Jo

That afternoon, in order to fight off exhaustion, I was doing pull ups off the bars on my cage. Michonne came out into the mess area and began running through an exercise routine of her own. I paused to watch hers, wondering how hers would differ and if there was any advantage to be gained.

Merle sauntered up to her, perching himself on a table nearby. I pulled myself up and held there, watching them closely. I gathered there was some kind of history but no one had said anything to me about it. Carol was working in the corner near the make shift stove and she also stilled, her eyes narrowing at Merle.

"Smart to stay fit. Don't leave out the cardio." Michonne gave no indication she heard him. She was doing some kind of sequence that reminded me of Pilates but I couldn't be sure. Maybe it had some root in martial arts? I lowered myself to the floor and let my arms rest.

Merle continued, apparently not needing any encouragement. "You know if we are going to live under the same roof, we should clear the air. This whole hunting you down thing," he said gesturing around himself with his good hand, "that was just business. Just carrying out orders."

I pulled myself back up again and began counting backwards from sixty.

Michonne paused and met his gaze. "Hmm, like the gestapo." She was ice cold. No matter how I tried to turn it around in my head Michonne was absolutely a threat. I sort of admired that about her but I wasn't the only one who was wary around her.

Merle smiled. "Exactly. Done a lot of things I ain't proud of. Before and after. Anyway, hope we can get passed it. Let bygones be bygones." 

I lowered myself to the floor again counted off a minute and pulled myself back up. Michonne finally nodded, but her face remained impassive. Merle was working hard to make the rounds and mend fences but I was pretty positive he wasnt fooling Michonne. And when I looked over at Carol I was positive he wasn't fooling her.

I was on my twentieth rep when the main door was flung open. Carl came pounding in. "It's Andrea!" he gasped. "Andrea's here." 

Everyone froze for a moment, their eyes flitting to Rick. He stood and ran to his cell, pulling out his rifle. "Everyone to their places." He ordered.

I lowered myself to my feet, uncertain what I should do. I didn't have a place. My heart was pounding in my ears as the adrenaline began to flow and my world focused. There was a chance The Governor was using this to distract us. There was a chance we were about to be attacked. There was a chance he was here. There was a chance-

Daryl came out of the cell block, his crossbow loaded and over his shoulder. He tossed a shotgun to Merle. Who caught it easily, checked to make sure it was loaded and headed towards the door. Daryl paused as he passed me. He stooped a little so he was looking me square in the eyes. He narrowed his at me until I glared back. He nodded and slapped his knife in my hand again and before I could react he grabbed the front of my belt, jerking me forward a step and shoved his handgun into it.

"Watch our backs," he ordered. "Stay back with Michonne." He grunted and looked like he wanted to say something else. I arched a brow, encouraging him to get on with it. "If it's too much-" he started to say but I cut him off.

"I'll be fine," I promised, tucking his knife into my belt. I wouldn't let them down, not after they took a chance on me.

"Try not to kill any friendlies," Merle growled as he passed us.

"You too!" I called back good naturedly. Merle chuckled but kept walking. I pulled out the hand gun, checked the clip and made sure there was a round in the chamber.

Daryl's eyes followed his brother for a moment, an unreadable expression on his face, before he turned back to me. "You good?"

I nodded.

He turned and followed Rick out the door with Merle behind him. I waited for Michonne and took up the rear.

Rick, Daryl and Merle all filed out the door in tight formation. They moved with military precision, their weapons up and at the ready as they moved to clear the area. 

The others may not see it, but Merle made them stronger. He may be an ass, but he was a disciplined ass when it came to a combat situation and it was clear by the seamless way he and Daryl moved together they had experience.

Rick paused at the first point of cover. "Go," he commanded sweeping the area.

Merle swung around him to the next point, his gun up and tucked into his shoulder. "Clear," he reported.  And we all fanned out, our weapons up and ready. I covered my area of the field, scanning the tree line. 

"Are you alone?" Rick bellowed as he and Daryl made their way towards the gate. They took cover behind the guard tower, each peaking around the corner while Merle covered them.

Andrea held one of Them on one of the leashes they used in Woodbury but the one was only doing so much to distract the herd and they were starting to notice her. "Open the gate." She gasped her voice rising in fear.

"Are you alone?!" Rick repeated, taking a step out into the open so she could see him. I didn't like that. If this was a distraction Rick had just made himself a perfect target for a sniper.

"Rick!" Andrea screeched as They began to swarm. If they didn't let her in she was done for.

Michonne paused, lowering her gun as she watched Andrea and I cursed under my breath. I side stepped so I was in a more central position to sweep the field and treeline.

Rick nodded to Daryl and tossed his keys to him, stepping out so he and Merle were covering Daryl while he unlocked the gate.

"Open it!" Daryl yelled, shoving the keys in his belt so he could raise his crossbow. Merle lowered his weapon and slammed the gate closed behind Rick as he dragged Andrea through.

Daryl trained his crossbow at Andrea's head and I could see without a doubt he would not hesitate to use it.

"Hands up," Rick yelled, using his cop voice. "Turn around." He commanded, pulling away Andrea's bag and throwing it on the ground well beyond her reach. Andrea gasped in shock and tried to pull away from Rick but he slammed her against the fence. "Turn around now!"

One of Them slammed against the fence near Andrea's face and she screamed bucking back into Rick. Rick caught her and swung her around onto the ground, pointing her own hand gun at her. "Get down, on the floor."

She complied, raising her hands so Rick could see she wasn't a threat. "I asked if you were alone." He growled menacingly.

"I am," she gasped in disbelief. She looked around herself in shock, taking in everyone's appearance and the guns they all had trained on her and the area around. I watched her face fall as she spotted Carl with his rifle and bullet proof vest.

"Welcome back," Rick growled. "Get up." He jerked her roughly to her feet. 

I was amazed Rick let her follow him inside the prison where Judith was, but it wasn't my place to say anything. Carol approached her slowly and they shared a long hug as everyone else filed in. Merle kept his gun up, his eyes never leaving Andrea as he covered the door. Daryl perched on a table near Andrea, his crossbow was slung over his shoulder but the tension in his muscles told me he could have it in his hands in seconds. Neither one of the Dixon boys were taking any chances with their long lost friend. I stepped back so I was behind the group in the corner. I didn't know Andrea that well and I wouldn't hesitate if she made a threatening move.

"Hershel my god," Andrea gasped, letting go of Carol so she could take a step towards Hershel. "I can't believe this," she said looking around. "Where's Shane?" She asked. No one said anything but Daryl and Rick shared a look. "And Lori?" Andrea asked in a breathy voice. Either she was one of the best actresses I had ever seen or she was actually sincere.

Rick didn't respond.

"She had girl, Lori didn't survive," Hershel drawled as though he couldn't take the silence any longer.

"Neither did T-Dog," Maggie piped up before Andrea could ask.

"I'm so sorry," Andrea said. "Carl-" she started towards him but Carl looked away. She turned to Rick. "Rick I-" but Rick wouldn't meet her gaze.

"You all live here?" she asked in disbelief as she turned in a circle taking in every detail of the room. I didn't like having her in here. It felt like she was intruding on our territory and like we were giving Intel to a possible enemy.

"Here and the cell block," Glenn responded.

"There?" She asked motioning towards the door to the cell block. "Can I go in?" she asked walking towards it.

Daryl moved to get in her way, but Rick had already stepped in front of her. Guess I wasn't the only one feeling territorial.

"I won't allow that." Rick said coldly.

"I'm not an enemy Rick,"

"We had that field and courtyard before your boyfriend tore down that fence and shot us up." Rick said motioning over his shoulder.

"He said you fired first," she said shaking her head.

"Well, he's lying." Rick growled, his eyes narrowed.

"He killed an inmate who had survived in here." Hershel said.

"We liked him, he was one of us." Daryl growled. I watched Daryl's face as he spoke, I hadn't heard about the group they lost but Daryl seemed more pissed off than sad. Of course I had never seen Daryl express many emotions other than being pissed. I must have been staring at him a while because he quirked a brow at me, asking what was going on. I felt a light blush creep up my neck and just shook my head making it a point to turn my whole focus back to Andrea.

"I didn't know anything about that. As soon as I found out I came. I didn't even know you were in Woodbury until after the shoot out." She turned to Glenn and even I knew how much of a mistake that was.

"That was days ago." Glenn snapped, his anger palpable and bubbling just beneath the surface. It wouldn't take much to set him off.

"I told you I came as soon as I could." she said defensively. "What have you told them?" she asked angrily spinning on Michonne as though this were all her fault.

Michonne was leaning against the outside of my cage, her arms crossed over her chest and her face perfectly calm. "Nothing," Michonne replied smoothly.

Andrea was losing her temper now. "I don't get it, I left Atlanta with you people and now I'm the odd man out?"

Glenn took an aggressive step forward. "He almost killed Michonne and he would have killed us. Not to mention what he did to Jo all those months."

Andrea frowned at his words and spun around until she found me in the corner. I watched her finch. She hadn't realized it was me. She had only seen me in the ring twice and she hadn't  recognized me. But instead of backing down she only got angrier. "With his finger on the trigger!" She exclaimed pointing at Merle. "Isn't he the one who kidnapped you? Who beat you?"

Merle just smirked and shook his head.

"Look," she said cupping her forehead in her hands. "I cannot excuse or explain what Phillip has done. But I am here trying to bring us together. We have to work this out."

Rick scoffed. "There's nothing to work out. We're gonna kill him. I don't know how or when, but we will." He assured her.

Andrea looked appauled. "We can settle this. there is room at Woodbury for all of you."

Merle chuckled from the door. "You know better than that." He drawled.

There was a long silence before Hershel seemed to take pity on her. "What makes you think this man wants to negotiate? Did he say that?"

Andrea stopped then, and turned to look at Hershel her eyes a little wide. It seemed like Hershel had a way of saying things that made people stop and listen. "No." She finally admitted her voice hollow.

"Then why did you come here?"

She seemed to take a deep breath and regain her confidence before
she answered. "Because the people are terrified, they are gearing up for war. They see you as killers. They're training to attack."

"I'll tell ya what," Daryl drawled in a voice that was dead calm and all the scarier for its lack of anger. "Next time ya see Phillip, you tell him Imma take his other eye." Daryl glared at Andrea with such animosity she had to look away.

"We've taken too much shit for too long." Glenn agreed. "He wants a war he's got one."

Andrea just shook her head. Whatever she had thought was going to happen it wasn't this. "Rick," she implored. "If you don't sit down and try to work this out, I don't know what will happen. He has a whole town." When she didn't get a reaction from Rick she turned back to the group. "Look at you. You've lost so much already. You can't stand to lose anymore."

Rick took a step towards her. "You want to make this right?" he asked. "Get us inside."

"No." Her answer was immediate.

"Then we got nothing to talk about."

"There are innocent people!" She called after him but Rick marched away.

I scoffed from the corner and she whipped around to face whoever made the noise her eyes flashing with anger.

"You have something to say?" She asked looking from one person to the next. She still didn't know who.

I pushed away from the wall and stepped into the center of the room my eyebrows raised. "Yeah," I snapped my voice laced with anger. "Please tell me about all these innocent people who were cheering for my death every week."

Andrea took a step in my direction and behind her I saw Daryl slide to his feet. His eyes were on Andrea and his hands were in fists. He looked like he thought she would attack me. I looked back at her and cocked my head, my face was impassive as I watched her for a moment. She was tough, but she wasn't armed and without her weapons she was no threat to me.

"They loved you, you were their favorite," she said it with such conviction all I could do was stare at her in disbelief for a full minute before the rage swelled and started pounding in my ears.

"Careful blondie," Merle advised but I could hear the smile in his voice.

I took a step toward her and narrowed my eyes. "Loved me?" I snarled. "I was kept in a cage and forced to fight every week for five months!"

"You didn't look like you needed any help." Andrea hedged.

Daryl made a sound in the back of his throat but I didn't look away from Andrea. I felt my eyes widen and the anger crawled through me. "If I didn't fight he was going to shoot my sister! Don't know if you remember her?! She was by the way an innocent kid. Or she was right up until the moment he snapped her neck in front of me. All because she had the audacity to try and break me out! She watched me get so hurt in the ring even Merle there went to Milton to try and help me!" I was full on yelling now. Everyone was staring but I didn't care anymore. We had been fooled by The Governor too and I refused to let it happen to anyone else.

Andrea looked like I had slapped her, she stumbled back a step and nearly bumped into Daryl. "He couldn't," she gasped. "He wouldn't."

An ugly mirthless laugh ripped its way up my throat. "You know how I ended up in that cage? I refused to sleep with him. And when he tried to rape me I nearly gutted him with the steak knife from the nice dinner he made me to try to seduce me. So guess what he chose for my weapons in the ring?"

She was shaking her head repeatedly and I could tell my words were falling on deaf ears. She wasn't ready to hear she was sleeping with a monster.

I met Daryl's gaze over her shoulder and his eyes dropped to my belt. I nodded and pulled my knife. I felt Glenn and Maggie tense behind me and Merle laughed out loud. They all thought I was going to attack her.

I slapped the knife on the table beside Andrea and I. Her gaze went to the steak knife laying between us. "He make his chicken parm for you yet?"

She didn't respond but I could see in her eyes that he had. I scoffed and shook my head. "I'll take watch," I growled scooping my knife off the table and stalking out the door.

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Jo

Everyone was subdued at dinner that night. I think Andrea's visit had effected them all more than they wanted to admit. I don't know that they had all realized the extent of the threat they were facing until now.

It was surreal, sitting at a table with others, eating dinner off plates and with silverware. I tried to look normal but I caught Merle's eye at one point and I was pretty sure he knew I was struggling. After all, he had been one of the ones to toss my one meal a day through the bars and watch me eat it with my hands on the dirt floor of my cell. I shook away the memories and focused instead on the meal of rice and cooked meat. I tried to eat slow but I was still so hungry I practically inhaled my food.

I sat at a table with Merle and Daryl. Neither of whom seemed keen on making conversation. Daryl kept his head down and focused on eating. But Merle was watching the group closely. I didn't think he trusted them much more than they trusted him.

I finished eating before everyone else and took a moment. I closed my eyes and just listened to the quiet scrape of utensils against plates and the hushed voices of the group as they ate. I had always been a reserved person, enjoying solitude more than the company of strangers but I had missed moments like this. Moments where life was so perfectly normal.

I heard Daryl stand, I knew it was him because he moved quieter than Merle. When I opened my eyes he was already standing at the basin of water rinsing his dishes but there was another half a portion sitting on my plate. I looked quizzically at Merle who just rolled his eyes and shook his head looking disgusted. I resisted the urge to march up to Daryl and argue and instead quietly ate the food he gave me. It had been so long since my stomach felt remotely close to satisfied.

When I was finished I followed Daryl over to the basin. I glanced once guiltily at Carol, not certain if I was over stepping my bounds. I hadn't been about to get a real read on their relationship and I hated not knowing. I stepped up next to him, so close my shoulder brushed against his.

"Thank you," I said in a voice so low it was impressive even he could hear it.

Daryl glanced over at me and dipped his chin in acknowledgement before he dried his hands and walked away. I let out a sigh and started washing up. Once my dishes were done I went around to the tables and started gathering the others' empty plates.

Beth started to protest. I lifted my eyes to meet hers and spoke in a quiet voice. "It's the least I can do," I assured her. "I owe you all so much already." Hershel looked ready to argue but I turned away and began cleaning the dishes before I was forced to talk anymore. I had to find someway to repay them for the food and shelter.

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Daryl

After dinner everyone sat quietly in the cell block. The only light came from a small lantern on the floor where Beth and Carol sat. Beth looked around at everyone's tense faces and she began to sing. She always seemed to know when the group needed something to take the edge off. And folks were scared. She had a pretty voice and it was a nice song and soon the group started to relax. Even Merle came and stepped through the door to the cell block so he could hear better.

Rick came down the stairs bouncing Lil Ass Kicker lightly in his arms. He stepped over to where Hershel and I stood side by side. The baby cooed and chewed on her little fist, her large blue eyes were glued on Beth.

"Some reunion huh?" I asked.

"She's in a jam," Rick said, surprisingly coming to Andrea's defense.

"We all are," Hershel said. "Andrea's persuasive. This fella's armed to the teeth. Bent on distruction."

"So what do you want to do?" I asked, I pressed my lips in a firm line. I wanted to get down to business and make a plan. I didn't like feeling like I was just sitting on my ass. I had too many people depending on me.

"We match it." Rick said. "I'm going on a run."

"I'll head out tomorrow." I agreed.

But Rick was shaking his head. "No, you stay here. Keep an eye on your brother." I glanced over my shoulder to where Merle stood, leaning up against the door with his eyes closed as he listened to the music. Rick hadn't locked him and Jo in yet.

Rick continued. "I'm glad you're back, really, but if he causes a problem. It's on you."

"I got him." I promised. And I was pretty sure i could handle Merle. No way he wanted to be out on his ass. He knew a good thing when he saw it.

Rick nodded, "Need you to put some pressure on Jo too. See where she's at. Can't have an unknown factor when all this goes down."

I narrowed my eyes. "She's good." I assured him but I didn't know that. She had only been back a day and in that time she had nearly attacked me twice in the midst of a PTSD attack and that was just me trying to get her back here. I had no idea what would happen to her once the bullets started flying.

"I'm gonna take Michonne on the run," Rick said after a few quiet moments.

"You sure that's a good idea?" I asked.

"I'll find out. And Carl. He's ready. You hold it down here."

"You got it." I agreed. I turned as I heard the quiet scuff of a shoe. Jo stepped out of the darkness into the doorway of the cell block. Her face was still in shadow, but she stood and watched the group, a peaceful look on her face. I wanted to go stand beside her, but I didn't know what to say.

She stopped a few feet from Merle, who opened his eyes and glanced at her. I looked away, not wanting my brother to catch me staring at her.

Beth's voice echoed through the cell block and her words bounced around my head. "You gotta hold on."

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Thanks for reading! I know it's not the most exciting chapter, especially for folks who don't like Andrea ;)
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