Author's Note: I decided to repost and finish this story. I needed a break and to regroup but I'm back :). Understand this is a work of fiction and that while everything may not be 100 % accurate as far as some readers think it should be, this is still gonna be a genuine story. I'm gonna take all the criticism (good and bad!) and make this story what it needs to be. Anyways, If this is your first time reading my story enjoy, if you're returning thank you! I'll leave the original author's notes on all the chapters. Anyways this is my take two!

Hello! I hope you guys enjoy this story that I've had in my mind and heart for a while. I understand this is a very sensitive topic of discussion and will be navigating very carefully as I try to write the real life emotions that occur with the survivors of school shootings. I want to be realistic in my writing of grief, guilt, and whatever else may occur after a student has witnessed such violence. I understand that this is a work of fiction but as someone who has been affected by the devastation of a school shootings and recognizes that the US has a serious problem with gun violence in schools I would like to help shed light on the situation on the situation the best way I know how… Writing!

TWD has already created such great character's, i'm just gonna mold them a little bit to fit my narrative!

Here we go!

Rick Grimes watched quietly as the nurse moved quietly around Carl. She scribbled in his charts before adjusting his pillows for the second time since coming into the room. She gave Rick an encouraging smile before stepping out of the room.

He got up from his chair in the corner and stood next to Carl's bed looking down at the teen. He ran his hand over Carl's long brunette waves and sighed. It had been two month since the shooting and Carl still hadn't woken up. He wished he would just wake up. Rick still felt sick to his stomach when he thought of the day he and Lori got the call.

September 20th 2018, Ron Anderson- a classmate of Carl's, had brought a gun to school and opened fire on his classmates.

He and Lori among with many other parent's stood outside the school waiting helplessly as they prayed for their children to come out. Rick's heart stopped when Carl was one of the students that didn't come out of the school.

He doesn't remember much of what happened after that. He doesn't remember the officer coming over to speak with him and Lori. He doesn't remember Lori passing out into the officer's arms when he explained that Carl had been shot.

Shot.

His baby boy had been shot in the face by a friend. A boy that had been over to their house many times. And he hadn't woken up since that day. The doctor explained after the surgery that while they did everything they could they couldn't save his eye. His boy would have to learn basic skills again. Learn how to talk, how to walk, how to see. Two months and he still hadn't woken up.

In a way he was glad that Carl didn't woken up yet. He was glad to have more time to think of how to explain this to Carl. How to explain this shitty hand he had been dealt. He also wasn't sure how to explain that his mother Lori had moved out of the house, not even a month after the shooting and had taken up with his Uncle Shane. Yeah he still had no idea how he was going to talk about all that.

"Hey buddy, you've got a new nurse today. Sherry- Karen, God I don't remember." Rick smiled for a moment before taking a deep breath.

"Grandma Dee keeps sending you crocheted blankets and teddy bears. I think she forgets you're not-," A sob gets caught in Rick's throat and he takes a beat before continuing, "I think she forgets you're not a baby any more."

Tears rolled down Rick's face as he stared down at his only child. His boy. And for the first time in a while he cried. He cried for his son's lost innocence, for his pain and suffering. He cried for his failed marriage and the end of his longest friendship. He cried for all the other children who were injured and for the two who lost their lives. He cried so hard that he didn't notice Carl's hand twitch beneath Ricks, Carl's fingers curling around Ricks.

"Please just- come back to me." Rick pleaded as he wiped his eyes dropped Carl's hand which was currently trying to squeeze Rick's to get his attention.

Rick chided himself for getting so emotional and he decided he was going to leave the room to get some air when he heard something that made his heart stop.

He turned around and nearly fell to his knees when he saw Carl smiling weakly back at him.

"H-hi dad."