Author's Note: This chapter is set at the prison in 3rd POV of Rick! Enjoy. ^^

Rick's hands shook as he sat on his cot, his watch falling loosely on his wrist and his eyes downcast to the floor. The prison was in shambles, and not the structure, but the people inside of it. The girls had come back a few days ago with the medicine, but Vicki and Hershel had not been with them.

The chaos that ensued once Michonne told him what happened was not something he had anticipated. Daryl had flew off the handle, wanting to go gung-ho and guns blazing to get them back. Rick understood the lives that were riding on the line, but they had to be smart about it.

They knew they were at Juno with Daniel. And given Vicki's quick thinking with Morse code to Michonne, Daryl and Tyrese had been able to figure out what exactly the message was that Vicki had given.

Juno.

The only positive that came from it all was that Glenn had started to get better. It was like clockwork as Hershel had said it would be once the antibiotics got into his system. Sasha and Maggie had tended to Glenn religiously while the others stayed low, planning the rescue mission that was inevitably going to happen.

Rick would do anything for Hershel and Vicki, they were family. They just had to be strategic and they had to catch Daniel and his men unaware. Daryl had been angry, agitated and ugly to all of them, but Rick knew it was only because he was upset.

Daryl didn't usually show his affection for the group all the time, but when push came to shove, he'd die for any of them. But, he couldn't have Daryl running to Juno like a hot head without a plan.

It wasn't an option and since Rick laid the law down to stay at the prison to come up with a plan, Daryl hadn't really spoken to Rick.

Carol had been able to talk with Daryl a little, but he was cagey and Carol said he didn't say much, but that he was getting tired of waiting around. Well, today was the day. Rick would give the options they had to the group and see what they said.

The food that the prison provided was dwindling and Sasha and Tyrese had been kept out of the loop on that situation. But, now it was time to tell them. The signs for Terminus, the safe place that Michonne remembered seeing blazed in his head.

He didn't know what the others were going to think, but Rick already knew once they left this prison, they wouldn't be coming back. It would be left behind and they were going to be well on their way to a safe place, a place with shelter, walls and hopefully good people.

This was a one way mission and he only hoped the others would be on board. Michonne surprised him as he stood up. She was leaning against the cell bars and she already knew his plan. He had entrusted his idea last night to her as the others slept. She listened to every detail with rapt attention and he was relieved when she nodded, agreeing with him.

"You ready, Rick?" Her voice broke through his thoughts and he holstered his revolver before putting his hands on his hips. "Yeah.." His voice trailed off and he looked away, but Michonne brought him back to the present.

"We're gonna' get them back, Rick. You lead, we follow, remember?" Rick looked up at Michonne and as he walked towards her, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

It was a hand that he was starting to become familiar and comfortable with.

Though they had butted heads at first when she came to the prison, she had proved to be a great friend and a great soldier on the field. Rick felt a familiarity with her that he hadn't felt in a long while and it was almost foreign. Her touch; the comfort of a friend.

Rick placed his hand over hers and patted it. There was nothing left to say, but he gave her a polite nod and they walked down the stairs to the others. He was surprised to see Glenn, but he was relieved to see the bags under his eyes were fading and his eyes seemed to have that life within them again.

He was still pale, but he wasn't shaking, nor was he sweating. The antibiotics were working. "You sure you don't wanna' rest, Glenn?" Glenn nodded towards Rick, "I'm where I need to be." Daryl looked towards both Glenn and Maggie before looking back at Rick and arching a brow, his stance semi-aggressive, "So, when tha' hell we gonna' leave?"

Rick put up a hand and looked to everyone, his eyes lingering upon Carl, who held Judith. He hated risking everything, risking Judith and Carl, but there was no other choice. No other possible option when there was the possibility of a safe place out there.

"Look, I've gone over this countless times. Different possibilities and options, but there is no easy way to put it. The prison is runnin' low on food. Even if we stayed here, we'd be scavenging far and wide to find it. And we can't forget how many walkers keep coming our way. This place can get overrun again and we don't have enough firepower to keep them at bay forever."

The silence in the prison was deafening and Sasha and Tyrese looked to each other with startled glances.

"Michonne and Vicki both spoke of a possible safe place. The train tracks that lead to this place are near Juno.." Rick was immediately cut off as Sasha took a step forward, "Safe place?" He put a hand up and shook his head, "Look, I know it sounds sketchy, but we are running out of options. Daniel has them both and we are running out of food. This place could be our only shot of something better than this."

He looked around the prison, raising his hand for emphasis and looking at the cells.

"I saw the signs, all of it. It exists. I know it does.." Michonne added. Glenn and Maggie exchanged looks, they had had this conversation with Vicki and Rick before when they went on that run some time ago. "We're with ya', Rick. No matter what." Maggie chimed in and he nodded his head towards her in thanks.

"The first thing is getting Hershel and Vicki back. This mission, it's grab and go. But, we have to have the element of surprise." Glenn looked troubled at the idea, "But, we have no idea what we're up against." Maggie rubbed his shoulder and Sasha shrugged, "It's going to be a chance we have to take."

Tyrese looked at his sister in surprise, "Okay, wait-wait just a minute, what about those two?" Tyrese looked towards Carl and Judith and everyone else followed suit. Rick pinched the bridge of his nose, the headache he had from last night already coming back again.

"I have a plan.." Everyone looked to Rick with expectant gazes, "Better involve killin 'that freak." Daryl bit out, shouldering his crossbow higher on his shoulder. He was ready for war. Ready to kill. Rick could sense it, but they had to be smart.

"Juno is where she said it was at before. With the maps down in the basement, I think we can find out where she is." He paused and continued with an emphasis on the next part, "You all understand we have no idea what we're dealing with here. None at all. We have no idea how many men they have, how many weapons, what kind of-"

Rick was abruptly cut off from his words as a loud horn outside the prison bellowed. A vehicle's car horn.

Everyone looked from one another, back and forth before they grabbed their weapons and ran outside on the quad to see a black hummer parked at the gates. The horn honked again and a few walkers started to shuffle their way towards the noise. Rick drew his gun and the rest followed suit.

He eyed Glenn, swaying slightly with his assault rifle, but holding strong all the while. Daryl had his crossbow out on Rick's right and the tension rolled off of him in waves. The group hesitated, not knowing who or what was at their gates. Before Rick could ask a question, a familiar face he thought he'd never see again popped out. Merle Dixon.

Daryl faltered beside him, his crossbow lowered ever so slightly. "Tha' hell.." he mumbled to himself and then looked over at Rick before lowering his cross bow all the way to the ground.

Merle immediately sought out his baby brother and he cocked his head to the side in a very arrogant manner, a laugh escaping his lips as he took in the people before him, "Hot damn, Legs was right." He mumbled to himself.

Rick was slack jawed and in awe that Merle was here and Daryl was at a complete loss for words. Rick looked to everyone and Glenn's eyes widened as he recognized Merle as well. This all circled back around to the beginning..to when Glenn had found him in the tank.

"I got a bone to pick with you, Sherriff." Merle's voice was not friendly when he looked to Rick, but as his eyes slid over to Daryl he smirked, "Baby brother..oh, and it's the chinese boy."

Daryl bit out promptly, "He's Korean!" Glenn scowled at Merle, but smiled at Daryl's correction. After a few more intense seconds Daryl asked aloud, "How?" His voice a mix between anger and relief.

Merle raised a hand as he stood up on the side of the Hummer with his door opened. Rick narrowed his eyes and noticed another head in the vehicle and before Merle could respond Rick spoke up, "Who do you have with you? And why are you here?"

Daryl side glanced Rick before returning his gaze to his brother. Merle just laughed, shoving his machete into the head of a walker that got too close to the Hummer. "Better question is how I found yer' lot. And who sent me. Yer' probably gonna' wanna let me in, Sherriff." He smirked at everyone

Rick felt his breath quicken and he shielded the sun out of the way of his eyes as he got a better look at the person in the Hummer. It was a boy, judging by the looks of it. He looked curious, but nothing about his appearance looked hostile.

"Who's the boy?" Merle sighed dramatically before looking in the vehicle and then back at Rick, "A friend. He ain't gonna' hurt ya'll." It was the first thing Merle said that didn't sound like bullshit, nor was it said with a smirk.

"Let him in, Rick. I can handle my brother." Daryl stared at Rick, nodding lightly. Rick sighed heavily, tongue in cheek as he motioned for Tyrese and Michonne to open the gates. Everyone kept their weapons at the ready and Merle barreled in quickly, with Michonne and Tyrese closing the gates in a rush.

The boy that hopped out had shaggy blonde hair, he was a medium build with a broad upper body and he had a peculiar scar that ran down the side of his cheek and down to this jaw. It was an old scar and Rick wondered if it happened before the walkers or after.

Merle hopped out once he cut the engine off and Daryl was hesitantly stalking towards him, still in disbelief. Rick knew the back story of Merle and he knew enough to know that this was bittersweet for Daryl.

Carol stood off to the side with Judith and Carl was making his way towards Rick, his own pistol out and at the ready by his side. Rick gave a nod to Carl before looking at Merle, "What are you doing here, Merle?"

Merle smiled widely going towards Daryl, but Daryl backed away quickly out of his grasp, "Ain't happy to see yer' older brother?" Daryl's eyes cast down and he shifted awkwardly. Merle gave him no chance, he clapped his brothers back and stepped into his personal space.

Daryl hadn't known how to act and even though Merle was family, he didn't know if he even liked him being back here. Carol frowned at Merle and then her features morphed into a glare.

"Ya' left me on that roof.." Merle stated now, eyes blazing towards Rick and Glenn. He started to stalk towards Rick and the boy he was with hesitated at the passenger door, already out and looking at everyone with wide eyes, "Merle, don't. You said you wouldn't!"

Before Merle could launch himself at Glenn or Rick, Daryl had stepped in his way, "Ain't gonna' happen, Merle. Tha' hell you doin' here, anyhow." Merle smirked and Daryl stepped farther in his brother's face, gaining more confidence, "Speak!"

Merle, for a split second, looked hurt, but it passed quickly and he strutted back towards the boy, putting his arm around him, "This here is Calvin. I took him under my wing at the camp and he's been a loyal friend ever since." The boy looked up to Merle and nodded before looking at everyone curiously.

Rick saw the angle Merle was playing at..rubbing it into Daryl that he had found someone loyal. As if Daryl had betrayed him somehow by being here with Rick and the others. Daryl shifted awkwardly again and a shadow passed over his face he couldn't quite make out, but it was gone as quick as it had come.

"Who is this?" Sasha asked as Michonne and Tyrese took their places with the group, circling around Merle and the boy, Calvin. "He's my brother." Daryl deadpanned as Merle made a grand gesture with his hand and bowed.

"Merle Dixon, brown sugar." At the same time he spoke, he looked to Sasha and flicked his tongue out suggestively to her.

Author's Note: Welllll this is an interesting turn of events for our group! :p