When Daryl stepped into the prison, he was dripping wet. He left a trail of footprints and water behind him as he sought out Rick. Most people were settling in for the night. He casually passed by Beth who was getting Judith to sleep.
"Rick?" he asked her as he passed but kept moving.
"Cafeteria, I think," she answered.
He strode on towards Cellblock D and the cafeteria. When he entered the cafeteria, Rick was sitting with Glenn and Maggie.
"Everything okay?" Rick asked as Daryl approached the table.
"Yeah, fine," Daryl said nodding. Rick stood up and indicated to Daryl to follow him away from the table. They only went a few feet.
"Did you talk to Carol about Shawna?" Rick asked in a hushed voice. Daryl nodded. "She's a good woman, Daryl." Daryl smirked.
"Carol just got me from watch, said you wanted to talk about the run tomorrow."
"I haven't seen Carol all afternoon. Why would she…?" Rick started to say and trailed off. It was at that precise moment they both realized what was happening. Carol was alone with Shawna.
Daryl started running first and Rick was quick on his heels. It was as if his feet could not move fast enough. Everything was in slow motion. Daryl ran through the doorway of the cafeteria, down the hall to Cellblock D. He then rounded a corner to get to the hallway of Cellblock C. He passed Beth again but didn't even see her. Finally, he made it through the common room to the door that led outside. They had just exited the prison into the rain when Daryl started shouting for Shawna and Rick yelled for Carol. A second later came the blast from the gun. Both men halted immediately. The door to the tower pushed open and Shawna stumbled out holding her side. She looked up.
"Shawna," Daryl said softly. He couldn't move. She was still moving. She was okay, wasn't she?
There was a flash of lightning as she took her hand away from her side. Sanguine liquid covered her hand. Daryl finally found his motivation and sprinted to her as she came crashing down. Carol came out the door next. The look of immediate regret shone on her face and tears mingled with raindrops. She dropped the pistol on the ground. Rick ran over to her, picked up the pistol, and kept her away from Daryl and Shawna. He moved Carol quickly inside the prison while Daryl attended to Shawna. Hershel was sitting at a table in the common room when they came in.
"Keys!" Rick yelled at him. Hershel gave him a puzzled look. "Give me the damn cell keys!"
"Rick, what is going on?" Hershel said in surprised voice. He kept a hand on the keys that were lying on the table. Rick was having a hard time containing himself. Tears stung his eyes.
"Carol shot Shawna," Rick said grimacing. Hershel threw him the keys immediately.
"Where is she?" Hershel asked as Rick escorted Carol to her cell.
"Daryl is with her outside," he shouted back.
Rick took Carol to her cell and put her inside. He ripped the sheet off her bunk and took it with him. He closed the door and locked it. He stared at her for a moment as she sank onto the floor. Beth ran by Rick towards the other cellblock. Her father had sent her to get Bob and Dr. S. Rick went back outside to help Daryl with Shawna.
He found Daryl cradling Shawna in the rain. Daryl was pressing a bandana to her side. He had already removed her rifle from around her and strung it on his own back. Rick quickly spread the sheet on the ground. He then took his belt off and wrapped it around Shawna's waist to secure the bandana in place. Rick and Daryl placed Shawna onto the sheet making into a makeshift stretcher. The two worked in synchronization. Rick went to her feet and grabbed the bottom corners. Daryl went to her head and took up those corners. On a count off, they picked her up and carried her into the prison.
Bob and Dr. S were waiting for them when they entered. Hershel explained the situation to them. With his military medic background, he was the best to assess Shawna's condition. Dr. S was there to help with anything else.
"Take her to the cafeteria. We'll need a table" Bob instructed when he saw her. Daryl and Rick rushed her towards the cafeteria.
When they passed Carol's cell, she was crying and pleading, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please, Daryl."
Daryl never looked at her nor said a word.
A hush fell on the prison as they made their way through corridors. Those that woke with the commotion stood in the doorway of their cells watching the men pass carrying Shawna between them. As they entered the cafeteria, Bob yelled out to anyone to push two tables together. Immediately, Maggie and Glenn did as he commanded. Rick and Daryl laid Shawna on the cold tabletop. Daryl squatted at her head. She was still unconscious. Rick backed away slowly washing a bloody hand over his face.
"Come on, Shawna, stay with me," Daryl whispered to her as he stroked her hair.
Bob took off the belt tossing it to the side. Dr. S was there to offer assistance. Beth and Teresa were running around getting what medical supplies they had. Carefully, Bob took the bandana away from the wound.
"I need water," he said aloud. Rick pulled out his bottle of water from his pocket and handed it to him. Bob used the water to flush the impact area. Those that remained in the cafeteria had gathered at a distance and were waiting for Bob's evaluation. He shook his head. He looked towards Dr. S and Hershel. "The bullet is lodged in her side. I don't think it has hit anything vital. I still need to get that bullet out. I need forceps or bullet extractor."
"There may have been a bullet extractor in the infirmary. We didn't get everything out," Hershel stated.
"It might be overrun again with walkers. We left that area open when the governor came looking for us," Glenn explained.
"I'll go," Rick stated without hesitation. "I need others," he said looking around at those assembled in the cafeteria. Ryan stepped up, along with Paul and Dr. S. "Anyone else?" he asked. Michonne stepped up beside Rick.
"I'm goin'," Daryl said as he stood up.
Rick approached him saying, "No. You need to stay here in case she wakes up. You know yours is the only face she wants to see when she does." Daryl gritted his teeth. Rick was right. He nodded and looked back at Shawna.
"We still need two people out on watch," Hershel announced. Maggie and Glenn volunteered to go. They quickly exited with their weapons.
"A'right," Rick said. "You all need weapons." All but Michonne and Dr. S scattered to get what they needed.
"I know the instrument Bob needs," Dr. S told Rick. "I'll get the supplies." Rick nodded in acknowledgment.
"You need to hurry," Bob informed Rick in a whisper. Bob didn't want Daryl to overhear. "If the bullet has hit something major, she may not survive." Rick looked over at Daryl.
"She's a fighter. She's not going to die today," Rick informed Bob. Bob looked skeptical but nodded in agreement.
It was less than thirty seconds when everyone gathered again in the cafeteria. Off the corridor leading to the cafeteria, was an area potentially infested with walkers. Rick unlocked the cell door and went through with his knife raised. Michonne closed the door behind her when everyone was through. It didn't take long before they could hear sounds of rasping breaths and gory gurgling. Rick urged the others forward to stand beside him. They would hit them full force. The group stepped around the corner and found a small group of walkers. Rick lunged to the first walker he saw and imbedded his knife into the eye socket of the turned man. Ryan was next with a hatchet to the head of a walker woman. Michonne took out two walkers with a swing of her katana. Dr. S hung back. He had his own mission. Paul plunged his crowbar into the head of a sickly looking biter.
The group turned down a long corridor and stopped. Dr. S was looking at the doorways in the area. In the distance, at the end of the hall, a door read, "Infirmary."
"There!" he said in a loud hushed voice and pointed. Rick looked. It seemed so close yet far away. Two corridors connected to the one they currently stood in. Halfway down one branched off to the left. The other was by the infirmary door leading to the right.
The group hurried to the first corridor intersection. Rick rounded the corner. Another group of walkers was there. Everyone stepped up to eliminate the threat. Ryan rushed a walker but ended up pushing himself into the pack. Rick, Michonne, and Paul tried to get to him but he was bitten. The fresh flesh distracted the walkers. They left him and continued. Michonne took the lead to get to the next corridor. She rounded the corner swinging her katana as she went taking out a walker. Rick came up behind her stabbing a walker in the side of the head. Paul kept back to protect them against any that escaped the other corridor. Two more walkers were taken out and that hall was clear. A cell doorway stood feet in front of them. Rick closed and locked it. He then tossed the keys to Dr. S who then tried to find the correct key for the infirmary door. Rick sidled up next to him, his back to the wall ready in case any walkers were inside. Finally, he found the key as it seated into the lock. He turned it quickly and threw open the door. Rick rushed in. There was nothing.
"Go," Rick said quietly to Dr. S. The doctor went right in and started searching. Rick followed him. Dr. S found the instrument drawer with the sterile steel tools in it. He picked carefully through them finding the bullet extractor, a self-retaining retractor and a few forceps.
"Done!" Dr. Dr. S said. He and Rick stepped out of the infirmary quickly. Rick locked the door behind them to avoid any walkers getting into it.
Rick held Dr. S back while he and Paul went first passing the hungry walkers feasting on Ryan. Michonne again was in the rear of the group. Only one walker stood up to come towards them. Michonne made quick work of him and the top of his head spun on the floor. They rushed back to the cafeteria knowing the rest of their path was clear.
Dr. S rushed the instruments over to Bob while Rick ushered everyone in and locked the cell door behind them.
"You didn't find any morphine?" he asked Dr. S.
"You said to hurry," Dr. S reminded him. Daryl looked up at the two. "I didn't have time to shop around," Dr. S added.
Bob looked over at Daryl. "You're going to have to hold her down. I don't have any morphine for pain relief and I have to get to that bullet," he said as calmly as he could.
Daryl press his jaw together tightly and nodded. He stood and took hold of Shawna's shoulders.
"I need someone to hold her legs down," Bob said next. Rick came over quickly tossing his weapons aside and grabbed onto Shawna's ankles. Bob took a pair of medical scissors to her shirt exposing the blood and wound. "She needs to be flipped over. Someone get a pillow!" Teresa ran off for a pillow. Rick and Daryl looked at each other as they carefully turned Shawna onto her stomach. Daryl helped take her shirt off. The wound had penetrated her left side through the back. Teresa had the pillow and handed it to Daryl. He took it and picked up her head with one hand while sliding the pillow underneath with the other. Shawna softly moaned.
"Water!" Bob shouted. Beth went around gathering all the bottles that everyone in the room was offering. She laid them on the on the floor by the table. Dr. S started pouring water onto the wound. "To the side of it, not directly on it," Bob instructed him. "Get ready," he indicated to Rick and Daryl. Rick pressed on her legs and Daryl pressed on her shoulders. Bob placed a self-restraining retractor by the wound, took a breath, and stuck it into the wound to open it. Shawna let out scream. Her eyes popped open. "Hold her!" Bob yelled as she squirmed from the pain. He took the bullet extractors to try to extract the bullet. "More water," Bob told Dr. S. He slowly pushed the instrument into the hole in Shawna's skin. It didn't take long before he felt it hit something solid. He smiled. "It's not deep!" he exclaimed. Carefully, he opened the extractors to grip the bullet. "Water." Dr. S poured more water. Slowly, he pulled back his arm. Gripped in the tool was the bullet. He quickly put it down. He grabbed up some gauze and told Dr. S to hold it against the wound while he threaded a needle with the surgical string. He took a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and set it beside Shawna. He took some alcohol and poured it over the needle and thread. He told Dr. S to remove the gauze as he held the bottle of peroxide over the wound. As soon as Dr. S's hand was clear he poured the disinfectant over the impact sight. It bubbled and fizzed. The foam quickly turned pink, then red. He daubed another gauze at the sight and then began to sew her up.
Shawna had passed out again. She was no longer fighting against her restrainers. Rick let go of her ankles knowing the end of the operation was over. Daryl went back to softly whispering to her, "Come on, Shawna. Fight this."
In a few minutes, Bob was finished. He cleaned the area and dressed it. He and Dr. S spoke is soft words that no one heard their conversation. Then Bob went over to Daryl and squatted beside him.
"She's going to be okay," Bob informed Daryl. He was hesitant to say the next part but did anyway, "Her, uh, padding, saved her life." Daryl didn't respond. He kept his eyes on her. Bob stood up and looked through the medical supplies that Beth and Teresa had retrieved from Hershel's stores. He found a viral of medicine and read the label. It was an antibiotic. He took out a syringe and loaded it with the clear fluid. Then he injected her arm with it.
"What's that?" Daryl asked quickly.
"It's an antibiotic to help against any infection," he informed Daryl. "She's going to be in pain when she wakes up. I don't have any morphine, yet. I hoping there is still some in the infirmary. Until I get it, just make her comfortable." Daryl nodded.
"Can she be moved to her cell?" Rick asked Bob.
"Yeah, of course, gently," he answered. "She'll need plenty of rest." He then left to wash up.
Rick strolled over to Daryl. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "She's going back to our cell," Daryl said. He stood up and walked over to Hershel. "I'm not leavin' her side. Find someone else for my watches. Find someone else for the committee." He turned and went back to Shawna.
"Daryl, I won't do that just yet. You're distraught. We need you," Hershel said to him. Daryl ignored him.
"I'll talk to him," Rick said quietly towards Hershel. He understood why Daryl would give up everything for her. He would have done it years ago for Lori. He went to Shawna's feet. "Ready?" Daryl nodded. Again, they lifted her up. Slowly, they took her to the original cell Shawna had shared with Daryl. They stepped up the stairs to the second level of Cellblock C. Once in the cell, the men gingerly lowered her onto the bottom bunk. Working together, they took the bloody wet sheet from underneath her.
"I'll go get her stuff and things, bring it here," Rick told Daryl. He nodded.
Daryl sat on the floor with his back against the wall staring at Shawna. He knew she was going to be okay but he still couldn't stop worrying about her. He had never felt like this about anyone. It was as if she had made him love her, but she didn't do anything exceptional. She was always herself. She let him be himself too. He had other girlfriends before this hell broke out that wanted to control him, to change him. The only thing she ever did was ask questions, he was free to answer them or not. At first, he didn't want to but there was something about her. It had never been that way with Carol. Carol tried to get close to him but he just didn't see any reason to get close to her. Before Shawna, if he were close to someone, he would lose them. That's why he always kept his distance. He lost Merle and he was actual family. He didn't want to lose her too. As he sat there thinking of what life could be like with or without her something cracked inside of him. He couldn't live so sheltered anymore. He wanted to make the most of his time with her. Life was never certain in this world anymore.
Rick had come back with Shawna's belongings. He placed the picture where Shawna usually had it stuck in the top of the mirror. He gently laid her bag under her bunk and then sat beside Daryl on the concrete floor. They sat there quietly for a while. Rick watched Shawna sleep but he also wanted to make sure Daryl was okay.
"I think I love her," Daryl said in a gruff voice.
Rick grinned a little bit and asked, "Is that so bad?"
Daryl thought for a moment and smirked. "Nah. It feels pretty good." Rick nodded.
"I'm probably not the best person to offer advice, but, always tell her the truth, no matter what," Rick offered. Daryl nodded and looked over at his friend.
"Did you love her?" Daryl asked indicating Shawna with a head gesture.
"Yeah," he drawled, "I still do but not like you do. She's like a…best friend…or sister." He paused for a moment watching Shawna sleep. She was a beautiful woman. Rick touched his lips. "I will admit, though, I did kiss her. That woman and those lips," he confessed. He smiled and chuckled.
"Don't remind me," Daryl moaned, "I've been wantin' to kiss those lips since breakfast."
"Quit talkin' about my lips," said a hoarse quiet voice from the bunk. Simultaneously, the men looked at Shawna. She coughed a bit and groaned in pain.