Chapter 164-After the battle
Rick's P.O.V
The sun was rising in the air as Rick, Alicia, and Carol walked through a field. "Did you see anybody else?" Carol asks.
"I saw Siddiq...or rather his body." Rick grimly answered. "I went back to make sure Carl got the kids out, he was dead, stabs wounds, looked like he shot himself in the head and the walkers were all over him."
"Did you see Ezekiel or Henry?" Carol asks Rick in worry for her husband and son who shakes his head. "Alicia did you?"
"I didn't see anybody, after we got back inside, I got separated from Alden and Daryl and I was fighting by myself until you two showed up," Alicia tells them. "They'll all be at the rally point and we need to get there." She looked at Rick "It's still that abandoned Hospital we found right?"
"Right. We're not putting Alexandria or the Kingdom in danger. And Meridian and Richmond are too far away. We head there in regroup." Rick nodded.. then his voice softened to her "Alright, we're going to get there and Ofelia, Merle, Charlie and Daryl are going to be waiting for you" Rick tells her.
"They might still be following us." Alicia looked behind them across the field, seeing no movement, but couldn't be sure.
"They might be, so we need to be careful," Carol says and Alicia nods, then rubbed her head panting slight, to Carol's concern. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"I'm…I'm pregnant." Alicia says after a moment.
"...What?" Rick looked at her in disbelief.
"How long have you known?" Carol was next, eyebrows raised.
"The day you guys came back. I didn't tell Daryl, I didn't tell anybody because I knew I might die during the battle and I didn't want them to mourn me and the baby, but I don't want to hide it." Alicia says as a tear slides down her face.
"Damn it Alicia." Rick walked a few steps back, hand across his face. If he had known that, he would have kept her with the others in the Basement.
"I know, I'm sorry."
"Hey." Carol says softly as she puts her hand on Alicia's shoulder. "We're going to get you to them and then we are going to keep you and this baby safe, you understand?" Alicia nods as Carol hugs her. "We're going to be okay."
Rick came back, calming a bit but nodding "She's right. Let's keep moving, I don't want to be here when the night hits."
Alden's P.O.V
Alden stabs a walker through the head with a spear as Connie stabs another beside him. Looking behind him he saw that he had gotten out with Mary, Connie, Gabriel, Beth, Magna, and Tobias, nearby a dozen or so other fighters he couldn't recognize immediately, but familiar enough with. "Let's keep going," Alden says as he begins to walk.
"You guys see Tara?" Beth looked around.
"I did" Gabriel says. "She got out, with Cole, Yumiko, Luke, Kelly, and June." Gabriel tells Beth who nods with a sigh.
Alden looks at Connie. "Kelly got out," He tells Connie who nods with a smile.
"How far are we?" Magna asks.
"An hour or two probably." Alden answered. "Hopefully the others are having better luck than us."
Carl's P.O.V
Carl walked into the backroom of the building they were staying in, Everybody else resting in the front with Arya and Maggie keeping watch while Lydia was hunched over with deep concern over a slumbering Negan, who sat on the ground and rested against the wall.
Fuck, Carl thought, the man was bloody and battered, his chest having bruises all over it and looked like a concussion on the side of his head with dried blood. They needed to get him help soon
He paused looks at Earl who was sitting at a table. "Hey." Earl looked at him silently as Carl said "Earl, we need to get to higher ground to signal for help. My Dad, and any of the others can't be far."
"I shouldn't be around them." Earl says. At Carl's face, the older man sighs as he pulls his sleeve up and reveals a bite on his upper arm.
"No." Carl stepped back as he stares at the bite.
"It's okay, son," Earl says. "Come here, Carl."
"We can try and cut it off." Carl came up saying. "We have to try."
"No." Earl says with a small smile. "No, Carl, this is it for me and that's okay. No sense wasting it on a old man like me." Earl says softly as he lays his hand on Carl's shoulder. "I remember the day you started working with me. It was one of the best days of my life. Carl, you changed me in every way a person can change another, you made me a better man. Every moment that I was with you was amazing because you are amazing , you are a good man, the best I've ever known, you made this world better by just being in it. You're my son, just as much as Kenneth is, and I am so honored to have met you, to have been a part of your life. It has been an honor." Tears go down Carl's face as he takes Earl's hand. "I know I'm not your father, but I will always love you like a father does his son."
Carl hugs the man who wraps his arms around the young man. "I love you, too," Carl says. "You made me a better person too, Earl. Thank you, for everything, for making me who I am."
Earl lets Carl go and Carl takes a step back. Carl grabs for his gun. "No." Earl says.
"Yes," Carl says. "It has to be me. You shouldn't be alone, please…let me do it,"
Earl slowly nods. "Have an amazing life, Carl Grimes. I hope it is filled with as much love and happiness as mine was. Make sure Kenneth knows I was okay, and that I love him," Carl nods as he slowly raises his gun. His hands shake. "It's okay, son. I'm going to see, Tammy. It's okay."
"You're not my father by blood, but you're still a father to me," Carl says and Earl smiles as he closes his eyes and leans back in the chair. A gunshot is heard as everybody looks at the back room. Maggie runs into the room and looks at Earl's body. She then looks at Carl as he drops his gun and cries. Maggie walks up to him and hugs him, an all too familiar scene in a boiler room with walkers all around flooding his mind
"I'm here," Maggie says as she holds the young man who sobs into her chest.
Arya P.O.V
She came up, knelt next to Lydia as she gave the back room a worried look. She thought about going to help her father, but Grandma Maggie was there and even her Father said the priority were the Children.
"How is he?"
Lydia didn't look up from Negan breathing in and out "He needs help. His ribs are broken and I don't like how his arm looks."
"Lydia." Her girlfriend briefly looked up "Uncle Negan is the most stubborn hard headed asshole around, if anyone can survive a beating from Alpha's Dipshit Second it's him."
Staring for a moment, Lydia just looked down again...her hand touching the softly breathing Negan's cheek before standing up to check on a scared Gracie, who was watching Rose as Andrea came up with Judith.
"Is he going to die?" Andrea asked worriedly.
Arya scowled "No he's not..." he then looked to the other out member in the big cabin "How's Hersh?"
Judith followed her gaze "He just breathed alot of smoke, but he's just out of energy right now." The middle Grimes paused then looked at Arya "Let me go get help."
"...Fucking what?" Arya stared back at Judith "Judy fuck no, your not going out there alone."
"I have to!" Judith's lips quivered but her eyes were firm "Grandpa Earl is gone, I know that. But Uncle Negan is hurt and he needs a Doctor. Do you want Carl to have to see them Both die?"
God no, Arya thought to herself, losing Uncle Siddiq, the man who delivered her brother Robert, and Grandpa Earl, who was like a father to him, was bad enough for her Father.
But Uncle Negan too...
"I know where the Hospital is, and I'm small and fast." Judith said insistently "Please."
Arya looked over and bowed his head "Fuck, Grandma Maggie's gonna kill me...Judith listen, Please please be careful."
Nodding, Judith gave her and Andrea hugs...then gave the sleeping Negan a kiss on the forehead before heading to the Window and looking around the quiet room, and hearing her brother's sobs...her eyes narrowed and the middle Grimes slipped out into the Forest.
Princess's P.O.V
She was sitting next to the smart guy, Eugene, as they were in a dimly lit room...although her eyes kept glancing over to the newcomer in the corner, staring them down.
He was very handsome, massive with red armor on with dark features, a beard and stony eyes boring into Eugene in particular for some reason. But then this was broken as the door opened and the woman, Regina she heard her name was, came sauntering in...sitting on the chair across from them.
"Shit Eugene, sorry for the rough welcome. Man we got alot to catch up on! But I am gonna say, I knew you were weasely enough to survive...although missing a hand it looks like."
From what Princess gathered, this was an old friend of Eugene and his people, although from what he briefly got from Frankie she left on some not good terms...but she did seem nice enough at the moment.
Eugene looked at his hand then nodded "Thank you...Regina. Good to see you alive...Norris, Lance, Duke, Evan?"
Regina looked away "Lance got bit a week after we left and...Duke was shot by a bandit. Norris and Evan? Their working at our new home."
"Captain-"
The man suddenly spoke in a deep commanding voice, Regina looking over holding a hand up "General, he's an old friend."
"Of a community, or several communities, we're only just hearing about." The 'General' stared coldly at Regina.
Eugene looked up, and Princess realized that this Regina did seem to keep them secret, which caused him to speak "General sir, are you the one in charge?"
The General stared icily at him with distrusting eyes...then grunted "Mercer. General of the Commonwealth Army."
"Sir, please...I represent an Alliance of Communities that yes, Regina came from, but please we need help...we're facing a threat...Regina they destroyed Oceanside, they killed Troy, Jesus, Arat, Reiley, Laura-"
"Laura's dead?" Regina sat up, eyes wide.
"...Yes." Eugene nodded firmly "She was three months Pregnant...listen to me, please. I know you did not depart from us under the best of circumstances and said some very harsh things to Negan in particular...but if any part of you still cares for us at all, please just listen."
For a long moment, Princess watched all this, not knowing any of those names but saw Regina just stare at Eugene without expression then looked over at Mercer...
Who was also silent, but then nodded, walking over to the table with a stony expression "Ok Eugene Porter. I'm listening."
Negan's P.O.V
The air filled with a groan as he felt like his body was on fire, every part of him hurt. He takes a deep breath as Merle and Ofelia ran over to him.
"You're awake?!" Merle said, overjoyed as from the other room, Maggie came out and Carl came from the door outside.
With a shovel.
Negan took one look at it, and quietly asked "Who?"
"Earl." Carl answered, eyes red...but looked a touch relieved seeing him awake "You ok?"
"Do you need anything, Uncle Negan?" Ofelia also asked.
"Shit...I'm fine kid, do what you gotta do...and...How about." Negan coughs and then speaks again. "How about some company?" The two children smile as they sit down beside Negan.
His mind caught up to how he got here and he quietly asked "Hershel?"
"Fine." Maggie answered, looking to see Hershel on one of the chairs, head down and the rise and fall of his chest showing he was alive, Maggie walking over to him.
"Good...that's good." Was all he answered, looking at them both.
"Uncle Negan?" Merle says making Negan look at him, as if remembering he was there. "Why does Hershel hate you?"
At that, he saw Maggie's shoulders tense, but her back remained to him, tending to Hershel.
Funny. He could stare down that Giant asshole in a burning mansion without blinking. But this? This sent a chill down his spine as he started quietly "Something happened a long time ago."
"...Was it something bad?" Ofelia asked, as many of the other kids took notice of this.
"Did you parents ever tell you about Uncle Glenn and Uncle Abraham?" Negan stared ahead, eyes a million miles away.
"Um...Daddy said that Uncle Abraham was one of the strongest people he had ever met and that he was very funn.," Ofelia says.
"He said Uncle Glenn was one of the best people he had ever met and he loved him like his brother. He's Hershel's Dad right?" Merle asks Negan who just nods. "What do they have to do with this?"
"A couple of years ago, before you two were born, I was a bad person, a really bad person, I did things, horrible things to good people, your father, Rick, Carl, Maggie, Jesus, Ezekiel. I controlled them, I took from them, I…killed some of them," Negan says as he voice breaks. "One night I lined them up and put them on their knees, Carl, Maggie, Rosita, Michonne, Rick, Aaron, Eugene, Daryl, Aunt Sasha, Abraham, and Glenn. I killed Abraham first, I beat his head in with a bat and then your Dad punched me and I killed Glenn, in front of all of them, in front of Maggie who was pregnant with Hershel. I laughed and I made fun of it, and I did more, I was a bad person back then but Rick he put me down, and I was in a cell for a while until your Dad let me out and I have done everything I can to make up for what I did," A few tears had gone down Negan's face. "I couldn't tell you guys, because I was scared, I didn't want you to hate because I love you two so much and I couldn't live knowing you two hated me," Negan tells the two children who stare at him. For a long moment there was a pause but then...
Merle then hugs the large man who wraps his arm around the boy and Ofelia hugs him.
"I love you," Merle says.
"I love you, Uncle Negan," Ofelia says and Negan let's out a sigh as he holds the two children.
Carl's P.O.V
Carl dug a grave with Earl beside him, trying not to think about. He looked at the body , holding back a gulp and then continue to dig. "Carl?" Carl turns around, the shovel half raised at the voice, but lowered in sheer relief as he sees Daryl, Kenneth, Strand, Morgan, and Rosita.
"Daryl is...that you?" Carl asked, his tone exhausted.
Pausing, the Redneck furrowed his brow "What? Course it's us. Jesus Carl what happened?" Looking at the grave with the others
"Who is that?" Kenneth asks as Carl sets the shovel down slowly, staring at him with a hollow eye.
"Kenneth—"
"No," Kenneth says. "He can't be dead," Kenneth says as tears start to form and slide down his face as Carl walks up to him. "He can't be. He promised me.""
Carl wraps his arm around the teenager who cries into his shoulder. "He loved you, he wanted me to tell you that he was okay and he loved you," Carl says as Kenneth cries into his shoulder. The others watch them for a moment sadly, before they heard the door open to a relieved Arya. Running outside to hug Kenneth to, they all went inside
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl walks into the house first with the others behind him. "Momma! Daddy!" Coco shouts as she ran up to her parents who hug her with relieved looks and Daryl starts to walk through the house, looking around as he saw Strand hug Mo and then comforted Gracie with her father's location as Morgan picked Rose up next.
"Where are they?" He asks an approaching Maggie with worry.
"Over here" Maggie says as she takes Daryl to a small hall and found a severely battered Negan and his children sleeping next to him.
"He told them the truth and they still love him." This caused Daryl to raise his head in surprise at her. But he swore her lips tilted upwards and she looked back at him softly. "You raised some pretty amazing kids, Daryl."
"I know." Daryl says. "Alicia?"
"I don't know, you guys are the first group to get here." Maggie tells him. "I'll give you a minute."
"Hershel?" Stopping her, he looked as she picked up her son. Seeing the look of worry on his face, Maggie said "He's fine, just...took in alot of smoke trying to get Daddy and Glenn's pictures. He apparently ran into Beta."
"How the hell-" Daryl paused and looked at the bloodied Negan then back up...nodding "He'll be fine. Now get the rest, we're heading out as soon as we can."
Maggie nods as she walked out while walks over to the slumbering and shakes Negan's shoulder. Negan opens his eyes and looks at him, Daryl saying first. "You look like shit."
"You should see the other guy, don't worry boss, I'll be okay. Just let me get a second wind." Negan says as he shakes Ofelia and Merle's shoulder. "Look who's here."
They open their eyes, rubbing them but froze and saw who was kneeling there "Dad!" They both shout as they stand up and hug Daryl who hugs them back and bends down.
"You two okay?" Daryl asks the kids who nod.
"Earl—"
"I know." Daryl muttered "Carl's outside."
"Mr Siddiq too." Ofelia rubbed her eyes.
"What?" Daryl asks as he looks at her.
"He died protecting us." Merle says, causing Daryl to grit his teeth, remembering the warm Muslim Doctor. The one who delivered his godson. "Is Mom with you or Charlie or Rachel?"
"No, but they are going to get back to you, don't you doubt that, they'll be here."
The Twins nodded, and looked at the smiling Negan, then back.
"He told you." Daryl stated rather then asked "I know, I'm sorry I kept it hidden. That we kept it hidden-"
They cut him off with a hug, Ofelia saying "It's ok Daddy. We love him. And you."
Daryl smiles, hugging his daughter. "Damn, I was hoping I could get rid of him."
"Don't make me laugh, it hurts." Negan says.
"There is some water outside, why don't you go get it." Daryl tells his kids who nod as they walk away. "I'm glad you made it."
"It almost sounds like you care, Daryl." Negan grinned.
"Just didn't want to bury your fat ass."
Gritting his teeth, Negan just said "I said don't make me laugh...shit. I don't think I can walk."
Frowning at that, Daryl held a hand up "Wait here."
"Not like I'm going anywhere." Daryl heard as he walked outside, looking around "Ok we need-"
"NO!"
Suddenly they heard Maggie, who looked around the area in a panic and then back to him and Carl in horror.
"She's not here."
Carl let go of Kenneth warily "Who?"
"Judith. I Can't find Judith!" Maggie's answer made the Dixon's blood freeze in it's veins and looked around at the nervous children...
She was right.
Judith, his Little Ass Kicker, was nowhere to be found.
Michonne's P.O.V
Michonne ran through the woods, scratched up but bloody, holding a blood drenched Katana. She had barley gotten out of Hilltop but had made it out and had been running for hours. She comes into a clearing and stops, panting on her knees but soon heard a rustle. Ducking into a nearby bush, she peaked around
In front of her stood Alpha, in front of her there were four Whisperers carrying an bloodied and beaten Beta. "Take him, and leave us," Alpha ordered the Whisperers who nod as they leave. Michonne stares at the other women as she grabs her sword and tightened her grip.
Thanks for reading. Next chapter, Michonne and Alpha fight, the others try to make their way to the rally point and search for Judith, Eugene continues to talk with Mercer and meets a new ally. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.