Finding a cabin as we hear gunshots fired felt lucky. Unlucky was that it was already inhabited, by someone talking on a walkie to others. Carol and Tyrese held the man at gunpoint, as I carried Judith inside and leaned back against a wall, with a view out a covered window. While they urged the man to give them information, I watched, making sure that our new friend's friends didn't come for a visit. Judith seemed to be as intent in her focus on my shirt collar as I was with the view.

Finally, Carol took charge. She planned on going in alone, even though Ty wanted to argue. A glance at me and Judith, and he was more agreeable to staying behind. While he stood guard, Carol took our buddy's ample supply of fireworks, and with a smile and nod, she was off.

I can see the walkers coming, and as I tell Ty, the idiot that we were holding hostage grabbed me and Judith, and threatened Ty with our deaths if he didn't walk outside into the mass of biters. Sharing a look with my reluctant protector, he doesn't fight it. He goes, and then, within minutes, he ambushes the idiot when I feign shock at what I'm seeing from my view and position near the window.

Tyrese had killed an entire horde of fucking walkers with his bare hands, and killed the moron who took a look at me and Judith and decided we were fair game.

When Carol returns, she isn't alone. And seeing Dad and Carl rush forward to wrap me and Judith in their arms has me crying in happiness. They survived. They were alive and here and kissing my cheeks and head. And Dad, after checking every inch of exposed skin on me for signs I was hurt, took Judith from me and did the same with my baby sister.

I watched him, and Carl take over the care of Judith, if only for a short while, and then I see HIM. Daryl. Alive and safe. And his arms are around me and his face is buried in my hair, and I relax, fully for the first time since I left the prison behind. Because he was in front of me, and he was alive.

As we leave, Dad takes a moment to "fix" the sign urging people to come to Terminus for safety. "No Sanctuary", far more truthful than what had been. And hopefully keeps far more people safe.

We had new members. Short introductions. Abraham, the soldier with a mission. Eugene, the mullet that swore he knew a cure for the dead rising. Rosita, Abraham's second, and possibly lover? And Tara, someone that had apparently been with the Governor at his final stand.

I nodded through the introductions, feeling the exhaustion that had been building since I'd walked away from the prison into uncertainty catching up. But there wasn't time. We had to put distance between us and what Daryl mentioned was a place full of cannibals. Great. And he seemed preoccupied. Beth had been with him when we all got separated, and now she was missing too.

We rested, eventually, and I found out that Michonne was without her katana. And seeing her without it, it was like seeing Hershel without his leg at first. She was still a badass, but something was clearly missing.

And Hershel? He hadn't made it. Philip had killed him. And I was happy to hear that good ol' Phil had met his fucking maker too.

Dad and Carol seemed to make peace. And I watched as Daryl and Carol took a moment to themselves.

I felt that I should feel content. We were together again. Most of us. I knew that Daryl wouldn't rest until he found Beth. I knew that Carol was still a little bit cagey, which I understood. I knew that our new members were adamant that they had to find a vehicle and head north. Get the prize that was mullet man to his lab, was the mission, apparently.

So while I knew what I should feel. I couldn't make myself feel it. Not when I knew that Daryl would rush off to play hero. That Dad would make it his mission to find us another safe place. That I would once again be relegated to the middle of the pack peacekeeper. It was the same, but it wasn't. And I couldn't put my finger on why, at this point in my life, that it bothered me.

Before he can rush off to play hero, Daryl does run off, but he kisses me awake and smiles down at me to let me know he's going hunting. He doesn't ask me to join him. I haven't hunted with him for so long he doesn't even bother.

I don't bother telling anyone else. I just assume that the rest would realize that Daryl would go hunting. He had his precious crossbow. We were surrounded by forest. What's so surprising? But I should have, because everyone is still twitchy and the poor man of mine had to hold up his line of squirrels when he came back to his own group prepared to take him out because he made a little noise in return.

"We surrender," he says, and I bite back a laugh.

We find a minister, stuck on a rock of all places, and surrounded by walkers soon after. Honestly? I'm thinking as our group takes care of the danger and the holy man, Gabriel, tries to make jokes about stealing Daryl's squirrels. Dad gives him the questions and I listen as the answers are no, no, and because God doesn't abide violence. Well, he's going to last a long time, I think, shaking my head and waiting to learn our next move.

Gabriel's church is nearby. Dad, Michonne, Carol, and Glenn clear it before the rest of us enter. Abraham notices the church bus and once again reminds us of the importance of getting Eugene to Washington. Michonne, glancing at me and the clear vision of complete exhaustion that I must be wearing, says we need supplies and rest. I close my eyes and nod my thanks. And nearly fucking cheer when Dad agrees with her.

Gabriel tells our group about his own survival tactics, and something rings strange to me, but I'm so tired that I can barely stand. Carol and Daryl have gone to fill our water bottles and containers. Dad has Michonne, Sasha, and Bob come with him and Gabriel, clearly not trusting the good man of the cloth. And Maggie, Glenn, and Tara decide to loot for weapons. Before he leaves, Dad thanks Tyrese for keeping his girls safe and takes Carl aside.

Tyrese leads me to one of the church pews and takes Judith from my arms. "Lay down, Jessi, rest." He commands, and before I can argue, my body takes the command to heart and I'm out.

I wake up before our group returns. Carl is standing over me and I blink to make my eyes focus on him. He glances at Tyrese and asks me to come outside with him. Outside he shows me deep scratches along a window and a horrible message dug into a wall. "You will burn for this."

I share a look with my little brother and nod. He has to show Dad. And we have to find out just what the hell Gabriel's story really is.

There's a celebration later that night. One that I feel is premature at best, and tempting fate at worst. Abraham, using my little sister to support his mission's end game, tries to sell us all the pipedream of Eugene the man who could save us all. Judith, a baby, coos and Dad takes it as a sign. And so, we have a new purpose it would seem.

I don't notice Carol slipping out. I don't see Daryl follow. But, as the hours pass, as more horrors show up on our doorstep, I realize that once again, he didn't take the time to say goodbye.