Joe roared down the road on his Harley, the night wind stinging his eyes.
The farm was gone, and it had happened in minutes.
He replayed the collapse in his mind...
The fences folding instantly, Jimmy's screams, Beth dragging Patricia, the convoy scattering.
He needed somewhere to start looking.
Then he remembered, the stash they'd left at the jammed road for the lost kids.
If the group had any sense, that's where they'd be.
Joe leaned into the throttle, the Harley's engine growling as he sped toward the only place that made sense.
---
Rick's SUV cut through the darkness, headlights bouncing off the uneven dirt road.
Lori and Elize traded subtle glares.
Carol had Sophia pulled close in the back, murmuring comfort against her hair.
Elize broke the silence. "Where do we go?"
Rick kept his eyes forward. "I don't know."
Carl spoke up from the back. "What about the road jam?"
Rick glanced at him in the rearview. "Good Idea! If Joe's going anywhere, it'll be there."
With a destination set, he pressed harder on the gas pedal.
---
T-Dog's knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he tore down a country road.
His eyes wide, flicking to the treeline like he expected walkers to burst out at any second.
Maggie's voice cut in sharp. "T, slow down. We're far enough. We need to regroup!"
He slammed the brakes, jolting everyone in the vehicle.
Then he spun the wheel hard, turning the truck around.
Sarah gripped her seat. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Heading back to the jammed road," T-Dog said. "If the group's anywhere, it's there."
---
Hershel's truck idled on the shoulder, headlights flickering in the dark.
His hands rested on the wheel, his eyes on the empty road ahead.
"Where would they be?" he muttered to himself.
Beth's voice was thin, shaking. "The roadblock."
Hershel turned to her. "What?"
"The roadblock," she said again, her voice firmer this time.
"Maggie told me that's where she picked up Lori."
"Why would they go there?" Hershel asked.
Beth shook her head. "I don't know. But it's our only lead."
Hershel nodded once, shifted into gear, and drove the truck toward the jam.
---
Amy's hands clenched the wheel as she and Emma sped along, a handful of rescued women huddled in the back seat. The air inside the car was thick with quiet sobbing.
"Let's calm down, everyone," Amy said, trying to steady her own voice.
April's reply was sharp. "Calm down? How do you expect us to calm down?"
Emma snapped back. "Look... We're all stressed, but we need to think about our next move."
The women exchanged uneasy glances. "Where should we go?"
Amy kept her eyes on the road. "Most of the group made it to vehicles. That means they're alive."
Emma nodded. "We need to regroup."
The question came again. "Where?"
Amy answered without hesitation. "The road jam. Where we left the stash. If Joe's going anywhere, it'll be there."
Emma gave a small, uncertain nod. "Okay… if you say so."
Amy turned down a side road, heading straight for the jam.
The women in the back still uneasy, but they were grasping at straws.
...
Rick's group reached the jam just as the first pale light broke over the horizon.
They'd been delayed constantly bysmall herds drifting along the backroads, forcing them to take detours.
Rick eased the SUV onto the grass between two abandoned cars, the brakes squeaking as they came to a stop.
Ahead, a dusty sedan sat with faded paint scrawled across its windshield. On the hood rested a bag of food and bottled drinks.
Rick got out first, Carl close behind, both with weapons raised.
They scanned the area, it was clear for now. Rick motioned for the others to follow.
Lori climbed out next, a scowl already on her face.
Elize walked straight to the bag, pulling out a packet of trail mix.
Carol emerged last with Sophia at her side.
Lori's voice cut through the morning air, sharp. "No one's here. We need to keep moving."
Rick's frown deepened. "And what about the rest of the group?"
"Not our problem," she said coldly.
Carol stared at her, stunned. Elize's voice rose. "What is wrong with you?"
Lori spun on her. "What's wrong with me? What about you... sleeping with another woman's husband?"
Elize froze for half a heartbeat before snapping back. "Your husband? Don't make me laugh. You cheated on him. That forfeits your claim."
Carl and Sophia stood wide-eyed as the shouting escalated.
Lori stepped in close, face to face with Elize, the argument turning physical.
"Mom! Stop!" Carl yelled.
Nobody noticed the shadow moving up behind Carol and Sophia.
A lone walker, reaching out towards them.
A thwip broke the air. A crossbow bolt buried itself in the walker's skull, dropping it instantly.
The heavy thud of its body hitting the pavement made everyone turn.
They followed the bolt's path to its source.
Daryl, standing with his crossbow lowered, looking as unbothered as if he'd been there the whole time.
Sophia's face lit up. "Daryl!" She sprinted to him and threw her arms around him. A rare smile cracked his face.
Carol hurried over, grabbing his collar and kissing him hard. Daryl staggered back in surprise before returning the embrace.
Carl and Sophia groaned in unison. "Eww!"
The moment broke with the sound of approaching engines, multiple vehicles coming from both directions.
Hershel's truck, the water truck, and the moving truck rolled into view.
Hershel and Beth were the first out, Rick stepping forward to clasp the old man in a quick, relieved hug.
From the water truck, Glenn and Mary climbed down, followed by others.
Women began filing out of the moving truck, faces both familiar and new.
Everyone gathering in small clusters.
The tension eased just a fraction. The group stood together, waiting, scanning the roads for the rest of their people.
...
Amy and Emma's group arrived next, followed by Maggie and T-Dog's.
Beth spotted her sister and broke into a run, sobbing into Maggie's chest.
Maggie held her tight, whispering reassurances until the shaking slowed.
The others milled around the roadblock, beginning to set up a quick breakfast.
But by the time the sun was high, worry began to creep in.
By eleven, the concern had turned into dread. Amy was in tears...
Joe and Andrea were still missing. Maggie and Emma wrapped her in a hug, murmuring comforts.
Beth looked on, feeling a dull ache in her chest.
Even Rick's face was tight with unease.
An hour later, just as the group was losing hope, they heard it. An engine screaming down the road.
Amy's head snapped up.
A Harley came into view, Joe astride it, covered in walker blood, a rifle slung over his shoulder.
He braked hard, swinging off the bike. "Everyone here?"
They looked around, four of the rescued women were unaccounted for. But the more glaring absence was Andrea.
Amy rushed him, tears running freely. "Where is she?"
Joe froze. His eyes swept the area. "Andrea!"
His voice carried across the jam. Silence. Maggie and Emma stepped forward.
"She hasn't come yet," Maggie said.
Joe's gaze snapped back to the crowd. "Anyone see her get in a vehicle?!"
A rescued woman stepped forward slowly, mumbling.
Joe closed the distance in two strides. "Tell me!"
The woman trembled until Amy's hand closed around his arm.
The woman swallowed. "She helped a group of us into a car… then ran off to help someone else."
Joe's jaw set. "I'll go back for her."
Lori's voice cut in, cold. "She's probably already dead."
The group froze. Joe's Glock was out and leveled at her before anyone had time to blink.
His finger tightening on the trigger. "What did you say?"
Lori's bravado crumbled, stammering. Carl moved in front of her, pistol raised.
Joe's eyes locked on hers over Carl's head. The silence stretched until he slowly lowered the Glock, chest heaving. "Get out of my sight."
Lori stumbled back behind a car. The tension bled from the air in a collective exhale.
Rick exhaled, then said carefully, "It's too risky to go back for her." Heads nodded reluctantly.
Amy cried out, "We can't just leave her!" She buried her face against Joe's chest.
Joe looked to Maggie and Emma, they nodded. "She had a weapon," he said. "And Michonne's not here either. Maybe they escaped together."
Glenn nodded. "Could be. That woman with the sword's got mad skills."
Daryl grunted his agreement.
Amy's breathing steadied. "What do we do, then?"
All eyes turned to Joe. "We leave a message here. Tell them which direction we're headed. Any place we stop, we leave a sign."
Daryl asked, "So where to?"
Joe's answer was quick. "Stay on course for Fort Benning."
Rick gave him a questioning look, but Joe shook his head slightly... not now.
"We rest here for a while," Joe said. "We've been running all night."
Rick nodded. "Yeah. We need our strength for the road."
Amy added, "It gives Andrea more time to catch up."
No one openly doubted him, but they all knew. Lori was still breathing, only because of Carl.
Rick pulled Carl and Elize toward their car to rest.
Joe barely had time to turn before Amy, Maggie, and Emma tugged him toward the back of the moving truck.
Around the roadblock, people began settling in.
Carol curled against Daryl with Sophia between them, Glenn with Mary, others finding their own spots.
The air was still heavy with tension, but for now, they waited.
...
In the back of the moving truck, Joe peeled off his blood-caked shirt, the fabric stiff from dried gore.
He unwound the bandage from his shoulder, tossing it aside.
Grabbing a bottle of water, he poured some onto a clean cloth and began wiping himself down.
The cool water cut through the grime, revealing the jagged knife wound beneath. It had closed over well.
Just an angry red line now, but the memory of how he got it lingered.
The women sat nearby, quietly watching him work.
Their eyes followed the slow movements of his hands, the flex of muscle as he cleaned away the last of the dirt and blood.
When he was done, Joe pulled on a fresh shirt, but before he could even settle back, they were around him.
Amy first, slipping into his side, still blinking away tears. Maggie and Emma joined without hesitation, their arms wrapping him in warmth.
Amy rested her head on his chest, her voice small. Every so often, he felt her shoulders tremble.
Maggie and Emma's presence helped, but so did the steady strength of the man holding her.
Joe didn't say much. He didn't need to. He just tightened his arms around them and let them stay there as long as they wanted.
...
A couple of hours later, Joe stirred awake. He gently shook Amy, Maggie, and Emma, murmuring for them to get up.
They blinked at him sleepily, sighing in unison before reluctantly sitting up.
Climbing out the back of the truck, they found the camp quietly active.
People were moving around, checking vehicles, and talking in small clusters.
Joe exhaled through his nose. It seems Andrea isn't coming anytime soon.
He dropped down to the ground and walked to the sedan with the painted windshield.
Reaching inside, he pulled out the can of paint, then crossed to another car and scrawled a short message for Michonne and Andrea.
Pointing them toward the group's intended route.
Footsteps crunched behind him. Rick appeared, giving his shoulder a brief pat.
"Time to go?" Joe asked.
Rick nodded. "Yeah. Too risky to stick around any longer. We've already had to put down a few walkers."
Joe gave a short nod and turned back toward his women. "Get ready to move."
They didn't argue, just began packing what little they'd unpacked.
Joe made a slow loop through the camp, passing the word for everyone to load up.
---
At his bike, Joe swung a leg over the Harley and started the engine.
He was halfway through a mental headcount when he felt movement behind him.
Amy climbed on without a word, sliding her arms around his waist.
She kissed his cheek softly before resting her head against his back, eyes closing, simply breathing in the rumble beneath them.
Daryl pulled up alongside, Sophia perched behind him with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
Engines flared across the jam as the rest of the convoy fell into line.
Trucks, vans, and battered sedans easing back onto the road.
Joe caught a glimpse of Emma in the mirror, her expression a mix of quiet amusement and a little sulk at Amy's spot on the bike.
He smirked, but it faded as his mind slipped back to Andrea. 'I hope you're okay, my firecracker.'
The Harley rolled forward, and the convoy followed, leaving the roadblock behind.