While struggling to survive Rick and Carl's attack, Shane is in a need of a new group. And he finds one.
Chapter Text#Shane
Part 2
Keeping your Friends Close...
Shane didn't know how long he walked, but he could see the sunlight begin to creep up from the earth. Brilliant orange light turned the dark night sky to a beautiful dawn. Shane found a road and started heading east; he knew that much as he was walking towards the rising sun. Shane scanned the road, not only for walkers but for supplies.
Shane slowed his limping pace and rested on a tree. He needed to catch his breath, his tank was beyond empty and his body was beginning to fail him. I just need 2 minutes. The large oak was only feet from the road, as soon as Shane caught a quick rest he would continue his walk.
"UUHHHHHHHHH!" moaned the Walker as attempted to grab Shane. Shane managed to side step the Walker but then noticed that there was another Walker and another, and another…
He was surrounded.
It only takes a moment – and then they're everywhere.
"Fuck it." He declared before raising his weapon and began to fire.
Phillip was awoken by the sound of gun fire in the distance; he sat up sharply in the roomy military styled SUV. "What in the bloody-hell was that?" He noticed Austin was still sleeping, his soft plump lips pouted as he slept peacefully. Phillip knew how acute Austin's hearing was and if there were gunfire, Austin would have already had his assault rifle in his hand. "I must have imagined it." Phillip said aloud.
Phillip already had slight PTSD prior to the world going to shit. So he attributed the random gunfire to a nightmare that was of course until he heard two other shots. "Ok, definitely didn't imagine that."
Phillip quickly retrieves his utility belt which held his two large bowie knives. Phillip immediately darted outside the vehicle towards the gun fire. The 5'9 man with dark olive skin was quick and limber beyond most people. He heard another shot and his head snapped to the right. Phillip ran through the shrubby forest, leaping over rocks, roots, and other barriers. There he discovered a bloodied Shane. Shane's back was against an oak as he fired, rather poorly at the nine walkers lurking towards him.
Phillip sharply whistled with great pinch and forte. A few of the walkers turn around, distracted by Phillips appearance.
Phillip removed his two dark gray berettas from his waist holsters and fired bullet after bullet. Each bullet connected with the Walker's brains with ease - a surgeon's precision. A dark smile etched across Phillips full pink lips. He enjoyed destroying these creatures at an almost orgasmic level.
Shane's eyes widen to see who saved his life. His vision was too obscured, he had no idea he was seconds from passing out again. He could see Phillip: his tan skin, long jet black hair pulled away from his face. He was dressed in paramilitary attire, it was black and form fitting.
"What's your name?" Phillip asked his guns still rose.
"R-R-R-Rick…" Shane stuttered, barely able to aim his gun. Unable to stand on his own, Shane used the oak the stood behind him for leverage.
"Your name is Rick?" Phillip asked as he slowly put away his weapons, Shane was no threat. "I'm Phillip. Where's your people? There's no way you're out here alone". Phillip noticed he was absolutely covered in blood and what appeared to be, dead flesh.
"Rick…" Shane said before finally losing consciousness.
"Great." said Phillip with pessimism and agitation. Phillip walked over to Shane's body, he quickly checked the pulse: he was still alive. Phillip noticed Shane was a little warmer than normal which concerned him.
Phillip immediately looked for bites, but it was hard. Shane was covered in viscera and blood, but much of it was from the walkers. Phillip took his small pocket knife and sliced open Shane's shirt revealing his chest. There, right under his left nipple was a small incision.
"His chest is sorta small, huh?" Austin asked. His voice was a deep, gravely baritone.
"Holy shit!" exclaimed Phillip, startled by Austin's presence. "I could have shot you."
"No you couldn't," Austin countered. "You're too busy feeling this hobo up."
"I was not feeling him up, he's clearly hurt."
Austin steps closer to get a better look. "He clearly stinks."
Shane was sure he was dead, that was until he opened his eyes. This all felt like the worst nightmare ever, Shane hoped he would awaken to a world where Rick was waiting for him the squad car and the dead stayed dead. But that was wishful thinking.
Shane found himself in a room, a rather nice room at that. Plush pillows held his head up and his body was covered by a large warm comforter. He looked around and saw the smiling faces of an elderly woman and family in photos. Frame by frame, Shane inspected them from where he lay. This must be her place, Shane thought. He didn't recognize the woman, so that killed the idea that he woke up at his grandmother's house.
It was Austin's rough and raspy voice that got Shane's attention. He could see the man that saved him, but he wasn't alone. Two men stood before him, both in paramilitary garb. One stood about 6'2-6'3 feet tall, white male, roughly 40, with a military build. He had light hair that receded but was cut low to his scalp. A cut that vaguely resembled Shane's. His weapon was at his waist as he stood talking to the other man. The second male had a unique look, Hispanic, possibly Black, about 5'10, a slightly smaller but effectively built frame. He looked to be in his mid to late twenties and he appeared to be unarmed.
"Well, at least he isn't infected," Phillip stated.
"He is still a liability. He has some internal bleeding and for the record, he does have an infection. Just not the one that turns you into a cannibal. Most likely, cellulites." Austin, a military physician by trade assessed Shane's wounds and could see where this was headed. "Even though we plugged up the hemorrhaging, there still the infection. Hopefully, Rick will be able to take care of himself soon."
"My name ain't, Rick!" Shane finally said. "Don't fucking call me that asshole's name." Shane noticed that he was still hooked up to an IV. He immediately started pulling at hoses.
"Hey, cunt" Phillip retorted, "we could have left you for Rotter-bait. The least you can do is be pleasant. And not rip out your IV."
"Yeah, I ain't ask for your help neither," Shane countered. Shane continued to yank at the IV cords, his hands quivered at the task. His motor skills were lacking but his persistence was still present.
"Let him go," Austin said with his deep, grimly, baritone. "Besides, those antibiotics I put in the IV could go towards, you Phillip. Not some fucking street rat."
"Street rat," Shane echoed. He couldn't help but chuckle but slime and mucus from congestions in his lungs chocked him. Shane coughed up the brown and green goo and spat on the wood floor.
"No, that wasn't gross at all," Phillip chimed in, sarcastically.
"See, I told you, dear." Austin said. "Street rat."
"Dear" Shane retorted. "I take it you two are anal auctioneers."
"Ooh, homophobia," Phillip shot back. "Whatever will I do? I'm so crushed."
"I don't know," Austin said with a small smirk. "Anal auctioneers is sorta funny."
Shane watched the two break off into their own little world as if there weren't a million zombies outside waiting to rip them apart. The two men didn't look overtly effeminate; actually it was the opposite. Especially Austin – Shane wondered even if he was healthy if he could actually take the man down. Shane often compared other men to himself: were they as much of man as he. Or at least what he knew a "real man" to be.
"Look, Rick," Austin began.
"My name isn't fucking, RICK!"Shane screamed, frustrated. How can two people who have never laid eyes on Rick, bring him up so much? "My name is, Shane."
"Fair enough, Shane," Austin replied. "You can walk your ass outside and try your best out there. I will tell you, between that infection, the fact you have been in a coma for two days and haven't eaten in God knows how long. As your attending physician, I would encourage you to give it a day. Then, you can go wherever the hell you like."
Phillip digs into his pocket and removes a snicker's and quickly unwraps the snack before taking a hearty bite. And with false, mocking, innocence Phillips asked, "Wanna a bite or do you want to leave?"
Shane weighed his options, or lack thereof. He was too banged up to go out there and face the Dead. Though he didn't trust a soul, he decided to relax his Don't Trust Anyone policy. Besides, they saved his life, for no reason. How bad could they be?
With a defeated shrug Shane replies, "Give me a bite of that fucking thing."
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