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The sound of movement beside me jerked me almost violently from sleep. I was groggy, I had slept so hard I hadn't even dreamed. I was disorientated but I didn't let that stop me. Instinctively, I reached for my golf club. When I  couldn't find it I shook off the last vestiges of sleep. I never slept without my golf club touching me. 

"Morning," a voice called. 

I snapped my eyes open. It took me a moment before I recognized Dr. Jenner. He was standing on the other side of Kate, changing her IV. 

"Morning," I replied, running my hands over my face. I grimaced as I felt a line of drool dribbling down my chin. 

"There's breakfast," he said motioning to the table beside the bed. "If you're hungry." 

I turned and suddenly I could smell the plate of eggs and steaming cup of black coffee. I glanced back to where Kate was. 

"She's fine," he assured me, motioning once more to the food. "Still sleeping. I gave her another massive dose of antibiotics, once she wakes up I will pull the IV and she will need to continue twice a day for two weeks. You will be able to move up into one of the dorms together."

I breathed a sigh of profound relief. Until that very moment I hadn't let myself feel how truly terrified I was that Kate wouldn't wake up. "Thank you," I told him sincerely. 

He dipped his chin. "I'm going to get my own breakfast now," he told me and he left the lab. 

I sat back in my chair and sighed again, feeling as though a great weight had lifted off my chest. I scooped up the huge plate of eggs. It had been a long time since I had eaten this much, and I ate slowly as my stomach cramped painfully. I scraped the plate clean and set it aside. I wrapped my hands around the warm cup of coffee, feeling comfortable and safe for the first time in a long time. 

Kate stirred beside me, blinking awake. 

"Hey you!" I greeted. 

She looked better than she had in weeks. There was color to her cheeks and a light in her eyes that had been gone for so long.

She actually smiled at me and it made my chest tight. "Is that coffee?" she asked eagerly.

I chuckled and handed over the half empty cup. "It's black." Kate wrinkled her nose but took a long drink anyway. "There's eggs up in the cafeteria," I told her. 

"Seriously?!" she sat up and started moving to get off the bed. I reached out and stopped her.

"Hold on," I laughed. I hadn't felt this light in...I didn't know how long. I was almost giddy with relief. It wasn't until just this moment I realized how certain I had been that my sister was going to die. "Jenner gave you another dose of meds and we need to wait until they get into your system." I said motioning to her IV.

She glanced up at it and made a face but sat back down. She coughed at the motion, and maybe it was just the optimism I was feeling, but she already sounded better to me.

"So what did I miss?" she asked, leaning back against the narrow cot.

"Well," I said, "Rumor has it this place has food and hot showers and real beds."

"Shut up!" she gasped. "Hot showers? I don't know if I have ever been so excited for anything since this all started."

I nodded. "Yeah, Jenner said we can move you out of here today."

Kate frowned and looked around. "Did you sleep down here last night?" she asked scowling at me. 

I sighed. I recognized the look and the determined set to her jaw. "I was't going to leave you alone down here, not locked in with a bunch of strangers." 

Kate shook her head. "You need sleep. You've been running yourself since T-" she cut herself off at my sudden intake of breath. Shame burned in her eyes and she looked at the ground. "W-well, you've been pushing yourself too hard Jo," she stammered out. 

I swallowed passed the lump in my throat. She had almost said his name.

I forced out a snort. "No choice baby sister. It's just us now. Once we get you up and on your feet we need to keep moving."

She nodded as she picked at the sheets of her bed.

"What?" I finally asked, unable to keep the impatience from my voice.

"What if we didn't?" she asked quietly. "What if we stayed with them?"

I opened my mouth to argue but she pushed on. She had been so compliant when she was sick, now she was already back to being a pain in my ass. 

"I rode with Rick and his family," she reminded me. "They are good people. And Carl and Sophia are sweet kids. Even Daryl didn't seem to bad, right?" she asked a little desperately. "We could stay with this group and have a real chance."

I shook my head. "We can't trust them." I said decisively. "Remember what happened last time?"

Now Kate was getting angry. "Of course I do!" she snapped, her hazel eyes flashing as they met mine. "But these people aren't like that."

"We don't know that," I said in a quiet voice. "And we can't take the chance. You know that right? We agreed. We keep moving, we trust no one, and we stay alive."

A single tear slid down Kate's cheek and I hated myself for having to be so harsh with her. But she didn't understand. How could she? She was still just a kid. I had to remind myself sometimes that she was only eighteen. 

She sniffled a few times and nodded. "I understand." she said in a broken voice that made me feel even worse.

The lights suddenly dropped and went out. Kate grabbed my hand in the dark. I was completely blind for a second before another set of emergency lights came on. I turned to Kate and saw fear slide behind her eyes. I reached down for my pack and pulled up my golf club. 

A second later Daryl appeared in the doorway. "Let's go," he rasped in a quiet but urgent voice.

I looked from him and back to Kate.

"Jo," he said in a serious voice. I met his eyes and could see his resolve. Something was very wrong. "It's time to go."

I may have had reservations about the group as a whole, but so far Daryl hadn't given me a reason not to trust him. Without hesitation I grabbed Kate's arm. "Hold still," I commanded. I pulled off the tape, and gritting my teeth I slid the IV needle out of her arm.

She gasped quietly, but did as I said. As soon as the needle was out she climbed to her feet.

"What's going on?" she asked in a small voice.

I looked back at Daryl for the answer. His voice was gruff but there was worry in his eyes. "Buildings runn'in outta juice. Something's going down. Let's not be sitt'in on our asses when it does."

I nodded. 

"Let's move," he turned to jog back the way he came but he stopped and turned and pointed at Kate. "Grab her some meds."

I didn't even hesitate. I jumped to my feet and ran to the fridge. I knew what bottles Jenner had used. I left the sedative and took the antibiotics. I pulled a grip of clean syringes from the work station and shoved them in my back pocket. Then I grabbed Kate's hand and ran down the hall, pulling her behind me.

We burst into the main computer room just in time to hear Jenner. "Listen to your friend. She gets it. This is what takes us down, this is our extinction event."

Everyone was crying and holding onto one another. Rick was standing toe to toe with Jenner. Daryl was pacing along the back of the group. Even from here I could see his barely contained rage. He looked like a wild animal.

"This isn't right." Carol wailed. "You can't just keep us here."

"One tiny moment, a millisecond and no pain."

"My daughter doesn't deserve to die like this!" Carol cried, tears and snot running down her face.

I felt my eyes widen. Behind me Kate gasped as she realized what was going on. Her hand tightened in mine as I turned towards the exit. A large steel firedoor had closed us in.

"Wouldn't it be kinder? More compassionate to just hold your loved ones and wait for the clock to run down?" Jenner asked in a dreamy voice.

Without realizing I was doing it, I started for the door. I could see where there were scratches in the otherwise perfect plane of stainless steel. Daryl held an ax, loosely gripped in his hand. And I knew then that we were trapped. Daryl hadn't seemed like the type to go down without a fight. Well neither was I. 

The cocking of a gun dragged my attention back to the group.

"Shane no!" Rick yelled. Throwing himself in front of his second in command. He shoved his shoulders, trying to keep the shot gun toting man at bay.

"Out of my way Rick!" Shane bellowed. "Stay out of my way." He commanded, raising the gun and pointing it at Rick. Rick took a step back, conceding to Shane's demands. I shook my head at the action. It only gave Shane more power. His eyes were wide and wild as he shoved the shot gun in Jenner's face. "Open that door." he growled. "Or Imma blow your head off. Do you hear me?"

The women and children all squeaked and cried in fear and darted away from the doctor. Leaving just Shane and Rick standing close. Rick stepped up beside his friend, pushing himself into his space. "Brother, brother, this is not the way we do this. We will never get out of here."

"Shane you listen to him." Lori's voice piped up from across the room and I found myself cutting my eyes to her. There were tears swimming in her eyes as she clasped her son to her chest.

"It's too late." Shane growled.

Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention as Daryl prowled around the group. He was easing up in Shane's blind spot, ready to step in if need be.

"If he dies we all die!" Rick screamed.

Shane yelled at the top of his lungs and swung the gun away from Jenner, firing shell after shell into a nearby computer. Sparks flew and everyone screamed. I pulled Kate behind me and when I looked back Daryl was ten feet in front of us, standing between us and Shane. He was working his grip on the ax and rocking on the balls of his feet.

"Shane!" Rick bellowed. He grabbed the shotgun as Shane was firing and wrestled it from his friends hands. He shoved it into his chest, then swung the butt up and caught Shane in the temple knocking him to the ground. I could see the muscle memory there as Rick hoisted it into the air, preparing to bring the stock down to further incapacitate his opponent. Rick pulled himself up at the last minute. Glaring down at his friend. "You done now? Are you done?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, I guess we all are." Shane ground back angrily.

Both were panting and Rick turned away from Shane to hand the shot gun to T-Dog. His eyes flitted over the group. Taking in their frightened expressions. His gaze rested on mine and I knew he didn't see fear in my eyes. Only anger. I was not going to go out like this. 

"I think you're lying," Rick said, turning back to Jenner once he had calmed down.

"What?" Jenner asked in disbelief.

"You're lying. About no hope. If that were true you would have bolted with the rest, or taken the easy way out. You didn't. You chose the hard path. Why?"

"It doesn't matter," Jenner said with finality as he leaned back in his chair.

"It does matter, it always matters. You stayed when others ran. Why?"

"Not because I wanted to." Jenner ground out the words as though they were painful to say. "I made a promise to her." He pointed to the large computer screen behind me. I turned and saw the CT scan of a brain. "My wife." Tears were swimming in Jenner's eyes when I looked back at him.

"Test subject nineteen was your wife?" Lori asked, her voice breaking.

I had missed something. I turned back to the screen to study it. I hadn't studied human anatomy since my undergrad but I could clearly see at the moment the image had been frozen there was a hollowed out channel through the brain. It took me a second to realize it was the path of a bullet.

I closed my eyes for a moment and shook my head. I was trying not to understand this broken man. I wanted to wrap myself in my anger. I didn't want to be sad. I gained strength from being mad, but as a silent tear ran down his cheek I couldn't help reliving that moment with Thomas. That moment when I put the gun to my husbands head and pulled the trigger. Kate squeezed my hand beside me as though she knew where my thoughts had gone.

Stop, I thought carefully. Reset.

When I opened my eyes and looked back at her she gave me a sad encouraging smile. A cough shook her frame but she didn't let go of my hand. My sister was giving up. She was accepting what Jenner said.

That did make me mad. I pulled her away from the group, storming towards the door. Daryl was right behind us. I scooped up a second ax I found on the floor, only then letting go of Kate's hand. I shoved my pack towards Kate. She staggered under it's weight, but swung it over her shoulder. 

"She begged me to keep going as long as I could," I heard Jenner say right before I swung the ax as hard as I could at the door. It hurt, the pain ran up and down my arms but I relished it. The pain meant I was still alive. Daryl swung at the door in the time it took me to swing the ax back. We fell into a perfect rhythm, but it did no good. Our blows glanced off the door, sending showers of sparks as we both grunted with the effort it took to swing the axes. The clanging of metal against metal rang in my ears until I couldn't hear any more words from the sad, resigned group.

Daryl was in mid-swing when the door started to open. "Come on!" He yelled to the group. I spun around to grab Kate to drag her with me but she was already there.

"Let's go! Come on let's go!"

"Move it! Move it! Move it!"

Everyone was yelling and the pounding of feet matched the pounding in my chest as Kate and I ran down the hall. She started coughing from the effort but kept pace with me. I could hear people arguing behind me, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered but getting Kate top side and clear of this building.

Kate slowed on the stairs, coughing and hacking. I jerked the pack off her shoulders, swinging it over my own. I clamped a hand around her forearm and dragged her the rest of the way up the stairs. We had to get out of here. We burst into the lobby just in time to see Daryl leap onto the window ledge with the ax still in hand.

Kate slumped at my feet her breath coming in wheezing gasps. I dropped my pack beside her, turning towards the doors. 

"Come on, come on!" Shane was yelling as he and Daryl began beating the windows with the axes. It didn't even scratch the glass. I pulled out my golf club and started beating one of the glass windows on the door we came in. I swung with all my might and all it did was rebound. I hefted the club and swung again and again.

I was not going to die like this. I was not going to let my baby sister die like this. The anger and rage burned through me, making my swings more and more powerful. It didn't help. I stopped, the golf club on the ground, breathing heavily.

"Daryl look out!" T-dog ran up and slammed a chair against the glass."Ah!!!!" he screamed as he slammed the metal legs against the window over and over again.

Shane jumped down and scooped up his shot gun, shoving shells into the magazine. "Dog get down! Get down!" he yelled.

Kate came up behind me and latched onto my forearm, her nails digging into the skin through the fabric. I could feel her start to shake.

Shane fired at the glass but nothing happened. "Jesus." he muttered in defeat.

"The glass won't break!?" Kate's voice was high with fear and tears.

"Rick, I have something that might help," Carol said digging through her purse.

"Carol, I don't think a nail file is going to do it." Shane snapped unkindly.

"Your first morning at camp, when I washed your uniform, I found this in your pocket." she pulled a grenade out of her bag.

"Look out!" Shane yelled.

I jerked Kate down a short flight of stairs and crouch down, covering her with my body. I trembled in anticipation as I heard the pin drop. I tightened my arms around her a second before the glass shattered. The explosion was disorienting and made my ears ring, but I didn't hesitate. I grabbed Kate's arm and jerked her to her feet as Daryl came up to us. 

"Let's go," Daryl's voice was low and harsh.

I nodded to him and shoved my arms through my own pack, hefting my golf club. We ran towards the door. Shane was already outside firing his shot gun at the herd of Them that the explosion attracted. Daryl and I moved together, keeping Kate between us. He swung the ax at any that came close and I took out three coming from behind. Kate sobbed behind me, her hand on my pack.

"Let's go!" Daryl yelled to be heard over the gun fire as everyone broke formation and started running for the vehicles. He led, Kate followed and I took up the rear. I took down two more that came too close. Once we reached the truck I threw my pack in back and jumped into the cab, sliding across the seat. Kate followed slamming the door behind us.

"Get down," Daryl commanded. Slamming his door. I shoved Kate's head down below the dash, I laid over the top of her. I felt Daryl do the same to me.

And then the blast came. It shook the truck, and even from here I could feel the heat. A single bead of sweat rolled down the back of my neck. I was trembling and hadn't noticed until now. Kate was shaking with fear beneath me, but Daryl was steady at my back. After a moment he sat up. He looked to the burning building and then back to me. I met his gaze but didn't know what to say.

We watched as Dale and Andrea ran for the RV. Once everyone was loaded up, the others started their cars, turned a U-turn to drive away.

As we drove off Kate gasped, slamming her palm against the window. "It's Shane!" she yelled.

I turned and sure enough, running through the sea of Them that had been attracted to the fire, was Shane, his ax still in his hand. He was running for the RV, yelling but the RV wasn't stopping. Daryl immediately began pounding on his horn. He rolled down his window and shouted as well until finally the RV's brake lights shone and it slowed long enough for Shane to leap in the door before they peeled out.

They were coming from every direction, shambling towards the flames and wreckage of the CDC. Daryl slammed his foot down and the truck jerked forward following the others and leaving the wreckage of the burning building and the dead behind us.

As we drove away from the CDC I sat next to Daryl, wedged between him and my sister on the narrow seat. I shook with the stress of getting us out alive. I felt cold, which was odd considering it was the middle of summer. Part of my brain told me I might be in shock, but the other part wouldn't even consider that. I had to hold it together. I had to keep moving.

I glanced over at Kate. She had her hands clasped together on her lap and was watching out the window calmly as though we were out on a Sunday afternoon drive. God, she was innocent. She had no idea. I felt the overwhelming, crushing wave of responsibility rise and threaten to pull me down. She didn't belong in this world, and it was my job to keep her safe. It shocked me to find out I could shake harder.

We drove for less than an hour. But by that time I had gotten myself pulled together. We trusted Jenner and that was a mistake. We survived and now we were moving again. That was what was important. 

We drove until dark when the vehicles in front of us stopped. We were on another lonely county road, like the one they had found me on but at least we were clear of the city. There was nothing in sight; no cars, no buildings, and most important none of Them. Rick climbed out of the RV and walked back towards the other vehicles.

Daryl put the truck in park. He turned to look at me and shrugged. He reached down at my feet and pulled up his crossbow before climbing out.

I turned to Kate. "Stay in the truck," I commanded.

She rolled her eyes at me and then coughed into her shirt sleeve. She pulled up my golf club from the floor and handed it to me. I snorted a laugh at her and slid across the seat to follow Daryl. He stood near the open door his eyes on the fields surrounding us. This stretch of highway was wide open, it was nearly a mile in every direction to the nearest treeline. Once I was out, Daryl closed the truck door behind me and we walked side by side towards Rick.

"This is as good a place as any," Rick said once we had all congregated at the back of the RV. "We need to stop for the night, eat something and decide on the best route."

"Straight to Fort Benning-" Shane was already starting to say, but Rick held up his hand to cut him off.

"I think we all need to sleep and then we will look at a map. We need to pick a route where we can scavenge supplies and have access to water." Rick's voice was quiet and controlled but I could see the silent war going on between him and Shane.

This was quickly turning into a full blown pissing contest. Shane clearly thought he was alpha male material but he wasn't. Rick's quiet confidence was clearly what this group needed. I glanced once at Daryl, wondering where he fit into all of this. He was by far the most capable in my opinion but there was a certain lack of self confidence.

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. Not my group, their dynamics didn't matter. I swung my golf club loosely, turning my wrist back and forth as I spun in a slow circle. I was listening to the group, but didn't feel the need to contribute yet.

Rick arched a brow, waiting for Shane to say something more, challenge him in some other way, but Shane didn't. Instead he stood, his hand resting on his gun, his eyes on the far treeline. "There's enough room in the vehicles," Rick was saying, looking at the others. "I think it's a safer bet to sleep in the cars than make camp."

The other's were nodding along with him, agreeing blindly to whatever Rick said. "This is as safe of a spot as any, but we should still keep watch."

Glenn immediately spoke up. "I'll take first watch."

"Then me," Dale added.

Rick nodded along with them. "Then me," he said and his eyes flickered to Shane who met his gaze levelly and nodded. "Alright, we've got some food stores in the RV, but if you have any personal stock left, now is the time to use them. Just what you need to eat before sleep." Rick advised.

Dale suddenly looked at me, catching my eye. "It's cramped, but there's a spot in the RV for Kate to sleep. She would be able to lay down..." he dragged off.

I flashed him an appreciative smile. "I'll let her know. That would be great." I turned and started heading back towards Daryl's truck while the others were working out where they would all fit. It didn't matter to me where I slept, I would sleep under the truck as long as I knew Kate was taken care of.

After giving her injection, I sent Kate to the RV where she could lay down. She didn't argue, just gave me a long look. "Where are you going to sleep?" She asked. I motioned to the truck. She gave me a droll stare. I shook my head to get her to not argue with me. She pinched her mouth in a hard line and looked like she was ready to start, but something made her stop.

I like to think it was maturity or she was growing up, but chances were she was just as exhausted as I was. I pulled myself up on the wheel so i was laying over the box of the truck and dug around in my pack. I came back to her and pressed a protein bar into her hands. It was one of our last ones. I folded her up in my arms. "Love you kiddo." I said.

She scoffed at me and walked back towards the RV, her backpack slung over one shoulder. I turned back to the truck. Daryl was digging through his stuff in the back. I suddenly felt like I was intruding. I looked at my pack. I had a sleeping pad strapped to the bottom and a sleeping bag. Glancing into the bed of the truck I was pretty sure I could wedge myself between the side and the motorcycle.

Daryl pulled out a worn wool blanket and headed towards the cab. He paused, staring at me. "What are ya doing?" He asked harshly. He jerked his head in the direction of the truck and I knew that was as good as an engraved invitation from Daryl.

I nodded and pulled open the passenger door, climbing in. I slammed it shut, locked it and pillowed my hands against the window, pulling my legs up to curl beneath me on the seat. Daryl stretched his legs out diagonally across the cab, so he was leaning against his own door and his feet were in the space below my seat. He tossed the other half of his blanket over me without a word and closed his eyes.

I didn't expect to sleep, I had so many things on my mind,and so many problems I needed to solve. We couldn't stay with these people, last night had shown me that but I needed to figure out how we were going to leave. My mind was racing...but soon the security of the truck cab and Daryl's soft snores lulled me into a dreamless sleep.

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We stayed another two days. I knew we needed to leave, it wasn't safe to stay, but I couldn't bring myself to. I was more shaken up by what happened than I wanted to admit. And it felt good to not have to be in charge for a couple days. I always felt like I needed to be in charge, but strangely not here. I continued to ride with Daryl, but Kate flitted back and forth between riding with us and spending time with Carl and Sophia. She had always been good with kids, and to be honest I think she was sick of me hovering over her and sick of the silence that came with riding with Daryl. I on the other hand found it strangely comforting. 

We had just climbed back into the vehicles after siphoning gas and raiding a few cars we passed. I leaned back against the seat and watched as Carl, Sophia and Kate played tag. I was tempted to stay out, and watch over them, but Rick was there with his hand on his gun and I trusted he would do whatever it took to keep his son safe.

Daryl climbed into the driver's seat, slamming the door behind him. "We need to keep moving." he grumbled under his breath.

His words made me pause. Keep moving. Trust no one. Stay alive. I closed my eyes as the mantra ran around and around in my head. I had promised I would live by that, and here I was...I cupped my forehead in my hand.

"What's the matter with you?" Daryl's question came out harsher than I knew he intended.

I opened my eyes and looked up at him. His arms were crossed over his chest and his eyes were on the kids playing. We hadn't spoken much over the last few days. It seemed like words weren't needed. I was comfortable here, and as I watched Daryl watch the rest of the group, his eyes scanning both sides of the road for Them I realized I trusted Daryl. I scrubbed at my face with the heels of my hands. It didn't make sense. I barely knew these people. I couldn't trust them. I couldn't stay.

"I need to keep moving." I said in a hollow voice.

Daryl swung his gaze around to look at me. "What?" he snapped, his eyes narrowed.

I cleared my throat. "Next time we stop," I clarified. "Kate and I need to leave."

He scoffed. "Ya stupid or something?"

I gave him a disgusted look and turned away. 

"That is the dumbest damn thing I ever heard. I thought ya were smarter than that," his words went over me like cold water.

"Kate is pretty much healed up and we need to move on." I said resolutely. "We aren't a part of your group, never were and-"

"The hell ya ain't." Daryl thundered and I saw Rick look at us, concern etched in his face. I doubted he could hear the words, but it was obvious Daryl and I were arguing.

"Daryl," I lowered my voice despite the fact that now I was getting pissed as well. I turned back to face him. Who in the hell did he think he was. I opened my mouth to yell at him, but when I looked him in the eye I snapped it closed. I looked down and away, ashamed of myself. We had been using them, using them for their resources and protection. Hell, I had been using them...using them because for the first time in a long time I felt safe. But I could take care of myself and I didn't need anyone else.

I closed my eyes against the overwhelming burning behind my eyes. I would not cry. I would not be sad. I wrapped myself in my anger and threw the door open. I dragged my pack out and slammed the door as hard as I could behind me. I climbed on the wheel so I could reach where Nick and Kate's packs had slid beneath the bike.

"Kate, come on." I called.

Kate turned to face me, a smile still etched on her face. When she saw my expression, the smile fell. She knew what was happening.

Rick looked back and forth between us all. "What's going on?" he finally asked.

Kate swallowed a few times and I could hear her reply in a quiet voice. "We're leaving."

Rick swung his gaze back and fourth between Kate and I. Daryl climbed out of his side of the truck and had walked around the back. I studied the packs harder than was necessary to avoid looking at him. If I did I might cave. I needed to do what was right for Kate and I and that was to not get involved in a large group of people we barely knew, a group where questions of loyalty could rear it's head and Kate and I could get caught up in the crossfire. Again. We were outsiders.

I heard Daryl drop the tail gate and swung to face him. "What are you doing?" I snapped angrily.

He glared at me and said nothing as he pulled a large board out from the side of the bed. He set it up like a ramp from the tailgate to the ground and then hopped up in back of the truck.

Rick came up behind me. "What do you mean you're leaving? You can't leave."

I swung to face him, anger snapping in my eyes. "Are you forbidding us from leaving?" I took an aggressive step towards him.

Shock registered in his eyes for only a moment. "No, no of course not." Rick looked taken aback by my suggestion.

I nodded curtly. "Well, we accepted a ride to the CDC and back out of the city. No handouts, no responsibility. We've stayed with your group longer than we should have and I'm sorry for that."

"Jo, no." Rick said shaking his head. The other's noticed our exchange but stayed back. Kate stood by Carl and Sophia her arms wrapped around their slim shoulders as tears glittered in her eyes.

It was hard, but when push came to shove we were the outsiders and I wasn't willing to take the chance that would become an issue when a herd of Them were bearing down on us.

"You can stay." Rick gasped, his voice shaking a little."You should stay."

I bit down on my lip, hard. "I need to do what's right for Kate and I. And that isn't to travel to Fort Benning." I said resolutely. "It's too dangerous and I'm not willing to risk her safety."

Rick nodded. "Is there anything I can say to change your mind?"

I lifted my chin defiantly. "No."

Rick nodded and moved toward me, holding out his hand. "It was an honor to know you Jo."

I gave him a grim smile and turned back to our packs. I heard Daryl grunt and looked back to see him lowering the motorcycle to the road. I could hear the other's behind me saying goodbye to Kate as she sniffed back tears. I hated goodbyes and had no intention of dragging this out. It would only serve to weaken my resolve.

"What the hell are you-" I started to asked.

Daryl put down the kickstand and stalked towards me. There was something in his face I couldn't identify. I was tempted to take a step backward but held my ground, frowning up at him. 

I felt his fingers tangle with my own and he pressed his keys into my hand.

I jerked back in shock looking down at the keys in my hand.

"Change your mind," his voice was a husky command. "Ya both would be safer with the group." 

I looked down at the keys in my hand and then back up at him. There was a hard resolve in his face and I knew that he knew it was pointless to ask. "I won't." I said in a quiet voice. Daryl nodded once harshly and I could see the anger in his jerky movements.

"Take care of yourself." he said in an even voice.

I nodded, but found I couldn't swallow. "Come on Kate." I called over my shoulder, unable to tear my eyes away from his as I tried to memorize his face.

I continued to stare into Daryl's eyes as I heard Kate approach us. She went up to Daryl and hugged him. He patted her awkwardly, not knowing what to do with himself. He broke our gaze to look down at her. "Take care of your sister," he told her.

She nodded, sniffling again and glanced once at me. I couldn't help feeling like this might be a mistake. But I was set now, I said we were going and we were. I couldn't go back on it. Kate would listen because I said that's how it was. We stood a better chance just the two of us. There would be no group drama or stupidity holding us back.

I heard Rick's voice over my shoulder. "You listen to your sister," he told Kate. "She's strong. She knows what she's doing." Kate nodded and climbed into truck without another word. She was mad at me, but she wouldn't tell me, not when there were other people to hear. She would wait until we were alone to chew me out over this one. I knew she wanted to stay, but she didn't understand. She would in time.

Rick rested a hand on my shoulder giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I wish I could convince you to stay. The group could use someone like you. But I understand you have to do what you believe is best for your family." I nodded, glancing at him over my shoulder and he made his way back towards his car.

I swiped at my face with my hand while my back was towards everyone except Daryl. Only he would have seen the start of tears. Taking a deep breath I stooped and tossed the three packs back into the bed of the truck. 

"Take care of yourself Daryl." I called.

I shook all thoughts of regret from my head as I climbed into the truck. 

Kate cried quietly as I put the truck in drive and pulled away from the group. When they finally disappeared from the rear view mirrors she let out a sob. A single tear rolled down my cheek. Feelings didn't matter. Not anymore. Nothing mattered but surviving.

Keep moving, trust no one, stay alive.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel as the miles fell away. I would keep us alive no matter what, no matter what it cost me.

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