For You // R.G.

Chapter 16

I watched Rick as he snoozed away in his rocking chair next to Carl's bed. Carl was passed out, Lori was in the bed with him. I had to stay here and make sure Carl didn't have a seizure during the night time. The rest of the group arrived hours ago, Otis and Shane were getting the medical supplies we needed to perform the surgery.
I heard floorboards creak a few feet beside me. I looked and saw Hershel. He looked at me and gave a small small. He walked over to me, still down to the right.
"You care about him, right?" He asked softly so he wouldn't wake anyone up. I was watching Rick but when Hershel said those words, I looked at him.
"What?"
"Carl? Or is it just for Rick?" He asked. I stammered, not believing what he had just asked. He chuckled, confirming the thought of him knowing about my crush on Rick was known.
"How... How-"
"It's obvious." He said smiling a little. I knew my face was redder than Rudolf's nose. But I kept my eyes on Rick. I couldn't help but keep an eye on him.
"Are you ready to do this surgery when they get back? I'm not trying to mess with you or make you uncomfortable... It's just," he paused, "this boy needs help. And the only way you can help is by giving your all in this. You can't just do this because of a crush." He explained. I instantly knew Hershel was very wise. I understood what he was saying, I bowed my head for a moment then looked him in the eye
"My goal is to take care of Carl. Even if I was just doing this for Rick... I would never let him down. Not after all he's done for us. For me." I say. I looked at Hershel. He contemplated the idea and nodded
"You were in college?" He asked after a moment of silence. I looked at him
"No... Well, yeah, I was in my senior year of high school and my third year of taking online college classes in medical school." I explained. He nodded,
"Sena and I started the same time, so we pretty much know what we know, and the rest is..." I didn't finish, Carl started to seize. We both rose in our seats. Lori woke up abruptly to him seizing in her arms. She started to wail, Rick then woke up. He stood up, but then collapsed because of how weak he was. He was on the ground now, I went over to him as Hershel went to Carl to make sure he didn't hurt himself.
I picked Rick up, he was tearing up as he watched Carl seize.
"Wha- what is he doing?" He asked
"He's seizing-"
"Do something!" Lori panicked.
"We can't do anything, he just has to pass through it." Hershel said. I set Rick down in the seat.
"You can't keep giving blood, your organs will shut down." I say loudly at Rick. I was frustrated. I know Carl was his son and he is just helping, but I couldn't bare to think about him dying from organ failure. Just then Carl stopped seizing.
"Rick?" Lori asked concerned. It the first time she heard that. She went over to him and stroked his face, Rick brushed her off and tried to get up again to see Carl. I went over to him
"Rick, stop! I swear to god I will tie you to this chair if you lift your ass up one more time!" I yelled. He looked surprised. I sighed, knowing I exploded on him again. The sandwich and now this. Lori looked at me, astonished. I gave her a glare and walked past the family of troubles. I walked outside. The cool summer air made the sweat on my neck and back freeze to cool sweat. I went to go see Jamie. I hadn't seen her in a day.
I opened the camper door slowly and saw that some of the group was sleeping. I then saw Jamie on the couch, she was wrapped in her blanket like a burrito. I smiled to myself, she gave me a little sanity. I walked over to her and swept her hair out of her face. I was about to leave when I saw sticky notes on the dash. I got some and wrote a note to Jamie to go in the house in the morning to find me. I stuck the notes around her. I left her in the camper with Dale and Andrea.
I was outside again when I saw Sena walk towards me from the tent area beside the camper. She was supposed to be taking care of T.
"Where is he?"
"He's resting. I stitched it up and he's fine." She said. I sighed, we both walked inside.
"You talking this shift?" She was asking about Carl.
"I think Hershel is. He just seized, Shane needs to get back soon or Carl is going to rupture something." I say concerned. Once we walked inside, we stopped at their bedroom door. Hershel was sitting in the seat I sat in, Lori was in bed with Carl again, Rick was in the same position I left him in. Sena and I ended up walking the perimeter of the fields. The stars that night were incredible. Before everything, her and I would sneak out at night to early morning and walk around in the dark. Sure, we went to parties and got messed up but our little midnight runs were more memorable than any party I've ever been to in honest truth. Around twenty minutes after we left to wander the fields, I saw bright head lights come to the house and pull into the driveway. Sena and I ran back, knowing it was Shane and Otis, hopefully with the supplies.

"Shane!" we both yelled. He was coming out of the truck with his shotgun. He watched us as we ran over to him. He looked shook up and he was limping.

"What happened?" I asked concerned, he shook his head, dismissing the thought of himself. He handed Sena the bag of supplies. By now, Hershel and Patricia were outside, looking for Otis. I then realized Otis wasn't in the truck. My heart sank a little. Sena and I ran inside to get Carl prepped. Rick was awake along with Lori. I came into the room, I went to Carl, Lori moved aside, letting me check his pulse.

"Where's Hershel?" Lori asked, she had a tone that said she didn't trust me. I turned to face her,

"Otis died on the run. I doubt either of them are going to be in the right mindset while dealing with surgery, so if you would please just let me help your son." My eyes couldn't help but wander to Rick who was standing behind Lori. He looked like he was going to pass out.

"I'm going to tell you one more time, if you let him stand up like he has been, he will pass out." I say absently minded while Sena came into the room with gloves and a pale of water. Lori looked at Rick

"I suggest you step out now." I say to both of them before pressing the scalpel to Carl's chest. Lori shook her head, she was very slow and it was making me frustrated.

"We have to stay with him-'

I started to cut Carl's chest open, Lori wailed once the blood started coming. I rolled my eyes, lifting my head up, I paused from Carl,

"Get her the hell out of here." I say to Maggie who was standing in the doorway watching me crack Carl's chest open. Maggie ushered them out. Rick had his eyes on Carl the whole time. Once they left, Sena and I started.