Father Gabriel knew about guilt. If he had any real notion about anything in this world, it would be about the guilt that burned into your soul like a brand that only you knew was there. As he observed Rick Grimes sitting quiet and alone in the church, he knew that Rick was experiencing his own type of brand burning into his soul.

It had been two days since the group that had left for Hilltop had come back without Maggie or Glenn and the body of Daryl Dixon covered in a gray sheet. Rick had been bloody, both from bruises on his face and the blood of his friend covering his clothes and upper body as he carried him inside the church, dazed and confused. Gabriel had dropped his rifle at the side and walked boldly up to the group. He knew a man like Dixon would not want a ceremony or prayers. Neither would Rick or the rest of the group that had come into the vestibule of his sanctuary. What they wanted, what they needed, was for a moment of silence, of togetherness, before they buried their friend. Rick had laid Daryl's body on the floor, only a couple of spaces from where he sat now, and had let out a wail that Gabriel was unsure was even human. A mixture of grief, sadness, and anger that Gabriel knew he would never get out of his head like the congregation he once left out to die.

Gabriel approached him with the thoughtfulness of a cautious mouse now. Rick looked deep in thought, much cleaner and put together than he was before. But that look of shock and weariness still haunted his features.

"Rick."

Rick looked up, his eyes red and tired, and then back down again. Father Gabriel didn't want to presume that he was welcome and was about to move again when he heard Rick's raspy voice.

"Stay."

Father Gabriel nodded and then crossed in front of Rick to sit next to him on the pew. He then looked at the front of the church and the stain glass windows and waited.

"How'd you do it, Father?"

He turned to see Rick's pained expression and knew what he was talking about immediately. Knew he meant how he got over the guilt. Over his sins.

"I didn't. I still haven't." Father Gabriel expressed, his face pained. "There are still nights I hear them screaming. Asking me for help. Begging me for respite for their torment. And I still have no answer."

Rick was still at this and then leaned back in the pew, biting his lip slightly.

"How do you believe in God? Like after everything…how? How does any of this shit make sense?"

Gabriel felt himself amused by the blasphemy. It was a strange world indeed he had to admit.

"We were once…not on the friendliest of terms." Gabriel answered which actually earned a small chuckle from the man next to him.

"That's saying it."

"But God led you to my path. You…you saved me. I was lost in so many ways. Ways other than physically. You and your people…I didn't understand your savagery. Your lack of mercy. But I found that you were more merciful than I was and in that little way you showed me God's mercy."

Rick turned to him and nodded his head.

"It's hard, Father. Real hard."

"It is. But it is through trial that we learn who we are. This is just another trial, Rick. You have shown us you will be able to pass it."

He heard Rick inhale and then let it out slowly. He then gave a nod of his head and then stood, the weight on his shoulders still heavy from Gabriel could see. Gabe stood and watched him and before Rick touch the door Gabriel shouted the first thing to come to his mind.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Rick paused, his hand on the knob, and he took in a deep breath. He bent his head, turned to Father Gabriel, and gave him a gentle look that seemed to Gabe to contain lifetimes of pain.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything."

Rick Grimes then walked out without looking back.