Walker || Daryl Dixon

Chapter 3:

It was heart wrenching to hear Carl screaming in pain as Hershel dug around to retrieve one of the bullet fragments and according to him all the rest were much deeper.

Hershel said he needed to open him up, but if Carl moved around like that there was no way he could safely get the rest of the bullet out without the risk of him accidentally killing the young boy.

Kate's dad and Hershel began talking about all things Hershel would need to even attempt the surgery. They trailed off when Otis mentioned the hospital burning down and dread settled in the pit of Kate's stomach, her eyes widening in realization as it registered where they would have to go.

"The high School." Kate mumbled, her hazel eyes flitting between her father and Hershel. Shaking her head Katelyn took a step towards the two men hoping to stop that train of thought before it could get too far.

"That's what I was thinkin." Hershel stated with a nod. Kate shook my head.

"No way, the whole place was over run the last time we saw it. You couldn't get anywhere near it." She hissed out angrily. Uneasily, Kate shook her head again, her blonde locks slightly brushing against her bare arm as her father spoke up.

"Maybe it's better now." He countered not even sparing Kate's little outburt a second thought before continuing to discuss a plan with Hershel and Shane.

Katelyn couldn't believe they were even discussing this right now. It was a suicide run. There's no way that place was cleared out. If anything there were probably more than the last time they had checked.

Sure, they all wanted Carl to get better but that didn't mean they should be taking unnecessary chances. There had to be some other way to get the stuff they needed without taking that big of a risk. There just had to.

Kate's attention was drawn back to the matter at hand when she heard her mom tell my dad no but Otis shook his head pushing the subject.

"Honey, we don't have time for guesswork and I'm responsible." He explained softly before continuing in a tone that left no room for argument.

"I ain't gonna sit here while this fella takes this on alone." He looked between Patricis and Kate seeing the worry on both of their faces, his features softening. "I'll be alright. " He tried to reassure them.

He walked over to Patricia, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him. He dropped a kiss to her head before looking at his daughter. Otis beckoned her over with his free hand but unlike her mother, Katelyn turned on her heel and rushed out of the house before anyone could stop her. Otis' guilt rising as he watched her go.

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About and hour or so later, It was decided that Maggie would take a horse and go find Rick's wife while Otis and Shane had come up with a place to get all the supplies necessary to even attempt Carl's surgery.

Rick had just given a second transfusion of blood and Patricia was fixing him a plate of food to help regain some of the energy he'd lost so he didn't pass out before she set out to packing some supplies for Otis and Shane to take with them.

Beth and Jimmy were setting up another room for Rick and his wife to stay in once Maggie bought her back to the farm.

Katelyn, on the other hand, was outside sitting on the porch swing alone watching Maggie saddle up her horse at the stables across the yard. She heard the front screen gently open and footsteps making their way in her direction before someone sat down on the seat next to her.

She didn't have to look. Kate knew it was her dad. Just like hr knew she was upset. They didn't have to say anything, both just knew. Kate and Otis had always been close. Growing up, they'd done everything together and it was no different now.

He wanted to fish, shed'd be carrying their poles to the boat.

He wanted to watch a football game, there was always room for two on the couch and she always brought the best snacks.

He needed to go on a supply run, Kate's ass was in that truck before Otis had even finished packing whatever he'd needed for the trip.

As close as Katelyn was to her mama, her dad was her best friend. Otis had always had her back, and she'd always had his.

"Do you really have to go there?" Kate asked quietly her voice full of dread. She almost felt like a kid again. Meek, scared and so unsure of everything going on around her. She hated it.

It was killing her inside to know this time she couldn't go with him. This time, Kate was needed here which meant she couldn't have his back out there and Katelyn didn't know how to handle that.

Otis was quiet for such a long time, Kate almost thought he hadn't heard her until he sighed running a hand down his face in exhaustion before speaking. He spoke slowly as he looked out across the farm.

"Do you remember that time we had a tornado the next town over? Hell, you were probably about 5 or 6 at the time and you asked me that same question." He paused as they both watched Maggie ride off on her horse before Otis continued still not looking at his daughter.

"You sat outside on the porch swing for an hour after I told your mama I had to go help all them good folks who needed it." He stated. Just like I'm doing now. She thought to herself. Kate, turned her head to look at him. His expression was pulled into a small nostalgic smile as he waited for her response.

"I sat out there until mama forced me to come in for bedtime, but I tried to stay awake til you got back, ended up falling asleep on the window seat I think." Katelyn replied sheepishly, but her father just nodded, his eyes meeting hers as he turned his head to look back at her.

"Do you remember what I told you back then kitkat?" He asked, his gaze soft and patient. Kate felt a burning sensation begin to form behind her eyes and nodded looking down at her hands in her lap fighting back tears.

"You told me you would always come back to mama and me, and if ever a day came where you didn't we would find a new star in the sky that night." She said thinking back on that night. She'd always remembered what he said.

Even to this day anytime he ever left home without her, Kate eould sit on the porch or stare out the window for hours until she'd either drift off or her dad came back safely.

"This times no different sweetheart." Otis stated softly before turning so his whole body was facing her. She refused to look at him still staring at her hands when she felt him gently tip her chin up with his hand.

"Katie girl, You know just as well as I do that there is no where else for us to find these supplies and that little boy in there is counting on us. I have to help, and just like I've told you before I'll always come back to you and your mama...Always." He promised looking into her dad hazel eyes before pulling her into a big hug.

Katelyn wiped a few stray tears that had fallen before wrapping her arms around her father tightly. "I love you daddy." Kate said hugging him back, afraid to let go.

"Love you to KitKat." He replied, gently pulling away with a loving smile on his face before getting up and walking back into the house to grab his stuff and say goodbye Patricia.

Kate stayed seated for a little while longer before pulling herself together and heading inside. She needed to be strong now and all she could do is pray her father was right because she really didn't know what she would do if anything happened to him. For now though, she would do what she could to help and hope that everything would be okay in the process.