This Night

Chapter 213

Author's Note: I've been cleaning out cabinets and closets all day! My ex husband FINALLY decided it's time to move his stuff out and renting a truck for next weekend-I'm taking advantage. My OCD brain started at 4 AM today and I have bags of stuff for goodwill as well as stuff going to trash. Yeah, and the only reason I stopped is my back is going 'hey idiot, you have payroll tomorrow do you really want to be in pain?' Yeah, so here I am, for another chapter. Review please.

The whole group:

The group looked up as the door opened to the church and Rick came out and handed the keys to the Father, followed by the rest of the group.

"I spent months here without stepping out the front door, if you found someone inside, well I would have been surprised," Gabriel told them.

Rick went over to Jewel and kissed her softly before turning around to look at him then turned his attention back to the group.

"Thanks for this," Carl said as he bounced Judith in his arms.

"Where's Uncle Merle? Rosita? Axel and David?" Summer asked as she walked down the stairs of the church.

Jewel looked up. "There was a shed out back, Merle went to check it out. Gabriel said that he didn't have any use for anything in there and well you know Merle," she said as she adjusted Hope in her arms.

"Yeah we know Merle," Jes said as she shook her head.

Abraham came up to them. "We found a short bus out back, it don't run, but I bet we could fix that in a day or two," he told them. "The Father here says he don't want it," he said as Gabriel walked inside. "Looks like we found ourselves some transport."

"And, we're back to this," Jes mumbled.

"How many people is this bus going to hold?" Joey pointed out.

Rick rubbed Judith's hair and pressed a kiss to Hope's forehead as everyone looked at him.

"It'll be a tight fit, but the kids can sit in the aisles, we can double up on seats. You know what's at stake right?" Abraham asked Rick.

"Yes, I do," Rick answered.

Michonne looked at him as she rubbed Hope's face. "Now that we can take a breath," she started to say.

"We take a breath, we slow down, shit inevitably goes down," Abraham told her.

"We need to look for clothing, shoes, winter stuff. Mitch's shoes are way to small, Hope is going to grow, so is Judith. Mika and Lexi are going to need new stuff, and that's just the kids of the group," Summer told him.

"I did just have a baby, so these maternity pants are going to get a bit lose, only have one other pair," Jewel told them.

Michonne nodded. "We need supplies no matter what we do next," she told him.

"Medical supplies too. We plan to go to Washington, that's a long haul, a dangerous haul. And with two babies? We'll need any medical supplies we can find," Ronnie interjected.

Rick nodded as he put a hand on Jewel's back to help her go up the stairs. "That's right, food, clothing, water, ammunition."

"Last bus Mika and I were on, crashed and killed everyone else. I don't think either one of us is that anxious to get another one just yet," Jewel said as she walked into the church.

"Short bus aint goin' nowhere, I'll bring you back a can of baked beans," Daryl said as Mar and Mitch walked passed him and went inside with them.

"I'm staying near my mom for now," Summer told him as she walked in with the group following her.

"One way or another, we're doing what Rick does. We're not splitting up again," Glenn told him as he passed him.

Tara looked at him and nodded. "What he said," she told him.

Ronnie stopped and looked at him. "This group is stronger together then a part. You saw that at Terminus. You want to get Eugene to Washington? Then you need to wait until Rick thinks it's time to go. He's not going to do anything to endanger his children unnecessarily, which means, he'll do whatever it takes to get Eugene to Washington," she said as she walked in.

Lexi shrugged as she passed him leaving Bob and Sasha for last. Sasha nodded at Bob. "We want to roll with you, but what she said," Bob said as he walked past them.

Abraham just shook his head in disbelief as Rosita came up with Merle, David and Axel.

"What's wrong? I know that look," Rosita asked him.

"I found a short bus out back, but everyone's sticking with Rick until he decides when it's time to go," Abraham answered. "That brother in law of yours is a piece of work," he said.

Merle looked at him then looked at Axel. "Take that Moses basket into Jewel for Little Hell raiser, tell them I'll be in a bit," he instructed. "Let's go look at this bus," he told Abraham.

Rosita and David both looked at them. "We'll be inside if you need us," Rosita told them.

Merle walked out back with him. "You're right, about Officer Friendly, he is a piece of work."

"So you're with me on this? That we need to get this bus fixed and get moving?" Abe questioned.

Merle let out a laugh as he leaned against the bus. "Didn't say that," he said as he took off his make shift prosthetic. "You know how I lost this hand?"

"Figured it was from a bite," Abe answered.

"You figured it wrong. First time I met Officer Friendly, I was on a roof top in Atlanta, high as a kite, making racist remarks to people. Most of those people are gone now. I was shooting down at walkers, bringing attention to us. I expected everyone just to follow me, just to be intimidated by me, but then Officer Friendly showed up, in a sheriff's hat, full uniform, and punched the living daylights out of me, then he handcuffed me to a roof. He was just a man looking for his family, his son, his ex wife. The key got dropped in a drain, I got left behind. But I didn't have faith that my brother and sister would have insisted to come back for me, that they wouldn't have left me behind. Truth is back then, I probably would have left 'em, if it didn't suit me. By the time Daryl, Officer Friendly, Glenn and T got back, I had cut off my hand and left. I had eight months to think about what I was gonna do to Officer Friendly when I found him. But it wasn't him I found, it was Glenn, Maggie and Jewel. My baby sister….she was almost killed, almost raped by the Governor, because of me. And, I almost killed Chinaman," Merle said as he reflected on his mistakes.

"This got a point?" Abraham asked.

Merle shook his head. "Yeah, this got a point. I was supposed to protect Daryl and Jewel, then Summer, all there lives, and I told myself that I did the best that I could, that no one could love them but me. But, that was a damn lie. Officer Friendly in there, took better care of them in less than a year then I did in there whole lives. I wasn't there to mess them up and they were able to grow. Daryl wasn't in my shadow any more, he was his own man. Jewel, my sweet baby sister, found a man who looks at her like she deserves to be looked at, treated like she should be treated. Got a family in this real messed up world. Rick, he kept them alive. I should be dead, but Jewel and Daryl wouldn't give up on me, came for me. That's when it changed, that's when I knew whatever happened, that I'd be following' Officer Friendly, because I knew he was gonna do everythin' in his power to keep them alive. He's already got your little gang of warriors out of a bind once. You may not like his methods, believe me, they leave a little bit to be desired," he said as he rubbed his stump. "But they work," he said as he walked away.

Inside the church:

Rick had taken Judith when they got inside so Carl could get a basket to put Judith in. Summer took Hope so from Jewel so she could sit down and get ready to nurse her.

"How did you manage here for so long? Where did your supplies come from?" Rick asked.

"Luck," Gabriel answered. "Our annual food drive, things fell apart right after we finished it. It was just me," he said as he lowered his head.

"Let me take Judith," Carl said as he took her from Rick.

Axel came in. "There was a Moses basket in the shed. No blankets though, but it'll give your arms a break from little monkey here," he said as he walked over to Jewel.

"We've got blankets," Mika said as she dug into the diaper bag.

"The food lasted a long time, and then I started scavenging. I've cleaned out every place nearby, except for one," Gabriel answered.

"What kept you from it?" Rick asked as he glanced at the door.

"It's overrun," Gabriel answered, nervously.

"From what I seen, one is to many for you," Joey told him as he checked his gun.

Rick glanced over at him then back at the man. "How many?" he asked.

"A dozen or so, maybe more," Gabriel answered.

Rick looked around and nodded. "We can handle a dozen," he said.

Sasha looked at Tyreese then went over and stood by Bob. "Bob and I'll go with you. Tyreese should stay here, help keep Judith and Hope safe."

"That'll be OK?" Rick asked him.

"Sure, if you ever need me to watch them, need anything for them, I'm right here," Tyreese answered.

Summer smiled. "He's real good with Judith, we couldn't have done it with out him."

"I'm grateful for it and for everything else," Rick told him as he nodded.

"You cleaned out the houses of your congregation?" Joey asked.

Gabriel looked at him. "What?" he asked.

Summer rolled her eyes. "Houses of the people that used to fill up these pews? Did you clear them out? You'd know which ones would have kids right?" she asked.

"No, of course not," Gabriel answered nervously.

"Let me guess, that would be stealing right?" Jewel asked. "Hate to break it to you, Gabriel, but most of those people are probably dead now," she said as she watched him. "They aren't going to be needing them, we are."

"Joey, David and I can go to the houses, look for things. The man of the cloth here will be generous enough to tell us who had kids and babies, it would be easier for us," Summer told him.

Mar saw Rick's eyebrow go up at Summer's suggestion. "I'll go with them. Be safer with a fourth, plus I can look for some clothes for Jewel too."

Rick nodded. "That'll be alright."

"I'll draw you a map to the food bank, and to the houses," Gabriel told them.

"To the houses yes, but you're coming with us to the food bank," Rick told him.

Gabriel gave a nervous smile. "I'm not going to be any help, you saw me, I'm no good around those things," he explained.

"You're coming with us," Rick informed him again.

"Don't feel bad, he's not into new people," David said. "I'm kind of glad you came around, took the pressure off me," he said as he patted Gabriel's shoulder.

Rick and Jewel's POV:

Rick smiled as he brought a pillow and a blanket over and looked at Hope sleeping in the basket on the ground next to her. "Thought you may need this," he told her. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he kissed her.

"If I never had to drink anymore of that tea, I'll be happy," Jewel answered as she kissed him. "You sure you want to take Gabriel with you?"

"I don't trust him," Rick simply said.

"Neither do I, which is why him going with you isn't a good idea," Jewel told him. "Hey," she said as she touched his face and made him look at her. "You aren't the only one who gets to worry, Mr. Grimes. Something isn't right with him. He did something," Jewel answered as she rocked the basket with her foot.

Rick kissed her. "And that's the reason I'm not leaving him here with you and the kids, Mrs. Grimes."

Jewel gave a small grin. "Oh you are just afraid he wouldn't be alive when you came back," she teased.

Rick laughed. "You caught onto me," he said as he kissed her. "I want you to rest, stay off your feet. Ronnie's still worried you could develop a blood clot in your leg."

Jewel nodded. "I know," she said as she touched his face. "Merle and Ty are both going to be here. Plus I've got Mika to help me. Ronnie is going to take care of Mitch's foot, and Carl is around. We'll be alright. I want you to take care of yourself, come back to me. I just got you back you know," she said as she pressed her head against his.

Rick kissed her. "I'll be alright, we'll be alright," he told her.

Jewel smiled as she touched his face. "I know," she said as she looked up to see Gabriel staring at them. "Take a picture, it lasts longer," she told him.

"I didn't mean to intrude," Gabriel told them.

"Yet you have," Rick told him.

"Go wait outside, Gabriel. See if you can help with anything. We're not exactly finished with our private conversation," Jewel told him as she glared at him.

Rick tried not to laugh as the man walked away. "I think between the two of us, he's scared to death."

"Good," Jewel said as she kissed him again.

TBC