Chapter 182-Jobs

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl stares at the older man as he looks at him with a smile, then Slowly he holds his hand out to the man who shakes it. "Daryl Dixon." He greeted.

"Please sit down." Teddy says as he motions to the couch, after a moment Daryl sits down. "From what little I was told, you have been through a lot, Daryl. If I can call you that." Teddy said with a compassionate stare, causing Daryl to nod. "But it sounds like the most recent tragedy was the loss of your friend, Carol."

Daryl looked down. "Everywhere I go, I see her, I hear her."

"How long did you know her?" Teddy asks as he writes something down.

"Since the start, she was my first friend. She was my best friend. She was my sister."

"A bond like that, it is quite something especially in this world." Teddy says. "Daryl, I would like to know everything about you, I would like to hear your story from start to now. A third party, unaffected personally by your actions and story is the best form of therapy. I think that is the best way I can help you, I need to know you, see what has led up to this. What you are experiencing right now is grief, survivor's guilt even, your emotions are all over the place and that is completely natural." Teddy nodded, Daryl having been told the man was a form of 'grief counselor' that was popular in the Commonwealth with several patients. At first, Daryl was hesitant, but Alicia insisted thinking that a Third Party would be the best choice and not someone who would be too 'easy' on him.

"Now...before you leave today, I would like to know where you are right now, you are married correct?"

"That's right. I've been married to Alicia for about a decade, I have two kids, Merle and Ofelia and another child on the way." Daryl tells him and Teddy nods.

"Right now, you need to lean on your wife, your friends. I was told that you just survived a monstrous war and stepped down from being a Leader. Right now? It's time for you to let them help you, Daryl instead of helping everyone else." Teddy tells him. "You cannot do this alone."

Daryl stared at that then softly answered. "I'm just tired."

"You've been through a lot, now it is time to begin healing." Teddy assured kindly. "We will talk again in two days, usually I do a week but I would like to speak with you after you have thought about what I have said, so be back here, at noon in two days, alright?" Teddy asks Daryl who nods as he stands, shaking his new therapist's hand before he walked out, Teddy grinning pleasantly all the while.

Jerry's P.O.V

The next day

Jerry drives his car into the Kingdom with the others behind him. He climbs out of the car and looks around. "It's good to be home," Jerry says as Nabila walks up to him, wrapping an arm around her husband in approval.

"I know, but what about Ezekiel?" She asked in worry.

"It'll be fine hun. He'll be back before you know it! Let's get everybody unpacked alright," Jerry tells his wife who nods as he walks away. He motions Rikki over to him.

"What's up Your Majesty?" Rikki asks with a smirk.

Jerry immediately sighed, already hearing the jokes "First of all, we'll only have one king and he's not gone. He's just on medical leave. But second, can you get watch set up, and make sure someone checks the garden, make sure everything is okay." Jerry tells Rikki who nods. "I'm going to go see what I can do to help Hilltop." He turned to walk to the auditorium but stopped as he passed the cemetery. He hesitated a brief moment before he walks up to Carol's grave and stops. "We could use your help right now," Jerry says as he holds his hand on the cross. "Give me some strength, Carol." Jerry says before he walks away from the grave.

Carl's P.O.V

Carl was woken up by someone knocking on his door, already brushing his hair back. "One day. One DAY, why can't we sleep in?" Enid asks with a groan, rolling over and putting the pillow over her head, making Carl chuckle as he stands up and grabs his shirt. He walks down the stairs and opens the door, looking at his father who was standing in front of him.

"We just finished a war and just got home and you couldn't let me sleep in?" Carl asks his father with a frown, causing him to chuckle..

"We still have work to do son. War over or not, the work never stops." Rick says. "Get dressed and meet me outside." Carl sighed, but nods as he shuts the door. A couple of minutes later Carl walks outside the house with his weapons on his hip, causing Rick to stare at his head with a raised brow "It's still weird not seeing you with my hat."

"Arya is it's owner now and someday Robb will take it." Carl says with a smirk. "So what's up?"

"We need to start working on plans for Hilltop, I already told Pamela they'll get the lion's share of the supplies." Carl nodding in approval, knowing the other communities were relatively untouched by Alpha, as his father turned grim "And I want to figure out more about Lance.I don't trust him, I'm going to invite him to dinner tonight, I would like you and Enid to join me. Aaron or Gabriel could watch Robert." Rick tells Carl who nods as they continue to walk.

"You want him under your roof?" Carl asked.

Rick shrugged "I don't like it, but like I said we need to know more about him. I know we 'owe' him for convincing Pamela, but something about him I don't like. Anyway, we can talk about that later. Right now, we need to check the surrounding areas. We need to know how much the Horde damaged the animals, the river, all that."

"Alright, let's get to work then." Carl tells his Dad who nods.

Rosita's P.O.V

Rosita and Morgan stood in front of Mercer in his office, who crossed his large arms starting. "Alright, I know you two can fight. But I still have to put you through our training course," He tells them. "So later today, you and some other trainees will run the course, do it well and we can get you two in armor soon." Mercer tells the two who nod, but she then saw him scowl. "Do either of you know how long it is going to take your loud mouth friend to heal up?"

Rosita and Morgan chuckle as she answered. "Two or three weeks." Causing Mercer to grunt, clearly not liking it, but clearly deciding to give Negan a shot once he was healed

"Now then." Mercer says as he stands. "I want to show you two something," Mercer says as he leads them out of the room And then leads them into a massive room with a gym. Two guards stood in a ring fighting, throwing punches similar to boxing until they slow, standing at attention instinctively before the duo saw the two next to their General.

"Showing the new recruits around?" The guard who won says with a smirk as he looks at Rosita. "Why don't you come up and let me show you some moves?"

Rosita looks at Mercer who nods with a smirk. Rosita climbs into the ring, then gestured to him simply "Come on then."

He gave her a grin as he swings at her, but Rosita side steps his swing and grabs his arm. She kicks his leg and pushes his arm behind his back as she pushes him on his stomach. She pushes his arm up as he hits his head against the ring. Rosita lets him go, whispering down to him. "I guess I showed you something."

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Mercer says making the guards look at him, dumbfounded at her taking a guy twice her size down immediately. "This is Rosita Espinoza and I'm sure she could put all of you on your asses. She will be teaching you guys hand to hand combat, if she is okay with that."

"Will I get paid more?" Rosita raised a brow as Morgan shook his head with a chuckle, Mercer soon joining in.

"Yes."

"Then I'll help. Let's continue," Rosita climbed out with the fallen soldier dazedly standing up, causing Mercer to smirk as he leads them out.

Alicia's P.O.V

Alicia walked outside and up to Clementine as she sat outside on the porch, head in her hands. "So Daryl tells me that we are in the same boat." Alicia says as she sits down beside the girl who looks at her.

"I guess so." Clementine mumbled, rubbing her face. "It was so stupid, Alicia."

"I understand that. Daryl and I slept together in the heat of the moment and I ended up pregnant. I know what you're feeling right now, Clem. You're scared and you feel like an idiot and these next nine months are going to suck, but it's so worth it." Alicia says with a smile, causing Clementine to look up. "I remember the first time I held Merle and Ofelia, I was so tired and it hurt but when I saw them and I felt them in my hands, the world drifted away and nothing else mattered to me, all I saw was my children and I loved them more than I have every loved anybody in my life. The love you feel for your child is unmatched, you'll do anything to keep them safe, to shied them from the horrors of this world, but all of it. It's worth it, I would do it a thousand times if I had to. I will be with you every step of the way, okay?" Alicia says as she lays her hand on the young girl's shoulder.

Clementine nods as she lays her hand on Alicia's. "Thank you."

"Anytime, sweetie."

Lydia's P.O.V

Lydia walks into the apartment she was staying in, a small 2 room apartment, beside Kate and Negan's as she set her knife and gun down on the table. "You get a job?" Arya asks from the couch, having checked out the 'newspaper' as it was called.

"Yes, I'll be working in a music store with Princess." Lydia says as she sits down beside her girlfriend, the new friend of Negan's immediately taking a shine to her and was more then happy to take her into her new shop. "What about you?"

"Turns out, I am not qualified for much, but Kate is working in the day care and I'm going to be joining her." Arya flatly tells her as she lays her head on Lydia's shoulder, Lydia smirking, figuring Arya's temper would keep her from many areas but knew Kate could handle her. "This is so stupid, we're talking about jobs while the dead walk around outside these walks."

"It is stupid, but I like it." Lydia says making Arya look at her, confused "I never had this with the Whisperers, I feel at peace right now. It's nice."

"I guess." Arya patted her head then looked up, as if realizing. "Have you checked on Negan today? You know he'll go nuts with boredom in that damn chair if we don't keep him occupied."

"Your right. We should." Lydia couldn't help but smile as she stands up and leaves with Arya. They walk over to Negan's apartment and open the door, Negan and Kate look at them, Kate in the kitchen while Negan was at the table, arms crossed with a frown. Kate smiled and nodded while Negan scowled.

"Sure, come on in." Negan says sarcastically.

"Shut up, you don't ever knock!" Arya says as she sits down. "Your legs working yet or are you gonna be Uncle Wheels now?"

"Fuck you little asshole." Negan says before Kate swats his arm.

Kate sternly said "Negan." Pointing at the third member in her high chair, Rose giggling at the arrival of the girls.

Negan sighed, rubbing his brow as he looks at Lydia. "I heard that you are working with Princess."

"I am. She offered it to me." Lydia says then looked at his legs with worry. "When is your next checkup?"

"Three days," Negan tells her. "Don't worry about me sweetie, I'll be fine. Kate is going to make lunch if you wanna stay."

"Sure. We know you need company." Arya chuckled.

Negan gave her a look then a half smile "Yeah, still gonna ruin this fucking thing when I stand up."

Kate started to shout then sighed "Why do I bother?"

Maggie's P.O.V

Maggie walks up to Hershel as her son stares at the Wall of Names, wanting him inside as night fell. And also she didn't want him to risk running into Lance in the streets. She couldn't explain it, but something just didn't sit right with her towards the Director. "How are you feeling, sweetie?" Maggie asks him.

"I'm alright, Mom." Hershel says as he looks at her...she waited as he looked down then up, lost and confused in a way that twisted her heart and gut as she knelt in front of him "How do I hate someone who saved my life?"

"Most people don't." Maggie says. "I know him being alive doesn't make sense to you, but someday it will, and you don't ever have to like him or even forgive him but I promise you, the Negan who killed your father would not have risked his life for you like the one we know did. Now come on, let's go eat."

"Mom?" Hershel says as Maggie turns around, stopping to look at her son. "Have you forgiven him?"

"No." Maggie answers truthfully. "I can never forgive him for what he did to your Father, but I don't hate him, and I am grateful for what he has done for you, for this group, and I do trust him, but no, I have not forgiven him and I don't think I ever can forgive him for what he did, but I'm at peace with him being alive." Maggie tells her son before she walks away and slowly he follows her after looking at the wall one more time.

Gabriel's P.O.V

Gabriel looked at the doors to the church as they opened and Mary walked in with Noah, Gabriel beaming at the sight "I see that Beth let you take him?"

"She did." Mary says with a soft smile. "I'm still a little surprised." She says as she sits down beside him. "I guess I earned enough trust fighting with you and your people."

"It's because you are one of us and Beth knows it." Gabriel assured her, sitting before her.

Mary smiles as she looks at Noah. "He looks like his Mom. Hopefully one day they'll let me keep him overnight, of course I'll have to get a home first."

"You don't have a house?" Gabriel looked taken aback.

"I'm sharing with Maggie, Beth, Tara, Al, and Hershel."

"If you want, you can come and stay with me, I live alone, until you get your own place," Gabriel tells her and she smiles.

"Thank you." Mary says as Rick comes in.

He paused at the sight, Rick saying "Oh uh sorry Mary, can I talk to Gabriel a moment?"

"It's fine. Gabriel I'll see you later," Mary says as she stands up and leaves the Church, to a raised brow from Rick and Gabriel clearing his throat

"Yes Rick?"

Rick looked at the walls of the church then back to the Priest "I need you to do something."

"Anything."

"I need you to get close with Heath."

Thanks for reading. Next chapter the group in the Commonwealth continue to settle down, Rick and Gabriel talk and Rick has a dinner with Lance. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time