Kari was truly beginning to question her life choices as Shane sent the car racing through the pitch-black night after Daryl's motorbike. It took another ten minutes of driving before they finally spotted a disorientated Lori stumbling down the road, all but offering herself up to any walkers in the area. Daryl sped up on his motorbike to cut her off, as her staggering feet finally came to a halt. Shane had barely brought his foot off the pedal when he was jumping out of the car and rushing over to her, worry written all over his face. Kari opted to stand by the passenger seat of the car, her eyes darting around, knowing they were too out in the open.
"You alright?" Shane inquired, his voice thick with emotion.
"I'm fine," Lori retorted, causing Daryl to scoff from where he was still sitting on his bike.
"You're not fine. I saw the wreck. Let me look at you," Shane insisted, looking her over for injuries, glad to see she didn't appear to have any wounds to her abdomen. Her head was a different story, as Kari could see specks of blood on her forehead even from a distance. "What happened?" Shane questioned.
"Looked down at the map and hit a Walker."
"And you're sure you actually passed your driving test?" Kari huffed, before wandering over to the pair, taking a closer look at the wound to Lori's forehead. "You feel dizzy, nauseous?"
"I just got to find Rick," Lori told her, as Kari ran a hand through her hair.
"Well, keep this up and you will find him...as a walker with half your shoulder bitten off," Kari insisted, as Shane pushed himself between the two women.
"He's back. They're all back. They're all safe and sound," Shane announced, as Kari and Daryl shared a silent look, debating whether to call out Shane's blatant lie.
"Really?" Lori sighed, as Kari gave a slow nod.
"Your son's worried sick about you. And I need to have a closer look at that head wound," Kari explained.
"Okay. Okay, let's go back," Lori nodded, as Shane ushered her toward the car, turning back to give Kari a grateful smile.
"She's gonna' be pissed," Daryl pointed out, causing Kari to shrug.
"Not my problem," She stated, as Daryl leant back on his bike, readying himself to head back the way they came. Kari met his eyes for a moment, before she slowly reached out to touch his shoulder, not missing the way he tensed at the action. Despite his mind knowing she wasn't about to hit him, his muscle memory wouldn't allow him to forget his past experiences. "Thanks. For helping an idiot out," Kari exclaimed, as his lips twitched for a moment.
"You talkin' about her or you?" Daryl mumbled, as she gave his shoulder a small squeeze.
"Both, I guess," She smirked, as he let out a snort of amusement.
"I better check on her. Meet you back at the farm?" Kari said, pulling her hand away, as Daryl gave a curt nod.
Neither of them mentioned how his shoulders had slowly relaxed under her touch. He watched intently as Kari marched back to the car where Shane waited impatiently for her. Daryl didn't start his bike until the car was heading back to the farm, ready to act if any walkers jumped out at them. He followed them closely all the way back.
Kari braced herself as they exited the vehicle at the top of the farm, watching as the group rushed toward them. Kari glanced behind her to notice Daryl kept going on his bike, heading toward his own makeshift camp. He clearly didn't want to get involved in the fight that was inevitably going to occur. She had half a mind to follow him.
"Oh my God, are you alright? What happened?" Andrea gaped, noticing the dried blood on Lori's face.
"I was in an accident. I'm fine, I'm fine," Lori dismissed.
Kari could see how Shane was backing up, waiting for the other shoe to drop. A moment later, she felt a small tug on the hem of her shirt and looked down to see Carl giving her a big smile. Before she could stop him, he had wrapped his small arms around her waist, hugging her tightly. Kari tensed up, not sure how to react, trying to push down her bad memories of the last time a child had been that close to her.
"Thanks for bringing my mom back," Carl exclaimed, as Kari patted his head, a little awkwardly.
"Yep. No problem," Kari murmured, as Carl pulled away, giving Shane a similar smile.
"Mom, are you okay?" Carl questioned, as she nodded, quickly.
"I really am. Where's Rick?" Lori inquired, as she was met with blank looks. She turned her attention to Kari, who was trying her best to look anywhere but Lori. "They're not back? Where are they?" She pushed.
"Look, I had to get you back here—" Shane began, as Lori stormed over to him, her intentions clear.
"You asshole!" She spat out, hitting him in the chest.
"Lori," Shane exclaimed, as she gripped onto his shirt, roughly.
"He's my husband!" She cried, as Kari decided it was time to intervene, reaching over to grab Lori's arm.
"Hey, we couldn't just leave you—" Kari was cut off as Lori's arm swung back, and collided with her face, causing her to stagger back a few steps.
There was silence for a few moments, as Kari touched her bottom lip, finding it had split open, a few specks of blood now staining her thumb. Lori had the sense to look guilty, as Shane pushed himself between the two again, unsure if Kari would react.
"Yeah, you can stitch up your own wound, you fucking bitch," Kari huffed, turning on her heel to storm away.
"Kari..." Lori called after her, but she didn't finish her sentence.
Kari headed in the direction of the water pump, deciding she didn't want to be around anyone at that moment. She felt like an idiot. She should have never gone after Lori. She didn't even like her. But the baby. She felt sorry for the unborn child. Having to be born into the hellhole the world had become. And it was her sympathy that kept getting her into trouble. It was the whole reason she had first got bit. She was better off on her own. She just wished she could accept that. Perching on the stones beside the water pump, she brushed at her lip again, noting that it had already stopped bleeding.
"Hey," A voice exclaimed nearby, as Kari's head snapped up to find Shane shuffling toward her.
She said nothing, simply rolling her eyes, hoping he would get the idea and leave her alone. Apparently, he was oblivious to her inner thoughts, as he pulled a bucket over to perch on, sitting opposite her. She frowned as he pulled out a rag, drenching it in water, giving her an expectant look.
"Let's have a look," Shane stated, reaching out to hook his finger under her chin.
Reluctantly, she allowed him to start dabbing at her bloody lip with the rag, wincing as it stung a little. She was pretty sure she would have a nasty bruise on her chin in the morning. Hopefully, it would make Lori feel a little worse, she mused.
"Sorry 'bout this," Shane murmured, cleaning up some of the blood on her chin.
"Remind me to never help you again," Kari retorted, watching as his lips twitched into a smile.
"Must be a pain," Shane began, as she raised an eyebrow, noticing his fingers were still lingering against her chin. "Pretending to not care, when you clearly do."
"Could say the same to you. All those things you feel for Lori? They're gonna' get you killed," Kari warned, as he mulled it over for a moment.
"I love her."
"That ain't love. I don't know what it is exactly, but it's not love," Kari told him.
"You an expert all of a sudden?" Shane huffed, as she shrugged his hand away from her, looking away.
"Shane, enough of the bullshit. You need to get over this or leave. There is no other option anymore," Kari pushed, as he ran a hand over his head.
"And if Rick don't come back?" Shane stated.
"That's what it's come to? Wishing your best friend is dead?" Kari accused, as Shane shook his head.
"I don't know what I want," He muttered, as Kari reached out to grab a fistful of his shirt.
"Then figure it out," She insisted, forcing him to look at her.
"That an order?" Shane snorted, as she gave a slight shrug.
"You're one bossy broad, you know that?" He scoffed, noticing that her lip had begun to bleed again a little bit.
Reaching up he ran his thumb over her bottom lip a few times, stemming the bleeding. Kari's forehead wrinkled as his touch lingered, and his eyes snapped up to hers. He was then leaning forward, gaze dropping back to her lips, as his intentions finally became clear to Kari. It had been months since she had been so close to anyone, let alone a guy who might actually want her. She pulled back just as his lips brushed against her own, eyes wide, realising what she was about to do. No amount of loneliness would make hooking up with Shane a good idea.
"Shane, don't," She murmured, her breathing heavy.
"Shit. I wasn't...I just...Jesus," He sighed, dropping his head into his hands.
"Everything alright?" A familiar voice called out, as Kari twisted around to find Carol marching over to them.
"Yeah. Yeah, we're good," Kari replied, as Shane gave a quick nod, pushing himself to his feet, leaving as fast as his legs could carry him.
"Please tell me I wasn't just interrupting what I think I was," Carol exclaimed, as Kari pursed her lips.
"He came onto me, not the other way round," Kari scoffed.
"You didn't seem to be pushing him away," Carol pointed out.
"Momentary lapse in judgement," Kari grumbled, standing to her feet.
"He's dangerous, Kari," Carol went on.
"Why do you think I'm staying on his good side?" Kari retorted, raising an eyebrow.
Morning came, and with it brought a new, unexpected problem for them all. Rick and the others had returned safe and sound...with an uninvited guest. A guy, probably a couple of years younger than Kari, who had been involved in a shootout with them in town. He had found himself impaled on a gate, and Rick had, in Kari's mind, stupidly decided to bring him back to the safety of the farm. Kari stood by the door as the group debated what to do with him next. She wasn't even sure why she came. She wasn't a part of the group, so it wasn't her decision to help make...right?
"We couldn't just leave him behind. He would've bled out, if he lived that long," Rick explained.
"It's gotten bad in town," Glenn stated, putting Kari on edge.
If that was true, how long until the dead made their way to the farm? With all of them in the living room at that very moment, they had no defences from any threat, alive or dead. She was just about to head out, wanting to keep an eye on the perimeter when the door opened. She turned around to find Daryl stepping into the farmhouse, his eyes connecting with hers for a moment, nodding in her direction. She gave him a small grin, noticing how his lips twitched into something akin to a smile.
"What do we do with him?" Andrea questioned.
"I repaired his calf muscle as best I can, but he'll probably have nerve damage. Won't be on his feet for at least a week," Hershel explained, as Kari saw Daryl come to stand beside her.
"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road, send him on his way."
"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?" Andrea argued, as Kari leaned back against the wall, holding her own words in.
"He'll have a fighting chance," Rick retorted.
"Just gonna' let him go? He knows where we are," Shane pointed out.
"He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat," Rick continued, as Kari let out a scoff loud enough that everyone turned to look at her.
"The guy shot at you. He'd still kill you if you gave him half a chance, which by the sound of it, you're planning on doing," Kari exclaimed, as Rick gave her a disappointed look.
"You killed three of their men, you took one of them hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking?" Shane added, backing up her argument.
"They left him for dead. No one is looking!" Rick snapped, beginning to grow angry.
"You know what? I'm gonna' go get him some flowers and candy," Shane scoffed, pushing off from where he had been leaning against the wall, and storming toward the door. "Look at this, folks...we back in fantasy land," Shane muttered, as Hershel decided it was time to speak up.
"You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet. Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all...this is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor...keep your mouth shut," Hershel warned, as Daryl let out a snort from beside Kari, amused by the old man tearing Shane a new one.
Before he left, Shane found Kari's eyes from across the room, clearly hoping for her to back him up. Instead, Kari looked to the ground, missing the way Daryl's eyes darted between the two, noticing the tension between the pair. Without another word, Shane threw the front door open, almost breaking it off its hinges.
"We're not gonna' do anything about it today. Let's just cool off," Rick suggested, as Kari turned to Daryl.
"This is gonna' end badly, mark my words," She mumbled, before taking off after Shane.
It took calling after him five times to get the older man to finally stop in his tracks. She had a feeling after last night she was the last person he wanted to see. Men didn't take well to being rejected in her experience. But they needed to talk about Rick's crazy plan.
"You gonna' set up watch on this Randall guy?" Kari guessed, as he gave a slow nod.
"Was thinking of having T-Dog up first, then Andrea. I'll take the graveyard," He shrugged, turning to face her.
"You can add me to that list," Kari exclaimed, as he began shaking his head.
"You don't know how to handle a gun," He pointed out, as she pulled out one of her daggers, quirking an eyebrow.
"I think I can handle the little shit just fine," She huffed, as Shane let out a laugh.
"Yeah, I can imagine. Fine. You can take over at dusk," He murmured.
"And then what? We just send him on his merry way? If he finds his people and leads them here, we'll have a war on our hands."
"You're preaching to the choir, girl," Shane replied, as Kari bit her lip, debating on whether to bring up the previous night.
"Look, about...I'm an asshole, alright? I know that. I get these stupid ideas in my head. And I thought that you...shit, I don't know what I thought," Shane explained.
"Yeah, telling a girl that you're in love with your best friend's wife and then trying to kiss her...not your best move, mate," Kari teased, as Shane ran a hand over his brow.
"Like I said. Asshole," He nodded.
"Well, believe it or not...it's me, not you, Shane. I ain't interested in any of that anymore," Kari told him, as he raised an eyebrow.
"That you letting me down gently?" He snorted.
"Something like that," She grinned.
"You still planning on leaving soon then?" He asked, as she mulled it over.
Absentmindedly, she ran a hand over the scars on her abdomen, reminding herself that she had no choice. She was a ticking time bomb. Best she leave soon before she got too attached to the group.
"Have to."
"You want some company?" Shane suggested, as Kari's eyes narrowed.
"What, you want to tag along? Leave Lori? Your kid?" She pointed out, as Shane let out a sigh.
"Maybe I'm thinking of taking your advice. Can't get over it. Means I gotta' leave, right?" Shane stated, as Kari thought it over, imagining all the ways it could end badly if Shane came with her. "You can handle yourself with the walkers, I seen that. But the people? Men? You and I both know you'd be safer travelling with a guy. That's just the facts," Shane went on.
"And what would you get out of it?" Kari inquired.
"Being with someone who doesn't think I'm a monster."
Once Hershel was convinced Randall would be able to stand on his leg, it was decided Rick and Shane would take him 18 miles out and cut him free. It was clear not everyone in the group agreed with the idea, but neither did they want to stand up against Rick. Kari made her way to Daryl's makeshift camp, finding him skinning a rabbit, blood coating his fingers.
"Hey, still room for one more in there?" Kari asked, gesturing toward his tent.
Despite her plan to move into Daryl's camp, Beth's condition meant she had spent the last few nights making sure the girl was adequately hydrated. And on a few occasions, Hershel had even persuaded her to help him with Randall. She had barely seen Daryl.
"Not looking for a roommate," He pointed out, as she rolled her eyes.
"Oh c'mon. I swear, I'm good for the rent. Cross my heart," She continued, making a crossing gesture over her chest.
"You still be helping out the farmer's daughter?" Daryl asked, as she nodded, coming to sit down beside him on the log he was perched on.
"Glutton for punishment," Kari shrugged, as he grunted in response.
"Kinda' missed your rabbits, though," She admitted.
"You always thinking with your stomach, huh?" He accused, making her grin at him. Pursing his lips, he stopped cutting at the rabbit skin and turned to her. "Want me to teach you?" He suggested, handing out the bloody knife.
"Well, how could I refuse such an offer?" She snorted, taking the knife from his hand.
"Trick is, you gotta' get—" Daryl began, leaning in a little closer to help show her where to make the next cut.
"Daryl? Daryl!" Carol called out, as the man in question was on his feet in a split second.
"You alright?" He asked, rushing over to her when he noticed the panicked state she was in.
"I think I heard a walker in the woods. Might have been two of em'" Carol replied, as Daryl leant down to grab his crossbow.
"You want some help?" Kari questioned, as he shook his head, quickly.
"I got this," He told her, as she placed a hand on her hip.
"This is whole sexist, let the men do the fighting thing...not really gonna' work for me," Kari huffed, as she went to walk past him, in the direction of the woods.
"I meant, I got this. And you got them," Daryl explained, noddinghis head toward the farmhouse.
Oh. He wanted her to look after the rest of the group. He trusted her to protect them. She wondered when that changed. Before she had time to argue, he reached out for her arm, giving a quick squeeze before marching off toward the woods. Carol didn't miss the way Kari's lips grew into a smile at the gesture.
The farmhouse had been thrown into a panic, and not because of the new walker threat. Beth had tried to kill herself, or at least had planned it. She had stolen a knife from her dinner platter, her intentions as clear as day. The women in the group now had the blonde on suicide watch. Daryl came to the farmhouse an hour later, stating he had found the walker in the woods and taken care of it. Beth looked a little green at the implications of his words and had retired back to bed.
"No sign of Rick or Shane," Kari mumbled, coming to stand beside him on the porch.
"Your buddy will be fine," Daryl retorted, as she gave him a confused look.
"My buddy?" She repeated, as Daryl gave a slight shrug.
"Saw you both at the water pump the other night, lookin' all cosy," Daryl pointed out.
"Then I'm pretty sure you also saw me pushing him away. I got enough crazy in here without adding his in," Kari told him, pointing to her head.
"Why'd you keep hanging around with him then?" Daryl pushed, making her frown.
"I'm good with dealing with assholes," She stated.
"You keeping him close cause' he's a threat?" Daryl realised, as she mulled it over.
"Something like that," She murmured, leaning against the bannister in front of her.
"That why you want to keep your eye on me?" Daryl suggested, as she twisted around to face him.
"You're not like Shane," Kari began, as Daryl let out a small scoff, thinking the opposite. She imagined that was what everyone had told him he was his whole life. "A bad guy wouldn't risk his life searching for a little girl."
"Yeah, whatever."
"No, not whatever, Dixon. I'm not keeping an eye on you. I actually like being with you, believe it or not," Kari admitted, watching as his eyes softened a little bit, and she could swear his lips twitched into a smile for just a moment.
"Though you are in serious need of a shower. I've got half a mind to grab a bucket from inside and just chuck it at your head," She continued, as Daryl huffed out something akin to a laugh.
"Best get back to your patient," He told her, in a softer tone.
"Alright, but I expect some rabbit waiting for me tonight," She grinned, before heading back inside.
She was still smiling to herself as she entered Beth's room, who was curled up in a ball on her bed. Kari reached out to feel for her pulse, glad to see it was steadier than it had been in days, but the girl barely gave her a second glance. Kari knew Beth needed to get her act together if she was ever going to survive in the real world. Her father had tried to shelter her. And that had been a mistake. Glancing out of the bedroom window, she noticed something moving in the distance, her eyes widening when she realised it was a walker. Carol had been right. There was more than one. She rushed to the door, ready to call Daryl back when she looked down at Beth.
Maybe it was time for the girl to grow up, a dark part of her mind thought.
"...You want to get some air?" Kari suggested, as the blonde finally acknowledged her presence.
Kari guessed she was debating whether she would be able to make a run for it, and find a quiet place in the woods to end her life. Once Beth nodded, Kari grabbed her hand and hauled her in the direction of the backdoor...and the walker waiting for them in the tree line.
"I heard what your plan was. Cutting your wrists?" Kari announced, as she marched them outside.
"It would be better. For me. For everyone," Beth retorted.
"Until you come back as one of the dead," Kari informed her, as Beth stopped in her tracks.
"What?"
"Right. You guys don't know yet. No matter how you die, you come back as a walker. So...that's your future," Kari went on, pointing to the walker that was slowly staggering out of the trees.
She had kept that particular bit of information from the group for a reason. The world seemed a whole lot more hopeless when she found out. The bite mark on her shin itched, as she pushed the memory down, refusing to think about it.
"Oh, God," Beth gasped, as she went to run away, but Kari kept a hard grip on her wrist.
"C'mon, we're gonna' go meet the neighbours," Kari exclaimed, as she dragged Beth toward the threat.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!" Beth cried, trying to struggle out of her grip.
"You want to die, right? Let's quicken up the process," Kari shrugged, continuing to march them in the direction of the walker, who's hands were outstretched, growly softly.
"No! No, don't," Beth sobbed, as she got a closer look at the decaying skin of the walker.
"Here you go," Kari said, placing her dagger in Beth's free hand, who gaped up at her.
"Kill it."
"What? I...I can't," Beth replied, tears welling in her eyes.
"Then I'm pretty sure it's gonna' kill you," Kari pointed out, as the walker stumbled toward them, it's growls growing louder.
"Please! Why are you doing this?" Beth begged, as Kari mulled it over.
"You know, I'm not really sure why I do any of this anymore. Maybe I'm more like you than I thought. Hey, let's go out together. That'll be nice, huh?" Kari shrugged, as Beth began whimpering.
"You're crazy," Beth mumbled, as Kari pushed her forward, as the walker was only a couple of metres away.
"C'mon, blondie. Let's see what you've got," Kari insisted, as Beth stood rooted to the spot, gripping the dagger in her hand.
Kari stood close behind her, the other dagger in her own hand, ready to intervene if Beth didn't act. The walker was almost upon them both, and Kari was disappointed to see that apart from crying, Beth had made no move. She was going to let the walker kill her?
"You really gonna' end up like your mom?" Kari whispered in her ear, as something seemed to snap in Beth.
Suddenly, she raised her hands out and shoved the walker back with so much force that it collapsed to the floor, as Kari noticed part of its leg had been chewed off. Without another word, Beth climbed on top of the creature and with both hands on the dagger, sent it down into the dead man's skull. Silence followed as the walker's growls were cut off, the only noise was Beth's heavy breathing. Walking over to the younger girl, Kari crouched down in front of her, touching her shoulder.
"Looks like you want to live after all," Kari pointed out.
Beth surprised her by lunging forward and wrapping her arms around Kari's back, sobbing loudly. The older girl froze at the action, having expected Beth to strike her, not...hug her? Maybe it was guilt or sympathy that spurred her on, but slowly, Kari circled her arms over Beth's shoulders, hugging her back just as tightly. The group was reminding her that being close to people...maybe it wasn't so bad.
"I don't want to end up like my mom," Beth cried, as Kari stroked the back of her head.
"You won't. I'll help you," Kari promised, as Beth collapsed against her.