Happy Easter!

I hope you enjoy the new chapter! There's a little bit more Carly/Rick interaction in this chapter, so that's good. Also this week I'm on spring break so I will try to make updates every few days. After that though, updates may take a week or more because of school, track, and horse riding. I am busy person! Remember to review and follow!

Dream/Memory

My feet pound against the pavement furiously and my hair whips around my face. I dive down an alleyway and slam a familiar figure up against the wall. My younger brother's bewildered blue eyes stare into my furious grey ones.

"Wha…what are you doing here?" He stutters in confusion.

"Trying to save your ass!" I growl in rage.

Jesse's eyes turn cold and distant after I say that, and he bites back furiously, "I don't need saving from you or anybody! I'm eighteen; I can take care of myself."

"Just because you're eighteen doesn't mean you can take care of yourself Jesse! You want to know why I'm here? I was tipped off by George that one of your little druggie friends had turned you into the cops for amnesty in a court case! Your deal that you were just about to walk up to was a trap! You'd be in the back of a police car right now if it wasn't for me!"

Jesse shoves me off of him and brushes his shaggy blonde hair from his eyes, "You're not mom, Carly! Stop trying to act like it."

"I might not be Mom, but I'm the best you've got Jesse. I'm just trying to look out for you. Why don't you just get in the car with me and we can go home."

"Has it ever occurred to you Carly that I might not want to go home? That every time I walk into that house I think of Mom! Or, I think of you coming home drunk at fifteen!"

I feel myself swell with anger at his last sentence, "That was a low point in my life Jesse! It's what I'm trying to save you from, once you go down that path it's hard to turn back. I was able to, but I don't know if you would!"

Suddenly Jesse's fist is flying into my face. I feel my back slam into the wall behind me and clutch my face. My brother's face is covered with sudden remorse, but I shout, "Fine! If that's how you're going to act don't expect to see me ever again! I'm done!"

With that I turn back down the alley way and sprint back to my car. As I drove away I didn't know it would be the last time I saw my brother. A month later the dead started to rise from the grave and I became stranded in Georgia.

End Dream/Memory

Slowly I open my eyes and sit up to find myself in my cell at the prison, not back in Cincinnati. It's been about a month since I first arrived at the prison, and everyone is really nice but I still get the vibe that they're hiding something from me. Not a day has gone by where I don't think about my family. Is Jesse still alive? What about Lucy and her family?

Sometimes, I even wonder if they worry about me. Where I am, or if I'm alive? Sometimes I'll scream in my sleep and Rick will come wake me up with this pitiful look on his face. I hate when people give me that look. They don't even know what causes me to scream. It's the memories, my father's death or me running down the streets in the dead of night in an attempt to save my little brother from a horrible fate.

By day, I usually work alongside Glen making repairs or checking the perimeter. He usually talks my ear off about his new wife Maggie and their many adventures through the apocalypse. I don't offer much from my past, it's too painful and complicated to share with people who I barely now. My leg is totally healed as is my shoulder, and I think that I will be leaving any day now.

I'm not sure I want to leave the protection that living in a group provides, but I long for the freedom beyond the prison walls. Staying in one place for too long never did suit me. Sometimes I'll look over at Glen and I think he thinks the same thing, probably for an entirely different reason though.

Since I've been here I've heard whispers about someone called The Governor and a place called Woodbury. That's all I've heard though, whispers. Something tells me that something went down between Rick and this mystery man not too long ago. I haven't seen anything of him or his people, so I don't give The Governor much thought.

Currently, Glen and I are making our usual rounds around the perimeter. In about five minutes we will be replaced by Rick and Daryl. I have yet to reconcile Daryl for his harsh treatment of me, though he seems to have warmed up slightly to the idea of me.

I notice Glen watching me from the corner of his eye and turn to face him with a curious glance of my own, "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"No," He says with a shake of his head, "It's just that your very different than most people I've met."

I raise an eye brow, "Oh really. How am I so different from the other people you've met?"

"Well for one, your very quiet but not in a shy sort of way. It makes you look powerful, if that even makes any sense. And your also very guarded around us, but you'll walk up to Carl and have a full blown conversation. I just….can't figure you out."

I let out a bark-like laugh, "Have you ever thought that perhaps that was my intention? To keep you in the dark about my motives."

Glen looks at me for a moment and then shakes his head, "See what I mean? You keep people guessing. Everything that comes out of your mouth is unexpected. It's like you enjoy seeing people confused!"

I am about to fire back when I see Rick and Daryl walking out to relieve us. "Chit-Chat time's over. Time for lunch!" I shout over my shoulder as trot away.

Once I'm in sight of the main prison yard I slow to a walk. Carl sees me and waves happily at me, which I return with ease. He is a good kid, maybe a tad brutal at times but still a good kid once you get down to the heart of things. Over the past month I've become quite close to him. We've gone off to the more secluded part of the prison a few times and practiced shooting. I've come to find he is a great shot for being so young. Out of all the people in this place he would probably be one of my first choices for backup.

Back home, I had a nephew who was right around Carl's age, named Tyler. He had been Lucy and Andrew's pride and joy. Tyler had been a straight A student with excellent athletic potential. I wish now that I had gotten to spend more time with him, but with my bad past and sometimes volatile nature Lucy didn't like me seeing him all that often.

Lucy had been the golden child out of all of us, in my mother's eyes. She never turned to drugs or alcohol as Jesse and I had, but she hadn't shone nearly as bright on the athletic scene as my brother and I did. Overall Lucy was average. I think she always felt bitter towards us for that. Oh well, the past is the past no sense in dwelling on it now.

Carl jogs up to me with his signature cowboy hat in place and says in a surprisingly chirper tone, "Hey, do you maybe wanna go down and shoot later this week? My dad said that he and a group might make a supply run, so I'd be free for the next couple days."

"Sure. Sound like fun to me. Your dad recently lent me one of the assault rifles to use and I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet." I say with an enthusiastic shrug.

Carl gives a calm nod of his head and walks off. That wasn't weird at all, I think with a chuckle to myself. Carl can be so strange sometimes. One minute he's acting like a normal kid the next he does something that makes you think twice about whether he's really a kid or some tiny adult. I guess that's what this world will do to you though, make you grow up ten times faster than you originally would've.

The next person I see is Hershel. I haven't had a whole lot of time to talk to him since I first got here, but he's always nice to me when we do. He looks to be deep in thought about something so I decide it's best not to bother him.

Seeing as no one else is outside, I make my way into the barracks section of the prison. My cell is right next to Rick's, probably so he can make sure I don't go all serial killer in the middle of the night. What with my screaming and all. I actually feel really bad that these poor people have to listen to me scream in my sleep; I can't imagine it's a very pleasant experience.

Unlike the rest of the cells mine still looks rather unlived in. I make my bed every day, mostly just for something to do. Plus I don't really have anything of my own to lie around the place. Carol was kind enough to find me some clothes. The first time I wore them Rick looked like he was about to snap. Turns out Carol gave me some of his dead wife's clothes. Not the best move on her part, but they were the only clothes that even remotely fit me. I try not to wear the clothes any more than I have to and resort often times to my old, stained lime green tank top and tattered pair of jean shorts.

Deciding that I have some time before I need to do anything I lay down on top of my made bed and close my eyes in hopes of finding some sleep.

-Rick's POV-

Daryl and I walk side by side for a while, neither of us saying a word. I can tell he still doesn't trust Carly and knows that I am going to suggest we bring her on the supply run. She is faster than all of us combined and is deadly accurate with a gun; I think it would be foolish not to bring her. I already know he's going to argue that she obviously doesn't trust us, and that it would be equally stupid to bring someone that is very likely to shoot one of us to save herself.

Still I decide to bring it up, "I know you don't trust her Daryl but I think we should take Carly on the supply run. She's fast and she's good with a gun, plus if we take her it's putting one less of our people in danger."

Daryl immediately stiffens beside me and stops walking, "I think you're asking' for trouble with her, Rick. She obviously doesn't trust us, what do think's gonna stop her from puttin' a bullet in one of our backs?"

"I don't think she'd be stupid enough to shoot the people who are helping her. She might be crazy, but I don't peg her for someone stupid." I say with conviction.

Daryl stays quiet for a moment and then says, "Fine. If you wanna take her, take her but I'm not comin' along just to get shot in the back. Take Glen or Maggie instead. I don't wanna be within a mile radius of that girl when she's gotta weapon in 'er hands."

I give a nod of my head and walk ahead of Daryl, giving him time to cool off from our encounter. At dinner I'll round up the group. It may be a couple days journey to the next town past Woodbury, but for the time being the people of Woodbury have decided to leave us alone if we leave them alone. I don't want to stir up any more trouble by asking for supplies when we are just fine scavenging from an outlaying town.

As I walk my thoughts drift Carly. She is perhaps the strangest woman I have met in my entire life. Not once have I seen her start a conversation unless prompted and never has she given away anything about herself or her past. Just about every night I wake up to the sound of her screaming and rush into her cell to wake her from her dream. I fear about what is in her dreams, especially something that could make such a strong person scream as though death were nipping at her heels.

I wonder what Lori would think of her. She probably wouldn't like how quiet Carly was, or how much she interacts with Carl and Judith. That is another thing I find strange about her, she hardly ever talks to us with happiness but will smile widely at the sight of Carl. Over the past month Carl has been constantly asking me to go hang out with Carly. It's been "Carly this," or "Carly that," for the entire month. Granted it's nice to see him somewhat happy again, but still it's weird.

I hope my decision to include Carly on the supply run doesn't horribly back fire one me. Seriously, I'm not sure how much more failure or loss one man can take. The only thing I really have left is this group.

-Carly's POV-

By the time I wake up it is dinner time so I quickly brush my hair and head to the prison yard where meals are usually had on nice days. The rest of the group is already present and it appears Glenn has saved me a seat between him and Rick. I give a reluctant sigh and take my seat. Different conversations swirl around me and I eat my food blissfully unaware, until Glen says something.

I didn't hear him and reply, "I'm sorry, what did you ask?"
"Oh Rick was just asking if you might want to go on the supply run tomorrow. We'll only be gone a few days." Glen says in a chipper voice.

I look at Rick and say, "I don't know, I promised Carl I would go shoot with him later…."

Carl quickly cuts me off, "It's alright Carly we can go another time, and the group needs you."

I look at him surprised by his mature answer. Most ten year olds would insist on me keeping the promise I made prior. Hesitantly I answer, "I guess if Carl's alright with putting off our plans, I'll go. But I would prefer to carry a less conspicuous weapon when we go."

"That would be fine. We have an old Glock that no one is using currently, should be perfect for the job." Rick says with a casual nod.

"Alrighty then, now that's settled, what time should I be prepared to head out?"

"Be at the guard tower around seven o' clock. We have a long drive to get to the next town; don't want to get there too late."

After dinner is over those of us going on the run tomorrow head into the barracks to go to sleep. I find myself awake long after everyone's gone to bed. The task at hand has me nervous and on edge. I can't decide whether this is a sign that Rick trusts me, or if they are seeing whether or not I am trustworthy. Either way, if I don't do my job well I could very well destroy my last chance at relative normalcy.

I am brought out of my thoughts by the soft sound of crying next door. Rick's snoring is so loud that I doubt he will be able to hear Judith. Cautiously I sneak out of my cell and open the door to Rick's. Carl and Rick both lay squished on the bed and Judith cries quietly in her Pack-and-Play. For a moment I stare at Rick. His face doesn't hold the anxiety that always seems to be present when he is awake, making him look younger. I would be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to the man, but I'm pretty sure every woman in the camp is. How could they not be?

Quietly I go over to Judith and pick her up. The minute I do so she stops. This kid is a pro at getting attention that is for sure. I smile gently down at her. The shape of her face is very similar to Rick's but other than that she must look entirely like her mother.

Perhaps if this whole ordeal hadn't taken place I could see myself with a baby and a husband. But right now settling down doesn't seem like a possibility, or a wise choice. Hell I probably couldn't even hold a stable relationship right now; I can hardly hold myself together. Let alone support another person's emotions.

Judith begins to grow impatient in my arms so I decide to go on a short walk around this area of the prison. The moon casts light through several windows, illuminating the otherwise dark prison corridor. My blonde hair gives off an almost eerie glow in the moon's light, capturing Judith's attention. For some reason I get along very well with children, more so than I do with adults. Their more innocent view of the world is refreshing in a world with so few joys.

I lose track of time as I walk around the prison aimlessly with little Judith held snuggly in my arms. At some point during my pointless trek she fell asleep and is now drooling slightly on my arm, not that I care. The sound of frantic footsteps snaps me to attention and I immediately recede to the shadows. Suddenly, a frantic Rick burst into the corridor. He is about to take off again when I step out, "Rick? What are you doing?"

Rick jumps into the air and quickly wheels around to face me. He is about to say something when he spot Judith in my arms, "What are you doing with my child! I thought she had been taken or worse!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to alarm you. She was crying and you were asleep so I thought rather than wake you I would take care of her. It's not like you get all that much sleep with me screaming every single night. I was simply trying to be nice." I say quietly.

Rick runs a hand through his hair and nods, "No, it's me who should be saying sorry. I shouldn't have flown off the handle like that. Thank you for taking care of her."

I am tempted to say it was my fault for taking her but decide not to say anything further on whose fault it was. Instead I motion to the sleeping Judith in my arms and smile, "I would offer her to you but I'm afraid if I did so she would wake up again."

Rick gives a slight chuckle, "I suppose your right she's a very light sleeper. I'm actually pretty impressed that you got her back to sleep in the first place. It usually takes me all night. Her mother was so much better at taking care of baby than I am."

I feel a slight pang of sympathy run through me and for the first time it occurs to me that I never told him I was sorry for his loss. Hesitantly I decide that now is as good a time as any, "I'm sorry for your loss Rick. It's difficult losing those close to you."

He gives a sad shake of his head, "What do you know about loss. You're twenty-five years old."

I draw in a deep breath and decide to answer to prove a point more than anything, "My father was murdered when I was ten years old, and my mother died of cancer when I was twenty-three. I was by her bedside when she passed away. After she died my sister Lucy distanced herself from my brother and I, basically leaving me to take care of Jesse. I ended up failing him. His life became the very thing I never wished for him; I failed him in every way possible." I finish with a sigh.

Rick looks at me sadly, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound rude, I just didn't know. You know, you and I seem to be in the same boat. We've both failed those closest to us and have nothing to show for our efforts."

I give a heavy sigh and a sad smile as I place Judith back into her crib. "I'll see you in the morning Rick, sorry ahead of time if I scream in my sleep."

Rick gives a light chuckle and replies, "Sleep well Carly, I'll see you in the morning or whenever I have to wake you up."

"Good night Rick."

Eeep! I'm really excited for the next chapter!

Tell me what you think about the chapter! The last scene might have seemed a little rushed, but that's how I intended it to be. Carly wasn't really trying to reveal much about her personal past, she was just showing that just because she's young doesn't mean she hasn't had her fair share of losses. The coming chapters will reveal more about her personally, and her growing attraction to Rick.

Stay Tuned!

ContestingGirl (The Most Awesome Person Ever)