Chapter 10: Holding a Strong Front

Rick still hasn't held his daughter, he came back to check on us and see how Carl was then he went right back down to the tombs.

Glenn said he tried to go get Rick while Daryl and I were gone and it didn't turn out good. I wasn't sure what to do about him. So far all I've come up with is to take the burden of looking out for the group off his shoulders, maybe after a while I'd go down there myself to talk to him.

I was far from a grief counselor but I had to try.

"We're headin out to look for Carol, ya comin? Or gonna stay here with Lil ass kicker?" Daryl asked lookin down at me where I sat holding the small baby.

"I'll see if Beth can look after her" I said slowly standing up from the table tryin not to wake the sleeping child.

"We needa find her a crib er somethin…can't have someone always holdin her" Daryl said walkin beside me as we looked in the cells for Beth.

Most likely she was in her father's cell or Carl's, but we checked hers too anyways.

"Yeah yer right…we have some time though. You can never really hold a new born 'too much' we just have to be careful she doesn't get used to it. In three or four months if she won't go to sleep unless she's being held then we have a problem." I said quietly as I looked down at the sweet little angel.

I was never around when Nicolaye was a baby, but I was around when Lani was first born. I helped Matt's wife Jessica a lot when Lani was born. Other than that I haven't had a lot of experience with babies, not many stayed in the ER when they got brought in. Since they're so young usually a more educated doctor took over.

"Maggie and Glenn should be back from their run soon, wish we'd have found more last night then they wouldn'ta had ta go" Daryl said looking around our cell block.

"They insisted, besides…we can never have too many diapers. And this one's gonna need all the food we can git her. No harm in stockin up, plus I think they jus wanted to get outa here for a bit." I stopped walking to look up at Daryl.

We talked a bit more this morning before Glenn came up to talk to us about him n Maggie goin on a run. It was easy to tell the couple jus wanted to get away for a bit and contribute to the group. The tension in Daryl's shoulders reared its head as soon as we left our small room today.

I knew he wouldn't ease up until we were both layin in that bed wrapped in each other tonight. Still I reached up one hand and cupped his stubble covered cheek, the baby cooing in my other arm from the small movement.

"They'll be okay" I said earnestly. I wanted to reach up and kiss him but the small human sleeping between us kind of stopped me from doin jus that. He nodded though and leaned down to place a quick gentle kiss on my lips before he walked a head.

Turning into Carl's cell we found Carl sitting on the floor and Beth sitting on his bed, Carl looked at me and I had a hard time guessing what emotion I could see in his eyes.

"Hey Beth, can ya look after the baby for a bit? I'm gonna head out with the guys to look for Carol. I jus fed her before she fell asleep so she'll prolly need a changin soon" I said looking between the two teens.

I knew Carl had a crush on Beth, I've bugged him about it before. I also knew that Beth didn't see Carl in that way, she was older than him, with six years age in between them it was a big difference at their age.

(Hours later)

I looked down at the old watch I borrowed from Maggie back when we were still on the farm, I sighed heavily when I saw it's been two hours now and we still haven't gotten any other sign on Carol. Nothing to tell us that she was alive or dead.

"Maybe we should have some people checking around the outside, she might've gotten out somehow" I said after I turned the corner and saw Daryl crouching beside a dead walker, Carl stood on the other side and they both turned to look at me.

Daryl was actually the one to suggest we bring the kid along, get his mind on other things, or at least give him something to do. We also brought along one of the two prisoners left, so far they've proven themselves to be useful.

I let Daryl walk ahead with Carl a few times, even though he's not one to talk much I knew there was a certain respect that Carl held for Daryl. They'd at least talk a little bit, and Carl would certainly open up to Daryl more than me right now.

"What is it?" I asked when they didn't say anything, jus looked at me confused and surprised.

"Carol's knife" Daryl said lifting his other hand that I hadn't been able to see before. There in his grasp was the first piece of evidence we had since they found that damned scarf yesterday.

"Is the blood dry" I asked going into tracking mode right away, she didn't have her knife anymore…god only knows if she's survived without it.

"Almost, must be from sometime in the middle of the night. Or early this mornin." Daryl said looking back down at the decomposing body on the floor. I looked around for any other clues, Oscar caught up to us carrying the new pair of slippers he found in a cell around the corner.

"Nothin like a new pair a slippers" he smiled, then looking around he noticed how solemn we all were. I admired his attitude to help us…but we had lost people close to us. He had to realize that.

"Oscar you stay down here and help Daryl…I should go check on the baby, I wanna keep a close eye on her for the first coupla days" I said trying to keep my voice firm.

I locked eyes with Daryl, he nodded his head at me…I had the feeling we needed to talk again, at least touch base with each other. With these people relying on us now I knew we would have to hold a strong front.

"Take him with ya. I wanna look on muh own for a bit" Daryl said still holding the small knife tightly in his hand.

My heart ached for him, his friend was missing…possibly dead. It was to my understanding that Carol kept an eye on him while they were out on the road. Made sure he and everyone else was fed, I know not much could be done with a stubborn Daryl…but I was grateful she got him to eat and everything.

"A'right…I'll be back in an hour or less." I replied, I wanted to hug him or kiss just to prove I wasn't gonna leave him down here for long, but I knew he would feel uncomfortable.

Carl was a kid and we didn't really know this Oscar guy.

(Cell block C)

"She seems to be doing fine, what do you think Hershel?" I said standing at the door of his cell where he sat with Beth who was holding the little baby.

"She's got all the right reflexes. Seems healthy, definitely knows how ta eat … I think she's perfect" he smiled sadly down at the brown haired blue eyed baby. It was so easy to tell who the father was now that the baby was out, too bad Lori wasn't here to see.

"I wonder if that's what Carl looked like when he was a baby…she looks just like Lori…but she has Rick's eyes" I mumbled out my thoughts not even caring if they heard me or not… I was just speaking my thoughts.

"We'll have ta ask Rick" Hershel answered.

I nodded and pursed my lips into a tight line, hopefully he came around sooner rather than later. His kids didn't need to lose both their parents at once.

"Sam! Hershel!" we heard Rick yell and I was about to run out when I turned to stop Hershel.

"Stay here with Beth and the baby" I said urgently.

I know Rick went outside with Carl for a little father son talk…I hope nothing bad happened. He was calling the groups medics, not the muscle.

I ran into the small eating space and stopped short when I saw Rick place an unconscious woman on the floor, she was covered in blood.

"What happened?" I asked walking over to them slowly, it wasn't often that Rick brought new people in. Hell it's been a long time since we've even seen anyone else alive.

"I'm not sure, but she had that" Rick said motioning with his head towards Carl who held a red shopping basket filled to the top with baby formula.

"Maggie and Glenn?" I spoke the first thing that came to my mind. They left first thing this morning to scavenge things for the baby…they didn't return and it was late afternoon now.

"That's what we needa figure out, she's covered in walker blood. It helped her get to the fence, she passed out seconds after I got down there. She's got a wound on her leg, can't tell if it's a bite or not" Rick replied from his crouch beside the dark skinned woman.

"Carl why don't you take that in to Hershel and Beth, your sister probably needs to eat soon. I'll check her over" I said kneeling down beside Rick.

Welp, there's Michonne!

im sorry if this story is goin kinda slow... im busy with school and all now.

but I will continue to write whenever I can. I Really don't wanna let go of this story yet. so I hope you guys are still holdin on to it too :)