A Long Way From Home//Carl Grimes

Chapter 24 - The End

Carl's POV

Cassie. She's gonna be okay. She will be. Eventually. Hopefully. It's the only hope I have left. She's my only faith. I never feel good enough, but she reminds me that she loves me and all of that goes away. Everything becomes okay again. Funny how three words can fix me. I don't know what I would do without Cass. If she doesn't...I don't even want to think about it. I look down at my hands and clothes and see they're all blood-stained. I begin to feel my whole body shudder. This is her blood. I can feel tears coming on. C'mon Carl. Keep it together, kid. My knees give out and I drop my body to the ground of the small porch. The uncontrollable sobs begin. Fantastic.
"Son.." I look up to see that my father is crouched over me.
"GOD! Why was I stupid enough to let her go to Atlanta! AH!" I scream, driving my fists into the ground.
"It wasn't your decision, Carl." My dad says, pulling me into a small hug like he always does. I grab my hat and slowly stand, controlling myself.
"Liam wants to speak to you.."
"Now?! Really. I've had enough of that kid." I storm off towards the gate where Liam is standing.
"What do you want?!" I state, obviously pissed at the world.
"Carl. Don't get mad. Please."
"Well, you know, when someone starts their sentence like that, I know it's gonna be GREAT!" The look on his face shows that he doesn't appreciate my sarcasm.
"I kissed Cassie outside of Atlanta becau-"
That, my wonderful people is where I cut him off with the connection of my knuckles to his jaw. And man, let me tell you, it felt great. He dropped before he even knew what hit him. He kissed Cassie. She didn't even tell me. It's not like I can be mad at her right now. I jump on top of him, almost like I'm not in control anymore. I just keep punching and punching and punching. All that keeps running through my head is them together. Suddenly, I feel someone yank me off of him. I lay there on the cold cement and look at the clouds above me. Then, someone else pulls me to my feet. Once I'm up, I stare into the eyes of Glenn.
"Carl. What was that?!" He asks angrily.
"He kissed Cassie." They all look from me to bloody Liam who's barely able to stand next to my dad. I glare at him, unable to break the gaze, but all he does is sneak small peaks at me.
"You're lucky I didn't kill you." I say. My dad helps Liam walk to the infirmary and I stay where I am, watching him go. His face is bruising immediately and blood drips from his mouth and nose. I look down at my hand and see that my fingers are bent in all the wrong ways. Great.
"I'll get you some ice, kid." Glenn says, patting me on the back.
"She's awake!" My father yells to me. My legs carry me to the infirmary in seconds and I practically break the door down.
"Cassie. Oh god, Cassie." I sprint over to her bed side and kiss her forehead. I push back her long, dark hair out of her eyes so I can see their beautiful blue color. She looks weak and tired, but oh, is she gorgeous.
"Hi." She says, with a weak smile. God, I love her.
"I thought I lost you."
"Are you ever really going to get rid of me?" She says, attempting to laugh but ending in a fit of coughs of pain.
"Take it easy." I say sternly. She just woke up.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you. It's all my fault." I say, whispering to just her.
"Carl. You were tied to a chair. You couldn't have done anything." She says. I nod slowly and put my hand on top of hers.
"Carl! What happened to your hand?" I look down and see that I put my bad hand on hers by mistake.
"Uh. Nothing." I say, daring to glance back at Liam on the other bed. She noticed and looks at him and then my hand again.
"Carl!" She tries to yell.
"I'm sorry."
"We'll talk about this later. I'm tired." She says, her eyes closing.
"Get some rest. I love you." She smiles at that and I walk out, making sure to ignore Liam and my father.
"Carl, how's that hand?" My dad asks, walking out behind me.
"Hurts. Really bad now actually."
"You probably broke something. Can I have a look?" I stop and turn around to face him and he grabs my hand. It looks disgusting.
"Should be okay in a couple weeks. Month tops." I nod again, turning back to go about my way when my dad grabs my arm again.
"Carl..listen, I know you love her. I'm glad she's okay. You guys have been through too much and I'm sorry for that." He says, giving me a weak little smile and that rough, squinty glare. The cool air blows around us and I just realized how crisp the air actually was.
"Dad, what day is it today?"
"If we count right, November 28." I've been 17 for about a month now. I've been in this apocalypse for years now. I met Cassie when I was 15. When is this thing ever going to end?  "I remember your eleventh birthday. You really wanted to invite your old friend, Katie was her name, right? Yeah, well, you had the biggest crush on her. It was adorable. Now look at you." He continued. Oh, god. That's so embarrassing.
"Look at me, I've had a girlfriend for almost two years and some guy just came and tried to steal her!!" I said sarcastically.
"Carl, that girl loves you. Remember what happened with Enid? She still loved you after that. Even though it was your fault might I add. You found love at the age of 15. Many people don't think that's right. That it isn't real. But, I can tell you, I see it every day. Since the prison, you two have loved each other. I can see it." I stop for a moment and think. She does love me, not Liam. I need to trust her.
"Thanks, dad." I say, giving him one of my many weak smiles.
"Now, where's Glenn with that gosh dang ice." He says, patting my back and leading me in Glenn's direction.