Curative
"Laura?"
Carol's hand lightly touched the corner of a concrete wall. She had entered a deep section of the tombs that certainly had stragglers wandering around. She was cautious holding her knife in hand as she stealthily made her way through.
There were a few spread out thin through the tunnels. They were easy to clear as they had been down here so long they were falling apart. Thanks to her time on the road with Laura, Carol had grown adept at sneaking her way around and long since grown passed the disgust of killing walkers.
Her hand was steady as she pierced the skull of another walker. She had followed Laura this far but lost sight of her once they passed the last line of cells. She could not be too far and finding her had luckily not proven too difficult.
Not far ahead of her, Carol reached a gate unlocked with a small admin room beside it. There were scores of dead walkers littered on the ground and she wondered what happened to them. Laura had no reason to kill walkers, in fact, if she wanted to be alone leaving the walkers alive would be in her benefit. That and these walkers had been dead for some time, they had decomposed together with many of their skulls completely crushed.
Carol took slow steps, watching each and every head as she passed by. Taking cautious pokes at a few bodies to see if anything moves. These walkers had been cleared out leaving nothing behind but questions for Carol.
Then she came to a row of broken windows. Half of the glass was scattered across the floor with only partial cracked pieces still hanging from the edges. It allowed Carol to see the light shining through from a beach on the other side.
The room inside was fairly sized, enough to fit rows of desks all the way through. The breach led straight outside into a field of bright green grass stretching all the way to the treeline. It was a clear path for any walker to walk straight in, something she would be sure to mention to Rick.
But Laura had not left the prison, instead, Carol saw a shadow moving behind the filmy glass of an overhanging office above. It was attached to the concrete wall with a metal staircase leading up to it and cracks in the concrete around it revealing a pitch-black room just beyond. The perfect place for a certain undead woman with light sensitivity.
Carol neared the stairs looking up the metal mesh as she climbed them. She had seen a shadow inside moving around which could be Laura or it could be a walker shambling around. With the same caution she had in the tombs, Carol neared the door to the office.
Her knuckles rapped on the door to see if it was a walker. She heard shuffling inside, but the footsteps went away from the door not towards it as a walker would. Carol instantly knew it was Laura.
She opened the door still careful, not wanting to risk Laura having just left a walker inside. Nothing was inside though, not even the blue woman she expected. Confused, Carol only had to look around for a moment before she saw a gaping hole in the wall that leads into that dark room. The concrete wall had a giant crack in it that gave plenty of room for someone to walk through.
Once again it was easy to tell Laura had sneaked away deeper in hoping to avoid Carol. She came to the crack in the wall and looked inside. It was too dark to enter for Carol, there was no telling if there were any walkers inside.
Unable to go in to find Laura, Carol took a deep breath. "Laura." She called out knowing she didn't have to yell for Laura to hear her clearly. "I just want to see how you're doing. You looked hurt, let me help you."
She was met with silence as Laura did not desire to speak. The look Carol saw on Laura's face when she returned told her there was something very wrong. She had to help her friend, she couldn't leave her to suffer alone.
"I know Rick made a mistake. I know you and Merle fought. I know you're hurting, I only want to help. I don't know what's wrong really, but I want to try to understand." Carol took one small step inside, her eyes darting through the darkness to see any walkers coming at her.
There was nothing though, the room was only inhabited by Laura. "You know I only want to be there for you. Please... talk to me. Tell me what you need and I'll do it."
Finally, Carol got a response. The slow footsteps quietly gritting loose rocks against the concrete and a pair of reflective eyes flashing at her. The predatory approach was a tad alarming and the instinctual response to her reflective eyes unnerved Carol.
This was not a welcoming demeanor or a sad one. Laura was not looking for company, her anger and hurt was ready to be directed at anyone near her.
"Leave." Laura's voice was monotone and dark. She was attempting to remove Carol peacefully, but she was mentally exhausted and looking for something to focus her anger on.
Carol swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. She had seen Laura's predator-like nature once before when she was locked in the cell and saw Sophia again. That strange unnatural approach and left a tenseness in Carol, something that made her feel like she was being hunted. A far more primal response that the group had grown accustomed to, but because it came from Laura it was different. Walkers are brainless things and Laura was intelligent, something that was a real threat.
"I wanted to see how you're doing." Carol stammered at first, spotting the blood still dripping from the metal gauntlets. She would never say it out loud, but Carol thought she looked like a walker now more than ever. "You're bleeding, you should see Hershel."
While Carol did not expect Laura to budge, she had not expected feeling so threatened by Laura's presence. Something about the look on her face, her posture, the room so blacked out Carol couldn't see a thing.
There was no further movement from Laura, she stood right on the edge of the light shining from the hole in the wall. Carol's long shadow barely passing by her. "Go away."
That was more or less what Carol expected to hear. "I know you can't bleed out. At least come back with us to get those off again..." Carol looked down to the gauntlets. A glint of light managed to edge the nail heads on her nearest arm. Carol's brow furrowed, her expression one of worry. "Did you... nail them back into your arms...?" The shock of it wasn't meant to be voiced, but Carol could not help but ask.
Angry and now annoyed, Laura took another step forward into the light. "Get. Out." Her words enunciated with a hard stop. This time her voice had a growl to it so faint Carol wasn't sure if she heard it or not.
Swallowing again, Carol took a step deeper into the room. "Please, let me help. If you don't want to see Hershel, I can do whatever you need. We'll get you patched up. I'm sure-"
"I said get out!" Laura exclaimed, her voice raised higher than Carol had ever heard from her. The sudden shout startled Carol and she took a step back.
Carol tried to push back to show she only wants to help. "Laura, whatever went on out-"
"Go away! Leave!" Laura repeated it trying to say it in different ways to make Carol understand. Carol took another step out of the dark room. Seeing the anger on Laura's face and her outburst, Carol gathered this was something that needed someone else. Perhaps someone she's closest to that could bring her out of this anger.
Giving in to the demands, Carol left the room. Laura did not follow or call after her, she simply went back into the shadows.
When Carol left the office room she struggled to think through the problem. Her friend was hurting physically and emotionally. Something was so wrong she sought some dark corner to hide away in from the people she loved.
Laura had never tried to escape from them before. During her greatest struggles, Laura came to them for support, for validation from them that her suffering was noticed. She wanted to know people cared for her that when she was in pain, they were genuinely concerned for her.
Though Carol didn't know exactly why this was, she knew Laura was quickly at ease when they gave her that validation. She didn't need much, merely a small sign they cared. Often it was a hug, kind words, or encouragement. It helped Laura feel less alone; a fear she had admitted she had.
Carol initially believed Laura didn't like being alone, but she quickly realized this wasn't some social need. Laura was terrified of being alone, left behind, forgotten. It shook her to her core that people might abandon her or for her affections to be thrown back in her face. Laura was only in her late twenties, her life largely consisting of people refusing Laura's affections.
It hurt her, damaged her in ways Carol knew she could not possibly fix. There was no way to repair that damage it had long since been ingrained in Laura.
Which is why Carol understood when Laura cried as Daisy embraced her. She was so starved for something she desperately needed that it brought out every pent up emotion inside of her. It was so overwhelming Laura couldn't help but cry. She needed it and Daisy was happy to help her through it.
Laura was a sensitive person, so much so every mean spirited word or act against her caused deep scars. Insults and trauma would eat her apart. She cares so much about what other people think of her, about their trust and love. Now she faces losing all of that due to her condition and the whirlwind of doubt and fear in her mind.
As Carol's brain worked a mile and minute, she heard footsteps climbing the metal stairs below her. Jumping around with her knife in hand she prepared for a walker only to be faced by Rick looking at her oddly. On the stair below him was Daryl as concerned as Rick was.
"When did you get here?" Carol blinked as she regained her spacial awareness.
"We called you, but you didn't answer." Rick gestured to the door to the large room. They all had their weapons in hand expecting walkers coming through the breach. But the path was clear already allowing them to walk through unbothered.
Carol glanced between the two men not even attempting to hide her worry. Her expression told them a lot and still left many questions. Carol crossed her arms around her stomach, unsure how to explain what she saw.
The silence from Carol made Rick suspicious something was very wrong. They all came here for the same reason and usually by now they would be discussing it. This was an uncomfortable silence as everyone here wanted so desperately to talk.
"What is it?" Rick pressed Carol gently. They could tell she was struggling with something. The confused stare from Daryl and the more insistent one from Rick put Carol on the spot.
Carol took a deep breath and let it out. "She's... I don't know. She doesn't want to talk." Carol brought her hand up, resting the elbow on her crossed arm. "I don't know what to do."
Daryl's brow furrowed. "She in there?"
Shaking her head, Carol looked back to the office beside them. "No, there's a crack in the wall. I can't go in, it's too dark. I don't know if there's any walkers inside." She returned to his unsure gaze. Carol felt so small and helpless after Laura kicked her out.
Rick reached for the Maglite on his belt, something he always carried in the prison especially in the tombs. It was heavy-duty enough to light up a hallway making traversing the prison much easier. For now, it would give them the ability to enter the dark room.
"Come on." Rick grabbed the doorknob, only to feel Carol's hand on his arm to stop him. Curious, he looked back to Carol.
"Please, be gentle with her." Carol knew they would both be kind to Laura. She didn't doubt them like that, she was hoping to emphasize how important their actions and statements will be. How they risked inciting her further.
Rick took it to heart now looking to take extra precautions. He opened the door and the two followed behind him. The office was empty as Carol said and the crack in the wall leads to another room. Looking inside there was only a thin strip of light coming from the crack in the wall. The light edges cut off into a black abyss. There was no way to tell how big the room was or what was in it.
Passing through the broken concrete wall, Rick tried desperately to see anything. He knew Laura could see fine in here giving her an advantage.
Rick's head turned to see Carol and Daryl just behind him. They had weapons in hand in case a walker was inside, but kept them lowered to their sides. They were looking for Laura somewhere in the shadows knowing she was hiding inside.
Carol felt anxious to come back in after Laura had yelled at her to leave. She didn't want to go against Laura's wishes, but she was so worried about her friend. Something was terribly wrong and Carol couldn't leave her to suffer alone.
"Laura?" Rick started just the same as Carol. He took a few brave steps into the room being sure to stay in the light. Carol remained at the crack in the wall watching Rick and Daryl push forward.
Like before there was no answer. They all knew Laura could hear them and she chose not to respond. This was certainly strange as Laura had always come to Daryl for comfort, if not him than she would speak to Rick. Now she was avoiding them.
They didn't want to go much farther inside, leaving enough room in the light around them to watch for walkers. Rick looked around them into the darkness hoping to find the familiar reflective eyes staring back at him. But there was no such sign, Laura was hoping they would leave on their own.
It became clear this wasn't really an option as Daryl called out for her. "Laura." He stood beside Rick looking into the darkness.
Frustrated they kept it up, Laura stood from the desk and turned around to face them. She was beyond livid, there was a wave of anger raging in her that was barely contained. Much like Red had been, Laura reached a boiling point and wasn't trying to calm down. She was angry and she wanted to be angry.
Laura checked on the walkers in the room, they were largely stuck behind a wooden divider in the room, but she was ready to open it. She would give them a chance to leave when she told them too. A generous act despite her rage.
Her footsteps did not go unnoticed, she did not try to hide her position. "Go away." She spat with a growl. Once she saw Carol, Laura's anger was raised. She had told her to leave and yet she returned.
Rick raised the Maglite in his hand and clicked in on. The light cut through the darkness extremely well, allowing them to see the far wall, a few upturned pieces of furniture, and finally Laura's feet. Rick raised the light to see if this figure was a walker, prepared to defend themselves.
As the white light raised they could see it was no walker, but Laura standing not but ten feet away. As the light hit her face Laura felt her eyes sting and burn. The Maglite was directed straight to her face and the strength of the light immediately blinded her.
"Ah!" Reeling back, Laura raised her hands to her face. Her vision went white, small sparks in her vision as she fought against the blindness.
Rick clicked off the light quickly realizing he had just shone a powerful Maglite into her light-sensitive eyes. It was no doubt painful and blinded her momentarily. He cursed under his breath at himself, realizing they came in here to help her and the first thing he did was blind her.
"Shit, I'm sorry, Laura. That was an accident." He held a hand out to her in defense. Unable to see her reaction, he could only hope she understood he had not meant to blind her.
Laura rubbed her eyes with her wrist, unable to use her hands properly. The stinging in her eyes and the white splotches interrupted her vision. "I said go away!" She hissed trying to fight off the burning in her eyes. The long-range flashlight was overpowering as her eyes had adjusted to the dark.
"Blue." Daryl took over realizing she would likely be unwelcoming to Rick now. But Daryl didn't have a way with words like Daisy or Carol, he didn't believe he had the persuasive power like Rick did either. Talking out things did not come naturally to him. "Come on out, let's talk about it."
Laura shook her head, still unable to see clearly. "Leave." Her tone was forceful, trying desperately to get rid of her unwelcome company.
"We don't want to leave you like this. We know something happened out there, we just want to help." Rick insisted on taking a single step towards where they had seen her.
To confront them, Laura moved closer to them as well. Only she was considerably more confident in the dark even though her vision was obstructed. While it slowed cleared, Laura stood at the edge of the light. "I don't care what you want. I want you to stop. I want you to go away."
Sensing the hostility in her, Rick paused. This time, Daryl approached her and he was as confident going to her as he'd ever been. "It's alright, Blue. We ain't leavin' you out here alone. I'm not about to."
Laura's expression dropped to a stoic look and her eyes dropped to the ground. They weren't about to leave, not like Carol did. These two were closer to her than anyone had ever been, they never wanted to abandon her. The anger she felt ignored that sentiment entirely as she wanted nothing more than for everyone to leave her.
"Okay." Laura nodded. Surprised, they all seemed to relax for a moment until Laura turned around. Back into the darkness, she vanished.
They stood there confused believing she had just agreed to go with them. That was not her plan at all. She accepted they would not listen to her, so she prepared to force them.
Laura reached the wooden divider and unlatched the lock. Swinging it open she took a walker by its tattered shirt and dragged it behind her. Other walkers slowly clambering to her as their herding brains kicked in. They had not heard or smelled the living in the room, but they were about to.
They heard her walking back, she made no attempts to mask her return. She touched the very end of the elongated triangle of light with her arm holding the walker just beyond the pitch-black shadows.
"Have it your way." She yanked the walker around in front of her and shoved it towards them. The snapping jaws and growls startled them as it charged towards them.
Rick instantly reached for the machete at his side and embedded it into the walker's skull. The body hit the ground with a loud thud and other walkers in the room began to walk towards the noise. Carol took a step back towards the crack in the wall. Daryl and Rick both unsure and panicked.
Laura had just attacked them with lethal force, a single bite from the walker and they would be dead. The shock of her attack left them reeling back conflicted if they should raise their weapons or not. It didn't feel right fighting Laura, it felt like a betrayal.
Again, Laura reached behind her with both hands this time. Her clawed gauntlets latched onto a walker a piece and pulled them into the light. She shoved one with her right hand before raising her leg, leaning back, and kicking the other walker into them.
Daryl aimed his crossbow at one walker and fired while Rick took out the other. As those bodies dropped, another walker was already approaching. Laura kept pulling more out of the darkness, a few began walking out on their own.
Soon five walkers were heading towards them forcing them to back up. Daryl didn't have time to reload his crossbow, instead, he used his knife to kill one nearing him. Rick did the same, his machete cutting straight through another walker.
As they cut down two, three took their place, and as three were downed, five more came at them. They had no idea how many walkers were herding towards them and could not fight the walkers this close together. They were forced again to retreat towards the exit.
Laura kept kicking and shoving more walkers into them. The dense rush of walkers could not be taken out safely, they had to leave.
Daryl could not take more than a second to see Laura through the crowd. She wasn't moved by the danger she just brought to them. She looked angry and turned to threatening them instead of listening to what they had to say. He knew she knew they only wanted to help her so why she was attacking them was bewildering to them.
The number of walkers pushed them back until they rushed out of the crack in the wall. Walkers began to crowd around the crack finding it difficult to pass through all at once, giving the group time to leave the office and close the door behind them.
They left the stairs behind trying to put space between them and the walker herd inside. Once they hit the first floor they took a breath and watched the office above for a moment, trying to be sure no walkers broke out.
Then they all shared their alarm at the surprise attack just seconds ago. Laura had used the walkers against them, a very real threat against their lives. All to make them leave her in the dark room, telling them this was perhaps more serious than they initially thought.
Rick turned around with his hands on his hips, his mind racing as he tried to understand why she attacked them. Openly too, she knew the danger to their lives and did it anyway.
The group was mostly silent not knowing what to say or the next best step to helping their friend. It especially concerned Daryl as his and her relationship seemed to have taken a large step forward. They were closer than they had ever been before and yet something was so wrong between all of them that Laura lashed out at them.
It was then while the three sat in quiet contemplation that Daisy rushed into the doorway. She saw the trio standing at the bottom of metal mesh stairs, each one looking more confused than the next.
Daisy came to them and studied their expressions, seeing how distraught they were. "Where is Laura?"
Before the two men could answer, Carol rounded them to approach Daisy. "She doesn't want to talk to anyone." She warned the worried woman. All three knew it was unsafe to approach Laura now, those walkers having surrounded her.
"I know, did you try to talk to her already?" Daisy could see on their faces they likely had. What she knew that they didn't was the psychological damage that was plaguing Laura.
"Yeah, we tried. She kicked us out." Rick answered quietly as he let out a deep sigh. The walkers had so closely gotten to them they could not fight back. Their retreat hurt their position with Laura, but they had no choice if they wanted to live.
Daryl muttered something under his breath before continuing. "Threw a bunch of walkers at us. She ain't open to talking."
"I'm not surprised." Daisy ran a hand on the side of her face. She was as distraught as they were. The statement she made intrigued them as they now realized Daisy had something they didn't. Their eyes came to rest on her silently asking her to explain.
What Daisy learned was beyond damaging, such a personal attack and she knew there was still more to it. While she didn't know all of it, she did know enough. Placing herself in Laura's shoes, Daisy realized how hurt she would be too.
Her expression was sullen. "I wish I could say I knew everything that happened out there, but I don't. However, I do know some part of it." Footsteps came up behind Daisy, Red, and Braddock having caught up to her and seen the group inside.
The trio in front of her felt the urgency to learn what she knew. "What is it...?" Carol quavered her hand on her chest. She almost didn't want to know as she feared the explanation.
"When Laura confronted him, he attacked her," Daisy muttered aside, fretful of their reactions. "And I don't necessarily mean attacked physically. Definitely, they fought, but Laura threw the first punch." The revelation shocked Daisy, but it was worse for them.
Even more confused, Daryl rejected the thought. "She wouldn't start a fight unless she had to."
"Well, perhaps she'd start a fight if someone who knew you personally said some things to you. As if Carol or Rick attacked Laura not physically, but emotionally. Merle didn't have to start the fight by attacking her, he started it by saying something."
Carol looked away for a moment. "So what could he say to make Laura angry enough to hit first?"
This is where Daisy frowned, her eyes saddened. "He attacked her trauma, her insecurities. Merle was there personally to see what happened to Laura in Woodbury and he used it against her." Her explanation began to make sense. "Merle called Laura a walker, said something about her experiences in Woodbury. I don't know exactly how far it went, but it was terrible. Enough to where Michonne won't say because she knows how personal it is."
Daryl wished he was surprised by this, but it seemed as though Merle was taking shots at Laura since they arrived. Perhaps it was jealousy that he was with her all the time now or something else. Whatever happened hurt Laura enough to where she refused their help.
Comforts didn't matter now. Laura obviously felt so hurt she didn't want them around her. It damaged her so deeply she could accept their company.
"So what do we do? We can't just leave her there." Carol turned around to see Daryl staring at the ground. Rick felt equally as helpless, frustrated by the position she was in, and felt guilt over starting it.
"I can try to talk to her. Maybe letting her know we know what Merle said can help." Daisy was hopeful. Her optimistic personality was challenged at this moment.
"Please try." A hand placed on Daisy's shoulder. Carol felt responsible though she knew the cause of Laura's suffering was not her doing.
Unsure but hopeful, Daisy climbed the stairs with the group on her heels. They came to the door to the office and Rick took the lead. The walkers were still wandering inside though they had lost interest in the pursuit. They all brought their weapons out ready to clear.
Daryl took the first one out with his crossbow quickly followed up by Rick and Red that sliced into two more. Once his crossbow was reloaded, he took another down. Braddock covered Daisy as he shoved a walker back using a knife to kill it.
As a team, they made quick work of the small herd, and soon enough the office was empty. All the walkers lay dead again on the floor leaving a path straight into the crack in the wall.
Inside a few more walkers wandered around unaware of the living on the other side of the hole. Rick peered inside and unsurprisingly did not see Laura near the light. There were only a few walkers inside now as most of the herd was either dead during the attack or died in the office.
Braving the darkness, Rick entered and cut down another walker. Closely followed up by Red and Daryl taking out the last ones they could see.
Once they felt no more walkers were coming their way they stood inside closer to the edges of the light. Rick, Daryl, and Red all surrounded Daisy to protect her with Braddock just behind her to pull her out if something did happen.
Laura heard them coming back just as her anger began to quell. She thought throwing walkers at them would be enough to ward them away. Figuring it was useless, she wondered how she could possibly get away from them. This dark room was something of a reprieve but it was pointless if they were just going to come in anyways.
"I know what he said, Laura."
The change of approach interested Laura and she knew what it meant. It didn't help her relax or realize they merely wanted to help.
It made her far angrier.
"What he said crossed a line. What he said about you, what he called you, how he used what he knew against you." Daisy stood there with her fingers fidgeting together. "I know he said you were a walker... and likely something about the... assaults you suffered at Woodbury." Daryl glanced back to Daisy, his concern for Laura spiked when he heard that.
Laura's nostrils flared at the audacity Daisy had to mention it. At least, that's how Laura thought of it. That they came here using more information about her to force her into doing what they wanted her to do. It relighted that fire in her and her rage flared greater than it had before.
"I understand how hurt you are and how much it hurt coming from someone you trusted. I can't imagine all the terrible things you survived in Woodbury... but I want to help no matter what." Daisy recalled the trio mentioning Laura's attack and addressed that. "You must be in so much pain that you even attacked the people that love you the most. No one is mad, no one blames you. We understand."
As if what she said before wasn't enough, this certainly was.
"You understand. Sure." Laura chuckled mirthlessly. Her voice almost so low they couldn't hear. It was there and they were listening anxiously. "I said leave and you come back. This is the third time. Leave me alone."
Daisy gulped and but her best foot forward. "We can't leave you here in this depressing place. You're suffering, the trauma you experienced will only fester if you stay like this. You need help to get through this and everyone here loves you. You don't have to go through this alone."
Though they all agreed, it seemed to do nothing for Laura. She only dug her heels in harder. "Leave me alone." Her growl was rougher than they had ever heard from her. A deep growl she learned back at the farm and had long since grown used to.
It wasn't a magically appearing sound. The growl was from the hard expulsion of air through her vocal cords, it created a strangely violent vibration in her throat. Once that was even visible from the outside.
"Please, Laura-"
"I don't care what you want!" Laura shouted, standing from the desk again. She did not approach them, she feared she might actually lash out as she had done to Merle. "I don't care you want to help, I don't care that you're here. I want you to leave me alone!" Her exclamation was forceful and confident. There was no question she had any doubts about scaring them off.
Daisy was taken aback by the rage she felt radiating from the darkness. She suddenly felt as though she was trespassing as if they were somehow transgressing on someone's affairs.
It appeared to them as though nothing had come close to budging Laura. "We could just sit together, we don't have to talk about it. Maybe over dinner just end the day, sit back and relax."
They heard a groan from Laura, "I told you to stop and go away. But you're not stopping and you're still here. What do I have to do to make you go away?!" The futility of her attempts to ward them away was beyond frustrating. It was maddening to Laura.
"Talk to us. You don't have to tell us what happened or what he said. Just let us listen and help you." While Daisy and the others saw this as a way in, it was anything but.
"I said no! I don't want your help, I don't want you here, I don't want you! I want you to stop harassing me, leave me alone! Go away! Get out! How else can I say it?!" Laura's voice rose until she was almost screaming. "Leave me alone..."
"But you always told us you're scared of being alone," Carol interjected. There was a history behind Laura's fears, her fear of being alone bordered on being a phobia. It had terrified her so deeply she braved being killed more than once just to be with people.
"I'm always alone anyway... What does it matter?" Laura's shoulders drop, her voice barely a crack. "Now I want to be alone! I want you all to leave me the hell alone!" Her anger returned with a vengeance, her
Daisy's hopes had been thoroughly dashed. She felt useless, her aid gone not only unnoticed but actually served to hurt Laura further. She saw this and accepted that nothing she could say would make this better. Surrendering to the helplessness, Daisy turned around and left the room.
Though the others hesitated, they followed her soon after. They exited the room one by one, left the office, and back down the stairs.
What happened inside weighed heavily on them all. Even Red felt sympathy towards Laura, knowing more about what Merle said and hearing for himself how damaging it was to Laura. He didn't hate her, he was angry with her.
But what Laura said had effectively broke Daryl's heart. He didn't know why she felt like that and he doubted himself. In whatever way this hurt Laura, he felt like he failed to protect her and help her when she needed someone. She was alone in that dark room and he couldn't do a thing for her.
Daryl wasn't angry at her for what she said or how it excluded their relationship. It was hard to hear how pained she was and he couldn't help her. Hearing her anguish is what broke his heart. There was something that wounded her so terribly she didn't want them around; she didn't want him with her. She never once rejected his company before.
Rick and Carol shared the same conflicted feelings. It hurt to hear Laura's pain so strong that she rejected them. What happened during the fight with Merle, the deal with the Governor and Laura's traumatic experiences had torn her away from them.
There now sat this barrier between Laura and everyone she held dear, the people that loved her like family. No one could help her, no one could even speak to her. For now, they would have to give up and try to find another way.
Together the group began to leave the room, but before Braddock stepped out of the room he looked back to the office above. He thought about what Daisy said to him before about imaging himself in their place, to see from their perspective.
Braddock also thought about what Laura said and he knew she didn't believe she was alone. There were plenty of people waiting to offer their support and affection. Laura was not alone, but she was separating herself from them.
Just then, Braddock had a brilliant and insightful idea.
