Daughter of the Fallen

Knots Unite Part 2

When I got off the RV, I saw that Rick was pointing his gun at Jesus.

"If this is a trick," he threatened. "It won't end well for you."

"My people are in trouble," Jesus reminded him. "We don't have a lot of fighters. I know how it looks, but I'll play it out. Can I borrow a gun?"

"No," Daryl answered before pointing at the ground. "We got tracks right here."

He started following them and Maggie and I exchanged a glance before following him.

The tracks lead to a little house. Rick knocked on the door.

"They gotta be in there," Jesus said. Rick looked at me and gestured to Jesus. I nodded and held my gun to his head.

"We moving in or what?" my dad asked.

"How do we know this ain't firecrackers in a trash can?" Daryl added.

"You don't," Jesus answered.

"We'll get your people," Rick promised. "But you're staying here with Bree?"

I gave Rick a shocked look. "You're making me stay here?"

His gaze softened a little as it landed on me. "Just this once."

Jesus looked at me, probably knowing I wasn't thrilled with this situation and hoping I'd help him get out of it.

Taking a deep breath, I gripped my gun. "That's the deal," I told him. I looked at Maggie. "You should stay, too."

She nodded, understanding. "I'll keep watch of the RV."

As Rick moved forward to handcuff Jesus, I sighed. "Be careful."

"We will," he promised.

"Just hurry," Jesus pleaded.

Rick ignored him, turning to me. "If you hear me whistle, shoot him."

I nodded. "I will."

The group went in while Maggie went to the RV. Jesus and I stayed put. I kept my eyes on the door, though they flickered to him occasionally.

After a little bit, he turned to me a little. "How long have you been in Rick's group?"

Immediately knowing what I was doing, I held my gun higher. "Are you really trying to make small talk with me right now?"

He sighed. "Just trying to diffuse the tension."

I rolled my eyes and my gaze travelled back to the door.

When it finally opened, they brought four people with them.

Rick quickly handed me the key to the handcuffs before rushing to the RV.

As I unlocked them, I told him, "This doesn't change anything. If any of us sense anything suspicious, you're dead. You hear me?"

He shook his wrists once they were free. "Loud and clear."

With that, we both went back to the RV.

•••

As Rick drove, I sat across from Jesus and one of the men we saved from the building. He had his leg wrapped and propped up. Jesus leaned over a little.

"You okay, Freddie?" he asked.

Freddie looked distant as he answered. "For a second there, I thought he was gonna..."

"I'm sorry," I spoke up, somehow feeling the need to apologize. "My dad can be a little...impulsive."

He looked at me. "You're his daughter?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

A little smile crossed his face. "I can tell."

I found that statement odd, since I've never been told that I look like my dad. "How?"

"You have the same fire in your eyes that he does."

I let that comment sink in, not really sure how to feel about it.

"But your eyes hold something his don't?"

Though I was wondering when he became a walking Tumblr quote, I was still interested. "What?"

His smile grew a little. "Innocence." He waited a moment before adding, "And kindness."

I let out a short, surprised laugh as I stared at my hands. "I haven't been innocent for a long time. And my dad is kind, you just need to get to know him."

He shrugged. "Yeah, but not like you are."

His words weighing heavy on my shoulders, I turned to Rick as the RV suddenly stopped. He kept trying the accelerator but nothing was happening.

"A storm must have passed through," he said. "We're stuck."

Jesus looked out the window. "No worries. We're here."

We all filed of the RV.

I tried shaking the mud off my boots as I stepped in the puddle.

"Ew," I whispered. "Disgusting."

As I looked up, I saw a wall.

"That's us," Jesus announced. "That's the Hilltop."

My dad came up beside me. "You ready?"

I nodded, exhaling. "Let's go."

We all started following Jesus. (AN: as you should, my child. as you should.)

•••

Finally, we arrived at the gate. The thing looked about as elaborate as I would've expected ancient Denmark to be.

As we walked up, someone appeared at the top of the gate, pointing a spear at us.

"Stop right there!" he called.

We all immediately pointed our weapons at him.

"You gonna make us?" Daryl challenged the man.

"Jesus," the stranger called. "What is this?"

"Open the gates, Cal," Jesus responded. "Freddie's hurt." He turned to us. "Sorry about them. They get antsy standing up there all day doing nothing."

"They give up their weapons," Cal ordered. "Then we'll open the gates."

"Why don't you come down here and get them?" I challenged.

"Guys," Doctor Carson, another one of the men we rescued from the building, spoke up. He looked at Cal. "Look, we vouch for these people, okay? They saved us out there."

"Lower the spears," Jesus ordered.

"Look I'm not taking any chances," Rick told Jesus. "Tell your guy Gregory to come out here."

"No," Jesus responded. "Don't you see what just happened? I'm letting your keep your guns. Look, we ran out of ammo months ago. I like you people. I trust you. Trust us."

Rick hesitated before signaling for us to lower our weapons.

We did and Jesus turned back to the gate. "Open the gates, Cal."

The gates slowly opened and I braced myself before forcing myself to walk in.