Okay, so here's the next chapter. I just started my summer vacation so, hopefully, I'll have more time to get some writing done.

Obviously, I don't own anything related to The Walking Dead or anything related to that world.


The curtains swayed with the morning breeze in cell block D. Teddy couldn't get her mind to quiet down for a second. She had given up trying to sleep and instead cuddled closer to the little body curled on his side. Her hand tried to smooth out the hair sticking up in odd places. His head feeling a little warmer than normal probably from their close proximity.

She let her eyes close for a few seconds when the first screams started and soon after the gunshots followed. Atticus jumped awake in a sleepy haze, his eyes wide with fear. She sprung up from the bed and reached for her hunting knife and tugged Atticus behind her.

As she ran out of the cell with his hand securely in hers she regretted it. Screaming people pushed and pulled each other trying to find a way out of the cell block. A hand clamped down on her wrist and for a second she almost swung her knife until Carol's hurried voice called out to her.

"You need to get Atticus out of here. Go to Karen's cell and stay in there until I come find you." She was already pushing Teddy and Atticus towards the cell. "Stay safe."

When Carol had finally come back to find them Teddy had thrown herself into the woman's arms and clung to her as if her life depended on it. The fear of possibly losing the only person that cared about her and Teddy had almost driven her to insanity.

"I'm so happy you're safe Carol! I don't know what I would've done if-" Carol pulled her away and smoothed her hair down.

"Shh. I'm fine." She let Teddy pull her into another hug and her eyes landed on the small sleeping boy curled into Karen's side. His small chest still shaking with small sobs. "Is he okay?"

Karen looked down at the boy and gently massaged his back. "He's okay now, as soon as you left he just lost it. Poor kid just cried himself to sleep."

"Why don't you take him to my cell and rest until we get this place cleaned up, I'll be there soon." Teddy nodded and scooped his small frame up and left the cell. "Thank you Karen."

"No problem Carol."

.

Teddy hadn't seen Carol the rest of the day. Word was going around that Karen and David had been quarantined for their own safety. She had been pulled awake by the small whimpering coming from Atticus.

His blond hair stuck to his face in a sweaty mess and his breathing was coming out in small shallow breaths. She pushed his sweaty bangs off of his forehead and gulped loudly at the heat coming from his body.

"Shit. Atticus, kid, you're gonna be okay. I'll go get Hershel and Carol."

The curtain swung open as Carol stepped in. "I'm sorry I took so long-" She looked at Atticus' pale face and her heart dropped. She had just added Lizzie into the possibly infected group and now Atticus was showing symptoms. "No. Teddy, Teddy I need you to get away from him right now."

Teddy shook her head in confusion. "What? No. He just has a fever, he'll be fine. Kids get sick all the time."

"Teddy get away from him. He could be infected. I need to take him to quarantine." She made a move towards him and froze when Teddy pointed a knife at her. "Teddy."

"No. If he goes in then I go in. He'll be scared when he wakes up alone. I'm not leaving him." She gripped the knife tighter in her hand.

Carol shook her head. "He won't be alone. Hershel is in there, so is Glenn. He'll be well taken care of until the others come back with the antibiotics. But you have to get away from him and let me take him."

Seconds rolled by until the knife clattered to the floor and Teddy's sobs rang through the cell. Carol pulled her bandana over her mouth and nose as she rushed to pick up his small body.

"Please, Carol don't let him die." Carol nodded solemnly as she took him out of the cell.

As Carol walked away she could hear Teddy's desperate cries and objects crashing onto the walls.

…..

Hershel held the door open as Glenn took the small boy from Carol's arms, careful not to touch any exposed area on her. Glenn's body quivered under the added weight on his already weak body.

"How long has he been like this?" Hershel looked over his small body.

"I didn't have the chance to ask Teddy. I don't think it's been that long though."

Hershel nodded. "I'll take care of him. He won't be alone."

Carol gave his chubby hand one last squeeze before she nodded. "Thank you. I'm going out on a run with Rick, I'll come to check on him as soon as I come back."

.

A soft hand brushed over her forehead and for a second she forgot everything bad happening in her life.

"Teddy?"

Red rimmed eyes opened sleepily. "For a second I thought this was all a nightmare. That as soon as I opened my eyes I would see those damn sweet blue eyes of his."

"Hershel and Glenn are with him Teddy. He's in good hands. I promise."

Carol watched as Teddy held in a sob. "I came to tell you that I'm going out on a run with Rick. I'll be back as soon as possible."

There was no response from the teen. As she got up to leave Teddy's hand wrapped around her wrist.

"You'll come back right?"

"Of course."

"I can't lose anyone else Carol, I need you to come back." Her voice sounded like a desperate child.

"You're not gonna lose me and you haven't lost Atticus either. I'll be back, I promise."


I'll have more posted soon, scouts honor.