In which Rick Grimes comes back
from the dead, only to find that he's
living amongst them too.
OR
In which Emerson Scott falls for the
widowed cop in the midst of their
world crashing down around them.
BOOK ONE
part i. - when the dead come knocking
...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
12 | fish out of water
HOURS HAD PASSED AND THEY WERE WELL into the night. Shane and Otis hadn't come back and in truth, they began to wonder if they were ever coming back.
"I'll go and get them," Emerson volunteered, "I-I can't just sit here, Rick! He needs those supplies!"
"You're not leavin'," Rick demanded, "Carl, he needs you here and I-I need you here! Alright?"
Nodding her head and with a look of defeat, found herself wrapped around his waist. Rick was quick to do the same, his head resting gently atop of hers. Lori couldn't be bothered to pay attention as she held onto her son.
Hours before, the three of them had gotten into it over Lori thinking they should let Carl go. After all, what parent would want their child to grow up in a world where death surrounded them?
Emerson was quick to give her two cents and said, "You've gotta be... Lord, woman, you cannot be serious! He deserves a fighting chance. What if this is over tomorrow? Or next week? Or next month? What then? You'd rather letyour son die–"
"He is not your child. You don't get a say in anything, you understand me?" Lori spat, "I don't even know why you're here. Maybe you should go back to wherever the hell it is you came from and leave us be!"
Rick was quick to inform Lori that Emerson had every right to be here and give her opinion when it came to Carl's care. His sour comments towards the mother left them all in a dead silence. Even now, as they sat quietly together, silence became their closest friend.
Hershel was in and out, making rounds on Carl. Eventually, Glenn, T-Dog and Nathan made their way onto the piece of land. Glenn was quick to make sure Emerson and Rick were doing okay and even sat with Carl for a bit.
Even Hershel, no matter how stoic his gaze seemed to always be, was grateful Nathan was here. It was another opinion on Carl's condition and another set of hands for when the time came.
Now, it seemed, all they could do was sit and wait. Emerson was tired of sitting around and sharing glances from Lori that made her feel unwelcome.
Sooner rather than later, came time for them to make a decision. Hershel, and Nathan, both agreed that there was no time. Carl's life was hanging by a thread and if they wanted him to have a chance, they needed to make a decision.
