// Jade //
"Damn it, Jade! Wake up!" I felt Carol shaking me. I took in a deep breath, "I'm up. What happened?" I ask, rubbing my eyes tiredly. My whole body was aching when I looked down to examine the degree of my injuries. Both my palms were split open, I probably had a concussion, and the bullet hole where I had been shot was inflamed, "You passed out." Carol explained, whispering so it wouldn't attract any nearby walkers. I nodded and started feeling light headed again, "I'm just gonna take a nap." I mumbled, ignoring Carol telling me not to.
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It felt like days had passed, but I wasn't really sure. No water, no food. Just Carol and I stuffed in a small closet. She had told me she was hearing people outside talking when I was asleep once, but no one came to help after she banged on the door. They just set it aside as a walker, claiming they would 'get it later'. My stomach was aching for food. Carol insisted on leaving and trying to find our way back because I was supposed to be eating for two, but then she got too weak and couldn't help me walk. I sighed and looked at Carol's blood-covered face, "Do you think someone will find us?" I ask her. She glanced up at me slowly, "Maybe." she said, her voice horse. I lay my head back, "God, I miss Glenn and Daryl." I said, coughing a little. The coughing became worse and I threw up a bit of blood. I groaned, "We need to get back." Carol and I said in unison.
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Someone was kicking and hitting things outside as I barely opened my eyes. I glanced at Carol and hit on the door. After a few hits, I heard a knife hitting the ground over and over, mocking my hits on the door. I couldn't speak, my mouth was too dry. The knocking took a lot of energy out and I was about to pass out again. Out of desperateness, I banged on the door harder, using the last of my energy. It sent shock waves through my body when I used my hand, leaving my face tear-stained. I tried to push the door open with my shoulder, but a dead walker must have been blocking the door. Someone kicked the door shut again, then silence. I knocked a few more times before the door got pulled open, the light flooding in.
I squinted my eyes and glanced at Carol, giving her a small smile, "Jade. Carol." Daryl breathed, putting away his knife. He picked me up and sat me on the ground, helping Carol out as well. I started to stand but collapsed right back down. I tried to catch myself with my hands, but my arms gave in and my wounds started to bleed, as well as my bullet wound. I sucked in a breath and saw black dots once more, giving in to the sleepiness that overtook me.
*Before Daryl found Jade and Carol*
// Glenn's P.O.V //
I was digging graves for Carol and Jade, crying as I did so. Axel and Oscar walked over to me and I climbed out of the hole, "How's the perimeter look?" I ask, trying to avoid the conversation I knew was coming, "We got the walkers spread out... Need help?" Axel ask. I didn't reply for a moment, rubbing my thumb on the handle of the shovel. I dropped my eyes and returned back to digging, "Your friends, your woman, they-- they were good folks." Axel said. Something in me blew, "They were family. She was my life! She was having my kid!" Axel nodded, "I think I had one friend like that my whole life. You got a whole group." Oscar said, crossing his arms, "Sorry you lost 'em." Those words hurt me and I stabbed at the dirt with my shovel. I looked up and saw Hershel glancing down upon me, "I need two more." I rolled my eyes, handing the shovel to Axel as I stormed away.
Up on the other side of the gate stood Hershel, "Rick?" I ask, "Still inside. Okay, I'll get him." I sighed, looking back down at the graves, "A third of our group in one day." I let out a sarcastic snicker, "Cause of one asshole." Hershel said, making my thoughts drift back to Jade. I clamped my hand on the gate, holding on tight, "Part of me wished we killed all the prisoners on sight." I let a tear roll down my face, wiping it away once Hershel spoke again, "Axel and Oscar seem like good guys." I glanced back at them, "When the evacuations started, T-Dog drove his church van to the home of every senior he knew just in case they needed a ride. He saved my ass a thousand times. He wasn't just a good guy. He was the best." I explained to Hershel, "Got bit closing the gate. If he hadn't done that..." Hershel trailed off, "It could've been Jade." I said, not even thinking. I looked down to my feet, "God, I miss her." I sighed, looking up to the sky. Hershel put his hand over mine, a way of telling me he was here. I nodded at him, letting a few more tears fall before he pulled away, I doing the same.
I pointed my flashlight at every walker I saw, making sure they were dead. I held my gun in my right hand tightly, walking forward toward the dead bodies that had obviously been killed with an axe. There were piles of walkers everywhere, making me step over them. I turned a corner, shinning my flashlight, "Rick?" I ask. The axe he held was dripping with blood. His back was turned to me, but I could tell he wasn't doing too hot, "Everybody's worried about you. You shouldn't be in here. Come on out." I said. He turned to me slowly, not exactly making eye contact. He was covered in blood from head to toe. I walked in front of him, "You don't have to do this all by yourself. Okay? Our cell block is cleared. We'll just close off all the doors again." I said, trying my best to console him, "I don't think so." he said, "Rick, why don't you just come on out with me? Okay?" No answer came, "Rick." I put my hand to his chest. He grunted and pushed me against the wall. His hand was against my throat, his breath was rigid. I held my hand out to him in attempt to calm him down. I honestly just wish he'd end me now. I was hurting, too. But someone had to take charge while he was having his fit. His grip loosened as did he breathing, "Yeah... Yeah." I said softly. He was examining my face, trying to figure out who it was. I sighed, "It's me." I whispered. I knew he was out of it at this point. He moved his hand away from my neck, but grabbed my shoulder and tossed me aside. He looked at me for a moment before walking away, leaving me distraught behind him.
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Night had came quicker than I could have expected. I stood on top of the guard tower, wearing my baseball cap I had just found stored away in an old bag. I was looking to the sky, remembering small things about Jade I wish I would've mentioned to her. Like, how her smile made her eyes crease up in the corners, how her hair always fell perfectly, no matter how dirty, or maybe how she was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on. Or, the biggest one, how I never wanted to lose her. But I had lost her. I shook away the thoughts when I heard the motorcycle engine revving toward the gate. I haven't talked to Daryl since learning of Jade's... Passing. I wonder how he's holding up. I shook away my thoughts, "Guys, they're back!" I shouted at the prisoners who were below me, killing off walkers behind the fence. They were shouting to get the walkers attention. I grabbed a sniper rifle and aimed at a walker going for Maggie and Daryl. The gate opened and I ran down to meet them.
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I came into the cell block to see Daryl holding the baby, cooing it softly. He held his hand out for the bottle, which Beth handed him, "Come on. Come on." Daryl cooed the little child in his arms. It stops crying, bringing a smile to everyone's face. Daryl looked at me quickly, giving me a small smile, "She got a name yet?" he ask, holding the bottle upright, "Not yet." Carl said, "I was thinking maybe Sofia. Then there's Carol, too. Or Jade. And... Andrea. Amy. Jacqui. Patricia. Or.. Lori. I don't know." I could see Daryl chewing on his lip at the mention of Jade. Carl walked away, "Yeah... You like that? Huh?" Daryl cooed the child, "Little ass-kicker." I smiled a bit, noticing how gentle Daryl was with the child. Jade would've loved this. We would be standing here, watching Daryl feed the child. She would smile that wonderful smile of hers. Everyone laughed at Daryl's nickname, "Right? That's a good name, right? Little ass-kicker. You like that, huh?" Daryl laughed, "You like that, sweetheart?" he cooed.
Rick came to visit then headed straight back down to the boiler room. I followed Daryl to his perch, "Can we talk?" I ask him. He nodded, motioning for me to sit, "You miss her to, don't you?" he ask me, chewing on his thumb nail. I nodded, feeling the lump in my throat, "I promised you that I'd take care of her. I didn't do that. I was stupid and let her go on her own." I looked at me feet, "Glenn. It isn't your fault." he said, putting his hand on my shoulder. I didn't hold back when I cried in front of him. I didn't need to prove myself of a 'man' in front of him. I knew he didn't care because he was crying, too. And right here, in this moment, I hugged him. I don't know why I done it, but I did. It wasn't as awkward as I imagined it being, because he hugged me back. Tears were falling as we embraced, getting along perfectly once for Jade.
Maggie and I had went on a run into town to find anything we could for the baby. We turned the car off and jumped out, "Clear outside." she said, "All right. Let's take a look." I said, glancing around the small town, "You sure you're up for this?" she ask me. I nodded, just wanting to get this over with. I pulled the pliers out of the back of the car and clipped the chains around the doors of a store. I pulled open the doors and caught glimpses of birds flying out. I ducked down and avoided the oncoming packs of birds. I regained my breath from the scare and walked inside, "Glenn, get that duck." Maggie said from outside, shinning the light on it. I scrunched my eyes together, "What?" I ask, "Get that duck." she repeated. I laugh, "Are you serious?" I ask, "Yeah. A kid growing up in a prison could use some toys." she said with a smile.
"We just hit the powdered formula jackpot." I said with a smile, "Oh, thank god." Maggie breathed, "I also got beans, batteries, cocktail wieners, many mustards. It's a straight shot back to the prison from here. Probably make it in time for dinner." I said, taking baskets to the car, "I like the quiet." Maggie breathed, "Back there, back home, you can always hear 'em outside the fence no matter where you are." Maggie said to me. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, another voice took my place, "And where is it y'all good people are calling home?" I recognized the voice. No. I sucked in a breath, raising my gun after Maggie, "Merle?" I ask, confirming my thoughts. He dropped his gun and started to laugh. He put his gun on the ground and raised his hands.. Er, hand in the air, "Wow!" he said, walking toward us, "Hey! Back the hell up!" Maggie yelled, "Okay, okay, honey. Jesus." I didn't put my gun down, "You made it." I breathed, "Can you tell me, is my brother and sister alive?" he ask me. The mention of Jade put another lump in my throat, "Daryl is fine... Jade." I couldn't speak, "Is Jade okay?" he ask, "She was pregnant... But she passed a couple days ago." Maggie said for me. Merle looked to the ground, "Who's was it?" he ask. I swallowed hard, "Mine." I spoke. Merle chewed on this lip for a moment, "Did she die in childbirth? If she did, I''ll kill you--" Maggie interrupted him, "No. She wasn't even 5 months along yet." he nodded, "You take me to Daryl and I'll call it even on everything that happened up there in Atlanta. No hard feelings, huh?" no answer came from Maggie or I. Merle laughed, "You like that?" he ask, shaking his arm-blade in the air, "Well, I found myself a medical supply warehouse. Fixed it up myself. Pretty cool, huh?" he laughed, "We'll tell Daryl you're here and he'll come out to meet you." I said, "Hold on. Just hold up." he was getting impatient, "Whoa. Whoa." I said, holding my hand out to him. More shouts came of 'hold on' before it calmed down, "Hey, the fact that we found each other is a miracle. Come on, now. You can trust me." it took me a moment to answer, "You trust us. You stay here." I pointed my gun at him. He chuckled then lunged at me, "No!" I shouted. He shot the back window out of our car as Maggie and I darted around the sides. I came back around the side to see Merle holding Maggie at gun point on the ground, "Hey, hey, hold up, buddy, hold up." Merle said, "Let go of her!" my rage ripped through me, "Put that gun in the car right now. Put it in the car, son." I put the gun in the car and held up hands up, "There you go. Now we're gonna go for a little drive." Merle said, "We're not going back to our camp." I said, shaking my head, "No, we're going somewhere else. Get in the car, Glenn! You're driving! MOVE!" he yelled. I nodded, "Don't. Okay." I agreed, "Get up!" he yelled at Maggie as I walked around the other side. I got in the car, followed by Maggie and Merle and started the engine, going wherever he told me to.