Chapter 4

Carl's POV

What is it with this girl? What is it about her that has me forgetting everything? The walkers are trying to trespass the fences now and I know dad and Michonne won't hold for much longer. So why am I here, when I clearly should be out there helping. As I stand to leave, a small cough makes me look back. "No," she whispers, "warmth, don't leave me." Her hands do gestures towards the place where I had been laid before, grasping and embracing my absence. I'll be honest, a tinge of pink gathered in my cheeks, okay okay fine, more like flaming red but it means nothing, I told myself. Things are different, and it's not like I'd ever know what it meant anyway. Kate's shivering now, crossing her arms over her chest, pressing her face against the pillow. A tear rolls down her cheek and I felt something, a pinprick of pain, like when someone pokes you with a needle not hard enough to get blood out but enough for you to know they've done it. As quietly as I can I head back towards her, brush away the tear, and sigh. I am Carl Grimes, a survivor, a soldier, I just earned my father's respect, yet I can feel it, in me, inside burning to get out, this deep feeling that it's not what she's meant to be. I saw what she did back there, I know how strong she is, and I don't know what she's been through, but I can still see hope in her. And I'm not sure if that's a weakness or strength. "Like what you see." A raspy voice said and it was until then that I realized I'd been doing instead thinking while looking at Kate. "Maybe." Half a smile traced my lips.

"I know you do."

It took me back really, how she could easily talk like this, even though I knew it was to disguise her pain, she still made it feel real. Normal even.

"So I see beauty queen over here is fine now."

Kate shrugged. "I'd be better if I hadn't freezed to death on my bed, weird really I mean one moment I'm fine, next thing you now freaking alaska threw up in here." I nod in what is an attempt to lie, "Weird I guess, you'll never know." I say as I half turn to hide the grin from my face. Just then a growling noise that sounded like whales trying to breath interrupted. I chuckled, "Hungry much?" Kate blushed and stood up to be next to me then lightly punched me as she mumbled, "shut up." We walked down the halls in a comfortable silence much to my surprise and seemingly to hers too. As we neared the tables, she pulled me away and whispered, "Umm can I ask you a favour?" I'll be honest this is the first time I've heard that and to be real I'm not sure how it'll turn out netherless I nod. "Okay just, give me a quick review of who is who and what relation they have to do with who and what they do and well," she wavered, "you know the drill." A slight pink danced her cheeks and I really tried to not laugh at her little ramble. Keyword tried. Kate punched me again, "Whatever just forget it." I pulled her hand back down to my chest and said, "Ow you hurt me." "Serves you right." I shake my head trying to get the giddy feeling off. "That's Carol, she's nice (A/N well until the Karen incident but let's pretend she hasn't completely lost her mind yet) she'll talk to anyone really but she's more comfortable with Daryl and well Daryl is equally comfortable with her. Sarah and Tyreese are siblings, but Sarah has this thing for Bob," I paused giving her a knowing look. "That's Glenn and his wife (Let's pretend they're already married k?) Maggie Greene, and her family which is Hershel and you already met Beth. Michonne is there and my dad too." I smiled softly before whispering, "Come on, Daryl's gonna get all the pudding."

Kate's POV

I'll admit I was nervous. I don't know these people and I'm fairly sure they don't know me, what I've done, who I've killed and who I let die. I still feel this pull though, towards this group, a pull that tells me to stay, they say trust your gut well mine seems to have hella of a big mouth. "Hey." Beth said. "Hi." I sat down beside her. Carl headed next to Daryl and Rick. I forget what I'm here for and begin to dig in the food faster than I should but well I'm hungry. "Easy there you don't want to throw up." Santa Claus told me. I think his name's Hershel or was there a Dale somewhere? Neh not sure, foods better than thinking so with a curt nod I began to eat though slower much to my distaste. As normal my mind found a way to drift to incoherent thoughts. Somewhere amidst the dift a name came up, a name I wasn't happy to remember either. Matt, the last thing i had. Just…..gone. Forever. People used to tell me I didn't appreciate having a brother, mostly cuz I'd push him and tease him constantly, but I do and I did. He as the one who reminded me I needed to stay sane to keep believing, now I'm not sure. I stopped being afraid a long time ago, afraid of death , afraid of the dark, afraid of myself, afraid of being alone, they say life is full of fears, but how are you supposed to be afraid if you've got nothing to fear and no one to be afraid for? Most of all, if you've got no one to be afraid for you? "Hey you seem silent, sure you're not planning to murder us?" Beth nudges me and surprisingly, I laugh. I take glances at the merryful table and a grin takes slowly its place. I've forgotten how normal it feels to laugh you know, to care, but maybe, just maybe, with the right time I might feel alive again. I glance towards Carl who's already looking at me and I think to myself, and maybe I'll find something or someone to be afraid for.

3rd Person POV

Kate reached for the salt just at the same time Carl did. "Hey I wanted it first." Kate said smugly, a smile tugging her lips. "Nuh uh you don't" With that both parties struggled to keep the salt in their hands while tugging and pulling, amusement filling their eyes. "You're.. Gonna..lose!" Carl hissed. "Over..my dead body!" Kate said grasping the salt bottle from the bottom and pulling it out of Carl's hand. "I win." A triumphant grin took over the girl. "I let you." Carl said not backing down one bit. "Yeah you did."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"GUYS!"

Both Carl and Kate freezed as a roaring Rick hovered upon them, you could practically see fire in his eyes.

"Kate," he turned his head towards her, "Carl," he turned his head towards his son, "both of you just quit it."

"But he/she started it!" Said both of them in a perfect sync.

"God give me patience." The whole table had a round of laughs. "Well better get on duty, these dishes aren't gonna wash themselves you know." Carol said standing up and picking up everyone's plates. "Well that's my cue." Daryl stood and rounded the corner. Soon everyone started to get up and go where they were needed. Kate got up and made her way over to Carl, "So what now?" He looked at her and wondered how someone like her could be stronger than anybody he's met well exception to Daryl of course. "Now," he thought briefly before getting in front of her and whispering in Kate's ear, making her involuntary shiver, "we go."

"Where?" Kate whispered.

"Home." He took her hand and guided her inside "Wanna show you something, be aware you're the only who's seen it so it isn't exactly…..neat to say the least." She shook her head. "I don't mind."

"Good." he murmured. "I use this cell to spend time, no one's ever really been here. I have to.." he trailed off, an expression of shock in his face. "Patrick? What are you..?" But whoever Patrick was I will not know, because in his place was a monster, a walker eating his third body, and it now seemed they were starting to awaken.