Rick ran out into the forest while Lori held back a distressed Carol. I felt bad for her, I couldn't imagine losing anyone. Ana leaves sometimes, but she always comes back, she just does. He's gone for about 10 minutes before he comes back empty handed. He brings Glenn, Shane and Daryl with him and leaves the highway.
We all stood and waited. I sat on the rail of the highway and Ana sat on the ground. It was hot and the sun was beating down on us. It was about 15 this time when Shane and Glenn came back.
"We didn't find her. But we got a trail" Shane tells Carol "but while we're here, we should move these cars out the way so we can turn this RV around"
"We aren't leaving her" Carol weeped
"We aren't. But when we find her, we have to be ready to go"
•••
"Can't be soon enough for me" Andrea says from the car she's pushing
"I'm still freaked out about that herd that came through here" Glenn says as he steers the car "if that's what you can call it"
"Herd, that sounds about right. That's what came through the camp, just less of them" Shane says
"We shouldn't be here pushing cars. We should be out there looking for my little girl" Carol whines
"We aren't leaving without her" Lori says with sympathy
Carol stood on the side of the road, looking out to the forest while everyone else worked on moving cars.
I was standing alone to take a break. Shane found this was the time to come over to me. As he stepped closer, I'd take another step back.
"I'm not gonna do anything" he says
"Then why the hell are you here?"
"I feel really bad about what happened at the CDC. I had a lot to drink-"
"Didn't we all? That doesn't excuse your actions"
"I'm leaving soon. Whenever I can get out quietly, I'll leave"
"Why are you telling me? So I can tell you my goodbyes"
"Step back" I hear a voice from behind Shane
He slowly turns around and I saw Ana had a knife to his back.
"Ana"
"He deserves me running this knife right through his back. But I won't" she says and puts her knife away "leave us alone" she tells Shane and pushes him away
"He was just telling me he was planning on leaving soon" I tell her
"I still worry" she told me
"I do too. About myself and you"
•••
"You didn't find anything?" I hear Carol sob and turn to see Rick and Daryl approaching us
"Her trail went cold" Rick tells her
"We can't leave her out there alone. She's just a little girl"
"Huntin in the night won't do us any good. Trip over our own feet and get ourselves killed" Daryl adds
"Tomorrow morning, at first light, we'll continue am organized search" Rick says
"What's that on your pants?" I see Carol point to blood on Daryls pants
"We ran into a walker and gutted it to make sure they didn't get Sophia. It didn't"
"You left her out there!" Carol yells through sobs at Rick "she's only a little girl. Alone and afraid and you left her!"
"I couldn't shoot the walkers and draw the herd to us. We'd all be dead. I had no choice"
I rolled my eyes and turned away. I made my way to an empty car, free of dead and decaying bodies and laid on the back seat.
"You can't sleep here" I hear Ana say
"Why not?"
"You'll be alone"
"I can take care of myself. I've done it before"
"After your dad left?"
I shot up from my laying position. "Don't bring him up. I got out and I'm alive now"
"I'll keep watch"
"Don't bother" I said and closed the car door, leaving myself in the car alone.
Ana lingered for a while before walking away. I saw her talk to Shane and he looked over and the car I was in. I rolled my eyes and laid back down to try and rest. I was interrupted when the door that my head was rested on was opened. My head fell and I was eye level with someone's crotch. I looked upwards and saw Rick, I immediately sat up and I felt my cheeks become hot.
"What?" I ask casually
"Why're out here?"
"I don't want to be in the RV. I can lock the doors. Walkers can't get through locks"
"Humans can"
"If humans see me. You got someone on watch. I'll be fine, officer. Why do you care?"
"I just do"
"Go worry about your wife and son. You've got more important things to worry about"
"Who said you aren't important?" Rick said leaning into me
I pushed him away quickly.
"You're married"
"I'm not in love"
"Neither am I"
"Why're pushing me away, Isabelle? I don't even know your last name. You know mine"
"Greene"
"Why're pushing me away, Greene?"
"I have my reasons"
"Personal ones?"
"Deep rooted mental issue ones. But it's no big deal. You don't have to be my friend"
"We gotta get along"
"As well as you get along with Shane? Or Lori?"
"I know you like me, Greene. Push me away all you want, I work with cold hearted people all the time. I am a cop. I know you"
"Goodnight" I say and push him back with my foot
"Goodnight. Take this" he hands me a gun "just in case"
"Thanks" I smiled and grab the gun. Our fingers touch and I close the door of the car. I watch as he hesitantly walks away. He looked around the area a few times and looked back a few times as he left.
