A/N: Just a little something before 6B starts; I have half of a second part of this written and plan to add more. Enjoy!

The small child slumbered peacefully in Michonne's arms as she and Rick sat at Carl's bedside. The woman's left arm ached from the little girl's weight but she did not want to shift her for fear of waking her once more. Each of them were already so weary from the events that had recently occurred so Michonne saw no point in depriving the baby of further rest.

She sat that way for another twenty minutes before deciding to take Judith to Maggie to watch after. When Michonne stood, Rick glanced to where she was, but only for a moment; soon, his eyes fell back on his unconscious son who was lying in the bed of the infirmary. He looked pale and small and weak; Rick felt his heart clench once more as he looked at the bandage that covered the spot where his son's eye used to be.

"I'm taking the baby to Maggie," said Michonne softly; her voice slightly hoarse from disuse.

The melancholy in its cadence struck at his heart again; she too was hurting. Rick nodded his head but said nothing; the room was thick with worry, pain and uncertainty. After Rick's frantic sobbing had stopped, he withdrew into himself and rarely uttered a word to Michonne, though she sat beside him the whole time.

Michonne placed a gentle and soothing hand to Rick's shoulder; he trembled at the contact and turned his head to look up at her. He felt a tiny sense of relief in that small moment from her warm hand gently squeezing his tired, sunken shoulder. He tried to offer her a grateful smile, but nothing came; she saw the pain still etched across his face. All of the blood and filth did not mask the hurt as his sad eyes glistened from tears that threatened to fall once more.

"I won't be long," she whispered, giving his shoulder another squeeze.

…..

"You look a wreck," said Maggie as Michonne closed the door to the bedroom where Judith continued to sleep.

She shrugged and leaned her back against the wall of the hallway, welcoming its sturdiness as it held her upright. The stress of the entire situation as well as her own lethargy weighed heavily on her being. She found it difficult to stand.

"I've barely slept," she responded. "I don't think Rick has at all."

Maggie nodded her head; Michonne kept her eyes averted. It had been three days since the herd passed through Alexandria. They had lost a lot of people and staved off the horde of walkers; clean-up was still continuing.

"He was like that when Carl was…was hurt before. Did he tell you about it?" Maggie asked carefully.

Michonne nodded, pushed herself from the wall and then made her way towards the living room; Maggie followed behind her. Michonne sighed loudly as she took up a seat on the armrest of the sofa.

"Yeah," she finally said tiredly. "Rick told me about what happened before."

Two days earlier…

She did not realize how they had even made it to the infirmary after Ron shot Carl and Michonne killed Ron. Rick carried his son and trudged through the mass of walkers, Michonne ran ahead of him, clearing a path while Gabriel flanked Rick at the side and dispatched any walkers that got near to them. She vaguely remembered Carol disarming the Wolf who held Denise hostage but everything was happening so fast; she was unsure if it even played out that way.

Rick was told to step back and give Denise space and Michonne had to drag him from the room. It took almost an hour before Denise found Rick and Michonne on the floor slumped against the wall waiting for any news. Rick stood shakily, tears washing the blood from his face.

"He's alive," said Denise and Rick almost lost his footing; Michonne felt her tears return as she steadied her best friend with a firm hand to the small of his back.

"Can I see him?" asked Rick, his voice cracking.

"He's unconscious right now, Rick. You need to get some rest yourself; we took a lot of blood from you," she offered.

"I'm fine," he answered. "I just need to see him."

"Okay, but just for a minute. I need you rested in case we need to do another transfusion," Denise replied.

Rick stepped around the doctor and into the doorway, he stopped a moment and looked back at Michonne; he said nothing but she knew he wanted her to follow him. She moved forward and took hold of Rick's hand as they slowly walked inside.

…..

Michonne sat beside Rick all that day; when night had fallen and her eyes grew heavy, placed her hand to his back to get his attention.

"Rick?" she asked softly.

He turned his head in her direction.

"We should get some sleep," she offered.

"No," he answered immediately. "Not until I know he's gonna be okay."

She did not protest, but instead remained next to him. They sat in silence a while longer, listening to Carl's weak breathing and praying to whoever was listening that he would pull through. Michonne tried to stifle a yawn, but Rick noticed.

"You should go and get some rest," he said, his eyes still focussed on Carl.

"I don't want to leave him," she whispered.

Rick nodded with understanding.

"You're so good to us," he said softly. "Carl deserves someone like you in his life. I'm a lousy fuckin' father."

Michonne's eyes narrowed as she glanced at Rick.

"No, Rick. You're the best man I know," she said in earnest. "I believe that, I believe in you."

He scoffed.

"You don't know everything about me," he said sadly. "If you did you wouldn't think that."

Michonne shook her head in disbelief.

"You've kept your kids alive. That's…," she faltered a moment as she thought of Mike. "That's more than I can say for most."

"You shouldn't believe in me," said Rick, as the tears fell once more. "You shouldn't."

"I do," she replied, a lump forming in her throat at the sound of Rick's hopeless words.

"It ain't the first time he's been shot, you know. It happened before, on my watch. I couldn't fuckin' protect him then, and I can't now. This whole shit storm is my fault," Rick said, his voice ragged.

"Rick…"

"No, it's true," he said with a sniffle as he ran his hand under his nose. "My kid is lying here dyin' because of me. I can't protect him, his mother was right; we should've just let him go."

"What are you even saying?" said Michonne, hurt that Rick was speaking at way, but understanding it was because of his grief.

"When he was shot before," said Rick through his tears. "Lori said it might be better if he passed away, that way he wouldn't have to face this fucked up world. I didn't agree with her then, but she was probably right. I can't protect him…"

Rick's head fell.

"No, Rick," said Michonne firmly as she wiped her own tears. "No. She wasn't right."

She stood and walked towards one of the walls; she took a deep breath and continued to speak.

"I would give anything to have my son here with me right now," she said as Rick lifted his head and turned towards her. "I'd give anything to see him grow up, regardless of the shit that goes on around us or the world we live in."

Rick narrowed his eyes as realization set in; Michonne had lost a child. He ran the back of his hand across his tear stained face and stood. He ambled over to her and saw the look of heartbreak she wore. She pressed a hand to her chest and tried to steady her shaky voice.

"My son's father, he couldn't protect him," she whispered as Rick stepped closer and drew her into an embrace.

She could feel his heart racing in his chest; she did not know if it was his body that was shaking, or hers. Maybe it was both of them, she mused.

"I'm sorry," Rick whispered as Michonne cried.

"I was hollow for so long," she said. "I was empty; I was a monster. Then Carl brought me back. He gave me hope."

She drew away from Rick so she could look him in the eyes.

"Every day you have with your son is a good day. This world is a better place with him in it. Don't give up on hope," she said, before pulling herself away from Rick's arms.

…..

Presently…

Maggie gave Michonne a sympathetic look just as Tara hurriedly made an appearance.

"Michonne," she said, almost breathlessly. "It's Carl; he's awake!"