A/N: My 1st Walking Dead fic, it's short and not anything special. Just my thoughts of what was really happened in the tower that Beth and Hershel mentioned that Carol was in when Carl when looking for Tyreese. And because Axel and his creepy comments in that episode he just went away somewhere, lol. Hope you guys enjoy
Disclaimer: Own nothing but the idea that popped into my head.
Waiting was the only thing that she could do; and when it came to the people she cared about she hated waiting. The memory of what happened when Sophia had gone missing made her heart lurch. It had been a full day since she had seen the group, which had left to go look for Maggie and Glenn; it had been an even longer time since she last saw Maggie and Glenn. In the back of her mind she knew things were going to be okay, each person that had gone were more than capable of protecting themselves.
Although as her mind wandered, her heart betrayed her knowledge. She couldn't stop herself from thinking of Judith living without a mother and a father, because of Rick going out there. She couldn't stop hearing Beth's wails of despair with the news of Maggie being gone. All she could think of, was the negatives that would come from this trip to this town that woman had mentioned.
Carol knew it was a horrible thing to judge the woman because of the circumstances, but she couldn't help it. That woman was the reason why the people she cared about the most left almost instantly after she was found alone in that closet. All she wanted to do was share the story about how she survived; she wanted to see the smiles on their faces. She wanted to witness how the "Carol is weak, Carol is a burden and needs to be protected" minds set visibly wash away from everyone's faces. She was tired of everyone but Daryl feeling that way about her, those past few days in that closet proved that those thoughts should melt away.
Daryl.
Once she thought of him, she choked back on a gulp. She knew that he was strong; she knew he was a survivor but…
Her mind couldn't help but wonder about what if he didn't come back, what ifs about Daryl hurt her heart so much. She swore to herself that after Sophia died that she wouldn't allow herself to care, she wanted to shut herself down, but he didn't allow her to do that. The most distant person in the group, the one that took the longest time to warm up to everyone: He was the one that kept her in one piece. He was the one that kept her from distancing herself from everyone. He was the reason for her survival, and if anything happened.
She jumped up and turned as the door opened, she turned quickly her hand over her heart. She was half afraid that Axel had come back with his strange attempts at small talk and wooing, but thankfully it was Carl. Carl was there to take over watch, but he didn't forget to brief her on the new people in the jail, she only nodded and knew that it was her job to protect everyone else from them.
Before she started to head down to the Cell Block, she smiled as Carl mentioned quietly that he would make sure she was first to know on their arrival back. His words, his confidence alone as he spoke to her made her realize that perhaps she didn't need to share. Perhaps they all knew already, and that was all she needed to know.
"Thank you," was all she could mutter as she made her way to the Cell Block, knowing full well that Carl didn't understand that those two words were for more than just the information and promise provided.
A/N: Well that was my first little fic for The Walking Dead. It's actually my first fic in a very long time. Please leave your comments. Let me know what you think!