CHAPTER 3

- Kate -

The fear-filled hours ticked by slowly as they monitored Hershel closely for any signs of fever. His bleeding had stopped, but he was still unconscious and with as much blood as he had lost, none of them felt very optimistic.

The bright spot of the day was when Rick and T-Dog returned to the cell block with food. They had struck a deal with the prisoners, half the rations in the cafeteria in exchange for helping clear out a different cell block for them to live in.

The idea of living in the prison with actual prisoners was terrifying. Kate wondered what each of them had done and whether they would be in any danger. The exchange she had witnessed between Daryl and their leader was troubling. He didn't seem reasonable and beyond that there was something sinister about him. But she trusted Rick, she didn't want them to kill anyone they didn't have to. She knew they had protected her so far and she would continue to rely on Rick's judgment.

The three men returned that afternoon exhausted and bloodied.

The second Rick walked into C Block, Carl blurted out, "Hershel stopped breathing. Mom saved him."

Everyone gathered in and around Hershel's cell, looking helplessly at their unconscious friend. Kate stood next to Daryl and Carl right outside the bars. Suddenly, as if knowing they were all surrounding him, Hershel's eyes fluttered and he slowly came to. Relief and happiness filled their dank quarters.

Lori stood quickly from her spot at the foot of his bed and left the cell. Rick followed a second later. In their excitement about Hershel, no one seemed to notice the couple slip away except for Daryl and Kate. They exchanged a hopeful look. They all had been dealing with the burden of Lori and Rick's fragile marriage, it hung over the group like a dark cloud. Every single one of them wanted to see a resolution, maybe they could finally start to rebuild in time for the baby to arrive.

As twilight took over the sky and the group finished off a satisfying meal of canned beef from their new stockpile, Rick approached Daryl and waved Kate over.

"Tonight was supposed to be T-Dog and Carol's night, but I'd like Carol to stay close by Hershel for now, just in case. Do you think you two could take guard tonight?"

Daryl nodded, "You got it."

Kate shook her head in agreement. Daryl turned to her, "I got first shift if that's alright with you. I'll come in and wake you up when it's your turn."

"Sure." She responded and he walked out the door.

Ever since Hershel and Rick had assigned guard duty, Kate was trying to psych herself up. Before the turn, Kate had been a big chicken. Anxious with an overactive imagination, she had the uncanny ability to come up with the worst-case scenario for any given situation. She kept telling herself how ridiculous it was to feel that way now. The worst-case scenario was that almost the entire population had turned into flesh eating creatures. Could it get worse? But now, her shift suddenly being hours away and the new knowledge of them sharing their space with prisoners of unknown crimes, her anxiety was getting the best of her. She was suddenly jealous that Maggie and Glenn had each other. They both just spent the entire night up there together.

After trying to sleep with no luck, she had an idea. She remembered Daryl saying last night that he didn't like the idea of sleeping in the cells. Maybe he would be willing to sleep in the guard tower at the end of his watch instead of heading back in. She wouldn't be afraid to be on the tower all night if Daryl was sleeping inside the shack. Would he be willing? Was it too much to ask? She thought she should go now and find out rather than wait for him to come inside to wake her. Once inside he might be inclined to stay. She stood up, put on her boots and wrapped a thin blanket around her shoulders. Grabbing her flashlight from the shelf in the cell, she crept out and headed down the stairs. She figured whoever was up with Hershel could let her out.

The yellow glow from the lantern in Hershel's cell gave off the only light. As she descended the stairs, she saw Maggie leaning against her father's bed.

"How's he doing Maggie?" Kate whispered, approaching the cell.

"So far, so good," Maggie gave her a tired smile. "He doesn't have a fever. He's in some pain though."

Kate frowned, the idea of Hershel in pain disturbed her.

"I'm so glad he doesn't have a fever, I think he would by now if he was going to, right?"

"I think so, but I'm afraid to hope." Maggie looked up at Kate and looked a little confused, "Where are you going? Its not time for your watch yet, is it?"

"Can't sleep. Thought I'd go ask Daryl something. Can you let me out?"

For once Maggie let an opportunity to tease her pass. Kate hadn't shared her feelings about Daryl with her friend, but she either picked up on it or enjoyed teasing her for no good reason. Maggie stood and grabbed the keys, following Kate to the door.

She said goodnight to Maggie and quietly headed out of the common area. She heard Maggie shut the door behind her and the lock clicked in place. Kate turned on her flashlight and tried to hold in her growing fear as she half ran to the outside door, leaping over the dead walkers they still hadn't had a chance to remove. She threw the door open with more force than necessary, forgetting how noisy it was, and made a run for the tower. Daryl's flashlight shone down in her direction.

"Somethin' wrong?" he shouted down from the railing of the guard shack.

"No, everything is fine." She said breathlessly as she reached the tower and opened the door. She started to climb the metal steps when Daryl swung the trap door at the top open, his flashlight in his mouth, and offered her a hand as she stepped into the shack.

"Hey. Thanks." She said, out of breath from her sprint across the yard, her adrenaline pumping.

She looked around the small, dark shack. It was a square shaped room with corrugated metal covering the bottom half of the walls with windows making up the top half. It was empty except for two prison bunk mattresses pushed together in one corner that Glenn and Maggie must've left here the night before.

"What's going on?" He asked, clearly trying to figure out what she was doing out here already. "Hershel ok?"

"Ya. Oh ya. Sorry. He's doing ok. In some pain, but no fever." Daryl winced a little and looked confused.

Kate faltered for a second. She hadn't thought about how she was going to ask him. Suddenly she felt extremely childish. After everything they had been through and witnessed since the turn and she was afraid of this. He was going to think she was ridiculous. She thought she was ridiculous.