"I got the key. Come on, let's go."

Daryl had been more concerned with the gun he pulled off the gate guard than the walkie, but Jesus pulled it off knowing it would be important. He gave the area a final look around as he tucked it into his coat pocket and then hustled himself over to the bike Daryl was backing out. He hadn't really given much thought to how the two of them would get out just yet. Maybe hot-wiring a truck. He'd been focusing on making sure there was an open exit to get to when he heard the commotion of the guard he'd let past getting his head bashed in.

While there would be no love lost and no losing sleep in that one man's death, the look on Daryl's face when he was doing it was going to stick with Jesus for a long time. He'd been like a man possessed. Unable to hear his own name being called. Just taking the pipe to the body over and over again, unable to stop until... what? All the anger and pain and fear was out of him? Probably not all if the strange cross of horror and sanctification Daryl held in his eyes was anything to go by.

It wasn't something Jesus could dwell on right then and there. They had to get going.

"Lucky you had the key, easier than trying to hotwire anything here," Jesus said as he climbed on and grabbed Daryl around the waist. It wasn't entirely comfortable, what with that gun he'd stashed in the back of his belt digging into Jesus' stomach. But it wasn't entirely uncomfortable, either, and he'd had worse experiences besides. "I left the gate he was watching unlocked. Should be able to nose it open with the bike if you don't want to stop-"

The roar of the engine cut him off and he leaned into Daryl's back as the man gunned it. Guess that answered that question.

. . .

Getting past the fence with Negan gone and the guard dead was surprisingly simple. It was like all the security went a little lax without the man with the bat around to keep everyone on their toes. And the fence itself served only to deter those coming in, not those going out. Jesus knew how long it had taken them to get to Hilltop and Alexandria was further still. They had time to slow down past the immediate grounds to find the trail of syrup he'd left and follow it a ways before they needed to stop and get their bearings. Depending on how long Negan took in getting Carl home, they likely had between and hour and two hours to stick to the road Negan's people had used and figure out a few potential alternate routes.

Daryl didn't seem to have the same idea, though, and just kept riding like he was going straight back to Alexandria. Eventually Jesus had to tap his shoulder and signal for a pull over. The other man looked at him, confused, but did as asked, idling the engine when he got them to the side of the road.

"Make it quick," Daryl grumbled, agitation in every taunt line of his body while his eyes darted about. "We're walker bait just sitting here like this."

Jesus, having no plans to be slow, nodded, "Yeah. I know. But we need to change directions. Hilltop will be safer for you right now. We're going to have to turn around."

"I know how to get to Hilltop."

"From Alexandria, yes," Jesus agreed. "But a lot of the roads are blocked and if Negan's already turned around and heading back here, our chance of running into him is higher. They were just at Hilltop yesterday. They got full cooperation and have no reason to return until next week. I can show you the way."

Daryl's hands fidgeted on the handles for a couple long moments and Jesus worried that he'd argue. But he finally gave a slow nod, "Okay. Just yell left or right into my ear when you need to."

Jesus had barely gotten a 'sure' out before Daryl was riding off again. Made him wonder if that was normal or if Daryl was just in a hurry. He was going to guess the latter for now. Otherwise riding with him again might take some getting used to.

They had to drive a little slower than either of them wanted for the first half of the trip. Mostly so Daryl could turn when and where Jesus indicated, but also because they had to backtrack a couple times when a large herd appeared unexpectedly. It wasn't anything either of them hadn't faced before, on some level, but equipped as they were, it wasn't really safe to try ducking and weaving through.

By the time they got into familiar territory (for the both of them), the sun was starting to set and it wouldn't be safe for them to keep going. He'd now been gone two nights away from Hilltop.

"Maggie better not kill me for taking so long," Jesus muttered under his breath as they made camp in the middle of an old gas station. The door at the front had long since been broken in, but the door to the cashier's cage was still sturdy and bulletproof and was not something walkers could break down easily.

"Maggie?" Daryl's voice filled the sudden silence caused by his complete and utter stillness. The word came out like a prayer, soft and pleading, disbelieving at the same time it was desperate for any hope to cling to.

Jesus stopped what he was doing and turned to look at the other man, confused by his reaction. It was like Daryl thought she was-

"They said she died."

-dead. Right. He thought she was dead.

"No," Jesus shook his head, wide smile blossoming to take over his face. "She came to Hilltop. She was having a complication with the baby, but she got to Dr. Harlan in time. She's fine. Both of them are."

Daryl gulped hard and it looked like he was fighting not to break down. A fight he quickly lost as his knees buckled and he had to catch himself on the counter. Jesus was at his side in two quick steps. His hand found Daryl's elbow and Daryl's hand found his sleeve. Clung to it for dear life while he took short, gasping breaths. Relief was washing over him and he looked like he was somewhere between euphoria and hysteria.

Jesus helped him slide to the floor and put his back to the counter. They both let go of the other there, but not because Daryl pushed him away or tried to pull away. He just didn't need the physical support to hold himself up. His grip loosened and his hand fell away into his own lap. And then lifted to wipe at tears that had started coming and he just couldn't stop.

"I'll get the rest of this taken care of," Jesus offered, still smiling. He had a lot more questions about what Daryl had been through now, but getting their makeshift beds for the night secured was the first priority. They had all night to spend catching Daryl up on the realities Negan had apparently distorted for him.