Thank you for your kind words and private messages. Many, many thanks to Terp4Life for your help and for giving me the courage to go on. Anyway ... here is the next chapter and I hope you like it because I love to write this little story.
Thank you AMC and Robert Kirman for letting me borrow this beautiful characters.
They lingered in the silence of the room for a few minutes. Carol felt one of his tears drip onto her cheek.
"You saved me. I would be dead without you," she stuttered with a lump in her throat.
"Stop it, Carol. I'm a failure. My father was right, I'm useless."
"That's not true and you know it. You've earned your place at the top. You've done so much for each of us. Especially for me," she said in a firm voice.
" I'm happy you're here and we really should sleep for a few hours. Good night, Carol. "
"Night, Daryl," she answered curtly, sat up and kissed him on the forehead.
After a few hours of restless sleep, Carol opened her eyes. She was disoriented for a moment. Panic rose in her and her heart was racing. Carefully, she sat down on the edge of the bed. His half of the bed was already cold. She stood up slowly and opened the door to the church. Michonne sat on a bench and fed Judith. When Carol entered the church, their eyes met.
"How are you?" Michonne wondered briefly.
"I feel like I was run over by a truck. Where is everyone? "Carol asked in surprise.
"Rick, Daryl and Abraham are on a supply run. The rest is outside, discussing a potential destination. Little Asskicker and I are just enjoying the silence. Are you hungry? There're some granola bars left," Michonne offered and rocked the baby back and forth.
Carol nodded and took a bar out of the basket next to the pretty, dark-skinned woman.
"How is Maggie?" Carol asked, biting into the cereal bar.
"She hasn't said a word since the funeral. Glenn has tried everything in his power, but she refuses to leave her sister. Rosita has already tried but no one can reach her. It's so sad and shocking. Maybe she'd listens to you?"
"I'm sure I'm the last person she wants to see right now. Her sister is dead and I'm alive," Carol whispered, barely audible.
"Don't say that. We're all happy that you're alive and with us. You've done so much for us. You saved our asses at Terminus. Holy shit, that was really badass."
" I couldn't just watch. Every one of you would have done the same," said the lanky woman briefly.
"Yeah, maybe, but not all of us would have managed to survive. You are bad-ass, Carol Peletier."
The voices outside grew louder. Carol smiled at Michonne and limped toward the exit. The three men had returned from their tour. Daryl stood with his back to her and didn't turn around. Rick noticed her in the doorway and walked towards the church.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked worriedly.
Carol nodded and smiled softly.
"What's the fuss?" she asked curiously and her eyes wandered over the group.
"We couldn't find much useful. The gas will only last for a few miles. Fortunately, Eugene feels better. But we're worried about you. So, how are you?" Rick asked for the umpteenth time.
"I'm fine. We do what's best for the group," she lied and looked past him.
"We'll have to go on foot for a few miles before we can rest. So look at me and tell me how you really are?"
"Don't listen to her. She always says she's fine but that's not true," Daryl said, as he stood next to Rick.
Carol grimaced and looked down. He knew her too well. Rick discovered Michonne in the church and waved at her briefly.
"We have to decide where to go from here. Let's get Abraham and discuss the whole issue," Rick suggested.
After a few minutes, a part of the group had gathered in the church.
"How did the roads to Washington look?" asked the leader.
"Real bad. Hordes everywhere. No getting through on the main road. Washington no longer makes sense," replied the red-haired soldier.
"We need a safe place. Similar to the prison or to a hospital," Michonne said firmly.
"Michonne is right. We need a safe place, surrounded by fences, which is big enough for all of us. We should move on and leave Georgia. There's nothing left here. Maybe we can find something in another state," noted Carol.
"Yeah, but in which direction? Shall we go up-country towards the west or eastwards towards the ocean?" Rick asked thoughtfully.
"Maybe there're new opportunities for us on the coast. I spent a lot of time in Charleston at my grandparents' house as a child. They had a small farm outside the city. There was a school and a small hospital nearby," Carol answered and took a deep breath at the thought.
"Carol has a point. Eastwards seems to be a good idea. Let's try it, if you all agree ," Daryl suggested.
"I think Rosita, Eugene and I will stay here for a while. Make the church safe again. Eugene still needs rest. We'll wait a week and if you don't come back, we'll follow. I don't think Eugene can walk such a long way. I owe it to him. The rest of the group can decide whether they want to go with you now or want to stay here for a week," Abraham said.
"That's your decision, but the rest of the group will go with us. We don't split up again. You can stay, but we' are going," Rick said angrily.
"They are free human beings and they can decide for themselves. We'll follow in a week," the soldier said in a commanding tone and left the church.
"Then it's decided. We're leaving soon," Rick said with a firm voice and stood up.
The group began to pack up. Gabriel and Noah had decided to stay with Abraham at the church, while Glenn decided, on behalf of himself and Maggie, to go towards the coast. Maybe they could have a fresh start in a different place. Carol packed a few things back into her backpack, as Daryl put a hand on her shoulder. She winced noticeably. He was holding a scarf in his hand as she turned.
"You should put your arm in here," he suggested and put the scarf around her neck.
"Thank you," she sighed softly.
"Are you up to this?" he asked concerned.
"Must be. We all need a fresh start. A place where we can feel safe again, to start over. We need to put the past behind us. I have to put the past behind me... at least I have to try."
"You're not alone," assured Daryl.
"I know, and I thank God, if he exists, for that every day."
Daryl took the book about childhood abuse that he had found at the shelter about childhood abuse from his bag and put it into Carol's hand.
"Put the book in your backpack. We just need one bag," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her.
She did as she was asked and gave the backpack to Daryl. He swung the backpack over his right shoulder and they left the room together.
The rest of the survivors had gathered in front of the church. Maggie stood still, her face completely devoid of emotion, beside Glenn and stared at the floor. Tara took her friend's hand and squeezed it tightly. Maggie jumped slightly and looked at Tara.
"I'm here for you, Maggie," the young woman said, barely audible and Maggie nodded slowly.
Glenn smiled softly and took the other hand of his wife. Rick's group said goodbye to Abraham and the others, then walked towards the forest, possibly towards a new future.
Thanks for reading. Please review :-) Every review encourag me to go on with my little Caryl story. TBC