IT WAS AWKWARD INSIDE THE VAN.

Glenn was driving, trying to get as close as he can without getting the attention of all of the walkers inside the city.

Vivian was in the passenger seat, looking at a map to figure out where the guns were and the building where Merle was currently holed up at.

Marcie sat next to T-Dog, watching Daryl as he sat against Vivian's seat, glaring at him. She guessed that was his usual facial expression and T-Dog didn't seem very phased by it.

She glanced over at Rick, who was sat next to her, "Do you think they're okay?" She whispered,

"Who?"

"Morgan and Duane. You don't think they've tried to go into the city yet, do you?" Marcie asked him,

Rick shook his head, "Nah... not until we've told them it's safe."

Marcie leaned her head against the metal wall of the van. She hoped the father and son were okay. They seemed smart enough, the one night she spent with them. They kept low, kept quiet. They'd survive.

But they really needed to get to that radio before they left for Atlanta.

"He'd better be okay." They all turned to Daryl as he spoke up, "It's my only word on the matter."

"I told you the geeks can't get at him. The only thing that's gonna get through that door is us." T-Dog repeated,

Glenn put the truck in park and turned to the rest of the group, "We walk from here."

Daryl was quick to head towards the back door of the van, kicking Marcie's boot as he did. She rolled her eyes as she stood up and followed after him.

She clipped the back pack together, so it wouldn't slip from her shoulders. Rick and T-dog jumped down and they held out a hand for her to jump. She gripped them before her boots hit the gravel, giving them a nod in thanks.

Vivian walked over, smirk on her face, "Ready to go for a jog?"

The group ran through the railyard, jumping over tracks and weaving between train carriages. They made it under a bridge and went over to the fence, where there was already a hole cut through from when Glenn and Vivian used to go on a supply run themselves.

"Merle first or guns?" Rick asked as they all ducked through the hole,

"Merle! We ain't even having this conversation." Daryl exclaimed,

"We are." Rick snapped at him before turning to Glenn and Vivian, "You know the geography. It's your call."

Glenn and Vivian shared a look, "Merle's closest. The guns would mean doubling back. Merle first."

The group made their way into the city, avoiding being detected by any of the undead. Vivian and Glenn led them back into the department store. They were wary, since the last time they were in that building it got overrun by walkers.

Rick went ahead as they went inside, pausing to let them know he saw a walker. Daryl moved to take it down, since he had the only silent, long range weapon, "Damn. You are one ugly skank." He said before shooting it in the head,

"Charming." Vivian mumbled as he took the bolt out of its' head and wiped the brains off on his pants,

They stayed quiet as they went to the stairs and quickly began to run up them. Rick stopped at the top and shared a look with Vivian.

The chain was still locked. It was a good sign. Meant nothing got through to the roof.

T-Dog moved forward with the bolt cutters and cut through the chain. Before the metal event the floor, Daryl kicked through the door, "Merle! Merle!"

Marcie stopped on the bridge, staring down at the empty space where Merle used to be. How did she knew that's where he was? Because of the bloody handcuffs. And the pool of blood. Did she mention the hand?

Yeah, there was a hand, just a hand, laying where Merle Dixon was only a day ago.

"Holy shit." She mumbled,

Daryl paced back and forth, his face scrunching up in pain. But not physical pain. The emotional, trying not to break down, pain.

"No!" He screamed, staring down at his brother's severed limb, "No!"

Vivian ran her fingers through her hair before turning towards the Atlanta skyline. Were they going to search the entire city for the Dixon? Hell, did he even make it out alive?

Once Daryl had gotten over the shock, he lifted his crossbow and aimed it at T-Dog. Rick wasn't far behind in lifting his Python, the barrel of the gun pointed at Daryl's head.

"I won't hesitate. I don't care if every walker in the city hears it." Rick told him,

Vivian stepped forward, "Look, killing each other and firing off guns won't help Merle or us."

"She's right, guys." Marcie stated,

Daryl dropped his crossbow and Rick lowered his gun. They all watched Daryl, in case he decided to go in for the kill.

"You got a do-rag or something?" The hunter asked T-Dog.

T-Dog reached into his pocket and pulled out a bandana. Daryl took it before walking over to the severed limb that was left to cook in the Atlanta heat. 

"I guess the saw blade was too dull for the handcuffs." Daryl commented as he picked up the hand by the pinky,"Ain't that a bitch." He wrapped the hand up in the bandana before turning to Glenn and putting the package into the poor man's backpack, "He must have used a tourniquet... maybe his belt. Be much more blood if he didn't."

Marcie noticed the drops of blood that led towards another door, "I'm not a tracker or anything... but I think he went this way?"

Daryl walked over to her and followed her eyes to where she was staring down at the concrete. He nodded before following it and the other's trailed behind. Vivian moved to help T-Dog with the tools, wanting to get the trip over with.

"Merle? You in here?" Daryl called out as they walked down the steps,

"Yeah, that won't bring the biters down on us." Marcie mumbled,

Vivian and T-Dog caught up with the others as they made their way into the office building. They walked into the reception, where papers were littered the floors. Clearly there was a panic there when shit went down.

"Had enough in him to take out these two sumbitches." Daryl commented, motioning to a few dead walkers on the floor, "One handed. Toughest asshole I ever met, my brother. Feed him a hammer, he'd crap out nails." He continued as he reloading his crossbow.

Marcie reached for the brain-covered wrench that Merle had used but left abandoned on the floor. She wiped it slightly on the biter's shirt before handing it to Vivian, who stuffed it back in Dale's tool bag,

"Any man can pass out from blood loss, no matter how tough he is." Rick replied as they continued their search.

They followed the blood trail into what looked like a kitchen area, "Merle!" Daryl called out again.

"We're not alone here. Remember?" Rick reminded him,

"Screw that. He could be bleeding out. You said so yourself." Daryl replied,

Vivian walked into the room and her eyes immediately went to the lit stove and Merle's belt nearby. Her nose scrunched up at the scent of cooked meat and the sight of burnt chunks on a metal surface,

"What's that burned stuff?" Glenn asked,

"Skin." Vivian sighed, "He cauterized the stump. Hope you guys aren't too hungry. That smell isn't a home cooked meal, it's Merel's flesh."

"Told you he was tough. Nobody can kill Merle but Merle." Daryl stated,

"Don't take that on faith. He's lost a lot of blood." Rick responded,

"Yeah?" Daryl walked towards the other end of the kitchen, "Didn't stop him from busting out of this death trap." He stopped at the broken window and the others followed,

"He left the building? Why the hell would he do that?" Glenn questioned,

"I mean, he does think we left him for dead." Marcie defended, crossing her arms over her chest, "Wouldn't you do the same?"

"He's out there alone as far as he knows, doing what he's got to do. Surviving." Daryl stated,

"You call that surviving? Just wandering out in the streets, maybe passing out? What are his odds out there?" T-Dog questioned,

"No worse than being handcuffed and left to rot by you sorry pricks." Daryl snapped at him before turning to Rick, "You couldn't kill him. Ain't so worried about some dumb dead bastard."

"What about 1,000 dead dumb bastards? Different story?" Rick asked him,

"Why don't you take a tally?" Daryl scoffed, "Do what you want. I'm gonna go get him."

Rick went to grab him but Daryl pushed him away, "Get your hands off me!" He got into Rick's face, "You can't stop me."

"I don't blame you. He's family, I get that. I went through hell to find mine. I know exactly how you feel." Rick told him, "He can't get far with that injury. We could help you check a few blocks around but only if we keep a level head."

Daryl narrowed his eyes and everyone watched with anticipation. Daryl was a hot head, they've all seen it. It took a lot for him to cool down. His priority was his brother, and no one could stop him from finding him.

He nodded after a moment, "I could do that."

"Only if we get those guns first." T-Dog spoke up, "I'm not strolling the streets of Atlanta with just my good intentions, okay?"