Chapter 184-Dinner
Rick's P.O.V
Rick sat at the table, on his left Carl sat and on his right sat Enid, beside Carl, Michonne sat and across from Rick was Lance, who first looked around with raised brows "no children? I would have loved to meet them."
"I figured this would be a good time for us all to talk." Rick says. "They aren't needed for this." Lance nods as he looks around the house but soon he stops when he sees a picture he stands up and walks over, picking it up.
"You knew Deanna?" Lance looked over, startled.
"You knew her?" Michonne asks, a bit of surprise in his wife's own voice..
"Yes, I met her in D.C a couple times while working for the Milton's." Lance answered, looking back at the picture. "How do you know her?"
"She built this place. Alexandria." Carl answered, looking back at the picture also. "Deanna, she's the reason we're here. She let us in, gave us a chance, who knows what would have happened if Deanna didn't take a chance with us."
"How did she die?" He asked softly.
"A herd got into Alexandria." Rick felt his eyes go cloudy, lost in the memory of that day. "Deanna, she was bitten, she died, but up until the very end, all she cared about was her people, keeping them safe and rebuilding this place. So that's what we did, we rebuild this place, we made it better, we made it into what Deanna always wanted."
"That's good," Lance says as he sets the picture down and walks back over to the table, sitting down. "It's incredible what you've done, all of you. How you have brought all this people from all different pasts, different cultures, areas and walks of life, and made them into family."
"We've lost plenty in building what we have, plenty of members of this family." Carl nodded.
"I imagine you have." Lance says, as they started to eat, listening intently
"It's why we are all a little tense, we've fought our fair share of people, and recently with the Whisperers and your group showing up right after." Rick shrugged "You can imagine we're a bit twitchy."
Lance nods as he takes a bite of his food. "Oh no problem at all Rick, If I can call you Rick. But we're not the Whisperers and Pamela is certainly not that monstrous Alpha woman. All She and I want is a better future. Rebuild the World as it was."
Rick shrugs his shoulders, leaning back. "Maybe, but you never know when you'll have the devil beside you."
Lance looks at the former cop, eyes raised. "The devil beside you...did a friend say that to you?"
"No," Rick answers flatly and Lance nods as they hear footsteps and Judith and Andrea come into the room.
Andrea loudly saying "Mom, Daddy, what's going on? We heard voices."
"Girls what are you doing?" Michonne asks, her voice clipped as she stands, tensing as Lance looks at the girls.
"Hi." Lance says with a smile, with a friendly wave "Rick, Michonne, are these your daughters?"
Judith stared back "Yes? Who are you?"
"Come on, adults are talking." Michonne cut her off as she leads the girls out of the room and Lance finishes his food, Rick giving the door an uneasy glance. Clearly Michonne did not want the girls around Lance, also getting an uneasy feeling from the man.
"Thank Michonne for the food, but I think I should be getting to sleep," Lance says as he stands.
"I'll walk you out," Rick says as he follows the man towards the door, the night having fallen.
Lance turned and smiled pleasently, still something about it grinding at Rick "So what decided to give me a chance?"
"Haven't decided yet." Rick says and Lance looks at him for a moment, then chuckled.
"I'm only here to help, Rick. I promise you that, have a good night!" Lance assured as he leaves and Rick goes back inside, giving one last look out into the darkness, Lance fading just from view.
Daryl's P.O.V
The next morning Daryl and Alden walk into the building where the hunters worked out of. "Good morning, boss." Scout says with a smirk as she sees Daryl then at Alden, a question in her eyes. "Who's your friend?"
"Scout meet Alden," Daryl says. "He's been with us for about a decade, one of my most trusted friends." Daryl says and Alden smiles as he shakes Scout's hand. "How many we got today?"
"Nine people, figured if we head out soon, we can be back by supper." Scout says.
"We'll stay out a little later, see what comes out as the sun sets and we'll be splitting up." Daryl tells her.
At this, Scout paused and frowned "We usually stay together."
"If there are too many it's too loud." Daryl tells her. "Groups of three, we'll stay withing two miles of each other and carry radios in case someone gets in trouble. Your other hunters, they good?"
"Obviously."
"Pick two of them to lead the other groups, you and Alden are with me, I wanna see what you can do."
"If your sure, fine, I'll go talk to them." She says before she walks away.
"You sure we should be throwing their system out?" Alden asks him, seeing Scout did see a bit defensive about this.
"I'm sure, they're too loud, hunting in a group never works. Hell I'm hesitant to do three but I don't know how well these people can fight and I would rather make sure they have back up." Daryl says.
At this, Alden grimaced "They should be fine I mean they venture outside enough."
"Animals are one thing. Walkers and people? Whole different story."
With this, Alden nods as they wait for Scout, who started to come back.
Maggie's P.O.V
Maggie stood with Beth and Tara outside of the house Maggie's house. "Rebuilding the wall isn't going to be easy and Barrington house is pretty much gone."
"We should talk with Lance, see if we can tear the rest of it down." Beth says making the other two women look at her, surprised. "We can't fix it, with their supplies we might be able to make something better. We have to adapt, we lost a lot to the Whisperers and the truth is we have a lot of work to do."
"I'll talk to him," Maggie says. "Beth, start talking with Javi and Jerry, we lost a lot of livestock and the fields, we're going to need to plow them again. I know Daryl had lent Ezkeiel his blow, hopefully Jerry will let us use it. Richmond might have the livestock we need. Tara, start making plans, best you can, new housing and a new center house. Get some ideas and I'll see who we have that can help us, with Morgan and Eugene both being at the Commonwealth, it won't be as easy."
"Excuse me."
Hearing the voice, the three turned to see Ozzy at the door, ducking down under a beam, to their surprise.
"I thought you were at the Kingdom." Beth says, confused
"Some of my people liked it better here, wanted to make sure they settled down before I moved on but I think I may be able to help you." Ozzy says, taking his hat off and looking down. "I had a Construction company before the fall, I could help. I failed at the fair, let me help you rebuild your home."
"You didn't fail, Ozzy." Maggie says softly. "None of us saw it coming, but thank you and we would really appreciate it."
"Come on, cowboy, let's get to work." Tara gave a grin and walked past, slapping his shoulder.
"I believe the cowboy is Mr. Dorie," Ozzy says as he follows Tara.
"I'll radio Javi and Jerry." Beth says and Maggie nods as she walked outside.
The war was won, now they had to win the peace.
Negan's P.O.V
Negan crossed his arms as Kate pushed him through the hospital, after another check up. His scowl deepened as Kate chastised. "You look like a child."
"I'm still pissed about this, and I can wheel myself you know!" Negan growled.
"The doctor said you are healing well, that means you need to stay off your feet and keep healing," Kate says as she looks into a doorway absently, but soon stopped.
Negan follows her eyesight and sees Ezekiel sitting on a bed, an IV in his arm. Looking up at her, Negan gestured as she pushed him into the room. "Hey, Zeke, everything okay?"
"Yes, just a check up," Ezekiel says as he turns to look at them, seeing he looked polite enough for now. Negan looks at the I.V bag then at Ezekiel, face saddened as memories dredged up.
"How bad is it and what kind?" Negan asks. At first Ezekiel stared back, silent as his brow clenched...but Negan pressed softly. "I know what cancer looks like."
"Thyroid cancer." Ezekiel says after a moment. "I have a good chance; this is a checkup and then in a couple of days. I'll be going into surgery." The king even gave a smirk. "I imagine our friend Victor pulled some strings."
"Yes, he probably did." Negan grinned a bit.
Kate said softly "Did you want anything?"
"No no, I'll be fine." Ezekiel assured...causing Kate to nod and looked down.
"Let's not keep him, let's go."
As she wheeled him out, Negan paused to say "Glad you're gonna be ok."
For a long moment, Ezekiel stared but then nodded, looking grateful as he sat back in his bed to rest.
Alicia's P.O.V
Alicia and Strand walk into Pamela's office, where she stood to greet her with a hand raised to shake. "Alicia, good morning." The Commonwealth Governor turned with a curious glance. "Victor Strand, correct?"
"Yes." Strand says as he shakes her hand and they sit down.
"We have quite a bit to talk about." Pamela says as she sits, hands crossed in front of her. "I know that your people are finding jobs and Alden now has one with Daryl. What will Daniel be doing?"
"He's decided to become a babysitter." Alicia says. "Watch the kids while we work."
Pamela nods, satisfied with the answer. "Lance will be back in a few days with news, is there anything else I should know before he returns?"
"Our group has been through bad times before, we've always come back stronger." Alicia answered, firm and steady.
"I believe that, Alicia." Pamela says. "I would like to start planning your group involvement into the Halloween celebration."
"I thought you wanted to wait until you were sure?" Strand casually asked.
"Should I be concerned, Victor?" Pamela raised a brow.
"Not at all ma'am." Strand answered easily with a smile and Pamela nods.
"Good, this is where we will tell everybody about our deal, so shall we begin?"
Gabriel's P.O.V
Gabriel stood in the graveyard, laying down flowers on various graves as he often did twice a week. "Weird place to hang out." Gabriel looks at Heath as he walks up behind him.
"I like to come here, remember the people we have lost, pray for their souls," Gabriel says.
"You still believe there is a God, after everything you've been through?" Heath stopped in place, staring at him in disbelief "I mean, you lost an eye man."
"Yes, I did." Gabriel says. "Yet, I kept one. What we have endured, all of us, dead or alive, it would take most people down, this group has been through hell. There was a time when I was not sure, a few times. Every time my faith has been restored. I watched a man blow up a bridge, standing right in the middle, and he survived. It was a miracle and we don't have many of those anymore, so when we do, I believe God has watched us." He then saw the look on Heath's face, downtrodden, then Gabriel asked quietly "You do not believe."
"God isn't here anymore, man." Heath said flatly. "I can't believe there is a God in a world like this." His eyes stop on Deanna's grave. "I can't believe a God would let her die the way she did, or have a child get torn apart by the dead." He says as he looks at Sam's grave. "I believe this is it, Gabe, once we're done here, whether that is from a gunshot, a walker or age. This is it."
Giving him a resolved look, Gabriel placed a tender hand on the saddened man's shoulder "Well I hope I can change your mind. Now come on, let's get something to eat."
Carl's P.O.V
Carl stood in the forge working. After last night, he wanted to clear his head after some memories dredged up...soon hearing footsteps outside the forge.
"This is impressive." Carl turns around and looks at Lance, coming inside, waving his hand at the smoke. But Carl saw that Lance noticed the weapons at the side, swords, knives and the works.
"I'm sorry to intrude, I was giving myself a tour." Lance saw the forge was some amazement. "Did you build this?"
"With help." Carl says as he takes his gloves off.
"Who taught you?
"His name was Earl, my mentor here, he was bit during the battle of Hilltop."
"He sounds like a great man." Lance nodded, bowing his head as if exchanging sympathies.
"He was." Carl says. "He taught me everything I know about forging. I come in here when I need to get away from everything, working in here, it calms me."
"Always good to have a escape." The Director nodded in approval as he looks around. He stops by a knife and picks it up. "Amazing work. We have weapons makers and this is up there with them."
"Keep it." Carl says. "In case you get separated from your guards, a gun isn't the best approach."
"Thank you." Lance gave a teasing smile as he put it in his pocket. "I was under the impression you didn't trust me."
"I don't." Deciding to be honest, Carl said. "But I think that could change and I know we need you alive for this to work."
Lance smiles. "You are one smart young man."
"That's what they tell me." Carl put his tools down as he snorted. "Come on, I'll finish the tour with you."
"Oh of course Carl, lead the way."
Thanks for reading, next chapter the group at the communities continue to rebuild. The others at the Commonwealth continue to find their place in their new home. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.