This Is How We End It

Chapter Twenty Three

Hershel came out to the living room. He was tired, as it showed in his face. This was all unexpected.

"Her belly's distended, and her pressure's droppin'." Hershel said as he wiped his hands on a rag. "That means there's internal bleeding..."

Rick shook his head, in disbelief. Shane put his hand on his shoulder. 

"A fragment must've nicked one of the blood vessels." Hershel said with a small sigh. "I have to open her up, find the bleeder, stitch it, and while I'm doing that, she can't move at all."

Nick looked at Hershel, filled with questions. "What do you mean?"

"If she moves like before... I'll sever an artery, and she'll be dead in minutes." Hershel explained, looking at the two teenagers, Adam and Nick, standing next to each other. 

In Nick's mind, Mikaela was going to die. There was no way to avoid it, now. How could they operate? It was impossible.

"To even try this... I'd have to put her under." Hershel explained, looking at Rick again. "But if I do, she can't breathe on her own."

Otis stepped up. "You need a respirator." 

Hershel nodded.

"What else?" Otis asked, knowing he needed to do something.

"The tube that goes with it, extra surgical supplies, drapes, sutures." Hershel said as he looked at Rick.

"If you had all that, you could save her?" Shane asked, raising an eyebrow. 

Hershel shrugged a little. "If I had all that.. I could try."

Otis thought for a second. "Nearest hospital went up in flames, months ago... the high school set up a FEMA shelter."

"That's what I was thinking." Hershel nodded in agreement. "They would have everything we need."

"Place was overrun, last time I saw it." Otis looked at Shane. "Maybe it's.. better now?"

"Is it too late to take that back?" Rick asked as he looked at Shane. "I hate you goin' alone."

"He won't." Nick said as he stepped forward. 

Rick shook his head. "Not you, Nick."

"Yes me, dad. I have to." He looked down, then back up at Rick. "For Mikaela."

Rick looked down, before Shane patted Rick's back. "I'll get him back." 

Rick looked into Shane's eyes, thinking, before nodding. "Alright." He managed to say.

Adam looked at Shane. "If Nick's going.. I gotta go too," 

"No." Shane said before Adam could finish. "I already lost one of ya, I ain't losin' the other."

"But dad,"

"No." Shane said flatly. "Nick's older, he's got more experience."

Adam gave Shane a small glare.

"Hey doc, draw me a list and a map." Shane said, looking back at Hershel. 

Otis shook his head. "He won't have to. I'll go with you."

"Otis, no." Patricia said, looking at Otis, unapproval face and all.

Otis shook his head again. "Honey, no. Now, I am responsible for that little girl."

Patricia thought, and knew he was right. Otis wasn't the man to let this happen. Rick sighed.

"Are you sure about this? Do you even know what this stuff looks like?" Rick asked Shane.