Lean on Me

The next few days were cold and miserable. The rain had hung on too long and they were making slow progress. There had been several close calls with herds and Carol was hoping that they stopped for a couple of days in someplace with a working wood stove or fireplace so that they could get their bearing. They were in South Carolina now but it all looked the same in November rain.

They stopped for a late lunch and Morgan had taken Judith from Carol and helped her out of the vehicle. There was a farmer's fruit stand and they got out of the misting rain to eat. There wasn't any chairs and just a few rickety tables that the farmers had put their fruit and produce on to sell. Rick went through Judith's bag and got out her baby food, "I'll feed her lunch and I'll eat later in the car".

Carol thought about the peanut butter sandwich for lunch and wanted to skip the meal entirely. Morgan would push her to eat though and he was right. You ate when you could because you needed all the energy you could find. She forced down the dry sandwich and drank some water. The rain stopped and a watery sun came out. Morgan wanted to take a walk and she agreed. They walked along the road they were on enjoying the warmth of the sun. It felt good to get away from the others for a little bit and she could see that the others were exploring a bit, never out of sight of the vehicles and always watching their surroundings. "I think we should stop for a few days", Morgan said.

"Me, too. Judith is exhausted. Let's find a nice house and settle down".

"Carol, I am ready, but I thought it would take at least a week for you to succumb to my charms. No matter, pick us out a new home." Morgan was teasing but Carol knew that he would be happy to share a bed and a house with her. Some part of her wanted that too. Morgan hadn't touched her since the night that he kissed her before they attacked Terminus, but she had grown closer to him. He accepted what she told him about what she had done without condemning her.

"Look at that house on that little knoll. We could all settle down there and live happily ever after." He took her shoulders and moved her gently so that she could see the big white house. Morgan stood behind her and for the first time she leaned back against him just a little. He tightened his arms around and pulled her back just a little more. She felt the beginnings of want in her. Morgan whispered against her ear, "I am a patient man, Silver Fox". His warm breath against her ear stirred more desire in her.

"That place is too hard to defend, Black Knight." Carol didn't move away though. It just felt too good to be held by Morgan. They heard the shout that meant that lunch was over and she reluctantly left his arms. She was not ready to start a sexual relationship with him but there was always a tug to be close to Morgan.

They all piled into the vehicles and started again only to be stopped again by mechanical problems with Abe's truck. They left it on the side of the road and they made room in the other vehicles. Morgan had met with Abe and Rick and insisted on looking for a place to stay for a few days. Rick agreed and while Abe fume he had no other choice. They passed through a small town and then out into more farmland.

They found a renovated farmhouse that looked to be in good shape. There was a working well and a working fireplace. There was a barn close by and they hid their vehicles behind that. There was propane in the tank behind the house, and they could cook something hot to eat. It felt like home already.

Daryl went hunting. He had seen Carol and Morgan on their walk and he wanted to be away from everyone. The group could use some fresh meat and some rest. He wouldn't mind sleeping in the barn. There was even a cat that seemed to have survived on his own. He and that cat were alike. Outside cats that could survive anything.

Rick, Abe, and Elijah went looking for a new vehicle. They came back with a midsize suv with only a few miles on it. Bob and Sasha were cooking tonight but they were waiting for Daryl to come back.

Maggie and Beth were watching Judith and Michonne invited Carol for a walk. She and Michonne had grown closer the last few days. Tyreese had shared with her what he and Carol had went through while they had been separated from the others when the prison fell. Michonne had heard from Rick about Karen and David and she had understood Carol's why Carol might have done that. It just didn't seem like Carol though. Tyreese's voice broke when he talked about Mika and Lizzie and then Michonne understood the bond between Carol and Tyreese. Her heart broke for Carol; she had seen Carol with the two girls at the prison before all this happened. Carol had let herself care about them and Carol had come back for them only to find the prison destroyed. She had found them on the way to Terminus and then had lost them again forever. No wonder Tyreese, Morgan, Bob, and Sasha had closed ranks around her. Tyreese had made her promise not to tell anyone else. Carol just needed time to heal.

Michonne and Carol walked along the muddy road. Michonne mused, "I had a little boy named Anthony. He loved to jump into mud puddles. He was only three years old when this all happened. I'll never stop missing him".

Carol tensed for a moment and then let out her breath. Michonne needed to talk about this. "Sophia was older than that when she was killed. She liked to jump in mud puddles when she was little though. I'll never stop missing her. It never goes away."

"I found myself talking about Anthony with Carl and I realized that I needed to talk about it. If you don't want to listen, I'll understand". Michonne wanted to talk to someone who understood how much it hurt to know that your child was gone forever.

They walked and talked for a long time. They would turn around and come back toward the house and then walked in the other direction. Eventually Carol talked about Mika and Lizzie and Michonne held her while they both cried over the children that they had lost. The pain would always be there. It might fade but it would always be there.

Carol and Michonne ate together that night and then took early watch together. It was a quiet night and when it was over they joined the group sitting in the living room. Everyone seemed quietly grateful that they could rest here for a few days.

Carol watched the flames in the fireplace and listened to Elijah play the guitar and sing. She watched Beth pretend not to listen to Elijah and knew that she was going to talk with Beth about what had happened to her after she had been separated from Daryl. Carol had cleaned her up when she found her and had seen the bruises between her legs. Carol had hoped that Maggie would be the one to reach out to her sister, but as always she was too wrapped up in Glenn to notice that Beth was in pain.

Carol had realized that Michonne had reached out to her today. Beth was a sweet loving girl and she needed someone to reach out to her. The living could not be so consumed by the past that they forgot to care for those around them. Carol moved to a chair beside of Beth and hugged her. Beth leaned on her a bit and Carol asked Elijah if he knew "Lean on Me". Elijah smiled and sang the song for her and Carol thought that song should be her personal anthem.

AN

BILL WITHERS – LEAN ON ME LYRICS

Sometimes in our lives

We all have pain

We all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrow

For no one can fill those of your needs

That you won't let show

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand (Chorus)

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'd understand

We all need somebody to lean on