2. Never Tear Us Apart

-lessons to be learnt-

Meanwhile, Daryl and his brother were a while from the prison, probably a day's walk; the two brothers had been getting along fine until Merle almost killed a family, making Daryl realise he had made the wrong choice more than anything. 

"You've gone soft!" Merle yelled at his brother as he watched Daryl walk away from him angrily

"No, I ain't!" Daryl yelled back, not turning to face him.

"All because of some girl? Brother, who are you even anymore?" Merle asked, laughing at his brother. 

"I was never like you and Dad! You both went through girls like they were tic-tacs! I love Theo..." Daryl argued, turning back to face him and catching his breath. "I love her. You have no idea what that feels like," He cried.

"That girl, I liked her; she was tough, god damn, she touched my heart, and I thought she was good for you; you just threw her out the window", Merle laughed, teasing and winding Daryl up on purpose. 

"Fuck you. I did it for you" Daryl angrily stared him down

"What's going on in that head of youra, huh?" Merle questioned

"The fact I found I had a baby and then lost it in the same conversation, the fact my brother is so untrustworthy, my people wouldn't let you back, the fact I had to make a girl I love hate me so she would let me go!" Daryl screamed at his brother

"You don't love her!" He argued.

"No, I love Theo, and now she won't ever take me back." Daryl was heartbroken; it was something he had always needed.

Love.

 And he had that and then threw it all away.

Daryl stared at his brother momentarily before turning back, causing Merle to grab him by the shirt, ripping it completely, revealing all his scars.

"Daryl..." Merle began, "I didn't know" Merle was saddened and shocked

"Well, he did", Daryl referred to his father's abuse. "He did it to you too." 

"I-" Merle struggled to say anything.

"Come on", Daryl continued; he was going back to the prison, he knew he had fucked everything with Theo, but he had to go back.

Back at the prison, Rick had been absent outside the gates. He was hallucinating Lori, and this time, it was driving him insane. Theo had gotten better but was now outside, talking with Michonne—her bat in one hand and a gun in her other.

"Can i ask you something?" Michonne began.

 They had been talking all morning; Theo had taken a liking to her, and she would fight for her to stay. Michonne even felt comfortable around Theo and had talked more to her than anyone else since being at the prison.

"Shoot," She said. They were outside near the front gate, keeping an eye out.

"That redneck, Merle's brother? He was your boyfriend, right?" She began

Theo looked at her, the sun in her eyes, causing her to squint. 

She nodded.

"He said some horrible things to you. And you really cared for this man? Why?"

"Daryl changes around Merle." Theo gripped her bat. "Before he showed his grim face, Daryl was careful with me. He took care of me. He was different." She told herself more than anything

Before Theo could say anything else, gunshots were being fired, and the prison was under attack.

Michonne and Theo ducked, avoiding the bullets and managing to see what was going on.