Present

Carol stood over Rick and shook him awake; his eyes flew open.

"Your go." She said tilting her head toward the front door indicating that it was time for his watch.

Rick ran a tired hand over his face and got up.

He scanned the room and quickly toke note of who was missing. Most of his people were there and still sleeping.

He turned back around to pick up Judith, but Carol swooped in and scooped up the little nugget first.

"You up for some company?" Carol asked Rick.

Rick looked at Carol. He had an idea about what she might want to speak about. She'd made it very clear that she was against the group going anywhere unknown with anyone unknown. The thing was that despite her position being very clear the group were divided, and she couldn't decide for everyone. However, Rick understood that it wasn't like Carol to let up on anything until she got her way.

Rick nodded yes.

"Alright. I'll take her over. 'Be right out" Carol made her way toward Tyrese.

Rick looked around the area one more time before calling back out to Carol as she walked away.

"Where are they?" He asked her.

She turned back around pulling Judith closer to her chest. Carol looked around as well. Everyone was there who was currently meant to be there. Andre was sleeping soundly between Tyreese and Carl. She knew Rick didn't mean Maggie or Glenn they were on watch on the roof and had one of the groups two walkies with them.

"Ill ask Tyreese. Andre's there now, so he'll know. You go; I'll be right out." said Carol.

"Alright." Rick nodded, grabbed his gun and headed for the front.

Carol turned to Tyreese and shook him awake.

"Hey, hey Judy." Tyreese took the bundle from Carol.

"Have you seen Michonne or Andrea?" asked Carol. Tyreese adjusted Judith in his arms before carefully laying her down near him. He looked up at Carol.

"Oh yea, I saw her. 'Said she was gonna' talk with Andrea. 'Asked if I could watch little man while she did. Didn't even let her finish, 'told her it was no problem."

Carol nodded with her arms folded. "Alright, thanks Tyreese."

Tyreese smiled briefly before laying back down near the kids. Carol made her way to the front.

Rick scanned the area as he gripped his gun. He sat on the steps near the door and looked out into the night. The night air felt crisp and alive much like Rick.

It was also a sure sign of the start of fall. Time was moving fast, and they needed to find a place of their own to secure.

Rick took a deep breath and began thinking about the current things that needed his attention. If he wasn't careful, he knew he'd find himself thinking about her…hoping about her most of his shift.

After being cornered in by walkers and a storm, they found the nearest building and cleared two floors and its roof.

A man named Aaron had just shown up a day ago offering a chance to join him and his partners community. A community named Alexandria. Those who wanted to go and see were certain of it and those who didn't were as well.

The plan was to announce a decision to Aaron in the morning and move out.

Rick would have rather believe Eugene again than to trust Aaron and everything he was saying.

Aaron and his people were either stupid or leading him and his people to some trap that led to their slaughter. They had no real reason to believe otherwise.

Carol understood this. She not only didn't want to go, but she also felt that the group shouldn't have been given an option. Carol made it known that she thought it was stupid and unsafe to go or to separate. It was no doubt what she wanted to speak with Rick about now.

The truth was that it was Michonne he wanted to speak with, to plan with…to decide with. Rick also wanted to give her space as much space as she needed. But all he truly wanted as of late was more of Michonne. More of her words, her presence, just more of her. Something he'd wanted for weeks since he'd meet her.

He'd heard everyone and knew where they stood. Ultimately the group was divided.

After talking with Michonne privately Rick had decided, he was going to see. He owed it to his children to try and trying was going and seeing. He hadn't told anyone in the group yet.

Rick felt Carol Walk up right next to him.

"You look different." Carol observed as she looked out ahead. Rick looked at her briefly then did the same. Carol turned back to Rick. "That good huh?" Rick cut his eyes toward Carol.

"It's good, I'm happy for you." She spoke

Rick looked back out straight ahead too stunned to say anything just yet. Then he bent his head to look at the ground and nodded slowly.

Rick cut his eyes toward Carol again.

"That' what you tell Daryl too?" Rick asked. Beth and Daryl were currently cuddled up together on the floor with the group for everyone to "see". He was also referring to the duo's recent closeness.

Carol rolled her eyes and then chuckled lightly.

"Doesn't matter what I or Daryl do, only what you do with Michonne."

Rick stared at Carol; Carol stared right back.

Carol raised both her hands with her palms facing Rick.

"Relax cowboy, I come in peace. I promise… 'Just saying, you're different… and right now-" Carol paused again, looked down at her feet and shook her head lightly "It suits you… but you'll have all of us to answer to if it ever doesn't"

Rick stared at Carol for what felt like the umpteenth time that night. After several moments of silence, he turned his attentions back toward where he was meant to keep watch.

Carol made her way to the door to head back inside. She stopped and turned back around briefly.

"Were looking to you Rick like some of us have since this all started. Even now everything's changed but… well, nothing's changed. We still need you whether you like it or not. There's no time for even the possibility of a distraction. Not now…even if said distraction suits you."

Carol got up. "I'll be up if you want to switch out early." She squeezed his shoulder lightly and turned to head back inside.

Rick suddenly stood up with his gun raised and at the ready, looking left and right.

Rick heard something sweep the air twice and then a hard thud hit the ground near him. Carol began scratching at his ankle. A pool of blood could be found bubbling from her mouth, streaming down to her chin.

Another small pool could be found gushing from the bullet hole on the left side of her torso. She was laying on the ground fidgeting and bleeding profusely.

Rick rushed down to her. Three more snipes could be heard but now from inside. Rick quickly pulled Carol as far as he could in and then rushed to the room where everyone had been left sleeping. Almost everyone who was there was now awake.

"What is it?" asked Morales.

Rick kept his gun raised and moved quickly through the room scanning everyone in it as he did. He placed his pointer finger on his closed lips. He pointed to three of his people, silently signaling for them to stay quiet and follow close behind him.

When he got to Maggie, he pointed for her to head toward the front of the room where Carol laid. Maggie rushed over and began putting pressure on Carols wounds.

"Aaahhhh!" A holler of pain could be heard from the room they were approaching.

On the floor of the second room laid Andrea she was tightly gripping her left arm. Michonne stood over her applying pressure to her blood drenched hip.

"What happened?" Rick gritted out to the room. As he scanned it again his eyes landed on Michonne. He walked over to her and bent down. He immediately began assisting her with applying pressure to Andrea's hip wound.

"Michonne?" Rick whispered urgently.

"Michonne?" He tried again.

"Michonne!" Michonne finally looked up from Andrea's body and was met with Ricks steady gaze on her. Panic was etched all over her face.

"Michonne what happened?" Rick tried again.

Michonne shook her head lightly while her tears fell freely. She looked at Rick as she spoke.

"…I don't know"