Katelyn stood in the tower watching the forestline as the sun went down. She had searched everywhere for him but couldn't find him. Everyone assumed he had gone hunting, but he should have been back by now.
She knew something was wrong.
As the sun ducked behind the trees, she couldn't take it anymore and raced down the stairs and into the prison.
"He's not back yet." She said as she flew around the corner, grabbing her knife and axe to strap them on.
"Woah, Woah, Woah," Rick said, grabbing her arm to stop her, "You can't just go running out there on your own. It's getting dark."
"I know it's getting dark! That's why we have to go after him!" She shouted, ripping her arm away from Rick.
"Hold on." Rick said soothingly, trying to calm her down.
"Something's wrong! I know it." Katelyn said through clenched teeth, shoving her knife into her belt.
Carol came up to stand behind Katelyn, her hands on her shoulders in comfort as Katelyn started to cry.
"Shh…shh…shh….Let's figure this out. You've searched the whole place? Rick asked, coming to stand in front of Katelyn.
"Yeah." She nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks, "Something's not right, Rick."
Rick looked at her for a moment, putting his hands on his hips, before letting his head fall forward to think.
"Okay. Let's get geared up and go look for him." Rick said, causing Katelyn to throw her arms around him.
"Thank you!" She cried.
It was less than five minutes later when the group exited the compound and headed out into the forest. Using their flashlights, they decided to call to Daryl and began yelling his name, then waiting for a reply.
"If he came out here, he was hunting which means he'd follow a trail." Katelyn said, looking at Michonne who was the best tracker besides Daryl.
Michonne nodded.
"Let's look for the most worn deer trail." Michonne said, sweeping the flashlight slowly along the ground until she spotted a heavily used one.
"There." She said, pointing at it.
Michonne took the lead and everyone began following.
It didn't take them long to find the cabin and they were immediately leery. Michonne crouched low, listening, but only heard silence. Motioning for them to stay, she moved forward silent as a cat.
It didn't take her long to realize that the door was cracked open. She stepped slowly into the doorway and her nostrils were assaulted with the metallic smell of blood. Flashing her light down, she saw Daryl sprawled on the ground, bleeding profusely.
"Shit! In here! He's in here!" She yelled, sweeping the room quickly to make sure no one else was there, before moving over to kneel beside him.
Katelyn ran through the door before Rick could stop her and stopped abruptly upon seeing him. Crying out in horror, she ran to him, dropping down to her knees beside him and trying to wake him.
"Daryl!" She screamed, "Daryl!" But he didn't move.
Rick hurried over to the other side, laying his fingers on his neck to check for a pulse. He could feel it beating, but it was weak.
"We gotta get him back to the prison." Rick said, slipping his arm under Daryl's head while motioning for Tyreese to do the same.
"Let me, " Tyreese said, "I can carry him fireman style."
With that, Rick helped Tyreese pick him up and drape him over his shoulders as gently as they could.
"Oh my god. He's lost so much blood." Katelyn was babbling hysterically, shaking so bad she could hardly move. Maggie took her arms and looked her in the eye.
"You need ta snap out of it. We gotta get him back to my daddy fast." Maggie wasn't being gentle. She knew that they had to move quickly if they hoped to save him.
Katelyn nodded, biting her lip to keep from crying.
Tyreese took off in a jog. The rest followed quickly behind him.
########################################################################
The crashing of the door and the chaos of voices alerted Hershel that something was wrong. Limping over to the door, he saw Tyreese carrying Daryl over his shoulder.
"He's been shot!" Rick shouted, running around to help Tyreese lower him onto the table. Katelyn hurried to grab the I.V. bags and tubes, knowing that he was going to need fluids.
Maggie ran for the bag with the scalpel and other tools as the men took his shirt off so they could see the damage.
"Jesus." Rick muttered, cringing at the sight of three holes in his chest.
Hershel looked sharply at Rick and then at Katelyn who was startled by Rick's comment.
"All right, people, we're gonna need to work fast. I need that I.V. set up with a bag of saline and betadine if we've got it. Maggie, put my tools on the tray and bring that stool over here." Hershel started issuing orders.
Katelyn had been taught how to start an I.V. by Dr. Stevens months ago. She just never thought she'd have to practice on someone she loved. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer before inserting the needle in the vein in his arm.
Grabbing the tape, she secured the I.V. needle and line to his arm and hung the bag from the stand. Moving around to the bucket, she grabbed clean gauze and began cleaning away the blood around his wounds as Maggie sterilized the instruments. Hershel was probing the wounds to see how deep they were.
Katelyn had to remind herself to breathe as she looked at the three wounds. One, hit him on the shoulder, the other one in pectoral muscle and the third one, is the one that made her nervous. It was below his breastbone which meant it was possible it had hit an organ.
"Please, please, please." She whispered quietly, begging for God to save him.
Stepping back, she wiped her sleeve across her forehead, watching Hershel get to work.
It was an hour later when Hershel began working on the third wound.
Katelyn stood on the other side of the table, holding the light so Hershel could see. She was quiet, her breathing deep and slow as she concentrated on counting her breaths. She was trying to remain calm.
Carol entered, walking over to Katelyn, and asked, "Switch me. You could use a break for a minute."
Katelyn handed her the light and took the chair right next to him. Leaning over, she took his hand and put it into her own, pressing it to her cheek. He felt cool, his skin slightly damp with a fine mist of sweat. His breathing was slow and ragged as she watched and in her head, she kept saying, "Breathe baby, breathe."
"Got it." Hershel said quietly, lifting the fragment of the shell from his chest.
Katelyn let out a sigh of relief.
"Maggie, hand me that alcohol." Hershel said, holding out his hand.
The minute the alcohol hit his wound, Daryl's eyes flew open and he struggled to sit up. Katelyn grabbed his shoulders to push him back down as blood started pouring from the wounds again.
"No! Daryl! It's okay. Lay back." He was senseless and she knew it, but was hoping that her voice would calm him.
Maggie helped push him back down to the table and Katelyn stroked the hair back from his forehead.
"Shhh." She crooned, as he once did for her.
His eyes slowly closed, and his body relaxed again, letting Katelyn know he was asleep once again.
"Is he out?" Hershel asked.
"I think so." Katelyn said softly.
"Good, cuz I'm gonna stitch him now." Hershel replied, getting the suture ready to sew him up.
Daryl moaned when he put in the first suture but didn't stir.
Katelyn stroked his hair and prayed.