Chapter Text
As they began to trek through the leave laden roads back towards the railroad tracks, Rick’s mind was an icy flood of conflicting thoughts and feelings.
Still through all the chaos he could feel the fluttering warmth of his bond with Carl deep in his chest. There was still a sliver of coldness though that nagged at him. It was clear when they started that Carl was lagging behind.
Now that the bond was there and complete, Rick could feel his alpha instincts tug even harder at him. He felt the pull to have the omega closer to his side. He fought that desire though as much as he could. Maybe Carl needed to have some time to adjust to the bond? Or maybe he just needed to be distanced from his father at the moment. There were any number of reason the teen was holding back.
Don’t overthink this or you’ll cause trouble. The last thing the alpha wanted to do was to wreak havoc on their new relationship.
The reason for Carl’s lagging though ended up being much simpler than Rick though. When the group stopped for a quick break, Rick watched as Carl gingerly attempted to sit on the ground. His ears picked up a very slight wince coming from the teenager.
Dammit, that’s the reason why. Rick had been too rough and now his mate was in pain because of him. There was a part of him that wished he could take some of Carl’s pain away through their bond.
It was an impossible hope though; they could share general emotions through the bond but not physical pain.
Rick began to move forward to find some way to comfort Carl but stopped when Michonne got there first with something in her hands. She spoke to Carl in soft tones. After they exchanged a few words she handed Carl the object in her hand. With a few more words, Carl gave a nod and they moved together towards the trees.
Michonne’s eyes reached Rick’s before disappearing into the woods. Rick could read reassurance in those brown depths so he knew the beta was doing her best to help Carl. A quick glance to the right showed Daryl standing silently with his own blue eyes trained to the horizon.
It hadn’t escaped Rick’s notice that he and Daryl seemed to have changed. They were moving better as a team. Daryl had always been in tune to Rick’s movements but now, somehow, they were moving even more like a unit.
Rick wasn’t quite sure why that was but he couldn’t help but be grateful that he could share his worries with both betas.
When they started off again, Rick managed to quell his worry about Carl lagging behind. Eventually Michonne ended up walking beside Rick, while Daryl kept next to Carl.
The sound of their footsteps crinkling under the leaves echoed in the wind. There was an odd absence of walkers around and it made the day deceptively calm.
Michonne said nothing as she moved next to him and Rick was thankful that she knew better than to try and engage him in small talk. Eventually though he couldn’t help but wonder something.
“You okay?” He didn’t specify. It had been an extremely stressful few days for all of them and he hadn’t really stopped to make sure she how she was handling.
“Yeah,” was the only answer she gave. He continued.
“I’m okay,” it was only a partial lie.
“I know,” Michonne murmured.
That response startled him. “How?”
“Cause I’m okay, too.”
Somehow it made complete sense. Michonne didn’t need to give him detailed descriptions of her feelings for her to be perfectly clear.
One day I’ve got to thank God for sending her our way.
After another few hours, they finally hit a sign that let them know they were close. Rick’s mind though urged caution and he directed the group through the woods.
“Now we head through the woods. We don’t know who they are.”
They came to a chain link fence and took in the sight of a group of buildings that was once a train depot but had now been appropriated as a community. The words “Terminus” were visible in the windows of one building. There was very little movement visible which waved red flags in Rick’s head.
“We all spread out, watch for a while, see what we see, and get ready. We all stay close,” He ordered. Daryl nodded and silently moved out to walk the fence. Carl began to move away toward Michonne which made Rick’s heart stutter for a moment.
“You want to stick with me?”
“It’s all right,” there was a hint of confidence in those words that calmed Rick slightly. Remembering how awkward Carl had been with the older woman early that morning, he realized maybe it was better he allowed the omega to walk with Michonne.
There was a small look of relief on Car’s face as Rick allowed him to pass without further questioning. As they both walked off, Rick couldn’t let go of the nagging feeling of anxiety that had visited him earlier.
He scouted around for a few minutes before he began to wander in the direction Carl and Michonne had taken. From a distance he could see them talking. There was a faint sense of distress coming from the bond and Rick ached to go and comfort his mate.
Rick held back through, watching as Michonne said something to help console his son. Despite the small fragment of jealousy that ran through him when the beta pulled Carl into a hug, he could feel the distress in the bond begin to ease.
Realizing that he probably shouldn’t be spying on them, Rick left to find a spot where he could bury their bag of weapons. That way if something went wrong, they would have them without the Terminus folks knowing they had additional weapons.
It’s almost like your expecting something go wrong, a voice slithered in his head. Maybe he was expecting things to go wrong. Or maybe he keenly felt a stronger pull to make sure nothing happened to his mate.
Rick opened the bag to check it once more and struck by the sight of the handgun on top. What if they take our weapons? He still had his Colt in holster and it wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility that the Terminus people might make them surrender their guns.
In a quick movement he took out his colt and replaced it with the handgun. He quickly buried the rest of the bag under the soft dirt and hoped that it would remain undiscovered.
When he stood, he could see Michonne and Carl coming back from the distance. Rick couldn’t help but wish he could kiss his mate once more before they went into Terminus.
Suddenly he felt a pulse of warm reassurance echo through him from the bond. It warmed that edge of cold unease that he had been carrying around all morning. The corners of his lips curled into a small smile as he basked in the glow of the love that could only come from his mate.
When the group finally stood together again, Rick’s eyes met Carl’s. Within those pale blue eyes was the same unconditional love that Rick felt every minute of every day for his son.
We’re gonna be okay, he assured himself. Rick had a feeling that the voice was referring to his mate and him rather than their current situation. As they prepped their weapons, Rick couldn’t help but let his fingers trace across the smooth skin of the back of Carl’s neck.
The skin shivered gently under his touch so he allowed his hand to linger down to spot where he knew his teeth marks lay under the blue cloth.
“We can do this,” his son said confidently. Rick nodded at the remark. With the warmth of reassurance coursing through their bond, Rick pulled his gun from the holster and flicked the safety off.
With that single click, the alpha felt his mind clear to an amazing clarity. His senses heightened as blood pumped in preparation for whatever lay on the other side of that fence. The fence made a clanging noise as Rick pulled himself over. His eyes scanned the eerily empty buildings.
Daryl took point as they headed into the building. Rick’s ears picked up the sound of a woman’s voice repeating a message over and over. The hunter walked up to an open doorway and slowly turned the corner. Michonne quickly moved ahead to go second, followed by Rick and Carl.
With muscles tense, Rick scanned the large warehouse. And older grey haired woman wearing a headset sat at a radio station while another group of people worked at tables covered with maps and signs.
The scene was deceptively calm but there was something that still urged him to caution. No one seemed to notice them so Rick decided it would be best to just approach them out right.
“Hello,” he walked towards the older woman figuring he could grab her as a hostage if needed.
Rick turned to the Terminus group and repeated himself, “Hello.”
One lanky man set down his pen. “Well, I bet Albert is on perimeter watch.” The man’s manner was laid back.
“You here to rob us?” It was an expected question.
“No. We wanted to see you before you saw us.” Rick saw no reason to lie to the people. He sized up the man in front of him. The man was tall and thin but not undernourished. He had a narrow face that Rick would suppose was handsome. The man and the others were dressed much like Rick and his group with clothes that was visibly worn but mostly clean.
Rick also noted that some of the Terminus folk had their hands towards their weapons.
“Makes sense. Usually we do this where tracks meet,” the man stepped forward with his hands out in a welcoming gesture. He cleared his throat.
“Welcome to Terminus. I’m Gareth.” The man, Gareth’s, eyes lingered on each of them making his own assessment. It was then Rick realized that Gareth was an alpha. Immediately he felt his muscles tense.
“Looks like you’ve been on the road for a good bit.”
“We have. Rick. That’s Carl, Daryl, Michonne.” Gareth gave his group and awkward wave but his eyes were observing them.
“You’re nervous. I get it. We were all the same way. We came here for sanctuary. That what you’re here for?”
As Gareth walked closer to him, Rick held his gaze steady.
“Yes,” was all Rick responded with.
“Good. You found it.” It didn’t escape Rick’s notice that Gareth’s eyes lingered on Carl. No, Rick growled in his head. A flash of heated anger surged through Rick's blood.
“Hey, Alex,” Gareth called another shorter but stockier man to come forward. “This isn’t as pretty as the front. We got nothing to hide, but the welcome wagon is a whole lot nicer.”
Rick remained on guard. Gareth’s assertion that the Terminus folks “had nothing to hide” was the biggest load of bullshit Rick had ever heard. In fact it was starting to seem like oddly what he was seeing was fake.
“Alex will take you, ask you a few questions. Uh, but first, we need to see everyone’s weapons. If you could just lay them down in front of you.” Gareth was slightly shifty as he made this demand but Rick had been expecting it.
He gave a glance to his right were his group stood in a line and meet each of their eyes before he began to kneel down.
“All right,” Rick answered.
“I’m sure you understand,” Gareth continued. Both alpha’s eyes met and Rick knew that Gareth recognized him for what Rick was. Now his biggest worry was Gareth recognizing Carl as an omega.
“Yes, I do,” as Rick tossed his gun down he also pulled out his knife and slid that on the floor. He could hear the others placing their weapons down as well. Alex moved towards Daryl and he and Gareth held their arms up.
Rick quickly followed the gesture realizing that the two were going to pat them down. Rick made a quick decision that if either men tried to touch Michonne he would protest. Luckily it seemed only the males of Rick’s group were to be subjected to the pat down.
Swallowing a growl as Gareth came into his personal space, Rick allowed the other man to pat him down both in the front and back.
“I’d hate to see the other guy,” Alex attempted to make small talk with Daryl. A part of Rick nearly wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it.
“You would,” Rick answered for Daryl who remained silent. As Alex moved Rick quickly discerned that the other man was a beta so Rick did his best to contain a growl as the man moved to pat down Carl. This was the first real test of his control. If he protested Alex touching Carl, it may look suspicious. Rick got a feeling that Gareth was already distrustful of them.
A quick pulse of calm came through their bond that calmed Rick a bit. Carl knew his dad was struggling and the calm helped Rick rein in his impulses.
“They deserve it?” Alex directed that question to Carl. Rick couldn’t help but be proud that his son stood firm and sure as the stranger came up to pat him down.
“Yes,” Carl answered but again didn’t elaborate. As Gareth came around Rick’s right he walked into the space between Rick and Carl. Rick’s eyes followed his movements so he noticed when Gareth’s nostrils flared just a bit after passing Carl.
Just like that Rick knew Gareth had figured it out.
Gareth knew Carl was an omega.
It meant something to, if the ever so slight dilation of Gareth’s eyes meant something. Now Rick was on full alert but Gareth seemed to continue on.
“Just so you know, we aren’t those kind of people, but we aren’t stupid either. And you shouldn’t be stupid enough to try anything stupid,” Gareth rambled on, “As long as everyone’s clear on that, we shouldn’t have any problems. Just solutions.”
Your speech skills need work. Rick kept his comment to himself. The speech only made it more apparently that there was something going on here.
“Okay,” Gareth walked off leaving Alex who began to pick up their weapons and hand them back. Rick slipped his gun into his holster but left the safety off and didn’t bother clipping it in.
Alex led them through a door which opened to a walkway that was dotted with greenery. He brought them to a communal feeding area that reminded Rick of the prison and of Carol’s outside cooking area she had set up and run. Yet again there was something about it that seemed almost…staged.
Daryl talked to Alex but Rick remained silent. The orange glow of the setting sun bounced off the building walls illuminating a spot were a friendly looking woman stood grilling meat.
“Hi. Heard you came in the back door. Smart. You’ll fit right in here,” The woman’s smile was calm but all Rick could of think was, how did she hear we had come in the back already?
Alex asked the woman, named Mary, if she would fix them plates. Michonne asked a question but Rick wasn’t quite listening. Instead his eyes were flitting from person to person taking in details. There was something familiar about that orange bag and that was suspect.
But it wasn’t until Rick saw the riot gear and poncho that he had figured out for sure.
They’re here. Glenn, Maggie, some of our people.
It was suspicious that they had not seen them and that their items were being worn by other people. That didn’t immediately mean foul play though. Rick found himself examining Alex who he hadn’t really gotten a good look at.
Alex had a pocket chain that looked a lot like the one Hershel had given Glenn. There was no guarantee that it was the same one but between that and the other items, Rick knew that something was very wrong.
Time to do something about it. He wasn’t going to waste another moment. His body was ready for the confirmation that had been building since they jumped the fence.
As Alex offered him the plate, Rick strode up and knocked it down to grab the watch and pull and hold his gun to Alex’s jaw. It only took one glance at the watch face to confirm.
“Where the hell did you get this watch?” Rick was proud that his group had immediately pulled their weapons and formed a circle around him. They were indeed a well-oiled machine.
The people who had been sitting at the tables all stood, some had pulled guns while others simply stood watching with tense forms.
“You want answers? You want anything else? You get’em when you put down the gun,” Alex tried to order but Rick wasn’t settling for anything.
“I see your man on the roof with a sniper rifle. How good’s his aim?” Rick had noticed the sniper quickly look out then duck back out of sight when they had walked into the area.
“Where’d you get the watch?” Rick screamed. Alex instead yelled at the sniper telling him to back down which surprisingly the man did.
Again Alex tried to placate Rick. “You want to listen to me. There’s a lot of us.”
That’s not going to stop us.
“Where’d you get the watch?” Rick growled once more.
“I got it off of a dead one,” it was clear Alex was lying so Rick tried again.
“What about the riot gear? The poncho?”
Instead of Alex responded, Gareth’s voice came from the left and Rick made sure to turn while keeping his gun firm against Alex’s skin.
Gareth’s explanations were also easy lies that rolled off the man’s tongue. Rick knew that Gareth was standing way too calm while Alex had begun to tremble in Rick’s grip.
Rick also noted that Gareth had turned his head to look at something. A quick glance of Rick’s eyes revealed another man standing in a doorway with a powerful sniper rifle.
“Gareth, we can wait,” Alex started.
“Shut up, Alex,” Gareth responded his voice calm and cold.
“You talk to me,” Rick commanded but Gareth didn’t back down.
“What’s there left to say? You don’t trust us anymore.”
I never did trust you. Rick felt a wave of support come from his bond with Carl letting him know his son was ready for whatever next action Rick took.
“Gareth,” Alex pleaded but was cut off by Gareth.
“Shut up,” Gareth accented the order by holding his hand up. Do you even care if he lives or dies? Rick couldn’t help but wonder. Gareth was showing no signs that he cared if Rick shot Alex.
“Gareth, please,” This came out a sob and Rick nearly felt sorry for the man he was holding hostage.
Yet…
Gareth repeated, “It’s okay.” But his hand remained up. Is he going to signal someone? Rick knew he had to be prepared if Gareth gave some kind of a signal.
“Rick, what do you want?”
“Where are our people?” Rick responded with a question.
“You didn’t answer the question,” Gareth closed his hand. The small gesture triggered memories from long ago. It was a signal to shoot. Quickly recalling the man with the ground sniper rifle, Rick physically tossed Alex’s body to the right.
His instincts had served him well and the gunshot that rang out was embedded into Alex’s skull and not Rick’s.
As more gunshots and shouts rang out, Rick’s first instinct was to protect his mate.
“Carl!” Rick shot at the people leaving as he grabbed a handful of Carl’s jacket to pull him out of the line of fire. “Get down, now!”
Realizing that they were in vulnerable open space, Rick tried to lead his group back down the alley they had come from but was stopped with a hail of bullets at their feet. Confused at first, he followed Daryl in an attempt to go down another alley but was topped again by a circle of gunfire.
They ran into a building only to be stopped when the gate was closed.
They were waiting for us dammit!
For a moment the group was disoriented before Daryl pointed them towards an open door. This led them to a bullet ridden alley of boxes and cars and the ever present gunfire licking at their heels.
“Come on, this way,” Daryl motioned to another alleyway.
Somewhere ahead though Rick heard Gareth shout, “Get them off B!”
What the hell does he mean by that? But Rick’s thoughts were interrupted by more gunfire blocking their way. They took a left and the gunfire ceased. Their feet pounded against the pavement as they ran as fast as they could.
Rick quickly reloaded his gun as they passed next to a chained area that smelled rotten. A glance to the right caused an icy terror to grip Rick.
Human remains and skeletons lay on plastic sheeting out in the open.
Oh god what are these people? How could I have let Carl and Michonne come into this place? There was no time though for Rick to scold himself. Suddenly other voices rang through the air.
“Help! Help!” The cries of alarm were accompanied by bangs on metal.
“What the hell?” Daryl stopped to look around. It was Rick who realized that the sound was coming from two maroon boxcars.
“Keep going!” Rick ordered though he felt wrecked as the people continued to scream for help, afraid that was the fate in store for them if they didn’t get out. They finally made it back inside a building with no gunfire.
The room they stepped into was almost as terrifying as what they had already seen. It looked like a giant shrine with items, names, all accented with candles.
“What the hell is this place?” Daryl asked not quite understanding what he was seeing.
“These people,” Michonne responded, “I don’t think they’re trying to kill us.”
She’s gets what is going on.
“No, they were aiming at our feet,” Rick answered. Dread was slowly seeping through his bond with Carl and this time it was Rick who sent reassurance to his son. We’re gonna get out of here. I promise.
“There,” Rick noticed an open door but as they approached it was slam shut. Watching, they’re always watching.
They were back outside again with the fence in sight but more gunfire spat at their feet. The group jumped down from a platform towards the fence but was stopped by the sight of a group of people standing on the other side of the fence all armed with large guns.
God dammit it was a trap all along!
It was damned good one to. Invite unsuspecting and weary travelers to this place only to capture them if they tried to run. Rick had though they were prepared but apparently Gareth and his people had been one step ahead.
Speaking of the devil, Gareth appeared on the roof facing them. More people had appeared on the roofs all armed to the teeth. Rick turned to face him and was caught by the sight of Carl standing there frozen in fear.
“Drop your weapons,” Gareth ordered.
When none of them made a move, Gareth shouted, “Now!” There was a crazed edge to the command that brooked no refusal. So as a group they all dropped their weapons. Rick, Daryl and Michonne all stood facing Gareth but Carl remained facing his father.
The dread that had leaked through their bond early was now full blown terror. Rick could see that Carl was trembling slightly.
“Ringleader,” Rick could only assume Gareth meant him, “Go to your left.” Rick looked to see another of those maroon box cars sitting ominously. Gareth confirmed Rick’s thoughts.
“The train car, go.”
I’m not going without Carl. It appeared though that Gareth had already figured out that aspect of Rick.
“You do what we say, the boy goes with you. Anything else, he dies and you end up in there anyway.”
Fuck! It made sense that Gareth would pick the most vulnerable member of the group to threaten. Rick’s eyes flicked down to meet Carl’s. His son, his mate, stood there breathing heavily.
Rick did his best to send soothing feelings through the bond but there was no helping the terror that the teen was feeling.
Afraid that Gareth would make good his threat, Rick went ahead and began walking towards the car. He had to force his feet to physically take one step after another despite every muscle in his body fighting to not leave his mate behind.
Rick kept turning his head to make sure that he could still see Carl’s form standing nearly still aside from the tremors racking through his small body.
Your mate needs you!
God how Rick wanted to run back to him and take him in his arms but doing so would only put them in even more danger.
Rick was nearly to the entrance of the train car when he heard Gareth again.
“Now the archer.” There was a pause. “Now the samurai.”
Behind him Rick could hear Daryl and Michonne’s footsteps follow. Rick approached the steps and noted that some trash lay on the ground in front. Is there someone else in there?
“Stand at the door ringleader, archer, samurai, in that order.”
Rick’s eyes never left his mate. Carl remained standing there his small form vulnerable in the open space.
The alpha couldn’t control his worry any longer.
“My son!” He yelled. There was a brief moment of silence and in that moment Rick could feel panic when no response came.
Finally Gareth yelled once more, “Go, kid.”
Immediately Carl began walking towards them his steps slow as if he was afraid that moving faster would incite Gareth’s wrath.
“Ringleader, open the door and go in.”
“I’ll go in with him,” Rick called back.
Maybe Gareth’s response was inevitable. “Don’t make us kill him now.”
Utterly disgusted and burning with fury at the man that held him separate from his mate, Rick took one last look at Carl before climbing the steps and pulling the unlocked door open.
One by one, the adults followed Rick into the car. In the darkened space, Rick sharply turned around and stood as close to the door as he dared. After what felt like an eternity to him, Carl came within the door sight.
The teen climbed the steps and Rick reached out urgently to grab at Carl’s neck in attempt to calm him. He could feel Carl’s small hand grip at his jacket.
We made it…for now.
A part of Rick desperately wanted to pull his mate in his arms and bury his head in his neck and kiss him to make sure that was really okay; that his most important person was still whole and alive in his embrace.
Yet the reminder of the trash on the ground had warned Rick that the train car may already have occupants and he would have to continue to hide the true nature of their relationship. Right after Carl entered, the door of the train car began to close.
There must have been someone waiting next to the car.
Even Rick had to admit that Gareth’s group were a well-oiled machine just as much as Rick’s people. They had clearly done this several times before and Rick dreaded the reason why these people were so methodical and ruthless in their entrapment.
Rick’s hand probably clutched at Carl’s neck much longer and harder than it should but it was all he could do given the circumstances. At least now the fear that Carl had felt early had dulled allowing a small bit of assurance to flow between them. It was what Rick needed.
Maybe before Rick would have felt powerless, locked in a train car with no way out. Now however…
A noise from the other side of the car quickly put Rick on guard again. The form that came out of the darkness though brought nothing but relief.
“Rick?” It was Glenn looking pale in the dim lighting.
“You’re here,” Rick watched as one by one people who he had been afraid he would never see again reveal themselves. After Glenn came Maggie, then Sasha, Bob, and a few unfamiliar faces.
“They’re our friends,” Maggie explained. “They helped save us.”
Something had changed. They could all feel it in the air. In their faces Rick could see a myriad of emotions going through each of them.
They’re responding to me. It was if the group of betas sensed that Rick’s influence as an alpha had changed. One of the men in the back, the tall red-haired one, was also an alpha stepped forward. But even this alpha seemed to sense that something was happening between the newcomers and their friends.
“Yeah,” Daryl added, “Now their friends of ours.” Just like that the new people were accepted into Rick’s group.
“For however long that’ll be,” The other alpha gripped.
“No.” No. Just with that word he knew the betas were ready to follow his lead whatever that would be.
Rick had never felt stronger, never felt more in-tuned to his group, and never felt more in control.
“They’re gonna feel pretty stupid when they find out,” Rick walked back to the door to look out through the opening into the strongest stream of light.
“Find out what?” the red-haired alpha asked. Behind he felt the gaze of his people all on him and inside he could feel utter confidence coming from his mate.
“They’re fuckin with the wrong people.”