A/N: Hey everybody! I'm finally back! I'm so sorry for this long wait. School has really been on me lately, but I'm almost done :D ! This will be a short chapter, but the next will be released shortly hopefully. Thank you for those who still stick with me. Much love!
Anyways I hope you all enjoy! Don't forget to review!
Back at the highway, Glenn and T-Dog anxiously awaited for any positive news about the missing little girl. While the others scoured the area in search of her, the two had scavenged a few more supplies from some abandoned cars, like snacks and clothes.
"Shot?! What do you mean shot?!" Glenn's voice rang out in shock, his eyes widened with disbelief as Tina shared the dreadful news.
"I don't know, Glenn. All I know is that this girl, riding on a horse, swooped in, saved my life, and then took Quinn," Tina explained, her voice a mix of both awe and fear.
"And you just let her?" Glenn's gaze now at Puck, who stood nearby, his expression a blend of disbelief and anger. The news that Lucas was hurt hit him hard, a blow to his heart for the boy he had watched over and cared for.
"Leave me be." Puck spat out bitterly, "Santana sent her. She knew Quinn and Lucas's names." His tone thick with resentment as he turned away and left the group, struggling to process news.
"She mentioned they have a farm just 2 miles away. Should we head over there?" Tina's voice broke through the tension.
"No! My daughter is still out there. We can't just abandon her," Kurt's cry pierced the air, his words heavy with the fear of every parent's worst nightmare.
"Kurt, the group is split, we are scattered and weak." T-Dog interjected.
"What if she comes back and we're not here?! It could happen." Blaine's voice breaks at the thought of his daughter returning to no one.
"He's right. If Ella finds her way back and we're gone that would be awful." Tina chimed in.
"Okay, listen Kurt. We have to consider the other possibility." Puck slowly starts, returning back. "We need to be driving to that farm, now."
"No! She is alive! We can't leave," Kurt's voice wavered with emotion.
"Here's what we'll do. Tomorrow morning, we'll set up a big sign and leave her some supplies. I'll stay here tonight." Daryl offered.
"Me too." Mike and Tina added.
"Thank you. Thank you," Kurt's voice softened. "Blaine, stay here with me. We'll go to the farm together."
"Okay, Kurt." Blaine says moving closer to his husband to comfort him, placing a gentle kiss on his head.
The rest of the group decided to take Finn's car and drive up to the farm to regroup with Santana, Quinn, Finn, and Lucas, leaving behind Daryl, Mike, Blaine, Kurt, and Tina.
Back at Hershel's farm…
Another blood transfusion was needed from Santana. Patricia, her hands steady as memories begin to rush in of her past life as a nurse, carefully disconnected the tubes that had been transferring Santana's blood into Lucas's unconscious body.
Weak and pale, Santana struggled to rise, her body beginning to betray her. She then collapsed back into the chair, her inability to stand on her own crushing her spirit.
"Don't move, Tana, please." Quinn pleaded, her voice thick with worry as she gazed upon her wife's pale face, "How many transfusions did they do?"
"Two. Only Two." Santana murmured, disappointed at her body's limitations.
"He wanted to do the same for you, when you were in the hospital. I had to talk him out of it." Quinn revealed, a bittersweet smile forming as she recalled Lucas's concern for his mother.
Santana's gaze drifted back to her son, lying motionless. Guilt began to gnaw at her insides, threatening to consume her. Sensing her torment, Quinn reached out, clasping Santana's trembling hand in her own, placing a tender kiss.
"He's going to be okay, my love."
At the high school…
After having driven for roughly three miles and a half to reach the school, Otis and Finn decided to approach the high school on foot, hoping to avoid attracting any unwanted attention. As they grew nearer, shock washed over them as they witnessed the number of walkers swarming the high school. The situation was far more dire than they had originally anticipated.
Otis guided Finn closer, pointing out the medical supplies trailer surrounded by a sea of the dead that lurked on all sides.
"Shit. That's where we gotta get to?" Finn muttered in disbelief, to which Otis nodded sadly.
Finn looked around for ways to access the trailer without alerting the dead. His eyes fell upon a nearby sheriff's car and he began to move towards it.
"Wait. Wait. Where are you going?" Otis whispered urgently.
"The cop car. We need more ammo to deal with all of them." Finn replied, reaching for the door handle. To his surprise, the door was unlocked. Finn quickly opened the trunk and rifled through old junk, but then, a smirk started to form on his face as he pulled out an unexpected item– firecrackers.
The two men wasted no time. They lit the firecrackers and tossed them toward the herd of walkers, the loud pops and flashes drawing the attention they needed to distract the dead. Seizing the opportunity, they quickly slipped into the medical trailer and closed the door behind them, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Where's the list?" Finn asked, turning to Otis who grabbed a flashlight to search for the note that Hershel had left.
"Here. Alright, you see those oxygen tanks? Grab three of them. And grab a couple of the tweezers too," Otis instructed, his voice urgent.
"Hey, do we need this?" Finn asked, holding up a retractor.
"My man, you just hit the jackpot," Otis replied with the biggest grin.
As they gathered the necessary supplies, Finn peered out of a window and saw that the distraction caused by the firecrackers was beginning to fade.
Time was running out.
"We need to move. Now," Finn urged, glancing nervously at the walkers that roamed closer to the trailer.
With caution, Finn opened the door, however, the creaking noise drew the attention of the nearby walkers. Panic surged as they realized they were now being chased.
"Shit! Come on! Come on!" Finn yells out, breaking into a sprint toward an alley leading back to the school entrance.
Finn desperately tried to open the doors, but they were locked tight. The groans and moans of the dead grew louder and louder. With no escape in sight, fear gripped them as the walkers started to close in.
Back at Hershel's farm…
Quinn gently guided Santana into the kitchen, each step was hesitant, making sure that Santana took her time. Hershel's concerned expression spoke volumes as he looked at the weak state of the Latina. He began to pour a cup of orange juice and prepared some toast to help Santana regain her strength. The cup and plate were handed to Santana, her hands trembling visibly.
As Santana struggled to cut the toast to share with Quinn, her fingers quivered uncontrollably. Quinn, unable to witness her wife's state, gently refused and said, "You eat, my love. I'll be fine," she insisted, watching Santana take a sip of the juice. She then turned to Hershel, grappling with the overwhelming news from a few hours ago.
"So I understand that when Finn gets back with this other man–"
"Otis."
"Otis. The idiot who s-shot our son." Quinn's voice faltered, her gaze heavy with anger and bitterness.
"Ma'am, it was an accident." Hershel interjected softly.
"Lucy, they're doing everything they can to make this right." Santana soothed, reaching for Quinn's hand.
"As soon as they get back, you can do the surgery?" Quinn's voice trembled.
"I'll certainly do my best."
"Okay, I mean, you've performed this procedure before?"
"Well. Yes. To an extent."
"To an extent?" Quinn questions, her hopes now teetering on the edge of desperation.
"My love, we don't have the luxury to search for surgeons." Santana reminds her of their current circumstances.
"No. No. I understand that." Quinn managed a weak smile, then turned to Hershel, "I mean, you are a doctor, right?"
"Yes ma'am. A vet."
"A veteran, as in an army doctor?!"
"A veterinarian." Hershel corrected gently, watching as all of Quinn's hope shattered before his eyes.
Quinn looked at Santana in shock, her breath being caught in her throat as she struggled to process what Hershel had just said. Santana, the last of her strength now disappearing, felt a dizzying wave wash over her.
"...And you've done this surgery on what? Horses? Cows?" Quinn's voice cracked.
"I-I need to sit down." Santana murmured, reaching for a chair, glass crashing to the floor. Quinn had just caught her in time, before the brunette hit the floor.
"You're completely in over your head, aren't you?" Quinn muttered.
"Ma'am, aren't we all-"
"Daddy, Daddy." a blonde teenager bursts in, interrupting her father. "Can we take some snacks upstairs? Ooh and some cookies?" the young blonde asks, oblivious to the tension in the room. "Oh hello! My name is Beth. Oh my gosh, are you okay?" she asks, worriedly looking at the Latina.
"Hi Beth, I'm Quinn, and this is Santana. She's feeling a bit sick and tired, but she's okay." Quinn replied with a faint smile.
"Sure darling, but save some for your sister and uncle," Hershel replied with a warm smile, leading to Beth eagerly rushing to the cookie jar and fetching cookies for two.
Then, in the doorway, a shy figure appeared, catching everyone's attention.
"Oh my God." Santana breathed out, her heart beating rapidly as she began to recognize the familiar face.
Oooh! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Sorry it was so short, but the next one will be longer. Much love to you all!
- Anothergleekgirl: Thank you for your review! Yeah, I was thinking about having Finn as Rick and Puck as Shane, but I just love Santana and Quinn so much haha. Thank you so much, and will do! :)
- Guest: Thanks for your review! No worries! More to come soon.