I do not own The Walking Dead.

Previously:

Carl could see she was starting to drift off again. "I'm gunna stay right here, okay, Faye?" She nodded again. "You're not alone. I'm not going anywhere."

Her hand relaxed completely in his hold.

She believed him. She believed in him.

A week had passed since Faye had awoken. She hadn't gone hunting, and Daryl hadn't gone without her. He'd been busy with the runs. Supplies were running low, food, medicine, and just about everything in general. There was still enough to go around but, if they hadn't started having the supply runs every day, things may have started to go downhill.

Generally, the girl had been staying close to Carl and Daryl, although he was forced to be gone a lot of the time. With Carl, she found, was more and more often Patrick, but their friendship was still in early stages. Baby steps, Faye told herself.

Carol was easing her back into jobs again, despite Daryl's protests.

(He thought she hadn't heard, but how couldn't she? The two had been outside her cell! She wasn't deaf.)

In fact, the woman was acting as if the incident had never happened. Faye knew it was probably because she was trying to make her feel comfortable and get her back involved with her normal life again, but all it did was force her to act in front of everyone. The girl didn't like doing that, but she disliked making people unhappy more.

There was still no sign of Michonne returning. Faye wasn't worried that she might be dead all that much - though the fear was there, especially since she was hunting The Governor – 'cause she was a total badass, but the child just… wanted her there. She missed her.

Faye had come to the conclusion that she wanted Michonne to come back and stay that way. The woman seemed to be the only other girl who told Faye what she needed to hear, and didn't make her feel like a complete idiot while doing so. Daryl had recently tried to steer her towards Maggie, although she wasn't sure why. Maggie, too, had been making an effort with the girl, trying to reach out to her, but that was just the problem. Faye didn't need someone to be nice, or someone to treat her like a child-

(The child she was.)

-at least not as far as she was concerened. Faye didn't know what she needed in replacement of that. Michonne probably would, she was smart like that.

Scrunching her eyes up, Faye rubbed at them before tucking her fists under her chin, holding up her head. She hadn't been sleeping very well lately, and the child hated to admit there had been numerous times where Daryl would come back from his shift and have to wake her from a nightmare. He'd stay with her until she was asleep again, calming her from her panic, but sleep was still fitful. Faye had begun to stop trying.

The hunter might look in her cell and wonder where she was, but even though it was early, he'd probably be awake and heard her get up and leave. There had been no point in trying to sleep again, so Faye had gone for a walk. However, somewhere along the line she had stopped and was now on the steps to Cell Block C, constantly having to brush her bangs behind her ear as the strong breeze blew them into her face. She tried once more, pushing them back firmly before giving up, the black strands obscuring her vision once more and she looked around.

Her hair needed cutting, desperately so, but Faye knew she would continue to refuse. It was unpractical, but it was the one thing she allowed herself to keep, despite the annoying moments. It took a long time to get it the length it was now, the girl was reasonably proud. She liked her hair, which was good, because she didn't like many things about herself lately.

"Faye."

The voice made her jump, nails digging into her palm a little too hard as she clenched her fists, but relaxed slightly as she recognised the voice to be Hershel's. It was firm, as if he had had to say it a few times.

This is where you reply, idiot.

"Oh, hey." Faye said, clearing her throat awkwardly.

"In your own world, huh?" The man said, acting as though her slip up hadn't happened as he smiled down at her. If it had been anyone else, the girl might have been annoyed about them patronising her, but Hershel spoke this way with everyone.

Faye stretched her arms out in front of her. "Something like that."

"I would've thought you'd be fast asleep, heard you've been staying up late reading comic books."

The comic books kept her awake, kept her away from the nightmares. More often, though, she wouldn't be sleeping anyway.

Also, Batman had no powers and still saved people. He was awesome. He was her favourite, and there was nothing Carl could do to convince her otherwise.

She shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."

The old man took a deep breath in and out, observing the surroundings much like Faye did moments before. Only, he seemed to have a certain peacefulness she had lacked. "You look lost, looking around the way you are."

"Lost?" Faye frowned. "I know where I am. I'm in the prison, on the steps of Cell Block C." The girl subtly noted she had chosen the building Carl was in.

He gave a quick sigh before speaking again. "Nevermind. Looks like I have a job for you to do today. I was going to ask Beth, but I think you'll appreciate it more. Carl, too, when he's up and about."

Again, the girl shrugged. "What is it?"

"Looking after Judith for the day. I'm borrowing Rick." He said simply.

"Borrowing him for what exactly?" Faye asked. This was odd. "Isn't he needed on the runs?"

Hershel motioned for her to follow him. "No, he's not."

She raised her eyebrows as she stood up. "Uh, yeah, he kind of is."

"No, he's not." Hershel's smile took on a mischievous quality. He beckoned for her again before she could question him any further. "Come now."

Obeying, Faye followed the man into the building.

She could see the cell Carl would be in, sleeping in the room next door to Rick, but didn't stare. Hershel would notice. Instead, she leant against the wall, counting the bars on the windows absentmindedly.

"Morning." Hershel said once he has pulled open the sheet at Rick's door. The light was probably annoying his eyes right about now.

His voice showed he had been asleep moments ago. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah." Faye noted the change in the old man's voice. He always changed it a little when he was speaking to Rick. "Just want a little help with something."

It was clear Rick would rather still be asleep. "What time is it?"

"I never know what time it is anymore. Ever since I gave Glenn my watch it's right now to me. It's early." Hershel said. It was such a Hershel thing to say. Faye loved it when he said things like that, she didn't know why. Maybe because she knew it was not what Rick would want to hear this early in the morning. She knew she wouldn't.

The old man turned to her. "He's decent."

Taking that as her que, Faye walked into the room, giving Rick a small smile as a greeting. He gave her a tired one of his own, and before his gaze became questioning – probably to do with her presence this early in the morning – she focused on picking up Judith as Hershel spoke. "Faye's gonna take Judith."

The girl was too focused on the baby in her arms to listen to the conversation going on between the men. Ones she got a secure grip, Faye walked along. It occurred to her that she didn't really know what to do with the child, but eventually decided on going to the room where they had story time. There was always kids' stuff there, and Beth would probably be around to tell her when to feed the child. Carl would help too.

The way Judith gazed up at her made Faye smile, something that wasn't there a lot, not genuinely at least. She was so young, the world was so new.

Maybe Hershel knew she would need to have a job like this. Caring for someone else, caring for Judith, it made all the worries cooped in her head leave. She had something else to focus on, something much more important. Judith was innocent, and young, and so unaffected by the harsh world.

And in her state, that wasn't a bad thing to be thinking about.

There were very different kinds of clicking in the cell block.

One was the clicking of lego. Patrick was playing with the toys, ignoring the teasing from Carl, as he leaned against the wall. He had just finished making a car, if Faye saw correctly.

The other, however, was the clicking of guns as Carl cleaned them, and practiced taking them apart and putting them together again.

There had been an unused colouring book where he had sat, but Faye had stolen it, along with some coloured pencils she had found, and Judith was currently making her own master piece. This masterpiece didn't stay within the lines remotely, and had they been pens, would also be on her face. What was supposed to a rabbit had somehow ended up being a mess of blue, green and pink, but it was a masterpiece all the same.

Footsteps entered the cell block and Faye looked up to see Rick, who smiled at his daughter. He'd probably come over and see her, but the man went to the eldest boy first. "Hey, Patrick."

"Hey, Mr. Grimes." Of course he would say Mr. Grimes. He called her 'Miss' some of the time, it was odd and amusing. He held up the lego car for a second. "Thanks for grabbing these."

"Well, I thought Carl might wanna…" He trailed off. Carl? No. Sorry, Rick, Carl's busy being a big boy with guns, he's got no time for lego. Great job making things awkward, though!

(Damn, she hadn't thought something that sarcastic in a long time. This was progress. Kind of.)

"There were just sitting there. I, erm, figured it'd been a while." He let out a quick sigh, the silence not getting any more comfortable. "I'm not ashamed that they're for ages 4-12."

Rick smirked, leaning down to pat the boy's shoulder. "You should be." Then, the man made his way other to their table, a small smile growing on his face as he came closer. "What've we got here?"

"She's making herself a little masterpiece as far as I can see." Faye smiled as she spoke. The way Judith turned to see Rick, tilting her head slightly, was impossible to not be cute. Rick gave a little grin as he gently rubbed his hand over his daughter's head.

"Well, I think it's beautiful. Got ourselves a little Picasso." He chuckled a little and Faye smiled with him. Picasso was the one who painted the Mona Lisa, right? She wasn't sure. Unfortunately, the smile on the man's face didn't last as it reached Carl. "Hey."

"Hey." Carl replied quietly, still too focused on his 'job'.

Rick glanced back at his daughter - who was now examining the pencil, which had Faye ready to stop her trying to eat it – before speaking again. "Carl." The boy responded, but his father apparently wanted full attention. It left Judith gazing up at them in confusion. "Carl." The boy finally looked up. "I need your help with somethin'."

Carl tried to take his gun, but was turned down. Faye looked up at this, gauging Carl's reaction. He'd told her how he was going to try, how he wouldn't be angry or shout, but emotions were hardly things you could flick on and off. "It'll just get in the way."

Faye watched for a little while before heading down into the field, Judith still in her arms. This seemed to be permanent for the day. When he heard her footsteps, Carl looked up and smiled. When then two adults noticed her, they did the same.

The three were all digging. For a minute or so, she wondered why, but it occurred to her that Hershel was a farmer, and they were in a field. Maybe they were finally starting the farm the group had discussed all those months ago. It would make sense, an extra food supply would be extremely helpful, although it may take some time to start showing its usefulness.

Shifting her hold on Judith, she gave a small smile at the sleeping child. She murmured, smirking, "You better not start drooling on me. That's a fight you don't wanna start, Judy."

Rick chuckled at her, shaking his head. Then, his eyes drifted to Carl and he moved forward, shovel in hand. "Put it in at more of an angle." He showed how he was putting it into the ground differently, but Faye couldn't really tell the difference.

Carl copied his father, pushing the tool into the ground a little too hard as his head bent over, the sheriff's hat falling to the ground. The man smirked, picking it up. "Gonna have to get you a farmin' hat." After a few seconds, the boy smiled back at him and Faye blinked as Rick turned and put the hat on her head. It took a moment, but Faye gave a little grin at the action. "There's a new sheriff in town."

"I'm down with that." Faye said, letting herself laugh quietly along with the others.

"Jobs yours." Rick said.

Hershel threw Rick a pair of gloves, which he caught easily. "It can be like this all the time."

"It's like this now," He replied, putting on the garments. "That's enough."

Déjà vu, much?

Faye had handed Judith over to Beth when Daryl returned, wanting to meet him like she usually did. The two had walked around for a while, the hunter asking to hear about her day. Today was a good day. Not an okay day, where she would look fine but feel like hiding. It was a good day, and she was smiling, really smiling.

But for now, Faye had retreated to her cell. She was reading the same comic that she had been for the past night or two, but she didn't mind. The familiarity of it was good, comforting. Besides, Batman was good. Batman was always good.

Suddenly, Faye's peaceful sanctuary was invaded by an angry Carl, who stormed in, flinging the sheet behind him as he stood before her. He had apparently forgotten her easily surprised attitude as he heaved for breath, brows furrowed and the few seconds she was taking to adjust to his presence seemed to frustrate him. The girl released her grip on the now crinkled comic, giving him a confused look as she silently put the book to the side. She let her legs fall off the side of the bed, Carl unbeknownst to her hands gripping the mattress.

"He took my gun away!" Carl said, still fuming.

"…What?"

What was there not to understand? Stupid.

"I left it before we went out onto the field and now Dad won't give it back!" He snapped, and decided pacing the room was a good idea. It wasn't. It made Faye nervous.

"Why?" She was clearly going to be the calm one in this conversation.

"Apparently," He flicked his hand in the air in annoyance. "I don't need it, and it'll be good to get some time away from it. How is that good? What if something happens and I can't protect anyone?"

Carl was definitely pissed this time. He felt betrayed, and he was angry and livid and it all built up into one big ball of scary Faye didn't know how to calm down. When she gave short answers, he snapped, and when she tried to explain, he interrupted. Having his gun taken away, this was a big thing. They both knew it wouldn't be happening if he hadn't shot the boy, they both knew, and it didn't have to be said, but the words were hidden behind everything Carl was saying.

It had to stop. Faye couldn't deal with him exploding in close proximity to her, she was trying to hold off her own detonation. His loud words made her flinch, and the violent hand gestures made her sweat and everything made her panic and eventually she got off the bed. Although they were quiet, he heard her. "Carl, stop."

He turned to the girl, still scowling. "What?! Why-"

Against her instincts, Faye stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head into his neck. "Please stop." She said simply, not being able to manage much else. This was the closest they had been to each other in forever, but Carl seemed to get the message. It may have been minutes, but he only wrapped his arms around her back once his breathing had evened out, muscles relaxed again. Having the physical contact felt good. It wasn't as scary as Faye had thought it would be.

"I'm sorry." He murmured. "I promised."

She didn't lie and tell him it was alright, because it wasn't. But the way was holding her now was doing the comforting. "Maybe this is for the best." She replied, voice muffled slightly as she kept her head in his neck. "Not having your gun for a while. Maybe it's a good thing."

Faye felt him nodded as he rested his head on her shoulder. "Maybe."

It only took a moment to ruin everything. That momentwhen Carl strengthened his grip around her was the moment Faye could only be reminded of the way they pinned back her arms and held her tightly so she couldn't move and it took the next moment to suddenly stutter and push her way out of Carl's arms, hands clenching and unclenching as she moved backwards.

"I- I- I can't-" The girl lowered herself back to the bed, unsure if her legs would hold her.

"Faye," Carl started slowly. "Faye, you gotta tell me what's wrong."

"I don't-" Roughly, her hands rubbed up and down her thighs. "I- I don't know."

The boy cautiously sat down next to her, movements suddenly more planned and gentle as Faye began to ramble nervously. "I just- I just can't. I don't know what- they're just there but they're not and- and I can't- I don't know-"

He wished he could understand what was going through her brain. She clearly couldn't deal with it alone, but it seemed like whenever they made progress, she was reduced straight back to this state. Carl couldn't help if he didn't know.

As she continued on, she unknowingly gripped her left arm again. There was still a tinge of pain there, stitches due to be taken out the next day. It made her focus a little, the words fitting together better than before. "They didn't even- you know- they just hurt. They were gonna, but they didn't and it's so pathetic and weak that I just- I can't-"

Carl pried her fingers away from her arm again, keeping his hand around hers as he made circles with his thumb. The action always seemed to calm her down. He understood what she meant, and he wasn't sure if he should feel guilty over the relief he felt. She was still hurt, but not like that. Well, she was, like that, but-

Jesus, if he was so conflicted about this, it must have been warfare in Faye's head.

The boy shook his head and Faye finally remained quiet as he spoke. "It doesn't matter."

"It does!" She snapped loudly, mood suddenly changing. "I should be okay!"

The girl tried to tug her hand away, but Carl held his grip. Her failure in this seemed to quell the anger growing, and she returned to her quiet state. She was almost crying, but she wouldn't cry in front of him. Sniffing, she wiped at her noes before dropping the hand limply into her lap. "But I'm not okay."

He squeezed her hand reassuringly, trying to smile but stopped. He was right to. The last thing Faye wanted was for him to patronise her. "You don't have to be. Nobody expects you to be."

She only scowled, spitting out the words. "I don't want their pity."

"No one pities you."

Liar.

"They think you're strong, because you are. You've survived so much crap and you're surviving this."

Barely.

"I'm not. I'm- I'm useless, I can't do anything right anymore. I'm not worth your time." Faye seemed to shrink into herself more.

Carl wasn't sure how big of an impact his words were having, but he wasn't leaving until they helped something. Today had been such a good day. They had made progress and now it was all falling to pieces.

"Yes, you are. You're worth everything." If only Faye could see the blush adorning Carl's face. "We're getting though this, even if I have to crawl all the way with you."

Maybe there wasn't anything to get through anymore. Maybe this was the universe finally giving her the message, telling her to toughen up or die, that it was better this way. No more fun and games. Those things got you killed, and it was about time she grew up. Faye knew she had it coming. She'd been too lucky, too happy, and everything was going too well. There was always the worry of when those times would run out, even if she had locked it up in the back of her mind. But the lock was open now, and the key was nowhere to be seen.

"Faye, look at me."

Faye had never looked in his eyes when he held her hand, never even tried. She thought it would be too much.

She did. It wasn't. The weight suddenly wasn't as heavy.

"We're getting through this. I'm not right either, Faye. We're both a little messed up. But we're gonna make each other okay? You with me?"

Faye nodded. She could do that.

Although, Faye didn't know why the universes way of making them okay was to take Carl's gun out of his hands, but force Faye's into hers.