This was going to be another one-shot...Then I realized that it kind of fits with the previous chapter, so I've decided to give it a shot and try to continue this.
"What if I killed you? What if I killed you?" Lizzie screamed at Carol.
The next thing she saw was Mika's body, Lizzie's blood-covered hands...
"She can't even walk," she choked out through a sob.
"I'm sorry I pointed the gun at you!''
A gunshot.
A scream.
Carol felt a warm hand on her shoulder, squeezing it in a comforting manner. Daryl. That was her first thought before the after effects of sleep had faded away and she regained consciousness. Not Daryl, she hadn't seen Daryl in...It hurt her to think of how long it had been. She had no idea where he was, and the thought terrified her.
She knew he was alive. He had to be. He was a fighter, a survivor, like her. She just didn't know how he was surviving, what he was doing. The walkers were far from their only threat in this new world.
"You alright?" Tyreese asked, worry evident on his face and written in his eyes. His hand was still on her shoulder, holding a sleeping Judith in his other arm. It had been a week, since everything at the grove, and she was still having the same nightmares every time she had actually been able to fall asleep.
"I'm fine," Carol muttered. It seemed that was the story of her life, that phrase that she so often found herself having to repeat. I'm fine.
What a big fat lie.
It always was. To her parents, to those who questioned her about Ed and their marriage. To members of their group, so she wouldn't feel like a burden. Now to Tyreese, who was only trying to help her.
She knew he had nightmares of his own, even though he hadn't pulled the trigger. He had been with Lizzie, Mika, and Judith for longer than she had. He had been with them and not recognized the warning signs Lizzie was giving out. He saw what she did to Mika. What she would have done to Judith.
Not only that, but Carol was sure that even after her confession, Tyreese still dreamt of Karen. Even though he had forgiven her, he was still haunted. Anyone who had survived this far had experienced loss, but it didn't make the hurt any less.
Tyreese had his own demons, and Carol wasn't about to burden him with hers.
"I can take her, so you can get some rest," she gestured towards Judith.
"What about you? I haven't seen you able to sleep well since..." His voice trailed off. When was the last time this gray-haired woman had gotten a decent amount of sleep? What the post-apocalyptic standard was for a decent amount of sleep, at least.
"I'm awake now," she sighed. Her body told her she was exhausted, but her mind told her she was wide awake.
"I'll stay up with you then. Don't want to risk moving Judith in case she wakes up," he spoke softly as he looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms.
They both thought about how close they had been to losing her, before shaking that thought from their minds.
"It doesn't make sense for both of us to lose sleep," she said softly.
"I uh- still haven't been sleeping well," he replied. "It's about Karen once in a while, but lately it's about the governor… I hear screams and shots. I thought I was a goner, then I saw Lizzie and Mika standing there. Those girls had saved my life. And then, I just see- I see Lizzie standing there over Mika and-" Tyreese choked.
Carol placed her hand on his arm. "I keep dreaming about them too. I know that we couldn't have done anything for Lizzie, really, but I just keep thinking about it anyway, wondering if we could have done something different. We have to move forward though, if not for us or each other, then for Judith. We have to protect her and keep her safe."
Tyreese looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms and let a few tears escape. Carol wrapped her arms awkwardly around him and Judith, and shed her own tears, ready to get it out and trudge forward.
I know it's short, but I felt that this was where it should end, for this chapter.
Thank you for all the reviews… they're so encouraging and make me want to keep writing. I hope you all have a great day.