Chapter 33

DARYL

"Hershel, can I ask you somethin'?"

"Of course, Daryl. What's on your mind?"

The council meeting had just ended and the plan was to send Daryl, Michonne and anyone else they could wrangle to get medication at a veterinary college 50 miles out. He had a lot to do before they could go, including letting Kate know, but right now he needed to run something by Hershel.

"That thing you said, 'bout isolatin' the vulnerable?"

"The elderly and the young, yes."

Daryl blinked twice, "What about Kate?"

Hershel looked at him with compassion. "Because she's pregnant? I hadn't considered that. Yes, Daryl, I think Kate would be among the vulnerable. She should probably be in isolation as well."

Daryl shook his head. "I'll let her know."

He knew Kate wouldn't want to, would think he was being overprotective, but he would feel better about leaving if he knew they were doing everything to keep her healthy. He'd had a hard time sleeping last night, worrying about her. She had looked so exhausted as they had said goodnight and he wished he had insisted she take it easy. There was no reason she had to dig graves, the prison was filled with people who could do that. But he knew that was becoming less and less true as the hours ticked by. Everyone who lived in D Block that hadn't been killed yesterday had come down with the flu and now Sasha and Dr. S had it too.

He headed out into the courtyard, squinting into the bright morning sun and scanning the yard for Kate. It was unsettling how empty the grounds were. He had gotten used to there always being groups at the tables eating and talking loudly, people clearing walkers at the fences and he could almost always count on Kate working in the field with Rick and Carl. There was no sign of anybody this morning.

The metal gate clanked open slowly and Maggie stepped out.

"Mornin' Daryl." She smiled. "Y'all got out of the council meetin'? Glenn still in there?"

"Ya, I think he's still with your dad. Hey Maggie, you seen Kate this mornin'? Thought she'd be out here by now."

"She's still sleepin'. Want me to go wake her lazy butt up?"

"Naw. Let her sleep, she needs it with the baby and all."

She smiled, a genuine Maggie smile that stretched from ear-to-ear. She reached out and squeezed Daryl's arm. He stiffened at her touch, but her smile didn't fade.

"If Sleepin' Beauty makes an appearance, I'll tell her you were lookin' for her."

It didn't take Daryl long to get Zach's Dodge Charger ready to go. It needed some oil, but other than that he was relieved to see the kid took real good care of it. It would be him, Michonne and Bob heading the 50 miles out to Peachtree Tech. He had hoped for a fourth, even trying to convince Tyreese that the best way he could help his sister would be to join them on the run, but he didn't seem swayed. Daryl didn't blame him, not after what happened to Karen. He still hadn't had a chance to connect with Kate and he wasn't going to leave without saying goodbye. He was sure she'd be awake by now, so as soon as they were finished packing the car he planned to head back up to see if someone could find her for him inside.

Bob and Daryl were loading up the last of the supplies when Tyreese found them at the front gate.

"Still got room for one more?" Tyreese asked, a fierceness in his manner that Daryl wasn't accustomed to seeing in the usually amiable man.

"Hell ya." Daryl replied. He was relieved Tyreese had decided to join them, they were going to need all the help they could get.

"Good. Just gotta get my gear."

Daryl nodded and hoisted his crossbow through the window. Bob stood at the side of the car waiting on instruction.

"Be back in a bit and we'll go."

Daryl was just headed up the gravel path when Beth slammed the rust colored gate open, her face frantic, eyes wild, searching the grounds for someone.

"Everything ok?" He shouted, fear eddying in his gut.

"Its Kate. She's sick. Says she needs to see Dr. S."

"Where's she at?" He demanded, breaking out in a run.

"In your cell."

In the minute it took for Daryl to reach their bed, he had already begun to blame himself. What the hell was wrong with him? Why didn't he realize something was wrong when he hadn't seen her the entire morning? He knew he should've made her stay inside yesterday.

He rushed into their cell and found her sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked up at him with red rimmed eyes underlined by dark circles. Her skin was even paler than normal and she looked so vulnerable as she hunched over, elbows on her knees.

"Daryl, don't come in here."

"The hell I won't." He growled, scooping her up in his arms, despite her protests that she was still perfectly capable of walking.

She was burning up and she closed her eyes as her head fell against his shoulder. Beth was at the bottom of the stairs, staring wide mouthed as he made his way down the steps.

"Get the gate!" He roared and Beth moved quickly, opening it and taking a step back as he approached.

He made his way to Cell Block A as quickly as possible, talking to Kate the whole way.

"It's gonna be a'right, don't worry. They're sending out a group to get medicine. It's gonna be fine. Ok?"

They entered the small space outside of Cell Block A where the heavy steel door separated the sick from the rest of the prison.

"I gotta put you down for a second." Daryl said, setting her shaky feet onto the cement floor. He pounded on the thick pane of glass and peered into the dark shadows of death row, but he couldn't see anyone. He looked down at Kate as she leaned heavily against the cement wall, her body heaving with the effort of each breath. He slammed his fist again, harder and louder and eventually he saw movement and Glenn came into view.

"Shit."

"What?" Kate asked, looking up alarmed at the sound of his voice.

"Glenn's sick too."

It was worse than Daryl had imagined. Cell Block A was dark and dank. It made their bare accommodations in C look like a luxury hotel. The air was filled with sour sick breath and you could only escape the pitiful cries when someone had a coughing fit. The cells were close together and as Glenn led them to one of the few that were still empty, a walker slammed itself against the bars. Daryl tried to avert his eyes, he didn't want to know who else they'd lost, but he was almost certain it was Gabe from the Decatur group.

He got Kate on a bed and she elected to sit up, scooting herself against the cement wall, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.

Daryl paced back and forth in the small cell, frantically rubbing the back of his hand against his forehead. He stepped outside of the cell and stared down the corridor, looking for someone, something, anything that might help Kate.

Glenn still stood, pale and sweaty, just outside the cell.

"Daryl."

Daryl, too distracted to pick up on Glenn's quiet voice, continued his frantic path between her bed and the hallway.

"Daryl." Glenn said, mustering all the energy he had to get his attention.

Daryl came to a stop in front of Glenn, desperation radiating off of his body with each rapid breath. His arms were at his sides, fists clenching and unclenching in nervous rhythm.

"Are you guys ready to go? To get the meds?"

Daryl looked at him like he'd sprouted a third eye.

"I ain't goin'. I ain't leavin' her all alone in here."

"Daryl, you have to," Glenn began, taking shallow breaths between words. "She, we, need…" He broke off into a coughing fit and slid down the wall to sit.

"Daryl, what are you doing in here?" Hershel hobbled towards them, a wooden crate of supplies in his hands and a handkerchief over his mouth. "Are you sick?"

Daryl rushed towards him. "Kate."

Hershel winced, before giving Daryl a firm look. "You shouldn't be in here. You're putting yourself at risk."

"I don't care 'bout myself. You gotta help her."

Hershel set the crate down in front of the cell and eyed Glenn on the ground and Kate through the bars.

"Daryl, I have some ideas to help them, but they need those meds. So let me handle this and you go get on the road."

"I ain't leavin' her."

"Daryl, you're upset and worried, I get that, but you can't help her here. You've gotta go, we're losing time. Sooner you leave, sooner those meds will be helping her get better.

"SEND RICK!" He exploded, throwing his arm in the air. "Let him be the one that leaves his family for once." He turned and stormed a few feet away, rubbing at the tears in his eyes with the back of his hand, before stopping and turning back.

Fear was coursing through Daryl's veins. He felt helpless. The thought of leaving her here, in this pit, to die or be killed, made him feel like he was going crazy.

"Daryl." Kate's weary voice pulled him out of his tortured mind and he went and knelt by the bed. "You've got to go. It's ok. Hershel will take care of me until you can get back." She smiled and shook her head. He knew she was trying to be encouraging, but he could see the fear in her face and it cut him in two. He looked back over his shoulder and watched as Hershel helped Glenn off the ground and led him away. He turned back to Kate.

"I don't wanna leave you."

"I know. I wish you didn't have to, but you do Daryl, you do." She coughed, doubling over and going to a great effort to lean away from him. "You have to go."

He looked at the face of the woman he loved, her blue eyes watery and her blonde hair escaping the knot on top of her head and forming little wisps around her face, and he felt like he was watching his whole world spin down the drain. It was true that he hadn't been with her long, what was months in the span of a lifetime, but it was the part of his life that had been worth something. He didn't want this to be the end, he didn't want to imagine that this was the last time he would see her alive and breathing.

"It's ok." She whispered again, but this time tears were filling her eyes and spilling over onto her cheeks. Daryl's face crumpled and he dropped his chin to his chest.

"No, don't. Don't. It'll be ok." She promised, reaching up and resting her hand on his cheek, he turned into it, holding it to his face and planting a kiss on her palm. He knew there was no way she actually believed it, they both knew this flu was killing people faster than they ever imagined possible, but he also knew she was right. That the best way he could help her was to try and get the medicine back as soon as possible. Michonne, Tyreese and Bob would be faster with a fourth, he'd said it himself to Tyreese just this morning. He couldn't risk making that group any weaker, they needed to be as strong as possible to have the best chance of getting there and back as fast as they could.

He kissed her palm again. "I'll go. But, please, you gottta get better Kate, get through it. You and the baby. I love you, I do. And we'll get the medicine and you'll get better and we'll have this baby and I'll teach him to hunt and he'll run around this prison 'causing trouble and makin' us pull our hair out. You thought Carl was a handful, just you wait, you'll wish you never picked a Dixon."

She continued to cry, but she let out a laugh. He stood and kissed the hot skin on her forehead.

"I'll be back Kate."

"Be careful Daryl. I love you."

He gave her one long, mournful look, trying to not think of it as the last time he would see her and headed out of the cell. He strode back down the block, avoiding the eyes of the desperately sick people who had long been looking to him for survival. He was almost to the door when he spied Dr. S alone in a cell, sitting on the bed and staring blankly at the cinderblock wall.

"Dr. S?"

The doctor looked up, surprised to see someone healthy.

"Daryl?"

"Kate's sick." Daryl hesitated. The doctor looked awful and he didn't want to burden him further, but he had to ask. "Hey doc? The baby, do you think, I mean, if Kate can get through this, will the baby be ok?"

Dr. S's lips formed a tight line as he considered the question.

"It's hard to say Daryl. It's possible everything could be fine with the baby."

"Possible? That don't sound very encouragin'."

"I don't want to give you false hope Daryl." Dr. S. took a labored breath, his speech was slow. "We haven't had much luck controlling the fevers in here, the coughing is violent, breathing is affected. She is in her first trimester and that is the riskiest time of pregnancy. I wish I could be more encouraging, I just don't know."

Daryl nodded.

"Well, I'm headin' out with a group now for the meds. You hold on doc."

Daryl stepped into the courtyard and shielded his eyes from the bright sunlight. He spotted Carol sitting on the patio area next to an upturned water barrel. Her head was in her hands and her shoulders slumped.

"You a'right?" He asked as he approached her.

Carol looked up at him and he could tell she was upset about something.

"I'm fine. You headed out?" Carol stood, wiping her hands on her pants and avoiding his gaze.

He was relieved when she lied, relieved that she didn't tell him anything that would keep him from asking her for her help.

"Ya. They're waitin' for me at the gate." He looked across the field and saw the three of them leaning against the bumper of the car. "Hey, Kate's sick. I don't wanna leave her, not with what happened to Karen and David, but I gotta go get those meds or she won't have a chance, none of them will. Will you watch her for me? I know it's a lot to ask, but I can't go, I can't leave if I think…"

His voice broke and he looked at the ground, when he looked back up Carol had tears in her eyes.

"Please, will ya just, will ya promise me ya won't let her…" He looked down at the ground again, fighting for control. "Ya won't let her die alone. That you won't let anyone get to her."

Carol wiped tears from her cheeks, nodding, "I will."

He nodded, bringing his hand to his eyes quickly and blinking hard. "I gotta go, shoulda been on the road already. Don't wanna lose any more daylight."

KATE -

Kate's eyelids were too heavy to open, but she was awake. She had forgotten how horrible it felt to run a high fever. Her entire body was aching and her eyes felt like they were burning holes in her head. She had no concept of how long she had been asleep, only that she hadn't been awake for much longer after Daryl left. Her heart felt like it was breaking in two at the thought of his face, tears falling unashamedly, as he said goodbye. Kate didn't know if the medicine would get here in time or if it would even help, but she didn't want Daryl to have any regrets. If the run failed because he was sitting at her side, if people died without the chance of taking the meds, if she died, she knew Daryl would never forgive himself. Kate was scared. She had seen the people she knew reduced to walkers stretching newly dead arms out the bars as Daryl helped her to this bed. She could hear the violent coughs. She could hear the whimpering. This wasn't the sort of thing that seemed to get better on its own.

She suddenly had the feeling of being watched and her eyes flew open. Little Lizzie was standing over her, just staring.

"Lizzie, you scared me!" Kate said, trying to find her breath. "What were you doing?" Kate scrambled to a sitting position and muffled a cough in the crook of her arm.

"I was checking to see if you were dead." Lizzie said, expressionless.

"Dead? I was asleep." Kate's head was pounding.

"Carol told me you're having a baby."

Kate shook her head, laying her hand on her stomach. There was nothing to prove a pregnancy existed there, she was too early to be showing, but she did it anyway.

"My Aunt Kim was gonna have a baby once, but her baby died before it was born." Lizzie's face took on a fascinated slant, "Do you think if your baby dies it will turn into one of those things? Do you think it could eat you?"

Kate's mouth dropped open in horror.

"Lizzie!" Hershel's stern voice startled them both. He stood at the door of the cell, a tin cup in one hand and a wet rag in the other. "I think you probably should go back to your bed. Kate needs to rest."

"Yes, sir." Lizzie said, shuffling out of the cell and out of sight.

"That child." Hershel said, shaking his head and sitting on the edge of the small cot. "Can you sit up and drink some of this?"

Kate struggled to pull herself up. Hershel held the cup to her mouth and she took a small sip. She swallowed it and started to cough again.

"What is that?" She said, wrinkling her nose.

"Elderberry tea. My wife used to make it. It can help with the symptoms, the fever."

Kate nodded, closed her eyes and attempted to draw more air into her lungs.

"Kate, you need to drink some more. It will help and you need to try and stay hydrated."

Kate drank a few sips before falling back on the mattress. Hershel took the wet cloth and laid it across her forehead.

"Hershel," She asked, her breathing louder than her voice, "Is anyone getting better or is everyone just dying?"

"As soon as I get this tea into everyone, people will start feeling better. Daryl is going to bring medicine back."

"How long has he been gone?"

Hershel took a few seconds to answer, pressing the cloth down onto her forehead. "A few hours."

Kate's heart sank at his reply. She was hoping she had slept longer than that, was hoping that relief wasn't so far off.

"Kate, I need your help with something. If you can."

Kate thought that Hershel had lost his mind.

"You feeling alright Hershel, because the idea of me being of any help right now sounds crazy."

Hershel gave a little chuckle.

"I'm not going to ask you to build a new fence or anything like that." He joked. "Earlier, while you were sleeping, we had to intubate Henry. Sasha has been keeping oxygen to his lungs by squeezing the bag attached to his mask. I need Glenn's help with rounds, so I was hoping you could relive Sasha so she could rest a bit."

Kate shook her head.

"I think I can manage that for awhile."

Hershel smiled, his eyes crinkling kindly. "Come on, I'll take you over there now."

Hershel had left Kate at Henry's bedside with instructions to holler for help if she felt light headed or too tired to continue. The fact that they were left to rely on people as sick as she was to literally keep people alive was evidence of what dire straits they were really in. She had been at it for over an hour, squeezing air into his lungs every 5 seconds and watching the slow rise and fall of his chest. His red, curly hair was stuck to his sweaty forehead and she realized she had never seen him without his knit cap on. Glenn appeared in the doorway and the sight of his pale, sweaty face was frightening.

"Glenn, you look awful." She blurted out, immediately regretting it.

"You don't look so great yourself."

She realized he was probably right and managed a small laugh, that turned into a cough.

"Carol wants to talk to you."

"Is she in here? Is she sick?" Kate felt panic well up in her.

"No, she's waiting for you at the window. In the... " He trailed off, looking for a word, "...viewing room?"

Kate handed Henry off to Glenn and stood up, a wave of dizziness causing her field of vision to darken. She reached a hand out to steady herself on the cold cement wall and fought off the threat of unconsciousness.

"You ok?" Glenn asked.

Kate opened her eyes and was relieved the room was no longer spinning.

"Ya, I think so. I'll be back."

She made her way out of the cell and down the block towards the stairs at an excruciatingly slow pace. She clung to the metal handrail and eased herself down the steps all the while wondering how she'd ever get back up them.

She arrived in the little room out of breath and with a fresh coat of sweat slicking her skin. The room was small, with a gurney complete with arm restraints pushed against one wall. A large window opened up into a room filled with chairs and Kate realized this was likely the prison's execution chamber. The thought, despite the death and violence she'd been exposed to this year, was horrifying. Carol stood at the window, a motherly look of concern etched onto her face.

"How are you?"

"Alive. For now." Kate leaned against the window for support.

Carol frowned. "Don't talk like that Kate. It isn't funny."

"I wasn't trying to be funny. People aren't exactly surviving this thing, Carol." There was a bite in her response that she immediately regretted.

"You can't think like that. Daryl will be back with medicine soon."

Kate wondered if Carol really believed that. She felt like it was still hours off and that was if it went well. She had her doubts that they'd even find any and if they did that it would do the job.

"You don't know how bad it is in here. I just spent the last hour squeezing air into Henry's lungs with a bag."

Carol faltered for a second, but determination set in her face again.

"Kate, you and I both know that Daryl will get those meds back here and until he does you need to fight."

"I'm trying Carol, I am. It's just…" She pursed her pale lips together and looked up to the corner of the ceiling, trying to think of what it was that she was trying to explain. "I just can't stop thinking that was the last time I'll see Daryl. I'm just so scared."

Carol gave her a sympathetic look.

"Carol?" Rick called as he walked into the small room.

"Ya?" Carol replied, not bothering to turn towards him. Kate noticed a hardness flicker across her face, but couldn't place it. She wondered if they'd had a fight about something.

Rick looked through the glass at Kate and she didn't miss the sadness that passed over his face when he saw her. "How you doin' Kate?" He asked.

Kate shrugged. "I've been better."

"You hang in there. Daryl will be back soon." Rick repeated the same mantra everyone else had seemed to have adopted. "Hey, Carol, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Carol left Rick waiting for an answer.

"Kate, I promised Daryl I'd check in on you. I'll be back, ok? You hang in there. You fight."

Kate nodded, unsure of what else to do or say. She wasn't sure fighting it, whatever that meant, would do any good, but if it made them feel better to think she would she'd agree.

Carol turned and followed Rick out of the room and Kate stayed put for a second trying to work up the strength to head back up the stairs. From the hallway, where Rick and Carol had just disappeared, she heard their raised voices. She tried to make out what they were arguing about, but it was too muffled to understand. Adding to the stress of the illness was the fact that they were so isolated in here. For all she knew the group would return without Daryl and no one would tell her. The thought was frightening and no matter how hard she tried she couldn't shake it.

The bleakest of nights gave way to the morning with no real change. The tea seemed to be helping to slow the symptoms, they had only lost one through the night, but Kate wondered if it was worth it, only postponing what seemed to be the inevitable end of their lives. Despair that she couldn't afford had seeped into every cranny of her body, she couldn't tell where it ended and the achiness from the flu began. She'd spent the night hours resting when she could, taking her turns at Henry's bedside and helping Hershel when he asked. If Glenn and Sasha's appearance was any indication, she knew she must look like she was on the brink of death and she wondered how much longer they could sustain this before they started to fall like dominos. It was getting harder for them all to stay awake at Henry's side, it was harder for them to follow Hershel from cell to cell, and it was getting increasingly harder to simply breath.

When she met Carol at the window that morning she could tell by the look on her face that Carol had her doubts about how much longer Kate's body could take it.

"No sign of Daryl?" Kate whispered, her face so close to the glass it fogged up with her breath.

Carol shook her head and Kate examined her features for any sign of deceit.

"I came by to see you last night, but Hershel said you were resting."

"You and Rick...you were arguing...why?"

Carol, who's face was already pinched with worry, responded with clear unease, "You heard us?"

Kate shook her head as it rested against the glass. "Couldn't hear what you were saying. Just knew you were arguing."

Carol was silent for a second. "He wanted me to go on a run with him, but I promised Daryl I wouldn't leave you."

"I don't think it matters...you can go."

"No, I won't break my promise. Not to him."

Kate raised her eyes to Carol's and the two women stood there in silence, an awkward moment passing between them as Kate considered the weight of Carol's statement.

"Carol, if I die before he gets back…"

"Kate, I told you not to think that way."

"Please listen to me. Look at me. We can't pretend that isn't a possibility anymore."

Her speech was weak and interrupted by coughing. Carol didn't respond.

"If I die," She began again, and swallowed hard, trying to ignore the scorching pain in her throat, "...don't let Daryl blame himself." Her face crumpled a little at the thought, but the fever had left her too dehydrated to have tears to cry. "I know he will, but try and make him see there was nothing he could do differently. Don't let him get lost, Carol, don't let him run off. He'll try, you know he'll try. I'm asking you because he trusts you, he might listen to you and because I know, I think, that maybe you love him too."

They eyed each other with discomfort before Carol looked away and cleared her throat. Kate exhaled and took a step backwards, raising her hands to cover her eyes and dragging them to rest on either cheek.

"Kate, you aren't..."

"Tell me you'll help him."

Carol nodded.

"Thank you. I'm going to go back now."

"I'll check on you in a few hours, ok?"

Kate had her doubts she'd be alive in a few hours, but she shook her head anyway. She turned and walked back out to the cell block.

It took Kate a long time to get back up the stairs to her cell. She had to stop and rest after every step, her head reverberating painfully in her skull. As she reached her bed she could feel her heart race, a quick burst of beats that left her feeling dizzy. The blackness that threatened earlier took over suddenly, closing in on her vision from either side until there was nothing.

She was swimming in that strange place, somewhere between dreaming and awake. She could hear voices, echoey and distant and she was vaguely aware of a pinching feeling in the crook of her arm. She felt her mind stretch to the surface of consciousness long enough to catch a word here or there. She fought to wake, struggling against the fog that was trying to pull her back under. She slowly became aware of a clattering sound, something she couldn't place, loud and inconsistent. It wasn't until she realized her whole body was shivering that she knew it was her own teeth bouncing off each other so hard she thought they might break.

"I'm...s-s-s-s-o…cold." She said, trying to clench her teeth together in an effort to stop their chattering.

"That's a good thing. Means the fever's going down."

She couldn't place the voice, but the mention of fever brought it all back. She was in Cell Block A, death row, she was sick and Daryl was gone. The despair came flooding back in a wave that crashed down on her. She opened her eyes slowly and Bob's face came into focus and suddenly she was aware of the fact that she was being cradled, leaned against someone, arms circled around her. She looked down and saw his hands, the star tattoo on the base of his right thumb, the curve of his forearm as it rested across her body.

Daryl was home and she was still alive. Relieved sobs tumbled out of her, and she clung onto his arm, pressing her face against his skin as he held her tightly against him.