He should have just kept his mouth shut. He really should have just shut up. Why did he have to say anything? The campfire had long since turned to embers, a month or so ago, when they were still on the road, and they had been talking and grumbling for hours about where to go. Sherry was huddled close to him, his jacket around her shoulders. Klaus and Tracy were both asleep in one of the trucks, and Strand, Frank, Madison, and Alicia were trying to figure out everyone's next move.
Dwight had been sitting there silently, staring into the fire. Madison wanted to get back to Los Angeles, but there was no way they were going to make it that far now. One of their cars had already broken down, and the other was on its last legs. They didn't know the area, and everyone knew they weren't going to be making it much further. They were stranded with nowhere to go.
That was when Dwight spoke up. Without thinking really, he just spit it out. It was a stupid idea, a terrible idea. But it was the only place nearby he could think of.
Alexandria.
If he had just kept his mouth shut, Dwight might not have found himself standing in front of the gates of the one place he was never supposed to return to. He half expected Daryl to open the gates and shoot him. Dwight wouldn't blame him. Eventually, they were taken inside the gates, their weapons ripped from them, and they were all escorted to what Dwight remembered being one of the main buildings.
"You all better behave," Dwight answers as they were led through the doors and told to wait, ensuring to stare at Strand a moment longer than needed. “And don't forget, they can just throw us out if they want to." He adds quickly. If Morgan were here, their group might stand more of a fighting chance, but he wasn't certain who was running things now. But surely they wouldn’t turn them away, right? Maybe Dwight himself, but if they would take the others in, he would accept that. Besides, they had kids. Klaus looked tired from the journey, and Tracy…well, she hadn’t said anything that wasn’t a snarky or harsh remark to anyone, really. Not that Dwight blamed her. He still didn’t really understand why she was here. Madison had killed the girl's father and essentially kidnapped her for nothing. Alicia had magically shown up a few days later and revealed that, in fact, she did not have a kid. In truth, Dwight tried not to think too much about that mess or his head would hurt.
"Are you sure about this?" Frank asks after a moment, once the doors were shut and the group was left alone. He stood close to his husband, a protective hand on his son's shoulder. His eyes wandered to Dwight and then to Victor. Was anyone sure about this? Frank wasn't. In the span of just a month or so, he had lost nearly everything he had ever known. Been uprooted from the only place they had ever lived since the start of all this.
Dwight swallows and glances around at the group. All eyes were on him. He was still never quite used to that. The way that people looked at him from time to time. Looking at him with trust, looking to him to figure things out. No one looked at him like that with Negan. Part of him felt this weight bearing down on him being back here. Being this close to all the lives he nearly destroyed.
"I'm not sure of anything," Dwight answers honestly, letting out a breath, "but this is our best shot. These are good people."
Gabriel made his way to Aaron's house down the street from the main meeting place where the new group was being kept. Jerry had come and gotten him once they had arrived. Groups of people showing up weren't that uncommon, but Alexandria did tend to see less traffic now that The Commonwealth was rebuilt and open. Although it was even rarer to see familiar faces show up. Especially one so scarred. Gabriel didn't approach as he saw the former Savior being led into the building; he only came up afterwards and told people who had brought them in to keep them there while he went to get Aaron.
The knock that sounds on the door is a bit fast-paced, slightly urgent, before Gabriel clears his throat and tries to steady himself before the door is opened.