Broken Bars

A Love That's Not My Own

"Any sign of Rick today?" Josie flung herself down beside me. She scooped a spoonful of porridge from her bowl.

"Nope," I answered her. "Carl says he came back last night, but he left early this morning."

"Do you think he's gonna be okay?"

"Can't tell yet," I swallowed a mouthful of my own food and pushed the empty bowl away. "I've been keeping the baby in my room for now. He's gonna have to come back sooner or later."

"Does she have a name yet?"

"Not yet. Carl wants to decide with his dad, which means she could be nameless for a good few weeks yet."

"He just lost his wife," Josie reasoned.

I snorted without meaning too. "Sorry, but we've all lost someone. Rick told us he would lead us. He can't just skip out on everyone when it gets rough."

Josie stayed quiet. From the cells, I heard the baby begin to cry. It took less than a few minutes before Maggie appeared at the door, holding the little girl in her arms.

"She's hungry, I thought I'd come feed her," She explained. I stood up and held my arms out like it was natural. Maggie passed the baby to me.

"I've got her, don't worry about it. You have some rest, okay? You need it," I reassured Maggie. After what she had been through with Lori, I wanted to make sure she had fully recovered before anyone started expecting her to do things.

Rick was still going to the tombs. As much as Josie hated us calling them that, it was the only word I could think of that described the death and decay in those winding halls. The group had unanimously agreed that until he got back to normal, it would be Hershel, Daryl and I calling the shots. Someone had to, and none of us felt comfortable taking sole leadership. We just weren't Rick.

I sat back down with the baby. Josie reached over from her seat and placed her hand on the blanket. To my surprise, the baby rested her tiny hand on Josie's, gripping her index finger in her little fist.

Josie grinned. "I think she likes me."

"Of course she does. Who doesn't?" I replied, smiling down at the two of them. It had been a long time since I'd held a baby, but it wasn't something you forgot easily. I could remember being a teenager when Josie was born, and holding her in my arms until she fell asleep, usually when mom and dad were both working. I'd never had this relationship with Hunter. Josie and I had a special sibling relationship. The only one that had been stronger was the relationship I had with Liam, my twin.

"How long will you have to look after her?" Josie asked.

I shrugged. "Could be until Rick comes back to sanity. Could be after that. I'd like to think we'll all help raise her."

"Do you think Rick hates her?"

"What?" I spluttered, moving my gaze upwards from the baby to Josie's face. "what makes you think that?"

"He hasn't held her or talked about her. It's his daughter, I just figured that he wouldn't be going further into the prison if he wanted to take care of her."

I saw her point, in a strange way. The baby needed her father, whoever he may be. And since Shane was dead, that responsibility fell to Rick no matter what. And Carl too. He was Rick's son and he needed his dad there to help him. I hated myself for called Rick selfish, but it wasn't completely false. He was so wrapped up in mourning his wife that he hadn't seemed to understand that Carl had lost his mother too.

It brought me back to another topic I had wanted to ask Josie about. "How's Sophia doin'?"

Josie moved back to eating breakfast. Her shoulders were tensed. "Not too good. She misses her mom."