I'll stay. Through the winter for sure, then I might have ta go on the hunt. Seein' you and Beth together got me thinkin', I wouldn't mind findin' a good woman ta share the apocalypse with."

The brother's share a laugh and another brief bro hug.

There's a stack of blankets and a pillow, but Daryl asks, "Ya gonna be okay out here?"

"Yeah, hell yeah, it beats the shit outta that prison cell."

Daryl nods, "Good ta know," he does have concerns though, "I think we can make this a an all right place ta live, whaddya think?"

"Oh hell yeah. The hard part is done, shit, it'll be great, with winter comin' on us, it's gonna be real cozy."

Then Merle wraps an arm across his brother's shoulders and asks, "So, tell me, what's with you and Miss Beth? Is this the real deal or are you just playin' house."

Daryl gets serious, "Don't start any bullshit with me or her about this Merle. I found her on the mountain and she was hurt bad, real bad, so I brought her here and took care of her. I was my usual self at first, mean as cat shit, but that didn't seem ta scare her off. And there was something about her, I just, well I can't explain it really, but we started feelin' something for each other. Anyway, we're together and it's real, and besides dumbass, she ain't the kind ya just play house with. She's the kind ya make promises to."

"She seems like a real peach and I'm glad ya found some happiness. I always knew you deserved ta be happy, it was just you that didn't think ya did."

Daryl looks down, embarrassed by all he said and his brother's affection, "C'mon, while it heats up out here, let's go drink some shine and I'll tell ya about my little trip ta find ya."

While the brothers have been gone Beth's gotten the dishes cleaned up, and there's a fresh jar of the moonshine and three cups waiting on the table.

As the small group sips the clear liquid Daryl tells them about his week away, but he doesn't mention the things he's found for Beth. He wants to wait and see her face when he gives them to her. "Oh my gosh Daryl, I can't believe you had to walk so far up this mountain, thank God you're all right, and it's good to hear that there are other people, survivors, and they're making a home. That gives me hope."

"Yeah, real nice folks and they got a good leader in Grimes. As for me, I'm fine, and I'm gonna be even better when I get my stuff in the mornin' and we get rid a these vans."

Merle stands and says, "A'ight then, if we're gonna be goin' early I best get my ass ta bed." He bows to her, "Thanks for not shootin' me Beth, and I appreciate the hospitality. It's been a long time since I been in the company of a real lady."

"You're very welcome Merle, I'm so happy you're here with us."

Daryl hands his brother the lantern and says, "I'd like ta get outta here before first light. Come early, we'll have coffee and eat sumthin' before we go."

"Sounds good."

As soon as Merle's out the door, Daryl's arms are around Beth and he's kissing her deeply. It's so wonderful to be so close after a hard week apart, and they're both feeling the love and the warmth, but Daryl draws back, "I want ya lady, real bad, but not this way. I ain't had a bath in a week and it's too fuckin' cold ta take one tonight."

He smiles at her then, and although he's looking a little shy about it, he tells her what's on his mind, "After we get all that stuff unloaded tomorrow, I'll get the water heater goin' and maybe we can both have a shower in the afternoon."

"You mean together?"

"That's what I was thinkin'," he smiles "Ya know, just ta save hot water and whatnot. Then maybe you'll agree we oughta climb in that new bed together and test it out."

"I think that sounds pretty wonderful, and that's a very good idea about saving water. Waste not, want not."

He's smiling as he looks in her pretty blue eyes, while his hand caresses her cheek and he tells her, "I can't believe you're here, and I can't believe ya wanna stay here and be with me."

She steps back and says it plain and clear, "I'm here. I want to be here. I want to be with you. I love you Daryl."

That statement startles them both and all he can seem to say is, "Yeah, okay." Then, "Um, I'll just sleep by the fire with Jack tonight."

She's disappointed he didn't say the words she longs to hear from him, but she tells him, "Fine, that's where I'm sleeping too. I've been sleeping there all week."

"What? Why? Ya had that new bed."

"Well I don't suppose you've had time to notice, but the bed was out of use because I painted it while you were gone."

He lifts the edge of the quilt up to fully expose the frame, "What? Shit, ya done a really nice job, better'n I'da done."

"Thank you, Jack helped."

He smiles, "Yeah, I bet he did."

"He was my moral support."

His open hand slides softly over her cheek until his fingers weave in her hair. He kisses her deeply and smiles, "K, let's all get ta bed, gonna be a long day tomorrow."

She's cuddled up close to him and they're covered with the big heavy quilt, and as her eyelids are beginning to drift closed she says, "Good night Daryl, night Jack."

He pulls her a little tighter and says the words to her he just couldn't quite get out before, "I love you too."

00

It's so cold out and Daryl and Beth sadly agree, their mornings of outdoor breakfasts are gone until sometime in the late spring. For now, the big metal coffee pot is perking on the back of the woodstove, Beth has biscuits in the oven and there's grits and ham on the range.

Daryl comments, "All this cookin' inside is warmin' the place up, and damn, it smells good too."

"That's nice to hear, it'll be done in about five minutes."

"Okay, I'm gonna go roust Merle."

The words are no sooner out of Daryl's mouth than there's a light tapping on the door and the minute Daryl opens it Merle's inside and by the fire, "Damn it's cold out there."

Daryl pours a cup of coffee and hands it to his brother, "Here, this'll help. There's milk n sugar on the table."

"Shit, this place is first class. Where'd ya get the milk? I didn't see no cows."

"It's powdered, drink up."

They don't spend any time over breakfast, they just get it eaten while Beth fills a Thermos bottles with coffee, sugar and milk, and the men are ready to leave. Jack is whining to go with them and Daryl smiles as he scratches his back, "You gotta stay here and help Beth, why don't ya do the dishes for her?"

Once the brothers have left Beth gets the dishes done while Jack observes, and then she lays back down in front of the fire with the dog and tells him, "Just because they like getting an early start, that doesn't mean we have to too, we can relax and stay warm by the fire for a little while."

Daryl drives his truck with Merle following behind in the hippy van. There's a good covering of snow, but not enough to concern them or slow them down. Daryl mumbles to himself, "Drivin' down the mountain goes a whole lot faster than walkin' up the mountain."

The further they go, the less snow there is, and it's gone completely when, just after daylight they pull up close to the big white van, and they soon discover they're not alone.

There are three men huddled near it, and one of them has Daryl's crossbow in his hand. The other two are rifling through the van's contents, and as Daryl is jumping down from the truck and raising his rifle, he hears one of them say, "Look at this thing here, it's some kinda wood and glass box full of baby spoons. Weird man, I'm claimin' it."

Daryl recognizes the "claiming" expression from the fellow he shot just yesterday, Len, and he hollers a response, "Ya ain't claimin' nuthin'. That's my van and it's my shit in it."

That's when the guy with the crossbow starts talking, "Well no, that's not the case. You see, you left this van here, and when you left it, it became public property. We claimed it and now it's ours," He turns to his two companions and says, "Isn't that right boys?"

"Yessir, Joe, them's the rules."

The one named Joe smiles as he turns to Daryl and says, "See there, everyone knows how it works."

Joe's problem is, he's been busy talking and not paying attention as Merle slipped silently from the hippy van, rifle in hand. As soon as those last words are out of Joe's mouth Daryl hears the bullet whiz by his ear, then watches as it hits Joe square in the forehead. As the man and the crossbow are falling, Merle fires two more rounds, putting the other two sleazebags down.

As the brothers each put a knife through the skulls of Joe's companions, Merle muses, "Remember how in the ol' days we only had ta kill a guy once and he stayed dead? Shit, life was easier back then, huh brother?"

Daryl can't help a small laugh, "Yeah Merle, the good old days."

It takes them an hour, but they get the goods transferred from the van to Daryl's pickup, there's just a few items that have to be put in the hippy van. Merle asks, "What the hell is this thing with the spoons?"

"Be careful with that, it's sumthin' for Beth. She loves them damn little spoons, she thinks they're pretty."

Merle just nods as he sets it on the front seat, "Women got some strange ideas about things."

As soon as the van is emptied, the brothers move the bodies of the claimers inside it, Daryl shuts the big double doors promising, "Don't worry boys, we'll be back for ya."

When the brothers arrive back at the cabin and begin to unload things from pickup and the van, Beth is making sandwiches for everyone. At some point they'll all need to eat again, but right now they're just keyed up to get this job done. She wraps the sandwiches in oiled cloth and puts them in a small cooler.

Daryl hooks the tow bar to the pickup and tells Jack, "Ya get ta go this time Jack, try not ta be too big a pain in the ass, k?"

Daryl, Beth and Jack are in the pickup, and Merle's following behind them as they drive back to the van. Beth mentions, "So we haven't had a chance to talk about what you got in town yesterday."

"Yeah, um, ya know, the things we talked about needin', potting soil and whatnot." He turns his head just long enough to flash her a little smile, adding, "And maybe a surprise or two."

She perks right up and there's excitement in her voice when she asks, "Really, what? What kind of surprise?"

"I aint gonna tell ya what, I just told ya, it's a surprise. You'll see later."

"I can't stand to wait."

"Yeah, well, do ya like surprises?"

"Of course I do."

"Well then you gotta wait."

"Fine.

Daryl and Merle get the van hooked to the pickup and Daryl and Beth, with Merle close behind in the hippy van, drive to the trailhead. They have no further encounters with humans, which is exactly what they hoped for, but once they're out of their rigs, they do have to face some walkers in order to do what they came to do.

Daryl pulls the van into the lot and drives it to the far end. Merle follows in the hippy van and parks right next to him. Daryl unhitches the pickup, gets in and drives it all the way to the other end of the lot, telling Beth and Jack to just stay put and wait a few minutes.

He has three big cans of gas in the back of the pickup, and he takes one back to where the vans are parked, and Merle watches as his brother douses both of the vans with the fuel, and when he's done, the brothers stand back while Daryl lights a piece of cardboard on fire and throws it at the vans.

Merle and Daryl hurry back to the pickup before the heat gets too intense, sit inside and watch as both of the problem vehicles are incinerated.

"Okay Merle, let's go find ya a pickup and make it snappy, we got more work ta do at home."

Merle looks at Beth and asks, "Is he always such a taskmaster?"

She smiles back, "Not with me."

Merle's shaking his head as he mutters, "Dammit, ain't that the way."

All they have to do is find a pickup with the keys still in it, or one that can be easily hotwired, but yeah, keys would be best. As long as the thing will run, they've still got more than enough fuel to drive it back up the mountain. It doesn't take long before they see a good one, a nice Silverado just a few years old. There's a walker inside which gives them a pretty good idea the keys will be in there too.

Daryl yanks the door open, Merle reaches in with his knife in hand and stabs the thing in the head. He pulls the body out and says, "Sorry man, but it's my Chevy now."

Daryl's anxious to get going, the truth is, they all are, "A'ight. Merle, gas it up and let's get back up the mountain."

They stop about halfway there, have a quick lunch, and an hour and a half later they're home and Daryl and Merle are putting the supplies they brought up the mountain earlier, away.

Beth's in the kitchen kneading bread when Daryl walks in with the spoon cabinet, "Hey lady, I brought ya sumthin' from town."

"Oh my gosh Daryl, I love it! Where did you find it?"

He tells her the truth and she looks up and says, "Thank you Miss Erma, I promise I'll take good care of it." Then she smiles at him, "Thank you so much Daryl, I just love it, especially because I know you thought to get it for me."

He's playing with a loose strand of her blond hair and says, "I want ya ta have the things ya want. The things that make ya happy."

"You make me happy."

He snorts and says, "Yeah, well, there's bound ta be times you ain't so happy with me. Then these pretty things will come in handy." He kisses her forehead and says, "I got some other stuff too, lemme go get it."

He comes back with the fabrics and the knitting supplies and Beth is overwhelmed, "Oh my gosh Daryl, this is better than Christmas! I'm going to b able to make us clothes and socks and everything."

Now he feels bad, "That's a lotta work though, I don't want ya ta think you have to."

"It might be a lot of work for people who don't love it, but I do love sewing and knitting. I'm going to enjoy this so much, especially when I'm stuck inside all winter."

He's having other thoughts as his arms circle her waist and he whispers in her ear, "That hot water heater's been on since we got back, so I's wonderin', does takin' a shower sound fun?"

"It sounds like a lot more than just fun."

00

A/N Well, well. Please leave a comment. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please have a look. I'll be back next week with more of The Man on The Mountain, and I hope you'll be here too. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee