Author's note: Happy Halloween everyone! I know this is a short chapter, but I was having such a hard time writing it. Yeah, I know whenever I have a hard time writing something the chapter's are extremely short and I can't promise that the next will be any better. Lol, anywho I hope everyone is having a blast to it. Halloween is my favorite holiday after all. I even dressed up as a witch today for school, but turns out no one really wears costumes in college. -_-
~Cassandra
Disclaimer: I do not own the Walking Dead, however I'd be more than willing to take on that burden.
A Ghost. That's what Mara now reminded Easton of, as she lied there breathing softly. Her skin continued to pale despite having no pigment of tan color in it anymore. Ironically it made her look like Snow White. Skin white as snow, hair black as night-only her lips were no longer red like a rose. They were turning a pale pink, slowing evolving into what would eventually be a deadly blue. By then, Easton would have little ability to save his sister. The thought only brought fury into him. This wasn't how his little sister was suppose to be. She should be smiling-full of life and happiness. Not lying in Hershel's bed, where Carl originally was suppose to be. Frustrated Easton ran a hand through his brown locks. Like Mara's hair, his was also chaotic and unruly. Neither sibling had ever really been one to manage a comb. Though Mara was worse off than him. The poor girl always managed to get the comb stuck in her hair.
Easton smiled at the memory. Even into her teen years, Mara would come bounding down the stair with half her hair stuck in a brush. Something none of the brothers ever truly understood. However they would all laugh as Mara stomped her foot angrily at them. After about twenty minutes of laughter though, either Easton or Bryon would take pity and help. Not that Mara would ever let Zane help, even if he did offer. The last time Zane helped get Mara's hair free it involved a pair of scissors. Thus ending Mara's trust in Zane with her hair. "She's not going to make it, Easton." Hershel announced, regretfully. "I'm so sorry."
Shaking his head, Zane brushed Hershel's hand off his shoulder. He knew from his own expertise, that what Hershel said true. One of those bullet fragments had nicked an artery surprisingly close to her stomach, causing internal bleeding. To get the remaining fragments out and sew up the artery, they would need to put Mara under. Another near impossible procedure to do, seeing how she wouldn't be able to breathe on her own while under. Easton pinched the bridge of his nose, aggravation rising in him. These were all things that happened to Carl in the series; not his sister. "The High School should have everything we need." Easton mentioned, standing up.
Hershel gave him a disapproving look. "The high school was surrounded with walkers, last time we checked it out. Going there and coming back is a lost a cause-"
"Like my sister?" Easton snapped. His hands clenched into fists ready to hit someone-anyone. Frustration was finally turning into anger and resentment. All calmness maintained while prepping and helping Hershel take the bullet fragment out of Mara vanished. This was not how things were suppose to be. They were supposed to be camping right now. Making a tent out of ponchos and 550 cord, before cooking up some MRE's for lunch. It was going to make Mara happy. It was going to make her forget all about their asshole of a father and her supposed disownment. Instead they were in some fucked up world only meant to be good television.
Giving Hershel one last look Easton turned towards the door. Although Hershel thought it was impossible, Easton had to at least try and save his sister. Mara was the only person he had in this strange world. Besides Shane brought back the equipment in the original scrip-even if Otis did die in the process. "Easton think about what you are doing." Hershel called out, following him into the living room.
Rick and Shane immediately rose upon seeing him (Carl had gone to sleep in Beth's bed for now). They turned towards him, expecting a report on Mara's status. He ignored them about to continue his warpath when Hershel called out for him to stop. Instantly Shane latched onto him, probably putting two and two together. Angry brother plus worried doctor obviously didn't mean anything good. However while Shane was admittedly more muscular than Easton, the younger man was not to be held back so easily. A quick unexpected yank freed Easton from Shane's hold.
"Hey. Wait. Calm down, what is going on? Is Mara okay?" Rick questioned, stepping in front of Easton.
Easton said nothing, merely ducking his head as if in shame. Suddenly a numb feeling grew in Rick. This could not be good. There was no way it could be good. Not if calm even-tempered Easton lost his grip. The man hadn't even flinch when his sister was screaming and writhing in pain under him. "Is she okay?" Rick repeated, his voice more desperate.
"No. Her belly is distended, her blood pressure is dropping-" Hershel started.
"She has internal bleeding." Easton snapped. "One of the fragment nicked an artery and we have to sew it up….but to even do that, we'd have to put her under…"
"Then put her under." Shane replied, somewhat angrily.
However Rick knew it wasn't that simple. If it were, then Easton would have done so already. The real question though was what stop him from doing so? "It's not that simple." Hershel sighed. "If we put her under, she won't be able to breathe on her own. Either way, I am afraid it's the same bad result."
"No. Not if we get the respirator." Easton argued. "We get that and everything will be alright."
"Now we don't know that Easton. All we could say for sure it is that with the respirator, there would indeed be better chance of her survival." Hershel disagreed. " But the risks to get it are far too great-"
"What would I need to do?"
The voice came from the most unlikeliest person ever….Shane. All eyes snapped towards the officers, specifically Easton's and Rick's. Neither thought the man would volunteer for such a quest so willingly. It wasn't in Shane's nature-unless of course it came to Carl or Lori's safety. Though that was a tidbit only one of them knew. Still despite that unknown fact, Rick knew his friend and knew that when it came down to it, the good of the many outweighed the few for Shane. "We would need to go to the high school." Easton answered, hesitantly. "They built a FEMA shelter there when things started getting real bad."
"The high school?" Otis questioned. "Last time, you and I looked it was overrun…maybe it's calmed down though."
Rick tilted his head. "Let's go then-"
"You can't go anywhere and neither can Easton." Hershel declared. His eyes shifted from Rick to Easton. "Easton, besides needing your help with any emergency procedures, that girl is your sister. If she dies and you aren't there for her, you'll never forgive yourself. As for you, Rick, we need your blood. If we're going to keep her alive until the respirator is retrieved we're going to need lots of blood; we might even have to stick your son, if neither yours or Easton's blood is enough."
Simultaneously both men began to argue. Their arguments fell short though as Shane let out a loud whistle. They went silent, turning to look at him. Running a hand through his hair frustrated, Shane returned their stares. "You heard the Doc, neither one of you can leave this house. Now I already said I would do whatever is necessary to save Mara, and trust me, I will. Just draw a map, write down a list of things you're going to need, and I'll be on my way." Shane assured.
"You won't need a map, I'll take you there." Otis volunteered. "Ain't but five miles."
"Otis, no." Patricia's voice came from behind. Easton held back his own protest. Even though he had only been living at Greene farm for about two weeks, Easton had grown close to all of its members. Everyone there was genuine, if not a little naïve about the reality of their situation. It was because of his relationship with these fictional characters, that Easton was tempted to stop Hershel. After all…if Otis went, then Shane would essentially murder the man.
That fact alone should have made Easton speak up. Unfortunately though he was at a standstill. Since coming to this new world, the argument of whether these people were actually people or characters, played out in Easton's mind. Along with the unforeseeable question of how his presence would disturb the plotline. All this was far from Easton's mind, though as he made the decision to keep quite. No…in that decision only one thought stood out in his mind. Without Otis, Shane would never bring back the respirator Mara needed to live.
"Honey, we don't have time for guesswork and I'm responsible. I ain't gonna sit here, while this fella takes this on alone. Nor am I gonna sit here and let Easton's sister just die like that." Otis replied. He gave Patricia a soft smile. "I'll be alright."
"Are you sure about this?" Shane asked.
Otis smirked. "Do you even know what the respirator looks like? Or the tube that goes with it?"
Shane let out a small chortle. "Come to think, no."
"I've been a volunteer E.M.T." Otis informed. "I do. We can talk about this until next Sunday, or we could just go do it real quick."
"I'll take right quick." Shane replied.
Guiltily Easton walked over to Otis. Looking down, he could barely get himself to look the man in the eyes. He felt like a murderer for knowing what was going to happen in a few hours. Vaguely Easton couldn't help but wonder if knowing about it made him just as guilty as Shane. In normal everyday law it did, but did that really apply to now? "I can't thank you enough for doing this Otis." Easton whispered.
Otis gave him a detached smile. "I'm the one who shot your sister. I'm merely making up for the wrong I made."
"Still…thank you…" Easton murmured, before turning to Shane. His eyes met with the officers in a silent understanding. Forcing a smile on his lips, he walked over to the man. If he was going to act as if everything was alright, then Easton had to thank Shane too. Which in a way, he was grateful for the man's help. Especially if it kept his sister alive. "You too. I don't know what exactly your connection with my sister is, but thank you."
Shane bit his lip, his hand tugging at the hem of his pants pulling the upwards. "It's no problem. Simply doing what she would have done for me."
"As I said with Otis…still thank you." Easton repeated.
"Anyway, if we're going to go, I'll need to gather some things." Otis announced, taking his leave.
Easton watched as the man left. Pushing back the silent protests threatening to escape, he turned towards Maggie. "Hey Mags, I have a large favor I need to ask."
The young woman blinked, before nodding at him. Out of everyone on the farm, Maggie was the one person Easton grew closest too. Not in a romantic way though. Despite Easton's turmoil on the butterfly effect and the question of Maggie's overall existence, he remained strictly friends with her, for the sake of her future relationship with Glenn. Besides for whatever reason, the woman always reminded him of a calmer smarter version of Mara. "What is it?" she questioned.
"Rick and Shane's group is searching for a lost girl on the other side of the river-towards the highway. It would probably be best for everyone, if they knew their people were safe." Easton suggested. He kept his voice low in fear of Shane or Rick hearing. Neither officer mentioned anything about their group-let alone having one. In fact they focused on Mara, that nothing personal had slipped from their mouths.
"Let me get this straight. You want me to ride all the way out towards the highway to find this group?" Maggie repeated, cocking an eyebrow. "And inform them that one of their members is dying, while the other is risking their life to save her?"
Easton licked his lips. "Yeah, that's about right."
She stared at him for a second, before pointing a finger at him. "You owe me big time."
A smile flickered on Easton's lips as he watched her walk away. Hopefully Maggie riding up to greet them would reduce the damage caused by Mara taking Carl's place. Who really knew? For all Easton knew his sister's presence could have already caused a major change in the plot. Hell, she could be in some strange love triangle with Rick and Daryl as far he knew. The thought nearly made him chuckle. Daryl Dixon in love with his sister. Too bad his brothers weren't around to hear that one.
"Okay, I've got everything we need." Otis announced, tossing Shane a black bag.
Shane caught it. His brown eyes looking over it with a hint of uncertainty. It vanished though, before Rick could even bring up the any doubts about going. Tossing the bag over his shoulder, Shane gave Rick a small smile. Hesitantly Rick returned it. As much as he didn't want Shane to leave…he wanted Mara to live more. With one last glance at the exasperated looking Easton, Shane headed out the door. Rick, of course followed him, hoping to at least part with some good advice. Even if he was sure Shane already knew it.
"Just get what you need and get out." Rick advised, as Shane tossed his bag into the truck.
Not too far from them, Patricia hugged her husband tightly. Watching the couple interact made Rick think of his own marriage. Only a few hours ago, he was parting with his own wife. The memory brought own an idea. Slowly Rick stepped forward producing his own fire arm from his pocket. Giving the man a small smile, Rick offered his gun. Otis gazed at it for a second, then towards Hershel-who had an almost disapproving look on his face. Reluctantly Otis took it, his eyes gazing down at the gun. "That's a fine weapon, Rick. I'll bring it back in good shape." He promised.
Rick nodded, backing away. Silently he prayed to God that everything would turn out alright. That his best friend and this other man would return safely with the supplies needed. Moreover that in the end of all this, Rick hoped a certain light of his would survive. It was pushing it, he knew that…however without that light… Shaking his head, Rick vanished the thought from his mind. Shane would come back with the supplies in time, just as he promised. He always did. And Mara…Mara was a fighter. She wouldn't give up on life so easily. It just wasn't her. "Let's check on your friend." Hershel suggested.
Glancing once more at the now empty road, Rick turned to go inside. There was nothing more he could do. It was all in Shane's hands now.
Muchas Gracias to Quiet Poetic, Azrael Blood, Chester-Grey , Killerbee77, HeyIamAwesome, sobreyra274, Camile0607 , clueless1164 , Autumn, Guest 22, Solefaith, Isnotamusedsir , Audrey Whyte, Ain'tEasyBeingBreezy, Hell's-funnyhome, .18, Guest, Mavis, Shika93, Jedi-Stark, Padme4000, Aryiaa Bloodream, Hell Hath No,7 and Nightwatchers2 for reviewing last chapter. Your reviews keep me going!
Padme4000: Thanks for the wonderful comment, I don't often deviate from the plotline and I am not sure if I will do it too much. It's actually rather hard lol, but I do have some plans for later on, that won't exactly follow the storyline completely. Oh and I totally love the drawing you did for me. Mara looks so pretty.
Aryiaa Bloodream: Haha, I did play games for a while, but fanfiction is really my outlet for whenever I'm down or anything. As for Easton, I am very excited about his appearance, I've been waiting for him to show up since chapter one. And I'm glad his appearance made you happy, I worked hard on it. You should have since his appearance in my first draft, it totally turns into a different person from who he really is.
Audrey Whyte: Mackly, I love it! I think I might steal it from you.
Hell Hath No: Haha, I do my best to try and make all characters bearable- though honestly I never thought I could like Shane or Lori. It wasn't until I started writing about them that I began seeing them in a different light.
Autumn: Thank you for the kind comment. I plan to take your advice, especially on the writing part.
clueless1164: I agree mosquitoes should die, I absolutely hate them- though they're second to ticks.
.18: I might take you up on that offer.
Camile0607: I have thought about the Lori idea, however I feel as if it doesn't really fit, but don't worry. I totally have plans for Rick and Mara-as well as the Rick/Mara and Lori problem.
Chester-Grey: Hahah I am glad you like it, as for her other brothers…let's just say I have plans for them and….*spoiler* maybe her father too.
Quiet Poetic: I am so happy you like it. As you can see I am totally torn by my love for both men, but hopefully Mara can figure hers out unlike me.