The Inevitable

Hershel

"Allison!"
"Ali!"
I ran out of my cell and saw Daryl.
"Grab your shit and get down here!"
I grabbed my bag and hopped off the stairs. They rolled Hershel into a cell and put him on the bed.
"Grab me anything that's clean! I need everyone who isn't helping out of here. Lori get off your feet before I knock you off them."
I put Hershel's leg agains my knee and pressed a bandage against it. Carol kept handing me whatever she could find when something bled through.
"Maggie! Beth! What's your father's blood type?"
"O negative."
I stopped for a moment, but nodded.
"Carol you know how to set up the transfusion correct?"
"I saw it at Hershel's."
"Great. I need you to set it up and then come back to me."
"Who's O negative?"
"Me."
I heard shouting, but I had to ignore it. I pressed a towel against his wound and looked back at Beth.
"He's going to be fine. I promise I won't let him die here."

I was wrapping a makeshift bandage around Hershel's leg when Maggie walked in.
"Think I can get a moment alone here?"
"Of course. After you're done I'm going to start a blood transfusion."
I walked out and saw Daryl in the main area with the prisoners. One of them looked over their shoulder at me and licked their lips. I stepped back and found Lori laying in one of the cells.
"How is he?"
"The bleeding is under control. I'm going to have to do a blood transfusion in a minute."
"This was supposed to be safe.. Now we have Hershel dying and prisoners in the room next door."
"We have to get through the danger before we can call it safe. We'll figure this out."
I heard the door closed and saw Carl walking in with a bag. He stopped in front of me with a smile.
"Check it out."
I opened the bag and broke into a smile. I kissed Carl's forehead and picked up the bag.
"You're something else, Carl. Thank you."
I walked back into Hershel's cell and heard Lori and Carl yelling at each other. I shook my head and sat down on the bed.
"That woman needs to cut that boy a break."
"She's just worried about him."
"I don't care, Carol, he did what was needed. Rick would've done the same. He's his father's son."
I took off the makeshift bandage and got a clean one out of the bag.
"I can do this. You should do the transfusion."
I nodded and handed her the bandage. I grabbed a needle from my bag and sat down.

I had barely sat down when Beth screamed my name. A part of me just wanted to let someone else take care of the problem, but this was Hershel. I walked into the cell to see Lori doing CPR. I walked over to her and Hershel's arm went around her. I pulled her back and watched as Hershel fell back against the bed.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I had to help him!"
"And get yourself killed?"
She stomped out of the cell and I checked on Hershel. His vitals were actually improving. I was about to walk away when I saw his eyes flutter.
"Hershel? Can you hear us?"
"Daddy?"
Rick walked behind me as Hershel reached up his hand. I smiled and got off the bed.
"Make sure our patient doesn't escape. I think I need to take a walk."
"You deserve it."
I left Beth and Maggie in the cell with their father and went outside. The sun felt amazing on my skin. I smiled and closed my eyes as I took it in. When I opened them a man came running towards me. I ducked and watched as he stopped behind me.
"If you move another inch I will shoot you dead."
"Is that you Little A?"
I watched as the man turned around. I dropped my gun at the sight of my father.