Javier and David were shoved into the same quarantine area the group had initially been placed in. They turned to their captors, Javi recognising the man from the road:

"I let you go on the road, remember? Can't you help us now?" he asked. Rufus snapped back:

"Course I remember. It's why I haven't shot you already! That's how I'm helping you!"

"Get in there, you two. Joan's gonna figure out what to do with you" a second soldier snapped. David growled:

"She's making a huge mistake."

"No, you made a mistake when you tried to attack her! When you let that Dixon bastard in here. Me and Rufus were both there that night, David. We've both got bullseyes on us now so fuck you!"

The soldier smashed David hard in the stomach with the butt of his gun, dropping the man to the floor.

Clint walked in the room and raised his hands:

"Hey! Everybody just take a breath, alright?"

He looked down at David gasping for breath.

"Jesus, David. You look like shit. When are you going to learn that you can't fight everybody? Understand that Joan's not looking for revenge. She just wants order. Cooperation is the name of the game. There's still a way through this. But you've got to let Joan enforce the laws."

"You do anything she tells you to do, huh? Go along with whatever she says, just to keep your place? Was Y/N even right about you?" Javier asked, staring down the man.

"It's not like that. Joan's got a tough job. She needs all our help to keep this place safe. And what happened to Y/N and Clementine, I was against that as soon as I heard about it. I lost a lot of respect for your brother that day, but in this world now sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture to protect those you care about."

David looked at Clint furious as he got to his feet. Javi replied:

"Bigger picture... yeah I see a lot of bigger picture folk around here... you might want to check on them, last I heard "The Dixon", as you call him, wanted to go catch up with a few of his old friends."

Clint quickly walked out the cell with significant concern on his face, Rufus and the other soldiers accompanying him, locking the door behind them.

"I never trusted Joan. I didn't think she'd turn on me like this!" David muttered, kicking a stool over.

"You pushed the wrong people too far. Lucky I've got people in Richmond who have our backs. We'll get out of this" Javi replied, looking over at a high window, the only other opening to the locker room prison cell they were in.

"Oh so there's a we now, is there? Don't think I've forgotten about you abandoning me!" David snapped.

"Consider us square for you being ready to send me on my merry. My first concern was getting Kate and Mari to safety. I won't apologise for that" Javi shot back.

David shoved Javi hard from behind into a locker and began yelling:

"My wife! My daughter! and what about Gabe?"

"Gabe left to go after you. Your injured wife and scared daughter agreed getting them out of a fucking war zone was a good idea!" Javi yelled back shoving David twice as hard.

David charged, tackling Javi to the ground before Javi fought back. The two brothers struggled in the grapple before a gunshot rang out, shattering one of the high windows. The two brothers looked over to the doorway where Joan stood laughing, Lonnie aiming a gun at the pair:

"Typical brothers, fighting like little boys."

"You bitch! I fucking trusted you!" David roared, getting off his brother and charging towards Joan before he was pistol whipped by Lonnie.

As David hit the ground two other soldiers entered and picked him up by the arms.

"Careful! Don't give him a concussion. I want him awake for what's coming. Don't you worry, Javi... I'll save plenty for you!"

Joan turned as she finished, Javi snapping:

"If you thought David was a problem, I got news for you. My people are out there now, in Richmond, and they're even worse."

"Oh, please..." Joan chuckled, turning back. She was holding a brave face but Javi could see concern in her eyes.

"Y/N's been running loose for how long now? Three hours? I wonder how he's kept himself busy?"

"I've got my best people looking for him, and when they find him I'll hang him right next to you and that brother of yours!" Joan roared before storming out of the cell.

Javier chuckled to himself. He was good at reading people, and for all her posturing Joan was clearly shitting herself. He turned his attention to breaking out.

He looked at the window that had been shot and noticed it was cracked to the point of shattering. He quickly found a loose pipe on one of the disused sinks in the former locker room, climbed up to the window, perching on top of a row of lockers, and shattered the remaining glass.

He gripped the metal railings that had been crudely welded to the outside of the window frame and shook as hard as he could.

—~—

Schlk!

Schlk!

Schlk!

Y/N snarled as he gripped the nameless soldier's face, staring down into his dying eyes as the young Dixon turned the man's abdomen into slops.

Clementine suddenly burst into the room, having been stood on guard out the front. They were in a guardhouse they had wandered upon on the way to the hospital, and Y/N recognised the faces within.

Clementine looked briefly at the two dead New Frontier soldiers on the ground and to her boyfriend as the man he was currently murdering breathed his last.

"Four soldiers, nearly on us" Clementine whispered.

Y/N pulled his hunting knife from the dying man's abdomen and stabbed him in the temple, quickly ducking through a doorway with Clementine behind him, the two hiding against the wall. Y/N's knife was raised as Clementine pulled her gun from her waist, the two ready the moment the soldier's entered the room.

The pair heard the men enter, one exclaiming:

"Fucking hell!"

Before a radio clicked to life.

"We've got another location hit, the western lookout. Three more bodies" the man said into his receiver, Clint's voice coming through a minute later.

"That's fifteen soldiers so far. Any sign of Dixon?"

"No sir. Should we head to the hospital next?"

"Negative, Lingard was discovered passed out, Lonnie's guarding him. I want you four to continue west then head south. We need to find Y/N before a panic breaks out."

"Roger sir. Over and out" the soldier replied.

"Fucking animal!" "What a mess!" Two of the others spoke before the couple heard the soldiers exit the same way they came in.

"Only Lonnie alone. Like shooting ducks in a barrel" Y/N chuckled. Clementine nodded and smiled.

"Let's get you cleaned up and head over. We're gonna get him back. We're gonna get our son back."

"And get every single one of the pricks who took him from us" Y/N replied, a cold expression in his eyes.

—~—

Javi had been at the metal frame for about thirty seconds when he saw two faces approaching that made his heart raise:

"Kate! Mari!" he whisper-shouted as the pair rushed over from across the street.

"Javi!" Mariana gasped in happiness. Kate equally so as she smiled down at him:

"I wasn't sure how we were going to find you. Then we heard the glass breaking. You're alive!"

"For now. You escaped the guards?" Javi asked relieved.

"Barely. Now there's soldiers running all over the place. We gotta get you out of here."

"Take this. Help me pry these bars off" Javi replied as he handed Kate the metal pole. The three pushed and pulled before the bars came loose with a satisfying pop.

"Thanks you two" Javi smiled as Mariana helped him out of his cell.

"We've got a place to go. Follow us" Kate whispered as she looked around before the trio ran off down the street.

"Any idea what the soldiers are running around for? Is it Y/N?" Javi asked.

"Yeah, him and... that..." Kate replied as they turned a corner, Javi hearing an ungodly moaning drone.

"The hell is that noise?" Javi asked.

"It's a herd. They've got this place surrounded. Come on. This way" Mariana replied to her uncle with a smile.

"Where are we going?"

"Eleanor found a place. Gabe's there with the others. We've been hiding out there. For as long as we can, anyway" Kate answered.

"Gabe? You found him?"

"Ava did, after she had ran into Tripp and Eleanor. He's not talking to us, blames us for Dad" Mariana said with an angry tone.

"I'm sorry, Mari. Is this place safe?" Javi asked Kate as they walked.

"Safe enough for now. But we should hit the road as soon as we can."

"Thank God for Eleanor. She's a lifesaver" Javi smiled.

"Literally. We all owe her. They'll be relieved to see you're okay" Kate said happily.

They ran another couple of streets and Javi asked suddenly:

"Where are the patrols? I'm surprised we haven't seen any given how frantic you said they are."

"Oh, they're around. We had some close calls on our way to find you. Almost got caught. But we got lucky, they all seem to be moving to the other side of the city."

"That was foolish. You've got to be more careful... but I can never thank you enough" Javi chuckled. Kate's face had gone from furious to beaming in the space of a moment.

"I owe you my life. It's only fair" she replied with a blush.

"Are you two gonna kiss again?" Mariana asked with a smirk that only got worse as Javier joined Kate in blushing. He quickly changed the subject.

"So uh, Kate... you must be feeling better if you're sneaking around like this?"

"I'm not, really. But I'll get my rest when we're safe" she chuckled before stopping as Javier stopped abruptly.

"What the hell?" he snapped as he rushed over to a door and pulled a wanted poster off it. He read it quickly before showing Kate and Mariana.

"Wanted posters for Y/N?" he asked in surprise. Kate nodded and asked:

"Ava said they were worried, the New Frontier. He's certainly causing hell and making things easier for us. No mention of Clementine though. What's your take on them?"

"Yeah you know them better than us. We heard what happened with the man who pointed the gun at you" Mariana added.

Javi smiled as he continued to walk.

"They're good kids. They really are. I mean  they done some horrible things, I'm not ignoring it, but when I think what they've been through. I mean can you imagine being out there alone, Mari, with Gabe, for years? Having to find food, shelter, defend yourselves, being captured and tortured, having your child taken from you at gunpoint?"

"No I can't" Mariana replied sadly.

"When I think about it, all they went through... there's no way I could have at their age. We were so lucky having the van all this time you know" Kate added with the same tone.

"This is us" Mariana said with a smile she bravely tried to maintain, and as the three of them got to the doorway to Eleanor's building they saw another note pinned to it:

ATTENTION: MANDATORY PRESENTATION AT DAWN -- NEW FRONTIER COUNCIL

"Do you think it's about Y/N and Clementine?" Kate asked. Javi shook his head as they entered:

"No, David. Joan took him off to God knows where."

"What are we gonna do?" Kate asked. "I can't be married to him, and I hate what he's done, but he's Mari and Gabe's Dad. I still feel terrible about what's happening to him" Kate replied, hugging Mari as they climbed a staircase.

"I'm not sure, Kate. I'm really not" Javi replied.

"And they're gonna be looking for you soon. It's only a matter of time before they find the room empty--and sound the alarm."

"There's that as well" Javi nodded before they arrived at Eleanor's apartment and heard Tripp through the door:

"Elle, I been thinking hard about this and... I really think we should be... a thing."

"I'm sorry. I don't know if I feel like that. That way. Look, I just don't know. It's shown me that I'm good at helping people. I can do that here."

"These people aren't good people Elle. And they'll keep you but not me, not the rest of us. Would you be happy never seeing me again?"

Javi opened the door and Ava was stood against a wall glaring at him, Gabe sat on a couch doing the same.

"Gabe, it's good to see you" Javi smiled. Gabe just huffed and looked away. Javi sighed and looked to Ava, nodding. The moment the front door closed she rounded on him:

"That was a real shitty thing you did, ditching your brother. I was waiting. Then letting Gabe take off by himself. I found your boy wandering the streets. It was lucky I found him and not someone else!"

"I was trying to get my family, these people, to safety. Gabe made his choice and I couldn't chase him and get them to safety at the same time. You can try and shame me all you want, but these people are my world. I'll die to protect them, and in case you forget David was quick to kick me out... I'd say we're equal, wouldn't you?" Javi snapped back. Ava's eyes narrowed but she didn't reply. Gabe though did:

"I went looking for my dad, but I couldn't find him, not that you care!"

Javi tried to hold his tongue. He loved his nephew, despite the colossal shit he was being. He replied through gritted teeth:

"Sorry about leaving you behind before, bud."

"You better be" Gabe snarled. That disrespect was the last straw. Javi had had enough. He snapped:

"Fine, Gabe, be like that. Keep on acting like a little shit and see how far that gets you."

"Screw you, Javi! I can say whatever I want" Gabe snapped back.

Mariana and Kate both looked at the teen furiously. Javi shook his head.

"That's right. You can. And one day you'll say the wrong thing to the wrong person, Gabe. You need to grow up!"

Gabe just glared silently, muttering "whatever."

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, Tripp and Eleanor could be heard still arguing from a bedroom:

"So what about me?"

"Tripp, I like you. But we're not a thing. Being a part of this is important. Important to me."

"These people slaughtered Prescott, Eleanor. You can just jump ship that easily?"

Hurt and betrayal could be heard in Tripp's voice. Eleanor was taken back and replied:

"I just can't do this now" and she opened the door and walked out into the awkward silence of the lounge. She looked at the five extremely embarrassed:

"Oh, hey" she said as her cheeks warmed.

"Uh... Hey! Javi replied awkwardly.

"Tripp! Look who's here..." Eleanor continued. Tripp walked into the lounge, clearly upset:

"Hey! Guys, uh...Where have you been?"

"Joan threw me and David into jail, if you can believe it. Took David away, turned his military against him. Seems like he genuinely didn't know about Prescott. I wouldn't have got out if Kate and Mari hadn't found me, broke me out" Javi said with an appreciative smile.

"Thank shit they did. Don't know if you noticed but we're all in this together, and we are currently neck deep in shit in enemy territory. Have you heard from the kids?" Tripp asked with genuine concern. Javi shook his head.

"No, but Y/N's got them spooked, that's for sure."

"He's been on a rampage I'm sure" Ava sighed, fear growing on her face.

"Yeah... wait were you there when David took AJ? Put a gun to his head, a fucking baby?" Javi asked. The bald headed woman nodded.

"Yes but you've gotta understand. Y/N is a loose cannon. He's like an attack dog. He killed anyone who crossed him or Clementine, even other New Frontier members, without even hesitating. When they stole medicine that was the last straw. But David was only bluffing, he wouldn't have hurt AJ, it took something extreme to get Y/N to go peacefully. David did it for all of our group."

Javi considered Ava's words. He didn't believe her, but they needed all the help they could get, and if Ava betrayed their location they were done. He played nice:

"Well that attack dog is hunting down everyone who was there that night, yourself included. You need to stick close to us, in case we run into him. Tell him you're with us."

Ava nodded, answering quickly:

"We need to get David out, as well. Whether you like it or not, we need to have all the allies we can."

"Damn straight we do!" Gabe said as he stood and stomped his foot.

Javi and Kate looked at each other.

"He's my brother" Javi said in a quiet tone. Kate sighed and nodded in agreement, she just couldn't leave him to be imprisoned or worse, in spite of everything. Javi smiled, understanding Kate's acceptance.

Mariana hugged her mother, Kate hugging back. Eleanor stood back, silently, as Ava nodded to Javi.

"Alright, then what?" Tripp asked. "We can't stick around after busting him out."

"No way. It's just too dangerous. The best thing for all of us is to get out of here once we do" Javi replied.

"Have you guys even looked out the window? Go look for yourself" Eleanor said with a shake of her head.

Javi walked over to the window and opened the blinds, looking down over Richmond's walls. A horde of walkers dozens deep surrounded the town.

"Oh... Holy shit. There must be thousands of them" Javi gasped.

"Javi, even if you did get your brother free, you're not gonna be able to go anywhere" Eleanor said in a tone that seemed... off... to Javi.

"Wow. As much as I don't want to be here..." Kate gasped as she and Mari joined Javi at the window.

"Thank god we didn't stumble into that on our own. I hope the kids aren't out in that" Javi said worriedly.

"Fuck... Yeah. Can you imagine?" Kate replied.

"I hope Clementine is ok" Gabe said in a whimper. Mari gave him a filthy look.

Javi meanwhile stared at the horde silently, thinking about his family. His niece, his nephew, his... Kate, trapped in the middle of that...

"Don't think I've ever seen you dumbstruck before. But this would certainly be a good excuse to start" Kate chuckled to Javi, leaning against him warmly. Tripp spoke up, getting the others' attention:

"It seems like we're in danger within this place and without. I, for one, would feel a whole lot safer with a few more guns to protect ourselves."

"They will be coming for us, we need to protect ourselves, and like you said Tripp, we need guns. I can take you to our armoury, sneak you in" Ava replied, looking at Javi.

Javi nodded.

"Alright you, me and-"

He looked to Tripp and saw uncertainty in his friend's eyes. As he hesitated Gabe yelled out:

"Me, I'll go."

Javi looked at his nephew and considered his next step carefully.

"You need to listen and drop the attitude when we're out there. Ok!" Javi stated firmly. Gabe nodded in excitement. Childlike excitement.

"Why don't you rest while we're gone?" Javi smiled to Kate who nodded and hugged him tight.

"Be careful, please."

She hugged Gabe, who sighed and hugged back, Kate then went to lay down, Mari going to sit with her as Javi, an excited Gabe and Ava left the apartment. Tripp rushed over and followed them out.

"Hey Javi, you got a minute?"

"Sure man. Give us a second Gabe, I'll catch up" Javi said as Gabe walked off with Ava.

"Look, Javi. I don't know if you heard us, but I think I fucked it up with Eleanor. I'm sorry man, I don't think I can leave this apartment with things like this between me and her. It... it's just not right. I know you must've at least heard something... You know what I mean?"

"It happens. Especially these days. Don't worry about it" Javi smiled.

"Just shouldn't have pushed it with her like I did. Wasn't fair. Too much going on already, you know?"

"Just follow your heart. That's all any of us have left anymore, right?" Javi smiled.

"Thanks, man. I'm gonna do it. Do it right this time. I think I can fix this. I'll talk it over with Eleanor and watch over things here. You've got my word. I won't let anything happen to anyone."

"Thank you" Javi nodded, the two shaking hands before Javi turned and walked down the corridor.