The Immune's Cure (The Walking Dead/Carl Grimes)

The Immune Part 2 (Chapter Six)

Casey's POV

I sat on the porch with Judith in my arms. I attempted to braid her hair but she kept resisting my touch. She laughed at my frustration trying to get her to sit still. I gave up and started to work on words with her. I wondered how her future would look. I wanted her to be smart but in this world there was only so much to teach.

"Hey I'm going out." Michonne walked out with a bag over her shoulder.

"Will you be back today?" I asked.

"I'll be back for dinner, I hear you're cooking." She smiled and I laughed nodding.

"Spaghetti for the third time this week!"

"Better than nothing. I'll see you. Bye bye Judith!" Judith waved as Michonne walked off.

Carl was upstairs taking a shower. He had went out earlier today to hunt or clear the area I'm not sure. He was taking his time up there but there's no rush for anything anymore. I stood from the porch chair when I heard his footsteps. He looked tired but still put a smile on and kissed me. I pulled away and he kissed me once again.

"Not when the baby's around." I poked fun at him and he chuckled. "You look nice." He wore a blue button up with his usual jeans.

"Let's spend the day together. All of us." He suggested.

"Well there's not much else to do since Rick won't let me leave the walls." I reminded him. I haven't left Alexandria since I was with the Saviors. It was kind of nice to rest for once in my life.

Carl had planned out a few things he wanted to do. He decided we should put our handprints on the porch of our house. So using old blue paint we found we painted our hands and stamped it on the wood. Judith tried to wipe the rest on her clothes but I stopped her. I picked her up with one arm making her giggle then went to the sink to wash the paint off.

The next thing he wanted to do was plant a tree. When we went back outside I saw Jared in the distance working on some plants. He waved with a big smile when he saw us approaching. He stopped what he was doing, wiped the dirt from his hands on his pants, and met us half way.

"Hey guys!" He greeted.

"You have any tree saplings?" Carl asked.

"I sure do, this way." He showed us to where they kept all the seeds and a few saplings.

Me and him talked while Carl went to plant the tree. Judith played in the dirt pretending to plant her own tree. I looked off down the neighborhood and stared at one house. Carl had gotten up and looked to where I was looking.

"Hey Jared, when's the last time you played a video game?"

It felt weird being in that room again. It feels like just yesterday Enid, Mikey, and Ron were in here. Enid read a comic book while sitting on the bed and the boys played their video games. I sat back with Judith and watch the two boys play whatever games were left. We hadn't been in here since that night. It was hard for all of us but I guess we all move on at some point.

"Alright I should get back to working. But we need to do this again!" Jared patted Carl on the back and gave me a smile before heading out. We went back to the house so I could put Judith down for a nap. But before that Carl had pulled out a camera to take a photo of the three of us. It printed out and I smiled looking at us. He put it somewhere safe while I put her down.

"I need to show you something but promise me you'll be cool about it." Carl sighed.

He took me outside and to a the entrance to the sewer line. I didn't question how he knew it was there but I just followed him. He explained to me that when he went out this morning he found something that he had to bring back. Well not something but someone. A man appeared with a bed set up and some food. He stood nervously as I approached.

"I'm waiting for Dad to get back so I can talk him into letting him stay. Siddiq this is Casey."

"Oh you're Casey! Carl wouldn't shut up about you." I couldn't help but smile.

"I trust your gut Carl, if you think he should stay then I do too. For now I need to make some dinner. I'll bring you some, too." I smiled at the stranger and he thanked me.

Carl helped Siddiq get adjusted while I went back to the house to begin cooking. While I waited for the noodles to boil I went to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror and washed my face before looking at the trash can. I froze seeing a shirt in it. Why would Carl throw away his shirt? I picked it up only to freeze seeing blood on it. I looked closer to realize that the marks left in the shirt were bite marks. No. No.

I don't think I've run faster then I did to that sewer. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I entered. I heard the two of them laughing at something. He's laughing? Carl has been bit for God knows how long and he's laughing. They both looked to me as I entered.

"Casey?" Carl asked. "What's wrong?"

"Let me see it." I commanded.

"What?" He asked.

"Let me see it, Carl! Lift up your goddamn shirt!" I cried.

He froze in place, a sadness washing over his face. He unbuttoned a few buttons to show the wound. I covered my mouth as a sob came out. Tears filled his eyes and all I could do was fall into him. He just held me as I cried, burning tears going down my cheeks and into his skin but he didn't let go.

"I'm sorry." He whispered.

"When were you going to tell me?" I asked.

"I wanted my last day to be good. And it was. It's the best day I've had in a long time. I was just going to wait until I couldn't hide it anymore." Before I could respond there was yelling from above.

"Stay here." I commanded.

I went up to see a panicked Rick shouting commands. I knew it meant one thing. The saviors were finally coming. I instructed everyone that there we could hide in the sewers. While Rick lead people there I grabbed Judith from her crip and with her the photo the three of us took earlier. I had just made it to the sewers when the Saviors rolled in.

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THE END IS NEAR