Puppy Love

Summary: How is Carl's new companion settling in to life at the prison?

A/N: Thank you to the people who suggested names for the puppy! Your input was given due consideration and now you will have to read on to find out Carl's decision. I hope you are pleased with the results.

…..

Chapter 2

Maggie was gushing over the puppy cradled in Carl's arms, "Oh! I have to tell Beth!"

A loud shriek caused them both to look up and see Mika running towards them at full speed, followed closely by her sister, Patrick, and the other little kids.

"Oh my," Maggie exclaimed, taking her cue to step back or be trampled by the excited children.

"It's true! Look, Lizzie! Look!"

"Wow!"

"Is it a boy or a girl? Can I see?!"

"Carl, where did he come from?!"

"Can I pet 'em?! Please!?"

"Michonne found him outside and brought him back," Carl tried to keep up with the answers, making sure to specify that it was his puppy, "She gave him to me just now!"

"Oh! Look how cute! Carl!"

"Can I hold him?"

"Let me see!"

In no time at all, both Carl and the puppy were feeling quite surrounded by the crowd of people, bombarding them with questions, jumping up and down, reaching to touch the puppy.

"Everyone stop!" Carl said loudly.

The others paused and looked at Carl as he explained, "Listen, he's really little and scared of people. You can't all rush him at once."

"Okay," Mika nodded, chastised.

"He needs a bath!"

"And food and water and a bed!"

Carl realized that all the kids were looking to him expectantly. Maybe this is what my dad feels like when he's the leader… He took a deep breath and looked across the excited faces of his friends. Now I get to be in charge!

"Patrick can help me clean him up. Lizzie and Mika, you guys find some bowls for food and water," Carl gave his orders.

"Okay!" the two sisters ran off to the kitchen.

"Let's get some shampoo and towels!" Patrick suggested.

"I have a blanket he can use for a bed!" one of the little kids added.

They all followed Carl and the puppy into the prison.

"Does he have a name yet?" Patrick asked.

"Not yet," Carl answered, "I'll think of something good."

…

Rick walked beside Michonne towards the cell block.

"Looks like you just made Carl the most popular kid in the prison," Rick told her with a smile.

"Yeah," Michonne agreed, smiling back.

Rick was quiet for a bit, lost in thought, which was not an uncommon occurrence.

He kept thinking about how touched Michonne had been by something as simple as getting a hug from Carl. It hurt him to realize how lonely she'd probably been all this time. He knew what it was like to feel isolated, even when he was around other people.

Rick silently resolved to do his best to make Michonne feel more included, to make sure she knew how much he appreciated her.

"I know Carl is responsible," Rick found himself rambling, "but he needs something to be responsible for. It'll be good for him to learn how to take care of a dog, give him something to be proud of."

Michonne nodded her understanding and Rick found himself telling her about the dog that he'd had growing up. Usually, when it came to Michonne, Rick would hold back. He was afraid that if he pushed too far, he would scare her away.

One minute she'd be smiling and saying how happy she was to see him again, then the next she'd shy away and say she was only staying for a little while. It was best, Rick had decided, to be cautious, but now he couldn't seem to stop talking.

"Come to think of it, the prison probably had guard dogs. We might even find some old dog food lying around here somewhere, the garage maybe."

"Rick?" Michonne interrupted him.

Oh man, now I've done it. What was I thinking, talking so much?

"I'm really thirsty, could you grab me a water bottle?" Michonne asked and Rick suddenly realized that they were standing outside her cell.

"Yeah, sure," Rick said.

Michonne tried and ultimately failed to stifle a huge yawn. She unslung her sword from her shoulder and propped it up in the corner of her room, by the door.

Rick turned to go towards the kitchen, feeling like a huge dork.

At the end of the cell block, though, he couldn't help but glance back toward Michonne's cell. To his surprise, she was still standing there, watching him thoughtfully.

When she caught his eyes, Michonne gave him a soft smile then ducked her head and went into her room.

…..

A week passed with no major incidents at the prison. Carl's puppy slowly realized that he had a safe home and none of the people here would try to grab him and eat him. He followed Carl around all day like a miniature shadow. He slept curled up on a little blanket at the foot of Carl's bed.

Rick started teaching Carl how to train the puppy, who looked like he was part German Shepherd, part mutt. Sure enough, they found several massive bags of kibble stored away in a closet near the kennels for the prison guard dogs.

Everyone had a suggestion for what to name the puppy; it was the major topic of discussion at every meal.

Carol suggested that he name the puppy Grimesy, Daryl seemed to believe that all dogs should be called Bud and taught to hunt squirrels, and Mika was adamant that he should be named Griselda Gunderson.

At first Carl thought he might name the puppy after someone that they'd lost. After all, there were enough names to choose from; Axel, Oscar, T Dog, Dale, Shane, his best friend from third grade, the list went on, but he quickly decided against that idea. He wasn't sure it felt right to name a dog after a person and he didn't want to make people sad whenever they heard it.

"So, what's the verdict?" Rick asked him over dinner.

"Little guy needs an official name," Michonne added.

"I've thought about it," Carl told his captive audience, "and his name is Boris."

Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Glenn were momentarily at a loss for words.

"Oh," Genn said, "That's a strange-" Michonne swiftly kicked him under the table, "um, good, that's a good name, Carl. I like it."

"I wanted him to have a name that sounds tough," Carl explained, giving Glenn a weird look.

Rick nodded his approval, secretly wondering what might happen if Carl got to name anything else. First Judith, now Boris…I think the power is going to his head.

Michonne smiled, "Sounds good to me."

Carl grinned and went back to eating, every so often sneaking a bit of food to Boris, who sat expectantly at his feet.

…..

"But seriously, Maggie, why couldn't he have just named him Killer if he wanted a tough name?"

Maggie laughed, "Honey, I'm beginning to think you're jealous of Carl."

"Of course I'm jealous," Glenn pouted, "I want a dog too!"

"Aw, come here," Maggie never could resist Glenn's puppy dog eyes, "How about a kiss instead?"

…

TBC!

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it! Ya'll probably needed something happy. That last episode was pretty dark…

Anyway, I have the next chapter planned already. It will be titled Puppy Kisses. You've been warned.