Our Extinction Event {Daryl Dixon}

Everything Is Fine

Hearing the voices of the people on lookout, Parker slowed the car down to a stop, telling them who it was as she climbed out of the vehicle. 

"Parker!" Maggie called out to her in relief. As she walked through, she spotted both Maggie and Jesus jogging over to the gates. "What are you doing here? We weren't expecting you."

"Are you okay?" Jesus asked, noticing the expression on her face. "What happened?"

"Daryl and the others.." Parker said, trying to ignore the way her hands were shaking. "Are they here? Is.. is anybody else here yet?"

"No, why would they be here?" Maggie asked. "Parker, what happened?"

"Something bad," Parker answered Maggie's question, her eyes scanning over the people of Hilltop, who all seemed busy doing their own things. "Well, a lot of bad things actually. Last night... last night Negan showed up to Alexandria. He bombed the place, but we hid in the sewers until everything was over. Carl.... Carl.."

"What happened to him?" Maggie questioned her, trying to figure out what was going on, concern evident in her voice. "Is he with the others?" Parker shook her head, covering her face with her hands. 

"Carl is dead," Maggie's face drained of color and Jesus' eyes widened in surprise at those three words.

"How?" Jesus asked, his voice quiet. "How did he..?"

"Carl.. he was- walkers.." She let out a shaky breath, fighting back tears. "He was bit." She whispered. "A walker bit him when he was help- helping somebody. He died this morning and we buried him and I left on my own- everyone else left on foot a good while before." Parker wiped a tear from her face, crossing her arms. "He's... he's gone, Maggie."

"God, Parker, I'm so sorry."

"He's gone. I lost him... I lost him. I lost both of them.." When she started crying, Maggie pulled her into a hug, and then Carol joined the three of them. It was only when Parker saw her that she realized that the people of the Kingdom must also be there, and that was the reason why the tents were set up around the Barrington House.

"Parker? What happened? Is everyone okay?" Carol asked, her face contorted with worry as she tried to understand what was happening.

"Not all of them," Jesus answered, speaking for Parker. "Carl.." He didn't need to say much more, because another sob from Parker and the look in Maggie's eyes were enough to confirm what Carol had assumed but didn't want to be true.

"Parker..." She stepped away from Maggie and hugged Carol, who hugged her friend tightly. Even though Carl wasn't Parker's son, it was as if he were, and Carol knew firsthand what it felt like to lose a child. Parker cried into her shoulder as the guard at the gate alerted everyone that Daryl and the others had arrived. She separated from Carol as the doors opened again and the Alexandrians entered. Daryl was in the front, holding Judith in his arms, and upon seeing him, Parker quickly walked over to him, shaking her head before he even asked as she hugged him. He put one arm around her, kissing the top of her head.

"Carl?"

"We buried him this morning," She told him tearfully. When the rest of their Hilltop people finally caught on to the fact that new people had shown up, they slowly migrated toward the gate. Once they were up close, they were able to see the tired looks on the newcomers' faces. Daryl looked at Carol and Maggie and shook his head, saying Carl's name under his breath, still struggling to believe it. Enid, who had run to them, began to cry and fell to her knees when she heard the news about Carl. 

Maggie went to comfort her while Daryl led Parker and the others into the house to tell Jesus what had happened in private. Away from the prying eyes and ears of the others. Parker stayed outside, sitting on the steps and after a while, Enid had decided to join her. The girl was still crying softly, and when she saw Parker sitting on the steps, she came over and offered her a hug. Accepting, Parker held Enid close to her and sobbed lightly.