"Rick?"
"Rick?"
"Rick?"
Rick's eyes cracked open. He was in a bed, tucked into crisp sheets. He felt a hand on his shoulder. A human form came into focus. Lily. She smiled gently at him.
Rick rolled his head. His throat was parched.
"Where am I?" he rasped.
"Fort Benning Hospital," she answered softly. "You've been unconscious nine days."
Rick swallowed. He coughed sharply. Lily hurried to the counter and came back with a cup of ice. She lifted his head and placed a chip in his mouth. Rick sucked on it slowly.
When the coughing subsided, he gave a demanding look. "Beth? Judith?"
"They're fine," Lily promised. "Beth took her for a walk. She'll be back soon."
Rick's face relaxed. His head sank on the pillow. It worked. She got my message.
"She's a stubborn woman," said Lily. "The others thought you were dead. There were so many walkers. It was two days before we got to you."
Rick glanced at his arms. The walker bites were stitched like common wounds. He threw a look at Lily, but she held no answers. His eyes drew together. "Who else..."
Lily squeezed his shoulder. "Just rest."
Rick sighed softly. "Okay," he mumbled.
Quiet can be creepy if it's filling the wrong space. But the hospital walls were a rusty oasis. Gracie wandered the hall, humming to herself.
A loud clatter sounded—followed by a grunt. Gracie took off running. She burst through a door to find Peter doubled over.
She slid under his arm. "What the fuck are you doing?" she demanded.
"I was just..."
Gracie softened, rubbing his back. "It's okay. Lean on me."
She helped him to bed, easing him down gently. He shut his eyes until the pain subsided. "Sorry," he mumbled.
Gracie sighed. "You keep doin' that shit, I'll make Lily knock you out."
Peter smiled humorlessly, looking at the wall. The patterns there were suddenly engrossing. Gracie frowned. "Hey," she said gently. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm just..." He raked a hand through his hair, shifting restlessly. "I know I'm not easy. I know I'm not—him."
Gracie swallowed. Her eyes narrowed solemnly. "Is that what you think I want?" She shook her head slightly. "Mason was my best friend. He was everything to me. And it kills me every day that he can't be with me."
Gracie took Peter's hand, making lazy lines on it. "But you're not him. And I don't need you to be. I just need you," she said tenderly.
Peter glanced down. A small smile danced on his lips. When he looked up, she was grabbing a book (the same one he'd been reaching for).
She settled in her chair. "Was this the one?"
Peter nodded. His restlessness faded as she cracked the book open. She flipped through to a dog-eared page. Peter's eyes slitted contentedly.
"Time interval is a strange and contradictory matter in the mind," she read quietly. "It would be reasonable to suppose that a routine time or an eventless time would seem interminable. It should be so, but it is not. It is the dull eventless times that have no duration whatever. A time splashed with interest, wounded with tragedy, crevassed with joy—that's the time that seems long in the memory. And this is right when you think about it. Eventlessness has no posts to drape duration on. From nothing to nothing is no time at all..."
Beth held little Judith to her chest. The infant was content, swaddled in Hoshi's blanket. As she had nothing to compare it to, Judith enjoyed the new world.
Beth looked at the rail yard, watching Maggie and Jack work. They were fiddling with something on the train's exterior. Chance played in the dirt around them, tail wagging happily.
Maggie cranked it sharply, securing the panel.
"You're not half-bad at this," said Jack, rummaging through his tool bag. "When we get to Nebraska, I could teach you about engineering." He threw her a teasing look. "Lot of math, though," he warned her.
Maggie smiled weakly. "Yeah, maybe."
Jack studied her sidelong. Her face looked gaunt. Black circles rimmed her eyes. He leaned on the car next to her.
Laughing under his breath, he drew Maggie's attention. "You know, the first time I met you guys, I wasn't so sure," he said mildly. "I thought Rick was crazy, Glenn was weak, and Daryl was an asshole." He waited a beat, making circles in the dirt. "Turns out I was the weak-ass crazy asshole," he said.
Maggie smiled slightly. A bare hint of life flickered in her eyes. "You're not so bad," she said. They watched the dog play. He looked happy and free. "I suck at math, though," Maggie added.
"What do you think you'll do—in Nebraska?"
She tipped her head to one side. "I was thinkin' about a flower shop."
Jack hummed approvingly. "Good. You can make sure I remember Lily's birthday."
Maggie laughed softly. She pushed off the train car.
Lily stood at the cabinet, raking the bottles into three large bags. It was a stroke of luck to have these supplies. Nebraska, after all, was a long way away.
Beth strode into the wing, looking ever-hopeful. Lily's heart swelled. "He's awake," she reported. "He was asking for you."
Beth straightened her back. Her feet felt lighter. She seemed to float to the door. Time slowed as she opened it.
Inside, a weary Rick lifted his head. He looked weak and somber, covered in dressings. But his eyes were full of light.
She sat down by the bed. She took his hand, lacing their fingers. She held it to her lips and gave lingering kisses.
She met his eyes, smiling through tears. "Lars. 1855," she whispered.
He touched her cheek. "I s'pose that makes me the man of your dreams."
Beth breathed a laugh. Endless questions swirled in her mind. She wanted to understand—to know what he'd been through. But it didn't matter right now; all she needed was his skin on hers.
She thought of the last week. It was bloody, hellish, clearing out the walkers. And each body of a friend was seared in her memory.
Beth swallowed. Her mouth pinched at the corners. "When Maggie told us—we—they said there was no chance. They said you were dead." She paused, staring. An unreachable truth gleamed in her eyes. "But I knew you weren't."
"How?" he whispered.
"Because we weren't together."
Rick felt tears rolling down his face. She climbed on the bed, embracing him delicately. He pressed his lips against hers, clutching her tightly for fear she'd vanish.
She buried her face in the crook of his neck. Her small palms smoothed over his back. "I love you so much," she whispered.
Rick smiled into her hair. "If you could love me when I look like this, I guess you'll never leave, huh?"
"Not if you build me that house."
He took a long breath of her strawberry scent. "I done worse to keep smaller promises."
Beth kissed his pulse.
He'd taken walks while he recovered, but being up all day required re-acclimating. His muscles weren't accustomed to such use.
He oversaw preparations. But it was really for show. Everyone knew what to do; they just liked when he told them. Jack and Maggie made progress on the train; Lily and Beth stripped the hospital bare; and Peter and Gracie gathered weapons and ammo.
Rick was cleanshaven, hair cropped short. His t-shirt and jeans were crisp and comfortable. He walked down a hall with Beth and Maggie.
"We thought you'd wanna see this," Maggie said. "It was actually Gracie's idea. But we all pitched in."
Rick smiled curiously. At the end of the hall, a door led outside.
The three walked out into a majestic garden. Green leaves curled at the sun; orange poppies showed their petals with pride; and two large sugar maples were holding off fall.
He took a breath, tracking Maggie's eyes to the side of the building.
"In our hearts forever" was scribed in black stencil. Below it was a list of names. Many, he knew: Hershel Greene, Mason Pruitt, Daryl Dixon. Others were secret memories his friends had never shared.
Rick stood at the wall, feeling a strange calm. He traced Daryl's name with the tips of his fingers. "It's a nice idea," he said quietly.
He roamed the list, stopping on Glenn. He turned to find Maggie twisting her fingers.
She stared at the ground. "I wanted to ask—with everything that happened..." She paused, lifting her eyes. "I understand if it's gone, but—did you—do you still have the watch?"
Rick blinked slowly. "No," he said. Maggie's face fell. He took her chin in his hand. "I gave it to Glenn," he said gently.
Maggie's forehead creased. She searched his eyes. She didn't understand; she couldn't understand; but she could see it was the truth.
Maggie blinked back tears. Rick took her in his arms.
Jack and Lily went overboard, making dinner for twenty. The food would spoil on the road, so there was no need to conserve it.
Peter and Gracie pushed some tables together. They set out plates and plastic utensils. Gracie miscounted, forgetting their dwindled number. If Peter noticed, he kept it to himself.
Rick entered with Beth and Maggie. Gracie rushed over and gave him a big hug. She apologized when he winced.
"It's almost ready," she said.
"I'm starvin'," replied Beth.
Maggie walked to the stock room. "I'll grab the drinks."
Rick looked past them to Peter. It was the first time he'd seen him since waking up. Peter's smirk was less enraging than usual.
"You look like shit," said Rick.
"That make us twins?" Peter replied dryly.
Rick ghosted a smile. "I know what you did for us," he said solemnly. "I won't forget it."
Peter rubbed his neck. "There's no gold medals for not bein' a piece of shit."
Rick saw the guilt in his eyes. And he knew what it could do. "Look, whatever happened—" He shook his head. "That's over now. Startin' today, you're one of us."
He held out his hand. After a long pause, Peter shook it.
"Grimes, party of seven—your order awaits," Lily announced in a bad French accent.
She set down the main dishes. Jack followed with the others. Gracie bounded to the table, burning her fingers on the bowl. Peter rolled his eyes.
Beth threw him a mock-glare as he snuck a dinner-roll to Chance.
"What?" Rick asked innocently.
"You're gonna give 'im bad habits."
"Like you could say 'no' to those eyes."
Beth sighed. "I guess not. If they're anything like yours."
Jack frowned at them. "Is this an argument? 'Cause if it is, you're doin' it wrong."
The table laughed. Rick patted the dog and returned to his dinner. "How's the train comin'?" he asked.
"I think we're ready," Jack replied cheerfully. "I'll give it one more look. If I don't find something wrong, we should be good to leave tomorrow."
"What took you so long?" asked Peter.
Jack scowled. "Where were you, Mr. Goodwrench?"
"I was in the hospital," Peter scoffed.
"Yeah, sure," Jack mumbled. He threw a look at the sheriff. "I bet you faked that coma, too."
Rick grunted, sipping his wine.
"What was it like?" Gracie asked. "Being—you know—out. Could you hear us? Were you dreaming?"
Rick tensed his shoulders. His brow furrowed. "It's hard to describe, I guess. I was just—somewhere else."
Gracie cocked her head. "Like—'pink elephant' somewhere else or 'white light' somewhere else?"
Rick felt Beth's palm squeezing his knee. "It was like—" He paused for a long moment. "It was like bein' surrounded by everything that mattered. All the love and memory—from all the stages of your life—together in one place. And it's endless, you know? Boundless." He swallowed, blinking quickly. "And—and—you're not worried about anything—where anyone is. 'Cause it's like the whole universe—all of time and space—is inseparably connected."
A long silence engulfed the table. Rick covered Beth's hand where it sat on his leg.
Lily cleared her throat. "Who wants more wine?"
"Please!" Maggie said quickly.
An awkward laugh diffused the tension. Lily topped off glasses, then set the bottle down. When Gracie reached for it, Peter pulled it out of reach. He grinned at her glare.
Rick turned to Beth, gazing lovingly. He could get lost in those eyes. He pictured Beth in twenty, thirty, and forty years. He pictured her smooth skin wrinkled. It happens to all of us. But our eyes...
We get to keep those.
"I love you," he said.
Jack, Maggie, and Lily loaded the last of the supplies. They had enough ammo, meds, and MREs to make the trip five times.
Peter leaned on the train car, Gracie beside him. "I hate standin' around," he mumbled.
"You're not standing around. You're recuperating," she reminded him.
He grunted defiantly. Gracie liked it when he was grumpy and restless. It made her feel special to sooth him.
He saw her watching him, that ever-sweet smile plastered on her face. He didn't understand. But he was starting to accept it. "Sunshine..."
Gracie pressed against his side. "I know," she mumbled into his shirt.
Maggie grabbed the last box. A baseball cap tumbled to the ground. She crouched beside it. She pictured Glenn hiding under the brim. She smiled to herself, placing it on her head.
She gave the box to Jack.
"That everything?" he asked.
"Yeah. I think it is."
Jack climbed out. He smacked Peter with a rag and walked toward the front. "Peter—co-pilot—you're up."
"Fuck you, Slick," Peter said mildly.
Jack hummed agreeably. "You're right; you'd be terrible." He threw a look at Maggie. "Get the dog up here, would you?"
"I'll do it," Lily said.
She jogged to catch up. He threw an arm around her.
Rick sat on a bench. He scratched the dog's head, propped on his lap, and stared at the wall of names.
Wind rustled the poppies. Maples hung overhead. Now more than over, he was surrounded by life.
He turned to find Beth standing at the door. "You okay?" she asked.
Rick nodded slightly.
"We're ready to go," she said.
"I'll be along in a minute."
Beth moved to his side. She dropped a kiss on his head, stroking his hair. He squeezed her waist.
"C'mon, Chance," she commanded.
The dog leapt from the bench. He followed her through the door.
Rick leaned back, clasping his hands. He read all the names—even the ones he didn't know. At the bottom of the wall were those he'd added: Carl Grimes, Samantha Grimes, William Grimes, Lori Grimes, Shane Walsh, and Wayne Dunlap.
Rick grabbed his walkie. He crouched by the wall. His eyes narrowed and he looked down for a long moment.
He pressed the receiver. "I guess I don't know what to say," he breathed. "Dale told me once that words are meager things—that they often fall short. And that's true, I reckon. But I think I need to try." He took a breath and blinked. "I should be dead. I should've turned. But love... love..."
He shook his head gently. "I'm done lookin' back," he said. "There ain't no need, 'cause the past is never over. You're all—"
"—right here beside me, lookin' out at the next frontier."
Peter climbed on the train. Gracie paused on the steps, watching the dog run toward her. It followed her onboard.
Beth embraced Maggie, adjusting her cap. Maggie pulled away smiling. She looked at the tracks where they met the horizon.
"I don't know what we're gonna find. Maybe Nebraska's all devils and dust. Maybe we won't make it."
Jack stared out the window. In the far distance, one walker staggered.
Lily hugged him from behind, hands clasped on his chest. She kissed the back of his neck.
"But somewhere—out there—our light will hit a new sky."
The sun cast a halo over Rick as he approached. He looked placid and free. No pain filled his eyes. Beth smiled as he joined her on the steps.
"And they'll know we were here."
She took him in her arms. They could hear each other's hearts—steady and strong.
"'Cause a star can never die."
Rick pulled back, placing a kiss on her lips. She stroked his cheek, grinning lovingly, and boarded the train.
"I love you. I love you forever."
Rick paused on the steps, looking back at Fort Benning. He saw a field of orange poppies.
"This is Rick Grimes. Signin' off."
FADE TO BLACK