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Shock was heavy in the air. A cure had always seemed unlikely for the pessimists that were still alive in the world but Eugene and Abraham's insistence had made it seem real. The man with the mullet had injected everybody with cruel hope just so that he could be kept alive.
"You are a scientist." Rosita said in a sort of denial. "I've seen what you can do."
"I'm smarter than most people and a good liar." He shrugged and attempted to justify his actions. "I needed to get to Washington D.C."
"You're unbelievable." Katy shook her head.
"People died trying to get you there!" Rosita shouted.
"I know that." He showed slight guilt for his deceit. "I lost my nerve as we grew closer. I was screwed either way."
"And you've screwed everybody else over with you."
Abraham had found Eugene when his hope was at his lowest -- the thought of helping to save the world had been the thing that speared him on through all of the shit and had given him purpose; he had dedicated so much time and effort to Eugene. He couldn't be blamed when he launched himself at the other man and began to punch him, knocking Eugene out before storming away.
Eugene stayed passed out for a long time while Abraham stayed in complete stillness. None of the others knew what they were supposed to do to try and help them so they just tried to carry on as normally as possible.
"We should look for some supplies." Glenn decided.
"Y'all go, I'll stay here." Maggie said.
"I'll stay with you." Katy decided.
The two women set up a simple contraption with a ladder and a blanket to keep Eugene in the shade and sat down together in the truck, their moods muted.
"That was our hope." Katy drawled. "The only way all this could end."
"I know, it's bad."
"I think I'm weaker than I have been before." Katy admitted confiding in her close friend.
"What do you mean?" Maggie asked with concern.
"I just feel so sad all the time or angry." She said through clenched teeth. "I think I might need Daryl to live because he makes me so much stronger but I shut him out. I don't wanna be mad anymore but I can't help it. We need to go home."
Maggie wrapped an arm around Katy and hugged the other woman tightly, rubbing her back for comfort. "You're not weak you're just in a bad place and it's okay to struggle sometimes."
➳
After a few hours, everybody seemed to return to their normal selves; that was the thing with the new world, there wasn't as much time to dwell on things. There was no point going anywhere other than back to the church where they hoped the others were waiting for them.
"How was it?" Carl asked walking quickly towards Katy as she jumped out of the fire engine and towards the church.
"Eugene doesn't actually have a cure."
"What?"
"He lied."
"He lied?" Michonne asked walking forwards as the others did too.
"Where is everybody?"
Michonne grinned widely. "Beth's alive. She's at a hospital in Atlanta."
Katy gasped and smiled. Maggie let out a rejoiced sign and jumped into Glenn's embrace before turning and heading towards Katy. The two women wrapped their arms around each other happily.
"This is the best news." Katy exclaimed. "I'm so glad for you."
"We're gonna get her back." Maggie cried.
"Let's blow this joint." Tara said. "Let's go save your sister."
➳
Driving frantically and possibly too quickly with excitement flooding through their veins, they got to the hospital fairly quickly. They jumped out of the truck with their guns up just in case. The hospital was a large building and the area outside was empty until everybody started walking out of the door.
Rick shook his head.
Sasha looked to the ground, deflated.
Tyreese pushed Carol's wheelchair with a hand on her shoulder.
Everything seemed to be moving slowly and the group that had just turned up at the hospital could tell that something was seriously wrong. Katy's hand flew to her mouth when she saw it, tears falling quickly. Maggie screamed falling to the ground, Glenn sinking down next to her to try and help.
She had been sheltered from everything for such a long time and the outbreak had completely changed her. She had once been a young girl who couldn't hurt anybody but she had grown into a strong woman who could keep herself alive but still saw the light. She had lost most of her biological family but at least in her final moments, she had known that the people who loved her had come to bring her home.
Nobody would ever be able to forget what they felt the moment when Daryl walked out of the hospital crying messily holding Beth Greene in his arms, her light hair stained red with blood and her life unfairly ended.
