Bob had finally passed, succumbing to the inevitable bite wound. The girl uncomfortably staring at the dots of maroon staining the armrest of the couch. Curled on the opposite end, forced to bedrest from her concussion.
Glenn had entered the room, his body language timid and unsure as he stood over her. His hands shoved in his pockets as her dark orbs darted around, unable to look her in the face.
"Caden..." he started uneasily, the teenager face falling at his tone. "Me and Maggie have decided to go on ahead with Abahram to DC" Caden felt her heart pound against her chest, regret stirring in the pit of stomach. "We want you to stay behind, you're not fit to travel"
Caden grabbed his wrist, forcing him to stay in place."If it's what I said, I'm sorry!" Caden tightly squeezed at his wrist, eyes pleading as she kept him from walking away. "I didn't mean it" her voice trembled. "Please let me go with"
Glenn Rhee felt his heart shatter, because he didn't see the hardened shelled teen, but the fragile young kid that used to hang at him and Jake's hip. He lightly shook his head, "It's not because of that, I'm leaving because this mission is bigger than ourselves. And we're gonna see eachother again, we'll meet up down the road. You need to rest"
Caden stubbornly shook her head, ignoring the headache pulsing at her temples. "I'm fine, see I'm fine!" She desperately tugged at his arm, attempting to stand up to prove her stability. Glenn tugging his wrist out of her grasp, forcing her back down on the couch. "Don't leave me" caden felt tears burn on the edges of her eyes, threatening to fall.
"I'm not leav-"
"Yes you are!" She didn't mean to yell so loud, but she couldn't control the spiraling emotions of anger and hurt coursing through her. "Just like everyone else has" a single tear rolled down her cheek, unable to refrain it.
"This isn't like that" he feebly responded, unable to concile the teenager.
Caden curled her body up, turning away from Glenn as she desperately evaded looking at him. "Just go" she murmured lowly, fingers shaking as she gripped her shins in attempt to stop it. "Just fucking go"
---
Caden never bid goodbyes to the ones choosing to leave, cooping herself in the room of Gabriel's office. Her only company the infant settled on the floor, mindlessly playing with a spare cup. The babys innocent eyes staring at her expectantly, begging her attention as she slammed the cup on the ground.
The teenager frowned, untucking her legs from her chest, slowly descending down to the floor. The infant clapping her hands together, gibberish and cooes escaping her slobbered mouth. "You know, you got family that'll never leave you" she spoke to the baby as if it coukd understand. "I kind of envy you" her tone softer, leaning forward as she peered at the baby. Her brown hues light, and she wondered if they were like Lori's.
The baby then crawled toward her, softly splattered raspberries escaping her puckered lips. Judith giggled, looking up at Caden as their noses touched, the babes small hands reaching up to the teens cheeks. "I won't leave you, if you promise to not leave me, deal?" She softly whispered, feeling Judith's hand move to her mouth.
"You should be laying down" her green eyes flickered up, seeing Rick in the doorway. His cerulean blue eyes mildly scolding, but the admiration for his infant clear.
Caden lifted up onto her knees, Judith hands now gripping her tee shirt, using it as leverage to a wobbly stand. The teen instinctively resting a hand on the infants back to hold her up sturdily. "I feel fine" she muttered stubbornly, tired of being treated as if she were the infant.
"You know it's okay, not to be fine" he told her sincerely, creases of pinching at his temple. Caden only spared a small glance at him, jaw tensing as her face went stoney. She lifted the baby into her arms, standing up slowly before shuffling a few steps toward Rick.
"Take your own advice" she mumbled, a pointed expression twitching on her face. She handed the baby off gently to the man, the infant hands instantly clutching her fathers shoulders like a reflex.
----
Caden's chin rested on her knees, gaze settled on Carl across from her on the couch. His brows pinched in focus, nose scrunched the slightest, his cerulean blue eyes scanning the words of an old book. A frown etched on his lips, clear distaste on what he was reading. The glow of the candles in the room casting a warm tone to his features.
He snapped the book shut suddenly, tossing it aside with disinterest. "How are you holding up?" He softly asked, turning his body toward her as he shifted on the couch.
Caden blinked for a moment, falling out of her daze. She didn't know if he meant physically or mentally. Physically, her head still dully ached making her skull feel weighted. Mentally, she was burying all her anger and sadness deep down, as if padlocking it in a box, containing it and tucking it away. "I'm fine" she mumbled, chin bobbing with her knee.
Carl frown deepened, contemplating on pressing her for the truth, but he decided against it. "Can I check your head?" He asked tenderly, already scooting closed to the girl. His fingers extending against the fabric the couch, barely refraining as he awaited her to reply.
Caden softly sighed, raising her head off her knee caps, using her hands to turn her body around, lifting her weight up. The action her reply, gnawing on her lip as she felt his hands touch her knotted hair. His touch careful, moving away her hair, hovering the area around the swelling knot on her head. She winced as he touched the sore spot, teeth biting on her lip roughly trying hold back the small whimper.
"The swellings gone down a bit" he cleared his throat, removing his hands from her head. She nodded as she turned back around, eyes widening a fraction at the close proximity between them.
Her eyes darted around his, fingers scratching at the couch cushion. She felt his warm palms carress over the top of her cold hands, stopping her movements. "We'll find Daryl and Carol, and meet up with Glenn" it was a promise, something she had told him a million times now not to do. He was more stubborn than herself at times.
Caden said nothing, embracing the warmth of his hands, feeling soothed by the comforting touch. With reluctance, she withdrew her hands, sending him a small glance. "I'm tired" she muttered, recoiling back and curling herself up on the end of the couch. Hiding her face from the boy, hiding the gloss of tears in her eyes.
--
Her slumber was abruptly cut short, pulled out of whatever dream coursed in her mind. Inhaling sharply as her eyes snapped open, quick to turn her head to whoevers hand was pushing at her arm.
"It's just me" Daryls rugged voice calmed her from her panic groggy state.
The teenager blinking profusely for a moment, until she sent a harsh jab at his shoulder. "Leave me again, I kick you in the nuts" she grumbled threateningly, green eyes in a challenging expression.
Daryl only rubbed at the sore spot briefly, "I deserved that" he breathed out, "someone you need to meet with the rest, I'll explain everything" he gestured to the open door, Caden glancing at the dimly lit room.
"Okay"
YOU ARE READING
morph // C.Grimes
Fanfiction"The hardest lesson in the world: maybe it's just that when things are gone they're gone. They ain't coming back." ~Cormac McCarthy The world is nothing but a frame of what it used to be. Plagued with the dead that walk with jarred teeth. T...
