A/N: Just wanted to send lots of love and appreciation through the Interwebs at you all. The response to this story has really be overwhelming, especially since, as a writer, I am taking a slightly different approach on these characters' relationship and personal development. I am enjoying taking this trip with them, and am happy you all are as well. ~ CeeCee
Shout-out: ImOrca, you know your insightful words always inspire me to strive for greater heights in storytelling!
She shouldn't have shamed him. She had spoken truthfully, but with bitterness and anger. And she realizes now, mere minutes too late, that the anger she feels is completely at herself. She is the stronger of the two of them. She should have thought before she'd spoken, rather than swiping back at his silence and surliness with unkind words. She just feels so…fed up…recently. She's just not quite sure at whom.
She sighs, kisses Judith's sleeping head, grips Daryl's breakfast mug. She reaches the double doors to C Block, turns back. He's still there, looking away from her. He's walked towards the fence, which is swarming with walkers. There are no stragglers anymore. They gather like wasps, coalescing together into a deadly mass. He's just standing there, considering them. Lights a cigarette.
"Carol," Rick's voice, behind her. She turns back towards the prison. He's standing there, grinning at her and his daughter. With him are Sasha, Glenn and Tyreese. "Thanks for the extra hour of shut-eye. I needed it." He comes over and brushes his hands over Judith's soft hair. Despite his words and the smile on his face, Rick looks as they all do, these days: frayed, over-worked and underfed.
Though she's happily slumbering on Carol's chest, Rick can't help himself: he eases Judith's chubby form out of the Baby Bjorn. She rubs her fists across her cheeks, clucks, nestles in the crook of her daddy's arm.
"Sorry," he grins at everyone sheepishly. Glenn is looking thoughtfully at the baby. Sasha is smiling, but her eyes are sad. Tyreese catches Carol's gaze and holds it.
"Nothing to be sorry about," she extracts herself from the papoose and slings it over her shoulder. Looks at Rick, content with his daughter. Glances at Tyreese again. Sasha is watching her brother and Carol's unspoken exchange. Now her smile has a slightly different cast to it. "They're only that little for so long." The quiet despair in her heart is reflected in Tyreese's face.
"Hey, guys," Carl appears at the doorway, all lanky arms and legs and boyish masculinity. "Thought you'd left without me."
"Like this one," Rick turns with a rueful grin. "Past my shoulders now. How did that happen?"
Carol tries to push her bitterness and anger back. Rick lost his wife, and more importantly – his faith in his wife. He nearly lost his sanity along with them. But he has his children, she can't stop these thoughts, as unfair and useless as they are. How tall would Sophia be, now? Dolls would be far behind her. Would Carl be making cow eyes at her, instead of Beth?
She gives all the negativity swirling around her mind and heart an enormous shove, smiles at them all. "What's on the agenda for you guys today?"
"Clearin' the fence," Sasha replies. "The walkers, they're actin' different, now. Gathering together, bunching up. They're wearin' down the integrity of the perimeter." She looks past the group, towards where Daryl's standing.
"Daryl and I noticed that last week," Carol replies, keeping her voice light. Back when things were normal between us. Whatever passes for "normal" these days.
"Yeah, it's a real problem," Glenn responds. Carol's worried about how pale he looks, how worn. "Today's not just about clearing the fence; it's about reinforcing it." He pauses. "Yo! Daryl!" He shouts, and Daryl turns. Sees them all standing there. Makes his way slowly across the yard, walking towards them. Not looking at her.
"How's that book?" Tyreese is at her elbow.
She grins up at him. He's close enough that she can smell his shaving cream.
"Well before," she starts, "Before, I probably woulda said it's a bit too grisly for me. But, well, now…" she trails off, thinking. "It's exciting."
"Exciting?" He laughs. "Not enough excitement in your life, is that it?" It's a leading question. Is she going to follow?
She thinks so. This conversation, this man, is making her feel good. She needs that this morning. "Yeah, well, I guess there are lots of different types of excitement, right? They all set your heart pounding, whether it be for good or bad reasons…" she trails off, now unsure. He's holding her gaze.
"Well, as long as your heart's pounding, you know you're alive, right, Carol?" He pitches this last bit low, so the others can't hear. She's pretty sure she's alive, at this moment. Her heart sure feels like it. He smiles at her one last time, turns back to the group. Daryl's just joined them. Sasha is smiling at Carol in a knowing way.
"Hey, man," Tyreese greets Daryl, who squints and grunts. He's got both hands shoved down into his pockets. "Wanna join us? Sasha, Rick, Glenn Carl and me – we're gonna clear the fences of geeks, then set up reinforcements."
Daryl looks at him impassively for a second. Glances over at Carol so quickly it's nearly as if it never happened. "Yeah, alright. Was just workin' out a few ideas this mornin' on it, anyway. We got a few more willin' and able bodies to help us out?"
Tyreese turns towards her. "Carol? Interested in some geek bashing this fine morning?"
Before she can reply, Beth stumbles out into the yard, her blond hair dancing around her flushed face. "Carol!" She gasps. "Carol! Thank god. Daddy needs you, right now! It's Marie – she's gone into labor. It's so early, the baby's turned wrong. He needs you to help 'im out!"
"Take me to them, Beth," she gasps, her very-living heart pounding in her chest. No more dead children, she thinks. No more grieving parents. She glances back, catches Tyreese's eye. His worried face lifts encouragingly at her. She looks over at Daryl. He's also following her departure intently. No more broken hearts.
Oh, Carol, she thinks as she dashes after Beth. You fool.