Daryl

My gaze shifted from Merle, to this Governor, to Andrea who was standing in the crowd and then back on my brother.
"We asked you where your loyalties lie," the "Governor" said, looking directly at Merle with the one eye that he had, the other patched up. "You said here. Prove it. Brother against brother. Winner goes free."

The crowd cheered in agreement but I couldn't take my eyes off Merle.

"Fight to the death!"

Merle finally looked back my way, but only for a second before he turned to the crowd that was cheering his name. "Y'all know me! I'm gonna do whatever I got to do to prove-" He spun around quickly, landing a hard punch to my gut. I dropped to my knees, coughing as I tried to get my breath back. "That my loyalty is to this town!"

I attempted to get back on my feet and Merle kicked me again, causing me to hit the ground once more.

He continued throwing hits my way as more of this guy's men brought in walkers on tethers. They circled us and my mind somehow drifted to Adasyn. No wonder she looked so terrified earlier, these people were sick.

"You really think this asshole is gonna let you go," I choked, Merle's hands around my throat and mine around his.

"Just follow my lead, little brother. We're gettin'out of this, right now."

He snatched me to my feet and we stood back to back while I tried to figure out some way to take these things out with no weapon.

One of the guys started pushing one towards me but before I had time to fight back, a gunshot rang throughout the arena and the walker fell to the ground.

There were a few more gun shots and then a can of tear gas landed right by my foot. I couldn't help but smirk at the sight of it - the governor was about to have his ass handed to him.

"Merle," I grunted, the gas getting thicker. "C'mon."

I got out of the midst of the smoke, Merle right behind me, and managed to sneak up on the guy who had just taken it upon himself to use MY crossbow.

One blow to the back of the head and I had it back, taking off towards the exit.

"Daryl!"

I turned to my left as we got right outside the arena and saw Rick supporting Ady, making their way over to us. I should've known her stubborn ass was gonna come along.

I slung my crossbow over my back, grabbing Ady from Rick and holding her bridal style. "Y'all cover us," I mumbled. "Let's go."

**

I could see our car in the distance as we cut through the woods. Ashlynn and Michonne were leaning against the side, and Glenn was sitting on the ground.

"Glenn!" Rick shouted.

His head snapped up, along with the other two. Ashlynn caught sight of Adasyn, who was out cold in my arms, immediately rushing over towards us. "Oh God," she panicked. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine, just sleepin,"I mumbled, pushing past her and making my way over to the car. Ashlynn opened the door for me, and I placed Ady inside as gently as I could. I watched her for a minute, just to make sure her breathing was even before placing a light kiss on the side of her head.

"What the hell is he doing here!?" I heard Glenn shout, drawing my attention back to the group.

I shut the car door, racing back over to the woods where Michonne and Glenn both had weapons drew on my brother. "He helped us get out of there," I spat, jumping in front of him.

"Right after he beat the shit out of you," Rick said, staying put in front of Michonne.

So much for having him on my side.

"Haay," Merle laughed. "We both took our licks, man!"

"Jackass," I mumbled.

"Hey, shut up," he shot back.

"Enough!" Rick shouted.

More shouting went down and Glenn now had his gun pointed at me. "Get that damn thang'out of my face!"

He lowered it, and Merle chuckled behind me. "Looks like you've gone Native, brother!"

"No more than you hangin' out with that psycho back there!"

"Oh yea, he's a charmer, I tell you that." He leaned around Rick, his eyes locked on Michonne. "Been puttin tha' wood to yer' girlfriend Andrea, big time baby."

"What?" Glenn asked. "Andrea is in Woodbury?"

"Right next to tha governor," I spat. Michonne rose her sword, stepping forward - towards me or Merle I wasn't sure.

"I told you to drop that!" Rick shouted.

More arguing broke out and Merle started going at it with his dumb ass remarks. God, this idiot just didn't know when to be quiet. Next thing I know, he's slumped over on the ground, and Rick is standing above him.

"Asshole," he mumbled.

••

"It won't work," Rick said, shaking his head.

"It's gotta."

"It'll stir things up."

"Look, tha governor is probably on his way to tha prison right now. Merle knows how he thinks, and we could use tha muscle."

"Do you really want him sleeping in the same cell block as Adasyn?" Glenn asked.

"He ain't a rapist."

"Well, his buddy is."

It took a minute for that to hit me and when it did I was furious, my chest rising and falling rapidly as I attempted to control myself. Only when tears started pooling in my eyes did I shake the images out of my head, Merle was still my brother. He hadn't done it, it wasn't him. He probably didn't even know about it. "Thay' ain't buddies no more. Not after last night."

"There's no way Merle is gonna live there without putting everyone at each other's throats," Rick said.

"So you gonna' cut Merle loose and bring last samurai home with us?"

"She's not coming back."

"She's not in a state to be own her own," Ashlynn said, making her way over to us after she had checked on Ady.

"She did bring you guys to us," Glenn sighed.

"And then ditched us," Rick retorted.

"At least let me stitch her up," Ashlynn said. "Or Herschel."

Rick shook his head, "she's too unpredictable."

"That's right," I agreed. "She is. But Merle? Merle's blood."

"No," Glenn spat. "Merle is your blood. My blood, my family is standing right here, is over there hurt in that car and waiting for us back at the prison."

"And you're part of that family," Rick added. "But he's not."

"Fine," I shrugged. "We'll fend for ourselves."

"That's not what I was saying," Glenn said.

I shook my head. "No him, no me."

"Daryl," Ashlynn said. "You don't have to do that. You can't do that. Adasyn needs you."

I didn't want to leave her, God knows I didn't, but I had too. "It was always Merle and I before this."

"You're just gonna leave like that?"

I looked over at Ashlynn, "You'd do tha' same thang."

"What do you want us to tell Adasyn?" She asked, growing angrier by the second. "After all she just went through. She was barely able to stand and she still went in after you."

"She'll understand."

Nobody had anything more to say and I gave an awkward nod, heading over to the trunk of the car to grab what little bit of things I had stored in the back.

"Daryl," Ashlynn hissed. "You can't do this."

"I gotta," I replied, lifting up the boot.

"No," she said in a hushed tone. "You don't. After everything I saw between the two of you back at Woodbury. After what they did - your brother did to her! He stood by the guy who hurt her Daryl. Glenn said so himself. And that man could be coming back at any moment, and who knows what'll happen to her then? Huh? She needs you now more than I'm sure she ever has - this will destroy her, Daryl. Don't do this."

I eased the trunk shut, looking over at her. "Tell her I'm sorry."

"No," Ashlyn spat. "I will not do that. I won't break this news to her. Be a man, Daryl. You go wake her up, right now and tell her that you're leaving her behind to die - for that man almost killed her once already. The man who started all of this."

I shook my head, trying not to let the tears fall that were slowly building up in my eyes. "I can't do that, I-I can't."

I shot one last look at Ady's sleeping frame through the window before heading off in the woods, over to my brother.

"She loves you Daryl," Ashlynn shouted behind me, trying to get me to stop. "She said so herself. Please, don't do this to her."

I said nothing more as I disappeared into the trees with Merle, leaving behind the only girl that I had ever cared for.

Adasyn

My eyes slowly fluttered open, the bottom of a bunk coming into view. I winced as all the pain started making it's self noticeable as well, and tried my best to pull myself up into a sitting position.

"Ady?"

I looked over at my sister and a huge smile crossed my face. I wasn't dreaming, she really was back. Alive.

"You really are here," I chuckled, shocked at how hoarse my voice sounded. "How long have I been out?"

"2 days," she sighed. "You took a beating."

I looked over and saw Carl standing timidly by the cell door and I smiled his way, waving him over. He rushed towards me and I hugged him as best as I could.

"I'm glad you're back," he said.

"I'm glad I'm back too."

He smiled, sitting down gently at the foot of the bunk. "Where's Glenn?" I asked, looking over at Ashlynn. "Is he alright?"

"He's okay, busted up just like you but he's alright. He's with Maggie."

"You know," Carl cut in, "Daryl found Carol while you guys were..gone. She was in the tombs. Too weak to make it back. She's alive."

"Oh my god," I gasped. "That's - that's amazing. I have to see her soon. Though, since we're speaking of Daryl the hero - where is he? He on watch or something?"

Ashlynn's face fell, "Hey, Carl. Why don't you go find Herschel for me? Let him know Ady's awake."

He nodded, rushing out of the cell and I locked eyes with Ashlyn. "Is he dead?" I asked, trying not to sound panicked.

She shook her head, taking Carl's previous seat. "No, no. He's alive."

"Well..where is he? I remember saving him from Woodbury, I remember us getting out of there."

"Yeah," she breathed. "Yeah, you guys all got out."

"Ashlynn," I snapped. "Stop hiding whatever the hell it is you're hiding from me. Where is Daryl?"

She grabbed my hand, gently, taking a deep breath. "He left, Ady."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I spat, trying not to let any tears fall even though I knew they were evident in my voice.

"Merle escaped with you guys. Rick, nor anyone else wanted him back at the prison after what he did to you and Glenn. So, Daryl .. Daryl left with him."

"No," I said through gritted teeth. "No. He wouldn't just leave me like that. You guys - he - he didn't know what happened to me - I have to go after him."

"No, Ady," Ashlynn said, stopping me from getting out of bed. "No. He knew, okay? Everything. Glenn told us - told him. He's gone. He has been, for two days now and there's no telling where he is."

"He - why didn't someone wake me? Let me at least say goodbye to him, hell let him say goodbye to me?" I asked, tears spilling over. "I at least deserved a goodbye."

"He told me to tell you sorry."

I shook my head, "Get out."

"Ady, I-"

"Get out, Ashlynn."

She bit her lip, nodding, slowly leaving the cell.

The minute she was gone, I sunk back down into the bed, curling up into a ball, letting the tears fall freely.

The pain I felt - it was worse than dying.

Daryl left me.

He left without even telling me goodbye, and now I would never see him again.

Daaaaaaamn, Daryl ):

Do better.

Soory for the sad feels guys. And the short chapter.

I have work tomorrow and Sunday, so I can't promise you guys an update. I promise to try though!

Love y'all!