trigger warnings: show typical gore, mentions of a funeral, slight flirting but it's nothing major!
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The following morning was hard for everyone. There seemed to be a solemn sense in the air that was hard to shift. Everyone tried to go about their days but it was undoubtedly different. As not to waste time, everyone except Rick, Lori, Ali and Hershal went outside to collect stones for Otis' grave, something that Patricia wanted to do to remember him, so she had a place to go and talk to him when she needed to.
While everyone was silently collecting rocks for the grave, the sound of a thundering Motorbike engine sounded. Everyone's eyes glanced over to see the bike, the RV and a car which belonged to the newcomers who were seemingly planning on staying until Carl was alright.
Lori and Rick were anxiously awaiting news on Carl as they entered his room.
"How is he?" Rick asked, looking at Hershel who was still monitoring the young boy.
"Fever has gone down" Hershel stated "With any luck, your boy is going to be just fine" He said with a hint of a smile to which Lori and Rick breathed an obvious sigh of relief.
Slowly, Carl began to stir from the anaesthesia. He was groggy but alert.
Ali looked at Rick and Lori "I'll give you guys a moment." She said with a smile as she exited the room along with Hershel. Alison took a second to get some air out on the porch, nearly bumping straight into who she now knew was Shane.
"I'm so sorry" She began "I didn't see you there" Ali apologised, looking up at him and noticing the new haircut but choosing not to say anything.
"You're fine" Shane said with a low chuckle "I was actually coming to find you anyway" He stated, to which Alison arched a brow.
"Why?" Ali asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Nah, nothing is wrong" He responded "Jus' that Rick told me how much you did to help Carl and I wanted to thank you properly" Shane spoke.
"Don't be stupid, we all played our parts" Alison interjected with a smile. "It's nothing, really." She added.
"Well it aint nothing to me, so if there is any way I can repay you for all that, you jus' let me know'' Shane said with a wink before he walked inside, presumably to find Rick.
Was he flirting? Surely not.
The other group pulled up in their vehicles, soon getting out. An older gentleman with a floral shirt spoke first "How is he?"
"He'll pull through" Lori smiled softly at the group."Thanks to Hershal, Alison and the rest of their family"
"And Shane, we would have lost Carl if not for him" Rick injected, everyone's eyes scanning over to Shane, who once again wore a guilty face only a select few would recognise.
Lucy scoffed at the comment, muting under her breath "And Otis" Her comment went unheard by most, if not all.
After everyone had reunited, the entire group went to the small group of trees by the fields in order to pay their respects to Otis. It was a nice service, even though it was brief. Alison and her siblings were never raised with religion, but in times like this it brought some comfort.
Once Hershal was finished talking and all could be heard was the sound of Patricia's small cries, Shane was asked to speak on Otis's behalf, having been there for him in his final moments. Everyone listened to what Shane had to say, even though it felt somewhat rehearsed.
Shane stepped forward and placed a rock on his grave before returning to Ali's side, the pair seeming to connect over the tragic incident that happened with Carl, both of them being the reason he survived.
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midnight rain | daryl dixon
Fanfic"she was sunshine, i was midnight rain . . ." the end of the world was just the beginning for some. a story in which two people who were once worlds apart become closer than they could have ever imagined.
