not a big deal~carl grimes

<eight>

it had been a quiet few days which was odd but i couldn't complain. more like i wouldn't because i didn't want to jinx it and suddenly have everything become hectic again. but the peacefulness was nice.

carl showed me some of his comic while i introduced him to the amazing world of rock 'n' roll. i showed him stuff like ac/dc, guns 'n' roses, led zeppelin, the beatles, alice cooper, etc. but his favourite that i showed him was fleetwood mac. he specifically liked go your own way and don't stop, as any rational person would.

we were sat on one bunk, at opposite ends. he had my book, the green mile which, thinking about it, was kid of funny that happened to be the one i was reading while we were in a prison. i had just finished it and carl had finished his comic so we swapped. i got an insight on the things that he enjoyed reading and vice versa. i had to admit, comics were pretty cool.

i took a quick glance at him to catch him whip his head back down, as if ihadn't already noticed he was staring at me. 'what?'

'nothing.' he looked back up 'your glasses just look nice. they suit you.'

i blushed, looking back at the comic, pushing a strand behind my ear 'thanks.'

i got bored of the cell and carl had to do something though i wasn't sure what, watching him just confused me more, so we moved out to the stairs. i was sat 2 steps down with my head rested on his knee and still reading the comic.

'you're really starting to get into them aren't you.' carl laughed, making me blush again. it was nearly everything he said to me made me feel butterflies in my stomach and my face go bright pink. weird.

i looked up when i heard the big metal bar door creak, signalling that lori and beth were back. they had gone to get crutches for hershel. we followed them into hershels cell. it seemed to be that that was all we did for now, watch as the others handled everything with hershel and weren't even allowed to help the others. we were just kid of stuck here.

as hershel stumbled back, i helped to sturdy him, walking backwards, staying in front of him as he moved a bit. we followed him outside, helping him down the stairs as he struggled with the crutches, eventually getting him safely down the stairs.

we walked around for a few minutes. everyone was watching as hershel was finally up. i looked around as there wasn't much about when we were stuck in a prison in the middle of nowhere during the end of the world. i looked behind me, shouting 'walkers! look out!'

carl pushed me behind him, making himself my human shield as he began shooting at them. i didn't have time or space to slip away when hershel or beth did so i went with maggie, lori and carl. we sprinted into the gate where we could get inside as carol distracted them by shooting.

as we headed back to the cells, we were pushed the other direction as a hoard came towards us. we all sprinted into a dark hallway as maggie shut the gate behind us all, locking the walkers out.

we slowed down at this point as there wasn't anything to run from at that moment, but stopped when lori leaned against the wall, hand on her stomach.

'can you keep up?' maggie asked, worried about her.

'somethings not right.' her voice was strained.

'are you bit?' carls asked. of course he didn't realise what was happening.

'shit no! are you going into labour?' i rushed over to help support her so that she didn't collapse.

as maggie tried to help her down, walkers came limping round the corner 'no, there isn't enough time. we have to turn back.' i paniced, grabbing carls hand and dragging him in the other direction as maggie helped lori.

carl lead us to a room on the side of a hallway where we could hide out until it was safe to go back out. as he rushed down the small flight of stairs in the room, i took a few tries at closing the stiff door before following him.

i began freaking out 'we need to go back, where we have hershel to help.'

'no,' maggie shook her head 'we can't risk it.' she helped lori get her pants off.

i covered my ears as she began to scream, my jaw dropping as i saw the blood dripping down maggies hand from her fingertips.

as lori was put back on the floor, i refused to listen, only picking up the words 'cut me open.' making my eyes widen in horror.

as maggie rambled on about not being able to do it, not properly knowing how, or having no anaesthetics or even equipment, lori dragged me into it 'taylor has a knife.'

'lori, you won't survive.' i pointed out.

she panted 'my baby has to survive. please. my baby, for all of us.' she begged.

'you don't have to do this.' carl cut his mom of as tears streamed down his face. i was kneeling down beside him.

'you're going to be fine.' she whispered. 'you are going to beat this world.' she looked at me 'i know you both will. you are smart and you are strong and you are so brave, and i love you.' i began to tear up as well.

'i love you too.' carl cried more.

i let lori squeeze my hand as she cried out in pain at the knife cutting her open. my eyes weretightly squeezed shut so i didn't see anything but i felt her start seizing before feeling her body go limp and her pulse slow to a stop.

my eyes opened again, letting tears finally escape when i heard the crying baby. maggie tried to drag us out quickly before i stopped them 'wait, we can't leave her. she'll turn.'

maggie clutched the baby closer, gesturing that she wouldn't do it. she disappeared as i stayed with carl. he pulled the gun from the holster on his hip, staying still for a minute. he gave her one last hug before holding his gun to her head. more tears fell 'i can't do it. please.' he held the gun to me.

'carl-'

'please.' he cut me off. 'i can't do it. please.' he put the gun in my hand, turning away.

tears fell from my eyes as i put the gun to her temple, slowly putting pressure on the trigger, jumping at both the sound and recoil.

carl and i both walked past maggie to the door. he seemed fine, meanwhile my head hung low, seeming upset.