div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"NICOLETTE /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"It was crazy how fast the night has come as soon as Glenn started the car to bring the three of them to Maggie's farm. For as much as she had wished for that day to end, Nicolette couldn't help but feel anxiety raising inside herself to finally see it happen. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Where did ya say Shane had gone?" T-Dog asked with tired voice. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki looked away from outside her window, to turn towards the man. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""I don't know exactly where" Nicki said "But he went with the man who shot Carl to take some medical stuff" it was some school, if she remembered correctly. Apparently when the hospital was overrun, in the school has been set up something like a medical centre, where people could be taken care of. But it had been overrun too. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Medical stuff as in?" asked again T-Dog. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Shouldn't you be resting?" asked Nicki with a frown. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Too painful" he almost chuckled, making the girl shake her head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""The doctor, at least I hope he is a doctor" said Nicki "Needs to operate Carl" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Operate as in surgeon?" asked Glenn panicked. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Focus on the road" said Nicki pointing ahead of her, before lean her back against the sit "But yeah. Bullet exploded. There are still five fragments, too deep to get just removed" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Well, shit" said T-Dog after a moment of silence. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Yeah..." Nicki nodded her head "Shit". /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"The rest of the ride was silent. The sun was completely gone once they finally could see the shape of Greens' farm. Everything was dark, only the lights coming from the house could be seen. As they arrived next to the fence, Glenn got out of the car to open the gate, so that they could get through. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""They've got fences" T-Dog said with wide eyes making Nicki nod her head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""All around" she said. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""This could be the safest place we've encountered so far" since the CDC turned out to be a timing bomb, what T-Dog had said was probably right. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"They drove inside, following the path towards the house. Glenn stopped the car just few feet from the wooden steps. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""So do we ring the bell?" asked Glenn as they walked towards the entrance, making Nicki frown looking up at him. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What?" she asked. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""We're past this kind of stuff, aren't we?" T-Dog added, making Glenn look at them shyly. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Having to be considerate" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Being polite seemed so strange now. Having to deal with people who were still civil, made her feel uneasy. It was like she was forgetting how to proper behave, what her parents had taught her. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Maybe... we can knock" she muttered as Glenn nodded his head a bit unsure. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Did you cIose the gate up the road when you drove in?" the three of them turned to their right a bit startled, to see Maggie coming out from the shadow with a little smile. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Uh, hi" started Glenn with a little blush, trying to act confident "Yes, we closed it. Did the latch and everything" Nicki looked at Glenn with a frown as he continued talking to Maggie "HeIIo. Nice to see you again" he said "We met before briefly" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Look, we came to heIp. There anything we can do?" T-Dog asked tiredly. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Can I get in, Maggie?" asked Nicolette. The girl looked at her and nodded with a small smile. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki opened the door and entered the house again. She looked around and she spotted the blond girl, Maggie's sister with the other boy turning to her. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You're back" Beth said with a little smile, walking towards her "Have you brought your friends here?" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Not all of them" Nicki said keep looking around "Where's Shane? Is he back?" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Beth bit her lips and shook her head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Otis too" she said. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki took a breath turning towards the room where Carl was in. It was dark now. Hours had passed. Shane should have been back by now. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki walked towards the room and looked inside. Everyone was silent, observing Carl who was still sleeping. At least he was still breathing. As she stepped inside, she saw Rick look up towards her, that nodded her head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"He was so pale and tired. And Lori had red eyes from the tears that she had been sheading. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Hey" Rick said as Glenn and T-Dog entered the room too. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Um, we're here, okay?" said Glenn as his eyes moved from Carl to his parents. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Thank you" Lori said. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Whatever you need" added T-Dog. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Rick had his face in his hands, trying to keep it together. There was nothing that they could do, just wait. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Nicolette" said Lori, just before the girl could leave the room, following Maggie, Glenn and T-Dog. The woman extended her hand for Nicki to take. Nicolette walked closer to her taking it. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Thank you" she said with glossy eyes "You've put yourself in danger to get me, thank you" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""It made more sense for you to be here" Nicki answered as the woman squeezed her hand a little. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""How is he?" Nicolette asked turning to the boy. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""If they don't get back soon" said Hershel checking Carl's wound "We're gonna have a decision to make" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki observed him doing it. He uncovered Carl's abdomen and she frowned seeing it swollen and pale. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""And that is?" asked Rick with weak voice. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Whether to operate on your boy without the respirator" at Hershel's words Nicki frowned. Shane and Otis were on a run because they needed those stuff. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You said that wouldn't work" Lori said with wide eyes. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""lt's extremely unlikely" Hershel said "But we can't wait much longer". /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"As the man stopped talking, Lori got up and quickly left the room. Rick looked between his wife and his son, before turning to Nicolette. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Can you stay here with him?" Nicki's eyes widened. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Me?" she asked. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""It'll only take a minute" Rick said before leaving the room, not giving Nicki much of a choice. Nicolette took a breath before sitting on the chair next to Carl. It wasn't like she could do anything but observe the boy, trying to ignoring the needle in his right arm; the one right under her gaze. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What is your name?" asked Hershel as he checked Carl's blood pressure. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Nicolette" she said with a little frown "Are you trying to make conversation?" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""No" the man answered "It's just that I didn't know your name" Nicolette found herself chuckling a bit as the man glanced up to her. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""He's not going to make it, is he?" she asked leaning her back against the chair. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You don't have to think about it" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""It's true, though" she answered to the man "There's no point on hiding it. I suppose that's how the world works now" Hershel observed her silently for a moment, before shaking his head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""The world is the same" he said making Nicki frown. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Doubt it" she said bending forward to put her head between her hands as she watched Carl. If everything was the same, they could have brought him to the hospital. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You're not from Georgia, right?" the man asked as he was checking Carl's bandage. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""No, sir" she answered "I'm from San Francisco" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Hershel frowned a little. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""How did you meet these people?" he asked. Nicki looked up at the man. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""By chance" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Suddenly, Carl coughed making her and Hershel get up. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Carl?" Nicki said with wide eyes as the door got open to see Lori and Rick enter the room. Nicki moved aside to let Carl's parents get closer to their son and she put herself at the end of the bed. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Where are we?" he asked looking around confused as Lori was stroking his hair with a smile. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Hey, little man" said Rick with a sweet voice "That's Hershel. We're in his house. You had an accident. All right?" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki observed the scene before her, with a little smile. The way they stood next to him, trying to calm him, to make him feel safe. In that moment she realized that she had lost that. She was far away from her family and if something was to happen to her, her parents wouldn't even know. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""lt hurts, a lot" Carl said trying to see what was causing that pain. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Oh, baby, l know" said Lori sweetly trying to stop him from moving "l know" Rick took a breath trying to not cry in front of his son, to keep him calm. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Carl then looked around him once more before his gaze landed on Nicolette. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Nicki?" she nodded her head as she saw the boy smile a little towards her, before turning to his mother. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You should have seen it" he said weakly. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What?" Lori asked. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""The deer" he answered with a dreamy smile "lt was so pretty, mom. lt was so close" Nicki and Rick shared a quick look before the girl could see him almost chuckle happily. br /"l've never been..." Nicolette frowned when Carl stopped talking. His eyes were open but he wasn't moving at all. She wasn't even sure he was still breathing. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"emThat wasn't normal.../em /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"em"/emCarl?" as Lori called her son's name, he started to make erratic and uncontrolled movements. He was shaking badly, making the all bed shake too. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What the hell?" Nicki exclaimed covering her mouth with her hands as Rick tried to stop Carl from moving, but Hershel put himself in between. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Don't. lt's a seizure" he said as Nicki observed the boy with wide eyes and her hands on her hair "lf you hold him down, you couId hurt him" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"That was almost terrifying. She had never saw someone having a seizure. It seemed like he was in pain and it was clear that he had no control over his own body. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You can't stop it?" asked Lori in panic. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""He has to just go through it" explained Hershel, pushing Carl on his side, so that he could not hurt himself. Rick held Lori close as she sobbed and cried. As for Nicki, she had stepped back until her back was against the wall. She couldn't stop looking at Carl as she felt her legs give in to make her sit on the ground. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"After infinite moments, Carl finally stopped and Lori and Rick ran immediately at his side. But the boy was passed out once again. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""His brain isn't getting enough blood" explained Hershel as Nicki pushed herself up once again "His pressure is bottoming. He needs another transfusion". /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"He needed Shane to come back. Where the hell was he? Carl couldn't hold on anymore. He couldn't wait anymore. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki took a breath before she walked out of the room, running outside feeling suddenly sick. She ran down the stairs and thrown up on the ground. Her knees were bent and her hands where on her thighs as she tried to let it all out. She hadn't eaten anything and she felt so tired. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Nicolette?" Glenn rushed to her, rubbing her back as she finished "You need to eat something" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""I don't know what I need" she said with a groan hating even the idea of open her mouth to eat something. She didn't want to eat, or drink, or sleep. She was tired, but she could do nothing but being awake. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Someone should go look for them" Nicki muttered as Glenn brought her closer to him. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What?" he asked as he rubbed one of her arms, sitting on the dirt. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Shane and Otis" she said exhausted "He's going to die if they don't make it back" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""We can't, Nicki" Glenn said shaking his head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Why not?" she asked with closed eyes, feeling a sudden headache. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""We're just gonna make it worst" Glenn said "More people are gonna getting hurt" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki shook her head tiredly. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Carl's gonna die" she muttered. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Don't talk like this. Come on" said Glenn trying to helping her up "Let's get you inside" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Is she alright?" she heard Maggie's voice. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""I think she's exhausted" Glenn explained as he was supporting Nicki's body "She needs rest and food" Maggie nodded her head, leading them inside, so that Nicolette could lay on the couch. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What a fucking day" Nicolette muttered as Glenn set next to her, rubbing her arm. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Yeah" he said "You're right" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"After that Nicolette slipped in the darkness. She slept with no dreams and she felt like her slumber had lasted centuries. And when she woke up, she widened her eyes and immediately set up. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Hey" said Maggie that was just entering now "Calm down, it's ok" she knelt next to Nicolette. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""How long have I been out?" Nicki asked. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Not that much, actually" Maggie said "Maybe an hour or so. Glenn just got outside" Nicki nodded her head feeling it be a lot lighter than before. She needed that sleep, but she couldn't be knocked out for too long. She wanted to know what was happening. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Is Shane back?" she asked looking around, but Maggie shook her head making Nicki groan a little. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""I know you don't get distracted" Maggie said turning to the table "But I've made you a sandwich. You should eat it" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Thank you" Nicki said turning her body towards the coffee table taking the bread in her hand. She smelled it, not even sure if it was real or a dream. It felt like ages that she had last eaten something like that. As she bit down, she swore she had never eaten something so good. It was like living again. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Look who's back with us" T-Dog said sitting on the couch next to Nicki who smiled as she was chewing. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""I could say the same thing" she said with full mouth noticing the man being healthier than few hours before. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Suddenly they heard the noise of a car getting closer. Nicki, T-Dog and Maggie shared a look, before getting up. Immediately, Nicolette saw Rick, Lori and Hershel ran out from the room to go outside. They all followed them and a rush of relieve hit her as she spotted Shane getting out of the car. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""CarI?" Shane asked as Rick and Hershel ran to him. He seemed exhausted, shaken up, terrified and limping. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""There's still a chance" said Rick as Hershel took the big bag Shane had on his shoulder, then he started to look behind the man's back, making Nicki do the same. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Otis?" Hershel asked. At the question Shane's eyes got wider as he looked down shaking his head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"God, Otis was dead... /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""We say nothing to Patricia" exclaimed Hershel "Not till after. I need her" the he run inside. Nicki looked up at Maggie who was crying, sobbing from next to her. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Was he Patricia's husband?" Nicki asked making the other girl nod her head with closed eyes. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"They didn't want this. It wasn't supposed to go this way. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicolette turned again towards Shane that was now hugging Rick. His eyes always wide and in shock. Nicki wondered what happened. What he had seen. How Otis had died. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""They kept blocking us at every turn" Shane said with trembling voice "We had nothing left. We were down to 10 rounds. Then he said-" he stopped to took a shaky breath, Nicki had never seen him like that. Not even after the attack at the camp. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""He said he'd cover me and that l should keep going. So that's what l did. l just... l kept going" Shane kept saying "But l- l looked back and he- l tried. He wanted to make it right" Rick put a hand on his shoulder trying to reassure his friend. To make him calm down. Nicolette observed Shane, wondering how bad must have all been. The man had always been strong and reliable. Something terrible must have happened if even someone like him was that broken. /p
/div
p style="margin: 0px;"NICOLETTE /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"It was crazy how fast the night has come as soon as Glenn started the car to bring the three of them to Maggie's farm. For as much as she had wished for that day to end, Nicolette couldn't help but feel anxiety raising inside herself to finally see it happen. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Where did ya say Shane had gone?" T-Dog asked with tired voice. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki looked away from outside her window, to turn towards the man. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""I don't know exactly where" Nicki said "But he went with the man who shot Carl to take some medical stuff" it was some school, if she remembered correctly. Apparently when the hospital was overrun, in the school has been set up something like a medical centre, where people could be taken care of. But it had been overrun too. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Medical stuff as in?" asked again T-Dog. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Shouldn't you be resting?" asked Nicki with a frown. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Too painful" he almost chuckled, making the girl shake her head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""The doctor, at least I hope he is a doctor" said Nicki "Needs to operate Carl" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Operate as in surgeon?" asked Glenn panicked. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Focus on the road" said Nicki pointing ahead of her, before lean her back against the sit "But yeah. Bullet exploded. There are still five fragments, too deep to get just removed" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Well, shit" said T-Dog after a moment of silence. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Yeah..." Nicki nodded her head "Shit". /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"The rest of the ride was silent. The sun was completely gone once they finally could see the shape of Greens' farm. Everything was dark, only the lights coming from the house could be seen. As they arrived next to the fence, Glenn got out of the car to open the gate, so that they could get through. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""They've got fences" T-Dog said with wide eyes making Nicki nod her head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""All around" she said. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""This could be the safest place we've encountered so far" since the CDC turned out to be a timing bomb, what T-Dog had said was probably right. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"They drove inside, following the path towards the house. Glenn stopped the car just few feet from the wooden steps. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""So do we ring the bell?" asked Glenn as they walked towards the entrance, making Nicki frown looking up at him. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What?" she asked. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""We're past this kind of stuff, aren't we?" T-Dog added, making Glenn look at them shyly. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Having to be considerate" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Being polite seemed so strange now. Having to deal with people who were still civil, made her feel uneasy. It was like she was forgetting how to proper behave, what her parents had taught her. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Maybe... we can knock" she muttered as Glenn nodded his head a bit unsure. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Did you cIose the gate up the road when you drove in?" the three of them turned to their right a bit startled, to see Maggie coming out from the shadow with a little smile. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Uh, hi" started Glenn with a little blush, trying to act confident "Yes, we closed it. Did the latch and everything" Nicki looked at Glenn with a frown as he continued talking to Maggie "HeIIo. Nice to see you again" he said "We met before briefly" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Look, we came to heIp. There anything we can do?" T-Dog asked tiredly. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Can I get in, Maggie?" asked Nicolette. The girl looked at her and nodded with a small smile. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki opened the door and entered the house again. She looked around and she spotted the blond girl, Maggie's sister with the other boy turning to her. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You're back" Beth said with a little smile, walking towards her "Have you brought your friends here?" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Not all of them" Nicki said keep looking around "Where's Shane? Is he back?" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Beth bit her lips and shook her head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Otis too" she said. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki took a breath turning towards the room where Carl was in. It was dark now. Hours had passed. Shane should have been back by now. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki walked towards the room and looked inside. Everyone was silent, observing Carl who was still sleeping. At least he was still breathing. As she stepped inside, she saw Rick look up towards her, that nodded her head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"He was so pale and tired. And Lori had red eyes from the tears that she had been sheading. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Hey" Rick said as Glenn and T-Dog entered the room too. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Um, we're here, okay?" said Glenn as his eyes moved from Carl to his parents. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Thank you" Lori said. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Whatever you need" added T-Dog. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Rick had his face in his hands, trying to keep it together. There was nothing that they could do, just wait. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Nicolette" said Lori, just before the girl could leave the room, following Maggie, Glenn and T-Dog. The woman extended her hand for Nicki to take. Nicolette walked closer to her taking it. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Thank you" she said with glossy eyes "You've put yourself in danger to get me, thank you" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""It made more sense for you to be here" Nicki answered as the woman squeezed her hand a little. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""How is he?" Nicolette asked turning to the boy. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""If they don't get back soon" said Hershel checking Carl's wound "We're gonna have a decision to make" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki observed him doing it. He uncovered Carl's abdomen and she frowned seeing it swollen and pale. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""And that is?" asked Rick with weak voice. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Whether to operate on your boy without the respirator" at Hershel's words Nicki frowned. Shane and Otis were on a run because they needed those stuff. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You said that wouldn't work" Lori said with wide eyes. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""lt's extremely unlikely" Hershel said "But we can't wait much longer". /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"As the man stopped talking, Lori got up and quickly left the room. Rick looked between his wife and his son, before turning to Nicolette. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Can you stay here with him?" Nicki's eyes widened. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Me?" she asked. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""It'll only take a minute" Rick said before leaving the room, not giving Nicki much of a choice. Nicolette took a breath before sitting on the chair next to Carl. It wasn't like she could do anything but observe the boy, trying to ignoring the needle in his right arm; the one right under her gaze. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What is your name?" asked Hershel as he checked Carl's blood pressure. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Nicolette" she said with a little frown "Are you trying to make conversation?" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""No" the man answered "It's just that I didn't know your name" Nicolette found herself chuckling a bit as the man glanced up to her. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""He's not going to make it, is he?" she asked leaning her back against the chair. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You don't have to think about it" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""It's true, though" she answered to the man "There's no point on hiding it. I suppose that's how the world works now" Hershel observed her silently for a moment, before shaking his head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""The world is the same" he said making Nicki frown. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Doubt it" she said bending forward to put her head between her hands as she watched Carl. If everything was the same, they could have brought him to the hospital. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You're not from Georgia, right?" the man asked as he was checking Carl's bandage. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""No, sir" she answered "I'm from San Francisco" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Hershel frowned a little. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""How did you meet these people?" he asked. Nicki looked up at the man. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""By chance" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Suddenly, Carl coughed making her and Hershel get up. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Carl?" Nicki said with wide eyes as the door got open to see Lori and Rick enter the room. Nicki moved aside to let Carl's parents get closer to their son and she put herself at the end of the bed. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Where are we?" he asked looking around confused as Lori was stroking his hair with a smile. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Hey, little man" said Rick with a sweet voice "That's Hershel. We're in his house. You had an accident. All right?" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki observed the scene before her, with a little smile. The way they stood next to him, trying to calm him, to make him feel safe. In that moment she realized that she had lost that. She was far away from her family and if something was to happen to her, her parents wouldn't even know. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""lt hurts, a lot" Carl said trying to see what was causing that pain. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Oh, baby, l know" said Lori sweetly trying to stop him from moving "l know" Rick took a breath trying to not cry in front of his son, to keep him calm. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Carl then looked around him once more before his gaze landed on Nicolette. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Nicki?" she nodded her head as she saw the boy smile a little towards her, before turning to his mother. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You should have seen it" he said weakly. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What?" Lori asked. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""The deer" he answered with a dreamy smile "lt was so pretty, mom. lt was so close" Nicki and Rick shared a quick look before the girl could see him almost chuckle happily. br /"l've never been..." Nicolette frowned when Carl stopped talking. His eyes were open but he wasn't moving at all. She wasn't even sure he was still breathing. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"emThat wasn't normal.../em /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"em"/emCarl?" as Lori called her son's name, he started to make erratic and uncontrolled movements. He was shaking badly, making the all bed shake too. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What the hell?" Nicki exclaimed covering her mouth with her hands as Rick tried to stop Carl from moving, but Hershel put himself in between. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Don't. lt's a seizure" he said as Nicki observed the boy with wide eyes and her hands on her hair "lf you hold him down, you couId hurt him" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"That was almost terrifying. She had never saw someone having a seizure. It seemed like he was in pain and it was clear that he had no control over his own body. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""You can't stop it?" asked Lori in panic. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""He has to just go through it" explained Hershel, pushing Carl on his side, so that he could not hurt himself. Rick held Lori close as she sobbed and cried. As for Nicki, she had stepped back until her back was against the wall. She couldn't stop looking at Carl as she felt her legs give in to make her sit on the ground. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"After infinite moments, Carl finally stopped and Lori and Rick ran immediately at his side. But the boy was passed out once again. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""His brain isn't getting enough blood" explained Hershel as Nicki pushed herself up once again "His pressure is bottoming. He needs another transfusion". /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"He needed Shane to come back. Where the hell was he? Carl couldn't hold on anymore. He couldn't wait anymore. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki took a breath before she walked out of the room, running outside feeling suddenly sick. She ran down the stairs and thrown up on the ground. Her knees were bent and her hands where on her thighs as she tried to let it all out. She hadn't eaten anything and she felt so tired. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Nicolette?" Glenn rushed to her, rubbing her back as she finished "You need to eat something" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""I don't know what I need" she said with a groan hating even the idea of open her mouth to eat something. She didn't want to eat, or drink, or sleep. She was tired, but she could do nothing but being awake. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Someone should go look for them" Nicki muttered as Glenn brought her closer to him. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What?" he asked as he rubbed one of her arms, sitting on the dirt. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Shane and Otis" she said exhausted "He's going to die if they don't make it back" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""We can't, Nicki" Glenn said shaking his head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Why not?" she asked with closed eyes, feeling a sudden headache. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""We're just gonna make it worst" Glenn said "More people are gonna getting hurt" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicki shook her head tiredly. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Carl's gonna die" she muttered. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Don't talk like this. Come on" said Glenn trying to helping her up "Let's get you inside" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Is she alright?" she heard Maggie's voice. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""I think she's exhausted" Glenn explained as he was supporting Nicki's body "She needs rest and food" Maggie nodded her head, leading them inside, so that Nicolette could lay on the couch. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""What a fucking day" Nicolette muttered as Glenn set next to her, rubbing her arm. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Yeah" he said "You're right" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"After that Nicolette slipped in the darkness. She slept with no dreams and she felt like her slumber had lasted centuries. And when she woke up, she widened her eyes and immediately set up. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Hey" said Maggie that was just entering now "Calm down, it's ok" she knelt next to Nicolette. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""How long have I been out?" Nicki asked. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Not that much, actually" Maggie said "Maybe an hour or so. Glenn just got outside" Nicki nodded her head feeling it be a lot lighter than before. She needed that sleep, but she couldn't be knocked out for too long. She wanted to know what was happening. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Is Shane back?" she asked looking around, but Maggie shook her head making Nicki groan a little. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""I know you don't get distracted" Maggie said turning to the table "But I've made you a sandwich. You should eat it" /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Thank you" Nicki said turning her body towards the coffee table taking the bread in her hand. She smelled it, not even sure if it was real or a dream. It felt like ages that she had last eaten something like that. As she bit down, she swore she had never eaten something so good. It was like living again. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Look who's back with us" T-Dog said sitting on the couch next to Nicki who smiled as she was chewing. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""I could say the same thing" she said with full mouth noticing the man being healthier than few hours before. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Suddenly they heard the noise of a car getting closer. Nicki, T-Dog and Maggie shared a look, before getting up. Immediately, Nicolette saw Rick, Lori and Hershel ran out from the room to go outside. They all followed them and a rush of relieve hit her as she spotted Shane getting out of the car. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""CarI?" Shane asked as Rick and Hershel ran to him. He seemed exhausted, shaken up, terrified and limping. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""There's still a chance" said Rick as Hershel took the big bag Shane had on his shoulder, then he started to look behind the man's back, making Nicki do the same. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Otis?" Hershel asked. At the question Shane's eyes got wider as he looked down shaking his head. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"God, Otis was dead... /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""We say nothing to Patricia" exclaimed Hershel "Not till after. I need her" the he run inside. Nicki looked up at Maggie who was crying, sobbing from next to her. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""Was he Patricia's husband?" Nicki asked making the other girl nod her head with closed eyes. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"They didn't want this. It wasn't supposed to go this way. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;"Nicolette turned again towards Shane that was now hugging Rick. His eyes always wide and in shock. Nicki wondered what happened. What he had seen. How Otis had died. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""They kept blocking us at every turn" Shane said with trembling voice "We had nothing left. We were down to 10 rounds. Then he said-" he stopped to took a shaky breath, Nicki had never seen him like that. Not even after the attack at the camp. /p
/div
div style="margin: 0px;"
p style="margin: 0px;""He said he'd cover me and that l should keep going. So that's what l did. l just... l kept going" Shane kept saying "But l- l looked back and he- l tried. He wanted to make it right" Rick put a hand on his shoulder trying to reassure his friend. To make him calm down. Nicolette observed Shane, wondering how bad must have all been. The man had always been strong and reliable. Something terrible must have happened if even someone like him was that broken. /p
/div