Shadows

15) Questions

After Negan was satisfied with their haul from Alexandria, and Alicia and Daryl were certain their family was safe, they made their way back to the sanctuary.

Negan had asked Alicia to let Jordan ride with him but Daryl had convinced him they needed time with their daughter, since they hadn't seen her in a week.

The three of them were in the truck, Jordan resting in her mother's lap. "Go?" The little one asked as they drove off.

Alicia sighed. "Yeah, we're gonna spend some time with your grandad at his house." She forced a smile.

Daryl and Alicia shared a look at Jordan clapped her hands. "Gra-da!" She giggled, looking between her parents.

Daryl just stared at the road ahead of him, one hand outstretched as Jordan played with his fingers. His wife looked out the window, her face solemn.

She hated more than anything that her daughter couldn't understand what had happened. She couldn't understand why her Grandad was a bad guy.

They rode mostly in silence except for a few questions asked by Jordan, and a few questions about if she had fun while they were away from Daryl.

Once they made it to the sanctuary Alicia and Daryl took Jordan straight inside and to their bedroom. She was occupied with some toys Negan had dropped off for her on the bed while her parents talked in the sitting area.

"She stays with one of us at all times." Daryl said, glancing at his daughter.

"You know my dad is gonna offer to watch her." Alicia sighed. "Look... I know you don't trust him but he's her grandfather and he won't let anything happen to her. He's an asshole I get that but he's gonna make sure she's safe."

"Darlin'..." Daryl placed his hand on her thigh. "Look at all the scars he's left on you. I won't let that happen to my little girl."

Alicia felt a twinge of guilt for allowing this to happen to her family. "He won't." She assured him. "He didn't start beating me until I was older."

Daryl was about to say something before Jordan spoke up. "Mama." She said.

"Yes baby?"

"Can I go uncle Glenn?"

That hurt.

That innocent little question broke Alicia's heart more than watching her brother get murdered. She had completely forgotten that she wasn't the only one who had lost a member of their family.

Of course she knew Maggie was in more pain than any of them but other than Maggie she was the closest with Glenn.

"Um..." Alicia looked at Daryl. "I don't know what to say." Her eyes filled with tears.

Daryl shook his head. "I've got it." He assured her. He stood up, walking over to sit beside their daughter.

"You're wanting to see uncle Glenn?" He asked, watching as she happily nodded. He gently took her small hands into his own. "Well, Jordan..." he sighed. "Uncle Glenn is gone, and he can't come back."

He said it softly, but Jordan's face still dropped. "Why?"

"Because a bad man did a really bad thing and took him away from us." Daryl explained.

"Find him?" She cocked her head to the side.

"No, we can't find him. He's... he's passed away." Jordan shot a confused look at her father. "Do you remember when you wanted to know more about my brother, Merle?" She nodded. "And what did I tell you?"

"He died, but he's still with us." The words came out funny and mumbled but they made sense.

"And what does that mean when somebody dies?" Daryl asked.

Jordan sniffed. "They go somewhere else and be happy."

He kissed her forehead, pulling her into his lap. "Your uncle Glenn is with my brother Merle. Do you understand?"

She nodded, burying her face into his chest and sitting like that for a moment. "Happy?" She asked, referring to Glenn.

Alicia chuckled, walking to sit down beside them as she wiped away her own tears. "He's very happy sweetie."

—————

Alicia sat in the dining hall, her focus on a book she had been reading. She scooped a spoonful of soup into her mouth as she continued to read.

"Dixon." Her attention was caught by a man. It was the same man who she had punched a few days ago.

"Jim... right?" She asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

He nodded. "That's right." He tilted his head. "I'm surprised you know my name. You didn't seem to care when you sacked me across the jaw the other day."

Alicia winced internally. "You were being a dick." She shrugged. "I was just putting you in your place."

She watched as he sat down beside her. Fear rose in her but she had to act calm. She couldn't let him know she was afraid.

"Jane Austen?" He looked at her book. "You like what she writes? Those love stories and all?"

She smirked. "They're pretty good, yes."

"Does your little husband live up to those expectations?" He asked.

Alicia furrowed her brows. "I love my husband."

She felt his hand clutch her wrist under the table. "Scream and I will slit your throat." He whispered in her ear.

She swallowed, nodding slowly. She noticed three other men watching them. She recognized them as Jim's friends.

Slowly he pulled her up, walking with her to a secluded hallway. The three men followed them. Jim pulled something out of his pocket. It was a bandanna.

"You're not gonna like this." He smirked.