Katie twisted her head around to see Patricia lead T-Dog and Glenn into the dining room. His wound was covered with a small patch of gauze and eletrical tape. He sat at the end of the table, while Patricia stepped into the kitchen. He chuckled.
"Look at us," he said, waving his other arm lazily. "between the two of us we should be dead."
Katie creased her brow, flicking her gaze to Glenn.
"He's got a fever." he explained, shrugging. "Dale says it's a blood infection."
"Well, we'll get it cleaned and stitched and he should be just fine." said Patricia, re-entering the room with a needle, thread, and a bowl of water. Over her shoulder was a worn out hand towel. "And keep ice on that foot, I'll look at it after I'm done."
Another girl came in with her, close to Katie and Glenn's age. She sat down across from Katie, tucking her a piece of short brown hair behind her ear. Patricia pulled up a chair next to T-Dog, turning his arm over. She removed the gauze; the sight made her cringe. The gash was oozing yellow fluid, the veins surrounding the area were discolored and clearly visible. T-Dog groaned as Patricia began cleaning the wound, dipping the towel in the bowl and wiping his arm carefully. Katie scrunched up her nose at it, strangely unable to turn her head as the ooze was cleared. It was when Patricia set the towel aside and picked up the needle that Katie found the strength to turn away.
"Oh, gosh. I hate stitches." She squirmed in her seat, screwing her eyes shut. T-Dog's sharp intake of breath told her Patricia had begun sewing the wound close.
"Have you had them before?" Glenn asked. Katie nodded.
"Yeah, when I had my appendix removed. They itched like crazy. And when they removed them.." She shuddered, unable to finish her sentence. T-Dog snorted.
"At least you were alseep when they put 'em in."
"True." Katie agreed, lifting the ice to look at her foot. Patricia clucked her tongue, nodding at the other girl.
"Don't you touch it, Katie. Maggie, would you take a look at Miss Katie's foot. She thinks it's broken."
Katie did as she was told, a grin cracking her features at being scolded. Maggie got up and moved around the table to Katie's side.
"Hi," she said, picking up Katie's foot and sitting in the chair it was on.
"Hi, I'm Katie Winters." she replied, holding out her hand for her to shake. Maggie took it.
"Maggie Green. Nice to meet you."
She took away the makeshift icepack, gently taking Katie's foot and turning it in the light. Maggie put her fingers on different areas, applying pressure.
"So that medication you have, is it yours? Merle Dixon it says." Patricia asked T-Dog.
"No, he's no longer with us." Glenn piped up from the doorway. "His brother Daryl gave it to us."
"What was it for?" she inquired.
"Clap." Glenn answered obediently. He glanced at Maggie, who hid a smile as she raised her eyebrows. He stuttered as he continued. " An infection. That-that's what Daryl told us."
Maggie sucked in her lips, seemingly to avoid laughing. Glenn hurried from the room, hiding his face behind his hand. Katie almost giggled herself, but gasped instead as Maggie touched the spot where the water jug had connected with her.
"What happened exactly?" Maggie asked, quickly releasing her. Katie scrunched up her face once more.
"I dropped a giant water jug on it." she said. This time Maggie did laugh; and to her surprise she heard Patricia chuckle as well. Then Katie found herself laughing; and soon the whole room was filled with it.
"A cut on my arm, and an oversized water bottle. What a day." T-Dog chortled, grunting again as Patricia went back to stitching. Katie nodded in agreement.
"Well, it's not broken, or it may be just hairline fracture. You'll probably be able to walk on it in a week or two." Maggie said, standing and putting Katie's foot back on the chair. "Just s'long as you keep ice on it and keep off 'your feet for 'while. We've got some bandages you can wrap it up in."
"Thank you, that's good news." said Katie, wiggling her toes experimentally. She put the ice back on it, adjusting it until it had reached a comfortable point. Maggie grinned, leaving the room. Patricia stood, putting a hand on her hip.
"Well, that oughta do it, Mister Douglas. Now just keep takin' that medicine, and you'll be fine." She gathered up her things, tossing the towel in the bowl. T-Dog ran his fingers lightly over the stitches.
"Now you look tough." Katie commented. T-Dog raised an eyebrow, shaking his head at her. Patricia glanced at her.
"I'm goin' to see if Hershel needs me right now, and then I'll bring you somethin' to wrap your foot in. Leave the ice on for just a little while longer, alright?"
"Yes ma'am. Thank you." Katie responded obediently. T-Dog left as well, leaving Katie alone in the dining room. She fiddled with the loose threads of her cutoffs, braiding them together. Her lip twitched as she thought of Sophia, alone in the woods. I hope she found somewhere safe to spend the night. Daryl's face flashed in her mind. That's right, he's looking for her. Along with Andrea and Dale. I hope they stay safe. Poor Carol, I can hardly imagine her pain.
She remembered losing Jake, and she blinked rapidly to avoid tearing up. Katie heard voices in the other room, and thought of Carl. Poor kids. Why is this happening to the frickin' kids? Us fine, but don't do this to the children.
That's not what you're really thinking.
"Who's there?" Katie demanded, whispering. She looked around wide-eyed; the room was empty.
Tut, tut, Katie. You know who it is.
"No, I don't." she replied, turning her head this way and that, desperate to identify it's source.
Soon, Katie. Soon.
"Leave me alone!" she said, a little louder. She heard the voice snicker, and more footsteps. Maggie walked back into the room, holding some medical supplies. She looked at Katie strangely, who was busy inwardly cursing herself.
"I'm sorry." Katie said aloud, looking at her lap in shame.
"Are you alright? I just brought you some bandges." Maggie replied, setting the supplies on the table. She put a hand on the back of a chair. Katie shook her head.
"I think I've been awake too long is all. Thank you for the bandages."
"Just make sure you get some rest." Maggie said. "G'night."
She left. Katie wrinkled up her entire face, feeling her cheeks turn red. She began dressing her foot, wrapping the gauze all over to ensure she got proper support while it was healing. Thinking of the voice, she vowed to never acknowledge it again.