WITH YOU | TWD

[10] THEN

"Take care of my daughter," Rick said as he touched the cheek of his daughter.

"I will."

"Listen," "Alexandria isn't like everywhere else we've been. It's a place where we can build something better, something worth fighting for."

Charlie turned her eyes away from him.

"They're good people, Charlie," Rick tried again. "Lost...but good."

With a sigh, she met Rick's gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of doubt and hope. "I want to believe you," she admitted quietly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "But it's not that easy."

"I know," he nodded. "Just...give it a try, while we're gone. You can't go through life not trusting anyone."

"I trusted you."

"Exactly," he smiled. "So do it one more time."

earlier...

As Charlie made her way to the infirmary, her steps slow, she couldn't shake the weight of guilt that hung heavy on her shoulders. The memory of her violent outburst against Gabriel weighed heavily above her.
She pushed open the door still looking at her covered in blood arm.

"Is there someone who could treat this?" Charlie asked.

Once she entered the room, she was greeted by a bunch of people who shouldn't be there. Glenn covered in dirt and blood, Nickolas who looked as bad as her best friend. Worried Rosita. However, there was no sight of Peter or Denise. There was even woken up and conscious Tara.

"Oh, God," she gasped. Charlie's heart skipped a beat as she watched her friend's eyelids flutter open, the faintest glimmer of consciousness returning to her gaze. "I was so worried about you."

Tara returned the embrace with a weak but heartfelt squeeze, her gratitude shining through despite the pain that still lingered in her eyes. "I'm okay."

"Eugene," Tara said, while looking behind her, signing that the man entered the room. "Nothing happened to your hair...Okay. You're freaking me out," she said as the man smiled and Charlie had to admit that it was a scary picture. "Somebody want to send Noah in here to protect me?"

Her smile faltered, replaced by a solemn expression as she struggled to contain her emotions.

"What?" Tara asked with a visible tension in her voice.

Trying to push aside her sadness, Charlie cleared her throat and changed the subject, her voice barely above a whisper. "Could someone take care of it?" she asked, gesturing towards her bruised arm.

Once Charlie left the building, after long moments with Tara, the cool night air embraced her like a familiar friend, offering a moment of respite from the chaos that still lingered within the walls of Alexandria. As she glanced around, her eyes landed on Sasha, standing alone in the darkness, her silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of moonlight. Sasha had always been a solitary figure, her grief and pain a silent burden she carried with her wherever she went.

"Sash!" Charlie called.

The girl turned to face her.

"Tara is awake."

"That's good to hear," Sasha replied, her tone subdued but genuine. "Oh, God...that's so good to hear."

"You should visit her."

"Isn't she asleep?"

"Oh, I think she's had enough sleeping," Charlie smiled.

Sasha chuckled and nodded her head, before she made her way towards the infirmary, Charlie fell into step beside her. On their way, on the stairs to one of the buildings, Abraham's rugged frame lay there motionless. As Sasha and Charlie approached, he met their gaze with a small, knowing smile, his eyes filled with a sense of quiet resolve. Without a word, Abraham raised his hand, two fingers forming a peace sign as he held their gaze.