Love's Conquer

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A couple of hours had passed since we were all reunited back at the prison. Within that time, Rick had handed leadership over to me, after we went through how he had been feeling and the visions he had been getting. He needs time, he sees that and all of us can understand why. The decision wasn't an easy one to make, but if anything, it was a necessary one. In my eyes, as it was before we were all separated, we have a joint role to play in what happens. We always worked as a team before, and I'm sure we will get there again.

After the strangers had been sent on their way, who I came to know as Sasha, Tyreese, Allen and Ben, we made it our first task to see where the breach was that had been allowing the living and the dead to enter our walls. Daryl and Glenn took it upon themselves to enter the tombs and clear out as much as they could to locate the problem. Whilst Hershel saw to Ezra and Shane with Carl and Beth's assistance, Michonne, Maggie, Carol, Axel and I began setting up a better defence outside in the courtyard, with the expectation of an attack. For everyones peace of mind, I had temporarily locked Merle in one of the cells; knowing only too well that when he awakens from Shane's force, he won't be too content to deal with.

I watched Rick from a distance, as he left through the fence and neared the edge of the woods. A feeling of unease ran through me at the thought of him being beyond the strong fences that kept us and the Governor apart.

"You okay?" Michonne spoke up, joining my side.

I looked towards her for a moment, before returning my gaze to Rick, almost afraid to not keep at least one eye on him. "Yeah, I'm alright."

I heard Michonne sigh deeply, knowing better than to believe a word I say when someone asks me how I am. "I see you patched yourself up pretty well." She continued, noticing the bandage around my shoulder. "I'd say you're almost as good as Hershel."

"Trust me, nobody is as good as Hershel." I smiled weakly, before picking up another pallet and placing it against the fence that led to the fielded yard. "You know how happy it makes me that you're here, that you've gotten to meet the people I was always tellin' you about."

"They're good people." She praised, as I saw her follow my eyes down to Rick. "Is he gonna be okay?"

"He's Rick." I pursed my lips together, feeling a sense of pride elevate. "He'll always be okay. He just needs some time."

"Time we might not have." Michonne muttered.

I turned to her, resting my hand lightly on her shoulder. "We'll get through this."

"You know if I went back now, I could kill him, finish what I started." She said with desire burning through her tone.

"No." I shut her down, moving around her to head inside and check on Ezra and Shane.

"Why not? You know I could." She argued.

"It's not happenin'." I stated firmly.

"So we let him get away with what he's done?" She questioned. "What about Andrea?"

"Right now, we have to stick together." I halted in place to lay out my case in the sudden argument that had formed. "We have people here that need us. The last thing we wanna start doin' is splittin' up. We take no chances, no risks, not anymore. He's comin', an we'll need to make a stand when he does. Anyone starts runnin' off, we're all done for." After a few seconds of mulling over my words, she nods in understanding. "Can you finish off that row of pallets for me? We need them goin' all the way along this fence, makin' sure to leave the gate clear, okay?"

"Sure." She responded, earning a knowing look from me before I headed back inside.

A smile widened on my face at the sight of Ezra sat around one of the tables in the foyer, as he talked to Beth with Carl keeping an eye on him from the gate that sectioned this room from the cells. I felt my eyes transfix on his body, looking over the bruises and dried blood around his abdomen and back. If only I hadn't said those words to the Governor.