Step right up, boys, right this way
Down to the Sewanee Mountain hideaway
All the girls lined up would spit in their eyes
Kickin' and a-scratchin' for a Tennessee prize
Gather 'round, boys and place your bets
On which one a these cats can scratch the best
All you gals, want a good clean fight,
Sewanee Mountain Catfight's here tonight
Fuck all. Merle was right.
Macyn peered out the window of the upstairs house; they no longer kept watch out on the porch. It made the person on duty far too vulnerable to be outside if they were attacked – by the living or the dead. They had even taken to locking the doors and windows outside of the shelter, to offer as much security as possible.
The last couple of months had been the worst so far. Winter was coming, and they were trying to stockpile as much meat as they could. But, with the group of harassers coming through far too often, it was almost too dangerous to hunt or go on runs.
As a family, they were falling apart as well. Just after the first visit from the harassers, Andrea, Glenn, and Rick had gone to scout out this "town" the men had spoken to them about. Andrea made it inside the gate and after a failed attempt to convince the others the townspeople could be trusted and that the location was where they should be, gathered her things and returned to Woodbury.
Lori was – as best they could estimate – about four-and-a-half months along. Their medical supply was well-stocked, but even prenatal vitamins had to be rationed out if they were going to last Lori her whole pregnancy. Stress was playing a part in the pains Lori was experiencing, so the group as a whole decided to only inform Lori when necessary or unavoidable of what was going on outside the shelter. Macyn did the best she could, but her concern about the welfare of the baby grew everyday – and, by effect, she became more and more concerned for Lori. If a miscarriage happened or looked to be imminent, it would be important to get the baby out immediately. Macyn didn't want to think of what that would entail.
With Andrea gone and the harassers coming every few days to try and siege them out, the decision to let Carl do more than hunt was forced on them. Lori wasn't going to be much, if any, help, albeit understandably so. Glenn and Rick were good shots, as were Macyn, Daryl, and Merle, but they couldn't all be on watch twenty-four-seven. Even with a buddy system, someone was getting the long haul.
Carol did her best to help Macyn look after Lori and the household. While Rick had been able to teach her how to properly use a gun and she had become very proficient, Carol took pride in being the sort-of matriarch in the shelter.
Hershel and his girls were good help, too, although their contributions were limited. Beth went into shock after the harassers let a group of zombies into the house just as she was trying to shut the shelter door one day. It echoed Dale and T-Dawg's ending, and scared the young girl nearly to death. Maggie was learning her way around a gun and how to protect what was theirs, thanks in large part to Glenn. Their long training sessions had quickly turned into something more. Hershel, who kept watch when need be and assisted Macyn on medical matters, wasn't crazy about the idea of his daughter dating at all, but especially at a time like this. Still, Glenn had proven himself and after Maggie made it clear her father didn't have too much say in the matter, it was more or less settled.
Macyn thought about how their roles had all shifted since that night at the dinner table when Merle warned them that something would come. Carl stood out the most; he had still had some innocence when they all first came to the shelter. Now, they had to ask a child to shoot a man. When it was kill or be killed, age was nothing but a number. It broke her heart; she knew all too well what a lost childhood could do to a person.
"Anyone ever tell you, you think way too damn much?"
At the sound of that voice, Macyn's mouth turned upwards. "Yes. Robbie used to tell me that all the time. Couldn't ever stop my brain from goin' though."
"Well, I guess that has it curses and blessings," Daryl shrugged, lowering himself down next to her. "I'll take over here."
"My watch ain't over for another hour."
"Get some rest, Macyn. Lori's havin' a rough time. Hershel's watching her right now, but if something has to be done, Rick wants you to have your wits about you."
She couldn't fault him for that. If the man was going to lose his unborn child, Macyn was going to do all she could to save his wife. She kissed Daryl on the cheek, gave him a mundane report – nothing had happened this shift – and went to head for the stairs.
A bullet came crashing through the window, grazing Macyn's shoulder. She gripped the joint and hit the ground, crawling back over to Daryl.
"Are you all right?" he demanded.
"I'm fine, it's just a graze," she assured him. "Where the fuck did that come from?"
"Let's take turns guessing," Daryl smart-assed.
"The whole space is open. No way they could get in range from the woods."
"They have a big enough gun and decent shot, they sure as hell could snipe every one of us from the woods. Radio downstairs – they need to open that door from the inside."
Macyn nodded and beeped Glenn on the walkie-talkie. Seconds later, the door slowly pushed open. Macyn and Daryl belly-crawled over before slipping around the door and into the shelter, being sure to lock it tight behind them.
"Did you get hit?" Carol asked, bringing over a warm washcloth to apply on Macyn's shoulder.
"Just a graze. Bullet came in through the window, Daryl thinks they've got a sniper in the woods."
As if on cue, footsteps could be heard roaming the top floor of the structure. They were too sure and patterned to be walkers; for the first time, harassers were coming into the house. Up until now, they had simply shot at them or tried crude versions of smoke bombs. There had been a few talks, with a gentlemen whom Andrea had informed them was called simply 'The Governor'. These 'discussion' were masked as peace talks but with The Governor strongly encouraging them to share what shelter and resources they had in exchange for their safety. Macyn would never hear anything of it.
"Let's get your shoulder bandaged up, then maybe you should have a look at Lori before you rest," Hershel advised.
Macyn noted the tone of his voice and didn't argue or question the man's suggestion. They had one room designated as a medical area now, so once on the bed in there, Macyn asked Hershel was he thought the next day or so would be like with Lori.
"I don't know if it will even take a day or so."
Macyn shook her head. "I told her I could get her and the baby through this but I never imagined the circumstances it would be under."
"I'm sure you'll do all you can."
"I need different medicine. Steroids to make the baby stronger. I have magnesium to try and stop her contractions, but more modern medicines would be better, especially this early on."
She looked at Hershel, and he understood. "Someone's going to have to go on a run."
"I can do my best but without the extra medication … we just weren't prepared for a high-risk or complicated pregnancy. No one thought that reproduction would be an issue in days like this."
"Who will go?"
Macyn pursed her lips. "I don't know. Rick and Carl will be the first to volunteer, I'm sure, but I think it's best they stay with Lori, in case something happens. I need Carol here, and Beth would be good help, too. That still leaves Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, and Merle."
"Better ask 'em now." Hershel finished taping the bandage on her shoulder. Macyn took a deep breath and gathered the four in the living room with her.
"It's going to be dangerous," she summed up after she explained what the run would be. "And not just because of the walkers. The people from Woodbury will be watching, waiting for people to leave – for our numbers to go down."
"I told y'all this was gonna happen. Now, here we are, not even knowin' if we can go get the shit we need to take care of people. And who's to say what we need'll even be at that hospital?" Merle argued.
"Then don't go," Macyn told him. "I'm askin' because you're capable, Merle. I'm not asking because I had any thought in my mind that you'd be willin'."
"Oh, you are a genius, ain't ya?" Merle stood up, and Macyn matched him toe to toe. "You wanna go a round or two with me, little girl? If memory serves me correctly, that didn't work out too well for you the last time."
Macyn cocked her arm back and decked Merle right between the eyes, before he could think twice about what was happening. Glenn and Daryl jumped up to hold her back, although she wasn't really looking for a fight – just to put Merle in his place.
"Sure, you old coot. Let's go a round or two, and I'll show you just how tough I really am when it ain't two men sneaking up on a woman in the middle of the damned woods. I'm just about sick of your mouth. I told you that I'm on your side but shit – give me something to work with every once in a while. It's clear you don't want to be here and if you're really so against it, just get the fuck out. Stayin' or goin', Merle, that's your choice. I think you stay because you know you got it good here and you got people here."
Merle pinched the bridge of his nose and tipped his head back to keep the blood from pouring every. "Damn, you sure know how to make your point. Sign me up for that run."
"I'll go, too," Daryl volunteered. "We'll take the truck."
He pulled Macyn along with him towards the weapons cabinet. She stopped and turned back to Merle.
"Sorry for cleanin' your clock," she grumbled out. "Just lost my cool."
Merle chuckled and wiped the blood away from his nose. "Figure I had that comin' for a while."
.&.
"Remember where my old house was? Hospital is about ten miles down on the main road. You're looking for the fourth floor, room one-thirty-eight. Here's the list," Macyn told Daryl, standing at the top of the steps.
He reviewed it over. "Glad you spelled everything out nice and neat. Can't usually read your chicken scratch."
Macyn glared at him but Daryl smirked. She pushed him playfully. "Laugh now, mister. When you're out there avoiding snipers and walkers, it ain't gonna be so funny."
"You're right about that," Daryl agreed. "Merle should be suited up soon. You gonna be okay till we get back?"
"Of course," Macyn replied, not quite conveying the full confidence she had intended. Daryl caught her eye; he didn't even have to say anything to get the truth out of her. "I'm afraid I'm going to kill her. Or worse even – that the baby will kill her."
"You can save her, Macyn. I know ya can. Seen you save me, more or less save yourself. You kept Lori goin' this long. Ain't nothin' holdin' you back from being the genius surgeon I know you are."
She chuckled lightly. "You know how to appeal to my ego, don't you?"
"If you're trying to say I'm fillin' your head fulla smoke … well, maybe. But it's all true."
Merle yelled that he was nearly ready, so Daryl pulled her to him and crashed his lips against hers. Macyn held his face in her hands and sighed.
"Come back to me."
"Every time," he promised.
"Try not to get any more knocks under your belt while we're gone," Merle teased her. "Be back as soon as we can."
"Thanks for goin', Merle."
Hershel called for Macyn, so she kissed Daryl once more before telling both of them again to be careful and to hurry if at all possible.
Once the door was shut, Macyn hurried to the Grimes' room. Lori was clenching her teeth, and Macyn could see she was in pain.
"It's too early for this," she groaned. "Macyn, you have to do something."
She looked at everyone in the room; there were too many. "All right, everybody out. I only need Carol and Beth. I'm going to have to examine her and I'm not doing it with every soul in the house standin' around. Maggie, in the medicine pantry – everything should be in alphabetical order. I need you to bring me a few things –" Macyn ticked off a short list. "—and don't forget to bring me some syringes with that. All right?"
Maggie nodded and shot off for the medication stock. The men filtered out of the room, and Carol went for a basin of water and a washcloth. After all their emergencies so far, she had learned that was a staple when caring for a patient. Beth stood by nervously, clearly unsure of what to do. While Lori changed into a nightgown, Macyn took Beth to the side.
"Lori's going to be fine, but to make sure of it, I'm gonna need your help, all right? Hold her hand, keep her calm, whatever you can do to make her comfortable. I may have to give you some other directions along the way, you'll have to act quickly and don't panic. Do you understand?"
Beth nodded, sidestepping Macyn to sit by Lori's bedside. The young woman directed Lori to breath as Maggie came back in with the medication before exiting back out of the room. As Macyn did some mental math and filled the syringes, Beth's sweet, smooth singing voice filtered through the room. Lori closed her eyes; Beth continued singing as she looked at Macyn.
"Good," Macyn nodded. "All right, Lori. Pull your legs up for me – we need to do an examination. Carol, will you hand me those gloves, please?"
The gloves snapped over her hands, and she pushed up Lori's nightgown. She asked Carol to hold a light for her, took a deep breath, and began the exam.
A/N: I know that not really much is happening in this chapter, but we had to have some transition to catch up the plot. Thanks to everyone who still reads new chapters – I know the wait can be annoying.