Lucas had been making his way through the woods when Ruger had made a small chuff. This was the sound his master had taught him to use for an alert, when he sensed walkers. it was soft enough to not draw attention but sudden enough when paired with his bristling hackles and stiffly raised tail to signal 'I smell danger, they're close!'
Lucas paused and leaned up against a bank, he was already smeared heavily with mud and decaying leaves. It wasn't as good as walker good but it also didn't make him smell like a main course either.
Ruger kept watch, always within arms reach. They sat there silently for several long agonizing minutes.
Then Ruger tested the air and swiveled the air and turned back to nudge him all clear. A soft groan got their attention and Lucas headed toward the noise. His sniper rifle slung over his shoulder and his Assault Rifle held against his chest. His hinger pressed flush to the side of the trigger but not actually curving it to apply pressure. The air was thick with the scent of blood and Ruger whined, he could smell Shane. Grabbing the now dispatched walker by her hair he tugged he off and glanced back at Lucas with a whine.
Stepping forward Lucas thought his heart would burst wide open as he took in the sight of his big brother. He got down next to him and felt for his pulse, checking the side of his neck, a lump building in his throat. His pulse was thready, weak he needed treatment urgently. "Shane I swear if you die I'll kill you myself!" He all but sobbed, his medic training kicking in and he reached for his pack. The young mans' shaking hands grabbed a vial of morphine. These were small portable doses, designed for quick and easy relief of traumatic injuries.
He found the vein at the bend in Shane's arm and slowly inserted the needle. The powerful drug would help him relax and hopefully stay in his unconscious state. Next he looked through his supplies and found a clotting agent that should slow the bleeding, until he could get him back to where he was holed up. On a table and under a light where he could get a better look at him.
Now came the hard part, because even though Shane only had about two inches on him, his body mass was a different story entirely. Lucas snapped his fingers and Ruger grabbed a pant leg, helping to tote as much as he could as he growled in a determined manner. "Good boy, we're gonna save him…we're gonna save him."
The process of dragging Shane through the woods was exhausting by itself. By the time he got him into the small building, he had scrubbed and gutted. Furnishing it into a run down but functional safety room. His arms were full of blood and cramping in protest. He panted against Shane's temple, pausing now and then to check his heart was still beating.
Lucas was struggling "Stay with me…fuck..you're heavy." He cursed on the verge of physical exhaustion. He drug Shane to a table and table and hoisted him up, the tendons on his neck popping up as he grunted from the sheer effort it took to haul Shanes' bulk up and onto the bed.
Lucas panted and stumbled slightly, strapping his sibling down just in case he woke up and he slumped against the wall. Taking his hand he slapped himself to clear his head and turned back to his brother who barely clung to life.
He couldn't wait a minute longer. He removed Shane's shirt, cutting the fabric with a pair of scissors and pulled it off. Then scrubbed his hands, and did his best to make a sterile field. The first thing he did was sanitize any area the walkers blood had touched. Next he started grabbing supplies a portable oxygen machine, stitching thread, gloves, saline, hydrogen peroxide and powerful antibiotics.
He started with the knife wound first, accessing the extent of the eternal damage, flushing it, and clamping off any vessels as he grabbed a lighter and a small rod of metal. Lighting a small gas stove he got the metal red hot and seared the vessel shut.
Then he began wiping the wound with gauze, checking for anymore bleeding. Lucas gave a nod, then began stitching the laceration shut, fighting through hand cramps and fatigue as he pulled the two flaps of skin closer and closer together with each time he hooked the needle through and pulled the black thread taut.
Lastly he gave Shane a shot of antibiotics and he prepped himself to give blood. Flicking at his vein in his own arm to prime it, before he stuck the large needle in and attached the tubing to his Iv port. He sat by him, leaning close, resting his head on his chest. A soft sniffle the only sound between them. "Please come back to me.." He whispered pressing the smallest kiss to his brother' temple and he bit his own knuckle.
Lucas could put needles in people all day but having one in him was very triggering. He fought through the anxiety and after a few minutes, bandaged himself and went to rest against the wall hoping his efforts were enough.
Days passed, Lucas continued nursing Shane to the best of his ability but he wasn't a doctor. His hope was starting to wane as a week passed. Then movement and he blinked as Shane became defensive. Lucas stepped out and Ruger growled softly to warn Shane no to make a move against his handler.
He approached Shane shushing him, slowly taking the spoon from him. "Shh, shh you're okay…you're safe." He reassured him "It's me Shane, it's Lucas..I patched you up.. I wasn't sure you were gonna pull through." There were deep shadows under his eyes evidence of his near constant vigil. Lucas turned to get him a glass of water but his body was at its' wits end, he staggered and leaned heavily against Shane's bed. He managed to hand him the small cup and winced. He ached all over.
Using the last of his strength he climbed up into bed beside him, resting his head on Shane's chest. He dozed off listening to the sound of his heart beat, thrumming in his chest. It was stronger now and he murmured, almost slurring his words. "S-stay…Stay with me." For a fleeting moment Lucas was a small child again all snuggled up to his big brother. "You're all.....I have left.." His breathed became slow and even.
