Struggles In The Dark (A Carl Grimes Fanfiction)

Clear, Awake, Forgive

Luke's P.O.V
"You have no reason to be mad at me, Luke. Ron shot him, not me. I had nothing to do with this."

"I have every right to be mad at you! If you were a better parent this wouldn't have happened!"

Jessie stands up from where she had been sitting and walks toward me. She glares at me for a moment then slaps my face. Hard.

"Hey! That's enough!" Rick yells.

"Rick, where's Michonne? You both left and only you returned. I've tried not to bring it up. I've been waiting for you to bring it up, but you're obviously not gonna mention her. Is she alive?" Denise asks.

"I'm not sure. We got separated."

I leave the room to check on Carl. I was hoping when I woke up this morning, he might too. He didn't. I stand on the right of his bed. His chest continues to slowly rise and fall. His breaths are even. Even though Denise says he'll be okay, I have this tiny thought in the back of my head that he won't be. Nothing ever goes as planned anymore.

"The walkers look like they're starting to thin out more and more everyday. Maybe they're finally wandering back out of Alexandria," Rick says from the other room.

"Maybe there are other survivors. Maybe they have something to do with the decrease of walkers!" Jessie replies excitedly.

"That's a huge possibility. We're not the only survivors, we can't be. I'm going out to check the houses for people. I could use and extra hand. Wanna come, Jessie?"

"Yeah sure, that's what I was originally trying to do anyways."

It's just Denise and I now.

                            __________

It's been roughly three hours since Rick and Jessie left. With any luck, they've found survivors and have started clearing the streets by now. Hopefully, we'll be able to go outside again soon.

"Luke, they did it! They found survivors!"

Good. That's good. They'll finally be able to get rid of the walkers. I'll finally be able to leave the house. I'll finally be able to beat Ron's ass. I place my hand on Carl's  hand.

"It's gonna be rough when you wake up, I'm not gonna lie, Carl. It's nothing you can't handle though. You've gotta pretty bad scar from the bullet. Don't let this discourage you though. Everything's going to be fine, we're alive. That's all that matters." I say softly.

I hear the front door open, it's Rick. I quickly remove my hand from Carl's.

"I'm gonna go see your dad now. He just got back. He's been clearing Alexandria of the walkers."

As I walk towards Rick and Denise in the other room, I hear a weak, raspy voice.

I quickly turn and face Carl. I stare at him in shock. Was that him who made the noise? Or was it my imagination? I run over to his bedside and whisper to him.

"Carl, did you say something?"

He brushes his hand against mine and slowly opens his eyes. He's awake! Carl woke up!

"Rick!! Denise!! He's awake! Carl's awake!"

"What?!" They both yell simultaneously as they run into the room.

Rick runs to stand beside me on the right side of the bed. Denise runs to the left side where the monitors and equipment is. She checks Carl's vitals and other essentials. She slowly smiles and looks to Rick and I.

"I think it's time we remove his IV and oxygen mask. Let's get him some water while we're at it."

I leave the room while Denise removes the IV and oxygen mask off of Carl to get him a glass of water. When I return, they have propped Carl up so he is almost sitting straight up.

"How are you feeling?" Rick asks.

"Fine, I guess. I have a really bad head ache though," Carl says softly.

"Yeah, I'd expect that much,"  Rick says almost chuckling.

"Me and Ron need to have a serious talk," Carl says.

I think this was supposed to be a joke, but instead of laughing, Rick, Denise, and I look back and forth to each other. I can tell by the look on their faces that we're all thinking the same thing.

Carl is dealing with this way too easily. It's quite concerning. You'd think he'd be pissed or try to avoid talking about it, but no. He just cracked a joke. A joke.

"Yeah, let's not worry about him just yet. You need to recover first." Denise says.

"What have you done to him?" Carl asks concerned.

"Nothing, yet. Carl.. We haven't really decided on his punishment. But don't worry. He'll be punished." Rick tells him.

"No, don't. Don't punish him. It's okay, I forgive him."

"Carl... He shot you. He meant for it to be fatal.." I say worried.

"I know, but I forgive him."

"Luke, let's give Rick and Carl some space," Denise says.

Once we get into the living room, I start talking.

"Did you hear what he just said? He said he forgives Ron!"

"I know. I think this might be his way of coping."

"Ron's being punished. He has to be."

"I agree."

"Where's Jessie? Did Rick say?"

"Yeah, she went back to her house to check on Ron and Enid."

"No, no, no. She knows Carl's alive! She'll tell Ron! What if he tries to kill Carl again?"

"Luke, calm down. I thought about that too. I don't think he will. He'll know better this time."

"I hope to God you're right about this."

"Yeah.. Me too."