The earliest time that Merle went to juvy, that Daryl can remember, he was only five. Their dad was out somewhere, they had no idea where, he didn't come back for a week. So the people that worked with custody held him there until Merle could come and pay the fine. He only had to stay the night and Merle and one of his few friends came and got him. It was only him and some other girl.

One of the worst things Daryl remembered most about that place was the toys. He hated them. There was a green fire truck. Fire trucks are not green.

"Do you wanna play with me?" The little girl was bored out of her mind, but Daryl refused to play with those toys.

"With what?"

"Idunno, the fire truck maybe"

"What fire truck?"

He rolled it under one of the chairs. "That one..."

"No, fire trucks are red, thats a tractor"

She laughed at him. "Hey, whats your name anyway?"

"Idunno"

"Sure you do, I'll tell you my name"

"What is it?"

"Andrea, now whats yours?"

"Daryl"

"Oh...Why are you here?"

"My brother's in jail"

"What about your mom or dad?"

"Idunno where my daddy went, my mom's dead"

"Oh, I was with my uncle, I dont even live in Georgia"

"Then why are you here?"

"My parents went on vacation"

"Without you!"

"Hm hmm"

"So where do you live when they come back?"

"Florida"

"Thats far"

"Not really..."

She was about two years older than him, to her he was just a stupid little kid and she was bored.

"The toys suck, I like mine better"

"I like mine too.. they arent even in the state"

"Do you think they gonna let me go home, I can just walk from here"

"They might put you in that car"

"What car?"

"The one that does to Michigan, to take you to some fake family"

"A fake family...?"

"Hm hmm"

"No!, I like my family!"

"I thought you only had your brother"

"My brother is my family!"

"Whatever you say, I just dont think that one guy is a family"

"Well it is"

After a while he decided to just sit under a chair and ignore that girl. He decided that he hated her too. He hated everyone that dissed Merle. It was getting late and him and the girl had just sat there quietly.

"How old is your brother?"

He didn't answer her. He could just hear Merle, Atta boy, give that bitch what she deserves. He buried his face in his palms. The lady at the front desk told them that another person was gonna come and bring them to their rooms for the night. An old mean woman came and forcibly grabbed their hands. They both didn't wanna be touched by her. Daryl hated her too. She shoved him in a room with blue walls and really squishy carpet. He liked the carpet. He waited until he didn't hear anymore of the people walking around and he crawled under his bed to sleep on the squishy carpet.

"C'mon please, when have I ever asked you for anything?"

Merle was trying to get his friend to bust him out. "Well there was that-"

"Dont...answer that"

He sighed "Idunno Merle, what do you want me to do, go to your house and get your money for you?"

"You could, or I could pay you back later"

"Well, can't you just stay a week and wait for your dad like usual?"

"Not. this. time."

"Why the hell not?"

"They took Daryl"

"Took him?"

"They're holdin' him til we pay the fine. In a week if no one pays they'l take him to a foster home"

"You went in with money, didn't you?"

"Yeah but they aint gonna let me have it til you bail me out"

"I aint gonna do this for you"

"Please, I cant lose Daryl, he's all I have...My baby brother"

"...I'll do it for Daryl"

"Oh thank you, you're a saint"

"Ok, dont scare me off now"

"Sorry, just, ya know, hurry"

"Hm hmm"

He hung up. All Merle could think about was if Daryl was scared. If he cried. No. Not Daryl. He told him almost everyday that crying was wrong. That real men dont do that. He wouldn't cry. Not him. His baby brother.

"I'm so saving your ass right now and you so owe me"

"And you wont let me forget about it yada yada yada I've heard this speech before"

"Damn straight, you still owe me for those"

"I know I do"

He paid off the bail. With various "You suck"s in between glances.

"K, we done with that?"

"Yeah"

"Now Daryl"

"Yeah"

"C'mon, be more enthusiastic, this is my baby brother we talking about!"

"Yeah"

"I dont hear any happy!"

"Me neither"

"What the hell do you think I am!"

"A dick"

"That doesn't count"

"Oh no?"

"Shut up"

Daryl woke up on the bed. He didnt go back up there. If someone pulled him from under the bed...He felt really violated. And he didn't even know. He got up and went into the lobby again. That girl was wearing a sweatshirt and sitting in one of the chairs. The one next to the one with the "fire truck" under it. She had a purple stuffed bear in her hands.

"I'm goin' home" She said with a bright smile.

He ignored her and sat in the corner of the room. The door opened. Daryl saw Merle's friend Josh. He knew him for quite a while. Then Merle behind him.

"Merle!"

He ran to him, Merle picked him up. "Hey, baby brother"

They paid his "bail" and just walked out.

"Who was the girl?"

"She was mean. I hate her"

"Atta boy, you give that bitch what she deserves?"