Catch Fire | Daryl Dixon

GOODBYE

Kennedy's POV

I woke up the next morning, feeling the familiar warmth of the sun streaming through the window. Daryl's side of the bed was empty, and I reached out, feeling the lingering warmth of where he had been. He must have gotten up early. I stretched, feeling the weight of my growing belly and the little fluttering movements within. Our baby was active this morning, a comforting reminder of the life we were fighting to protect.

I got up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and made my way downstairs. The house was quiet, but I could hear muffled voices coming from the kitchen. As I descended the stairs, I recognized Daryl's low, gravelly voice, along with Glenn's and Tara's. The three of them were huddled around the kitchen table, their expressions serious.

When I entered the room, their conversation came to an abrupt halt, and they all looked up at me. Tara offered a small, somewhat nervous smile. "Hey, Kennedy," she said, trying to sound casual.

"Morning," I replied, looking between them. "What's going on?"

Daryl shifted in his seat, avoiding my gaze for a moment. Glenn cleared his throat, his fingers drumming on the table. "We were just talking about the Sanctuary," Glenn said, his voice tense but determined.

Tara nodded, leaning forward slightly. "We want to go there, check out the situation," she explained. "See if Negan's stronghold is really falling apart like we think."

I frowned, feeling a mix of concern and curiosity. "And what do you plan to do once you're there?"

Daryl finally met my eyes, his expression serious. "Found a garbage truck left behind by those pricks. We can use it to bust open one of the walls, let the walkers flood in."

"And you're sure that'll work?" I asked, crossing my arms. "What if it backfires? Gives Negan and the Saviors a chance to escape instead?"

Glenn leaned forward, his hands clenched into fists. "We can't just sit around and wait, Kennedy," he said, his voice edged with frustration. "We need to take action. We gotta hit 'em while they're down."

I nodded, understanding his urgency. "I get that," I replied gently, trying to keep my tone even. "But what if-"

"It has to be done," Glenn interrupted, his voice cracking slightly. His eyes met mine, filled with pain and determination. "We can't let them regroup. If we let up, they could come back stronger."

"I'm not against the plan," I assured them, "I just want to make sure we've considered all the possibilities."

Tara reached out, placing a reassuring hand on my arm. "We know it's a risk, but we believe it's worth it."

I looked between them, seeing the resolve in their faces. Daryl was watching me closely, his eyes searching mine for any sign of doubt. I knew he wouldn't go through with it if I wasn't on board.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision before us. "Okay," I said finally. "Just... be careful, alright? We can't afford to lose anyone else."

Daryl nodded, reaching out to take my hand. "We will. I promise."

Glenn and Tara both gave me small, grateful smiles, and I felt a surge of pride in their determination to see this through. It was a dangerous plan, but it might be the only chance we had to end this nightmare.

After Glenn and Tara left the kitchen, the door clicked softly shut behind them. The air was filled with an expectant silence, broken only by the distant sounds of Alexandria waking up to a new day. I turned to Daryl, raising a brow in mild amusement and disbelief.

"You know I could tell something was up as soon as I walked in, right?" I teased gently, leaning against the kitchen counter, arms crossed.

Daryl shrugged, his lips twitching into a faint smirk. "Ain't exactly subtle, are they?" he replied, his Southern drawl laced with affection and a hint of exasperation. He rubbed the back of his neck, a telltale sign he was considering how much to share with me.