A/N: I feel like it goes without saying but figured I might as well say it: I'm not a medical professional by any means.


A few minutes passed in what was mostly silence before the clacking of Hershel's crutches could be heard reverberating off the bare walls. The old man made his way over to everyone, the look of concern evident on each face that was present. "What seems to be the problem?"

"We were hoping you could tell us," Rick began. "I found him like this up in one of the guard towers. Glenn and I got him in here just after he passed out."

Hershel frowned as he looked down at Daryl's unconscious form splayed out on the mattress. He managed as best he could to lower himself onto the ground with Maggie's assistance since they opted to drag the mattress out of the cell for Daryl's sake. Hershel reached out a hand to Daryl's forehead before moving to the inside of his wrist to check his pulse. "Well, he certainly has a high fever though there's no telling how high. Does anyone know how long this has been going on?"

Everyone exchanged glances before coming to the guilty conclusion that no one had any idea. Daryl had made sure to keep his distance from everyone and it all made sense now. Perhaps he didn't think he was that bad himself, or maybe he didn't want to burden anyone with his illness. Since he hadn't been around all that much it left everyone in the dark about his health.

Rick glimpsed back down at Daryl. He was drenched in sweat as if he had just run a marathon, burning up with however high a fever he had. Rick concluded that he must be nauseated to some extent as well seeing as he was reduced to all fours on the ground and gagging before he and Glenn could make it to him earlier.

"Maybe I can get him some food and water?" Carol offered for when Daryl would wake and come back to them in the conscious world. The assumption was that he wouldn't be out cold for too long.

"That sounds like a start," Hershel nodded. "Maggie, do you think you could find something to hold some water and a washcloth of some sort? We'll need to try and bring his temperature down if it's as high as I'm willing to bet. And any ibuprofen or aspirin if there is any."

Maggie and Carol left together to return to C Block and retrieve what they needed. In the meantime, Hershel appeared to be deep in thought as Rick and Glenn watched his every move.

"Is there anything else we can do?" Glenn asked.

"I'm afraid not. At least not at this very moment. We'll have to wait and see how he is once he wakes up." Hershel furrowed his brow, "How was he, mentally? Did he seem confused at all?"

"Maybe a little," Rick confessed. "He didn't seem like he was all there."

There was a sudden sharp inhale from Daryl as everyone's attention was drawn back to him. Daryl shifted slightly, rolling to his side, curled up and shivering.

"What's going on? What's wrong with him?" Glenn was the first to ask, switching his gaze from Daryl to Hershel and back.


As Maggie and Carol entered into C Block, Carol went straight for whatever she could find appropriate food wise and a glass of water while Maggie pilfered through what medicine they had. She smiled in relief when she found a bottle of ibuprofen almost immediately, knowing it was probably the safest choice anyway. Though ibuprofen had its complications, aspirin seemed to be worse off and acetaminophen could cause liver damage in high doses. Considering its use was going to be for Daryl's fever more likely than anything else, ibuprofen was the best bet.

"What's going on? Where is everybody?" Beth approached her sister with Judith snuggled in her arms. Judith had become harder to put to bed now that she had started teething and Beth had no trouble keeping the little bundle wrapped in her arms in an attempt to soothe her.

"Daryl's sick," Maggie filled her in briefly. She pocketed the bottle of pills and searched for something she could put some water in after snatching a washcloth. "Do you know what we could use to—"

"I got it." Carol's voice filled Maggie's ears as the younger woman turned to see Carol carrying what appeared to be a bowl of oatmeal, a glass of water, and a Tupperware container filled with water. Maggie quickly reached out and took the Tupperware container amazed at how Carol was so determined, having balanced all three objects with ease.

"Sick? What do you mean sick?" Beth followed them towards the door to C Block, Judith writhing in her arms. Beth knew just as well as everyone else that Daryl Dixon didn't get sick. Even after the winter they had Daryl was the only one who didn't end up with at least some type of cold, sneeze, or sniffle. The man seemed immune.

"I don't know. Just stay here."


Rick looked over just in time to see Carol and Maggie reentering D Block with the supplies Hershel had sent them for. Maggie stopped by Hershel's side with the Tupperware container full of water and a washcloth while Carol knelt down beside Daryl, opposite of the Greene family. Maggie sat down beside Daryl now and dipped the cloth into the container of water, wringing it out before she folded it and placed it on his forehead.

"When he wakes up we'll have to try and get some fluids in him. He'll be worse off if he doesn't get at least something," Hershel broke the silence, giving his input on the situation at hand. He made to get up before Maggie and Glenn both flanked his sides and helped him. Rick retrieved his crutches and offered them to him to keep his balance steady as the three backed off of him.

The door to D Block opened once more causing everyone to glance over at the newcomer. When Rick noticed it was Michonne, he felt a lump reappear in his throat. He immediately thought the worst since she had been on watch, that maybe they were under attack, but she was walking far too casually for there to be a threat. And it took a moment before Rick realized that she was also carrying Daryl's crossbow slung over her shoulder with her katana.

"Thought he might want this. Seems to be his security blanket." A slight smirk tugged at Michonne's lips as she slid the crossbow off her shoulder and handed it over to Rick after he took a few steps to meet her. They both turned back to face the others.

"Yeah, thanks. I meant to go back out and grab it myself but…" Glenn let his voice taper off. Michonne only nodded in understanding as she was staring down at the unconscious hunter.

"Doesn't look too good." Michonne tore her stare away from Daryl, "Tyreese is on watch now. Let me know if you need anything." And with that she headed back out of D Block, a woman of few words. Rick only hoped she was doing okay after losing Andrea because if the condition Daryl was in was tied to Merle's death… Well, Rick wasn't sure if he could handle another one of their group and best players to be down for the count.

Rick ran a hand through his hair and sighed. Things were just becoming one big disaster after another.


"…no way of knowing."

"We have to do something though…"

"What about if we…"

Daryl opened his eyes upon hearing the faint sound of familiar voices nearby. Once he had them open though he immediately regretted it as everything slightly spun around before him, causing him to shut his eyes once again until the dizziness subsided.

"Daryl?" Rick's voice filled his ears.

Daryl raised his shaky hands, cursing at how weak he must have looked to whoever was crowded around him at the moment. He rubbed his eyes before trying to open them again, his vision coming back into focus as he noticed Rick hovering over him as he lay on his side. He made to prop himself up on his elbow at least but soon felt Rick's hand resting on his shoulder.

"Just stay put, alright? You don't have to worry about anything." Rick forced a smile down at him.

Whether he decided against moving or he just didn't have it in him, Daryl didn't protest. Instead he reached a hand up to his forehead to find a damp washcloth and brought it down in front of him to see. "What the hell?"

"You're running a high fever. Hershel thought it best if we tried to bring it down in any way possible." Carol's voice explained from behind him. It was then that Daryl realized not only was Rick standing by, but Glenn, Maggie, Hershel, and apparently Carol too. Great.

"I'm fine. Just leave me be," Daryl grumbled under his breath, setting the washcloth down by his side.

"Since you're awake, you think you can try and get some ibuprofen in your system? Maybe a side of oatmeal and water to go with that?" Maggie offered. She was already reaching into her pocket and shaking a couple pills out of the bottle before Daryl groaned.

"Stop…" Daryl buried his face in his hands and rolled onto his back. Why couldn't they take the hint? He didn't want to be bothered let alone lying in the middle of the cell block on display for everyone to harass.

"I recommend you let us do something before this fever gets any worse, son." Hershel spoke, the crutches clacking across the hard ground as he stepped back, allowing enough room for Daryl's personal space to be invaded.

There was a pair of hands suddenly groping under Daryl's arms and pulling him back, up into somewhat of a sitting position. His back was partially resting against Glenn's chest—or so he presumed by process of elimination, gritting his teeth in frustration. He figured if he would have struggled to get away it would have only made him look that much more pitiful because he knew he didn't have enough fight left in him with whatever this sickness was. So he clamped his eyes shut and talked himself down.