"So, what's the play?" Abraham took a breath as they all crowded together in the back of the van.

"She needs a doctor." Rick looked to Maggie again. "With more equipment then what we have."

"There are two more routes north from here." Sasha pointed to the map.

"They're probably waiting for us right now." Aaron had to say honestly, even if non of them wanted to hear it.

"No, they absolutely are. Everywhere we've been, they've been lurking." Ausrin shook his head as he ran a hand through his hair.

"So, they're ahead of us, probably behind us." Eugene confirmed with a deep exhale and scared look in his eye. "But they're not waiting on us, per se, they're waiting on this rust bucket."

Austin turned his head to him, immediately catching on. "Eugene, I could freaking kiss you right now."

"Thank you." he nodded. "They don't know the moment-to-moment occupancy of said rust bucket. And the sun sets soon.

Austin grabbed his face and planted a fat kiss to his left cheek. "You're my hero, Eugene. My freaking hero! Carl, come help me build something to carry Maggie on."

Nightfall came rather quickly and the plan was completely set in stone. Carl and Austin had build a small stretcher to carry Maggie on, though Austin had insisted he could carry her. Eugene was to stay with the van, Abraham had been in the process of worrying deeply for his closest friend. Austin didn't linger on them, but the two of them reminded him of him and Glenn so much. The bond, the best friend, the care they had.

"Thank you." Maggie spoke as they all held onto one side of the stretcher, Austin nodded to Eugene one final time as they all set off into the woods, the sound of the RV driving away echoing into the distance as they got deeper into the dark and cold woods.

Carl took out a walker by the time Maggie realized how much she'd been slowing them down. "Please. Just let me walk it."

"You're insane." Austin shook his head. "Be quiet and let me take care of you and my nephew."

"It could be a girl." Maggie gave a sad, pained laugh.

"I'll still call her my nephew." he smiled down at her. "Do you have any names picked out? Austin Junior seems like a great fit."

Maggie smiled. "We already agreed Austin would be the middle name."

"See? I knew I made an impact." he smiled, though it was wipped free of his face seconds later as a whisper echoed through the misty woods. They all paused, Austin's heart fell deep into his stomach as Maggie's cold hand gripped onto his wrist.

"Dad." Austin whispered in nothing but fear. There hasn't been much that scared him, but whatever was lurking in the woods really did.

"Go! Go!" Rick yelled out as they all took off quicker, running as fast as they could with Maggie. An opening was clear, making it through the woods.

Bright lights flipped on, the echoing of multiple whistles screeching in the mid of night.

Austin's heart rate was fast, too fast to comprehend anything that was happening. They were surrounded by the Saviors, trapped in one circled. They set Maggie down and took their weapons out, but it was nothing compared to the hundreds that were all standing close together and baracating them in. Austin stayed close to Carl, keeping him in arms link if he needed to.

They had Eugene, he was on his knees not far from the van.

"Good." Simon smiled as he walked out and into the visible light. "You made it. Welcome to where you're going."

"You stay behind me." Austin whispered to Carl in complete seriousness.

"We'll take your weapons." Simon placed his hands on his hips with a smile. He rose his own gun toward the pair of brothers. "Now."

"We can talk about-" Rick tried, nothing but fear and panic in his shaky tone.

"We're done talking." Simon cut him off. "Time to listen."

He walked over and stood chest to chest with Austin. "Your weapon? Or are you hard of hearing?"

The Grimes boy clenched his jaw so hard he swore he felt his teeth crack, dangling his gun and knife up as Simon took them. Carl was next while the other Saviors took what everyone else had. Austin put an arm infront of Carl to push him back some as Simon took his gun. "That's yours, right?"

But, the genes ran deep as he glared the same way his brother had. Simon saw it immediately. "Yeah, it's yours."

He flicked his hat before backing off, Austin kept that arm secure infront of his brother. "Okay. Let's get her down and get you all on your knees. Lots to cover."

"Hold up." Abraham breathed heavy as they all started to grasp onto Maggie. "We got it."

"Sure, sure." Simon mocked as they lowered Maggie down, Austin looked down at her in pain as Rick and Abraham helped her up. One of the saviors brought Eugene over to get into his knees with Maggie. "Gonna need you on your knees."

It was quiet and still as Rick looked around, slowly taking a knee as he encouraged the others. Simon caught Austin's arm first. "Other side, tough guy."

Austin wasn't sure what it meant. Simon smiled at the confusion in his eyes. "You look like you'll cause some trouble with the others. You remember when teachers would separate the bad kids from the rest of the class?"

Austin looked back as his Dad as Rick tried to be his beakin of hope, but Austin feared for his life as he was brought to his knees on the completely opposite side of where the rest of them were. It was that hard glare he'd given Simon, he knew that's what had gotten him sent over to the other side.

"Dwight!" Simon called out.

"Yeah." the man with a half burnt face walked from the crowd.

"Chop-chop." Simon encouraged as Dwlight walked toward the van.

"Come on, we got people to meet." one by one, their missing friends were pulled out.

"Glenn." Austin's eyes widened at the sight of everyone.

"Austin." Glenn breathed out in confusion and panic as he was lowered right next to him, his eyes going to the other side of the line up. "Maggie?"

•

kylie speaks

i miss the kids so much. like,
what are y'all doing while your
dad meets your biological dad?
did y'all see mason thames' most recent tiktok? that fool looks so much like tom holland i had to do a double take. i'm so proud of the levi and austin casting. straight up looking like a son and father yet has zero blood relation troupe? my fav.