Chapter 5-Reuniting

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl drove the car down the road towards the church. They had taken Amanda's police cruiser. Shane, Octavia, and Carol were riding in that, and Daryl was driving the car they brought there. Maggie, Glenn, and Noah sat in the back seat, and he beside him was Beth. "They fell asleep," Beth says with a smile as she looks at them.

"We haven't slept much in the last few days," Daryl tells her. "Terminus, the church, finding out about you. We've been moving non stop," He tells her.

"I can drive," She says.

"I'm alright," Daryl tells her. "Gone off less sleep than this," Beth nods as she looks out the window. "I'm sorry."

Beth looks at him. "For what?"

"For sending you out there," Daryl says. "If I hadn't, you wouldn't have been taken. None of this would have happened."

"You did what you did to protect me. What happened to me? It wasn't your fault. None of it matters anymore. What matters is that we're back together."

Daryl nods. "I chased that damn car all night," He says with a smirk.

"I have no doubt," She says as they continue to drive.

Shane's P.O.V

A year ago

Shane walks into the cafeteria and grabs his food. He walks over to Blake and sits down. "You're one of them, now?" Blake asks him.

"No, Dawn didn't give me much of a choice; it was either become an officer, or she kills you. But this can work in our favor. I'm going to learn everything about them, about this hospital. I'll find us a way out. Just trust me."

Blake nods. "Let's go, Walsh," Amanda says, and Shane stands up and follows her.

Rick's P.O.V

The sun was rising in the sky when Carl came into the church. "They're back," He tells his father, who nods as he comes out with the group. The cars stop, and Beth is the first one to climb out as Rick comes down the stairs. Rick smiles as he walks up to her and hugs her.

"Welcome back," Rick says before he kisses her head. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," Beth says as Rick lets her go, and she hugs Carl. Rick looks at Daryl and nods.

"I see you got some new people," Rick says as he looks at Noah and Amanda.

"This is Noah and Amanda. Noah, a friend, helped me when I was there and helped Beth. Amanda was one of the officers. Decided to join us," Shane tells Rick, who nods. Daryl looks around the group as Beth hugs Sasha.

"Where's Bob?" Daryl asks Rick.

"He got bit at the food drive. He was taken by Gareth and his people. They ate his leg, came back for the rest of us, we killed them," Rick tells Daryl, who nods.

"So, what's the plan now?" Shane asks.

"We go with Abraham," Rick says. "To Washington, but first, we make a few stops."

"Where are we going?" Maggie asks.

"The prison," Rick says. "We left supplies, so we'll get them, bury Hershel, and then head for Washington."

"Can we make a stop?" Noah asks, making the group look at him. "I'm from a community called Shirewilt. My Mom and brothers are still there. It will be on the way."

Rick nods. "Yeah, we can stop there," Rick tells him as he looks at Abraham. "That okay with you?"

"Yeah, stock up on supplies and try to get some more people. We leave in an hour," Abraham says as he walks inside.

"Alright," Rick says. "Daryl, you drive that Car with Beth, Maggie, Glenn, and Noah," Rick tells Daryl, who nods as Tyreese comes outside with Judith.

"Can I hold her?" Beth asks Tyreese.

"Of course," Tyreese says as he holds Judith out to Beth, who takes her.

"Hi, baby," Beth says as she kisses her head. "I've missed you."

Rick looks at her and smiles. "Carl and I will be on the bus. There isn't anywhere for her to sit in there, and we found a car seat in town. Is it okay if she rides with you?" Rick asks her.

"Of course it is," Beth says. "You okay with going on the bus, Noah?"

"Yeah, it will be like high school again," Noah says.

"Alright, let's get ready to leave," Rick says as they start to walk inside. Rick stops by Gabriel. "You're welcome to join us if you would like."

"Thank you," Gabriel says. "I'll go get my things."

Rick nods as Gabriel goes inside.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane set his bag in the back of the police car and looked at Maggie as she walked up to him. "Thank you," Maggie says. "You might not have found her if it wasn't for you."

"She's family, right?" Shane asks Maggie, who nods. "I know I've done a lot of bad things, Maggie. I'm not trying to get away from that. I'm just trying to make up for it. If I could go back, I would have rather I died at the school than Otis."

Maggie nods as Glenn calls for her. "I haven't forgiven you, and I still don't trust you, but this is a good start," She tells him before she walks away, and Shane smiles as he shuts the trunk.

Michonne's P.O.V

Michonne walked up to Beth as she held Judith. "I still can't believe I'm holding her again. I thought she was dead."

"So did we," Michonne says. "Tyreese saved her."

Beth nods. "The Governor, what happened to him?"

"I killed him," Michonne told her. "I shoved my sword through his back. Tara's sister shot him in the head, and then the walker's got her," Michonne says as she sits down. Beth looked at Tara, who was talking with Rosita.

"She was there," Beth says.

"She was. She got out with Glenn and saved his life," Michonne says.

"And Shane?" Beth asks.

"From what I understand, the people who took you saved him," Michonne says. "They had Octavia's daughter, and he got out with her, and now he's married. Carl told me some things about him," Michonne tells Beth, who nods. "I went back to the prison after. I put Hershel down."

"Thank you," Beth says, and Michonne nods as she squeezes the blond's shoulder.

Shane's P.O.V

A year ago

Shane sat in the passenger seat as Amanda drove through Atlanta. "This so stupid," Shane says, making Amanda look at him. "This city is dead. Anybody coming in here is looking for supplies for their groups."

"It's our job to help them."

"You mean kidnap them," Shane growls.

"We haven't kidnapped anyone?"

"What about Noah or Blake?" Shane asks. "Have you ever looked for Blake's family? She told me. You guys took her from her mother, and you left Noah's father to die. You won't let them leave."

"So they can repay their debt," Amanda says.

"Dawn will never let them leave. She loves the power too much."

Amanda doesn't say anything as Shane looks out the window.

Beth's P.O.V

Beth was feeding Judith when Rick walked up to her. "She's missed you," Rick says.

"I missed her," Beth says. "You doing okay?"

"I'm alright," Rick says. "I never got to say that I'm sorry I couldn't save him, Beth."

"You tried," Beth says. "You did all you could to talk the Governor down, but he wanted us dead, and he wanted the prison. He was proud of you. I saw it on his face. He was proud of you, Rick."

"He was proud of all of us," Rick says.

Octavia's P.O.V

Octavia walks up to Clarke, Blake, Oliver, and Theo. "We haven't talked much since Terminus," Octavia says. "I just wanna make sure you are all okay with this. Going with them."

"We have nowhere better to be," Theo says.

"Safety in numbers, too, and this group knows how to handle themselves. They proved that with Terimus and Gareth's group. They're good people."

Octavia nods and looks at Blake. "What do you think, sweetheart?"

"We should stay with them. Shane wants to, and so do we, and like Oliver said. They are a good group of people, and there is a kid here that is my age," Octavia chuckles and nods as she looks at her sister.

"I'm in," She says.

"That's because she's taken a liking to Rick," Oliver says, and Clarke slaps him on the head.

"Shut up,"

"Come on, we're leaving soon," Octavia says with a smile as she walks away.

Rick's P.O.V

Rick set a map down by the alter and looks at Clarke as she walks up to him. "What is that for?"

"A friend," Rick says. "His name is Morgan, he saved my life at the start, he was in King County the last time I saw him. He might still be there but if he isn't, I hope he'll find this and join us," Rick tells her. "I owe him a debt I can't repay."

"Maybe one day you'll be able to tell him that," Clarke says as Abraham walks in.

"Come on, let's get our assholes into gear," Abraham says and the two nod. Clarke leaves as Rick looks at the map.

"I hope you're still out there, Morgan. This is Rick Grimes and I want you to come and find me, our first destination is the prison. I'll leave another map there. I hope to see you again, Morgan," Rick turns around and walks outside.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl was putting the car seat in the car when Maggie came up behind him. "Having trouble?" Maggie asks with a smirk.

"Yes," Daryl says.

"Move over. Carol showed me how to do this in the prison just in case we had to make a quick exit," Maggie says, and Daryl nods as he stands behind her. "You and Beth are close."

"We went through a lot out there," Daryl says with a small smile. "Burn a cabin down in the process."

"That's a story I wanna hear," She tells him.

"Another time," Daryl says. "She was the one who gave me hope out there. After the prison, I just wanted to stay in those woods. She changed that, taught me that there were still good people."

"She's good at that," Maggie says as she gets out of the car. "Nothing else happened?"

"No," Daryl says. "Nothing else just survived out there."

Maggie nods as the group starts to come out of the church. "Alright, we'll be driving for the rest of the day," Rick says. "We won't make it to the prison till tomorrow. Daryl, Beth, Maggie, Glenn, and Judith will be in the lead car. Shane, Octavia, Blake, Oliver, and Thea will be in the police cruiser, and the rest of us will be on the bus. When we stop for the night, we'll make a perimeter with the cars. Four people will be on watch that night. Drivers are out, so Daryl, Shane, and Abraham won't be on watch. Anybody wanna volunteer?"

"I'll talk first, watch," Rosita says.

"I'll join her," Tara says.

"I'll take second watch," Sasha says.

"Me too," Oliver says, and Rick nods.

"Alright, load up," Rick says as he hands Beth Judith's diaper bag.

"I'll ride up front with Daryl," Glenn tells the two women, who nodded. Daryl climbed in the car and pulled out once everybody was ready. "Alright," Glenn says as he opens a case of discs. "What do you want to listen to?"

"Where the hell did you get that?" Daryl asks.

"I took it from Steven's office," Glenn says, making Beth and Maggie chuckle.

"What song, Daryl?" Glenn asks.

"None of 'em," Daryl says. Daryl looks at Glenn, who is smiling at him. "If I hear jazz or church music, I'm pushing you out of this car."

"Understood," Glenn says with a smirk.

Shane's P.O.V

A year ago

Shane walks into his room and changes his clothes. After he comes out of the bathroom, he sees Noah standing in the room. "Shut the door," Shane tells Noah, who nods as he shuts the door. "Anybody see you come here?"

"No," Noah says as he sets a piece of paper down. "Alright, so there are three ways out of this hospital. The front entrance, the elevator shaft, and the back entrance. Dawn has four guards at the front entrance at all times. Plus, there are walkers outside. The elevator shaft is where they drop bodies. It is a last resort. Our best chance is the back entrance. Only two guards."

"So I go down there and shoot them, and we leave," Shane says.

"Bad idea, you'll wake this entire hospital and pull the walkers from the front. We need to do this quietly. Amanda is one of Dawn's most trusted guards. You get her to trust you. The others will to. Dawn will. She puts you on duty with Amanda. I'll grab Blake and meet you down there. Knock Amanda out, and we go, get out of the city by morning."

"Alright, sounds like we got some work to do."

Thanks for reading. So, in case it wasn't obvious by now, this is going to be a Bethy fanfiction. In the next chapter, the group gets to the prison. Maggie and Beth lay their father to rest, and Eugene reveals the truth. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.