Chapter 19:

Author note at the end. Enjoy.

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As dusk settled over the farm, the atmosphere inside the Greene house remained tense. The surgery to save Carl's life had been grueling, pushing both Hershel and Alex to their limits along with the old man's family.

Rick and Shane could only watch as Beth, Maggie, and Annette would dart out of the room as if something was chasing them with blood in their hands, ignoring his questions entirely, before returning and shutting the door on his face. The only thing they'd say to him, as his son screamed in pain some time, was they were busy.

The waiting seemed torture to the partners, each minute stretching into what felt like hours. Rick paced the hallway in worry and guilty tears in his eyes, his boots wearing a path in the old wooden floorboards.

Shane leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, eyes never leaving the closed door. The occasional muffled sounds from within the room - a pained cry, urgent whispers, the clatter of instruments - only served to heighten their anxiety and tension.

Outside, the rest of the group had gathered on the porch, their faces etched with worry. Kenny held Katjaa close, both of them acutely aware of how easily it could have been their own son in that room. Lee sat on the steps, Clementine nestled against his side, her small hand clutching his shirt. The gravity of the situation had sobered even Duck, who sat quietly next to his parents, his usual energy subdued.

As the sky darkened, Carley emerged from the house with a tray of sandwiches and a pitcher of water. "Thought you all might need something," she said softly, setting the tray down on a small table. The group murmured their thanks, but few made a move to eat. The food sat largely untouched, mostly eaten by Clementine and Duck as their guardians urged them to eat.

Inside, the operation continued. Hershel's steady hands worked tirelessly, his brow furrowed in concentration as he extracted the very first bullet fragments and repaired any damaged tissues.

Any tool that Hershel needed that could only be found in hospitals to make the job easier, Alex would immediately turn to Beth and Maggie to tell them what he needed to make a one time use of it, as the memories would simply fit in his head.

Beth and Maggie moved efficiently around the room, passing instruments, changing bloodied gauze, with Annette coordinating their moves while monitoring Carl's vital signs. And when Carl needed blood, Alex immediately offered his own without hesitation.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the door opened. Hershel and Alex emerged, their faces etched with exhaustion. The hallway fell silent, all eyes turning to them expectantly.

Rick, who had been pacing anxiously in the hallway, immediately rushed towards them. "How is he? Is my son going to be okay?"

Hershel, wiping his brow with a clean cloth, nodded slowly. "We've done all we can for now. The bullet's fragments are taken out, and we've managed to stop the bleeding. But he's not out of the woods yet."

Alex looked extremely pale while leaning heavily against the wall, stared warily by the trio behind him to make sure he wouldn't fall, added, "The next few hours will be critical. We… we need to monitor him closely for any signs of infection or internal bleeding."

"Are you okay?" Shane asked, as the young man looked drained. But Alex nodded. "Yeah, I…"

Hershel instead gestured to Shawn and Glen who were crowding the hallway to help him towards the living room, which they did with no questions asked. He continued. "Your son was bleeding a lot. And Alex offered his."

"What?" Rick muttered, turning to stare at the back of Alex with Shane. "He's universal donor."

The revelation hit Rick like a physical blow, feeling an immense amount of gratitude towards him. A stranger who had literally given his blood to save Carl's life. The enormity of the gesture left him momentarily speechless while he remembered the people he had met so far. Morgan and his boy, Felipe and his group helping the old people, and now these groups.

"Thank you." Rick weakly muttered, turning to Hershel and looking at the man straight in the eyes. "Thank you." He stated it firmly, with Shane conveying the same firm gratitude silently. Hershel simply nodded. "What's your and your son's blood types?" Hershel finally asked. Rick wiped his tears, "A positive. Both." Another weak reply but everyone ignored it.

"Good, then I need you to be no more than 15 feet away from that bed." Hershel ordered and Rick turned to Shane. "What about Lori. She- She has to know. She's his mother." But Shane instead grabbed the man by the head, making him focus on him and him alone. "You don't have to worry about that. I'll take care of that end. You-" He gestured to the room. "You go back there and sit by that room. You take care of Carl. Understand me?"

Rick nodded, a gasp of relief leaving him. Putting foreheads together, Shane nodded back. "You've got the hard part. Stay strong, don't waver. Ever! Leave everything else to me." Shane ordered with Rick nodding. "Thank you."

"We're partners, Rick." Shane answered with another nod. As soon as he entered the living room, the young man that he wanted to give his gratitude to was already dozing off on the couch, head leaned on the blonde girl's shoulder, Beth.

"Thank you. All of you." He instead turned to Hershel's wife and daughters, who smiled back in return. "Once he wakes up, tell it to him again." Annette spoke, watching the young man's pale face. "He needs it." In response, Shane nodded gravely, before turning to the door and leaving the house. Shawn followed him out.

Outside, the group on the porch straightened up as Shane emerged, their faces a mixture of hope and apprehension.

"How is he?" Kenny asked, voicing the question on everyone's mind.

Shane took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "He's alive. They got the bullet out, but... it's touch and go. The next few hours are critical."

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the group, though the tension didn't fully dissipate. They all understood the precarious nature of Carl's condition.

"Listen," Shane continued, his voice taking on a note of urgency. "I need to get back to our group. Lori... Carl's mother... she needs to know what's happened. And we've got others who need to be brought here."

Kenny stepped forward, his face set with determination. "I'll go with you. You shouldn't be out there alone, not with those things roaming around."

"Kenny." Katjaa called out in worry, and before the husband could answer his wife, Shane interrupted. "She's right." He started, agreeing with the old brunette without hearing her words, turning back to Kenny. "It'll be dangerous. It'll be dark in half an hour at best."

Instead of answering him, Shawn walked down the porch, nodding to Kenny who seemed ready to stop Shane. "I'll come too. We'll take my truck. That way, we won't lose much time." Shane looked extremely surprised, ready to deny it, but Kenny chuckled. "We're coming with you, whether you like it or not."

Shane looked between the two men, a mix of gratitude and concern on his face. He knew he needed the help, but he was also acutely aware of the dangers they'd be facing. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded. "Alright. Let's move quickly. We don't have much time before it gets dark."

As Kenny moved to join them, Katjaa grabbed his arm. "Be careful," she said softly, her eyes filled with worry. Kenny gave her a reassuring smile, cupping her cheek gently. "I will. We'll be back before you know it."

Lee stood up, Clementine still clinging to his side. "You sure you don't need more backup?"

Shawn shook his head with a smile. "No, we need people here to keep watch. Those walkers might have heard the commotion. We can't leave the farm undefended. Plus, all the seats are taken."

Lee nodded in understanding. "Alright. We'll hold down the fort. Just... come back safe, all of you."

With final goodbyes and promises to return quickly, Shane, Kenny, and Shawn climbed into Shawn's truck. The engine roared to life, and they set off down the long driveway, disappearing into the sunset.

Back inside the house, Beth gently eased Alex's head onto a pillow as he dozed on the couch. She looked up at her father, who was watching with a mixture of concern and approval.

"He needs rest," Hershel said softly. "That boy gave a lot of blood. He'll be weak for a while."

Beth nodded, her eyes never leaving Alex's face. "I'll look after him, Daddy."

Hershel hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But don't overdo it yourself. It's been a long day for all of us."

As Hershel moved to check on Carl, Beth quietly slipped out of the room. She returned a few minutes later with a basin of warm water and a clean cloth. With gentle movements, she began to clean the dried blood from Alex's hands and arms. Alex stirred slightly at her touch, his eyes fluttering open. "Wha...?" he mumbled, still groggy from exhaustion and blood loss.

"Shh," Beth soothed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's okay. Go back to sleep. You need to rest." Alex's eyes remained closed, a look of confusion crossing his face before recognition of her voice set in. "Beth?" he murmured.

She smiled softly, continuing to clean his hands. "That's right. You did good today, Alex. Real good. Now it's time for you to rest." He stirred for a moment, the exhaustion overwhelming him. Yet still, "How's… Carrrll…," he whispered, his voice thick with sleep.

Beth watched as he drifted off again, her heart swelling with a mixture of emotions she couldn't quite name. She continued her task, gently cleaning away the last traces of blood from his skin.

Hershel, coming back and leaning on the doorway, watching, felt a twinge of concern at the tenderness in his daughter's actions.

"What's wrong?" Annette joined him, watching their youngest daughter and Hershel's frown.

Hershel sighed softly, turning to his wife. "I'm worried about Beth," he admitted in a low voice. "She seems... very attached to Alex."

Annette followed her husband's gaze, observing Beth's gentle ministrations. "She's always had a big heart," she said softly. "And after everything that's happened... maybe it's not so bad for her to find someone to care about."

Hershel's frown deepened. "He's been through a lot, Annette. We don't know everything about him, but we do know what he's ready to do survive. I don't want Beth getting hurt."

Annette placed a comforting hand on her husband's arm. "I understand your concern, Hershel. But Beth's not a little girl anymore. We have to trust her judgment, even in these difficult times."

"She's 16 years old." Hershel replied in a whisper, frown still there.

As they watched, Beth finished cleaning Alex's hands and arms. She set aside the basin and cloth, then gently tucked a blanket around him. For a moment, she just sat there, watching him sleep, a soft smile on her face.

Hershel cleared his throat softly, causing Beth to look up. "Daddy?" she questioned, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Why don't you get some rest too, Bethy?" Hershel suggested gently. "It's been a long day for all of us."

Beth hesitated, glancing back at Alex. "But what if he needs something?" Annette stepped forward. "I'll keep an eye on him, sweetheart. Your father's right, you need your rest too."

After a moment's hesitation, Beth nodded. She stood up, casting one last glance at Alex before heading towards the stairs. As she passed her parents, she paused to give each of them a hug. "Goodnight, Daddy. Goodnight, Mama."

As Beth disappeared upstairs, Hershel and Annette exchanged a look, before her mother burst in quiet laughter, surprising her husband, who only remained confused. "What?" He asked in worry, but his wife simply hugged him, laughing in his chest as if she had found something in his eyes or expression very funny.

Meanwhile, out on the darkening road, Shane, Kenny, and Shawn made their way towards the highway where the rest of Shane's group was waiting. The atmosphere in the truck was tense, each man lost in his own thoughts.

Kenny broke the silence first. "So, Shane, how many people are we talking about here?"

Shane ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. "There's Lori, Carl's mother. Then we've got T-Dog, Dale, Andrea, Daryl, and Carol and her daughter Sophia, who's been missing."

Kenny's eyebrows shot up at this information. "Missing?"

Shane nodded grimly. "Yeah, we've been searching, but with Carl getting shot... it's been chaos."

Shawn gripped the steering wheel tighter. "We'll help look for her once we get everyone settled at the farm. No child should be out there alone."

Shane nodded grimly. "I know it's a lot to ask of your family, taking us all in like this. But with Carl's condition..."

Shawn cut him off. "Hey, we get it. No one should be out here alone, especially not with a kid in that state. We'll make it work."

As they approached the highway, they could see the distant glow of campfires. Shane leaned forward, his body tense. "There they are. Pull over here, Shawn. I'll go in first, explain the situation."

Shawn brought the truck to a stop, and Shane hopped out. Kenny and Shawn watched as he approached the camp, immediately surrounded by concerned faces. Not too long after, everything started going wrong for them.

"Something's wrong." Kenny muttered, getting out to join them with Shawn doing the same.

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As Shane approached the camp, he was immediately surrounded by concerned faces. The flickering light of the campfire cast eerie shadows, highlighting the worry and exhaustion etched on everyone's features.

"Shane!" Lori rushed forward, her eyes wide with panic. "Where's Rick? Where's Carl?"

Shane took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult conversation ahead. "Lori, there's been an accident. Carl... he's been shot."

A collective gasp rippled through the group. Lori's face drained of color, her legs buckling beneath her. Shane quickly moved to support her. "What? How?" Lori's voice was barely above a whisper, thick with disbelief and fear.

Shane quickly recounted the events, explaining how Carl had been accidentally shot by a man named Otis while he was hunting. He told them about the farm where Carl was being treated, about the veterinarian and the young man who were working to save his life.

As Shane spoke, he noticed something was off. T-Dog was sitting apart from the group, his face glistening with sweat despite the cool evening air. And Andrea... Andrea was unnaturally pale, her right hand clutching her left shoulder.

"What happened here?" Shane asked, his voice sharp with sudden concern. Dale stepped forward, his face grim. "We had our own incident while you were gone. Andrea…"

"I got bit," Andrea said flatly, her voice devoid of emotion. She slowly removed her hand from her shoulder, revealing an angry, unmistakable bite mark.

Shane felt as if the ground had dropped out from under him. He staggered back a step, his mind reeling from this new blow. "And T-Dog?" Dale explained. "It's infected. He's running a high fever from the cut he got from the herd of walkers earlier in the day."

For a moment, Shane stood frozen, overwhelmed by the cascade of disasters. Then, with a visible effort, he pulled himself together. "Okay," he said, his voice tight with controlled emotion. "Okay. We need to move. Now. There's a farm nearby where Carl's being treated. They have medical supplies, a safe place to stay."

"What about Andrea?" Carol asked softly, the same ghostly face on her as Andrea had, but for another reason, her missing daughter.

Andrea let out a bitter laugh. "What about me? We all know what happens next."

"We'll figure something out," Shane insisted, but even to his own ears, the words sounded hollow. "No," Andrea said firmly. "No, we won't." She spat, glaring at Dale. "I'm here because of YOU!"

"YOU! A NOBODY! WHO WANTED TO PLAY THE HERO!" She exploded at Dale, glaring at him viciously. "I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME BEHIND IN CDC!" She jabbed her finger at him, her hand on the small revolver that Lori had given her. "BUT HERE I AM!" Andrea pulled her shirt, showing the bite mark once more.

"Andrea." Dale tried, but with fury, she pointed the revolver at Dale. "ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!"

"ANDREA!" Shane shouted, pointing his shotgun at her. "Lower. The. Gun." He ordered, Daryl sneaked away from the group and slowly made his way towards her to not spook her.

Instead, she laughed and in one fluid motion, she pulled out her gun and pressed it against her temple.

"Andrea, no!" Dale cried out, lunging towards her with Daryle doing the same, but it was too late.

BANG!

The crack of the gunshot echoed through the night, causing whatever birds in the area to take flight from nearby trees. Andrea's body crumpled to the ground, the gun falling from her lifeless hand.

For a moment, no one moved. The camp was frozen in a tableau of horror and disbelief. Then, as if a spell had been broken, chaos erupted.

The gunshot's echo faded, replaced by a heavy, stunned silence. Shane was the first to snap out of it, his police training kicking in. "Everyone, we need to move. Now!" he barked, his voice cutting through the shock. "That shot will draw walkers. We don't have time to mourn."

Dale stumbled towards Andrea's body, his face a mask of anguish. "We can't just leave her here," he choked out. Shane grabbed Dale's arm, pulling him back. "We don't have a choice. T-Dog needs medical attention, and we need to get to safety before the herd from earlier shows up."

Daryl, ever practical, was already moving. "I'll get the vehicles ready," he said gruffly, heading towards the cars.

Lori, tears streaming down her face, turned to Shane. "Take me to Carl," she pleaded. Shane nodded, then addressed the group. "Alright, listen up. We're moving to a farm nearby. It's safe, and they have medical supplies. We leave in five minutes."

As the group scrambled to gather their belongings, Kenny and Shawn approached, having witnessed the tragic scene. Shane ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. "We need to move fast."

As they worked to break down the camp, the sound of distant groans began to drift through the trees. The walkers were coming.

"Time's up!" Shane shouted. "Everyone in the vehicles, now!"

In a flurry of movement, the group piled into the cars. As they pulled away from the campsite, Dale looked back one last time at Andrea's body, illuminated by the abandoned campfire. Then the trees closed in, and she was gone from view.

The convoy sped through the night, leaving behind one more piece of their old lives, racing towards an uncertain

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Author Note:

So, what are your thoughts on Alex and Beth so far? While someone suggested Maggie, after watching season 2 episode 2 of the show, I really want to keep her with Glen as cannon. Regarding Alex and Beth, I want to keep it light and start it slow. Whilst also showing her tender personality (wiki photo and sheltered life makes her appear very vulnerable, but also very caring). 

I also wanted to show her parents' reaction to her developing these feelings towards Alex. A guy 3 years older than her. I can already hear the arguments, but I have a simple redirect card. Some of you were pairing him with Clementine, so...

Next chapter, I'm gonna touch a little more on Alex's action in the makeshift operation room, specifically, him donating his blood without hesitation. Though it'll also focus on the continuation of how this chapter ended.

While watching the show, I think Dale wanting to save Andrea is justified and while he was in the right, instead of forcing her hand in the CDC, he could have acted before it came to it. To give her hope. I believe unaliving yourself is the same as killing someone, and is the second worst thing someone can do.

Regarding Sofia, Carol's daughter, I'm honestly confused as shit while watching the series. Like, where did she even go?! Is she still in the forest, going in circles? Like what? The more the casts gets distracted, with Carl getting shot, everyone going to the farm, and all that, the more I'm more like: "Yep, she's dead by now. 24 hour rules. She got to be dead now."

Anyway, lots to talk about, but enough rant.

I hope you guys are enjoying. Stay safe,

Author out.

PS: I got my kill list now. Ensue the panic please.