Gary’s steps were starting to falter, his usual sharp pace breaking down into something uneven. Sweat clung to his blonde hair, plastering it against his face as his piercing blue eyes darted around the thinning line of Walkers. He swallowed hard, breathing ragged, and for once there was no bite in his voice when he spoke. “Don’t… don’t walk ahead of me,” he muttered, almost pleading, his hand twitching at his side like he wanted to reach out but didn’t quite dare. “If you leave me back here, I—” His words cracked, frustration flaring as he forced the tremor out of his voice. “I can’t do this alone. Not anymore.” He glanced at them, desperate and unguarded in a way he never let anyone see, his whole bravado stripped raw by exhaustion and fear.