This is Why We Fight

"Daryl let go of me!" I shouted, trying to rip his hands off of my waist. "I have to get him. I have to see if he's okay."

"Red!" he boomed, turning me around so his body was standing between me and the fence. "Look at me," he ordered. He cupped both of his hands on either cheek, forcing me to look up at him. I took a deep breath in although my legs shook with anticipation. "You ain't going back over that fence."

My eyes met his and he stared down at me until he knew I understood that I was staying put. My focus then trailed from him to over his shoulder, a breathy sigh of relief escaping my lips when Glenn's head reappeared over the fence. His leg swung over the top and he landed firmly on the grass. I watched as Maggie crashed into his arms, Glenn's chin resting in the crook of her neck as he squeezed her tight. His eyes flutter up at me, a large grin sliding up his face. Following behind not long afterwards was Rick and then the redhead.

Everyone was safe. Everyone made it out of Terminus.

"Let's get out of here," Sasha was the first to suggest, although we had already started walking.

After his embrace with Maggie, Glenn quickly caught up to me, swinging his left arm over my shoulder. I was just short enough to rest my head down on his shoulder comfortably, side hugging him with a smile on my face. I didn't bother looking back at the ruins of Terminus, wanting to keep that place behind me, buried in the back of my memories. I had everyone I needed right here in front of me. Or almost everyone.

The trees swallowed us whole, we walked until we felt we were a safe enough distance away to stop and regroup. We need to plan what our next move will be. Other than in that train car, this was the first time in weeks we the majority of us were all together again. I was grateful for this, but I couldn't help but think about Lincoln. I pushed that thought to the back of my mind for so long, not wanting the hope of seeing him again to get the best of me. At this moment though, having Glenn, and Carl, and Maggie, and Sasha, and the newcomers they brought along made me want him here with us all the more.

"The hell are we still around here for? We should keep going," the sergeant asked, frustrated by us stopping.

Rick knelt down as Daryl tossed him a small shovel we had hidden in the leaves this morning.

"Guns, some supplies," Rick explained. "We go along the fences. Use the rifles. Take the rest of 'em out."

My face dropped upon Rick's plan. He really wanted to go back and finish this? We just barely got out by the skin of our teeth and he wanted us to go back? I didn't disagree with Rick often, but this fight was over.

"What?" I questioned.

Rick turned his head to look at me. "They don't get to live."

"Rick, we got out. It's over," Glenn objected.

"It's not over until they're all dead," he insisted. He finally reached the guns we buried, unzipping the blue sack and retrieving his pistol.

"The hell it isn't. That place is on fire. Full of walkers." The feisty brunette said.

"Rosita's right. I'm not dicking around with this crap," the redhead agreed.

"Rick, the fences are down. They'll run or die-" I tried to reason with Rick before something caught my eye. I looked over Rick's shoulder, my eyes glossing over with tears as the figure neared our group.

She was dressed head to toe in what looked to be a dark brown now turned auburn from coating herself in a layer of blood. She wore a belt stashed with various knives and her shoulders hung low in disbelief as her left hand clutched onto Daryl's crossbow. A wave of shock and doubt stunned her face as she stared at all of us.

Daryl had his back turned to her, the expression washing over my face caused him to swing his head around towards her. He was the first to do anything. His feet barreled towards Carol, crashing his body into hers and lifting her from the ground. The air in my lungs escaped my body, I felt like I was imagining this. The last time I saw Carol was the morning I got into that car accident. Carol laughed as she embraced Daryl. Rick then slowly walked up to her, all of us following behind waiting to greet her.

Carol looked at Rick, tears welling in her eyes. This was not the same Carol I met a year ago upon that campsite. She was no longer the mother too afraid to mourn the loss of her daughter. No longer the woman afraid to be alone.

"Did you do that?" Rick asked, his voice meek.

Carol nodded her head ever so slightly before Rick finally wrapped his arms around her. We did not get ourselves out of Terminus. That explosion wasn't some act of God or stroke of luck. It was Carol.

"You have to come with me. I have something to show you something," Carol finally spoke as she broke away from Rick.

We silently followed Carol through the woods. She wouldn't say a word before we got to where she was taking us. Rick completely forgot about his revenge on Terminus. I think that knowing Carol got us out of there proved that we all undoubtedly had one another's back was enough for him to move on. After all the tragedy that we have seen and experienced, being reunited once again was enough.

We walked about two miles behind Carol before she led us out of the forest and onto a dirt driveway. She picked up her pace making me believe we were close to wherever we were headed. We walked up a slight hill before the sight of a small log shack came into view. I looked over at Carol as a smile crept onto her face. The sound of the cabin door opening brought my attention back towards it. I was ten feet away when out walked Tyrese carrying Judith in his arms. Rick, Carl, and Sasha immediately sprinted ahead of us to embrace their loved ones.

My heart felt warm and full for them. I smiled with joy, but I couldn't help the slight ache of jealousy I held towards them. Nonetheless, I looked over at Daryl unable to rid the grin from my face as this was more than I could have ever hoped for. Daryl looked at me before grinning slyly, a hint of amusement in his eyes as he pointed ahead.

I furrowed my brows and looked back towards what he was pointing at. My heart hitched in my throat and the tears rolled down my cheek into the slits of my mouth. I took off into a sprint as Lincoln was the last out of the cabin, closing the log door behind him. He turned towards me just as I was jumping on him. His face, just as shocked as my own to see that I was alive.

"Oh, I missed you," I cooed, hugging him tightly.

"Don't ever tell me to 'Wait here' again," he said, a light chuckle emitting from his throat. I laughed, stepping back from him and nodding my head in agreement. He looked better, healed now.

I looked around, watching Rick cry as he cradled Judith for the first time after thinking he had lost her. Carl stood with him, brushing his hand over her hair. Sasha cried into Tyrese's shoulder, unable to let go of him. Everyone watched us with small smiles, their hearts full once again.

"Where's Mark?" I asked.

Lincoln's head dropped, shaking it slightly, telling me that he didn't make it. My face fell, giving one more quick hug to console him and myself. For the brief time, I knew Mark, it was easy to see he was one of the good ones. Just as much a part of our group as anyone else here. That aching reminder of how precious life is hit me hard in the chest once again. It was a reminder of how grateful we should be to be here, with each other.

I walked over to where Daryl stood, his eyes trained on Rick holding Judith. He remained at the back of the group, enjoying this moment as much as everyone else. I caught him off guard, feeling overwhelmed with emotions I grabbed both of his cheeks and kissed him. I didn't want to let this moment go. Hours ago I didn't think we'd ever make it out of the walls. He leaned back into me, surprising me as he pressed his lips hard against mine.

Amusement was written across each person's face when I turned back around. A look of 'finally' staring back at me from each expression.

"Let's get as far away from that fucking place as possible," I said, pointing at the cloud of smoke hovering high above the trees in the distance.