Safe haven | Rick Grimes

057. OH MY BABY

Chapter fifty seven

"Oh my baby."

Walking through the walkers, the disguise continued to work as the undead moved right past them. They eventually stopped in a small clearing where the crowd of walkers had thinned out.

"All right, new plan," Rick whispered. "Flares from a few guns aren't enough. Too many walkers are too spread out. We're not going to the armory. We need our vehicles back at the quarry. All of us drive. We'll need to round them up. We leave, and then we come back."

"That could work," Scarlett agreed. "Except Judith's not gonna make it all the way there."

"I'll take her," Gabriel offered.

Scarlett snapped her head toward him instantly. "No," she said.

"I'll keep her safe in my church until you lead all the walkers away," Gabriel insisted.

"And I'm just supposed to put my faith in God and trust that you can do this?" Scarlett questioned. "I've seen what you do. It doesn't exactly give me hope."

"I have to. I will," Gabriel replied firmly.

Rick stepped toward her, trying to calm her down. "Scar... you have to trust him."

Hearing Rick's words, Scarlett reluctantly pulled Judith out from underneath her poncho and handed the baby over. Gabriel took her carefully, tucking her under his own poncho. "Shh, shh," he cooed softly to the baby.

"Take Sam," Jessie urged Gabriel, looking at her youngest son.

"No," Sam protested immediately.

"Yes, Sam, it would be safer," Jessie pleaded.

"I'm not leaving you," Sam insisted, his voice trembling.

"Sam..." Jessie started.

"Mom, I'm not. I can keep going," Sam begged. "I can keep going. Please. Please, let's just go. Okay?"

Jessie looked at him for a moment and finally nodded.

"I'm going to keep her safe," Gabriel promised the group. Scarlett remained silent, still wary.

"Thank you," Rick told him.

Gabriel turned and walked away into the herd. Scarlett and Rick watched him go, anxiety heavy in the air.

"He's gonna make it, okay? I know it," Jessie reassured them.

"Sam," Rick said, taking the boy's hand.

Jessie held tightly to Sam's other hand while reaching out to grasp Scarlett's. Scarlett gripped Carl's hand, Carl grabbed Ron's, and Ron held hands with Michonne. Linked together in a human chain, they stepped back into the herd and began moving again.

Day soon turned into night, and they were still navigating the herd, having not even made it out of Alexandria. As they pressed forward through the crowd of walkers, Sam suddenly froze and let go of Rick's hand.

"Sam? Come on, come on," Jessie urged frantically.

Sam's face crumpled, and he started to cry.

"Sweetheart? Sam?" Jessie pleaded.

"You can do it," Rick whispered, trying to keep him moving. "Sam. Sam, come on."

"Come on, Sam," Ron added, stepping closer. "Hey, Sam, you can do this. Just look at Mom."

"Honey, you can do it," Jessie said, her voice shaking. "Sam, you're gonna get—"

Sam started whimpering louder, completely paralyzed by fear.