The highway, choked with rusted cars, lay bathed in the pale moonlight, casting long shadows over the group's temporary camp. Rick sat on a scavenged bucket, having just woken from a short nap. Arranged in a semi-circle were Lori and Carl beside him, Carol sitting with Andrea and Amy, Daryl cleaning his crossbow arrows, and Shane keeping a troubled silence, occasionally glancing at Lori. Glenn, T-Dog, and Jacqui completed the circle.
"It's already late in the night. Arthur hasn't caught up to us yet," Dale, perched atop the RV for a lookout, said, glancing at Hermione, who had fallen asleep in a camping recliner.
Shane immediately seized the opening. "It's impossible. Arthur won't be able to survive being besieged by those several variants. We are already having a hard time dealing with one."
Amy, her feelings for Arthur twisting into anger, snapped. "Don't talk like that! We could've escaped with him, yet you guys didn't even say anything and just took off!"
"You've seen how durable those freaks are; the RV can't survive being attacked by several of those," T-Dog commented, backing up Shane's grim point.
Rick pulled Lori and Carl closer before speaking. "All we could do is hope for the best."
Daryl chimed in, his voice gruff. "Although that bastard is arrogant sometimes, he's good with his head and skilled with weapons. Unless no accidents happen, the fucker can escape."
"He better be. He stopped me from dying at the CDC," Jenner interjected, his voice raw with frustration. Jacqui seconded his words.
Carol stood up. "I'm gonna stay in the RV. I can't do this while my Sophia is out there by herself," she said, walking slowly toward the vehicle. The group watched her, unable to offer solace. Daryl went to his truck to retrieve his crossbow.
Hermione woke, slowly sitting up in the recliner. "Looks like you rested well, Hermione," Dale observed, and the group turned to her. "Yeah, I dreamt of Arthur arriving," Hermione chuckled, though she attributed the dream to her worry. Rick and the others offered only helpless smiles. Hermione went down and saw Carol about to board the RV. "Carol," she called. Carol turned, and Hermione moved forward, hugging her. "Sophia will be fine, we will find her."
Hearing the comfort, Carol broke down, her voice choked with tears. "Thank you, Hermione. Hopefully my Sophia is safe."
Suddenly, the distinct sound of a motorcycle echoed in the distance. The group instantly tensed. Shane immediately rushed to their car, grabbing and tossing weapons to the capable fighters. Daryl readied his crossbow. The girls moved to find cover, fearing the sound heralded a hostile party.
Tension mounted as the motorcycle roared closer. Dale, atop the RV, aimed at the approaching headlight, unable to discern the rider's face through the glare. Suddenly, the rider raised his hand. "A bottle of... Whiskey?" Dale muttered, confused by the gesture. As the bike drew nearer, the rider's appearance became clearer. Dale immediately shouted with relief. "It's Arthur!"
Rick and the others didn't immediately ease their stance, fearing Arthur might be on the brink of turning, especially seeing his erratic driving—unbeknownst to them, the Hunter was quite drunk.
Arthur arrived, cut the engine, and kicked the side stand. He glanced at the group, who were still pointing guns at him. "Is that how you treat a friend, Rick?" he slurred slightly. Rick and the others interpreted his slurred voice as a sign he was turning.
Amy was about to run to him but stopped, suspecting the same thing. Arthur noticed their tension. 'Did they think I was on the brink of turning? Heh,' he thought, deciding to play a prank, deliberately hiding the bottle behind his back.
However, Hermione noticed the gesture, staring at him with intense focus. She slowly walked toward him. Arthur, still enjoying his prank, said, "Guys, after all I did? After distracting those variants just so you could leave successfully, this is how you'll repay me?" he faked a choked voice, purposely stumbling a little forward.
The group backed off, slowly giving way to emotion, especially Amy. Rick, Shane, and Daryl watched as Hermione walked right past them.
"Stay away from him, Hermione! I know it's hard, but he's dangerous right now!" Rick immediately warned, trying to stop her, but she ignored him.
Arthur smiled as Hermione approached, still thinking of continuing his prank. "Ah, Miss Detective..." Before he could finish, Hermione suddenly smacked his wounded shoulder, pulling him violently out of his tipsiness and playful mood. "Arghh! Hermione, that hurts!" Arthur reacted in genuine pain, then smiled. He slowly pulled her in by the waist and kissed her lips. "I'm back."
Hermione didn't pull away. "Welcome back," she replied softly. The watching group, whose emotions had been a volatile mix of grief and suspicion, froze in utter confusion. The girls who had been on the verge of tears stopped cold.
After kissing Hermione, Arthur hugged her, then turned to the group, holding up the whiskey bottle with a peace sign. "Hey, guys, relax for once. Y'all are too tense," he said, walking with Hermione still in his embrace.
Daryl reacted immediately. "You're sick in the head, man," he spat on the ground. The others nodded, looking at Arthur with irritation.
"Admit it, Daryl, you were about to cry earlier, right?" Arthur laughed out loud, settling onto the bucket Rick had been using.
Daryl only replied, "Fuck you, Kenway."
"That wasn't funny, Arthur," Rick immediately said with a stern voice, though a small smile formed on his face.
Hermione took the rifle, bow, and quiver from his back and placed them in Daryl's truck before helping him take off his torn black hoodie. "You reek of alcohol," she commented.
Arthur replied, "Sorry, it helps me numb the pain," as the hoodie was finally removed, revealing the crudely patched-up cloth, which was already bloodied, covering the open wounds on his shoulder and back. Glenn rushed forward with bandages as Hermione carefully pulled away the cloth, revealing the wounds. Though already beginning to heal, they still looked fresh and gruesome, a vivid testament to the struggle Arthur had endured for their escape.