CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT || BEGINNING OF A JOURNEY

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"This is our route to DC. we'll stick to it for as long as we're able" Abraham explained handing a map to Rick as Alex stood beside Glenn, Judith in her arms. Alex looked down at her youngest cousin. a sadness consumed her as she hugged the young girl in her arms. She had to see her again, she would find them again.

"once Eugene gets to the big brains left up there, things will bounce back. this group should be there for it. you should be there for it." Abraham stepped toward Rick. that's why she was doing this. for a future, a future for Judith, for her and Glenn, for Carl... a future of everyone.

"they will be" Maggie spoke up first after agreeing to join them on their journey to DC, after the deaths she'd faced in recent weeks, she needed to do something, she needed to feel useful. Her eyes locked with Eli's, small smiles tugging on both their lips as michonne nodded: "We will"

"we will" Rick offered a small smile turning to his niece and meeting her eyes, her's flickered from his to Judith to Carl. she'd miss them. yet this was for them. that's what she had to remind herself. everything she did, it was all for them.

"alright let's go" Abraham ordered ready to set off, ready to move. Rick took a step toward Alex as she pressed a kiss to Judith's forehead before carefully handing her back to her father, Rick took Judith into his arms, adjusting her so he could pull his niece into a hug. an uncertain sadness lingered in the air as Alex hugged her uncle, basking in family once last time before she headed to Dc unsure if she would actually ever see them again.

"be safe okay" Rick smiled hugging his niece the uncertainty that came with the future fueled the family's anxiety, Alex nodded breaking the hug as Carl made his way over to say goodbye: "I will Rick, you too"

"I'll miss you jelly bean" Alex smiled down at her cousin who was now stood by her side waiting for a hug. Pulling him into a hug she could feel the worry that radiated between the family. she took a breath as she rubbed her cousin's back.

"I'm coming with" Sam rushed over, Heads flew toward the freckled man as he stared at Alex coming to a stop beside Glenn. he was gonna stay. he'd frantically changed his mind, he knew his chances with the group, and after being alone with Alex after the prison he wanted to stay with her.

"you sure?" Rick questioned, looking at the boy who'd waited until the very last second to change his mind, Sam nodded worry pooling in his stomach as his eyes flickered back to Alex and Glenn. Rick sighed as he nodded, he at least knew there were people who could fight, who could survive looking after his niece.

" come on!" Abraham's voice boomed pulling the small group from their thoughts wanting to leave. Alex sighed looking back at her family before she followed the rest of the people going to DC into the bus, climbing into the bus she watched as Josh as down his anxiety still fresh from what he'd previously revealed to Alex and Glenn, Rubbing the boy's shoulder as she walked past him she sat down beside Glenn.

Glenn's hand laid on the girl's thigh as they sat down her glance shifted out the window where her eyes met carls. she offered her cousin a small smile. Glenn's hand Reassuringly squeezed her thigh as the rattling engine started, her heart only seemed to sink as the bus began moving. her eyes remained glued to her family until she lost sight of them, a sigh escaping her lips as her head fell to Glenn's shoulder. everything would work out in the end. it had to.

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Alex's head leant against Glenn's shoulder as she gently played with his hand in her lap, her mind fixated on the people she'd left behind. Her eyes focused on the man's hand as she caressed his skin, ignoring the conversation between other members of the group around her. Glenn turned his head slightly, pressing a kiss to the top of Alex's head as he relaxed in his seat.

"Maybe they're right behind us, maybe they found Daryl and Carol and are on their way. they'll catch up. we're clearing the way for them" Glenn whispered softly, Alex lifted her head from his shoulder his reassuring words making her heart swell as their fingers intertwined she locked eyes with him.

she nodded trying to believe Glenn's words, she knew Rick was capable. yet the imploding grief and worry that consumed her mind never seemed to fade. it followed her around like bees to honey. turning her head to Eugene, she asked: "How long will it be? After you do what you gotta do?"

"depends on a number of factors, including the density of the infected, around target sites worldwide" Eugene explained, inciting a scoff from Josh as he rolled his eyes at the man's over-the-top vocabulary.

"wait, Target sites? you talking about missiles?" Glenn questioned as he turned in his seat to face Eugene, confusion laced Glenn's voice as he stared at Eugene. The Scientist's expression fell blank as he stared at Glenn.

"That's Classified" Eugene muttered causing Glenn to raise a brow. Alex's eyes flickered between the two.

"I thought we were over that" Glenn stated having believed the whole classified thing was over once they'd left Terminus. And by the way, Alex gently squeezed his hand the couple knew that was suspicious almost automatically, filling them with a few doubts.

"what if we all live?" Eugene counted, Alex's face contorted in Confusion as she stared blankly at the man, her hand still in Glenn's, the ring on her finger she'd barely had another chance to look at singing as the sun hit it, through the window of the bus. 

"the secrets will matter then?" Glenn questioned confusion lacing his voice as Eugene's answer came automatically his eyes glued to Glenn's; "they might"

"Anyway, the speed with which things normal normalise. depend on a number of factors, including on worldwide weather patterns, which were modelled without the assumption that cars, planes, boats, and trains wouldn't be pouring hydrocarbons into the atmosphere this long" Eugene's intense explanation caused Josh to roll his eyes, not caring for the detail. Straightening up Josh leaned back to get a better look at the scientist, The pair locked eyes as Josh stared right at him.

"Are you incapable of just answering a question like a normal person?" The look on Josh's face was almost completely serious, yet Sarcasm dripped from his tongue. A small smile tugged at Alex's lips. He said what everyone was thinking...

"I'm not sure if that was a serious question or Sarcasm. But I'd rather answer questions based solely on facts rather than a completely estimated Guess." Eugene responded to Josh's sarcasm with complete seriousness causing Josh to sigh his head falling back against the headrest of his seat as he mumbled; "I'll take that as a yes"

Glenn stared at Eugene blankly disregarding Josh's comment as his own question came to mind, and he couldn't help but as the strange scientist a question: "Why the hair?" Glenn asked, a blank expression upon his face as Josh snickered.

"Because I like it. and no one is taking scissors or clippers to it any time soon. you hear me miss espinosa?" Eugene answered bluntly as Glenn nodded along to his words, inciting chuckles from the rest of the group, Josh exchanged a look with Sam rolling his eyes, the freckled man already forming a brotherly bond with Josh. 

"loud and clear Eugene" Rosita smiled, a few chuckles echoing throughout the group as Eli, Sam and Josh rolled their eyes at the mullet-wearing man. Eli and Maggie sat beside each other smiles on their faces as Eugene spoke up: "ya'll can laugh all you want"

"no one was making fun" Maggie chuckled from beside Eli as the pair caught each other's eyes again, maggies heart fluttering as Eli sent her his contagious smile. sam watched from across the bus as his eyes flickered toward Alex and Glenn, maybe he was alone. 

"I was" Josh chuckled making fun of Eugene's hair, a smile tugged at Sam's lips as the young boy distracted him from his own thoughts. Alex's thumb caressed the back of Glenn's hand thankful he was with her as her mind lingered on Rick. 

"the smartest man I ever met happened to love my hair. my old boss, T. Brooks Ellis. the director of the human genome project. he said my hair made me look like and I quote 'a fun guy' which I am. I just ain't Samson." Eugene explained, a sigh leaving Josh's lips.  

A loud bang quickly followed. The breaks screeching, filled their ears. Abraham swerved the force sending Alex into Glenn's body. pain shooting through her spine as she clung to the leather seat in front of her. the group's shouts filling her ears. abraham swerved trying to dodge the obstructions in the road.  Glenn gripped Alex with one of his hands the other pressed against the seat in front of them trying to protect her. Everything happened in seconds. Alex clung to the seat. clung to Glenn. her body thrown around like a rag doll as the bus flipped, pain tore through her back, a scream filling her ears as everything went black.