Anything - Carl Grimes

xviii. A yapper

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The prison is quieter than usual. Probably because the only ones in the cell block at the cafeteria were Hershel, Beth, Carl, Matt, and Judith. Oscar, Axel, and Daryl were still outside or somewhere at the prison, clearing out the bodies while Glenn, Maggie, and Dottie were still on the run.

Carmen went to visit T-Dog and Lori's grave, and also Carol's, but they didn't find the body yet. When she was there she noticed two smaller grave holes that they stuffed again, but it was obvious that they dug them out when they thought Carmen and Matt were dead. The thought of her being buried there made her feel uneasy. She was almost buried there. Next to T-Dog. And Lori. And Carol.

Carmen's thoughts about something bad happening right now were unstoppable, and her mind was racing. In the pit of her heart and stomach, she felt that Dottie wasn't doing okay. She couldn't prove it, but it was like Dottie and Carmen were spiritually connected. What Dottie felt, Carmen felt too.

She tried to calm herself down by playing with Matt and his toy cars. Hershel was watching the baby, and Beth was making them lunch. The only thing that could be heard in the cell block was Judith and Matt's blubbering every once in a while, the wheels of toy cars moving on the metal table, and Beth's spook making noises as she cooked.

Everyone looked at the cell doors once Rick came back. He closed the door behind him and slowly walked over to Hershel, who was holding the baby. He still hasn't held her so everyone hoped he'd sit down, rest, and spend time with his daughter. Hershel slowly handed him the baby, and Rick's shaky hands took her in his arms.

He had this emotional and teary look, his eyes softer than the group had seen in months. It wasn't his usual cold and alert look he had. At that moment, Carmen saw the look of a father. Not a leader or a hero, but a dad who admired his daughter.

Carmen found that moment endearing. Beautiful. She doesn't remember how Josh looked the first time he picked up Matt, and she obviously doesn't remember how he looked when he picked up Carmen for the first time either, but something about Rick's expression reminded Carmen so much of Josh.

That tenderness and gentleness she saw in Rick as he held the baby was new. Something she hadn't seen since the farm. Something she hasn't seen since Carl woke up after being shot and Rick just sitting there, looking like he was about to cry.

Seven of them- Rick, Carl, Hershel, Beth, Carmen, Matt, and the baby -left the prison, deciding to go on a small walk around it. Carl held Matt's hand, and Rick still had the baby in his arms. "She looks like you." Rick smiled down at Carl, who couldn't help but giggle from happiness. He was a lot happier now, and Carmen knew it was mostly because Rick finally decided to spend time with them.

The remaining Grimes family had their small moment, and Carmen looked away to hide the tiny smile on her face that quickly fell once she looked at the gates. She had to blink a few times and look twice at the gates when she noticed something. Or better to say someone. Sure, there were Walkers there, per usual. But Carmen is pretty sure a Walker can't hold things. Especially not a red, small cart, or a huge bag around their shoulder. Those ain't Walkers, Carmen thought.

"Rick," She called out, pulling his sleeve a little. Rick looked down at her, and she pointed at the gates. She hated to ruin a moment, but that was some serious stuff outside the gates. They couldn't afford to get spied on and potentially killed by some hostile survivors. Rick looked at where she was pointing at, and his smile fell slightly.

"Hey, just..." Rick turned to Carmen and slowly gave her the baby. "You got her?" Carmen nodded, and Rick patted her back before walking away to the gates. Everyone watched as Rick had a staring contest with two Walkers-not Walkers until he backed away from the fence and Carl ran down to unlock the gate if Rick asked to.