Broken

Together

Carl is asleep beside me, surprisingly its a restful sleep for him. I roll over to face away from him, he mutters something in his sleep. I sigh before getting out of bed. 

I leave the room and go to Julia's room, she's on her stomach on her bed, the bonnet that I normally keep on her head to keep her hair soft is on the pillow. I shake my head, sitting down on the floor beside her bed. 

Julia doesn't wake up when I cover her with a blanket, "My beautiful baby girl," I whisper stroking her face. She look so much like Sasha, like her mother. I close my eyes. I remember that day, one of the most painful days of my life. One of the happiest.

When Sasha called on the walkie-talkie I panicked, "Laine, I need your help," she says, "What is it?" I question her, "I think I'm going into labor," she groans into the device. "I'll be there as soon as I can," I say as I  grab my bag. I run out the door, "Laura get Rick!" I yell to the woman  standing near the crop field. I hear people yelling as I run to the gates. "What the hell is going on?" Rick asks as he jogs toward me, "Sasha's on a run, in labor, Siddiq's not here. We need to go now," I tell him. 

Rick and I are in the front seat, Sasha is resting in the back. Her groans have started to get closer together. The woman screams, "Shit, Elaine!" she yells, I turn fully in my seat so I can look at her, "What is it?" I question, "My water broke," she mutters. "Rick you have to drive faster," I tell him as I hold out my hand to Sasha.  

"STOp! StOP the car!" she yells. Rick does as he's told, he pulls the car to the side of the road. I  get out of the car and go to the back seat as soon as Rick stops.

Rick gets out as well, "Something's wrong," Sasha mutters as I pull her pants down. I shake my head, "Everything's fine, baby's crowning. You can push if you're ready," I tell her. "No, no, something's not right-," Sasha yells with the next contraction, "I can feel it in my bones," she finishes as she recovers.  

Rick sidles in the seat so he can hold her hand, "It's alright Sash, you're doing so good," Rick whispers to her. The woman pushes, "Okay just keep going," I say. Sasha continues to push and soon she has a baby daughter.

I hand her the naked girl before I grab a towel out of my bag to wrap her in. "There's walkers," Rick says. I nod, and look out the wind shield at the two that are coming this way. 

"I've got it," he says as he stands up. I look behind me to make sure nothing gets past the guide rail.

I look back at Sasha, the seat is covered in blood. Blood that is still leaking from in between Sasha's legs. She looks up at me, "'Laine what's wrong?" she questions. 

I shake my head to clear the shocked look off my face, "We have to wait for the afterbirth," I tell her as I cover her up with a blanket. "This part is the woman's work, so we'll make sure Rick stays away," I tell her. 

I reach into her to try and find the source of the bleeding, Sasha gasps, "I'm sorry but I might have to help you with this part," I mutter. I can't find the source, it's deeper than I can get. 

"Laine tell me what's really wrong," she says. I smile lightly, I can't help the tears that fall. 

Her face is pale and her voice is shaky, "Nothing. I was Just wondering what you want to name the baby," I say, removing my hand from her vagina. 

Her eyes move to her daughter, the happiness that flickers across her face makes my stomach hurt. 

"Oh- Julia Reese," she says. Footsteps tell me that Rick is on his way to this side of the car.