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Chapter Four: My Job, Your Job

"So how long is this going to take?" I ask as Hershel takes my blood pressure again.

"There is no way to tell. But since this is your first baby it will be a little longer than normal. But you're in good health and in fairly good shape, so we'll just play it by ear."

"Is it okay that I'm scared?" I asked with a nervous smile.

"I'd be worried if you weren't. Are you sure you don't want me to get Daryl? He probably would like to know his child is on the way."

"I know, but when I came in walkers were all over the fence-line, he's needed out there."

"Pretty sure I'm needed in here more." Daryl says as he walks in the cell. Hershel gets out of the chair beside the bed and leaves as Daryl sits down. "How many times do I have to tell you that you are what matters the most?"

"Let me guess, Merle."

"Yep, he and Rick are dealing with the walkers, so I'm all yours."

"What about the dead in D?"

"There are plenty of people to help with that. I'm not leaving you."

"Hershel said it could be hours, you'll be board before I reach 4cm."

"You making a bet?"

"Sure am, name the stakes."

"I'll get back to you. Like you said, we have hours."

Time passed too slow and it looked like I was going to be the one that was going to go crazy from the boredom. Minus the occasional contraction I was pretty much just laying there. "Just breathe. Squeeze my hand." Daryl coached as another made itself known. I gritted my teeth and squeezed my eyes closed until it subsided and I relaxed. "That one was closer to the last one, about a minute and a half." Daryl says looking at his watch.

"Yay, we have progress." I say leaning against the pillow and closing my eyes. I laid still and tried to breathe like I had been taught, I wasn't doing a good job.

"Kelly, you have visitors." I open my eyes and see Rick and Ty at the door, Ty had two bundles of flowers in his hand. Daryl moved to the back of the cell and Rick sat down in the chair.

"Hey, how are you doing?"

"I'm okay; it's just the beginning, if I start complaining now I'm in for a long day. What's with the flowers Ty?"

"I was getting some for Karen, but when Merle Dixon was running around yelling that his nephew was coming I got some for you too." He says as he hands me a bundle.

"Aw, thank you." I give them a smell before I hand them to Daryl and he sets them on the desk. "I'll have them put in some water when I get a chance."

"No problem" he takes my hand and squeezes it. "I'll tell Karen that the baby is coming, she'll be excited. Good luck, I'll stop by later." Then he turns and walks away.

Daryl goes to get something to put the flowers in, leaving Rick and I alone. "Are you excited to be an Uncle?"

"I am, I just wish this was happening in a better world."

"I'm having this baby in the best place possible in this world, and it's all thanks to you. You made this possible."

"It was all of us."

"But mainly you. And I can't thank you enough for always taking care of me."

"You're my baby sister; it's my job to take care of you."

"So what's going on with this flu?"

"Really, you're gonna ask now?"

"As good a time as any, I'm just laying here."

"Right now they're just burying the bodies, we have Karen and David in isolation, and cell block A is quarantine for anybody else who starts to show symptoms. Right now the only person in there is Dr. S; hopefully it'll stay that way."

I looked up at the ceiling as what Rick said worked its way into my head. Then I felt myself panic. "Rick, the people who are at risk is anyone who was in D. I was there, I-I could have it. I could have it and-and my baby-." Rick grabs my hand and holds it tight.

"Whoa, calm down. Calm down, we don't know anything right now. There's a chance that Karen and David are the only ones who have it, and we have them isolated-."

"But there's a chance that we all have it. Rick, what are—what are we gonna do?" I ask pushing myself up into a sitting position.

"You need to calm down. Going into a panic is not going to help anything and it definitely won't help you with this baby-."

Another contraction bubbles its way to the surface and all thoughts of the flu went out the window. I groaned and tears fell from my eyes as it passed. I fell back down out of breath when it left. Daryl came back with the flowers in a soda bottle and a glass of water. "She have another one?"

"Ya, it was short." Rick answered as Daryl set everything down on the desk and sat on the edge of the bed.

"About the same as the last one. You want some water?" I shake my head no and wipe my cheeks. "You're okay." he says rubbing my stomach. "Do you need anything-."

"Rick!" Daryl was interrupted by the loudest hollering of Rick's name I had ever heard, and soon a very pissed and infuriated Ty thundered around the corner. "You need do come with me, now!" He says, his voice is rough, his breathing fast and heavy. Rick stands up to follow, and I order Daryl to follow.

"You have about six minutes before the next one; I'll be fine without you."

I pushed myself into a sitting position and swung my legs over the side, I wasn't going to stand up, but I did not want to spend all day on my back. Hershel came in a few minutes after Rick and Daryl left. "Do you want to stand up?"

"Am I allowed to do that?"

"If you have someone with you, where did Rick and Daryl go?"

"I don't know, Ty just came storming in here and demanded they go with him. Whatever it is he's pretty pissed."

"I'll go get Merle; his happy demeanor is rude to those who lost people today." Hershel turns to leave, but I stop him.

"Hershel, Rick told me about the flu, the one that killed Patrick, that caused what, happened today. He said that everyone in D was exposed, that means I was exposed."

"I know, but we don't know anything right now, we're going to wait and see-."

"What about my baby. What if I have it, I can't be around a newborn, not with some killer flu."

"I just said don't worry about it."

Hershel moves and sits beside me on the bed and wraps an arm around me. "I'm going to tell you something my father told me, one of the few pieces of good advice he ever told me. We all have jobs to do; we don't worry about anything else but our jobs. We don't get to be upset. Your job is to have this baby. Your job is to help further human existence. It's my job to worry about the flu. And if I feel that action needs to be taken I will. But that is my job. Let me do mine and you will do yours. Understand?"

Talking to Hershel was like talking to my father, I wouldn't be able to disobey him if I wanted to. I nod my head and lay my head on his shoulder. I still am afraid of what could happen, but I feel reassured that I, and my baby will be taken care of.

"I'm glad that we found each other Hershel." I say as I raise my head. "I didn't like you at first. You were too bossy for my taste. But in the end, I wouldn't trade meeting you and your family for anything."

Hershel just smiled and kissed my forehead. "You and your brother will have a place in my heart too. I wasn't to thrilled with you two either when you arrived at my house, but I think we found each other at the perfect time. Even if Carl's life hadn't depended on it, I know The Almighty brought us together for a reason." I was very upset when our moment was ruined when another contraction decided to hit.

Daryl's PoV

I had gotten Hershel to fix Rick up and left Kelly at Merle's mercy. For some reason I felt I had to go see Carter. He was still asleep from what I had gathered, but my brain just needed to see if what I had seen was really true. There was someone outside the door at all times, this time it was Bob, I nodded at him and went inside. The infirmary was quiet; Carter was strapped to one of the tables in case the amputation didn't work or he woke up and thrashed around.

He was still until the door clicked shut behind me, then his head whipped towards the door faster than anything I had seen. But the moment he saw it was me he turned his head back towards the ceiling. "What are you doing here?"

"If you want those straps gone, all you have to do is ask."

"I've been in tighter straps than this, this is a prison, I expected a tighter hold."

"Has anyone been in here to tell you what happened?"

"That I'm basically now walker bait, sure. It was a dandy talk. So glad your little woman let me live."

"She saved your life."

"She saved it so I could be left when this place falls." Then he moved his head back towards me. "And it will. Nothing good lasts."

I ignored my desire to just flip him off and walk away, but I stayed. I walked over and undid the straps across his chest. He pushed himself up and undid the one that lay across his knees. "Why are you here?" he asks again, his eyes not leaving the stump of his leg.

"Kelly is in labor."

"And I care why?"

"Maybe because she's having your grandchild, maybe because you're my father, maybe because she saved your damn worthless life."

"If my life is so worthless, why did she even bother?"

"If it would have been me I would have let you die. Let you die and then shoot you in the head." His chuckle just added fuel to the fire that was building in my chest.

"Do you think I'm kidding? You are worthless, a piece of shit excuse for a man!" he still laughs, I don't even realize until he's on the floor and my hand explodes in pain that I had punched him. "I wished she would have let you die! That way I could finally pay you back for all you did, finally do what I couldn't do as a kid!" He looked up from the ground, a sick smile on his lips, but it didn't quiet mach his eyes.

"If you hate me so much, why don't you just do it? Just kill me now. Not like anybody here is going to stop you. Hell, throw me to the walkers, let them dispose of my body so you don't even have to dig a grave."

And just like that my anger was gone. He wanted me to kill him. He didn't think he could make it now. And that didn't set right with me. I had never thought much of Carter, but one thing I had always learned from him was to be tough and never be a coward, never take the easy way out. And that was just what he was asking me to do for him. Help him take the easy way out, the coward's way out.

I just stood and watched him try and stand up, but he couldn't. I walked over to him and pulled him up and back on the bed. He immediately shrugged me off as he lay back down. "I'll let you know what we have." Then I walk out the door, leaving him alone. Just like he wanted, and just like he always would be.

Carter was nightmare from my past, and Kelly was the dream for my future. And she needed me, she wanted me. I would never let her down, or my child down the way that Carter had let me down.

Kelly's PoV

Night had fallen and I was getting very sick of this labor mess. Not only was the labor taking forever, but more people had gotten sick and what really broke my heart was the someone in the prison had murdered Karen and David. I had tried to go see Ty the moment I was told, but I wasn't allowed to by both Daryl and Hershel, and the fact my contractions were getting closer and more intense. "Daryl, I need to get up again. I can't do this." I say trying to push myself up, but I was so tired I could barley do it. Daryl caught me and pulled me into a sitting position. He wiped my face and fixed my hair so it was secured out of my face again.

"No, Hershel said no more walking."

"I don't care what Hershel said. It hurts Daryl, I gotta move."

"Let's roll you on your side-."

"I don't want on my side!"

As soon as I yelled I immediately felt horrible and I dropped my head in my hands as I started to cry. Daryl wastes no time to get at my side and wrap his arms around me. "I'm sorry." I say leaning against him. "I'm just so tired of this. I want this to be over."

"I know. Hershel said you were almost there. Just think about that. Think about finally seeing our baby."

"I wish he would just get here already!"

"He huh. You falling in with my brother? Well, you both are going to be disappointed when we have a girl." I laugh a little as I stop crying and wipe my eyes. I'm shaking and I'm sticky from sweat and the heat. I was moved from block C to what was the warden's office. This was so I could have privacy during the actual delivery and everyone could sleep while I was in agony. But even if I wasn't in constant pain, with Hershel, Maggie, and Rick coming in every five seconds I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway.

"Daryl, what if I get sick?"

"What did Hershel say?"

"I know what he said but-."

"No buts. He told you he would deal with it."

"Aren't you worried at all?"

"Of course I am. But there is nothing I can do about it. All I can do it help you now. I trust Hershel, and if he thinks the baby needs to be separated, he will. We still have plenty of formula left over from Asskicker. Everything will be okay."

"You remember what you promised me right? If something happens-."

"Kelly, stop. You are going to be fine; the baby is going to be fine. You just have to believe. I'm not loosing you, or the baby. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Lets get you back down." Daryl stands up and gently pushes me back on the bed, just in time for Hershel to knock on the door.

"How are the contractions?"

"I think if she doesn't drop the baby soon she's going to break my hand."

"It's a lot more fun making them isn't it." Hershel says with a smile.

"I don't think that fun is worth this." I say to Hershel as more pains shoot across my middle. Daryl looks offended. "Sorry Daryl, you're not good enough to cancel this out."

"I'm afraid this next part is the worst. You are ready to push; I just have to go get everything. Who all do you want to me to tell?"

Rick's PoV

My hands constant throbbing was a nice thing to focus on when all my thoughts were running in several directions. There was a killer in the prison, there was a killer germ in the prison, I had lost control again and punched out Tyreese, and now my sister was having her baby. Visions of Lori were flashing behind my eyes. But they weren't the happy images of when Carl was born, but when Judith was born. Her skin was hot with the fever that had already affected her body. Just one deep scratch from the walkers would kill you as fast as a bite. Then she had died the next day. I wasn't there when she passed, I was too angry, too far gone to realize what had happened.

We were all gathered outside, Maggie and Michonne were standing at the far corner away from us, being the only ones who weren't exposed to the flu. Glenn, Merle, and I were against the opposite wall. Merle was giddy as a school girl. He hadn't left Kelly alone all day, and he had a rare bottle of beer involved in a bet with Daryl over the sex of the baby. Kelly would be pissed if she found out.

I was surprised to see Carol was in the crowed gathered outside the door, but I think she was here more for in case Hershel needed assistance than concern for Kelly. Hershel had taught her how to do things for Lori in case something happened to him, so if something went wrong with Kelly it was good she was out here. Every one in a while a yell would sound through the door, Kelly was doing well for her first baby, but I also knew she was exhausted. Her emotions had been all over the place today, and it had taken more than a few pep talks and straight up threats to keep her in place today. Kelly had always thought more for others than herself. So staying still today went against everything in her nature. But she was going to have a baby; she was going to have to learn to put the baby first.

I was a little disappointed that I wasn't going to get to hold the baby just yet. Hershel felt that since most of us had been exposed that we most of us would just get to see the baby through the window, Maggie and Michonne being the exception since they hadn't been exposed like the rest of us. But it was for the baby's safety, and I also knew I would get to hold him or her several times once the flu panic was over.

"Merle, you really need to stop doing that." Michonne said from her corner.

"Stop what, showing my love for my new nephew? Never."

"You just need to stop moving around, you're driving everyone crazy."

"You're the only one indicating a problem."

"You really are driving us all crazy." Glenn adds, his eyes not really leaving Maggie's. This was the longest those two had been away from each other in a very long time. So that was probably the bug that was annoying him more than Merle's pacing.

They continued to bicker, and it was a nice distraction from the tension and excitement we were all feeling. But there bickering was cut short when the sound of a crying baby filled the hallway. It was only then that Merle stopped his fidgeting and everyone fell silent. My heart froze, the cry kept on, but it lowered in sound. We knew the baby was here, but what about Kelly, was she okay? Was the baby really healthy? Boy or girl? We all stood a little taller when Daryl slowly walked out of the door.

There was a huge smile on his face; I don't think I had ever seen him look happier. "Well, what is it?" Merle asked.

"We have a girl."

The wave of happiness that filled the hallway was magical, when Judith was born; her birth was almost surpassed by all we had lost that day, but not this baby's. "Is Kelly okay?" I asked.

"She's fine, tired, but fine. As soon as Hershel cleans her up I'll hold her through the window." Daryl laughed and bounced on his feet. "I'm a dad." Then he turns and goes back in the room, leaving us all looking at the window. Waiting to see the newest member of our little group.

Kelly's PoV

I was so tired, but I couldn't stop looking down at the little baby in my arms. She was sound asleep, tired from the long ordeal and her first feeding. She was wrapped in one of Judith's old blankets and was wearing a yellow onesie. Hershel was long gone, back to bed. Daryl was lying beside me, one arm around my shoulders, the other holding the hand of our little baby girl. "We need to name her." he said.

"I don't know what to name her. Even though she's right here in my arms it seems unreal."

"I told you you'd be fine. Look at what you did."

"What we did." I say fighting off another yawn.

"You need to get some sleep."

"So do you, council meeting bright and early."

"Well, she's asleep, let's sleep with her." Daryl says as he stands from the bed. He gently takes our daughter from my arms. He holds her close to his face and his smile grows to extremes as he looks at her. We had both been told no kissing her until the flu thing was dealt with, we were lucky we even were able to hold her. "I told mommy you were going to be a girl. Yes I did." He says as he lays her in the old mailbox that Judith used to lay in. it takes a few more minutes until he's in bed beside me. I fall asleep fairly quickly, but with a new born, I was up a few hours later.

The following morning Maggie was in charge of helping me get up and going. She helped me sit up and change clothes, brought me food, and told me what was going on within the prison. The council meeting had just ended and since more people had come down with the flu they were putting people into isolation. My baby and I were in the warden's office, Beth and Judith were in a guard's office, the children were in a big meeting room, and Hershel was stuck with me or in another random office.

Rick and several others had popped by and I had to show them my baby through the window and I wished more than ever that this flu had never happened. I felt terrible that none of the people that had helped me through the pregnancy could even hold my daughter. I also felt bad that Daryl and I hadn't named her yet.

I was sitting in a chair rocking my baby when Daryl walks in. "Hey, what's she doing?" He steps up beside the chair and I hand her to him.

"She's just looking around. Admiring her new world. How's Merle taking the fact she's a girl?"

"He's more pissed he had to give me his beer than anything."

"Excuse me?" I ask raising my eyebrows at him; he bit his lip and looked sheepish.

"Yea…he kept saying we were going to have a boy so we made bet."

"You bet on our child's gender?"

"Oh don't even; we were in the process of making one before we got distracted."

"I wasn't actually going to go through with it." I say crossing my arms. Daryl rolls his eyes and talks to our daughter.

"Your momma is a fibber. Don't let her fool ya; she wanted you to be a boy."

"Don't tell her that." I say kicking at his leg.

Daryl walks around with her a few times before he hands her back to me. "We're going on a run." He says, but his voice sounds different than it does on a normal run.

"Where?"

"The veterinary college. It's at West Peachtree Tech."

"Isn't that over fifty miles away?"

"Yea, but we gotta go. Almost all of us were exposed, almost everyone in D have it, so does Dr. S and Sasha."

"Oh no. not Sasha." My thoughts went right to Ty. He was already dealing with loosing Karen. "I need to see Tyresse." I say standing and putting the baby in the mail box.

"No, you need to stay here." Daryl says blocking the door.

"Daryl, Ty is my friend; I need to make sure he is okay."

"And your health is at risk, and if you're at risk so is our daughter."

"I'll be fine-."

"No." he says putting his hands on my shoulders. "Your job is to take care of that baby. Tyreese is a big boy; he doesn't need you right now. He has enough going on. And you do too. Do you really think Hershel wants you up and running all over the place after last night? Those pain pills are in short supply, that's the only reason you're not hurting right now. You need to stay here. Where you're safe."

I sigh and wrap my arms around Daryl. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too. I know staying here is against your nature, but trust me when I say it's for the best." I nod and pull away from him.

"Who is all going with you?"

"Just Michonne and Bob."

"How's Carter?"

"He's awake, that's all I know."

"What about Rick, is he-."

"Kelly, everyone who isn't sick is fine. You don't need to worry about what's going on with this place. Rick and Carol will keep it running."

"You're not letting her by the kids are you?"

"No, the kids are all in isolation. Carl is on guard. Now will you calm down."

"Okay, I'm sorry. I just…I feel in the dark here and it's driving me crazy."

"Right now you know as much as I do."

Daryl leads me to the chair and then he goes over to the box and picks up the baby. "I've been thinking about a name." he says rocking her in his arms.

"You are not naming our baby asskicker junior."

"That names already taken. But I was thinking Shayla. It was my grandma's name. She took care of Merle and me a lot." I roll the name over in my head a few times, and I really did like it.

"Shayla Dale Dixon. I like it." Daryl's face explodes into another smile and he starts babbling to the baby again.

"Shayla Dale Dixon, is that your name. Do ya like it? Huh?" I giggle when all he gets in response is a burp.

Note: Baby Boy Dixon only lost by one vote, it was very close. Lol

Yay for the baby finally being here. And we have a name!

Next chapter Rick continues his investigation, Daryl's on the run, and Kelly deals with an unwanted visitor

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