It took Beth a moment to figure out where she was when she first woke; after so many days waking up to the same four walls, the corrugated walls that surrounded her now threw her. She blinked for a moment, remembering the events of the past twenty-four hours. With a steadying sigh she rolled herself over on to her side in the small single bed. The room around her was dim still, suggesting that the sun had only just began its ascent. Daryl was still sleeping in the bed beside her, his hair fanned out on the pillow beneath him as he lay on his back, one arm slung over his chest, the other hanging dangerously close to the side of his bed.

Beth smiled as she watched his chest rise and fall gently, his lips slightly parted. Almost as if he could feel her eyes on him – and perhaps he could, his senses were brilliant, after all – Daryl stirred. His brow furrowed lightly and then his eyelids fluttered open. He twisted his head to look at her, and at first his gaze was questioning, perhaps a little worried, but it softened as she smiled.

'Did I wake you?' She asked quietly, her voice a little hoarse in the small, dim room.

Daryl just shrugged against the bed.

Beth smiled and pushed herself to the edge of the bed so that she could reach across and take his hand. He pulled it gently, and with a little effort, she moved herself over from her bed to his. It wasn't too difficult, the gap between the beds was tiny, and Daryl shuffled himself over to make room for her.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him, nestling his chin atop her head. Beth buried her face in his chest, breathing in the familiar musky scent of him. It was comforting, and she wanted to breathe in as much of him as she could, keep him with her.

She leant up and pressed a kiss to his scratchy lips; he smiled against her, his breath warm on her lips. She went to pull back, but he deepened the kiss before she could, his arms tightening around her. She reached around to stroke her thumb over the stubble of his cheek, feeling him move against her.

She rolled herself slightly so that she was leaning on him, deepening their kiss further, her hand running its way down his chest. He breathed in, his breath hitching as her hand ghosted over his stomach muscles. She snaked her hand up under his shirt, feeling the heat emanating off of his skin, her fingers spreading as she moved one of her legs over his.

'Beth,' He groaned after a moment, pulling his face away from her. 'Wait.'

Beth stopped, stilling the hand that had been working its way up to his nipple, to look at him.

'What's the matter?' She asked.

'We can't-' He murmured, his face flushed.

'Why?' Beth asked softly, disappointment wallowing in her stomach. She had missed him so much, and his touch had revived her. Being in the bed with him, his hot body pressed up against her, her hands on his skin, his lips on hers, had sent sparks flying within her, ignited the fire that had been dampened. She expected him to mention the others, who were likely still sleeping in the room next door. They could be quiet though-

'The baby.' Daryl gestured to her stomach.

Beth frowned for a moment, glancing down to her belly between them.

'The baby?' She asked.

'Yeah.' Daryl looked away from her, and the tips of his ears looked pink. 'Won't we – y'know – hurt it.'

Beth looked at him.

'Hurt it?' She asked quietly. 'What do you mean?'

'Y'know -' he gestured again, still not looking at her. 'Inside.'

Beth felt herself smile.

'Don't flatter yourself, Daryl.' She grinned. 'You're not going to get near the baby.'

Daryl was frowning now, his cheeks flushed too.

'Have you heard of the cervix?' Beth frowned; she knew her own education had been cut short, thanks to the world ending, but she was starting to see Daryl's own education was perhaps worse than her own.

'Trust me, you won't hurt that baby. People still have sex whilst pregnant.' She said. Daryl swallowed, and Beth smiled softly. 'But we don't have to do anything you don't want to.'

Daryl cleared his throat.

'It's not that I - ' He frowned. 'Just don't wanna hurt ya. Even if yer right an' it won't hurt th'baby – I might hurt you. I ain't light.'

'I can help with that,' Beth said.

She rolled herself onto her front and pushed herself back onto her knees; keeping her eyes on Daryl's face, she climbed gently on top of him, settling her thighs after side of his hips. He watched her, his eyes squinted, but he didn't argue.

She leant forward to kiss him, and he kissed her back, which told her all she needed.

Together, they began to peel off each others clothes, the room growing hot around them with the heat of their skin and the stunted rasps of their breaths. Beth raised herself to wriggle out of her pants, and Daryl kicked his own off. She settled herself in his lap, her hands working him to full attention as he watched her, his own hands working on her thighs, kneading the soft flesh, running his fingers up and down as she shuddered. He didn't even need to touch her further up, just being close to him, their bodies touching, holding him in her hands was enough to get her wet.

She held him and looked into his face, readying herself to move up.

He offered her a lopsided smile.

'Go on, Cowgirl.' He said, and Beth felt heat flood throughout her entire body.

She climbed on top and sunk down onto him, her eyes fluttering shut as she did, hearing him groan beneath her. Feeling full and happy, his hands hot on her thighs, she rode him, her stomach large between them, and they came together in a fit of harsh breaths and soft gasps as the sun rose in the sky outside.

–

Maggie was pouring orange juice out as Beth entered the main room. She glanced to her sister, one brow slightly raised, but she didn't say anything. Beth could not be sure whether she had heard anything – they had tried to keep quiet – but she felt herself flush a little nonetheless.

Although she shouldn't, she thought to herself as she sat down at the table, her thighs a little weak. She had been through hell, and they could all be dead any time soon. None of them should deny their selves anything.

'How was the sofa, Marie?' Beth asked; Marie was already at the table, haphazardly cutting a slice of home made bread.

Maggie put a glass of juice down in front of Beth.

'It was fine.' Marie smiled. 'I'm just glad to be out of The Sanctuary.'

Beth nodded; she understood that. A night on the floor would have been better than another night stuck there.

Marie offered her the bread and Beth accepted it.

'Where did this come from?' Beth asked, eyeing the juice too.

'They grow it an' make it all here.' Daryl said, sitting heavily in the chair beside Beth. 'They brought some over when I first got here.'

'The bread was brought over this morning.' Maggie filled in. 'Whilst you two were still sleeping.'

A sudden loud rap on the door had them all tensing, words dying in their throats, until Rick's voice reached them through the steel of the door.

'It's me!' he called. 'Open up.'

Daryl and Maggie glanced at one another, but Glenn pulled the door open.

Rick stepped over the threshold, his eyes dark, and went straight for Daryl, who had stood up the second the door had opened.

'I told you to wait.' He said. 'Give us time to get men, resources. You've taken our advantage.'

Beth could see Daryl's jaw working.

'Fuck your advantage.' He ground out. 'We didn't have time.'

Rick's steely eyes moved then from Daryl to Beth, who had also stood up.

He sighed.

'Beth. I'm glad you're okay.' He said, and he drew her in to a hug. Beth was a little stiff at first, but she softened as he enveloped her, and hugged him back. She understood his reserve, his want for certainty before they made their move. She couldn't hold that against him.

Rick let go of her and took a step back, his eyes dropping to her stomach.

'Wow, you've -'

'Ballooned. I know.' She smiled, placing both of her hands across her stomach.

Rick laughed, and Beth felt the tension in the room dissipate.

'That wasn't what I was going to say,' he smiled. 'I was going to say you look good. Healthy, actually.'

Beth raised her eyebrows; she imagined she looked tired and run down.

She gestured to Marie, who was still sat at the table, looking a little unsure.

'That's probably thanks to Marie.' Beth said. 'Her and the other wives took care of me. Marie even found me pre-natal vitamins.'

Rick turned to the woman, and Beth saw Daryl look at her too.

Rick seemed to look at her for a while, and for a moment Beth felt oddly nervous, but then he smiled.

'Thank you.' He said. 'It's good to have you here.'

Marie seemed to let out a breath of relief. She nodded.

'Alright,' Rick said, turning back to Beth. 'I'll let you finish your breakfast. But Daryl, meet me in the house when you can. We need to discuss what we do next. Glenn, Maggie, you too.'

Daryl nodded once, and Beth lowered herself back into her seat.

She was out of the Sanctuary, but she wasn't home, and this wasn't over.

–

Maggie let Glenn go along to Rick's talk without her – whatever Rick had to say, Glenn would feed back to her later, and she knew he would make no moves until he had spoken to everyone, anyway.

The day was warm and bright, and Maggie had missed too many of those with her sister, who was desperate to get outside and feel the warm air on her face, with no limitations.

The sisters went out to explore the grounds of The Hilltop, which was smaller than Alexandria, but large enough to wander around for a while. Marie went with them, dressed down in jeans and a tank top, her dark hair pulled back – it was a far cry from the look Beth had gotten used to, with the sleek hair and little black dress. Although that was likely the point, she thought.

They walked away from the house and away from the main bustle of the grounds, where it grew a little quieter. Beth's feet and legs ached, likely from all of the walking she and Marie had done yesterday, but moving helped ease the ache in her back.

'You can't have much longer left, now.' Maggie commented, spotting the way Beth paused from time to time to stretch. 'How you feeling?'

Beth shrugged; there wasn't too much she could say. The baby would be born either way, however she felt about it. There were more pressing matters now – like Negan. They may have crippled them, but for how long no-one knew. He could have gotten out already, could have got his men, could be on his way here now.

Maggie was looking at her closely.

'Do you want to talk about it?' She said softly, almost like she could read what was on Beth mind through the lines in her face.

Beth sighed. She shrugged.

'Not really.' She said. 'What is there to say?'

Maggie glanced across to Marie, who was gazing off to a distance as they walked.

Beth looked at her too; talking would likely do her good, but not yet. She needed to figure that out for herself.

'What about you?' Beth asked her sister. 'What has it been like here? At Alexandria'

Maggie sighed.

'Hard.' She said. 'Supplies were already low before Negan started taking half. We're working flat out to try to provide to a man who never sticks to his own time frame. He's been in there, Beth, strutting around the place like he owns it. Joking about getting a holiday home there. Crashing through there, killing people whilst we all looked on unarmed.'

'Killing people?' Beth asked.

Maggie nodded solemnly.

'Anyone who spoke up. Anyone he didn't like. Some times just to make a point.'

Beth wanted to ask who, but the question died on her tongue. It was too much. She didn't want to know right now, couldn't know.

So she let the conversation move on, let them idle in silence as they walked.

They happened across The Hilltop's main source of resource eventually – a lined patch of allotments and a few pens of various animals. Chickens, goats and even some pigs. A man waved them over as they approached.

'Hey,' he said. 'Good day for a walk, huh?'

'I guess.' Beth said.

'Being outside is good for the soul.' He smiled. 'I'm lucky to have gotten garden duties.'

'My daddy said the same thing.' Maggie smiled. 'You a farmer before all this, Tom?'

'Sure was.' Tom nodded happily. 'You girls want to have a look around? We might not be the finest or the biggest patch, but we do alright. Say, why don't you come in and find yourself something to cook up for lunch? The potatoes are just about ready. We're not strictly supposed to come in and take off rota but I think you girls may have earned an extra carrot or two.'

Beth and Maggie glanced at one another; this man was strangely infectious. Apparently no-one had told him the world was turning to shit.

'It's not just veg neither. Make sure you check the herbs. You could cook up a decent stew with today's crop.'

Beth followed her sister in, with Marie behind them, and they spent some time looking around – Beth had to admit, she was impressed. Tom had not over sold it, they had a decent crop. Tom seemed in his element, too, as he chatted about the varying produce and their states of growth, occasionally getting down to pick one here or there. He passed several different things into their arms, and the women even pulled a few of their own fresh food. There was something powerful about pulling your own food straight from the ground, Beth thought. The soil was fresh and soft against her fingers, the vegetables cool to the touch.

Glenn and Daryl found them a little while later, pausing at the gate to the garden.

The women made their way to them, and Maggie offloaded some of her inventory to Glenn.

'What was said?' She asked as she adjusted the new weight in her arms.

'We're going to stake the place out.' Glenn said. 'Watch from afar like we were. Pick them off when they come out.'

'Going to head on over there this afternoon.' Daryl said.

Beth felt her guts clench; the thought of them going back to the lion's den sickened her, but she knew it was necessary. They couldn't just hole up here and hope for the best. Hide.

'You too?' Maggie asked Glenn.

'Yeah.' He said. 'You too, if you want to.'

Maggie looked at her sister.

'I'll meet you there.' Maggie said. 'I'm going to stay with Beth for a while.'

Beth felt Daryl relax beside her and had to stop herself from rolling her eyes; she was pregnant, not incapable.

They made their way back to their trailer with the intention of cooking up lunch with their new load; Beth's stomach had started to rumble uncomfortably.

They left the front door open as they returned to their temporary home, allowing some of the cooler air to filter in. Trailers were a good idea, but they did seem to heat up quickly. Beth sat at the table, tasked with chopping the veg that Glenn had washed, whilst Maggie and Marie got to setting up to cook.

Daryl could roast a squirrel or a snake over an open fire, but Beth wasn't sure on his more traditional culinary skills. And apparently no one wanted to test them, either, as he stood off by the door, just watching them through his hair.

Beth's stomach rumbled loudly as Maggie finally brought a pot of stew over to the table and set it down; she laughed as she stepped back.

'Alright, baby, your lunch is coming!' She said.

Beth grinned and placed a hand atop her stomach, patting it lightly.

'Do you need two portions?' Maggie asked.

Beth chuckled, but she was close to saying yes.

'No,' she smiled, shaking her head. 'I'll be fine. We all need food.'

Daryl sat down heavily beside her, the chair scraping harshly against the floor.

'You have mine if y'need it.' He said roughly, eyeing Beth beneath his hair.

Beth leant in and leaned her head on his shoulder briefly.

'No.' She said. 'You need your strength too, cowboy.'

He looked at her sternly and she laughed, leaning across to start serving herself some of the hot food. She pushed her luck with him, boy did she know that, but somehow she got away with it.

The others sat down with scrapes of their own chairs and clattering of bowls on the wooden table, and one by one served up. The stew was hot and tasted wonderful, the vapours swirling up to fill the trailers main room. They talked idly as they ate, even finding it in them to joke, and as she scraped her spoon around her bowl, feeling her stomach gratefully accept the warm nutrition, she looked around at the people she loved.

Together, around this table with hot, home made food in the middle, the large window thrown open to allow the cool summer air in, Beth felt very close to content.

She watched and laughed as Maggie teased Glenn, felt glad as Marie laughed along and added her own to the conversation, and was overcome with love whenever Daryl glanced to her. Here, within these walls, together and safe, everything else could almost be forgotten. No walkers, no Negan, no all encompassing fear. Just family and food.

Like all good things, it had to come to an end; once they had eaten and allowed some time to digest, Glenn and Daryl gathered their belongings and readied to set off towards The Sanctuary.

Beth stood outside the trailer with Daryl as he hitched his bag safely up on to his back.

'You promise me you'll be okay, alright?' Beth said.

Daryl smiled down at her.

'I'll be in a truck with Michonne.' He said. 'We're just watchin', girl.'

Beth nodded; she trusted him, knew he was more than capable, but it didn't stop the nerves from fluttering within her.

'I'll see you soon, a'right.' He said.

Beth nodded.

'Alright.' She said.

The convoy of watchers set off for The Sanctuary early afternoon. Three cars and the handful of guns they had managed to scrape together – those hidden or stashed away where Negan's men had not found them.

Michonne had her sword, removed from its decorative position above the fireplace in Alexandria. They hoped for no close combat, intending to just scope out the situation from afar, but she had brought it anyway. Low on guns and ammo, it had felt smart. It lay now across the back seats of the car, reflecting the afternoon sun as they drove.

Daryl sat with his hands twitching in his lap whilst Michonne drove; they followed behind Rick and Glen, and Tara and Rosita followed them. Rick did not want a fight, just a view from afar, but he wasn't stupid; he had taken his best fighters.

As they neared The Sanctuary, tendrils of doubt had begun to creep their way up Daryl's spine.

'Something don't feel right.' Michonne said; she was as good a hunter and survivor as Daryl, perhaps better, and it seemed the same feelings of doubt were plaguing her.

Daryl nodded.

'See the walkers?' He said.

Walkers their selves were not strange, they expected to see stragglers along the road as they drove, but as they drew nearer to The Sanctuary they had expected to see less. Any around this area should have been drawn to the commotion within the walls, drawn to the noise and the live bodies within. The fact that several were along the road, facing the opposite direction as well, did not bode well. It suggested something else had distracted them, drawn them away.

Michonne slowed the car as one staggered out into the road in front of them, the sun illuminating its body as it turned to face them. Daryl and Michonne glanced at one another.

'See it's body?' Michonne said roughly.

'Yep.' Daryl nodded. 'Bullet holes.'

Michonne pulled the car around the walker and moved on as Daryl reached for the walkie-talkie to contact Rick. He pressed the receiver and spoke.

'Rick.' He said. 'Something don't feel right.'

It was only a moment before Rick's voice came back to them, gravelly over the static.

'No.' He said. 'Be on guard.'

Daryl didn't bother replying, there was nothing else to say. He put the receiver back and let his eyes scan the road around them as they carried on ahead.

–

The small convoy parked their cars at the very outskirts of The Sanctuary; they had intended to hang back and just observe, at enough of a distance to pick off any Saviours if they ventured out. Instead of heading for the surrounding buildings to they could see, they gathered together around the hoods of their cars.

The walkers were spread thin around the grounds, heading out and away from the walls. Rick looked across at them with pained, calculating eyes.

'Something's happened here.' Tara said as she followed Rick's gaze.

'Yeah.' Rick agreed.

'Should we take a look?' Daryl asked.

'I think we ought to.' Michonne said.

Rick sighed.

'Yeah.' He said. 'Be careful. Be on guard.'

The people around him nodded their understanding, then they began to make their way over towards The Sanctuary.

With the weapons they had managed to amass between the communities, they headed towards the fallen gates and into the throng of walkers. It took the walkers a little while to spot them, but once they did, they surged.

The walkers around varied in their states; some had clearly gotten caught up in the initial impact, their bodies battered and broken as they pulled their selves along the floor or staggered over with missing limbs. Other's looked fresher, clearly having been drawn to the noise after the crash. Walkers lay disposed of across the gravel floor too – knocked down by the truck, their bodies destroyed and partially flattened. Others were down too, bullet holes in the centre of their heads or fluid oozing out of their temples. These only furthered the convoys assumption that something had taken place between Daryl and Maggie's impromptu attack and their return.

They picked their way through with as precise care as they could until they reached the smashed in hole in the wall.

Rick looked to them, gesturing for them to follow inside.

They walked slowly, picking their way carefully over the debris and scattered brick work. Walkers roamed within here, too, and they turned to look at them too, their blank eyes finding them through the dim light, their jaws hanging open.

Daryl gripped the knife in his hand as he stepped over a body – the entire neck had been torn out, and whoever they once were had clearly died in pain and terror. They had been a Saviour, Daryl mused, at some point. Worker or soldier, he couldn't be certain, but dwelling on it would lead no where good.

As a group, they moved on.

They found their way upstairs, taking out walkers as they went. None of them could be sure which ones had gotten in through the wall, and which ones had already been inside – human, only hours before. Some of the bodies that had been inside were lucky enough to have not reanimated, but unlucky enough to have died with their bodies being torn apart.

It was a grisly sight within the walls, the floor slick with blood and bone, their boots slipping as much as they crunched. Upstairs was a little better, but walkers still roamed the halls. Some Daryl knew had been soldiers.

Silently, Rick gestured to a room at the end of the wall. He had heard movement. Daryl nodded; he had heard it too.

They crept across the hall, keeping low. Their weapons raised, Rick turned the handle. Slowly, sticking a little to the floor, the door opened inwards.

A woman appeared, her face pale and smudged with blood, but very much alive. She stood in the middle of the room, holding out a gun in shaking hands.

'Hey.' Rick said softly, holding out one hand to her. 'It's okay.'

The woman flicked her large eyes from Rick to the others behind her, pausing for a moment on Tara and Rosita.

Slowly, she lowered the gun, and her large eyes began to water.

'It's okay.' Rick said. 'I'm Rick. What's your name?'

'F-Frankie.' The woman stuttered. She glanced behind her, and for the first time, Rick noticed the other woman in the room.

'Rick.' Daryl said quietly.

'I see.' Rick said.

Another woman sat on her bed, her back pressed up against the wall, her knees drawn to her chest; she was holding a blood soaked fabric tightly to her left arm. She looked fearfully around at the new people in the room through wide, purple ringed eyes, set in a pale, sweating face.

Slowly, Michonne stepped into the room. Rick stood aside slowly, and Frankie seemed to follow suit.

'Hey.' Michonne said softly to the woman on the bed. 'Can I see?'

The woman was shaking, her knuckles white against the fabric in her hand. Tears welled in her eyes and then spilled over and down her clammy cheeks. Michonne gently put a hand out, and the woman pulled the fabric away.

The skin beneath it stuck to it slightly, then pulled back as the cloth moved away. Blood welled and spilled out again from a large gash in the skin – Michonne peered closer, pressing her lips into a hard line as her eyes moved across the clear teeth marks that scraped into the deep, angry wound. Deep red and purple lines flowed away from the injury, spreading the infection up and down her arm.

Michonne glanced over her shoulder to Rick; she shook her head a tiny fraction.

Rick sighed.

'We're from Alexandria.' Rick said softly to Frankie. 'We can take you back there with us.'

'Alexandria,' Frankie said, frowning for a moment. Then she smiled a wobbly smile. 'Beth sent you.'

Daryl's stomach flipped at the sound of Beth's name. His eyes flicked to the light haired woman on the bed, who had returned the fabric to her arm. Were these the other wives?

'Sort of.' Rick chuckled softly.

'Okay.' Frankie said. She looked back towards the girl on the bed. 'Amber, too?' She said.

'I'm not going to make it, Frankie.' Amber said; her voice was low and shaky, the effort it took to speak was clearly taxing.

'Don't say that -' Frankie said, but Amber shook her head.

'I see your faces.' Amber said. 'I'm done for already.'

'The infection is spreading.' Michonne said. 'It's too late.'

Amber closed her eyes, large tears squeezing out from her wet eyes and running down onto her heaving chest. She took a deep, shuddery breath.

'I'm sorry, Frank.' She whispered.

'Hey.' Frankie said urgently, moving to Amber's side. 'Don't you be sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.'

Amber opened her eyes; she took her hand away from her arm and held it out to Frankie. Michonne moved in and replaced the fabric against the wound. Bleeding out was not a worry now, but pressure would alleviate some of the pain. Frankie took her blood soaked hand in her own, the two women crying and shaking.

'I'll – I'll see you on the other side, okay?' Amber said through gritted teeth.

'Absolutely.' Frankie nodded.

Rick allowed them to be together for a little longer as Amber's breathing grew heavy, then he slowly ushered Frankie out of the room. He let Michonne finish it.

Daryl stepped out into the darkened hallway after the others, the door swinging shut behind them. A cold, sickening sense of dread had settled like lead in the pit of his stomach, forcing bile into his constricted throat. As the woman in the room behind him took her last painful breaths, he couldn't help but think this was all his fault.

–

Tara helped Frankie along as they continued on; to her credit, the woman was holding herself together well.

'Is there anyone else here, Frankie?' Rick asked her as they walked.

'I'm not sure.' She said. 'Amber and I found each other and got back to our room. If there are any workers around they'll be in their quarters.'

'Can you show me where that is?' Rick asked.

Frankie nodded firmly, seeming happy to help.

It took longer than it should have to get to the worker's quarters because they opted to avoid the carnage of the main hall again; they had cleared it well on entrance, but there were still plenty of walkers left in there, and as the main space open to the outside, it was going to keep filling up.

'Wait,' Frankie said as they walked. 'The way we're going – the armoury is just up here.'

Rick and Daryl exchanged a look.

'I can't say whether there will be anything left in it.' Frankie said a little timidly as the convoy looked steadily at her. 'But we could look.'

'Absolutely.' Rick said with a smile.

With Frankie leading the way, they followed her until she took them down deeper into the building and to where the armoury stood. Daryl had not expected it to offer much, but he was surprised to see the door held open by a large table. He supposed the workers had done that themselves.

Frankie hung back whilst Rick and the rest of them stepped in. She had been right in assuming that most things had been taken, but to their surprise, there were some left. Ammo, too. Daryl guessed not many of the workers had thought to grab ammo.

They took what they could, bagging any spares, then headed back out. As they walked, Daryl began to recognise the space they were in. He paused as they approached the door that hid the cell he had been kept in.

'You alright?' Tara asked him, stopping too.

'Yeah.' He said gruffly. He looked to Frankie, who was frowning up at him.

'Are you Daryl?' She asked.

He nodded.

She let out a soft sigh at that.

'You one of the wives?' Daryl asked.

'I was.' Frankie said.

Daryl was quiet for a moment, his narrowed eyes on her face.

'You let me out?' He asked.

Frankie shook her head gently.

'No.' She said. 'That was Sherry.'

Daryl nodded gently; he had almost been afraid to ask earlier. If the young girl that had taken her last breaths in stilted pain upstairs had been the one to free him, he didn't think he could stomach the guilt. He was selfishly pleased Sherry remained faceless in his mind.

'Do you know what happened to Sherry?' Tara asked Frankie. Daryl turned away from them and continued walking.

'No.' Frankie said. 'I hope she got out.'

Eventually Daryl reached the room he had taken a moments refuge in days ago; the door was ajar, and Daryl gently pushed it open. The room looked very much the same as it had before, and he was about to turn and leave when he spotted it – Daryl stepped in quickly.

Rick stopped. He turned and moved to the open door. He chuckled lightly.

'Is that what I think it is?' He asked.

Daryl picked the crossbow up from where he had spotted it discarded beside the bed and ran his hands over it. Whoever had taken it must have been in such a rush to get out that they had forgotten it.

'Yeah,' he said, a light grin touching his lips. 'It's mine.'

'Dwight had it.' Frankie said, peering into the room behind Rick. 'He is – was – Sherry's husband. I hope they got out together.'

Daryl opened his mouth to retort, to curse Dwight and wish him ill, but Frankie's open, pale face gave him pause. He bit it back and looked down at his boots. Let her hope.

–

The worker's quarters was blocked off; walkers roamed around outside of it, but together they took care of them. Rick then tried to push his way through the door, but it had clearly been blocked.

'Hello!' Rick called instead – a barricade from inside the door suggested people had been there. Whether they were still there now, still alive, remained to be seen.

'We're here to help!' Tara called out.

'Will they answer to you?' Rick asked, turning to look at Frankie.

Frankie chewed at her lip.

'I'm not sure.' She said. 'I wasn't really one of them.'

Rick nodded, then turned to bang on the door again.

'Hello! Anyone alive in there!'

After a moment, movement could be heard behind the doors.

'Who are you?' A voice called back; it was a man's voice, one full of false confidence.

'My name is Rick.' Rick said. 'With me are Daryl, Michonne, Glenn, Rosita and Tara. We're from Alexandria.'

'What do you want?' The voice replied, muffled thickly through the door. 'How did you get in?'

'We got in the same way it looks like your people got out.' Rick said. 'We came to see if anyone was left here alive.'

More movement was heard, as well as a few murmurs.

'There's a few of us.' The voice replied.

'You can come back with us.' Rick said. 'We wont hurt you.'

'Rick.' A female voice joined the males. 'We know that name.'

'You may have heard of me from Negan.' Rick agreed. 'But I assure you. I am not the bad guy.'

'You come with us we'll keep you safe!' Glenn called out.

There were more murmurs behind the door.

'Can – can you give us your word?' The man asked. 'We open this door, you wont kill us?'

Rick and Daryl looked at one another; they knew their reputation, their past actions spoke volumes. Rick took a deep breath.

'I promise.' Rick said.

Slowly, the sound of things being moved grew louder, and within time, the doors opened to reveal perhaps twenty – thirty people.

Rick stepped back to allow room as slowly men, women and children stepped out; some were bloodied and injured, but others were fine. Daryl noted the guns several held.

'Hi.' Rick said.

The people who had hidden their-selves away looked scared and sick, but other wise seemed healthy. They had undoubtedly been through hell the last few days, and again Daryl felt a swell of guilt.

'We will find you all places to stay in Alexandria.' Rick said. 'You have my word on that.'

'What about Negan?' Someone further back asked. 'Where is he?'

'We're not sure.' Rick admitted.

'You did this, didn't you?' Someone else said. 'Why should we trust you?'

'You don't have to.' Rick said. 'But our way of life is not like Negan's. We don't intimidate. We don't govern.'

'But you do kill.' Someone said. 'Look around you. This is all that is left of us.'

'Of the workers.' Rosita said. 'I doubt your soldiers worried about getting anyone other than those higher up out.'

There were murmurs again at that.

'This is war.' Rick said. 'There are casualties in war. I am sorry.'

'Sorry wont bring back our dead.' A different voice answered.

'No.' Rick said. 'But I can keep you alive now. There is space in Alexandria.'

'Not if Negan got out.' Someone said. They spoke quietly, but Daryl heard them. He looked to Rick, who caught his eye. Something that had been nagging at him since the road reared itself again.

Rick nodded once, on the same page.

They led the crowd of workers back out through The Sanctuary, splitting their convoy so that they guarded both the front and the back of them. Despite some of their reservations, all of them came willingly. Rick and Daryl took the front, and Rick pulled Daryl close as he spoke to him.

'Negan got out.' He said.

'Yeah.' Daryl nodded. He had thought as much from the start.

'Where do you think he went?' Rick asked.

Daryl took a deep breath.

'We need to get back home.' Rick said.

'Yeah.' Daryl said again. He could only be thankful that Beth was not currently at Alexandria.