☆ All the Stars ☆ (rarl)

Vol. 29 | What Remains of Ron Anderson

The morning sun shined through the curtains of the infirmary, and birds chirped outside.

Carl took Ron's hand into his, squeezing it lightly. "You're so beautiful." He whispered, kissing his hand. Ron was still unconscious, and the walkers were out of Alexandria now.

"What happened?" Ron said weakly, just waking up.

"You did it. The saviors are gone. You saved us." Carl said softly, kissing Ron's cheek.
"I think.. you saved me." Ron said, remembering the previous night.
Carl smiled as Ron put his hand on his cheek.
"He was like me." Ron whispered, sitting up.
"I know. It doesn't matter. It doesn't change anything." Carl said, not wanting Ron to think the two were similar.

"My knife. He threw it." Ron said, wanting it back.
"It's ok. Dad found it. Eugene made some people go get Simon after I said he was like you. He wants to study him or something." Carl said, pushing Ron's hair back.

Ron sat for a moment, thinking.
"Where's Negan? Is he ok?" Ron asked, obviously still caring for him.

"He's fine. He's in his cell. He knows the saviors are done, but not everything that happened." Carl said, still holding Ron's hand.

"Hey. How do you feel?" Mikey said, he and Enid entering the room.
"I'm ok." Ron whispered, honestly a bit traumatized from his encounter with Simon.
"Come here." Enid said, pulling him into a hug.
Carl and Mikey joined, and the four friends hugged there.

—

The bodies of a few walkers lay on the street, and people from every community that had been under the saviors were all around.

"You're awake!" Ezekiel exclaimed, happy to see Ron was doing ok.
"Mhm." Ron said, finding the sun quite bright.
"Little man! There you are! You did it!" Jerry said with excitement, his family behind him.
"I didn't do it alone." Ron added, reaching over and holding Carls hand.

"I never expected you to be the catalyst to the saviors downfall. I always thought it would be Rick." Aaron said, Eric by his side.

"You ok?" Dwight asked Ron, joining the conversation.
"I will be. You?" Ron said, turning to him.
"Yeah. I'm just glad this all over. Negan. Simon. The saviors." Dwight replied, feeling free now.
"Yeah. Especially Simon." Ron said, thinking of how needed to speak with Negan. That could wait though.

Eugene approached Ron, tapping him awkwardly.

"Yes?" Ron said, turning to him now.
"I've been..um.. studying your condition, I guess." He said, talking about Simons body.
"And?" Ron said, wondering if there was anything important.

"Well, I haven't found much yet. I don't really have all the necessary equipment for a full explanation I suppose. But Simon hasn't turned yet. I'm wondering if he will." Eugene explained, secretly hoping Simon wouldn't turn.

"It hasn't been that long, has it? He still could." Ron said, wondering if there was a reason he and Simon were like that.
"A few hours. I'll know more soon. I just thought it was interesting. It's usually just a few minutes. It could and has been hours though." Eugene rambled.
"Ok Eugene. That's enough." Carl said, feeling like this was stressing Ron out.
Eugene backed away, returning to study Simon.

Ron took a breath, observing his surroundings.
Some saviors were grouped together by the wall, all low workers. None that he knew personally. Jadis was sitting on a bench, a few people consoling her as she cried.
"Is she ok?" Ron asked Carl, wondering what happened to her.
"Simon killed everyone at the junkyard except for her. It's not that he didn't try to kill her, she just hid." Enid said, feeling bad for her.
"oh." Ron whispered, wondering if he ever told them that the trash people were working with the saviors. It didn't matter anymore.