Don't Close Your Eyes [TWD]

°•sixteen•°

"You're really going?" Carl's voice asks, startling me.

I drop the bag in my hands, standing up from where I knelt on the floor.

"Do you think I have another choice?" I ask, regretfully looking at him.

"You don't know those people. I get you were with them before finding us, but....."

"I know," I nod, understanding his worries.

"So, why?" he asks, taking his hat off and sitting on the couch that Bob had just rested on before his ultimate end.. the others were outside burying him or packing like me.

"I have to trust my dad," I say, "And if us going keeps Abraham and your dad from exploding on each other and keeping everyone in their war path safe, it's worth it."

He's silent for a moment so I sigh, walking over to him and standing in front of him. I smile softly as I reach to his side and pick his hat back up.

"Thought I told you that I liked the hat?" I ask, brushing dirt off of it and setting it back on his head.

"If you stay then you can see it every day," he offers.

"You're not making any of this easier," I accuse, sitting beside him.

"Then, don't go," he pleads.

"You know I can't stay," I remind.

He huffs out a breath full of frustration and nods.

"I know. I just don't like the situation."

"Me either."

Another whim of silence washes over as we both contemplate our surroundings. 

"We'll.. You know.. Find each other again," he pieces together.

"Yeah," I breathe, hoping the words manifest into reality.

"Once Daryl and Carol come back," he nods.

"Which they will," I declare.

"Yeah," he also agrees.

I find myself glaring at my bag, as if it were the thing making me leave. With that, a memory hits me and I quickly grapple my bag into my lap. I was so distracted by everything and Carl and I hadn't had much time of just the two of us that it slipped my mind entirely. Before going into Terminus, Glenn reminded me that it could go either way. I'd recalled so many times of people getting caught by another group and losing their belongings that I kept my two most treasured items directly on me, thankfully placing one of Carl's there as well.

I pull my (Glenn's) coat out and open the zipper inside. Dale's bible laid safely inside and I retrieved it before flipping through the pages of it. In the specific area lay two photos..

"Before Glenn and I left the prison, we did a quick overlook. Grabbed supplies from there before leaving," I explain, handing him the photo, "That was in your cell. I figured you would need it back."

Carl takes the photo gently in his hands, a fond and nostalgic smile growing on his lips as he views Lori's face carefully.

"I can't believe you found it," he mutters, "Or that you thought to go into my cell at all among all that happened."

"I couldn't help it," I admit, smiling as well as I look over to his picture as well.

He chuckles, looking over at me. With the newfound knowledge in his mind, it's like he suddenly realizes the button up shirt I wore over my real one was his as well. He laughs once more as I feel my face warm.