Bring Me Home
written by: PennyLane71
STORY SUMMARY: Rick's already fragile world is shattered when Carl is accidentally shot. In his lowest moment, Rick feels an unexpected kinship with the beautiful stranger who brought him to his son.
A/N: I chose this particular prompt because this episode showcased Rick's love and unwavering commitment to his child. Michonne shares this same aspect and I was excited about the chance to make their first meeting an open and empathetic one as opposed to the antagonist version we got on TV. I will forever loves the Grimes 2.0 and adding Andre only made it better. - Pennylane71
EP 2x2 Bloodletting- New Canon Meet #3
Michonne stood on the porch outside the home of the Greene family, squinting to see the approaching figures. She raised her binoculars to see a man running towards the house, holding a limp child in his arms. Otis, the Greene's farmhand, was doing his best to keep up but was obviously struggling.
"Oh my god," she whispered under her breath. The front door opened and a little boy with dark curly hair beckoned to Michonne, trying to catch her attention.
"I can't see, mama!" he complained. "What's that? Who's coming?"
"I don't know, baby," she admitted.
Michonne dropped the binoculars and reached behind to grip the hilt of her sword.
"Andre, go inside and get and get Mr. Greene for me."
*************/*************
Shane could finally see an oasis in the form of a white, well-kept farm house. He continued to push on, his muscles burning with fatigue. Between the blood and sweat, an unconscious Carl continued to slip from his grasp. They eventually reached the house where a woman stood; cautiously grasping what looked like a weapon. A young boy also came out, followed by an older man in suspenders.
The white-haired man rolled up his sleeves, preparing to receive them.
"Are you Hershel!?" Shane's heart was pounding in his ears. "Please, you gotta help him."
"Was he bit?"
"Shot. He was shot," Shane managed to choke out.
Hershel motioned for Shane to follow him inside.
"What's your name, son?"
"Shane…I'm Shane. That's Carl." His breathing was erratic and the perspiration dripping from his brow was stinging his eyes.
Following the apparent doctor into a bedroom, Shane pulled back the pristine comforter and laid Carl down. Hershel immediately got to work, placing pressure on the wound while Shane stumbled around in disbelief.
What followed was a whirlwind of activity with Hershel and his family gathering supplies and asking questions that Shane couldn't answer.
"What's Carl's blood type?" Hershel's older daughter held a bag of saline and looked at Shane expectantly.
Shane frantically rubbed his head, trying to keep his panic under control.
"I uh…I don't... I'm not his dad. Shit, his dad…his dad doesn't know. Rick doesn't even know this happened."
Hershel continued to work. "We'll need his father. The boy's going to need blood and soon," he implored.
Michonne stepped up, wanting to help. "Where's the rest of your group? I'll get him."
Andre came into the room, clinging to Michonne's leg. "Mama, I wanna come. Can I?"
Michonne squatted down and met Andre face-to-face. "I have to find this boy's dad and it might be dangerous. I need you to stay here and stay safe." Andre shoved his hands in his pockets, pouting.
"Beth, would you mind keeping an eye on him for a few?" Michonne asked.
"I got him. Come on, Peanut." Beth took Andre's hand and led him out the room.
"Shane. Shane?" Michonne tried to get the distraught man's attention. "I need you to tell me where I can find Rick, okay? They've got …Carl? That's his name?" Shane nodded.
"They're taking care of Carl, but I need your help to find his dad."
Trying to focus, Shane told Michonne about the rest of the group - those in the woods and the rest waiting with the RV.
With the information she needed, Michonne grabbed the nearest horse and began her search.
*************/*************
Back in the forest, Rick and the rest of his group continued to comb the area, hoping for any sign of Sophia. Deep down, Rick knew it was a long shot, especially after this long, but how could he give up? If Carl was missing, he'd want everyone to move heaven and earth to find him.
It had been a long time since he'd seen the other half of the search party and that lone gunshot they'd heard was making Rick anxious to lay eyes on his boy.
"We're burning daylight. Let's call it for today and head back towards the highway," Glenn suggested.
Rick nodded but seemed distracted.
"You still worried about that shot?" Glenn asked.
"Why one shot? It doesn't make any sense…" Rick was confused, worried.
Andrea, irritated after stumbling into a spider web, didn't notice the walker approaching until it was too late. Flailing awkwardly, she crawled backwards, trying to stay out of its clutches.
The others, hearing her cries for help, ran to reach her but it was clear no one would get there in time. Andrea laid on the forest floor, terror maring her face as her mouth hung open in a silent scream.
Out of the thick of the forest, a brown mare being ridden by a dark-skinned woman with flowing locs entered the clearing. The rider swung the gleaming katana blade in her hand, severing the head of the walker and saving Andrea's life.
The woman on the ground watched the decomposing head roll to the side, rotten teeth snapping at the air.
Rick stared wide-eyes, his jaw slack. This stranger on the horse looked like something out of one of Carl's comic books. Beautiful and regal, handling a sword as effortlessly as one would hold a pen.
"Rick?" She turned to the man in the bedraggled sheriff uniform.
"Huh?" Rick stared at her in wonderment.
"Rick. Grimes."
Nothing.
"Are you Rick Grimes?" she asked more insistently.
Finally, he nodded his head.
"You have to come with me. There's been an accident. Carl's been shot."
Whatever color remained in Rick's face had fully drained. He thought of that single shot that rang out earlier and the world around him started to spin.
"Rick!" she said again. "Carl needs you now. You have to come with me."
Without a second thought, Rick moved to mount the horse, prepared to go wherever this woman was taking him.
"Whoa, wait a minute! Rick, we don't even know her! You can't just leave!" Glenn implored.
Rick ignored the protest and climbed on.
The mysterious rider turned to the group, giving them directions to the farm before heading back through the trees, taking Rick with her.
*************/*************
Before long, Michonne had returned to the Greene home with Rick. Coming to a stop, Rick managed to get himself off the horse, his gait unsteady. Shane ran to meet them, apologizing over and over.
Rick didn't seem to hear his friend and followed Michonne as she gently took his arm and led him inside to his son. Rick walked into the antique bedroom and began to fall apart. Carl was so still, his skin almost as white as the bedspread he was underneath.
Rick climbed on the bed and ran shaky fingers through Carl's hair, whispering to him.
"I'm here, Carl. Dad's here. It's gonna be okay. We're gonna make you okay."
Michonne watched the reunion from the doorway, her heart aching for them both. She felt the urge to comfort this man, to offer some kind of assurance. Instead, she stepped out, closing the door behind her.
*************/*************
So much had happened in such a short time. Hershel had delivered the news that Carl would need to be opened up to remove the pieces of the fragmented bullet. Unfortunately, the supplies he needed were inside the local high school surrounded by the dead. Otis, desperately trying to make things right, insisted on joining Shane on the ill-fated run. Shane had returned just in time with the needed medical supplies. Unfortunately, he'd done so without Otis, claiming he'd been taken down by the dead.
The mourning for Otis was put on pause as Carl's surgery was the priority. The procedure had seemingly gone well; as well it could under the circumstances. The boy's vitals seemed steady but he remained unconscious.
Rick had refused to leave his son's side, needing to be there in case Carl needed more blood, in case he woke up - in case he didn't.
He didn't hear the bedroom door open and the pitter-patter of small feel approaching him. Rick felt a tug on the back of his shirt and turned to find the little boy of the woman who'd brought him here.
"Hi Carl's dad. I got a book, see?"
Andre raised a book that was half his size. "I was gonna read Carl a story. Stories help me when I don't feel good."
Michonne burst in shortly after Andre. "I am so sorry. Andre, let Mr. Grimes be."
"No, no...he's fine," Rick assured her. "That's very nice of you, Andre. Come on, you can sit here." He stood up and motioned for the little boy to take his place.
Andre climbed onto the seat proudly. He opened the book to a random spot and started telling his tale, obviously making it up as he went along.
Rick couldn't help but smile at the toddler.
"He's a good kid."
"He is," Michonne agreed, watching Andre "read" to Carl.
Rick raked his fingers through his messy hair. "I uh…never thanked you, Michonne…for finding me, bringing me here. If you hadn't done that…"
Michonne shrugged weakly. "I'm just we got you to Carl in time."
She stretched while trying to hide a yawn.
"How're you holding up?" she asked.
Rick dropped his head. "I... I don't know. Grateful that Carl's stable. Terrified he won't stay that way."
"I'm sorry that this is happening. I don't know what I'd do if…" Michonne trailed off, glancing at her baby. "I just don't know."
Rick nodded. "He has to get better. He has to. He's all I have left…" Rick's voice cracked and he looked away, trying to hide his tears.
Michonne looked on sympathetically.
"…His mother?" She questioned softly.
Rick shook his head. "No."
Michonne looked as if she knew Rick's pain all too well.
"…Andre's father?" Rick countered.
Michonne's large brown eyes welled up. "No."
They both looked at each other with a shared understanding. Rick, surprising himself, tentatively held his hand out. Michonne, confused at how comfortable she already felt with this stranger, accepted his gesture.
Curling her fingers around his, Michonne felt an odd sense of familiarity, as if she'd known this man for years. Daring to meet his eyes, it was clear the feeling was mutual. Rick and Michonne looked away quickly, neither understanding what had just happened. Whatever it was, this wasn't the time for it.
"I'm…sorry for your loss, Rick."
"I'm sorry for yours, Michonne."
He gripped her hand a little tighter while they both stood in silence, keeping an eye on their boys.