Rick was preparing for a supply run when Morgan and Carol showed up they brought supplies so he didn't need to go on the run but something was off. while carol was taking the supplies to the pantry Morgan approached him watching carol walk off.

When Morgan reached him he smiled "thanks for the stuff I was just gonna go on a run." Morgan sighed softly

"no problem it was actually daryl who suggested it."

rick smiled "course it was where is he?"

Morgan pulled a letter out of his pocket and passed it to rick "he said he was going to kingdom said he had some people to train today said to give you this though." Morgan passed him the letter it seemed heavy to the touch and ricks forehead creased

"this cant be good can it."

Morgan shook his head "whats worse is we passed kingdom on the way here and the archers that watch the gates they where gone man it got me thinking why and well daryl was the first thing that came to mind cause he'd been drawing maps and building plans and he was fidgety to didn't stay inside much at carols went to the woods a lot brought around a kid a blue eyed girl they seemed close and thats another thing carol seemed aware of this too really calm like she knew somethin' about it or that he told her somethin'."

rick tapped the letter against his hand shrugging "carols has always known when daryl needed to do certain things even if she doesn't always agree she knows its better to let him then try to stop him what ever he's doing he'll be fine he always is." he looked down at the letter he was tapping against his hand "probably should see what he needed to say." rick walked over to the porch steps opening the letter on the way and sat down when he sat down a small zip-lock bag and another letter fell face up to the steps between his legs he saw carols name on the letter and a ring in the bag "well shit." rick smirked at the ring he tucked the ring and letter in his pocket and read the one addressed to him it explained everything rick's surprise was short lived and he covers his mouth and gasps softly and the letter fell from his hand onto the ground.

Morgan picked it up and read it it said:

rick,

brother, to be honest i'm not ready to do this but to keep everyone safe I gotta. I gotta go back to sanctuary I don't wanna but if it's what it takes I will. I made a lot of mistakes man caused a lot of death and right now i'm a literal walking target it makes us all vulnerable I cant have that. But this time i'm gonna get this right for once in my life. Really i'm not sure how this will end and truth that scares the shit out of me but i'm gonna do whatever it takes to keep everyone safe even if that means I don't come back but it will be over. And if I don't make it just know Alexandria was the best home I ever had and you, Michonne, little ass-kicker, Carl, Carol were and are the best family a man like me could ask for. Take care of Carol for me man you know I love her I know you've seen the other things I put in this for her if i'm not back or don't radio you then give it to her she knows bout all this and she'll probably hate me for a while probably you too by association but keep her there with you guys you can keep her safe she'll pull away its who she is but don't let her I got her back for us and might not be there if she needs it again. I'll do my all out here try my best to stay alive and you know the reason I did this I was the one who started this by blowing up those men on the highway so now I gotta finish it alone cant have you guys dying for me anymore. Don't blame Morgan okay i'm sure he has his suspicions about what i'm doing but he couldn't have stopped me and ya know it. 'sides I got silence on my side and surprise some of kingdoms guard will be coming the archers been working with them and with some explosives they created we just might be enough. I know stupid right. but man you ain't gonna get here in time to do anything its been 48 hours since I left maybe more the trails gone and what i'm doing it'll take less then a day you'll see the smoke from home look to the west you'll find it should be burning good by the time you read this. Turn on your walkie channel 2 if i'm alive out there I'll send out a call when we're clear. i'm gonna need extraction couldn't take a car and my bikes to loud and we are gonna have injured so the horses weren't an option either but man I let Beth's words in and if I can believe them then so can you and this is fitting for the situation she told me when we where out there after the prison said I'd be the last man standing and I will be okay if you can just trust that and don't tell anyone till you know I'm dead if it comes to that. Love y'all.

-Daryl

p.s. Just between you and me those Alexandria idiots don't have a snowballs chance in hell of out living us brother it's why they let us in so they could live just don't trust them alright I never could well Eric and Aaron ain't so bad got me that bike and all. be seein' ya in this life or the next.

(Remember channel 2)

Morgan glanced to the west and just as daryl wrote a cloud of black smoke "he did it. He got 'em."

rick sat back hand falling to his side resting on his gun holster his 357 python resting back in it's rightful place he pulled it out holding it in both his hands and in the glint of the barrel he flashes back to when daryl gave it back the way he looked beaten and bruised and a ball of emotions keeping him quiet but a fire burning in his eyes behind the curtain of hair rick knew then how much hate daryl carried for himself and those men that took him. Rick shook his head shaking the memory loose tears rolling quietly down his cheeks "god, thank god." he looked up at Morgan who dropped his hand holding the letter and pointed toward the smoke

"thats a huge fire you think they got out alright."

rick nodded softly "if anyone could it would be daryl." they heard the door open and turned to see michonne walk out Morgan folded the letter back up as rick ran a hand across his face wiping away the tears Morgan gave him the letter and he tucked the gun away.

Michonne sat down next to him on the stairs glancing at him then Morgan and back bringing a hand up to brush a strand of hair behind his ear "what happened?"

rick shook his head "i can't say."

Morgan sighed "but I can... its daryl." michonne exhaled softly

"what did he do?" she looked at rick those tears from the clearing the line-up she imagined the worst rick passed her the letter she read through it quickly and shot out of her seat and back inside when she came back out she carried the walkie and a bag of medical stuff she came over and sat down "lets see if he's out there huh. If he is he needs you rick."

rick grabs the walkie and clicks it on and turns it to channel 2 there was static and then it made connection to another and then they heard a soft grunt and then rick called out "daryl hey brother you out there." the walkie crackles and then they hear

"rick, rick is th-gah fuck could you be more careful." daryl groans

rick inhales softly resting the walkie against his forehead "yeah i'm here man im here." he breathes softly and hears

"rick man its done we did it."

michonne gasps softly "thank god." rick smiles

"how you doin' man?" he asks into the walkie

daryl huffs a laugh "you know pretty good considering but i'm thinking that maybe running three miles with a fractured ankle and blood oozing out of me and fucking everyone else wasn't the best idea I've ever had." he groaned rick looked at michonne shaking his head

"yeah and why do you say that." he chuckles

"fuck I don't know maybe cause it hurts like hell and the only person experienced in medicine is a kid that's not bleeding all over the place.- kid its okay just forget it I got it." he groans lightly saving the kids feelings "rick could you bring Jesus too we need more than a car."

rick nods "hey of course." he shoots up from the stairs and michonne and Morgan followed with the med bag when reached the car he grabbed the map and opened it on the hood speaking into the walkie "hey daryl so you said three miles where are you."

daryl coughed and then groaned softly "three miles away from sanctuary and from hilltop it's halfway a small cabin off the main road fortified 6 foot fence around the perimeter." he said coarsely

rick marked the area on the map and folded it back up sticking it in the center console of the car "alright man i'm coming." he turned to Morgan who passed him the med bag which he loaded in the back seat closing the rear door and turns glancing down the road seeing carol walk up to the house he looked at michonne and smiled softly "keep an eye on things here alright and don't let carol leave cause if daryl is gonna need anyone and he will it'll be her."

michonne nodded "yeah you just bring him home alright." she kisses his cheek and quickly hugs him "and be careful huh." he nodded and climbed into the drivers seat and michonne opened the gates and he drove out like a man on a mission because in fact he was.

Carol reached the two left at the gate and asked softly "where's he going we just brought supplies."

michonne smiled "hey um yeah he's just going out to check some areas we scouted earlier this week he wont be long." carol made a face she didn't really believe that and then shrugged knowing exactly where he was going but playing dumb "so do I get to see little ass-kicker while I'm here." michonne nodded "of course."