Broken

Past Parts

The Hilltop is struggling with a strain of the flu, they've already lost two people. I take a deep breath as I walk to the infirmary. "Here," I say as I hand Tara the scroll of paper I have in my hand. 

"What is this?" Tara asks, "Michonne isn't going to use it anytime soon," I say, "And I know that Maggie isn't going to want it so maybe the Kingdom can hold onto it." 

Tara smiles as she takes it. "You know that she's going to be beyond pissed," I say as I unlock the door to the infirmary. The two of us go inside, I shut the door behind me.

"I know but we can't let the people at Hilltop suffer," she says. "I'm just glad that the Kingdom is still able to help," I say. 

"I'm staying at Hilltop for a while," Tara says suddenly as I grab some of the things that the Hilltop needs from the shelves. "What about Rosita and the boys?" I ask, "I'm not going through that ridiculous trial," she says. 

"Why can't-" 

"No she knows that I have problems with her way. She'll punish me, that's why I'm volunteering to be the guilty party," Tara says. 

I frown, "I don't think I can lose you too," I whisper, "I'll be closer than you think, you'll get to sneak the boys out to see me," she says. 

I zip up my bag, "This is all I can give without alerting Siddiq," I say. 

"Anything you do can save people," Tara says. 

"We should get going if we want to meet up with the King in the morning," I say as I put the backpack over my shoulders. "I already have horses waiting," Tara says. 

Tara and I ride to Hilltop. Maggie is waiting at the gates, "I brought what I could," I say as I hand her the bag. 

"Thank you," she says, "I know that you doing this is betraying her," Maggie says. "It's also helping my family. I could never let anything happen to you guys," I say. 

"I'm glad you're open to us," she says, "Aaron is too, he's going to be your line of communication to us," I tell her. 

"Carl already has a line in with the Kingdom," I say. Maggie hugs me, "Thank you," she says, "I'd do anything and you know that," I say.

"Are you staying?" Maggie asks, "For a few days, I want to help," I say. Maggie, Enid, and I work together to get the worst of the people stabilized. 

I sit outside the infirmary. "Hey," Enid mutters as she sits with me, "How long is it going to be until I see you again?" she asks. 

I turn to her, she has tears in her eyes. "I love you," I whisper as I grab her shoulders. I pull her to me. She sobs into my neck and I sob against hers. 

"I don't want to leave," I say, "I don't want you to go," she says. "I'm gonna be all alone," I say, "I will be too," she says. Enid presses a kiss to my temple. 

"What are you two doing?" Maggie asks as she walks toward us. "I don't think I can live in Alexandria with out you two," I say. 

"Oh honey," Maggie says as she sits down between us, "I'll always be here," she says as she puts her hand over my heart. 

"And here," she says putting her hand over Enid's. 

"But what if-" 

"No, 'what ifs'," Maggie says, hugging us both to her. "No 'what ifs'," she whispers. 

I spot Jerry's red jacket from where we are in the field. Jesus kills a walker as we gallop toward the King and Carol. 

The three people are smiling when we hop off our horses. "We really appreciate this," Jesus says as the King hands over bottles of pills and some IV bags. 

"Maggie wanted to thank you personally, but with so many people sick she didn't think that it was the best idea," Jesus tells the man. 

"I'm just glad to hear that the worst is past," the King says, "Thanks to the Kingdom," Tara says, "And to Elaine." 

"We were surprised to see the two of you," Carol says as she tucks her shoulder length hair behind her ear. 

"Not as surprised as Michonne's gonna be when she realizes that I'm not going back home," Tara says, "Or that Elaine stole for the Hilltop." 

The three people look at me with shocked expressions, "I took off with more supplies than the council was willing to spare and Elaine took off with meds that Hilltop needed." 

"They're still family and so are you guys," I say as I point to them. The King nods, "I also snagged this," I say as I move to my horse. 

I grab the leather case that the charter is in. "I brought you this," I say, "It's better if you guys hang onto it, Michonne is just letting it collect dust," I say. 

"And Maggie isn't the biggest fan of Michonne right now," Jesus says, "So I thought that the Kingdom would be the best place for it. 

"I thank you," the King says as he holds it, "I haven't given up on the idea that this embodies. I still believe that this will bind us into something more because we are family."

"You're not going back yet?" Tara asks at the gate. I shake my head, "I just have one more stop to make and I'll go back," I say. "Send the boys my love," she says. "I will," I say as I hug her. 

"Be safe," Maggie whispers as she grabs my arms. "You're the one going to North Dakota," I say, "I'll be back," she says. "It just hurts," I whisper, "How different will everything be in four years?" I ask. "We're family, nothing will change that," Maggie says. 

"Daddy!" I call out when I enter his camp. I avoid the holes in the ground, I don't have medical supplies to risk falling into a trap. "Daddy?" I question. There's a small log next to the fire pit. No fire, there hasn't been one in a few days at least. No Daryl either. "Dad!" I yell out again. Still no answer. I walk further in, there are no more traps. I look to the lake, the raft that Daryl built isn't in it's usual spot. He must've gone out, maybe to Oceanside. He's still looking for Rick, it's been three years since the bridge exploded, none of us have ever found his body. I turn around to leave. There's something covered in a white sheet leaning against a tree. I walk toward it. The outline looks like Daryl's bike but there's something wrapped up near the bottom. I pull off the sheet. Something unrolls from the sheet. It's something sandy- brown colored. I kneel down beside it. On the ground is a puppy, barely three weeks old. I place my hand on it, it's still warm and it's chest is moving up and down. "I've got you dog," I whisper as I pick up the limp puppy.