Warnings: Angst. Violence. Death.

Bamby

DPOV

I walked over to Rick as he stood by the tree line, watching the road. We were waiting for Gabriel… he hadn't shown up yet. Rick had left him to get in his car back at the Sanctuary, but he'd never showed up at our planned meet up point.

"We can wait some more," I suggested.

Rick sighed and shook his head. "We can't." He paused a moment before adding, "He stopped to get me."

"How's that?"

"Negan. He was on the ground. I was trying to kill him, and Gabriel stopped to get me." He felt guilty. It was obvious. But just because Gabriel hadn't made it to the meetup, didn't mean he was dead. Giving a short nod, he turned to leave. "We gotta start out."

I could tell there was more that he wanted to say though, so before he could leave I stopped him. "You all right?"

Sighing, he paused and looked to the ground. "Negan mentioned Vickie."

I tensed and clenched my jaw, looking out at the road.

Turning to me, Rick watched closely. "So did a Saviour on the way to the field."

"Yeah? So?" I grunted, not trusting myself to look at him.

"Did something happen to her while she was there? At the Sanctuary?"

There was no way in hell I was telling Rick his daughter slept with Negan. I wouldn't do it to her, and I wouldn't do it to him.

Vic might think she was in the wrong, but I knew what Negan was like. I saw the way he treated the women he calls his wives. The choices he gave the women weren't real choices. Sleep with him, or never see her family again? I didn't blame Vic for wanting to see her family. I understood it, but others wouldn't.

Rick might get it after the shock, but then the next issue would come. How would Rick react if he found out Negan put her in a position like that? How would he react knowing he forced her hand and touched her? Rick would want blood. The plan and everyone else wouldn't matter. Rick would want to wring Negan's neck with his own two hands.

I wanted the guy dead, but I didn't want Rick putting himself in danger to do it.

"She went through a lot there. It changed her. But whatever they're telling you, whatever you're thinking, ignore it."

Watching me carefully, he paused a moment before giving a short nod. "Let's go."

NPOV

Despite the hell Rick and his gang had sent to the Sanctuary- no doubt to kill me- I'd managed to get away with barely a scratch. As the huge herd of walkers approached, I ran to a nearby trailer and ducked inside, hoping to wait out the chaos outside until someone found me. I knew my people would find me.

Standing in the dark corner, I listened to the groans and moans outside. When the door opened, I was shocked, to say the least.

Rick's priest hurried inside, slamming the door shut behind him before pressing his back to it as he took in a deep breath. Watching him, seeing the panic in his eyes, I grinned.

"I hope you got your shitting pants on."

He jumped, having not expected to hear another voice. Turning to look in my direction, he scanned the darkened corner, trying to find me. "What?"

"Your shittin' pants," I repeated as I stepped into the light, still grinning. "I hope you're wearing them right now 'cause you are about to shit your pants."

The look on his face was one of pure fear.

Before he could react, I lunged forward and pushed him to the ground. With him lying there, I snatched the gun right out of his hands. He flinched, startled and still scared. Now with no way of defending himself, he no doubt thought I was going to kill him.

"Well, that's handy," I noted as I pulled out the clip to check it. "This one still has a full clip."

"There wasn't any point in firing it. I didn't have enough."

"Yeah, but you could've gone down fighting, you big baby," I countered. He flinched, offended, but I just chuckled. "I'm just pulling your dick, breakin' your balls a little bit. You done good. Smart play." I nodded. "Let's get you properly on your ass." I offered him my hand.

He took it and let me sit him up. I could feel his eyes on me as I moved to the opposite wall, a few feet away, and took a seat on the ground.

"Your friend Rick is an asshole."

"You're an asshole," he countered.

I grinned. "Yeah. I am. But he's gonna get people killed."

"By you."

"See, I killed the widow's husband and the ginger. But I didn't get them killed," I noted. "That was your boy Rick. Big difference." I watched him carefully, trying to get a read on him. "You know, I saw you stop for that Gregory idiot. You were there. You saw the whole thing. You heard his little speech. Why would you stop for that bearded prick?"

"What I fear is a fruitless death." His gaze fell to his lap.

"Jesus Christ. You got to be kiddin' me. He split on your creepy little ass. The point of your life would be saving that dickhead?"

"That wouldn't be it. There had to be some reason I did what I did." Slowly, he looked up at me. "Maybe this is the reason."

"What?"

"I think I'm here to take your confession."

VPOV

I lifted my gun as Daryl lifted his, and we both shot. The two men standing guard fell to the ground, dead.

We were at one of the many bases Negan had set up. Our communities had parted into groups to hit each place, clean them out, and kill every Saviour. Our job here was to grab all the guns. It's where Dwight had told us they were kept.

Dad took the lead, followed by Daryl and I, and then a few more of our men. The others were outside, by the side courtyard where Dwight had let us know the guns were organised and handled. It was there that our people had surrounded the Saviours, locking them in and shooting them down.

The Saviours didn't know it yet, but we weren't here to kill them outright. The plan was to turn them into walkers let them do the rest. Save our ammo and keep them caged in with the dead.

"You signal if they're already inside. We'll be there," Dad told the others who then nodded and hurried off to take keep an eye out for any Saviours.

"Come on." Daryl nodded up the hallway. "Let's find them guns."

NPOV

I wasn't sure how long Gabriel- he'd introduced himself considering we were stuck in the trailer- had been waiting, but it sounded like the walkers weren't giving up anytime soon. It also sounded like a lot, and according to Gabe that had been the plan. They herded up as many walkers as they could and surrounded the Sanctuary so we couldn't get out.

Solid plan. Unfortunately for him, now he was stuck in the mess. Unfortunately for my people, just because they were safe inside, didn't mean they were completely safe.

"We can wait it out a little bit, see if my people can figure something out," I suggested. "One thing that is sure as ass… if my people think I'm dead a lot of folks are gonna die in there."

"Why?"

"Listen to me. I don't have shit to confess. Except maybe the fact that I rubbed one out right where you're sitting just to calm down a bit." I grinned, watching him look down at where he was sitting before he scooted over a few inches. "Let me ask you something. Why'd you become a priest?"

"I love God, and I love people. I wanted to bring them together," he answered simply. "To help people through their difficult times. To help them through their weaknesses."

"Well, look at that. That's my thing. I like to help people through their weaknesses, too. Been doing it one way or another my whole life."

"How do you help people?"

"You want to know why people are gonna start dying in there? Because I'm not there to stop it."

RPOV

Daryl, Vickie and I had split up. The couple had stayed together, while I'd gone off on my own to search the first floor. It's where Dwight had told us the guns would be. But I hadn't found a single one, yet.

The sound of someone approaching had me lifting my gun, ready to shoot. As they rounded the corner, however, I lowered it as soon as I saw it was Daryl and Vickie.

"Ain't on this floor," Daryl grunted.

I shrugged. "Only option is up."

"High ground. Good cover." Daryl nodded.

"Yeah, I'd put them up there, too."

Vickie stepped over to a nearby doorway and gestured to a sign. "Found the stairs." Reaching for the door, she found they were locked. "I could shoot these down, but…"

Quick to move, Daryl waited for her to step aside before lifting his foot to kick down the door.

VPOV

The stairs eventually came to a block we couldn't get through, which meant we'd had to climb the last of the building through the elevator shaft. Daryl, as always, had been extra cautious, but I found Dad was no different. They both knew I could do it myself, but that didn't mean they weren't going to worry.

Once Dad had the doors open, Dad pulled himself up onto the floor and then reached a hand out for me. I took it, letting him pull me up as Daryl held a hand out to catch me if I were to fall.

Rolling onto the ground, I took a couple of heavy breaths and then rolled back over to help Dad pull Daryl over.

"Last floor. The guns have gotta be up here," Dad noted, trying to catch his breath.

"He said they'd be here." Daryl knew having an inside man at the Sanctuary was good for us, but he hated that it was Dwight.

"Everything else he passed you is checking out," Dad countered.

"That guy's a piece of shit."

Grabbing Daryl's hand, I turned him to me. "If he's lying, you're the one that gets to kill him. Everyone knows that."

Starting down the hallway, Dad shook his head, clearly getting a little concerned. "Those guns get to the Sanctuary, they could cut through those walkers and free up an exit. We'll go faster if we split up. I find the M2s, you find 'em, we use them, hit the courtyard right then and there."

"End this quick." Daryl nodded. "Vic and I will go this way."

There was no arguing, no questioning, no talking about it. We all knew Daryl and I were sticking together. It was the best for everyone. If we split up we'd both only worry about each other which could get us killed, or screw the whole plan up.

NPOV

"You helped the weak before this?"

I looked over at Gabe, finding him staring at me, watching closely and curiously. He was trying to figure me out, and I didn't blame him. If we were gonna be stuck in here together it was the perfect opportunity.

"Kids," I started. "You don't show them the way, well, they turn out like garbage. Little assholes become great big ones, so you show them the way. Adults, they need it, too. The government, laws, religion, guilt. People are weak."

"Everyone?"

"Everyone."

He sat on the answer for a moment before saying, "You're weak. Killing the innocent."

"Right and goddamn wrong. I'm weak, but me 'killing the innocent'? That ain't why, Gabey." Getting to my feet, I moved to the other side of the trailer as a walker managed to break a hole in the wall and reach its arm in. "We'll wait a little bit longer, see if my people can pull it together."

If we didn't get out of here soon, we weren't gonna last. Those walkers weren't gonna stop trying to get in, and once they find a way things'll end fast.

"Why are you weak?"

"That's the wrong question." I leaned my head back against the wall. "It is how I am weak. You see, the thing is, I am also strong. Everyone is a mix. You can use your weaknesses to drive your strength, and obviously, I am strong as shit. I took this place, and it was a damn free-for-all. A loose confederation of assholes. An army made up of gangs of animals, and I brought it all together. The last guy that was in charge, he wasn't in charge of shit. He allowed people to be weak. I don't. I make them strong, which makes this world strong. You're gonna see, Gabey. See, I'm gonna make you my new special project. Gonna make you nice and strong, too. We're gonna find your special purpose. Hell yes, we are."

"I'm strong," he argued. "I've killed. I was at the Satellite Station. I was a part of that."

I remembered my little talk with Victoria about that night. Was shocked to hear she was part of it. Not overly surprised the priest was, too, considering Rick had brought him here today.

"Oh. Then you killed my people while they were sleeping. Well, look at you, swinging your dick." I started towards him. "Sure, Gabe. That's strong. But that's not what I'm talking about."

"Tell me how you're weak." He looked over at the walker still stretching its arm inside. "We might be dead soon. You may be dead. Wouldn't you want to confess before all that happens? Wouldn't you want absolution before that? Forgiveness?" He got to his feet. "Costs you nothing more than saying the truth aloud. You don't think you have anything to confess? People you've killed?"

"I haven't killed anyone that didn't need it."

"The workers you treat like slaves."

"It's an economy," I countered. "Some people win, some people lose, but no one's a slave, no one's going hungry, and you couldn't say that before all this."

"Carl told us about your wives. The women you pressure into marrying you?"

"Every one of those ladies made a choice." I stepped closer to him. "Victoria made a choice."

He flinched at the mention of one of his people. "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing she wasn't begging for." I grinned, knowing I was getting under his skin. "At the end of the day, she chose to give into a small evil for an ounce of freedom. Just like all my other wives. They chose me in order to choose themselves or choose someone else. Family, friends, whatever, whoever. They choose to be with me for something else. It's called a transaction."

"Was there a first? One before all of this? A wife you promised to have and to hold, forsaking all others? One you told that lie to?"

Now he was getting under my skin.

"Lucille, give me strength." Turning away from him, I walked back to the other side of the trailer and took in a shaking breath.

With my back turned to him, I didn't see Gabe approaching, and I was not prepared for him to try to snatch his gun from my belt. He wasn't prepared for my reflexes, though. As he got the gun in his hand, I swung back and elbowed him in the face. He scrambled, hurrying into the next room and closing the door, separating us.

The commotion had encouraged the walkers to make more holes as the first one climbed into the trailer. Moving fast, I brought Lucille down on its head, crushing its skull to bits.

"All right, Gabe!" I called. "No one's coming for us. You took your shot. Shots. It's time to go." I stepped up to the door, forcing myself to calm down. "We have Lucille to help us get to the Sanctuary. We have that gun. We should use it. Most importantly, Gabriel, we have each other. People are a resource. We make it inside, we live."

Sighing, I walked back over to the dead walker and dragged it further into the trailer. "We can take a chance, we can 'gut up', play dead ones across the courtyard." When he didn't respond, I shrugged, stepping to the door again. "Or… or I can just kill you, but that is not what I want. What I want is for you to work with me. That is all I ever want."

"I've killed before, but that's not my greatest sin," he started. "I locked my congregation out of my church when this all just started. I listened to them die as I cowered. I failed them. I failed God. And every day, I work to lessen that failure, to be of service and purpose. Now I offer you the assurance of a pardon, penance, and absolution. I will go with you. I will show you that working together as equals is the only true way to grace, to a future. I will do this if you confess."

At least I could say I'd never done that. I'd never looked for a way to keep my people safe. I never left them out to just die without at least trying.

"Jesus, Gabe. What you did, that is some horrible, cowardly, spineless shit. But I guess that's what a confession's supposed to be, right?"

What I was about to do… not a lot of people alive today knew of my past.

"My first wife was a real wife. My only real wife. Till death did us part." I took in a shaking breath. "It was before this. I lied to her. I screwed around on her. She was sick. And when she went, it was during this. I couldn't put her down. That is how I was weak. That is what I will confess. Because, yeah, maybe we do bite the big one here."

There was a pause, and I honestly thought he wasn't going to keep his part of the deal. But right as I was getting pissed, he opened the door.

"You're forgiven."

Out of reflex, I punched him. "Thanks. You can keep your gun." Turning away from him, I went back to the dead walker. "Sucks, Gabe, but it looks like we got to risk eating it… by eating it."

"I don't understand."

I started bashing more parts of the walker. "You ever done this trick with the guts before?"

"Mm-hmm." He nodded, stepping towards me.

"These are putrid, decaying organs, dead blood, piss, and shit that have been cooking all day in the Virginian sun. None of your people ever gotten sick from this?"

"We're from Georgia."

"Look at you lucky shits." I chuckled.

Getting on our knees, we started covering ourselves with the walker's guts and insides until most of our clothes were coated in the disgusting shit.

Once we were ready, we waited by the exit door while I peeked a look outside the window. "Let's make some noise."

Banging Lucille on the door, we began to scream and yell, making as much noise as possible to catch the attention of as many walkers as possible. Then we opened the door and let them walk right in. None of them paid us any mind because of the stench covering us.

Outside, however, was different.

We'd made it halfway before the walkers figured us out, after that, we had to tooth and nail, and even then there was a good chance we wouldn't make it.

Somehow, we did. Working together, using the gun and Lucille. Somehow, we got out of that mess and back into the Sanctuary. But that wasn't the end of our issues.

RPOV

I was creeping around, keeping my finger by the trigger of my gun as I searched every room I came across. The area I was in now seemed to be residential, as I'd already found one bedroom. Reaching for the second door, I went to open it when I heard someone running.

I didn't get the chance to turn around before they jumped me, clinging to my back and pushing me away from the door. Pushing me to the ground, they tried to get their hands around my neck. Elbowing him in the face, I quickly rolled us over and started punching. He blocked most of them, struggling against me. So far there was no sign of who would come out on top.

Rolling around, the two of us got in some hits as we struggled to get the upper hand.

When I finally got a second, I reached for my other gun on my holster, but as I went to take a shot, he knocked my hand, making me miss him. His fist then quickly met my face, pushing me back to the ground. As he tried to get on top of me I kicked him back.

Climbing to our feet, we threw more hits before I managed to climb onto his back and get him in a chokehold. Running backwards, he slammed me against the wall, knocking the wind out of me, but I held tight.

"The M2s. Where are they?"

"No… guns," he grunted as I put more pressure around his neck.

Pushing us away from the wall, I moved back to the door he'd kept me from going in. "They're in there?"

"No!" he cried out as he ran back again, using whatever strength he could muster to slam me against the wall once more. "No!"

I could feel he didn't have much left in him, but even so, I needed to end things fast.

Looking around, I soon spotted one of the brackets left on the wall from the shelf he'd pushed me into earlier. Getting a stronger hold on him, I pushed us from the wall, turned, and threw him against the bracket.

It skewered him, straight through his chest.

Dropping to my knees, I fought to catch my breath for a moment. My heart was racing painfully, just as everything else hurt. I didn't let it hold me back for too long. When I had better control of my breathing I got back up to my feet and moved to the door he'd clearly wanted me to stay away from. As I opened it, I found the last thing I expected.

A baby was fast asleep in a crib.

On the wall was the name 'Gracie', and a mural of zoo animals. A mobile twirled above where she slept with stuffed animals and handmade blankets.

"Gracie." I felt my heart break as I realised the man outside was her father. She was an orphan now. Alone. It would be so easy for my own children to lose me… "Gracie."

Bamby