Chapter 62-The consequences
Daryl's P.O.V
Everybody stared at June after she finished her sentence. "Can we sit with him?" Michonne asks after a moment. June nods.
"Only one or two of you at a time," June says. Michonne and Carl go into the tent. Daryl looks at Luciana.
"Gather the community leaders. Everybody beside Maggie." Daryl ordered.
"Beth and some of the others are coming. We should wait for them. Someone needs to represent Hilltop," John says. Daryl doesn't say anything, but he nods.
"When can we leave?" Reilly asks Daryl, who looks at him. "The bridge is gone." He states.
"Start packing up the camp," Daryl orders everybody. "Once that is done, you are free to go home."
"You'll still get the help you need with your new camp," Morgan reassures Reilly, who nods as everybody starts to pack the camp up.
Daryl walks up to Morgan. "Can you make sure everybody gets home safe?"
"Of course," Morgan says.
Negan's P.O.V
Negan stood on the hill, looking at the destroyed bridge. "How is he doing?" Negan asks as he hears footsteps behind him, still staring at the smoldering ruin.
"They think he'll wake up soon." Shane says as he stops beside him.
"I got shot for that fucking bridge." Negan complained to Shane, who chuckles. "That asshole better not die."
"Daryl wants to gather the alliance leaders." Shane says.
"Why?" Negan asks Shane with a confused look at him, who shrugs his shoulder as they hear cars.
"Time to face the music," Shane says. Negan nods grudgingly, taking one last look at the ruin shaking his head, as he follows him.
Maggie's P.O.V
Maggie sat on a log watching as cars started to pull into the bridge camp. "This is kind of ironic if you think about it." Alden says from behind her.
"Fuck off." Maggie growls. "I shouldn't have a guard."
"Everybody here seems to disagree, look Maggie I don't like it either ok? Please, don't make this harder then it can be." Alden says with a sigh.
"I gave you a chance at a new life." Maggie growls as she looks at him.
"So did Daryl and Rick, I don't want to fight you on this." Alden says . "Your girlfriend is coming."
Maggie turns around and looks at Al, who walks up to her and hugs her. "I didn't want this." Maggie says softly.
"I know," Al says as she kisses her head. "I know," Maggie looked up and saw Daryl, Shane, Morgan, John, Ezekiel, Carol, Gabriel, Aaron, Jesus, Reilly, and Arat enter a tent with Beth and Tara following.
"What are they doing?" Maggie asks Al, who looks behind her.
"Daryl called a meeting of the alliance leaders," Al says softly.
"I should be there. I'm the leader of Hilltop." Maggie says.
"The meetings about you, Tara, Beth, and Jesus are standing in for Hilltop. Aaron and Gabriel are there for Alexandria, Arat, and Reilly for the Saviors, Daryl, Morgan, Shane, and John for the campgrounds."
Maggie nods and continues watching the tent, unsure what was going to happen in the next few minutes.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl locked eyes with everybody after he finished explaining what Cyndie told Rick and the plan Daryl, Maggie, and Jesus had to kill Negan. Many of them shaking their heads while some looked frustrated or angry.
Ezekiel looks at Jesus. "Jesus, my old friend, is what Daryl says true?"
"It is," Jesus answers. "The plan died when Daryl left, I hadn't thought about it for a while, but it's true."
"We bled together, we fought together, good men and women died side by side as brothers and sisters in arms, and yet you were willing to throw it all away by not just going behind the back of Rick Grimes, but behind the back of all of us!" Ezekiel exclaims with anger in his voice, his commanding voice echoing and slamming his fist on the table...Carol reaching over to pat his knee to calm him down.
"We were wrong, Rick made a decision that we was not his to make, but I don't care about that anymore." Jesus says. Ezekiel doesn't say anything at that notion, but looks at Arat as she speaks.
"She knew what Oceanside was doing, and she let it happen." Arat says, anger evident in her voice.
"Gee I wonder why." Tara sniped.
As Arat turned to face her, Daryl cut this all off, giving both women a warning stare...the two looking away.
"Someone's already been punished for that. I didn't bring you all here to talk about that."
"Then why are we here?" Gabriel asks, confused "Is it about Rick? Is he ok?"
Daryl grimaced "We don't know yet, but that's not the root of the issue...Maggie's unstable, we've all seen it, we can't deny it after this. Rick almost died, Six People were killed, and she isn't in control of her emotions, and it's putting people in danger." Daryl says. "Maggie leads Hilltop. Hilltop makes the most food out of any community. They have a blacksmith. They have people and weapons. It's too powerful a place to be left in her hands."
"What's your point?" Beth asks with a worried look at her old friend, not sure where this was going.
"Maggie can't lead Hilltop anymore." Daryl says firmly.
This brought some silence to the leaders, many looking stunned at the notion...but then Tara spoke up, standing up.
"You want to kick her out?"
"No, but she can't make the decisions, not until she is more stable. We're not exiling her or anything like that, she'll be like house arrest there in Hilltop." Daryl explains.
"He's right." Carol says, causing Tara to look at her, wide eyed. "Tara I love Maggie, but this is a step that's needed. Maggie needs to grieve Glenn properly and to come to terms with everything that has happened. She won't get that being the leader of Hilltop. Ever since her husband died she's just working for the sole purpose of killing Negan or rebuilding Hilltop. It's admirable what she's done for them, but she needs time for herself not just for us."
"Who would take her place?" Gabriel asks. Daryl looks at Beth and Tara.
"You two would." Daryl says as the girls looked at him, stunned. "Hilltop is the only community with one person leading. Alexandria has Rick and Michonne. The Kingdom has Carol and Ezekiel. The Sanctuary has Arat and Reilly. The campgrounds have John, Shane, Morgan, and I. Hilltop shouldn't be run by one person anymore. You two know how the place works. You've helped Maggie. You're the best choices," Daryl explains. "I would say Jesus, but he would hate it."
"He's not wrong," Jesus quipped. The two girls nod.
"All in favor of Tara and Beth becoming the new leaders of Hilltop," John says. John raises his hand first, followed by, Arat, Reilly, Daryl, Shane, Morgan, Aaron, Gabriel, Carol, Ezekiel, Jesus, Tara, and finally Beth.
"I'll get her," Beth says as she leaves.
Maggie's P.O.V
Maggie walks into the tent, and Beth sits back down. "Maggie, do you have anything you want to say before we tell you what we decided?" Morgan asks.
After a moment, Maggie swallowed and started "I didn't want this, I didn't mean for Rick to get hurt, and I will regret what happened to him until the day I die. Nobody was supposed to get hurt. I just needed him dead.:
"What was your plan anyways? You were going to attack him in a camp full of people? Do you think nobody would defend him, that I wouldn't?" Shane asks in disbelief.
"You knew Glenn, he was your friend, and you are willing to die for his killer," Maggie growls at Shane.
Shane sighs and then speaks in a calm voice. "You're right, Maggie, I did know Glenn, but I mourned him a long time ago. I mourned all of you after the farm, I had to so I could keep living, I didn't know the Glenn Negan killed, I had to mourn the same person again, Glenn's been dead for a long time, I got a second chance even after I killed Otis. It would be wrong of me not to give someone else a second chance," Shane says in a steady, calm voice.
"Do you think you deserve this second chance? That if she could, Patricia would give it to you?" Maggie asks.
"I don't deserve it. I know that, and I hope she would, but I'll never get the chance to ask. That's all any of us can do, make up for the things we've done, earn those second chances."
"Anything else?" Daryl asks.
"If I knew how this would end, I wouldn't have done it," Maggie states flatly. "So what now, you exile me? Throw me in a cell? Give me guards?"
At this, Carol's eyes were hurt at this assumption "Jesus Maggie of course not."
"No," Daryl says more bluntly. "You're no longer the leader of Hilltop. Tara and Beth will lead it until it is agreed upon that you are mentally and emotionally ready to do it again."
"I am-"
"No, you're not Maggie. Since Glenn has died, so much has happened, but you have never taken the proper time to grieve. Take that time, Maggie. Be a mother, be a girlfriend, you don't need to lead, you need to rest and grieve, and be with your family." Daryl says. "You won't have a gun unless you leave Hilltop for a little bit. Until Beth and Tara give you one." Daryl says. "You'll get your knife back when you get back to Hilltop. You may not realize now, but this is for the best."
The tent flap opens, and Carl comes in. "Dad's awake. He wants to see you, Daryl."
Daryl nods as he stands up and follows Carl. The tent was silent, and Maggie left.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl walked into the tent and saw Rick looking at him, his beard now fully shaved and several small bandages across his face. "You look like shit," Rick says. Daryl smiles.
"I'm in good company." Daryl snarked back...then softened. "You scared the shit out of me, you know that?" Soon sitting down. "I thought you were dead. For a few moments, it felt like a part of me died with you."
"I would be dead if you didn't find me. I owe you my life." Rick says.
"You don't owe me anything Rick. Do you know?" Daryl asked worriedly, not sure how Rick would take it.
"Yeah, Michonne told me. At least I'm not dead, and this will give me more time with Judith and Michonne and my child,"
"Michonne's pregnant?" Daryl asks, shooting his head up.
"Yeah, we found out a few days ago." Rick says. "We can talk about that later. What was your decision with Maggie?"
"Beth and Tara will lead Hilltop. She'll take the time she needs to grieve Glenn properly without a war to fight and a community to lead, she'll be a mother to Hershel and be with Al," Daryl explains.
"I'll talk to her in a little bit." Rick tells him, Daryl's jaw tightening but nodding. "As June said, I won't be able to leave. Maybe that's a blessing. Give me more time with my kids, but I won't be able to lead the alliance."
"You want me to?" Daryl asks, shocked.
"I know you don't want it. I wish I could ask someone else, I wanted you to be able to be with your kids and Alicia, but I don't know anybody better, or trust anyone more. Since the end of the war, everybody has been looking at me for answers until you returned." He stopped to breath in exhaustion as well as keep a flare of pain from his leg down. "Some looked to you for answers too. I know that you are the best choice, everybody trusts you. But I understand if you don't want this."
"I kind of got a taste for it in that tent," Daryl says, then sighed rubbing his head. "Fine, I'll do it, but only until you can use that leg again."
"If." Rick says.
"When." Daryl correct firmly. "When."
"When." Rick smirked. "You'll deal with conflicts between communities and runs like the one to Washington."
"I got it." Daryl says. "I'll talk to Alicia later."
"Can you ask Maggie to come in here?" Rick asks Daryl, who nods.
"I'm glad you're alive, brother."
"Me too," Rick says. Daryl pats his shoulder as he leaves the tent.
"I'm still giving you a punch in the damn face for scaring us like that."
Rick grinned "Funny, Michonne said the same thing. Except in a different area."
Daryl paused at the entrance, then grimaced "Ouch."
Maggie's P.O.V
Maggie walks into the tent and looks at Rick.
For a moment the pair stared at each other...then Maggie opened her mouth
"I'm-"
"Don't." Rick says. "I don't want to hear anymore I'm sorry's from anybody. Carl said it enough, sit." Rick says. Maggie sits down hesitantly. "You mad about what they decided?"
"Wouldn't you be?"
"Not if I thought it was for my well-being." Rick said, remembering his outburst in Alexandria and how close Deanna came to kicking them out, still cursing himself for his recklessness then. "It's for your well-being." Rick took a breath and started a conversation he knew he should have had a long time ago, as soon as they came back from that Tree "Maggie, I don't blame you for wanting Negan dead. I know what I took from you, but it wouldn't have helped you. Negan being dead wouldn't change anything, Maggie. Glenn would still be dead, Abraham, Spencer, Eric, Sasha...killing him won't change anything. It's time for you to move on, be a mother, let go of the hate, the anger. Negan's alive. He's one of us. You don't have to accept it, but you have to live it and stop letting it control you because eventually, you'll lose everything. That's the last thing I ever want to happen to you."
"If he killed Carl, could you say that?" Maggie stared ahead, not looking at him.
"I don't know, but I loved Glenn like a brother. Your not the only one who loved him, we all did. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for him. Think about it, Maggie. It's time for peace. If you can't live with that, maybe you should take some time on your own and learn to live with it." Rick says. "It'll be dark soon. I'll talk to some of the others tomorrow."
Maggie nods as he leaves.
Alicia's P.O.V
Alicia laid the babies down in some makeshift cribs. She looked at Daryl, who laid on the bed. "Something you want to talk about?" Alicia asks as She lays down beside him.
"Rick wants me to lead the alliance," Daryl says, a part of him still not believing Rick just giving it to him of all people, the once back country redneck.
"You should do it. There is no one better."
"What about you and babies?"
"You act like you're leaving, you'll still be at camp, you'll go on runs and go to communities, and we can join you sometimes," Alicia says. "We have other responsibilities as well."
Daryl nods as he kisses her head. "We'll only be here till tomorrow. We'll return to Alexandria for a few days and make sure Rick is settled in. Everybody is leaving tomorrow. Morgan, John, and Shane will take care of things at the campgrounds."
Alicia nods as she closes her eyes.
Carl's P.O.V
Carl walked into Rick's tent after dinner. "Can we talk?" Carl asks Rick, who nods.
"Of course son always." Rick says as Carl sits down.
"Things are going to be hard when you go to Alexandria. It won't be easy to lead the place by yourself, even with Michonne's help. I'm going to come home and help." Rick stared at his boy, wondering if it had anything to do with not wanting to face Maggie, but Carl pressed on "I can watch you, and when you think it's right, I can lead for you, let you rest and heal,"
"Carl-"
"Dad, please. Ever since you've found Mom and me, it was about taking care of me, let me take care of you for a change let me help you," Carl pleads. "I know I can do it."
"Carl I'm your father, it's my job to take care of you. And I have no doubts that you can do it, but it's a lot of responsibility. You should enjoy being a kid." Rick says.
"I haven't been a kid for a long time, Dad," Carl says flatly.
That response filled Rick with a mix of pride and heartbreak at the things his sons saw, then after a moment he sighed "Let me talk to Michonne, okay? Go get some sleep, it's been a long day." Rick tells his son, who nods after he kissed his father's head as he leaves. Rick lays his head back and goes to sleep a dreamless sleep.
Thanks for reading, next chapter, everybody starts to go home, Rick and Michonne talk about Carl's future, Carl and Earl talk, Rick asks Negan a favor. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.