Disclaimer: Don't own Walking Dead

AN: Loved the newest episode, definitely one of my favorites so far of the show and my favorite of the season so far and so many ideas came to my head. This is just one of them.

Enjoy

Reasons

Rick was driving back to the prison in the Hyundai, his bruised right hand dangling down his side as he stared ahead on the road before going to the rear view mirror. His decision to leave Carol behind hurt him and a part of him was hoping she came back, which is why he kept looking. He was ready to stop the car and let her back in.

He hated leaving her behind, hated leaving one of the original group members behind to fend for herself. He tried convincing himself that it was because she was dangerous and he didn't want his kids to be anywhere near him, but it was more then that. It was three reasons more then that.

Reason 1: Being reminded of Shane.

Rick was hurt by Carol poking him with the death of his best friend. He still thought about it and missed the man who was like a brother to him in all but blood. The image of the gun being pointed to him and his dead corpse would never leave him.

He felt the tears burn behind his eyes as he remembered him. He killed him and he was one of their own, but he made repeated attempts on his life. Carol had no business comparing what she did to what he did. Karen and David didn't try to kill her like Shane repeatedly did to him. It wasn't the same.

Reason 2: He just got Carl back.

He worked hard to get his son back on track with his sanity. He almost lost who he was to the darkness of his heart and keeping Carol around would maybe push Carl back to how he was when he killed that boy. He worked too hard and sacrificed too much to allow his boy to go back to how he was when he killed the kid. He would never forgive himself.

Reason 3: She looked too much like he did back when they found the prison for the first time.

Tomas came back to mind as he thought of this. Rick knew that he had a cold face on when he killed him and the indifferent look on Carol's face when she saw Ana stunned him. It terrified him and brought back images of the machete kill he made back in the beginning of the prison days. He wanted to get away from that and not even realizing that he was being as cold as he was then by leaving her behind. He liked living the way he has as a farmer and remembering the dark side of him was scary and he wanted that Rick gone and put away.

Running over a walker, Rick heard the faint echo of his other self repeat what he told Andrew behind the door.

"You better run..."

And Rick would. He would run and run from his darker side until he couldn't anymore.

He looked back into the rear view mirror again. Nothing. Nothing was there. No Carol. No nothing.

He heard one more echo before the voices went away, thinking about his choice with Carol the rest of the way back.

"Shit happens..."

End of Reasons

Don't know. Maybe you guys like this. I hope you do. First thing I wrote that wasn't Carl/Beth on here.

I like the idea of Rick running from his Season 3 self. He kind of did in the beginning of the season.

Maybe I'll do a Daryl reaction to Carol nor coming back. Kinda funny how he was left behind first in Season 3 and then Carol, both by Rick.

Hope you enjoyed!