Gabriel had been telling the truth- for the most part. After another half a mile, the group had reached the church. There was nothing else to see with it being enclosed by trees and Parker instantly started to worry. It would be incredibly easy for someone to hide in the trees and keep an eye on them without being spotted. Still, Parker had been on the road for so long that she would gladly risk being watched if meant she had a roof over her head. Even if it was just for a few days. To be able to feel like walkers wouldn't tear her apart if she closed her eyes for a moment too long was something she hadn't felt in too long.

"Hold up." Rick glanced back and everyone stopped. "Can we take a look around first?" He walked up to Gabriel. "We just want to hold onto our squirrels."

"Wait here," Parker told him, still not one hundred percent trusting him.

"Yes, boss."

"You're staying too." Rick informed her and she pursed her lips as she stared at him. "You really trust him with Carl?"

"Fine." Just to make sure she stayed outside, Rick handed her Judith, a small smirk on his face. Half the group entered the church to explore the inside, while Parker stayed outside with Carl and Judith. She thrashed and cried in her arms, and Parker had a miserable look on her face. She didn't know how else to keep her from crying, they were pretty much out of food, which was probably why she was crying, so Parker just bounced her on her hip. When her screams calmed down a bit, Parker smiled. "Have you been hiding in this church since the beginning?"

"I spent months here without stepping through the front door." Gabriel nodded towards the open doors to his church. "If you found someone inside, well, it would have been surprising."

"Thanks for this." Carl thanked him, grateful to get off the road even for a few days.

"We found a short bus out back," Abraham announced as he and Rosita walked around the side of the church. "It don't run, but I bet we could fix that in a day or two. Father here says he doesn't want it. Looks like we found ourselves some transport." Rick didn't seem to be listening at all to what he was saying, almost spaced out. "You understand what's at stake here, right?"

"Yeah, I do." Rick broke out of his thoughts, looking up at Abraham.

"Can't we just rest for the moment?" Parker argued, looking between Abraham's little trio.

"Now that we can take a breath-" Michonne wanted to say more but Abraham cut her off mid-sentence.

"If we rest, we take a breath.. we slow down." Abraham shook his head, ready to get back on the road. "Shit inevitably goes down."

"We need to take a break. We've been out there for days since Terminus. We need rest, food, water, and ammo- supplies in general. We need supplies no matter what we do next. That's the priority. Not getting him to Washington. We can't do shit if we're all dead on our asses." Parker countered, not the least bit intimidated by Abraham when he looked down at her.

"That's right," Rick cut in. "Water, food, ammunition."

"Short bus ain't goin' nowhere," Daryl told Abraham. "Bring you some baked beans." Rick led the way into the church, stopping at the doors to take Judith back from Parker.

"I'll take her from here."

"Oh, aren't you just the sweetest?" Parker hit his arm as she walked past him, shaking her head as he laughed behind her. "You sure?" She turned around, making sure he was still coming.

"You look exhausted," Rick commented. "You should get some rest. Trust me."

"You know when you told me to remind you when you're being an ass back at the prison?" She stared blankly at him before continuing. "Oh, yeah, no? That was your reminder." He laughed as he passed her knowing she couldn't do anything because he had Judith. Parker collapsed dowing onto the wooden pews with a sigh while Rick's eyes scanned the church.

"How'd you survive here so long? Where did your supplies come from?"

"Luck," Gabriel responded. "Our annual canned food drive. Things fell apart right after we finished it. It was just me."

"Come here, Judith," Carl whispered quietly as he stole her from his dad.

"The food lasted a long time," Gabriel continued to explain. "And then I started scavenging. I've cleaned out every place nearby. Except for one."

"What's stopping you?" Parker asked curiously, sitting up a bit from her spot.

"It's overrun," Gabriel answered.

"How many?" Rick questioned, already planning on going there.

"A dozen or so.. maybe more?"

"We can handle a dozen," Rick stated confidently.

"Bob and I will go with you," Sasha offered, sharing a look with her brother. "Tyreese should stay here, help keep Judith safe."

"That'll be okay?" Rick asked him, making sure he didn't want to go along with them. Tyreese nodded his head almost instantly.

"Sure. You ever need me to watch her, need anything for her, I'm right here."

"I'm grateful for it," Rick looked him dead in the eyes, "And everything else."

"I'll draw you a map," Gabriel offered, deadset on staying back at the church.

"You don't need to," Rick stopped him, "You're coming with us." Gabriel looked unsure, gulping loudly as he stared at Rick.

"I'm not gonna be of any help," He tried to smile, scared of leaving. "You saw me. I'm no good around those things." He stuttered over his words.

"You're comin' with us," Rick repeated, not giving him a choice either way. When Rick took off with some members of the group and Gabriel, Daryl had gone over to Parker. She was sprawled out on one of the pews, her arm behind her head as a pillow and when he sat down next to her, she looked over at him.

"Hey," She smiled as she leaned up on her elbows. "You good?"

"Yeah, I'm alright," Daryl nodded. "How are you feelin'?"

"Tired," Parker admitted, slowly sitting up. "But I can help you if you want to go somewhere."

"No. Absolutely not," Daryl responded, grabbing her arm to keep her from getting up. "You're stayin' here. I'm not gonna keep sending you out there if you don't have to be."

"But it doesn't seem fair," Parker protested, "I want to help."

"You can help by staying here and staying safe."

"I can take care of myself," She adjusted her position so that she was turned towards him, one leg hanging off the side. "You know that better than anyone."

"I know," Daryl put a hand on her knee. "But I need to know that you're safe. We got a place now, and I don't want you gettin' hurt."

"Fine. But you have to promise me that you'll take Carol with you." Parker decided, wanting to know he had someone out there with him. "I trust that she won't let you do anything stupid." Daryl scoffed, giving her an offended look.

"Wow, thanks."

"You're welcome," Parker responded before wrapping her arms around Daryl's neck and hugging him. "I love you."

"I love you too," Daryl said, resting his head on top of hers. He kissed her cheek before holding her at shoulder length. "Just promise me you'll stay here for now." Parker nodded after thinking things over in her head.

"I will, as long as you come back, fair?"

"I will," Daryl promised. "I have to keep you and the baby safe."

"And you can't do that if you're dead," Parker said, taking Daryl's hands in hers. "I hate that you get to go out there without me."

"I know, but I'll be back soon," Daryl assured her, kissing her forehead. "Besides, if you get some sleep, it'll be like I never left."

"I won't be able to sleep knowing you're out there," Parker said through a sigh.

"Hey," Daryl whispered, noticing how upset she was. "I'm coming back, okay? I'm not going anywhere without you, but right now you're dead on your feet." Parker sighed, her chin resting on her hand.

"Maybe you're right," She looked up at him through her eyelashes. "Just come back, okay?"

"I will." Abraham walked past, pointing a screwdriver at Parker.

"You good with engines, Little Grimes?" Parker furrowed her eyebrows, her eyes narrowed as she looked over at him.

"Little Grimes?" She repeated slowly to which Abraham nodded.

"Yeah. The kid with the sheriff hat said you're Rick's sister." Parker just blinked at him.

"Well.. yes... ? But I'd prefer to be called by my name which is Parker." She said slowly while Daryl quietly laughed behind her. "And I might not be terrible..? Glenn tried to teach me some things but I'm a slow learner. Why?"

"I could use a hand with trying to fix that short bus." Abraham explained, pointing his thumb toward the back of the church.

"Sure, I can try to help."

"No lifting any heavy shit," Daryl told her, also looking at Abraham as if making sure he knew not to let her.

"True, for the baby," Abraham agreed, not knowing for sure. He seemed to be guessing his own answer. "You have my word she will be well taken care of while you're away."

"Again. I can take care of myself." Parker deadpanned, her face a blank stare as she listened to the two.

"Just because you can doesn't mean you have to," Daryl muttered, rubbing her back. "I'll see you soon, alright?" Rick had taken Michonne, Sasha, Bob, and Gabriel while Maggie, Glenn, and Tara headed to a nearby town to try and find weapons and anything useful. Daryl and Carol went out in search of water, leaving Parker, Carl, Judith, and Tyreese with Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita. When everyone had left, Abraham went to work on the bus while Carl looked around the church. 

As they worked, Parker helped him and proved to be more useful than Abraham initially thought. When they got close to fixing the engine, the two became friends easily. Abraham had heard how nervous Parker was when the people she was closest to were away and remembered how he felt when he realized his own wife had left him. He knew how it felt when someone you loved was out there, so he tried to distract her as best he could.

"Aunt Parker!" Carl shouted from the back of the church. "Come see this!" Parker looked up at Abraham.

"You good on your own for a sec?"

"For now, yes," Abraham nodded, covered almost head to toe in car grease, half hidden under the bus. "I'll call Eugene if I need help. Go see what the kid wants." Parker headed over to where Carl was and he instantly led her to the scratches in the wooden frame of the window.

"What the hell is that?" She leaned closer to get a better look.

"Look what I found," Carl said, pointing at the window frame. "Those scratches are deep."

"Like knives or an axe?" Parker looked down at Carl for a split second before redirecting her gaze to the marks in the wood. "Maybe not an axe... knife seems more realistic." Carl shrugged.

"Maybe.. someone was trying to break in? But I found something else. Follow me." He headed to the other end of the church. "Now, I don't know what happened.. but whatever it is.. we can handle it. It doesn't mean that Gabriel is a bad guy, even if he is a bit strange." When they stopped in front of the wall and Parker saw what Carl was pointing out, her eyebrows furrowed. "But this definitely means something."

"Be sure to show your dad this when he gets back. He might know what to do. Or he might flip out."

"Right here, look at that." Carl ran his hand over the engraved words on one of the boards of the church. Hand carved into the wood was: YOU'LL BURN FOR THIS.