Daddy's Little Girl

Chapter 60: What Can No Longer Be

Katie would never get to thank Beth for what she did for her father. As the firetruck came to a stop in the desolate city, Carl and Katie remained inside with Judith as she peered out the window waiting to see her daddy safe. Daryl was safe, but as Maggie's wails hit Katie's ears and she saw the limp figure in her father's arms, it went without saying that Beth was gone.

Katie lowered her head out of respect for the dead, she and Beth were never all that close and now they'd never get the chance to be. Carl quickly reached for Katie's hand and then lowered his own head as well, "she's gone isn't she?" he asked softly and Katie nodded her head. Neither of the young survivors dared leave the firetruck, they could barely look anyone in the eyes as everyone began to slowly make their way back to the truck to leave the city, they couldn't be long here or the dead would find them all too quickly and then they'd never get out.

Maggie, Glenn, Daryl, and the new boy Noah sat in the back with Beth's body, while the others, some still covered in her blood quickly got in the truck, and just as quickly, Abraham began to put the city of Atlanta in their rearview.

No one said a word, and no one wanted to spend another second in the city, it was an unspoken agreement that everyone would head back to the church, and regroup from there. Though it was obvious they couldn't stay there, the sanctuary that the church provided was taken as quickly as they'd gotten it. All Katie and Carl could do was clasp each other's hands tightly and remain silent as the small funeral procession left behind a city that belonged to the dead.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was a silent memorial, Maggie and Glen wept, and everyone else remained silent, no words could be said to explain what Beth had meant to everyone in this group. She never lost hope. The one thing every other person in the group was guilty of, Beth never was, she always had hope. Katie held Maggie's hand and helped her arrange some flowers around the cross they'd stick into the ground and rocks on top of the dirt mound in the shape of a B.

The adults spoke in hushed tones, discussing where to go, Noah apparently wanted to go home to Richmond, Virginia where he thought his family could still be alive. Everyone was looking at the map, but Katie didn't want to leave Georgia, not yet, she wanted to go home first. As she leaned on the fence chewing on her nails she looked up at her father, with sadness etched across his face, he thought Beth was his fault.

Katie looked at her father and tried to tell him telepathically, I want to go home, I wanna see mama. He usually could catch on, and Daryl knew Katie had been thinking about home, truth be told, he didn't want to leave Georgia either, but there wasn't much left of Georgia anymore. Katie pushed herself off the fence and started toward Rick, signaling him to peel off from the rest of the group.

"Rick, I know we agreed to take Noah home-" Katie started and Rick stayed silent, looking at the young woman before him, wondering where the time had gone and what happened to that little girl from so long ago, waiting for her to continue speaking.

"I wanna go home too, back to where me and daddy are from, I wanna see my mama before we leave Georgia maybe for good," Katie asked and Rick nodded.

"Okay, we'll go" he agreed pulling Katie's head into his shoulder and hugging her, losing Beth made Rick all the more appreciative that she was still standing. The two rejoined the group, Katie now next to Rick around the map.

"Change of plan before we go to Virginia, Katie wants to see her home and we have time," Rick announced, no one dared to protest and Daryl put an arm around Katie's shoulders pulling her in tight, Beth got him back to his daughter and he could never thank her enough for that.

"It's off the beaten path a little, daddy will know how to get there from here" Katie announced Daryl nodded and it was settled, Katie and Daryl were going home.