» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

» THE BRIDGE PT.2 «

Let's Play Bridge, But With Our Fists

My horse trotted to a stop on the empty road, allowing me to swing my leg over and drop to the floor with a huff. I wrapped the reins around my hand tightly, encouraging her to follow me into the woods. We weaved through a maze of trees and shrubs, eventually coming across the bustling camp spread over the forest floor.

I knotted the rope around a thick branch, leaving my horse with the others while I searched for someone in particular. I eventually stopped when a new face, someone I hadn't expected to see here, popped into my line of view.

"Henry?" My feet took me over to the boy as he waited outside a tent, Ezekiel by his side with a proud smile. I couldn't help my grin as I ruffled his blonde hair, his expression switching to irritation as he swatted me away. "What're you doing here?"

He looked up at me after flattening his hair, a determined look on his face. "I'm helping out with the bridge."

Ezekiel chuckled with a shake of his head. "He's giving food and water to those who are working." He corrected with a smile. Henry frowned, disappointment in his features.

"Hey, that's an important job, too." I assured him, my hand on his shoulder supportively. "Without you, people would be passing out from dehydration all over the place. It makes my job a whole lot easier."

He seemed to accept that, embracing his role as he gathered the water container and tin cup in his arms. "Is Daryl on the bridge?" I wondered, noticing Henry's following nod. "I'll take you, if you're headed that way."

It was a short journey, made even shorter by the speed of my horse as she sped down the road. Henry gripped to his belongings tightly, his eyes wide with fear as he shook around on the back of the saddle.

I heard Aaron's voice first when we arrived, watching him and Daryl place wooden boards across strong beams and hammering them together. He wiped a hand over his forehead as he sighed with effort, standing from his knees.

"So, I go in after her nap and pick her up, and the diaper just explodes all over me." He relayed the story, almost acting out the disgusting event.

I encouraged Henry over, showing him where to set up his kit before heading over to the two men. Daryl gave a disgruntled reply, shrugging off the experience.

"You're a great dad." Aaron commented reassuringly to Daryl.

"Damn right." I called out, stopping in front of them as their conversation died down. "Hey, Aaron. How's Gracie doing?"

"You mean other than the exploding diapers? Pretty good. And Heather?" He asked, dusting his hands off. It had been a little while since I saw the little girl, the last time being almost a year ago.

I turned to Daryl as I answered, a smile on my face. "She started walking the other day. And she said her first word." I beamed proudly.

My father, who had always been stoic in his emotions even on the most joyful occasions, allowed his eyebrows to raise in surprise. He had a similar expression of pride in his features as I continued.

"Okay, it wasn't exactly a word." I confessed with a shrug. "She said 'Da', I thought it could've been 'Daryl'? I wanted to tell you first."

He pursed his lips, like he was trying to keep it cool but I could see how he was really feeling. He loved Heather like family, which in some ways they were. It reminded me of the unexpected soft side he showed when Judith was first born, or his acceptance of me as his daughter.

My smile faltered at a crashing sound, metal clattering against the wood harshly. I spun to see Henry with his staff gripped in his hands, standing over a man I didn't recognise. Water glugged from the plastic container, soaking into the boards and dripping through them to the river below. Henry bent down and picked it up, his features screwed up in fury as he stalked away.