Fear the Dead, Fight the Living
A/N: I want to take an moment and thank everyone who is enjoying this story it means so much to me you have no idea. I wanna be able to write stories that capture the attention of fellow fans. Please continue to enjoy and also thank you to the people who have reviewed I love hearing what you think. Also I seem to have lost count, has anyone kept track on how many people Phoebe's killed? Let me know lol.
"When I first met him Jesus said that my world was gonna get a whole lot bigger." Rick tells all of us as him, King Ezekiel and Maggie stand on the back of a truck, I was here and Daryl was with my mom and some other people, I didn't want to separate from him but he needed to do what he was doing without me and I had to argue with him to let me do this, "Well, we found that world. We found each other. That "bigger world" is ours by right. That we've come together for it, all of us it's that much more true-it's ours by right. Any person who would live in peace and fairness, who would find common ground it's their right, too. But those who use and take and kill to carve out the world and make it theirs alone-we end them. We don't celebrate it. We don't have shame about it, either. There's only one person who has to die and I will kill him myself. I will. I will. But if it's the others the others who prop him up, stand by his side, even those who just look the other way - so be it. Then we keep making the world bigger. Together."
"Together. Bound forever! To quote The Bard, "For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother." Ezekiel says putting his hand on Rick's shoulder, "For she today my sister." He does the same to Maggie and Shiva roars, I look over at her and smile.
"We've practiced. We've been through it over and over again. We all know the plan doesn't end this morning. That we may have to live in uncertainty for days, maybe more. That we have to keep our faith in each other. If we can hold on to that with everything we have, the future is ours. The world is ours." Maggie finishes and I smile at her.
"I don't want to wait for it anymore. You don't either." Rick tells us getting off the truck, "- Yeah, I know. So we don't have to wait for it. If we start tomorrow right now with everything we've beaten, everything we've endured, everything we've risen above, everything we've become If we start tomorrow right now no matter what comes next we've won. We've already won." He says and we all cheer
"You two up to this?" Rick asked me and Maggie as we stand in a field surrounded by the armored cars we made
"I got the Hilltop to stand against the Saviors. I need to be there. At least for the first part. They say you can wage war through the second trimester. I've been fighting since the farm. Can't stop now." She says and I wrap my arm around her shoulder and she smiled at me
"I'm with her, I've been fighting since the beginning, I'm not stopping now." I told him
"How about tomorrow?" Rick asked Maggie
"You been thinking about what that looks like?"
"Yes, I have. I don't know if I can wait for it." He says
"Just one more fight. And I'm gonna be there. At least for the first part." She told him and I nodded
"Me too"
"I'm told the Hilltop lost their doctor. An obstetrician, no less" Ezekiel mentioned, "We have a doctor in the Kingdom. A woman of talent. Join us."
"We'll get ours back." Jesus adds
"Yes, Jesus. Yes, you will. As sure as the day defeats the night. And on this day, we begin to reshape this world for both of your children" Ezekiel says to Maggie and I, "So let's get started."
I walked over to Aaron and Eric, they smiled at me, "No matter what I got your back" I told Eric, "Both of you." I looked at Aaron then they pulled me into a hug
"And we have yours." Eric told me, I loved these two, they were family, and I will protect them. Always
We drive up to the sanctuary by the place where they keep the walkers, parking our cars with the homemade armor facing the building, we got out and once we all lined up against the cars Maggie raised her hand signaling us to raise our guns then put her hand down and we started firing just a few single shots then we waited
"Well shit." I hear Negan say, "I'm sorry, I was in a meeting. I see you got your little mudflaps with you. So I'm not exactly feelin' a reason for us to try throwin' lead at each other. I care about my people. I don't want to just march them into the line of fire because I want play "my dick is bigger than yours". It is. We both know it. But I'm also comfortable enough to accept the fact if it wasn't. I'm certainly not gonna let my people die over that shit like you're about to. So, Rick, what the hell can I do for you?"
"Dwight." Rick says pointing at them, "Your name's Simon. You're Gavin. And you"
"Regina." She answered
"Rick, I'd feel remiss if-" Eugene started to say but Rick cut him off
"No. I know who you are. Listen, you five. The Saviors inside. All of you have a chance to survive here. To survive this. You all can live if you surrender. Can't guarantee it any time but now. Right now.
"So they surrender and you and your little piss patrol doesn't kill them. That sounds like a good deal! What about me, Rick?" Negan asked him
"I told you. Twice. You know what's going to happen."
"I do. I do know what's gonna happen. You don't. You have no idea the shit that's about to go down. Let me ask you something, Rick - Do you think you have the numbers for this fight? You don't. Simon?" Negan tells him and I peak through watching him go into the building then come out, with Gregory, Maggie turns and looks at Jesus
"Of course that's where he went." Jesus pointed out
"What do you have to say to the Rick and the piss patrol, Gregory?"
"The Hilltop stands with Negan and the Saviors. Any resident of the Hilltop who takes up arms or who supports this ultimatum against the Sanctuary or any of the Saviors, for that matter - they will no longer be welcome in the colony." He says and I clench my jaw
"And?" Negan asks
"Their families will be thrown out and will be left to fend for themselves."
"And?" Negan asked again
"Go home now. Or you won't have a home to go back to."
I see a lot of the residents look at Maggie, "You do what you need to do." She tells everyone
"All I have at the Hilltop are a bunch of books and an old lobster bib" Jesus says and I chuckle
"You heard the man. Go back to separating wheat and shit or whatever the hell it is you people do.
"Doesn't look like anyone's goin', does it?" Maggie asked Negan
"Hilltop stands with-"
"The Hilltop stands with Maggie!" Jesus says cutting Gregory off
"I feel like I invested a lot in you, and I am very, very disappointed." Simon tells Gregory backing him up then pushing him down the stairs then suddenly we hear and explosion in the distance.
"Sounds like shit is goin' down, Rick."
"You "lieutenants" you're gonna have to make up your minds." Rick told them
"Maybe we can take a time-out here-" Gavin started to say but Rick cut him off
"No. This has to happen now. This is the only way." Rick says and Negan stays quiet, "You're gonna make me count. "Okay. Okay. I'm counting. 10! 9! 8! 7!" He cocked his gun and started firing and we all followed shooting at the windows.
Daryl POV...
"It's started." Carol says as we hear gunfire in the distance where the others were, where my wife is. I didn't want her to go but she insisted, after everything that's happened I didn't want her getting hurt, or the baby.
"Yeah. It was always gonna be that way." I mentioned and we hear the group of walkers coming
"Pleasure doing business with you." Tara says and walked away
"Beat 'em." Morgan added leaving as well
"We will." Carol tells him then faced me and pulled me into a hug which I returned, "Be careful, not just for you but for Phoebe too." She tells me pulling away
"Shit, this is gonna be fun."
"No, it isn't." She tells me
"It's better than lettin' things be, though, right?" I asked her
"Yeah. It is."
I stood up off my back and pulled out the gun I took off of a guard opening the revolver part looking at the bullets then closed it. We can't have things continue, not for any of us, not Phoebe, our baby, or Kayden. Since we took him in and became responsible for him I've seen how much Phoebe cares about him and how amazing she is at being a mom for him, I loved that about her among other things. I did care about him too, it'll be good for us. That is the family I want to protect no matter what.
Phoebe POV...
"Now!" Maggie yells and we start moving backwards getting in the cars and drive away
The next day we drove our armored vehicles up to another outpost after taking out the guards there, I was in a car with Eric and Aaron shooting my rifle out of a hole in the metal as we pulled up and stopped then we got out and continued shooting as they shot at us.
"Spread out! Watch for breaches! We keep 'em locked in, they got bigger problems than us." I tell everyone and they moved. I looked at Aaron who looked at Eric then continued shooting.
"I'm out" Eric told me and we quickly switched guns, he continued shooting while I reloaded the gun then started shooting as well
"We got some coming up on my right." I hear one of our people say
"Stay on them! Don't let them through! We pin them in, it takes care of itself! That's the plan!" Aaron told him, "Tobin move in!" Aaron says
"I can take them! Cover me!" Eric tells him
"No! Wait for Tobin!"
"There's no time!" Eric yelled and moved forward shooting a savior
"Go! I'll help cover you!" I tell him following him, we continued moving and shooting then moved behind a car we had far away from the others and hid behind it then moved to the hood and continued shooting.
As we continue shooting I see a few of our people go down and I look at Eric then Francine gets shot
"Francine!" Eric yelled and I looked out shooting then suddenly a bullet hits my shoulder
"Ahh!"
"Phoebe!" Eric yelled and I looked held it
"I'm okay. Check the beck of it" I told him and he moved my shirt, "Is there a hole?"
"Yeah"
"That's good" I said and he popped up and shot at people again, "Here take this" I handed him my gun then grabbed my knife cutting my sleeves off I held one to my shoulder and handed him the other, "Put this under my arm and tie it as tight as you can while I hold this" I tell him and he did so, "Ahhh!" I yelled as he tightened it
"I'm sorry"
"It's ok, Im good. Here" I reached for my gun and he handed it to me and we continued shooting
"We have to get you out of here!" He yells
"No! We need to do this I'm fine!" I said and continued shooting, "Get behind that truck!" I instructed and he moved while I stay where I was then I hear one of our cars start and back up to us and Aaron got out
"Phoebe!" He rushed over
"I'm ok get to Eric!" I told him and he moved past me
"You okay? You okay?" Aaron asked him
"I'm fine, but our people-Phoebe she needs..." He stopped and I looked at them, I saw blood on Eric's shirt, and it wasn't mine.
"Oh, God. No. No, no, no, no, no, no. No, no. Eric, Eric. Eric."
"Go I got you!" I yelled to him and he moved Eric away while I shot at the saviors
"Come on, let's stay together!" A savior yelled
"Falling back!" Another one says
"Hold fire! Hold fire! Morales wants us back inside!" One yelled What?! I asked myself in shock and moved over to Tobin, "All force towards the courtyard door on my mark!"
"They stopped shooting." Tobin pointed out and we hear them shoot behind us
"No, they stopped shooting at us."
"Where's that backup?" A savior asked and we moved up and shot at them when a few shot back at us and we ducked
After it was done we got the injured loaded up to leave and get fixed up, I helped one of our people in the back of our truck and shut the tailgate then they drove off, "Phoebe!" I hear Daryl yell and he ran over to me looking at my shoulder, "What the hell happened?" He asked turning me to look at it
"Daryl I'm fine"
"You were shot!" He tells me and I grab his hand
"And there was an exit wound. Daryl," I put my hand on his face, "I'm fine.
"I shouldn't have let you come out here. What if..."
"Hey. Don't focus on what if's, that's why I wore the bullet proof vest, it doesn't cover shoulders." I tell him and he looked down, one of the Hilltop people found a bullet proof vest on a run and I chose to wear it, "See? I'm ok" I reassured him and he kissed me
"God I love you"
"I love you too" I tell him and I looked over his shoulder seeing Aaron walking over, but he was sad, I moved from Daryl and went over to him, "Aaron?" I asked and he sniffled then looked at me, "Where's Eric?" I asked trying to fight tears but I looked at his heart broken face, "No" I whispered as the tears fell out, "No!" I cried falling down but he caught me and went down with me holding me as we both cried.
I looked over at Aaron as he sat there, looking...lost, Daryl pulled me to him and I just looked forward, I felt lost too, Eric was like a brother to me, he took care of me after Daryl was taken, I saved him when the wolves came, I felt a piece of myself break away and I was hurting. Just then I hear a baby crying and looked to see Rick walking over with one.
"She was inside?" I asked him walking over
"She was. I have a - I have a stop to make, and Daryl's got his bike. Maybe she can go back with you or Scott..."
"She can go with me." Aaron says standing up, "I can, uh, t-take her to the Hilltop. She'll be safe there."
"Aaron. You sure?" Rick asked him
"Eric and I were gonna go up...We were gonna go there after and update Maggie. So...that's what I'm gonna do." He tells him with his voice breaking, "Please. I have to."
Rick walked over to him and handed the baby over, "Her name's Gracie.
"Hey, Gracie." He says to her and I look at him feeling my heart break even more then Daryl put his hands on my shoulders
"Go back home, be with Kayden." He tells me and I nodded then closed my eyes trying not to cry and he pulled me into a hug, "I love you"
"I love you too," I said and looked at him, "Please be safe" I begged and he kissed me
"I will"
"Mrs. Dixon, are you okay?" Kayden asked me walking into the infirmary while I sat in the bed as one of the residents fixed up my shoulder with my instructions. We may not have an actual doctor but I was slowly learning.
"Kayden how many times have I told you to call me Phoebe?"
"Sorry. Are you hurt?" He asked me
"Yeah but I'm okay. It's gonna heal like that" I snapped my fingers with a smile on my face, the person tending to my shoulder finished up, "Thanks" I tell them then grabbed Kayden's hand, "Come on buddy"
"Is Daryl okay?"
"Oh yeah he's fine, he'll be back later" I said as we walked down the street
"Then why do you look so sad?" He asked and I stopped then bent down to him
"You remember Eric?" I asked him and he nodded, "Well buddy he um...he went to a better place"
"Like my mommy?"
I put my hand on his head giving him a sad smile, "Yeah buddy." I tell him and he wrapped his little arms around me
"It'll be okay Phoebe" He says and I sniffled, this little boy is 11 but he has such a huge heart.
A/N: So I'm kind of running episodes in with each other and I will be doing it for the last chapter because it's the mid season finale. When the show premieres next month updates will be coming slower and slower but I'll try to keep it going.