Ch 4: Cats 'n Bags

Daryl watched as Emma loosened Churchill's girth. When she was done, it looked to him like she leaned on the big beast for a moment. He lips drew tight. She ain't right.

Emma looked up and met his eyes. She sent him a weak smile, he frowned back. He was doing a lot o' that lately. Emma's face fell under his gaze, her eyes drifting down to her boots.

"Shit." Daryl muttered, turning away from her and scratching the back of his head.

"What's that?" Rick looked up from the conversation he was having with Michonne. Both of them were looking at him expectantly.

Michonne's eyes flicked over his shoulder to Emma. "She going out?"

"Comin' back." Daryl shrugged. "She and Michael were checkin' traps."

Rick walked over and slapped a hand on his shoulder. "From the look on your face I'd swear she was heading out."

Daryl ran a hand over his face. "She ain't right, Rick."

"Emma?" Rick stood beside him and they watched Emma lead Churchill out. "You two have a fight?"

Daryl shook his head and looked away. "S'not that."

"She's lost weight." Michonne offered. When Rick gave her a puzzled look she shrugged. "Seen her in the showers. She's ribby. She didn't used to be."

"Joel say anything?" Rick asked. "She over the food poisoning?"

"She pukes her guts out ev'ry morning." Daryl admitted. He'd checked up on her a few times when she wasn't looking. "Don't eat much else after that."

"In the morning?" Rick's eyes got wide.

Michonne exchanged a look with Rick. "She tired a lot?"

Daryl froze. "Yeah."

"She's pretty pale..." Michonne commented.

Rick nodded. "Yeah."

"I'll talk to Joel." Michonne turned and headed off to the wall where the fort's doctor was on watch.

Daryl cursed. "The fuck is goin' on?"

Rick smiled like a goddamn Cheshire Cat and shook his head. "Not for me to say."

"Screw this." Daryl turned on his heel and stormed towards the barn.

-{O}-

"EMMA? EMMA!"

Archer winced at the gruffness of Daryl's voice. For a second she seriously debated hiding in the tack room. He'd just find me. With a sigh she deposited Churchill's saddle on its rack.

Daryl must have heard her because he turned the corner into the tack room with a glower on his face. "Em. Why didn't ya answer me?"

Emma stood still, her hand on the cantle of the saddle. Little spots swam in front of her eyes, she shook her head trying to clear her vision. "Why are you so angry with me?" The words tumbled out before she could think.

"Fuck." Daryl kicked a bucket on the floor and sent it sprawling.

Emma startled at the sound and stepped backwards away from the saddle. Her heart started racing, and she couldn't slow it. "Please..." She whispered, the spots in her eyes were getting bigger. "Please don't hate me now..."

"The fuck is wrong, Emma? Don't you fuckin' lie ta me!"

She looked up but couldn't really see him. The world was closing in on her. "Daryl?"

Emma's knees crumpled underneath her and she vanished into darkness.

-{O}-

"...JOEL!"

Emma's head jostled up and down. She wondered idly who was shaking her.

"JOEL!" Daryl was yelling.

"What happened?" She heard Joel pant as his footsteps neared.

"Dunno, just fainted."

"Set her down." Joel's doctor voice ordered. Emma tried opening her eyes but her world was spinning too fast. She could feel cold rock on her back. Daryl had put her down, he must have been carrying her. "Did she hit her head?"

"Caught her 'fore she hit." Daryl's voice was strained. "What's wrong?"

Bright light flashed in her eye as Joel pulled her eyelid back. She winced. "Emma? Talk to me."

"I.." Her voice was shaky but she was able to look up. The world was still spinning, but it was slowing down. "...dizzy."

Daryl's face appeared before her eyes, relief on his face. "Jesus Christ Emma! What the fuck is goin' on?"

"Daryl." Joel scowled at her lover. "Now's not the time." He turned his cognac colored eyes back to Emma. "Can you sit up?"

The world has stopped spinning and Emma found the strength to nod. With e doctor's help she sat up and leaned against him. Daryl was pacing a few steps away. A crowd had gathered.

"Is Archer ok?" William, Sheila's eldest boy asked.

"Yeah, she'll be fine." Joel smiled at him. "Nothing to worry about."

"She's not fuckin' okay!" Daryl roared. "You don't goddamn get that skinny and be okay."

"Daryl..." Emma started but Joel cut her off, wrapping a reassuring arm around her shoulders.

Joel's eyes flicked over Daryl's shoulder to where Rick had appeared. "Daryl you need to calm down."

Daryl looked back at Rick. "She's my goddamn woman and I oughta know what the fuck you're not telling me."

"...pregnant..." Emma pushed the words out before she could stop herself. It came out just above a whisper, and she felt Joel stiffen at the words. "I think... I might be... pregnant. I don't know..."

The last part was loud enough for Daryl to hear. His head snapped around. He stared at her, mouth agape with an expression of horror on his face.

Emma closed her eyes and leaned into Joel's shoulder. She raised her hand to cover her face and hide the tears that were starting to spill from her eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

Joel scooped her up into his arms and stood. "Come on, we'll talk more after you've rested."

"Shit." It was the last thing she heard Daryl say as Joel carried her off.

-{O}-