The Curl of Your Lips | TWD -Shane |

Before the Monsters caught up

It was taking too much time. Sophia wasn't around and I don't think she will be found, as much as I hate to say it. "Rick, the rest of them are back at the RV,unprotected. We can use all our resources looking for a girl who-"

"What are you sayin' Abigail? She's a kid we can't just leave her to die!" Rick frowned, obviously beating himself up over it all.

"She put herself in this situation."I sighed and looked down,"You know I always do my best to look out for the kids, but I don't think she's cut out to be living like this. If she's dead it'd be doing her and us a favor.If you want to keep looking fine, but I think I should be back helping the ones who are alive."

He looked down and nodded as I walked off. I heard footsteps following me but I didn't turn back to look. I went straight back to the group avoiding Carol as I walked off to search through the cars that were farther away.

When the sun started to set and Rick and Daryl weren't back I got nervous. I watched as Andrea and Dale got into a little spat, what would she do with a gun other then waste what little ammo we had?

"There back,"Glenn walked over as Rick and Daryl stepped out of the bushes. Sophia wasn't with them,I'd admit that it did disappoint me. I walked over ,as did the rest of the group. I stepped up to hear Carol begging Rick to go back and look and I bit my lip tearing up. Shane wrapped an arm around my shoulders and looked down on me I shrugged him off and rushed away moving into a car just far enough so I couldn't hear Carol break down, just as I did. After a while Shane did come to check on me.He sat down in the backseat beside me and closed the door.He then pulled me into his lap and rubbed my back.

"It's all my fault.I grabbed Carl first, She ran right from my f-finger tips."I sobbed into his chest.

"You're right, about what you said,Abbs.She's not cut out for this. She made us weak, left us vulnerable."

I fell asleep just like that curled up in his arms, he woke me up the next morning as everyone prepared for the search party today. I packed the backs of food and water as Rick gave his speech about looking out for one another and staying alert. After a brief,intense spat between Dale and Andrea we were off. 

Shane and I took rear and I looked around,watching for any movements. Carl ran up to Shane to show him a knife he had acquired and I smiled, Carl admired Shane almost as much as he admired his own father. 

"Keep it down,"Shane hissed at him"Keep a look out for Sophia!"

I frowned as I watched Carl's face drop. Lori ushered him on and she and I glared at Shane. He just frowned and sighed.

There was no sign of Sophia and we had been walking a while, suddenly we were stopped. My heart pounded in my chest,was it her?Was she dead? I rushed up to the front of the group with Shane. I topped beside Carol as she called out for her lost daughter.Silence. I gagged at the smell that wafted from the tent as Daryl opened it. 

"Some guy opted out." Daryl explained and held up a gun. The anxiety thinned, it wasn't a dead Sophia, but it wasn't a live one either. I gripped Carols hand and nodded once giving her a reassuring smile.Just then bells started to chime, we all rushed in the direction they were coming from.

"Which way it's too hard to tell" Rick looked around.I listened carefully and nodded in a direction,"I'm positive, Rick"

We all speed walked  in the direction I pointed in, it lead us to a church,but that couldn't be right...

"This ain't it. It doesn't have a steeple, no bells." Shane's brows knitted together as if reading my thoughts. 

But Rick was already gone, running across the field leaving the rest of us to pursue. He paused at the door for Daryl and Shane then he bursts into the church. Sophia wasnt in there. There was however, a trio of walkers, they were all seated perfectly staring up at Jesus on the cross. What the hell? Pun intended.

Shane,Rick and Daryl had just finished taking care of the walkers when the bells started chiming again. I turned around and walked to the back of the building.The bells were on speaker, a timed speaker. Glenn moved past me and turned them off. Carol announced she was going in and most of the group followed in after her. I walked with Carl to a large tree and I helped him climb onto it. I smiled up at himand he smiled back then frowned watching something I trurned and saw Shane and Lori arguing about something.They were always arguing it seemed.

"Better them than your parents fighting."I looked back up at him.

"I guess."He mumbled.

After Carol was done praying  everyone gathered around the tree Carl climbed down and stood beside his mother. 

"Alright, Rick and I are going to go look some more. The rest of you follow the creek bed back, Daryl your in charge."Shane barked out the orders and Carl took a step forward.

"I'm goin' to. She's my friend."

I put a hand on Carl's shoulder and on on Lori's.She nodded and Carl and I walked to Shane. Lori kissed Rick goodbye and their group left.Rick said a prayer and we too started moving. I stayed near Carl, my gun always ready. After a few minutes there was a rustle in the bushes. Shane pulled Carl and I back and I nodded to him and Rick. We all moved forward quietly and watched as a deer stepped out of the brush.We shared smiled and watched as it walked maybe ten feet from us. Shane was ready to shoot it but I whispered and shook my head tilting his gun down, watching Carl move towards the gorgeous creature.It was a perfect moment, so still and quiet.

A gunshot ruined the moment. Carl dropped just as the deer did.Rick and I cried out and we all rushed over.Shane pulled me back and collapsed, sobbing. A man,wide-eyed stepped out of the woods I couldnt even here what her was saying. I was distraught. I had practically watched Carl grow up, I was like a second mother or an aunt. I loved him like he as my own boy. Shane helped me up and suddenly we were running. Running after Rick. Rick was going to save him. That cleared my head just enough.

The man was yelling to Rick,"Hershel! Talk to Hershel He'll help your boy"

I was right behind Rick the whole time, we were coming up on a house. I watched Rick struggling wanting to help but knowing there wasn't anything I could do.

A voice yelled in the distance and I ran past Rick and through the fences,"Hershel? WHo's Hershel?"

A group of people stepped out onto the pourch, one man with a bat in his hand."Was he bit?"

"Shot. He was shot!"I wheezed out."By your man"

Rick was practically stumbling into the yard a few feet behind me."He said find Hershel.Is that you?" He paused and the man nodded then Rick continued,"Help me, help he's my boy!"

"Get him inside!" Hershel started calling out a long list of orders out only half of whish I heard or understood. I tood back as Hershel examined him.I pulled Rick back and wrapped arms around him.

"Rick just give the space. He'll b-be okay?" I tried to be calm and I looked up at him, locking gazes."Rick stay calm."

"You know his blood type?" Hershel called to Rick, he walked back into the room and I went out to meet Shane on the porch. 

"Give them space,Shane."I wiped my eyes,"H-he needs space to work on him.Shane nodded and pulled me in for a hug. He rubbed my back, up and down until I relaxed as much as I was going to.

"I know you love 'em, Abbs. Carl's afighter he'll make it."

We walked back in and I went back to comforting Rick. He whispered,"Lori.Lori doesn't know! "

It was obviously Shane's turn to comfort him I moved back and stood at Carl's bedside.Hershel looked up at me,"He your boy?"

"No, no sir. I'm a family friend."I replied softly."Known him over half his life."

The old man nodded and continued to work over Carl. After that it was just a waiting game.