Chapter 8
... we hear a car tear up the drive way. And everyone but me fly to their feet and rush out onto the porch. I barely catch a glimpse of Rick and Hershel as they follow the rest.
I don't move from my position feeding Anneliese, knowing that my help is not needed at that moment. And just listen to the rushed voices through the screen door, I hear Shane say something about Otis telling him to go and it takes me a minute to remember that Otis must have been the member of the Greene's family who went with Shane. Within seconds Herschel and Rick rush back in with Maggie and Lori following at a more sedate pace. Glenn, T-Dog and Shane bring up the rear, Shane looking like he's in shock and I just stare at him as he shakily leans against the wall next to the door before sliding down and running a hand over his face.
"Shane got what they needed" Glenn says causing my head to turn to him, only to find him staring back at me.
"Good" is my simple response as I look down at Anneliese drinking her bottle and gazing at me with wide innocent eyes. I don't know what happened with Shane and Otis, but it wasn't good. I wasn't going to ask what happened though as Shane already didn't like me.
Its silent as Anneliese finishes her bottle and I burp her, glancing up when I burp her and noticing Maggie staring at us, or more accurately through us. When I stand up with Anneliese and walk towards the kitchen, I notice her gaze follows us. Once in the kitchen I change Anneliese's diaper and rinse the bottle out in the sink before placing it on the counter to dry.
Grabbing a light receiving blanket from the diaper bag I walk back into the living room and reclaim my seat, settling Anneliese against my chest and lightly drape the blanket across her back. I lightly run my hand up and down her back soothing both her and I. It's not long before I feel her breathing deepen and my own body relax.
I'm unsure of how much later it is but I am pulled awake by a hand gently shaking my shoulder making me jump. My eyes immediately meet the kind eyes of Herschel, he holds a finger to his lips and gestures for me to follow him, before he walks into the kitchen. Blinking the sleep from my eyes I take note that Anneliese is still asleep and gently shift her so I'm cradling her. I glance around the room and see T-Dog asleep on the couch and Glenn asleep on the floor. Sighing deeply, I stand and walk into the kitchen.
"I didn't mean to startle you too bad" Herschel's soft voice greets me in the dimly lit kitchen.
"It's okay" I say meeting his eyes and asking the silent question of why he had woken me up in the first place.
"Rick told me that you have O-negative blood, and that you offered to give Carl some." He says
"I did, does he need some?" I ask
"Yes, about a pint or so for now but we might need more later" he says
"Okay" I say, and he nods
"You can just follow me to the bedroom it'll take about an hour or so" he says
"Alright, I'll have to give Anneliese a bottle in that time but that shouldn't be a problem"
"No, just let me know when you need to feed her, and I'll make you a bottle and bring it to you, now let's head there to get this transfusion underway" he says leading the way out of the kitchen.
I follow closely behind him, focusing on not tripping over anything on the dark walk to the room. Herschel gently pushes open a cracked door to reveal a dimly lit slightly crowded room. Rick and Lori are sitting with their backs to the door next to the bed and Carl is laying on the bed pale as white. I wouldn't have believed he was alive if it wasn't for the slight rise and fall of his chest.
Rick's head turns at the sound of the door and his bloodshot eyes meet mine and he stares for a moment before turning back to Carl. Herschel leads me to the other side of the bed where there's 2 more chairs and gestures for me to sit in the one closest to the top of the bed. Luckily for me its an armchair which will be more comfortable for me and Anneliese.
"Ready?" Herschel asks pulling my attention away from Carl and I look at the slightly large needle in his hands with wide eyes before nodding and holding out my left arm to him while shifting Anneliese in my right. I press my nose to her head and squeeze my eyes tight when I feel him place the tourniquet on my upper arm and slide the needle into my vein.
"Scared of needles" he whispers while moving around and I hear him attaching something not daring to open my eyes.
"A little" I breathe and get no response, then I feel the tourniquet come off and he gently pats my shoulder.
"You can open your eyes now." He says, and I do glancing down at the tube running from my arm to Carl's, and the deep red blood flowing through them. Sighing I relax back into the chair and close my eyes, hearing Herschel settle into the chair next to me.
Maybe 5 minutes later Anneliese starts to stir in my arms and let out little whines, pulling mine and Herschel's attention to her.
"Does she need a bottle?" he asks quietly
"Yes, and probably a diaper too" I answer trying to gently soothe her without jostling my left arm.
"How many ounces?" he asks, and I briefly answer with three before he stands and leaves the room. I look down at Anneliese as she starts to fuss more and wiggle in my arms. I gently shush her and am startled when I hear someone stand up, causing my eyes to fly up to see Rick coming around the bed to me.
"I can take her" he says, and I start to shake my head no, brushing off his help. But he shakes his head and says "Let me take her" so I nod, and he gently scoops her from my arms and bounces her while simultaneously shushing her.
It's not long before Herschel comes back in with a diaper and a bottle. I watch as Rick takes the diaper from him and expertly changes her on the foot of Carl's bed, before taking the bottle from Herschel and settling next to Lori and feeding her.
Not once do I take my eyes off him and Anneliese, unless it's to gaze at Lori whose eyes alternate between Rick and Carl. It's not long until Anneliese has finished her bottle and Rick has burped her, then he glances up at me.
"Do you want her back?" he asks, and I nod. So, he brings her over and gently places her back into my arm.
"Thank you" I whisper, and he nods.
Maybe 20 minutes later Herschel stands and begins the process of stopping the blood transfusion. I turn my head away as he removes the drip from my arm and places a piece of gauze over my arm.
Once he is done, I stand and make my way to the door. Only for Lori to catch my arm while I'm walking past her.
"Thank you" she says gazing into my eyes, and I nod whispering a soft you're welcome before leaving.
I walk up the stairs and peak in on Jackson and Penelope and see them both sprawled out sound asleep. Smiling I quietly shut the door behind me and return downstairs. I grab Anneliese's mosses basket from the kitchen and settle the dozing baby in it on the floor, before curling up in the chair and returning to sleep.
A few hours later I wake to a single beam of sunlight coming through the curtains and onto my eyes. Just as I sit up Herschel emerges from the hallway and looks at me.
"Does he need more blood?" I whisper and Herschel nods, so I stretch and pick up the mosses basket and follow him back to the bedroom, where I place Anneliese on the floor next to the chair and go through the tense process of having a needle put in my arm. Once we're set up, I relax back in the chair and close my eyes.
Only opening them when I hear shuffling coming from the doorway, and I raise my eyes to Shane standing there gazing into the room. His eyes meet mine and he nods minutely before moving from the doorframe. Slightly confused I look down at Anneliese and see her stirring, but not yet awake. So, I relax again and doze off.
For the second time that night I'm awakened by Herschel touching my shoulder.
"We're all done. If he needs more later, I'll fetch you, but you should get something to eat. Maggie is making some oatmeal I believe" he tells me removing the needle and replacing the gauze.
"Okay just let me know" I say standing and picking up Anneliese's mosses basket and going toward the kitchen. No sooner than us reaching the kitchen does Anneliese let out a wail. So, I hurriedly set the basket on the table and grasp for her pacifier to place in her mouth.
"Is she hungry?" Maggie asks from where she's standing with Beth at the stove
"Yeah I think so" I answer fumbling for a bottle from the diaper bag
"Here I got it" Beth says taking the bottle from me and I nod in thanks
"How many scoops?" she asks
"One and a half then 3 oz of water" I instruct before changing Anneliese's diaper. As soon as I'm done changing her Beth is holding the bottle out to me and I whisper my thanks before walking into the living room where Glenn and T-Dog are sitting. As soon as I walk in Glenn is on his feet.
"Woah! Are you okay?" Glenn asks gesturing frantically to the gauze on my arm
"Yeah, I gave blood to Carl" I answer simply raising an eyebrow at him and moving towards what I've begun to claim as my chair.
"Uh, why don't you let me uh feed her for you then you can rest or something" he stutters over his words holding out his arms.
"Uh okay, have you ever held a baby before Glenn?" I ask, and he nods his head giving me a rather unimpressed look. Before coming closer and taking the bottle from my hand. When I don't move to hand him Anneliese he raises and eyebrow at me.
"You can trust me with her I promise" He says, and I nod slowly handing him the baby thinking that he's too puppy like to harm her.
"I'll just go check on the kids. Okay? Holler if you need me" I say shooting him an anxious look
"I will" he says while nodding already settled on the couch feeding Anneliese.
Sighing to myself and trying to shake off my anxiety I walk upstairs to the room where Jack and Penny are. They're still asleep when I get there, so I sit in the rocking chair and gaze out the window. The sun is just beginning to peak over the trees. Its silent and calm, off to the side of the house I can see Beth making her way to what might be a chicken coop. The world almost seems normal in this moment, peaceful if you will. But that peace is broken when I hear my name said from the bed.
"Good Morning Penny" I say back and smile as she sleepily rubs her eyes and gets out of bed before coming over to curl up on my lap.
"Did you sleep good?" I ask, and she nods her head into my collarbone one of her hands twirling a strand of her hair.
"When Jack gets up, we'll go get some breakfast okay?" I say and she once again nods.
It's not long before Jackson wakes up and gazes groggily at us. I let him wake up for a few minutes before I shoo penny off my lap and him out of bed.
"Make the bed and we'll go downstairs" I instruct watching as they make the bed before looking at me.
I lead the way to the kitchen, holding Penny's hand with Jackson following behind us.
"Good morning" Maggie greets them already setting three bowls of oatmeal down on the table where Glenn and T-Dog are already sitting. In response she gets two sleepy muffed answers as they both sit down and start eating. Smiling at her in thanks I hold my hands out to Glenn to hand me Anneliese, then I settle down and begin eating.
Almost as soon as I take my third bite Anneliese start to fuss and squirm, making me put down my spoon and shift her in my arms. Quickly realizing she needs a diaper change I walk into the living room and change her but even then, she's still fussing so I walk around the living room shushing her
Eventually Jack and Penny make their way into the living room followed by Beth and the boy.
"If it's okay with you, Jimmy and I can take them to the chicken coop and stables, let them play with the horses some" Beth says, and I think for a moment before nodding
"You both listen to Ms. Beth and Mr. Jimmy, okay?" I instruct them both getting nods back
I meet Beth's eyes and mouth thank you, she smiles and nods before herding the kids upstairs to change get their shoes and then out the door.
Glenn and T-Dog rejoin me in the living room where I'm still trying to soothe Anneliese, I finally decide to put on the baby sling and settle her in there with her pacifier, where she calms down rather quickly and falls asleep. I reclaim my seat in the chair once again and just close my eyes, feeling my body relaxing.
I hear my name being said and my shoulder being jostled making me open my eyes to Maggie. I raise a single eyebrow at her.
"Daddy asked me to come get you he said Carl needs more blood" she says before walking away. I stand and head toward the bedroom, and gently push open the door to see Herschel already prepping the tube.
Once I'm seated, he meets my eyes and informs me that he's going to get a little bit more than the previous two times and I just nod, figuring that Carl must have really needed it. Closing my eyes, I hold my arm out and wait for the slight pinch. Once he removes the tourniquet, I open my eyes and just gaze around the room before focusing on a point just above the dresser and zoning out.
My focus is broken when Herschel stands and takes Carl's vitals.
"Maybe another half an hour or so" he says, and I nod closing my eyes.
When I open them again it's to the feeling of the needle being removed from my arm.
"I think that's it from you today" Herschel says, and I nod agreeing, feeling a little weak but I wasn't going to tell him that.
I make my way out of the room and onto the back-porch gazing at the figures of Penny and Jackson brushing a horse at the stables. I stand there watching them until Anneliese begins fussing for a diaper change and to be fed. After changing her and preparing a bottle in the kitchen I go to the front porch and sit in a chair out there to feed her.
Not long after she's done and I've burped her, I hear the faint rumble of what sounds like a motorcycle and evidently so does the rest of the house's occupants, as they all gather on the porch.
Glenn and Rick are standing on either side of me, Rick with his arm around Lori and Shane next to her. T-Dog stands on Glenn's other side with Herschel and Maggie.
It's not long before Daryl's motorcycle pulls to a stop in front of the house the rest of the caravan following. Everyone unloads almost at the same time. Stepping forward slightly Rick begins speaking
"This is Herschel and his family's farm, he saved Carl's life" I can see the sighs of relief from everyone, except maybe Daryl who is as stoic as ever.
"He has agreed to let us stay here while Carl heals" and my eyes fly to the back of his head as this is news to me too. "So, you can pull the cars over there and begin setting up camp" he says pointing to the lawn about 30 feet away, and the group does.
Just as everyone starts to move off the porch, I begin to stand with the intention of going inside, but before I know it a wave of dizziness washes over me and my vision goes dark. I vaguely feel myself falling and hear rushed frantic voices, and then nothing.