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GREY KINGSTON
"your two minute break started twenty minutes ago." my eyes flick up to rick who's driving his shovel into the ground.
"oh come on, we found worms." i argue, pointing to the dirt judith and i are fascinated with since there are worms crawling just below the surface of it. "how's she ever gonna know what a worm is if i don't show her?"
"i'm sure she'd figure it out eventually."
i smile, taking judith off my lap so i can finish placing the fertilizer.
"sucks beth couldn't help us today, or hershel."
his shovel makes a particularly loud dig into the ground.
"go easy on me, alright?" rick blurts, which makes me look up at him from where i'm kneeling by the crops.
"what do you mean?"
"i know you heard about michonne and hershel scavenging and wanted to tag along, but instead i have you cooped up helping me farm-"
"i said i wanted to farm too." i interrupt him.
"but you'd rather be outside of these gates." he says, and he's not wrong. "i just want some more time knowin' that you're safe. i need more time. it's too soon to be takin' chances again, not after what happened the other day."
"i get it." i stand up, wiping the dirt off the palms of my hands.
"i'm not sendin' you out as a sheep in the midst of wolves. not when i don't have to."
"i get it." i say softly, nodding my head.
"i gave carl his gun back today." he says, which catches me by surprise. "i know i can't always keep the people i love safe. i know i gotta let you guys go off on your own sometimes 'cause you're capable, but it just scares me."
i take this time as a sign that he needs a hug, so i do just that—wrap my arms around his torso and hold myself tight against his body.
"so just go easy on me, alright? just let me keep you close for a little while longer."
i nod my head, remaining in the hug for a few more seconds before pulling back, "however long you want."
the sound of maggie clearing her throat causes rick and i's conversation to come to an end. she and sasha walked all the way down to the fields without us noticing and are now standing with serious looks on their faces.
"we came to tell you some serious news." maggie says.
"what is it?" rick pulls off his gardening gloves.
"we're cooking dinner for everyone tonight so you have to be up at C block. now."
