Sweet and Salty ~ Carl Grimes

Droppin' Like Flies - 006

"Give me the damn location, Grimes!" Merle yelled at Rick. Brooks stood by Merle's side, Carl was hugging his father's side, refusing to let go. Everyone else was secretly watching from various places around the main area of camp.

"You can't go by yourself-" Rick started.

"Well, someone can't be a fuckin' pussy and go after him-" Merle interrupted.

Rick cut him off. "I'm going back tomorrow-"

"Not good enough-"

"It'll have to be-"

"It's not-"

Both men argued back and forth, yelling and talking over each other. Brooks looked up at Rick with a clenched jaw. She didn't understand why he wouldn't just give Merle the location. "Why are you looking at my dad like that, River? He hasn't done anything wrong." Carl said, letting go of Rick and standing in front of Brooks. Neither Merle nor Rick were aware of the interaction, too caught up in their own argument.

"It's not his place to keep the location. If Merle wants to go get my dad then that's his right." She responded. "And stop callin' me River, you idiot."

"Or what? You gonna attack me like you attacked Chris?" Carl raised his eyebrows.

Brooks scoffed. "He came outta that fight a lot better than I did."

"You started the fight, he just finished it." Carl pointed out.

Brooks took a step towards the Grimes boy. "I'll finish you too if you don't watch it."

"My dad's a cop, you can't threaten me." Carl crossed his arms over his chest.

Brooks didn't get a chance to respond as Glenn stepped in over the yelling. "Fine, Merle, I'll draw you a map! If you want to get yourself killed tonight then that's your choice! Rick and probably me are going in tomorrow, but we're not coming after you, we're going after Will. If you're not with him, or you're dead, that's on you!"

Everyone stared at Glenn, shocked at the outburst of the usually sweet kid.

Merle scoffed. "Well, start drawin' the damn map, man! I'll be back with my dad before y'all even get off your asses tomorrow!" 

"I wanna come." Brooks volunteered.

"Hell, no." Merle denied, barging past Rick to follow after Glenn.

Brooks clenched her jaw as Carl smiled. "Looks like all of your family has left you. Wonder why that is."

Brooks' fists balled at her sides, but Cam was quick to catch it. He put his hands on her shoulders. "Come on, let's go sit ready for dinner." He said to her, quickly leading her away from Carl before she did something he would regret. She wouldn't feel bad about it, but Carl wouldn't like having a bloody nose.

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Brooks was starting up the fire when Merle walked over to her. "Bambi." He squatted next to her. "I'm goin' after dad now, I'll be back in the mornin'. Make sure they give you enough food. If they don't start yellin' or some shit."

"Alrigh'. Be safe though, kay? I can't be assed to deal with a mopey ass Daryl if you both die." She responded, humour in her tone.

Merle chuckled. "You wouldn't mope?"

"I'd be glad to see the back of ya. Ya smell too damn bad." She joked, looking up at her brother with a smile.

He ruffled her hair. "See ya in the mornin, kid."

"Night." Brooks responded, watching her brother walk away. 

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