++++++ I do not own the Walking Dead or any affiliated characters apart from my OC. All rights belong to Kirkman and AMC ++++++

Fifty

I never thought that it would come down to your people, my people but it looked as though it was starting to go that way. I paced backwards and forwards down the bottom of cell block D listening to Jason and Alicia helping Hayley with the baby. My mind was racing with all kinds of thoughts as I paced.

The members of the convoy were coming in and out, unpacking the cars whilst the children were running around playing. They left me alone, diverting any questions to either Lucas or Andrew. The two were doing a good job at assigning places to sleep and moving my stuff into a cell for me. I didn't know what to do with myself, I was dead shit tired but I didn't want to sleep. Carefully I unstrapped my quiver and sat it down on the table beside Spirit, I put my bow down and took my jacket off, leaving me in just my jeans and tank top. I leant up against the table and craned my neck to listen out for any problems coming from the cell but anything I could hear was muffled.

"PJ," Matthew called out, dragging me out of my state of worry.

My head snapped around like a meerkat, eyes boring into Matthew. "Verdict been passed down yet?" I inquired. "Twenty-one gun salute?"

Matthew shook his head. "No, moron. Rick wants to talk to you. We gave you a couple hours, let you sort yourself out and now we wanna hear your side of things."

"Can't this wait?" Lucas cut in. "She's dead on her feet."

"We should do this now," Matthew argued.

"Only if I go with her," Lucas growled. Matthew may have been taller and bigger than him but Lucas wasn't backing down.

"Guys, I'm right here," I frowned. "I'll come, Lucas, you wanna keep shadowing me then I suggest you come with me and keep your mouth shut." I pushed off the table and followed Matthew back to the library the council. The whole way there I started yawning my head off. I guess now that the group was safe my body was desperate for sleep before it shut down.

Lucas leant over to me. "How long has it been since you've eaten?" he asked me.

"Couple of days," I replied. "Hayley needed the food more than I did. Hey…did you hide the Red Bull under my mattress?" I asked him.

"Heck yes," he answered. "Stashed a couple of cans under my mattress and Andrew's too. I'm not liking this situation, Phil. I mean, they could do anything to you in there."

"Yeah I'm totally going to be murdered," I joked. "Listen-I doubt that they would kill me. This isn't the mafia."

"They might as well be," Lucas growled. "I don't think anyone is happy you're back. Apart from that Ebony chick."

What Lucas had just said had merit and stuck with me as we came back to the library. I instantly saw an empty place at the table for me to sit down when I walked in, Lucas broke away from me and leant up against the wall behind me like a loyal attack dog. It was cute in a way I suppose. I sat down and leant back against the chair with loud yawn.

"You look like hell," Carol spoke first. "When was the last time you slept?"

"Eight days ago," I replied. "Who did we lose Lucas?"

"Adrien and Sam," the kid reminded me. "Karen and Lucy, Jenny, Ryan and Max. Fort Benning."

"You were at Fort Benning?" Herschel frowned. He shifted in his seat. "What's the situation?"

"Base is a shit hole," I replied. "Littered with walkers, hence how we lost seven of our own. Good people, all of them. We liberated a small arsenal though-you're welcome to see what we've got-it's in the bread delivery truck, just don't mind Tony, he's a crotchety old fool at the best of times."

I yawned again.

"Matt said you had questions," I reminded them all.

"Has your friend had the baby yet?" Glenn asked me.

I shook my head. "No, Doc says there ain't nothing wrong with her, baby's just taking it's time. He was worried that the attention on the road would attract walkers and the stress would kill them both." I leant forward in the seat. "I did what I had to do," I spoke up. "Michael was dead, Ebony's got a baby on the way…I ain't sorry I left. Rick knew I was leaving, I told him I would come back. If I hadn't left, the people I'd saved would be dead."

"PJ, I agreed because I thought I had time to talk you out of it," Rick declared. "I didn't think you would leave straight away."

I stared at him.

Ebony cleared her throat. "PJ-we're not gonna turn you or your group away…things don't work like that anymore. It was a unanimous vote. We're all happy to have you back."

"But?" I asked.

"I love you PJ," she answered, "but even know you're like you were before Daryl shot you. You're at home here but you still don't want to be a part of a group. People here love you and mourned you when they thought you were dead. We're a group now and the group makes the decisions, not the individual. You have to make your choice. Are you part of this group or not?"

"I am," I frowned. "Ebony I did this for you."

"Doing this for me is a week-long trip into Atlanta and back," she argued. "Not running down to Florida and forming your own group along the way."

"Who asked you?" Lucas growled.

"Lucas!" I hissed. "I said keep your mouth shut!"

Lucas growled. "I'm not gonna let them sit there and make you second guess yourself over the choices you've made. You saved my life in Atlanta, you saved Hayley and the Doc in Macon, we picked up your family in Lakeland and kept moving around. It's not right that they sit there at their little table and judge you for risking your life like that. Especially some broad who's greatest achievement is getting knocked up."

"Watch your mouth!" Daryl snapped, jumping up from his seat.

"Who's gonna make me, red neck?" Lucas snapped. "You? Three words-bring it on! Might wanna be careful though, I don't want to catch something off you."

Great, I huffed. "Lucas, you're my second. We don't need this behaviour right now! Apologise." I got up out of my seat to talk to him but the room had started spinning underneath me. I grabbed the table to stop myself from falling.

"Phil?" Lucas gasped, dropping the bravado act.

"The room's spinning," I told no-one in particular.

"PJ!" Ebony called out.

"I'm ok," I answered, holding up a hand to show her I was fine. "Nope…maybe not…"

The last thing I saw was the table rushing at my face before the black.