"How many soldiers?" Carol asked and Aaron walked in the room
"They saw twenty soldiers walking near a jeep with three more people riding in it and there were four trucks behind the soldiers," Aaron said.
"Did they see a helicopter?" Michonne asked.
"No."
"Shit," Rick grumbled.
Daryl glanced at the guards by the door as the guards pointed their rifles at Rick and Michonne and Daryl crossed his arms over his chest.
"We have to leave," one of the guards said. Carol saw the hurt and angry look in Rick's eyes and Rick lowered his head.
"Are they going to kill us?" RJ asked Michonne and Rick saw the worry and fear on his son's face.
"No. We'll find a way to get out of here," Michonne said as she looked at Aaron. "Right?"
"Right," Aaron said with a nod, but Carol noticed the angry look on his face.
"Can you walk?" Carol asked Rick.
"Yeah. I can," Rick said with a nod. Michonne helped Rick stand as he pointed to where the clothes Aaron had brought up for Rick and Carol went to get the clothes. She helped Michonne dress Rick as they headed for the doorway and they walked in the hallway. Rick's eyes widened at the sight of his little brother standing in the hallway and Rick let go of Michonne. "Jeff?"
"Hey, Rick," Jeffrey said.
"Are you sure he's your brother? You never mentioned having one," Michonne said.
"That's because I thought the only family I had left after the world fell were Carl and Lori," Rick said and Jeffrey frowned.
"Then how do you know he's who he says he is?"
"Ask me something only Jeffrey would know," Jeffrey asked.
"Why did you leave home?" Rick asked.
"Well… Like I told Daryl. I wanted to travel. Saved up the money I got from working construction and left for Barcelona. Why? Because I love the book called Homage to Catalonia."
"Is that true?" Michonne asked.
Rick looked at Jeffrey when Rick cautiously walked to Jeffrey, smiled and they hugged. Jeffrey felt Rick shaking as Jeffrey held his big brother and Rick placed his head against Jeffrey's head.
"Guess it's true," Daryl said and Carol heard the disappointment in his voice.
Rick glanced over at Daryl when the memory of them fighting the Claimers then him calling Daryl his brother moved through his mind and he motioned for Daryl to go over to him. Daryl walked closer when Rick placed his right hand on Daryl's left shoulder and Rick smiled.
"You're still my brother," Rick said, softly.
"Nah. I ain't," Daryl said in a soft voice as he looked at Jeffrey. "Not anymore."
"Where is it written that I can't have more than one brother?"
Daryl glanced at Jeffrey and Jeffrey smiled. Rick pulled Daryl in for a hug as he held both of his brothers and he gently rubbed the back of Daryl's head. They moved back and Michonne walked closer and Jeffrey looked at her.
"This is my wife, Michonne," Rick said to Jeffrey.
"Hello," Jeffrey said.
"Hello," Michonne said. They headed for the staircase as they walked downstairs and Aaron opened the door.
"Hold it. What if they're watching to see if Dad's here," Judith said and they looked at her.
"She has a point," Carol said as she looked at the guards and she smiled. "Not sure if it'll work, but I have an idea."
Outside Alexandria
The trucks and the jeep came to a stop a short distance from the walls and the driver's side door to the lead truck opened. Jadis got out of the truck as she walked to one of her soldiers and she placed her hands on her hips.
"Any sign of trouble?" Jadis asked.
"No, Ma'am," the soldier said with a shake of his head.
"You'd think they'd go on alert at the first sign of intruders."
"Unless the place is deserted."
"The place would be overgrown if it was. No. There are people in there."
"Does that include Grimes?"
"He used to live in Alexandria."
"Ma'am, the gate is opening," one of the guards in the jeep said and she walked to the jeep. He handed her the binoculars and she lifted the binoculars to her eyes. She saw two jeeps moving by the gates as the jeeps headed down the road and she frowned after seeing Carol in one of the jeeps. Jadis recognized the Commonwealth body armor and helmets the guards were wearing and Jadis lowered the binoculars. "Orders?"
"Stop the jeeps," Jadis said.
The guard nodded as the soldiers took position on the road and the jeeps moved toward them. The guards signaled for the jeeps to stop as the drivers stopped the jeeps and Jadis walked to the jeep Carol was in.
"Hello," Jadis said to Carol and Carol saw the hard look in her eyes. Rick told Carol what Jadis looked like as Carol sighed and sat a little straighter.
"You're Jadis, right?" Carol asked.
"Yes. Mind telling me why you were at Alexandria?"
"I live there."
"What's with the guards?" she asked as she looked at the drivers.
"Alexandria was taken over by the Commonwealth a few years ago."
"And you need guards to go anywhere?"
"Only when I have to go in for questioning."
"Did something wrong, did you?" Jadis asked, arching an eyebrow.
"More like reporting in."
"Don't they have a radio?"
"The Governor likes reports done in person. Never know who's listening in."
Jadis locked eyes with her then Jadis looked at the guards. Something told her the guards weren't who they appeared to be and she frowned.
"Tell them to remove their helmets," Jadis said.
"Why?" Carol asked.
"Tell them!" she said with a low growl and the soldiers pointed their rifles at Carol. Carol nodded her head and the guards slowly raised their arms and removed the helmets. Jadis looked at the guards then snorted a breath of air. "Put them back on."
The guards placed the helmets back on as Jadis looked at Carol and Jadis placed her hands on her hips.
"Heard from Rick Grimes?" Jadis asked.
"Rick's dead," Carol said.
"No. He's not. We found him shortly after the bridge exploded."
"How did you know about the bridge?"
"That's classified."
"Are you sure he was alive?"
"Barely."
"Why didn't you contact us or send him home after he recovered?"
"That's classified."
"Why do you think he's in Alexandria?"
"He used to live there."
"He would be disappointed if he did return. His family is no longer here."
"Where did they go?"
"That's classified."
Carol wasn't sure, but she thought she saw Jadis smile.
"Where is Rick Grimes!?" Jadis demanded.
"I don't know. And I wouldn't tell you even if I knew," she said and Jadis glared at her then sighed and shook her head.
"I will ask you one more time. Where is Rick Grimes?" Jadis asked.
"You really are a broken record. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go," Carol said. She saw the inner conversation Jadis was having move across her face and Jadis stood back. Nodding, Jadis headed for the jeep and the jeeps moved down the road. Jadis watched the jeeps fade into the distance then she looked at the walls to Alexandria.
"Orders?" the soldier asked and she looked at him.
"Let's go," Jadis said and she headed for the first truck. Opening the driver's side door, she got in the truck, placed her hands on the steering wheel and she looked at the gate. "I know you're in there."
"He ain't there," made her jump and she looked around, trying to figure out who was talking to her. "You ain't gonna find me."
Jadis growled then she heard a snort of air.
"This is what you're gonna do. You are gonna leave and never return. If you do… If any of those black suited assholes do…. If I hear that any of you have done anything to him, his family or his friends…. You'll have to deal with me. And, believe me, Sunshine, you don't want that."
"I am not afraid of you," Jadis said.
"Oh yeah? Look to yer right."
Jadis slowly turned her head to the right and her eyes went wide. Sitting next to her was a large, black bear and a bright red light came from its eyes. She nearly fell out of the cab of the truck when the large, black bear roared, drool dripping from the sharp fangs, moved closer and snapped its jaws inches away from her throat. She tried hard not to pass out as the large, black bear vanished and she started breathing again.
"Fuck," Jadis whispered after her heartbeat returned to normal and she noticed she had wet her pants.
"Are you alright, Ma'am?" the soldier asked from behind her and she looked at him.
"Yeah," she said as she closed the driver's side door and started the engine. The trucks and the jeeps turned around as the trucks, the soldiers and the jeep went down the road and she held on tightly to the steering wheel.
The sewers
Daryl led the way as they moved through the sewers under Alexandria and Rick and Jeffrey walked next to him. Michonne was holding RJ in her arms as they went around the corner and Judith was walking next to her.
"Hope Aunt Carol's ok," Judith said and Daryl turned to give her a reassuring smile.
"She'll be fine," Daryl said.
They headed down the tunnel when Daryl saw the ladder and he held up his right hand to stop them. They watched him climb the ladder when he moved the hatch back, looked outside, but closed the hatch when he saw some soldiers in black body armor. He quickly climbed back down the ladder as he placed his right index finger to his lips and they stood still for a few minutes.
Daryl led them down another tunnel as he shined the flashlight around the tunnel when he heard a soft splashing sound and he removed the knife from the holder on his belt. Michonne handed RJ to Jeffrey then she removed the katana from the scabbard on her back and she moved toward Daryl. Judith walked to Rick when she took hold of his right hand and he smiled down at her.
Daryl and Michonne slowly headed down the tunnel while Daryl shined the flashlight around the tunnel then he stopped when a male Walker walked out of the side tunnel. The male Walker wore a bloody gray shirt, tattered jeans and cracked leather boots. Stringy dark hair was on the male Walker's head and the right bottom side of his mouth had been torn off.
"Damn," Jeffrey whispered as the male Walker headed for Daryl and Daryl slammed the blade of his knife into the left side of the male Walker's head. The body felt into the puddle when another male Walker exited the side tunnel and Michonne swung the katana, slicing the top of the male Walker's head off. The body fell on top of the other body and Daryl placed the knife in the holder. Michonne placed the katana back in the scabbard and Rick led Jeffrey, RJ and Judith around the bodies.
Daryl headed down the side tunnel as he shined the flashlight around the tunnel then he saw the ladder. He climbed up the ladder when he opened the hatch and looked outside. He looked back down the ladder as he signaled for the others to climb up the ladder. He climbed up then stood up and he helped the others out of the sewer.
"Where are we?" Rick asked
"We're just outside Alexandria," Daryl said and Judith handed Daryl the binoculars she had brought with her. Daryl took the binoculars in his hands as he scanned the area then he handed the binoculars to Rick. Rick used the binoculars as he scanned the area then handed the binoculars to Daryl.
"Should we go back?" Michonne asked.
"Not just yet," Daryl said when he felt the air turn ice cold and the soft sound of drums, chanting and flutes filled the air.
"Why is the sky turning green?" Jeffrey asked as he and Rick looked up at the sky.
"It means Mister Jeb's here," Judith said.
"Who is Mister Jeb?" Rick asked.
"I am," made Rick turn quickly to his left, but no one was there.
"Knock off the bullshit," Daryl grumbled and he heard a deep sigh.
"Knock off the attitude," Jeb said as he appeared next to Daryl and Rick frowned. Jeb noticed the confused look in Rick, Michonne and Jeffrey's eyes as Jeb lightly shook his head then told them who he was.
"Let me guess. You're like the Blue Lady?" Jeffrey asked then explained to Rick and Michonne who the Blue Lady was.
"Yeah. I am. But I don't have her temper," Jeb said.
"We got a taste of that back in Paris," Daryl said then told them about the Blue Lady attacking Du Monte's guards after Du Monte tried to harm him, Caroline, Murphy, Katherine and Connor.
"Why didn't you stop the CRM from taking Rick after the bridge exploded or tell us he was alright?" Michonne asked and Jeb sighed.
"I didn't know him or any of you back then and there are things I can't do or changes things," Jeb explained.
"Changes things?" RJ asked.
"If he had stopped Dad from blowing up the bridge? The Walkers would have killed him," Judith said and RJ's eyes widened.
"Damn right, Little Ass Kicker," Jeb said with a small grin.
"What do we do now?" Jeffrey asked.
"We gotta wait until it's safe."
"You mean we have to wait and see if the CRM leaves," Michonne said and Jeb nodded.
"How long do we have to wait?" Judith asked.
"Not long," Jeb said.
"How do you know?" Rick asked.
"I just do."
Daryl sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest and he wondered if Carol was able to get away from the CRM.
"She's fine," Jeb whispered to him and Daryl glanced at him. The sudden sound of engines caused them to hide behind the trees while Jeb softly growled and rolled his eyes. The jeeps came closer as Daryl and Rick looked out from behind the trees and Daryl smiled. He walked out from behind the tree as the jeeps came to a stop and Carol got out of the jeep. She walked to Daryl as he pulled her in for a hug and barely lifted her off the ground. "Told you."
Jadis' camp
Jadis stood near her tent while she wondered how she was going to file a report about what happened at Alexandria. She knew Rick had to be there, but the memory of the large, black bear nearly tearing her throat out replayed in her mind.
"There was no bear," she grumbled over and over. She stormed into the tent after she moved the tent flap back and she walked to the wooden table. On the wooden table was the radio and she sat on the wooden chair. She picked up the microphone as she flipped the power switch up and she checked to see if she was on a secure channel.
"HQ, this is Jadis," she said then let go of the button.
"Report," a man's voice said and she looked at the microphone.
"Grimes is no longer at Alexandria."
"You let him escape?"
A cold chill moved through her as she flexed her fingers then she looked at the microphone.
"No, Sir. He died from an infection," she said.
"An infection?"
"We found the remains of his tracking device at his last location. It appears the woman with him removed the tracking device and left a note stating he developed an infection shortly afterwards."
"Why take him to Alexandria?"
"He used to live there."
"How did you know he died?"
"I was able to speak with their leader and they informed me Grimes was barely alive when they arrived. He died the next day."
"Were you able to retrieve the body?"
"No, Sir. His body was cremated shortly after his death."
"What about the ashes?"
"Those were taken by a suddenly gust of wind."
"What about the woman and the girl?" the man voice asked.
"She took not only the girl's life, but her own and they were burned along with Grimes."
"Which means their ashes are in the wind as well?"
"Yes, Sir."
She let go of the button as Jadis silently prayed for her leader to believe her and she swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Return to HQ," the male voice said and Jadis puffed out a breath of air.
"Yes, Sir," she said. Jadis turned off the radio as she placed the microphone on the table and she sat back in the chair. Getting up, she headed for the tent entrance and she left the tent. She walked toward the jeep when she felt the air turn ice cold and she noticed a green tint in the sky.
"Why haven't you left?" made her turn to look behind her, but no one was there.
"We're leaving," she whispered and heard a breath of air.
"Just remember what I told you. I see you or any of those black suit assholes… If anything happens to him, his family or friends… You'll have to deal with me."
"Who are you?"
"Most call me the Old Man of the Mountain. You? You can call me yer death."
Jadis felt the air return to normal and she walked over to her soldiers.
"Is everything alright, Ma'am?" one of the soldiers asked.
"We have new orders. We're going back to HQ," Jadis said as she placed her hands on her hips. "Now!"
The soldiers went to break camp as she looked up at the sky, frowned and she headed back to her tent. She started packing when she looked over at the wooden table and she walked to the wooden table. Picking up the pencil, she slid a piece of paper to her and she started writing. She looked at the note she wrote, nodded then she went to pack.
A short time later, Jadis stood near jeep while holding onto the piece of paper and she watched the trucks and jeeps heading down the road. The air turned ice cold as she glanced to her right and she saw the crow sitting on the top of the jeep's windshield. She folded the piece of paper into a small square then she cautiously held out of piece of paper and the crow took the piece of paper in its beak. She watched the crow fly off then got in the jeep, started the engine and she steered the jeep down the road.
"Damn you, Rick. Don't make me regret this," she growled and lightly thumped her right fist on the steering wheel.
Alexandria
Daryl stood in the doorway as he watched Aaron, Cyndie, Maggie and Carol talking with Michonne and Daryl leaned against the doorframe. He felt the anger building inside his chest as he turned, went back inside and he closed the door. He looked at the staircase when he quickly headed upstairs and he walked down the hallway. Nodding at the guards, he stood in the doorway to Rick's room when he saw Rick sitting against the wall and he went to sit next to him. Rick looked straight ahead while Daryl placed his wrists on his knees and sighed.
"I have really fucked things up," Rick said in a soft voice and leaned the top of his head against the wall. Daryl made a small humming sound as he flexed his fingers. Rick looked at him when he noticed the wedding ring on Daryl's left ring finger and Rick frowned after her lowered his head. "When did you get married?"
"Two years ago," Daryl said as he looked at the wedding ring.
"Who did you marry?"
"Carol."
"Finally told her you love her?"
"Yeah."
They went silent as Rick straightened his legs then he looked toward the window.
"Do you think Aaron's going to let us stay?" Rick asked.
"It ain't up to him."
"Is it up to him and Ezekiel?"
"And Maggie and Cyndie."
"What happens if they don't let us stay?"
"Dunno."
Rick nodded his head when they heard a sound of something tapping on the window glass and Daryl got to his feet. He walked to the window when he noticed the crow sitting on the windowsill and he saw the piece of paper in the crow's beak. He slowly opened the window as the crow moved inside, hopped off the windowsill and headed for Rick. Rick looked at the crow as the crow hopped onto his legs, dropped the piece of paper on his stomach, flew into the air and Daryl got out of the way as the crow flew out of the window. Closing the window, Daryl walked back to Rick and sat down next to him. Rick flipped the piece of paper between his fingers when he noticed his name was on the piece of paper and he opened the piece of paper.
"Who is it from?" Daryl asked, looking at the piece of paper.
"Jadis. I recognize her handwriting," Rick said.
"Why's she sendin' you a note?"
"Seeing how she's the one who found me after the bridge exploded…."
"Still don't get why didn't she bring you back here?"
"Wouldn't have made it if she had."
Rick saw the guilt on Daryl's face as Daryl lowered his head and Rick patted Daryl's left shoulder.
"She did help me get away from the CRM," Rick said and Daryl lifted his head.
"What did she say?" Daryl asked, pointing to the piece of paper. Rick opened the piece of paper as they looked at the note and Rick frowned.
"Mostly she is leaving and that I am safe."
"How can you be safe?"
"'I told my boss you died from an infection and your body has been cremated. The ashes were taken by the wind."."
"Does she mention Michonne?"
"She told her boss that Michonne…."
Daryl saw the shocked look on Rick's face and the piece of paper shook in his hands. Daryl took the piece of paper from him as he read the information and he frowned.
"You think this is legit?" Daryl asked as he handed him the piece of paper.
"No. I don't. But she's lied about where I was before. Just hope this time she's not going to get herself killed," Rick said with a sigh. Nodding, Daryl looked toward the doorway when he saw Carol and he rose to his feet. Daryl walked to Carol as she pointed for him to join her in the hallway and they walked to the top of the stairs. They went downstairs as he saw Aaron, Cyndie, Michonne and Maggie standing near the front door and Daryl felt a knot forming in his stomach.
"What's up?" Daryl asked.
"We have to take Rick to the Commonwealth to talk with Ezekiel," Carol said.
"You told him what happened?"
"Yeah. We used a secure channel," Aaron said.
"Ok."
"Um…. Is it alright if I go upstairs?" Maggie asked as she looked up the stairs.
"Sure."
Daryl led Maggie upstairs as they walked down the hallway and Maggie nodded at the two guards standing on either side of the doorway to Rick's room. Daryl walked in the room when he walked to Rick and Daryl held out his right hand. He helped Rick stand up while Rick gave him a confused look and Rick tilted his head to one side.
"Someone wants to see you," Daryl whispered. He helped Rick walk to the doorway as Maggie appeared in the doorway and Rick smiled.
"Hey," Rick said. Daryl shook his head at the guards just as Maggie ran into the room and she hugged Rick. Rick felt her body shaking as he held her and she started crying. After she calmed down, she moved back as they looked at each other and Daryl left the room.
A short time later, Rick, Michonne, Judith, RJ and Jeffrey sat in the back of the truck while Daryl steered the truck by the gate and one of the guards sat to his right. Carol and the other guard were in one of the jeeps and Aaron, Cyndi and Maggie were in the other jeep. In the back of the truck, Michonne saw the sad look in Rick's eyes as she slid her left hand into his right hand and he wrapped their fingers together.
