I would first like to apologize to everybody who was liked and read this fic. The fact that I have gone almost a year without updating is inexcusable. My muse left me and I came down with the worst case of writers block imaginable. It's all back now and I hope to keep updating again regularly. That being said…..onto the next chapter

Beth was out of breath as she made it across the field to the man holding his bleeding son in his arms.

"Rick, what happened?" she asked as she stopped in front of him. His eyes were unfocused for a moment, and then recognition crept into them.

"Beth? Is that you? "He asked, then shook his head "Carl, he was shot. Help me please" he begged as he maneuvered Carl further into his arms. Beth went cold as she looked at the boy, being held close by his dad. She could see the blood all over him and his father. Without much thought she turned and motioned for him to follow her, noticing her Dad and Maggie had just gotten to them.

"This way" Hershel commanded as he started back toward the house. Rick followed automatically, Beth and Maggie starting right behind him until a noise stopped Beth.

"Get moving Asshole"

The voice she recognized and it sent a slight shiver down her. She turned to see Shane pulling Otis along, dragging him by his shirt. She felt a rage built up in her as she ran over to them.

"Get the hell off of him" she screamed as she got between an exhausted Otis and Shane. She could see it took Shane a moment to pull himself out of his anger and panic to realize who she was.

"Beth, what the hell are you doing here? This is none of your business?" he asked as he went to pull Otis back up.

"It's my business when you're on my families land and are manhandling a family friend" she stated angrily as she stood in between Shane and Otis. Her eyes softening as she continued "If you looking for Rick, he is inside with my Daddy. He is looking Carl over" Shane looked for a second like he wanted to argue some more, then thought against it and hightailed it to the house. Beth took a breath then turned back to Otis.

"What happened?" she asked as she helped the tired man up off of the ground.

"I shot the boy" he replied sadly "I was shooting at a deer and I didn't see him. I'm so sorry Beth"

"It's not your fault Otis, it was an accident." She stated gently to the man. "Come on, Daddy is going to need my help" she added as she started back toward the house in a run. As she entered the house, a small bomb ran into her, in the shape of a little girl.

"Beth, what's going on" Sophia asked, her face squished into her stomach. Beth looked around and saw her Daddy and Rick in the guest room to the right, looking over Carl, so she took Sophia into the other room where Maggie was waiting with Shane.

"What the hell is she doing here? How did you all get her? We have been looking for you all over girl!" Shane yelled as he saw Sophia beside Beth. Beth felt Sophia push herself closer to her body, and tightened her hold on the young girl.

"Daryl found her in the woods yesterday. He left right before you all showed up to find Carol and the group." Beth said evenly. She didn't want to lose her temper, or Shane to lose his more with Sophia right there. It had been a stressful few days for everybody. Before Shane, or anybody else could utter a word, Rick and Hershel came into the room. The amount of blood on Rick made everybody pause.

"I'm not gunna sugar coat it. He has internal bleeding and the stress of getting the bullets out will most likely kill him. If I had the right equipment, then I could try, but I don't want to risk it without it" Hershel said, his face grim.

"Do you think the Red Cross outpost at the school would have it?" Beth asked as she walked up to her dad.

"Probably so Bethy. They would have the medicines too. But the last time we were there it was overrun" Hershel responded, grabbing Beth's hand.

"I'll go, give me the directions and I will get whatever you need" Shane volunteered immediately.

"Do you know what the stuff looks like that I will need?" Hershel asked curiously.

"You can draw me a picture" Shane stated, then a look past his eyes "Or Beth could come with me"

Beth felt her father tighten his grip on her hand. Before she had a chance to respond she heard another voice speak up.

"I'll go. It's my fault the boy is in there and Beth will need to stay here and help Hershel. I know what all the things he needs looks like. I will go" Otis stated matter of factly. Beth saw her dad nod at Otis just once and then turned and went back into the room with Carl. Shane nodded at Otis as well and then went to Rick, who was in the chair with his head in his hands. He gently took a rag out of his pants and started to clean the blood off of Rick's face. Beth was taken by surprise by how gentle Shane was being with Rick.

"Lori! Somebody has to tell my wife what happened" Rick said thru his tears, the hurt and worry in his voice.

"I'll go!" Maggie said, standing up. "Like Otis said, Beth needs to stay here and help Daddy and be with Sophia"

"Sophia?" Rick asked, his daze breaking just enough when he saw the young girl walk up to him and take his bloody hand.

"I'm real sorry about Carl, Mr. Grimes" the young girl said, tears coming to her eyes. Rick looked around, wide eyed as the girl hugged him, unworried about the blood.

"Daryl found her yesterday in the woods" Beth said quietly as she knelt down beside of Rick. She saw him nod in understanding a little of the darkness in his eyes evaporated.

"Your wife, is she out on the highway where Sophia was before the walkers came?" Maggie asked. Rick nodded his head in response.

"Ok, I'll go get her." Maggie stated, before she took off toward the back door and the stables.

"Be careful" Beth called after her, making Maggie smile at her and mouth "you too" before she took off back toward the stables.

"Alright, let's go" Otis stated as he came back into the house with his rifle and a round of bullets.

"I'll be back with the stuff for Carl. You can count on me" Shane said as he clasped Rick's shoulder and took off out of the house, Otis following behind. Beth watched them go until they pulled off down the driveway. She said a little prayer for both of them, as well as Maggie and Daryl. She hoped that he found Carol and that Maggie found Lori before it was too late.