A/N All characters belong to the writers and creators of The Walking Dead. Except those that arose from my own twisted imagination.
Chapter 54-Father Forgive Me…
"Dani, honey, wake up." Dani forced herself awake though her body screamed for more sleep. She sat up and saw Daryl holding Jesse and feeding him from a bottle.
"Is everything ok?" Daryl nodded.
"Everything's fine. Maggie, Glenn and Taylor are heading out." Dani rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up. The pew had not been a comfortable bed but she had become so used to sleeping on dirt that she didn't mind. "You need me to take him?" Daryl shook his head and smiled at Jesse.
"No, I've got him. I really don't want to let him go." Dani smiled and looked out the window. The sun was shining bright, a stark contrast to the raging storm from the night before.
"Glad it stopped raining. Where'd you get the formula?" She asked. Daryl nodded over at Taylor.
"Taylor found the Sunday school room. Must have been a daycare too because there's diapers, baby food and formula. He cleaned out everything." Hearing his name, Taylor walked over to them.
"We're gonna find a vehicle big enough to haul all of us out of here. We can't keep going on foot. Not with the kids." Daryl nodded.
"You need one of us to go with you?" Taylor shook his head.
"Nah man. You need all the people you can get in case those assholes catch up. It's better that just the three of us go." Daryl nodded, put the empty bottle down and adjusted Jesse to burp him.
"Y'all stay safe out there. Watch your backs." Taylor nodded.
"You too man." Taylor walked closer and put his hand on Jesse's head. The baby popped up his head and grinned at him.
"Hey little guy, you take care of your Mom and Dad ok? Can you do that?" Jesse laughed and put his hand in his mouth. Taylor smiled back, turned and walked to the back of the church. Maggie and Glenn were already loaded up and at the door. Taylor grabbed his gun and followed behind them.
"Hey you guys!" Alice gestured excitedly from the pulpit where she had been flipping through the Bible. Tyreese and Michonne stood from the first pew and joined her as she held up a key. "I wonder if this will open that door." Tyreese took the key from her and walked towards the door. Rick hurried to stop him.
"Wait a minute Ty. We don't know what's behind there." Tyreese nodded.
"I know. That's why we gotta check it out." He turned to Michonne. "Cover me?" She nodded and held her katana at the ready. Tyreese turned the key and slowly opened the door. When no walker stumbled out, he took a few careful steps into the darkened room and felt something crack across his shoulders.
"What the hell?" He spun around and a smaller black man cowered on the floor holding a broken yardstick.
"Please, in God's name, please! Don't hurt me!" Ty looked down at him.
"Who are you?" The man looked up and Ty saw his clerical collar.
"Father Gabriel. This is my parish." Tyreese looked around the room.
"You've been living here? Alone?" Father Gabriel nodded.
"Yes. It's just me." Tyreese held out his hand and helped him to his feet.
"Why don't you come out and introduce yourself?" He gestured for Father Gabriel to walk in front of him. Gabriel glanced warily at Michonne and then at the rest of the people in the church. His eyes darted around the room as he took in everyone and then focused on Rick.
"Hello," he said quietly. Rick nodded.
"Hey Father. Hope you don't mind that we broke in here. We had to get out of the storm." Gabriel looked around again and saw the babies and Dylan. He nodded and seemed to relax slightly.
"Of course. This is God's house. All are welcome." Rick smiled and nodded.
"We thank you. We'll try not to stay longer than we have to." Gabriel nodded and then saw the guns.
"Oh I can't allow weapons in here," he said. "I can't condone violence." Daryl snorted.
"Sorry Padre but these stay right where they are." Gabriel shook his head.
"No I'm sorry but I must insist. If you stay here, I cannot allow you to have weapons in the sanctuary. Please." Rick held up his hands.
"We understand and respect your beliefs Father but we can't have these weapons out of reach. There's a possibility that a bad group may attack here and we have to defend ourselves." Gabriel frowned.
"I haven't had anyone attack since I've been here. I'm sure you'll be fine. God will protect us." Rick glanced at Michonne who slowly shook her head.
"Look, Father Gabriel, I'm going to insist. Our weapons stay with us. We'll keep 'em out of sight if that makes you feel better." Gabriel frowned.
"It seems like I don't have much of a choice do I?"
"I think we should cross through the woods to the train tracks over there," Maggie said as they got to the main road. "I know it's a bit more exposed, but I think that will work in our favor. If anyone's following us, they'd have to know we could see them too." Taylor frowned.
"I'm thinkin' we should stay on the road. It leads right to that town we stayed in before Terminus. We might be able to find a car closer." Maggie shook her head.
"There's no way we can't see who's in the woods. Plus that road drops down a hill in a section and the woods are higher. If they know that spot, we'd be fish in a barrel. The tracks are flat, we're on equal footing." Glenn nodded.
"She's right. We should go to the tracks." Taylor didn't like it but he knew he didn't have a choice. He'd already been through this once with Maggie. When she gets on a mission, she doesn't change course.
"Alright, let's get to the tracks." They walked through the woods to the tracks and followed them for an hour. The humidity was high after the night's storm and they all were feeling it. They stopped at a train crossing by the main highway and stepped back into the woods to rest and drink water. They were packing back up when they heard a car coming slowly down the road. Based on the noises and the steam escaping the hood, the vehicle was about to die. They ducked down as the Ford Bronco sputtered and rolled to a stop. A dark haired man with a military haircut got out, cussing loudly, and popped open the hood. Steam rolled out from under the hood and the man backed away, coughing. A woman wearing olive green shorts and tank-top with a camo army hat also got out of the car.
"JR I thought you got this fixed?" He slammed the hood down.
"Dammit Rosita I did! That engine's fine but the radiator's blown. Whole hose just shot to shit. Can't fix that out here. Hey Eugene!" Another man climbed out of the back. He was a larger man with a black mullet hairdo. He was definitely not military and his serious face was unlined, like he'd never expressed an emotion in his life. "Sorry man but we gotta walk if we're gettin' to Terminus." JR began unloading his gun and a backpack. Rosita did the same. Eugene clutched a small radio. Taylor looked at Maggie.
"We can't let them go to Terminus." Maggie shook her head.
"Not our problem." JR walked back to Eugene and handed him a canteen.
"You get any kinda signal on that thing yet?" he asked, motioning to the radio in Eugene's hands.
"That is a negative. If Terminus is, as you suspect, a train depot then perhaps I can wire into their subwave radio network and get word to DC that I'm on my way." JR nodded.
"Alright people. Let's move out!" They started walking towards the train tracks, heading in the direction of Terminus. Glenn looked at Maggie.
"Taylor's right," he whispered. "They seem like good people and we can't let them walk into that place." Maggie rolled her eyes at her husband.
"Ok fine. Just go slow." The three slowly walked out of the woods onto the road. JR and Rosita spun around, their guns at the ready.
"Don't move!" JR shouted and Taylor put his hands in the air.
"We're not a threat!" JR kept his weapon aimed at the three and walked slowly towards them.
"I'll be the judge of that. Where did you come from?" Maggie stepped forward.
"We're with a group that just escaped Terminus. It's not a safe haven. They're cannibals." Rosita startled at that information and slightly dropped her weapon. JR frowned.
"What do you mean 'cannibals'?" Eugene cleared his throat, speaking with a very heavy drawl.
"Cannibalism is the practice of eating the flesh of one's own species. It is generally considered a taboo…" JR cut him off.
"I know what a damn cannibal is Eugene!" He focused back on Maggie. "How'd you escape?" Glenn chuckled.
"That's actually not the worse thing we've dealt with to be honest." JR smirked and lowered his weapon.
"Well then let's have some introductions. I'm Staff Sergeant Jasper R. Lahane, United States Army. That is PFC Rosita Espinosa and this is Eugene Porter." Eugene nodded.
"I am not in the military in any capacity and as such I have no title or rank. You may just call me Eugene." Rosita lowered her weapon.
"Drop the formalities JR. There ain't an army anymore and you know it. I'm Rosita, that's JR and that's Eugene. Who are you?"
Tyreese and Michonne stood outside the church keeping watch. The air was beyond hot and the humidity was at a level that typically meant another storm was brewing. The wind shifted, blowing leaves and other debris down the driveway. Michonne kept her focus on the woods directly across the church parking lot.
"I don't like this. They shouldn't be this good." Tyreese nodded, understanding.
"They're out there hunting us. We need to get out of here soon." Michonne looked up the road for a sign of Maggie, Glenn and Taylor. "I hope they find a car. The storm last night probably saved us from the walkers. We've got two babies. We can't expect them to stay quiet all the time." As if on cue, a branch cracked nearby and three walkers stumbled out of the woods into what was once the church parking lot. Michonne and Ty waited until they got closer before hurrying over to dispatch them. They waited a moment, eyes on the trees, the hair on both their necks sticking up.
"Somethin's watching us," Ty said quietly, raising his gun to his shoulder and aiming it at the trees.
"You're right," Michonne said, holding her sword at the ready. Branches snapped and a large buck stepped out of the trees followed closely by two does and a fawn. Tyreese lowered his gun and smiled.
"Would you look at that!" Michonne put her katana back in it's sheath. The sound startled the deer and they ran back into the woods.
"Don't tell Daryl and Dani they missed out on that. Might make 'em cry." Ty chuckled and turned back toward the church.
"Hey there's something written over there." He and Michonne walked to the side of the church and saw the words written there in dried blood: God damn you to hell Father
"Looks like Father Gabriel has some explaining to do," Michonne muttered. A sharp whistle got their attention. Daryl walked around the corner of the church.
"What's goin' on?" He asked. Michonne motioned to the writing.
"He's hiding something. Think he's working with Terminus?" Daryl frowned.
"I doubt it. They would've been watchin' the place and we'dve known about it by now." Michonne nodded.
"Still, I don't like this," she looked up the driveway in the direction of the road. "I hope Maggie, Glenn and Taylor get back soon. I think we should get ready to head out." Daryl shook his head.
"Jesse's really fussin right now. Dani took him into the church office to try to settle him down but we need a car." Daryl started chewing on the knuckle of his thumb, something Michonne had seen him do when we was stressed or worried.
"What is it?" Daryl sighed and looked at them.
"If Maggie and 'em don't get back soon, Dani and I think y'all should go on ahead and we'll catch up. We can't take Jesse out in the open right now. Judith has always been quiet and Dylan's older but Jesse has always had to let the world know when he's pissed off. We won't make it out that far without him leadin' walkers and anyone else right to us. Dani and I can protect him and ourselves if we need to-" Michonne cut him off.
"You stop that you hear? We're not splitting up. We need to stick together. They'll be back with a car soon. We can wait." Daryl smiled slightly and then looked back at the writing on the church.
"Rick needs to see this." He started back to the church and stopped. Looking up the driveway he saw a small group of people heading their way. Michonne and Tyreese walked up behind him and squinted into the sun. As the group got closer, they realized three of the people were Maggie, Glenn and Taylor. One of the men was as tall as Tyreese with close cropped dark hair. Both he and the woman walked like soldiers. The other man was tall with dark curly hair in a distinctive and deliberate mullet. Daryl narrowed his eyes as they got closer. He couldn't put his finger on it but the guy's face was familiar. Rick, Alice and Carl joined them in front of the church.
"Hey guys," Maggie walked towards them. "I'd like you to meet Rosita Espinoza, Eugene Porter and this is JR Lahane. They're on their way to DC and offered to help us out." Rick stepped forward.
"You're a long way off." JR nodded.
"We started out in Texas. Rosita and I were stationed at Fort Hood when this started. Got overrun and hit the road with a group of refugees. Lost a few people in Louisiana around Baton Rouge and found Eugene here. Got pushed east by a bunch of dead herds and some crazy raiding groups. Now it's just us left." Rick nodded.
"We understand that. We were a bigger group as well at one time." Rick turned to Daryl who nodded slightly. Rick understood that to mean that Daryl didn't get a bad vibe off of any them. He turned back to Maggie.
"Did you tell them about Terminus?" Maggie nodded.
"They're willing to help us get out of here but they're heading north." Rick looked back over to JR.
"What's in DC?" JR motioned for Eugene. The other man was fumbling with the radio he was holding.
"Eugene here's a scientist. He was in touch with his group in DC before we found him in Louisiana. He may have the cure to all of this." Eugene nodded.
"We found a possible cure but communication has been rough the past couple of years. Staff Sergeant Lahane and PFC Espinoza offered to escort me to Washington DC so I can get back with my fellow scientists and heal the world." His face was emotionless, his words very matter of fact. JR smiled and clapped Eugene on the shoulder. Eugene winced under JR's hand.
"So you see? It's important we get there as soon as we can." Rick nodded.
"Well let's go inside and you can meet everyone." Michonne took his arm before he could turn.
"Rick, you need to see this."
"Ok. Daryl?" Daryl nodded and jerked his chin towards the church.
"Come on then." He walked into the church and looked for Dani. Father Gabriel was kneeling before the large crucifix praying. "Dani! Come on out." Dani walked out of the church office and put her finger to her lips.
"Jesse's asleep. Taylor and everyone get back ok…" her voice trailed off and she gasped. "Jasper?" JR walked past Daryl and swept Dani up in a bear hug.
"I'll be damned!" Dani laughed as JR put her down and kissed her cheek. "What are you doin' here? I thought you were still out in California." Dani looked over at Daryl.
"Daryl, this is my cousin JR. You remember me talkin' about my Uncle Jasper? That's JR's dad." Daryl relaxed, joined Dani and she took his hand. "JR this is my…my husband. Daryl Dixon." JR looked surprised and shook Daryl's hand.
"Wow, Mama never told me you got remarried! Hell, they didn't even tell me you were back out here. I'm glad you dumped that uptight shithead doctor though." He looked at Daryl. "Don't know if you ever met him but he was a complete asshole." He looked around. "Where's Abbie? She must be halfway to grown by now. Last time I saw her she was just a baby…" he trailed off when he saw Dani's face. "She is here right?"
"No JR, she didn't make it." JR's excitement turned to sadness.
"Ah shit Dani. I'm sorry." Dani blinked back tears.
"She got pneumonia a little over a year ago and I lost her. Right before I met Daryl." JR's startled face looked from Dani to Daryl. Dani wiped the tears from her face and smiled. "Jasper we should catch up. There's a lot to tell you and there's someone else I want you to meet."
"Are you gonna talk to him?" Michonne watched Rick as he reread the words on the church. Rick nodded.
"Yeah we can't ignore this." He turned as Tyreese joined them.
"Want me to go get Gabriel? Bring him out here away from everyone?" Rick thought about it.
"No, we'll go in there. It's getting dark soon. Should make sure everything's locked up. And whatever he has to say everyone should hear."
A/N I hope you guys like my replacement crew of "Abraham/Rosita/Eugene". When I first introduced my Abraham in this AU, there wasn't even talk that those three would show up eventually. When they did, I was a little bummed but I couldn't change it. I've changed Rosita Eugene's backstory to fit a bit better with JR's so please…let me know what you think.