▎SAFE HAVEN ▎ 
»»————　act four. painful goodbyes
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX ━━ reunions

Jada walked beside Tara, Glenn ahead as they walked on the tracks. They were following the tracks, to go to terminus. Glenn thought that Josie would go to terminus. He was persistent that she would.

"I'm well aware it sounds bananas." Eugene continued to rant as Jada bit down on her tongue, turning to Tara, then back to Eugene. "But looking at the fossil record, knowing what I know about this infection, you cannot say for certain it isn't what killed off the dinosaurs." He rambled as Jada raised a brow, so confused.

"What killed off the dinosaurs, then?" Jada quizzed the man, hand on her hip as they walked. "A bomb?"

"No, not necessarily." Eugene muttered as he shook his head. "Don't you learn this at school?" He asked her as Jada tilted her head.

"Yeah, but, you don't know what to believe." Jada shrugged her shoulders. "The teachers just use to throw a book in our faces and say; 'read'."

"Well that's not very educational." Eugene frowned as Jada hummed, nodding her head.

"That's why I failed." Jada shrugged her shoulders, looking up at Glenn as he lead the way. "My grades don't mean shit now."

"Ain't that right." Tara agreed, nodding her head. But something caught her eye as she looked down, quickly crouching down and grabbing it.

"Oh, hell, yeah." Eugene watched her as she picked the thing up, inspecting it. "Score." He stared at the thing in Tara's hand. "A few more of those, a little aluminium foil and some bleach, you got yourself volts, sister."

"English, for the people that failed science." Jada titled her head with a frown, staring at the thing in Tara's hand as she leaned over her shoulder.

"Homemade battery." Eugene added as Jada slowly nodded her head.

"I would have totally bullied you in high school." Jada muttered as she walked past him, shaking her head as she caught up to Glenn.

Once the sun had raised, they were walking, once again. Jada tried to block out Eugene's talking, looking up at the sky as she walked. She trailed behind everyone, hand on the strap of her bag.

It was clear Eugene was trying to flirt with Tara, but Tara paid no attention to it, clearly not feeling the same way.

Jada almost fell into Rosita as the group came to a stop, Tara walking forward as her eyes remained forwards.

She jogged forwards as noticed the writing on a poster. It was a terminus poster.

'GLENN & JADA, GO TO TERMINUS. JOSIE'

Jada's eyes widened as she jogged forwards, her eyes wide as she stared at the message. She didn't expect Josie to be looking for her, also. It made Jada smile. Someone actually cared for her.

Then, before Jada couple respond, Glenn ran ahead of everyone, making Jada and Tara run after him, the others following.

But Glenn was faster than them all, running ahead as he didn't stop. The message from his wife only made him want to find her urgently. She was alive. And she was searching for him.

They didn't stop once they found the message, Glenn way ahead in lead as the others trailed behind, out of breath.

"Hold up!" Abraham yelled as Jada spun on her feet, walking backwards as she walked beside Tara. "We're topping here." He added as they walked towards the wall. "Tired is slow. Slow is dead."

Glenn turned around, shaking his head. "It's barely noon." Glenn replied, looking up at the sun with squinted eyes.

"I don't give a monkeys left nut!" Abraham replied back, shaking his head as he placed his bag down. "None of us had slept more than a couple hours straight since we went all Casey Jones." Jada frowned at his words. Who was Casey jones? "This place looks safe."

Jada breathed out as she sat beside Tara, looking up at Glenn as she waited for his next words. If he was walking, so was she.

"I get it." Abraham continued. "You have to find her. Well, Rosita and me, we got a mission, too." He pointed at himself and his girlfriend. "It's keeping that man alive, getting him to Washington, and saving the whole damn world!" And then he pointed to the tower beside Them. "So, we're going in that town and we're going now."

"Oh, crap." Eugene muttered from beside Jada, making her frown as she stood up.

"Hey, hey, hey! Watch out!" Glenn ran towards the two as Jada frowned, looking up. Her eyes widened as she looked at the walker above them.

Abraham was quick to cover Eugene, accidentally pushing Jada to the ground, making her go down on her ankle funny.

"Fuck." She hissed as she blew her hair out of her face—Rosita and Tara quickly going to her side to see if she was alright.

"Are you okay?" Rosita asked as she looked down at Jada, who held her ankle, pain decorated on her face.

"I'm fine." Jada sent her a thumbs up and a reassuring smile, that soon turned into a look of pain as she pressed her foot down on the ground.

"We gotta stay here." Rosita shook her head as she looked down at Jada. "Who's gonna help me carry her up?"

Tara immediately stepped forward, as did Glenn as Jada got up by her self, balancing on one foot. "Are you okay?" Glenn asked as he held her arm.

"Yeah. Fantastic." Jada flashed him a grin, holding onto his shoulder as she ignored their worried looks. "Just a twisted ankle, I've lived through worse." She patted his shoulder.

"You wanna stop?" Glenn asked her, keeping his hand on her arm. But Jada shook her head.

"No, no." Jada breathed out, shaking her head as she sent Glenn a smile. "We keep going. I'm good."

"You sure?" Jada nodded her head at Glenn, reaching down to grab her bag as Glenn turned to the rest of them. "Look, if she can keep going, we can all keep going." Glenn spoke to the three as Tara moved to hold Jada's arm, helping her walk. "Or you guys can stay here." He pointed at the three. "You don't need us, we don't need you. It's okay."

"Wow." Rosita scoffed as they all turned to her. "You're an ass." Rosita shook her head at Glenn as Jada frowned. It wasn't Glenn's fault. "Jada, and Tara, will do whatever you say because they think they owe you." Tara pointed at the two girls; Jada leaning on Tara. "Man up. Stay here for a few hours."

"I'm fine, really." Jada nodded her head as she moved her foot. She also wanted to see Josie. She didn't want to stop. And she didn't care about her ankle.

"You just care about keeping Eugene safe, right?" Glenn turned his attention to Abraham, pointing at the brains beside him. "It's the only reason you want to stop?" Abraham nodded his head. "We go until sundown, I give Eugene my riot gear right here, right now. Everybody wins.

"Except her." Rosita pointed to Jada, who pulled an akward look.

"You're not her mama." Abraham turned to Rosita, making the woman scoff, crossing her arms over her chest. "She says she can walk, she can walk." Jada nodded her head at the redhead. "You got yourself a deal." Abraham nodded his head at Glenn.

Glenn breathed out as he started to take the gear off. Jada turned to Rosita, sending her a small smile. "Thanks." Rosita turned to her, nodding her head. "I appreciated that."

"You're welcome." Rosita breathed out, sending a nod to Jada as she leaned on Tara.

"You sure you can walk?" Tara questioned, looking at her with worried eyes as Jada nodded her head.

"Yeah, I'm a big girl, Tar." Jada let out a hum, grin on her face as Tara breathed out a chuckle.

Jada limped, slightly, Tara keeping a hand on her arm as she tried to reduce the pain that ran through her leg every time she stepped on it.

Her, Glenn and Tara walked forwards, towards a tunnel. And Glenn ran forward, seeing the writing that belonged to Josie, her name, Maggie's, Sasha's and Bobs, also there.

Glenn read the words, a hopeful look on his face as Tara and Jada caught up to him. "We're gaining on 'em." Glenn turned to them as they came to a stop. "Still wet."

"We sure as Shinola can't go up and over." Abraham's voice carried from behind everyone, looking at the tunnel. "How about around?"

"No." Glenn looked up, shaking his head as he turned to the rest of them. "That'll take a day, maybe more." He added. "If Josie went through, I'm going through. We're close."

"Shut up a second." Abraham muttered as he walked closer towards Glenn. "You hear that?" He asked Glenn, listening to the growls that belonged to the dead, echoing from side the tunnel. "That there is a long, dark tunnel full of reanimated corpses." He breathed out, holding his gun in his hands. "And I don't have full-on certainty that I can get Eugene through there alive."

Jada looked over her shoulder, looking at Eugene, who stood there, arms at his side. "My recommendation would be take the day, make the detour and play it safe, but I know you're not gonna do that." He turned back to Glenn. "So this is where the got to part ways." Jada pursed her lips as she looked at Abraham. "I'm sorry. You're on own." He grunted as he placed his bag down, opening it as he crouched down.

Jada and Tara stepped forward, taking their place beside Glenn. "No, you're not." Tara smiled as Jada hummed, nodding her head.

Abraham dug through his bag, holding out two cans for them to take, but Glenn shook his head. "No, no, no." Glenn shook his hand. "Those are yours. You guys will need them for your trip."

"You will, too." Abraham nodded at the three, keeping the cans in his hands as he held them out for him to take.

Jada breathed out as she jumped forward, taking the cans with a smile, nodding her head as Abraham nodded his. "Thank you." She spoke, appreciating his gesture.

Abraham then pulled out a torch as grin dropped his bag, Tara picking it up as she opened it, letting Jada place the cans inside the bag.

"Sorry, I...hit you in the face." Glenn then said as he threw the bag over his shoulder, looking at Abraham with a small smile.

"Oh, and I'm sorry again, for putting you into a chokehold." Jada quickly added, an awkward smile on her face as Abraham smiled at the pair. "Heat of the moment."

"I'm not." He grinned at the pair, throwing his bag over his shoulder. "I like to fight." He shrugged his shoulders, answering honestly as Jada let out a quiet chuckle.

Abraham sent the three a nod before walking forwards, letting Rosita move towards them and pull them all into a hug.

Jada accepted her hug, pulling out of it and squeezing her shoulder with a smile. "Good luck." Rosita spoke to Glenn. "Try not to be an ass."

And then, Rosita walked over to stand beside Abraham as Eugene cleared his throat. "You're good people." Eugene stated as they turned to him. "I have to say that you are seriously hot, Tara." He then added as Jada's eyes widened. She called it.

Tara pulled an awkward look as Jada turned her head, watching as Glenn did the same, finding his comment funny. "Yeah, I like girls." Tara slowly nodded her head as Jada coughed back a life, making Glenn nudge her, during against his own laughter.

"I'm well aware of that." Eugene awkwardly said, nodding his head as Jada shook hers, biting down on her lip as she stared at Eugene.

"Maybe next time, buddy." Jada said, sending him a thumbs up as the three turned to walk into the tunnel.

"Say you get into trouble in there." Abraham then spoke as Jada looked over her shoulder, looking at the redhead. "You turn around. We're doubling back to the first road we crossed." He informed them as Glenn nodded his head. "Maybe you find us before we find the right ride."

"Thanks." Glenn nodded his head, appreciating his kindness and willingness to help them.

With one final look, the group split off into three, leaving the limping Jada, Glenn and Tara into the cave.

Josie and Maggie led the way as they walked on the tracks, Josie kicking a few pebbles as they walked. She held her hands in her pockets, looking over her shoulder at Roman, Bob and Sasha.

"How you feeling?" Maggie spoke as Josie turned to her, shrugging her shoulders as she walked.

"I don't know." Josie uttered, her lips pulling into a frown. "I just miss everyone, you know. We don't know if anyone is okay, and I'm starting...I'm starting to loose hope." Josie's eyes teared up as Maggie breathed out, holding onto her arm.

"Hey, Josie." Maggie softly spoke as Josie turned to her, biting on her bottom lip as she listened to her. "You said to believe, and we have. They might be at terminus already." Maggie tried to reassure the Rhee woman, her face holding a soft look as Josie slowly nodded her head.

Josie lowered her head to the ground, keeping her hands in her pockets as she squeezed the knife in the pocket. "Guys, hold up." Roman said in a hushed whisper as he moved to stand beside Maggie.

"What's wrong?" Maggie frowned as they stopped walking, looking at the car ahead, two people arguing as the other one looked at them.

"Guys!" They heard the man call to the other two in the car, making them turn to Josie and the rest with wide eyes.

"What do we do?" Sasha asked, her eyes remaining on the people in the car, watching as they got out.

"Raise your weapons." Josie muttered as she quickly took out her sword, the rest doing the same with their weapons.

"Hold your horses!" The redhead held his hands up in the air, trying to show them they meant no harm. "We mean no harm!"

"Drop your weapons!" Josie narrowed her eyes as she pointed to his gun, watching as a woman with a cap joined his side.

"Which one of you anxious folk is Josie?" The man asked as Josie frowned, her arms falling to her side as she shared a look with Maggie.

"Me." Josie stepped forward as Maggie held onto her arm. "Who are you?" Her voice was cautious as she stepped forwards.

"Good friends with your determined husband and the sassy teenager." The man answered as Josie's eyes widened. Glenn and Jada. "Now, Glenn's in that tunnel. You comin'?"

Josie didn't think twice as she placed her sword back in its holder, jogging towards the two as the rest followed her.

Jada hissed as she pulled in the rock that laid on Tara's foot, hearing Glenn fight the walkers behind her. "Come on!" She grunted, her fingernails carving into the bolder as she used all her strength to pull it off.

"Just go!" Tara yelled, her voice strained as she looked down at Jada with wide eyes. "Don't risk your lives for me!"

"We're not leaving you-"

Jada's words were cut off at the sound of tires squealing behind them, headlight shining at them, making Jada wince, covering her eyes with her hand as she heard Abraham's voice. "Get down!" He yelled to them as Glenn spun around, covering Jada and Tara as guns started to fire.

And the walkers were quickly down, dead as the bullets stopped firing. Glenn slowly peaked himself away from the two girls as he slowly turned around, his arm over her eyes as he looked forward.

Jada caught a glimpse of a shadow work towards them, her eyes widening as a smile made its way onto her face.

Josie Rhee.

A breath got caught in Josie's throat as she froze for a movement, staring at Glenn with wide eyes as Glenn moved towards her.

Josie didn't think twice before moving towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she held onto him, afraid he'd disappear.

She let out a muffled sob into his neck, squeezing her eyes closed as she held him, Glenn wrapping his arms around her waist.

"You're okay." Josie uttered into his neck, pulling away with teary eyes, a smile on her face as she stared at him, her hands on either side of his neck. "You're okay." She added as she leaned forwards and pressed her lips against his, Glenn leaning his forehead on hers as he held her, not wanting to let go of her.

After a moment, the two finally pulled away as Jada stood beside Tara, hands behind her back as she stared at Josie with a wide smile.

Josie breathed out a chuckle as she moved towards Jada, pulling her in a hug as Jada hugged her back. Josie was glad the pair were okay, that she was reunited with her husband. Now, she hoped everyone else was okay.

Josie breathed out as she placed the walker to the side, brushing the hair out of her face with her arm, pushing the shorter pieces behind her ear as she turned to Glenn, who was smiling at her.

"God, you're so beautiful." Glenn muttered to her, his face holding a look of admiration as he stared at her, making Josie grin, a chuckle leaving her lips. Glenn turned as he heard footsteps, seeing Rosita. "How'd it go?" He asked the woman.

"The end of the tunnel's secure." Rosita answered as she held her gun in her hands. "If anything tries to come in, we'll hear in plenty of time." Tara and Jada slowly made their way towards them, Josie looking at Tara with a soft smile.

"We didn't get to officially meet." Josie stood in front of Tara, who held an awkward look on her face, looking at Jada for help.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Glenn stepped forward, forgetting to introduce the pair. "Tara, this is Josie." Glenn pointed to his wife. "Maggie, Tara."

"Hi." Tara smiled at Josie as Josie squeezed her arm, responding back with a 'hello.' "He's a big fan of yours." Tara chuckled, nodding at Glenn as Josie hummed, nodding her head.

"Tell me about it." Josie uttered so onto Tara could hear, making Tara let out another chuckle, a grin on Josie's face.

"Me and Jada met Tara on the road." Glenn nodded his head at Tara. "We couldn't have made it here without her."

"Yeah, she's helped us." Jada added as Josie smiled down at her, turning to Tara and pulling her into a hug, surprising Tara.

"Thank you." Josie whispered as she pulled out of the hug, smile not leaving her face as she looked at Tara.

"When she heard what we were doing, she said she had to help us." Glenn continued, hands in his pockets as he stared at his wife. "Shes just that kind of person."

Tara smiled at the pair before walking past them, Jada and Rosita following before Glenn reached out, holding onto Josie's hand as they followed the three.

They moved towards where the rest of the group were, all huddled around the fire. When Sasha and Maggie saw the pair coming, they both stood up. "What's up?" Josie asked, raising a brow as she looked at them.

"He just said that he knows what caused the outbreak." Sasha pointed from Abraham to Eugene, making Josie's eyes widen as she looked over at Eugene.

"Yeah." Glenn nodded his head as Josie's eyes stayed on Eugene. "He does." He turned his attention to the four. "Let me guess. He asked you to go to DC with him?"

"I'm downright tickled y'all found each other." Abraham started as he looked up at the couple. "Should spend the rest of the night celebrating. Because tomorrow there's absolutely no reason why the right of us don't stuff ourselves in that van and head up to Washington."

"There are plenty of reasons why I wouldn't do that." Josie frowned, slightly, turning to Glenn then back to Abraham, letting out a sigh. "Look, I'm extremely grateful that you three decided to help us, but we have family out there—family we need to find." Josie spoke as the rest of them nodded. "My brother...my niece and nephew are still out there." Josie slowly nodded her head. "And I'm not going anywhere until I find them." She turned to Glenn, who was already looking at her.

Josie laid her head on her bag, looking up at Glenn that sat beside her. Josie drew invisible circles on Glenn's hand with her finger as she smiled up at him. "I can't believe it." Glenn shook his head as she stared down at his wife with loving eyes.

"I know." Josie breathed out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "To think we were just over there, not far from you and Jada." She dropped her gaze to his hand. "I'm just glad you're here."

"Me too." Glenn softly smiled down at her as he squeezed her hand. He then leaned over to his bag, grabbing the blanket as he draped it over him and Josie. But a photograph fell out of the blanket, making Josie look down at it.

She leaned forwards and picked it up, biting back a smile as she looked at the photograph of her sleeping. "You kept it." Josie looked over at him as he stared at the photograph.

"Of course I did." Glenn nodded his head as Josie looked at the photograph. "Why wouldn't I? It's the only photograph I have of you."

Josie shrugged her shoulders as she handed it back to him, wanting him to keep it. "Now I have to find a camera and get one of you." Josie breathed out as she leaned back, leaning on his chest as she looked up at him with a smile. Glenn let out a chuckle as he nodded his head. "I still have to find you a ring, too." She added as she stared at her hand. "Me and Michonne were supposed to go on a run when she came back..." she tilted her head as she through of her friend.

"I don't need one." Glenn shook his head as he looked down at her, Josie looking up at him with a frown.

"Of course you need one." Josie tilted her head as she stared at her ring. "I'm getting you one." She smiled as she looked back up at him.

Glenn shook his head, smile on his face. He then remembered something as he carefully leaned over Josie and grabbed his bag, opening it as he pulled something out.

Josie frowned at his movements, watching as he pulled out a larger photograph, handing it to Josie as she frowned, taking it from his hand and staring at it, her face dropping slightly.

She stared at the photograph Carl had gotten for her. She bit down on her trembling lip, looking down at it. Looking at Shane, Lori, Rick and Carl.

She looked back up at Glenn as she smiled, blinking back her tears as she folded the photograph, placing it her bag. "Thank you." She muttered as she leaned up, pressing a kiss again his lips. "I needed that. I miss everyone." She muttered as Glenn squeezed her arm. "I also miss your hat. Got my hair out of my face." She added, trying to add a tiny bit of light into the conversation.

Glenn bit back a grin as he reached over to his bag once more, Josie's eyes following him with a frown, but her eyes widened as he handed her his old cap. "You brought it?"

"Yeah. I knew you loved wearing it." Glenn smiled as Josie took it from him, a grin on her face as she pulled it onto her head, looking up at Glenn with the grin still on her face. "You look fantastic."

"I know." Josie tilted her head as she breathed out a chuckle. "I'm never loosing this cap."

Glenn smiled at his wife, a look of admiration on his face. "Come on, you need to sleep." Glenn breathed out as Josie nodded her head, lying back down as Glenn moved to lay beside her, turning to face her as he brushed her hair out of her face. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Josie and Glenn walked in front of everyone, hand in hand as they walked off of the train tracks and towards the posters of the terminus.

Josie's eyes slightly widened as she looked up at the building, turning to Glenn with a smile. And prayed the rest of the group were here, that someone from the prison had seen her messages.

They all moved forwards, towards the building as they stuck together, Glenn pushing the gate open as Josie stayed beside him.

Maybe this terminus was the answers to all their prayers. Glenn and Josie lead the way, Josie's eyes looking down at the variation of flowers.

She softly smiled as she looked over her shoulder, looking over at everyone else as they moved forwards, coming across a woman, who tried ti face them with a bright smile.

"Hi." She softly smiled at them as they all stood together. "I'm Mary." She pointed herself as she stared at them all. "Looks like you've been on the road a while."

"We have." Maggie softly smiled as she moved to stand on the opposite side of Jada, who stood beside Josie.

"Let's get you settled and we'll make you a plate." Mary kept the smile on her face as she nodded her head, urging the group to follow her.

But Josie couldn't help but feel uneasy. Something was telling her that this wasn't a good idea. But she pushed past her gut feeling and turned to Glenn, the man squeezing her hand in his.

"Okey dokey." Jada muttered from beside Josie—beaming smile on her face as she looked up at Josie, who rolled her eyes, smile on her face. "What? I'm hungry."

Madeleines corner.

IM SORRY FOR THE LACK OF UPDATES MY LOVES.

I've had my exams and been posting other things.

BUT I FINISH SCHOOL NEXT WEEK AHHHH

IM like excited but so sad and scared at the same time. Like I'm not ready for it. And I hope I haven't failed my GCSE's!

9th June 2024
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