Kayla backed up from the bed after pulling the sheets over Carl's sleeping body. The surgery was a success. He was stable and going to be alright. Kayla took a cloth and wiped the sweat from Carl's head when Lori came in. She looked at Kayla with relief and then rushed over to her, wrapping her arms around the girl. "Thank you." Lori said through tears. Kayla hugged the mother back. "There's no need for a thank you." She told Lori. Lori pulled back. "There is." She told Kayla. "You helped save my boy…" Kayla gave her a smile. "I'll leave you to be with him." She said as she walked out.
From the living room Kayla could hear the sobs of a woman. Turning her head she saw Rick and Hershel comforting a crying Patricia. Just then someone came through the front door. Kayla turned and came face to face with a brown eyed man with black curly hair. "Who are you?" he asked her.
"Kayla." She introduced herself for the third time that day. "And you are?"
"Shane Walsh." The man replied. "Where's Carl?"
"Right in there. Lori's with him now. He'll be out for a while yet."
Shane nodded and walked through the doorway to Carl's room. Kayla crossed her arms when Rick came out of the kitchen and came over to her. He put his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. Kayla hugged him back and could smell the sweat and dirt on his clothes and skin.
Rick pulled away and looked at her in the eyes. "Kayla you said your name was?" he asked. She nodded. "Thank you, Kayla." He thanked her. She nodded and then Rick retired to Carl's bed side as Shane walked out. Kayla noticed that Shane was limping and walked over to him. "May I ask what happened?" she asked, looking at his leg.
"I uh fell from a pretty far height, landed on my feet." Shane informed her, his voice shaky.
"I can help you with that if you'd like." Kayla offered.
"I-I'm gonna get cleaned up first…"
Kayla nodded and then stepped outside onto the porch into the cool night air. She felt the exhaustion take effect as she sat down in the porch swing. She rested her head in her hand and let out a breath. Then she realized this was the first time she had the luxury of sitting down and not worrying about being eaten alive.
A half an hour later Shane stepped out onto the porch where Kayla was. She turned her head towards him and found him with a freshly shaved head. "You said you could help with my ankle?" he questioned, his voice stronger than it was before. Kayla nodded and stood up. "Let me just grab something from my car." She said as she stepped off the porch.
In her car Kayla grabbed her one bag and took it over to Shane. She set it on the porch and opened it up, revealing a couple pairs of clothes and a first aid kit. Pulling out the first aid kid, Kayla opened it up and pulled out the last of her medical tape and gauze wraps. "Sit down and take your shoe off." she instructed. Shane did as he was told and Kayla kneeled down in front of him. "It's swollen…" she informed him as she examined his ankle. She began feeling around his foot and ankle for a broken bone, but found all of the bones were intact. "It's just a minor sprain." Kayla told Shane as she reached for the gauze wrap. "All I can do I wrap it so you don't strain it anymore. You'll need to stay off of it for a day or two or at least until the swelling goes down."
"You some kind of doctor?" Shane asked.
"I was an EMT before the world went to shit." Kayla explained as she began to wrap Shane's ankle. He noticed how quickly she wrapped the gauze around his foot and ankle. "You're good at this." He commented. She looked up at him and gave him a small smile as she continued wrapping his ankle. "I've been doing this since high school." She informed him. "I spent those four years in the athletic trainer's office helping take care of injured athletes and then I made it into a full career working in an ambulance and emergency room after college. So yeah, I should be good at this." Shane smiled as she finished the gauze wrap and then moved onto the tape.
"Where'd you come from?" Shane questioned. "You weren't here earlier today."
"I was coming down the highway and bumped into your men Dale and T-Dog. Then came here to help with Carl after we found out he got shot." Kayla informed Shane as she finished the taping. "There." She said. "That's all I can do for you."
"Thank you." He said as he pulled on his sock and shoe.
"No problem." She replied putting her things away and standing up with her bag. "I suggest you lay down. Stay off that ankle."
Shane got up and went inside to lay on the couch while Kayla retook her seat on the porch swing. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes as she moved the swing back and forth with her feet. The cool night air blew in her face and hair making her… for the first time in a while…relax.
Early the next morning Kayla awoke to the warmth of blankets and a bed. Opening her eyes she saw the sun was just peaking over the horizon meaning it was only around five thirty. She got out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cold floor. Once she pulled on her socks and boots she went downstairs where Maggie was making coffee. "Wanna cup?" she asked as Kayla came in.
"Yes please."
Maggie poured the coffee into a mug and added some milk before handing it to Kayla. "Thank you." Kayla said accepting the mug. "No problem." Maggie replied.
"How's Carl?"
"Still sleeping. You can check on him if you'd like. Daddy's in there with Rick and Lori."
Kayla nodded and went to the bedroom where Rick and Lori instantly looked at her. "Good morning." She greeted as she set her mug down as Hershel looked over Carl. "Fever's gone down." he reported as the boy began to wake up. Rick and Lori stood up and went closer to his side when his eyes opened all the way. Kayla smiled. "Sophia?" the young boy asked. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine." Rick hesitated. "Just fine."
"Just rest. We'll be right here okay?" Lori assured her boy.
Carl agreed and then drifted off back to sleep.
Just then T-Dog walked in. "They're here." he informed the group. Lori and Rick walked around the bed and outside with Kayla who Lori remained close to.
Outside the whole group was together and Kayla's eyes landed on the one man from yesterday who gave T-Dog the medicine yesterday. She remembered his name was Daryl. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt underneath a vest with angel wings on the back which showed off his muscular arms. Kayla didn't realize she was staring at him until Lori said her name. "And Kayla and Shane." The mother said. "He wouldn't have survived not for them." Kayla looked at the group and saw Daryl looking at her. She gave him a small smile and then he looked away.
Dale asked Rick how it happened and he explained it before the old man gave the father a hug. Then Carol and Lori hugged one another. Kayla stepped to the side and turned her head to see Daryl looking her way for a second before quick turning away when her eyes landed on him.
Man I didn't realize it's been a week since I updated! Apologies! Normally I try to get a new chapter up every other day or so. Anyway next chapter will be the best on yet since the group is all together again! :)
