Chapter 23-Clearing outposts

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl lies on the ground staring at Neill as the saviors run past him. He got up and looked around as he grabbed his gun. He shoots Neil and Greg in the head. He walked through the outposts shooting saviors as they ran out of their rooms. He walked into a door and threw it open. The sun shined into the room, and Daryl walked out and covered his eyes as he looked at the saviors that were being held at gunpoint. "Daryl," Rosita says, making him look at his girlfriend. "You okay?"

Daryl nods. "Yeah, I killed a few of them. They got Greg and Andy," Daryl says as she hugs him. "What are we doing with them?"

"We're letting them live," Glenn says.

"We shouldn't," Paula says.

"If we kill all of them, then we're not better than them, and if they're all dead, there is no future after," Glenn says.

Daryl stares at him. "Where would we put them?"

"Alexandria, Morgan made a cell, and we can make some more to keep them locked up," Glenn says.

"Daryl, this is a bad idea, I'm telling you," Paula says.

"Noah, Eugene, Tara, watch 'em," Daryl tells the three, who nods as the rest walk away. "What do you guys think?" Daryl asks Sasha, Abraham, Jesus, and Rosita.

"It would be safer to kill them," Abraham says. "But if we showed them our ways, we might be able to get them to join us. That will give us more men and a better understanding of Simon's mind. He lived here for a while."

"I agree with him," Sasha says. "We save people. That's who we are."

Daryl looks at Rosita. "It doesn't matter to me either way. If we keep them alive, we can do what Abraham said. If not, they're dead, but Glenn does have a point."

Daryl looks at Jesus. "I agree with Glenn."

"I'll radio, Deanna. Tell her to have whoever is there make a cage for them," Daryl says as he walks away.

Aaron's P.O.V

The cars drove toward the outpost and quickly formed a barrier stopping the saviors from leaving. They quickly climbed out of the cars and shot at the saviors, killing a few of them as the others hid behind cover and fired at them.

Rick's P.O.V

Rick and Negan entered the building with their guns raised. They search the first floor. "There is nothing here," Rick says.

"They must be upstairs," Negan says. Rick nods as they start to go up the stairs. They split up and started to search the rooms. Rick enters a room and looks around. He walks towards another door and is tackled into a wall by a man. Rick's gun slides to the ground as he knees the man to the stomach and throws the other man into the wall. He pushes himself off the wall and charges into Rick, who grabs his shoulder. The man punches Rick in the face, and Rick headbutts him and withdraws his knife before he shoves his knife into the man's stomach. The man lets out a gasp of pain as Rick withdraws the knife.

"Gracie," The man gasps as he reaches for the door, and Rick stabs him through the heart. The man lets out another gasp as he stops breathing, and Rick drops him to the ground and looks at the door. He grabs his gun off the ground and walks towards the door, and pushes it open. He looks at the baby sleeping in the crib and frowns.

"Dammit," Rick growls. "I'll be back for you, sweetheart," Rick says as he shuts the door and walks out. He walked through the building until he reached another room. He walked into the room and saw a picture. He looked at it as he heard a gun cock behind him. He turned around and looked at the man.

"Hi, Rick," Morales says.

Deanna's P.O.V

Deanna watched as a cage for the saviors was being built. "Deanna," Deanna looks at Enid as she walks up to her. "Do you agree with this?" Enid asks.

"It doesn't matter to me, either way," Deanna says. "If they cause a problem, we'll kill them," She says as she looks at the girl. "But that isn't why you came to find me."

"Carl and Ron are gone," Enid says.

"You can't find them anywhere?" Deanna asks, and End shakes her head.

"I went to Ron's house, no one was there, and I went to Carl's, and no one was there. Brenda is watching both Sam and Judith."

"Their parents are gone. Jessie is with Aaron, and Rick is with him as well. We don't know where Carl and Ron are. We just have to hope that they are okay. We need as many people as possible in Alexandria," Deanna says. "We have to trust them. We have a job here. Once Daryl gets back, I'll tell him about Carl and Ron, and we'll figure something out," Deanna tells the girl, who nods.

Carl's P.O.V

Carl and Ron walk down the road toward the gas station. "We are idiots," Ron says to Carl, who chuckles. "We are in the middle of the war, and we are trying to save a stranger."

"We have to," Carl says. "This is who we are. It's who my mother wanted me to be. She told me to do the hard thing and never do the easy thing. This is the hard thing, we could have stayed in Alexandria, and we could have been safe, but this is how we move forward when the saviors are dead," Carl says. "This is how we build the world after, by saving people."

"As long as it doesn't get us killed," Ron says.

"It probably will one day," Carl says as they continue to walk.

Rick's P.O.V

Rick stares at Morales as he holds the gun to him. "I know you," Rick says.

"It has been a long time, Officer Friendly," Morales says.

"Are you, Simon?" Rick asks.

"Yeah, I'm Simon."

Rick sighs as he looks at him. "You don't have to be. You can come back with me, Carl, Glenn, Merle, T-dog, Daryl, and Carol. They are alive. They're with me."

"Simon will give me quite the reward if I give you to him," Morales says.

"Did you ever make it to Birmingham?" Rick asks, changing the subject.

"No, I watched my family get torn apart before. Negan found me. He saved me."

"Then why fight against him? I've lost people, Shane, Lori, Andrea, Jim, Jacqui, Dale, and Sophia. They were my family too. But I have a lot of family left. They can be your family too. Negan saved you. Fight for him."

"How do I even know that Negan is alive? It could all be a lie, a way to get saviors to turn against Simon."

"I am very much alive," Morales turns around and looks at Negan as he stares at him. "I could have just killed you. I just saved your life again, so why don't you lower that gun and pick the winning side 'cause you could shoot me, but Rick would kill you in seconds," Morales stares at him for a second and then lowers his gun. "Good choice. Where the hell are the guns?"

"They were moved to another outpost," Morales says.

"Which one?"

Jessie's P.O.V

Jessie shot saviors through the heart and looked at Aaron as he helped Eric. She watched as a walker bit a woman in the throat. Aaron carried Eric away as the others started to finish off the rest of the saviors.

Daryl's P.O.V

The gates to Alexandria open, and Daryl leads the others into the community and looks at Deanna as she walks up to them. "We have a cage set up for them," She tells him. "The others can take them there. We need to talk," Daryl nods as Deanna leads him away.

"What's wrong?" Daryl asks.

"Carl and Ron are gone," Deanna tells him.

"Dammit," Daryl says. "Rick said that they ran into someone at a gas station about an hour or so from here. They must have gone after him. I'll find him. I'll take Rosita. The others can help clear the outposts," Daryl tells Deanna, who nods as he walks away from her. He walks up to Rosita. "We gotta go."

"We have to go help clear the outposts," Rosita says.

"Carl and Ron went after a stranger. We gotta find 'em," Daryl says. "Abraham, you're in charge of clearing the outposts. Glenn, you stay here. This was your idea. You make sure they behave," Daryl tells his friends, who nod as Daryl and Rosita leave.

Jessie's P.O.V

Jessie looks at Rick, Negan, and Morales as he walks up toward them. "Good job," Rick says. "Where is Aaron?"

"Eric, he was shot. He went to get him," Jessie says. "Who's your friend?"

"I knew him in the beginning. He's going to be helping us," Rick says. "They moved the guns to the outpost that Carol, Ezekiel, and T-dog are attacking," Rick says as they see Aaron. "Eric?" Aaron shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Aaron."

"Thank you," Aaron says.

"We have a baby. I don't know what to do with it?"

"I'll take her," Aaron says. "I'll take her back to Alexandria with Jessie. I'll take care of her."

"Okay," Rick says as he leads Aaron toward the car.

T-dog's P.O.V

T-dog walks with Carol and Ezekiel. "They should have sent saviors with us," Ezekiel says.

"They know the other outposts and your people have a bone to pick with them after Jerry," T-dog says. "Alden, Laura, D.J, and Merle are at Hilltop. Paula is with Tara, Tina, Sherry, and Dwight are helping to guard Alexandria. Negan is helping Rick,"

"My people would not attack them as they fight with us," Ezekiel says as they arrive at the field and look at the outpost. Carol breaks away from them to head inside. "We are winning this war,"

"Half of the saviors are dead. Of course, we are winning. I'll check the other side," T-dog says as he walks away. He walks away from the group as he hears Ezekiel shout.

"Down!" Ezekeil shouts as gunshots go off.

Thanks for reading. Next chapter, we will see what happens to the members of the Kingdom. It will not be that much different than what happened. Daryl and Rosita track Carl and Ron. Ron and Carl find the stranger, and Simon tries to figure out a way to get out of the Sanctuary. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.