Walking Dead: Unexpected Return

Chapter 4 of my Walking Dead story, enjoy.

Reviews

Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, yes, indeed.
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.

Chapter 4

Hearing from Rick that she had been right, that the DNA had been a match, that this was indeed Sophia, Carol couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. After four long hard years, four years of fears and wishes, bursts of hope which were snuffed out so quickly. Yet now, here at last, was her daughter, Sophia. Almost as if she had been returned to life, Carol didn't even attempt to hold back the tears that fell as she continued to watch Sophia's unconscious form.

'I see what they mean, about how she's changed, but it's still possible to see its her.' Carol noted. 'But I...They said they had to really look...it's plain as day, or...maybe it's just so obvious to me, being her mother.'

She let out a shaky breath.

"I...Rick, this is, almost unreal." She said at last. "Sophia is right here, after all these years, I don't understand how…"

Rick sighed. "Neither do I...I don't think any of us do. We can make guesses based on any evidence we have...but until Sophia is ready and willing to tell us…"

Carol nodded. "We may never know. God, my poor girl."

She couldn't help but feel a deep sense of longing and regret as she looked back to Sophia. To think that her sweet girl was there, now sixteen, no longer a little girl. To have been through so much and she had been unable to find her or do anything for her.

Such deep regret filled her, knowing that, looking at Sophia now. She almost dreaded hearing about Sophia's injuries, but she knew she'd have to eventually. She still recalled it all so vividly. Four years ago and for the years before that, she had been married to Ed Peletier, Sophia's father. But it had been a less than ideal marriage.

'Ed, such an abusive monster...Everything he did, he only took any pleasure in it if he could use it to hurt me…' She recalled darkly. 'He...he would hurt Sophia too; but I...I did my best to ensure that quickly stopped.'

She grimaced, recalling how she'd practically bargained, pleaded even with Ed. Taking even more abuse if it meant protecting Sophia. It had led to so many things, getting her shoulder dislocated and having to learn how to heal it herself, so as not to draw suspicion by going to the hospital, that would be a deal-breaker for Ed and would make Sophia vulnerable again. She had cut her hair very short to stop Ed grabbing it when she tried to get away from him.

"Mom, are you okay?" Henry asked suddenly, worried.

She swallowed and gently squeezed his shoulder. "I'll be alright, I just...just remembering."

Henry nodded slowly, looking through the window at Sophia. Carol knew this had to be big for him too, the lost sister she had told him about, now here before his very eyes.

Then came the day that would forever be etched in Carol's memory. Shortly after Sophia's twelfth birthday she had begun to notice a disturbing change in Ed and knew right away what he was thinking, it sickened her and she tried to warn him off, but that had been the spark to ignite Ed's temper. He would not be denied and when Carol tried to ensure he never acted, Ed had flipped out.

'That was the worst beating he ever inflicted on me...I was found by a neighbour and woke up in hospital. Then I learned…' She could feel the sorrow consuming her again. 'Ed and Sophia were gone, he'd kidnapped his own daughter. I know what wanted from her, I feared it. But despite all our efforts, we never found them. Until now.'

She swallowed, trying to calm herself again. Just thinking about that horrific time still left her feeling that old overwhelming terror and dismay, a terror that had never really gone away, until now. Now Sophia was here, alive.

'But not safe. Ed is still nowhere to be found and who knows...if he's still alive he might come after her again.' She noted. 'Urgh, this is...my poor girl, I swear, I'll help you, no matter what.'

She swore then and there that she would make sure Ed couldn't hurt Sophia again and give her everything she needed to finally recover from this nightmare that she had escaped, that she had been enduring for the past four years. Hearing Sophia's injuries only confirmed Carol's worst fears, the broken arm, the hip and back injury, some surface lacerations, they were from the car. But the others, the scars, the tether mark, the whip scars and the sexual abuse. She knew right away that was Ed's actions. She felt disgusted, with herself for not being able to protect her daughter, Ed for his actions. But she forced it back, she had more important things to think about right now.

Rick had already left, the nurse, Denise Cloyd had already finished explaining Sophia's injuries to her. Carol looked over at Henry worriedly for a moment, but he smiled softly and nodded.

Smiling back she turned to Denise. "I...can I see her?"

Denise smiled back and nodded. "Yes, of course."

She turned to Henry and spoke to him quickly.

"Okay. I need you to wait for me here, got it." She told him.

He nodded. "Yeah, I'll be alright."

Relieved as Henry sat down on one of the seats outside, Carol entered the ward. The most prominent sounds was the steady beep of the heart monitor and Sophia's breathing, aided by the oxygen tubes. Approaching the bedside, Carol felt her own breathing becoming softer and softer, still unable to believe it. Her daughter was back and she was right here in front of her. She tensed as she noted a change in Sophia's breathing, heart rate. Sure enough, Sophia moved, eyes opening slowly, blinking and then finally focusing.

"S-Sophia…" Carol breathed, staring at her in trepidation.

Tears filled her eyes and she noticed, to her amazement, Sophia's eyes filled with tears too and the first word out of her mouth melted Carol's heart, lifting a weight from her after all these four years.

"Mom."

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.