Chapter 28-Going to Hilltop

Al's P.O.V

Al woke up in the trailer's bed with Maggie's arm around her. Al looks around the room wistfully...then shook her head to regain focus. "We should be getting back to Hilltop," Maggie says quietly. Al nods in agreement.

"Yeah, we should," Al says as she gets out of bed. She grabs her clothes and starts to get dress. Maggie crawls out of bed and does the same thing. They get ready to leave in a conformable silence. Al grabs her bag when she is done and looks at Maggie. "Let's go," Al says, holding her hand out. Maggie nods as they leave the trailer and go to Al's van. Maggie waves to Cyndie before she climbs into the van. Al's starts it, and they leave Oceanside.

"Thanks for yesterday," Maggie says as they leave. Al grabs her hand.

"You're welcome," Al says as she drives.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl puts his vest on and grabs his crossbow, and puts it on his back. He walks out of his room and walks outside. He sees Amanda sitting in his step. "Everything okay?" He questions her. Amanda looks at him.

"Yeah," Amanda says as she stands up and looks at Daryl. "I was wondering if I could go to Alexandria."

"You don't need my permission to go somewhere," Daryl informs her.

"I know. I want to ask Rick about something and see how he feels about it," Amanda explains. Daryl nods.

"Take Dwight. You shouldn't be going out alone," Daryl suggests.

"Got it," Amanda says with a smile on her face. Daryl walks down the stairs and walks over to John, who is standing by his bike.

"We aren't taking that," Daryl tells John, who nods as he walks over to him.

"What are we taking?" John questions him as Daryl opens the truck.

"This," Daryl says.

"Hey," Alicia greets as she walks up to him. Daryl shuts the door and looks at her. "You going to Hilltop?"

"Yeah, Maggie should be back by the time we get there," Daryl tells Alicia, who nods. Alicia gives him a quick kiss.

"Be safe," She says to him. Daryl nods as she walks away. Daryl looks at John, who has a wide grin on his face.

"Get in the car," Daryl orders with a sigh and a smile on his face. Daryl and John climb into the truck, and Daryl starts it. Eugene pulls the gate open and lets them out.

Daryl and John drove down the road in silence. John starts to look around the truck. "What the hell are you looking for?" Daryl wonders.

"Music," John answers.

"Please don't," Daryl says with a sigh. "Why can't we just sit in silence?" Daryl questions his friend.

"Okay, we'll talk about you and Alicia," John suggests.

"Find the music," Daryl says with a sigh after a few moments. John smiles as he continues to look around.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane stood in the cabin they were using as an armory, cleaning some of the guns. He looks at the door as it opens, and Negan walks in. "What the hell are you doing in here?" Shane growls at the former leader, knowing that Daryl made it CLEAR he wasn't to have weapons at any time. Negan raises his hand.

"Time out," Negan says. "I need to talk to you," Negan explains.

"About what?" Shane asks Negan.

"Yesterday, I saw you and Carl talking, and you looked a little fired up," Negan says. "If you're mad about the kid talking to me, take it out on me but leave him alone," Negan tells Shane in a firm voice. Shane stares Negan in the eyes.

"Why does he matter so much to you?" Shane asks Negan.

"None of your business. Talk to him like that again, and we'll have problems," Negan warns Shane before he leaves the armory leaving Shane staring at the spot he once stood.

Amanda's P.O.V

Dwight drives Merle's bike into Alexandria and stops it by the church. They climb off the bike. "I'm going to go talk to Rick," Amanda informs Dwight, giving her a short nod. She stops after a moment. "Where does he live?" Dwight lets out a small chuckle.

"Come on," Dwight says as he walks past her. Dwight leads Amanda to Rick's house as the leader of Alexandria is coming out.

"What are you two doing here?" Rick asks.

"I want to talk to you about something," Amanda says to Rick, who nods.

"I'll see you at the bike," Dwight tells Amanda as he walks away. Rick looks at her.

"What's up?" Rick asks.

"I've been thinking about a way to bring the communities together and help keep bad things from happening within the community," Amanda says.

"What is it?" Rick asks.

"In a sense, police but not in the same way it was before the turn. We have three people in each community deal with disputes and problems like that instead of everybody running over and causing more problems. It would help keep peace in the communities," Amanda explains to Rick, who doesn't say anything for a few seconds as he thinks about it.

"Do you know who these three people would be?" Rick questions.

She shrugged "that would be the Leader's of each communities, not mine. Each of them find three members that they vouch for." Amanda says. "We can find some radio's so they can tell us from different communities. They'd report to you, me, and John," Amanda tells Rick.

"Okay," Rick says as he walks down to her. "I'll talk to Maggie and Ezekiel about it, and you talk to Daryl," Amanda nods.

"Thank you, Rick," Amanda says. Rick nods as he walks away, a small smile developing on his face.

Maggie's P.O.V

Maggie sat in her office when Carl came in. "Daryl's here, and they aren't opening the gate," Carl informs Maggie, who nods as she stands up with a sigh. She walks outside and walks towards the gate. "Kal!" Maggie shouts, making the guard look at her. "Open the gate!" She yells at Kal in irritation. Kal glares at her for a moment before he and the other guard pull the gate in, and Daryl drives the truck in. Daryl turns the truck off beside Maggie.

"Glad to see I'm still welcomed by someone," Daryl mutters as he climbs out of the truck. John grabs his hat and does the same. Earl walks up to them.

"Ignore them, son. They are just pissed about Negan," Earl says to him.

"You aren't?" Daryl questions the blacksmith.

"I'm not the happiest about it, but I understand why you did it, and Carl is good at explaining things," Earl tells Daryl, who nods. "My wife and I are on your side if you need us."

"Thank you," John says. Earl nods as he walks away.

"Hey," Al greets the two men as she walks up to Daryl and John. She hugs Daryl and then hugs John. "It's really good to see you guys."

"Good to see you too, Al," John says.

"What are you doing here?" Maggie asks with no emotion in her voice.

"I need something," Daryl answers her.

"What do you need?" Carl questions.

"Horses, at least two," Daryl says.

"Why?" Maggie asks him.

"Alden helped us get a plow put we can't pull it without horses. Hilltop and Kingdom have the most horses," Daryl explains to Maggie.

"What do you have to offer us?" Tara asks from where she stood by Lilly.

"What do you want?" John asks.

"Besides me sending Negan back," Daryl clarifies. Maggie looks at John.

"Maybe you can help us," Maggie says to the cowboy.

"How?" John asks.

"Some people here. Some new people and some old aren't the best guns even after the war because they weren't comfortable fighting or didn't want to learn. There are also kids who need to learn," Maggie explains to John. "You teach them how to shoot, and we'll give you the horses. We'll even give you a trailer to take them back in," Maggie offers to them. Daryl looks at John, who nods.

"Okay, you have yourself a deal," John agrees.

"Okay," Maggie says. "Can you guys help John get the trailer and horses ready?" Maggie asks Tara, Beth, Lilly, Al, and Carl, who nod as they walk away with John. Daryl looks at Maggie. "Come on," Daryl follows Maggie to her office.

June's P.O.V

June walks out of the infirmary and walks over to Tobias, who looks at her. "Hey, June," Tobias says as June sits down beside him.

"Do you want to learn to be a doctor?" June asks him.

"Really?" Tobias questions June, who nods. "I mean yeah,"

"Good," June says with a smile. "Then tomorrow, come by the infirmary, and we'll start. I'll ask Eugene if there is a library around here that you can get some books from,"

"Okay," Tobias says with a smile. June smiles at the man before she leaves with the same smile on her face.

Madison's P.O.V

Madison walks up to Alicia, who was sitting on the steps to her cabin with a book. "I thought you were helping Shane," Madison says.

"I was," Alicia tells her. "But then we started moving some heavier stuff, and he became protective Shane and sent me away," Alicia tells her with a frown. Madison chuckles as she sits down beside her daughter.

"You're Dad was the same way with Nick and you," Madison tells her daughter. "I imagine that Shane is going to be even worse, and when you get closer to the baby coming, I imagine Daryl is going to drive you insane," Madison says to Alicia with a smile.

"I feel like a child," Alicia complains.

"They are just worried, and you can't blame them for that. Having a baby killed people before everything happened, and now it's even more of a risk," Madison explains to her daughter. Alicia looked at her mother, worried. "You are going to be okay. We have many doctors who know what they are doing and know how to keep you and that baby safe," Alicia nods.

"I need to tell Nick still," Alicia says, palming her face, not sure how THAT would go.

"We will," Madison tells her reassuringly...then asks curiously "How has Daryl been?" Madison questions her daughter.

"Good," Alicia tells her. "We have decided to give us a try and see where that goes for the baby and for us," Alicia informs her with a grin on her face.

"You should tell Charlie too. She is basically Daryl and your daughter," Madison says. "She should know."

"I'll talk to Daryl about it," Alicia tells her mother, who nods. The two women sit in peaceful silence as they watch the group.

Thanks for reading. I don't have much to say this time. Besides, the next chapter will explore the police idea more and some things in Hilltop and at the campgrounds. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.