The Hunter's Angel

Chapter 12

Seaira's POV

We had a funeral for Bob. It was nice, quiet. Sasha kept his 82nd Airborne Fatigue Army jacket. After the funeral we are all out in front of the Church, seeing Abraham, Rosita, Eugene, Glenn, Maggie, and Tara about to leave.

Abe hands Rick an atlas map. "This is our route to DC. We'll stick to it as long as we are able. If not, well, you got our destination. Once Eugene gets to the big brains left up there, things are gonna bounce back. This group should be there for it. You should be there for it." Abe finishes, him and Rick looking at each other.

"They will be." Maggie says confidently. "We will." Michonne agrees. Rick looks back at all of us, "We will." He repeats. the guys nod to each other and Abe turns telling them lets go. Rosita comes to me and hugs me. "See ya later, keep that beautiful hair away from grabby hands." She smiles. I return one an say, "I will, be safe." I tell her. She nods and goes to the bus, behind Eugene.

Maggie and Glenn come to me, hugging me as well. We say goodbye and Maggie whispers to me while she is hugging me. "Bring Daryl with ya, Yall need to stay close." She pulls away an I give her a questionable look. She smiles and they walk to the bus.

Lastly Abe comes up to me. "Sorry I was harsh on ya lil sister," He pauses. "Sorry-" I stop him and hug him. "It's okay, Yall be safe." He hugs me back and they get on the bus after everyone else hugs them. Tara and I fist bump. Telling each other to be safe.

They are on the bus, Abe starts it and they put the windows down, looking at us. It's quiet but we all know its goin to be okay. We nod to them, and they smile back. Abraham closes the door, and they are off. We look at the bus till it disappears behind trees and dust from the dirt road.

Rick standing next to me, opens the map Abe gave him. We see the route they are taking in sharpie line all the way up to DC. At the bottom was a note Abe wrote to Rick.

'Sorry, I was an asshole. Come to Washington. The new world's gonna need Rick grimes.'

He smiles and glances at me. I smile back and put my elbow on his shoulder, leaning on him. we both look at the map. seeing the way to have a new life.

***

Later that night, Michonne and I are sitting on the Church steps, keeping an eye out for anything. We are quiet, but it isn't awkward. We hear the door behind us open and it's Gabriel. I stand up leaning on the rail so he has a seat.

The comfortable silence now awkward. But I am trying to forgive Gabriel. I know he means no harm, he is just so fragile in this world. "I can't sleep." He admits and sits down where I sat.

"And now, sitting in there... Quiet. It isn't what just happened last night. Saying what happened before... Out loud... I see it all again. I hear them." "Yeah, that wont stop." I say glancing at him, then back at the tree line.

"But it wont be all the time." Michonne says. I look at her, she glances at me then back at the priest. Suddenly we hear rustling in the woods. We motion for Gabe to go back inside. Michonne takes out her sword and slowly approach the tree line where we heard the sound. I stand by the porch aiming my rifle in the area, if it was more than one walker I can take them out since I have a silencer.

When the rustling gets louder, I put my finger on the trigger. My left hand pointer finger itching to kill a threat. A figure appears out the tree line, but she doesn't advance on it to kill whoever it is.

"Where's Carol?" I hear her ask. My ears perk up. Did I hear her correctly? Who is she talking to?

"Come on out." I hear the figure say. A familiar voice carries over to me. Another figure stands next to the first one. All three walk towards me.

My hands loosen on my rifle, I quickly sling it over my shoulder, having the strap stay on my shoulder. I run as fast as I can to them. When I see his face in the moonlight he fastens his pace to me as well. When we close the space I wrap my arms around his neck. He tenses at first but relaxes and hugs me back.

"I thought you left us." I tell him. Laying my head on his shoulder, having me be on my tip toes. "I promised you I'd be back didn' I?" He says. I pull away from him slightly. He tilts his head to Michonne and the new comer to the church, they go inside.

"Daryl, you scared the shit outta me." I tell him, standing back a bit, no longer on my top toes. He still has his arms on my waist. My hands on his shoulder. "What I was gonna tell you at Terminus..." He starts, looking at me.

"I was gonna say I... I need you by me no matter what. Not splitting up again." He tells me. I tilt my head to the side. "Daryl, what happened out there? where is Carol?" I ask him, knowing he wasn't going to say that. He is still scared to tell me. I still have no idea what he is hiding from me.

"Jus promise me, we will stay by each others side. Not splitting up again." He repeats. I nod to him. "Of course Daryl. I'm not leaving your side again. I promise." He pulls me in for a hug again.

He buries his nose in my hair, in the crook of my neck. I lay my head on his shoulder. He has one hand on my lower back the other on the back of my head. My hand gripping his vest the other in his hair.

"I need you Daryl." I tell him, my voice cracking, starting to cry again. "I need ya too." He whispers. I smile, still confused, but glad he is here again, happy I'm this close to him. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to him. He pulls back and looks at me, he puts his hands on each side of my face, wiping my tears away with his thumbs.

"What's wrong lil bit?" He asks. A single sob escape my lips and he pulls me in, hugging me closer and slightly tighter protectively. "It's okay, I got ya, I got ya." He whispers. His hand wrapped around my waist as the other on the back of my head. My face to his neck, quieting the sobs as my hands are on his chest, clinching his shirt under his open vest.

"Please don't leave me Daryl." I whisper between quiet sobs. "I promise Angel." He whispers. rubbing his thumb on the back of my neck comfortingly.