Allison (rewritten)

Is it love?

"I know I've already asked." Daryl whispered taking the ring from the box. "And you already have a ring. But I wanted to do this in front of everyone." He took a deep breath then knelt down on one knee. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes." I answered handing him my hand.

Looking at everyone in the room, they were either crying or smiling. This, this is my family. This is all I need.

"I have something to say." Rick said stepping forward. He cleared his throat. "You've come so far, Allison. We are all so proud of you. I know the others would be too. We all love you."

"I love all of you. I don't know where I'd be right now."

"With all the mushy stuff out of the way. I need to take Allison to the infirmary. I said I'd need to see her brain." Eugene said coming into the kitchen. "It won't be long."

I followed Eugene without hesitation. I knew this was coming and I need to know for sure what they did to me. And if this was the only way, I'm all for it.

"If you'll just lay here." He patted a hospital bed.

Rosita entered the building and sat at a bar in the corner. "I'm here for support."

I nodded in her direction and jumped on the bed laying down. Eugene put a mask over my face and I began to fall asleep. Floating up into the stars where it all began.

*******

I was still in the stars but I could hear people, voices surrounding me. I tried to float back down but something was keeping me from floating back down.

"So she's chipped?" Someone asked.

"Indeed. And I may be able to do some things to it. Maybe emergency buttons for each of us. Especially if we go out there and need help."

"We can't use her like that."

"Let's wake her up, talk to her first."

The gravitational pull back to earth was sucking me back down. My feet touched down on solid ground and I was awake. Facing everyone staring down at me with worry.

"Don't ask. I heard." I shook my head. "Make them." I nodded at Eugene.

"Are you sure about this?" Carol squeezed my hand.

"If it means keeping you all safe, yes."

"Then I'll get started as soon as possible." Eugene answered clicking on a computer.

I looked up and seen Tara sitting up watching contently. "You're up." I said.

"Yea. How are you feeling?"

"I should be asking you that." I chuckled.

"Works both ways." She smiled. "Eugene said I should be ok to leave any day now."

"Where's Rick?" I asked looking around.

"Oh, him and Morgan went to bury Deanna's husband and Pete." Maggie was frowning. "They should be back soon."

I nodded and got up walking outside to see what was happening with the town. The woman Jesse was asking where her oldest son went off to. Spencer was pacing in front of the gate. And Deanna was sitting on her porch with red puffy eyes.

"Hey, Deanna." I said sitting down beside her.

"Oh, hey sweetie."

"How are you feeling?"

"Good as it's gonna get I suppose." She half smiled.

"It'll get better. It has to."

*****

Hours have passed and Rick and Morgan flung themselves into the house acting strange.

"What's wrong?" Carol asked Rick.

"There's a hoard. It's huge, bigger than we've ever seen. Someone trapped them inside a cavern. Soon, they will all be out."

"We need a plan." Daryl spoke up.

"Take me to it. Let me see." I offered.

"Here, I wrote it all down." Morgan tore a piece of paper from a book and handed it to me.

"Then, you should go speak to Deanna and see what all we could do in case they broke free." I told Rick.

"Be careful out there." He nodded before running down the street towards Deanna.

I walked slowly at first then ran and jumped over the fence leaving Zeb and everyone behind. Following the directions to the caves earth, I found myself walking miles and miles away. Through the woods then to a cliffs edge. Peering over, it was a long drop that I could make. But there was too many walkers to try. I told Carol once before, there's some things that even I, can't overcome.

********

I sat on the edge looking out at the sea of dead bodies roaming for hours. This would be the worst horde yet, and I wasn't sure if I was even remotely close to being ready for this. We would end up losing people, was it even worth it? Yes.

I don't remember running back to Alexandria, but here I was jumping over the gate headed towards home. To my family.

"You looked." Carol whispered. "How bad is it? As bad as Rick said?"

"Much worse." I shook my head. "There's too many."

"Even for you and Zeb?" She raised her brow.

"Remember what I told you? There's things that even I can't overcome."

She frowned and started off toward the pantry. I know she's afraid, in the longest while so am I. But we have to try and protect everyone there is. No matter the cost.

"Hey, Allison." Glenn said. "This is heath."

"Hi." I waved. "Nice to meet you."

"I heard good things. Just wanted to meet you." Heath said smiling. "I better run. Rick has people in the church talking about a plan."

"He does?" I looked at Glenn.

"Yea. He didn't know when you'd be back. He will tell you later."

"Someone better or I'll have my own plan." I chuckled.

Glenn and Heath jogged back to the church and vanished inside. I knew Rick would be cooking something up, but what? I'll find out later. I just hope it's good enough to protect this place.