Inspired by the way in which the cameras focus shifted during this scene in 2x01 "What Lies Ahead."
The Guardian, by MissMishka
DISCLAIMER: The usual warnings, I claim no ownership of these characters, they are simply borrowed with love and adoration from the original creators to have their stories embellished on a little more than the show may do. Not for any profit.
Judging by what she'd seen of Carol's marriage, Lori suspected the other woman wasn't very knowledgeable about the male of the species. Despite being older, there was a definite lack of experience that left her oblivious to some things.
Lori was far from proud of the experience she had, especially with Rick's return and the wedding band that seemed to burn her ring finger every day of late, but she had some knowing of the ways of men. She knew those protective instincts and overtures a man exhibited when they'd staked a claim. Recognized the silent devotion of a male watching over its mate.
Carol wouldn't know those signs, having been married to a male with no such urges. Protection was not something Ed Peletier would have provided for the women in his family without a cost and Lori had no stomach to wonder at that cost to either of the Peletier females. But Lori knew and Lori saw.
He was subtle about it. Surprised her greatly in that fact and in his choosing of the widow and her little girl. Never would have pictured him as a family sort. Not that he'd come forward to fill the role and she wasn't above calling him on that fact as they all stopped to let Carol have the rest she silently requested by sitting on this fallen tree. This role of leading that Rick and she had been thrust in to being was not desirable at times like now.
"Honey," Lori began to state her piece as she sat down herself, "I can't imagine what you're going through and I would do anything to stop it, but you have gotta stop blaming Rick," she said firmly to Carol as their eyes me. "It is in your face every time you look at him. And when Sophia ran he didn't hesitate, did he? Not for a second," she reminded the other woman emphasizing her point even as Carol looked away. "I don't know that any of us," her focus deliberately shifted to the man propped with such seeming carelessness against a nearby tree, "would have gone after her the way he did."
She could sense his wanting to argue that point, but wisely moved her gaze to Glenn and Andrea to get her point across to everyone as she continued.
"Or made the hard decisions that he had to make or that anybody could have done it any differently," Lori pressed Carol to accept these truths and the other woman obviously could not fault them. "Anybody?"
Daryl's gaze locked with hers and the challenge in both their eyes was obvious. Lori knew in that moment that they were each guarding their own, she openly in defense of Rick's character and his a silent vigil over Carol. The distinct difference between the two came to her in that moment. Lori was using words. She knew from the steely glint in that unflinching blue gaze that if her words or any actions overstepped and threatened to hurt the widow in any way, that he'd not hesitate to put her name on an arrow from his bow.
The knowledge didn't give the Sheriff's wife any fear for her life or safety. Oddly enough, she found some comfort in it.
Hope, even.
For in that silent exchange she knew any burden that the grieving mother may be to the group wasn't going to have to be shouldered by Rick. The redneck didn't seem all that strong on the surface, but Lori knew that he and only he would carry Carol's weight, no matter how heavy it would become if they weren't able to find Sophia.