What Lies Ahead • the walking dead ¹

20 • Wounded in action

»Play: Empty Promises by Trevor Kowalski«

Alexa's shock finally wore off as her, T-dog, and Glenn approached the Greene's farmhouse. Alexa had got her head on straight and was ready to help her two new patients as quickly as she could. Although she didn't know what state Carl was in, she knew what state T-dog was in. His arm was badly infected and she didn't have the necessary supplies to help the man, she just hoped these people did. And she wished someone informed her of T-dog's condition sooner.

Before Carol's car even came to a full stop Alexa had jumped out and was already making her way up the porch steps. Until she noticed the woman who saved her earlier sitting in a rocking chair on the porch.
"Did you close the gate up the road when you drove in?" The girl asked.

"Yes, we closed it," Alexa confirmed as she took a step toward the girl. "How is Carl?"
"You'll have to talk to my father." She said, standing from her seat. Alexa nodded, she turned for the door but stopped as she remembered something.

"Thank you. For saving me earlier, I'm Alexa." She added.
"Maggie. You're welcome."
Alexa nodded as T-dog and Glenn joined her on the porch, T-dog grunting as he trudged his way up the steps.

Alexa noticed Maggie eying the man suspiciously before he spoke up.
"It's not a bite. I cut myself pretty bad though." T-dog explained.
"We'll have it looked at," Maggie assured, opening the door for the group and signaling for them to follow.

Maggie lead the group down a hallway and into a small room. Stepping inside the room Alexa saw Carl laid out on a bed, clearly unconscious.
"Hey," Glenn spoke, taking off his hat.
"Oh, Alexa," Lori responded, jumping out of her seat to hug the girl before turning to an older-looking man.

"Hershel, this is Alexa, the one with the medical experience, we told you about." Lori breathed.
"May I?" Alexa asked, looking over at Carl. Lori, Rick, and Hershel nodded, Hershel moving so the girl could examine the boy.

Alexa stepped up to the bed, gently moving the blanket that was covering him away so she could take a look at her patient. His stomach was raised, the veins discolored, and the bandage that was covering the wound was soaked in blood.

"Oh, god..." Alexa whispered to herself, taking in the boy's severe state. Carl was in worse condition than she hoped he'd be. By the looks of it, they hadn't gotten the bullet completely removed, and Alexa, being the observant girl she is, noticed his distended belly, which meant there was internal bleeding. Meaning the boy would need surgery, meaning they would have to put the boy under, but for that, they would require a respirator. On top of all that, Alexa had noticed Shane's absence.

The girl turned to Hershel, who was leaning over her shoulder but before she could open her mouth to speak the older man did first.
"If they don't get back soon, we're gonna have a decision to make."
By 'they' Alexa presumed he meant Shane and someone else. She looked over at the parents as they responded.

"And that is?"
"Whether to operate on your boy without the respirator," Hershel answered calmly.
"That won't work." Alexa cut in. "If we operate on him without a respirator he could die."
"We can't wait much longer." The man cut her off.

Alexa sighed, stepping back. She knew the chances of Carl's survival without a respirator were slim to none. The risk they were taking was so great that Alexa doubted if it would even work. She was scared for this little boy. She wasn't ready to lose another kid, she couldn't lose another kid.