𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆
every armageddon, every bloody "this is the end of all things" a winchester stopped it

IZZY SHOVELED AN an water-downed oatmeal looking food into her mouth when Rick walked into the communal area, looking around at everyone with a haunted look in his eyes.

"Everybody okay?"

Izzy nearly choked on her food and she turned around to look at the blue eyed man  who had disappeared into the tunnels yesterday. "Yeah, we are. What about you?" She was worried about him.

Rick cleared his throat. "I cleared out the boiler block." His voice was hoarse.

"How many were there?" Daryl questioned, staring at Rick intently.

Rick shrugged, sniffing. "I don't know. A dozen, two dozen," Rick replied, glancing at Daryl then to Izzy who was sitting near Daryl, on the bottom step. "I have to get back." He rested his hand on Carl's shoulder. "Just wanted to check on Carl."

Glenn stood up abruptly. "Rick, we can handle taking out the bodies. You don't have t—"

"No, I do," Rick told him harshly, glaring. He then wandered closer to Izzy and Daryl. "Everyone have a gun and a knife?"

"Yeah," Daryl responded, nodding. "We're running low on ammo, though."

"Maggie and I were planning on making a run this afternoon," Glenn spoke up, clearing his throat as he glanced at Maggie. "Found a phone book with some places we can hit, look for bullets and formula."

"We cleared out the generator room," Daryl spoke up, setting his food down beside him. "Axel's there trying to fix it in case of emergency. We're gonna sweep the lower levels, as well."

Rick nodded, impressed. "Good, good." He then started walking away, his head down. Slamming the door behind him, he ignored Izzy yelling out to him.

THERE WAS A light knock on Izzy's cell door before her curtain was moved to the side, and in walked Daryl. 

Izzy turned to him fully, buttoning the last button on her flannel that she had just put on. She saw Daryl looking away with a pink dusting on his cheeks, making her smile. "What's up, Daryl?" She questioned, curious on why he had entered her cell. He only ever entered it whenever he needed something.

"I just wanted to see if you were alright," he hesitantly spoke, fidgeting with his fingers as he glanced around her room. Raising an eyebrow at all the sigils, he turned to her. "You into Satanism or some shit?"

Izzy let out an airy laugh and, for once, grew a little embarrassed. "Oh, um, no. I found them in a book I scavenged and thought they looked cool," She lied, fidgeting in her spot.

"Oh," Daryl said, nodding. He then looked at her through his eyelashes, and she took his breath away. Even though she looked like she hadn't slept in days and haven't showered for even longer, she was absolutely breathtaking. She wore a button down flannel with her signature brown leather jacket, light blue jeans that hugged her legs and hips, and her combat boots. Her dark brown locks were pulled back onto a fish-braid, courtesy of Beth.

Izzy bit her lip, looking down at the floor. She was blushing because she had just caught him checking her out.

By now, she would be all cocky and say something sarcastic, but she couldn't help but not feel like it. She was completely exhausted and just wanted to have one good night sleep. Plus, it didn't help that the way he was looking at her made her heart flutter in her chest.

Daryl cleared his throat. "I, um, came here to see if you were okay," he spoke, biting his thumb nail, trying to get back onto track.

Izzy looked up at him and smiled, making him feel all types of feelings. "I'm good... could be better, though." She swallowed and crossed her arms. "I appreciate you checking on me, Daryl, but I've been through my fair share of shit, trust me, you don't need to worry about me."

"I know," Daryl responded. "I'm just asking because I know you cared about Lori, T-dog, and Carol," he said, tilting his head.

Izzy nodded. "I did. And so did you." She stepped forward and reached around him to grab an empty bag that she was going to use for scavenging with Glenn and Maggie.

Daryl and Izzy stood there for a few seconds, just looking at eachother.

"Izzy?"

They both jumped away from one another and turned around to the entrance of her and Jack's cell to see the young nephilim standing there, a concerned expression on his face.

Izzy looked up at Daryl who glanced down at her. "We'll talk after I get back, okay?" Daryl nodded and walked past Jack and out of the cell. Izzy turned to the young boy. "What's wrong?"

"Do you really have to go?" He asked, walking closer to her. "You just went on a run yesterday with Daryl and didn't get back until one in the morning. You need to rest."

Izzy placed her hand on his cheek and smiled. "I'm fine Jack and I will continue to be fine, afterall, I'm a fucking Winchester." She moved past him and grabbed her angel knife and tucked it into the back of her pants waist. "If I get in any trouble, I have my angel knife, some holy water, and my gun."

Jack let out a breath, still worried. "I don't want you to go."

Izzy looked back to him. "Hey. Jack, what are you scared of?"

Jack pouted. "It's been nine months, Izzy, and we still haven't found Dean, Sam, Jack, or Bobby. What if you go missing, too? What if another herd ran by and—"

Izzy grabbed his face and made him look her in the eyes. "Hey! Nothing's going to happen to me, alright? And even so, I'll turn up okay. Winchester's never stay dead and that is the big reason why I know we'll find the others. Just trust me, okay?" He nodded and she smiled and kissed his forehead before walking past him and out of their cell.

Jack watched, having a bad feeling.

GLENN PULLED OVER to an abandoned building, parking the car.

Izzy jumped out of the car and walked over to the building that they were going to loot through. "It's bolted." She reached over and grabbed the bolt cutters, cutting the bolts.

Glenn walked past both women and into the building, being careful to not trip over anything.

"Glenn, get that duck!" Maggie exclaimed, pointing at the plastic toy duck laying on the floor. Both Glenn and Izzy shot her incredious looks, but Glenn did as told. "A kid growing up in a prison could use some toys."

"I agree," Izzy stated, brushing past the lovers and walked into the building. She ended up stepping on something that crunched underneath her combat boots, making her freeze. "What the—" She bent down and picked up a broken picture frame, frowning when she saw a picture of an older woman holding a baby and beside her was a man — presumably her husband. She glanced up and her brown eyes widened when she saw the man in the picture, hung. "I'm so sorry." She gently laid the picture on a shelf and walked in the building further.

She looked through each nook and cranny, wanting to find every bit of everything she could and moments later, walked back out the door, holding up her bag which was filled to the brim. She also had a small hand basket full of the little baby food that she had found. "It's not much for the little munchkin, but, it's something." She sighed. "I know I don't know much about babies, you know, because I haven't really been in the presence of one." Except for that shifter baby a couple of years ago. "But, they eat a lot of food, right?"

Maggie chuckled and nodded, taking the basket from the brunette. "Yes." She placed the basket in the back of the car they had drove their, and grabbed Izzy's bag from her. "It's a straight shot back to the prison from here," the slightly younger girl poke up, turning around to face the love of her life and her best friend.

Izzy nodded. "Probably end up making it in time for dinner if we leave now."

Maggie looked up at the sky and covered her green eyes due to the bright sun. "I like the quiet. Back there, back home, you can always hear them outside the fence no matter where you are."

"And where is it y'all good people are calling home?"

All three whirled around fast, coming face to face with an angry looking man with a gun raised. They all whipped out their guns and aimed it at him.

"Merle?" Glenn gasped out which had Izzy falter for a second before her eyes hardened, knowing that Glenn knew the older man. But, something didn't sit right with her. Glenn knew the man, but he still held a gun up to him which meant the man couldn't be trusted

"Wow!" Merle's eyes widened and he held up his hands, showing that he was no danger, yet, Izzy had a gut feeling that this situation was about to blow up in their faces.

"Back up or I fire," Izzy threatened, her tome harsh and cold, letting Merle know she wasn't to be messed with.

"Okay, okay, honey," Merle said, but looled straight back to Glenn who was shaking on the spot. "Jesus. You made it." He looked completely amazed. "Can you tell me, is my brother alive?"

Brother? Izzy thought, confused on who the hell he was talking about. Then, it clicked in her head. She had overheard Rick and Daryl talking about Daryl's brother who's name had started with an 'M'. Izzy forgot the name, but looking at the man in front of her, she knew it had to be Daryl's brother.

"Yeah," Glenn hesitantly answered. 

Marle let a crooked smile take over his features. "Hey, you take me to him and I'll call it even on everything that happened up there in Atlanta. No hard feelings. Huh?"

The cloth that covered his right hand slid off, revealing a huge piece of metal with a machete attached to it.

Merle followed all three of their gazes and he smirked. "You like that? Yeah. Well, I found myself a medical supply warehouse. Fixed it up myself. Well, pretty cool, huh?"

Glenn visibly gulped. "We'll tell Daryl you're here and he'll come out to meet you."

"Hold on," Merle gritted out, taking a step forward.

"Stop!" There was authority in Izzy's tone which had the man stop for a second. "Take one more fucking step and I will blow ypur goddamn brain out."

Merle clenched his jaw and looked to Glenn, hoping he would be naive enough to listen to him. "Hey, the fact that we found each other is a miracle. Come on, now. You can trust me."

"You trust us," Glenn spat, narrowing his dark eyes. "You stay here."

"No!"

Merle lurched forward, but Izzy saw that coming and side-stepped him, and help her gun at his head, clicking the safety off. "I said if you took one more fucking step, I was going to blow your goddamn brain out. I wasn't lying."

"And who exactly are you suppose to be? The hero? Huh? Well, sweetie, I got news for you—"

"Shut up!" She hissed, kicking his legs out from underneath him and he fell to his knees. "I think it would be fucking wise if you, ya know, shut up and listen to me, because guess what, motherfucker? I'm the one with the fucking gun aimed at your head." She shoved the gun against his head harshly, showing him who had the upperhand.

Sighing, feeling the consequences already, Izzy went to pull the trigger, not wanting to allow this crazed man to walk free. But, as soon as she went to pull the trigger, Merle thruster his elbows backwards, hitting her in the stomach harshly. Reacting, Izzy accidently pressed the trigger and the bullet ended up embedding itself into a tire in a nearby car.

The next thing she knows, Izzy was on her back and something collided with her face, knocking her head back onto the concrete which made her let out an inhuman noise.

She went to reach for her gun and that was when she saw it laying underneath the car. She looked up just in time to see a fist swing towards her face. She wasn't able to react fast enough and she felt it collide with her face, making her head swing to the right.

Quickly, before he could throw another punch, she grabbed his arm and thruster her head forwards, hitting her forehead against his nose, making him jerk back instinctively.

She grinned and kicked him off of her with her feet before she got on top of him and started to punch him, again, and again, and again. She kept throwing punches left and right, but, as soon as she let her guard down for a split second, he flipped them over and he was on top of her again.

He held his machete arm up to her throat, grinning widely. He glanced up at Maggie and Glenn who was aiming their guns at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. They've seen Izzy fight before, but nothing like that. "Put those guns down before I slice this cute little bitch's head clean off," He ordered and they slowly did as told. He looked back down at Izzy. "See? It wasn't that hard."

Izzy spat in his face, kicked him off of her, and twisted her legs, wrapping them around his neck.

He stood up, holding onto her and rammed her into a vehicle. She grunted, but held on tighter. He slammed her against the vehicle again, but much harder, making her lose her hold on him. She fell straight to the ground because he wasn't holding onto her anymore.

He kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying, and she ended up hitting a tire with her head. She grunted and tried to push herself up, but he kicked her in the head, making her head hit the car with a loud bang.

"Damn, you're a little warrior, aren't you, sweetie?" He chuckled once he saw her struggling to push herself up, even though there was blood running down from her forehead. Her lip was busted, a bruise was already forming on her cheek and eye, and you best believe there is also a bruise forming on her stomach.

Izzy's arms strained and screamed in protest when she pushed herself up into a sitting position. She met Merle's eyes and spat at his feet in disgust and anger. "Screw. . .you," She forced out weakly.

Maggie and Glenn stood by in shock and knew that if they moved to grab their guns, who knows what Merle would do to an already hurt Izzy and themselves.

Merle just stared down at the weakened brunette and laughed out loud, his body shaking. "You are one real tough bitch. I'll be surprised if my brother hasn't hit you up."

"Fuck you!" Izzy shouted and then started to laugh when she saw his angered face. "Awe, did I—"

She didn't get to finish her sentence when Merle let out a growl and kicked her in the head again, knocking her out.