Together ~ A Carl Grimes Fanfiction

Chapter Thirty-Two

I use my mum's sword to put the group down. When I'm finished, daylight is breaking. I see Michonne, Mum, Rick and Daryl but no Carl. "Hey Daryl, do you want your vest back?" I ask.

"Um, yeah but how 'bout you put a shirt on first." he says uncomfortably.

"Oh. Yeah. " I say and realize how cold I am. I crawl into the car.

Carl is curled up and staring into space. I rummage through my knapsack and find a shirt. I then swiftly change. I open the window and pass the vest out to Daryl.

Pulling Carl's head onto my lap, I ask him what's wrong. "I was useless." Is all he says.

"No you weren't. I would have been the same if I was in your place. There wasn't anything you could do," I try to reassure him.

We sit in silence and we hear Rick, Daryl and my mum's conversation. "How'd you end up with them?" my mum asks him.

"They found me. I was with Beth. Someone took 'er," he answers.

"She dead?" Rick asks him.

"She's just gone," Daryl replies. I know that tone. The "I've loved then lost" tone. Daryl has feelings for Beth. I keep it to myself.

At this point, my mother walks away. "Look, thanks, for... y'know... having our backs." Rick says awkwardly.

"Yeah. I get it. You gotta look out for family. You're all family too now." Daryl says, and I hear back slapping.

Carl is still staring into space and I decide to let him lay there for a while. I keep staring at the blood smear on his cheek. What would have happened if I had kept my mouth shut?

******

We must have dosed of because the next thing I know, my mum is shaking me awake. "Kaitlyn, we're going now, come on." she says quietly. I nod and quickly pack my things. To be honest, I'll be glad to see the back of this place and move on to Terminus, but I'm wary. My dad used to say, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

We make sure everyone is ready to go and we head for the tracks again.

The journey is silent. Rick leads and Daryl takes the rear. I decide to slope back to speak to Daryl.

"Daryl," I say. He grunts in reply. "I want to say thanks, y'know, for back there. It... I... um..." I trail off.

"It's okay," he mutters. "You don't have to thank me."

"Yeah, I do." I give him a small, quick hug and pick up my pace to match Carl's.