Niall's POV

When Carl and I reached the gate, two men who looked to be in their mid-thirties and looked like twins -- with light brown shaggy hair and green eyes -- opened the back doors of the car and ushered us inside. They climbed into the front and once we were settled in the backseat, the one in the driver's seat started driving. We were outside the gate and in the clear of walkers when the one in the passenger seat started to talk.

"I'm Harlan and the one driving is my brother Emmett."

I didn't say anything in response to his introduction and his obvious attempt to be civil. Carl just huffed and looked out the car window, just as unwilling to talk to them as I was. Apparently, Emmett wasn't blind to this as he spoke softly, glancing in the rearview mirror at us.

"Look, working for Negan isn't so bad as long as you do what you're told." Emmett spoke as if from experience.

"And don't piss him off." Harlan added. "He's a good person, a good leader."

I snorted and turned my head to look out the window. "What good leader kidnaps someone? No offense to you guys but Negan is a psychopath."

Much to my surprise, that was the end of the conversation. No one said anything else and I was sure they wouldn't until we reached our destination. Which I was fine with. I wondered what Zayn and Harry were doing as of this moment. I hoped that they were safe and alive wherever Rick's group was.

Staring out the window, my mind began to wander as I thought to myself, hang on guys, I'm coming.

An Hour Later

I never admitted to myself exactly just how exhausted I was until I basically just about collapsed doing a little bit of heavy lifting at abandoned supermarket that somehow managed to stay in tact. Not to mention that it was still stocked up with food, water and all kinds of supplies.

Emmett and I were to gather all of the water we could and place them in boxes they had brought with them. Harlan and Carl went to gather the food. The whole time I was packing up the waters, I was thinking about when we should make a break for it, while sneaking a couple waters when Emmett was looking into my pack.

When Carl returned with Harlan and five boxes full of canned goods and chips and other things, Emmett told me to check the back for anything else. I glanced at him, a look of 'are you crazy' crossing my face.

"Alone?" I asked incredulous.

Emmett sighed. "No, not alone. I'll come with you."

I nodded and glanced at Carl. He was looking at me, his eyes telling me the plan. I knew what he was trying to communicate to me and I gave him a small smile in response. When he looked away, that was his way of letting me know that he knew I understood.

As Emmett and I made our way to the back of the supermarket, I picked up a stray plank of wood from the floor. I was fairly certain that Emmett wouldn't suspect anything as long as I didn't make any sudden moves. Searching the back and declaring it walker free, Emmett started to turn, right as a gunshot was heard from outside.

Panicking, I swung the plank at the back of his head, cringing at the sound of the impact. It wasn't enough to knock him out but with him momentarily surprised, I got another chance. Swinging the plank again, I put all of my weight and strength into it. The plank connected with the side of Emmett's head with a sickening 'crack!' and he dropped like a sack of potatoes.

Stepping back, I dropped the plank and turned at the sound of Carl yelling my name. I took one more glance at Emmett before turning and sprinting out into the store, weaving down at least two isles and burst through the double doors.

Carl was struggling with Harlan for the gun against the car. A quick look around told me that the gunshot had drawn walkers to our position. They were coming out of the trees and from surrounding areas. It would be at least a minute or two before they reached us though and without much thinking I ran to help Carl.

I grabbed Harlan by the back of his jacket and yanked him off and away from Carl. I had been planning to throw the first punch but Harlan must have known my intentions because he fisted his hands in my jacket and shoved me hard against the side of the car. My back hit the side mirror and I ducked under his arm. When I came back up, I threw a hard right-cross, my fist connecting with his cheekbone.

Harlan stumbled back and suddenly Carl was there, hitting him with the butt of the gun Negan had given him earlier. It was enough of a distraction for me to kick him hard in the leg, which caused him to fall. I moved away from him and looked at Carl, despite Harlan's glare.

"Negan's going to find you and he's going to kill you."

I stare at him, unable to look away from the anger in his eyes. I frown at him, not completely understanding where this man's anger was coming from. He had to understand why we were doing this. He had to understand, right?

"Niall, come on! We gotta go!" Carl shouted, grabbing my arm and dragging me along with him. It took a few moments before my feet started working on their own and I turned and ran with Carl.

Rick's Group

Harry's POV

I was constantly thinking about Niall and wondering if he was okay. If he was safe or even alive. Zayn was right when he said that it felt like there was a part of him missing. I felt it too. Niall was a big part of why we continued to fight to survive, why we were still even alive.

I sat on the porch of the house Rick was staying in at Alexandria, a survivors camp, watching Judith play with her toys. She was four years old, Rick told us his wife died giving birth to her and Carl had to kill her after she reanimated. Zayn was somewhere around here, working hard to come up with a plan to get Niall back as well as Carl.

I've told him that he needed to eat and get some rest but he didn't want to listen. What had started as friendly advice and understanding had quickly turned into an argument.

I walked into the study to grab a book and saw Zayn leaning over the table in the middle of the room, papers and maps lying all over the table as well as a full inventory of weapons. They were all laid out with certain parts of the maps circled in red marker.

Frowning, I took in Zayn's appearance and blanched in surprise. Zayn looked as ragged and run down as they come these days. He had dark bags under his eyes, his skin was pale and he looked really malnourished. Like he hasn't been eating. He was wearing the same clothes he had worn the same day we came here (since we came to Alexandria, I'd showered and changed clothes) which told me just how well he'd been taking care of himself.

Note the sarcasm.

I totally understood why he was constantly pouring over plans to get Niall back but not taking care of himself properly and ignoring his own health wasn't going to help. I wanted Niall back just as much, but I was taking care of myself because I know Niall would want me to.

"Zayn?" I walked over to him as he looked up at me, his eyes dark with a clear determination that I'd only seen once before in a different situation with someone else.

"Hey Harry."

"Zayn, I think you need to take a break. How about you get cleaned up and put on some fresh clothes?" I suggested, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"No. I can't- I won't- rest until we bring Niall back." Zayn turned back to the maps and pointed. "You see that? I think that's our way in and our way out. Once we're in we can--"

"Zayn." I said firmly, squeezing his shoulder. He looked at me his eyes darker somehow as they narrowed at me. "You need to take it easy. You need to take care of yourself. If Niall was here--"

And just like that Zayn snapped.

"Well he isn't here! That's the whole damn point! I don't give a damn about whether or not I'm healthy or taking care of myself and I won't until Niall's back here, safe in my arms!"

When it came to anger, I had a bit more patience than most. Especially Zayn but for some reason his outburst triggered something within me and I snapped too.

"What do you think you're going to do when we do find him and you're run down and exhausted?!" I shouted. "You are not going to be any help to him if you're DEAD!"

Zayn stepped closer to me and said, "Oh can it will ya? You don't give a damn about Niall! That's why you aren't as upset about this as I am! You NEVER cared about him so don't act like you do!"

At this point, my anger was just about ready to explode out of me like a nuclear bomb. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rick and Glenn standing in the doorway watching. I knew it was because they thought we needed to work this out ourselves.

Barely to control my anger I said, "How dare you say that? I care just as much for Niall as you do. I would do ANYTHING for him to be here right now and not with that fucking psychopath! Don't ever say that I don't care about him because I do. More so than I did for my own family."

And just like that, Zayn's anger diminished into nothing more than embers. He didn't say another word as he pushed past me out of the study, his shoulders slumped in exhausted anger and defeat. This was not how I wanted this to go down but anger still coursing through my veins, I lashed out with a growl of frustration and hit the wall.

"Harry!"

At the sound of my name, I looked up from Judith and found Zayn sprinting down the street. Ever since our argument he looked better than before and that was all I wanted. I frowned and watched him run to the porch steps.

"What is it?"

"It's Niall! He's at the gates with Carl!" Zayn exclaimed out of breath. "Where's Rick?! He needs to know."

I'm surprised and shocked and happy all At the same time and its all I can do but not burst at the seams with happiness. "I-he's inside."

"Rick!" Zayn shouts running into the house.

As he does this my attention is drawn to the front gates where two people who looked like they had gone through hell, but one more innocent than the other, were walking toward the house, ushered by Maggie and Carol.

I stand and his blue eyes find mine, his face lighting up almost immediately and he breaks out into a run. I barely have any time to move before I have my arms full of a happy and grinning Niall. I can't smile. I can't. All I can do is cry with joy and relief that he's alright. I hug him so tight that I never want to let go and Niall nuzzles his nose into my neck tightening his grip on me.

"How did you get away?" I whispered.

Niall pulls away and smiles again. "Negan sent Carl and I on a supply run with only two of his people. We knocked them out and ran."

Before I can respond, the screen door bangs open and Rick rushes out and down the stairs, pulling his son in his arms. Michonne was there and Zayn came over to us, wrapping Niall in a tight hug that signified greater meaning.

"I'm so happy that you're okay." Zayn murmured in his hair. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

I caught Niall blushing in his arms, a small shy smile forming, unseen by Zayn but seen by me. Looking at him, I saw him whisper the words,

"I know."