One more step

Prison

Daryl carried Elli up the hill and into the prison. Shane and Andrea stayed on watch. Rick carrying the formula behind them. Daryl carefully deposited her on a table and went to take off her boot. She hissed as he slid it off. He carefully removed her sock and held his breath looking at the already bruising ankle. "Can ya move it?" She grimaced and slowly rotated her ankle nodding at him. "It's fine, just bruised. I'll be ok." Rick put his hands on her face holding it "I thought you were dead." her face dropped, "You didn't bury me again did you?" Daryl looked at her "Hell no!" Rick took her attention again, "Why do you have formula? You said THEY took THEM. Who is they and them?" She looked at Ricks eyes, "They...woodbury took them..Glenn and Maggie. Merle, he took em. That's where he's at...Woodbury." Daryl's eyes were wild, "Where?!" "Up the road a ways, I can show you. But it's bad there. It seems fine, but it's not. They are armed and if Merle took em it's because they want something."

It was dark when they pulled up. Elli started to get out of the car. Daryl drug her to the drivers side, "Hell no, you stay here. Take off if they catch on." she didn't argue, she had no desire to enter the gates of Woodbury again. He leaned his forehead on hers, watching her terrified eyes. "I'm coming back, ain't losing you 'gain." Elli nodded and he pulled her tight against his chest breathing in her scent. She gave him a map she had drawn out and watched them disappear into the darkness.

She peeled out once everyone reached the vehicle. Merle and Glenn were into it and Maggie wasn't making a sound. Rick was now screaming. She stopped the car when Glenn punched Merle. Everyone was piling out screaming. She watched in horror as weapons were drawn and her father tried to break it up. Finally Merle was a good distance from the group. Daryl was pleading his case for Merle as was Elli, "Dad don't do this..." Glenn was screaming "You don't know what he did Elli!" Maggie looked horrified, "Shut up Glenn!" Daryl was talking now calmly, "Merle's blood...no Merle no me." Elli went pale. Rick pleaded, "Daryl don't do this!" Daryl grabbed his bag and crossbow, "Told ya, no Merle, no me." He turned to Elli, "Ya c'min?" She stood in panic, this couldn't be happening. Rick shook his head, "No. No...you leaving is bad enough! You ain't taking her!" Daryl was in his face now, "Ain't taking nobody! She ain't a baby! Hell only reason she's standing here is cuz of me and Merle!" Elli shifted her weight on her feet trying to make sense in her head what she was supposed to do. She loved Daryl, she loved her father. She stepped forward putting her arms around her fathers waist. Rick sighed in relief until she pulled away "I'm so sorry daddy." Rick watched her walk off down the road towards Merle, Merle's smug smile was enough to elicite a murderous streak from Rick, but Rick just stood there in shock and tears. Daryl started to turn and Rick grabbed his shirt, "I have stood by and watched this and not said a word, but I swear to God if you let something happen to her, I will kill both of you." Daryl spat on the ground, "unlike some people I don't leave people behind."

Merle threw his arm around Elli's shoulder as they walked off, her over the shoulder glance to her father didn't go unnoticed by Daryl. He did feel torn, but she was his. She belonged with him and he belonged with his brother.