Our Extinction Event {Daryl Dixon}

Safe

After Negan left, Parker decided this was as good a chance as any. With most of the cruelest Saviors on their way to Alexandria with their boss, that left the Sanctuary relatively defenseless. The moment she closed the door to her room and found herself alone, Parker didn't hesitate to start throwing her belongings into her already overly-filled backpack. There were only clean clothes and her photographs scattered around the room, so once she put them in her bag, there was nothing to suggest she was ever there besides the holes in the walls. She left her room and ran through the hallways, heading to the lower level. She had seen the place where the motorbikes were parked while exploring the building, so she tried to head in the direction she thought was the right one. She ran into one of Negan's men, who stopped her in her tracks.

"What are you doing?" The man asked and Parker took a small step back.

"Uh...I was going for a walk," She stuttered a bit, not having planned this far ahead. Something about him seemed familiar, but she wasn't able to place it.

"With your backpack?" His eyebrows raised as he asked the question. "You want to tell me exactly what you're doing?" The way he spoke clicked in her head and that's when she knew him. He was someone from the old world. "I didn't think people needed bags stuffed full to take a walk."

"Yeah?" She worded it as a question, thinking up a lie. The realization hit like a truck as she stared at him. "I'm taking my things to Negan's room. You know, he wants to keep an eye on me and the baby or something." The lie itself disgusted her, but the Savior seemed to buy it. He never was the brightest person in the world, but she couldn't say she was surprised that he had found the Saviors.

"Okay, if it's the boss's orders, I won't stand in your way. Do you need help?"

"No. Um.. thank you. Thanks.. for the.. for the offer." Parker responded, a tight-lipped smile on her face. As she made to walk past him, he reached his arm out in front of her and she thought he had finally remembered her.

"Negan's room is the other way."

"Ah, yes," Parker hesitated, laughing awkwardly. "I just..."

"Parker?" Parker's head whipped around, a wave of relief washing over her.

"Sherry?" 

"There you are!" She gasped, practically running over. "I've been waiting for you for over an hour! I thought we were going to meet up for lunch before.." Her eyes landed on the backpack. "You moved all your stuff into Negan's room."

"Oh, yeah," Parker said, catching the look in Sherry's eyes that told her to play along. "Sorry, I guess I lost track of time."

"It doesn't matter," Sherry waved it off, her eyes falling on the Savior. "Are you the reason she's late, James?" 

"I'm sorry," James apologized, his eyes never leaving Parker. His stare filled with recognition. "I didn't mean to keep either of you waiting."

"Well, you better be on your way," Sherry replied, shooing him away. When he left- not without a glance or two over his shoulder- Sherry walked Parker down the hallway. "Come with me."

"What? Why?" Parker asked, thinking something else was going on. "Sherry I-" She was completely disoriented as she tried to wrap her mind around the idea of the man who used to hurt her still being alive. Let alone being one of Negan's soldiers.

"I'm helping you," Sherry cut her off, leading her away. "Calm down and keep your head down."

"Why are you doing this?" Parker questioned, as they ran down a flight of stairs to the ground floor.

"Because I saw you with your nephew," Sherry explained to her in a hushed voice. "You have two babies on the way and.. and you deserve better. You and your family. I just... I just wish I had nev- never come back here. It's too late for me, but you still have a chance. Negan is gone, so you can try now."