"Jo!"

Carl tossed me the gun I had dropped in the commotion as he ran up to Rick, Deanna, and me.  I caught it and immediately sent a bullet through a walker's skull that was centimeters away from biting Ron's shoulder.

I fired another shot. Then another. The walkers surrounded us and blocked us from getting to any shelter. Deanna was bleeding out. There was no time to waste; we needed to get somewhere quickly.

Off to our right, Jessie repeatedly pulled the trigger on her gun, walkers fell to the ground. "Come with me! I have Judith!"

We followed the blonde into her home. As I ran, I shot down two more of the monsters with ease. Even though I had less practice with firearms since being here, it was like muscle memory now. Riding on Poe made this skill engrained within me.

I helped Rick get Deanna upstairs and on a bed. Her blood spilled from her side and onto the floral sheets. The color drained from her face. She was steadily becoming a shell of the persevering woman I once knew. 

Jessie handed me some towels. I pressed them up against Deanna's wound in an attempt to slow the bleeding. She yelped in pain. My hands trembled while the warm liquid ran across them. Judith began crying.

"I got this," Michonne offered with a sympathetic look.

"Are you sure?" I asked. Judith's wails were getting louder. I squeezed my eyes shut.

Michonne moved my hands away from the towel. "Yes. Go help Rick calm her down."

I nodded before wiping the blood off on a clean rag. I rubbed the cloth under my fingernails on my way to the guest bedroom where Judith's crib was. Rick held her and bounced her back and forth. Her face was red and snot ran from her nose.  He tried to shush her but her crying continued. He watched me helplessly.

"She can sense that you're scared," I told Rick. "It's making her scared too."

"I don't know how not to be," he huffed. He hugged his daughter closer. "It's okay, sweetie. You're okay."

I brushed away a tear from her brown eyes with my thumb and held her tiny hand. "Let's breathe. Just do what I do." I took in a deep breath and held it for four seconds before releasing it. "Come on. Trust me," I pleaded. We simultaneously inhaled and exhaled. We became one.

Soon, Judith's bawling became quiet sniffles. Rick placed her back in the crib where her blinks became heavy.

"How'd you know how to do that?" Rick whispered, watching his child.

"I'd do that with Dakota," I said. I smiled grimly. "Since I'm ten years older than her my mom would let me watch her while she folded laundry. I was so nervous to hold her, I thought I'd break her, but I knew it was my job as the big sister to take care of her. She'd always cry. Every time. But I found out that if I breathed and calmed myself down she would calm down too. Even when she got older and started havin' panic attacks I'd do it because it comforted us both."

I walked over to the curtain-covered window and pushed it back slightly. Walkers lined the streets. Their footsteps tore up the green grass. 

"I need to get to them, Rick," I insisted. "Blair was out there. I didn't see her after the tower fell. She probably tried to get to Dakota."

I thought of Tate. I didn't see where he went either. Part of me still cared that he was okay, especially after seeing that Glenn was alive. Nicholas could be too if he got out with Glenn. Tate was a coward, he left them to die, but he didn't kill them. I still wouldn't be able to look at him again without wanting to hurt him. If he did die, he wouldn't take up as much space in my mind as people like Hershel, Tyreese, Beth, and Bob did. He deserved punishment, but not a violent death.

"We'll find them. We have to be smart about it though. Come up with a plan," urged Rick.

He looked out the window with me. His jaw clenched, tears welled in his eyes. I swallowed a lump in my throat.

"How are we goin' to survive this? It feels like we're fightin' a losing battle."

"I don't know."

A man's scream echoed throughout Alexandria. It was silenced immediately. Was that Tate, Eugene, Abraham, Morgan, or Aaron?

"I'm sorry," I said, my voice breaking, tears falling.

"For what?" Rick asked. He faced me now instead of the glass.

"I caused this. This was my fault. If I had just died when I should've none of this would've happened."

Rick gripped my arms and forced me to look at him. "Hey, hey. This is not your fault."

"It is! I told you I was cursed and it's true. Everywhere I go this happens. I know I'll walk out of here with nothin' more than a scratch. But everyone else... you... you'll be taken away from me and I'll be alone. I need to end it now so I can guarantee that won't happen."

I reached for my gun. Rick stopped me before I could even grasp the handle.

"No. Your curse is not real. I still believe that. This would have happened whether you were here or not. There was no stoppin' it." Rick sighed. He held me tighter. "Jo, I need you. I need you with me more than you know. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you were gone. Please. Please stay with me."

A piece of my belief in the curse broke. The only way it would shatter is if everyone made it through this. Even then, the remains would still be inside of me. Death would still follow me.

My heart hammered in my chest. Just like with his daughter, I wiped a single tear away. My touch remained on him, my palm rubbed against his stubble.  "I'm alive with you, Rick," I said.

"Every other moment," he whispered.

His blue eyes peered into my soul. The walkers were gone, the danger was gone, it was just us in this room. We were the only two people left on the planet.

My other hand reached for his face, brushing back a perfect curl.

"I need you," Rick repeated while he clutched my hip.

I pulled Rick's face into mine. He hesitated for a moment, letting our skin brush together and our breathing intertwine. My entire body erupted in a shower of sparks.

Neither of us could hold back any longer. The gap closed between our desperate lips. Our mouths moved together as if that was where they were always meant to be. The yearning I had within me disappeared while feeling his soft touch. It was replaced by an intense, burning fire. I needed Rick as much as he needed me.

His hand ran through my hair as he kissed me harder. It felt like I had jumped into a cool lake after a warm day. Like eating freshly baked apple pie. It felt like seeing a vast, never-ending sky filled with twinkling constellations.

If had the choice, I would have stayed there forever.

But you can't always get what you want.

"Jo! Come here, quick!" Carl called out from downstairs.

Rick and I broke apart, the green and blue of our eyes still woven together. My lips became cold and empty. I ran my hands down to his chest-- his heart was beating as fast as mine was. 

"I should see what he needs," I breathed, my eyes not leaving Rick's.

"I know," he answered but remained still. He took me in like I'd vanish as soon we separated.

"Jo, hurry!" Carl yelled again.

The two of us, now acting on instinct, started toward the frantic kid. We couldn't help but give each other a knowing glance as we descended the stairs.

Everyone was gathered at the front window looking at something with concern. I heard gunshots directly outside of the house. Carl made space for Rick and I to see what was causing so much commotion.

My limbs became numb. I couldn't move or think clearly.

Blair and Dakota were shooting their way through the horde of walkers alone.

I shoved Gabriel out of the way and reached for the doorknob. Rick held the barrier shut.

"Rick, I need to help them!" I shouted. "They'll die without me!"

"You do," he confirmed. "But not this way. There are too many. They're spaced out between buildings so that's how you'll get out."

I nodded, releasing my grip from the door.

Rick and I ran to the laundry room. He was right, there were not as many walkers outside but still an alarming amount. I reloaded my revolver with a few bullets I had in my pocket.

"Can you do this?" Rick asked, examining the threat.

"I can."

"Okay. I'll cover you from here. Just focus on getting them to safety."

I unlatched the window before yanking it up. As I started putting my foot on the ledge, Rick took my arm and spun me around. He slammed his lips onto mine. We kissed like we'd never get the chance to again.

I gave Rick one last look then vaulted myself out the window. My feet slammed onto the ground and walkers fell around me. I shot at the ones blocking the quickest path to my sisters. Blood painted the white houses red.

I broke past the herd and got onto the street. Blair and Dakota were being continuously pushed away from any building they could get into.

With my knife, I stabbed a walker that lunged too close to me. I slashed, shot, slashed, shot, over and over again until my sisters could see me clearly through the crowd.

"Dakota, Blair, this way!" I said.

I covered my sisters as they dodged their attackers.

"Circle up!"

The three of us put our backs to each other. From every angle, we battled for our lives.

"We can get to our house, just keep fightin'! Move my way."

We pushed forward. Guns poked out through a cracked window in Jessie's home. Their bullets made our journey easier. If it wasn't for them, we would have been overwhelmed.

I was the first to get up the steps and get the door open. Blair sprinted inside. But, as Dakota leaped onto the porch, a walker grabbed her arm. I didn't have any time to react before it sunk its rotted teeth into her wrist.

Dakota screamed while her flesh was being pulled from the bone. More walkers responded to the eruption of sound and headed right for her.

"No!" I cried out.

I killed the walker that had a hold of my baby sister and dragged her into the house. The door slammed and locked behind us.

Blair's mouth fell open when she saw the blood. "What happened?!" she shrilled.

"She was bit. Help me get her on the kitchen table!" I commanded.

Dakota was beginning to collapse, shock taking over.

Blair stared. She was frozen in place.

"Now, Blair!"

She snapped out of her daze and held Dakota up from her right side. We hauled her to the kitchen before we lifted her on the flat, cold surface. I snatched up a cleaned machete that was lying in the sink.

"Hold her down," I said to Blair. "Don't let her move."

"What are you doin'?" she asked in a panic.

"I need to get her hand off before the infection spreads. I know this works, you just need to trust me, okay?"

Blair bit her lip and nodded. She walked over to Dakota's left arm and pushed down on it. Our sister cried. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head.

Although I appeared calm, I was filled with an overwhelming terror. But I couldn't let it show. If I did, Blair wouldn't be able to think straight. I needed to act like it was going to be okay for both of them. I had to convince myself it would be.

My worst nightmare was coming true.

I lined up the blade just above her wrist and took one practice swing to get used to the motion. Then, I slammed the machete down onto her arm. Dakota shrieked in pain and tried to wriggle away. Blair kept her arm steady. After another cut, Dakota passed out, her body couldn't handle it.

Blood splattered on us. It dripped off the table and onto the floor. Skin and muscle clung to the blade.

"One more and I think I got it."

I swung and hit granite.

Blair turned away and threw up.

"You can't quit on me now. She still needs us," I said. "Get clean towels and bandages. I need to elevate her arm."

She ran to the bathroom like a flash of light. She was back just as quickly. I grabbed the cloth and applied pressure to the amputation. It became completely soaked in just a minute. I repeated this until the bleeding slowed.

Dakota's face was pale. Ghostly.

My teeth chattered. I couldn't stop shaking.

"Wrap the bandage around it. Make sure you cover it completely and that it's secure."

Perspiration covered Blair's face. Her shaking was identical to mind. She kept herself steady enough to get the dressing over the exposed nerves.

"Hold her arm up, I- I need to think. Figure out what to do," I quivered.

Blair took my place, a sob finally able to escape her throat.

I walked toward the front door. Walkers banged against it and rattled from the pressure. Their nails scraped against the wood. I went upstairs to get a better view of what we were facing now. How many of them surrounded the house after being attracted by the noise.

The only solution I could come up with to keep Dakota alive was to get her to the infirmary. Even if there was no one there that could help, at least we'd have more materials to work with.

As I walked into my room, I saw Michonne walk past a window. I opened mine and leaned out.

"Michonne!" I yelled. "Michonne!"

After a second, she appeared in front of me again. Her eyes were wide. She opened the window.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. It's Dakota." My voice wavered as I spoke.

"Rick!"

The man ran next to Michonne. "What happened? Are you hurt?" he questioned.

"Dakota was bit," I explained. "I had to cut off her arm. We need to get her to the infirmary."

Rick held the window sill tightly. His hands had guts all over them. "Get some bed sheets and cut them so you can drape them over all three of you. You and Blair will need to get a walker inside. Use its blood and intestines to cover the sheets completely. The smell and look of it will keep you hidden from the walkers. As long you stay quiet and move slowly, you can get her there."

I wrung my hands together. "Okay. We'll do it. What about you guys?"

"We're doin' the same. We need to get to the armory so we can draw them away."

"I'll try to see you when this is all over, then."

"We will see each other again," corrected Michonne.

"Get goin', you got a job to do," Rick said.

I nodded. "So do you."

The three of us left without another word. I couldn't look at Rick any longer. All I could imagine was his death.

I went and related the plan to Blair. It took some convincing, but she agreed. We placed pillows under Dakota's injury before Blair went to the side of the house and I went to the front. My sister yelled and banged a machete up against the side of the house to draw some walkers away from the porch. When they were distracted, I flung open the door and pulled one inside by the collar of its shirt. It growled and reached for my warm tissue. I kicked it in the stomach at the same time as I launched myself back to close the door. It stumbled and I stabbed it in its skull.

Blair cut the sheets, I cut open the walker.

After getting the gut-covered bedding on ourselves, Blair and I carefully put one on Dakota's limp body. Her chest was barely moving.

"How are we gonna get her there?" Blair asked. "What if somethin' goes wrong and we can't defend ourselves?"

"I can carry her myself," I determined from eyeing Dakota's small frame.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. But you need to be ready if somethin' does go wrong like you said. I'm relyin' on you to keep your cool. Every second matters. Every bullet matters."

"I know. We have to get her there and I'll make sure we do."

"Okay, let's go. I love you, Blair."

"I love you too, Jo."

I picked up my little sister. Her feet and arms dangled and bounced as I adjusted her in my arms.

Blair slowly opened the door for us. The walkers began filing in immediately. The hair stood up on the back of my neck and I held my breath. They didn't see us. We were invisible. We had one chance.

The sunshine was almost gone from the sky. Darkness would make it more difficult to get to the infirmary, but not impossible. Nothing could delay our journey.

The two of us moved through the herd, being careful not to bump into any of them. We walked slowly to match their pace. Blair held her gun, ready for anything. I held onto Dakota as hard as I could. If she slipped from my hold, we were done.

Ahead of us, I spotted the others. They held hands and progressed in one line. Rick led them with determination and confidence. I forced myself to look away. I had to stay focused on what I had to do.

The walkers growled and knarled around us. They were shuffling, searching for their next meal. It was nerve-wracking being this close to them because it usually meant you were close to dying.

It felt like we had been walking for hours. Nighttime had fully enveloped what was left of Alexandria. My muscles ached from carrying Dakota but it was better that she remained unconscious. We were almost to the infirmary. We were going to make it.

Blair and I slowly walked up the steps. When she was a foot away from the door, it flung open.

"Get in here, quick!" Denise said, gesturing frantically.

I didn't care about blending in anymore. I sprinted forward into the house with my last burst of energy.

"What happened?"

I ran past Heath, Aaron, and Spencer and placed Dakota gently on a bed. "I amputated her left hand because she got bit. She's lost a lot of blood. We got it mostly under control. I did it with a machete; it was all I had," I babbled. My mind was going in a million different directions. I rubbed my face and paced around the room.

Denise gave instructions to the men to help her. Her words were muddled together in my ears.

Aaron entered my line of sight. "You did the right thing, Jolene. Denise can help her," he insisted.

"Do you know her blood type?" Denise asked while unwrapping the bandages.

"A+. I have the same type," Blair said.

"Okay, come sit over here. I need to start drawing."

I took off my bed sheet and threw it in the corner away from the medical equipment. Heath was disinfecting Dakota's wound while Denise stuck the needle in Blair's arm. There was so much I wanted to do but I was completely helpless. I watched the chaos and hoped Dakota would pull through.

"It doesn't look like the infection is spreading. How'd you know to do this?" questioned Denise.

"Maggie's father," I responded. "He got bit on the leg and survived this way. You also learn a lot about keepin' people alive when you're out there." I caressed Dakota's head. "I acted as fast as I could. Was it enough?"

The woman began pumping Blair's blood into our sister's veins. "It was more than enough. You saved her life. Once this circulates in her system I think she'll stabilize. I'll keep an eye on her for any sign of an infection from the amputation, but I'm optimistic."

The tension within my body disappeared. I wasn't there when the Wolves attacked her, but I was when it really mattered.

A gunshot sounded in the distance. Aaron and I rushed to the windows. I squinted in an attempt to search for who pulled the trigger. We spotted nothing. Then, there was swift movement. Michonne was slicing walkers with her katana. Behind her, Rick was carrying someone in his arms. It was like seeing myself out there with Dakota. They moved closer. My breath hitched in my throat.

Carl.

"Oh my God," said Aaron.

"What? What is it?" Denise urged.

"Carl's been hurt. I can't tell how," I answered. "He's not movin'."

"Okay. okay. We have enough supplies left to help him. Spencer, get the gurney."

I opened the door so Rick didn't waste time getting his son inside. His mouth was open and he had a dazed expression on his face.

While he moved past me, I saw why he was here and not at the armory. Carl's right eye was replaced by a bloody, mangled, and empty socket.

My body went frigid. Was he alive? Could Denise bring him back if he wasn't?

Why him? Why Dakota? They were so young and didn't deserve this pain and trauma. Why not me?

"This is a gunshot?"

"Handgun. Close range," Michonne confirmed.

Rick got Carl on the gurney. His breathing was rapid and uneven. "Please save him. Please," he begged.

I approached the man and took off his camouflage cover. He didn't move. He just stared at Carl. I knew exactly what was going through his head. I had the same thoughts with Dakota and I was having them now. Carl was more than just Rick's son to me.

Rick moved away from me and peered out the window. He yanked his axe from his belt and then opened the door.

"Rick!" I shouted. "Stop! Rick!"

Rick didn't hear me. Or, he didn't want to. He kept going and shut the exit behind him.

Without hesitation, I took a dagger in my hand and went to follow him. Blair ran over and stopped me.

"Jo, you can't go out there. It's a death sentence," she said.

"I need to!" I insisted with furrowed eyebrows. "You don't understand. I can't leave him."

Blair slowly released me. A realization suddenly washed over her. "I do. Go."

I ran outside. I stabbed my way past the walkers, following Rick's path of destruction.

A walker was coming straight at him but he was too distracted by other ones to see it. I weaved and dodged until I was able to take a running leap at it. Its body crumbled to the ground and revealed myself to Rick. He gave me a quick nod. I returned the gesture.

He turned and we both fought the parasites that infected our home.

Soon, Michonne, Aaron, Heath, and Spencer joined us.

"Knock 'em away. Drive 'em down," Rick commanded.

Others then emerged from their safety with weapons in hand. Tate was among them.

"We can beat 'em! We can beat 'em!"

There was a large group of us now. Enough to where my confidence grew. We kept moving toward the wall while taking out as many walkers as we could.

Suddenly, the pond at the center of the town erupted in flames. A majority of the walkers turned their sights on it. I couldn't help but smile.

"Don't let up!" Rick told us.

Into the early hours of morning we fought.

Together, we took back Alexandria

I stabbed the last walker to roam the streets. When its body hit the ground, mine almost fell with it. All of the drive I had in me was gone now that threat was taken care of.

Rick spun around, making sure all of the walkers were dead. He paused his movements on me.

The two of moved as fast as our exhausted legs would let us before we embraced each other. Rick  held my head against his chest.

"Come on. Our family needs us," I said, pulling away. Rick kept my head cupped in his palm. "Our job is done here."