The Rescue…
The sun was peeking through as it was about to rise while the current inhabitants of the church sat in the pews facing Daryl who stood next to an attentive Rick. He told them about seeing the car with the white cross and how he and Carol had no time to warn them and needed to follow it immediately. He also spoke about how they reached a place that appeared to be a guarded building that could have been a medical institution before the world had changed. How they tried to sneak in, but were over powered with guns, ammo and people and how Carol was shot and taken and how he was about to be shot at close range if it wasn't for a strange young African American male that hit the potential shooter on the back of the head rendering him unconscious and saving Daryl in the process. Daryl hated having to get back, without Carol or Beth, but he knew he was out numbered and if he was killed, the others would never know. Daryl ended his story with a hung head but an encouraging pat on his back from Rick, his brother, is all he needed to know that he tried his best and the decision to live and fight another day was the best one he had at the moment.
"Well, we have to get our people back. They have ammo, more people and they appear to be well guarded." Rick said as he looked at the faces of each member of his group. "We need to come up with an effective plan so we can all make it out alive."
"How dangerous are these people? After what I have seen… I doubt anyone can be more dangerous than any one of you." A nervous Gabriel smiled as he shared his observation with the group, but received silent stares in return. His smile quickly disappeared and all serious observing eyes reverted to an unfamiliar voice of the young African American man sitting on one of the pews away from the rest of the group.
"You guys just don't understand. This place is hell and those people there are worse than the devil himself. They kidnap people for 'greater good,' but what they really do is use us for their own amusement. If we are strong enough than we will be forced to be their soldiers and help them kidnap and terrorize others. The young girls, like Beth, they are used to breed and given to the best soldiers. I am damaged so I clean up the floors, clean up after someone that was beaten to death for talking back and I would get the occasional punch in the face when one of those assholes is bored." Noah looked at the faces and could see their concerns, anger and disgust displayed with their expressions. "So, that is what you're dealing with. And there are many of them and they don't care who they hurt or kill to get what they want."
Noah had given the group a chilling description of their new foe and what they had to face in order to save Carol and Beth. They knew it was going to be difficult because Daryl would have never left anyone behind, but now it sounded virtually impossible. Despite the unnerving news provided by the new visitor, Rick and the others were undeterred with their decision to go through with the rescue. Rick, Daryl, Michonne, and Sasha where going to battle, led by Noah, who knew the inside of the building and who was guarding it. Tyrese was asked to stay with the children. Rick honestly didn't know who would return and didn't want his children to face an untimely death. As they were getting ready, Rick looked over to Michonne and saw her very concentrated expression as she placed a couple of small revolvers in holsters on either side of her hip and place the sheathed sword on her back. The woman was ready and focused and will do what was needed to fight and protect her people. Then he saw Carl walk up to her and how instinctively her face became soft and warm with a smile. A very pretty smile that was apparently contagious to Rick as he smiled without being part of their conversation. He can see Michonne placing her right hand in a maternal and loving way on Carl's shoulder. Rick thought to himself for a moment that it might be best if she would stay in case things didn't pan out well not knowing fully the threat they were about to face. He didn't want his children to be without a parental figure, especially since they already lost their mother. He could see important they were to Michonne and how close his son had gotten with her. As he watched their relationship he wondered if he should ask her to stay as well with the children in case he did not return. But he also knew that he had very little people to go face the new threat, now that Glen and Maggie were gone and Carol was captured. Rick looked down to the ground and understood that they had a better chance with Michonne coming along. Rick walked over to where they were and placed a loving hand on his son's shoulder. He gave him a smile with which he tried to mask the uncertainty of the mission they must pursue and the outcome that he feared. Rick looked over to Rick and he knew she could read on his face what he was thinking and feeling. She simply nodded with a smile and proceeded to walk towards the other to give the father and son a moment to themselves.
"Carl, watch over little Judy, OK? I know you want to come, but I need you to stay here and protect your sister." Rick said as he bent down far enough to be at eye level with the growing teen.
"I do want to go and I hate that there are so few of us…but I understand and I will protect Judy." Carl said as he smiled.
Rick nodded at his son and turned to walk towards the others that were waiting for him to start the journey.
"Wait! Dad!" Carl yelled as he ran towards his father. In one quick moment he hugged him with a tight grip. "I know you'll be back. All of you. I knew you would help us all escape Terminus and I know you will be back." Carl said while still holding his sole living parent in an embrace that he reluctantly had to break.
Rick looked at his son and turned to leave as he ignored the tingling in his eyes. He was going to do anything necessary to prove to his son that he was right. He will come back and they will all come back too.
XXXXXXX
The group was walking for a couple of hours until they came upon an abandoned station wagon. There were a few staggering walkers that were dispatched with easy without sound or disturbance of any kind. Daryl was able to hot wire the vehicle and they were all able to fit in the vehicle. As Rick drove there was mostly silence in the car. The concentration was contagious. Rick looked over to Daryl who was riding shotgun and decided that the silence was to unnerving and needed to say something.
"Hey, I really hope that cure can put things back the way they were." Rick said as he looked over to Daryl.
"Yeah, mullet guy, right? I don't know Rick." Daryl said with a side smirk.
"You don't believe him?" Rick asked, but with a smile of his own and the question was also said with a sarcastic undertone.
"I don't know what to believe in anymore." Daryl said as he shook his head and looked out the window.
"Well, if he doesn't have the cure, maybe he might bring the mullet back in style, or something." Michonne said from the back seat.
Both Rick and Daryl just looked at each other and began to laugh. It was something that they had not done since the food was brought from the food bank to the church. Even Sasha, who had very little to even smile about began to chuckle and it was something contagious in the car as they rode.
"You know something, some people don't like my beard." Rick said as he looked into the rearview mirror looking at Michonne who did the same and smiled. 'But that Eugene seriously needs…"
"Rick, watch out!" Daryl yelled as he put his hands on the dashboard when Rick slammed on the breaks.
"Help me! Help me!" It was Eugene yelling as he ran from a couple of walkers. He was so scared that he didn't noticed that he was almost hit by the car Rick was driving. Rick came out of the drivers seat in shock to see Eugene when he was suppose to be on his way to Washington. At that very moment they saw Rosita and Glen run behind the pursuing walkers and killed them before they harm Eugene. Later followed and out of breathe Maggie and a very slow pace walking Abraham with a huge smile on his face. Glen turned to see Rick, Daryl and the rest standing outside of a car with shocked faces. Glen was relieved, embarrassed that he was on a fool mission and knew there was a lot to explain.
XXXXXX
Maggie stood in shock that Beth was still alive. Rick looked over at Abraham that leaned against a tree without an expression. It touched Rick deeply, because he no longer saw that determined soldier some days ago that would do anything to right all the wrongs of the new world. Rick was not going to force Abraham and his group to go with them.
"Hey, Rick." Abraham said as he walked over to him. "Your plan is good, but I think we should go and hit them in the night when it is unexpected."
"We?" A puzzled Rick inquired. "You don't owe us anything, well maybe a bus, but with all that is happening, I'll let that slide." Rick said as he nodded with a smile and proceeded to walk.
"Rick, I know I was an asshole. I know I was blinded and stupid and allowed myself to be fooled by shit face over there." Abraham angrily motioned towards a beaten Eugene. "But all I have ever done was serve my country because I knew it was right. You are out numbered by what I hear. Now, just let me be part of this. Let me be part of something that is right…that is true!"
Rick looked at his group and saw Glen's eager face that was practically begging him to accept. Rick looked at Daryl that gave a slight shrug and Michonne that nodded with a smile. Rick looked over at Abraham. "Then we do this at night when they least expect it."
XXXXXXX
Sasha was positioned across from the building with her sniper rifle that had night vision. She can see all the guards on the top of the building. Rick had given the group the walkie talkies they took from the hunters. It was how they were able to communicate with each other as they went along with the mission. Glen was directed with Eugene to go to the main electrical source and cut the electricity. Maggie was paired with Rosita who would do the covering with their guns and Rick, Daryl, Michonne and Noah infiltrated the building. Noah directed Rick to where he knew they would be keeping Beth. The "newcomers" like Carol will be kept somewhere else and Daryl and Abraham went that way.
Once the lights were turned off, Dawn did not feel that it was right she started to call her guards. They began to check the floor. Rick , Michonne and Noah stood behind corners that would conceal them until they were at the room where Noah believed Beth would be. Menawhile, as Abraham and Daryl reached the room where they were keeping Carol a couple of guards approached them. Instinctively Abraham went into battle mode. He put his rifle behind him as it hanged on it's belt and took out his knife. He sliced and killed guards with an ease, as if was born to be a fighter.
"I got this redneck, go get her, now!" Abraham yelled at Daryl as he fought off guards.
Daryl opened the room and Carol was tied to a bed. Her wound was treated and covered, but he could see that she was still hurting and needed assistance getting up. When he exited the room he can see Abraham fighting the guards with a bloodied knife and using his hands and feet when necessary. Abraham followed Daryl down the corridor to go where Rosita and Maggie were waiting to cover them.
When Rick and Michonne approached the room, Noah opened the door and Beth was not there. It was apparent that someone was held there and there was blood on the floor. When they turned. There was Beth. Held by Dawn at gun point. Rick had his right hand on his revolver and his left extended motioning for Dawn to ease up and calm down.
"Listen Dawn, nobody has to get hurt. She is our friend and we want to take her home." Rick said as he moved close slowly, which made Dawn move back slowly as well.
"She is not going anywhere! She is part of a system here and she will learn that. My guards were take you all out" Dawn said as she held on to Beth intensely. Michonne gripped her sword and stared at Dawn with an intimidating stare that made Dawn feel nervous.
"Who are you people?" Dawn inquired with her gun on Beth's bruised temple.
Dawn backed up to the window,
"We are her family and we came to take her home. Sasha, take it." And with Rick's order, Sasha put a sniper bullet in the back of Dawn's head. While Rick extended his left hand, Dawn was so distracted that she was never aware that he turned the walkie talkie up and Sasha was able to hear everything.
"Take out the rest" Rick ordered.
"Got ya." Sasha proceeded to take out the guards on the roof and around the perimeters of the building.
Beth fell to the floor and was quickly picked up and held by Michonne.
"We got you now baby girl." Michonne whispered as she lovingly held the visibly beaten and bruised teen.
"We…got to…we got to help the others…" Beth said as she held on to Michonne and looked up at her.
