"Never Give Up (On Each Other)"
Author: carmen_085
Disclaimer: I do not own any Walking Dead Characters. I do own all original characters.
Summary: In the months before the beginning of the apocalypse, Daryl finds himself homeless, alone, and with no direction. An adult Beth is struggling to balance her job, sick parents, and the farm. Feeling like the world is suffocating her, will taking a chance on a stranger change everything ? Can these two find what they need in each other before life as they know it ends and they must do anything to survive. AU but eventual ZA with full cast.
Chapter Twenty Nine
The only sound in the room was the three of them breathing. The weight of what Lori had just done settling like a boulder on their chests. Looking down at her hands, Beth studied the tiny person and wondered who he or she would have been. She wondered if the child would have survived until birth, and then how much longer after that. Sighing, a tear came to her eye as she struggled to contain the emotion of yet another very unexpected death. The child, even though barely bigger than a quarter, deserved the same dignity anyone else did. Cutting off a piece of clean white towel in a small square, Beth laid the small body down and swaddled him as she would a larger baby. Her eyes briefly drifting to Shane who had turned away and was now leaning heavily against the window frame. She could see by the tension in his shoulders that he was holding back right now. Frowning she wasn't sure if that was best, although she reasoned he would feel this when he was ready.
Lori had begun to tremble on the bed, not just from chills and nerves but also from blood loss. Turning her attention back to the patient, Beth set about dunking a rag in a bit of water gently wiping the woman's inner thighs and then moving between her legs. After she got her clean, dry, and warmed up; she would brew another cup of tea. The yarrow had seemed to slow the bleeding and with the passage of the fetus her cramping had subsided. Lori was silent, laying with her eyes closed as Beth washed her, changing the sheets, and helping her get dressed in the clothes she'd borrowed from her mama. Lori hadn't said a word about the diaper and after Beth had covered her with a few thick quilts she excused herself from the room. Shane was still at the window, obviously waiting to say something in private. Beth had no inclination to get any further into their drama, and beside she had other things to see to.
Carol met her in the hallway her eyes sweeping back toward the boy before she whispered. "Did she miscarry ?" Beth's eyes flicked nervously, did she know or was she merely guessing. Carol shook her head, her voice hushed and low. "I couldn't be sure, had my suspicions though."
Beth swallowed hard, this wasn't her place. "She's comfortable for now. Bleeding has slowed." Looking down at ground Beth bit her lip, she always was a shitty liar. "I'm not really sure what happened." Well if that wasn't an understatement. Carol, either sensing that she'd pushed too far or had made a poor assumption, ducked her head and smiled softly. Touching Beth's forearm she radiated gratitude, "We're lucky to have you, Beth."
Forcing herself to return the gesture, Beth exhaled deeply. She knew when Shane went off it wasn't going to be a secret what had just transpired. Carol could make up her own mind about it, but Carl shouldn't have to hear that. To wonder what exactly his mama could have done to make Shane so angry. The boy was terrified enough, adding that to the mix wouldn't help a thing. Thinking fast, Beth nodded toward the chicken coop. "We're running low on eggs and if the others don't make it back soon we'll need to eat something." Beth felt a tremor roll down her spine at the thought of Daryl not making it back.
"I'll take Carl and we'll gather what we can." Beth smiled her thanks while tamping down her insane worry. Daryl was coming back- he always came back and this time would be no different. She just had to believe that and have a little faith.
Shane heard Beth whispering to Carol and then Carl's voice protesting that he was sick of eggs. A bit of cajoling from Carol, though, and he was out the door, his voice disappearing until it was totally gone. Beth must have sent them away knowing that what came next wouldn't be suitable for a twelve year old's ears. Shane exhaled, if he didn't say this now he never would. "You should have told me. I could have…." His voice broke as he trailed off turning around to look at her still form in the bed. Under all those covers, pale as a ghost she looked so weak that his anger began to wane. "I would have done something." He crossed the space between them looking down at her as he stood at the bottom of the bed.
She was quiet for moment before finally making eye contact. "What would you have done ? Force me to keep it ? Remind me everyday of the mistake I made." He stepped back stung by her words. Running a hand through his hair, he wasn't hearing this right now.
"The world goes to shit and I leave my mother, my sister…everyone who meant a thing to me and I come for YOU. Put my life on the line time and again to see that you and that boy are safe, provided for, have a meal in your bellies and a roof over your head….and this is how you are !" His voice had steadily rose a few octaves until he was now screaming. "I GAVE UP EVERYTHING FOR YOU!"
Pushing herself up Lori's eyes blazed as her pale face flushed with anger. "I never asked you for that, we weren't your responsibility- not then and not now."
Shane rubbed his face clearly agitated. "You sure as hell didn't say no ! Took everything I had to give you and then some." Lori flopped back down onto the bed staring at the ceiling.
"We aren't your problem, Shane. We weren't then and we aren't now." His eyes drifted to the tiny baby wrapped in a scrap of cloth on the table.
"And what about this baby ? What are you going to tell Rick about that ?" She blinked a few times, her face remaining expressionless.
"Rick doesn't have to know." Her eyes drifted to his. "He WON'T know." Shane paused for a moment. Rolling over she turned her back to him. "Get rid of it."
It was as if someone had punched him in the gut. All the air whooshing out of his lungs he bent over for a moment unsure if he might pass out. In the span of about an hour he'd learned that he had a child and then lost it. That a woman he loved was a heartless bitch. And that everything he'd given up was for absolutely nothing. The walls of the room closing in on him he felt dizzy and in desperate need to get out of there. Gently taking the tiny baby into his hands, he turned on his heel and walked away not bothering to look back even once.
Beth was bent over the outdoor stove making a pan of eggs for dinner as Carl watched intently. He and Carol had been successful in finding more than a dozen eggs and now it was up to Beth to turn them into something that would fill them up. She still needed to cut up some vegetables and open a can of beans; it was the best she could do with Daryl away all day and she preoccupied with Lori. The idea of cooking dinner seemed ludicrous right now while Daryl was still out there. They had to eat though, and she needed to keep busy otherwise she would go crazy. Handing Carol the cup of yarrow tea she nodded her thanks. Being the sole caregiver for everyone all the time was draining. You'd think she'd be used to it from her mama but just the opposite, after years of seeing to someone else's need she was absolutely drained.
Shane burst from the house nearly knocking the tea straight from Carol's hand. "Uh..sorry Carol." He didn't want to be an ass but he also didn't want to see or speak to anyone right now. Beth tried not to cast much suspicion Shane's way so as not to tip off that others about what just happened. That was Shane and Lori's business, Rick's also but she doubted Lori had any intention of coming clean. Keeping her eyes trained on the grill, Beth felt the rush of air behind her as Shane stomped toward the gate. She didn't need to look to know that he had the child with him, wrapped in that little scrap of fabric. Even Beth was at a loss to understand how Lori could be so cold.
"Can I come with you ?" Carl piped up jumping to his feet before Beth could stop him.
Shane's voice was raw when he spoke and a part of Beth broke for him. "No this time little man." Slamming the gate closed, he walked toward the woods Beth watching him go.
"Carl, come over here and help me cut these vegetables. The group has to eat tonight." He sighed dramatically stomping toward her.
"What's going on ? Why won't anyone tell me ?!" He huffed looking at Beth expectantly. She would not cave to a child, though, especially not one as petulant as Carl.
"Your mama's not feeling well and Shane's just worried about her and your daddy." That sounded good, great actually, and yet Carl wasn't satisfied.
"I'm not a kid. I can do more than cut vegetables." Beth sighed she didn't have the patience for this right now.
"I'm sure you can." She pursed her lips making eye contact and pinning him with her gaze. "But we all have jobs to do and right now our job is making sure the group has something to eat." He stared at her for a moment with those piercing blue eyes before looking down to the tomato in front of him.
"That's bullshit." Carol opened the door just in time to hear his slip of the tongue.
"Carl that's enough. Your mama can hear you and you're upsetting her even more." Beth doubted that Lori could get any more upset or that she heard a word her entitled shit of a son had just said, but either way it seemed to do the trick. Throwing Carol a look of gratitude, Beth set back to her work silently, her eyes drifting to the tree line and Shane's retreating form.
Shane didn't fully exhale until he was totally enveloped in the trees. The breath came out as a ragged gasp that bounced off the leaves and back at him. Just another reminder how alone in this he really was. He walked without purpose trying to find the "right spot" but not actually looking. The baby in his hands deserved a burial like everyone else despite not living a single day in this shit world. Shane wasn't delusional enough to think that Lori would have had this baby and they would have been one big happy family. He wasn't even dumb enough to entertain the idea of pregnancy as a good one. So many things could happen- things they couldn't control. Even in the old world pregnancy could be risky, especially for a woman like Lori who'd needed a c-section to have Carl. But this…she could have at least told him, come to him…he would have helped her and they would have figured this out together.
Problem was there was no they. It was her and Rick and him on the outside. A place he'd been for many years you would think that he'd be comfortable there. That he would know his place. He wouldn't even think of wanting more. And he didn't, he knew where he belonged and for the most part he stayed there. But this….she hid this from him, eliminating the problem without a second thought. After everything they'd been through; him leaving his own family, risking his life time and again, all of it for her. And she just threw him aside like a piece of garbage; the evidence of a life they created disposed of and forgotten.
He stopped inhaling sharply, the emotion now ready to pour out of him. Shane had never really thought about having kid of his own. Of course he would have needed to find the right girl first. While his luck had been bad before everything went to hell it was downright unlikely now. It hadn't been his intention when he left the hospital, to go and take Lori for himself. He knew she was alone and feeling responsible for Rick's condition as he did, he thought it was the only right thing to do. Once they were alone together, on the road and bound together by their shared grief, things just happened. He wasn't mad, he'd always had a bit of a crush on her, she was amazing and beautiful in so many ways. Well at least she used to be. Like so many others, the person she'd become was one he no longer recognized.
Falling to his knees he came to rest next to a weeping willow. Her sad, draping branches enveloping him and his own sorrowful misery. How could this happen ? Finding out he'd made a child and lost it in the same day. In his hands he studied the tiny thing; looking closely he saw the beginnings of ten fingers and ten toes, two dark little eyes, and a tiny nose. Would it have been a boy or a girl, it was too hard to tell. Either way he was sure the baby would have had dark hair and dark eyes; just like him. If it had been a boy he have shown him how to fight, what it took to survive, and how to be tough enough to beat this world. If they'd had a girl, she would have no doubt looked just like her mama, tall and thin with long curly hair and pale skin. No matter though, Shane would have still shown her how to fight, shoot, and take down a walker close up. He would have made her tough but kind- like Beth. A tiny smile came to his lips just thinking about it. Of course before all that, the baby would have needed him to keep them safe. To protect them until they were big enough to take care of themselves. He would have kept his child close, Beth no doubt able to help him cinch up something to sling the baby to his chest. The idea of a tiny body -totally dependent on him- right against his chest made a warmth bloom and then quickly fade.
It was never going to happen.
A sob escaped his throat as the tears he'd been holding back spilled over. He couldn't profess to understand what had happened today.
'Get rid of it.'
Those words echoed in his mind as he made no effort to stop the sorrow from pouring out of him. How could she do this ? Be so cold, so uncaring, so unbelievably awful to just throw them both away like an inconvenient mess that she'd stepped in. Shane had never been so blindsided and so hurt by another person as he was right now. It was almost unfathomable.
Her steps were quiet and he didn't hear her until she was right next to him, bending down and touching his shoulder tentatively. Her blonde hair fell around her face and her watery blue eyes were just as sad as his. Squatting down next to him she pulled him into her arms and he didn't resist caving against her and letting everything inside of him to pour out. When he could pull himself together he was going to yell at her for following him out here alone. Except she hadn't come alone. Another warm body settled against his other side leaning all its furry weight against him. Maize had come with her, and now kept watch as the two of them gave in to their shared grief.
Beth wrapped her arms around his shoulders letting him cry against her as she struggled to contain her own emotions. She knew that the situation between Lori, Shane, and Rick was complicated at best. While incredibly risky, what Lori had done wasn't totally unreasonable. Being a woman herself, Beth understood the fear of carrying a baby in this new world. She also understood the risks a woman had to assume in doing so; chief among them the baby being stillborn and tearing its way out. She shuddered at the thought. What was unbelievable, though, was how cold she'd been toward Shane. Not only refusing to tell him she was pregnant with his child, but also terminating the pregnancy all on her own. Then sending him and the baby away like two mistakes she desperately wanted to forget. Beth's heart broke for him.
They stayed as they were until he'd exhausted himself, pulling away from her with a sheepish look. "Sorry", He mumbled, turning his attention to Maize and giving her a pat on the head. Beth knew that nothing she said would make this better, she also knew a simple reassurance wouldn't make him feel any less embarrassed right now. Placing her hand on the back of his neck she gently massaged the tense muscles for a moment. Shane's eyes fluttered closed, nothing about this was sexual or forward; he knew she belonged to Daryl and he'd never even entertain the notion. The two of them were meant for one another and anyone who didn't see that was a damn fool. Still he couldn't deny that she was absolutely excellent at taking care of a person. Even now, just this simple gesture seemed to heal some of the rawness inside of him. He was grateful that they'd become friends- Daryl too- they were good people, strong people; they had what it took to survive this thing.
Pulling her hand away, Beth came to rest on her knees showing him what she'd brought with her. A small trowel from her garden, a bouquet of lavender, and a tiny wooden cross. Shane's lips twitched slightly at her consideration. Eyes landing on the cross he looked away.
"Wish I could give the baby a name…" Beth paused shaking her head.,
"Why can't you ?" He shrugged making brief eye contact.
"Don't know if it would have been a boy or a girl." Her eyes wandering to the baby, Beth took it gently from Shane's hand as she unwrapped the cloth. She knew that it was impossible to determine sex this early but one glance at Shane's hopeful face told her that the white lie would be less damaging than the truth. Carefully examining the tiny body she shook her head.
"By this time there would be a nub if it was boy and I don't see one. So I think the baby would have been a girl." He stared at her dumbfounded, the news hitting him like a ton of bricks. A little girl, he would have had a daughter. The corners of his lips twitching up, Beth sat the baby down on the ground as she handed Shane the cross. "Give her a name….she was yours." He stared at her for a long moment before looking down to the cross falling deep in thought.
Beth took the small trowel and began to dig a tiny hole near the base of the tree. Musing to herself, Shane couldn't have picked a better spot- the long willowy branches a perfect place to keep such a little one sheltered and protected. When he was done carving the cross he showed it to her.
"Judith ?" He looked down nodding.
"It was my mama's name."
Beth's face spread into a sad smile. Reaching out, she touched his hand meaning every word she said, "It's a beautiful name for a little girl." There as nothing left to do now but bury her. Turning back to Shane she gestured toward the baby. "Do you want to hold her once more?"
A mask of emotion came over his face as he scooped her off the ground bringing little Judith to his lips he placed a gentle kiss on her tiny head. "My sweet girl Jude…" This time Beth was the one to choke up as she had to look away, tearing falling down her own cheeks.
Once Shane placed her in the ground they carefully covered her with dirt and rocks so that she wouldn't be disturbed. Staking the cross into the ground, Beth folded her hands in prayer.
"Dearest Judith, we thank our heavenly father for blessing us with your sweet, yet brief life. Know that you have touched our lives forever and we will always love and miss you. We trust Jesus to keep you safe in his care and pray one day we'll be able to hold you once again. Amen."
"Amen." Shane didn't put much stock in prayer but Beth saying that did make him feel a bit better. His girl was gone but he would see her again.
Helping each other off the ground, Shane pulled her into an honest hug. Right now he didn't have the words to tell her what this meant to him. Maybe one day he would but not today. Beth seemed to understand though, and as they left she laid the bouquet of lavender in front of the cross. Another life gone. Seemed like it was one a day now. Maize leading the way back, the two of them walked in silence hoping this was it for a long, long time.
It was early October and while temperatures were still comfortable, darkness came earlier and earlier each night. Carol wasn't sure what time it was, having no use for such a thing anymore, but as the sun sank below the horizon she began to feel a knot in a gut. At the house it was just her, Carl, and Lori. T-Dog and Andrea were on watch pulling double shifts with everything else that was going on. Beth disappeared with the dog an hour or so ago, assuring Carol that she wouldn't be long. She couldn't know for sure but Carol guessed that she'd gone after Shane. Whatever happened in that room with Lori was bad, and watching Carl now she hoped that Rick would be back soon. Dale had warned of it before he died and now the more she thought about it, she realized he was right. This group was falling apart.
Carl stirred the peppers, onion, and potatoes in the skillet fundamentally upset that this was his chosen duty. Beth had ran off after Shane into the woods and while he'd protested that he wanted to come along she'd gently guided him back to the outdoor stove. It was now up to him to make sure that they all had something to eat tonight. His mama sick and weak, and his daddy out on the road all day were depending on him to fill their bellies and keep them going. He glared at her, sounded like bunch of horse shit to him, but after his outburst earlier he decided to hold back this time. Nobody on this farm thought he could do a damn thing. Sure he was only twelve, but he was more of a man than a lot of other kids. Thinking of his friends Josh and Liam, he was sure they were both walkers right now. Their parents not nearly as tough as his own, the boys themselves weak and not knowing much more than how to play a video game. Carl was different he knew how to shoot, how to build a fire, and for shit's sake he'd taken a bullet to the chest and lived to tell. Looking over his shoulder at Carol he snorted shaking his head. These people should be grateful they had him- he was a real asset to this group and he intended to show them. Eggs and vegetables were a shit dinner- with everyone else busy there'd been no one available to hunt. If he got a rabbit or a squirrel for dinner they'd all realize just how capable he was. Maybe then his daddy would take him on runs. He could help keep the place safe, take his own watch shift. Yeah- bringing home some meat for dinner would show them. Beth told him it was his job to keep the group fed. And that's exactly what he was going to do.
"Carol…I'm cold. Can I go to the barn and get my sweatshirt ?" She stood up apprehensively looking between the barn and the house. If she went with him and Lori needed something no one was here.
"Alright. But straight to the barn and back. I'll be watching." Handing the wooden spoon to her, Carl nodded but made no promises. Studying him for a moment she relented. "Hurry along now. The others will be back soon." Carl took off, opening the gate and letting himself out with a hidden smirk. He would show them.
Beth and Shane emerged from the woods just as darkness was beginning to envelope the farm. The first thing Beth checked was whether or not Daryl was back. Seeing no sign she bit down on her lip, her eyebrows knit tightly together.
"He's on his way back. I know it." Shane offered her a reassuring smile as she nodded hesitantly, the two of them making their way back to the house. Not five minutes later a cloud of dust began to kick up in the drive as Beth's heart flipped in her chest. Turning to her Shane smiled for real this time, the gesture reaching all the way to the corners of his eyes. "See…What I say ?"
She let out a nervous laugh, the giddy relief evident on her face as she began to run toward the house, Shane and Maize right behind her. The closer she got, she realized that Lori up and about sitting on one of the rockers that lined the porch, Carol standing right beside her. Andrea and T-Dog also came in seeing Beth and Shane had returned and deciding to leave their posts to see what was going on.
They got to the drive just as the red and tan bronco came to stop with the farm truck not far behind. Her daddy was back, that much obvious, as he staggered from the driver's seat her suspicions of him getting drunk in town obviously panning out. Looking toward the other vehicle, Beth's smile quickly faded. Rick got out from behind the wheel making a beeline toward her with his hand up.
"Beth there's a bit of situation…" She backed away, an all consuming dread in the pit of her stomach. Pushing him out of the way she flung herself against the car- someone was in the back seat. Yanking the door open she was shocked to find a kid, barely eighteen maybe, bleeding from a serious wound on the leg. He was blindfolded and gagged, this hands bound behind his back, he moaned out in pain.
"Where's Daryl ?" Her heart was pounding so fast she was shaking. Rick licked his lips shaking his head and clearly struggling for how to say whatever he wanted to say. It only pissed her off more. Daryl had gone out to help him- not the other way around- and he'd come back without him. "Where the FUCK is Daryl, Rick ?!"
T-Dog and Andrea approached hearing all the commotion then clamored to see who was inside the bronco. "He's alive. I'm sure of it…". Beth nearly screamed. Stepping up next to her, Shane's body was tight with anger. Rick really did have no clue as to what he was doing.
"Who the hell is that ?" T-Dog's finger jammed toward the stranger. Rick shook his head taking a deep breath.
"I can explain everything…please just….Lori ?!" Beth turned sharply on her heel. She couldn't be standing here right now, couldn't be hearing this. Daryl was gone - hurt, taken, God only knows what- and Rick's asking about his wife, telling her everything's ok and that Daryl's most likely alive. WHAT ?!
Carol had come to stand at the outskirts of the group, Lori on the porch craning her own neck to see and hear what was happening. "She's on the porch. A heavy period- that was all. Poor thing hadn't menstruated in months and it hit her all at once." Shane's heart seized in his chest. Quickly averting his eyes to the ground he swallowed back the vomit on his tongue. Lori had wasted no time getting her story straight that was for sure. Next to him Beth put her hands on her head, she was so close to freaking the fuck out he could feel it.
Beth had to bite down on her lip to keep from telling everyone exactly what had happened. Lori giving herself an abortion, sending Daryl and Rick out on a wild goose chase when she knew what the problem was all along. Now Daryl was gone and Rick had brought a stranger back in his place. Whipping around she leveled her gaze at him. "START TALKING RICK….RIGHT NOW !"
When he finished speaking she started at him in partial disbelief. They'd found her daddy right where she said he would be, bent over the bar in town sucking on the last bottle of bourbon left in Senoia. After some corralling and cajoling they convinced him he needed to get back to the farm and see to Lori. A group of men rolled up, though, and they were quickly outnumbered. Didn't matter though, Rick and Daryl were too smart and too quick. They dispatched two men quickly and sent another running out the back. Trouble was the kid stumbling climbing over a wrought iron fence, impaling himself in the process. Screaming bloody murder he attracted every walker in a five mile radius. Rick had already made up his mind to leave him. They didn't owe these assholes a thing.
It was Daryl who went back, taking out walkers in the process. They didn't have to take him but they also couldn't leave him stuck like bait on a skewer. He never saw the car until it was too late, a man clubbing him over the head and throwing him in the back before Rick could get a shot off. After that Rick had a change of heart about the boy, taking him both as collateral and a source of information.
Shane wasted no time hauling him off to the shed. Beth didn't care what he had to, they needed to find Daryl. With the help of Andrea and T-Dog the kid was tied up and tortured until he provided the information they needed. It didn't take much, just a bit of tugging on his leg and he sang like a little birdy. A camp along the highway, thirty or so men, rough men. Would they wait until morning when he could be patched up for a prisoner exchange ? He didn't know, they acted more on urges than logic. Not to mention he wasn't exactly a valued member of the group- the men who'd been killed holding much more weight than he did.
It was all Beth needed to hear. She was going after Daryl, by herself if need be, and she wasn't coming back until she found him. Fuck Rick and his plans. In her room now she packed a bag- nothing special just a change of clothes and some additional layers. Her knife secured to her belt, and Daryl's Glock handgun in her waistband she was as prepared as she was ever going to be. Whatever it took to get him back, she was prepared to do. Maize sat on the floor staring up at her and letting out a soft whine. Beth paused staring down the dog knowing she wanted to come but also knowing it was a bad idea. Yes she was a German Shepherd, but she was also as docile as could be. Sighing, Beth knelt down.
"You stay right here, girl. And I'll be back in a minute." It wouldn't be a minute but it was what she always told her. Messing the bed covers up, Beth patted the mattress. "Wait right here for me, ok ?" The dog obliged although Beth sensed she wasn't happy about it. Taking one last look at her, Beth swallowed back the lump in her throat as she closed and locked the door behind her. Maize would be safe there until she got back.
Shane loaded up the back of green Hyundai with a few supplies and half the guns they had. He'd not cleared that part with Rick and he really didn't care to. Beth appeared on the porch ready to go. It had been quickly decided that it would be Beth, Rick, and Shane. Rick had begged and pleaded with Beth to stay back knowing this was far from safe, but she wouldn't hear of it. If Daryl was out there, she was going to be out there too. The boy, Randall, would be attended to by Hershel and then set free once they were all back safe and sound.
"Bethy i think you should stay back…do what Rick says." Her daddy approached from behind as she loaded her things into the car.
"I don't care what you think anymore." Meeting his eyes she spared him nothing. "If not for you running off on another bender we wouldn't be in this situation to begin with…." She let out a wry, humorless laugh. "It's always going to be about you first..what you need, what you want. You and your booze…" Slamming the back of the SUV closed she slid past him, leaving it at that. When it came to her daddy she had absolutely nothing left.
"You ready to go ?" She gave Shane a nod.
"I'm ready." Just then Rick appeared from the barn, raking an agitated hand through his hair
"Have you seen Carl ?!" Come to think of it Beth hadn't seen him since earlier when he was pouting in the yard.
"No. Not in a while." Rick's anger boiled over.
"DAMMIT! Carol said he went to the barn just before we got back…nobody's seen him since." Beth didn't care, not right now anyway. Even if she was the only one to go, she was going. "I'm sorry but I have to find him." T-Dog and Andrea converged agreeing to help Rick search while Carol stood on the porch crying into her hands. She was supposed to be watching him and the little shit had slipped away. It was dark now too, making it harder to find anything and much more dangerous.
"We got this." Shane nodded to Beth as the others took off toward the fields. "You good ?"
Returning his nod she slid into the passenger seat. "I'm good. Let's do this."
TBC….
As I said before this fic is going to be about 35 chapters so I don't have much left. At least two chapters are going to be future based and I'm so excited to show you guys what I have in store for the ending here. I think it's something everyone will really like.
Timeline wise I should be done right around Christmas or possibly before so please stay with me for the wrap up of this story that I've loved to write and I hope you've loved to read.
Again thank you thank you thank you for reading and please leave a review !