Our Extinction Event {Daryl Dixon}

Make Yourself Useful

Gabriel had been telling the truth- for the most part. After another half a mile, the group had reached the church. There was nothing else to see with it being enclosed by trees and Parker instantly started to worry. It would be incredibly easy for someone to hide in the trees and keep an eye on them without being spotted. Still, Parker had been on the road for so long that she would gladly risk being watched if meant she had a roof over her head. Even if it was just for a few days. To be able to feel like walkers wouldn't tear her apart if she closed her eyes for a moment too long was something she hadn't felt in too long.

"Hold up." Rick glanced back and everyone stopped. "Can we take a look around first?" He walked up to Gabriel. "We just want to hold onto our squirrels."

"Wait here," Parker told him, still not one hundred percent trusting him.

"Yes, boss."

"You're staying too." Rick informed her and she pursed her lips as she stared at him. "You really trust him with Carl?"

"Fine." Just to make sure she stayed outside, Rick handed her Judith, a small smirk on his face. Half the group entered the church to explore the inside, while Parker stayed outside with Carl and Judith. She thrashed and cried in her arms, and Parker had a miserable look on her face. She didn't know how else to keep her from crying, they were pretty much out of food, which was probably why she was crying, so Parker just bounced her on her hip. When her screams calmed down a bit, Parker smiled. "Have you been hiding in this church since the beginning?"

"I spent months here without stepping through the front door." Gabriel nodded towards the open doors to his church. "If you found someone inside, well, it would have been surprising."

"Thanks for this." Carl thanked him, grateful to get off the road even for a few days.

"We found a short bus out back," Abraham announced as he and Rosita walked around the side of the church. "It don't run, but I bet we could fix that in a day or two. Father here says he doesn't want it. Looks like we found ourselves some transport." Rick didn't seem to be listening at all to what he was saying, almost spaced out. "You understand what's at stake here, right?"

"Yeah, I do." Rick broke out of his thoughts, looking up at Abraham.

"Can't we just rest for the moment?" Parker argued, looking between Abraham's little trio.

"Now that we can take a breath-" Michonne wanted to say more but Abraham cut her off mid-sentence.

"If we rest, we take a breath.. we slow down." Abraham shook his head, ready to get back on the road. "Shit inevitably goes down."

"We need to take a break. We've been out there for days since Terminus. We need rest, food, water, and ammo- supplies in general. We need supplies no matter what we do next. That's the priority. Not getting him to Washington. We can't do shit if we're all dead on our asses." Parker countered, not the least bit intimidated by Abraham when he looked down at her.

"That's right," Rick cut in. "Water, food, ammunition."

"Short bus ain't goin' nowhere," Daryl told Abraham. "Bring you some baked beans." Rick led the way into the church, stopping at the doors to take Judith back from Parker.

"I'll take her from here."

"Oh, aren't you just the sweetest?" Parker hit his arm as she walked past him, shaking her head as he laughed behind her. "You sure?" She turned around, making sure he was still coming.

"You look exhausted," Rick commented. "You should get some rest. Trust me."

"You know when you told me to remind you when you're being an ass back at the prison?" She stared blankly at him before continuing. "Oh, yeah, no? That was your reminder." He laughed as he passed her knowing she couldn't do anything because he had Judith. Parker collapsed dowing onto the wooden pews with a sigh while Rick's eyes scanned the church.