» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

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I'm Feeling Drained, And That's On A Good Day

I woke up to the sound of Carl's gentle breathing, my hair swirling up every time he exhaled. He had come to my room last night to find me crying beneath the covers, saying nothing as he climbed in beside me and held me close to him until I fell asleep.

My face was itchy from the dried tears, my throat sore from the sobs. He knew Denise had died, but we didn't talk about it. I knew he would miss her, too. During the time when he wouldn't let me see his injury, she had been the one to treat him. She saved his life, and I wasn't sure if I ever thanked her.

I yawned widely, creeping from the tangle of Carl's arms and pulling on my creased jeans. It sounded like a good idea to stay busy today.

I plodded down the stairs, sitting beside Glenn as he ate breakfast at the table.

"Maggie's looking for you." He told me around a mouthful of cereal. "She's by the gate, I think."

I had a feeling I knew what she wanted to talk to me about. "Are you gonna move to Hilltop? I mean, at least until the baby's born. They have all the equipment there, and a doctor, and I couldn't do it myself-" I stopped rambling.

"We thought about it. It sounds like a good idea, we just don't wanna separate ourselves from the group." He replied, setting his spoon down.

"I could go with you." I suggested. "I could learn a few things from Harlan about babies and stuff."

Glenn chuckled. "Why, you planning on having one?"

I scoffed. "Jesus, Glenn. I'm sixteen, not...however old you are."

"You're almost seventeen." He countered. "And seventeen is almost eighteen, which means you're basically an adult. That reminds me, I got a present for you." He went back to his cereal. "For your eighteenth."

I rolled my eyes. "Might as well give it to me now in case I don't reach that age." I joked.

"Of course you will, what kinda guy would I be if I didn't get you to eighteen? The big one, the best birthday. At least, that's how I remember it." He stood and dropped his bowl in the sink, heading out the door with a wave of his hand.

I stepped onto the porch, scanning the area for Maggie. I spotted her by the bins, talking to Michonne and Glenn with a serious expression. I knew she wanted to put more guns out in case of an attack, but I hoped she was just being paranoid. I couldn't handle this place falling like the prison.

I barely reached them when I heard the revving of a familiar motorbike, peering over to see Daryl speeding towards the gate. He was doing something stupid. I ran over as he rode out of sight, picking up a gun from the bin on my way.

"Belle, you stay behind." Glenn called as he got into the driver's seat of the nearest van, but I just pulled the back door open with a screech, hopping in.

"I'm coming with you." I insisted. He was doing this for Denise, and part of me wanted to be there for that. 'Killing people is wrong, but it can't be helped.'

Glenn turned the key and the van rumbled to life, but not before Rosita jumped in the back beside me. "I know where Daryl's going." She defended, and we quickly hurried down the road. I hoped someone would tell Carl where I went.

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"Stop here." Glenn pulled the van across the tracks, halting by some parked cars. I jumped out the van and gripped my gun tightly, noticing some walkers ripping into corpses. I glanced at my feet, seeing a pool of red soaked into the stones. This was where it happened.