This Night

Chapter 211

Author's Note: Oh my gosh guys, I started writing this almost a year ago, right after I discovered the Walking Dead. I want to thank you all for reviewing, following, finding and continuing to read. Season 5B will have the most changes, cause yeah Random Hair Cut Lady will be involved but Jewel will have to hurt her if she flirts with Rick. Anyway, please review.

Group POV:

The group gathered outside at first light, checking bags and weapons. Jewel checked the diaper bag for the third time and handed it to Mika. "Are you sure this isn't to heavy for you?"

Mika grinned. "It's fine, I've got it," she assured her.

"If it gets to heavy, one of us can help her carry it," Lexi told her.

"We'll all take turns," Carl assured her.

Abraham stood in front of the group. "We can handle a couple dozen of the dead, staying here is better then roaming out there," he told them.

"Abraham, it's the ones that will be joining them," Rosita said with a sigh.

"You're more then welcome to stay here and take your chances," Jes told him.

Jewel walked over to Eugene. "Hold out your arms," she told him as she adjusted Hope.

Eugene looked at her then at the baby. "I don't think that's a good idea," he told her.

"I tend to agree with him on this one," Michonne told her friend.

"If we get into trouble, Abraham and Rosita are going to be protecting you, which means if I need to help fight, then I'll have to hand the baby off to someone. Mika can take Judith, which means I'll need you to take Hope. But that means I need you to know how to actually hold her. We've all got jobs to do, and if you can't fight, then this will be yours. Now hands out," Jewel told him.

"I repeat I don't think this is a good idea," Eugene said.

"Either you're going to hold Hope or I'm putting a knife in your hands and pushing you in front of me. The choice is yours," Jewel simply told him.

Eugene awkwardly held out his hands as she placed Hope in his arms. "I'm going to drop her…" he said as he held her.

"You drop her, I hurt you, then I'll let Rick and the others argue about whose going to hurt you after I get done," Jewel warned above a whisper. "There, see, that wasn't that bad was it?" she asked as she took Hope back.

"For Hope and Eugene's sake, I hope that it doesn't come down to him having to hold her," Axel mumbled to Summer who laughed.

Rick helped put Hope in the carrier on Jewel's chest. "If you need to stop, you tell us," he told Jewel as he kissed her.

"Don't worry, I will," Jewel told him.

"We got any idea where we are heading?" Michonne asked.

"Glenn and I circled a few things on the map, not sure how intact they are," Maggie answered.

Jes nodded. "I've got point, newbie you're with me," she said as she started walking. When she noticed that David wasn't with her, she turned around and looked at him. "You," she said pointing at David. "David right? You look a lot like your dad. Now, I said you're with me, which means get those feet moving and joining me up here."

"Is this what you guys do? Always put the new guy on guard duty? Make him go first? You know how to make a guy feel welcome," David groused.

"It is until you show us you aren't going to do something stupid," Jes told him.

"She doesn't like repeating herself," Merle groused. "Let's move, daylight's burning."

"Stay close to each other, you see someone slowing down, you let the rest of the group know," Rick informed them.

"Staying by the railroad tracks may be the best idea for now," Sasha told them.

"She's right, the walkers' would be harder to fight in the woods," Daryl told them.

Mar nodded. "Mitch you stay close to us," she told him as the group started walking.

Jes and David's POV:

David walked in silence for over forty five minutes and glanced over his shoulder a few times as they walked ahead, watching as everyone was talking and even managed to smile a few times.

Jes glanced at him. "You'll get used to it," she told him.

David looked at her. "You knew my dad," he stated rather than ask.

"I did," Jes answered. "I was with him when all this went down, when he called you to tell you and your girlfriend to get to Atlanta, I was with him. I'm sorry we couldn't get to you."

"You were sleeping with him? You knew he had a wife and kids?" David asked.

Jes glanced at him. "Your parents were divorced long before I came into the picture. I might have done a lot of things I'm not proud of, but sleeping with a married man was never one of them."

"You were with dad when he died? Joey said he was shot," David asked.

Jes nodded. "I was the one that shot him," she simply said.

David looked at her. "You're not even sorry are you?"

"I don't say sorry for things that I'm not sorry for. I had to make a decision, getting Jewel back to her family or follow the orders of a mad man to bring her head back for him to put in a fish tank. Your father was weak, he was going to follow those orders, and I couldn't let that happen. It was the right thing to do," Jes said as she heard Hope fuss. "I believe that more then ever. Everyone alright?" she called back as she stopped.

"Someone needs a diaper change," Jewel answered. "Yes that smell would keep the walkers' away won't it?" she asked.

Bob grinned at Sasha. "A precious reminder that we are alive and thriving in this world," he said as he gave her a small kiss.

"Let's get off the tracks, make it to the woods," Rick said as he watched Mika get a pacifier out of the bag and handed it to Jewel. He gave a small smile. "Good thinking, Mika."

"We don't want her attracting walkers' but she can't be very comfortable needing a diaper change," Mika told him.

Summer gave a glance toward Joey as they both looked at Mika, both thinking about Lizzie.

"We'll all take a break, rest up," Rick told them.

Daryl nodded. "I'm going to take point. Rick mind if I take Carl?"

Jewel glanced at Rick and gave a small nod. "Yeah go ahead Carl," Rick told him.

"How are you feeling?" Carol asked Jewel. "Boy we have our own little walker deodorant in that diaper don't we?" she asked as she kissed Hope's hand.

"Tired, but aren't we all?" Jewel asked.

"Not all of us pushed a little human being out of our bodies lately," Carol reminded her. "I'm glad that you made it."

Jewel nodded. "I'm glad that you're back where you belong," she said.

"Help! Help!" they heard a voice call from the distance.

Rick held up his hand for the group to stop as Carl looked back at him. "Dad come on! Come on," he told him.

Rick nodded as they started to run toward the noise.

Tyreese took Judith and put his arm on Jewel's shoulder. "They've got this. She needs you," he told her as he nodded toward Hope.

"I'm just not used to hanging back," Jewel admitted.

Tyreese smiled as Mika put a blanket on the ground so Jewel could change Hope. "Mika take Judith so I can keep watch. Sometimes you have to prioritize your choices. You have the most important job at the moment, Jewel. No one thinks you aren't pulling your weight because you can't jump into the action. You did that, at Terminus," he said as she cleaned the baby up and fastened the diaper.

"See that feels better, doesn't it?" Jewel told Hope as she kissed her forehead.

Tyreese took Judith back from Mika and they watched as most of the group fight the walkers.

"Axel's improving on his weapon skills, he'll be alright," Jewel told them.

"He's one of us, of course he'll be alright," Mika said with a grin.

"Clear," Rick called as the group tightened back up. "Keep watch," he told the group as he looked up at the man who was trapped on the rock. "Come on down," he ordered. They watched as the priest jumped down from the rock, still looking very nervous. "Are you OK?" he asked.

The Priest held up his finger right before he threw up. The group either looked away or looked at him, not believing someone could still be squeamish in this day and time. "Sorry," he said.

Jewel took the diaper bag from Mika and grabbed a rag. "Here," she said as she held up a rag, staying behind Rick.

"Thank you…" the Priest said as he took it. "I'm Gabriel," he introduced.

"Do you have any weapons on you?" Rick asked.

The man laughed nervously. "Do I look like I have any weapons?" he asked as he looked around.

"Good grief," Summer mumbled.

"We don't give two short and curlies what it looks like," Abraham told him.

"I have no weapons of any kind. The word of God is the only protection I need," Gabriel answered.

"Sure didn't like it," Daryl said.

"I called for help…help came," Gabriel told them as he motioned to them.

Merle shook his head. "No, what happened is that some of us are trying to be the good guys still," he said.

"Merle, not now," Jewel warned him.

"Um..do you have any food? Whatever I had, it just hit the ground," Gabriel told them.

"We have pecans," Carl told him.

Mar opened up her bag and broke a piece of beef jerky in half. She gave one piece to Jewel and the other piece to him. "Here."

"Thank you," the man responded.

Judith cooed from Tyreese's arm as Lexi played with her foot.

"That's a beautiful child," Gabriel told him. He looked at Jewel and the baby in the cradle. "You are truly blessed, I never thought I'd see a new mother and a newborn again."

Ronnie took Jewel's elbow. "While we're standing around, let's get your medicine and some of that tea. Mika and Mitch, you two help me," she said.

Rick nodded his thanks to Ronnie, not moving his eyes from the man.

"Do you have a camp?" Gabriel asked.

"We decided it was a nice day for a stroll," David mumbled.

"Dad's got it under control," Summer told him.

"No, do you?" Rick questioned back.

Gabriel looked nervously around. "I have a church."

Rick sighed. "Hold your hands up," he told him as he got annoyed by the man's actions. He waited until the other man did what he was told. "How many walkers have you killed?"

"Not any actually," Gabriel answered with a nervous laugh.

"Turn around," Rick ordered him. "How many people have you killed?" he asked as he patted him down.

Gabriel turned his head and looked at him. "None."

"Why?" Rick asked as he stood closer to the man.

"Because the Lord abhors violence," Gabriel answered as it was the easiest answer in the world.

"What have you done?" Rick asked as he got closer. "We've all done something."

Gabriel looked at him. "I'm a sinner, I sin almost every day. But those sins, I confess to God, not strangers," he told them.

"God didn't save you, us strangers did," Summer told him.

"You said you had a church?" Michonne asked from beside Summer.

Gabrielle nodded as he looked at her. "Yes."

TBC

Author's Note: Oh Jewel is itching to get alone with Gabriel. I'm not anti religious, not at all. But I do have trouble with men who hide behind the good word. I grew up in the 80's, Jim Baker and the PTL scandal, and the others. Anyway, please review.