𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍, rick grimes (ON HOLD)

SIXTY-ONE

      GUNFIRE ECHOED ALL AROUND JOSIE AS SHE AND THE OTHERS ran towards the fence, killing walkers and dodging bullets. The brunette smelt a fire from somewhere in the place, but she wasn't too sure where it was.

      Before she got to the fence, she turned around to see where Gareth was. Josie spotted him on a rooftop, firing his gun at Rick.

      Ignoring Daryl and Glenn's protests, Josie pulled an arrow from her quiver and placed it in her bow, aiming it at Gareth. Her hand let the arrow go as it traveled through the air, piercing Gareth's shoulder. He fell to the ground as his men scattered.

      Daryl then grabbed her arm, pulling her back towards the fence. The brunette climbed over the fence and Glenn helped her down as the others made it over, fleeing into the woods and leaving Terminus behind to burn to the ground.

      As soon as they were deep enough into the woods, they all slowed to a stop and Josie looked at Rick. "What happened? How'd you guys get out?"

      "So apparently they're cannibals," Daryl told her.

      Josie felt sick to her stomach. "That's disgusting."

      "They had all the body parts strung up in a room," Rick explained. "They cut four other guys' throats, but we managed to get out before they could kill us, thanks to the explosion."

      "It was horrible," Glenn added. "They whacked them over the head with baseball bats and slit their throats and just let them bleed in this tub."

      Josie scrunched her face up in disgust, keeping her daughter close to her side as they continued to walk. When they reached the spot where they buried their weapons, Rick crouched down and began to dig through the dirt.

      Abraham looked around. "The hell we still around for?"

      "Guns," Rick replied. "Some supplies. Go along the fences, use the rifles. Take out the rest of 'em."

      "What?" Glenn asked.

      "They don't get to live," Rick replied.

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

      "It's not over until they're dead," Rick replied.

      "The hell it isn't," Rosita said. "That place is on fire, full of walkers."

      "I'm not dicking around with this crap," Abraham added. "We just made it out."

      "The fences are down," Maggie explained. "They'll run or die."

      "Rick, they're right," Josie said. "We all made it out, no point in going back."

      Rick looked at her for a moment before he finally nodded his head in agreement. Josie smiled before there was a rustle in the trees behind them, so the brunette looked over and saw someone she never thought she would see again.

      "Oh, my God," Josie muttered before rushing towards Carol and wrapping her in a hug.

      They swayed back and forth as Carol laughed. "Yeah, I missed you, too."

      Josie chuckled as she backed away, allowing Daryl to hug her. As soon as Daryl backed away, Rick went up and hugged her.

      "Did you do that?" Rick asked her as she nodded.

      "You have to come with me," Carol told him, holding onto his arm.

      With that, the entire group followed after Carol. As they walked, Josie had an armed draped around Carl's shoulder as she held Parker close to her side. Rick looked over his shoulder every so often, a small smile on his lips.

      As they made it up a hill, they saw a small wooden cabin. Tyreese left the cabin, holding Judith in his arms. Rick and Carl immediately broke out into a sprint, taking Judith from him as soon as they got there.

      Josie smiled at them as Sasha went up and hugged her brother. The brunette stood a few feet away from Rick and Carl, watching with soft eyes as they reunited with Judith.

      "What happened?" Carol asked Tyreese.

      "There were a bunch of walkers out here and he got his hands around Judith's neck," Tyreese replied. Carol went towards the door, but he caught her arm. "No, he's dead. I... I had to. So I did, I could."

      Rick handed Judith over to Josie and she took her, holding her in her arms and cradling her close. Parker smiled, running her hand over Judith's head, brushing her hair out of her face.

      "I don't know if the fire's still burning," Rick said.

      "It is," Carol replied, looking at the smoke billowing into the sky.

      "We need to go," Rick said.

      "Yeah, but where?" Daryl asked.

      "Somewhere far away from there," Rick replied.

      And so, the group set off again, no clear destination in mind. Josie was walking alongside Maggie, keeping Judith close to her as they made their way through the woods.

      Maggie looked at her. "What do you think? You want one?"

      "I'm not sure," Josie shrugged. "I mean, do I really want to have a baby with the world like this?"

      "That's totally up to you," Maggie replied.

      "Plus, who would I even have a baby with?" Josie asked.

      Maggie gave her a look. "You're kidding, right?"

      Josie raised a brow. "What?"

      "You're saying that when you have Rick?" Maggie asked.

      "Oh, stop," Josie nudged her side. "There's nothing going on between us."

      "Tell that to Rick, then," Maggie replied.

      "What're you talking about?" Josie asked.

      "Have you seen the way he looks at you?" Maggie retorted. "He looks at you the same way Glenn did when he first started liking me."

      Josie sighed and glanced at Rick, who was leading the way. She shook her head and smiled, looking back at Maggie. "What about you? You want one?"

      "Yeah, I kinda do," Maggie nodded.

      Josie raised her eyebrows. "Have you told Glenn that?"

      "Not yet," Maggie replied.

      "I bet he wants one," Josie told her. "He would make a great father."

      "Yeah, we would," Maggie agreed.