Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Walking Dead. The plot of this short piece is just a figment of my overactive imagination.

"Soul To Squeeze"

The person on the bed did not look like Rick Grimes. To Shane, he looked like a tired shell of Rick Grimes; someone who had been hurt, someone who did not want to open his eyes because he was afraid of what he would see. Shane stood at the edge of the bed staring at Rick, drinking in the sight of him. It had been over a week since he had come to see him and the last bouquet of flowers that he had brought had already died and withered. He noted that the hospital staff hadn't even been bothered to pick up the petals that had fallen to the floor. Two of the dried petals had even found their way under Rick's palm. How they had gotten there, he would never know. He liked to think that this was a big trick that Rick was playing on him; that one day he would come in and he would be sitting upright eating oatmeal with honey and he would be smiling at him. He would say to Shane Gotcha! And Shane would be mad for a few moments, but then he would forgive him quickly. He would close his eyes for a moment as his hand rested on the doorknob to the hospital room, hoping, praying even, that Rick would be awake, but every time he pushed the door open, he would be greeted by the same sight of his best friend with his eyes closed.

Once, a doctor had come in to check on him. Shane stood anxiously in the corner as the doctor checked Rick's vitals and flashed a small light into his eyes. There had been no response and Shane felt the knot in his throat tighten. The doctor looked up at him with a resigned expression on her face. I'm sorry. He's still the same, she had said. He remembered the sound of her shoes as they clicked out of the room. She had closed the door behind her. The tears threatened to fall out of his eyes and down his face but he took several deep breaths and held it together. He took one last look at Rick and left, heading straight to the bar where he could nurse whiskey on the rocks. It would numb the pain for a little while.

Today he sat on a chair at the edge of the bed. He had replaced the dead flowers with new ones. Today he had chosen a bouquet of purple irises peppered in with some large, yellow sunflowers. The yellow had made him smile, something that he hadn't done in a long time. He picked up all the dead petals from the ground and threw them in the garbage. He took the two petals that had been under Rick's hand and placed them in his pocket. All he wanted to do was reach out and hold Rick's hand, but he knew the minute he touched him someone would come in and catch him. The last time he came to visit, Lori and Carl had been inside and he had turned on his heel and left the hospital as quickly as he had come. He couldn't face Lori now, and he knew Carl would be sitting there, quiet as a mouse, eyes red from crying for his dad. Shane knew that Rick would have wanted him to be there with them to comfort them in his absence, but Shane couldn't bring himself to do it.

Today, he found his hand slowly creeping closer and closer to Rick's. He just wanted to hold it for a moment and give it a squeeze. He just wanted to let Rick know that he was there for him. Taking a glance at the door, he pulled his chair closer to the bed and reached out for Rick's hand. The knot in his throat tightened and he threaded his fingers with Rick's. He squeezed Rick's hand tightly. I'm here for you buddy, I'm here, and I just wanted you to know that. He finally let go of Rick's hand after a few minutes and then let go a sigh of relief. He stood up and suddenly, feeling bold; he ran his fingers through Rick's hair. It was just as soft as it had always been and he found himself laughing as several tears finally slipped out of his eyes. He wiped them away quickly with the back of his hand and then closed his eyes. He would skip the bar tonight. Tonight he would go to the diner, but he would take Carl and Lori with him. I'm sorry it took me so long, Rick, he said to himself. But I promise you, I'll take care of them. I'll look after them until you get back, Rick, from wherever you are right now. Shane leaned over and kissed Rick on the forehead. I love you, he whispered. He touched his pocket where the two rose petals lay nestled and he felt the knot in his throat loosen. For a moment, he swore he saw the ghost of a smile on Rick's lips, but he knew it was just his mind playing tricks. He left the hospital and climbed into his truck. He pulled out his cell phone and scrolled down to Lori's number. He pressed the call button and waited for her to answer.

AN: Thanks for reading. Please let me know what you think :) Reviews will be greatly appreciated.