All Out War

Chapter 21

A few minutes passed. Daryl gently shook me. I sat up and looked around. He placed his finger on his lips. There was then some footsteps coming from the right of us.

"Carl," I whispered.

He took Judith while I reached for my handgun and held it close. They got louder. We all were waiting in anticipation to know who had found their way down here.

"Carl?" he asked.

I sighed in relief. It was Rick. He'd come back.

"Dad," Carl said.

He stood up and followed the direction Rick's voice had come from. I stood up and waited for them to come back. I was hit with another dose of relief when I saw Michonne with them. They both hugged Carl and Judith. Daryl stood up and held my hand.

"I'm so glad they're okay," I said.

"I told you they would be," he said.

I kissed his cheek. Rick went down making sure everyone was okay. He got a glimpse of Dwight. He looked confused but then he saw me and all of that faded. He came up and hugged me tightly.

"You're okay?" he asked when we parted.

"Yes. So glad to see you are too," I said pulling him in once more.

"So...are the Saviors still up there?" Daryl asked.

Michonne looked at us.

"Yes. And almost everything is up in flames. I killed one of them. But I couldn't see Negan anywhere," she said.

"He was waiting for me at the house," Rick said.

"What?" I asked looking at him.

"He tried to kill me but I got away," he said.

It was then that I noticed his shoulder was bleeding.

"Rick, let me see," I said.

"It's nothing," he said.

"I didn't ask how bad it was. I didn't ask in general. Let me see it, please," I said sternly.

He sighed then gently untucked his shirt. Michonne helped him take it off. His shoulder had the imprint of barbed wire.

"That son of a bitch," I said full of anger.

"I've got this one, Amelia. You should rest a bit," Rosita stepped up and said.

She had cut off one of her sleeves to make a bandage for his arm. I stepped back.

"Why does she need rest?" Rick asked.

I looked over at Daryl. He nodded.

"There's some news we have to give you," I said.

I went quiet after that.

"Well am I gonna have to read your mind?" he said teasingly.

Rosita had started working on his arm.

"Bringing Dwight down here wasn't ideal. We led some of them away and took them out. He helped take out the rest we couldn't see. One of them got away. There's no way for him to go back without them killing him," I said.

"We could kill him here," Rick retorted looking over at Dwight.

"I know you can. But I want to help in any way I can. I'll tell you the same thing I told them, I know how Negan works. I'll tell you everything and anything you want to know. I want him dead just as much as you do. Maybe even more," Dwight said.