Riley was overconfident. It was obvious, he had no back-up whatsoever to help him out if something happened, but he was sure that nothing would happen that Randall was still alive. Everyone gathered in the living room for a short conference. The only person that was absent was Lori who once again refused to budge from her spot beside her son. Hershel came out of the room and as he took his place in the circle all eyes were on him.
"He's been given small amounts of drugs," Hershel informed sadly. "Street drugs to be accurate, there's not a lot in his blood thank goodness and it looks like he'll survive but...his physical state…"
No one spoke, they were all to concentrated on what to do, what Rick will do. The father's stone hard looked was on Hershel knowing that there was more. Hershel complied.
"Three of his ribs were broken and they were partially healed but…in the wrong place so…" – Hershel let out a small sigh. – "We had to re-break the ribs and bind them properly, we had to do the same to his fingers. There are numerous bruises on his body, however it just seems to be physical abuse nothing sexual. Now Rick you have to understand that without proper equipment we can't flush the drugs out."
Rick straightened and demanded angrily, "So what just let him sweat it out? Are you seriously telling me that's what we have let happen?!"
Hershel gave a sad nod. "I don't like it either Rick trust me, but since hospital is gone and the school didn't have a detox machine in the first place…there really is no other option."
Rick ran his hands through his hair while everyone absorbed the news with heavy hearts. Daryl watched Rick carefully he wasn't sure on what sort of action Rick would do. He looked around to see everyone looking at one another, wondering what do to – what to say.
"And when this happens?" Rick asked. "People who crash can't have anything around them…"
"We have to keep him in the shed or the barn either one," Hershel answered straight. "Who knows how far he'll crash and who knows how he'll respond since Carl didn't use before we don't really have an option. He can roll of the bed and hurt himself even more."
Rick let out a distraught sigh, he straightened and walked out of the room slamming the door in frustration. The other remained for a few moments, silent tears rolled down Carol's face and she left seconds later to comfort Lori. Mak went back to his post on the roof and Hope joined him. Slowly, one by one they all separated, going their own ways.
XXXXXX
Outside Rick was leaning up against the post, he heard the door open and close he didn't have to turn to know that it was Shane. He listened as Shane's footsteps came to a stop just at the top of the stairs.
"I'm sorry man," Shane murmured, "I don't know what else to say."
Rick shook his head. "Don't…"
"Rick I'm just telling you that I'm sorry about what happened to your boy."
Rick turned on Shane and demanded, "Who's idea was it?"
Shane blinked. "What?"
"To have the affair, who's idea was it?"
Shane sighed. "Oh Rick… now you want to know?"
Rick couldn't believe what he was hearing it was like Shane was placing blame on him for not asking sooner. The father glared at his friend and stalked away, Shane followed.
"I'm just saying, out of all that time we had you ask right at this mome-."
"Yes Shane," hissed Rick, "I'm asking now, you know why? Because I didn't want the damn thing to be true, but Lori is pregnant, she is having a baby and my son is lying in there with veins filled with fucking street drugs! At least help me clear up the shit you and Lori have done when you thought I was dead."
"The power went out," Shane fought back, "you weren't breathing Rick. I went out to find a doctor, to see if one could help but they were all one side running or being shot at while the Walkers were on the other closing in. There was nothing I could do."
"Who's idea was it?" Rick said deliberately slow.
"I made the first move by mistake Rick mistake," Shane admitted. "We were drunk most of the group was asleep so we kissed. Then the next day I tried to apologize for what I had done and Lori started to make out with me. So there it is, is that what you wanted to hear? With you son injured again? Is it?"
Wham! Rick's fist shot out of now where hitting Shane in the eye. At once everyone rushed out to see what was going on, with his only good arm Shane managed to get to his feet by himself only to be knocked down again and this time the punch was to the stomach, Lori then came out.
"Rick," she shouted, "stop it! Rick stop!"
Rick turned to face Lori, he was ready to speak but changed his mind last minute and stormed off.
XXXXXX
In the room, Carl woke pain surged through his body like a storm but he sucked in a breath to try and calm himself down. He let it out slowly feeling some of the pain lift from his body. Carl sunk deep into the cushioned bed closing his eyes but he couldn't sleep. Carl opened them and only then noticed Carol sitting in the chair beside him.
"It's okay," she whispered, "go to sleep."
"I'm not tired," Carl admitted sheepishly.
"Then rest."
Carl nodded and immediately noticed her wrist in a tensor bandage.
"What happened?" the boy asked, his voice was hoarse but still had worry. Carol removed her hand from the bed and then answered, "I'm alright, rest I'll be back."
Carol got to her feet and heard Carl's raspy breathing following her out the room. Sophia, who was sitting in the corner, rose to her feet and was ready to follow her mother out but turned and ran back to the bed and gave Carl a small hug. Immediately she felt Carl stiffen underneath her and Sophia quickly backed up and left.
XXXXXX
Outside Shane pushed Lori away who tried to help him up, he was sick and tired of this shit. He should have just stuck to the plan whether Carl was captured or not – he had to let his emotions get in the way of things. Stupid. He headed into the opposite direction, he knew that the others were watching him especially the hunter but screw them he won't let anything small like emotions stop him next time.
They watched as Shane disappeared everyone just stayed where they were, not knowing what to do. Lori finally headed back into the house to look after her son. They dispersed leaving Daryl the only one left on the porch watching Rick in the distance pace back and forth – the man seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. Carol came out moments later with Sophia.
"Go and see if Lori needs anything okay sweetie?" Carol said to her daughter. Sophia nodded and went back inside after waiting a few seconds Carol was the first to speak.
"Where's Shane?" she asked, her wrist throbbed just saying the name.
"He's wandering," Daryl replied plainly. "How is he?"
"In and out," Carol answered. "How are you?"
Daryl didn't answer right away but when he did he murmured a 'fine'. He was concentrated on how to find the camp where Carl was being held at. Riley obviously used the driveway so he came from the highway meaning that with a truck that size they either found a path by luck or made one that would be able to allow access.
"Don't think about that now," Carol said as if reading his mind. Daryl turned.
"What? Don't think about the people who hurt Carl, who injected him with street drugs? Beat him up broke his ribs and fingers?"
"That's exactly it," Carol snapped, "just…stop…all of it."
"Well what are you out here for?" Daryl snapped back, "you wanna say it girly then go right on ahead."
"Wha-…?"
"Go on say it!"
Carol realized what Daryl thought she was going to tell him.
"I'm not here to say it," Carol whispered, "and I won't."
"Bastard's better off dead anyway," Daryl growled.
Carol closed her eyes ready to reply when a piercing cry went through the whole house.
XXXXXX
Too many things were happening all at once for Carl to keep up to. At first it started off small, then it grew and grew and grew until it was out of control and Carl couldn't do anything but submit. Something in his mind screamed at him, blaming him for something he didn't quite understand. Then his whole body wracked with spams of pain, it felt like he was burning from the inside. Carl tried to move to his own commands but his whole body ignored him rolling this way and that as if he were actually on fire. He heard something and then something else however it sounded like a scream. He wasn't sure whether it was his or not. Carl felt someone touching him, grabbing hold as if to hold him down but the touch felt like it was just adding to the fire. Carl tried to struggle but those who were holding him were too strong. It came and went for three hours.