Walking Dead: Building Your Own Hope
Chapter 3 of my Walking Dead story, enjoy.
Reviews:
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, yes indeed, well, it's really Michonne and she seems to be doing alright with Rick ;)
Parent12D: Thanks, yes indeed, the big hope is that, with their resources, the FBI will be able to help track down the creep who was kidnapping the teens to photograph them, leading to Lizzie's death.
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.
Season 1: Episode 3
Carl was tense, on edge even after Shane left, something that made Lori worried. Shortly afterwards however things calmed down as Rick returned home.
"Dad." Carl greeted him, feeling calmer, despite tension still lingering.
Rick smiled and nodded to him. "Hey Carl. I take it your friends are still worried about the case...about Lizzie?"
Carl sighed but nodded. "Yeah. I just, I'm worried too. I know you can't really say anything but…"
Rick shook his head. "Yes, exactly. Nevertheless I can tell you that we're going to be looking into the case, since we finally have evidence to work with...We've also received some much needed help from the FBI."
"So that's what Shane was bent out of shape about." Lori interjected as she entered the room, having overheard. "He kept moaning about the FBI sticking their nose in where it wasn't needed."
"Well...he's wrong about that. I don't see how his pride is more important than the lives and well-being of the town's teens who are clearly being targeted." Rick explained with a shrug.
Carl sighed and shook his head. "Seriously, I agree dad, any help should be accepted here, if only to stop this monster before they kills someone else, whoever they are."
Rick nodded in agreement and the Grimes family were quiet for a moment, clearly all concerned with Shane's behaviour, as well as their own concerns.
XXXXX
Unable to keep his concerns in any longer, Carl knew he had to speak up. The family dinner had been quiet that evening, all of them troubled by recent developments of course, Rick had shared what he could regarding the FBI agent sent to help them, Michonne Hawthorne and both Lori and Carl had to agree she sounded like the perfect professional who could no doubt give them the much needed help to deal with this case. But that wasn't Carl's only concern, he was still suspicious of Shane and, as much as he hated admitted it, his mother. That little moment when he entered and saw them in the kitchen together wasn't the first time he'd seen them talking alone, when his father wasn't around. So it was that Carl took his chance while he and his father did the dishes while Lori put away laundry upstairs.
"Dad...I, I'm worried…"
Rick looked at his son. "Carl, we'll find this guy, we-"
"I know that, that's not what I mean." Carl said quickly. "It's...it's mom, I'm, I'm worried there's something going on, I can't help but feel like she's, she's hiding something."
Rick shook his head. "Carl, please. Don't stress about this."
Carl was shocked that was his father's response. He didn't seem worried and was in fact trying to reassure him.
"But Dad, don't you understand, I'm trying to say-?" Carl continued.
Rick still smiled and shook his head. "I understand what you're saying Carl, but I trust Lori and if there is something like that going on...I have every faith that we'll be able to talk about it and if there is an issue, we'll be able to work it out."
"Dad?"
"Do you trust me, Carl?" Rick asked and when Carl nodded, he continued. "Then please trust me on this, okay?"
Carl sighed but nodded. He bit his lip, that wasn't his only issue, but he wasn't sure how to approach his other problem.
XXXXX
There was a buzz around school that was, for once, not about what happened to Lizzie, although that was still being discussed too. The main topic on everyone's lips were the recent relationships that had become public. Carl smiled as he sat and watched some close friends finally show their relationships in full public. Sophia and Mikey as well as Enid and Alden were both walking down the school lobby, heading for their lockers to get what they needed before class. They walked, holding hands with their respective partners, both couples clearly besotted with each other and Carl couldn't be happier for them.
'After all they've been through, they deserve to be happy, especially Mikey being the victim of that creep and Enid having to deal with Ron.' He reflected. 'Yet now they're happy and hopefully, with Ron dealt with, we can get that creep brought down too and that'll give Mikey a chance for peace.'
He sighed sadly as they finally disappeared around the corner. While happy for his friends, seeing them like this, so happy and open with each other, it made him question his own relationship, namely a certain difficulty shared between him and the one he loved. He knew however that it wouldn't be that easy, still he needed to talk to that certain individual, namely about this very issue he was having.
It did not take him long to find Jamie by his locker. He paused for a moment, observing him with a small smile, recalling how they'd finally confessed their love for each other.
'But that's the issue…'
With a sigh he approached and spoke up.
"Hey Jamie."
Jamie smiled at him. "Hi Carl, what's up?"
Carl sighed. "I just...I was watching Sophie, Mikey, Enid and Alden, they looked so happy-"
"Carl…" Jamie sighed biting his lip. "I'm sorry, but you know I'm not, I feel…"
Carl bowed his head. "I get it, I do...I just, I wish we would just fully come out."
"I know but...I'm scared." Jamie admitted sadly.
"I'm the same, I'm scared too, I just...it felt awkward seeing them and knowing we could have that, if it wasn't so scary." Carl explained with a heavy sigh.
Jamie looked over at Carl, shifting awkwardly.
He then sighed. "Yeah, me too. I just, I'm sorry."
"So am I."
They both remained quiet, saddened by their situation and wishing they could figure out a way forwards.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.