Walking Dead Wizard

Chapter 98

Harry's very loud and very abrupt entrance into the doctors surgery with everyone caused Hershel, Beth and Bob to jump in surprise. Bob's less obvious due to his past, he was used to being surrounded by immense heavy noises and disturbances while in the army.

They were trying desperately to staunch the flow of blood, as Hershel ordered Beth to grab what supplies they'd need to save the lives of the women now under their care.

Harry all but shoved Axel into one of the seats, as he yanked open his trunk. His hands almost shaking as he dug out the much needed potion. sighing in relief when he latched onto the bottle of phoenix tears.

"What's happened?" Hershel asked, pressing further into the wound on Andrea's stomach. "She won't last much longer, she's loosing too much blood. Amy clamps and forceps!"

"Daryl, blood red bottle, same one you used for Merle!" Harry ordered, "Give half the vial to each of them!" damn it of all the times their potions mistress had to be gone with groups…it had to be today of all days. Ripping Axel's bite torn top from his body, giving him a look at the wound. It looked like a vicious animal had all but torn a chunk of his skin away. The only thing missing detonating it as a human bite instead of a animal bite was the lack of fangs. "This might sting," he told Axel.

Axel just nodded grimly, he didn't think anything else could hurt worse at this point. He wasn't sure if it was his mind playing tricks on him or if it was real, but he felt like he was beginning to get a fever.

Harry dropped exactly three translucent drops of phoenix tears into the deep gouge of a wound.

"We need more of this stuff in the doctors surgery," Hershel said in amazement, as he watched their Andrea's vitals stabilise after giving the potion. "I've been beside myself, we have no way of knowing what blood type people are…" to do transfusion. Hell, there was no way to really perform a safe and stable transfusion.

"It's called a blood replenisher draught, Hershel, and I'll have Mira bring some of the more…medically needed potions here." Harry commented, from where he was watching over Axel, "I'm afraid it will remain that way." He commented, despite the potion, he had a piece of him missing. While the tears had healed the wound, and made new skin, the chunk eaten by the walker couldn't be replaced.

"Will he really be okay?" Carl asked, standing resolutely at Axels' back, still playing his protector. Without being able to spend a lot of time with his dad…he had spent a lot of time with others while in the

Harry breathed out shakily, listening to Hershel and Bob easing back their concern, as the potion helped them. "I don't know, I really don't know Carl,"

"It's my fault isn't it? If I hadn't let go…" Carl said, ashamed of himself, what if he got someone killed because he was careless. Harry always, always demanded perfection, that they listen to what he said because to do otherwise was dangerous.

"Hey, kid, don't start that, I let go as well," Axel reassured Carl, "My fault too," patting him on the shoulder, for such a lanky teen he had a strength to him. "You aren't to blame." The last thing they needed was to start playing the blame game, it never ended well.

"The gunshot perforated her stomach and liver," Hershel called out now panicking again, as he did his work.

"Hershel, focus on Sophia, her wound is non-fatal, I'll help the girls," Harry stated firmly, turning away from Axel as he focused entirely on Andrea and Amy. "Beth remove the cloth," he told her, feeling suddenly queasy.

"Back up everyone, there's too many people in here," Hershel ordered, he hated working with someone looking over his shoulder, and right now that's what it felt like.

"I'm not leaving my daughter," Carol insisted, but she did back up a few steps to allow Hershel to work. Wanting her patched up more than she wanted to argue. The fact her daughter was awake, aware and insisting she was fine was going a long way with her anxieties.

"Beth local anaesthetic," Hershel requested, hastily moving to the sink and washing his hands, soaping them up, and preparing to remove the bullet from Sophia.

"Just a local anaesthetic?" Carol asked, quietly alarmed, it wasn't just a little tooth extraction it was a bullet he would be removing.

"I won't proceed if she feels any pain," Hershel promised, "We have nothing else to work with."

"They should wake within the next few minutes," Harry told Bob, standing back having administered the potion. The vial was just over half full. Thankfully Fawkes was still at Hogwarts, and would be able to gift them with tears should he desire to do so.

Corking it, he breathed shakily as he returned to his trunk, replacing the potion, plucking one out and closing it before shrinking it down and placing it in his pocket. "You'll need to be kept in isolation for a few days, you can't return to the house." Harry explained to Axel, aware Daryl had already told him, but doing so again, as the man gathered up the remnants of his shirt, stretching out without pain for the first time since this all went down. "The tears may well just mask the fever and potential…change."

Axel nodded grimly in understanding, if he changed in the night he could bite and turn others. Normally it wouldn't be a problem, since they had runes inlayed around the houses that were in use, but with magic in play, he reckoned Harry wanted to be extremely careful. "I'll stay here," he promised, he'd never want to hurt anyone else.

"Big tiny and Patrick are in the next room," Bob said sombrely, "Nobody except Hershel, Beth and I know." he informed Harry quietly, he could hear the questions from the others outside the doctors surgery, all of them waiting patiently to find out what happened.

"Thank you, Bob," Harry sighed, shoulders hunching, two of his people…gone, just like that. with the possibility of losing yet another one. "Carol request everyone to go to the dining room for a debriefing." Rubbing his hands through his hair, now to tell everyone what the hell had happened.

Harry glanced up seeing her conflicted, "Carl go inform everyone, we'll be there in ten minutes," realising she didn't want to leave her daughter, who was bravely getting stitched up. Her first visible war wound. "Here, you'll need this once the local anaesthetic has worn off, just a sip when you need it. It's very potent, so no more than a sip. Understood?" crouching down next to her.

"Yeah," Sophia nodded, she hadn't shed a single tear since this happened. She was stronger than that, tears wouldn't help, she'd learnt young they were just used against you or worse…just made her father more angry. He took the bottle in her hand, gripping it tightly.

"Go home, clean up and get some rest," Harry said, rubbing her back, "You certainly deserve it. Talk to your mother…don't let it fester." He added to the confusion of many.

"What's that supposed to mean? What happened?" Carol asked fearful, had something more happened to her daughter than she knew.

"Susan and the others are at Negan's base, helping who they can, making a meal for them trying to calm them down." Luna informed Harry, "Shall we make a couple of cupboards in the mean time?" for going back and forth.

"No, I wouldn't trust any of them as far as I could throw them," Harry stated immediately, vehemently shaking his head. He did not want any of them to have access to his base. The thought was actually singularly terrifying.

Luna blinked in surprise.

"You weren't in their heads…Luna," Harry said shuddering, "The mind manipulation they were put through…it will take years to fade off with the proper help. The men were that weak they broke easily and watched that bastard with their wives and did nothing. Who knows what the others have been put through…and how twisted they've become in order to survive." Gritting his teeth, weak and pathetic men needing guidance regardless of whom it was from…and then proceeded to become just like him. No, he couldn't and wouldn't trust them as far as he could throw them with mundane means.

"They need a physiatrist then," Bob commented, eyes shadowed, "Mind matters are never…easily overcome, even for the best of us." He should know, he was one of those still struggling with his own PTSD. Fortunately, Hershel was helping him and with his desire and need to overcome them. Bob and Rick were examples of people suffering from PTSD and how they chose to deal with it.

"Indeed," Harry said solemnly, in utter agreement, "Even then…there's a chance of reversion."

Bob licked his lips, "True," he didn't like to think on it at all though. "You think they might be better off dead?" seeing the look of raw indecision on Harry's face. He certainly wouldn't like to be Harry right now…but he had been in the past, only his was 'triage' choosing to save and let die in war. Here…it was simple survival, one of the oldest desires since the beginning of time.

"Some, perhaps would find peace in that," Harry said quietly, eyes shadowed, "But the will to live can surprise us all. Even when beaten down and in the gutter." He knew that all too well, for it was his own experience as a child. They had a chance of rehabilitation, and he'd give it to them.

What they did next was on them, and they would have him to answer to.

They would find no mercy with him.

One chance was all they were going to get.

He would be making that very clear, the regime change was afoot.

"Yes…" Bob agreed, vividly reminded of his own time, and now look at him. He'd never expected this at all, but here he was, with civilization once more. "Broken but not yet defeated,"

"Takes a lot to break someone," Daryl said, from where he had listened to their conversation at Harry's back. "Might be a little cracked and frayed around the edges but not broken." Not agreeing with Harry or Bob with their suggestion. Back in the day he wouldn't bother giving his opinion, since it was usually rebuffed or he was termed 'wrong' even by his own brother. However, he was aware that Harry liked to hear his opinion and overtime, he gave it just a little more.

"Maybe," Harry leaned back against Daryl, sighing softly, "We're going to find out." Someday, anyway, as for right now…he had to tell his people they'd lost two of their own and one might still perish in the night. Surprise slithering through him, when Daryl wrapped his arms around him, he wasn't one for PDA, neither of them were come to that.

Bob didn't so much as flick an eyelid, which had Daryl easing a bit, Harry hadn't realized how tense he was until that moment.

"When do you intend to go back?" Bob asked, shrewdly.

"Um…tomorrow," Harry muttered clearly taken aback by the sudden question.

"May I offer a bit of advice?" Bob asked, squaring his shoulders determined to have his say. Not sure whether Harry would even indulge him or not.

"I always welcome advice," Harry said sincerely, he did not in any way shape or form pretend to be all knowing. He'd made it more than clear that he wasn't omnipotent and could only do what he could to help them but they were better of being able to help themselves.

"Give them a few days to acclimatise to their new reality…they'll need that, to decompress and think for the first time in maybe a long time." Bob suggested, this was all from what had been only alluded, not the reality of their lives. "If their lives have been as bad as that's been alluded, having time to think will do them the world of good."

"You need a rest as well," Daryl added, knowing good and well how much magic Harry had used, along with that budding life inside of him was taking. Unconsciously, circling his stomach where that precious life was growing.

He was going to be a Da, how fucking crazy was that? He wasn't going to be like his own, he wouldn't hurt his kid. Even if he feared he would…he knew Harry would kill him if he did.

"Alright, three days," Harry agreed with Bob's suggestion, "There will be more than enough food there anyway to last them… and with Negan taken care of…moving or warding the Kingdom isn't as urgent." He admitted, which meant he could relax.

"Taken care of, yeah, he was that alrigh'," Daryl admitted, smug satisfaction coating his voice as he smirked. Glancing briefly at Sophia, who with her head held high was making her way out of the doctors surgery, making sure nobody bumped into her injured shoulder, which wasn't easy. "Plus the rest of your guys will be out looking for others." Harry could and would be relaxing.

"I'll inform Ezekiel the good news and what will happen in future, he can speak to his people about it. I don't see the rush now…one crisis has been averted."

"One crisis?" Bob questioned, brow furrowing, anxiety beginning to creep up on him. "There's another one?" he couldn't recall anything else that was important. Had he missed something during their talks?

Harry smirked, "Oh, yes, and it will put people to the test," he admitted, musing thoughtfully on how people would actually react.

Daryl snorted, he had complete faith in every single one of their people. They accepted magic fully, revered it appropriately without depending on it as Harry desired. He always wanted them able to fight themselves, and never become reliant on magic. Harry due to his relatives, would always have that doubt, the fear of being rejected, no matter how many years passed since he was a kid.

Just like he and Merle would always have doubts.

Lasting impressions, imprints.

Something their kid ain't gonna have.

"Don't worry about it," Daryl snorted, shaking his head, Bob looked ready to have a stress induced stroke. "Wanna bet Sophia is in the dining hall?"

Harry laughed, the last of the tension draining from him, "I'm not going to place a bet I'll lose." Sophia was strong, stubborn and wilful, so very different from the girl she used to be.

"I'll see you," Bob said, giving them privacy, "I'll give Hershel a helping hand." Moving around the couple when he saw that Andrea and Amy were rousing from their sleep. Slightly surprised to see them up so soon. He'd never seen potions at work before, so he was eager to observe.

"You shouldn't get up just yet," Bob was quickly to try and press them back down.

"They're both fine, Bob," Hershel reassured the world weary and worried medic. "Trust me, this potion…works miracles." He had seen it in action after all, healing Harry after he had several gunshot wounds to the chest. So close to death, that there wouldn't have been anything he could do for them.

"Amy!" Andrea shoved Bob with her considerable strength, glancing at her sister, almost bowling over with relief, to see her sitting up calmly. "You're okay," calming completely. "Sophia?" her memory catching up with her.

"Everyone survived," Harry reassured the girls, a soft shudder "Sophia shot him," Daryl added with amusement.

Andrea gaped, "Him? As in…Negan?" what the hell had they missed?

"Bulls eye," Daryl grinned savagely.

Slowly Andrea's shock gave way to a feral sense of self-righteous amusement. "Way to go Soph," she muttered, clambering off the pleather bed, that doctors had been so fond of using. Still and uncomfortable, but they did their job she supposed.

"Just wait until Carol hears," Amy grinned, unlike the others she didn't believe Carol would go ballistic. No, Carol would want to throw her a party for proving she could defend herself, the final proof that she could look after herself in this brutal world they were in. "Where's Axel?" realization creeping in, "Is it true?" she'd heard Sophia say Axel may have been bitten.

"It is," Hershel said sombrely, "But he's been given some phoenix tears, there is hope, however slim it might be."

"He's gone on ahead with Carl," Bob commented, "Everyone's leaving for the dining room," they no longer said 'the communal dining room' everyone knew what you meant if you said dining room.

"Why's that?" Andrea asked, glancing down at her clothes, they were ruined now. She doubted even magic could fix them, but what did she know? She hadn't actually read any of the books, just heard of Harry's adventures and the spells he did.

"Harry's convening a meeting," Bob told her, "Now are you sure you're alright?" once again watching them with utter amazement, apparently Hershel was quite correct, it was a miracle.

"I'm fine, I feel better than I did this morning actually…" Amy admitted, she usually ached throughout her entire period, it had been quiet tedious and painful when she was younger and could take something for it…now it was just something she put up with. An annoying ache was all it was now.

"Yeah, me too," Andrea admitted, even the sores on her feet from all the running seem noticeably absent.

"You'll notice any scars you may have will be faded…perhaps even gone." Daryl told them, as Harry had drifted out the surgery to find Carl and Axel. "Telling them something that Harry had told Merle when he gave him the potion to relieve him of the side-affects of his drug withdrawal back then.

Andrea and Amy nodded, they'd seen the effects themselves. Saw the bullets emerge from inside of Harry and the scars just dissolving as if they'd never been there at all within moments. Neither women needed to look down to see for themselves to know the bullet wounds they had gained this day had disappeared too.

"Axel!" Harry called out, causing Axel and Carl to stop and wait for Harry to catch up with them.

"I'll return straight to the surgery after," Axel reassured him.

"Don't worry about that," Harry said, waving his worries that was why he was catching up with him. "You should visit the library and take some books…but I'm sure everyone will be bringing you things and keeping you company." He added wryly. "I'm sorry I couldn't save Big Tiny, I know…I know how far the bond between you goes." Not just with him but Oscar too.

"You taught us never to rely on magic…" Axel stated firmly, "You should do the same, you cannot be everywhere at once…and save everyone…even with magic. If not for you…we would have died in the prison. Of starvation, or by the bite of one of the others when the succumbed. We've lived a good life, and we have no regrets…each day was a blessing…and I am… we were…honoured to have followed you."

Harry swallowed the lump in his throat, blaming pregnancy hormones for the tears gathering in his eyes. "Believe me… knowing you…the honour has been mine."

Next up will we see if Axel survives or will it be focused on Saviors, Kingdom and the baby announcement? OR will I make it an extra long chapter - regardless of how long It takes - and fit it all in? All these small chapters I'm feeling a little guilty...although really, it's not THAT small :) thankfully! R&R please