Part Five

Here is the next chapter, not much else to say.

I own nothing, it belongs to Robbert Kirkman.

Enjoy.

XXX

Like he thought training Daryl was not easy. Jesus was extremely thankful to have both Aaron and Glenn to help him since Daryl was not very forthcoming with his thoughts or feelings. They wouldn't be able to leave Alexandria for a while yet. His instincts were driving him to stay close to his Pack. So a lot of the time they would have to be around him while he trained which embarrassed the hell out of him. But it worked out since Princess was still training Rick and Andrea. He was already an amazing tracker, so teaching him to get ahold of his new sharpened senses was easy. His speed and strength were a bit tricky, but after a few fallen trees and some black eyes, they managed to get that under control as well. It was his instincts that were giving them pause.

"Where is he?" Jesus asked looking around the field full of his new family.

"Out there." Carol sighed looking to the trees. "When it gets to be too much, before this and now he would always go out there to calm down. To feel better."

"Go get him." Princess told him throwing another knife at Adrea for her to control. "He's your student."

"Maybe we should give him space." Jesus suggested.

"Nah-ah." Princess shook her head throwing three more not really caring that Andrea was soaked with sweat. "Go get him, figure out what will help him."

He knew better by this point than to disobey. So he began his trudge up through the tall grass to the trees. He wasn't a good tracker like Daryl but he was decent enough. Still, Daryl didn't make it easy for him.

"There you are." he panted finally finding him under a tree. "You didn't show up for lessons, want to tell me why that is."

Daryl didn't look at him, just continued to sharpen his arrows.

"I thought we got past the silent treatment." Jesus snorted, keeping his distance so as not to overwhelm the new B!TTEN. "I know you're having issues with your instincts but I can't help you unless you tell me. C'mon Daryl, just talk to me."

Still nothing.

"Okay." he smiled lifting some ink from his skin and using it like a whip letting it crack at Daryl.

Of course, Daryl heard it coming long before it came near him and jumped out of the way.

"Th' hell!" he snarled clenching his fists.

"You won't talk to me." Jesus shrugged pulling his ink back just a little. "And you skipped training." again he whipped the ink at him which again Daryl dodged. "So count this as a remedial lesson."

So they went on. It was part of their training him with his speed, agility and strength. Daryl's goal was to simply get close enough to touch Jesus. While Jesus just tried to keep him away.

"So," Jesus started flipping backward out of Daryl's reach. "What exactly is bothering you?"

"Nothin'." Daryl snarled leaping up a tree to gain the upper hand.

"Cheater." Jesus snorted maneuvering the ink so it formed a ring around him as he watched the trees. "It's your instincts right?" he called waiting for the strike. "Something is driving you crazy. Something about pack bonds maybe, or maybe something with Carol?"

"She's fine." Daryl hissed from somewhere above.

"Okay so then it's pack."

"It's nothin'."

Jesus could tell by the tone in the hunter's voice that he hit a nerve.

"Pack, got it." he nodded. "So tell me what's going on with the pack?"

A branch snapping was his only warning. With practiced reflexes he pushed out the ink to block Daryl's attack, pushing him back only for the wolfman to land perfectly on his feet.

"Told ya." he grumbled, straightening himself. "It's nothin'"

"Right." Jesus groaned, barely dodging as Daryl shot forward past his ink ring. "That's why you've secluded yourself out here away from everyone. Because it's nothing. Or maybe because there's no one out here to overwhelm your senses and send your instincts into overdrive."

Daryl didn't answer just looked down. Smiling softly Jesus pulled the ink back into place, still keeping his distance. Daryl was ready now to talk.

"Tell me what's going on Daryl." he implored.

Defeated Daryl deflated against a tree and started chewing on his thumbnail.

"Th' scent ain't strong enough." he grumbled.

"What do you mean?"

"Ah keep scentin' 'em, mah pack, but th' scent don't ever get strong enough. Don't want ta keep scenting 'em… It's… weird."

"It was at first, I'll admit." Jesus shrugged walking closer. "But I've grown accustomed to it, just as everyone else has."

"Yeah, but…" Daryl paused trying to put his thoughts into words. "It's just… no one else can scent it. They don't see how they're mah pack, don't respect th' bond."

"They don't think like you Daryl."

"Ah know, but it still don't make me feel any better. Ah get so angry wit everyone."

"I know." Jesus nodded placing a hand on the other man's shoulder. "We'll figure it out. We'll find a way to make sure everyone knows."

"How?"

"Not sure yet, but we'll figure it out."

Daryl snorted but seemed calmer. Then he started to blush and Jesus knew what was coming. Daryl reach out taking Jesus's hand and rubbed the wrist to his neck, marking Jesus as pack.

"We'll figure it out." Jesus promised. "But for now, we should head back. Carol will come out here herself if we don't hurry."

"Yeah." Daryl gave a small smile at the thought of his mate- force of nature that woman was. "An' Ah bet that Aaron will be right behind 'er."

Jesus choked back his surprised grunt, shaking his head leading Daryl back to the Alexandria.

It took him a little while to figure out how to help Daryl and during that time Daryl got into a few fights with people who didn't respect his pack bond. It was a tense couple of days, keeping everyone on edge as Daryl stalked around fighting his instincts. Carol, Rick and Maggie were the only ones that could keep him in line but they couldn't be with him twenty-four seven as much as Carol wouldn't mind that.

Finally, after letting Daryl go for a ride on his bike to calm down, Jesus got a perfect idea.

"Ya want meh ta wha?" Daryl asked.

"Just trust me." Jesus urged handing him the bundle he had just scavenged. "Sleep with these, let them soak up your scent."

"This will be interesting." Carol smiled.

"Don't get any ideas woman." Daryl hissed.

After a few days of him sleeping with the bundle, Jesus called another pack meeting.

"So what's this about?" Rick asked as they gathered at his house.

"This is to help Daryl." Jesus informed taking the bundle from said wolfman, revealing a bunch of bandanas. "To help everyone understand that you're his pack and to respect that."

"And you're going to do that with a bunch of hair accessories?" Abraham wondered.

"Everyone's going to wear one." he smiled. "Preferably around your necks. They are covered in his scent so you'll have it no matter what, meaning he doesn't have to keep scenting you. This will also make it clear that something is going on with all of us."

"Yeah, like some creepy cult." Andrea snorted.

"Just go with it." Jesus sighed handing her the green bandana. "Rick, Maggie, you two get red ones, to make it clear that you are a bit different. Carol yours and Daryl's are blue so you match. I'm hoping that this will help people see that you are Daryl's mate. The rest of us will have green. It stands out so people can't miss them. We'll try it out for a few days and see what happens. Just keep them on alright."

The days that followed were peaceful. Most people in Alexandria already knew about the pack, but for the ones that didn't; they noticed the bandanas, noticed they matched and they all wore them in the same place. So they asked. This made it clear, by them asking they began to understand that they need to conduct themselves differently when it came to the pack.

In the end, it worked out perfectly.

"I guess we'll be heading home tomorrow." Jesus sighed stretching out on Aaron's couch- he had been staying there in the guest room since they got there.

"Looks like." Aaron nodded.

"I still want to continue our training sessions." Jesus assured. "Still meet out in the same place like before."

"What?" Aaron looked like Jesus had just grown another head.

"Well I assumed," Jesus stated closing his eyes so in a way he wasn't really apart of this conversation, of the words he didn't want to say. "That since you got a hold on your powers you can stay home now. We'll still see each other of course, I mean if you want to."

"Stay home…" Aaron understood now, but it sounded wrong.

He didn't really think of this house as home, it was a place to rest his head. It hadn't been home since he lost Eric. And now… without Jesus…

"No." he shook his head.

"Oh." Jesus sounded like his heart just cracked painfully. "I understand. You are already pretty good, and with your powers… I guess you don't really need my help anymore."

"That's not what I meant." Aaron urged facing Jesus fully now. "I… I want to go back to Hilltop with you."

Jesus blinked nonunderstanding.

"The last month or so," Aaron began. "I've been drowning in everyone else's emotions and it gets to be too much sometimes. The one thing that has kept me sane is you. You always ground me. I feel your feelings for me and it clears everything up. I…" he didn't know what else he could say, how he could make Jesus see that he just wanted to be with him. So with steady hands, he cupped Jesus's face holding it still as he leaned closer. "I don't want to be away from you."

With little hesitation he presses his lips to Jesus and hoped. Jesus couldn't comprehend what was happening but he didn't dare fight it. Whatever this was felt good. So good. He closed his eyes, tilting his head to deepen the kiss making Aaron sigh with bliss. It was gentle, almost hushed. Aaron could feel everything Jesus felt. His joy and pleasure, filled him, making things suddenly very heated. He moaned, deep and passionate making them both pull back in shock. They stared at each other, red-faced and breathing harshly, before busting out laughing.

"Need to work on that." Aaron murmured thoroughly embarrassed.

"I'll help you." Jesus promised.

"At Hilltop." Aaron insisted. "At home."

Jesus chuckled and nodded.

"At home." he assured.

The weeks that followed were… quiet. Not a peaceful quiet, more like a calm before the storm. It made everyone uneasy and those of the eleven who had already cleared train all the harder to be ready. But there were a few times when things were good. Jesus and Aaron now shared Jesus's trailer and would often disappear outside the walls to help Aaron get control of the new aspect to his powers- so making out. Daryl was way more efficient with his hunts than he was before. And considering that he was already pretty amazing, this meant that he was bringing back twice as much. He was also more affectionate oddly enough. But it only extended to those in his pack. But of course especially towards Carol who didn't seem to mind. These moments were few in the days, the rest of the time was spent arming defenses and keeping communications with the other settlements to be sure nothing was wrong, or to be ready to rush to their aid.

It was on one of these little commutes that things finally fell into place knocking over the last domino.

"Stay safe." Glenn urged hugging Maggie tight.

"I'll be fine." she assured kissing him fully on the lips.

"I still don't see why I can't come with you, or go in your place."

"Hershel needs one of us to stay here, as well as the rest of the community." she told him. "And I haven't seen Ezekiel since Jesus first showed up. I want to build a good rapport with him. It's best if I go."

He didn't look happy about it but he nodded letting her take their son into her arms so she can crush him to her chest.

"Be good for daddy, alright baby." she cooed making the little boy gurgle with delight.

"He's always good." Glenn chuckled.

"I know." she sighed giving her son a big kiss on the forehead before handing him back to her husband.

"You watch out for each other alright." Aaron told Carol and Daryl as they walked them to the gate.

"Always." Carol smiled.

"I still think maybe I should go with you." Jesus urged looking fidgety.

"Nah." Daryl shook his head. "Ya got new B!TTEN ta train."

"And Daryl is more than capable with his own abilities." Carol reminded. "And you just checked the barrier yesterday, it's still up. We"ll be just fine."

"Still…" Jesus really didn't have a good counter, but there was this feeling inside his gut that told him to go with them. But they were right, Daryl was excellent with his new powers and Maggie and Carol were more than capable fighters. They could handle themselves. But still… "Just be careful."

"We will." she assured hugging him.

As a way of goodby, Daryl pulled them close so their necks were pressed together. Even though the bandanas had helped with his instincts phenomenally, he still felt the need to affirm the bond. They didn't mind. At this point it was as comforting for them as it was for him.

With that, Maggie climbed onto her horse, Daryl and Carol onto his triumph and they were off.

Though they were sure that the barrier was still up and we're all experts when it came to walker slaying that didn't mean that they were going to let their guard down.

"There seems to be less and less walker activity." Maggie stated as they stopped for a break.

"Maybe the wall Jesus put up cut off more than we thought." Carol suggested after taking a gulp of water.

"Maybe," Daryl trailed off keeping watch, his head titled as he listened to the wind. "But not all of 'em. There is a herd comin', can hear 'em on th' wind."

"How many do you think?" Carol asked.

Tilting his head up he took a sniff making a face and wincing.

"By th' smell, I'd say a couple dozen, maybe more." he coughed.

"We should keep going.' Maggie told them remounting her horse. "Try to stay ahead of them and warn the Kingdom so we can deal with them properly."

They agreed and hopped onto the triumph letting the engine rev. Even over the engine, Daryl could hear the groans, smell the decay and feel their overbearing presence. But all that became absolutely trivial though when a new sound reached his ears.

"Hold up." he called gripping the brake.

"What is it?" Carol asked leaning closer to him.

"Did you sense something?" Maggie asked.

"Shh." he hissed at them.

They stayed quiet listening to the wind trying to sense what he did, but knowing that they couldn't.

"Oh shit." Daryl paled.

"What is it?" Carol murmured trying to follow his eye's path.

"They're whispering." he breathed. "There's anotha herd ahead of us. They're gonna try ta cut us off. We need ta go."

Without another word they rushed ahead trying to get to the Kingdom before the other herd cut them off. The pedal to the metal, the horse chasing the carrot, they flew forward with desperation. The gates were just insight. They were going to make it. They had to make it.

Then the first dead body rounded the corner.

"Whoa!" Maggie called as her horse spooked rearing up and nearly throwing her.

Dary came to a screeching sideways to a halt as more than six dozen shambled for them.

"We can't push through with the horse or bike." Carol informed hoping off and pulling her knife from its sheath and her gun from her holster. "They'll just pull us right off."

"We have ta fight through." he agreed taking out his own twin daggers that he's taken to using.

"Then let's get this over with." Maggie growled pulling her rifle off her back. "I have a baby and husband to get to."

"Remember last time." Carol warned looking to Daryl. "You said you heard whispers. There among them, they have weapons and powers, they will kill. Expect every single one of them to fight back."

They both nodded, standing side by side they waited for the heard to reach them. Maggie and Carol started firing when they were twenty-five feet away knowing that the shots would alert the Kingdom so they could take care of the walkers to the back. But that would be a little while, they had to hold out till then. While the girls were firing off their guns Daryl was sifting through the herd with his senses attempting to find the living among the dead. When any got to close he would quickly dispatch them with his knives or even his fists. His strength was enough that he could cave their skulls in with a well-aimed hook. It was looking fine, Daryl could even hear their back upcoming. But they were so focused on what was in front of them they didn't think to look behind them. That is till Daryl spun on his heels catching the blade aimed for his neck.

"Get away from him." Carol screamed sinking her knife into the whisperer's neck.

"Carol look out!" Maggie cried.

But she didn't get the chance to see what had Maggie so panicked. Before she could turn there was a ripping pain on the curve of her left shoulder. She cried out reaching back with her knife to stab the walker only to miss and stab its neck doing nothing leaving her to shriek as it tore her skin from her shoulder.

"NO!" Daryl roared struggling with yet another whisperer that took the place of the other. "CAROL!"

"Hold on." Maggie urged rushing forward with her knife, plunging it into the walker's skull. "I got you, hold on."

She slowly lowered Carol to the ground as the silver queen began to whimper angrily at the pain. Daryl snarled freeing one of his hands and throwing his fist forward collapsing the whisperer's face then rushing to his mate. Cradling her in his arms.

"Hold on sweetheart." he shushed running his fingers through her hair. "They're comin', just hold on."

Maggie stood as soon as he took over caring for Carol firing off her gun at anything that got too close. Her aim wasn't entirely accurate as she was beginning to panic. So she didn't notice that she had downed one, didn't see as it crawled closer and closer to her ankle. She didn't notice, that is until it was sinking into her ankle.

"Ah!" she gave a cry of surprise before falling to her knees.

"Maggie!" Daryl called seeing the monster on her leg.

She steadied herself reaching back and thrusting her knife into its skull. But that was all she could manage before her eyes rolled back into her head and she started to fall forward. Daryl was barely able to free one of his hands and catch her before her head collided with the ground.

"Maggie!" He called hoping to rouse her. "C'mon wake up."

"Weak." someone hissed. "They are week, end them."

There was a glint off to the right, that he barely caught in time. It was heading for Carol's head but it wasn't going to make it. With a snarl he moved the one arm that was cradling her to his chest to just slightly so the knife impaled itself into his forearm rather than her head. He looked up at the bastard human, teeth bared, eyes flaring with rage. It projected enough animosity to make the whisperer stagger back. He gently set both the girls down then stood. It took a moment for anything to happen. A walker got a little too close to Maggie.

He tore it apart.

The next few moments were a mess of blood, gore and screams. Daryl was a blur as he used his top speed to circle the girls and tear any and everything that got too close apart with violent savagery. It eventually scared the whisperers away, even the ones with their own powers. It was too gruesome it seemed even for a bunch of people who wore the skin of the dead. Soon all that was left was the dead. But even then, Daryl was beginning to take hits. In the end, there were just too many of the dead. Even so, Daryl continued his barbaric onslaught. Hellbent on destroying those who would hurt his mate and pack.

Then,

"Daryl, get down!"

He barely registered the words through the haze of red in time to fall and cover the girls as best as he could with his body as the sky began to shower bullets. Thunder and smoke filled the air as the storm raged taking out every walker in its wake. But soon it passed.

"Daryl." Morgan called rushing to the fallen Hilltopers. "Daryl it's alright, now. You can get up."

Slowly, Daryl pulled himself off the girls looking up at the other B!TTEN not understanding at first, taking a minute to let the rage wash away.

"Daryl…" looking down he saw Carol looking up at him with droopy eyes. "It's… okay…"

That snapped him out of it.

"Help 'em." he urged his voice taking on a whiny tone. "Ya gotta help 'em. They were bit."

"Hurry." The king ordered his soldiers. "Make haste get them to the infirmary."

Morgan rushed with Jerry to hoist Maggie by the shoulders and knees while Daryl lifts Carol to his chest tucking her head into his shoulder.

"It's going… to be… okay…" Carol murmured again and again seeming unable to say anything else.

Even now, in such a dismal situation, she was trying to assure him despite her pain.

"Dammit woman." he hissed tightening his hold. "Stahp tryin' ta make meh feel better. Yer th' one 'at needs it."

She only giggled.

"I love you." she murmured, her face barely showing the pain she was in.

He gritted his teeth. This felt too much like she was trying to say goodbye. He wouldn't let that happen.

"Ya ain't leavin' meh woman." he snarled softly. "Yer a force a nature. Yer goin' ta make it through thes an' be right damn terrifyin' wit th' powers yer gonna have." he swore placing her gently on the cot. "Ah'll tell ya 'en."

She only giggled then winced at the pain it flared.

"Get some rest woman." he cooed kneeling next to her. "Ye'll be alright."

She was already out then. Now hooked up to an IV and cocooned in a fleece blanket, she started her clearing process. It was good that she and Maggie both passed out. It meant that the brain was already trying to clear. It was attempting to put them in a sudo coma to channel all its energy to clearing the illness before it could kill them. This was the best they could hope for at the moment.

"Where is Michonne?" Daryl asked, needed someone from his pack right then.

"She is in a room a few doors down." Morgan told him. "She was bit just last night after she attempted perimeter check. Ezekiel is with her now."

Daryl didn't know what to say to that.

"It's getting started already." Morgan murmured. "You all have been bit. All that's left is Negan."

"I ain't fighitn' with him." Daryl snarled.

"He didn't kill your friends." Morgan reminded him. "We saved 'em, then I made you think he killed 'em."

"He was still gonna kill someone 'at night." the wolfman insisted.

"You're right." Morgan nodded.

"All those people th're, are pack." Daryl hissed. "He was gonna hurt mah pack."

"But he didn't."

"Don't matter."

"You need him." Morgan said with a tone of finality. "At the end a this you can kill him if you want. I don't think anyone is gonna stop you. But until then you need to forget about that and fight alongside him."

Daryl didn't say anything to that, he didn't need to think about it right now, just needed to be there for Carol.

"Glenn should be 'ere." he finally said thinking about his packmate. If he was so far away from Carol right now he would lose his mind. "He needs ta be 'ere."

"Riders have been sent to both Hilltop and Alexandria." Morgan assured. "They should be here in an hour or so."

They were quiet then. Daryl not being a man of words and Morgan having nothing else to report. So with a nod and well wishes towards the girls he exited. Leaving Daryl to his silent yearning. For pack, for his mate that lay sleeping before him.

"Ye'll be fine." he told her then looked to his alpha. "Ya both will. Yer tough, ye'll be fine."

A few hours later both the Alexandrians and Hilltoppers came storming through the gates, ignoring the mess of bodies outside and the residents of the Kingdom themselves. Glenn was at the head of the visitors practically running for the infirmary.

"Maggie." he cried throwing the doors open.

Daryl startled looking away from his mate and to his second alpha and the rest of his pack. Glenn bypassed him heading for his wife and kneeling next to her. Andrea followed him while Rick and Aaron went to Daryl. The normally stoic hunter let the empath enfold him in his arms and whisper reassuring things into his ear. He didn't mind in the slightest. He just took in the smell of pack letting it calm and strengthen him.

"Daryl." Jesus hushed. "Tell us everything that happened."

He did, he told them about the two herds and how they ambushed them. He told them how the girls got bit and how he lost control. He tried to remember how many whisperers there were and also how he didn't see any of them use their powers but he could definitely smell it on them.

"They must have taken down the barrier at some point last night." Jesus said thoughtfully.

"They called us weak." he concluded. "Said we were weak an' ta end us."

"That's why they're attacking." Jesus nodded. "They think that because they are bit and survived that they have the right to take Darwinism into their own hands."

"So they think we're weak, and now they're gonna come after us?" Rick snorted. "Then they're in for a rude awakening."

"It's not just that." Princess told them looking weirdly serious, holding a bloodied towel.

"What do you see?" Morgan asked knowing the towel came from Daryl, and blood was most likely from the Whisperers.

"They're talking." She said. "The alpha bitch is telling them of their ways. The strong survive the weak die that kind of crap." her face scrunched up. "They intend to assimilate our people. They want those of us who survive to join them. They think that is the natural order and that we should do so without question. Otherwise, we are weak in the head and powers or no powers they will put us down as we are a threat. They want to absorb us."

"Ain't gonna happen." Daryl snarled. "They ain't pack."

"He's right." Andrea hissed. "They've attacked our people unprovoked. We set up a clear sign that they were not to enter. That wall should have been all they needed. Now they've started something."

"It was always going to happen and we knew it." Jesus reminded. "They don't think like people anymore. They only think in terms of strong and weak. They want to spread like a plague to strengthen the world their way."

"And they think that we're just gonna roll over and take it up the ass?" Abraham snorted. "That'll be the day."

"Right now we need to focus on the girls." Jesus told them. "Carol, Michonne and Maggie were the final keys to the puzzle. And we are going to have almost no time to train them. The whispers are already on us."

"So what do you suggest?" Rosita asked crossing her arms.

At this Jesus looked to Princess and Morgan biting his lip.

"Well, we already have a good idea about what their powers will be." He started. "And we had this idea since Princess saw how this might be a possibility."

"Then why didn't you warn us." Daryl growled.

"I can't know for sure." Princess told him going back to her normal smiley self. "I can see infinite possibilities but I can't know for sure which one is going to happen. All I can do is try for the best path."

"So then what is the best path right now?" Rick asked.

"We need Glenn to connect us to Carol, Maggie and Michonne."

"What?" Glenn asked not catching what he said, but then, "Oh. You really think that will work?"

"Princess saw it did." Jesus shrugged. "I mean if they believe they can control their powers then they should be able to. Mind over manner kind of thing."

"So you want to mentally train them." Glenn clarified.

"Best chance right at the moment." Morgan assured.

"What do ya think yer dowin?" Daryl demanded wanting to make sure his mate wouldn't be hurt.

"We're going to train the girls inside their brains." Princess smiled, balancing on one foot while pressing her pointer fingers to her temples. "They get trained up here. Then they wake up and already know what to do. Easy, peasy, lemon tasty."

Jesus just rolled his eyes at the antics.

"So Princess and I will have to stay here at the Kingdom for the time being." He informed. "And I can't imagine that Daryl or Glenn would want to leave right now. So Aaron-"

"I'm staying." Aaron interrupted.

"Aaron-"

"If your staying I'm staying."

"Then with all of us who will lead Hilltop?"

"Terra." Aaron shrugged. "She's leading it now."

Jesus just shook his head smiling at the other man. He couldn't really deny him anything. Would give him the world if he asked.

"That just leaves one last thing." Morgan said looking at this feet.

"Negan." Princess sang.

"What about him?" Sasha asked.

"We need him to clear." Princess smirked. "So we need you to bring him here, we'll tie him up take walker head to his neck and let him clear."

"And mentally train him as well." Jesus told them. "His powers are probably the most terrifying."

"Why?" Carl asked.

"He can control people." Princess shrugged like she had just commented on the weather rather than an increasingly unstable tyrant.

"He can what?!" was the general cry from everyone in the room.

"Now hold on-" Jesus tried.

"You said nothing about this." Rick gritted.

"Because we knew you would react like this." Morgan informed.

"He can't let get bit." Daryl snarled.

"No way." Andrea agreed.

"We need him." Jesus urged.

"Rick, please, you saw the vision." Glenn insisted.

"No!" Rick hissed.

"HEY!"

They all turned to Princess who was rubbing Aaron's back. He looked like he was fighting the urge to throw up. Hand over his mouth curled at the torso.

"You guys are making him sick." She told him.

"Aaron." Jesus worried going to his side.

"This place is overflowing with extreme emotions." Princess sighed skipping away from the lovers. "I'm surprised he was able to hold it together for as long as he did."

"I'm fine." he tried to assure, but he still looked green. "Just a few too many emotions swirling around. Kind of feels like I'm on one of the gravity rides at a carnival."

"Look bottom line." Princess started glaring at all of them. "We need his powers. He can control the dead as well. That gives us an edge. The leader of this group can control the dead and only the dead. With his powers, we're a shoe in."

"And without?" Rick wondered.

"We are going to have a bunch of extremely powerful B!TTEN, but in the end her army of the undead will overpower and destroy us." she stated twirling a knife between her fingers-where she got it no one knew.

"Don't worry." Jesus assured. "We will have him tame before we release him."

"What does that mean?" Abraham demanded. "I'm fully aware we need the bastard for this particular mission, but I want some quality assurance that our people will not be in danger of this man."

"With Enid's powers we'll be able to keep him asleep." he told them. "With that we'll be able to calm his psyche. We'll be able to make him somewhat normal."

"Somewhat?" Andrea raised a brow.

"Hey, we're not miracle workers." Princess snorted.

"So we need to get him." Rick groaned.

"Ya really think thes is a good idea?" Daryl questioned.

"No." Rick admitted. "But we all saw the vision. Negan was there. We need him."

"I'll ride out and grab him." Andrea offered.

"We're going with you." Sasha said offering Abraham and her as back up.

"Be safe." Rick told her, stealing a quick kiss.

"Always." she smiled following the other two out the door.

"Now what?" Carl asked.

"Now we wait for the girls to surface enough for Glenn to connect." Jesus told him. "Which may take a while. Maybe a day."

Everyone started to file out in a slow trickle after that. Either to go get rest, food or talk with the people of the Kingdom. The only ones that remained in the room were Daryl, Glenn and Aaron and Jesus. Daryl and Glenn for obvious reasons, and Aaron because he felt compelled to be there for the men, Jesus because Aaron needed him.

It was a few hours before there were any signs of REM from the girls. And another hour before Andrea and the others got back. Princess, who had been monitoring their progress, was the one that warned them of their approach.

"Jesus." she panted having run back inside. "They don't have him."

"What do ya mean?" Daryl demanded.

"I mean when they got back to Alexandria and he wasn't there." she gulped. "Negan's escaped."

XXX

Okay, next week will be the last chapter of this fic.

So look forward to that.

Thank you for reading.

I'll see you in the next chapter.