Thanks SO much for all the support! It thrills me to see this taking off the way it has, and it's all because of YOU :)

.::.

"When you try your best but you don't succeed,

When you get what you want but not what you need,

When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep,

Stuck in reverse."

- "Fix You" by Coldplay

.::

.::.

Didn't take us long to reach the highway, and once we did Glenn didn't hesitate to tell Dale what had happened. He was standin' near the RV with a rifle in his hands. "Shot? What do you mean shot?" He asked, walking towards us as we stepped over the railing.

"I don't know, Dale." Glenn tried to catch his breath, swinging a leg over the railing. "All I know is that this chick rode outta nowhere like Zorro on a horse and took Lori."

"You let her?" Dale furrowed his brow, turning to look at me.

"Climb down outta my ass, old man. Rick sent her. She knew Lori's name and Carl's." I walked off towards the RV to grab a drink of water. I had nearly sweated out my entire body's worth today.

.::.

We were gathered in a small circle outside of the RV, discussing our next step. Carol wasn't ready to leave yet, and I couldn't very well blame her. Neither could Andrea, or Dale. So we decided to stay behind and gather some supplies and make a sign just in case little Sophia happened to wander back on the highway. Then at least she'd know where to find us.

We would leave for the farmhouse first thing in the morning.

Glenn offered to stay behind as well, but apparently Dale had other plans.

"Not you, Glenn, you're going. Take Carol's Cherokee."

Glenn laughed, surprised. "Me? Why is it always me?"

"You have to find this farm, reconnect with our people, and see what's going on. But most importantly, you have to get T-Dog there. This is not an option." We glanced over at the dark-skinned man who was wrapped tightly in a blanket, leaning against the Winnebago.

"That cut has gone from bad to worse." Dale continued. "He has a very serious blood infection. Get him to that farm, see if they have any antibiotics because if not...T-Dog will die. No joke."

Suddenly, a light bulb turned on in my brain. I walked over to Cleopatra, grabbed a small bag, and re-joined the conversation.

"Why'd you wait 'till now to say anything?" I furrowed my brow, setting the baggie down on the hood of a nearby car and thumbing through the contents. I could feel everyone staring. Might as well explain. "This is my brother's stash. Crystal, X...kick ass pain-killers..." I studied the label before tossing them to Glenn. Finally, I found what I was searching for. "Oxeycycline. Ain't the generic stuff neither." I tossed a bottle of pills to Dale. "Merle got the Clap on occasion." Just about everyone giggled except for Molly. I could tell she wasn't pleased to see Merle's "goody-bag", as he called it. The last time she had seen it hadn't been such a fond memory for her. I guess I couldn't blame her.

.::.

I had been lyin' still on the floor of the RV, sweatin' my balls off and listenin' to Carol cry in bed for the past half-hour before I finally decided that sleep wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Molly and Andrea were sitting at a nearby table, teaching themselves how to load and build guns. It was obvious that they didn't really have any idea what the hell to do, but it was safe to say that Andrea definitely had a better hang on it than Molly. If I didn't think she would kick me in the nuts, I probably would'a laughed at her struggle.

I reached behind her to grab my crossbow and hung it over my shoulder. "I need my clip now."

Molly handed it over without hesitation and the two women looked up at me, curiously. "I'ma walk the road. Look for the girl." I whispered before turning my head to glance at Carol. Upon hearing my words, she wiped a tear from her cheek and gave me a grateful smile.

"Wait." Molly interrupted me on my way out the door. "I wanna go too."

I was surprised as all get out. Honestly, I thought she couldn't even stand to be near me for the time being. I quickly pushed all selfish thoughts aside. Maybe she really just wants to find Sophia as much as everyone else does.

It was dark outside. Real dark. The only light given was that of a large full moon above and the small flashlight in my hand. The sky was riddled with thousands-millions of bright, twinkling stars and the air was cool. Much cooler than inside the RV, that's for sure.

I turned around, waiting for Molly to lace her shoes before I noticed Dale crouching down on top of the RV. "I'ma go fer a walk." I said, careful not to be too loud. "Shine some light in the forest. She's out there somewhere."

"Do you think that's a good idea right now?" He asked, furrowing his brow with concern.

"We'll be alright." Molly showed a friendly smile. I nodded my head and seconds later we were gone.

.::.

Ain't really sure how long we'd been walkin'. If I were to guess, I'd figure about ten or fifteen minutes. In that time, neither of us had said a single word to each other. Honestly, I really didn't even mind. It was just nice to know she was there beside me.

I was so lost in my own thoughts I near-about jumped outta my boots when she spoke up. "You think we're gonna find Sophia?" She asked.

I shone the bright light of my flashlight in her face momentarily before she squinted her eyes. "Hope so. It ain't the mountains of Tibet, it's Georgia." I snorted. "People get lost, they survive. Happens all the time."

"She's young. It worries me."

"Hell, I was younger than her and I got lost. Nine days in the woods, eatin' berries 'n wipin' my ass with poison oak."

"Did anyone look for you?" She flashed me a look of concern. I got slightly distracted by the pretty glow of her hair in the moonlight. I missed runnin' my fingers through it.

"Nah, uh, my dad was off on a bender with some waitress. Merle was doin' another stint in juvey. Didn't even know I was gone. I made my way back, though. Straight to the kitchen 'n made myself a sandwich." I paused to look in a nearby bush. "Worst thing about it was my ass itched somethin' awful the whole time."

Molly stifled a chuckle, to my surprise. Seein' her smile made me smile right back.

"Ya know..." I hesitated. "I miss the way things used to be." I couldn't hold it in no more. I wanted her to know. No matter how uncomfortable it felt to admit it.

She glanced over at me and swallowed nervously. "Yeah, me too."

"You still ain't ready to forgive me?"

She stopped, still. And so did I. "Not by a long shot. You...you have no idea..."

"'Bout what?"

"About anything. I have so much to say to you but I refuse to even let myself get upset over you anymore." She sighed, staring down at her feet. "Maybe I shouldn't have come out here. I'm turning around."

"Woah, hold on. You can't just go by yerself. You don't even got no gun or nothin'." I furrowed my brow with concern.

"Just go on without me. Ain't the first time you've done it."