Who: Carl Grimes and his baby sister, open to Rick or Daryl if they want. What: Carl vows to protect Judith from harm When: Sunday Warnings: None
Since Judith had arrived, Carl had seen a marked difference in his dad. Rick was both more relaxed and more stressed. Carl had tried to keep his distance, to let Dad work things out on his own. He was caught in that awkward stage, not a child any more but not quite a man either. It had been easier, back home. With the zombies, Carl had taken up arms to defend their small group, and he'd found his place. here it wasn't so cut and dry, because even if the counsel was a threat to their lives, they weren't undead bastards who needed to die all over again.
As much as Carl wanted to put a bullet in each of their brains he knew that wasn't really a choice. Hell, he didn't even know what they looked like. They were just nameless, faceless cowards hiding behind a mask of lies. Carl hated them, and maybe he imagined shooting them all, one by one, but he'd never do it. He had killed for defense and protection, he had killed to save himself and the others. Was this really so different? Yes. He knew that it was.
He heard Judith fussing and he went to her bedside. She was still so little. She could hold her head up, and she could grasp things in her pudgy little hands, but she couldn't walk or talk yet. She was helpless, and she was beautiful. She was the one thing Carl would kill, or die, for. She was his baby sister.
He picked her up. She had gained a little weight since she'd showed up here, but Carl could handle it. He carried her to the rocking chair and sat down with her on his lap. She squirmed, but he held tight until she settled. He kissed her forehead. "I'm gonna take care of you, Judith. I'm your big brother and I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Okay?" He caught his finger in her grasp and drew her tiny fist up to his lips to kiss the back of her hand.
He remembered well the day she was born. Someday he'd tell her that story, but not now. "I won't let them take you away. If they try..." Carl shook his head. "I'll do what I have to do. That's a promise, okay?" Carl shifted and for just a moment Judith lay her head on his shoulder. Then she was up and pushing against him, grunting and struggling against his hold.
Carl relented and put her on the floor. She couldn't quite crawl yet, but she was trying.