HEART FOR BRAINS • the walking dead

008: baby

The house was quiet. Too quiet. Rio and Carl worked together, laying plates upon the table when Shane and Andrea walked in.

"They should've been back by now." Andrea complained, sitting down in a chair. Rio shot a glance at her before going back to what he was doing.

"Yeah. They just got holed up somewhere." Shane answered, as Rio grabbed the cutlery. "We'll head out first thing in the morning."

Maggie and Beth's mom, a kind woman Rio still couldn't remember the name of placed dishes of food upon the table.

Shane cleared his throat and muttered a quick thank you. Rio said thank you as well, signing it. Carl looked to him curiously and Rio repeated the gesture, Carl copied it.

"I'm hoping that means thank you." He whispered into Rio's ear.

Rio half-smiled, nodding confirmation to the other boy. It felt wrong to smile after what had happened this morning. He felt like he was betraying his brother by not grieving at all times. Was it stupid? He wasn't sure. He was heartbroken but everyone else seemed to have moved on, and so should he.

"It's rude to whisper at the table." Maggie's mom called them out. Patricia. Her name was Patricia.

"Sorry." Carl muttered, Rio hung his head in agreement. Carl looked over to Shane who began to talk again.

"Carl, I want you to keep your head up, okay? Your old man, he's the toughest son of a—"

"No cussing in the house." Maggie's mom told off again.

Shane looked up in disbelief for a moment before mumbling a small "Sorry."

"Lori, dinner!" The woman called out.

"She's not in there." Carol answered, walking through the doorway confused.

"Where is she?" Dale questioned.

Shane fell silent before looking at the boys. "Carl, when's the last time you saw your mom? Rio have you seen her?"

"This afternoon."

Rio shook his head.

"She was worried about Rick." Andrea chirped in. "Asked me to look in on Carl."

"She went after them?" Somebody said, voice raising.

"She didn't say that."

"Nobody panic." Shane ordered, getting up out of his seat, "Gotta be around here somewhere." Carl followed him, leaving the dining table to search for his mother. Soon Dale and Andrea got up, and then everyone else at the table. This was fine, Rio didn't feel like eating anyway. He got up to follow but Maggie shook her head at him.

"You need to rest your leg." She stitched it again, but swore she wouldn't do it a fourth time. It was half healed now anyway. "No buts."

"I'm gonna go to bed." He muttered, tired enough to actually be convincing.

"Let me see you out." Maggie flashed him a fake smile. He knew she was just going to make sure he went straight to bed.

"Are you worried about them?" Rio asked her as they walked across the field. He made sure to tread lightly on his leg.

"Who?" She asked, not previously paying attention.

"Your dad," Rio replied, "Glenn, Rick."

She thought for a moment, looking over Rio's face. Seeing what he needed to hear. "They know what they're doing, we can trust them."

Rio nodded silently. He stuffed his hands into his hoodie pocket before asking. "Have you seen Daryl?"

"Can't say I have," she sighed. "Not since this morning."