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Daryl

"Your property now belongs to Negan."

The leader was an oily little prick. The guys with him looked tough, but he was someone hiding behind whoever the hell this Negan guy was. He said the name like we should know what it meant. The prick kept talking. "And if you're people who can get your hands on a tanker, you're people our person wants to know."

He took another step towards us and I tensed. I could have easily taken him but I glanced at the guys behind him. Their guns were now pointing in our direction. "So let's get those sidearms shall we?" he approached me first and I glared down at him. "Right now," he said.

I pulled the gun out from my belt and held it up to him.

He smiled a oily smile, taking my gun. "Thank you."

Sasha handed hers over.

"Thank you," he said giving her the same smile

He stepped up in front of Abraham, who glared down at him. Abraham hesitated with his hand over his gun and the man nodded as though he understood. "If you have to eat shit, best not to nibble. Bite, chew, swallow, repeat. Goes quicker."

Abraham pulled his gun, real slow and handed it over, his eyes ranging over the other guys and their guns.

"Who are you people?" Sasha snarled as he walked back towards his bike.

He turned back to her. "I get the curiosity. We have questions ourselves. And we'll be the ones asking them while we drive you people back to where ever you call home."

I stiffened we were not bringing these assholes anywhere near Alexandria. They were a tough group, but they didn't look like nomads. They looked clean and well fed and their bikes all looked well taken care of. They also weren't carrying enough gear to be out over night. They had a camp and it wasn't that far away. I wondered if they were from the same group Dwight and Sherry were running from. Running back to, I corrected myself. Anger surged through me just thinking about them.

The prick had kept talking the whole time. "Take a gander at where you hang your hats. First though, your shit. What have you got for us?"

"Yeah, ya just took it," I snarled, shifting my weight restlessly. It took everything in me to keep my temper in check and not just attack them before they attacked us. I glanced over at Sasha and Abraham, but it wasn't just me. Abraham was a brawler, but without her gun Sasha could get into trouble.

"Come on, I mean can we not? 'Kay? There's more, there is always more." he sighed "Tee, take my man here to the back of the truck, start inside the back bumper and work your way to the front."

Tee climbed off his bike and walked up to me. He shoved me towards the back of the truck, away from everyone else. I stumbled a step but stayed on my feet. "Go," he snarled, shoving the barrel of his gun into my ribs. I grunted but went willingly. He was bigger than me, and at least had the rifle if not more weapons. I was going to have to do this quick and quiet. If the others heard, I was pretty sure they would shoot Abraham and Sasha.

I waited until we were around the back of the truck. I turned towards the truck, like I was reaching for something. He leaned in towards me, eager to see what I had. I slammed my elbow back into his stomach. He grunted and his rifle clattered to the ground. I swung around and punched him. He staggered and nearly fell. I ran towards him. I wrapped my arms around his waist to pull him to the ground. He swung down with a knife and stabbed me in my shoulder blade.

I grunted in pain, but didn't make a sound. Any noise could draw attention. Swinging away from him I grabbed his temple and slammed his head into the back of the truck. He hit hard and dropped to the pavement. I stomped down on his skull with my boot before he could get back up. I snatched up his rifle and gun and then pulled Abraham's new toy out of the back.

I had never used one before, but it seemed pretty simple. I loaded it, stepped around the side of the truck, aimed and fired. The men and their bikes went up in a ball of flames. I looked down at the rocket launcher in my hands. I could get used to this bad boy.

The blast had thrown Abraham and Sasha to the ground. They climbed back to their feet. Sasha was holding the side of her head, but they didn't look too bad. I rested the rocket launcher over my shoulder and walked back around the side of the truck.

"Son of a bitch was tougher than he looked."

Sasha turned to look at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Did he cut you?" Sasha asked coming up behind me.

"A little," I said, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. My shoulder was burning and I could feel blood running down my back. It needed to be checked, but I didn't want her to see my back.

Sasha stepped up behind me and pressed a rag against my shoulder. I stiffened under her touch but managed not to pull away. "What a bunch a assholes," I growled, looking back at the bodies that were still on fire. We needed to get out of here. They needed us at home. 

Sasha shook her head and laughed in relief. Her hands on my shoulder were trembling from either stress or relief. "Let's get you fixed up at home."

"Yes ma'am," I agreed and I climbed back into the truck.

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Jo

Maggie and I sat on the platform, side by side in silence for a long time. It felt like hours, and judging but the way the sun was moving, the estimation was not far off. There were Walkers everywhere. They filled the streets of the community and swarmed a few of the houses. I could only assume those were the houses in which people had taken refuge. 

"Do you think the others are safe?" Maggie finally whispered to me, looking out over the deceptively placid herd milling about below us.

I thought for a minute, debating if I should lie to her. For some reason she seemed more fragile than normal. I wondered if it was the prospect of losing Glenn that had finally gotten to her. I had always thought of Maggie as being one of the strongest of us. She had lost so much, and still, somehow seemed to keep her determination and hope. Seeing her like this was uncomfortable and worrisome.

"I don't know," I finally replied honestly in a low voice so we wouldn't draw the attention of the herd below us.

She glanced over at me and snorted out a mirthless laugh. "You aren't very good at making people feel better are you?"

I shifted uncomfortably and chewed on my lip. "I used to be better at it," I confessed with a shrug.

She turned back to look at the sky. I followed her gaze. I wasn't sure how long it had been since the wall went down. The sun was low in the sky and night was coming. It was going to be a chilly one. Beside me Maggie shivered. I looked down at my hands, studying the muscles and tendons in them as though it were the most fascinating thing I had ever seen. I wished I was better at being reassuring.  

She glanced over at me. "He'll be alright, you know?" she said in a quiet voice.

I glanced over at her, frowning.

"Daryl," she said, her voice hushed. "Daryl will be all right. He is all right," she clarified. Then she snorted. "If anyone is all right it's him..." then she looked at me sideways appraisingly. "Or you," she suddenly snorted and shook her head. "Talk about a power couple." 

I swallowed thickly and suddenly there was a burning behind my eyes. I blinked it away quickly. She looked side ways at me and a small, gentle smile crossed her face. "You really love him don't you?" she asked.

I pressed my lips into a firm line. Oh course I did, and I had even managed to tell him. But that didn't mean I was ready to tell everyone else. It felt too much like exposing a weakness. Shame roiled through me then. I shouldn't feel that way. Love should never be a weakness...at least that's what the old Jo would have thought in the old world. 

But I wasn't her, and this was the new world. So I sank my teeth into the side of my cheeks to keep myself from opening up to Maggie.

Her smile was sad then and somehow it seemed as though she understood. "You don't have to say anything, it's pretty obvious. The other day Glenn was saying-" her voice dragged off then and she looked down at her hands. She was obviously thinking about the fact that he was still out there. That there was a very real possibility she wouldn't see him again. 

I sucked in a breath, uncertain what to do or say to make it better. She had been so certain those balloons were from him. But there was no way to tell for sure. They could have just as easily been from Enid.

"You know he'll be back," I said as confidently as I could muster. She needed hope. I wasn't going soft, we were in a tight spot and I would need her ready to fight when the time came. Hershel once told me a sad soul could kill quicker than even a germ could. Seeing the hopelessness in Maggie's eyes made me believe it could kill quicker than a walker too. I ran a hand over my mouth.

She nodded at my words, but I could see a fine tremble of her lips. She sunk her teeth into her bottom lip and looked away as she fought back tears. She sniffled quietly and looked back at me. "I should have been with him."

"Mag-"

She sniffled again and shook her head violently. "No!" She snarled angrily and I glanced over the edge of the platform. The walkers had heard her. But she didn't notice. Instead she continued. "I ripped up the last picture he had of me, because I promised him," silent tears rolled down her cheeks. "I promised him that he wouldn't need it, not any more. I promised him we would never be apart."

The walkers snarls were closer now, more energetic and I couldn't see them in the dark. I closed my eyes briefly as old memories surged.

Stop, reset.

They were so close. But I could not lose it now. Maggie needed me now. I cleared my throat but kept my eyes closed as I spoke. "You saw the balloons Maggie, he's coming back."

She laughed mirthlessly but had dropped her voice to match the hushed tones of my own. It made it a little easier for me to breathe. "Back to what?"

I froze then, her words shocking me out of that place in my head. I opened my eyes, turning to look at her. Her gaze was so helpless it made something in my chest tighten. "To our home."

Maggie looked down at the hers of walkers that had gathered around the base of the platform once more. "There won't be anything left."

I shook my head, unwilling to give up. "Of course there will. Rick and Michonne and Carl and Judith and Rosita and Tara...they are all out there, all ready to fight for our home once things settle down.

The platform swayed once and the two of us froze, gripping the top of fence behind us. Below the herds growls grew.

"I'm pregnant Jo!" Maggie cried out aloud in frustration as though she couldn't hold it in anymore. Tears started rolling down her cheeks.

I went cold for a moment under the crushing weight of this new development. I was personally responsible for Glenn's pregnant wife. I swallowed and looked around us. Suddenly this platform didn't seem so safe anymore. I needed to make a plan and figure out how to get her to one of the houses. The platform rocked again and I met her tear-filled gaze. My mind went absolutely blank. I had no idea what to say. Did I congratulate her? Ask if it was on purpose? Clearly it was obvious Glenn was the father but...

"Jo," she said in a quiet voice.

I snapped out of my thoughts as I realized I had been quiet too long. "Sorry," I said quickly shaking my head. I instantly regretted it because it sounded like I was sorry she was pregnant when in fact I was sorry because I had spaced out. "I didn't mean it like that." I said quickly and then I cupped my forehead. 

Beside me Maggie chuckled. "You really are terrible at this sometimes." 

I shook my head and sighed. "You have no idea," I agreed wryly. I peeked up at her through my hair. "That's why you weren't on the quarry run wasn't it?"

She nodded. "Glenn asked me to stay behind."

I frowned at that, I understood why he would but I don't know that I would have been able to in her place. I understood staying behind to make sure the baby was safe, but it would have driven me insane to send Daryl out there on his own. I had barely managed to let him lead the herd away without me going with to watch his back. 

Once again I was misunderstood. "Oh come on," she teased gently. "It's not like Daryl wouldn't lock you up in the house if you were pregnant," she was smiling now, teasing. "I'm sure he would be way worse than Glenn." 

I didn't have the heart to tell her it would never be a problem for me. It would ruin her happiness. So instead I smiled gently and nodded along with her. Maybe I wasn't such a lost cause after all when it came to other people's emotions. 

"I couldn't imagine how bad nanny Carol would be!" Maggie laughed and I didn't shush her because she was happy. 

The walkers below were surging against the platform and it rocked gently once more. Maggie didn't seem to notice, but I certainly did. 

"Carl and Rick are regular mother hens with you as it is-" she started to say in a light teasing voice.

I shook my head. "That's just because Daryl."

Maggie stopped smiling then and looked at me like she was trying to figure me out. "You really believe that, don't you?"

I looked down at my hands and touched the handle of my kukri. I looked out at the community.

Self worth was never something I had issue with before, but now...I had been broken down and remade and not necessarily for the better. Rationally I, of course, knew I was accepted and respected by the group, but emotions were never so easily rational. I hated the thought but the truth was I struggled to believe they could possibly care about me the way I was now after everything that had happened. How could anyone love or respect someone with so much blood on their hands and the snarls of walkers constantly echoing in their brains? It was so much easier to believe Carl and Rick watched out for me because Daryl had asked them to.

It was full night now, and I couldn't see much in the dim light of the moon. The snarls from the walkers below us were getting easier to deal with as I kept my grip on my kukri.

I frowned and leaned forward. "Do you hear that?" I whispered.

Maggie frowned at me. I glanced down and noticed some of the outliers below us were turning and heading down the street away from us. 

"I thought I heard yelling," I said in a quiet voice.

Maggie strained to hear what I had, but I could see on her face she did not. 

The echoing gunshot made me flinch. Behind me Maggie yelped and dropped her gun onto the platform. The clatter was loud, like the crack of a whip. It echoed down and the walkers below us were whipped into a frenzy. I looked down at the walkers below us. Then out into the night. I could hear more gun shots and yelling but it wasn't enough to draw away the walkers who were now certain we were up here. 

The walkers started swarming and the platform shook threateningly beneath us. The wood creaked ominously and I knew it wouldn't hold long. I could feel the wood trembling beneath my feet. 

I glanced back at Maggie. I pulled off my jacket and laid it over the top of the fence. The damn sheet metal wouldn't be comfortable, but if she could balance herself over the top my jacket would prevent it from cutting into her. It wouldn't buy her much time, but it would be something. Maybe it would be enough.

"When the platform goes down..." I started to say, but she was shaking her head.

"I'm not leaving you!" she demanded.

I took a deep breath, trying to find the words to make her understand. "I stand a better chance on my own-"

Suddenly, there were gun shots below us. "Hey!" I heard someone scream. "Over here!" It was a male voice.

We looked down in time to see Glenn running out into the middle of the herd firing his gun. He was trying to draw them away from the platform. It was working. The whole herd turned towards the noise.

"Glenn!" Maggie shrieked. "Glenn!" she yelled. "Glenn No!!!" she screamed. Despite her screams the walkers beneath us were turning away from the platform in favor of the more readily available meal. They snarled excitedly as the shambled away from us. The platform stabilized. 

"Over here!" he screamed again, waving his arms for good measure. As though the herd would miss seeing him.

"Maggie! Jo!" Enid's voice came from further down the fence. We turned to face her. She had climbed up the back side and stood there with a rope in hand to help us down. Maggie's eyes flitted over her and then she turned back to Glenn. Her eyes were wide with the realization he was sacrificing himself so Enid could get her to safety.

Even from this distance I heard the ominous sound of his gun clicking empty.

"Just go!" he screamed to us, as he continued to fight. He used the gun to pistol whip the walkers closing in on him. "Just get over the fence!"

"Glenn!" Maggie screamed, dropping to her knees. "Glenn!" She wailed, banging her hands weakly against the boards still trying in vain to draw some of the walkers away from him.

I took a deep breath and looked from Enid to Maggie. I took another breath, slowing everything down so I could focus.

"Get her out of here," I commanded Enid. Something must have shown in my eyes because Enid's eyes widened and she nodded frantically. I threw a leg over the side of the platform and lowered myself down. The walkers were louder now, closer. I let myself hear them.

"Jo! No!" Maggie yelled reaching for me. But I had already climbed down so I was hanging by my fingertips from the platform. I quickly did the math. It was probably a five foot drop from here. I could handle a five foot drop.

"Tell Daryl," I said quietly, knowing she would know what I meant.

Maggie's eyes were swimming with tears but she nodded. "I will," she promised. She would never admit it, but she was willing to let me go because deep down she knew I was Glenn's only chance. And everyone is just a little bit selfish when it came to keeping the person they loved safe. I understood it as much as anyone. I took one last deep, calm breath. 

And then I let go. Both physically and mentally.

I landed roughly, tangled up with a walker. I drew my blades as I struggled to my feet. It hadn't been as smooth as I had hoped. With my kukri in one hand and my hunting knife in the other I slashed and stabbed as I ran towards Glenn. My target.

"Jo no!!!" Glenn screamed but it was too late to change my mind. The ladder was gone, there was no way back up onto the platform. I had understood what I was getting myself into. 

I risked a glance at him. He wasn't going to make it. The herd had him backing into the wall. He was frantic and not thinking clearly because he hadn't drawn his knife yet. He wasn't going to make it.

My brain came to that conclusion objectively as I stabbed the hunting knife though another skull. This one spread cool thick matter up my forearm. Decomposition was more advanced than I had realized. I could conserve my strength by not putting as much power behind my strikes.

My mind was crystal clear. All I could see, think, hear and smell were the walkers.

But there was a small piece of me, a subjective part, that would not, could not allow Glenn to die. It made something tighten in my chest to think about. It was uncomfortable to fight with this kind of subjective awareness.

I stabbed the nearest walker and left my blade in it's skull while I drew my first throwing knife. I snapped my wrist, sending it into the walker closest to Glenn. I couldn't let Glenn die. He was my friend, and Maggie was my friend and Maggie loved him and he was going to be a dad. 

I reached down and jerked my kukri back out of the skull. Without stopping I killed three more and kicked two back. I could feel slimy, cold fingers grabbing at the bare skin of my arms and I swung around, slicing through the temples of two more with the kukri.

"Jo!" I heard Glenn's voice but it sounded from very far off. He shouldn't be that far away, I was fighting to get to him, to protect him.

Suddenly, a hand closed over my upper arm and I whirled towards it. At the very last millisecond I realized the hand was warm. I pulled myself up and my eyes suddenly seemed to be working again because Glenn was standing in front of me. His eyes were wide with fear that had nothing to do with the walkers surrounding us. That too made something tighten uncomfortably in my chest.

I nodded to him and then turned so he was at my back and i didn't have to see his face. Instead I faced the herd.

Machine gun fire erupted abruptly around us. The walkers who had been closing in on us all dropped to the ground. I rolled back, into the fence shielding my face with my forearms. When it stopped all the walkers within twenty feet of us were down. More were coming, but it was enough of a reprieve to allow me to catch my breath.

"Can you get the gate?" A thickly accented voice called.

I whirled towards the main gate to see Abraham and Sasha looking over the top of the fence with their rifles in hand.

"Appreciate it Little Sister," Abraham called and then the son of a bitch winked at me.

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Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed the update! Sorry it was so long!!!! This took a while to edit, I kept trying to cram everything into this update but ended up splitting it in half. But still it was nearly a week! I don't know if I have ever gone so long. But...he's back!!!! The reunion is in the next update! Who's excited?!

Vote/Comment Please!!!