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Writer's Notes: Hello, beautiful people! I hope everyone is doing well! I have been busy busy. I am in the process of writing my book, SolarBorne, which will be released this year. It's a chronicle series that I hope you good people will check out once I have it published on Amazon. In other news, I have been super busy with this story, finishing up the end of the outline so we have a direction with the story. I'm excited about this story and the many others to come. As always, I appreciate all your support. Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!

[Day 135]

Five days was long in a world where the dead were walking. Anything could happen in just five days. Bella was still uneasy about sending Daryl to Alexandria, but everything went smoothly. The following check-in was in three days, and she hoped to have better news by then. Martinez gave them the locations for the meeting spots. He did not care to throw Rick under the bus at all. Bella knew that Martinez was loyal to the Governor, whoever he was, but it also worried Bella about this Governor's character. From what they knew, the Governor clashed with Rick because they didn't share the same views. The Governor sees the world as room for one higher power: him. His goal was to control the living population, and that wasn't something that Bella could get behind. Martinez was following the Governor because the Governor saved him and brought him to Woodbury, and ever since then, he has served the man.

"What will convince you to leave Woodbury and come to the Saviors?" Bella asked Martinez as they walked. Hopper and Townsend weren't far behind, and Negan was dealing with Abraham Ford at the compound.

Martinez wasn't shackled now as he had been before. He was comfortable, having had food and water, and now they were strolling through Glencoe on a supply run before Bella agreed to take him back to Woodbury. "If it weren't for Woodbury and the Governor, I would be dead." He admitted, his dark eyes looking over at Bella.

Bella paused and looked at Martinez. She studied him. He was strong; he was capable. He didn't seem like the type that would need saving. "Okay. I respect that. I feel the same way about the Saviors." She admitted. "But still. You're a long way from home. Why follow Rick knowing that he was crazy?"

Martinez was quiet for a moment before he thought out his answer. "It's not that simple. The Governor sent me to keep an eye on Rick and Alexandria. The Governor wants to expand, and he's willing to take it. By force…if necessary."

Bella nodded, appreciating his candor. "Does he know about the Saviors?"

"He doesn't. Not yet." Martinez said and swallowed. "You're much larger than the group we have at Woodbury. It's suicide to try and interfere with your plans to take out Rick."

"Let me ask you something." Bella began. "What does the Governor plan to do with the people of Alexandria if he comes to conquer?"

"Those that don't follow him…will be put down or coerced."

"That's where I have a problem," Bella said, pointing. "There are women and children that live in that town. They don't know anything other than what is inside their walls. They haven't experienced the hardships that I or you have faced here." She said, motioning around her. "To be forced…into something they don't understand, or disagree with…" She shook her head. "It isn't right, and we won't allow that to happen. So…Martinez. I'm going to ask you again. What will it take…for you to come to the Saviors?"

Martinez wasn't a stupid man. He understood the gravity of the situation. He sometimes questioned the Governor's motives and wanted to set a better example for himself. This world was crazy. It was survival of the fittest, and he would be lying if the temptation to jump ship at Woodbury wasn't enticing. "If I say no, and I go back home to Woodbury. To my friends that I've made there that are also unassuming of what lies beyond our walls…would you penalize me for it?"

Bella smiled. Martinez was an intelligent man, and she saw how his brain worked. "Let's say the Governor had an accident. There would be a new order in Woodbury, right?"

"Well, of course," Martinez said with a nod.

"Would that new order want the same things as the Governor?"

"No. He wouldn't. He would want to grow what he has and establish connections with other communities. He would want to open trades and resources for resources. Establish communications and travel. He wouldn't look for world domination."

Bella nodded, still smiling. "Good answer," she said. "The answer is no. I wouldn't penalize you for it. Friends are good to have in a world like this. Just make sure you make the right friends. I want to be your friend, Martinez." She said and then fired her bow at a walker creeping too close.

Martinez nodded. "I would like for us to be friends too."

"Good," Bella said. "Let's get you back home to Woodbury." She said, and she whistled. Townsend and Hopper were closing in, and they got in the big truck and drove away from Glencoe.

[Alexandria]

Daryl was fitting in well in Alexandria. He had been there five days, and so far, he's met most of the people that mattered at least. Deanna was depressed, as Jasper had mentioned before, and his arrival to Alexandria didn't matter much. Spencer and Alice were there to help with people taking to Daryl. The transition was more straightforward since Daryl didn't talk much because it made him uncomfortable. He admitted that having a hot shower was welcoming every day. The compound had limited running water, so hot showers weren't taken daily. Sleeping under a roof without fear of the walking dead was also lovely. You could walk out on the porch and breathe fresh air without having to shoot at the dead. It was relaxing, yet he was still tense. He wondered about Bella and if she was okay. She spiraled before she sent him here, and he just wanted to talk to her. He tried to tell her that everything was going to be okay.

Jasper stood next to Daryl as they looked out on the street. Kids were playing; laughter filled the air. It was an excellent sound. "Worried about Bella?"

"Always," Daryl said without looking at Jasper. "Where's Rick?"

"Should be back at some point. This is the longest he's stayed outside the walls. If he knows he is missing, I imagine he's trying to figure out what happened to Abe. For all I know, Abe and Rick had a standing meet-up, and Abe missed that check-in." Jasper hypothesized.

Daryl made a hmm sound, thinking about it. "Carol seemed friendly enough." He commented.

"She's not," Jasper said. "She's good at playing pretend. She's one of the deadliest things here in Alexandria."

Daryl nodded his understanding. He glanced at the gates when they were pushed open, and a man walked through; his dark hair and scruff gave him a masculine appearance. He wore jeans, a belt with a gun holstered on his hip, and his khaki button-up shirt tucked into his pants. He was wearing dark boots, and he was frowning.

"That's Rick," Jasper murmured lowly and stepped off the porch, jogging over to Rick as he walked in. "Yo, what's going on?"

"Abe is missing," Rick sputtered out. His blue eyes were mad as he looked around, spying on a new face. "Who's that?"

"Daryl Dixon," Jasper said. "Guy, we picked up in Glencoe. He's from Georgia, like us. Heard about a safe zone… the same one we heard about. Ended up in this area thinking maybe there was a safe zone close to the capital." He explained.

Rick studied Daryl. "Is he useful?"

"He's a hunter. Southern type. Knows deer migration patterns. Has a crossbow." Jasper relayed, scratching the back of his head. "What happened with Abe?"

"He's not answering my messages. The Saviors have him like they have Judith." Rick said. "Can he track?"

Jasper frowned. "Rick, we talked about this. Judith is here."

"No, she isn't," Rick snapped out. "Can Daryl track?" he asked again.

Jasper looked over at Daryl and then back at Rick. "I imagine so. He's a hunter."

"Good. I need to track down these Saviors. They're tricky. I blew up their compounds, but they have more. I must find them all. I can't get back into Hilltop. The Saviors have taken Greg. They have the place locked down. I'm just one person. I'm just one person," Rick twitched a little, closing his eyes, and muttered to himself.

Jasper nodded. "Alright, well, we'll find Abe. I'll talk to Daryl and- "

"No. I'll do it," Rick snapped again and then pushed around Jasper and headed straight for Daryl. "I'm missing a man. You're going to track him." He barked out. "If you find him, you can stay."

Daryl frowned. "Missing man?"

"Are you stupid?" Rick asked, his blue eyes settling on Daryl. "He's missing. It would be best if you found him. The Saviors have him. They have my daughter. They killed my wife and son. I need to get my man back. Can you track him?"

Daryl glanced over at Jasper, and Jasper gave a nod, so Daryl nodded, looking back at Rick. It was clear that the man was crazy. That he didn't know what he was doing or saying. "Yeah, I'll track him."

"Good," Rick said, then marched towards the main house, disappearing inside.

Jasper stood next to Daryl. "Well, that's Rick."

"He's crazy."

"Yeah. It shouldn't be too hard convincing everyone else that. We've already got a quarter of the people convinced he is." Jasper said with a sigh. "Alright, let's track Abe down." He said, slapping Daryl on the shoulder before going towards the house where they had weapons checked in. Glenn met them there, shouldering a rifle while Daryl grabbed his crossbow.

Glenn looked at Daryl. "Ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Daryl muttered.

Rick walked in. "I'm coming with." He rambled. "Deanna wants me to find Abe too. We must find Abe."

"Yeah, we'll find him."

"We're going to find him, and we're going to kill Negan. We're going to kill all of them." Rick said and grabbed a rifle for himself.

Jasper, Glenn, and Daryl spared a look at each other before nodding their agreement. They didn't want to upset him too much, but his coming with also meant that they were now getting Rick away from Alexandria, and it was an opportunity for them to take him down without inflicting damage in Alexandria. This played right into their hands.