Rick probably made quite the sight, running through the rain and hail with the mud fro the ground splashing onto his shoes and legs. But he'd never really cared much about looks (that particular priority had flown out the window long ago), and that fact hadn't changed even now.
He paused in his progress forward, thinking that someone was calling out to him, and for just a second, he thought maybe he was about to run into Carl. But when he got closer, he realized it wasn't him, but it was another young person who, like it or not, had earned herself a place in his regard. He might even go as far as to say that he cared for her just like he cared for his own son, and his reasons for that went far beyond the fact that they both had witnessed her father's murder.
"Beth?" He managed to get out her name just seconds before he crashed into her, sending her to the ground, and him staggering backwards a few paces. It was more out of surprise than anything that he grinned through the rain and said, "I'd say you need to get cleaned up, but the weather might do that for you."
Of course, that wasn't the first thing he'd wanted to say to her. An apology, or another expression indicating his regret for not being able to do more for Hershel, had been on the tip of his tongue, but surprise made people say funny things.
Then again, what with the infected behind them and the idea that the gates were close, now wasn't the time for either of those things, so Rick just nodded and followed after the young blonde.
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He paused in his progress forward, thinking that someone was calling out to him, and for just a second, he thought maybe he was about to run into Carl. But when he got closer, he realized it wasn't him, but it was another young person who, like it or not, had earned herself a place in his regard. He might even go as far as to say that he cared for her just like he cared for his own son, and his reasons for that went far beyond the fact that they both had witnessed her father's murder.
"Beth?" He managed to get out her name just seconds before he crashed into her, sending her to the ground, and him staggering backwards a few paces. It was more out of surprise than anything that he grinned through the rain and said, "I'd say you need to get cleaned up, but the weather might do that for you."
Of course, that wasn't the first thing he'd wanted to say to her. An apology, or another expression indicating his regret for not being able to do more for Hershel, had been on the tip of his tongue, but surprise made people say funny things.
Then again, what with the infected behind them and the idea that the gates were close, now wasn't the time for either of those things, so Rick just nodded and followed after the young blonde.