CHAPTER FIVE: HOPE

"i'll always come home to you, lev"

—

BETH HELPED CALM SOPHIA DOWN, leaving Indiana time to wander back to her father and uncle, hope tugging at her heart and twisting her hands nervously.

"...to even try this, I have to put him under," Hershel's voice grabbed Indie's attention as she re-entered the living room. "He won't be able to breathe on his own. Same bad results."

Indiana walked next to her father, sending him a confused look. He shook his head and slung an arm around her shoulder, pressing a soft kiss to her curls, before taking his arm off her. She knew he was being extra affectionate because it could have been her in place of Carl, and the thought was killing him.

She secretly wished it had been her.

"What'll it take?" Rick asked hoarsely.

"You'll need a respirator," Otis spoke up. "What else?"

"The tube that goes with it," Hershel elaborated, "extra surgical supplies, drapes, sutures."

"If you had all that, you could save him?" Rick asked hopefully, tilting his head to meet Hershel's eyes.

"If I had all that, I could try," Hershel answered delicately.

"Nearest hospital went up in flames a month ago," Otis pointed out, before his face flickered in realization. "The high school."

"That's what I was thinking," Hershel agreed. "They set up a FEMA shelter there, they would have everything we need."

"I'll go," Indiana volunteered immediately. "If it's the only chance we have, then I'll —"

"—I need you with Carl," Hershel cut her off with a shake of the head, giving her a sympathetic look. "I understand your desire to help, Indie, but Rick can't lose much more blood. With you here, Carl has a better shot."

Indiana shook her head, sighing heavily.

"The place was overrun last time I saw it," Otis explained cautiously. "You couldn't get near it. Maybe it's better now."

"I said," Shane cleared his throat. "Leave the rest to me." He met Rick's eyes, a playful smile on his lips. "Is it too late to take that back?"

"I hate you going alone," Rick countered in a whisper.

"Me too," Indiana met his eyes. "We can grab someone from the group, you can — you can pick up Daryl on the way, he can —"

"Come on," he gave her a look. "I'll be fine, Indie. Doc," he looked to Hershel, a begrudging determination on his face. "Why don't you do me a list and draw me a map?"

"You won't need a map," Otis spoke up. "I'll take you there. Ain't but five miles."

"Otis, no," Patricia said firmly, putting her hands on her hips behind Hershel.

"Honey," Otis sighed, 'We don't have time for guesswork and I'm responsible. I ain't gonna sit here while this fella takes this on alone." He glanced to Indiana, then to Shane. "I ain't gonna be responsible for two possible deaths, not if I can help stop 'em both." He offered his wife a soft smile. "I'll be all right."

"You sure about this?" Shane asked.

"Do you even know what any of the stuff he's talking about looks like?" Otis countered.

Shane scoffed out a chuckle. "Come to think, no."

"I've been a volunteer EMT, I do. We can talk about this 'till next Sunday, or we could just go do it real quick."

Shane nodded. "I'll take right quick."

"I should thank you," Rick looked to Otis.

"Wait 'till that boy of yours is up and around," Otis shook his head. "Then we'll talk."

"I'm thanking you now," Indiana pulled Otis into a hug. "You're saving Carl and my dad," she squeezed him softly as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'll never be able to repay that."

Otis pulled back and nodded at her — Indiana knew if he had a hat on, he'd have tipped it — and offered a kind smile. "You've come into this house with sunshine, Indiana, that's enough payment as is. Just keep an eye on my Patricia for me, alright?"

Indiana nodded, pulling away from him as Shane squeezed her shoulder softly.

"I'll gather some things," Otis gave a pointed look to Shane before leaving the room.

Maggie walked up to Rick and her hand brushed Indiana's lightly. Indie flushed at the contact but hid it with a cough, pulling away from the girl.

"Where is she?" Maggie asked Rick. "Your wife?"

—

Indiana hugged Shane tightly, burying her face in his chest. He held her just as tenderly, stroking her curls softly. "I'll be okay, cricket," he pressed a kiss to her head. "Cross my heart."

"Hope not to die," Indiana pulled back and looked up at him, fighting tears. "I need you, okay? I can't — I can't do this life thing in the apocalypse without you."

Shane smiled fondly, brushing back a piece of her hair. "I'll always come home to you, lev, alright? Be good, stay put, keep an eye on Sophia." He glanced to the house. "And Rick. I'll be back soon."

Indiana nodded, pulling away entirely and wiping her eyes. "See you soon, dad."

"See ya, kid," he winked, ruffling her hair and shoving her back lightly.

She offered a two-fingered salute to Otis, who smiled at her, before heading back into the house.

Shane would be fine.

He'd be completely and absolutely fine.

—

"Lori!" Indiana pulled the woman into a hug, and Lori collapsed against Indiana, quietly sobbing against her.

"Is he okay?" She asked.

"Come on," Indiana smiled softly, walking Lori to the house where Rick let out a shaky breath and pulled his wife to him. "He'll be okay," Indiana assured them both. "I know he will."

Rick sent her a grateful smile and Indiana nodded back, offering Maggie's hand a squeeze as she passed.

She wasn't sure exactly what she and Maggie were doing — but she didn't exactly hate it.

—

Indiana closed her eyes sleepily as the blood loss settled in, resting her head on the back of the chair. She'd just given her second dose, Rick leaning against the dresser next to her, Lori in the chair on Carl's other side.

"I appreciate you doing this, Indie," Lori spoke up, not moving her eyes from Carl's face.

Indiana smiled gently. "Of course," she peeked out to see Carl, and sighed softly. "It's Carl. I'd do anything for this little rugrat."

A light chuckle echoed around the room, but the humor faded quickly.

"I'll get you a drink," Lori stood, wiping her eyes and helping Rick from the room, him leaning on her for support after his previous blood transfusions. "Stay here, Indie, take it easy."

Indiana nodded, reaching her hand to Carl's and resting it over his. She didn't move his hand, fearful that she'd do something to endanger him, but she wanted to make sure he knew she was there. She'd never go anywhere.

"I'm so jealous you got shot before me," Indiana spoke softly, laughing a bit. "You're totally a cooler superhero now."

The silence that followed her reply chipped away at her heart.

—

"Here," Maggie's voice woke Indiana from her sleep and she grabbed the cup from her with a grateful smile. "It's orange juice, vitamin c will help."

"Thank you," Indiana took a sip. "Has anyone else arrived yet?"

Maggie nodded. "Two people, kid named Glenn and T-Dog."

Indiana perked up, downing the rest of her juice and standing, then dizzily stumbling. Maggie caught her with a small laugh and held her against her chest. "Sorry," Indiana laughed lightly. "I'm excited. Glenn's my best friend."

"I think he has a crush on me," Maggie whispered conspiratorially. "He just keeps staring."

"I don't blame him," Indiana gave her a pointed look. "You're perfect, Maggie."

A light blush rose on Maggie's cheeks and she poked Indie's nose. "Stop it," she wrapped an arm around Indiana's shoulders. "Come on, he's just outside if you wanna see him."

Glenn's face when Indiana left the room made her heart soar and he closed the distance, pulling her into a tight hug.

"I missed you so much," he breathed out. Indiana squeezed as tightly as she could.

"I missed you too," Indiana pulled out of the hug, though she still rested against him for support. "How is everyone? Are they okay? Is Carol okay? Sophia's fine I—"

"—Rick said you saved her, you're amazing, Indie," he looked at her proudly. "Everyone's fine, they're coming back in the morning."

"Is Daryl okay?" Indie asked. "I've been worried about him since Merle and—"

"—Daryl's fine," Glenn nodded. "He's been leading the search for you and Sophia. Every time someone would talk about, he and Shane were the first people to jump in with your name."

Indiana smiled at the words, touched that the friendship she had with Daryl was a two-way street. She'd have to hug him — despite his shoving her off with a string of curse words — when she saw him next.

"Did you eat? Indiana asked him. "I can make you some ravioli, Boyardee special."

"Heck, yes," Glenn grinned, then his eyes caught Maggie, who was watching the friends in amusement. "Oh, h-hi."

Indiana snorted at her best friend. "Maggie, Glenn, Glenn, Maggie. I doubt Glenn's actually introduced himself because he's terrible with women."

"I am not."

"Sure thing, pizza boy," she flicked his cap up and he gave another look to Maggie before helping Indiana to the kitchen.

Indiana felt infinitely better with Glenn at her side.

—

Indiana leaned against the wall of Carl's room, her head on Lori's shoulder. Hershel was checking the boy's blood pressure, and all three occupants in the room were wracked with nerves over the prognosis.

"Pressure's dropping again," Hershel explained, looping his equipment around his neck. "We can't wait much longer."

"Take some more," Rick held his arm out. "Whatever he needs, then I'm gonna go."

"Go?" Lori asked, gently pushing Indiana off her. "Go where?"

"To help Shane," Indiana nodded. "I'll go too."

"He said five miles," Rick pointed out. "They should be long back by now. Something's gone wrong."

"Are you both insane?" Lori whispered, looking between them. "Indie, Shane would rather die than see anything happen to you, especially to save him—"

"—It's about Carl, too, Lori—"

"—And you should trust your father to bring himself and the supplies back," Lori cut her off with a motherly look, then settled her gaze on Rick. "You're not going after them."

"Rick, Indie," Hershel spoke up. "Listen to her."

"If they got into trouble—" Rick voiced to Hershel.

"Neither of you are in any condition to do anything about it. You've given too much blood. You're barely on your feet."

"I'm fine," Indiana protested, visuals of Shane being torn apart by Walkers dancing across her mind. "I'm not losing my dad and Carl in one night. I'll go and I'll be fine and—"

"—You'll do no such thing," Lori objected. "If I have to tie you to a chair, I will, Indiana Walsh, you are not going after your father."

"You wouldn't make it across the yard," Hershel added, looking at both protestors seriously.

"If something happened," Rick pointed to Lori, trying to get his point across. "I have to go."

"No," Lori shook her head furiously. "Your place is here. If Shane said he'll be back, he'll be back. He's like you that way."

"I can't just sit here," Rick countered, tearing up.

"That's exactly what you do!" Lori snapped. "If you need to pray or cry or tell God he's cruel, you go right ahead, but you're not leaving, Rick." Her eyes flickered to Indiana. "And so, help me, Indie, if you make a move for that door, I will stop you." Her voice softened, looking back to Rick. "Carl needs you — here." She added in a helpless whisper, "and I can't do this by myself. Not this one."

Rick pulled Lori to his arms and Indiana looked hopelessly to the ground, biting her lip to stop herself from crying.

She didn't care who died or what happened to anyone else — Shane would have to come home. He would come home, and he would save Carl and everyone she loved would be fine.

They had to be fine.

—

not suuuuper happy w this but it'll pick up next episode gonna get some sad drama :(