Ruins

35

And that's exactly what happened.

Maggie and Daryl started a war with Rick, and Oceanside started a war with Saviors that we had to fight.

Maggie and Daryl planned to take Negan out, and we were taking camp down, heading back to our respectable communities.

"Alright." I sighed, having Noah situated on my chest.

I heard some commotion and moved out of my tent quickly. I could see Jed leading a group of Saviors with guns.

I froze where I was and ducked, holding Noah to me as the gunshots rang.

I screamed, hearing a bullet wiz passed me and saw Regina wearing a smirk. My hands shook with rage.

I ran back to my tent, tucking a screaming Noah away, and shielding him with whatever I had.

I ran outside, pulling my crowbar out. I stalked toward the fighting and spotted Regina, I lifted my gun as she lifted herself and planted a shot in her side.

I dropped beside her, to my knees and grabbed her throat.

"I will kill you with my bare hands!" I seethed through grit teeth. "You shoot at me- at my child!" I screamed, picking her up and slamming her against the ground, again and again.

"Sam! Sam!" I was pulled up by Laura. They were retreating. "We gotta go, walkers are all over." I followed her, retrieving Noah and whatever I could carry. We moved on foot to Alexandria as quickly as possible, staying in front of the herd that was growing.

"I have to find Daryl." I panted, stopping to throw Noah's carrier on and strap him on.

We continued running, finding a few stragglers, before making it to Alexandria.

Maggie, Daryl, and the rest were already there.

"We gotta find 'im. He was leading the herd away-"

"Daryl." I spoke, getting his attention.

He let out a big huff, walking forward.

"Ya' alright?" He asked, looking down at Noah

"Yeah, what's going on?" I shook my head, seeing everyone hearing up once again.

"Rick's leadin' the hear away. To the bridge." He spoke.

I looked around, spotting Maggie. I moved to her, looking over her.

"I didn't do it." She shook her head. Negan was still alive. "He started bawlin' like a baby, beggin' me to do it..."

I gaped at her words.

"Aye, let's go!" Daryl commanded. I looked around, seeing May, one of the older women that usually watched Judith. I unstrapped Noah from me and rushed to her

"Can you-"

"Yes, of course. Go." She took Noah from me. I turned back as I left the gate, seeing Noah begin to cry.

I huffed, but followed the group on foot, it wasn't long before the bridge, filled with walkers was coming into view.

"Oh my God." I breathed. Rick noticed us as Daryl shot a bolt through a walkers head.

I continued with the group, shooting my gun, trying to get the herds attention.

Rick blew up the bridge just as we made it to the hill below the bridge.

I covered my face and watched in horror as walkers tumbled into the river, and the bridge was engulfed in flames, Rick was nowhere in sight.

Maggie and Carol held Michonne and I shook my head, watching her sob, and try to get to her husband.

I let out a breath and felt hot tears over my face. I turned, moving through the group, who watched the scene unravel. I passed each person, not finding the face I was looking for.

I moved back to where we first spotted Rick and looked around.

"Daryl!" I called. I could see his tracks lead into the woods and sighed. Do I go after him, or do I give him space? He was probably a wreck.

I huffed and leaned against the nearest tree. How did we get here? How did we get from finding this whole new world and then watching it all crumble beneath our feet, taking our loved ones with it.

I didn't know how long I was there, but turned when I heard Carol's voice.

"We're headed back, most of the walkers washed away in the river." She spoke lightly, but I could see the pain on her face, knowing that as soon as she got behind closed doors she'd be a mess as well.

"I'm gonna hang back." I looked into the direction Daryl left. "Take out some of the stray ones." I said.

She nodded and looked into the woods.

"He'll be fine in time. He always is."

"I know." I sighed. "That's why I worry."

I tucked my gun away and pulled out my crowbar, moving toward the bridge, and taking whatever walkers I ran into out.

It began to grow dark and figured Daryl probably would've headed back by now.

I picked up Noah from May and moved to the Grimes house. Maggie and Carol were in the living room with Judith and I could hear Michonne's weeping from upstairs.

I shook my head.

"This can't be real." I spoke, leaning back and patting Noah to sleep.

"Rick knew what he was doing." Maggie said, leaning forward to tuck Judith's hair behind her ear.

I could see the pain in Maggie's face too, knowing this probably stuck a nerve with her.

"What's next?" I sighed. "How do we move forward?"

"We just keep going. One foot in front of the other. We all have places we need to take care of. We keep working and building toward what Carl and Rick wanted. " Carol sat up.

So that's what we did. Daryl was more broken than ever, after losing his best friend, his brother.

And loss racked the communities as well. The Sanctuary's workers joined the communities, after the Saviors fall- they were of course still here and there- but never as big a threat as before.

I was needed in Oceanside, as a doctor, but Daryl...

Daryl was stuck. He and Michonne went out everyday trying to locate Rick's body, to bring home their friend, and leader to lay to rest, and soon enough Daryl spent days out there, until I couldn't wait anymore. I had to go.