Beautiful Disaster

by My Writing Is This

The dead were walking and surviving was imperative. Caroline had hit the ground running. She tried to never look back. She was alone for too long. Learning to live and love again wasn't easy. People still mattered. Many would come in and out of her life and not all was as it seemed. She had to learn to be a person again and to find her place. And the one she was meant to be with.

45. Rift

Chapter Forty-five: Rift

Following Rosita, we raced down the road to the infirmary. There was yelling and people were lingering with sad and worried expressions. Glenn was standing outside the door and by just looking at him, my heart started to race. Rushing inside, Pete was hovering over someone, Rosita was already on the other side and I froze as I took in Tara lying there with blood all over her head. Sound seemed to just fall away, leaving me to just stand there and stare. Eugene was there looking extremely upset and it took a long moment for the sound to return, making me move.

"What happened?" I asked as I rushed to her side.

"Grenade." Pete told me.

He was checking her vitals while I moved the soaked shirt that was pressed against her head. Grabbing gauze and a bottle of alcohol, I poured some on the gauze, starting to clean the wound. It wasn't as deep as it appeared to be. The superficial ones always bled more. Pouring the alcohol into the wound to clean it out, Tara didn't even flinch. Packing it, I checked her pulse at her wrist.

"Pete." I said gently.

He nodded, pressing against different sections of her skull. "It's a pretty serious head wound. She's concussed but there isn't a lot I can do. We'll have to keep her under constant observation."

"That's it?" Rosita frowned at him.

"Medicine has taken a step back since the end of the world." He shot at her. "We don't have CTs or MRIs. X-raying will give us an idea but I don't think her skull is fractured and there isn't any swelling. All her reflexes are intact. We need to observe her and wait. We'll keep her hydrated and give her some anti-inflammatories. But that is the extent of it for right now." He explained with his eyes on Rosita. "Keep an eye on her."

"Was anyone else hurt?" I asked, looking at Eugene. He was shaking, averting his eyes from me. "Eugene."

"We lost two."

"Who?" I asked him.

"Aiden was killed." Rosita answered for him.

My stomach turned and I nodded, "Damn it." Then I was looking around. "Where's Noah?" Everyone averted their eyes. "Eugene, where is Noah? Rosita?"

My stomach dropped and for a second I couldn't breathe. Leaning over with my hands on Tara's arm, I started to shake, tears spilling as I clenched my jaw. Before I could ask any more, Eugene was called away, needing to be interviewed about what happened while it was fresh.

Sitting with Tara, monitoring her vitals, she was stable. All we had to do was wait for her to wake up. She needed to wake up. We lost two, one of them and one of us. Noah. He was a good boy. He was kind and thoughtful. He was a genuinely good person. He didn't deserve this.

"Where are you going?" Rosita ask as I forcefully got up and moved toward the door.

"I need to know what happened." I replied and left, slamming the door behind me.

Rushing across the street to the Monroe house, I knocked frantically on door. There was loud techno music playing. Pounding harder, the music paused and Deanna finally appeared and answered the door. Her expression was dark and menacing.

"Deanna, I am so sorry about Aiden." I told her. "But I need to know what happened." She just looked at me. "What happened?"

She simply frowned up at me before shutting the door in my face. I was going to knock again, only then the music started to play, louder than before. That damn techno music. It was one of Aiden's mixes. He didn't know what the hell he was doing, drawing attention to them every time they went on a run. Grimacing, I felt bad for thinking badly of him. He was dead.

So was Noah.

Swiftly turning around, I started to jog toward home, frowning as I saw Rick with Glenn on our porch. Moving faster, I looked at the infirmary, feeling the need to be with Tara but there wasn't anything I could do but sit and watch. Everyone had been interviewed and now it seemed like a wave of depression had fallen over our community. And I just – I needed to know what happened.

"Rick." I said softly.

He opened his arm to me. Moving into his embrace, I looked down at Glenn who was leaning against the railing at the top of the stairs. Sighing, I sat in front of him, putting my hands over his. He met my eyes with tears in his. They started to fill mine as well, nodding at him as my throat clenched.

"I saw the grenades. I tried to stop him." He started. "Nicholas was gonna run. But we made him stay. Couldn't get Aiden out of there without help. All he had to do was hold the door. But he panicked. Noah – I had him. I had his hand. I tried. I watched him die."

"Oh, honey." I whispered as I gently brushed the hair from his forehead.

"I almost left him out there. Could have told a story." He went on, getting a look from Rick. "What, you think I should have?"

"They don't know what they're doing. Any of them." Rick stated.

Glenn nodded, "We'll show them."

"I don't know if they can see it. How things really are." He replied. "I don't know if they can yet. They haven't caught up."

"We have to be here. We have to." Glenn stated with an air of panic.

"We're not going anywhere." I told him, rubbing his arm.

"Yeah, we do." Rick nodded. "But their rules, we don't answer to them."

"We are them, Rick. We are now." He replied. "Noah, he believed in this place. I'm telling you, we gotta make this work."

"We will." I told him matter-of-factly. Rick nodded and walked away. Sighing as I watched him go, I offered Glenn a small smile. "I'm so sorry, Glenn." I told him as a tear slid down my cheek.

"Do you think we'll ever get used to this?" He asked.

I furrowed my brows at him, "Get used to what?"

"Losing people?"

Sighing, I shook my head, "No. I don't think we'll ever get used to it."

He shut his eyes, a tear sliding down his cheek. Scooting closer to him, I ran my hands along his hair as I pressed my forehead to his. He gripped my arms, gently running his thumbs across my skin. Telling him that it was going to be okay, I didn't know what else to tell him. Settling for just being with him, I didn't lean away until steps approached. Looking up, Maggie was smiling at me. Nodding, I pressed a kiss against Glenn's forehead before I stood, turning to her. She came up, taking my place in front of him. She spoke to him softly before he nodded and stood, wrapping me in his arms before he moved next door to his home. Maggie stood and watched him go before looking at me.

Tears were immediately in her eyes and I swiftly wrapped my arms around her, "I know, Maggie. I know. But we're going to figure it out."

"What's there to figure out?" She frowned as she let me go.

"I have a strong feeling that Glenn's story isn't going to match the one that Nicholas told." I replied. "It's going to cause some trouble." She sighed and nodded. "You're the closest person to Deanna. You're working with her."

She was already nodding again, "I'll talk to her. I'll try and smooth things over."

"Try and see Nicholas's tape." I told her as I stepped closer to her. "We need to know the version that he told. Aiden is dead and Deanna is spiraling. If we know what he told her, we can try and make her see that Glenn is right. He isn't a liar. Nicholas is clearly a fucking rat."

"I know." She told me. "Everyone is counting on this place to work."

"But can we live in a place where trust is segregated and we're always left on the outside looking in?" I frowned at her. "If they don't trust us than we will never be safe. We need their trust. We need them to listen to our side and believe it. The people here don't understand and will say anything. Especially this fucking Nicholas." I said and paused, anger starting to take me over. "I am going to fucking kill him." Then I met her eyes. "Rick's already said that if this doesn't work we will take this place. I will kill them all if I have to."

"No, Linny." She told me. "We can't."

"I know we can't." I replied. "But if this goes south, we may need to." She sighed. "For Noah. For Glenn. For all of us." She nodded slowly. Sighing, I put my hand on her arm, "I know that it will suck and that we shouldn't. There are good people here. But if they can't lead and come to terms with how the world is, then we are going to have some big decisions to make. I think you know that."

"I do." She replied.

Smiling, I pressed a kiss against her cheek, "We're gonna be okay, Maggie."

"I know." She smiled. "I just…"

"Me, too." I smiled. "Now go take care of your husband."

"Find Rick." She said putting her hand on my arm before she walked away.

Walking through town, I didn't come across Rick, making me wonder where the hell he had gone and what the hell he was doing. If he thought there was a threat and felt like he needed to act, than he would. He would act and make this whole situation worse than it already was.

When I didn't find him, I made my way to the infirmary, wanting to check on Tara before I turned in for the night. Rosita had taken up post of keeping an eye on her. Eugene was there as well, both of them looking uneasy. We'd lost two people today. One of our own. Tara was still stable but we were all aware that that could change at any moment.

"Hey." I said softly as I gently ran my fingers though Rosita's hair. She smiled, shutting her eyes and leaned her head back to give me better access. "How you holding up? How's she doing?"

"I'm okay. No change." She told me and sighed.

Gently massaging her scalp, I felt her relax, keeping my eyes on Tara. She looked peaceful and with medicine these days, we had no idea if she was bleeding into her brain. But she was breathing on her own. Her vitals were strong and her color was good. She would be okay. She would wake up and she would be okay.

"I could go for a nice scalp massage." Eugene piped up. "Do you do back scratches and shoulder massages as well?"

"I do." I smiled at him. "But you're not getting shit from me."

He sighed, his face falling, "I thought I'd try."

"You still don't like him?" Rosita smirked up at me.

I made a face and shrugged a little, "He's not my favorite."

"Everyone else has forgiven him."

I sighed a little, "I don't forgive quite that easily. Not after what he did."

"So stubborn." She said and laughed lightly.

"Amen." I said and kissed her forehead quickly. Moving to Tara's side, I did the same to her before turning back to Rosita. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Say 'hi' to Rick for me." She smiled back.

Winking, I left, knowing that Rick would either be home or return before too long. Tidying up before heading upstairs, I checked on the kids, pressing kisses against both their foreheads. Sighing, worrying about Rick and yet trying so hard not to. Letting myself into my room, I started to slowly get undressed. Running a hot bath, I was hoping Rick would come home to join me. We both could use a little relaxation and a little time alone.

Lately everything felt like it was all work and no play. Not that that was that unusual for us. We had fun together but it still felt short lived. He was the leader of our group trying to merge ours with Alexandria. There were definitely things that needed to be done. But after coming here and then Ben being here and then him leaving again…I wanted to feel light and fluffy. I want to momentarily forget the hell the world has become. I just wanted to be happy like we were at the prison. We could act normal here. We were safe. Or we would be if we won over the people of Alexandria. After tonight it felt like that got a hell of a lot harder.

Taking my time, I tried to wait up for him, but the exhaustion from the past few hours caught up to me. Crawling into bed, I hugged my pillow as I stared at the door, praying for Rick to walk through it. He took too long, sleep taking me only a matter of minutes later.

I woke up to the bed shifting, cracking my eyes open to the dark room. He was home. I listened to him get comfortable, pressing himself against my back as he wrapped his arm around me. Pressing his face into my neck, I made a soft noise. Gripping his hand, I felt him take a deep breath, warming my neck as he let it out.

"Hey, baby." I said softly.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you more."

He chuckled softly, "I don't think so."

Smiling, I rolled onto my back so I could look at him. He met my eyes, leaning in and kissed me softly. Putting my hand against his face, my eyes moved across every inch of it. He chuckled again and kissed me deeper, slipping his tongue into my mouth. Wrapping my arm around him, he shifted so his torso was on top of me. He gently played with my hair as he once again looked down at me.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

He nodded, "Yeah. Just trying to figure a few things out."

"Jessie and Pete?" I asked. He nodded. "I like her. We need to help her."

"I like her, too." He said and sighed. "I'll talk to Deanna tomorrow."

Nodding, I pulled him down to me so I could kiss him again, "Time for bed."

He smiled, brushing his nose against mine, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Come morning, I woke before Rick, slowly getting up without waking him. Getting ready for the day, I went downstairs to a quiet house. It didn't happen often but I was anxious to get to Tara and see how she was. Rosita was probably there and I wanted her to get some sleep.

Sipping the coffee as I walked to the infirmary, I stepped inside to see Eugene asleep in a chair, Rosita absentmindedly cleaning random things. Smiling at her, I walked to Tara's bedside and checked her vitals, listening to her heart and lungs. Everything was stable.

"You gotta wake up." I told her softly, taking her hand.

"She will." Rosita said wrapping her arm around my shoulders.

Smiling, I nodded at her, "Go get some sleep."

"You sure."

"I insist." I smiled. "And take Eugene with you."

She laughed lightly and woke him up, gently coaxing him from the room. As soon as they were gone, I dropped into the chair next to Tara. Putting my elbows on the bed, I ran both hands through my hair, before I picked up her hand. Feeling tears, I put her hand against my chest, covering my eyes with the other as I started to cry.

"They're gone."

I jumped and spun toward the door, seeing Abraham there. Sighing, I relaxed, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "What's up?" I asked.

"I came to check on Tara before I headed to the construction site." He replied with a frown as he stepped up to me. "You okay?"

"Sure." I told him, standing and turning to him, crossing my arms. "She's stable." I added.

He sighed and stepped up to me. "It's gonna be alright."

"I know."

"Do you?" He asked with a raised brow. "Because you're looking like your puppy was just run over."

I smirked and gave a short laugh, "Yeah."

"What's going on in that head of yours?" He asked next.

I looked at him, ready to give some positive answer that would make him feel better, but for once I couldn't do it. "What are we gonna do?" I asked instead. "What if they try and kick us out because of Nicholas and whatever lie he told Deanna? What if she doesn't believe Glenn and the rest of us?"

He gave me a small smile, putting his hands on my arms as he stepped closer to me, "Deanna is grieving her dipshit of a son. The boy couldn't find his dick between his legs. Once she gets over the shock of it, she'll come around."

"You think?" I asked.

"She would be stupid to get rid of us. We are far more valuable than any of the other shits around here."

"What if Rick is right and Deanna can't handle it? What if we do need to take it over?"

"We won't be like them." He frowned. "They'd just have to learn to live with it. With us." Nodding, I sighed, rubbing between my eyes. He pulled me against his chest. "Whether you believe it or not, you don't have to carry the world on your shoulders."

Laughing lightly, I hugged him tightly, "I know. But it's kind of in my nature."

He laughed and hugged me tighter, "That's what makes you as indispensable as the rest of us. You're too smart and too kind for your own good."

Laughing harder, I looked up at him, "Abe, you didn't know me before I was with Rick and his group. You don't know how I used to be."

"Who gives a rats ass about who you used to be?" He frowned down at me. "I only care about who you are now. A strong, independent woman."

Smiling, I rested my head against his chest, "Thank you."

"You might just save us all." He smirked.

Laughter burst from me and I stepped away from him. "No. I highly doubt that." He just nodded and turned toward the door. "Abe?" I said, making him stop. "Thank you." He smiled and winked before he left.

Sitting with Tara for a while, I started to putz around with everything around me. Anything that looked like it could keep me busy. It was so quiet that when the door opened again; I jumped, spinning toward it, holding up the pair of scissors that were in my hand. My wrist was gripped and I slammed my hand against the chest of whomever it was before I even registered who it was.

"Sorry." I told Pete as I took a step back. "You surprised me."

"I can tell." He smiled, rubbing his chest. "That was some move."

"You don't know how to fight, do you?" I asked him.

She scoffed and shook his head, "Only as much as every man does."

Nodding, I crossed my arm, "Here to check on Tara?"

"And you." He nodded. "It's been hours and no one has seen you."

He stumbled away from me toward Tara. He was drunk. My stomach turned and I moved after him, wanting to be close to him in case anything should happen. After knowing what he did to his wife and kids, I couldn't bring myself to trust him in any capacity. I knew that he was good at his job. He had to be to even become a surgeon. But that didn't mean he could be trusted.

Stepping to his side, he brushed his arm against mine, making a chill run down my spine, "You coming on to me?"

I looked up, seeing the smirk on his face, frowning at him, "Hardly."

"Why not?" He asked as he turned toward me. I took a step back. His hand moved so quickly that I didn't have time to move, his fingers wrapping around my arm. "Don't."

"Get your hand off of me." I demanded.

He gripped my other arm, giving me a quick jerk. "Your man seems to be sweet on my wife." He told me. "It's only fair that I get something in return. I won't lie when I say you'd be a step up from my wife."

I spit in his face. In the next second I was on the ground, blood dripping from the split he put in my lip. Looking up at him, he attempted to kick my stomach but I pushed myself up, narrowly missing his foot, feeling the wave of air from it. Getting to my feet, I moved away from him. He laughed, stumbling again as he moved toward me.

"You're drunk." I spat at him. "Go home and sleep it off."

He laughed again before he lunged at me. I attempted to sidestep away from him but he bent faster than I would have thought, catching my leg and yanked it, sending me crashing to the floor. He'd done this before. He's been drunk so many times, beating his wife as she tried to get away. He was on top of me a second later, gripping my wrists with such force that I thought he might just snap them. I attempted to get my knee up so I could push him away but he had me successfully pinned.

"Pete." I said through clenched teeth. "Get off of me. Now."

He laughed again, bringing his face closer to mine. "Your boyfriend is probably fucking my wife right now. Let's even the score."

Breaking free, I punched him, sending him off balance. Able to shove him off of me, I got to my feet and moved toward Tara, feeling the need to protect her and leaving him plenty of room to leave.

"Go home, Pete." I commanded. "Sleep it off."

"I'm not done." He smiled as he staggered to his feet.

"You are." I nodded at him. "Leave now and I won't mention this to anyone. Take just one more step toward me and I will scream bloody murder until everyone comes to see what's going on. What do you think Alexandria will do to a drunk, womanizing abuser?"

"I'm the only doctor they have." He stated. "I saved your friends life. They won't do shit to me." He started to laugh again.

"I may not be a doctor but I think we could all suffice without you." He laughed again. "One more step, Pete. I swear to God I will start screaming. Everyone will know and you will be judged, prosecuted, and more than likely killed. No one is safe around you."

He just looked at me for a long moment, finally nodding, "Fine."

I watched him leave, the door still open. I waited till he was far from reach before I moved to the door, continuing to watch, needing to make sure he was still moving toward his house. I couldn't even blink for wanting to keep him in my sights. My stomach turned as he stopped on the porch, turning his head so he could smirk at me. Furrowing my brows at him, I could see his chuckle, feeling a chill before he disappeared inside. Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly, rubbing my arm to try and get rid of the pain he had caused. He would never do that to me again. I would make sure of it. But I also wanted to make it so for Jessie as well. The fact of the matter is that there was little I could do. I could tell Rick but it would still be his word against mine. I wasn't sure how many allies we had here. Not yet. And it would be asking too much for Jessie to be put on the spot to tell the truth about her husband.

Still standing there, I went over it all in my head. The accusation that Rick had a thing for Jessie. He was delusional. I was perfectly confident that Rick and I were committed, leaving no room for cheating and getting in the middle of people's marriages. But he was also a good man and would protect Jessie and her children any way that he could. She deserved to be protected. She deserved to feel safe in her own home. Ron and Sam deserved it. This whole community would be better off without Pete. They just didn't know it yet.

About to turn back inside, I heard yelling, making me turn toward it. Listening, it was Jessie. He was hurting her. Closing the door behind me, I rushed toward their house. Before I could even reach the stairs, the window burst as two bodies came flying out of it. I was too close, falling backward in a spray of glass, rolling away from it; I turned to see Rick and Pete falling over each other as they attempted to get the upper hand. Jessie was crying, trying to get Pete off of him. He hit her, sending her to the ground. Rick retaliated with rage, rolling Pete underneath him.

"Rick!" I screamed, rushing forward and gripped his shoulders.

Pete shoved him backward, slamming into me, once again sending me to the ground. Looking back at them, Pete was not on top of him hitting him continuously. Getting to my feet, I once again rushed to them, kicking Pete as hard as I could in the stomach. The force of it knocked him off of Rick, who swiftly moved on top of him continuing to beat him.

"Mom!" Carl said rushing to my side.

"Linny!" Michonne said gripping me as I attempted to rush to Rick again.

"Rick!" I yelled as he held Pete in a chokehold.

Then Deanna appeared and started to scream at them. Rick looked up at her and the anger written on her face was something to be feared. "Stop it. Right now." She told him with a firm tone.

Rick looked at her, his face contorted as he spoke in Pete's ear. "You touch them again and I'll kill you."

"Damn it, Rick!" Deanna yelled. "I said stop."

"Or what?" Rick shot at her.

He had let Pete go, pulling out his gun, pointing it at Tobin who was moving toward him.

"Rick." I said softly, moving into his line of sight.

He frowned at me before looking at Deanna, "You gonna kick me out?" He turned the gun on her and her family.

"Rick!" I yelled. "Stop this."

"Put that gun down, Rick." Deanna told him calmly.

"Stay where you are!" I yelled as men started to come forward. "No one touches him."

Glenn moved in front of Tobin and Nicholas, guarding Rick who was still kneeling on the pavement. I was starting to pace, watching those around me, just waiting for someone to make a move against him.

"Linny." Michonne said softly. "Don't."

"You still don't get it." Rick said as he lowered his gun. "None of you do!" He yelled. "We know what needs to be done and we do it. We're the ones who live. You, you just sit and plan and hesitate. You pretend like you know when you don't. You wish things weren't what they are. Well, you want to live? You want this place to stay standing? Your way of doing things is done." He said and paused. "Things don't get better because you – you want them to. Starting right now, we have to live in the real world. We have to control who lives here."

"That's never been more clear to me than it is right now." Deanna told him.

"Deanna." I said with warning. She kept her eyes on Rick.

"Me? Me? You? You mean – you mean me?" Rick said with amusement. "Your way is gonna destroy this place. It's gonna get people killed. It's already gotten people killed. And I'm not gonna stand by and just let it happen." He went on, anger entering his voice. "If you don't fight, you die. I'm not gonna stand by and –"

In the next second Michonne stepped forward and knocked him out, taking his gun. Lurching toward her, she moved backward, looking at me sadly. Turning to Rick, I dropped at his side, swiftly checking him. He was littered with cuts, blood still coming from them. Tobin stepped toward us and I stood, swiftly punching him as I stood next to Rick.

"Caroline." Deanna said calmly, making my head jerk toward her. "Just calm down."

"Calm down?!" I yelled at her. "Do you even what happened?" Then my head jerked to where Abe and Glenn were.

"What happened?" Glenn asked me. I laughed at him, starting to pace again.

"Hey, Linny." Abe said softly. "It's okay."

I looked back at Deanna. She gave me a small smile. "I'm going to have him moved to the basement of a home we use for detainment. It's comfortable."

Scoffing, I shook my head at her, "I'll take him home."

"No." She told me. "He needs to calm down and we need to deal with this."

"No." I shot back at her.

She moved closer to me even though Spencer attempted to hold her back. Reg was looking at me sadly but he just smiled when I met his eyes. Standing my ground next to Rick, I glared as she approached me.

"I understand your loyalty." She told me. "I'd be doing the same thing if I were you. But I need you to trust me. Nothing is going to happen to him. But I need to contain him in a safe place."

"Home is safe." I shot at her.

"Did you see what he did?" She frowned at me. "Did you see?"

I got in her face, my eyes burrowing into hers, keeping my voice low, "Did you see Pete attack me in the infirmary not five minutes before all this went down? Did you smell the alcohol on his breath? Did you know that he beats his wife to the point where his children hide in a locked closet till it's all over?" She looked at me sadly. I scoffed and shifted away from her. "You knew."

"Caroline, I need you to calm down. He needs to be detained and monitored."

"Two things I can do by taking him home."

"Linny." Glenn said softly as he stepped toward me. I looked at him. "Let's just take him to where they want us to. You can take care of him and stay with him. But we need to get him off the street."

"Linny." Maggie said coming into sight.

Looking at her, I nodded, "Fine." Tobin stepped forward. "Not you." I shot at him. He held up his hands and took a step back. "Glenn."

"Abraham." Glenn said and the pair of them stepped forward, lifting Rick into their arms.

I looked at Deanna; she nodded and started to lead us to a house not far from ours. There were nice iron railings that lead down to a lower level of a house. It was empty and there was already a matrass on the floor as well as a lantern. They laid him down as I paced, immediately dropped at his side as soon as they stepped back. Looking Rick over, I couldn't help the shaking that was starting to take me over.

"I need the box of steri-strips from the infirmary. As well as a bottle of alcohol and a package of gauze." I told the room.

"I'll get it." Rosita told me.

"Thank you." I replied softly. She nodded and disappeared. The room was quiet, making me feel a little uneasy. "What?" I shot at them.

"You need to calm your tits." Abraham told me.

Laughing, I stood and faced him, "Rick did what he should have. The only thing that would have made it better is if he'd killed the motherfucker."

"You don't mean that." Glenn told me.

I shot him a look. "Do you see this split in my lip?" I asked him. He nodded. "Pete." Abraham straightened, hardening himself. "How about the bruising on my wrists that has popped up with impressive speed?" I said next. Glenn bowed his head and I looked at Abraham. "Pete." Then I looked at Glenn again. "He attempted to force himself on me because he was sure that Rick was sweet on Jessie. He thought he deserved a go at me because he felt threatened by my boyfriend."

"He didn't know who he was fuckin' with." Abraham smirked down at me.

"Of course not." I shot at him. "What's worse is that the man abuses his wife and strikes fear in his children." Abraham was frowning now. I nodded at him. "That feeling is rage. Rick wasn't wrong. Pete deserves worse than what he got. He deserves to die for what he's done. Separating him or exiling him isn't enough. He's not going to change."

"Linny." Glenn said softly.

"Deanna knew about him, Glenn. She knew and she just hoped he would stop. That isn't right. None of this is right. Rick? Rick was right. He was right!"

"Stop." Glenn said softly.

"Here." Rosita said coming back, holding out the supplies to me.

"Thank you. I appreciate it." I told her gently. "You can all go. I can take care of him from here."

"We'll stay." Abraham said.

"No." I shot at him. "Just…go."

"What, you don't trust us now?" He frowned at me.

"I didn't say that." I shot back at him. "I'm pissed and just want to take care of him."

Glenn took off his jacket, "We'll help." I clenched my jaw at him. "Whether you like it or not."

Sighing, I nodded at them. Between the four of us, we stripped the top of him, cleaning the cuts that were littering his body. When we were done he looked pretty ridiculous covered in white. Cleaning my hands, I sat at his head, putting my hand against his bare chest. Glenn and Abraham helped me put his shirt back on before they both stayed kneeling on either side of him, watching me.

"Thank you for your help." I told them.

"Of course." Glenn told me. "We're all in this together."

"I know." I nodded. "I just…"

"Are willing to protect him against anyone. Even if it's us." Abraham finished for me.

I met his eyes, feeling emotion start to swell, "Yeah."

Glenn moved closer to me, pressing a kiss against my forehead, "Are you sure you don't want us to stay?"

"I'm sure." I smiled at him. "You need to go help Maggie smooth things out with the Monroe's."

"I'll stay." Abraham told me.

"Go take care of Rosita. Help her keep tabs on Tara." I stated. He nodded at me. "I'll be fine. I just want to stay with him."

"An unmovable force." Abraham smiled at me.

"Damn straight." I smiled back.

"Maybe you should be the one who smooths things out." Glenn told me.

"Why?" I frowned at him.

He shrugged a little, "Because." I just frowned harder. "After Rick, you –"

"No." I interrupted him quickly. "No, Glenn. Maggie can take up that mantel. I'm no good at that."

"Liar." Abraham told me.

Glenn just looked at me sadly. I shook my head at him, "I'm no good at that."

"Linny."

"I'm completely biased, Glenn."

"But you know the right thing to do."

I laughed lightly, "Doesn't mean I won't do whatever it takes to keep Rick safe. Including what he would do."

"You have a good mind for this. Give yourself a little credit."

"I don't want credit." I shot at him. "Let Maggie take it from here." He sighed and looked at Abraham. "Abe." I frowned.

"Don't look at me."

Sighing heavily, I looked at Glenn, "For now, let Maggie take care of things. She's closer to Deanna than I am. I also didn't shine very bright in front of everyone. If Maggie needs me than she can come for me. Otherwise I am going to be glued to this spot." They nodded at me. "I'm not leaving him unless someone's life depends on it."

"Yours?"

"Doesn't count."

Glenn smiled while Abraham laughed, grinning at me, "Typical."

"You should have seen her when she hated Rick." Glenn stated.

"You hated him?" Abraham smiled.

"Long story." I said and raised a brow at Glenn. "Now get out of here."

They stood and moved to the door. As soon as they were out, Michonne came in, looking at me with a hard yet sad expression. Scoffing, I shook my head as I smiled up at her. She was going to want to talk and I had already had my fill of that today.

"You wanna talk about it?" She asked as she sat in a folding chair in the corner.

"No." I replied.

"What the hell, Linny?" She frowned. "We're supposed to be making it good here and you go all crazy."

"You knocked him out." I shot at her.

"For his own good." She shot back at me. "He was losing it. He needed to stop so I stopped him."

I shook my head, clenching my jaw as I put my hand against Rick's shoulder. "You still shouldn't have done it. Pete deserved what he was getting."

"It doesn't matter. Rick can't just kill him. It doesn't work like that here."

Looking at her for a long moment, I settled back against the wall, keeping my hand on Rick. "I'm tired."

She nodded, "You should get some rest. I'll watch out for you."

Nodding back at her, I scooted down, lying on my side with my arm tucked underneath my head. Putting my hand on Rick's chest, I stared at him for several minutes. What the hell were we going to do? What had he started and could we fix it? We needed this place. We needed it to work and he may have singlehandedly ruined everything. He shouldn't have done what he did but I'd never been shy about standing by him. I told Deanna what would happen if anything happened to him. She knew that whatever happened to him came with me, too. Even if he was wrong. Even if I was wrong. Even if I didn't agree. I would stand with him until the end.