Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter 149.

 Let's talk.

Iris quickly opens her eyes, sitting up in the chair she had fallen asleep in, "is she okay?" she whispers, watching Siddiq work on Juniper, she wipes the stray tears from her face "she's okay" Siddiq says, "i didn't mean to wake you" he adds, looking over at the tired woman.

Iris stands up and kisses Juniper on the head before she walks out of the house, she sits on the porch steps and pulls out her cigarette and lighter, "hey" Rick says, sitting next to Iris as she lights her cigarette, "hey" Iris says, "how's she doing?" he asks, looking back at the house "she hasn't woken up yet" Iris mumbles, watching as a cloud of smoke surrounds her.

"You heading back out there?" she asks, "yeah. I'm heading out in a minute, i just wanted to see you first" Rick explains "i'll come with" Iris says standing up "no" Rick says, standing and stopping her "you need to stay here. Wait for her to wake up" Rick says, "i don't need to, she's fine" Iris says, "no. stay here" he says.

"Rick, please" she pleads, looking up at him, Rick lets out a sigh, shaking his head "fine" he says, Iris finishes her cigarette before dropping it on the floor and standing on it. Iris and Rick climb onto the horses and start making their way to camp.

.........

"I gather you've gandered the now rushing river under the bridge?" Eugene questions as he walks with Iris and Rick "we have." Rick says, "Seems Mother Nature served us up a serious bowl of whoop-ass in the form of an overnight deluge, effectively annihilating the upstream levee." Eugene says.

"What are the chances the bridge'll hold?" Iris asks "Well, factoring in the undue stress of the rapid current against the supports, plus the added weight from the construction materials and whatnot, I take no pleasure in saying that, in the long term, it's bad. I'm sorry." Eugene explains.

"There's gotta be a way." Rick says "I wish there were. But it's simply not safe to keep on keepin' on with the project, as it were, not with the numbers we currently have... There is a small silver lining." Eugene says, Iris looks up from the floor and stares at the man as they continue to walk through the camp.

"Yeah? What's that?" Rick asks "The two nearby herds we've been tracking, one Tybalt and Cordelia, are running parallel, as expected, but, luckily, show no signs of merging, which is first-rate news, not only for the camp's safety but because, once merged, neither Tordelia nor Cordalt had a particularly good ring to them. The herd monikers are from the great book... of plays. They're a starter set of dead Shakespearean characters. Needed an endless pool." Eugene explains.

"Thanks, Eugene." Rick says, turning and walking away, Iris goes to follow but Eugene speaks up again "I am truly very sorry I didn't do more." Iris and Rick stop and look at the man "Maybe if I'd just, well, read more books... Engineering, motivational, or otherwise...Maybe we would've... Maybe we could've..." Eugene says "Don't do that." Rick says, walking back over to the man.

"What?" Eugene asks "You're not just a guy who read some books. You made something. You got us here. After everything... That's everything." Rick says, gently patting Eugene on the shoulder before walking away with Iris.

"Hey." Rick says, walking into the meeting tent and finding Carol, "Hey." "You leaving, too?" he asks, "Yeah. I'm taking my people home. To the Kingdom. You've seen it out there, Rick." Carol explains, "What about the Sanctuary?" Rick asks "I sent Alden to head off the group and lead 'em back. They need to try standing on their own." Carol says.

"What if they can't? What if it... What if it goes down the same way it did here? Then what?" Rick asks "Then that's on them. They don't want us there anymore. But I know they don't want Negan anymore, either. Not most of 'em, anyway. So it's up to them to figure out who they want to be." Carol explains

"Like you did." Rick says "Like we all did." Carol adds, Iris nods to Carol as she watches her walk towards the tent opening "I don't know if we're doing the right thing here." Rick says, Carol stops "I really don't. But if anyone gives me hope for how things can turn out, it's you. You know that, right?" Rick asks

"I'm still trying to figure things out. Just like everybody else. I am sorry, Rick. I really wanted it to work. I really did." Carol says "I know. I know. Get outta here." Rick says, sitting down, "we'll figure this out. We've still got each other" Iris says, looking down at the man.

Iris and Rick walk out of the tent when they hear a horse outside, "Got somethin' for you, jefe." Jerry says, Iris looks up at the man, hoping it's news about Juniper, "What is it?" Rick asks "Maggie's running down to Alexandria. Jesus thought you should know pronto." Jerry says.

"When did she leave?" Rick asks "Dunno. Call just came in from the Hilltop relay." Jerry says "Did he say anything else?" Iris asks, "Just that you'd know what that means. Sorry, man, that's all I got." Jerry says "No. No. Thanks, Jerry." Rick says.

Rick pulls out his walkie, lifting it to his mouth, Iris looks at the man concerned, "Alexandria Relay One, this is Rick Grimes. Come in, please." he says "Go for AR One." Iris and Rick start walking, making their way to their horses "AR One, I need you to get an urgent message to Alexandria... If Maggie Rhee shows up, delay her at the gate and alert Michonne right away. Do not... repeat... Do not let her in without an escort. Over." Rick says.

"Copy that, Rick. Will relay your message right now. Over."

"And, Maggie, if you're listening... Let's talk." Rick says, "Hey. What's goin' on?" Daryl asks, Iris turns and looks at the man behind them "Maggie's headed to Alexandria. She's about do something she might regret." Rick explains "Hop on. I'll take you." Daryl says, walking down to them.

"You sure? We got enough fuel?" Rick asks "Yeah. We'll get there quicker." Daryl says. "Iris, stay here. Keep an eye on things" Rick says, "I will" she says, watching the men climb onto Daryls bike.