[aturnis]

My plotline theory:

Warning: unnecessarily long winded, probably not correct, and may contain future spoilers and definitely contains spoilers if you haven't seen every episode.

Spoiler!

I think the love triangle between Shane, Rick and Lori is going to really pick up eventually.

I think it was in a webisode, but when Shane first told Lori that Rick had been shot, she had just been talking with a friend about their marital problems and a fight they had that morning saying "it was pretty bad".

Z-day comes, Shane makes the hard choice to leave Rick, Lori believes him to be dead, moves on with Shane. Scene in woods gets pretty hot and heavy, even removes wedding ring from around her neck.

Rick shows up, and everything goes back to normal, Shane left out in the cold. CDC scene, Shane drinks and tries to make a move on Lori again, shot down. They leave CDC and Jenner tells Rick something, my guess and widely speculated "Your wife is pregnant".

All the while, Shane pre and post Rick showing up, Shane had ruled with an iron fist so to speak. Not worried about anyones feelings or pissing anyone off. Also, now that Rick is back, things are bothering him a lot and he is planning to leave the group.

Later, at Herschel's, Shane tries to convince Rick about how strong of a woman Lori is and how he needs to will himself through this for her and Carl.

It's almost obvious to me at this point Shane thinks he can better provide and protect Lori and Carl.

Lori shows up, see's weakness in Rick and has to give him a pep talk, basically telling him he needs to be strong for Carl and for her, b/c she can't be strong all on her own.(This is where I think she begins to "miss" Shane and his strong personality)

Lori has doubts about whether she wants Carl to live or not. If Carl died, what ties does she have to keep her with Rick, whom she already had marital problems? Maybe it's best.

Shane is out getting the supplies for Carl, and as far as we know, has his closest most intense experience yet with zombies. He is obviously messed up, then Otis saves his ass. They make their way out and Shane, a guy who supposedly has nothing to live for but himself, shoots Otis, gets the backpack of supplies for Carl, heads back.

Shane lies about how Otis went down, we know he's starting to change. I think the haircut scene was to cover-up the missing hair, but was also to show a change in Shane.

Lori told Shane "don't leave" as he had been planning to. In the sneak peek I think, it shows Shane ask Lori, "I need to know, when you told me to stay, did you mean it"? or something to that effect.

When or how this all comes to a head I don't know. If the pregnancy theory is right, how long before Lori and Shane figure out she's pregnant? Will Rick say anything, and has he figured it out, or does he assume it's his from getting it on when he first found them again?