I always thought maybe Rick is affected differently by the virus - that maybe it gives him the "ever living" aspect without killing him. Maybe far fetched but he survived the hospital in the beginning, his hand and now possibly having been infected. Maybe even Carl and Judith also have this reaction to the virus which is how Carl survived the shot and how maybe Judith survived Lori's death (and maybe on the cover of 127?). If this theory is true then only a head shot could kill the Grimes family (if Judith did die it's because she was Shane's ).
Wow.. honestly, I f'n love this theory!
Seems a little bit too 'unrealistic' for The Walking Dead though..
(Yes, I realize that the book is about the dead coming back to life, and to think that anything could be 'unrealistic' is just ridiculous)
, thanks! Yeah I know what you mean about the unrealistic part, the book isn't the type to start handing out any kind of "powers".