Chapter Text
It was late. The stars were out and shining bright in the sweet summer Georgia air. The hum of cicadas were loud, so loud that it could be heard over the thrum of the car's engine. A thrum that reverberated through Carl's skull as he laid his forehead on the cool glass of the car's window. He could only imagine what time it was.
His dad was pissed at him. Carl slid his eyes over to the figure driving. Completely focused on the road ahead was Rick Grimes, a stoic cop (who was currently on duty) whose jaw was set so sharply that Carl was a little scared of what words were going to come out of his mouth.
Carl had called him sobbing. Crying, for him to pick him up from the party he went to. He wanted to prove to himself that he was older now. He's fourteen, just finished his first year of high school. Big late night parties would be no problem for a man like him. But it proved to be too much. The noise, the lights, the people, all too much. Carl was too sensitive. Enid had invited him, but once she saw him freeze at the sight of alcohol, grow pale at the smell of sweat, and start to teeter over the heat from the throng of bodies. She grabbed his hand and led him out. She sat with him while Carl shuddered. She called his father while he cried in her arms.
And now Carl was in the car with his dad. Waiting for him to make the first noise. The silent ride was nerve-racking. He just wanted his punishment and for things to be over.
Carl saw Rick's eyes flicker from the road over to him. His hand left the steering wheel slowly and turned on the radio, a soft country song filled the silence.
"Chewing on a piece of grass, walking down the road, tell me, how long you gonna stay here Joe?"
"Carl."
Carl turned his eyes away again and shuffled to the side. He twined his hands together and tugged at his jeans. They were tight and cutting into his thighs.
“Some people say this town don't look good in snow, you don't care, I know”
"Fix your seat belt Carl, you know it goes over your chest, not behind your back."
Carl huffed. This was stupid. His breakdown was stupid. His dad was stupid. This car was stupid. This song was stupid. He was stupid. He grew angry, boiling up from deep within. His face got hot, tears started forming again.
But he stopped, took a deep breath, and put his seat belt over his chest.
“Ventura highway in the sunshine where the days are longer the nights are stronger than moonshine.”
"Thank you Carl"
Carl grunted in reply and waited for a snappy response from his father that never came.
"Are you going to yell at me?"
The car jostled, the dark country roads needed repaving, but that cost money, money that King County didn't have.
"No, Carl. You know I don't yell."
"Yeah, but I'd prefer that over your silent judging."
"I'm not judging you."
Silence. A few seconds pass. Carl wet his lips with his tongue.
"You're not mad at me?"
Rick's eyes flicked over to Carl again.
"Did you drink?"
"No."
"Then no. You know I have every right and opportunity to test you. I could make you get out of this car right now and breathe in the breathalyzer. I could take you to the office and submit you for a blood test. But I'm not going to do that, because you called me to come get you. I got you, we are going home, and we will talk about this in the morning." Rick tapped his fingers on the wheel to the beat of the music.
“You're gonna go I know 'cause the free wind is blowing through your hair and the days surround your daylight there.”
Another silence. This time broken by Carl.
"Okay."
"I love you Carl, you know that? I would have picked you up no matter what you were calling about. I was your age once too y'know."
Rick had always preached safety. Looking both ways before crossing the road. If you drink or do drugs, because you are a teenage boy and I know you will be doing these things, please do it in a safe and secure location. If you get in a car, seat belts always. If someone touches you inappropriately, you tell your father immediately. Carl had heard these mantras all his life. He tried his best to follow them, but sometimes he did forget. He was only human after all. But he understood they were important. He was important to his father. His dad loved him, he loved his dad.
"I love you too, Dad."
Rick smiled softly and reached over to ruffle Carl's hair.
“Seasons crying no despair, alligator lizards in the air.”
There was silence after that, but one that was comfortable and reflective. Carl was okay with that.
A car was approaching them on the small country road. Rick clicked his tongue and turned his brights off. The oncoming car didn't, lights bright as ever, it barreled towards them at a speed much higher over the thirty five posted.
Rick grunted and reached down to activate his red and blue lights, preparing to pull the offender over but hesitated. Carl watched, interested in how his father dealt with these things.
"Don't." Carl wanted to get home, and he couldn't deal with having to haul someone's sorry ass back to the county jail. Rick's hand wavered and then returned to the wheel, he had decided to let it slide.
During that split second decision, Rick had flicked his eyes over to glance at Carl. Who was staring forward horrified, his mouth open in a shout, eyes bright from the cars oncoming beams.
The sound of crunching metal and tires squealing rang through the fields of peach trees. Then silence. Smoke rose into the air, curling around the two vehicles. The song on the radio continued, warbling softly around the destruction.
“Wishin' on a falling star, watchin' for the early train. Sorry boy, but I've been hit by purple rain. Aw, come on Joe, you can always change your name. Thanks a lot son, just the same.”