They walked silently through the woods for a long time, holding hands and keeping an eye out. They weren't in a hurry, not yet anyway. He sniffs the air around them, as they pull to a stop. He pulls her to him, sliding his arm around her waist.
"What is it?" she asks.
"Do you smell that?"
"It's smells like something burning."
"If we keep walking this way, we'll come out up on the ridge at the prison." He looks down at her. "Are you sure you want to keep going this way?"
"Why are we going this way to begin with?"
"We need a car and I need to look at the baby seat one more time."
"Why?"
"I used to be a cop remember, I can tell if there a live body or not taken from it."
"In other words, you want to check it out before we go off on a wild goose chase."
"Do you blame me?"
"Not at all. I just hope Carl hasn't gotten them into any trouble."
"That's my boy," he mutters.
She lays her hand on his arm. "I am willing to walk through hell and back with you."
"Good." He kisses her head. "Let's keep moving."
They begin walking towards the former prison slowly; he pulls them to a stop as they peer out. Walkers are covering the inside and the lawn where the cars sit, left behind from the battle. Rick stares out over the carnage and shakes his head. She tightens her grip on him as she buries her face against his chest.
"I don't know if I can do this or not."
"I don't know if I can either."
"What do we do? Are we even sure the cars are still there?"
"No we don't." He looks down at her. "I guess I need to know, for my own peace of mind whether she's really gone or not." He looks back over the scene; he stares over the field, at the fallen bodies and at the walkers. "Am I wrong for wanting to know?"
"I don't think so," she replies softly, her body beginning to tremble.
"Screw it, let's go." He turns them around and they head out back through the forest. They get away from the prison hurriedly, finally stopping to rest on a fallen log. He sits down and lays his head in his hands. She sits beside him, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting embrace.
They sit there for several minutes until a rustling sound causes them to turn. Daryl comes walking up, carrying the bloody car seat with him. He sets it down and kneels beside them. "Only walkers left are the ones out front, inside is clear."
Rick leans over and picks it up, running his hands over the impression inside. Tears fall down Beth's cheek as she touches a piece of fabric attached to the side. "This was the coat she was wearing."
He takes the tiny shred of fabric from her and runs his fingers over it. He holds it up and looks, the fabric had been ripped off by something … or someone. He sets the car seat down and turns to look over his shoulder. "I was a fool to want to come back here."
"Naw man, you needed to know," Daryl says, laying his hand on his leg. "So, tell me cop what does your gut say? Is ass-kicker alive?"
Looking down at the fabric in his hand, Rick holds it up to analyze it closer. His eyes widen as he looks at the edges. "This was torn from her coat by someone pulling her loose in a hurry. Someone got to Judith and took her out of the seat in a hurry."
"Then she might still be alive," Beth smiles and wipes her eyes.
"All right, now what?" Daryl asks. "All the cars are gone, and the ones on the lawn are a lost cause."
"We need to find a car somewhere," Rick says as a gun clicks.
They turn abruptly to see Lilly standing behind them. "I saw who took the baby."
"Who?" Beth asks, rising. She walks over and lays her hand on the gun. "I am sorry about your little girl, I truthfully am."
Lilly returns the safety to the gun and falls forward, sobbing loudly. "I can't believe he took her and he shot her like that, like she meant nothing to him."
"That's the type of man he was," Rick says, helping her to the log. "Where's the girl you were with, Tara I think her name was."
"My sister … she's gone, walkers got a hold of her," Lilly sobs. "It was a woman who took your daughter, with short gray hair."
"Carol," Daryl and Rick both say.
"Did you see which way she went?" Beth asks.
"I watched her pull out and head down the highway. She also grabbed two little girls from the prison, both were blonde and both had guns."
"Lizzie and Mika," Daryl responds.
"It's not safe for you out here, please come with us," Rick says, taking hold of her hands. "We need your help finding our daughter."
Lilly looks from him to Beth and nods silently. "I know where we can get supplies."
"Let's get moving then."
They help her up and head through the woods. She leads them down an incline and over to an awaiting car. Daryl runs over and hops on his motorcycle as they climb in and take off before the walkers notice. Lilly drives fast, taking them out through the country to where a small group of trailers is parked. They climb out and she runs into a trailer. She comes running out with several large bags and throws them in back.
"All the people that lived here took what they could but abandoned the trailers. We have several full of food and other supplies. Tara brought all of our ammo, it's inside our trailer."
Beth looks around and sees several walkers milling about across the water. She pulls her gun out and walks to the bank; Rick follows her gaze as she stands them down, her blonde hair whipping around. "Get the supplies, I'll keep an eye on these guys."
"Yell if you need us," Rick calls out.
They go through the trailers, emptying them of all the supplies not taken. Lilly packs a large bag of medical supplies and comes out, throwing it into the car. "How are they?"
"Still there," Beth acknowledges, keeping the gun on them. "They haven't stepped off the bank yet."
Rick and Daryl run over with bags full of supplies and throw them in. "Let's go Beth!"
She pulls the gun back as a walker heads into the water. She keeps her eyes on it as the rapids shoot it down river. She runs over to the car and climbs in. They speed away from the abandoned camp site as the walker from the rapids surfaces closer to their side.
They pull onto the road and stop, trying to figure out which direction to head. Beth leans forward and taps Rick's shoulder, pointing to a car driving fast. He motions to Daryl and they take off after the car. Daryl kicks the motorcycle down and takes off faster, catching up with the car and pulls it over.
The others arrive as Carol climbs out of the car, slamming the door. "What the hell was that about!"
"I was just trying to get your attention, pookie," Daryl grins and grabs hold of her, pulling her into a passionate kiss.
Lizzie and Mika hang out the windows giggling as Rick comes over with Lilly and Beth. "Where is she Carol? Where's Judith!"
"She's in the backseat," Carol states and looks at him. "Nice to see you too."
"Move girls," Beth says as she opens the door and leans in. She reaches over and pulls Judith out of the car and stands up with her in her arms. She wipes her eyes as she walks over with her to Rick. Rick lays his hands on the baby's face and kisses her. "We thought walkers had gotten her."
"You shouldn't have abandoned her," Carol states, pulling a gun. "Put my Sophia back in the car."
Lilly pulls her gun and points it at Carol. "She is coming with us. Don't make me turns these girls into orphans again."
"She is mine now," Carol states firmly and cocks the gun. "Put her back in."
"I was with Daryl, heading back for her and Rick was fighting with the Governor on the front lawn … he almost died! We were trying to get to her because she should have been on the bus with the others," Beth implores her. "Please, let me have my daughter."
"She's not yours, she's Lori's. There's an even better chance she's not Rick's too. Technically, the only living family she has is Carl." Carol smiles wickedly at them. "Karma is a bitch."
"If you take her, I will hunt you down and kill you for that baby," Daryl hisses into her ear. "Now, let them have their daughter and we all leave."
"Sorry Daryl, I am not leaving this road alive without that baby," Carol replies and pulls a second gun on him. "Back off now please."
Rick steps in the middle of them, shielding Beth and Judith with his body. "Fine, kill me but let Beth have Judith. You're pissed at me, I am okay with that. Just, please, let Beth take our daughter and leave." He walks closer to her. "Pull the trigger, I don't give a damn."
"But I do," Beth states behind him. "I want us to be a family, but if I have to choose … I choose you." He turns around and looks at her. "We can try to have a baby of our own, but I don't want to live if you are not here with me. If Carol kills you, then she'd better kill me too." Tears roll down her face as she moves past him with Judith. "If you care for her like you think then don't do this."
"I made Lori a promise to care for that baby no matter what," Carol states. "She never wanted you to have her, not after Sophia."
She holds Judith down for Lizzie to take her as she backs up to now shield Rick with her body. Tears roll down her face as Lizzie looks from Beth to Carol.
"No mom, we can't do this," Lizzie finally says.
"Lizzie is right mom, we can't take Judith," Mika adds.
Carol looks from the girls to Beth then back. She holsters both guns and walks over to Beth and throws her arms around her neck. "I don't think Lori saw you coming," she whispers. "I don't think she saw how great of a woman you would be for him. Take her please and forgive me."
"I do," Beth replies and hugs her tightly.
"Mika, get Judith's bag from the back and give it to Rick please," Carol says as she backs up. "There's food, diapers, wipes, bottles, everything she'll need for the next few months."
Mika climbs in and pulls the bag out as Lizzie hands Judith to Beth. Mika picks up a teddy bear from the floor and slips it into the bag before climbing out and handing it to Rick. He takes the bag as he puts his arms around Beth and Judith.
Carol backs into Daryl and turns, kissing him hard on the mouth. "Going my way handsome?"
"Yea sure I am," he smiles. He walks over and kisses Beth and grips Rick's hand. "Tell the others if you see them I found my own way finally."
"We will," Beth cries softly as she kisses him.
"Who knows we might see you guys again," Carol smiles as Daryl hugs her tightly. "Tell Maggie and Hershel I said hi."
"We need to talk about Hershel later," Daryl whispers as she slides into the car. The girls climb in as Daryl cranks the bike and they drive off.
Lilly walks over and looks at Judith. "She is adorable."
"Thank you God," Rick cries aloud. "Come on, let's get off this road and find us a place to live."
"Drop me off at the sanctuary," Lilly speaks up. "You two keep going but take me there. That's where I belong now."
"Are you sure?" Beth asks as they climb into the car.
"Yea," she smiles. "I need it."
Pulling up to the front gates, Lilly climbs out of the car with her bags as the group runs to the fence. Rick climbs out and watches her walk inside as Carl stands there. He leans into the car and smiles as Beth climbs out, holding Judith in her arms. Carl starts crying as he grabs Michonne and hugs her tightly. She leans over and whispers something to him … he shakes his head 'no' and looks back at them. He waves to them as he backs up to Maggie. Maggie laughs and waves, sliding an arm around Carl.
Beth waves back as she puts Judith into the car as a man walks over. "You folks coming in?"
"No, we were just dropping our friend off," Rick smiles. "We need to get on the road."
"There's no place safer than here."
"I know, but we have some place we need to go. We have someone we need to find."
The man extends his hand and Rick shakes it. "We'll be here if you change your mind."
"Deal." He climbs in the car and cranks it, pulling away.