Chapter Twenty-nine: Never Enough Time

It seemed like just when something good happened to us, something else would happen that would threaten it. Every time we felt a little bit of peace, some sort of hell would rain down and destroy us. That's what I felt every time someone disappeared without a trace. I couldn't help the anxiousness that filled me as I held Judith, waiting for Rick and Tyreese and Sasha to come back with Bob. To top it off Daryl and Carol were missing as well.

Where the hell was everyone?

Where the hell would they go?

Stepping up to Maggie, she was holding a bible, looking at it longingly before setting it on top of a stack next to her. Everyone was quiet, sitting sporadically in the pews. Candles were lit on the altar, casting flickering light across the room. Hearing the door, I turned, seeing them come in. Bob wasn't with them. Neither were Daryl or Carol.

"Damnit." I whispered, bouncing Judith more than I had to.

"Mom." Carl said softly, taking his sister from me.

"Thank you, Carl." I told him, then I was moving to Rick. "Anything?"

He shook his head, "No."

"Where are they?" I asked with heavy worry. "Where would they go? Where would Daryl go?"

"I don't know." He replied. "But he can take care of himself."

I nodded, "I know. Doesn't mean I won't worry."

"Stop." Sasha said making me turn to look at her. She was talking to Gabriel. "Stop. What are you doing?" He didn't say anything. "What are you doing? This is all connected. You show up, we're being watched, and now three of us are gone."

"Sasha." I said going to her.

"No." She told me, turning back to the priest. "Answer me."

"I…I don't…I don't have anything to do with this." He told her. Her reaction was to pull out her knife. "Wait!"

"Don't!" Rosita called.

I turned to them, seeing Abraham grip her around her waist and pull her against him, moving her backward. Looking back at Sasha, I gripped her shoulder, "Not yet."

Tyreese was next to her now as well, "Sasha, put it away."

Everyone was moving toward her now. But she wasn't deterred. "Who's out there?" She stepped toward him but I moved with her.

For every one of hers Gabriel took one backward. "I – I don't have anything to do with this."

She swiftly got in his face, "Where are our people?"

"I don't have anything to –"

"Where are our people?!" She screamed at him.

I looked at Rick. He was just watching. Wrapping my arm around her, I spoke softly to her, "Sasha, I don't think this was him. He's too much of a coward to make a move against us."

"Please, I don't have anything to do with this. I –"

"Linny." Rick told me.

Looking at him, I nodded and forced her away from the priest. He replaced her, his expression dangerous.

"Why'd you bring us here?" He asked the priest.

"Please, I –"

"You working with someone?"

"I'm alone. I'm alone." Gabriel told him pleadingly. "I was always alone."

"What about the woman in the food bank, Gabriel? What did you do to her? "You'll burn for this." That was for you." He went on. "Why? What are you gonna burn for, Gabriel? What? What did you do? What did you do?!"

Gabriel shoved him away, his jaw taut and trembling with emotion. Gripping Sasha tightly, I glared at the man, knowing that if he touched mine once more I'd put him down. I wouldn't feel sorry about it either.

"I lock the doors at night. I always lock the doors at night. I always lock the doors at night. I always –" Gabriel finally replied, momentarily breaking down before he pulled himself together again. "They started coming, my congregation. Atlanta was bombed the night before and they were scared. They were – they were looking for a safe place, a place where they felt safe." Emotion was starting to take hold again. I knew how this story ended. "And it was so early. It was so early. And the doors were still locked. You see…it was my choice. But there were so many of them and they were trying to pry the shutters and banging on the sidings, screaming at me. And so the dead came for them. Women…children… Entire families calling my name as they were torn apart, begging me for mercy." He started to sob. "Begging me for mercy. Damning me to hell." He paused before going on. "I buried their bones. I buried it all." He paused even longer before looking up at Rick. "The Lord sent you here to finally punish me." He was sobbing again. "I'm damned. I was damned before. I always lock the doors. I always lock the doors."

Before any of us can say anything, whistling filtered in from outside. Gripping Sasha tighter, I looked at Rick. Glenn was the first to move, going toward the door.

"Glenn." I said softly.

"There's something…there's someone outside lying in the grass." He replied.

"Sasha." I said as she jerked away from me. "Sasha, wait." I added, attempting to stop her.

"Sasha." Rick told her.

We could hear walkers snarling as we got closer. Sasha went straight to the door, opening up and letting herself out. I swiftly followed her, hoping for the best. Only I slowed, my blood running cold when she started to yell.

"Oh! Bob! Bob." She cried and rushed to him.

Rushing to her, I stayed at her side as we both looked at him. He appeared to be unconscious. He was dirty and bloody but the worst of it was the blood soaked bandage where his leg used to be. Kneeling next to him, I started to feel the bandage, taking in how good a job they had done.

"His leg." Maggie said as she stepped next to me.

"Not yet." I told her quickly.

The walkers were starting come closer.

"Get Bob inside! We'll take care of them." Glenn told us.

"We gotta move him." I said and started to put my arm under his leg, moving my other under his shoulder. "Sasha."

"Yeah." She said meeting my eyes. "Thank you."

"Let's get him inside." I told her.

She nodded. Looking around, the others were killing the walkers, Tara making sure our path was clear as we rushed him inside. Setting him down at the front of the church, there was a gunshot that wasn't ours that came from outside. Rick and the others were still outside, making me feel the need to be with him. I heard him yell before they started to rush back inside.

"Rick!" I yelled.

"I'm right here." He said dropping to his knee next to me.

Putting my hand against his face, Bob's hand was in my other. Sasha was holding his hand as well, everyone starting to gather around him. He was conscious but clearly in a massive amount of pain.

"Who?" I said softly.

"I was in the graveyard. Somebody knocked me out. I woke up outside this place. It looked like a school. It was that guy, Gareth. And five other ones. They were eating my leg right in front of me, like it was nothing, all proud like they had it all figured out." He explained, his breathing hard and his voice not as strong as it usually was.

"Did they have Daryl and Carol?" Rick asked him, making me grip his hand tighter.

Bob shook his head, "Gareth said they drove off."

"Drove off?" I frowned and looked at Rick. Then Bob attempted to sit up. "Hey, hey, not so fast."

"He's in pain. Do we have anything?" Sasha asked.

"Yeah, my bag." I stated.

"I think there are pill packets in the first aid kit." Rosita added.

Sasha nodded, "Yeah."

"Save 'em." Bob told us.

"No." Sasha said on the verge of a breakdown.

"Bob, you need to take something." I told him, putting my hand against his face. "I'm going to need to take a look and it's going to be extremely painful."

"Really." He said and struggled to sit up, managing with a little help. "Damn." He said from the exertion.

Pulling his shirt aside, my hand flew to my mouth, shaking starting as I took in the bite. I knew he had it, but…and his leg…Sasha…

"It happened at the food bank." He went on. Sasha was completely devastated. Her lip quivering as she attempted to hide her pain, forcing a smile for him.

"It's okay." She told him.

"Bob." I said gripping his shoulder.

He nodded at me, "Remember what I said."

I nodded, gripping him tighter as he passed out, lowering him to the floor. "I remember." I whispered.

"Bob?" Sasha said, tears falling. Then her eyes were on me. "What did he mean?"

"Sasha…" I said putting my hand against her face.

"What did he mean?!" She yelled at me.

"There's a sofa in my office." Gabriel interjected, getting Sasha to look up at him. "I know it's not much, but…"

"Thank you." She told him.

Tyreese stepped forward, bending down, "I got him."

Sasha frowned at me as we both stood. I took her head in my hands. "I'll explain. I promise. Just…go get him comfortable."

She nodded and followed her brother. Turning to Rick, he was stepping to up Gabriel. "Do you know the place Bob was talking about?"

"It's an elementary school. It's close." He replied.

"How close?" Rick asked. He didn't reply. "How close, Gabriel?"

"It's just a 10-minute walk through the woods from here, due south of the graveyard." Gabriel told him, seeming to do so unwillingly.

Judith started to cry, making me turn toward her. Taking a step in her direction, Carl was already there, picking her up from the basket that was her bed. He shushed her softly, bouncing her as he took her to the altar.

"Does he have a fever?" Rick asked Maggie.

"He's just warm." She replied.

Glenn stepped up to us, "Jim lasted almost two days before we left him."

"I've seen it take less than a day." I told him. They all looked at me. "What?"

"Who?" Rick asked.

"We don't have time for that right now." I retorted.

"No. Time for a reality check." Abraham stated. "We all need to leave for DC right now."

"Daryl and Carol are gonna be back." Rick shot at him. "We're not going anywhere without them."

"I respect that, but there's a clear threat here to Eugene. I need to extract his ass before things get any uglier." Abraham replied. "So if y'all won't come, good luck to you. We'll go our separate ways."

He turned and started to walk, Rosita following him. I started to move after him, "Abe."

"You leaving on foot?" Rick asked him, making him stop.

"We fixed that damn bus ourselves." He said with his back to us.

Rick moved toward him, "There are a lot more of us."

"Rick." I said turning to him, putting my hand against his chest. "Please."

Abraham turned around, "You want to keep it that way? You should come."

"Carol saved your life. We saved your life." Rick retorted.

"Now I am trying to save yours! Save everyone's!"

"Abraham." I said looking at him. "You guys, this isn't helping."

"We're not going anywhere without our people." Rick stated matter-of-factly.

"Your people took off." Abraham stated.

"And they are coming back." I shot at him. "They would never just abandon us. Something happened. But they will be back."

"To what, picked-over bones?!" He yelled at me.

Rick gripped his arm, "You're not taking –"

Abraham quickly hit his arm away, "Do not lay hands!"

"Abraham!" Rosita called.

"Guys!" I yelled as Abraham shoved me from between them.

I looked at Glenn who swiftly pushed himself between them. "Hey, hey, stop! Now!" He yelled and looked at Abraham. "Do you really think that you're gonna be any safer leaving right now in the middle of the night?"

"Yeah." He replied before looking at Rick. "Yeah."

"What about tomorrow? We need each other for this. We need each other to get to DC. We can get through all of it together." Glenn told him.

Tara stepped toward them, "I have an idea. If you stay just one more day and help, I'll go with you to DC no matter what." She turned to Rick. "Okay?"

"Glenn and Maggie, too." Abraham stated.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I shot at him. "You try and I will put you down."

"Caroline." Maggie said softly.

"No!" I yelled at her. "You're not going anywhere."

Rick looked at Abraham, "What she said."

"Good luck, then." Abraham stated. "I'm not interested in breaking up what you have here. Rosita, grab your gear."

"Abraham –" She started.

"Now. Eugene, let's go." He told him, only Eugene didn't move. "Eugene. Move it."

Eugene didn't look at him as he replied, "I don't want to."

Abraham looked annoyed, "Now."

"Okay." Eugene said and got up.

"You don't have to go." I told him.

The room was quiet as the three of them walked toward the door, then Rick spoke, "You're not taking the bus."

Abraham stopped, clearly pissed off, trying to rein it in before he turned halfway toward him. Swiftly moving to Rick's side, I pressed myself against the back of his shoulder. I didn't agree with what was going on. We needed them, yes, but we couldn't force him to stay.

"Try to stop me." Abraham finally told him.

They just stood there for a long moment before Rick started to move toward him.

"Rick." I said attempting to grip his arm. I looked at Abe who had handed his gun to Eugene, turning toward Rick. "You don't have to do this."

They marched toward each other, Glenn rushing between them, "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!" They pushed against him. "Hey, hey, hey!" He called, looking at Rick before Abraham. "You stay – you stay and help us, and we will go with you."

"No." Rick said shaking his head.

"It's not your call." He told Rick before looking at Abraham. "You stay, help us."

"Half a day." Abraham replied. "Come high noon, we're taillights. I'm not waiting for the other damn shoe to drop."

"And we will leave with you." Maggie told him.

"Maggie." I said gripping her arm.

Abraham nodded, "12 hours. Then we go."

Watching him take his gun back, I looked at Rick who was looking betrayed. He looked at me and swiftly moved around us, jerking his arm away when I tried to grip him. "Maggie." I said turning back to her. "You can't do this. You can't split us up. Not now. Not when things are so screwed up. Bob is dying. We can't stay here forever. You can't go." I rambled, feeling tears start.

She swiftly wrapped her arms around me, "Everything is going to be fine, Linny. I promise. But we don't have a choice. We need them tonight."

"I don't care about that." I shot at her. "I need you with me, Maggie."

She smiled, taking my head in her hands, "I'm always with you."

Starting to cry, I swiftly embraced her, hugging her as tightly as humanly possible. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Hey." Glenn said putting his hand on my back.

Letting his wife go, I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck, "I love you."

He sighed, relaxing, and hugged me tightly, "I love you, too."

Letting him go, I looked at Rick who was looking back, clearly waiting for the room to be his. Raising a brow at him, I stayed close to Maggie as we all moved closer to him, ready for him to tell us what we were going to do next. He started to talk and the more he talked the more confident I became. At the same time I was terrified for what would happen if it didn't work. There was only one way to find out. We just do it.

"They think they're in control. We're in here and they could be anywhere. But we know exactly where they are." He stated.

"Plan's got stones, I'll give you that." Abraham told him.

"Make our move before they do." Glenn nodded.

"That's right." Rick nodded. "They're not counting on us thinking straight."

"Are we?" Rosita asked. "I'm just making sure. It's a big play."

"I have to admit that I'm kind of with her." I added. "If it works, yay us, but if it doesn't…"

"Remember what these people are capable of." Rick stated. "Tyreese."

"Yeah?" He replied.

"You up for this?"

Sasha came out of the office. I hadn't thought she was listening, but here she was. "I'm coming with you." She stated.

"Sasha." I said going to her.

"You should stay with Bob." Tyreese told her.

"No, I want to be out there. I want to be a part of this." She replied.

"Are you sure?" I asked her, gently running my fingers through her hair.

She met my eyes, nodding, "I'm sure."

I nodded back, "Okay." She smiled and leaned against me, the side of her head meeting my forehead. "Okay."

She smiled at me before going back into the rectory with Bob. Tyreese moved to follow her, his hand finding my arm, smiling at me. Doing the same, I gripped his hand as he passed by.

"Linny." Rick said moving around me and going to the door. I followed him, crossing my arms as I faced him. "You can do this."

"I know I can." I told him matter-of-factly. "I've been doing this longer than you have, you know." I added with a smirk.

He smiled and nodded as he took my head in his hands. Gently gripping his wrists, I rubbed his hands with my thumbs. "Don't worry."

I laughed lightly, "I'm kind of a worrier. Always have been."

"Hidden behind a smile, a positive attitude, and sarcasm." He smiled.

Laughing harder, I nodded at him, "So far it's worked well for me."

He nodded again before he was kissing me. Wrapping our arms around each other, I kissed him as deeply as I could, not wanting him to go. But he was going to be safer than I was. But it was a good plan. It would work.

"Be safe, baby." I told him.

He kissed me again. "You, too."

Glenn stepped up to him, putting his hand on his shoulder. Rick looked at him, nodding before kissing me again, gently moving me away from him. Running my hand down his arm, I turned and rushed back up to the altar, turning Carl toward the office. Going inside of it, the others started to file in as well. Rosita came to my side where I was with Carl and Judith. Tyreese was in front, standing and waiting as the rest of us attempted to stay down and silent.

Hearing the others leave, the door was shut loudly, I looked at Gabriel, seeing nothing but a terrified man, waiting to be protected by the people who saved him. He was a coward. He didn't deserve to live and yet here he was. I would protect him. I shouldn't. But I would. My thoughts were interrupted as we heard the door bang open. It hadn't taken long and now they were here.

"Well, I guess you know we're here."

"Gareth." I whispered. Of course he survived.

"And we know you're here. And we're armed. So there's really no point in hiding anymore." There was a long pause and we could hear soft steps moving through the room. "We've been watching you. We know who's here." I looked up at Tyreese. He took a slow deep breath. I nodded at him. "There's Bob, unless you've put him out of his misery already. And Eugene. Rosita. Martin's good friend Tyreese. Carl. Judith. Caroline." He said and paused again. "Rick and the rest walked out with a lot of your guns. Listen, we don't know where you all are but this isn't a big place. So let's just stop this before things get more painful than they need to be."

The doorknob rattled, and I got to my feet, my gun out and ready for them. Tyreese put his hand on my arm, giving his head a shake. I clenched my jaw but nodded back at him. We both turned our eyes to the door as the fucker started to talk again.

"Look, you're behind one of these two doors and we have more than enough firepower to take down both. Can't imagine that's what you all want." A gun cocked. "How about the priest? Father, you help us wrap this up, we'll let you walk away from this."

I looked at Carl, watching as he raised his gun, ready.

"Just open the door and you can go. You can take the baby with you. What do you say?" Gareth told us.

Judith started to cry and my stomach dropped, making me swiftly move to her, Carl and I both kneeling over her, trying to shush her. The damage had been done but she still needed to be quiet.

"I don't know. Maybe we'll keep the kid. I'm starting to like this girl. It's your last chance right now to tell us you're coming out."

I glared at the door, moving forward only to have Tyreese stop me again. I shot him a look but he just looked back at me.

"Are we done?" Another voice asked.

"We'll hit the hinges." Gareth told him.

Taking a deep breath, we all made sure we were clear of said hinges, raising our guns. But they never came in. We heard grunts and a body fell to the floor. Then another. Then a wave of relief moved through me as I heard Rick's voice.

"Put your guns on the floor." He told them.

"Rick, we'll fire right into that office. So you lower your gun –" Gareth started before there was another gunshot and he was screaming.

"Stay here." I told Carl as I opened the door.

Rosita was right behind me as I left the office, seeing Gareth's fingers on his left hand blown off. Rick stepped out of the shadows. We stayed in the doorway, waiting for the inevitable.

"Put your guns on the floor and kneel." Rick told him.

Gareth looked at him for a long moment before he lowered himself to his knees. "Do what he says." All but Martin did. Knowing who he was from his beaten face. I looked at Tyreese but he just looked at me. "Martin, there's no choice here."

"Yeah, there is." Martin replied.

Then I smiled as Abraham came up from the side with his rifle aimed at his head. "Want to bet?"

Martin looked at him before he lowered his gun and moved to his knees. The rest came out with their guns, Rosita and I doing the same, all our guns trained on them. Gareth was gasping from the pain as Rick moved in front of him.

"No point in begging, right?" Gareth stated.

"No."

"Still, you could have killed us when you came in. There had to be a reason for that."

"We didn't want to waste the bullets."

"We used to help people. We saved people. Things changed. They came in and –" He paused as he groaned. "After that…I know that you've been out there but I can see it. You don't know what it is to be hungry. You don't have to do this. We can walk away. And we'll never cross paths again. I promise you."

I looked at Rick and he glanced up at me, nodding as he looked back at Gareth. "But you'll cross someone's path. You'd do this to anyone, right? Besides, I already made you a promise." He pulled his machete out of its sheath.

"No!" Gareth yelled.

It was too late. Rick sliced his throat open. Michonne killed the woman, hitting her repeatedly with the butt of her gun. Abe and Sasha both took on one, beating them to death. Lowering my gun, I watched the brutality of their deaths. They deserved it and I didn't feel sorry for them. At the same time, Rick was once again covered in blood. Looking at Michonne, she stepped up to the woman, pulling her sword from the woman's back. Smirking, I nodded. She would be whole again.

"It could have been us." Rick stated as he looked at everyone.

"Yeah." Sasha told him.

Gabriel had come out, seeing all the carnage. "This is the Lord's house."

"No." Maggie told him. "It's just four walls and a roof."

Looking around, everyone seemed shaken. The second we thought we were safe someone was coming after us or one was us was killed or bitten. Moving to Rick, I took his head in my hands, looking at the blood that was on his face.

"Hi, baby." I smiled at him. He nodded before he was kissing me, wrapping his arm around me as he buried his face in my neck. It was warm and I could feel and smell the blood. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Leading him to the bathroom, I sat him on the toilet, wetting a towel before I started to clean the blood from him. He watched me the whole time, seeming to relax but I knew he was tense. Smiling, I started to press kisses against him, running my fingers through his hair, straddling his lap when I was done.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

He sighed and pressed his forehead to mine, "Yeah, Linny, now I am."

Grinning, I kissed him deeply, "I'm glad."

"Are you?" He asked, leaning away and met my eyes.

I nodded, "You're here with me. So, yes, I am okay."

He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me tight against him, "I'm happy you're here, Linny."

"I am, too."

"Don't leave me." He whispered.

Pulling him against my chest, I hugged his head to me, frowning, wondering where that was coming from. But when I spoke it was gentle and non-telling of my thoughts. "Never, Rick. I'm with you for always."

"Promise?" He frowned.

Taking his head in my hands, I frowned back, "I promise, Rick. Where is this coming from?"

"I just…" He started, rubbing my back.

"You just what, baby?" I asked gently.

"Dad?" Carl's voice drifted through the door.

"Yeah." He said and held me tight as he stood, keeping his arm around me as he opened the door. "You okay?"

"Yeah." Carl said with Judith in his arms.

"Good." Rick said as he put his hand against his son's cheek.

"He was brave." I smiled, putting my hand against his arm.

"So was Mom." Carl stated.

Rick looked at me before his son, "Don't you think it's a little early for that?"

"With the way the world is, I don't think there will ever be too early for anything. We could be dead tomorrow." Carl told him. Wise beyond his years.

Rick looked at him, "You're right." Then he looked at me, pulling me tight against him as he did the same to Carl, Judith in the middle of us. "Caroline." He said with seriousness.

"Yes?" I said softly, my stomach fluttering.

"I am in love with you." He told me. "We've known each other for a while and I can say without a doubt that you make this life better. You make me better. Us." He said and looked at his children. "You're capable and can handle this world. I love you and…" He paused, shifting his feet. "I'm hoping that you might love me too."

Smiling, I nodded, leaning in and kissed him passionately. "I am in love with you, too." He smiled at me. "I love you, Rick." Putting my arm around him, kissing him repeatedly, I had my other arm around Carl and Judith. The little happy family that I always wanted. "I love you guys, too." I told Carl, kissing his cheek before Judith's forehead.

"We love you." Carl told me. Judith cooed and reached out for me. Laughing lightly, I took her. "Judy loves you, too."

"Hi, sweet pea." I smiled and blew a raspberry against her neck, making her laugh.

"We should join the others." Rick told me gently.

"Yeah." I said nodding as Judith pressed her forehead to mine, bouncing in my arms. Laughing lightly, I stepped toward Maggie who swiftly smiled and gripped the baby's hand. "How are you?" I asked her.

"I'm okay." She replied. "Are you?"

"Yeah." I told her, meeting her eyes. "Yeah, I'm okay. Is Sasha with Bob?"

"Yeah." She replied.

"Wanna hold her?" I asked.

She smiled and nodded, taking her from me. Pressing a kiss against Maggie's cheek, gently tucking her hair behind her ear, she smiled at me, momentarily leaning against me before I moved away from her. Going to the office, I stood in the doorway, seeing Sasha sitting with Bob as he slept. She was clearly crumbling and was trying so hard to keep herself together.

Moving forward, I put my hand against her back, "What do you need?"

"More time." She replied.

"Want me to close the door?" I asked her softly.

She nodded, "Yes, please."

I could hear the emotion, tears falling down her cheeks. Hugging her from behind, I pressed a kiss against her cheek. "You are loved, Sasha. We will see you through this."

"I know." She said more air than sound.

"I love you." I told her, before quickly leaving, closing the door.

Agreeing on a watch rotation, I settled down with Rick, Carl and Judith at the head of the church. Carl held tight to his baby sister as Rick and I laid face to face, staring at each other. Smiling, I trailed my hand from one side of his face to the other. He smiled leaning in and kissed me sweetly. I felt so warm and happy. I was in love with him and it was ten times more potent than anything I'd felt before.

"You should sleep." I told him. "It's been a long day."

"So should you." He replied, pulling me closer to him.

"And yet I just want to look at you." I smirked, laughing lightly.

He chuckled, "It's funny, the same is for me."

"Puppy love." Michonne teased from nearby.

Laughing, I put my hand over my mouth, feeling his lips against my forehead. Looking up at him, he kissed me before pressing his forehead to mine. "Go to sleep."

"Yes, baby."

Falling asleep, I was perfectly happy in his arms, breathing him in with every breath I took. I slept sounder than I had in quite a while. We were safe. The world was still screwed up but at least we had each other.

Being gently shaken awake, I looked up into Abraham's face. He looked at me sadly. Sitting up, I was alone, making me frown. He sat next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. Sighing, I rested my head against his shoulder, bringing my knees up as I turned against his side.

"Is it time?" I asked.

He sighed, "Yes, I dare say it is."

Wrapping my arm around him, I rested my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "It's not fair."

"Nothing in this godforsaken world is." He replied.

Sighing, I stood, looking down at him, "Thank you for waking me up."

"Rick wanted you to sleep as long as possible." He stated as he got to his feet.

I smiled up at him, "You're a good man, Abe. Continue to be a good man." He smirked at me, winking in response. Going to the office, I took Glenn's hand, seeing Maggie with Bob. "Hey."

"Hey." He said resting his head against mine.

"You'll always be with us. Part of us." Maggie told our dying friend.

Feeling like I was last to show up, I stepped forward and sat next to him. "Hey, handsome." I smiled at him.

He just grinned at me, "Hey."

"You're a good man and an even better friend." I told him. "I'm going to miss you."

"Just remember, Linny." He told me.

I nodded, "Don't worry. I remember. I made a promise and I'll see it done."

"Thank you." He smiled at me.

"Love you, Bob." I said and leaned down, pressing a kiss against his cheek. "Be at peace."

Getting up, I smiled at Rick, putting my hand against his face before I left the office. Maggie and Glenn were getting ready to leave. As soon as Bob was gone, they would leave and move toward DC. Moving from the church, I stood on the small porch, looking at the bus that was going to take my family away. Where the hell was Daryl and Carol? What the hell were they doing that made them stay away so long?

"Am I interrupting?" Rick asked as he wrapped his arms around me.

"No." I smiled, putting my arm across his as I brought my other hand up to his neck. "You okay?"

"I'm going to miss him." He replied with a sigh.

"Me, too." I said turning my head and pressed a kiss against his temple.

"What promise did you make him?" He asked.

"That I wouldn't let Sasha grow hard." I replied. "To try and make her laugh after he's gone."

He sighed and pressed his lips to my neck, "You're a good woman."

"I'm trying to be." I smiled back.

It wasn't long before Sasha came out looking more devastated than I'd ever seen. Following her, she picked a spot and started to dig a grave. Helping her, Rick attempted to take over for her but she refused him. She even started to yell at me, forcing me to step back and let her do it herself. She was grieving. She was going to be grieving for a while. Rick and I watched over her and when it was done, Tyreese brought Bob out, laying him in it. Sasha buried him and then set to making him a cross to mark it. He deserved to be buried but I doubted we'd ever come here again.

"This is our route to DC. We'll stick to it as long as we're able. If not, well, you got our destination." Abraham stated as they stood outside the bus. "Once Eugene gets to the big brains left up there, things are gonna bounce back. This group should be there for it. You should be there for it."

"They will be." Maggie smiled.

I nodded, "We will."

Rick and Michonne repeated the words. This was bittersweet and I found myself clutching Maggie with all the energy I had in me. Glenn put his hand on my back, making me hug him next. He looked at Rick who stepped forward and gripped my waist, pulling me back.

"Let's go." Abe told them.

We all looked at each other, afraid that this would be the last time. We had no idea when we'd see each other again. It was obvious that none of us wanted to leave anyone behind, but we couldn't leave without Daryl and Carol. We wouldn't. But it was just as hard watching them drive away. Even though we did just that. Staring until we couldn't see them anymore.

Turning back inside, I sat in a pew, staring at the cross and the stained glass. If there really was a God then what the hell was he planning? What end game could he possibly have for a world like this? He created us and now he was destroying us. Had we done something so wrong to bring this hell down on top of us?

"Hey." Michonne said sitting next to me.

"Hey." I replied, wiping a tear from my cheek.

"We'll see them again." She told me matter-of-factly.

I nodded, "I hope so."

"I know so." She smiled back at me.

Looking at her, I smiled, "I know so, too."

When night had fallen, Rick's back was pressed against my side. Judith was in his arms while Carl lay on my other side, everyone sleeping soundly. Looking around the room, I felt like I'd been cut in half. I wanted nothing more than to have Maggie and Glenn here. They were family and to have them gone left an unfillable hole.

I'd listened as Michonne went outside, knowing that she wanted to be alone and yet felt the need to follow her. It didn't take long for me to see movement and watched as Gabriel disappeared as well, once again hearing the door. Him being alone with her made me anxious. He wasn't a good man though I knew Michonne could handle anything.

When I couldn't handle the silence, knowing that people were awake, I slowly removed myself from the Grimes sandwich I'd found myself in. Going to the door as silently as possible, I let myself out. At first I didn't see anyone, making me frown. Only then my name was said and my head jerked up.

"Daryl."


Almost thirty chapters in and so many more to go! Hope everyone who is reading is enjoying it! Nothing like a little Walking Dead to make the day a happier one!