Don't Fear The Reaper (R. Grimes & D. Dixon)

9

Kit stood in the same room she woke up in. She was sporting an orange crop top and leggings to not irritated her gunshot wound or got caught on the tape or gauze, as most of her clothing was form-fitting. Kit was just re-taping a new pad when Shane and rick burst into the room with a very blood-covered dirty Daryl. "kit, help," rick groaned as he and Shane lifted the unconscious man onto the bed. Kit said a little mental prayer for those now probably stained sheets as she kicked into doctor mode, Hershel getting her everything she requested while she quickly worked at sterilizing the areas first. Lord only knows what he went rolling around in. when Daryl finally woke up; he tried his best to explain to rick where he found Sophia's doll and the events up until he stumbled back onto the farm looking like a walker till an unstable Andrea gunned him down.

"she must have dropped it crossing there somewhere" Daryl points the best he can at the map laid out on the bed next to him without moving from a working kit.

"cuts the grid almost in half," rick showed Shane as Daryl peaked at kit as she worked, trying not to flinch from her touch, praying she didn't see his scars.

"Yeah, you're welcome," Daryl snarked

"kit, how's he looking?" rick asked as kit finished her last suture

"Well, he's going to need those antibiotics set aside from merles stash. He also has a concussion, so hourly checks throughout the night. As for the head graze, it should be fine. Not deep enough for stitches, but it does need to be kept clean along with these stitches. that means taking a shower or sponge bath and refraining from playing in the dirt."

"oh ha ha, doc," kit smiled at the injured man before tossing her gloves in the garbage and moving to Shane.

"any idea what happened to my horse?" Hershel asked Daryl,

"yeah, the one who almost killed me? if it's smart, it left the country." Daryl sassed

"We call that one nelly, as in nervous nelly. I could have told you she'd throw you if you'd bothered to ask. It's a wonder you people have survived this long. but I assume that's mostly just because of your doctor." Hershel sassed back with thick annoyance. Filling the room with silence and tension as he stormed out, kit fiddled with the black stone on her necklace, feeling awkward. mentally thanking Shane when he carefully guided her out of the room following rick; Lori was just outside the door waiting. "he'll be all right." rick said to his wife before pecking her lips

"Jesus. Did you doubt me that much?" kit asks, slightly offended. Lori scoffed, " no kit, just anxious with everything" kit only gave her a speculating look, not replying; Shane took her hand. "I hate to say it, but I'm with Hershel on this one. can't keep going out there, not after this."

Rick turned back to them "you'd quit now? Daryl just risked his life to bring back the first hard evidence we've had." anger laced in his voice as he got very close to kit and Shane.

"that's one way to look at it. the way I see it, Daryl almost died today for a doll."

"Yeah, I know how you see it." he spits before looking at kit "and you?"

"do you want to hear real facts and statistics or hope?" she asked gently.

"hope," she gave him a sad smile "hope is often blind," she whispered. Rick bit his lip before storming off, Lori following. A knock sounded on the door, letting her know Daryl was ready. Shane kissed her hand as she entered back into the room to dress a now clean Daryl's stitches. Leaving him alone, his thoughts consuming him once again, the fights he and rick had in secret all morning adding to it.

~time skip~

Kit sat at the table eating next to Shane, carol on her other side and rick across from her. The room was silent except for the scrapes of cutlery. the tension between rick, Shane and Hershel practically suffocating everyone. "does anybody know how to play guitar?" Glenn shyly asks, "dale found a cool one somebody's got to know how to play" he presses, "Otis did," Patricia mutters adding sadness to the mix. kit awkwardly clears her throat, Shane's hand going to her leg " I uh- I do, Glenn, I can teach you if you would like." he gives her a small thankful smile before turning back around. " I'm going to check on Daryl. It's time for his meds," Kit says, standing.