Chapter 14: Shock
KPOV
~2 years ago~
I was sat down beside Carl. It had been a hard day for the both of us. Seeing as what we had been through only a few hours ago. Still...dad was proud and slightly disappointed. Mom still couldn't decide how she felt about it. Carl was curled up in his bed.
"Hey..." I say softly as I sat down beside him, on top of his covers and gently moved his hair away from his eyes. "I know it's been a rough day but...I'm here and...I'm fine. How are you?" I asked him trying to reassure him that I was all right.
"I'm okay...but...that was scary Kat. Please don't do something like that again," Carl pleaded and I just sigh. Looking down, I saw him sit up to look at me. His bright blues were startingly bright and filled with worry towards me.
"Carl...I can't promise that. You're my baby brother. I'll protect you and save you. You know that right?" I asked him hopeful that he would understand why I couldn't promise him this.
"Yeah...I do..." he sighed and looked away. His eyes not looking up at me. Sighing, I would caress his face and try to sooth him this way.
"I'll protect you...always...now that...is a promise," I tell him and he just looked up at me with a sad but understanding smile. Pressing a kiss to his forehead, he cuddled up to me in a hug and we laid like that for a while.
Present day...RPOV
"Holy shit," Glenn said as he looked down at the asshole I had just shot. Tony's body was now flat on the floor and Glenn looked a little pale.
"You all right?" I asked him, concerned of his sudden colour change. He must be shocked about what just happened...this might be the first murder he possibly saw and...well...it's never easy.
"Yeah," Glenn agreed, answering my question of concern quickly. His voice seemed stunned and slightly shocked. I hope he gets over this as quickly as it actually happened.
"Hershel?" I asked him as we all looked between each other, a small nod of the head was exchanged between all of us. Glenn was panting at the turn of events that had occured. Shame he had to see this happen...
"Let's head back," Hershel told us as we all turned to walk out the door but soon we heard and saw a car come across. The lights shining and reflecting through the glass. The car approached and suddenly stopped.
"Car. Car. Get down," I ordered the others as we all slowed down and crouched, slipping to a sitting position against the walls near the windows. Staying silent as I pulled out my gun, keeping the other two quiet and calm as best as I could.
The doors open and close shut, footsteps edging closer and further away as time passed.
"Dave? Tony? They said over here?" One man spoke, his voice ringing out to all of us to hear but whispering to his companion.
"Yeah," the other said.
"I'm telling you, man, I heard shots," a third man confimed as we all looked at each other a little panicked, Glenn held on tightly to his shotgun and looked at me sightly panicked.
"I saw roamers two streets over. Might be more around here," the second man whispered to the other man. My heart pounding in my chest and thoughts of my family, my group and my safety running through my mind in continuous circles.
"It's hot. We gotta get out of here," the first man said sounding panicked. Our own panick was shown as we would look at each other wide eyed. "Dave! Tony!" the man tried to call out.
"Shut up, you idiot! You wanna attract 'em? Just stick close. We're gonna find 'em," the second man said as we looked around a little shocked. If they find us...we could be fucked.
"Dude, he said to stay close. Tony," the third man said as we looked around. Worried and shutting our eyes or widening them while footsteps sounded closer to us, walking past and not turning back.
KPOV
"They should've been back by now," I heard Carl say as I lead him towards the table, to eat and prepare for bed. There were nights I would sleep beside him but these nights he prefered me sleeping next to him on the bed, cuddled up like we normally did. We had been playing games, reading books and doing studdies together.
"Yeah. They just got holed up somewhere. We'll we'll head out first thing in the morning. Thank you," Shane said and acted politely, sitting down to eat at the head of the table, placing food on his plate as I helped pick out some things for Carl.
"You're welcome," Patricia answered as we all sat down and they were handing out food. Placing them on our plates and making me gurgle and drool over such good, fresh food. My state was soon disappeared as Shane spoke up to us.
"Carl, Kat, I want you to keep your heads up, okay? Your old man, he's the toughest son of a-" Shane was saying to us as we all sat down for a meal, all but mom and Daryl.
"No cussing in the house," Patricia scolded as she was placing food on our plates, this made me smirk a little at the two and shake my head. Shane just looked at her a little worried. He knows he's on a very thin line right now. He's already crossed it but...he might have a chance.
"Sorry," Shane said politely as he looked at all of us and smirk. Seeing Dale give Shane a look and Shane's smirk was wipped off his face.
"I'm surprised you haven't been kicked out of the house yet Kat...you're always swearing," Carl said softly to me but others noticed it and noticed my slight blush. Looking at Carl I giggled and messed up his hair a little. Silly thing...I still love him.
"Lori, dinner," Carol spoke up towards the hallway but there was no response.
"She's not in there," Maggie spoke as she turned to look at Carol who went in search for my mother. What? Where could she be? I mean...come on mom was hear earlier...where could she have disappeared off to?
"Where is she?" I ask a little panicked. Where is mom? Where could she have gone? Is she all right? Did...please God...don't let her have gone after dad and the others. If she has...fuck...where is she?!
"Carl, Kat...when's the last time you saw your mom?" Shane asked as he looked between the two of us. His eyes slightly mad and curious as his eyes studdied us. As if he's fucking asking us this question like this!
"This afternoon," Carl answered him quickly, straight to the point and then looked up at me. His blue eyes wide and filled with wonder. He's just as curious as I am...
"Yeah..." I agree as I nod and looked between them all. Some of them wide eyed, some of them tried to keep calm. Please tell me my mom is all right...that she's safe and not trying to get herself killed...
"She was worried about Rick, asked me to look in on Carl and Kat," Andrea spoke up which made my eyes widen in shock and fear. Fuck...she went after him?!
"She went after them?" I asked shocked and horrorfied that my mom would run out like that. Please tell me she didn't fucking do that! Please mother fucking god! Please!
"She didn't say that," Andrea tried to comfort us, Shane got up and I followed his lead. Getting up, we all decided to have a search for mom.
"Nobody panic. Gonna be around here somewhere," Shane said as we all began to seach for mom, including Carl and I told him not to force himself, that the stitches still need to heal and that mom would be all right.
RPOV
"Why won't they leave?" Glenn whispered to us and this made me look at him stunned he would ask this. The men still haven't left and all Glenn can ask is why they won't leave?!
"Would you?" Hershel whispered back at Glenn as we got together in a huddle after waiting a few minutes for the men to search other buildings first.
"We can't sit here any longer. Let's head out the back and make a run to the car," I instructed and they agreed, just as we were about to leave and head towards the car, there were gun fire.
"What happened?" one of the men asked as they all met up together, discussing what had happened and what had alarmed them.
"Roamers, I nailed 'em," the other answered as three men got together to talk about their events in the different buildings.
"They disappeared but their car's still there," another pointed out as they started jogging towards an area that I wasn't going to risk peeking to see if they were closer than normal.
"I cleared those buildings. You guys get this one?" one of them asked the others. Their conversation kept me on edge as I gripped onto my gun. Praying to myself that all would be fine and that we wouldn't get noticed.
"No," one of the men answered as they all conversed about their situation and safety.
"Me neither," the third answered as they all got caught up on what was happening to each other while they were away.
"We're looking for Dave and Tony and no one checks the damn bar?" the second man said as they exchanged thoughts about where their...'friends' would be. Footsteps began to approach and I readied myself to shoot at them.
"What?" the third man asked one of them confused as Glenn quickly pushed the door shut and pressed his back to it. Worry and surprised pumped through my veins as these men got surprised by Glenn's actions.
"Someone pushed it shut. There's someone in there," said the second man as they tried to open the door again but Glenn kept it shut and they slowly backed away from the door. Unsure of what was hidden behind it. "Yo, is someone in there? Yo, if someone's in there, we don't want no trouble. We're just looking for our friends," the voice called to us but we just stayed silent, looking towards each other in shock and uncertainty.
"What do we do? Bum rush the door?" one of the men asked as they gathered around again.
"No, we don't know how many are there. Just relax," the second man said as he looked to the others in his group, his tone shushed and calm. "We don't want any trouble. We're just looking for our friends. If something happened, tell us. This place is crawling with corpses. If you can help us not get killed, I'd appreciate it," one of them tried to get us to speak up.
"Dude, you're bugging. I'm telling you nobody's in there," one of the other men said confused and slightly irritated about the situation. Actually...there are people in here and well...you ain't coming inside any time soon...
"Someone guard the door. If they're in there, they might know where Dave and Tony are," one of them said as they began to retreat. Footsteps departing across the floor as their feet dragged along the ground.
"They drew on us!" I declared, shouting it out and making the others look at me surprised, shocked, worried and the footsteps approach once more.
"Dave and Tony in there? They alive?" the second man asked me which made me swipe under my brow of the consation I was creating from tension, stress and pressure I found upon myself.
"No," I answered truthfully. Bluntly. So be it...
"They killed Dave and Tony," the second man said as we all looked towards each other, shocked and worried as to what was going to go down.
"Come on, man, let's go," the first man said wanting nothing more for them to leave. Do as this man says and leave us alone...please.
"No, I'm not leaving, I'm not telling Jane. I'm not gonna go back and tell them that Dave and Tony got shot by some assholes in a bar," the second man said angered, making us all looked at each other, panting and our hearts pounding in either fear or adrenaline...or both.
"Your friends drew on us! They gave us no choice! I'm sure we've all lost enough people, done things we wish we didn't have to, but it's like that now. You know that! So let's just chalk this up to what it was...wrong place, wrong-" I was cut off when a shotgun fired. "Get outta here! Go!" I shouted to the other two as they scrambled to get away, shooting at the others and getting to my feet when I would shoot. Guns firing, glass shattering made me worry but I kept fighting.
KPOV
Walking the whole house and site of the farm we couldn't find any trace of my mom. "We can't find mom," I say as Carol and I walked towards Daryl who was building a fire by his tent.
"And the others aren't back yet either," Carol pointed out as we stopped beside him. He looked up at us with slightly unbothered eyes from the information we had just given him. Why is he just...sitting around and doing nothing?
"Yeah. That dumb bitch must've gone off looking for 'em," Daryl said, insulting my mom and insinuating my mom would go out there and leave me and Carl alone.
"Watch your words! That's my mother you're talking about," I grolwed at him, unhappy with his choice of words and warning him not to say that about my mom. Especially not with me present.
"What?" Carol asked him stunned, her brows furrowed as I saw something in her drop, like a tonne of bricks just smashed her and showed her the truth. Wait...does she think he's telling the truth? If he is...how does he know?!
"Yeah, she asked me to go. I told her I was done being an errand boy," Daryl said which made my furrowed brows relax in realization and slight worry. Oh my god...mom is out there and looking for dad...
"And you didn't say anything? That's my mother out there you asshole," I growlewd at him, wanting nothing more than to shove him and punch his face in. I thought I trusted him! I thought he...cared. Seems to me he's still the same dick that almost tried to kill my dad.
"She's not at the barn," Shane told us as he got closer, holding onto Carl to my side and gently letting him go as I looked to those who were getting closer to us.
"I checked the yards," T-Dog informed us as we all huddled together in a huge group.
"Well, where is she?" Carl asked a little worried with all of this information. Oh shit...how am I going to explain this without breaking his little heart?
"She asked Daryl to go into town. Must've gone herself," I tell Carl sadly, revealing what I had found out with Daryl and Carol. This was when I saw the realization and worry flash across Carl's small and innocent face.
"Mom," Carl said, covering his mouth as not to cry and turned to walk away. Leaving us and heading off in the distance in a hurry. My heart dropped and I felt nothing more than overwhelming sadness and the need to go after him.
"Hey. Carl," I said softly, trying to reach my hand out and stop him. Turning to Shane and the others, I spke. "You look out for my mom and I'll look after my brother. Make sure she and my dad get back to us," I tell them, giving them an order that had to be done. No excuses. "Carl!" I shouted, turning my back on the others and jogging after Carl's retreating form. "Hey..." I said as I caught up to him, slowing down and walking behind him.
"Mom...dad...they're out there and..." Carl cried out as I turned him to look at me, crouching down and looking him in the eyes. He looked worried, about to breakdown and afraid. My baby brother...my sweet...baby brother.
"I know...but guess what?" I asked him, my eyes looking down at his feet and then back up at his. Giving him a small but sad smile, keeping his arms in my hands and looking up at him.
"What?" Carl asked me, his baby blues were curious and wide, a twinkle in them as the moonlight reflected in them. He has so much of dad and mom in him...I can see it and he's afriad but curious.
"We still have each other...anyway...I have hope that they'll come back to us. You need to keep that faith alive too. They're strong, we know that and...they'll be fine. I know it," I tell him, reassuring him that our mom and dad would come back to us. I know they're fine. I can feel it.
"I love you Kat," Carl said as he attacked me in a hug, I almost fell back but held my stance and held him tightly to me. My eyes shutting at these words and the comfort of Carl's hug.
"I love you too Carl," I answer him truthfully, feeling my heart swell at the thought of how much I loved my baby brother. He's my best friend and my blood. So innocent and young...so...unsafe. "You know I'll protect you...no matter what...right?" I asked him keeping my eyes locked on his as I slowly pulled us away to look into each others eyes. My tone soft and gentle, as to reassure him that I was here to stay and care for him.
"Yeah...it's what you do...you're my sister," Carl informs me and I giggle softly, a smile was playing on the corner of his lips as his eyes connected to look at mine. When did he figure this out?
"That's right. And don't you forget it," I answered with a small smirk of my own, getting back onto my two feet and straightening up, I took Carl's hand in mine. We walked off into the house and decided to teach him how to clean silent weapons.
RPOV
My breathing heavy and heart pounding against my ribs. "Hey! We all know this is not gonna end well! There's nothing in it for any of us! You guys just...just back off, no one else gets hurt!" I shout out but this was when I heard gun shots happen from where Glenn had ran off to. "Glenn! Glenn!" I shouted, worried if he was still alive and breathing.
"I-I'm all right. I'm all right," Glenn replied, making me sweat more than I need to and sigh in relief. That fucking God he's all right. Don't know what I'd do without him...
"I'll hold 'em here. You cover Glenn. See if you can make it to your car. Tell him tell him to pull up back. We'll run for it, get the hell out of here," I order Hershel, my voice clear and slow as Hershel gave me a nod, looking to me then toward where Glenn had disappeared to.
"You want me to cover Glenn?" Hershel asked as though it was either a surprise or a repeat of what he had to do. God knows with this man...he's more...confusing than Shane or even my daughter!
"You missed all that gun training. It could've come in handy now," I tell him kind of saddned he didn't do it in the first place. It would have been super handy for now and possible things in the future...
"Nah, I can shoot. I just don't like to," Hershel told me as he checked his ammunition, looking up at me he gave me a quick and firm side ways nod. As though to tell me something I hadn't known which...in truth did shock me slightly about Hershel. Who knew?
"What happened?" I called after, getting behind Hershel when I heard a set of fires being shot and ran to see what had been happening from where the two were. Seeing only Hershel and no Glenn...
"He fired. He must've hit Glenn. He's behind the dumpster. Doesn't look like he's moving," Hershel whispered as we looked out towards a small patch of lawn, seeing a man squirming and crying about being shot.
"You hit? Are you hit?" I asked as I raised two guns, walking close to the wall and checking for anyone to come over to scare us or kill us. Getting closer to Glenn with every step I took towards him.
"No. No," Glenn told me, he was panting behind a dumpster and was worried. His eyes shutting as he spoke, his grip on the gun made his knuckles as white as paper and his face was covered in a thin layer of sweat.
"It's all right. The car's right there," I told Glenn as he gave me as small 'okay' in agreement and we looked towards the distance. Towards our ticket out of here. "We're almost home. You good?" I asked him to reasure myself that he was as good as he could be in a time like this.
"I'm good," Glenn reassured me as I told them to get ready to move again. When I sneaked in front, the groaning continued and there was sudden gunshots. Telling them to get back we had to find a way to the truck. Eventually they left, leaving a screaming member of their group behind to die.
The one Hershel had shot was getting eaten by walkers, sneaking towards the truck, my heart stopped and I felt a sudden sadness. It was a boy, stuck to a fence and unable to survive with this cercumstance. Thinking of my children, I knew I had to save this boy and get him to safety. For a chance to keep living and fighting. We argued, the tension was high as walkers came strolling closer and we were losing time.
Pulling the boy's leg from the fence, we dragged him the the back of the truck and headed back. The boy passed out, tying him up and blindfolding him so that he wouldn't see anything. He was still a possible threat considering his history and those he surrounded himself with. I did the right thing...
KPOV
Seeing Shane's car pull up, I nudged Carl and we made our way towards it. Mom came out of the car with a cloth to her head, her hair a mess and she looked..."God, are you all right? What happened?" I asked mom concerned as I took her elbows into my hands.
"I was in an accident. I'm fine, I'm fine baby girl," mom reassured us all and me the most. My eyes wide as I saw her wounds and cuts. Fuck...what the hell was she thinking?!
"She was attacked," Shane informed us as he got to mom's side, I looked at him unsure of what this was meant to mean. I don't like the look in his eyes...with this thought, I gripped my mom's elbow a little tighter. Giving Shane a small glare that he shouldn't take another step closer.
"I really am," mom tried to explain her free hand reaching up to cup my cheek. Her eyes warm and kind. She's trying to not make me worry about her... "Where's Rick?" mom asked as she looked to the others. "Where's your father?" mom asked with panick in her voice, no one answered and neither did I as she looked at me. "They're not back? Where are they?" mom asked as I slowly let her go, her eyes searching the rest of us. Wide eyed and scared.
"Look, I had to get you back here," Shane tried to reason as he stepped closer to mom, my grip lessoning as I saw him come closer. Mom's eyes grew wide with anger and...distrust. Like she had been lied to...
"You asshole," mom growled as she went to hit Shane but he blocked her and held her wrists. 'Lori' he said as he tried to get her attention, but mom was having non of it. "He's my husband," mom reminded her shouting at him and angered that he wasn't here.
"Lori, I will go after him. I will find him. Hey! Now look, first things first I gotta I gotta look after you. I gotta make sure the baby's all right, okay?" Shane blurted out to the whole group, with a firm push to get mom away from him. I knew some had found out, other than myself.
Glenn...dad...Shane...Hershel...Maggie...others...not exactly. Oh my God...Shane lied to mom and now told their secret. Dad and mom won't be happy about this...mom doesn't look happy at all...instead she looks shocked and angered.
"You're having a baby? Why didn't you tell me?" Carl asked which made mom unsure of what to say. Carl pushing forwards to talk to mom and me, unsure that I knew I gave him a look that showed him I knew. He frowned and looked down, mom unable to speak.
"Come on. Let's make sure you're all right," Dale suggested as he gave a gesture that mom should come and a look to me to say that I should come with. Mom looked at Carl and we followed. Placing my hand on mom's back, I gently guided her towards the house, leaving Shane there to be alone.
"Come on," I encourage her as we walked away, Carl beside me but a little in front as to keep his anger of not knowing up. I feel bad...I feel like I should have told him but...it wasn't my secret to tell...it was mom and dads.
"Thank you," mom said as Dale handed her a wet warm cloth and sat down beside us. "I am so sorry that I left without telling either of you," mom said sadly as she looked to each of us on either side of her seat.
"It's okay. I wasn't scared. I had Kat to keep me safe and sane," Carl said which made mom look at me, stroking my back as to say I did a good job and smiled. "When's dad getting back?" Carl asked mom and me slightly sad.
"Let's hope soon," I say and this makes mom and Carl nod at me. All of us huddled, looks of understanding plasterd on our faces as we looked to each other. We may have our bad days and sad moments but...we pull together and care for each other as a family. As a family should.
"I wanna be there when you tell him about the baby," Carl explained as he looked to mom and she just sighs, looking away to me and then to the ground. Her hand went to stroke Carl's back and the other fiddled with the cloth in her hands.
"Oh, love, he already knows. We were just trying to find the right time to tell you," she explained as best as she could, getting him up to speed on the situation and what others knew. Dale and Andrea sat beside us, silent and observing us at one of our most vulnerable moments.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Carl asked curiously. Shame we don't have the tools anymore or electricity to know anymore Carl...I remember when mom and dad would come home with a new picture of you and show it to me. All so...happy and excited to have a little boy come into our family.
"Well, we won't know that until it's born," mom answered him sadly, both me and mom exchanged a look of understanding as to why we wouldn't know. Wait...does Carl know about sex? Shit...
"Will I be able to feel it?" Carl asked curious as he placed his hand on her stomach, this made me smile at him sadly. So young...so innocent. If only he knew and I get the feeling it will be soon...
"Not for a while. You must have a lot of questions, huh?" mom said as she looked at Carl and his hand on her stomach, trying to feel the baby and getting nothing from it. "We never had the talk. I guess we forgot," she said as she looked to Dale and Andrea.
"Don't look at me. That's your father's job," Dale said as he looked to Carl who was looking to the elder man for answers. This made me giggle and look down. Mom smiling at me as she nudged me playfully, the two of us giggling softly at the innocence my brother had and that we were in this situation right now without dad.
"If the baby's a girl, can we name her Sophia?" Carl asked us politely as I looked at him sad. My eyes becoming glassy and my eyes looked down at the floor, to my hands that clasped each other more tightly than they normally did.
"Hey, kids," Shane called out to us as he leaned against the door. My jaw clenching as I could still feel the sting everytime he was in close enough proximity. "Hey...I'm sorry, bud. Okay? I thought you knew," Shane appologized to Carl as Carl turned to look at Shane and Dale stood up on his feet to Shane's arrival.
"Big brother Carl. Pretty cool, huh?" Carl teased as he flicked dad's hat that was now his, a proud smile on Carls face and a small smile on the corner of my lips. If only I was like him when I found out mom was pregnant with Carl but...I was still young and unsure of what the world was like...
"I say that's very cool," Shane agreed with a small laugh, mom had her back to Shane and I had mine tilting slightly as to be able to look at Carl. His happiness made me happy. As long as he is safe...I am happy. As long as he is happy...so am I. He doesn't deserve any pain...or suffering.
"I say try being the big sister of both..." I teased at Carl which made Dale, Andrea, mom, Carl and Shane look at me. Carl pondered the thought for a moment and smirked up at me.
"True...that's way cooler," he agreed which made us all laugh softly. Silly brother...but yes...cooler but a lot to deal with. Especially in times like this. But I will always look after you...the baby and our parents. Always.
"You-...you mind if I talk to your mom a sec?" Shane asked as he looked to the two of us, coming in closer as he looked towards us. Mom looked exhaused and not wanting to talk, her head low and her hair covering what I could see of her face.
"How about a little later after she's had some rest?" I suggest a little angered, trying to keep my voice level and not expose my true thoughts towards the asshole leaning against the door frame. Fuck you Shane...you lied in order to get my mom back to us.
"Lori, I had to get you back here. You wouldn't have come otherwise. How about you-...how about you just hear me out, please?" Shane pleaded to mom as I looked to her, placing my hand on her knee I looked to comfort her and she just squeezed my hand tightly but then slowly let go. Telling me she was fine with it.
"It's okay," Carl said as she looked to me and stroked circles into Carl's back. Indicating that she would be fine and Carl looked at me with soft eyes. God...why does he do that. He knows it always works on me. Fuck...
"Okay," I agree when I see Carl's firm but soft eyes look at me. Right into my soul and calming me down enough to allow this to happen. Getting up, I held my hand out to Carl but saw mom look up at me. Then she quickly looked down, slight sadness and fear were in her eyes. I saw it.
"Give me a minute," mom said as she didn't look at us, Shane reached out and patted Carl's shoulder before he gave me a small smile and nod to the head. Taking Carl's hand I led him towards his room and left them. Shane thanking us as we left to do some reading before bed.
"How is she?" I asked both Maggie and Patricia as I walked in to see a still state frozen Beth on the bed. Morning finally came. Carl and I had spent the whole night talking about the past, about what it was like. The food we missed, the people we missed, the things that we would do and the way we used to live. Carl was still asleep when I went to check up on Beth.
"Dehydrated. I'll set up an I.V...best I can do without Hershel," Paticia said as she pat Beth kindly, leaving both me and Maggie alone with Beth. Maggie hadn't laid her eyes off of Beth. Her face sad and her eyes glued to the pale, frozen, wide eyed sister that laid on the bed. The bed creaking as I sat down on the opposite side, looking down at Beth and then back up at Maggie.
"Hey. Can I get you anything?" I asked Maggie saddened that she was in this situation. God...is this what would I be like if I was here instead of searching for Sophia when Carl was shot? A shiver ran down my spine as I thought of it. Maggie sat closer to Beth's head, holding onto her hand and staring down at Beth's blank face.
"Nah, I just wish my dad was here," Maggie admits with sadness in her eyes as she briefly looked up at me. Yes...I would definately be like this...or worse. Possibly worse. God...I hope something like this doesn't happen again to anyone else. Pain is never a good feeling. Or worry.
"She'll be okay. You just need to be strong for her," I say as I remembered the time Carl was shot, or when we believed dad had died. I always kept strong. It was something I was taught from both parents. That...and to always keep hope alive. Even when I feel it isn't going to get better, hope can keep one going and my hope is to always be alive.
"I was just reminding her about...never mind," Maggie was about to say, her voice deep and sad as she spoke. As though she was close to tears and it made me frown slightly.
"No no. I- I'd love to hear," I tell her and try to convince her to tell me. A smile on my face and my eyes kind as I looked to her. Sometimes story are to be told and to be heard. Even if we don't want to hear them because...they show us who we once were and what the world was like before this horror.
"My dad would die if he heard this," Maggie said with a big smile, a small giggle escaping her lips as she looked down at Beth and would caress Beth's face. "My first summer back from college, I drove home, dumped my stuff off, went straight out to the stable for a ride. My family comes back from church and Beth grabs my things and starts unpacking my stuff upstairs," Maggie would say with a smile on her face, looking up at me from time to time and back down at her sister.
"That's sweet," I tell her, reminding me of Carl when he was younger and always want to help me. I think the only reason he would always help me unpack my things was because I would always buy him a new toy he wanted when I would return for the weekends.
"Yeah, until this one here starts rifling through my backpack. She finds this little plastic container with these pink and green candies inside. She didn't even know I was on the pill. She was so freaked out by the idea of me, and boys and sex, she runs outside and...chucks them in the duck pond. And I ride up, I see this, I'm screaming. She's crying and Shawn runs outside, thinks one of us is drowning," Maggie tells me with a small giggle. Remembering their past and what life was like back then.
"Soon as he figures out what's going on, the jerk busts out laughing so loud that my horse rears up and gets mud all over the three of us. My dad comes out, 'what the heck's goin' on out here?!' And she turns around, bats her eyelids and says, 'we're just swimming, daddy.' In her Sunday dress, all covered in snot and mud," Maggie tells me, her nose sniffling and her eyes close to tears as she spoke.
"My dad and Glenn will get your dad back," I reassure her, knowing that they would be back. Keep hope alive. Keep strong. I repeated to myself as I spoke. It's what dad would want me to say and I know that it's what I should say. Maggie sniffed and gave me a slow nod.
"Glenn's a good guy," she said as she looked up at me. I already knew about their interation in the pharmasy as I could smell that...sex coated smell covering the both of them. Their looks, the way they would speak to each other and how they would present themselves to each other. It was obvious they were together.
"Yeah. He is," I agree, remembering all the times he looked out for me and my family. We owe him a great debt. He has always kept me, my dad and my family safe. He knows how to care for himself and for others.
"Kat?" I heard a small voice say as both me and Maggie stared at each other. Looking to where the voice came from, I smiled and saw Carl wipe some of the sleep from his eyes.
"Hey Chip. What are you doing up so early?" I asked him. He was dressed, ready and ate for the day. There was the shine of milk covering his mouth which made me giggle. Doing the gesture he understood what I meant and did it with a small blush colouring his cheeks.
Giggling we looked at the now blushed and bashful Carl. "Can we go play outside?" he asked me as he looked to me. Maggie looked between the two of us, before looking back down at Beth. Looking to Beth, I glaced back at Carl and smiled.
"Sure," I agreed as I got up and gave a small nod to Maggie. As we left, I saw mom at the table and gave her a small smile. Walking out, me and Carl played games outside, from board games to games involving our environment and exploring what it's like to be on a farm.
Suddenly there was a car pulling up to park outside the house. The engine stopping and the familiar figures of Glenn, Hershel and dad exit the car. "Dad!" Carl screamed as he ran towards him and I ran closely.
"You're okay," I said with relief as the two of us engufled him in a hug. Dad kissing the top of our heads as he held us to him. Thank God he's safe. I knew he would be back.
"Patricia, prepare the shed for surgery," Hershel said as mom hugged dad. Maggie ran out to hug Glenn, forgetting her father and Hershel looked slightly stunned. Hershel ignored the pain that was evident and headed towards the house.
"Are you hurt?" mom asked as she searched dad for anything that could be fatal or simple enough to call a wound. The two of them looking to each other as I held Carl to me, the four of us making a circle as dad inspected mom.
"No, but what happened to you?" dad asked as he cupped the side of her face, looking into her eyes and spotting all the cuts mom had from the accident. Glancing to Carl he looked up and watched our parents.
"I was in a car accident," mom explained not looking dad in the eyes. Good thing we found her and brought her back. Who knows what could have happened...
"Accident? How?" dad asked confused as he looked between us. Dad let go of mom's face and looked to her for answers.
"I went looking for you," mom admited as she looked away. Slight shame tinting her eyes but anger was still hidden from what Shane did. What could Shane have said to mom while we were reading?
"Snuck out on her own. Brought her back," Shane said as he got closer, mom looked away and dad looked towards Shane. A look crossed dad's face that showed me he knew about what happened but...it was hard to read what was going through dad's mind in that very moment.
"Are you crazy? You could've-" dad went to say as he looked to mom, his face showing anger and concern for mom. We're all crazy. We're living in a fucking world of flesh eating human freaks trying to kill us! Of course we worry and do stupid things for the ones we love!
"Who the hell is that?" T-Dog said which brought our attention towards a figure who was in the back of the car. All of us began to gather around the car and dad stood there slightly unsure of how to respond.
"That's Randall," Glenn explained as I took a few steps closer towards the car, keeping Carl back and examining who was sat in the back. As I got closer, his face became more clearer and this was when I noticed the key thing. Flashbacks of the men who tried to rape me in the woods flashed in my head.
"Woah! Kat! What are you doing?!" dad asked me confused when he noticed me pull out my gun, aiming at the man's head. My heart pounding. My breathing heavy. My palms sweating. My brain screaming at me to shoot.
"Kat?" Carl called for me confused as I felt dad's hands pull my gun down and out of my hands quickly. He looked at me confused, everyone watched as I backed away, my chest heaving and a warmth coated my body from what I was seeing.
"What's wrong baby girl?" mom asked as she walked closer to me, reaching out for me I kept walking back and everyone stared at me. Unsure and worried. They probably think I'm looking at a ghost...
"That's the same guy who assisted in the attempted rape..." I revealed to them, everyone either gasping, wide eyed or worried when they looked to me. When their eyes all landed back to the man, I saw mom gaping at me and Shane clench his jaw. Dad swallowed a hard lump in his throat as he looked to the guy in the car.
"Wait...are you sure?" Shane asked me as he stepped closer to me, rubbing his head in his nervous state. Getting close to me and making me flinch away from him. My eyes firm and my head shook incredulously at the fact he asked me this question.
"You think I wouldn't be fucking sure who was trying to rape me and the one who helped the other try and rape me?! The same one who ran away?! Believe me...I remember shit like this," I growled at him. Sure of what I saw and knew. Such a fucking stupid question.
"We couldn't just leave him behind. He would've bled out, if he lived that long," dad explained as we all were gathered in the dinning room. We were all there except Daryl and Hershel.
"It's gotten bad in town," Glenn explaned sadly as he looked to me and the rest of us. My jaw clenched as I leaned against the door, my arms folded over my chest and glaring into the distance. To a spot on the wall as to not lose my patience or temper.
"What do we do with him?" Andrea asked as we saw Hershel come in cleaning his hands on a white cloth. My eyes roamed around the room, to see what everyone's reaction to this was.
"I repaired his calf muscle as best I can, but he'll probably have nerve damage. Won't be on his feet for at least a week," Hershel told us and this made me scoff. Keeping a rapist under our roof. Fuck that. I'd rather die than have him under our roof.
"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road, send him on his way," dad suggested, a plan ready and this made me take in a slow and shaky breath. Carl turned around to look at me, giving me a small smile and I gave him a shy smile back.
"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?" Andrea said as we saw Daryl walk in, he gave a small nod and smile to Carol. He stood beside me and crossed his arms over his chest. His presence made me have to shuffle a few steps away, so that he could have room and not make me feel any more tense than I already was.
"He'll have a fighting chance," dad explained trying to seem reasonable about the entire situation. He wants this asshole gone by the week but...is still being kind enough by giving him this 'chance'?! Who knows if that dick would have given me a chance?!
"Just gonna let him go? He knows where we are," Shane pointed out. I have to agree with Shane. We shouldn't let him go incase he searches for the others and brings hell rolling towards us. I won't let that happen. Ever.
"He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat," dad informed us but I just looked away. The anger inside me growing at the thought of the guy living under Hershel's roof.
"Not a threat," I scoffed at dad's words. "He is the same guy who held me down so the other guy could try and rape me! I got out alive and unharmed but...one of them didn't. I don't want him under this roof any longer than he needs to be..." I say trying to be reasonable. "I should have killed him when I had the chance..." I mumbled to myself. Hoping that no one would hear me and if they did...fuck them.
"How many of them were there? You killed three of their men, you took one of them hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking? They ain't just gonna come over here and rape our women and children?" Shane asked dad incredulous of the thought that these men may be the worst type to negotiate with and save them.
"They left him for dead. No one is looking," dad spat, growling as he leaned over the table and looked at Shane angered. How would he know?! They still came looking for the other two who were in the bar...who's to say they won't check to see if 'Randall' is really dead?
"We should still post a guard," T-Dog suggested and I just took in a shaky breath, looking away and feeling the vile rise in my stomach from my nerves. Fuck...this is driving me crazy. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?!
"He's out cold right now, will be for hours," Hershel informed us making me take a loud and hard swallow. I wish it was lights out for that fucker. Why? He's a threat and he isn't welcome as far as I'm concerned.
"You know what? I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy," Shane said as he scoffed and headed towards the door, rubbing at his head and shaking it. "Look at this, folks! We back in fantasy land," Shane said sarcastically at the situation and I just look away, my face hard with the anger and dicision we were making.
"You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet. Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all...this is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor...keep your mouth shut," Hershel threatened as he stopped Shane from leaving. Making me look between the two. Daryl's eyes were on me when I looked at the two men but it was quickly on the conversation between Hershel and Shane when he noticed me catch him looking at me.
Shane sighed, rubbed his head and walked out the door. "We're not gonna do anything about it today. Let's just cool off," dad suggested to all of us as he stood beside Hershel and people were begining to leave.
"Just know this...I don't want him anywhere near me...mom and Carl...if I even get a look at him again...I will kill him," I threatened as I turned my back on the rest of them and was the first to leave after Shane. This...is going to be one hell of a problem...
Hey guys! Hope you liked this chapter! DUN DUN DUN! So...it was Randall there in the forrest assisting in the attempted rape and who ran away. Who knew? Yes...Kat is fighting everything she has not to do the wrong thing but...would you really act any different with this situation?
Well shit...I can't edit as well as I would like to! Now...please mind the spelling mistakes. As for the disclaimer...I ONLY OWN KATHRINE GRIMES! + EXTRA CHARACTERS FROM HER PAST! (which will come up later in the series)
Now! I would like 5 reviews for this chapter to get me posting the chapters quicker! Next chapter...won't have a lot of Kat moments but...it will have the struggle between Shane and Rick and possibly...a lot of bonding between Kat and Carl...you'll see why! Anyway! Review responses starting...now!
redangel2463: Here's your update! Mmmm...I understand. I was crying a little when I was writing those moments but...this actually had me sweating writing the whole Randall thing. Thank you for your constant reviews sweetie!
Liaskane: Kat is surprisingly strong. She'll get over it. She kind of already has but...it will creep up in her mind every so often. Especially when it comes to her baby brother Carl. Hopefully you understand. Thank you for your review sweetie!
Caity6991: Well...not only were they in her group but...surprise! I have to admit yes...Carl and Daryl can get through to her but...so can her parents. So can anyone who speaks truth or she fully trusts. Right now...Kat doesn't fully trust Daryl. Especially not after what he did to her mother...ouch. {Winces} Thank you for your review sweetie!
Much love!
HeroJustInTime90 x
