Impregnable {A Walking Dead Fanfiction}

Thirty-Four

    "Make a left at the end of the drive and then right at the next two stop signs. Drive on the main road until you see the big sign for Cranwell High." Maggie said, following me down the hall and into the living room. "Thank you. Please take care of Mable while I'm gone," I said. "Of course." I looked at her for a moment before walking outside, there was no time for goodbyes. I whistled at Andrea and swirled my finger in the air, she nodded and turned on the ignition. I reached into my bag and pulled out my revolver, placing it on the dashboard of the Wrangler while I climbed inside and gave Andrea the directions. "...Said it was some kind of FEMA camp," I said as Andrea reversed. "He also said it was overrun at one point. I hope they're okay." I said, sucking in a deep breath. Andrea cut the wheel and we flew down the long dirt driveway. Just before we approached the end of the driveway, we saw the old truck barreling down the road in front of us. "That's them!" I said, pointing in their direction. "Oh shit," Andrea said, swerving off of the driveway as the truck rushed past us. 

    Andrea turned around in the grass and we sped after them. Shane had hopped out of the driver's seat and pulled two large duffel bags out of the back. "How's Carl?" Shane asked Rick as he stepped outside with Hershel. "He's..." Rick started, trailing off. "You got here just in time, there's still a chance... Where's Otis?" Hershel asked. "He, uh...didn't make it," Shane breathed, shaking his head. Hershel stared at him for a moment before speaking. "No one tells Patricia, not until we're done! I need her." Hershel said, taking one of the bags and running back inside. "Can I help with anything?" I asked Maggie as she took the other bag from Shane. "We have it covered, thank you," She said, rushing inside. Shane looked shell-shocked. "They kept blocking us in at every turn...we had nothing left, we were down to ten rounds..." He said, his chest heaving. I walked over to him and held him, feeling his heart racing. He smelled like blood, sweat, and walkers, but he was home. He let go of me and walked over to Rick, hugging him. "He'd just refilled his ammo and told me he'd hold them off while I opened a gate. I broke the lock and looked back and he was surrounded. It was..." He let out a muffled sob before taking in a long, deep breath. I looked back at Maggie, who had stepped outside and heard Shane. She was holding her mouth and crying. I walked over to her, reaching out and hugging her. "I've known him since I was a kid. He's run this farm since before my mother died." "Maggie, I'm so sorry," I said as she cried into my shoulder. "I'll uh...I'll be alright... I need to go tell Beth." She said, pulling away after a moment and wiping her eyes. 

    I went upstairs with Maggie and took Mable away before she could tell Beth the news. Mable babbled excitedly about her day and her new friend while I took her downstairs and outside. Shane leaned on the old blue truck and stared out into the darkness, looking over at us as we approached. He wiped off his hands and took Mable from me, hugging her while she giggled. He wrapped his other arm around me, holding me tight. "I'm so glad you're back," I said, feeling peace for the first time that day. "I am too." He said, wincing as he shifted his weight. "You're hurt," I said, my eyes wide. "I think I just twisted my ankle, I'm fine. I'll get it checked out after Carl's okay." He said, not meeting my eyes. Shane went inside to get cleaned up, seeming anxious and distant. I climbed in the back seat of the Wrangler and laid down with Mable until she fell asleep. 

    "Can we talk?" Shane asked, returning to us after he'd cleaned the blood and dirt off his arms and face. "Yeah, of course. What's up?" I asked, stepping outside as he put his dirty clothes back in his bag. "Shit, Hollie," Shane said, closing the door and wiping away his tears. "I killed him." "Don't beat yourself up like that, you did what you could." "No, I didn't." "What?" I asked, stopping and staring at him, my eyebrows furrowing. "I could've shot the lock, I didn't want to waste the ammo. I could've done a lot more... He'd already slowed us down so much. I thought Carl would be dead before we got back unless I...did something. ... I can't lie to you, Hollie," He said, tears running down his cheeks. I took a second before responding, feeling panic rushing through me. "You...did what you had to." I said, my voice unsteady and my hands shaking, "You got back in time." He shook his head, staring off into the distance, "I won't know that until Carl's okay." 

    We all sat on the front porch and waited anxiously, none of us speaking. I listened to the sound of the squeaky rocking chair Beth sat on and the crickets in the distance. Shane sat next to me on the steps, tense and frozen. "He's stable," Hershel said, opening the screen door. We all relaxed, letting out deep sighs. Rick and Lori ran to hug Hershel, crying out in joy. I felt Shane's lips on my forehead, he took my hand and squeezed it.  "How do I tell Patricia her husband's dead?" Hershel asked. "You go to Carl...I'll go with Hershel," Rick said, walking inside with Hershel. Lori looked back and Shane and me before following behind them. I stood and helped Shane up, seeing the pain on his face as he stood. I heard Patricia begin to cry inside. "Not yet," Shane said, his eyes wide with fear. I looked back at him before walking inside. Hershel pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and she fell backwards into it, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry..." I breathed, walking over to her as she leaned over and laid her head on the table. The screen door opened and Shane limped in, staring at Patricia in shock. He started to walk towards us before freezing and shaking his head. He looked at me for a moment before sitting down and putting his head in his hands.