Lost | Daryl Dixon

9 - On the Move

3rd Person POV

"I guess I'm losing hope that you can hear me," Rick said as he stood at the roof, looking out towards the city. "But there's always that chance, isn't there? That slim chance. It's all about slim chances now. I tried to do everything right, keep people safe. I tried, Morgan. I tried. Our group's smaller now. We lost another, day before last. It was her choice. I won't say I blame her, but she lost faith." He paced as he talked. "The CDC was a dead end. I met a man there, a scientist. He told me something. He told me..." He stared off as he met Elizabeth's eye, she nodded at him as she sat near him. "It doesn't matter. What matters is we're moving on. Atlanta's done." She looked away, playing with her hands. "We're gonna try for Fort Benning. We're facing a long hard journey, maybe even harder than I can imagine. But it can't be harder than our journey's been so far. Can it? 125 miles-- That's what lies ahead. And I'm trying hard not to lose faith. I can't. If I do, the others... My family, my sister, my wife... my son. There's just a few of us now. So we've got to stick together, fight for each other, be willing to lay down our lives for each other if it comes to that." Elizabeth heard them starting to get ready to move off again, they must have got enough fuel to move on. She picked up her pistol - having accidentally left the rifle back at the CDC - they'd all left a myriad of items in the rush to live. "It's the only chance we've got. Be careful out there, Morgan. I hope you and Duane are okay. Stay off the road. Keep moving. Keep your eyes open. I don't know, just - just be safe. Maybe we'll see you in Fort Benning someday. Rick.... signing off"

Rick put down the walkie, and looked at the woman in front of him. What they both knew now, what they'd learned, had put them both in a weird position. Since they'd left from the CDC, they had an understanding with each other - something no one else could understand. She stood, tucking her pistol in her belt. "You ready to go?" She asked, quietly. He nodded, she tried to offer a smile but it faltered. "I'll ride in the RV, see you when we park."

"Liz-" He grabbed her arm. "The CDC, Jenner..."

"I know."

She left him for a moment, joining the remaining group. They'd spent some time gathering their things - getting fuel and mourning Jacqui - Elizabeth in particular as the woman had long been a form of help and compassion around the camp she hadn't found often elsewhere.

"You alright?"

She jumped - Shane. She'd actively been avoiding her husband since the CDC, managing to veer away from him by busying herself with anyone she could. At first the bits of small scratches were a good enough distraction, but she'd also just thrown herself into talking with anyone but him. He'd finally managed to get her before she could catch someone's eye.

"Not right no-"

"If not now, when?" He interrupted. "You been avoiding me since... Look I didn't mean it, you know me? I'd never-"

"Come on now, saddle up!" Dale called out, interrupting him. The two looked to the side to see Dale calling out to them - she thanked him mentally for the interruption and nodded at him.

"Not now." She stared up at him, meeting his eyes and beginning to walk away. She felt him grab her wrist, hard, and she turned and looked back.

"You are still my wife," He muttered under his breath. "We'll resolve this."

He walked towards the RV - she wasn't sure how to take that - was it an attempt of faith? Was it a measure that she had no choice? She rubbed her wrist, seeing the white from his grip.

Sure, he'd been possessive and an ass in the past but this was new. Different. She couldn't figure out what had changed him.

The rev of a bike made her look up, she looked to her left and for a moment thought she'd caught Daryl looking over at her - and suddenly the anxiety that anyone caught sight of their fight made a cold sweat pool under her shirt.