Walker || Daryl Dixon

Chapter 4:

It was hard watching her dad leave. Katelyn was grateful to Rick for at least loaning her dad his python. Otis promised to bring it back to him before holstering it and turning to his two girls. Patricia and Kate tried not to cry when he gave them one last hug before setting off with Shane in his old beat up old truck.

Patricia and Kate stood staring at the driveway long after everyone else had gone inside. Her  mothers arm still looped through hers as the two stared into the distance before Patricia finally broke the silence.

"C'mon Kate, lets go inside and see what we can help with." She sighed gently guiding her daughter back inside the house.

Rick had finally been convinced to rest after they assured him they'd wake him if there was any changes and everyone was glad he agreed because he was staring to look a little pale.

Patricia branched off towards the kitchen while Katelyn made her way into the back room, passing at the doorway. Hershel sat in the chair in the corner of the room with his bible watching over Carl.

"How's he doing?" Kate asked softly, staring at the little boy who was pale and sweaty. Hershel sighed heavily before standing and beckoning Kate over to show her the wound.

"He's stable for now, but you see this here?" He pointed to an area on Carl's stomach that looked a little bloated. Kate nodded and he continued using this moment to teach her something as well as explain the seriousness of the situation.

"This is from internal bleeding, it means one of the broken fragments knicked a blood vessel and his abdomen is filling with blood. We gotta keep it under control but we also have to monitor how much blood we're giving him and how much he's losing." He explained before going into depth about what he would need to do during Carl's surgery.

"How can I help for now?" Katelyn asked ready to do whatever it took to keep this little boy alive. Hershel pointed to the chair he had been sitting in before turning and grabbing a needle and a rubber tie.

"For now, He needs blood." Hershel stated matter of factly. Kate didn't hesitate to sit and made a fist after Hershel instructed her to do so. Kate watched as her blood slowly traveled through a tube and entered Carl's arm before leaning back and staring at the ceiling. This was gonna be a long day.

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After about and hour or so Hershel released Katelyn from the room with strict instructions to eat and rest stating that he was going to need her assistance during the surgery later as well as her mothers.

Katelyn was sitting at the table slowly pushing her food around the plate with a fork when Patricia entered the dining room. Her eyes zeroing in on the bandage on Kate's arm before flicking to her half eaten plate of food.

"You need to eat some more of that Katelyn Jane." Patricia said sternly but not unkind as she gently scolded her daughter. She sat down across from her, placing her hands on the table.

Katelyn knew she wasn't really upset, just worried. Worried about Carl, worried about her daughter, worried about the world and extremely worried about Otis.

"I'm just not very hungry at the moment. I'll finish it in a bit though, I promise." Kate assured her gently. She put her fork down and tried to fake a smile for her mother's benifit. Patricia sighed at the attempt and Katelyn looked away disheartened that she couldn't ease her mother's mind at least a little bit.

"He's gonna be okay, you know." Patricia whispered softly, gently taking Kate's hand in her own from across the table and giving it a little squeeze.

"I know mama, I'm just worried. This is the first time he's gone into town without me since this all started and I'm usually there to help him if he needs it...but now." Kate paused, choking up slightly. Another gentle squeeze on her hands made Kate look back at her mother.

"KitKat, you know your daddy loves you. He's gonna do everything he can to come home to us and save that little boys life." Patricia stated before continuing. "Now it's up to us to hold our end of the deal and make sure there's a little boy to save when he gets back, okay? Now eat." She gently patted Kate's hand, releasing it before standing up and heading into the back room to help Hershel.

She was right. If Katelyn wanted to help Rick and Carl she had to eat. She had to keep up her strength and she knew she'd be letting her dad down if shenworried herself sick. Glancing down at the plate, Kate picked up the fork and continued to eat until it was gone.

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Katelyn had just set her clean plate on the dish drying rack when the sound of hoofbeats notified her of a horse riding up the road.

Maggie. Kate was glad she was back. Maggie had been her best friend growing up and she worried about her going on runs. Especially since Hershel had led Maggie to believe that the undead were just sick. Kate hasn't wanted to out that doubt in her head. 

Maggie had been Kate's partner in crime since they were toddlers and even though she knew the brunette could take care of herself. In this new world they lived in Kate worried that her friend didn't understand just how fatal one mistake could be.

Katelyn went to the living room, waking Rick who wasted not time rushing outside to reunite with his wife before he lead her into the back room where Carl was.

Loud sobs could be heard all throughout the house and Katelyn mouthed Lori when Beth popped her head out of the door to her room to see what was going on. Turning a little, Kate felt maggie sidle up next to her as the two girls listened to Hershel explain the seriousness of the situation to Lori.

Katelyn had to bite her tongue when Lori insulted her dad, Calling him the idiot who shot her son, Rick shooting her an apologetic look before explaining that it was an accident.

It also helped that Hershel had told Mrs. Grimes that this so called idiot's daughter had been one of the first to step up to help, even going so far as to donate her own blood for a transfusion.

The look of utter regret, mixed with sorrow and gratitude when Lori's eyes met hers was enough to keep Kate's mouth firmly shut.

Throughout the rest of the day and into the evening both Rick and Katelyn stayed close to the house in case Carl needed another transfusion. As day slowly merged into night two members of Rick and Lori's group made their way to the farm.

T-dog was a middle aged african american man
was more vocal than his friend. He was kind to Katelyn's mother thanking her multiple times after she'd helped stitch his arm back up after he'd said he sliced it on a car door. He'd brought antibiotics and pain killers with him as well offering any assistance we might need for our help.

Glenn on the other hand, could hardly speak in full sentences. Too busy getting tongue tied everytime he looked at maggie and had this been any other time Katelyn might have found it hilarious but right now she just didn't have the energy.

It wasn't until later on that night that things started to turn south and the Grimes family had a decision to make. Chance the operation without the necessary equipment or let their boy die waiting for help that might come too late.

The second they decided to try for the surgery Katelyn and Patricia rushed into the back bedroom sterilizing everything and preparing the room the best they could for the surgery.

Hershel stood before the young boy. Reafy to make the first cut before he told Rick and Lori that they should step out. He lowered his hand the scalpel just inches away when the sound of a truck was heard barreling towards the house.

The familiar rattle of Otis' old truck was like music to Kates ears. Kate and her mother locked eyes both simultaneously letting out a breath of relief before looking to the doorway.

Hershel instructed to two women to stay with Carl as he rushed out to get the equipment he needed returning  quicjly and closing the door. The worst was over for the two Walker women, but the Grimes family still wasn't out of the woods. They could all only hope that this night wouldn't turn into their worst nightmare as Hershel made the first incision.