Chapter 180- Can't Run

Alicia's P.O.V

The day after Eugene was released, Alicia walked into Pamela's office and looks at the Governor who smiles at her with unusual cheer, already setting her nerves up. "Good morning, Alicia. I hope everything is well, is Mr Eugene Porter okay?"

"Yes, he is." Alicia nodded, standing across from her. "What's up? Rick's group is leaving for Alexandria tomorrow and I would like to spend the remaining time with them."

"Indeed. Mr Rick Grimes group is leaving. But that's not why I called" Pamela says as she motions for Alicia to sit down. "I know that some of your group have been offered jobs."

Figuring she would hear about that, Alicia nodded "Yes, they'll begin the day after tomorrow. They'll help pull their weight here I promise you that."

"Of course, but the issue is that I can't keep you in that apartment building." Pamela says as she pulls a piece of paper out of her desk and hands it to Alicia who takes it with a furrowed brow.

"What is this?"

"The apartments your group will be staying until you are able to buy your own with money. Don't worry, Lance will be showing you where you are all staying tomorrow." Pamela assured

"I don't have an apartment number." Alicia looked up, frowning and pointing at it.

"No, I need you close by Alicia, you're my ambassador and Daryl is leading my hunting party. There is a house near your friends that you will be staying in with your kids and husband, it even has an extra room for your baby that is coming." Pamela says with a smile as Alicia sets the paper down.

"Me and my husband have no money."

"You will." Pamela says. "Both you and Daryl will. Alicia, you and I are the key to all of this. We have to make the deals, keep the peace between our people and make sure this deal works so we are all happy. If you need anything, I am here to help."

"Thank you," Alicia says. "If there is nothing else, I would like to return to my family."

"Of course, before Rick leaves I would like to talk to him and then both of you." Pamela tells Alicia who nods as she stands up and leaves.

Strand's P.O.V

Strand pushes the door to Lance's office open and looks at the man, writing on some forms, looking up in surprise. His lips tightened, clearly surprised to see him. "Sure, come in."

"Thanks, apologies for the abrupt arrival." Strand says as he shuts the door. "But I'm here to tell you, I held up my end of the deal."

"Yes, you did." Lance nodded, clearly pleased. "And I did keep my deal, Eugene is out."

"What about Ezekiel?"

"No fear, I'm working on it. His first appointment should be soon and I will have him moved up on the list. It should be done within the next month." Lance tells him.

Strand nods, then started to smile. "I do believe you and I should continue business together."

"Do you?" Lance smiled back. "Why?"

"There are things that you and I can do to unsure that our communities work well together. There are things that must be done…outside of the politics. Outside what they want, instead it's what they need." Strand tells him.

Lance stares at Strand and then smirks. "Alright, Victor Strand, we will continue our business together."

Carl's P.O.V

Carl puts his clothes in his bag and turns around when he hears the door open, looking up to see Daryl who stood by the door, almost looking nervous. "When do you leave?"

"In the morning tomorrow." Carl answered for him as he turns to face him, face soft. "How you doing?"

"Negan of all people gave me a wake up call. I'm trying." Daryl tells Carl, looking away, who nods. "I wanted to talk to you before you left."

"About?"

"Your Dad." Daryl says. "It's time for him to step down. Hopefully more gracefully than I did. It's time for you to step in, lead with Alicia." At Carl's look, he continued "Carl I told you before you're gonna help lead this world after we're done, and let's face it, me and your Dad are getting old. I sure as fuck felt that the last few days. Our time is done."

After a nod, Carl says. "I'll be talking to him when you get home," Daryl nods. "Daryl, I remember when my Mom died, you were there for me. You got the milk for Judith, you were there for me, there for the group, long after that for every moment you we there for us. Even though you aren't leading, this group still needs you just as much as it needs my Dad. Don't forget that." Carl tells Daryl who stared, and then just nodded as he leaves the room.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane looks at Rick as he walks up behind him, a bag over his shoulder having already packed. Shane was currently sitting on the steps outside their apartment, face lost in thought. "You going to see Judith?" Rick asks him.

"I will later." Shane tells him, then scowled. "I'm still not happy about staying here."

"I know you aren't." Rick sat next to him in assurance. "But you should, we'll be okay in Alexandria and I think Alicia is going to need your help and Madison will be here. She's already lost her son, she shouldn't lose her husband."

"I know." Shane grunted, then his eyes went foggy in remembrance. "After the farm...after I lost all of you, I thought about you, Carl, Glenn, Carol, hell everyone, everyday and then I finally found you guys. Now years later we're getting separated again."

Gazing at him in sympathy, Rick put a hand on his shoulder "But no matter how far we are from each other, we're family. Right now we all have jobs to do and yours is being here with Madison. When all of this is over and our communities are fixed. I think the others will return home. Daryl included. I think he needs time away from everything right now and that is why he moved here. The rest of you followed him because you trust him, and Alicia. We'll be together again by next year, I have no doubt about that." Rick tells him.

"How much longer are you going to do it, be in charge?"

"Hopefully not much longer, once everything is done here, I'll hand it over to Carl."

"Good, you're getting too old." Shane smirked a bit.

"We're both getting too old." Rick shot back, as he tugged at his almost fully grey beard.

Jerry's P.O.V

Jerry walks into Ezekiel room and looks at him as he packs into a bag, to his confusion. "What are you doing, boss?"

Looking up, Ezekiel met his gaze, also confused "Preparing to leave, Jerry. We return home tomorrow."

"No, I return home to tomorrow. You and Henry need to stay here."

Throwing his shirt down, Ezekiel look aggravated "My people need me!"

"No, Zeke. Right now Henry needs you." Jerry says as he grabs Ezekiel and makes him turn around. "You need a doctor and the medical supplies of the Commonwealth, you are not leaving."

"What is the point?" Ezekiel growls. "Carol is dead and Henry is growing up. By the time this takes me, he won't need me."

"He will always need his father!" Jerry shouts at Ezekiel who steps back, not used to Jerry shouting. "The Alliance still needs you! Henry still needs you! I still need you!" Jerry shouts at him. "You are staying at the Commonwealth with Henry until you are better and until then. I will lead the Kingdom! Do you understand?" Jerry growls. "If you try to leave, I will chain you to that bed."

For a long moment Ezekiel almost looked embarrassed, the fight drained out of him as he sat down. The King for the moment looking like a scolded child "...Very well."

"Good, now unpack and go find your son." Jerry ordered as he turned and walked out of the room

Rick's P.O.V

Rick and Alicia walked out of the apartment building, Alicia in deep discussion with Rick over the offer she got, Rick currently looking surprised. "So she gave you a house?"

"I think she's trying to make me like her or feel indebted to her. I don't trust her, Rick. I don't trust anyone here. Well maybe besides Mercer and even that's iffy. Eugene said he wasn't too keen on reinforcing us at first."

"Trust Heath, he's one of us." Rick reminded and Alicia stays silent, causing him to frown. "You disagree?"

"I do." Alicia said honestly. "I didn't get the best feeling meeting him. You guys know him, but you have to remember that it's been over a decade since you last saw him. We don't know whose side he is on. We can't trust him, at least I don't."

He didn't seem to like that idea, but he nodding, giving her the benefit for now, but soon said "Alicia, you have your work cut out for you here. I wish I could stay here and help."

"You have your work cut out for you at home. Both you and Carl do, don't worry, I got this." Alicia tells Rick with a smirk.

"You've been dealing with Daryl as your husband for ten years and Negan as one of your best friends, I have no doubt." Rick says and Alicia chuckles.

"Oh for, come on. He's not-"

Rick cut in, amused "A smart-mouth pain in the ass?"

Alicia decided to change the topic to another area "Don't forget about our kids."

"Believe me, I didn't," Rick says as they get to Pamela's office. "I'll get you when I am done with her."

Looking back at the door, Alicia nodded and said quietly as he knocked "Like I said, just be careful."

"Come in!" Pamela says as Alicia walked away. Rick opens the door and comes in. "Thank you for coming Mr Grimes." Pamela says as she motions for Rick to sit down. "So I have been talking with Lance and tomorrow he would like to join you and go to Alexandria with the supplies, make sure it all gets there and just make sure everything goes okay. He wants to take Heath as well."

"I have no problem with it." Rick tells her with a shrug, already deciding to have a guard with him. "How long does he plan to stay?"

"Two or three days, just to make sure everything is well and then he'll return. I'll be sending a small group of guards with him." Pamela tells Rick who nods. "You are returning for Halloween correct?"

"Yes, we will be returning." Rick nodded. "Hopefully by then we can seal this deal."

"I hope so." Pamela says. "Do you mind getting Mrs Dixon?"

"I'll get her," Rick says as he stood and walked out. He comes back a couple of minutes later with Alicia and they both sit, her giving a neutral look as Pamela began to speak.

"We have had a rocky start I will admit. When Lance offered this to me, I was doubtful, I don't know how I feel about it yet, I'm hoping in a month I will. I have a lot riding on this deal as do the both of you. If this is to work, we need to be completely honest with each other."

"We've been honest with you." Alicia defended. "We are here to save our communities and if we can, we'll be able to help the Commonwealth expand. The same goes for you, you have to be honest with us in return."

"Yes, that's fair." Pamela nodded, still with a smile. "I hope to hear good things from Lance and good things from you at Halloween. Safe travels, Rick." Pamela says as she stands and holds her hand out to Rick who shakes it.

"I'll see you in a month." Rick says as he leaves the room and Alicia nods to Pamela before she leaves.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl walks over to Charlie the next day as she puts her bag in the truck. After a moment, Charlie said without turning to look at him. "I don't want to talk with you."

"Charlie, please. I don't know when I'm going to see you again." Daryl said with an almost pleading tone and Charlie sighs as she turns to look at him. "You're right, I'm running. I'm an asshole."

"You are." Charlie said bluntly. "I don't know what you are going through, Daryl. But I know lost, I've lost people I love so don't talk that we don't know what it's like, it almost feels like I've lost you. I looked up to you, and I hope that when I come back here next month. I see the man I look up to, the man I call my father," Charlie says before she walks away from Daryl who stands still before he walks up to Rick who was finishing up with Alicia.

The group started to load into the cars as Daryl hugged Rick. "Good luck, brother." Daryl says and Rick nods as he lets him go and walks towards the car. Daryl staring confused, having thought Rick would say a last goodbye. But then he stops and looks at Daryl as he opened the car door and said simply. "You can hide Daryl, but you can't run." Rick says before he climbs in the car and the group leaves as Daryl stares at the gate.

Thanks for reading. Next chapter will have a pick up the next day. So got some explaining to do, it has been months since I have posted on this stories and it is not because I was done. As some of you may know. I lost my father last April, After he passed, I used my writing to escape my grief, and it worked, for a little while and then it didn't and I got depressed and now. I'm trying to do better, so with that being said, I am back. Because I love writing and I never want to stop. With that being said, i have posted three chapters for this story today, and then this story will be going on Hiatus for a little while, my Beta reader who has done a decent amount of scenes for this story is unable to continue at the moment and I do not feel right doing it without him. So I will be posing another walking dead story called Family in a dead world. It should be up soon. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.