Daryl

It was still early evening when Rick pulled me out to the far side of the courtyard. He and Hershel both looked stressed and fidgety. I frowned at them, not sure what this was about. I didn't think anything had happened with Merle but I hadn't seen him in a few hours. I glanced over my shoulder but Jo was still sitting on the deck of the guard tower, my rifle up as she scanned the area.

"What's go'in on man?" I asked in a quiet voice.

Rick licked his lips and looked back at Hershel for a moment. "The Governor set terms, he wants Michonne. In exchange for peace."

Rick didn't say anything as I processed what he was saying. I couldn't believe Rick would even consider giving up one of our people. He must have seen the look on my face because he continued.

"It's the only way," Rick said with conviction. "No one knows but us."

"Ya gonna tell 'em?"

Rick shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Not until after. We have to do it tomorrow morning and it has to be quiet."

I didn't like it. I shifted my weight as I thought about it. "Ya got a plan?"

Rick stepped up closer to me nodding. "We tell her we need to talk. Away from the others."

I looked over Rick's shoulder to Hershel. He wasn't happy about this either and he wouldn't hold my gaze. He looked down at his foot. I frowned, flattening my lips into a hard line and shook my head once. "Just ain't us man."

Hershel immediately agreed. "No, no it isn't." And he left, swinging away on his crutches.

Rick watched him go, then leaned in towards me. I shifted my weight back and tightened my grip on my crossbow. "We do this, we avoid a fight. No one else dies." He lifted his gaze to where I knew Jo was over my shoulder and then looked back to me his meaning clear.

I let out a slow sigh. We didn't know her. Michonne wasn't really one of us, not yet. I pinched my lips together again and dipped my chin in agreement. "All right." I breathed, not liking it.

Rick nodded "We need someone else." He said and I knew that this time he wasn't meaning Jo.

"I'll talk to him," I agreed. I knew Merle would agree with Rick's plan. It wouldn't take any effort to convince my brother to hand over Michonne to save himself.

"I'll do it." Rick said quickly.

"I'll go with you." Just because Merle and Rick would be in agreement didn't mean Merle would necessarily be easy to talk to.

"No," Rick responded almost too quickly and I frowned at him. I couldn't help feeling like there was something else up, something Rick wasn't saying.

<><><><><>

Jo

That night I was back out on the deck of the guard tower. Dinner had been tense and silent, as usual I sat at a table between Merle and Daryl. No one spoke, everyone was afraid of the fight that was coming. Once people had headed off to their beds I slipped back up here. I sat down on the metal deck and let my legs hang over the edge and rested my arms on the lower bar. Daryl's rifle was sitting on the ground beside me, but there was nothing to see at night. Even They were quiet tonight. It felt like the whole world was holding it's breath in anticipation of what was to come. A cool breeze picked up and I wrapped my jacket tighter around myself.

There was a quiet scuff of a shoe behind me.

"Getting sloppy Dixon." I observed without looking. I smirked, feeling pretty impressed with myself for hearing Daryl. The man moved like a cat.

I heard an unfamiliar scoff. "That so?"

I whirled my head around to face Merle. "Sorry," I said after an awkward moment of silence. "I thought you were Daryl." I added unnecessarily.

Merle groaned as he lowered himself so he was sitting near me, but not next to me. "I assumed," he said casually.

I glanced over at him and arched a brow.

"Little brother's been pretty attentive." Merle observed in what I knew to be Merle's attempt at sounding casual. It was anything but.

I scoffed, shaking my head. "We're friends Merle."

"My little brother doesn't have friends." Merle said decidedly.

I didn't know how to respond because I didn't actually believe that. Daryl was a valued and respected, even necessary, part of this group. I wondered if Merle wasn't a little bit jealous of his little brother. I didn't say that though, I didn't want to start arguing with Merle. He was up here for a reason.

Merle sat quietly with me for a few minutes, watching the stars before he cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I was sorry for what happened to your sister," he said gruffly. "I know after, well...we didn't talk much...She was a good kid."

I laid my chin down on my arms and nodded. "She was," I agreed. "Thank you for what you did...what I couldn't..." I dragged off the words as I felt tears gather in my eyes. It surprised me, I hadn't thought I was still capable of crying over what happened.

Merle cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Sure." he said, without looking at me.

I wished I could have said more. I was sure Merle had gotten in a lot of trouble for taking the kill for me. I scraped my heels against the concrete wall uncertain what to say or do. I let out a soft sigh. I used to be so much better at people. And talking to Merle had never been difficult before.

"Look, I know you like to be alone, and I didn't come up here to make you uncomfortable. I ain't that much of an ass." he chuckled though I didn't feel like he thought anything was very funny. "But my little brother, he gives a shit." Merle scratched at his head as though the very thought made him uncomfortable.

"Yeah," I agreed. "He does."

Merle nodded. "He'll get himself killed over it," he said in a quiet voice.

I turned and frowned at Merle, not quite getting the direction this conversation was taking. Daryl was a dedicated member of the group but he was always careful and he was more than capable of taking care of himself. It was odd to see Merle in position of protective older brother. It made me think back to those months before Kate died when he had looked out for her for me when there seemed to be nothing in it for himself.

"Ah hell," Merle muttered shaking his head uncomfortably. "I ain't never been one for subtleties," he said most to himself. Then he looked at me. "The Governor offered Rick a deal to spare all this," Merle gestured with his stump. "You and Michonne."

I went cold at the words. It took me a few minutes to realize the reason I was suddenly so dizzy was because I had forgotten to breathe. I blinked rapidly as I fought to slow my thoughts tumbling over and over through my brain.

"Rick won't tell Daryl," Merle said with certainty. "Not about you. He only got him to agree to Michonne," I frowned at that, not liking that Rick and Daryl would consider betraying one of the group. "Little brother would never hand you over." Merle shook his head. "I don't know what Rick's plan is, but...you gotta watch out for yourself Barbie. Daryl would have your back." Merle sucked in a tense breath and coughed as he let it out. "Little brother's always had a weakness for broken things."

I looked full on at Merle and could see his sincerity. He really did care about his brother. Merle had shown me kindness on more than one occasion when he didn't know me, and now he was going above and beyond.

"Well," Merle said uncomfortably as he struggled to his feet.

"Merle-" I called after him. "Thank you."

"I didn't-" Merle dragged off but I was already cutting him off.

"I know you didn't do it for me Merle, but you're a good man."

Merle was shaking his head. "You got a raw deal little sister. But Daryl..." He drew off. "You take care of yourself Barbie," and he turned and walked away.

I let out a loud sigh and looked back towards the stars trying to work out what I needed to do. If I were smart and listened to Merle I would slip off into the darkness right now and never look back. I felt like all my paranoia was justified. I couldn't trust anyone.

But, Rick hadn't handed me over at the meeting, and I felt bad condemning him over something he hadn't done yet. I let out a breath and shook my head. I looked down at the cage and knew Daryl was there on watch tonight. I swiped at my mouth and climbed down. I padded silently through the darkness.

<><><><><>

Daryl

The next morning Michonne approached me, asking if I would help her and Jo lay out some traps they had made. I nodded and followed the two of them, my heart pounding in my chest. They showed me the boards they had made with razor wire, and the other ones with spikes that they wanted to bury. They had already loaded them into the back of the truck and were looking for some back up to lay them along the drive up to the gate.

"Nice," I said hollowly. Jo glanced at me and frowned. She had been more distant than normal and I wondered if she had somehow found out about Michonne.

Jo sent Carl and Maggie down the dog run banging pots and pans to distract the Walkers. Glenn and I rode in back of the truck and it was our job to lay out the razor wire. Carol drove the truck down the drive and Michonne and Jo jumped out. Michonne was cold and powerful with her sword but Jo always reminded me of a dancer or a gymnast.  Jo was getting better and better with her Kukri knife and now fought with it in her right hand and the hunting knife I had given her in her left. She spun, arched and kicked gracefully, killing any walker who came close.

"Hey," Glenn said, catching my attention. I turned back to him and he motioned to the heavy board in front of him. I nodded and grabbed my end. We staggered the boards so we would be able to drive through but it would be difficult for someone who was unfamiliar with the layout. Glenn staked that last one into the ground and I turned back to where Jo and Michonne fought.

"Come on, let's go!" I called, I jumped up into the back of the truck and swung my crossbow into my hands. Michonne sliced through one last walker and ran for the cab of the truck. Jo came trotting up to the tailgate. Sweat glistened on her skin and she looked serious. I reached down to offer her a hand up but she ignored me and jumped up, landing lightly beside me.

I frowned, asking what was wrong but she only shook her head and crouched down so she was more stable when the truck started to move. Rick pulled the gate open for us, his rifle in hand. We all jumped down out of the back of the truck.

Rick came trotting up to us.

"They try to drive up to the gate again maybe some blown tires will stop them." Glenn said as Rick approached us.

Rick nodded in approval. "That's a good idea."

"It was Michonne's," I responded coolly.

Jo glanced from me to Rick and back again frowning. I could see her trying to work out what was going on. She had always been good at reading people. It was a good thing Rick was going to put his little plan into motion today or Jo would be onto him before he knew it. And I doubted she would be as okay with handing Michonne over to The Governor.

Michonne walked up. "We don't have to win," she said calmly. "We just have to make their getting at us more trouble than it's worth."

I nodded along with her words, holding Rick's gaze. I could see regret in his eyes but he tightened his jaw. His resolve was set.

"You seen Merle this morning?" He asked me.

I shook my head. "Naw," and I walked off to find my brother.

<><><><><>

"Merle," I called. I moved silently through the tombs, my crossbow tucked up tight against my shoulder. "You down here?" I called in a low voice. I could hear clanking coming from the boiler room down the hallway but there was no response to my calls. "Merle," I tried again and swung around the corner. I lowered my crossbow when I found him leaning against the counter looking like he was trying to be casual.

"Hey, little brother," he greeted with a put on smile.

"What the hell?" I asked looking around. Nothing seemed out of place, but I couldn't figure why he would be down here by himself.

"I was just about to holler back at ch'ya."

"What ya doing down here?" I asked.

Merle looked nervous and he swiped at his mouth. "Just looking for a little crystal meth." He said, blocking my way further into the room.

I grunted and shook my head. Same old Merle.

"Ya I know," he said forcing out a chuckle. "Shit will mess my life up when everything is going so sweet, right?"

I paced away from him, looking around the part of the room I could see. I fidgeted with my crossbow, tapping it against my leg. "You talk to Rick yet?" I ask in a low voice.

"Yeah, oh yeah," He said brightly. "Last night. I'm in."He said leaning back against the counter. "But ah, he ain't got the stomach for it. He's gonna buckle, you know that right?"

I lifted my crossbow up into my hands and shrugged. "Yeah. If he does, he does," I said trying not to let Merle see how I didn't agree with the plan.

"You want him to?" he asked taking a step towards me and cocking his head.

I froze, trying to keep my face blank and swallowed. "Whatever he says goes."

Merle scoffed at me and shook his head in disgust. "Man, do you even possess a pair balls little brother? I mean are they even attached? And if they are, do they belong to you? You used to call people like that sheep. Man, what the hell happened to you?"

I just shook my head. Neither one of us were the people we used to be. "What happened?" I asked. "With you and Glenn and Maggie?" I asked. I stole myself for my next words. "And Jo?"

Merle sucked in a breath. "I've done worse." He said coldly. He tightened his jaw and stared me down like he used to when we were kids. "You need to grow up. Things are different now." Emotion fought it's way across my brother's face and he fought it with everything he had. "Your people look at me like I'm the devil, grabbing up those love birds like that huh? Now y'all want to do the same damn thing I did. Snatch someone up and deliver them to The Governor, just like me. Yeah. People do what they gotta do or they die. Just ask Jo."

I was shaking my head, trying to think of anything I could say to help my brother.

"Can't do things without people anymore, man."

Merle just scoffed at me, staring at me with disappoint and disgust. "Maybe these people need someone like me around, huh? Someone to do their dirty work. The bad guy. Maybe that's how it is now, huh? How does that hit ya?" He asked. There was something else going on, something else was bugging him, but he wasn't going to talk about it. Merle never had been one for talking.

I took a step toward him and touched his arm, shaking my head. "I just want my brother back." I told him honestly.

Emotion swam across his face again and he jerked away from me. "Get out of here man."

I nodded and walked away.

<><><><><>

Jo

I was sitting out on the far side of the court yard enjoying the sun. My back was up against the building so no one could sneak up on me. I had spent most of the morning around Michonne, not trusting either Daryl or Rick around her. But I had run out of excuses and she was inside. All I could do was sit out here and keep watch. From where I sat I could see every one of the groups vehicles but no one could see me.

A shadow fell over me as Merle approached. He stepped up so he was standing almost directly over me. I had to shield my eyes so I could see him with the sun blazing directly behind him. His face looked set and grim.

"Watcha still doing here Barbie?" He asked almost angrily. "I told you officer friendly is gonna come for ya. I expected ya to be halfway to Florida by now."

I sat and watched Merle for a minute. "Don't worry Merle," I assured him. "I've been keeping an eye on both Rick and Michonne. I won't let it happen."

Merle nodded his mouth drawn in a hard line. "That's what I figured," he agreed. "Sorry about this Barbie."

"Wh-"

Pain exploded across my head and I felt myself falling a second before everything went black.

<><><><><>

Daryl

I was standing in the courtyard with my crossbow slung over my arm. I was pissed as hell. I was all set for the meeting to hand Michonne over but Rick had told me a few hours before that just he and Merle were going to go. Something was going on and nobody was talking. I paced another line across the yard and looked around. I wanted to talk to Jo but I hadn't seen her in a few hours and she was pissed at me anyhow.

The door opened and Rick came strutting out. "It's off." He called to me. "We'll take our chances." He said with brisk efficiency.

I nodded, feeling like a sudden weight was lifted off my chest. "I'm not saying it was the wrong call, but this was definately the right one." Rick shifted his weight and looked around. "What's wrong?"

He licked his lips. "I can't find Merle or Michonne. They've gone."

I felt my eyes widened and jogged toward the boiler room. "Come on!" I called to Rick over my shoulder. Suddenly some of
what Merle was saying made sense.

"He was in here," I said, leading the way. "Said he was looking for drugs. Said a lot of things actually."

"Like what?" Rick asked, tightly. I glanced over at him, but his back was turned to me.

"He said you were gonna change your mind. Here we go," I said kneeling down beside a pile of stuff. "Yeah, he took her here. Mixed it up." I shoved aside the short pieces of wire and the bag that looked like he had put over her head.

"Dammit," Rick growled.

I turned to face him and I froze. Rick was standing near the counter Merle had been leaning against when I had come down to talk to him. In Rick's hand was Jo's maroon leather jacket, the one I had found for her, the one she had been wearing earlier today. It was sitting on top of a pile of straps and knives.

I turned my gaze to meet Rick's. Rick held up his hands as though he were going to ward me off and took a step back to put some space between us. "I wasn't going to go through with it." He reminded me.

I dropped my eyes down to the knives and back at him. I tried to swallow but I felt like I was going to be sick. "You were gonna give her back to him?"

Rick looked away and wouldn't meet my eyes again. "It was for our family," he said in a quiet voice.

I shook my head in disgust. I couldn't decide which I was more mad at, Rick for lying to me about only handing over Michonne or Merle, for taking them both. Made me wonder if that was what was wrong with Merle, why he had been acting so weird. He was feeling guilty about bringing Jo back. I knew he liked her and she was one of the few here who liked him.

"I'm going after him," Rick said already moving towards the door.

"You can't track for shit." I called after him. I stared at Jo's pile of weapons for a moment longer before trotting after Rick.

He paused and nodded. "Then both of us."

I shook my head, I needed to not be near Rick right now. "No, just me. I said I'd go and I'll go. Plus they're gonna come back here. You need to be ready. Your family too." I didn't bother to try to keep the anger out of my voice at his willingness to sacrifice my family for his.

<><><><><>

I had been tracking Merle's
progress through the woods for nearly an hour when I came
to a clearing. It was odd he would leave such an obvious trail. Merle had taught me to track when we were kids and he would have known I could follow this trail in my sleep. Hell, even Rick probably could have followed it.

I trotted out of the woods just in time to see Michonne stab the head of a fallen Walker. "Hey," I called to her slowing my pace so I stayed out of range. I was already afraid of the answer to my question. "Where's Jo?" I asked looking around. I was going to be pissed if she escaped and left Jo with Merle.

Michonne frowned at me. She was hard to read but she seemed surprised that I wasn't a part of this plan. "Merle locked her up in one of the cells in solitary to keep her safe from Rick."

I blinked, floored by the news that my brother would do something so selfless. I shook it off quickly, looking around. "Where's my brother?"

Michonne regarded me coolly.

"You kill him?" I asked simply. I had thought he was dead for a long time, but bracing myself for the news was the longest seconds of my life.

She shook her head. "He let me go."

A bad feeling went through me. "Don't let anyone come after me," I snarled in Michonne's face before taking off at a run.

<><><><><>

It took me a couple hours to walk to the farm. There were Walkers everywhere. There hadn't been this many the last time I was here. I swung around with my crossbow up and ready. I moved silently so I didn't attract the attention of the ones who were gnawing on fresh bodies. Something big went down here and recently.

I fired at one directly in front of me and it dropped soundlessly.

I ripped out a new arrow and moved to load it so I could shoot the next one, but I froze as I spotted the one nearest me.

It was on its hands and knees chewing out the stomach of a fresh body. It slowly lifted it's head, its dead, yellow eyes regarded me hungrily. It continued to chew as it rose slowly and stumbled over the body at it's feet in trying to get to me.

I shirked back, I couldn't believe it. I tried to hold back the sobs that were building in my chest. It couldn't be. It came closer and I shoved it away. It stumbled, snarling and came at me again. "No!" I yelled, my voice breaking. But it came for me again.

I shoved it again and again, but it would only stumble and come right back for me. I pulled my knife out of my belt and screamed at I launched myself at it. I knocked it to the ground, my knife embedded in it's shoulder. I could hear it's teeth snapping close to my face.

I ripped my knife back out and stabbed at it's head. My blade slid through it's face, spraying blood. I swung again and again stabbing harder and harder trying to make it's face not look at me, not look like him. To make it not look like my brother.

I stumbled back, falling onto my back as I started to sob.