We head to the water tower in the distance. As we approach, I notice the water tower is part of an industrial estate. I hear a whistle and I get excited "That's Daryl!"
Rick whistles back. I see a figure step out into the darkness and whistle again before disappearing then coming back. I take off at a sprint and throw myself into Daryl's arms. He lifts me off the ground as he hugs me.
"Thank God" He mutters against my hair. He pulls away and looks at my face "You okay?"
"Yeah, are you?" I ask
He nods "We're all fine"
Nessa throws herself on me and hugs me "Thank God you're alive, cause I'm gonna kill you for worrying me again!"
Andy hugs me once Nessa lets go. "Eric? Eric!" Aaron yells before running into the supply house thing.
I'm too distracted by pass the Gwen for hugs to follow immediately. When I do the others are right behind me. Daryl comes over to me and holds me against his chest as Aaron comes out of the back room with Rick.
"Excuse me. Excuse me. Everyone. Thank you. You saved Eric. I owe you. All of you. And I will make sure that debt is paid in full when we get to our community. When we get to Alexandria." Aaron says "Now, I'm not sure about you, but I'd rather not do any more driving tonight. Maybe we can hit the road tomorrow morning."
"That sounds fine. But if we're staying here for the night, you're sleeping over there." Rick says, pointing to the other side of the building
"You really think we got to do that?" Maggie asks
"It's the safe play. We don't know you." Rick says
"The only way you're gonna stop me from being with him right now is by shooting me." Aaron says firmly
Aaron moves to walk past Rick when Glenn stops him "Whoa. Rick, he told us where the camp is. And he really was only travelling with one other person. They're both unarmed. One of them's got a broken ankle. I want us to be safe, too. I can't give up everything else. I know what I said, but it does matter." Glenn says
"All right." Rick says.
"Gwen can look at Eric's ankle and wrap it better" Maggie says
Aaron looks at me and I nod. "Yeah, you got any bandages or cloth in that bag of yours?" I ask
He nods "Yeah, come through"
I pat Daryl's chest and follow Aaron. I see Rick look at Daryl behind me and nod. Daryl follows me into the room while the others settle for the night.
The guy on the makeshift bed/chair looks up as Aaron, Daryl and I enter. "Hello, I'm Eric" The guy says cheerfully.
I head over and hold my hand out "I'm Guinevere but you can call me Gwen"
"Nice to meet you." He says and shakes my hand
I nod "Maggie says you broke your ankle" I say to him.
He nods with a laugh "Yeah"
"I'm going to wrap it up a bit better if that's okay with you?" I say
He nods "Of Course"
Aaron hands me the bandage from his bag. I'm vaguely aware of Daryl staying in the shadows and leaning against the wall. I undo the mess of cloth from Eric's ankle slowly and carefully.
"Aaron, could you hold those splints in place please." I hold them straight on either side of Eric's ankle.
Aaron take them and holds them straight "Like this?"
"Yeah, Eric, could you lift your leg a little? If not Daryl can do it" I say.
Eric shakes his head and lifts his leg a little "I can do it"
"Okay" I wrap the bandage firmly around his leg from mid-call all the way down to cover half his foot and that's where I tie it together tightly, triple knot. "You'll have to cut that off when we get back to your community but it'll hold for now"
Eric looks down at his ankle impressed "Wow, you did a good job. Were you a Doctor?"
"No, well yeah, but not a medical one. I was a Forensic Anthropologists. PhD not MD" I reply
"So it's Dr Gwen" Eric says with a grin
I laugh a little "Gwen is fine. Sleep well" I say and stand.
I head over to Daryl and take his hand "Sleep for us too. You barely got any last night"
"I got enough" Daryl replies.
I scoff "Liar" We settle in our own little corner and sleep until sun up.
The next morning we find another car and split ourselves between the car and the RV. Daryl, Rick, Carl, Judith, Michonne and I take the car the other's take the RV. Halfway there the RV breaks down. I laugh suddenly earning me a strange look from the car's occupants.
I shake my head "Déjà vu, Dale's Winnebago breaking down every two minutes"
Rick, Daryl and Carl all laugh a little as we climb out. I head over to the RV and Daryl climbs on top of it as a look-out. Glenn and Abraham join me at the front of the RV. I open it up and have a look inside. Abraham watches me.
"What do you know about RV engines, princess?" Abraham asks
"I know a lot about all engines, Abe" I reply
"Can't win. Might as well paint it red, put a ladder on it." Abraham says hitting the RV
"All we need is another battery." I tell him
"Where in the hell are we gonna find another battery?" Abraham asks
"Right over here." Glenn says and leads him around to the door of the RV, I wait for him to get back.
He does with the spare battery and hands it to me "Do you're thing, Gwen" Glenn says
I laugh and detach the old battery and replace it with the new one "Try it!" I yell up to Abraham.
He starts the RV in one go. Everyone cheers. I laugh and close the grill. I pat Glenn's shoulder and head around to the car.
"Where's Rick?" I ask Michonne. "He's taking a breather, he'll be back soon"
I nod and climb into the car, she's right behind me. When Rick gets back, we take the lead this time all the way to the gates of the community. I stare for a moment then I hear children laughing.
"You hear that?" I ask no one on particular "Kids, laughter"
I climb out the car slowly and stare at the gates, my heart pounding in my chest. I take Andy's hand as he walks past me. He looks down at me and smiles. I smile back as we head to the gate. I let go of his hand as we stop. The gates open and I hold my breath. This is it.