"I've done things," Charlie said, looking up into his eyes full of disappointment. "Things that I am not proud of. But everything I've done, I've done to survive...And I did. I survived."
"And are you happy?" Daryl asked, using all his power to stop...
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Charlie tried to believe in Washington, its promise of a better life. But nothing could have prepared her for the sight that greeted her as she approached the city gates. The gates towered higher than any structure Charlie had seen in a long time. She stood before the towering gates of Alexandria, her heart pounding with a mixture of hope and excitement. She tightened her fists, nails digging into a delicate skin.
Maybe it was the place Charlie was dreaming since this craziness broke out?
Rick's gaze flickered over Aaron before settling back on Sasha and Charlie. Something in his demeanor shifted, a storm brewing beneath his usually composed exterior. Charlie stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock and anger as Rick's fist collided with Aaron's jaw. The sound echoed in the tense silence of the room, sending a shiver down her spine. She was disbelieved as she watched Aaron stagger backward, clutching his injured jaw.
"Rick, what the hell?!" Charlie's voice trembled with a mixture of fury and dismay, her gaze locking onto his hardened expression. She immediately kneeled next to a man who got knocked down. "Me and Sasha, we didn't see him. If he wanted to hurt us, he could have."
"Anybody see anything?" Rick ignored what she said and turned his attention to Glenn and Daryl who were checking the nearby area.
"Just a lot of places to hide," said Asian man.
"All right, keep looking."
"Rick!" Charlie called. "Do you hear what I said? Stop acting like a crazy man."
But he ignored her, again.
Charlie didn't trust Aaron entirely, her instincts urging caution even as her weary soul longed for the solace of trust. She knew she couldn't afford to let her guard down completely, not in a world where betrayal lurked around every corner
"That's a hell of a right cross there, Rick," groaned Aaron from the ground.
"Sit him up," Rick commanded.
"I think it's better if..."
"It's okay," the man touched Charlie's arm in reassurance.
"He's fine. Sit him up," Rick said with annoyance. Charlie rolled her eyes at his demeanor.
"Are you really okay?" Charlie asked the man to be entirely sure.
"You're being cautious," Aaron nodded. "I completely understand..."
She placed a hand on his back, offering him support with a small, reassuring smile. Aaron's gaze met hers, gratitude flickering in his eyes as he accepted her offer. With a slight wince, he shifted his weight, allowing Charlie to steady him as he sat up. As Aaron settled into a more comfortable position, Charlie lingered beside him.
"How many of your people are out there?" Grimes asked. He once again stepped into Sheriff Rick persona. "You have a flare gun. You have it to signal your people. How many of them are there?"
