Down by the water • TWD

Aggression.

Beth had hurt herself. Avery didn't understand why, why would you purposely hurt yourself? She did what her mom did, or at least she tried to. Avery thought she was stupid for it, but she understood why. Like Jackson, she watched her mom come out as one of those things. Then die again. Why put yourself through more pain, physical pain? She would never understand.

She would.

She was upstairs with Maggie looking for Hershel. She didn't want to be alone right now and Maggie was the only one who offered her company. She glanced up to look at Rick, Shane, Lori and Glenn walk into his room. They searched around while Avery sat on his bed.

"Your stepmother's things?" Rick asked and Maggie nodded in response.

"He was so sure she'd recover. They'd just pick up where they left off." Maggie replied.

"That's a false hope he decided to believe in." Avery butted in. She was angry at Hershel for leaving, for leaving Beth without any help. They all looked at Avery in silence.

"Looks like he found an old friend." Shane taunted.

"That belonged to my grandfather, gave it to Dad when he died." Maggie said like she was reliving the moment.

"I didn't take Hershel for a drinker." Rick replied.

"No, he gave it up on the day I was born. He didn't even allow liquor in the house." Maggie seemed like she was confused.

"What's the bar in town?" Avery could tell Rick had an idea.

"Hatlin's." Maggie responded. "He practically lived there in his drinking days." Gross.

"Bettin' that's where I'll find him." Rick glanced at Glenn.

"Yeah, I've seen the place. I'll take you." Glenn offered himself up.

"All right, I'll get the truck." Rick said.

"Okay." Maggie stopped Glenn.

"No." Rick turned around and Avery sat up off the bed at this response.

"It's an easy run." Is it?

"Like the pharmacy?" Maggie tested.

"Hey, Maggie? I'll bring him back." Rick promised Maggie.

Avery ran to catch up to Rick before he could find anyone else to talk to.

"Hey Rick, um can I come?" Rick looked at her seriously.

"Avery I can't. You're too young. I don't want you getting hurt. Especially not because of me." Rick said sternly.

"But I'll stick right by you I promise, I just want to help." She pleaded.

"No Avery. I made up my mind. I'm sorry kid." Rick smiled at her apologetically and gave her a light hug. Avery tensed up, she wasn't used to physical touch like that, which Rick noticed.

She nodded and understood him nonetheless. 

Stupid cop.

Avery was wandering around like usual. She liked to take walks alone, she got to think. Think about everything that happened and everything that's going to happen. Avery could tell that Shane was going to flip. Shane wasn't a good man, she knew that. That doesn't mean he didn't belong in this world. Avery felt as if he was ahead of everyone, Rick still searched for humanity, while Shane feared it. Avery could see Daryl from a distance, he recently moved far away from camp. She thinks he wants to be alone for a while, to get a break from everyone. She thinks it's because of Sophia. All the time he spent looking for her, all the hope he had, just for her to be dead.

"Moving to the suburbs?" Avery heard someone having a conversation with him, but she couldn't figure out who.

"Listen, Beth's in some kind of catatonic shock." As she got closer she could tell it was Lori. "We need Hershel." Why was she asking Daryl this?