Angel (Daryl Dixion x Reader)

~18~

   It had been a few hours since Shane and Otis left, and time was running out for you and Carl. Hershel had come in to take Carl's blood pressure once again. "..How's my sister?" Rick asks, voice dry from utter exhaustion. His whole body was heavy and weak from all the blood he'd given to Carl, and to you as well. Hershel sighs, "She's stable for now, but I fear when I cut her open, her pressure will bottom out and her heart will stop." He tells Rick honestly. Your town just nods while looking down, regretting asking his question. "He's still losing blood as fast as you can give it, and with the swellin' in his abdomen- We can't wait any longer, or he's just going to slip away. Now, I need to know right now if you want me to do this, because I think your boy is outta time." Hershel tells Rick and Lori seriously. "You have to make a choice." Hershel adds with urgency when they don't answer him. "A choice?" Lori questions, almost angered at Hershel's pushing for an answer. "A choice." Rick repeats while looking Lori dead in the eyes for answers, "You have to tell me what it is." Rick adds weakly at the impossible choice. Lori cups Ricks cheek sighing shakily, "We do it." She says with a shaky voice and Rick pulls her into a hug.

With in seconds Hershel has the metal surgical table rolling into Carl's room while he starts telling everyone what to do. Patricia sets the lamp up before helping place Carl's body on the cold metal table. Patricia then sets out the instruments tray beside Hershel at Carl's legs. Lori takes one look at the sharp cruel tools, and has to stifle a gag as she hides her face in Ricks chest. Hershel picks up a scalpel with his freshly gloved hand and looks up at Rick and Lori. "Rick, Lori- You may want to step out." Hershel suggests while Patricia soaks some towels for make shift lap pads. They were about to do as he said when the familiar sound of a truck pulling in one drive way catches their attention. Rick walks across the room to look out the window, "Oh god-" He whispers out before rushing outside to meet his brother, who was finally back, right at the last second. Rick rushes down the stairs with Lori and Hershel in tow while Shane hops out of the vehicle he just slammed into park. Shane yanks the bags out of the truck as fast as he can, before spinning around to see Rick's super pale face. Shane starts to freak out at the sight, immediately fearing the worst as he limps over to Rick while panting. "Carl? (Y/n)?" Shane asks breathlessly in fear.

"There's still a chance." Rick says, overly relieved that Shane had made it in time. Shane instantly hands the bags over to Hershel, who takes them while looking for Otis. "Otis?" Hershel asks Shane when he didn't see him, and Shane looks down obviously distressed still from the run. "..No." Shane whispers out while shaking his head a bit absently, trying to find words. Hershel sighs before looking at everyone. "We say nothin' to Patricia. Not till after- I need her." Hershel says before rushing back into the house with the life saving medical equipment. Shane looks at Rick before looking down again, still silently freaking out. Rick steps towards Shane, pulling him into a hug, making Shane breathe out a few shaky breaths. Simply trying to hold it together as to not have a panic attack for the second time today. Lori puts her hand over her chest at the sight of Shane so traumatized. She was the only other person in the world besides the Grimes twins that knew Shane had sever anxiety. Considering it was something he hid so incredibly well under a hard ass facade he so commonly presented. It was times like this that it showed, and it was heart breaking to watch him so distraught.Rick pulls back and Shane looks to him, "T-They kept blocking us at-at every turn. We had nothing left.. We were down to ten rounds then he said- he said, he'd cover me and that I- ..I should keep goin'. So that what I did. I just..." Shane attempted to explain, eventually losing the words and trailing off. He takes a deep breath, shaking his head and trying to be angry with himself, just so he wouldn't freak out. "I kept goin'. But I-" He tries again, pausing when he almost chokes on the lump stuck his throat, still trying not to let his tears fall. "I looked back and he- he just..." Shane tries once more, inevitably trailing off again when his voice breaks.