Same Love

8:Yield

Sam felt his fatigue weighing him down, following the group through the derelict town towards the sounds of church bells. he could only imagine what Nut-job was ringing them, certainly not Sophia. He stumbled but caught himself as the church came into view and Sam sighed in relief, no one was here, there was no steeple. The others entered the building quickly but Sam hung around outside, not wanting to enter unless absolutely necessary. The automated bell went off again and Glenn unwired it, frustrated as the others went back into the church. Andrea sat outside in the shade while Sam sat as far away as he could from her, opposite the building and staring at the doors intently. He caught a conversation between Shane and Andrea about leaving and was somewhat relieved. Good, hope they die out there. The group split up then, Shane, Rick, Carl and Sam staying to look for Sophia more while Daryl took the women back to Dale and T-dog.

"Be careful Dixon, Keep Carol and Lori safe" Sam said to the hunter, leaving Andrea out purposefully as she shot him a dirty glare.

"Sure will" Daryl mumbled as Andrea watched Sam intently. She wasn't keen on his personality but loved his looks, she wished he'd be nice to boot. Sam sat uncomfortably as Rick re-entered the church and Carl came to sit beside him, Shane glaring at the sullen guy.

"What's your problem?" Sam snapped, becoming defensive and his walls going up.

"Noticed ya weren't too quick to get to the church, problem?" He sneered, big nose twitching and mouth forming a grotesque shape. Sam fell silent, Carl confused and wanting to leave or to at least find out why Shane and Sam seemed to hate each other. Rick came and joined the three, noticing the tension between the two adult males when they set off, Sam running off ahead. Sam got lost in his thoughts, hoping to find the little girl soon. He didn't know how far he'd come ahead of the others but he followed his tracks back. He broke into a run when he heard a gunshot rip through the air and knocked an arrow, drawing his bow as Rick, Shane and Carl came into view, carl laying on the ground as a large man. Sam reached down, picking up the boy quickly with ease.

"We need to take him back!" Rick yelled and the fat man who had shot Carl yelled "To my group! We have a doctor!" Sam followed the man's directions, running far ahead of the others. He was told to ask for Hershel and sprinted, wasting no time as sweat beaded on his forehead. He had long since peeled off his shirt and was holding it to the bleeding gunshot to try and slow the blood. A farmhouse came into sight and by this point he was way ahead of the others, not even in sight anymore. All Sam cared about was pushing further to get Carl to a doctor before he died of blood loss. Sam reached the steps of the porch and yelled

"I need Hershel, please save him! Otis sent me!" 

It was the most desperate Sam had felt since Nate and the elderly man named Hershel quickly barked orders to the others, taking the boy from Sam. Sam buried his face in his hands and Rick appeared soon after, distraught. Shane and Otis didn't appear for another few minutes, trailing very far behind Sam. Shane immediately comforted Rick as Sam panted, hands on his knees and sweat dripping out of every pore. His lungs burned, the oxygen debt he had built up was lethal. Hershel spoke to Rick as the hunter expressed his guilt for shooting Carl.

"We need to find Lori" Sam murmured to Rick and he broke down crying. He was called in to give some blood quickly and Sam winced as pained screams filled the air, not knowing what was happening, He stood on the porch, the darkening evening did nothing to calm his aching nerves as he caught his breath again, heart pumping furiously in his chest. He wiped his brow, the hopelessness of the situation getting to him. Carl might not survive. Sam felt his knees give way as his vision blurred. He hadn't eaten in days, hadn't had any water since this morning, he was weak. A young brunette woman approached him, handing him some water and he gulped it down eagerly, listening to her tell him Otis and Shane were going to find the proper equipment to save Carl and she was going to get his mother. Sam volunteered to go and the woman nodded, climbing onto her horse. Sam vaulted the horse after and sat, arms around her waist as they galloped away.

"I'm Maggie, You're not a bad runner, not as fast as a horse though" Her thick accent was pleasant, her tone warm and he felt himself relax.

"I'm Sam, Was a bit frantic in getting him safe"

The group came into view and Maggie was about to ride up and hit the walker they were being attacked by with a bat but an arrow lodged itself in the walker's skull. Sam vaulted off of the horse, landing heavily as he retrieved his arrow and Maggie rode away with Lori, sending him a hopeful glance over her shoulder. The group were left in silent, taking in what had just happened before Carol and Andrea bombarded the shaking male with questions. He blocked them out, loosing body heat quickly due to his lack of shirt again and swaying dizzily due to hunger and lack of sleep. He gave his food to Carl when the group last ate a full meal and always gave his helpings of food to Sophia or Lori who was grateful for it. He had not slept for two nights, too paranoid after the CDC to do so. Now he was starting to feel the effects of his generosity and stupidity. He started to walk in the direction of the farmhouse, his footfalls heavier and more clumsy than usual.

"Where are you goin'?" Daryl asked, stepping in front of him.

"I need to go and see if he's ok" Sam desperately croaked, trying to squeeze past the burly red-neck who caught his arms. He was beginning to grow sleepy and Daryl noticed, being careful not to hurt the wrists he held.

"You don't need to do shit" Daryl said almost too softly and Sam broke out of his grip.

"Fine, let's just..get back" Sam sighed, trudging on and ignoring Andrea and Carol again as they assaulted him with questions. He bit his lip, drawing blood and thinking as they got back to camp. When they arrived back he took his seat on the bonnet again and waited, listening to Andrea and carol relay the information of the events to Dale and T-dog. It went quiet after a while and Daryl emerged from the woods, carrying a few fresh squirrel. He silently lit a small fire and cooked the meat, standing and bringing one over to Sam.

"Eat"

"I don't need to, all I need to do is stay conscious. You have it, you need it more than I do " Sam insisted and Daryl sighed, placing the animal on the bonnet next to the stubborn man.

"Like Hell i do" 

Sam reluctantly ate, digging into the meat hungrily. Squirrel was never a favourite of his, he preferred rabbit or venison but his mother liked the rodent and so he used to have to eat them. He wasn't complaining. He found himself growing dizzy again and slapped himself awake, cursing as he shivered from the cold.

"Why don't you come inside? It's nice in here?" Glenn called from the RV and Sam waved him off, politely refusing.

"Why're ya so godamn stubborn" Daryl asked, climbing into the place he'd slept last night. Sam wanted more than anything to curl up next to him but he knew Daryl would be uncomfortable and Carl needed him on standby to watch over the others. While Rick wasn't here he grew anxious and he hated as night cloaked the world in darkness.

"I'm not" He mumbled, slapping his face again and sniffing as the night dropped colder. He stood quickly from the sitting position to stretch and find a jacket but stumbled, falling to the floor before he could stop himself. Strong arms caught him before he fell and he looked up to the see Daryl, frown on his features. He picked Sam up and carried him to the car, pushing him into the backseat where a blanket he'd used the night before lay. He took off his vest and shoved it in with Sam who tried to get back up only to be pushed down again.

"Sleep otherwise ya aren't no help at all" Gruffly the Hunter sat in Sam's spot on the bonnet as the shivering male pulled the Daryl's vest on and the blanket around him, inhaling the sweet scent of cigarettes and blood that clung to it. He drifted off into a fitful slumber, his nightmares ready to pounce, worried what tomorrow was to bring.