Merle just grabbed Daryl as gently as he could with T-Dog's help. They had to clean him up as Hershel said in order to prevent further infection in his back wounds. Rick proceeded to call a meeting in the dinning room, he knew Negan's visit had everyone shaken up, Lori looked at him worried and hurt. He didn't even react to her, not saying a single word even though he was indeed worried for the arrival of the baby in a few days.
They thought the prison was going to be a step forward, that it would help them heal from all the events that happened so quicky one after the other, but Daryl's situation and Lori's pregnancy on top of Negan's threat had the whole group trembling and lost. Once everyone but Merle, T, and Daryl were on the main dinning area, Rick started talking, voice hard, commanding:
-I don't think I need to tell y'all but we have a problem. Now, I don't want anybody panicking, the only chance now after what that asshole did to Daryl and said is to plan our whole week's schedule to go on runs.- Carol stepped forward, her eyes big and surprised.
-Are we really gonna give that man what he is asking for?, Rick, look what he did to Daryl, look what he did to all of us! We need to move on, get out of here.
-Enough!- Carol backed up scared at Rick's shouting.- After all we've been though, we are not running from this, we need supplies anyways, we have to keep our family safe. We'll make him think we are on board with his system, once Daryl is doing better and we are prepared, we attack, e kill them all.- he stated, looking right at Carol's eyes.
-but the baby...- Lori's voice was weak, Carl squeezed his mom's hand conforting her.
-the baby is not our main issue right now.- Hershel faced Rick after hearing that.
-Rick...
-It is NOT a priority!- Rick shouted, his hands trembling.- we plan this, we fight back. To hell with democracy.- After that he just left not looking at anybody.
Shey just approached Lori once everyone spread up. Hershel did the same seeing how the woman was shaking, her eyes full of tears of fear and hurt.
-Lori...
-I deserve this, don't come here now trying to confort me, I brought this on myself. You don't even like me!- she cried. Shey just took both her hands and helped her to her cell, sitting on the floor looking straight to her eyes. Hershel stood up right beside the entrance to the cell looking at both women.
-I know we haven't talked much... and I haven't really been around that much this weeks we spent on the road, but I now you are hurting. We are family now Lori...
-It'll be born dead...- her voice broke- It'll be born dead and It'll all be my fault!- tears started flowing and she covered her eyes with her hands.
-don't say that, don't you dare!- Shey forced her to look at her in the eyes.- I don't give a fuck about who the father of this baby is, you hear me? Rick will come to his senses once we've dealt with that fucking psicho, and we'll all be here for you and that baby.- Hershel got closer to them.
-I'll inspect you in a few minutes after Merle and T-Dog are back with Daryl, the young lady is right, everything will be alright darling, we'll pull through this.- Lori smiled still upset, she nodded and just laid down with Shey's help. Hershel looked at her with a caring smile- you should rest too, I'll wake you up when i'm done with him, he'll be out for quite some time after what happened, but he'll need to eat something while those antibiotics are on his system.
Shey just nodded and kissed Hershel on the cheek thankfully, the she exited the room and went to her and Maggie's cell.
-How's she doing?- The farmer's daughter looked at her concerned.
-She is scared out of her mind, Rick's not helping either, she needs rest and confort, that's all- She sat down next to the brunette.
-my daddy'll take care of her, of him, we'll take care of each other...
-that's what we do...
-And I'm sure ma' daddy told you to have some rest too... so enough talking and lay down- Maggie said jokingly.- Shey looked desperate.
-I can't sleep while he is... I can't be here doing nothing all day, I need to help, please.- Maggie gave her an understanding look.- He'll be out for some time... your dad told me he should eat something if he is taking those antibiotics. Maybe I could help with dinner?, we've got quite a bit of canned soup and it'll be good for everyone to have something warm, specially Lori and the kids.- She woke up pacing nervously on her feet.
-he'll be fine sweetie, now stop panicking and lets warm up that soup or I'll have to tie ya up to the bunk. I wonder if that Redneck nows how much you care for him- Shey smiled and walked behind Maggie.
-He knows, I think, he is just... complicated.
A while later, Merle and T-Dog emerged from the shower's hallway, carrying Daryl to the spare cell at the end of the block. Hershel helped them with getting him into one of the bunks, resting on his left side. He was still out.
-Make sure he is well covered, Merle, are you staying?- The older Dixon nodded looking at his brother.- We'll bring you some dinner in a moment, remember to give him those as soon as he wakes up, fighting the infection will be the only thing thats gonna help with the fever- he finished referring to the pills on the side table. Merle just nodded once again and sat down on the floor next to the bunk.
The silence around the metal dinning table was unconfortable as hell, Shey was telling Sophia and Carl about the adventures she lived before meeting Merle when she was alone in Atlanta, the kids seemed to be forgetting about the situation a bit and Carol smiled at her, she was so thankful for the readhead's help with the kids.
Once they where done eating, they all spread up again and Shey saw Merle aproaching Hershel running, she walked fast towards them.
-He's up, I ain't able to get him to stay the fuck still! He ain't taking the meds, he's hurtin' and imma kill'im if ya'll don't do something!- The three of them run towards the cell. Merle stopped Shey before going in- ya shouldn't be here yet, he ain't gonna say nothing...
-I just wanna see if he is okay...- Merle tried to calm himself down and just nodded.
Hershel entered the cell first, Daryl was still on his side, the sheets on his fists in a bunch and he was burying his face in the pillow not to grunt because of the pain, he was hyperventilating.
-Merle, keep him still for a moment, he needs to take two of those and a few painkillers, he is going to hurt himself further and he is alredy struggling to breathe because of the fractured ribs!- Merle held Daryl down the best he could, almost receiving huge kick for it.
-yer gonna have ta calm down lil' brother, yer just doing things worst!- Daryl just grunted in pain at him.
-Force them down if you have to, I'm sorry for this but he needs the meds Merle- Hershed sounded sorry, but his voice was serious and severe. He walked to the entrance and looked at Merle once again before closing the curtain- The painkillers will put him out in about half an our, he'll feel pretty out of his senses for a while.- He then exited the cell to find Shey sitting down with watery eyes looking at the wall in front of her.
-Go inside a bit after Merle is done with that, he'll be much calmer when the pills start working, he'll be fine...- She nodded without looking at him.
Inside the cell Merle waited still holding Daryl down until he stopped grunting and fighting him.
-Imma shove this pills down yer throat if I have ta brother... just know that if ya bite me imma kill ya once yer all good.- He forced Daryl's mouth open with his one good hand and shoved the three pills at once forcing him to swallow them with some water.- There ya go.- Daryl just looked at a lost point on the wall in front of him, breathing hard and closing his eyes for a moment after just noddind weakly.
A few minutes after he started feeling the painkillers working, he felt numb and couldn't think straight, Merle just patted him in the leg carefully and got out of there, sitting back to the wall in front of Shey.
-Give'im a few minutes, he looked pretty lost, just call me if he says somethin' funny cause' of all them drugs.- She looked at him dissaprovingly while he walked towards the dinner.
After trying to pull herself together, she stood up and moved the curtain aside. Daryl didn't even look at her, he kept looking at that same point on the wall with heavy eyes. He looked cleaner and all his wounds where patched up by Hershel, his whole back covered in bandages and half hidden by the sheets, he had a busted lip and a completely black eye partially covered by his now wet hair.
She got closer and felt him tense up a bit, she knelt down in front of him and just combed his hair out of his face with her fingers without saying a word.
-ya... can take a picture- he coffed hard- I'll last longer...- She smiled. She didn't even care if he was being a dick.
-don't need a picture, you're here now- She stated,she kept running her fingers through his hair covering him better with his other hand.
-the squirrels...- he continued.
-what?
-ya... gotta clean 'em... up- She smiled even harder, at least he was being funny with all the meds in his system.
-ya need to sleep, that's what you need, let the antibiotics do their work... I'll bring ya some soup when ya wake up
-but...
-yeah Daryl, sunshine, I'll clean the squirrels...- She tried not to laugh which was weird, because she was crying at the same time. Without even thinking about it, she left a kiss in his forehead and left him there, with his eyed closed and closed the curtain behind her breathing hard.
When she entered the room where the rest of the group was looking at her questioning.
-he is calmer, he just needs to rest for a few ours and eat something.
Rick who just arrived nodded and dismissed the rest of them- Can I have a word?- Shey shook her head.
-Nah, I'll stay up on watch tonight, I'll take care of Daryl if he needs anything. You go rest and pull yer shit together Rick, we need our leader and Lori needs her husband- Rick looked at her while she took one of the shotguns and went outside. Merle who was listening from a dark corner just followed her.
She pulled out two cigarrettes and gave one to the older Dixon while sitting on one os the outside benches.
-He say something?- He said letting the smoke exit his lungs with a harsh breath.
-yeah... looks like I gotta clean some squirrels or they'll go bad...- Merle laughed hard.
-You better start learning then, lil' brother don't let just anyone touch his "squirrels"- she pushed Merle jokingly.