3 week time jump~

Rick's P.O.V

Michonne didn't come home last night and that's all I can think about.

She was working late with Daryl, counting guns and bullets and making spheres for Gregory. But she didn't come home last night.

Being who I am, and what I've been through,  I can only fear the worst.
I know she and Daryl would never hook up, she's my wife and he's my brother, so that's off the list.
Maggie's on bed rest since the baby is due soon, so maybe she crashed there for the night. But that wouldn't make sense, Sasha and Michonne always visit her in the morning, together.

So, so--maybe something's happened.

"She's okay Dad," Carl assured "She probably fell asleep at Glenn and Maggie's."

You know, he's probably right. 

 "yeah. she'll be home any minute now,  homie." Jay added

We sat around in the living room, playing cards and waiting for Michonne to get home, but eventually she didn't show up and  I got tired and worried, I just decided I'd go find her.

I threw on my jacket and walked to the door, but before I could place my hand on the knob, Abraham rushed in, pushing me back a bit.

"Hey, Rick.." He said, in a sad-depressing tone.

Something's up, I could feel his sorrow when he stepped in the room.

He held something tight in his hands, I couldn't make out what It was because his gloves were so big, but he held it tight to his body like it was important.

"Ye- yeah?" I asked

"You might wanna sit down for this."

Instantly when he said that, I knew that something bad happened. Something that I might not be able to handle.

Carl and Jay perched up when I sat down, they were interested in what he was about to say  too.

Abraham handed me the small note in his hand and I began reading it.

"give us the boy who killed our own and no one gets hurt. 

-dwight."

I stared up at Abraham, confused about which boy they wanted and who they were going to hurt.

He dug deep into his pocket and handed me ----

when he placed Michonne's dread lock in my hand and the point of Daryl's arrow, my body began to shake.

WHY DARYL? WHY MICHONNE? what'd she do to deserve this? 

I stormed up and flipped the table in front of me, "DAMN IT!" I shouted.

Carl and Jay read over the note and stared at the hair and arrow in my hand..

"They--- dad, they've got Daryl & M- Michonne?" Carl stammered

I balled my fist up and threw it into a wall, making a wide hole.

DWIGHT IS A SICK MAN AND WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING TO HER?!

Abraham held me by my arms before I could do anything else stupid, and in the moment of my violent kicking and punching the air, the tears ran down my face.

"Who do they want?" I asked, through sobs.

Jay flopped on the chair and stared at his hands, "they want me." he murmured.

The whole room was silent and the only thing you could hear was the sniffling I did from crying.

"What, why?" Carl exclaimed

"I killed Geoffrey... Back at Alexandria. And though that was a while ago, they don't forget anything."

I can't believe they captured Michonne and Daryl.
How'd they get through the gate?

And I can't believe they want Jaden..
But they aren't getting him. And they aren't going to hurt Michonne or Daryl, not without a fight.

"I have to go. I'll go save them and  I'll come back I promise." Jay said, getting up.

"No you're not going anywhere." Carl said.

"You can't stop me." Jay ran up the stairs and Carl followed him shouting slurred words that I could barely understand,

I'm losing my mind.

After a while of Abraham helping me catch my balance and my sane, Jay and Carl ran back down the stairs, bickering and cursing like sailors.

"JAY DON'T GO OUT THAT FUCKING DOOR! You stay here and we'll do things together!" Carl shouted

"Carl, I've got this! I'M WHO THEY WANT."  Jay shouted back.
He loaded the pistol that I gave him a while back, and stuffed it into his pants.

"Exactly! If you go alone, they'll kill you!"

Carl did have a point.

Jay chuckled and shook his head, "they'll kill me either way."

Carl ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath, "Jay I'm begging you, please don't go." he whispered.

Jay smiled but not the happy smile,  the kind where you have to smile to keep from crying.

He ran over and hugged Carl one last time, "I'll come back brother," they pulled away and looked each other in the eyes before turning away to wipe their tears.

Jay walked to Abraham and I and nodded his head, "thanks for everything guys."

I could barely breathe right and I was speechless because
1.  DWIGHT HAS MY GOD DAMN WIFE
2. DWIGHT HAS MY BROTHER
3. Because Jay's about to embark on a deadly mission TO SAVE MY WIFE AND DARYL and he's just a kid

Jay walked to the door and turned back around one last time,

"DAD YOU CANT LET HIM GO. STOP HIM!" Carl yelled.

I watched Jay turn the knob and Carl yell my name even more.

"DAAA-"

"Carl! You can't stop me, he can't stop me. I'm 17 years old and I can do what I want. Carl, I can handle myself ---  you don't have to worry about me now! I'm okay, I'm fine, I  always will be. I've taken a bullet to the shoulder, I've lost my dad my mom my whole family and I'm not losing Michonne. I'm stronger than you think and stronger than you believe , so I'm going to go out there and I'm going to pay my dues for everything she's done for me, everything Daryl's done for me. I'm going to save them --- I believe in myself and I need you to believe in me! I need you to let me go... Set me free Carl, I can't stand by your side my whole life. It's my fault they're in this now-- I've got to do this. Even If I seem weak,I'm not! I'll risk my life because-- because  I wanna b. As brave as you! How can I do that if I don't ever take a chance-- a risk? Carl you can't protect me anymore."

And that was the last thing Jay said before he threw his bag over his shoulder and slammed the door behind him.