This Night

Chapter 214

Author's Note: One of my faithful reviewers asked about a time line to Alexandria. Considering that I can make one episode into like 5, 6, or 7 chapters, no deadlines will be given, because I have no clue! You all aren't complaining are you? Thank you for the new readers! I love you all! Review please.

Carl, Rick, Summer, Lexi and Jewel's POV:

Rick touched Hope's face in the basket and kissed her forehead softly as not to disturb her. He adjusted the blanket on Jewel as she laid on the pew.

"Dad? Everything alright?" Summer asked as she came over with Carl and Judith.

"Yeah, everything's alright. You about ready to go?" Rick asked Summer.

"Yeah, just wanted to check in. Make sure Carl here will be ok on Mom duty," Summer teased jumping back as a pillow hit her.

"I don't need a babysitter, thank you very much," Jewel said with a laugh. "Now, can someone bring me the pillow back, please?"

Carl laughed as he did so. "Better?"

Rick shook his head. "I wanted to talk to the two of you anyway, and Lexi. Lexi come over here please."

Lexi walked over. "What's going on Rick?" she asked as she took Judith. "Hey there, Judy. I missed you, yes."

Rick smiled as he sat down at the end of the pew that Jewel was laying down on. "Listen, I don't trust this guy," he said as he looked at Jewel. "We don't trust this guy."

"Why?" Carl asked.

Rick hesitated then looked at Jewel before turning back to Carl. "Why do you trust him?"

"Everybody can't be bad," Carl answered.

Rick looked at Lexi. "What do you think?"

"Don't know enough to make a decision yet," Lexi answered.

"I don't trust him, there's something off about him. He's hiding something, and when people are hiding something, it usually means that they are up to no good," Summer stated.

Rick nodded as he looked at Jewel then back at the three teens. "Well, I don't trust this guy. That's why I'm bringing him with me. But he could have friends, so I need you to stay alert," he told Carl. "You too Lexi," he said. "I need you both to help Tyreese and Merle protect Jewel, Mika, Mitch, Judith and Hope."

"We're on it," Lexi promised him.

"Summer, I need you, Mar, David and Joey to be careful out there," Rick instructed his oldest child.

"Always dad," Summer said.

"Now, I need you to hear what I'm about to say. All of you," Rick told the three teens as Jewel sat up and leaned her head on his shoulder to give him support.

"Ok," Carl said.

"Ok," Lexi repeated.

"What is it dad?" Summer asked.

"You are not safe. No matter how many people are around, or how clear the area looks. No matter what any one says, no matter what you think. You are not safe. It only takes one second and it's over. Never let your guard down," Rick told them.

Jewel squeezed Rick's shoulder. "We aren't trying to scare you any more then this world already has, but you three aren't kids anymore. No matter how much Rick and I, or Ty or Sasha, wish that you could be kids, you aren't. But we need you all to be safe, always be ready for anything. We need to know that you're going to do everything in your power to stay alive."

"Never let your guard down, promise us," Rick told them.

"We promise," Carl said as Summer and Lexi nodded.

Summer gave a small smirk. "So you're going to be careful to right?"

Rick nodded as he kissed Jewel. He gave a small laugh as he looked at Summer. "Yes, I'll be careful. Alright, let's get going," he told Summer as they started walking.

Carl gave a look to Lexi and nodded his head slightly to the door. "Dad," Carl said as he stood up.

"I'm going to go say by to Sasha, I'll walk you out Summer," Lexi said as she adjusted Judith on her hip and walked out.

Rick arched his eyebrow at Jewel as he turned around as the two girls passed him. He walked up to Carl.

Carl lowered his head. "You're right, both of you are right, I am strong," he told them. He turned his attention to Rick. "We both are strong men. But we're strong enough that we can still help people. And we can handle ourselves if things go wrong. And we're strong enough that we don't have to be afraid and we don't have to hide," he said.

Rick nodded. "Well he's hiding something."

Carl nodded. "I'll stay safe dad. I'll keep Judith and Hope safe," he said.

Jewel got up out of the pew as she watched Rick squeeze Carl's neck. She kissed him goodbye and looked at Carl. "Lori would be so proud of you, Carl," she said as she hugged him. "Thank you for letting me love you," she said as she smiled.

Carl gave a small smile. "Thanks for letting me love you. I'll go get Mika and Mitch and Judith. They should all be inside."

"Yeah, that's a good idea," Jewel said as Hope fussed. "Oh I know, the basket stopped rocking," she said as she turned her attention to her and smiled at Carl.

Outside the church:

Jes checked her weapon as she glanced up as the pastor came out. "He looks so excited," she said.

"Surprised he showed his face out here without Rick dragging him out," Merle said. "Coward if I ever saw one."

Mar nodded. "He's scared of something."

"You mean of everything," Jes corrected her. "Did you see how he reacted to Joey asking him about the houses of his congregation? How he shifted his body weight to the left side, then nervously tilted his head, then tried to redirect attention off him by asking them what. It's all signs pointing to a man who has something to hide.

Merle looked at her. "I swear to God Jes, I am going to find out what you did in the Army if it's the last thing I do," he told her.

Jes gave a small smirk. "It would probably be the last thing you do," she told him. She looked up as Summer and Lexi came out.

"Rick almost ready to go?" Michonne asked.

Summer nodded as she kissed the top of Judith's head. "Yeah, he's finishing up with Carl. We ready to go?" she asked Mar.

"Just waiting on you," Mar told her.

Merle motioned for Joey and David to come up. "I expect all four of you to come back safe," he said as he kissed the top of Summer's head. "And if she doesn't come back and you do," he said as he looked at David, "your ass is mine."

"Why is that? Why are you singling me out?" David questioned.

"Uncle Merle, I can take care of myself," Summer told him.

Merle gave her the Dixon glare. "Point is, he gonna be part of this, he's gonna learn to take care of people other then himself. I know you, Mar and Joey are going to take care of each other, so I know you'll all come back in one piece. You, however, are a new piece. See, I figure if I threaten you with bodily harm if one of them don't come back, you'll do what needs to be done to make sure that all of you arrive back. Then, maybe just maybe, I'll start trusting you. That's a big maybe though," he told David.

"He grows on you, well somewhat," Joey told him. "Bye Judith, you be good," he said as he kissed the top of her head in Lexi's arm.

"Don't try and eat Hope's foot again, alright?" Summer said as she waved by to her.

"Say byebye, Judy. See you all soon!" Lexi said as she waved her hand.

Jes looked up as Rick came outside. "Thought I'd come with you, if that's alright," she said.

Rick nodded. "Of course," he told her. He looked at Merle. "You got things covered here?"

"Yeah, we'll be waiting for you when you get back. You better bring your ass back here all in one piece, cause if you don't, Jewel will be miserable. Then I'll have to come hunt you down for making her worry, and then we'd have a real big problem," Merle told him with a hint of a smirk.

"Do you always have to use the threat of violence?" Gabriel asked.

Lexi and Sasha looked at him then at the group. Jes put her hand on Merle's shoulder. "Don't even waste your time on responding to that. I mean unless you want to tell us what you did, what you're hiding from us," Jes said as she watched him. "You know body language, it speaks volumes, throw in facial ticks, and a person can tell you a novel without saying a word," she said with a small smile. "I haven't figured all of yours yet, but I'll keep watching, and I'll figure it out," she told him. "Go on, lead the way. See I know by Rick's body language, he wants you out in front. Of course, I know him, and he don't trust you more then he could throw you. Me, I don't trust you at all. Of course, I don't usually trust anyone but myself," she told him as she waved her rifle. "Come on, up front," she said as she glanced at Rick. "I'll keep my eye on him," she said as she started walking with him.