2. Never Tear Us Apart

-breaking point-

Theo's ears began ringing. 

Her eyes quickly became blurry. 

Was it tears?

Her breathing hitched.

Lori was nowhere to be seen, with a baby in Maggie's arms.

Theo looked between Maggie and Carl

"Where's Lori?" Rick asked, looking at Maggie.

At this point, the rest of the group wandered over to see what was happening.

"No, no, no", Rick began crying, breaking down and pacing, his hands running through his hair as the tears fell.

Theo held it back, but the moment Carl looked at her, she let out her tears, choking, trying not to make a sound.

Her hands flew to her mouth, trying to hold it in.

"No..." Rick began to cry as he looked at his son.

Theo let it out, crying into her hands, dropping to the floor, unable to withstand her weight. 

Everything felt heavy, like gravity was against her, pushing her into the ground.

Rick fell onto the floor as he continued to cry.

Daryl slowly wandered to her side; he placed his crossbow down and knelt next to her, holding her as she cried into him.

The others stood watch, not knowing what to do.

Daryl looked at the others; they all knew what this meant.

They watch two of the strongest people in the group break down and shatter like glass.

Theo couldn't stop her crying; she had just got her mother back, and they were finally bonding, which had all been taken from her in moments.

She struggled for air before realising she was experiencing a panic attack.

She hadn't had one since Daryl came into her life.

"Theo?" Daryl worried as he noticed her breathing became irregular.

"Herschel?" Glenn panicked, running to her other side; he and Daryl were trying to help 

"It's a panic attack. Give her some space," Herschel said, emphasising the urgency of letting her breathe.

"Theo" Glenn began. But she was shaking and crying, struggling to get a breath in.

"Theo", Daryl repeated, but making her look at him, she slowly made her eyes flutter to his.

"You're okay; you need to breathe", he began; he had moved in front of her, crouching down, holding onto her hands; she squeezed them tightly as she cried, unable to catch her breath.

"Rick!" Daryl tried to get her father's attention, but he was in a different state of shock, unable to move.

"Rick!" He yelled again. 

Maggie held tightly onto the baby in tears.

Beth hugged Carl.

"What do you need, Theo?" Daryl asked her quietly.

But she didn't say anything; instead, she stood and ran from everyone, taking herself away and hiding.

She wasn't too far, but far enough; she grabbed the wall beside her, sinking into her feet as she gripped her chest, feeling like her heart was going to give out. 

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to stop the panic attack. 

Footsteps ran up behind her.

"Theo..." Daryl looked at her.