Walking Dead Wizard

Chapter 64

"LUNA!" Hershel called out urgently, the last thing they needed was to be trapped in a cell block unable to get help now that Lori had gone into labour. It shouldn't have surprised him, inside Lori knew she was safe now, this was the best place she'd ever find to give birth and she'd relaxed enough to let her body know it was safe - not that it worked that way he knew, but it certainly bore thinking about.

"What's doing on Daddy?" Beth asked, peering out of the cell door, exhaustion clearly written across her face.

"Nothing you have to worry about, go get some sleep," Hershel said, gesturing for her daughter to go back to bed, there was no point to them all being up. He was just relieved he had slept in the truck while they were driving to the prison, it would give him the strength he needed to aid Lori in giving birth to her child.

"What's happening?" Luna asked frowning as she opened the cell door, wondering what was happening now; it was always something with the group. It was as if they were incapable of living without some sort of drama. Not all of them, she thought, the Greene's had been peaceful people, at least until Shane had gone completely around the bend and began shooting the walkers in the barn which was an otherwise peaceful farm.

"Do you have a sterile room set up? Any sterile environment?" Hershel asked, sounding desperate, although to be fair, the cell was actually quite clean, especially for an area that they were obviously not using.

"We have a hospital wing set up yes," Luna nodded, "ANDREA!" she called out, a few moments later the blonde was at the other end of the hall with a questioning look on her face.

"Yes?" Andrea murmured loud enough for Luna to hear, she was tired, they all were, the relief and adrenaline that had flowed through them when Harry and the others had returned were beginning to wear off.

"Bring the wheelchair, Lori's in labour we need to get her there and we're all too exhausted to carry her!" Luna called out, causing Andrea's eyes to widen before she quickly swept out of her sight. Luna wandered back into the cell Hershel had disappeared into. "She'll be back in a bit." she informed Hershel who was quietly instructing Lori how to breathe through it.

"You have a wheelchair?" Hershel asked, blinking in surprise, "What else do you have?" hopeful that they had enough equipment to see the birth through.

"A lot," Luna explained with a shrug, especially if you included their potions and other supplies they'd raided over the past near enough year. There was enough to keep the Muggles going with what Harry had at their sanctuary in Fort Benning. The hospital had been untouched, nobody willing to try and get close to raid it and once the turning began they will have panicked before long fleeing or ending up dead and a walker themselves. Harry was thinking of raiding all the veterinarian surgeries within a five mile radius just so he could keep Anubis and Hela healthy.

"We're going to get you somewhere more comfortable where we can do this properly," Hershel said softy, calming the panicked woman down. He hoped they had equipment that he could use to cut her open if it was required. He had gotten her history bit by bit over the past few months; he knew she'd had a C-section with her son, Carl, usually when one had a C-section it was mostly always required for the other babies to be safely delivered. He had said none of this to Rick or Lori, not wishing to alarm them further but he had a feeling that Lori probably knew.

"What's wrong?" Carl's voice was clearly heard, and it was filled with worry and fear.

Before Hershel could speak and probably fill the boy's head with lies, Luna knelt before him, looking him in the eye, treating him like the adult he was so desperate for people to see him as, "Your mum has gone into labour, a little bit early, we're going to do everything we can for her and your little brother or sister alright? I know you want to come, to look after her, but I think its best if you stay and get some sleep…it takes a while for your brother or sister to come, you might even be awake again before the baby gets here."

"I want to come!" Carl said determinedly, but he'd relaxed at Luna's words.

Luna nodded resignedly, she'd suspected he would want to be there, if for no other reason than to see the baby. "Hershel?" she questioned, it was up to him since he was going to be delivering the baby, that wasn't going to be questioned.

"Here we go," Andrea said, skidding to a halt, the wheelchair in front of her and already opened so Lori could sit in it.

"Can you stand up for a minute?" Luna asked Lori softly, Lori's pale face gave a grim nod, and between Hershel and Luna they managed to get the pregnant woman on her shaky feet, shuffling out of the cell side ways before easing her into the chair, which she gripped tightly. Rick was hovering in the background as if he didn't know what the hell to do.

Lori glanced at her son, trying to smile but it came out more of a grimace when he placed a comforting hand on hers. God, she hoped this wasn't the last time she saw her son, he'd grown up so much in the past eight months, she hated that her son had been forced to grow up so fast. She never wanted this for him, what sort of world was it going to be to grow up in? Constantly in danger, constantly on the move, then what? To become a walker in the end? She had long ago given up on the prospect of a cure, after seeing the CDC it had pretty much unravelled from there. She loved him so much, and had thought perhaps she could protect him from it all, that Shane and Rick could protect him from it.

Gripping her son tightly, as they moved through the prison, riding through the pain, why oh why had she chosen today of all days to go into labour? Why couldn't her baby have held off for at least a few weeks? To let her get a bit healthier first…some rest at least before coming. She was however, a little relieved that she was somewhere safe where walkers couldn't get them for this.

"What do you need?" Harry asked, standing in the hospital wing with Carol as the group entered, his question aimed at Hershel.

"Warm water if you have it, disinfectant, alcohol will do," Hershel began, "A scalpel, stitches, and anything you have that might help with the pain," he added the last part as an after thought not truly believing they could have what he asked, and honestly, he didn't blame them, the world was what was it was now.

"Carol?" Harry stated, glancing at her, not even needing words to communicate with his people, Rick realized.

"I'll get the water," she said immediately, quickly moving from the room, not bothering to close the door as she made her way to the kitchen to boil as much water as she could.

Harry didn't even wait for her to leave before moving towards the cupboards beginning to bring things out and place it on a tray, which had also been sterilised before they came in with magic and before Carol had too. Anything they could potentially need was put there, making things easier for Hershel; he knew what it was like to be relied on constantly, so to make the ride smoother he would do what he could to aid him. A large white bottle of disinfectant, a box of gloves, scalpels, a pair of scissors still in their packets, a cannula, barrel and plunger still in their plastic wrapping, and a vial of aesthesia. A box which he immediately put a white bag into, towels, more sheets, and gauze pads, bandages, sterile wipes. Hershel was watching him bring it out wide eyed, so much for them not having it.

"Can you think of anything else you might need?" Harry asked turning to face him, ignoring the shock on their faces just waiting expectantly.

"No…no I can't," Hershel admitted, quite frankly amazed.

"Alright," Harry said nodding briefly, moving the tray which was on a trolley forward, without another word he began to leave the room.

"Harry?" Lori said, breathing heavily, turning to face him, guilt, shame, and relief coursing through her, when Harry turned to face her impassively. "Thank you…I…I…thank you." she croaked, she'd been so terrified at the thought of giving birth without the necessary equipment…only for Harry to have everything she needed to give birth. She had a chance of surviving this now, and she owed it all to Harry who had saved them and brought them here to safety. She wasn't going to give birth in an abandoned properly without even hot water…she had everything. She swore to try and not judge him so quickly, he had been only thinking of her families health when they were given the porridge, as evident by what he had explained less than an hour ago, now this it was just making her feel all the more guilty.

Harry could see the guilt and relief in the woman and listened to her thoughts, perhaps she wasn't too far gone after all. "You're welcome, Lori," seeing the surprised look on her face, she realized like him, it was the first time he'd ever said her name to her face. With that he left the room, making his way toward his own cell, having to make a show of collecting a few things, something he hoped he wouldn't need to do soon. For tonight he was going to finally let all of his people in on his secret, he would be leaving the prison after all, albeit nearing a year later than he said he would be. The prison had always been intended as a pit stop so to speak, somewhere to hole up for winter, which wasn't as bad as he'd assumed it would be, still cold though.

"Finally goin' to get some rest?" Daryl asked joining him as he climbed up the stairs.

"In a bit," Harry murmured quietly, warmth spreading through him, Daryl cared about him a lot, and he hadn't had many people in his life that had. He cherished every single one of them. Or rather cared about him as a person, not someone who would inevitably end the war with Voldemort for them. He didn't understand how people couldn't see past Daryl and Merle's abrasive manners to the good people they were underneath.

Once he was inside his cell, quickly got his trunk to the right size and began to pluck out items the baby would need when it arrived. Clothes, blankets, a Moses basket with its stand, bottles just in case the baby couldn't nurse from it's mother, a tin of baby formula for new born, a dummy, nappies, and wipes, there was a lot more still in there where that lot came from, even baby baths, when he said he'd cleared out supermarkets he meant it, everything had gone in except for the dairy products AFTER the apocalypse since it was off and mouldy. Even the boxed items in the back of the giant supermarkets had done in and remained untouched. It would remain that way until after they'd moved to Fort Benning and he'd not have to explain anything since they'd know - if they came. It would take him forever to get everything out of his trunk but he didn't mind. Dizziness shot through Harry so unexpectedly he swayed where he stood.

Daryl reached out and grabbed Harry, guiding him onto his bed, sitting him down, half frowning half worried. Shaking his head at his stubborn nature, was that how Harry felt dealing with him? If that were the case he didn't know how he dealt with it all the time, it was annoying the hell out of him. "You alrigh'?"

"I'm just tired, the potions take a lot out of you, they use your own magic to help the healing along," Harry admitted before yawning. He shouldn't be up with those potions in his system, he should be resting but he wasn't. He wasn't about to let him know that titbit of information, he didn't like being confined to bed, although after he gave this over to Hershel he was going to get some rest, he couldn't risk permanent damage to his leg by continuously putting strain on it while it was healing. It wasn't stupid; he didn't want to end up walking with a limp for the rest of his life.

"Get some rest," Daryl said, nudging him to lie down.

"I'll sleep soon, you've had less than me, it should be you sleeping," Harry said, his green eyes eyeing Daryl with concern, "We aren't used to going without sleep like this anymore, I guess despite everything we did get complacent here after all."

"Sleep ain't being complacent," Daryl snorted, "It's a requirement."

"Mmm, suppose so," Harry agreed, stifling another yawn, "Unfortunately I don't think any of us are going to sleep when the screaming starts," his room had a silencing spell so nobody could hear what he was saying, but the spell didn't work the other way around, which meant even he'd hear the screaming coming from the hospital wing.

Daryl grimaced at that thought; he couldn't stand her voice let alone listening to her screaming for hours. She had guts though to have a kid in this world, especially after what she'd said about her other kid, hoping he didn't survive the gunshot so he didn't have to live in this world. When you were as quiet as him you heard a lot that people didn't expect you to. She was an idiot for getting pregnant but credit was given for what it was due she'd kept it despite knowing what the future was like - bleak. It would have parents that would protect it to the end, unlike his parents.

He could imagine the little ass-kicker it would grow to be if it grew up alongside all of em, like Sophia, she could kick anyone's ass in a fair fight. Rick ain't stupid enough to go out there with a newborn kid, his son and a wife who'd just given birth, they'd be ripe for the picking. Grievances aside, the others wouldn't condemn the Grimes to that existence as long as they didn't try anything stupid. Not like Rick had done back at the Quarry, just rolled up and took over Shane. He didn't care for either of them, but that's what had caused Shane's descent of the rails, then Lori then being denied his own kid being told he'd have nothing to do with it had caused him to see no opinion other than to kill Rick obviously in hopes that things would go back to normal. Harry beating the shit out of him had obviously been the thing to start it all off.

"Where the hell are you goin' now?" Daryl grumbled in exasperation, he was dead on his feet as it was why couldn't he get him to do a single thing he should?

"Taking this down there just in case I don't get another chance, then I'm coming up for some rest, don't worry," Harry said honestly, seeing the worry made him feel guilty that he was causing it.

"Damn straight," Daryl groused, he'd be staying to make sure he did as well, and it had absolutely nothing to do with Harry's bed being a damn sight more inviting than his sofa bed. The sofa bed had been old when he started using it, the springs were beginning to poke through, he had a suspicion he wouldn't have it much longer.

Harry chuckled, "Don't worry about me, Daryl, I've been through worse, a lot worse than a broken leg and a burn," he bent down to pick everything up only for Daryl to grab them first leaving only the small objects for him to carry.

As they walked along the corridor they both winced at the sudden scream of pain from Lori, damn that was louder than either had anticipated.

"I'm suddenly thinking we really aren't going to get much sleep," Harry said wryly, glancing at Daryl with feral amusement. When they entered the room they saw Carl was sitting on the chair next to his mum wiping her brow with a damp cloth, Rick was standing at the other side, his hand being squashed in Lori's. Lori was mostly covered in white bedding, in the right position for giving birth, with Hershel keeping an eye on things; he'd already donned the white surgical gloves.

Rick blinked in disbelief when he caught sight of all the baby stuff…things. "W-where did you get all that?" he rasped out, his free hand clenching tightly as uselessness began to creep up on him yet again. He had sworn to his wife that they'd be alright and he wasn't the one making sure she was. It was them who had everything to see the birth through with all chance of her surviving, it was them again who had things for the baby when it came. Anger began to stir within him, it was meant to be him.

"Supermarket we raided," Harry replied, setting it all aside, ready to get some sleep.

"But why?" Rick demanded, why would they get baby stuff? It made no sense there was no babies in the group…or was there?

"We take everything that can be used; the only thing that we leave behind is perishable goods, dairy and the like." Harry explained easily enough, "Just because we don't have any babies in the group now, it doesn't mean that will change."

"Andre's a baby," Daryl pointed out.

"To his mum only," Harry said grinning, "He's a toddler and doesn't need baby's things," he said for the sake of Rick, Carl, Lori and Hershel.

"Thank you, this is absolutely perfect," Hershel said in admiration as he looked over the small pile they'd definitely immediately need for a baby.

Harry nodded and moved towards the door just about to close it, the spell going off around the prison caused him to stumble in mid-step, and would have fallen if not or Daryl grabbing his belt and top stopping him from tumbling. Daryl didn't want to risk grabbing his chest in fear that it would cause him further pain. "Oh, shit." he muttered his breathing hitching.

"What is it?" Daryl questioned quietly but nonetheless urgently, not wanting to alert the others in the room that something was going on.

"We're in trouble," Harry murmured, wide eyed his eyes glazed and unseeing.

"Someone outside?" Daryl questioned, not needing confirmation on that he wasn't stupid.

"More than one someone," Harry said straightening up his gaze becoming more intense. "Sixteen people and Sophia is out there!"

Daryl cursed violently, telling Harry that he'd get Merle and Luna as well as the weapons, before running towards Harry's cell, shouting for his brother all the while, grabbing dozens of guns from the trunk, one for each and every one of their people and extra for those in Harry's group. He barely twitched when he heard the bell going violently, everyone would know something was happening, once he'd grabbed as many as he could carry his crossbow on his back he began to run again.

"What the fuck's goin' on?" Merle cursed, doing up his trousers as he stepped out Luna's cell.

"Big trouble," Daryl threw back, pausing momentarily, "Bring some guns, Harry's trunks open!"

Merle nodded sobering grimly, it was the last thing Daryl saw before he was gone out the cell block as if the grim himself was on his heels.

"Just stay there with your wife!" Daryl heard Harry before he saw him.

"Where's Sophia?!" Carol cried out in worry. Hela and Sophia were missing but Anubis was in the room with them.

"She's outside," Harry said seriously, grasping a hold of her shoulders his conversation with Rick forgotten. "Listen to me; I'm not going to let anything happen to her, do you trust me?"

"You know I do," Carol said immediately, still tense and terrified but ready to do whatever it took to save her daughter.

"Then believe that," Harry stated, as everyone geared up ready to go outside, even Glenn, Maggie, Jimmy and Beth.

"Where do we set up?" Andrea questioned, slamming the magazine back into the gun, it was full, and she picked three extra magazines when she was told to by Luna who came through the room with ammunition for them.

"Andrea you take Amy and Beth to checkpoint one, no firing unless we have no choice, and be careful any sign of danger you get back into the prison," Harry stated seriously. "Look out for my signal."

"Come on lets go," Andrea told Amy and Beth, with her sniper rifle and machine gun in her hands she ran towards the area they'd daubed checkpoint one, an area where they could see outside the prison without being outside in the cold or having to go to the tower. She barely glanced back to make sure that Amy and Beth had a weapon on them before hurrying, keeping down just in case they had snipers trained on them, she'd been taught well and would not let them down.

"What's his signal?" Beth questioned Amy and Andrea.

"Luna, will you help Hershel? It seemed as if everyone else here wants to leave Lori on her own?" Harry stated sharply, deeply annoyed at that fact. "I'll get in touch if we need you,"

"The kids gonna need someone," Merle murmured quietly to her knowing it was her weak spot if he could keep her the hell out of whatever this was then hell yeah, he was gonna do it.

Luna scowled at the pair of them; she wasn't some damsel in distress dammit! She could fight better than most people here, but she was the only other magical person in the group…and she had potions…Harry was doing this just in case something went wrong. Giving them a grim nod, glaring at Rick in disgust, if anything he should be staying with her! With that she left the cafeteria making her way to the hospital wing where Hershel was probably a whole lot confused.

Rick's getting some insight on how they work as a team now! :D and how prepared they really are for anything! If i decided to write another Walking Dead story...how would you guys like to see it go? Obviously it would need to be different from this one I wouldn't like to have my two stories so similiar...it's nothing i'll need to decide yet since I would like to have this finished before I begin a new one :D but still it's awesome to speculate...I'm still stuck on how to get Abe, Eugene and Rosita in this story at the moment...do you think Eugene would have kept up the ruse all the way to Washington? would he come clean if Harry calls him out on his lies? Hmm at this point they're goodness knows where...its six months at least before they pass the prison and terminus tracks...Then there's Tyreese and the others :D so many i'd love to add yet I've not had the opportunity and that's fading quickly since plans are being put into motion for Fort Benning...well R&R please guys!