Maaaaaaan. Shane is so nice to Rick during this episode. I'd forgotten. I feel bad for making him such a rabid asshole so early on. Oh well. CAN'T GO BACK NOW! Also, I hate this chapter. I've been putting off working on it. Because I hate it. So... HERE HAVE A CHAPTER I HATE. Because I wanna get to Sohpia so bad. Shoulda skipped Carl getting shot. 8D

The Walking Dead: The Shifting Dead
Season 2
Episode 2: Bloodletting

The world stopped. Rick was moving before his brain even processed what had happened. He wasn't even sure what had happened. They were watching the deer. And then suddenly, Carl was on the ground and his shirt was turning red. "No! No, no, no, no!" He cried, reaching Carl. The pup wasn't moving, wasn't responding, wasn't doing anything.

Daryl appeared in front of him, dragging a large human man by the shirt. The man was carrying a large rifle and he looked about ready to pass out. "I didn't... I was just... the deer..." The man was stuttering bad.

Rick didn't hear him, didn't really see him either. His eyes were still on Carl. Shot. Carl had been shot. This was more than a simple scratch. This he couldn't fix. "Carl!"

"D-d-doctor!" The fat man stuttered.

Daryl grabbed the man's arm. "What'd ya say?"

The man turned to Daryl, his eyes wide. "There's a farm." He said quickly. "With a doctor."

Daryl stepped closer. "Where?" The man straightened up and pointed. Daryl turned and looked where he pointed. "Rick." Daryl turned back to Rick. "Rick!" He said his name louder.

Rick heard Daryl's voice then. He blinked and looked up at Daryl, tears in his eyes.

Daryl stepped closer and bent down. "Rick, there's a farm with a doctor nearby."

Rick's eyes widened. "Where?"

Daryl turned slightly and pointed to the man. "He'll take us."

Rick hefted Carl up gingerly. The man tried to introduce himself as Otis, but Rick had bared his teeth at him and Daryl had pushed him and Otis had stumbled forward. But after a few minutes, Otis was having trouble keeping up. He slowed and stopped and leaned forward, struggling to breath for a moment. "That... way..." He pointed.

Rick glanced back. "How far?"

"Another half mile." The man coughed out. "Hershel. Ask for Hershel. Tell him Otis sent ya. He'll help your boy."

Rick glanced at Daryl and the cat nodded. Rick turned, hefted Carl up higher, and ran on. Rick slowed for a moment as an old, white farm house came into view. He took a deep breath and kept going.

Suddenly, the front door swung open. Five people stepped out slowly. Rick couldn't really see them clearly. He thought maybe he could smell shifters, dogs, maybe. Maybe there was a human. Couldn't really think. The only thought on his mind was Hershel. Find Hershel.

The elderly man in the center took a step forward. "Was he bit?" He asked loudly.

"Shot." Rick answered, getting closer. "By your man, Otis."

The man's eyes widened as he stepped down off the porch and walked towards him.

"Hershel..." Rick struggled to catch his breath. "He said find Hershel. Is that you? Help my boy, please."

The man nodded and turned back to the house. "Get him inside. Patricia! I need my kit! Maggie! Painkillers, coagulates, grab everything! Towels, sheets, alcohol." He led Rick through the house and stopped inside a bedroom. "Put him here." He said, pulling the blanket off the bed.

Rick bent down and set Carl down as gently as he could. There was so much blood. All over Carl, all over him. He couldn't tell. He swallowed and shook his head. "Is... is he alive?" The man, Hershel, asked something. Rick knew he had heard him. The man was standing right beside him. But the words didn't register. Rick blinked. "Is he..."

"Pillowcase!" Hershel snapped. "Quick! Fold it, make a pad."

Rick grabbed a pillow. His hands shook as he fumbled to pull the damned thing off. He could feel the other people in the room, could hear them scrambling around him. But he didn't know what they were doing. He finally pulled the damn thing off and dropped the pillow on the ground. He took the case and folded it.

"Put pressure on the wound." Hershel said, guiding Rick's hands. "I got a heartbeat."

The older woman - Maggie or Patricia, Rick wasn't sure - stepped in front of him, pushing him back. "I got it. We're going to need some space."

Hershel glanced back at him. "What's your name?"

Rick faltered for a moment. "Uh... Rick..." He said, swallowing. "I'm... Rick."

Hershel nodded. "We're going to do everything we can for your boy, Rick. Okay? But you need to give us some room."

Rick nodded dumbly and turned. He ambled for the door, and slipped outside. He stepped forward and leaned on the railing. His hands gripped the wood hard, his knuckles turning white. But he didn't feel them. He didn't feel anything. He blinked and lifted his eyes. Out of habit, his gaze scanned the perimeter. He saw Daryl in the distance with the large man behind him.

Daryl glanced back behind him and then threw his crossbow over his shoulder and set off at a run. He didn't slow until he was at the base of the steps. He panted for a moment and gripped the railing. "He okay?"

Rick's eyes were wide and wet. He reached out and grabbed Daryl's shirt. He pulled the other man up the steps and threw his arms around him. He wasn't thinking and didn't register when Daryl stiffened against him.

"Hey Rick?" The older girl popped out of the door.

Rick pulled away from Daryl and spun around quickly. Maggie? He thought her name was Maggie. "What happened?"

She shook her head. "Oh nothing." She said quickly. "Do you know his blood type?"

Rick nodded. "Same as mine."

She breathed out and nodded. "That's good. Don't go far. He's gonna need ya."

Rick nodded and moved to follow Maggie inside. Daryl stayed where he was on the porch. He turned slightly as Otis had finally caught him. The man stumbled up the stairs and past Daryl into the house. Hesitantly, Daryl stepped inside. He hovered near the door.

Hershel looked up as Otis came inside. "What happened?"

Otis blinked. "I... was tracking a doe." He said slowly. "It stopped... I didn't see the boy... I just... I didn't see him. The bullet... went right through..."

"The deer slowed the bullet." Hershel nodded and glanced at Rick. "But it didn't go through clean. It broke into pieces. If I can get the pieces out, he'll be okay."

"I never saw him." Otis turned towards the older woman, Patricia. He was shaking his head. "Not until he was on the ground." He added softly.

Rick blinked and shook his head. "Lori... Lori doesn't know..." He said softly.

Daryl pushed off the doorframe and stepped towards Rick. "I'll go back an' get 'er."

Rick shook his head. "No, no, no." He grabbed Daryl's shirt and dipped his head forward, leaning against him.

"Okay, okay." Daryl said quickly, squirming a bit. "Come on. Sit down." He pulled Rick into the next room and pushed him down in a chair. Daryl sat down beside him.

Rick shook his head and leaned back. His head bumped against the wall. "Why'd I let him come?" He asked softly. "Should have left him with Lori."

"Don't."

Rick blinked away tears and shook his head again. "Should'a sent him back with Glenn. Should be me in there."

"I showed 'im the deer." Daryl said. "Just didn't see the man."

The door opened and Maggie popped out again. "Rick. He needs blood."

Rick nodded and jumped up. He followed her into the room. Carl was lucid, crying and flailing on the bed. Rick felt a spike of hope. Patricia grabbed his arm and Rick turned as she ran a swab over him. He turned his gaze back to Carl.

"Hold him down!" Hershel said as Daryl came into the room. Daryl stepped towards the bed and knelt down on it, putting his hands where Hershel directed him.

Carl glanced at Daryl with wide eyes and then turned his gaze on Rick. "Dad!" He screamed when Hershel breached his skin with the forceps.

Rick cringed as the pup screamed. It was the worst feeling in the world. He hardly felt when Patricia poked the IV in his arm. Carl had suddenly stopped moving. Rick's eyes widened.

"It's alright." Hershel said quickly. "Just passed out." He pulled the forceps out, a small piece of the bullet clamped in its claws. "1 down. 5 to go."

Patricia pulled a chair up behind Rick. "Sit."

Rick sat down, careful of the tubing now attached to him, and leaned back.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

He felt exhausted. "Lori." He breathed out. "She needs to know."

Daryl shook his head. "You ain't leaving."

"You can't leave." Hershel said. "He's gonna need more blood."

Daryl helped Rick up and they stepped out into the other room. Maggie and Otis were sitting. They both looked up expectantly. "Stable." Daryl said.

"She has to know." Rick insisted.

The door opened and Hershel came out. "I need to remove those remaining fragments. And I think there's internal bleeding. And that means I'm gonna have to open him up and stitch it. But he can't move. If he flails like that again and I knick an artery, that's it. He'll be dead in minutes. I'll have to put him under anesthesia. He won't be able to breathe on his own. I'll need a respirator."

Otis nodded and stepped forward. "What else."

Hershel glanced towards him. "Tube that goes with it. Surgical supplies, drapes, sutures."

"If you had all that... you could save him?" Rick asked softly.

Hershel let out a sigh and nodded. "I could try."

Otis shook his head. "Hospital went up in flames. But the high school." His eyes widened a bit. "They set up a FEMA shelter there. The place was overrun last time I saw it. But they'd have everything we'd need."

Daryl nodded and crossed the room. He bent down to grab his crossbow from where he set it by the front door. "Draw me a map and give me a list."

"You can't go." Otis said, turning towards him. He shook his head. "Not by yourself."

Daryl snorted and shook his head. "Yer fat ass ain't gonna help me any."

Otis narrowed his eyes. "Do you even know what any of this stuff is?"

Daryl glanced at Hershel and Rick. Then shook his head. "No."

"I'm a volunteer EMT." Otis said. "I do. I've used it." He glanced at Rick. "I can help."

Daryl nodded. "I know when I'm licked. Let's go."

Maggie stepped towards Rick. "Lori..." She said softly. "That's your wife?"

Rick nodded slowly.

"Where is she?" She asked.

Rick blinked at her. "Lori..." He glanced at Daryl.

Daryl stepped forward. "Highway... uh... couple miles. We were looking to pass but got stopped. Mess a cars. Big RV. Lots of people."

Maggie nodded and turned to Hershel. "I'll take one of the horses and be fast."

Hershel looked like he wanted to argue. But instead, he let out a sigh and shook his head. "Be careful."

She nodded and slipped outside.

"Come on." Daryl said, nodding to Otis. He glanced at Rick and followed Otis out the door. They got ready quickly and Daryl climbed into the cab of Otis' truck. "Need to get moving. Gonna get dark soon."

"Wait." Rick stumbled over. "Here." He pulled out his gun and handed it to Otis.

The man nodded and took it. "Fine weapon. I'll bring it back."

"Come on." Daryl snapped.

Otis climbed into the truck and drove off.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Rick leaned against the railing on the porch. He took a deep breath and scanned the horizon again, out of habit. It looked fine. It looked peaceful. Like nothing could touch it. Obviously, nothing had. Not yet. He breathed out and shook his head.

The door opened and Hershel stepped out, moving to stand beside Rick. He leaned on the railing against him and said nothing.

"It's beautiful." Rick breathed out. "Serene. Untouched."

Hershel nodded. "Been in my family 160 years. But we weren't completely unscathed. The epidemic took my wife, my stepson. Friends, neighbors."

"I'm sorry." Rick said softly.

Hershel shrugged a bit. "Just hoping we can ride it out in peace until there's a cure."

Rick turned to him. "We were at the CDC." He said softly. "It's gone now. There's no cure."

Hershel smiled and shook his head. "I don't believe that."

They stopped and turned as they heard the hoof beats. Rick squinted his eyes in the sinking sunlight. Maggie had returned with Lori. He sucked in a breath and walked down the porch steps, leaning heavily on the rail. His legs felt like jelly and he stumbled towards them.

Lori sobbed as she slid from the horse. "Carl!" Rick stepped closer and she threw her arms around him. "Carl. Is he okay?"

Rick held her tight. "He's stable but..." He pulled away and looked into her eyes. "It's bad, Lori."

"Oh God. Where is he?"

Rick led her inside. "I'm sorry." He said hugging her tightly from behind as she stood, frozen in the doorway. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let him come. I'm sorry."

She didn't answer. She pulled away from him and crossed the room and climbed on the bed beside Carl. "My baby boy. Mama's here. You're gonna be okay. Rick!" She reached back for him and Rick stepped closer to hold her hand. They sat like there, for a while. Just holding each other. No screaming. No hate. Rick breathed out and stood up. He pulled on her gently and she followed after him out into the dining room.

"Hershel." Rick said, nodding to the doctor. "This is Lori, my wife." They made their quick introductions and started discussing what had happened so far and what the plan was.

"Okay." Lori said, leaning forward on the dining room table. "When Daryl gets back with this other man..."

"Otis." Rick said.

"Otis." She snapped. "The idiot who shot my son."

Rick sighed. "Lori, it was an accident."

"Ma'am." Hershel started softly. "We're doing everything we can to make it right."

"Whatever." She shook her head. "They get back and you can perform this surgery?"

Hershel nodded. "I'll do my best."

She tilted her head and crossed her arms. "You've done this before, right?" She asked.

"Well... yes." Hershel said slowly. "In a sense."

She frowned. "In a sense?" She repeated. "What does that mean? You're a doctor, right?"

Hershel let out a sigh. "I'm a veterinarian."

Lori's eyes widened. "A vet.."

Rick grabbed her hand, trying to pull her back. "That's... that's good. Maybe... better..." He said dumbly.

"Better?" She snapped, spinning around to gawk at him. "Carl's not an animal!"

Rick's mouth dropped open. "He's part animal." He said after a moment.

Her eyes narrowed into a glare.

Rick shook himself and sighed. "Look, we don't have the luxury of finding another surgeon or getting a second opinion."

"I'm sorry I'm all you got." Hershel said.

"No." Rick said quickly, looking at the doctor. "We're lucky."

Lori rolled her eyes. "Lucky Carl got shot?!"

"Lucky to have a doctor when we need one."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"Hold up." Daryl said. He could see an ambulance just ahead. "Turn it off. We'll walk from here. Any closer an' the noise will draw whatever's in there out."

Otis nodded and pulled to a stop.

Daryl climbed out and waited for Otis to join him. Then he sprinted for the ambulance. He signaled for Otis to wait and took out his knife. The rear door was open. Cautiously, he stepped inside. There were two walkers. One strapped to a gurney and one standing just behind it. He took out the gurney walker before the other even turned. And when the second tried to walk forward, the gurney blocked it. Daryl crouched down, holding the gurney in place. Then he pushed it forward as hard as he could into the walker. It fell forward onto the gurney and Daryl quickly plunged his knife into its head. He headed back out to Otis.

"There's a big medical emergency trailer." Otis said, pointing. "That way. Everything we need should be in there. But there's too many of them. We can't get to it."

"We need to draw them off." Daryl said, glancing back at the ambulance.

"How?"

Daryl inclined his head. "With the sirens."

Otis glanced at the ambulance. "That'll work?"

Daryl looked back at Otis and nodded. "Did it before. Cop car sirens."

Otis nodded slowly.

"You take the truck. Back up like 50 feet. I'll follow in the ambulance. We get far enough from the school an' hit the sirens. Then we hightail it outta the way an' wait fer them ta leave."

"Sounds simple."

Daryl snorted and rolled his eyes. "Jus' get in the truck. Keep close. Wanna get out as soon as I turned the sirens on." Daryl climbed in the back of the ambulance again. He pulled the walkers onto the gurney and pushed them out. Then he glanced around the cab of the ambulance. They keys were not in the ignition. But closer inspection of the floor found a set of keys halfway under the passenger seat. Daryl picked them up and leaned over the driver's seat. He stuck the keys in the ignition and gave them a half turn. The dash board lit up. The gauges looked fine and the gas read a quarter tank.

Daryl hopped up and went back to poke his head out. Otis was still standing there, looking around nervously. "Looks good." Daryl said. "Get in the truck."

Otis nodded and disappeared.

Daryl hung out the back and watched until the large man made it to his truck. Then Daryl ducked back in and closed the doors. He moved to the front and sat in the driver's seat. He hit the key harder this time. The engine sputtered once and then roared to life. The lights hit the school and lit up the area. Already, walkers were slowly turning towards the large vehicle. Daryl switched it to reverse and slammed on the gas.

The ambulance jumped back and collided with something. Okay, that was a bit too much gas. He quickly turned the wheel, switched to drive, and turned. He caught sight of Otis' truck in front of him. The truck suddenly skipped to a stop. Daryl followed and pulled up just in front to him. He saw why Otis had slammed on the breaks. There were walkers in front of them. Probably ten feet from them. Damn. They'd have to be fast. He put the thing in park and opened the back doors. He motioned Otis to pull in behind him and the man did.

"Hurry up!" Otis said, rolling his window down for a moment. "The whole place is crawling."

Daryl held up a finger and nodded. Then he turned and darted back to the cab of the ambulance. He held his breath and flipped the sirens. The noise was deafening in the quiet night air. Daryl flinched and shook his head. Then ran back and jumped into the bed of the truck without hesitation.

There were suddenly walkers every were around them. Daryl turned and pulled himself up. A tall, dark figure was clawing at the tailgate. Daryl pulled out his knife and plunged it threw the thing's head. He felt a pull on his tail and turned. A slimy hand had a tight hold. Daryl's lips pulled back and he hissed at the thing out of reflex. Intimidation didn't work on the dead. He wrenched his tail away, winching a bit as the fur was pulled. He kicked the walker off the truck.

Otis killed the lights on the truck and then they sped off.

Daryl held on and blinked as his eyes adjusted to the growing darkness. It was working. The walkers were moving towards the ambulance. Though Daryl knew he was going to have a splitting headache when they got out of here. They made a circle around the building. Daryl thumped on the roof. Otis pulled to a stop and rolling the window down again. "Keep the lights off 'n head back."

Otis nodded and turned them around. Daryl jumped out and grabbed his crossbow from the front. He motioned Otis behind him and stepped towards the trailer. The door was shut. Daryl sucked in a breath and turned the handle. He pulled the door open and jumped back, his crossbow up. When nothing came out, he stepped closer and peeked in. There were two inside. He shot the first and took the second out with his knife. Then turned as Otis came in behind him. "Hurry." Daryl hissed lowly. "Gotta get back. Too long already."

Otis nodded and started rifling through things.

Daryl pulled the door shut behind them. He turned and glanced around the space. But honestly, he didn't know much about medical equipment. He shook his head and looked back at the door. Suddenly, he realized it was quiet. He stepped closer to the door and strained his ears. He should still have been able to hear the sirens easily. Hell, even Otis should still hear them.

Otis glanced over at him and stopped. His eyes slowly widened. "What happened?"

"Battery prolly died." Daryl said quickly. "Sat fer too long."

Otis relaxed and turned back to rooting around for the needed supplies.

"Hurry." Daryl said as evenly as he could. He knew the battery hadn't died. Walkers couldn't have done it. That left one other option. And they didn't have time to deal with people. He had to get back to Rick.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Otis ambled over to him. Daryl took one of the packs and threw it over his shoulder. Then he lifted his crossbow and opened the door. He stepped out and stopped. The walkers were back. And the truck was gone.