Safe haven, Rick Grimes

106. FALLEN ON HARD TIMES

Chapter one hundred and six

"Fallen on hard times."

The sun had come up, and Caroline and Rick had been telling the adults since they had gotten upstairs and the walkers filled into the house that Judith, Daryl and Gracie never came up.

Where down in the basement, walkers continued to bang on the door which now had a pole across it to barricade it, as the three were down below, the water had gone up to their knees, as they headed up the stairs and looked at the door "it's not gonna hold." Gracie told them, as Daryl turned to her, taking her shovel, he headed up the stairs and as he stepped towards the door, a walkers hand broke through it.

"Daryl!" Gracie voiced, as Judith put her arm around her, Daryl swung the shovel down on its hand, chopping it off, he then put the shovel along the door to block it, before turning and running down the stairs "into the water!" He voiced, as a walker pushed through the door, the three headed down the stairs, and as the walkers broke through, the three jumped into the water below, as they trudged through it away from the water flooding in, Gracie began blowing her whistle.

Where a couple of the walkers had gotten through but began to sink under the water, as one of them came down the stairs and into the water, staying above it and coming towards them "we need to get to the window." Judith told them "go! I'll hold em off!" Daryl voiced, holding up his axe, he moved forward and swung it down on the walkers head.

Another one was coming down the stairs, as Daryl was dragged under "Daryl!" Judith and Gracie screamed, Judith didn't hesitate as she pulled out her katana and jumped in after him, swinging it down on one of the walkers, Daryl had come back up, gasping for air "are you okay?" Judith asked "I don't know!" Daryl voiced.

As two of them came up behind them "look out!" Gracie voiced, as Judith swung her katana, Daryl swung his axe, killing the two "Gracie! Hang on!" Aaron voiced from the window "daddy!" Gracie voiced, as Aaron broke the window "come on! Come on!" He voiced, as the walker headed towards him, he jumped in and used his weapon arm to smash its head in.

He looked to Daryl, Judith and Gracie "go to the window!" He voiced, as Gracie jumped in, she swam over to Daryl and Judith, as Aaron was holding one of the walkers back, it took him under "daddy!" Gracie voiced "get her to the window!" Daryl voiced, diving down, he found him down there, as he swung his axe down on its head.

The two then swam up "dad, are you okay?" Gracie asked, as Aaron moved Daryl towards them "are you?" He asked "there's more!" Gracie voiced "okay. Up you go." Aaron told them, lifting Gracie up to the window, she pulled herself up and out, as Aaron then grabbed Judith and lifted her, he was struggling, as Daryl turned seeing the big walker coming, he pulled his knife out and brought his arm back, throwing it, he stabbed the walker in the head.

And as he did, more of them began coming down the stairs, just as Aaron got Judith up high enough to pull herself out the window, Aaron looked to Daryl seeing the amount of walkers coming, he quickly turned to the window "you good!" He voiced "what about you and Daryl? I'll get help." Judith told him.

"Go! Get Gracie to safety first! We'll be okay!" Aaron voiced, as Judith headed off with Gracie, Aaron headed over to Daryl and as he did, the two watched as the amount of walkers coming down the stairs broke the railing and fell into the water and came back up "you stay by me!" Aaron voiced, as the two of them looked up at the pipes.

Having climbed up them, the two were holding onto them, as the walkers below were reaching up to them, but as they were halfway there, the pipe broke, as Aaron began hanging from it "shit! Shit!" He voiced "don't you die in front of me!" Daryl voiced, as Aaron swung his legs up, wrapping them around the broken pipe.

"Daryl! Aaron!" Lydia's voice could be heard "Lydia!" Daryl called out "we're in here!" Aaron called out "okay, hold on. I'll be right back." Lydia told them "no, no. Lydia!" Daryl voiced.

But she was quick to come back and with a rope, as Daryl and Aaron tied it around them, she began pulling on her end as the two continued climbing along them, Daryl soon made it out the window followed by Aaron, as the three lied on the wet muddy ground "are you okay?" Lydia asked, as Daryl began checking himself for bites.

"Hey, hey." Lydia told him, putting her hand on his head "no fever. You're good." She told him, putting her arms around him, Daryl held onto her "thank you." Aaron told her "you would've done the same for me." Lydia told him "I would. Gracie? Judith?" Aaron asked "they're safe." Lydia told him "walkers?" Aaron asked "Dianne and Rosita, they're on it." Lydia shared, as the three of them got up "let's go help with the windmill." Aaron told them, as the three ran off.

Where by the next morning, the rain had finally stopped and the others had returned with food, but as the Grimes kids walked up, they noticed that it was only Gabriel, Elijah, Maggie and Daryl, no Negan, Daryl began walking towards Maggie "did you kill him?" He asked, as Maggie looked to him with furrowed brows, older Daryl headed towards him knowing Hershel was behind him.

"Did you kill him like you tried to kill our dad!" Daryl voiced, motioning to his siblings, and when he did Maggie's eyes went wide, as older Daryl stepped in front of him, moving him back "calm down." He told him "says the guy who lead him out there!" Daryl voiced, shoving him "we grew up without him because of you!" He voiced, shoving him again "our mom raised us on our own and left to go get him because of you!" He voiced, shoving him once more.

"They counted on you! You were their family!" He voiced, going to hit him again, older Daryl grabbed his arms and pulled him into a hug "let me go! Let me go!" Daryl voiced, trying to break free, as tears fell down his face "let me go!" He voiced, falling to his knees, Daryl fell with him.

Lydia then walked up, crouching down behind him, putting her hand on his back, dog came over nudging himself between the two, Judith, Caroline and Rick walked up, older Daryl stood up "he left. Ain't coming back here." He shared, walking away from them, Judith, Caroline and Rick crouched down to Lydia and their brother.

"Hey! Got something coming!" Jerry yelled from the look out, as the Grimes children and Lydia stood up, dog did as well standing in front of them on alert, Maggie and Daryl climbed up to the look out with Jerry, seeing soldiers in white armor and guns raised coming their way "these guys with you?" Jerry asked, as the two aimed their bows "guess not." Jerry said, as Daryl turned to them all "everyone, get ready!" he voiced, looking back "no, no, no, wait, wait. Wait, wait." Eugene said, running to the front "we're all friends. We're all friends." he told them, as the caravan stopped "they're here to help." Eugene told them, smiling.

Where they then let them in, and as they were working, the rest of them were sitting or standing listening to Eugene "Ezekiel, Yumiko, and I set out on a journey. Charged ourselves with finding hope in our darkest of days. Suffice to say, we hit the proverbial jackpot. It's probably best that I step aside so ya'll can hear it from the horses mouth. I give you Mr Lance Hornsby, diplomatic representative of the commonwealth." Eugene shared, as a man in a grey suit walked up "hello, I'm Lance. Thank you for allowing us into your home. I must say I am impressed with everything you've built here, and what I've heard of your other communities. But it's clear.." Lance shared, looking around.

"You've fallen on hard times." he said, looking back at them "and that is where the commonwealth is more than willing to help. If you remain, we can provide labor and materials to help you build back all you've lost. However, if any are interested..I do have another, potentially more interesting choice to offer." he shared, as the Grimes children all looked at each other.