"Lori! Lori!" I screamed as I turned quickly back towards her cell. "Walkers got in somehow!" I reached the doorway to her cell and pulled the door shut behind me. Luckily it opened out so unless a walker started pulling on it, it should remain shut. "Do you have anything that we can use as a weapon? Lori what are you doing? Put your pants back on!" She was standing there with one leg in and one pant leg off. "Come on, there's only one of them, but I left the door to the outside open, more could be coming in. Come on Lori! I don't want to be trapped in this room till we die." I could hear gunshots and the sound of Gertie barking frantically outside.
Suddenly Lori began to move. Yanking her pants back on she got down on her knees and pulled out a baseball bat from under the bed and gave it to me. She picked her gun up off the bed and said, "Okay, do you want to try for the door to the yard first or head into the tombs and try to find another way out?"
"Lets try for the yard first. If we can't get there we'll head for the tombs." I picked up the lantern that was in the corner of the room. "Ready?" Lori nodded and then shoved the cell door open.
The walker that had come through the door was almost at the cell. I took a step forward and cracked him over the head with the bat. He went down and I kept swinging till the side of his head was caved it. A gunshot brought my head up and I looked around. There was no way we were going to make it to the yard. The common room was filled with walkers and they were streaming in to the hall outside the cells.
"Come on Stella! Let's go!" Lori yelled. She backed up towards the door that led to the corridors that connected the prison. I turned to follow her, grabbing a piece of rope on my way.
We passed through the door and I quickly stopped to run the rope through the bars. There was a handle on this side on the wall that I tied it off to. This door opened out too, but I didn't want to take any chances.
Quickly we moved through the halls. We didn't say much as we tried various doors to see if they were locked. Daryl and Rick had done a good job. Too good of a job. If we didn't find something, we were going to be trapped with no way out.
Soon we came to an area that looked familiar. We were almost at the other cell block. "Come on Lori, this way. There's a laundry room that has windows. We can break one of them to get out." I said excitedly.
Lori paused. "How do you know this? Did you get lost one day?"
A guilty look passed over my face, I could feel the blush creeping up my neck and staining my cheeks. "Um, not exactly. I talked Daryl into taking me to see the other prisoners."
"Why would you do that? Rick told you to stay away from them." Lori asked, her voice somewhat angry.
"Well we're not going to eat all of that deer meat. I figured it shouldn't go to waste." I said defensively. "Besides, aren't you glad right now that I did? Come on we can talk about this later, let's just move."
"Fine, but just one more thing. How did you manage to talk Daryl into it?"
I looked down at my shoes. "I kind of threatened to go myself." At Lori's stunned look I hurried on. "Well he made me angry. Telling me what I could and couldn't do."
Lori started to laugh. She laughed so hard she had to bend over. When she stood up she said, "Shit, I think I just peed." Just then she bent over again, clutching her abdomen.
"Oh no, I don't think you peed. I think your water broke." Images of Lori holding her back all day flashed though my mind. "Lori, how long had your back been bothering you today?"
She straightened up. "Since last night. Oh God Stella, you don't think I've been having back labor all that time do you?" her face filled with dread.
"It's a definite possibility. Come on, we really need to get you out of here." Grabbing her hand we made our way through the halls till we found the laundry room. Twice we had to stop so Lori could wait for a contraction to pass. If I had to guess the contractions were coming somewhere between three and four minutes apart. We had to get out of here fast, before her labor progressed any further.
Leaving Lori sitting on a stool I climbed on top of one of the washing machines. Planting my feet firmly I swung the bat as hard as I could. The bat bounced off the window with a loud thump. "Shit, it's reinforced glass." Hoping off the washer I dashed over to Lori. "Give me your gun. I'm gonna have to shoot it." After Lori passed it over I pointed the gun at the window and took a deep breath. "Cover your ears" I said and pulled the trigger. A hole appeared in the glass but it didn't break. "Again," I said more to myself than Lori. I pulled the trigger twice more. Still the glass remained intact. "Shit." I climbed back up on the washer with bat. "Going to have to do it the old fashioned way." I started swinging. After about the seventh blow the glass came loose at one corner. A smile formed at one corner of my mouth, "We're making progress," I looked back at Lori. She was standing with her hands on the stool, swaying back and forth. I had to hurry.
Ten minutes later I sighed with relief as the window, broken but intact fell onto the washer. "Come on Lori, lets go. I helped her climb up onto the washer. I'll go first, then help you through. There's a drop on the other side about five feet. Okay?"
"Lets just get this over with."
After I tossed the bat though, I hoisted myself through the window and dropped onto the other side. Standing up I looked around and grabbed the bat. "Okay Lori, come on over." I looked up at the window. Suddenly I heard a sound behind me. I swung the bat as I was spinning around. Luckily Oscar had quick reflexes or he would have been laid out flat.
"Shit!" Oscar blurted. "What the hell are you doing? You could've killed me!"
"Stella? What's going on?" Oscar and I looked over at the window. Lori was dangling half out.
Oscar quickly walked over and grabbing Lori under the arms he lifted her down and set her on the ground. Lori recoiled in shock. Grabbing one of her arms to steady her, Oscar asked again, "What are you two doing over here and what the hell is going on over there?"
Just then more gunshots rang out. "Walkers got into our section of the prison somehow. Lori and I were inside when it happened. We ran out through the halls till we got here." Just then Lori grabbed my arm moaning.
"Shit, she's not, you're not..." Oscar stammered, eyes bulging.
When the contraction ended Lori and I looked at each other, rolling our eyes. What a guy reaction. "Look can we come in? She needs to lay down." I asked impatiently.
Oscar nodded and led us to the door. "Oscar! What's going on out there?" Axel's voice floated out.
"Relax, we just got visitors from next door." Oscar called back.
"What?" Alex asked coming around the corner. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Lori and I behind Oscar, Lori gripping my arm tightly. "Jesus, what the hell is going on over there?"
"Later Axel," Oscar said as we passed him. "She can lay down in here." He gestured to a cell.
Lori and I hurried in, and I helped her lay down on the bed. "I'm gonna need some water and some towels or whatever you have," I called to the two men outside.
Turning back to Lori I said, "Okay hon, lets get these pants off, can't have a baby still wearing your pants." Lori laughed weakly. Gently I tugged the jeans off her legs. As I reached up to grab the waistband of her underwear I heard Oscar clear his throat from the hall. "Hold on Lori, I'll be right back." I squeezed her hand as I stood up.
"I brought some water. Will this be enough?" Oscar said.
"That's fine, thanks." I grabbed the pail and after glancing back towards the cell where Lori lay, gestured to Oscar to walk towards the common room. He followed me hesitantly. When we were far enough away I stopped. "Oscar right? Look, this is Lori's second baby. Her first had to be delivered by c-section. It puts her at a higher risk for another."
"Jesus, are you serious?" Oscar stepped back and rubbed his hand over his face.
"There's no reason to panic. I just want to be prepared. Do have a knife? It's got to be sharp. And I'll need something to stitch her up with. Do you have anything that'll work?"
Oscar started blankly at me for a moment. "Lady we don't even have a knife here, let alone sutures. Nothing that'll work." I let out a sigh. This was the worst possible situation.
"Okay, I have to get back. But, could I ask you a favor? Could you look next door and see what's going on next door? If you can see anyone? Also, could you let them know that we're here? I don't want anyone searching for us if we're safe here." I felt bad asking, Oscar made it plain how he felt about the group, but I needed to know.
"Yeah all right. I'll go check it out, see if I can tell what's going on." Just then Axel ran into the room, carrying a bunch of linens.
"I got everything I could. Will this be enough?" he asked his voice frantic.
He must have emptied out the linen closet. Suppressing a smile I thanked him and took the linens. "Just let me know what you see, would you?" I asked Oscar. I turned and headed back to the cell.
"Where were you?" Lori asked as I rushed in. Panic was written all over her face.
I set the pail of water and linens down. "I asked Oscar to see if he could tell what's going on over there, and to let them know that we're here if possible. I'm sorry I left you for so long." I grabbed a bar of soap that was on one of the shelves and started washing my hands. "Let's see how far along you are okay?" She was almost there. I wouldn't be long now till she'd be ready to push.
Lori moaned in pain, sweat covered her face. "Shh, shh. I'll get you a cold cloth huh? Won't that feel nice?" Placing a wet cloth on her forehead I said, "You're doing great, just breathe though it, don't hold your breath okay? Try to keep your body as loose as possible."
"I can't, it hurts too much. I want Rick. Please Stella, get Rick." She pleaded.
"Alright, I'll check to see if Oscar is back. I won't be but two minutes, Lori." Quickly I ran out of the cell. Axel was sitting in a chair right outside. As soon as I came out he popped up.
"Do you need something? Can I help?" he asked. He seemed somewhat afraid I might say yes.
"Is Oscar back? She's asking for her husband."
"No, not yet. If you like I can go check," he offered.
"That'd be great, just get an update and come right back okay?" I didn't even wait for answer before I headed back in.
Lori looked up at me with hopeful eyes. "Oscar isn't back yet but Axel's going to see if he can get an update. He's going to come right back, alright? Now, until they get back, you and I have some work to do. We just need to focus on getting this baby out."
Lori nodded, grim determination on her face. Just then another contraction gripped her and she curled over her belly. Her eyes focused on the corner of the room.
"No Lori, you can't push yet. It's not time yet." I admonished her.
When the pain passed she said, "I need to push Stella, please." She looked so desperate I wanted to give in to her.
"Let me check you again and see. Alright?" She was almost complete. She just had a rim left. I racked my brain trying to remember the possible complications of pushing when you weren't complete. I was pretty sure when you were as far as Lori there really wasn't any problem. "Lori, I'm going to let you push but we're going to start off easy okay?"
A smile lit up her face. "Easy, sure. Not a problem. You know, I still can't believe it's here. That today the baby is going to be here. It seems like you dread something for so long, and when it comes, well there isn't any feeling in the world like this. To know I'll see my baby soon As much as this isn't going like I thought, I wouldn't change it for the world. I just wish Rick was here too."
"Don't worry Lori. He'll be here. Just as soon as he can. I'm sure he can't wait to meet this little soccer player either." I smiled down at her. Of all the moments in my career, the times I gave a mother her new baby always ranked among the top. This time knowing the mom would even make it better.
Axel burst into the room. He must have run the entire way there and the entire way back. The man looked like he was gonna pass out. Sweat ran down his face and he was gasping for breath. I pushed him down onto the floor. Didn't want him falling over and cracking his head. "Axel, relax and breathe. When you're ready just start talking."
"Well Oscar's helping them clear out the walkers over there. Seems a link in the chain that was keeping that door closed busted. Your husband, Rick? Well he's inside the prison looking for you two. Seems a few others of your group are missing too. That guy with the crossbow? He seemed real relieved that you two were over here."
Daryl was fine. A weight I didn't even know I was carrying lifted off my shoulders. But Rick, Rick didn't know. Just then Lori let out a cry. This was different from the others she had emitted. Looking down I could see why. Blood was seeping out from in between her legs. All those months of malnutrition had taken their toll. Her placenta had started to detach. Quickly I turned to Axel.
"Run, as fast as you can. Tell Hershel, the guy on the crutches, I need to do a C-section now. He'll get you what I need. GO! NOW!" I all but screamed at Axel. I watched him scurry out of the cell before I turned to Lori.
"Honey, I'm sorry but we're going to have to move you. You just hang on tight to me and we'll get there. I promise."
Lori looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Promise me you'll save my baby. Please Stella, promise me."
I looked back at her. "Honey, I'm going to save you both, but I need your help. Now let's go." I hoped I wasn't lying to her.
As a lot of you can tell I tried to stay somewhat true to the story line on the show. I hope you all approve so far. I really like getting your reviews, so please do. Even if you have something critical to say. It's the only way to improve right? So far the story has been flowing pretty easy, but I have a really busy week coming up and I'm not sure if I'll be able to post like I have been. I'll do my best though. What do guys think? Who else is missing?