Chapter Text
They were not fine.
If the world hadn't decided to kick the human race in the nuts and thrown this zombie-apocalypse at their heads, Daryl would have applied for some sort of vacation. From his brothers.
It took Merle 4 days before he made his way back to camp.
Not talking or looking at anyone he made his way to his tent and zipped up the opening, and didn't come out in hours.
After what went down after the "well-incident" Glenn had been sad and jittery, not wanting to do much without Daryl. But the kid was a tough one, and it took him about 3 days before he was almost his normal happy self - if you counted out the painful moaning and tense posture he had from getting close and cosy with Merle's belt.
Then Merle showed up, and Daryl could see how Glenn's eyes softened, and how much he had expected his oldest brother to say something to him. He also saw the raw disapointment, and the hurt when Merle didn't even look at him.
Which took them to the situation they had today - 2 weeks later after Merle's return.
Glenn had been reduced to a disobedient and bratty 4 year old - he was moody, mouthy, brash, careless and took every chance he had to disobey orders that Daryl gave him. Since Merle didn't talk to the kid it was Daryl that had to try and keep an eye on him.
Rick and Dale had expressed their worry about Glenn's sudden uncharistic behaviour, and Daryl did get it, he was worried too.
But still he didn't want people to butt in his familys buisness, and told them he'd take care of it and that they should tell him if Glenn was acting out at them as well.
The kid still usually listened to what Rick, or the other camp members said to him. But he didn't interact as much with them as he used to, and he didn't smile as often as he used to either.
And Merle.. Merle took each and every chance to let out his frustrations on the other camp members - specially T-Dog, Shane and Andrea.
His racist slurs were worse then ever, and his aggressiveness was close to the level that of Shane's (which was saying something since Shane had become more unstable in his temper then ever), and his very ungraceful hitting on Andrea had earned him a dozen bitch-slaps in just a few days.
Daryl was sure he'd turn gray-haired.
He wanted to grab Glenn and give him a piece of his mind, and then knock him on his bratty butt to get the message clear that he was sick of his shitty attitude.
And then he wanted to kick his older brother's ass so hard he'd taste Daryl's boots for months.
But.. He'd never admit this to anyone, but he was afraid. He didn't dare touch Glenn in a more violent way then a firm grip on his arm, he was terrified that his baby brother would break after what had happened between him and Merle. That if Daryl would punish him, he would fall apart and loose everything that made Glenn Glenn. His kindness, innocence, loyalty, even the naivity.
And if Glenn broke.. Merle would loose the last part of his humanity.
Fuck. Really just fuck!
What the hell had Daryl ever done to deserve this shit??
And with the way Glenn was going he'd soon end up hurting himself of someone else.
And Merle would probably be murderered.
He was soon ready to beg Rick for help - and that was the last thing he'd ever do. Not because he didn't trust their leader, but his family was his problem and if he started to bring in other people into their business he was sure all hell would break loose soon enough.
Taking a deep breath from one of his cigarettes, Daryl was about to go and try to hunt for some rabbits when the old farmer's daughter came jogging towards him.
Shit.
The girl had tried to approach Glenn after what had happened, and had for sure been harshly re-buffed if her tear-streaked cheeks had been anything to go on. After that she was rarily seen anywhere close to either Dixon brother, and the fact that she came looking for him like this told him things were about to become even more shittier then it already was.
"Daryl.. I know you don' like us much. But I like your brother. And.. Well I like him alot and I don't want to see him hurt or-... He came to me and asked me to saddle a horse. We haven't really been talking since- Well. Anyway. I helped him and then, when I realised the horse was for him I tried to stop him and ask him where he was goin' since he is a shitty rider an' all.."
Jesus fuckin' Christ. Daryl would for sure become gray-haired before this girl could spit out the point of the story.
She probably saw his frown because she finally hastened to get to the point.
"He went towards the town. I think he went for a supply run and I know he's good, the best actually, but he is so angry! Daryl I didn't see any weapons.. I think he went..more or less unarmed. And you know that the last time when me and Jimmy went with him there were more walkers then usual there. He knows this. I don'-"
Daryl had heard enough. He threw the cigarette and ran for the camp.
God fucking damn that little stupid shit! And god help the brat if he went out there without a weapon, or he went out there to die-
NO!
Daryl kept running until he got to their tents - he just picked up some more bolts and grabbed a key to his truck and then ran to the said truck. Rick had seen him called his name.
"Can' talk! Fuckin' short round went to an' run with his fuckin' fists as weapon! Stupid fuckin'-..!"
Daryl couldn't even be bothered that he was actually sobbing out the angry words, and that Rick was staring at him in shock as a few tears made their way down his cheeks.
He was the one about to break now.
He quickly swiped a arm to clear his eyes from tears, and tried to take a deep breath before getting into the truck - but was stopped as a large hand gripped his arm and turned him around.
Merle's face color could've been compared to a firetruck.
"Glenn did what?"
His oldest brother growled.
Daryl almost sobbed in relief this time because he could, for the first time in almost 3 weeks, see the real Merle looking back at him.
He choked out the story that Maggie had told him, and was even more relieved when Merle brought him into a one-armed embrace, and then growled out in his ear;
"Let's go get the lil' shit, right brother?"
Damn right.