Disclaimer—I don't own or make claim to the characters from The Walking Dead. I only own my original characters.

After talking it through with the kids, it comes at no surprise to me that they want to help Alexandria. They've all made friends here already and if there's a chance we can help give them an advantage so they survive, we decide it's worth the risk. We'll still get out of here before Negan shows up, that's the plan. I let Michonne and Daryl know our decision. They plan a war council for tomorrow morning in the garage at Rick's house. Daryl protests saying we need to get started right now, but Michonne overrules him. I am relieved. I need some time to adjust and think about this. I need to figure out what to tell them, what the Saviors biggest weaknesses are. What would give Alexandria the biggest advantages. I go back into the house. The kids and I unpack some things, but I keep anything we don't need right now in the backpacks ready to grab quickly.

We have lunch and then I take paper and pen and go out to sit on the porch. This is a good thinking place. I try to tune out the world and start making lists and drawing pictures of what I remember. I need to get this all out on paper and then I can organize and refine what I have left into something that makes sense. I work for a couple of hours when I hear someone walking on the sidewalk in front of me. I look up and see Rick staring at me intently as he walks by. I look back down at my paper. He doesn't make any move to come talk to me, continuing on to his house. Good. That's what I wanted. Wasn't it? I have a hollow feeling in my chest, but I push it down and get back to my work.

In about 15 minutes, Carl comes out with Judith on his hip. Instead of walking past, he turns and heads up the stairs to me. Judy dives for me as soon as she gets close enough. I drop my paperwork and catch her and give her hugs and kisses while looking inquiringly at Carl. He looks hesitant. "Judy saw you out the window and really wanted to come see you," he says. "I hope that was alright?"

I smile at him. "Of course, you both are always welcome for a visit."

"But not my Dad?" he asks. Oh. Teens. I forget, they always go right for the jugular.

"Not right now," I respond, trying to keep it casual and on an even keel. "He withheld information from me that put my family at risk and I'm still angry with him about that. He's just a little too intense for me right now."

"He really likes you, you know," Carl says. Again, teenagers. They have no filter. Ugh.

"Well, we really haven't known each other that long," I reply unspecifically. "Right now, the only thing we need to concentrate on is the threat to this community. That's why I'm working on some information to help us." I gesture to the discarded notes I dropped on the floor.

He looks down at them. "Yeah, I get that. I just wanted to make sure you knew."

Ha, how could I not know? I change the subject and gesture to the front door. "The kids are all inside. I'm sure they'd be happy to see you," I nudge. "Judy can stay here with me for a bit. We have some catching up to do."

He nods and goes inside. I sit with Judy on my lap, letting her stand up and pat my cheeks.

I see Rick come out of his house again and head down the sidewalk. He pauses in front of my house but stays on the sidewalk

"I can take her if you want," he calls out a little awkwardly. "If she's buggin you."

"No, she's fine," I respond. "We're just catching up, aren't we Judy?" I ask her as I bounce her on my knees.

"Ok, well let me know if you get tired of her," he says, peering at me with those intense eyes. "And..." he pauses, "Thank you. Thanks for agreeing to help us out with some information. I know you didn't have to do that, especially after we kept you in the dark..." I interrupt him. "You don't have to thank me. I'm doing it for the community." This is awkward.

I get up and walk to the door. "I think Judy needs a drink. I'll talk to you in the morning at the meeting." I walk inside, leaving him on the sidewalk. I feel bad as I see him through the window, standing there almost looking dejected. But I harden my heart. I have to look out for my family and myself. Now's not the time to start a relationship, especially with someone who isn't truthful with me, even if it's only by omission. Actually, I can't even imagine being with someone other than Dave. I close my eyes as a wave of grief goes through me. Immediately following is a wave of guilt for even considering for a moment that I could have a relationship with someone else. One of the advantages of being on the road, always having to watch out for walkers, is the absence of time to think too much. It's easier to push the grief down. I miss him so much.

About an hour later, Maggie knocks on the door. She says she is here to relieve me and take Judith. I protest, "Oh no, Judith and I are doing great! She's been helping me make dinner."

Maggie laughs as she sees Judy sitting on the floor banging some pots and pans with a wooden spoon.

"Yes, I see she is hard at work," she laughs. "I really can take her though. I heard you were working on your information and sketches and got interrupted. We'd like to free you up so you can work on them again."

"You heard, huh?" I query. "And who could have told you that, I wonder."

She smiles. "Not sure, it just came through the grapevine."

I snort. "Yeah," I reply. "Sure it did." I know full well that Rick sent her. Well, at least he's keeping his distance. "How are you feeling?" I ask. Maggie had brought me up to speed the other day. She and Glenn were expecting a baby.

"Good, most of the time," she replies. "I'm sure I'll bug all you experienced Mom's with a million questions as I progress though."

I smile. "Well, I'm happy to help with whatever I can." We visit for a few more minutes and then she leaves, taking Judy with her. I finish up dinner and call the kids down.

After dinner, the kids find an old movie to watch. I go back to my paperwork from earlier today so I'm ready tomorrow morning. I go back out to the porch on my swing to finish up. I review, revise and make sketches. I look them over and consolidate and do it again. As it starts to get dark, I think I've got it where I want it finally. I feel ready for tomorrow now and I'm getting the inkling of a plan that just might work. I go back inside and find the kids have all gone to bed already. I'm suddenly exhausted as I realize just how long this day has been. Not just length, but an emotional rollercoaster. It was just this morning that I went to the pantry to find out what was happening.

In the morning, I wake up feeling much more refreshed. I lay there in bed, mentally reviewing my documentation for yesterday and the beginnings of a plan in my mind. By the time I get up, I have fleshed it out a bit more. I grab my hot chocolate and sit on the swing on my porch in my t-shirt and shorts and watch the sun come up. Not long after, I see Rick step out of his house, ready for his rounds. I decide now is a good time to get ready and slip back inside, feeling his gaze on my back.

Later, I wait to see Maggie and Glenn headed over to the meeting and join them. Soon Rick's garage is filled with what I guess is our planning committee. Michonne, Abraham, Daryl, Sasha, Father Gabriel, Morgan, Eugene, Aaron and Rosita are all there. Rick comes in last and motions to me. "We'll let Sandi lead us through her information the way she wants. We'll listen and when she's done then we can ask questions." He turns to me, "Does that work?"

I nod. "Sure, that works."

Daryl speaks up, "Where is Carol?" Rick replies, "Not sure. When she comes we'll catch her up."

I start reviewing my notes with them, the location of the Sanctuary, the chemical plant outpost, the Shepard office plaza outpost, the satellite outpost that they already know about--although I point out that it will be re-staffed by now, so we'll need to see what changes they've made. Then I go over everything I remember about the inside of the places. Exits, hallways, armories. Last, I start talking about every lookout post I know of. A platform in a tree, the 3000 block of Reyes St., Paze Industrial Research on Burke Rd and an overgrown road house on Austin. I go over the numbers of people at each outpost, main base and lookout posts. I tell them about the workers that are rather mistreated and are just there to stay alive. I let them know that they don't really have loyalty to Negan and would leave if they could and had an alternative to stay alive in this world. That there's a chance we could recruit them to our side if they were sure Negan wouldn't be back to punish them. They just want to live.

After I finish reviewing all the facts, diagrams and numbers I have I ask, "Any questions?"

Daryl immediately speaks up. "What 'bout that farmin' outpost you were at?"

I clear my throat. "They have a few guards, but they aren't a threat."

"We take out their food source, we take them out for sure," Daryl says.

"No, no deal. Those are decent people, good people. Most don't have any idea who Negan is or what he does. They don't deserve to be punished for that!" I declare.

Rick has been watching our exchange. He puts a hand on Daryl's shoulder, "We can work with this. We'll reevaluate later to see if we need to go there when we come up with a plan."

I respond, "I won't give you any information on them if you're going to kill them. They're innocent. That goes for the workers at the Sanctuary as well, we need them. If they all turn on us we just don't have the numbers to defend from them."

Rick eyes me. "Sandi, I just don't know if we can save them all and still take out the Saviours and Negan without exposing our people to a very high risk."

I say, "Well, I actually have a few ideas about how to do that. But it would take more than just Alexandria. It would take several communities working together to make this work. I think we'd have the numbers if we can swing that."

"Well, we may be able to talk the Hilltop into it if we can get Jesus on board," Rick mused. "But that still wouldn't bring our numbers up enough."

I smile mysteriously. "The Hilltop isn't the only community out there with a grudge against Negan," I state. "In fact, I can think of two others. Maybe three."

They all stare at me in amazement at my revelation. Just then the door to the garage opens and Tobin rushes in holding a note. He rushes up to Rick and silently hands the note to him. Rick reads it and then looks up at Tobin. "What time did she leave? Do you know what she took?"

Tobin responds, "Sometime in the night. I never heard her go, but she made a bunch of food, you know. She took her pack, one of my coats."

"Did she leave on foot?" Rick asks. Tobin shakes his head. "I don't know."

"What's going on?" Daryl demands.

"Carol's gone," Tobin replies. "She says she can't anymore, that she'll just have to kill again if she stays."

"What?!" Daryl yells. He runs out of the garage. Several others run after him. Morgan asks, "Can I see that?" Rick hands him the note and pauses and turns to me. "I'm sorry. We'll have to come back to this later. We need to find her."

I put my hand on his arm. "Go," I say. "Bring her back." He stares into my eyes for a moment longer before nodding and then turns and runs out of the garage. Morgan follows him.

That leaves just Michonne, Sasha, Father Gabriel, Eugene & Maggie. I ask them, "Is there anything else that has happened around here that I should know about? Anything else I've been kept in the dark about that could affect our plans?"

They quickly tell me about Daryl's encounter with 3 people they suspect were saviors after finding Daryl's bike they stole at the Satellite outpost later. Then about Abraham, Daryl & Sasha's encounter on the road with a group and taking them out very dramatically. I digest this news. So they had been getting closer this whole time but hadn't yet found them. This was good news, we just need to keep it up a little longer.

After dark, Rick returns with everyone but Morgan. I had been hovering at the gates with everyone else, worried about Carol and the ones searching for her. Trying to tell myself I'm not worried about a certain intense man. As the weary people came in the gate I ask, "Did you find her?"

Rick's tired eyes turn to me. "No. We found her trail though. She'd fought off 4 saviors on the road, taken them out. We followed her trail through a field to a barn, but didn't find her. Morgan is continuing the search without us, we knew we had to get home and help protect this place with saviors on the roads."

Oh no, they're getting even closer, I think to myself. Wait. Carol took out 4 saviors by herself? I smile. Den Mother my ass. Just then Edith comes running up looking frantic. "Maggie's in really bad pain, I think she may be losing the baby!"

A/N OK, so I finished editing and couldn't resist putting up another chapter today. So 2 new chapters today!  The next chapter will be out sometime later this week.

Sandi just couldn't leave without giving them intel that could help them. Can she stay mad at Rick? She was holding him at a distance and made it very clear she didn't want him around, even when Carl called her out on it. It seems she was actually considering something with him as well before he screwed it up. She did seem to comfort him and voluntarily touched him when Carol went missing though, so we'll have to see if she sticks to her guns. Poor Rick.

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