Wednesday, February 18
By now the snow was almost completely gone, something that disappointed Carrie but came as a relief to Rick. Though he had enjoyed the novelty of watching the kids playing in the snow, he was by nature more accustomed to the sticky and uncomfortable heat of Georgia summers, not a Washington winter. These days he spent most of his time shivering and quietly complaining about the chill in the air, snuggling up to Carrie in the middle of the night in an effort to stay warm.
She on the other hand had been enjoying the brief snow they got that year, having always looked forward to seeing Manhattan city dusted with snow, brilliant white adorning the trees in Central Park and making it look like a wonderland. Here in Washington she was so close to her home town that they could make it with a day of driving, but the risk was far too great simply just to fulfil her nostalgic desires. Making her way home from the Pantry with three new tubes of toothpaste, Carrie made a point of stepping on the remaining clumps of snow, even though by now they were nothing more than grey mush. Nevertheless she took what she could get, longing for next winter when she wouldn't have to watch from the sidelines as Rick and the kids went sledding.
Taking the long way home, she kept up a brisk pace and enjoyed the way her heart pounded in her chest. There were a lot of things she missed right now, a glass of wine, sledding in the snow, but the opportunity to go for a spirited jog was top five. She knew that it was probably okay, she was healthy enough overall, but she doubted that she still had the balance and coordination to go jogging safely. Her centre of gravity felt different, and she found herself stumbling occasionally or briefly losing her balance…God what she wouldn't give for this baby to be born already. She had four more weeks to go, that was all….four more weeks.
On the street ahead of her was Carl, Enid, Glenn, Maggie and baby Herschel, everyone laughing uproariously as Glenn tried and failed to do a trick on the skateboard. Loosing his footing the board flew out from under him, Enid chasing it down and expertly hopping aboard, completing the very trick he had been attempting. Carl applauded her before taking his turn, and out of habit he pushed up the sunglasses he was wearing, a new look he was trialling now he didn't need a bandage.
As she drew nearer Carrie smiled at their antics, but it was to Herschel and Maggie she paid the most attention. While Maggie sat on the curb Herschel was sitting between her legs, and despite his snow suit making him look like the Michelin man he was a lump of pure charm. He was beaming at her while she approached, showing off the tiny tooth that had finally erupted on his bottom gum.
"I noticed Judy is at Carol's place today," Maggie commented.
Grateful that she could nod affirmatively, Carrie slowed to a stop. "She come over this morning and offered to baby sit. Said I should be putting my feet up, not chasing her around."
"That's true," Maggie agreed sympathetically.
"Did you, uh…did you talk to her?" she asked tentatively, unsure if she wanted to know the answer. She had voiced her concerns about Carol a couple of days ago, relieved to find that Maggie felt the same way, that she too had noticed a change.
"I did. Not anything specific, I just asked how she was doing. Said she didn't seem herself lately."
"What did she say?"
"She agreed," Maggie answered. "I think maybe the world's just getting her down."
"Maybe," Carrie muttered, hastily apologising when Herschel admonished her for not paying attention to him. Taking a risk she lowered herself down into a squat and tickled his rosy red cheeks, admiring his tooth again when Maggie pulled his lip down to show her. "Maybe Rick was right."
"Don't say that too loud."
"He did say I was reading too much into it, that I was taking it personally. If the world is just getting her down, we've all been there."
"You know, I think with Carol it's…" Maggie began, trailing off as she collected her thoughts. "When I found out I was pregnant and Glenn was on the supply run to Georgia, Carol was there for me. She was there for me all through the preeclampsia, when I was struggling to breastfeed. And she was there for you after Pete," she said gently, apologetically bringing up his name. "Maybe now she's just being there for Lana. She probably suspected something was wrong a long time ago."
"Okay, but who's there for Carol?" It was a question for both of them…for all of them.
"She's knows we are," she assured her. "We had a good talk."
"Thanks Maggie. I…I appreciate it."
Without further preamble she started to get up, but to her frustration she realised that crouching down this far had been a terrible mistake. Losing all semblance of dignity she somehow managed to get back to her feet, but her knees and lower back ached in protest, reminding her that she was still yet to do her yoga for today. Four days after Denise confirmed the baby was breech, and still no luck with coaxing it to turn over.
"You okay?" Carrie asked, noticing a strange look on Maggie's face.
"Just praying real hard that Glenn doesn't break anything."
"I heard that," Glenn called out, soaring by on the skateboard before executing a near perfect flip. While Carl and Enid cheered and shouted finally, Glenn turned back to Maggie with a smile. "Anything to say?"
"You can still change diapers with a broken leg."
Leaving them all to it Carrie returned home, keeping an eye on the time. Rick and Daryl were currently out taking watch, probably scouring the highways to ensure they had safe passage on their way to the Kingdom. Today was Carl's one month check up following his return home, and the group travelling with him would be staying maybe a few nights. It would all depend on how things went with Lana, on whatever decision she made about her pregnancy. This was a subject that Carrie had been trying not to think about, knowing that while it was really none of her business, all she wanted to do was butt in and make her own opinion heard. Being pregnant herself didn't mean she had much insight into the decision Lana was facing now…while she had struggled to accept her pregnancy when she had first learned of it, she had a much stronger support system than Lana. With that in mind, she had avoided the temptation to butt in.
When she closed the front door she went into the living room and revelled in the silence, knowing she was going to have to get used to it. It was going to be strange having Rick, Carl and Daryl gone again, for she had just gotten used to having a full house once more. She was used to the noise, to the extra cleaning and tidying up that was necessary with additional people…and now they were going away. In a couple of hours it would just be her and Judith, the two girls hanging out and passing the time until their family returned.
Needing to get on with things she fetched a basket of clean clothes from the laundry and then braced herself before climbing the stairs, something that was quite the workout lately. Going all the way up to the attic she stopped in the threshold of Daryl's bedroom and took a breather, her heart pumping in exertion, and then she got started. With Rick and Daryl both out doing whatever it was they were doing there wasn't going to be much time for them to pack, not if they wanted to depart on schedule. They wanted to leave by two o'clock at the very latest, allowing themselves more than enough time to make it to the Kingdom before night began to fall in the late afternoon. Conscious of this, Carrie made a point of being organised, happily going about the task of packing their bags on their behalf. There wasn't a hell of a lot else she had going on today…
In his room she bustled around and found the bag he used on long trips, packing it with the clothing she knew he preferred, tossing in his toothbrush and paste she'd taken from his bathroom downstairs. He didn't need much to get by, likely he'd return with most of his clothing unworn, but that didn't matter to Carrie, as long as he had the option. Not worried about being too neat she simply stuffed his things in, wishing that she didn't know he went commando…it was just one of those things a person learnt when doing laundry for the whole house.
Rushing through the task, for all she really wanted to do was put her feet up again, Carrie hastily packed a bag for both Rick and Carl, leaving each of them sitting on their beds for them to add anything else into. Satisfied that the most time consuming part of the job was done and that they would leave on schedule she kicked off her shoes and put her fluffy slippers back on, rather intent on wearing only these for the next few months. With plans to kick back with a cup of tea and a book she hastened back downstairs, but when she reached the foot of the stairs and looked to the front of the house she stopped in her tracks, rendered frozen in surprise by the sight of the person at the front door.
Awkwardly lingering outside the front door was Lana, her arms folded as she paced back and forth a few steps. She looked anxious about something, not that it was any surprise given the circumstances of recent days, but it made Carrie worry for her. Since the revelation that she had been a part of the Saviours, that she had been married to Negan, Lana and her group had been keeping a low profile in the community. Though few knew of her pregnancy, everyone knew of her history, what forced them to flee the Sanctuary…perhaps the only saving grace for them was that Vetor had finally taken a hint and left, though it grated on Carrie's nerves that he was only a few miles away. Enjoying the hospitality of one of their safe houses he was waiting for Lana, Mina and Mitchell to join him, presumably after she had terminated her pregnancy to which he wanted no part of. There was no proof that he had anything to do with Spencer's death, but even setting that aside Carrie hoped for the news that he had been taken down by a Walker, that the world had done them all a favour.
As if she could hear this thought Lana suddenly looked up, jolting in surprise when she realised Carrie was standing in the living area watching her. Horror and embarrassment crossed her face, her cheeks flushing with pink as she stood there with her mouth agape, and were the situation different Carrie probably would have laughed at her. Instead she simply raised her hand in a non-threatening wave, a gesture of treaty, of welcome. But to her disappointment the gesture backfired, and as if she had been scared away Lana turned on her heel and disappeared, fleeing across the porch and down the steps before Carrie could even react.
"Dammit, Lana," she muttered under her breath, moving to the front door to watch as Lana strode back up the street. What had she come there for? Was she looking for Daryl? For her?
Answering her question Lana suddenly stopped in her tracks, her shoulders heaving for a moment before she turned on her heel and back tracked, returning to Carrie's house as quickly as she had left. Standing at the door Carrie saw the look of determination and nerves in Lana's eyes, an expression she hadn't seen before, but to her credit she didn't falter this time. Returning to face whatever she had come for Lana ascended to the porch and looked at Carrie who was cautiously opening the door to her.
"I wasn't casing the joint," Lana blurted out, her voice louder than necessary. "E-even if I was, you're the only person here who locks your damn doors."
Not wanting to get into the reason she made a habit of locking doors, Carrie took a slow breath, ensuring that her tone of voice would calm Lana down. She seemed even more nervous now, words tumbling from her lips before she could really think them though. "I believe you," she said gently. "Are you looking for Daryl?"
"No," she said bluntly, her brow furrowing. "He went out hours ago."
"So you're…looking for me?"
There was silence now, but to both their relief Lana didn't blurt out another hurried thought. Instead she seemed to take her time now, her features softening as she slowly nodded her head.
"Do you want a cookie and some really bad instant coffee?"
Another pause came to pass, and then Lana nodded again. "Yeah…that sounds nice. Thanks," she added as Carrie welcomed her inside. Already knowing how she took her coffee she headed into the kitchen and set a pot onto the stove, the water heating while she prepared two mugs with dried coffee and sugar. As she stood back and waited for the water to boil she cast her eyes over Lana, who had seated herself on one of the the kitchen stools. She leant forward with her elbows on the counter but her face turned away, avoiding Carrie's gaze in favour of looking around the living areas.
"Sugar?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Aren't I sweet enough?"
On the inside Carrie smiled, glad that Lana had responded the way she did, and then she muttered, under her breath. "Ten sugars for you then."
From the other side of the kitchen Lana rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath. But even after weeks of icy encounters followed by outright avoidance it seemed to be enough to break the ice between them, and after the brief spar they both relaxed a little. While the water started to boil Carrie took out a plate and added some chocolate chip cookies to it, but it wasn't until she opened the refrigerator that her mouth began to water. On the top shelf was a small container of left over gravy from their meal last night, and if Lana wasn't right there Carrie would have dipped her finger in, knowing full well how delicious it had tasted.
"Come sit down," she offered as she passed Lana her mug, gesturing to the living room. "It's warmer."
A little too polite to be herself, Lana took her mug and the plate too, carrying it into the living room and setting it down onto the coffee table. Following her in Carrie braced herself for whatever teasing was about to ensue, and she set her mug down before fetching her large gym ball. Rolling it over she caught the way Lana looked at it in amusement, barely keeping her smirk to herself as she watched Carrie sitting down on it, but to her credit she didn't say anything.
"The coffee's nice," Lana complimented, still overly polite.
"Thank you."
Pushing the plate of cookies to the corner of the coffee table where Carrie could reach them, Lana took another sip of her coffee and then balanced it on her knee. There was silence but for the occasional sound of a sip or a cookie crunching, the two women unsure of what to say or who should start. So much had been going on lately, and though Carrie knew almost all of the details there was the unspoken understanding that none of it was actually her business.
Rick had made his decision perfectly clear to the community as a whole, having acknowledged Lana and her group's history with the Saviours before declaring that they were Alexandrian's now. For as long as they wanted to stay they were a part of the community, they would be protected and homed here for as long as they wished. He had refused to hear any argument against it, and there sure as hell had been some arguments, but thankfully those seemed to die down pretty quickly. Nevertheless, as quickly as they had been welcomed into Alexandria they became social pariahs, tainted by their history.
The night she came down and found Lana sitting at the dining room table Rick had been in mid-interrogation, drilling her for all the details she could provide about the Saviours. He wanted to know everything she could relay, how the Sanctuary was run, who the people were, the hierarchy, their skills and weapons, the other communities they targeted. Simultaneously Mitchell, Mina and Vetor were elsewhere in the community, separated from one another and answering the same questions, drawing the map to the Sanctuary and various outposts and the floor plans of the building. A great deal of information had been gleamed, Alexandria learning more about their enemy in one night than the Kingdom had learned in over a year. While many saw the discovery of Lana's past as something terrible, Rick and the others saw it as a miracle…this information could mean all the difference in the impending war for freedom.
Already there was the worrying spectre that the Saviours knew where Alexandria was, that they were just biding their time before attacking them, but they didn't know what Alexandria knew about them. They didn't know that the three communities they would have under their thumb were already aware of one another, already conspiring together…and they had the perfect reconnaissance. Today when he went to the Kingdom for Carl's final check up with the doctors Rick would be sharing this information with Richard and his group, fuelling their confidence and enabling them to start forming a game plan. They would be taking the first step towards freedom…when the time and plan were right, they would act on it, they would take the Saviours out.
"Your kid is like a fucking tornado," Lana suddenly commented, sounding exasperated. "She's everywhere, you know?"
Carrie managed a laugh, knowing this all too well. "Yeah, that's my Judy."
"She doesn't shut up, either. No offence," she added.
"None taken," Carrie assured her. "She's been chatty lately. I'd say she'd talk underwater given half the chance."
"My sisters were like that," Lana added, she herself starting to talk excessively. "They'd go under the water talking, and they'd come back up still going. Dad used to call them Noise Pollution One and Two…they even answered to it."
Though Carrie chuckled and tried to keep things lighthearted, very quickly the silence resumed…whatever had brought Lana here wasn't going to rise to the surface without a little probing. "Lana," she began tentatively, breaking the long silence. "Are you doing okay?"
Immediately her features brightened, but thankfully she didn't pretend everything was alright. "Who the fuck knows?" she exclaimed jokingly, trying to be funny. But a moment later all humour was gone, though she still tried to smile through it, trying to keep it together. "I told you he'd do it…that he'd leave me one day."
There was no need to clarify that she was talking about Vetor. "I'm sorry that he's gone."
"No you're not," Lana shot back straight away, her voice darkening now. Taking a sip of her coffee she settled back into the couch, crossing her leg over the other.
"No, I'm not," Carrie admitted, figuring it was better to be honest. "But I am sorry that it's hurt you."
There was a pause now, Lana looking almost surprised by what Carrie had said. Had no one acknowledged what she was going through until now? It didn't matter that everyone disapproved of their relationship, that they all thought she was better off without Vetor. She loved him, and right now she was in pain.
"He's only at a safe house," Lana said, trying to sound as though she had it all sorted out. "He's just waiting for me. Once I'm done at the Kingdom, I'm leaving too."
Carrie paused, uncomfortable with the acknowledgement of why Lana was going to the Kingdom. But although she had her opinions about that, her opinion had not been asked for. "I wish you weren't leaving."
"No you don't."
"I do. I wish that you'd stay in Alexandria."
Lana raised her eyebrows, and then pushed at her again. "Even if I got rid of it?" she questioned, challenging her.
At this she paused, she had to. "What you do about your pregnancy is none of my business," she acknowledged, though she was dying to tell Lana that she was making a mistake. "But I stand by what I said. Alexandria is your home, and I wish you were staying."
Apparently ignoring everything she had just heard, Lana took a sip of her coffee and then leant forward for a cookie. "These look good. Carol must have made them, huh?"
"I made them," she replied with a smile, knowing how Lana liked to tease her for her cooking, even when it was completely unfounded. "So, what's the deal with Mitchell and Mina? Are they staying or going?"
"They're, uhhh…they're waiting for me," she stated. "We're even on speaking terms again."
"So, they want to go too?"
At this Lana paused, and then she avoided that particular question. "Once I'm done at the Kingdom we'll meet Vetor at the safe house, and then we'll go. Rick's giving us a car, some supplies. We can set up somewhere far away, make our own place."
"You didn't answer my question. Do they want to go too?"
She looked uncomfortable, and she made a point of averting her eyes. "I don't know," she admitted. "I think they're a little undecided now. They've been trying to talk me into staying."
On the inside Carrie rejoiced, but she kept her expression neutral. "What would that mean for you?"
Still not looking at her, Lana shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know."
"Is going to the Kingdom tomorrow really the right thing to do?"
"I'm going," she stated firmly, looking her in the eye now. Her tone changed, and she now appeared more resolute than ever. "Mina and Mitchell just want to have their say, that's all.
"So, you've decided what you're going to do?"
"Yeah," Lana nodded, her voice sounding a little high pitched. She looked at Carrie nonchalantly, eating the last piece of her cookie. "It's what's best."
"Best for who?"
It seemed this was a question Lana didn't want to answer, which made Carrie question even more the reasons behind her decision. It took everything she had to not launch into a tirade of advice, to not start insisting that Lana refuse to terminate her pregnancy, to not terrify her with the possibility she would regret it. Instead she chose her words carefully, trying to empower her decision making rather than bully her into someone else's opinion.
"You know, you don't have to decide this straight away. How far along are you?"
She shrugged. "Four or five weeks, I think."
"But you're-"
"I'm definitely pregnant," she cut her off. "I peed on a stick, can't fuck that up."
"It could have been a false positive."
Lana shook her head. "No, Denise made me do another test. Made me pee into a cup, like that ain't gross as fuck. Thank God she didn't put it into the fridge, Tara might have thought we had apple juice again."
Carrie laughed at the joke, though mainly for Lana's benefit rather than amusement. "All I'm trying to say," she began lightly, trying not to sound as if she was lecturing her. "Is that you don't need to decide right now. You've got time."
"Did you think about it?" Lana asked gently. She looked at Carrie in apprehension, perhaps unsure if she really wanted to get in to this.
"Briefly," she admitted, figuring it was best to be truthful. "I thought about a lot of things…a lot of things I'm glad didn't happen."
"Well it's easy for you," Lana dismissed, kicking off her shoes and pulling her feet up onto the couch. She was settling in and making herself comfortable…she wanted to talk. "I don't have a husband. I don't have a family."
On the inside Carrie cringed, hating that Lana was willing to leave Alexandria for people who she didn't even consider to be family. "If something happened and Rick never came home again, I'd still be okay. I wouldn't be alone with this baby, not for a second. And neither would you."
At this, Lana seemed to turn sheepish. "Yeah, I know. Daryl said the same thing."
"When Daryl makes that kind of observation he's usually right…he's very annoying that way."
Though she managed a small laugh, Lana turned her gaze into her mug of coffee, taking a few moments to think. Letting her take her time Carrie reached forward and took another cookie from the plate, and as she took a bite she started to think it could use a little something else…how would just a smear of mayonnaise go on this cookie? They had plenty of the sachets she liked, Carl had helped her hoard them in the closet beneath the stairs.
Lana sat up a little straighter, staring at Carrie incredulously. "I can't take this any more. What the hell are you sitting on?"
"It's a gym ball."
"But why?"
Carrie sighed, having not anticipated getting into an in depth discussion about her baby with a woman who planned on terminating her own. "It's comfortable, and helps with posture. I'm trying to get the baby to turn over."
"Ohh, it's breech?" she asked in great interest. "My brother was born like that, and I swear he was one giant fuck up. Must be something about getting things wrong on day one."
"Well, that's what we're trying to avoid. I have to spend a lot of time upside down with my feet in the air."
"Well, at least they're not too swollen," Lana complimented, surprisingly supportive.
Carrie grinned. "Not when you get two foot rubs a day. Three if I cry before breakfast."
"I'm impressed," Lana praised. "Sounds like you've got it all sorted out."
"Mostly."
Like usual the silence fell again, leaving them both to mull over what had already been said. As she let the silence linger Carrie looked into her mug of coffee, and although it wasn't the nicest tasting she was disappointed that she was almost finished. Once Lana was done with hers there would be less reason to stay. They had talked already, not that much had been changed or achieved, though that likely wasn't what Lana had come here for. In all likelihood she was lonely, trying to pass the time with a somewhat friendly face. Though they hadn't spoken for some time, there had to have been something good between them that encouraged Lana to come here today, something that told her it was okay to seek her out as a friend.
"I'm dying to know," Carrie finally began, figuring she ought to ask her question before Lana tried to make her inevitable departure. "What was Negan like?"
Surprised, Lana slowly looked up at her. "What do you care?"
"He's a threat to us. All that we've heard about him makes it sound like he's the big bad wolf who's going to come and blow our straw house down."
"I already told Rick everything."
"You didn't tell me."
In spite of her reluctance, Lana answered loquaciously. "Negan was horrible. He was cruel, sadistic. He enjoys what he does to people, he likes them being afraid of him, he likes the power…but he's also perfectly normal too."
"How so?" Carrie pressed, more and more interested to hear this.
"He treated my group well," Lana shrugged, sipping her coffee to buy herself a few moments. "We were strangers and he let us into the Sanctuary, he gave us options…he didn't even take it personally when none of us wanted to be his wife. And when I changed my mind about that, he didn't hold it against me."
It was the latter Carrie couldn't get out of her head, the concept of Negan's wives. "So he just has a…a harem?"
"It's a free country," Lana shrugged, not thinking much of it. "There were five when I left, including me. He's probably got more by now. If Sherri's still alive, she'll be one of the new ones."
"How do you know that?"
"If she and Dwight went back there, marrying Negan would have been her only option to keep Dwight alive."
"They defected, didn't they? Like you did?"
"Yeah. They never did so well as workers. Tina was a diabetic, and her medication cost a lot of points, so they were always in debt to someone." Lana paused, looking at Carrie in scrutiny. "It wasn't so bad."
"Being Negan's wife?" she questioned. "Being one of his many?"
"It sound disgusting…it is disgusting. But he treated us well. He never hurt us, never abused us…if you didn't want to have sex with him you didn't have to fake a headache. His ego could take the rejection, and there was always another wife willing to put out."
"I just…I don't get it," Carrie sighed, even though that was far from the truth. In reality she understood perfectly well…sometimes all you had to bargain with was your own body and someone else's lust for it. What these women did was no different to what she did with Granger's group, though it felt wildly different. While they got luxuries and a comfortable life in exchange for sex, she was tormented and abused, Granger's group not living up to their end of the agreement.
"The Saviours aren't all bad. They can be weirdly respectful sometimes, like opening doors for me and shit. Negan would look after someone like you."
Carrie frowned, surprised by the disdain in Lana's voice as she made that last remark. "Why would he look after me? Am I wife material?"
"Anyone with tits and a half decent body is wife material, it doesn't mean you're special," Lana muttered. "He'd look after you because you're pregnant."
At this her heart faltered, and she resisted the instinct to place her hands over her belly. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Not even the Saviours want to die out. They're thinking to the future too," she stated simply. "You think you and Maggie are the only women repopulating the earth? All that sex going on, they've popped out a couple of babies in that place."
Again Carrie cringed, unable to stand the thought of being married to a person like Negan, let alone having a baby to him. "That's…horrible," she said, unable to find the right adjective to adequately sum up her disgust.
"Not really," Lana argued. "Pregnant chicks there get free medical care, extra rations for their points, they get a decent mattress. They're looked after, kids never go hungry. Like I said, they'd look after you. Negan's not so bad if you forget about all the other stuff."
"You mean like robbing communities, burning faces, beating people to death with his baseball bat?"
"Lucille," Lana corrected her. "The bat's name is Lucille."
Carrie rolled her eyes. "That's so juvenile."
"Be sure to mention that to him," she replied sarcastically. "I'm sure he'll have a counter argument of some kind."
Realising that she was being a little insensitive, that she had no justification to make light of Negan and what he did, Carrie softly muttered an apology. For a few moments she sat in silence and tried to take it all in, still wrapping her head around it even after having been learning more and more about Negan over the last few weeks. As she thought she looked up at Lana, imaging her as one of the many wives, dressed in nice clothing and with her hair blow dried, spending her days waiting around until Negan sought her out for sex. Though their two situations were starkly different, with Carrie having endured greater violence at what felt like her own naivety, they weren't so different. Both of them had their free will and autonomy taken from them, someone else making use of their body without care for the harm it caused them.
"I get it now," Carrie began gently. "I get what you said before…about the things you had to do for your people."
Lana looked up at her, but her features remained impassive. For a long moment she simply stared at Carrie, holding her gaze before slouching back into the couch and turning away. Her mouth twisted into a grimace, but just as quickly her expression faded back to neutral. However voluntary becoming Negan's wife had been on the surface, it wasn't truly done willingly.
"The day we ran, I had to leave Frankie behind," she began heavily, her fingernails tapping against the ceramic handle. "She was working inside, and we couldn't tell her without tipping someone off. She's still there…if she's alive that is."
Carrie's lips parted to share words of encouragement, to assure her that Frankie understood, that she didn't hold it against her, but instead she held her tongue. Those words were meaningless, and more than likely untrue. Frankie had been abandoned by her entire group, left behind to fend for herself against Negan. To Carrie, that didn't seem like something forgivable.
"You had to do it too, didn't you," Lana asked next, looking up at her again. "You had to fuck your way to the top?"
Like it always did, the mention or thought of what happened made her chest tighten a little, the surge of memories making her feel vulnerable until she pushed them away again. "Not in so many words. But yes, something like that."
"Does Rick know?"
She nodded, recalling both the day she told him about the things she had done, and the day they encountered Granger together. "He knows enough. Not the details, but enough."
"And how do you know that you love him?"
Blinking in surprise, Carrie peered at Lana in curiosity, surprised by the question about love. Where had that come from, she wondered. But the question was no off the cuff query. Although she was trying to be nonchalant about it, Lana was hanging on for Carrie's answer, waiting with bated breath.
"Falling in love with him was easy," she smiled, fondly remembering the early days of their relationship. "I think that might be the easiest thing I've ever done…but I'm not constantly head over heels for him, and I don't love all parts of him."
"But you do love him," Lana pressed.
"Of course I do."
Lana sighed now, sitting forward. "How do you know?"
For a moment Carrie paused, conscious that her first attempt hadn't answered Lana's question to her satisfaction. "I think he might be the only person I've ever really known…I mean really know," she emphasised. "I trust that the person he shows me is who he really is. We didn't used to be completely in sync with one another, we are more these days, but he's never hidden himself from me. I know him…that's how I know I love him."
"Makes sense, I guess," Lana muttered, looking at her empty mug while she ran her finger around the lip. "That shit's important…"
"Can you say that about Vetor?" she asked, wanting to challenge her.
"I haven't loved Vetor for a long time," she said heavily, still looking at her mug. "I loved who I wanted him to be…just took me this long to figure that out."
"Then why the question about lo-"
Without warning the front door swung open, the atmosphere broken by heavy footsteps and chatter as Daryl, Carl and then Rick made their way into the house. There was the usual commotion now, Daryl hanging his crossbow up on a hook while Rick and Carl kicked off their shoes, each of them oblivious to the visitor they had in their living room. As she waited Carrie looked at Lana in apology, for not only was their coffee date likely to be over now, she wasn't quite sure how things were with Daryl at the moment. At this very thought Daryl came into view, literally scratching his ass as he made his way into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
"Yah wan't somthin'?" he asked the room at large, emerging from the refrigerator with a bowl of roasted vegetables from last night and the left over gravy.
Rick shook his head and then gave Carrie a hasty greeting before going upstairs, needing to change out of his muddy and blood stained clothing. Carl on the other hand eagerly reached for a cold potato and dipped it into the gravy.
You bastards, Carrie thought to herself. That's my gravy.
None of them had noticed that Lana was there, particularly given that she was presently curled up on the couch trying to avoid being noticed. She was holding on tight to her coffee mug, nonchalantly looking into it, and Carrie longed to know what was going on inside her head.
"Hey Carrie, did you finish the laundry today?" Carl asked, now dipping a carrot into the gravy and then taking a bite. Despite this he continued talking with his mouth full. "I need clean shirts to take with me to the Kingdom."
At this question Daryl looked at him incredulously. "Good God, man. Don't anger it," he warned.
Carrie just rolled her eyes. "For your information Carl, yes, I finished the laundry. I also packed a bag for all three of you, did a whole shift on watch, cleaned the floors, emptied the dishwasher, scrubbed the bathrooms and cut Judith's hair. If you're not careful I'll cut yours too."
Looking particularly uncomfortable with that suggestion, Carl muttered a swift apology and then turned back to the bowl of roast vegetables, selecting another piece of potato and dipping it into the gravy. Daryl on the other hand stood there awkwardly, having just realised who it was sitting on the couch opposite Carrie. There was an awkward tension in the air, both Lana and Daryl actively trying to avoid eye contact, their discomfort making Carrie more and more curious to know what was going on between them. Had they talked about the pregnancy? Had Daryl been supportive and understanding, or had he been a complete asshole about it…Carrie had her doubts about the latter.
"Don't take too long," Daryl muttered to Carl, pushing the bowl of vegetables into his hands. "We're outta here in half an hour." Without another word he turned on his heel and headed for the stairs, making a retreat from the uncomfortable situation.
"What are you gonna do, leave without me?" Carl questioned in annoyance. "I'm the reason we're going to the Kingdom."
Glad to note that Carl still seemed unaware of Lana's pregnancy, Carrie set her empty mug onto the coffee table. "Maybe you should go upstairs and take a shower before you go," she suggested.
"Nah, I'm good. I had one this morning."
"Carl," she said pointedly, waiting until she had his attention. "Go away. Now."
Looking between she and Lana he got the hint, though that didn't stop him looking at her in exasperation. "Fine. Whatever."
"Wait," she stopped him as he opened the refrigerator. "Leave the food on the counter."
He dumped the vegetables and gravy on the kitchen counter before leaving, making his annoyance with being kicked out clear with his heavy footsteps on the stairs. Not caring that he was annoyed Carrie apologised and turned back to Lana, but she was disappointed to see that she was getting up. Though there had been no interaction, clearly her encounter with Daryl had made her feel uncomfortable, bringing to an end their conversation. At this Carrie was disappointed, not feeling that their talk had come to a natural conclusion. There was still more to say, Lana still had more on her mind…and in an hour she would be leaving for the Kingdom where she would have to make a decision about what she wanted.
"You don't have to go," Carrie said kindly. "You don't have to go now, you don't have to go to the Kingdom…you don't have to go anywhere."
"I know I don't have to," Lana said, collecting both empty mugs and the empty plate. "But I'm going. It's my decision."
"Yes," she acknowledged. "Is Mina or Mitchell going with you?"
"No."
She knew it would never be allowed, that Rick would likely put his foot down and refuse the very idea, but Carrie made the offer anyway. "If you want me to, I can come with you."
At this Lana actually laughed. "Seriously? Nine months pregnant and you'll hold my hand while I get rid of mine?"
"If you wanted me to, yes."
Lana's amusement faded now, realising that Carrie meant it. Standing in the kitchen she held her gaze for a moment, but then shook her head. "Denise is coming with me…but thanks."
"You're welcome," she replied, a little relieved that Lana hadn't taken her up on the offer. But Denise would be there for her, Denise would help coach her to the decision that was right for her and then support her through whatever that decision was.
"Hey," Lana said next, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she opened the dishwasher and saw that it was crammed full with dirty dishes. "You didn't empty this."
Carrie scoffed at her naivety. "No. Just like I didn't scrub the bathrooms or clean the floors."
"Was any of what you said to Carl true?" she asked, rearranging some things before loading in the two mugs and plate.
"I did pack their bags and take watch, but that was only for an hour."
This time Lana grinned, shaking her head to herself, yet the light hearted moment didn't compel her to stay. "Thanks for the coffee" she said as she made her way towards the door.
Wanting to see her out, Carrie pushed herself up from the gym ball, annoyed when it rolled away and bumped into Judith's toy chest. "How bad did it taste?"
"Like a cup of ball sweat."
"And yet, you drank every last drop."
While Lana slipped her shoes back on Carrie went to the front door, opening it for her and following her out onto the porch. It was there they paused a moment, the method of their goodbye awkwardly lingered in the air, and Carrie didn't blame her for not wanting to hug her. Rick had joked that it was like a basketball between them when they hugged, but for Lana that was probably too close to home right now.
"I'm…" Lana began, though she wasn't looking her in the eye. Instead she was looking around at Alexandria, restlessly brushing her hair behind her ears. "I'm going to the Kingdom," she said firmly, sounding like she was talking herself into it. "I'm getting the pills I need…but I'm still going to think about it."
"You'll come home first?" she asked, hiding her relief when Lana nodded. She's on the fence about it. "Taking your time is the right thing to do," she began heavily. "But whatever you do decide…everything will be okay."
Lana nodded, murmuring a soft thanks before she went on her way. For a few moments Carrie watched her go before heading back inside, going about the struggle of switching her slippers for proper footwear. Upstairs she could hear everyone bustling around, Rick's heavy footfall on the stairs indicating that he was on his way down, and then all too soon they were all ready to go.
Bundling up against the cold, Carrie simply watched on as the Hyundai was packed with their personal belongings, while the back of the military truck was methodically loaded with the arsenal of weapons and ammunition that were to be supplied to the Hilltop Colony. Though Gregory wasn't yet willing negotiate the terms of an alliance that would fight the Saviours, Richard, Rick and Jesus were preparing for the day that happened. Whether it was Gregory or a predecessor, soon enough the Hilltop were going to fight he Saviours alongside Alexandria and the Kingdom, and to do that they would need weapons. For now though, Alexandria were delivering those weapons to the Kingdom where Jesus would meet them, ensuring that if the worst happened to them the stockpile to share would be safe elsewhere.
Feeling the baby stretching about inside her, Carrie waddled her way over to the rear of the military truck and looked inside. It never failed to bring her to awe when she saw the true extent of the weapons cache, and this was just a small portion of what they had. These days their armoury looked bare, the vast majority of weapons and ammunition having been taken out of Alexandria to be safely hidden elsewhere lest the Saviours one day find them.
"Mom…Mom?"
Hearing the sound of that familiar voice, Carrie lowered her gaze to the appropriate height and looked around for Judith, beaming when she saw her appear amongst the other well wishers down by the gate. Looking adorable in the winter coat that practically engulfed her, Judith happily strolled over to Carrie and then reached up for her, already babbling away to relay her day away from home. With a low groan she bent down and picked Judith up, a task that felt particularly strenuous and difficult these days, not that Judith had noticed. Though she was pleased to be perched on Carrie's hip she looked at her belly in annoyance, often feeling that it was in her way when she tried to cuddle up to her. Nevertheless she didn't skip a beat, still babbling away at her.
"I take it she's had a good day," she queried Carol who had followed her over.
Carol smiled cheerfully, for once looking as though it was genuine. "She's been very busy," she said, reaching out and pulling Judith's jacket down from riding up. "We didn't do anything special."
"It doesn't have to be special," Carrie assured her. "She likes coming to visit, don't you Judy?"
Stopping halfway through her sentence Judith considered her question, and then gave a brief nod before continuing what she was saying, her chatter not waning for even a moment. While they waited for the travellers to finish up with the packing and get ready to leave Carrie and Carol stood with one another, talking more in those few minutes than they had in a long time. Perhaps she was simply in a good mood today after having taken Judith, but for once she didn't seem to be itching to get away from Carrie, to leave and retreat back into her cottage where she would stay for the foreseeable future. Whatever she and Maggie had discussed, it had helped.
Today, the only thing Carrie could do was hope that Carol's good mood stuck around. It had been her idea that she take Judith for the day, that she allow Carrie some peace and quiet to finally get a few things done before Rick, Carl and Daryl left for the Kingdom, and it had been an offer Carrie gladly accepted. Carol hadn't babysat Judith in months, and the little girl had been as thrilled as Carrie by the notion of spending the day with Carol.
"Her diaper was dry after her nap," Carol commented. "Rick said she's sometimes dry in the morning."
"Sometimes," Carrie clarified. "You think it's time to start potty training?"
"Maybe. We could wait until her birthday next month, give her some underwear to try out."
"You'll tell me how to do it, right?"
"Of course, I'll show you how it's done," she winked at her. "What are you doing for dinner tonight?"
Having been watching as Rick checked on things in the back of the military truck, it took Carrie a moment to answer. "Dinner? Erm…probably leftovers from last night."
Carol shook her head in disapproval. "Give Judy an early bath and then come on over. Tobin has evening watch, and I'm not cooking spaghetti for one."
A smile crept onto Carrie's face…it had been months since Carol invited her around for anything, least of all dinner. "Spaghetti Tuesday?"
"It is Wednesday after all. I was thinking I'll invite Tara too."
"With Denise going away I think that would be nice," Carrie agreed. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," she answered, her tone indicating surprise for the gratitude. "When the baby's here I'll be able to make you Tiramisu for dessert…my recipe is deadly."
At this Carrie grinned, feeling her heart swelling. "I wouldn't have my Tiramisu any other way. Can you believe some people have it without the alcohol?"
Carol scoffed playfully. "What a waste of time." She turned to Judith now. "Can you say, Mommy's getting hammered?"
Frowning, she tried. "Mommy's…"
"Mommy's getting hammered," Carol coached her, pronouncing it slowly. "Say it loudly."
"Carol!"
"Mom's…hamma…Mom's hammered."
"Good girl!" Carol praised. "Say it again, louder."
"Mom's hammered!"
As the other Alexandrian's turned and looked in confusion, Carrie could only cringe. "I'm not hammered," she laughed, trying to reassure them. Shaking her head she turned back to Carol. "I expect that from Daryl, not you!"
Carol only shrugged, unconcerned. "They need something else to gossip about at book club."
With this, Carrie had to agree. Though it probably wasn't Carol's original intention, there was no denying that such a joke might draw attention away from Lana and her group, even if just temporarily. Everyone knew they were defectors from the Saviours, but no one knew that she was pregnant to Daryl, and they intended to keep it that way. Lana didn't need the added pressure of more people knowing her secret than already did.
"Come over at five," Carol requested, already taking her leave. "You can put Judy to bed in my room, maybe we'll watch a movie or something."
"That sounds nice. Thanks for having her today."
Waving goodbye to Judith and then the others, Carol simply turned on her heel and went home, but this time Carrie didn't feel down about any of it. Maybe this was an about-face on Carol's part…maybe things had changed enough for her. Maybe all she needed after all was a little time to come around, to be alone and process the horrible deaths they had endured over the last few months and since the outbreak itself. From now on things were going to be different, Carrie knew it.
Unable to help himself, Rick just had to look around when he heard Judith loudly proclaiming that her mom was hammered, taking great delight in the way Carrie was trying to shush her. Standing in the back of the military truck surrounded by the generous cache of weapons they were contributing to the Hilltop Colony, he looked out and laughed to himself when he saw Carrie's embarrassment, the way she tried to reassure the other Alexandrians that she was in fact perfectly sober. Her cheeks were pink, and as Judith continued insisting that she was hammered she seemed to give up and simply ignore her. Rick on the other hand was perfectly bemused. There had to come a time eventually when one of the kids embarrassed Carrie in public, it was a rite of passage for every parent. Though it was ten years since he had done it, Rick still had not forgiven Carl for telling the County Sheriff "my daddy says you're a dick".
Turning back to the arsenal, Rick cast his eye over everything and made sure it would be secure for the journey, that nothing would go bouncing around in the back. They had spent months building their stockpile of weapons, and it seem foolish to be just giving so much away, but it was a strategic move, one that if played out well would ensure their safety in the future. So long as the Hilltop didn't get any mistaken ideas about whose side they were on, Alexandria and the Kingdom would have strength in numbers. The Saviours couldn't take them all on at once.
"Let's go," Rick decided, jumping down from the back and then helping Abraham close everything up. "Are we all here?"
"Carl's probably still at my house," Glenn answered, looking up the road. "I'll go get him."
"Please," Rick muttered, wondering what was taking Carl so long to say goodbye to Enid. Then again, perhaps he didn't want to know what was taking him so long. "Lana? Where is she?"
"On her way," Tobin spoke up. "Left her packing to the last minute."
Though he was annoyed by her tardiness he didn't let it show, conscious that despite his decision she was allowed to stay, most community sentiment wasn't exactly on her side right now. Wanting to leave quickly he started saying his goodbyes, making his way over to where Carrie and Judith were waiting expectantly.
"I'll be back in a couple of days," he assured her, placing his hand on her arm and kissing her. But by now they were getting used to it, aware of how important trips like this were for Alexandria. He had no doubt that this would not be the last time he had to leave her and his children behind.
Carrie moved with him when he started to pull away, asking for more. "That's how you kiss your wife goodbye?"
Getting he hint he kissed her again, this time letting it feel more leisurely. For a few happy moments he thought about last night when they were in bed together, eager to fool around but both too sleepy to put in the majority of the work. It had been all hands roaming lazily, slow kisses and heavy sighs, and then he was inside her. Even then they felt no hurry, completely relaxed and content to take their time with one another. Thinking about it now, Rick knew that night was going to get him through a few days away from home.
"No more slandering your mother," Rick said to Judith, taking her in his arms now that he had a minute or so to spare. He kissed her on the cheek and held her close, but Judith was well used to this scenario. She seemed generally unconcerned by his impending departure, which was the way he needed it to be for her.
"Bye," she told him, tolerating another kiss before pointedly pushing him away and reaching for Carrie instead.
As if on cue Carl and Glenn appeared at the top of the street, while Lana appeared in the other direction, both groups heading down to join the departing group. Rick turned back to his family and watched as Carl gave Carrie an obligatory kiss goodbye on the cheek, before doing the same with his sister. Just as she had done with Rick she waved goodbye, but seemed generally unconcerned by the fact that he was leaving.
"I'm riding in the truck. Hey Abe, can I drive?"
"My dingle-berried ass you can drive."
"Is that a yes?"
"Take care," Rick requested of her, touching his hand to her belly before they shared one more kiss. "I love you."
Carrie smiled, holding his hand against her belly for just one more moment, but then she let him go. "We love you too. Travel safely."
"I'll bring back some food from Chef."
"I never doubted the man for a second."
While Abraham, Sasha and Carl climbed into the military truck, Rick and the other four headed for the Hyundai. While Daryl slammed the trunk shut Rosita was hastening for the front passenger seat, and it was only at the last minute that he realised he was going to have to sit in the back with Lana. As she too realised this Lana turned to Denise and grabbed her by the arm, quietly imploring her to take the middle seat and be a buffer.
Unconcerned by who sat where, Rick lingered by the driver's seat and watched on while everyone else filed into the vehicles and shut the doors, and only when he was the last left standing did he take the driver's seat. There was silence in the car, and a quick glance in the rear view mirror showed him Lana and Daryl sitting in the back with Denise between them, everyone pointedly avoiding one another's gaze. Whatever had happened between Daryl and Lana since the revelation of her pregnancy, it hadn't done much to help the shock of it. Conscious of everything going on, he also took note that Abraham, Sasha and Rosita were all making this journey…there were a lot of relationship dynamics and hurt feelings at play here, but he wasn't anticipating trouble.
With his rifle resting across his lap, Rick started the engine and then looked around as the Alexandrian's backed away from the vehicles, while Tara came forward to open the gate and farewell them as they departed. Going first Rick led the way, glancing at Carrie and Judith and raising his hand from the steering well in farewell. With some encouragement Judith was wildly waving her hand at them as they left, while Carrie smiled and continued hiding her disappointment to see them going.
In no time at all the two vehicles were on the wide open road, making the familiar journey to the Kingdom as if it was any other day. A small group of them had already been out that day scouting the route, making sure it was clear and that there were no unfriendly types around. They would head due east into the city and then north up to Palmyra, the route they always took…simple. All in all their travel wouldn't take more than an hour. They would arrive at the Kingdom with plenty of daylight to spare, time to settle into their housing quarters, for Carl to catch up with his friends. Though on the surface they were there to bring Carl and Lana to the doctors, the main purpose of this trip was to regroup with Richard, to ascertain where things were at in regards to the Saviours.
A great deal had happened over the last few days, not even accounting for the fallout of Lana's pregnancy and Vetor leaving her. What they had come to learn about Lana's group and the Saviour's had changed everything, and though at first the discovery of their secret felt like a betrayal, now it was their greatest strength in the fight against the Saviours. After interrogating Lana, Vetor, Mitchell and Mina, Alexandria now knew exactly where the Sanctuary was, how to get in, the layout and organisation, how it was defended, how many people lived there…where Negan lived.
This trip was about defining their next move. By now Richard should have made headway in convincing Ezekiel it was time to fight, and if he hadn't convinced him already then the news of their extra information and advantage was sure to help. For the first time ever the Kingdom would now be two steps ahead of the Saviours. They had allies and information. Once they had Ezekiel on board once and for all they would tackle the issue of Gregory and the Hilltop, the last roadblock standing in their way. Jesus too would be visiting the Kingdom today to join their discussions, and that meant they would need a sensitive approach when it came to discussing Gregory in front of him. They couldn't presume that Jesus would be prepared to overthrow and potentially kill his leader, regardless of the man's cowardice.
Thirty minutes into their journey, and still not a word had been said by any of them. The silence was increasingly uncomfortable, and Rick kept finding himself glancing into the rear view mirror to look at Daryl and Lana. He knew they had talked things over at some stage, that Daryl had told her to do whatever was right for her about the pregnancy…there was nothing more he was able to do, even if he resented her decision. He was powerless here, though even knowing him so well Rick couldn't gauge what it was that Daryl wanted to happen next.
Over the last few days he had been wondering if perhaps Daryl had developed feelings for Lana, if them sleeping together had started leading to something more, but he tried to shake this thought. He couldn't assume that just because it happened between he and Carrie, that Daryl and Lana were predisposed to falling in love. They were all very different people, and while Rick wouldn't have slept with Carrie in the first place if he didn't feel the flicker of something for her, Daryl on the other hand treated sex and love very differently. For him sex was a tit for tat exchange, nothing more. That didn't mean he was going to fall in love with a woman he slept with.
Unable to stand the heavy silence for much longer, Rick parted his lips to ask Rosita to find a CD in the glove compartment, but a sudden movement she made caught his attention. Until then she had been slouched in the front passenger seat with her feet up on the dashboard, but now she sat up straighter and peered down the road. Following her gaze Rick did the same, and when he saw a lone figure on the road ahead he watched it with caution. In general there was no particular reason to be alarmed by the sight of a bodily figure walking alongside the road, Walkers were a nuisance on the best of days, but something about this one had caught Rosita's attention.
"Don't slow down," she said quietly, taking her rifle in hand and then moving her seat back, ignoring the surprised protests of Daryl behind her. Even from a distance they could tell the figure moved with the smooth gait not associated with a Walker, and their hands didn't swing by their side as if it was a person travelling on foot…they were holding something.
"That a Walker?" Daryl questioned, leaning into the open truck where Carl's crossbow rested atop their bags.
"I don't think so," Rick answered, lowering his foot onto the gas and reaching for the radio on his belt.
"What is it?" Denise asked quietly, her brow furrowed in worry. Beside her Lana too was arming herself, casting her eyes around to the north side of the road.
Not answering her question, he raised the radio just as Rosita lowered her window and brought her rifle to the ready. "Abe, do you copy?"
He responded without delay. "Copy."
"We might have something on the road, I want you to slow down a little until we've cleared it."
"Copy that. Over."
In seconds they were closing in on the lone figure, and the closer they came the more certain Rick became that it was a person, not a Walker. Nevertheless he had no intention of stopping for them, not until he got a clear glimpse of what it was they were carrying in their hands…even then he wasn't exactly in a charitable mood. They were less than a hundred yards away and closing in at considerable speed when the figure did something of significance, and as if in slow motion they came to a stop and then whirled around, and he felt the bullets hammering the car before he heard the gun firing.
In the split second that followed Rick slammed his foot onto the gas, the car's speed accelerating quickly as they closed in on the shooter. The sound of bullets slamming into their car and whizzing past him only inches away was drowned out by Rosita, who hadn't hesitated to open fire through the passenger window she had already lowered. He ignored the white hot burn of the expended shells bouncing off of his hands, ignored the terrifying burst of red that he saw in his peripheral vision, and instead focused on keeping control of the car. He saw the startled face of the gunman a split second before he ran him over, both sickened and satisfied when he watched his body crumple and roll up the hood of the car. The windscreen cracked under the strain of the bullets and the body, but in an instant it was thrown clear and he was slamming on the brakes.
He skidded to a stop further down the road, Rosita scrambling for the radio to tell the others to go back. As the shock settled Rick slumped back into his seat and tried to catch his breath, looking himself up and down for evidence that he had been shot, miraculously finding none. Using the rear mirror he watched everyone in the back, Daryl and Lana scrambling to help Denise whose head lolled back against the seat. Her eyes were open in a blank stare, Daryl clutching her neck as dark red blood streamed over his hands.
"Denise?" Lana whimpered. She seized the front of her shirt and shook her, the motion making her head loll forward onto Daryl's shoulder. "Denise!"
Having some to a stop in the middle of the road, Rick looked back the way they had come to the body that lay prone in the centre of the road, unmoving. It was then that he realised it was he who made the fatal mistake, that stopping even for a split second in which he could catch his breath had made everything so much worse.
From the ground around them arose more figures, a group of at least twenty surrounding them on all sides and closing in fast. Without time to look at them and gauge the threat, no time in which to pick up the rifle that had fallen into the footwell, Rick could only turn around to those in the back. There was no need to take a second look at their attackers, for they could only be from one group, the Saviours.
"Lana, get down!" he instructed her, for the Saviours couldn't know she was with them. "Get down!"
A shot was fired, the driver's side mirror shot clean off. "Hands up!" someone shouted at them. "All of you, now!"
While Rick and Rosita did as instructed, in the back seat Daryl lunged towards Lana, seizing her by the collar and wrenching her down and out of sight, but by now it was already far too late. With his hands in the air and twenty guns trained on them, Rick knew better than to try and fight, and so there was nothing he could do but allow the first Saviour to open the driver's door and wrench him out.
A/N Hey readers, I hope you enjoyed my spin on Season 6 Episode 14, Twice As Far. Please leave a review to let me know what you think about that, and about the Carrie and Lana scene - cheers!