Safe haven | Rick Grimes

008. WHAT I NEED TO SAVE HIM

Chapter eight

"What I need to save him."

Scarlett walked down the familiar, quiet hospital hallway on her way to her next shift. As she passed Rick's room, she paused, glancing through the glass window. Rick was lying there all alone, and the room was completely silent.

She furrowed her brows, momentarily confused. She was certain someone at the nurse's station had mentioned that Lori and Carl had arrived to visit him.

Turning on her heel, she continued down the corridor. Before she could make it to the elevators, a frantic nurse nearly bumped right into her.

"Whoa. Is everything okay?" Scarlett asked, catching the woman by the shoulders.

"Dr. Avery! Exactly the person I was sent to find," the nurse shared, catching her breath.

"Why? What's wrong?" Scarlett asked, her medical instincts instantly kicking in.

Instead of answering, the nurse turned and gestured for Scarlett to follow, leading her toward the small chapel located on the main floor of the hospital.

The two stopped at the heavy wooden doors of the chapel. Peering inside, Scarlett saw young Carl sitting quietly in the very back pew, staring blankly at the floor. Up near the altar, Lori was huddled over, her shoulders shaking as she wept.

"I checked the board and didn't see that you had any surgeries scheduled," the nurse whispered, looking at Scarlett's scrubs. "But if you're too busy, I can go find another doctor to—"

"No, no. I've got it," Scarlett told her gently. "Thank you for coming to get me."

Scarlett pushed the door open and stepped quietly into the serene, dim chapel. She bypassed the front pews and slid into the row right next to Carl.

"Hey," she said softly.

Carl looked up, his eyes bright with unshed tears. "She's crying again," he shared, pointing a small hand toward his mother. "I know she tries to put on a brave face, but I can hear her crying at night when she thinks I'm asleep."

Scarlett's heart ached for the boy. She offered him a warm, reassuring smile. "Well... would you mind continuing to be a brave boy for me just a little longer? Come get some pudding with me down at the cafeteria. You can have as many cups as you want. Free of charge."

Carl's sad expression instantly vanished, a genuine smile breaking across his face. He nodded eagerly.

"Okay," Scarlett told him, standing up. "Give me just one second."

She walked down the center aisle toward the altar and crouched down beside the front pew, letting Lori know she was there. "I'm gonna take Carl down to the cafeteria for a bit, okay?"

Lori startled, quickly sitting up and wiping the tears from her cheeks. "No, no... you don't have to do that, Scarlett. You're working."

"I know," Scarlett shared, her voice dropping to a comforting murmur. "But he'll be safe with me. We're just going to get some pudding, and I'll bring him right back. Depending on how many cups he manages to eat, of course."

A wet, emotional chuckle escaped Lori's lips as she nodded her approval. "Thank you."

Scarlett gave her a supportive squeeze on the arm, then turned and walked back to the chapel doors. She pulled them open, letting Carl head out into the hallway first before she followed close behind, ready to give him the distraction he needed.