A/N: If you reviewed and signed in, I have responded to your review. Thank you so much for reading! For those who reviewed anonymously or without signing in:

Guest – We shall see where our dear Carl ventured. Perhaps he did go to Mich's apartment… you'll have to read to find out. Thanks so much for reading and for your lovely review. It brought a smile to my face.

Kam – We know Carl has a penchant for running towards danger instead of away. We'll see where the young Grimes has gone. Thanks for supporting this story and for the review. You're the best!

Alex311 – Ha ha! Guys can be so emotional (says a very emotional woman) but I know how to switch it on and off (depending on the situation)! LOL! I'm glad you found "upset with Michonne" Rick cute. You are just too sweet for words. Thanks so much for that very wonderful compliment. I'm just happy anyone is reading what I write to be honest. I really appreciate you reading and reviewing this story. You totally rock!


Michonne

A missing Carl should not have been news to her. She was well aware of his inability to stay put and his need to aid the lost and helpless. He was a sweet and kind young man, even in the midst of the craziness they encountered daily. His lack of self-interest and his careless pride in regards to himself frightened her though. He was a growing boy and getting stronger by the day but she couldn't prevent her thoughts from going back to the night Rick ripped out, with his teeth, the carotid artery of the man threatening their lives. Without a blink of an eye, Rick gutted the man who threatened to take Carl's innocence and she knew if she were in his shoes she would have done the same. Though Carl thought he was a man, thought he was strong, there were still enough evil people in this world willing to test that and prove him wrong.

Leaping from her seat on the bed, Michonne purposefully strapped her katana across her back as her eyes made their way to a panic stricken Rick, holding Judith snug to his chest. "I know where Carl is."

Puzzled, Rick questioned, his eyebrows furrowing ever so slightly, "Where is he?"

A heavy sigh escaped her mouth as she searched for the words. She didn't want Rick to come with her but she knew he'd fight her tooth and nail. She couldn't really blame him. It was his son that was missing. Given a second chance she'd travel through hell and high water to find and protect her own son. It appeared her past was not going to let her do this on her own and in her own time. She closed her eyes, praying for the strength to at least tell Rick about the place she called home before this all began.

Inhaling deeply she began, "There's a high-rise about a half a block from here, not far from where we parked the vans."

She paused, collecting her thoughts before proceeding to shed a little more light on her past life. "Carl and I grabbed a few more bags and I grabbed a box of food before we started towards the shelter. I forgot… I lived in a condo in that high-rise and when I saw it I froze. Dropped the box and everything."

Rick moved in closer, though he didn't attempt to touch or comfort her. He only hugged Judith a little tighter and listened intently. She could only conclude that it was taking everything for him not to shake the rest of it out of her.

"Carl saw me staring at the building and drilled me with a ton of questions until I answered him. I even told him what floor I lived on. I'm positive that's where he went."

"Then let's go," Rick announced without a qualm. "I'll follow your lead."

He passed Judith back to Noah before placing his gun holster taut around his waist. His focus returned to Michonne as she ran down her list of directives to the young man.

"Take Judy back to Beth," Michonne instructed as she watched Rick secure the red handled machete to a hook attached to his belt.

"Find Daryl and tell him Rick and I are out looking for Carl. I need him and Tyreese or Glenn to spot for us. Ask Maggie, Sasha and Carol to do a search of the facility for Carl."

"Daryl can reach me by radio," Rick added as he tucked the walkie into the back pocket of his jeans. "If you hear anything or if Carl comes back, ya'll let me know."

"Yes sir," Noah replied still holding Judith a distance from his body, her little chunky legs dangling in the air. She began to squirm and wiggle uncomfortably in Noah's hands. "I understand finding Carl is a priority b- but she still needs to be changed."

"Noah, is it," Rick spoke low through gritted teeth as Michonne tossed a plastic bag of diapers in Noah's direction. The young man fumbled a bit to catch the bag and struggled to keep a good grip on the baby. "It's only shit. She'll live and so will you. Now go."

Noah's eyes grew wide in reverential fear as he hurried out the door and down the hallway.

"Little girl, what have you been eating" Noah asked softly, though his question did not go unheard.

"He's a little shit," Rick snarled his disdain for the young man to Michonne.

His agitation made Michonne feel even worse than she did when she first laid eyes on the building. Had she not responded, Carl wouldn't have noticed and trekked out there on his own. He was always poking his nose in other people's business. Carl was her little shit, she thought as they ventured out of the front doors of the shelter and onto the street. Their legs quietly and harmoniously hurried around the corner from the building and there before her stood the once ivory colored high-rise. The place she dwelled with her family. Now it was nothing more than a part of the urban wasteland that was once downtown Atlanta.


Rick

He was going to have a long talk with Carl once they found him. That or he really needed to put a strap to his son's backside, though that was never his way of discipline. It was far too late to start that anyway and he was sure Carl would buck back at him in a second. He could put Carl down easily but what would that prove? If anything it would make Carl more defiant. No, he'd sit down and have a calm man to man chat with his boy.

Michonne paused quickly just ahead of him, bringing him back to the present. They'd stepped into what he could only deem badlands. Rancid decaying flesh overwhelmed their nostrils as they stood on the landing just before the last flight of steps to the eighth floor.

"The smell," Michonne coughed as Rick came to her side and shined the flashlight over a sea of slaughtered walker bodies cascading down the staircase.

"Yeah," he mumbled as he placed his arm over his mouth and nose. The stench was so strong that it began to burn his eyes. "We're gonna have to cross over that. You go first. Go quick."

Grabbing a hold of the rusted railing, Michonne craftily tramped over the putrefying bodies as fast as her feet and legs would allow until she reached the second landing. A little out of breath she called towards the gleaming light coming from his flashlight, "Rick, stay close to the railing and hold on ti-"

A loud thud and bang interrupted her voice as a heavy gasp escaped from her mouth meeting Rick's ears in the blackness.

"Shit," Rick called out floating over the decaying bodies like he was jumping over hurdles.

"Michonne," Rick cried as he reached the landing.

He couldn't see her as he recklessly turned around himself, guiding the flashlight in every direction. Bright white light made Michonne known as she struggled to free herself from the grasp of a walker torso. Replacing the flashlight with his weapon, Rick lunged forward and drove the red handled machete into the head of the walker. He punted the body to the side and reached aimlessly into the dark until his hands found Michonne. Helping her up onto her feet, he heedlessly surrounded her with his arms and pulled her into his body.

"Damn walker, pulled my feet from underneath me," she explained. "I couldn't see anything. Didn't know if you had made it up and I couldn't grab hold of my sword. Fucking stupid."

"Hey," Rick said as he released her. "You know this is unpredictable. That's why were together. I got you, alright?"

He walked away from and retrieved the flashlight he tossed on the ground before they made their way through the door of the eighth floor. He poked his head through the door and tossed his gaze back and forth down the long, empty corridor before moving forward. Michonne was inches behind him, as he could hear the rise and fall of her breathing quicken once their feet made contact with the carpeted hallway. He knew she was worried and uncomfortable because this was a part of her she had left behind and long forgotten. Here they were, now, rehashing old wounds that had never fully healed over for her. He wanted to reach out and hold her hand. He wanted to tell her he understood. He wanted to tell her that it would all be alright but he didn't know that for sure. He didn't know what she had internalized over the past few years. Instead he motioned for her to walk ahead and lead the way to her old home.

She automatically made her way down the hall to a unit on the right hand side of the narrow corridor and placed her hand on the door knob. Rick made his way beside her and swiped the red handled machete from his belt hook as she slid her slender fingers around the handle of her katana, gripping it tightly.

"You alright," Rick whispered, noticing her anxiety heightened. She nodded slowly in response.

Deftly, Michonne's boot ripped the door off its hinges as they entered the condo, on guard. Rick handled the machete in his right hand as the bright white beam of the flashlight scanned the contents of the unit. There was vestige of someone once living in the space, as his eyes glanced over a large modern bookcase filled with books. The floor was littered with papers and clothing as he swept through the small atrium and into the living room, Michonne was feet ahead of him staring down at something near a chaise lounge. He attempted to watch her and be alert of their surroundings as she made her way to the floor. Tossing the katana aside she sat on her knees and studied something she had retrieved from a broken picture frame.

Rick turned his back towards her and began to slowly walk backwards, keeping his focus on their environment as she began to lightly sob. Words softly began to form into coherence as he stooped down behind her, his back touching hers. Releasing the flashlight, he grabbed a hold of her hand. He could feel the slick photograph under her fingers.

"Rick," she bawled. "I- I'm s-so sorry."

For now he didn't want to know what she'd seen or what provoked that reaction from her. He had no peaceful or consolable words to offer her, only his presence and he hoped that was enough. He squeezed her hand in his as he made his way to sit completely on the floor, his back leaning against hers.

"Take your time," he returned as she withdrew into her past, allowing the tears and hurt to drown her.

Trying hard to push aside Michonne's quiet sobs, Rick permitted the stillness to consume his thoughts. He thought about a much simpler time; A time when his wife was there. A time when he would grab a beer and watch the Falcon's play with Shane. But that was no more. His thoughts hastily rushed to Carl. He was the reason they were in the building in the first place. Worry began its necessary descent over Rick's body as images of his son came to the forefront of his mind. He stood up from where he sat and placed a loving hand on Michonne's shoulder.

"Imma go check out the rest of the place and see if I can find Carl," Rick drawled as he stood tall. Michonne came to her feet quickly as he moved forward. "It's alright 'Chonne. I got this."

"No," she contended, wiping her tear stained face clean with the palms of her hands. "We're in this together. We came here to find Carl and I'm going to help you find him. I'm the reason he left to come here in the first place."

They made their way down the hallway towards the bedrooms when static pierced the dead tranquility of the condo.

"Rick," Daryl's voice cracked over the airwaves. "Carl's here."


Carl

Carl knew his dad would be pissed but he didn't care. So what if he got in trouble. What was his dad going to do, ground him and from what? It wasn't like life was how it once was. He knew what he did was the right thing to do and he would stand by his decision no matter what the consequences were. His dad deserved to be happy and so did Michonne and the only way they would be able to do so, would be for them to move forward with their lives.

He playfully plopped down on the bed in his dad's room after Daryl escorted him inside. Under eyed, he stared up at Daryl with a small smirk on his face.

"Where were ya," Daryl asked, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Why would I tell you," Carl countered. "You're just gonna go back and tell my dad. I'd rather tell him myself."

Daryl laughed and shook his head. "Alright."

"Stay put," Daryl directed as he started to leave. "Your dad's on his way."

His long legs shook as he dug deep into his pants pocket retrieving the Big Cat he won on a dare from Michonne. Studying the wrapper, he started thinking about his friend and her current state of mind. He didn't like seeing Michonne down on herself. She didn't deserve to feel inadequate. She didn't deserve to blame herself for her son's disappearance and death. She deserved peace of mind. She deserved some hope and Carl would do everything in his power to aid her.

After spending some time with Beth, Noah and Judith, Carl decided he had enough of the teenagers and baby and opted to venture out to find Michonne. She'd been setting up traps at the front entrance of the shelter. When he arrived she wasn't there but he came across Carol and questioned her if she knew of Michonne's whereabouts. She informed him that Michonne went to talk to his dad.

Carl wandered along the hall quietly on his way to chat with Michonne. He'd just finished an Iron Man comic and wanted to rub it in her face how awesome it was. A low voice that didn't belong to his dad captured Carl's ears as he approached the bedroom. Pressing his back against the wall, Carl listened intently by the doorway. It was Michonne but who was she talking too. He slowly raked his eyes around the corner and saw Michonne alone; pacing and talking to herself.

"No," her voice seethed into the silence. "I'm not going back there."

She turned abruptly towards the door and Carl rapidly pressed his body back against the wall and slid down until he was seated. He pulled his legs into his body and rested his head and arms on his knees as he continued to listen to Michonne.

"I've been done with this for a while Mike. There's nothing left for me in that place. That's not my home." She paused a moment before speaking again. "I don't give a shit what you think I should do. You weren't there. You were never there for us and Andre would still be with me if - "

It was then that Carl decided he had to do something to help her. She couldn't continue to slip back to that place. She had admitted to Carl before they made it to Terminus that the last time she spoke to Mike was right before she decided to search for some of the prison group; right before she found him and his dad. If he could help it, he wouldn't let her go back there. He had to do something and he had to do it quick.

"Carl," Rick's voice thundered, breaking Carl's stream of consciousness, as he entered the room and stalked towards his son. "Get up right now."

Carl reluctantly stood before his dad, not knowing what was to come. His father's face was covered in fury and something else Carl couldn't quite pinpoint. Rick grabbed Carl by the shoulders and pulled him into his chest, squeezing the boy tightly. Michonne walked up and grasped Carl's hand. Rick released his son and stepped back allowing Michonne to embrace Carl as well.

Upon release, Rick motioned for Carl to have a seat as he placed his hands on his hips. His pace back and forth across the room was slow and calculated. Carl knew he was going to get it; just didn't know how.

"Did you go to Michonne's old condo," Rick queried, his arms crossed loosely over his chest as he tilted his head to the side, examining Carl's face.

"No," Carl answered honestly.

"Then where were you," Michonne asked.

"You two needed this," Carl began his explanation. "And I knew that if you thought I'd gone to your old condo you'd two go looking for me. It gave you a chance to talk privately and"

"And what?"

He stared into Michonne's dark eyes. "And it would give you a chance to talk to someone other than me about your life before."

Michonne exhaled heavily and started shaking her head. "Carl, this isn't on you. You don't have to get involved in all this heavy stuff."

"But," he protested. "You were talking to him again. I saw you. I heard you."

"Look," Rick intervened. "Carl, don't run off like that again. You're putting yourself and us in danger. It was pitch black in that building and Michonne was tripped by a walker when we went looking for you. What if she really got hurt? Listen to her and stay out of adult situations. It's not on you. Now go before I change my mind about strappin' your behind with my belt."

He got up from his seat on the bed and started towards the door.

"Hey," Michonne called after him. "You didn't answer us. Where were you if you didn't go to the condo?"

"I waited in the van and watched you and dad go looking for me. I waited about thirty minutes after you entered the building before I went back to the shelter." He looked at his dad, who was squeezing the bridge of his nose, before returning his gaze to Michonne.

"You are not to leave and go anywhere on your own for the next couple of days," Rick commanded. "You don't go on any runs and if we need you to, you are to remain next to Michonne or me at all times. And you're on babysitting duty with Noah and Beth. No if ands or buts. Got it?"

Carl shook his head in affirmation before turning on his heels and heading into the hallway. His dad closed the door behind him and he stood outside listening to the beginning of the budding conversation between his dad and Michonne.

A smile met his lips as he walked away triumphant.

"I win," he whispered as he made his way down the hallway to his quarters.


A/N: I'm trying really hard to update this a bit more frequently. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and thank you all for your wonderful feedback. I sincerely appreciate it very much. That Carl is a very sneaky fellow but alas, I think his efforts will work. Who knows what's being discussed behind that closed door. You shall find out in the next update!