Dead Men Feel No Cold

Season 2, Episode 14

## Cast Guide

Starring
Chyler Leigh as Harper Lodge
Finn Wittrock as Declan Lodge
Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Riley Lodge
Chris Hemsworth as Kari Andrews\*\*
Patrick Dempsey as Ben Monroe
Brett Dalton as Brandon
Ellen Pompeo as Alexa Reed
Nick Zano as Matt Archer

Also Starring
Ronen Rubinstein as Avery Stanson
Juliana Harkavy as Janine
Gavin McIntosh as Jason Andrews
Hayden Panettiere as Carley Jonas
Martin Henderson as Jonathan Heyes
Alberto Frezza as Theo
Noah Centineo as David Welles
Christine Adams as Lindsay Gwennith
\*\* - Zombified

**Dead Men Feel No Cold** is the fourteenth and final episode of the second season of Coda.

## Plot

In the aftermath, the group ponders on where they will go from here; someone is faced with a difficult choice when a close friend is bitten.

## Episode Transcript

### Act One

Outside of Wilkerson, the dust settles from the recent conflict between Harper's group and the ominous Delta. The wind chimes against the battered old door of a Home Depot just outside of town, as Avery stands upon watch. Quietly behind him, Janine approaches, sighing.

"Nothing?" She asks, in wonderment over the fates of their friends. Of those still missing in action are Brandon, Carley, Ben, and Lindsay.

"Not yet..." Avery responds, his gaze everlasting on the wilderness beyond their current haven, "but there's still time. We gotta wait out the Delta and then we're leaving, right?"

"Yeah, but-" Janine reacts, attemping to place a hand on his shoulder.

"No." He turns, pushing her hand away, "I'm not leaving without them."

"You mean..." she mumbles, "Without him, right?"

Avery sighs, "Any of them."

"More than likely, Carley, Ben, and Lindsay are back at the exhibit. You have no reason to worry about them, so..."

"Alright, yeah, fine." He shakes his head, "I feel like shit about it, too, so you don't need to get onto me about it."

"I get it." Janine tells him, "You and Robbie were basically broken up by the time he...died. Those feelings you had were gone, and I know that it hurts to move on so fast, but you were moving on long before he died. I get it."

Avery offers a half smile, and hugs Janine, "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." The two turn to face Harper, Declan, and Riley, as Declan waves them over to enter a large storage warehouse, "Better go check this out."

As the two arrive, the rest of the group enters, as well. Alexa and Theo arrive together, finally fully reunited, as Matt and David both enter alone, secluding themselves from the rest of the group.

"Okay, so," Harper announces, standing at the forefront of her group, "First off, I have something I wanna say."

The group aggravatingly awaits an announcement from their leader, as David rolls his eyes, which Matt takes note of, glaring toward him. David bows his head slowly, but peering his eyes up to Harper's attention.

"We made it. There were...losses," Harper rubs her eye, embittered by Kari's loss, "Kari was a really good friend. Not just after everything went to shit, but before, too. I remember coming to his house for dinner with Declan and Riley. Before Naomi died, he was an enigma, I'll tell you that much. But after...he changed. You'd think something like that would fuck up a person's head, he's shut himself off, but no. He stepped up. He took better care of Jason than any of us thought he would after that. And after everything happened, he was kind, he was caring, and he always helped others. And even in the end," she looks to Declan, who bows his head in shame, causing her to raise an eyebrow, "Even in the end he was helping."

The group silently watches as Harper approaches Declan, "Anything you wanted to say?"

Declan's eyes fill with tears, as he looks up to his sister. He rubs his forehead slowly, as his hand reaches down to his neck, and to the collar of his shirt, "Harper..."

Her eyes return the same sentiment, as she gasps lightly in shock, as Declan reveals his bite to her, just below his collarbone, "Oh, God-" She looks to Riley, who exits the building, heading outside, visibly upset and wiping tears from her face.

"Declan..." Harper mumbles.

## = Act Two

An old dumpster in Wilkerson shakes as a man exits from inside of it, unscathed after the once populated town became a warzone. Untouched by any trash, Brandon looks back inside following his exit, noting how it was empty, "Thank God it was trash day."

He examines the town, as the streets are riddled with the bodies of the undead, as well as some members of the Delta. Brandon approaches one corpse, Steve. He kneels in front of it, noticing the bullets in the side of his neck and head.

"Thank you, Janine..." he mumbles to himself, turning around as he hears shuffling behind him. He raises his gun quickly, seeing Kari, dragging his feet toward him. But Kari was gone now, "Shit..."

Brandon raises his gun to Kari's head, as the latter slowly attempted to reach the former for a feast.

"I'm sorry." Brandon pulls the trigger. Empty, "God fucking dammit..."

He sighs, removing his knife from the sheath, and once more prepares to put down his former friend. Kari bites toward Brandon, still a few feet away, as Brandon hooks the back of Kari's leg with his foot, knocking him to the ground. Brandon stands over him, and quickly plants his knife into Kari's head, killing his zombified corpse.

"Wish I could bury you..." Brandon mumbles to himself, "But I've gotta go."

Brandon turns toward the alley his friends were, and follows the path. He slowly moves throughout the old alley, until he comes to a crossroad. Luckily, lying on the ground leading to an old dirt road, he finds something. A magazine from someone's gun.

"This looks like a good way to go." He tells himself, and begins walking down the dirt road.

### Act Three

"What now?" Janine asks, approaching Harper following the large meeting that took place within the Home Depot's warehouse section. Janine crosses her arms, however, her tone is that of someone with sincere remorse and sympathy.

"I think..." Harper tells her, looking over her shoulder to Declan, who's sitting up against a wall alongside Riley, who is placing her head on his shoulder, "I think we gotta get back to the exhibit. ASAP."

"Yeah, but that fight must've attracted a lot of walkers. Or we could walk into a trap." Janine quickly responds.

"Who's to say we haven't already?" Harper tells her, scanning the area, worried for any ambushes from the remaining Delta forces.

"That doesn't solve the walker problem. Are you sure our best bet isn't to wait that out?" Janine asks her, clearly concerned for the group's wellbeing.

"Maybe. I guess...we do have time."

"Oh. You mean..." Janine looks over to Declan, who's lightly sweating, visibly getting worse from the bite he sustained in Wilkerson, "I get it. Sorry for pushing, I'm just...I'm so tired of running."

"Yeah. You've done the most running out of all of us, I think. I still remember when we first got to Crawford and you were just looking for ways out. Took us a while to trust you after everything that went down with Shelley, but I'm glad we did." Harper smiles to the other woman, as the two hug.

"Yeah. Me too." Janine smirks, turning to return to her post alongside David and Matt.

"What'd she say?" Matt asks her, peering over as Harper is handing Declan a bottle of water.

"We're gonna wait out any walkers that the fight could've attracted. It's our best bet at the time, I think." She tells him, as David scoffs.

"This is bullshit," David quietly growls, "We need to find Jonathan and finish this."

"Let's not get carried away here, David..." Janine quickly shuts that down, "We barely got out of there by the skin of our teeth. Kari is dead, and half the group is missing. You really think it'd be the best move to split us up even more, risk even more of us dying? And who's to say Lilly hasn't sent more people as backup?"

"Which she'd need to, since we killed half their fucking people." David shouts, drawing the attention of Harper, Declan, and Riley. Janine glances over, taking note of Harper crossing her arms, and glaring at David accusingly.

"Yeah. Half. And that other half killed Kari and possibly got to Brandon, too." She rebutts, looking over to Matt for reinforcements.

"She's got a point..." Matt lingers, before turning around to walk away.

"Okay, who's fucking side are you on?" David asks, pulling Matt back into the conversation, "Because last I checked, you were the one cheering me on to take that Steve fucker out."

"You did what?" Janine asks, looking to Matt.

"It was the right call. This isn't." Matt tells him, "Get with the program, dude."

"Fuck you, Matt." David yells once more, walking away from the pair.

"Well, that went well." Matt smiles, before leaving Janine alone in confusion.

### Act Four

"David, got a second?" Matt approaches David, pulling him aside following their brief yet tense conversation back in the storage area.

"What now, Matt?" David groans, as he continues walking. Matt scoffs, and catches up, walking side by side.

"I think you've got the right idea but now just isn't the time." Matt notices David obviously not having any interest in what he's saying, "David, seriously."

"What?" David tells him, finally stopping to face the other man, "Now is definitely the right time. They killed Kari, probably Brandon, too! We gotta get them while they injured. Like Harper said, that bitch he's working for could send reinforcements and then we've lost our only opportunity. I figured you'd see that."

"Unless they already have. Their reinforcements were already on the way when they got captured." Matt yells, clearly annoyed by David's stubborness, "You need to think with your head instead of letting your feelings get in the way this time. Or you're gonna get us all killed."

Matt reaches and grasps David shoulder, pulling him in closer, and whispering in his ear, "Just like you got Kari killed."

"Fuck you!" David shouts, shoving Matt away, "YOU told me to do it."

"You were going to anyway. I don't see why it matters that I agreed with you, it was your idea, you take the blame for it. Now you're gonna shut the fuck up and stay in line. Or else."

"Go fuck yourself, Matt. All you are is a flip-flopper who just can't figure out what he fucking wants." David tells him. Matt shrugs.

"This isn't about me. This is about you and your little vendetta."

"It's more than a fucking vendetta and you know that. They killed Leah." David is enraged at this point.

"Okay. And you can't get over that to see what really has to be done." Matt shakes his head, as David soaks in his rage all alone, as the former leaves him alone to process.

### Act Five

"You doin' okay?" Harper approaches Alexa, as the latter watches Theo from a distance as he assists Janine on watch.

"I'm okay." Alexa gives an empathetic smile to Harper, aware of the situation she's facing. Alexa knows the amount of pressure on Harper at the moment is unbearable, plus the fact that her brother is dying, "Just wish we had more control over how everything went down."

"Yeah, well. I talked to Riley about it a little. She told me we don't have control over how one single messed up person can act. More that I think about it, the more I think that she's right. Not just about David." Harper looks to Alexa, who sighs.

"Yeah. I know." Alexa looks up, closing her eyes in distress, "We never did get a chance to finish talking about Amelio, did we?"

"Nope." Harper mutters, her eyes trained on Theo, "Are you gonna tell him?"

Alexa remains quiet for a few moments. Her breath shakingly oblivious to clue Harper into a response, "I don't know."

Harper, unsatisfied with this response, turns her gaze back to Alexa. The latter woman returns this, as Harper focuses her thoughts, "I can't tell you what to do here. But I can tell you that Amelio and Jonathan aren't two dissimilar people. It's just one of them was better at hiding how fucked he was willing to be to get his way. And I'm sure the more you think about it, the more you'll understand."

Alexa wipes a tear away as she considers her options. She knows the smart move would be to lie about what happened to Theo's brother, but she's unsure if she can make herself lie to him.

"I'll give you some space. You need it. And so do I." Harper pats Alexa on the shoulder, leaving the woman alone to her thoughts.

"Thanks." Alexa tells her, just as she reaches the doorway. Harper stops, turning her head once more to face Alexa, who continues looking ahead of her, "Thanks for everything."

Harper smiles, exiting the room.

### Act Six

Brandon follows the barren dirt trail throughout the outskirts of Wilkerson, as the threat of the undead lingers far behind him. He turns his head, looking far into the distance, as a pack of walkers pursue. He sighs, unbothered by their presence as he's quickly outpacing them.

His trail comes to a fork in the road: left or right. He turns his head to the left, seeing emptiness. To the right, he notices a large orange sign in the distance. He nods, turning right.

"Here goes nothing..." he mumbles to himself, as he follows the dirt road toward the distant building. The road transitions into concrete, as he passes a barren gas station on his right, and an empty field to his left. He jolts to action as he hears something shatter in the gas station, and someone's head popping up from the window.

"Shit..." he quickly dives toward the field, covered by the grass. He watches from a distance, grabbing his gun. He checks the clip, remembering he ran out of ammo. He looks up, noticing Jonathan exiting the gas station, rifle in hand.

"Fucking shit shit shit..." Brandon mutters, as Jonathan peers over to the field. A walker approaching him. Jonathan lifts his rifle to fire, but changes his mind. He turns to head toward the building in the distance. Brandon peers behind himself, as the walker notices him. Brandon quickly reaches for his knife, as the walker goes in to attack. Brandon prepares his knife, as the walker falls on top of him. Just before Brandon can plunge his knife into its head, Jonathan's rifle fires, killing the walker. Brandon quickly turns...

"Hello." Jonathan mutters, just behind Brandon. He slams his rifle into Brandon's face.

### Act Seven

"Did you hear that?" Avery announces, hearing a gunshot ringing in the distance.

"Shit...did they find us?" Riley asks, removing her head from Declan's shoulder as the two slouch against a wall.

"We..." Declan coughs, "We should go...we can't stay here."

"I agree. We can't sit here while the others are out there or at the exhibit all alone." Theo tells them, looking to Alexa. She nods in agreement.

"I don't like this. I think we should listen to Harper." Matt refuses, looking to Harper for approval. She shakes her head.

"I don't know..." Harper sighs, burying her face into her hands, "This is all too much."

Harper looks to Declan, who's clearly getting worse. The stress from the recent conflicts, as well as the severity of his bite, have clearly taken a toll on him.

"Before we go we should at least look for Brandon and Carley." Avery insists, concerned about the two he's grown closest to, "We owe them that much."

"To be honest?" Matt declares, "They're probably dead."

"Matt, shut the fuck up." Declan sneered, annoyed by the other man's bleak outlook. Matt peers up to retaliate, but simply keeps his mouth shut. Avery, distressed, exits the room. Harper glances around the room, taking note of the situations of each of her compratriots. She follows Avery's lead, rushing out of the room into an old office, alone.

"Riley?" Declan peers over to his wife, as he groans in distress, "Help me up..."

Riley nods, helping her husband up. She goes to follow him, however, he turns to her, "I gotta talk to her. Alone for a second."

"Yeah...I get it." Riley rubs her arm, turning to sit on a crate, as Declan enters Harper's office.

"Hey. You doin' okay?" Declan asks, leaning up against a wall.

"Shit, Declan, sit down." Harper tells him, helping him into a chair. He chuckles, as she pulls up a chair next to him.

"I'll ask again. You okay?" He pats her shoulder, and lets his arm linger on it.

"I'm fine. I should be asking you." Harper monotonously replies, rubbing her eye. Declan, unsatisfied, sighs in response. Harper rolls her eyes, looking at him, "Look, I'm sorry. This is all... a lot to deal with. And you..."

Declan sits quietly, as Harper wipes away a tear.

"I just don't know how to do it anymore. Everything I do, someone dies. Someone else is missing. I can't do anything right. Kari's dead, Brandon and Carley are missing, David is losing his shit, and you..." Harper stops herself, and avoids eye contact with her brother. She eventually gives in, breaking down into tears. She buries her face into her hands, resting her elbows on her thighs.

"Harper..." Declan mutters, hugging her.

"What the fuck am I gonna do now, Dec?" She sobs in his shoulder, "How the fuck am I losing you, too?"

"Harper." He declares once more, pushing her away, and looking into her eyes, "You can do this. I know you can. The only reason this group didn't die off after Crawford fell and after Ben's camp fell is because of you. You made the choices no one else wanted to and you took all the blame, just like you're doing now. But it isn't your fault. You did everything you could. And they know that."

Harper nods slowly, wiping away her tears, "But what now? We lost everything and now what?"

"You survive, no matter what. Like you always have." Declan tells her. He closes his eyes harshly, as his vision blurs.

"Declan?" She grasps his shoulders as he falls, out of his chair, onto the ground, "Riley! Help!" She calls out, as she shakes her brother, "Declan, wake up! Fuck!"

### Act Eight

Harper storms out of the room, as Riley and Avery quickly rush to help Declan. Sobbing, she hides alone in an old closet, crouching in fetal position against a corner.

Eventually, she regains control of herself. She stands, exiting the room, returning to the office. She is greeted by Declan and Riley, the former sitting up against a wall, smiling.

"I'm good, Harper..." he mutters, as Riley rubs his shoulder gently. Harper sighs, turning around, refusing to offer any words of grace. She enters an old storage room, pulling out a cigarette, and lights it. In the next room, she hears mumbling. She walks over quietly, taking a drag out of the cigarette, and notices Alexa and Theo talking. Theo's back is facing the door, however, Alexa is facing him, and quickly notices Harper. She stands there, silent, as Alexa looks back to Theo.

"I just..." Theo sighs, "I really hope we can find Amelio. Things haven't been good for anyone lately. I just really want something to be good."

Alexa breath shakingly glances over her shoulder to Harper, who's eyes are intent into her soul. Alexa lets out a deep breath, "Theo, I have to tell you something..."

Theo's spirit is crushed by her monotone response to his pleas, "Alexa?"

"I..." She glares over at Harper, who nods, "Amelio is dead."

Alexa considers her options of how to finish this statement as Theo distressingly rubs his face, leaning on a table for support.

"He..." Alexa looks once more at Harper, who is still smoking, "He went down...in the streets. Kari saw him. I haven't...exactly had a chance to tell you."

Harper smirks, dropping her cigarette the ground, and silently stomping on it. She walks away, victorious, as Alexa comforts her grieving boyfriend.

### Act Nine

"Everything alright over here?" Janine asks, apprehending Avery as he dozes off on watch duty.

"I'm good. Just worried." He replies as he rubs his eyes gently. Janine sits beside him on an old crate, placing her rifle to her left side, with Avery on her right. She looks over to him with concern.

"We should be doing something." Janine tells him, "We lost Kari. We may have lost Brandon, too. And all I can think about is how royally David fucked everything up in Wilkerson, but then I get this feeling like we need to take the fight to them, and I understand everything he felt and why he did what he did."

"I get what you mean. I'm scared if we do something then we'll lose even more people, but if we don't do a thing, who knows, maybe they'll get Brandon or Carley or the others. And we'd never know." He answers, sighing, "it's all just so fucked up."

Avery looks up at the doorway as David enters the room. His gaze focuses out the window, toward the empty field, "Still worried 'bout that gunshot?"

Avery nods in response, as Janine glares over at David, who returns a smug look, "What's up, David?" Avery asks.

"We gotta talk. It's important." David responds, leaning up against the wall on the other side of the small room from the pair, "We need to find Jonathan and end this."

Janine raises an eyebrow, looking over to Avery, who bites his lip. Janine finally looks at David and speaks her mind, "I gotta be honest, I had the same thought. But after what went down in Wilkerson, I'm not sure if it's the right play."

"Okay, let's face it:" David tells the two, "You two are close with Brandon. It's obvious. No one else seems to give two shits that he's missing and yet here you two are, waiting by a window in the hopes he'll show up by some miracle. You're not doing everything you can to get him back."

"And I assume you're SO concerned about him, aren't you?" Avery scoffs, seeing right through David's convictions.

"I do care. I care about everyone here." David tells them, causing Janine to chuckle.

"That's rich. You care just as much as you did when you got Kari killed." She grimaces, clearly affecting the man.

"It wasn't the best move then, I'll admit, but I know it is now." David quietly insists, suspicious of any lingering survivors to overhear their conversing, "If it's just the three of us, we can find them. We can do this."

Avery looks to Janine, who squints her eyes, glaring at David, staring through his soul. The man sighs, "Just think about it."

David leaves, as Avery breathes out deeply, "Well that was...something. You buyin' a word he's selling?"

"Nope," she replies, "not one."

### Act Ten

"Harp, you got a second?" Janine inquired, with Avery by her side. The two watched as Harper reluctantly stands from her seat beside Declan. She looks to him, and he nods.

"Yeah. I do." She follows the pair as they head outside, onto a small shipping patio, "So what's this about?"

"It's about David." Janine expressed. Harper sighed, nodding, understanding that conversations were bound to arise from his recent actions. She knew what was best for the group but couldn't bring herself to take action upon it.

"He wants us to go after Jonathan. He's telling us you're not willing to help people unless they're your family." Avery peered in, glancing over to Janine, "We know it's not true, but I think he's gonna keep selling that story until someone believes him."

"We figured you should have a heads up. Just in case Steve isn't the last person he wants to exact his anger on." Janine suggested, causing Harper to tilt her head.

"Asked me yesterday if I thought David was gonna be dangerous to anyone in the group, I would've called you crazy. But the way he blew up at Matt and just how impulsive he is..." Harper rubs her shoulder, content with the severity of David's mental state, "...I think you're right."

Avery gently reaches for Janine's shoulder, pointing his head toward the door, "We'll give you some space."

"Yeah...guys?" Harper slowly trembled, as the two turned around to face her before leaving, "Thanks. Really."

Janine smiled, nodding to the other woman. The pair left the room just as Matt entered, "What was that about?"

"David." Harper groaned, leaning her back against a large crate, excrutiatingly tired.

Matt chuckled, "No surprise there."

"He's trying to turn people against me. Saying that I'm only looking out for Declan and Riley and that I don't care about Brandon and the others." Harper insisted, seeking reassurance from her companion.

In response, Matt scoffed, "That's bullshit. There's no way anyone will buy that."

"But what if they do?" She cautioned, content about how much her friends really trust her, as she peers around and begins whispering, "Alexa knows all about Amelio. She lied to Theo about what happened but who's to say David won't make her rethink that choice? He's definitely got ammo even if he doesn't know it."

Matt curiously wondered this possibility in silence. His gaze focused on the doorway, deep in his thoughts, "Don't worry." He mumbled, placing his hand on Harper's, turning his focus to her, "We can handle it."

Harper smiled, hugging him. She pulled back for a small moment, looking at him, their faces inches apart. He offered a half-smirk, gently placing his hand on her cheek, rubbing it softly. She sighed, and slowly pulled away.

"Sorry...I just-" She muttered, before being cut off.

"It's fine." He smiled, offering one more sentiment before exiting the room, "Don't worry about David."

Harper, now alone, buried her face in her hands.

### Act Eleven

Brandon shocks to consciousness, as he attempts to maneuver his hands, realizing he's cuffed to a wall. He groans in distress, as he peers around the area. He realizes quickly he's behind a register, clearly for a gas station.

"Fuck." He mutters, as he hears noise from outside the small box the register is in. Suddenly, Jonathan enters the confinement, standing over Brandon.

"Hi." Jonathan sneers, smiling deviously, "Fucking finally I got one of you. Now I just gotta figure out what to do with you..."

"What, not gonna take me to the Delta? I'm offended." Brandon mocks him, rolling his eyes.

"I would, if that cunt Mimi didn't stab me in the fucking back," he reveals, turning around and pulling his shirt up, revealing a bandage on his lower hip, "literally. With a fucking screwdriver."

"Do you blame her?" Brandon scoffs, striking a nerve, "You got her people killed and knocked the shit out of her back at Wilkerson."

Jonathan slowly paces, clapping his hands together, "I did do that. I did."

Brandon is disturbed as Jonathan begins chuckling to himself maniacally, before slapping himself repetitively in the forehead, "Fucking fuck shit stick little bitch."

Brandon simply watches as Jonathan unfolds in front of him, the man having lost everything twice over, "Jonathan..."

"WHAT?!" The man shouts, stomping toward Brandon, grabbing him by the neck.

"We were your friends..." Brandon pleads, "You don't have to do this. Just let me go."

"YOU were my friends?" Jonathan laughed, tightening his grip on Brandon's throat, "My friends died. Because of your friends."

Jonathan glared into Brandon's eyes, as the latter man was in visible distress, "So who are my fucking friends, you dipship bitch?"

Brandom remains quiet as Jonathan releases his grip, patting him on the chest a couple times, "Good. Stay quiet."

Jonathan stands up, as Brandon looks down, defeated. Jonathan finally begins pointing up as if he has an idea, "Y'know what...maybe if I take you to the Delta...they'll take me back." He begins chuckling, "And I can kill that Mimi bitch. Yes...this could work."

Brandon peeks up, as Jonathan stands over him. Brandon rests the back of his head against the wall, and sighs.

"Shit."

### Act Twelve

Matt exits the Home Depot to see David, who's sitting outside on a bench by the field.

"Hey." Matt approaches, sitting beside him. David glances over, returning to staring at the knife in his hand.

Matt whistles, patting his legs. He smiles at David, who sighs, "What do you want, Matt?"

"I just wanna talk. A lot's been going on and I think you're a bit misunderstood."

"Misunderstood?"

Matt shrugs, "I think you're a loose cannon, let me put it straight, but I don't think you're a threat. Not like some other people do."

Peaking David's curiosity, Matt looks over once more. David raises an eyebrow, "And who thinks that?"

Matt begins counting on his fingers, "Uhh...everyone."

"Bullshit." David scoffs, standing up, walking down the road past the field. Matt quickly follows.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm taking a walk." David stops, turning to face Matt, "What, you think I'm going after Jonathan with just a knife? You really are stupid, aren't you?"

Matt chuckles. The two jolt as they hear a noise coming from nearby. They notice a car pulling up behind a gas station in the distance, peaking both their interests.

"Should we check it out?" David asks, praying the answer is yes.

Matt considers for a moment, "Yep."

### Act Thirteen

Matt and David slowly crouchwalk through the field, approaching the abandoned gas station nearby. An old black jeep is sitting behind the building, David quickly notices, "Yep, there it is."

"Alright...what's the plan?" Matt asks, turning to face the other man.

"Really?" David rolls his eyes, "You're gonna trust me?"

Matt sighs, "I don't have any ideas. Just hoping you do."

"Alright," David takes a deep breath, "Let's just...go check it out."

Matt hesitantly nods, and joins David in exiting the field, slowly crossing the street toward the gas station. The two peer through the front window. Nothing. David looks to Matt, seeking approval to enter. Matt nods, and follows David. Matt quickly peers over the front counter behind the register, noticing nothing there.

"I'm gonna check the back." David insists, quickly rushing toward the backdoor. Matt follows, drawing his pistol.

The two exit to see Jonathan, shoving Brandon into the back of the jeep. Jonathan quickly turns, just as he finally gets Brandon inside, pulling his gun, "Hi, there."

"Jonathan." David mutters, pointing his gun toward the older man. Matt joins his friend, aiming his gun at Jonathan, as well.

"Let's not do anything too...hasty, boys." Jonathan chuckles, grabbing Brandon from the backseat, and hiding behind him.

"Fuck you, Jonathan." Brandon mutters, as the other man wraps his arm around his neck. Matt raises his hands, taking his sights off Jonathan, worried for Brandon's life. He looks to David, expecting him to do the same. He doesn't.

"David..." Matt mumbles, looking content toward the man. David breathes fast and low, ready to take the shot to end Jonathan's life. Just before he can shoot, Matt pounces, pushing David's arm down. The gun fires, hitting just between Brandon's legs.

"Fuck, David!" Matt shouts, attempting to wrestle the gun from him, as Jonathan shoves Brandon back into the car, and attempts to get in the drivers seat. Before he can, David gets control of his weapon, firing, hitting the handle on the car door, nearly hitting Jonathan's hand. Jonathan jumps over the hood of the car, and begins firing toward the two men. They get into cover, and Matt glares disappointingly at David.

David, ignoring Matt's judgement, jumps up out of cover to shoot at Jonathan, however, it's too late. Jonathan peers at the two, having entered the car from the passenger side. He smirks, as he hits the gas, leaving the two in his tail lights, Brandon still with him.

"Fuck!" David shouts, as he fires multiple rounds toward the car, missing each, as the car disappears into the distance, "What the fuck, Matt?"

"You could've killed Brandon." Matt insists in a monotone expression, crossing his arms. He sighs, rubbing an eye, upset to see his friend taken away by their nemesis.

"Jonathan's gonna kill him anyway. We could've taken him out here and now."

"You didn't have the shot."

"I did. And we're going after them." David turns once more, facing the distance. He reveals his gun, and begins walking toward the direction the car went in.

Matt grabs his gun, as well, following David.

He expresses some discomfort, itching his neck, raising his gun, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" David asks, turning around. He's stopped in his tracks as Matt fires, landing two shots into David's chest, throwing him to the ground. Matt stands over David's body, just as Harper arrives alongside Avery and Theo.

"What the fuck?!" Theo shouts, looking toward their dead companion on the ground.

"Jonathan..." Matt shakingly reveals, "He was here. He killed David..." Matt looks up toward the trio, as Harper and Avery are horrified...

"He took Brandon."

### Act Fourteen

Avery stomps inside the Home Depot, quickly heading toward the storage room. He grabs a rifle, strapping it to his back, and grabs two pistols, putting an extra holster on his left side, and placing the pistols in each respective holster. Janine follows him inside, concerned.

"What the hell happened?!" She demands, blocking the doorway, preventing Avery's exit.

"Jonathan." Avery mutters, causing Janine to raise an eyebrow.

"Okay, David." She sarcastically remarks, crossing her arms, not budging from the doorway. Avery stops, glancing at her.

"Is dead." He finishes for her. She gasps, covering her mouth.

"What?!" the two face each other, content, as Janine awaits a reponse. Avery sighs, taking a seat at a chair.

"Matt and David found Jonathan. He took Brandon and killed David. He drove away and we have to find him." Avery plants his face into his hands, as Janine rubs his back.

"We'll find him." Janine reassures him, however, she is unsure if that is even the case. She glares off into the distance, just out the window, as a small pack of walkers gather around...something, and eat.

### Act Fifteen

Harper sits across from Riley and Declan, the latter sweating profusely. Riley plants her head on her husband’s shoulder, caressing his hair methodically and carefully. Harper places her head between her knees on the ground, taking a deep breath.

“How are we doing?” Harper coldly asks, glancing up at her brother. Riley looks over to Harper, sighing.

“I’m…” Declan coughs, breathing in, “Peachy.”

Harper groaned, standing from her position. Riley quickly followed, grabbing her sister in law by the arm.

“Harper, wait.” She muttered, catching Harper’s attention. Harper turns around, facing her sister-in-law. She crosses her arms, waiting for a response, “You gotta talk to him.”

“I have. A lot.” Harper replies, scoffing, “I’ve just...I’ve got a lot on my plate.”

“The worse he gets the more you’re neglecting what’s really going on.” Riley places her hand on Harper’s shoulder. Harper glances at Riley’s hand in response, causing the latter woman to reluctantly remove it.

“Riley…” Harper begins, however, she is unable to get herself to finish the sentence.

“He’s not leaving this building. You know it…” Riley sighs, wiping a tear, “I know it.”

Harper nods, hugging Riley. She walks away, leaving Riley to tend to Declan while she deals with another situation. She quickly finds Janine, and sits beside the woman.

“Hey.” Janine mutters, staring at Declan and Riley on the other side of the room.

“When did everything get so…” Harper begins, as Janine finishes for her.

“Fucked?” Janine looks over at Harper, who nods in response, “God, everything with David...the timing of it all, too.”

“Yeah.” Harper responds, looking over at Janine. She notices Janine is simply staring at her, “The timing of it all.”

“Did you…” Janine looks over at Matt, who’s talking to Avery, in the distance, “Did you talk to Matt, or anything?”

“I did. Right before David died.” Harper focuses her gaze at Matt, glaring at him across the room. The man takes no notice of her, continuing his conversation. But Harper doesn’t care. She knows something isn’t right about his story.

“We’re gonna have to deal with this at some point…” Janine tells her, placing a hand on Harper’s forearm.

“We are. But not yet.” Harper nods, “We gotta deal with Declan, first.”

### Act Sixteen

Brandon jolts awake. He glances over his surroundings, as the car he’s being held in zooms past forests. He attempts to move his hands, only to realize he’s cuffed to the handrail above the backseat car door. He looks over at the driver’s seat, and glares at Jonathan.

“You’re up.” Jonathan snickers, grabbing a walkie talkie, “Was just about to call. Let the Delta know I’ve got a gift.”

Brandon remains quiet. He looks back out the window, sighing in defeat, as Jonathan presses the button on his walkie talkie.

“Lilly?” He asks, breathing heavily as he maneuvers down the long dusty road in the Georgia heat. He rubs sweat off his forehead, tense in anticipation of a response, “Lil-”

“I’m here.” Lilly responds. Jonathan offers a half smile, as Brandon rests his head on the seat. Jonathan laughs in joy, as he begins to speak once more.

“I’ve got one.” He tells Lilly, “I didn’t fuck this mission up. I did everything you wanted me to do. But your people? They wanted it to fail. But I’m still here. Give me a chance, and I will make sure every single one of them fall in line.”

Silence.

“We’ve got the woman, too.” Lilly responds, peaking Brandon’s interest, “Meet us at Cliffside. You know where it is.”

Jonathan smiles. Brandon sighs, his fate sealed. Jonathan continues the long drive west, ready to finally be inducted into the Delta...alongside their newest captive, Brandon.

### Act Seventeen

“Alright. We’re almost ready to head out.” Matt tells Harper, the latter groaning in fearful anticipation, “You okay?”

Harper glances over to her brother, as Riley sits beside him. Riley catches Harper’s gaze, returning it. She knows what’s happening.

“No.” Harper looks to Matt, “Give me a moment.”

Harper slowly walks toward her brother and his wife. She crouches down in front of the two, looking down, “We’re about to leave. Get back to the exhibit.”

Declan smiles, looking over at Riley. He kisses her, “I can’t go with you guys.”

Harper buries her head in her brother’s shoulder, hugging him, “You can try. At least try.”

“I can’t.” Declan insists, coughing, “I can’t even stand up at this point. I’d slow you guys down.”

The pair of Harper and Riley say their goodbyes to Declan, as Janine and Avery watch, not far away.

“Jesus, we’re really leaving him…” Janine sighs, as Avery places a hand on her shoulder.

“I guess so.” Avery points toward the trio, “You should go talk to him. I know y’all were friends, got into some deep shit with Lilly and the Delta. Get some closure.”

“Yeah.” Janine groans, mournful of the events that have transpired the last few months, “It might be good.”

Janine approaches, as Harper and Riley walk away. Janine hugs the pair, as they are both deep in tears and grief. Janine smiles at them, and exits, approaching Declan.

“Hey.” Janine sits across from him, as Matt ushers the others to leave the Home Depot. As he leaves, he offers a nod at Declan for goodbye. Declan returns it, then turns his attention to Janine.

“Hey, Janine. Thanks...for everything.” He smiles, reaching for her hand. She grasps it, shaking it.

“No problem.” She chuckles, “God, after everything at the Delta, I thought you were invincible.”

“Looks like you were wrong.” He laughs, as Janine calms herself and sits across from him, “Janine, you were a good friend. You saw I was a good person and got me through everything back at the Delta. Thanks. But…” This peaks Janine’s interest, “I don’t wanna turn. But I can’t ask Harper or Riley to...do it.”

“Oh.” Janine catches his meaning, causing her to become uneasy, “Oh.”

Declan sits up, gathering his bearings, handing Janine a pistol, “I need you to.”

“I can’t.” Janine insists, pushing the gun away, “Really, it shouldn’t be me…”

“Janine.” He mutters, glaring at her, pushing the gun toward her once more, “You have to. They can’t. You always saw the humanity in me. You were my friend. That mattered to me.”

Janine nods, taking the gun.

“Bye, Declan.”

“Bye, Janine. Tell them I love them.”

### Act Eighteen

Alexa walks alongside Theo. The pair glance over to Harper and Riley, the two holding hands, Riley’s head planted on Harper’s shoulder.

“You think they’re gonna be okay?” Alexa asks, looking at her boyfriend. He’s unmoving.

“I’m still not.” He sighs, thinking about his own brother, “But I will be, I think. So will they.”

Alexa smiles, kissing Theo, however, in the back of her mind, she questions whether or not she did the right thing lying to him. But she knows the group appreciates her more for doing so. But if Theo ever found out, he wouldn’t.

Alexa catches up to Janine, grasping her forearm gently, catching her attention.

“Hey, Alexa.” Janine mumbles, sighing.

“What’s wrong?” Alexa asks, sensing something wrong with the other woman. Janine doesn’t respond, so Alexa decides to ask again, “We heard the gunshot. Harper and Riley really appreciate it, I think, but...they don’t wanna bring it up.”

“Yeah. I shot him.” Janine mutters, “He asked me to. Said it couldn’t be Harper or Riley. So I did it.”

“Are you okay?” Alexa places a hand on Janine’s upper arm, concerned. Janine shrugs, mournful over her friend’s loss.

“After the Delta, we didn’t really talk as much, but I really thought he was a good friend. I thought he’d be around for the long haul.” Janine wiped the sweat from her forehead, stressed from the events of the day - hell, the events of the year.

“We’re almost at the exhibit.” Alexa comforted the other woman, “Then we can all get together. We can find Jonathan, we can avenge Declan.”

She looks to Avery, who’s dragging his feet just behind the pair, “And we’ll get Brandon back.”

Avery offers a self-pitiful smile, sighing, but appreciative of Alexa’s remarks.

“It’s all gonna be okay.” Alexa takes a deep breath, prepared for the future, as Harper looks back at her companions. She smiles.

### Act Nineteen

Outside the exhibit, a familiar pair rest on a bench. Ben has his head planted on Carley’s lap, the former recovering from the events that transpired just before the rest of the group had reached Wilkerson and all hell broke loose. Absent from the battlefield, Carley and Ben relax, praying for the safe return of their friends, and obedient of Harper’s commands to stay put. Just like nothing had happened, Theo strolls over a small hill, quickly seeing the pair.

“Carley!” Theo shouts, running toward the woman.

“Holy shit!” Carley quickly gets up, jolting Ben awake. Ben reaches for his gun, petrified of his sudden return to consciousness.

“What?!” Ben shouts, as Carley points to the hill. One by one, Harper, Riley, Janine, Alexa, and Avery arrive. Following Avery, Carley and Ben, on some level, expected to see Declan, Kari, David, and Brandon just behind them. But they weren’t.

“What...what happened?” Carley asks, covering her mouth. She’s covered in dirt and mud, her venture into the forest saving Ben leaving her embittered by nature and mentally wounded.

“We got to Wilkerson. David fucked everything up, he shot one of their people. Hell broke loose. One of them killed Kari, we lost Brandon back there. Declan got bit.” Theo mentions, sympathetically looking to the pair of Harper and Riley. Harper, embittered, quickly rushes into the exhibit.

“Shit…” Ben mumbles, sighing.

“Yeah. We holed up in a Home Depot. Matt and David went after Jonathan, they found him nearby. He had Brandon. Jonathan killed David, and they got away. We had to, uh...had to leave Declan behind.” Alexa rebutts, looking over to Janine, everyone knowing the truth but too full of grief to say it.

“Shit. Lost almost...everyone.” Carley mutters, “Oh, God...Kari.”

“Where’s Jason? Someone should talk to him.” Riley insists, preparing to head inside to follow Harper.

“That’s the thing…” Carley responds, nervously, “When we got here...me, Ben, and Lindsay...he wasn’t here. Neither was Izzie.”

“Shit…” Matt mutters, looking around at the rest of the group. Shared expressions of shock were unanimous.

“What now?” Avery asks, rubbing his arm, “We’ve gotta do something. We can’t just...fuck.”

“We can’t stay here long. Magenta herd moved on from Crawford. We gotta get out of Savannah.” Janine looks to Avery, “Jonathan’s long gone from here by now. But if we get out of Savannah...we can find him.”

Avery nods. Lindsay walks outside, shocked to see the return of the rest of the group, “Oh, my God!”

Theo and Alexa go in to hug Lindsay, who tearfully embraces them, “Where’s everyone else?!”

“Let’s….talk inside.” Alexa tells her, pulling her and Theo inside.

Janine goes in to hug Avery, the group finally, once and for all, reunited...but a few left in the taillights. A few that will not be forgotten.

### Act Twenty

Harper sits atop the flat-top roof of the boating exhibit. An exhibit used as a focal point for the group’s reunions, Harper feels uneasy. Despite the group’s reunions, she ponders on those they lost on the road here. Lee, who helped her direly when they came face to face with Barnes and his group. Robbie and Cheryl, who were with her nearly from the beginning. Tara, Leah, and Amanda. A few people she never got to know too well, but proved their worth to the group on numerous occasions. Kari. One of her best friends from before the apocalypse. Brandon, who’s still out there somewhere...and,

Declan.

Harper sighs, as she hears someone approach from behind her. Climbing the ladder, Riley reaches the top, finally finding her sister in law. Riley sits beside Harper, their legs hanging off the roof as they watch the sun fade from view.

“I love you, Harper.” Riley places her head on the other woman’s shoulder.

“I love you, too, Riley.” Harper smiles, as she places her hand on Riley’s and her head rests on Riley’s, “You’re still my sister.”

“I know. You’re still mine.” The two sit together. Time passes. And they sit.

But it wasn’t over. Not yet.

## Deaths

* Kari Andrews *(Zombified)*
* David Welles
* Declan Lodge

## Trivia

* Last appearance of Declan Lodge.
* Last appearance of David Welles.
* Last appearance of Kari Andrews. *(Zombified)*
* This episode is less action-packed than its predecessor, and will serve to wrap up some plotlines throughout the entirety of the second season.