VPOV

I sat in the cell with Lizzie, trying to keep her occupied while Hershel, Sasha and Glenn try to save Henry's life. Henry's one of the many people in here with us, one of the people we had found on the road and took in. He wasn't doing so well right now... I wasn't sure if he was going to make it. So I was doing my best to keep Lizzie's attention on me. That way she won't have to see what they do to Henry, before or after he passes.

"Mica thinks Daryl's scary." she went on, as we sat on the ground playing with some toys that were brought in for the sick kids. "But I don't. I think he's really nice."

"He is nice, but he can be scary too if you don't know he's nice." I shrugged, dressing one of the dolls.

We sat in silence once more for a while. I watched Lizzie as she set up some of the dolls for a tea party. She was really sweet; Mica too. Beautiful little girls. But there were times, times when I wondered if Lizzie was a good influence. Going down to the fences had always been Lizzie's idea. Talking to the walkers, calling them over. The kids laughed and had fun, tormenting the monsters; though I was sure they didn't mean anything by it. But it seemed... wrong. Dangerous as well of course, but wrong too.

The sound of coughing had Lizzie and I look toward the door of our cell. I was sure she knew what was happening, I just didn't want her to see it.

"So, what should I call this one?" I asked her, lifting the doll I had just dressed. A pretty pink dress with white shoes, brown hair swept over it's shoulder.

Lizzie turned back, looking at the doll before looking up at me and then to the doll again. "Vickie. I think you should call her Vickie."

I laughed, lifting the doll so she was next to my face. "Do we look the same?"

She nodded, without a smile, simply nodded. She looked down, upset. I wanted to change that, but I came to realize there was nothing I could. Everytime I tried, she simply looked up at me with a blank face...

"Vi-Vickie!" Sasha called, coughing afterwards.

"I'll be right back." I nodded to LIzzie before getting up.

Making my way out of the cell and towards Henry's, I used the walls and railings to keep me standing as my head spun. I was breathing hard and past, out of breath. I was getting worse, I knew it. There was no sugar coating the fact that I wasn't doing too good.

Walking into the cell, seeing Sasha on the ground bent over Henry, pumping an air bag thing that was connected to a tube that run into Henry's throat. She looked worse than me, I could see that. Her skin pale, her eyes red rimmed. Sweat covered her.

She looked up and I could see how thankful she was for me coming. "I need you to take over. Just keep pumping this. It's keeping him alive."

Nodding I got down to me knees, using the wall to slowly lower, or I'd just fall flat on my face. Once I was next to her, I reached over to replace her hands.

She sighed leaning back. "Thank you."

I just nodded once more, pumping the bag or whatever it was. I was too tired to think of the name of it.

I kept my eyes on Henry as Sasha stood, leaving to go to her own cell. I had a feeling now that I wasn't with her, Lizzie would start wandering around, but I couldn't worry about that. Henry was at risk and so my attention had to be on him.

...

"Hey."

I looked up to see Glenn walking into the cell as I continued to work on the pump for Henry. He looked exhausted, using the railings to get around. I moved over so he could sit next to me on the ground, though he had to use the walls like I had to get down.

"How many?" I asked bitterly. We were losing people fast. They were just dropping like flies.

He groaned getting comfortable next to me. "Only one." I nodded slowly, the action making me dizzy. He must have noticed, placing is hands over mine on the pump. "Here, I got it. You should rest."

"You sure?" I asked, only to be polite. Honestly I was grateful he was taking over.

When he nodded, looking down at Henry, working the pump, I got up. There were no more words that had to be shared, nothing left to say. So I used all my strength- with the help of the wall- to get to my feet. I moved out of the cell slowly. When I say move it's because I wasn't really walking anymore. My legs refused to do as I asked, dragging my feet along as if they were made of stone. It took everything in me not to trip. But of course that was asking too much.

I started to fall to the ground, having tripped over my feet like I knew I would. But before I landed flat on my face, someone was helping me, trying to keep me steady.

"Whoa." Zach groaned as he kept me up. "You okay?"

Nodding slowly I used him and the railing to get back up again. "Thanks." I said, only to start coughing uncontrollably.

He slid his arm around me, keeping me up. He was sick, yes, but I had noticed he was doing a lot better than me. Which is why he could help me into his cell- it was closer than mine- and sat me on the bed.

"You should just stay here, rest." he noted, taking a seat in the corner.

I rolled over, coughing again. He was next to me in an instant, petting my back gently to help get me through the coughing fit. Once it was over I rolled onto my back again, giving a short nod.

"Thanks." I mumbled, my throat coarse and raw.

He shrugged moving back to the corner. "You saved me I guess it's time I return the favour."

RPOV

I jumped out of the car, turning to Maggie just as she closed the gate. I was glad I was finally back. Being away always had me worry about my kids. "Carl, Vickie, Judith, are they okay?"

She gave me a look, a single look and I knew something was wrong. "Vickie's sick."

I stopped dead in my tracks, feeling myself go cold. "How bad?"

But she just shook her head. "I don't know I haven't seen her."

Nodding slowly I asked, "Carl and Judith, they're okay?"

"Yeah." she answered, before looking to the car. "Where's Carol?"

I wasn't ready to answer that and so I simply went on. "Glenn, Hershel, Zach, Sasha?"

"Yeah. It's bad, but they're fighting it. Daryl's not back yet." with her answer I went to move back to the car, only to have her stop me. "Rick. Rick, where's Carol?"

I knew I had to tell her, she'd eventually find out anyway. But I just didn't know how'd she react, how anyone would react. Especially Daryl. He and Carol were close friends, the time Vickie had been gone for eight months brought those two closer. Vickie liked her too, and they had a connection because of Sophia. But I had done the right thing. I knew I did, I just hoped they did too.

Turning back to Maggie, I answered, not holding back. "It was her. She killed Karen and David." Maggie's face fell as I explained. "She was trying to stop it from spreading. Tyresse is gonna be back here soon, so I didn't think she should be here. And I couldn't have her here. She has a car, supplies, she'll figure it out. I'll tell you dad. You don't tell anyone else yet."

She nodded, still shocked. "Okay."

I went to walk back to the car, but needed to know, needed to really know if I had been right. "Would you have brought her back?"

"She said she did it?"

I gave a short, sharp nod. "Yeah."

I could tell she was struggling with the idea, but she answered anyway. "Then you were right to send her away. I don't know if I could have."

"You could have, Maggie. You've done harder things. Don't doubt yourself. We don't get to anymore." I finally turned to the car and got in.

I had to go see Carl, make sure Vickie was okay, and tell Hershel. There were so many things I had to do.

VPOV

I hadn't liked the idea of going to see my dad, but Hershel came to get me, claiming dad needed to see me. Otherwise he wouldn't believe I was okay. Which was funny, because seeing him would only confirm his worries; I wasn't okay and it was obvious. But I made my way down anyway.

Zach had offered to help me but I turned him down. I had been in his room still, Lizzie had joined us as well. She'd been reading a book that Hershel told her to try and finish, claiming it was her job, While Zach and I played thump wars and slaps. Too tired and sick to do much else.

Using the wall for support, I rounded the next corner, watching the ground to make sure I didn't fall. My body felt heavy and sore, and with how tired I was it made moving just that much harder.

"Vickie?" I looked up, only a few steps from the window. Dad watched me with sad, worried, father eyes, as I moved towards him.

But I still offered a small smile, no matter how bad I felt. "Hey, daddy." I stopped in front of him, standing up, trying not to use the wall or window for support. It was hard, but I couldn't let him see how bad I was.

"I wouldn't have gone if I knew." he shook his head, obviously feeling guilty. "I'm sorry."

"Don't. Don't think like that. There's nothing you could have done anyway."

He looked away, sighing. I could tell he was struggling. The fact he couldn't come in and help me was eating away at him. Protecting me, Carl and Judith was his number one goal. Anything happens to us, and it would break him.

"How's the kids? How's Carl, Judith and Aly?"

He looked up, nodding. "They're fine. They're all okay."

I smiled, a real smile. I didn't even realise how worried I had been. Since coming in here I hadn't seen them or heard anything about them. It had been more torturous than the illness, not knowing if they were okay.

"Daryl will be back soon." I reassured him as he continued to watch me with that heartbreakingly worried father look. "They'll bring the meds and everyone will be fine."

He nodded once more though his face told me he wasn't sure. "I've got to go. Maggie needs help." he gestured behind him to the exit before adding, "But if you need me, I'm here. I won't go anywhere else 'til your better."

I nodded, smiling kindly at him, grateful for such a loving dad. "I know. Thank you."

"I love you, Vickie."

"I love you, too." I placed my hand on the glass, for both support and him. He did the same with his hand, placing it over mine on the other side of the glass. "You should go."

He hesitated before letting his hand fall. "You too. Go rest." he watched me for a moment longer, waiting for me to give him a sign I'd do as he said. I nodded my head ever so slightly, which was good enough for him. So he turned, and left.

Once I was sure he was gone I let out a long breath, leaning against the window for support. My body was crying, begging me to sit down. Standing there took more out of me than I thought it would have. I turned anyway and headed back to the cell. I could have rested for a while, to recover, but I wanted to get back to the cells, so I could lie down and rest then.

I entered the cell block, seeing Hershel closing the doors to the cells to keep everyone secure. That way if someone did turn, they'd be behind bars, and everyone else would be safe.

"You okay?" he asked as I reached the stairs.

"Yeah."I answered simply, wanting to just go back to bed.

"Well you should drink some more-" Hershel was cut off by the snarls of a walker.

A female walker came out of a cell, snarling and grunting. She caught sight of Hershel, moving straight for him. Hershel moved away from the cell he'd been standing by, moving to the walker to kill it before it got anyone. But she just pushed him to the ground

"Hershel, no!"

Hershel wrestled with the walker, trying to keep it's snapping jaws away from him. "Everyone stay in your cells."

I moved as fast as I could, getting down the stairs. Using all my strength I pulled the walker away from Hershel, tossing her on the ground.

Just as I did this, one of the guys came out of his cell, gun raised as he went to shoot the walker. But before he could, another walker came out of nowhere, biting down on his arm. He accidently pulled the trigger as he screamed out in pain.

The bullet flew towards me, hitting me right in the shoulder. "Ahh!" I cried out falling to the ground.

I scurried away from the female walker as she crawled towards me. My shoulder was bleeding, pain pulsing through my body as I continued to drag my body along the floor. I reached for my knife where it sat in it's sheath by my side. I knew I had to get rid of this walker now before it was too late.

"Come on, boy." I looked up, seeing Lizzie lure Henry along the walkway upstairs.

"Lizz-" I was cut off as the female walker grabbed me. I acted quickly, stabbing the walker in the head just as her teeth neared my skin.

She was pulled off, Hershel standing above me. "Your shoulder." he went to kneel down.

I shook my head, pushing him away. "Go. Go!" I yelled.

He looked at me one last time before he nodded, turning around and rushing upstairs.

People were starting to panic everywhere, unsure of what to do as everything started falling apart. I couldn't afford to sit around. Using all my strength I got to my feet, using the stair railing I moved around so I could climb up.

Just as I got upstairs I saw Hershel grab Henry, pulling him off Lizzie before tossing him over the railing where he landed on the wire that kept people from jumping to the ground. Hershel ushered Lizzie into her cell, closing the door. As he turned he saw me, moving over to help. "Stay with the kids. Keep them safe." he told me as he opened the door to Lizzie's cell, helping me inside.

I looked down at Lizzie and the little boy, seeing how frightened they looked. I didn't argue with Hershel then. I simply moved to the kids as he left, the three of us huddling on the bed.

"Close your eyes." I told them kindly and softly. Once they closed their eyes, I covered their ears as I held them to me. Humming as loud as I could, to try and cover the noises from outside the cell, I did whatever it took to keep them from hearing or seeing any of this.

RPOV

I had Carl helping me with the fences. Maggie and I had been doing it together before, but had stopped when the sound of gunshots coming from the cell block could be heard. I'd sent her to go check on it, while I stayed and finished. The last thing we needed was the fences coming down and walkers filling the fields.

Maggie had been right though. I couldn't do it on my own, but I already knew that. So I had Carl help me. Now we were putting the logs in, both of us trying not to think about the cell block. Carl hadn't know Vickie was sick, and when I told him the worry on his face broke my heart. It was his sister, he loved her, and the fact she was sick, maybe even dying, had both of us scared.

"Think they're okay?"

I looked over my shoulder at him for a moment before getting back to work. "If things were going bad, we would have heard more shots. Maggie would have gotten us. We have to do this." I moved to the next log to lift it in place.

"Let's do it." he came over to help me.

"I got it."

But he wouldn't have it. "Let me help." he lifted the other end of the log.

As much as I didn't want him to have to do too many things, he insisted on helping any and every way. I was proud of him, yes. But I still wanted him to be a kid, to enjoy it while he still can.

"All right set it down." I nodded to him, the log now in place.

The sound of cracking wood had us both turn around just as one of the logs started to break. But before we could move over to that part of the fence, the log snapped, the fence giving in to the weight of the walkers as they pushed against it.

I pressed myself against the fence, trying to stop it from falling. But it was no use, another log broke and that was it. The fence moved, part of it coming down, and just like that walkers started piling in.

"Run!"

CPOV

Dad and I were safe, for now. We were in the courtyard, but the walkers were now pressing up against the next fence. It was only a matter of time before they pushed that one down as well.

"What do we do?"

"Maybe I could back the bus up against the fence." dad answered looking from the bus to the fence.

"Will it hold?"

He didn't answer though, just turned to me with a look that I could read all to clearly. He had no idea.

The walkers kept pushing and pressing against the fence. I could hear the sound of metal moving, even though the snarls were pretty loud. I had a bad feeling about this. I wasn't sure there was a way we could keep them out.

"Come on." dad grabbed my arm, rushing us over to the trolleys full of guns. He grabbed some ammo, handing it over to me. "Pockets." he handed me a gun. "Here. Got it?"

"Yep." I took everything he offered me, ready to do what needed to be done.

I knew the idea of me shooting a gun wasn't what dad wanted. He had tried to keep us away from that for as long as he could. But we both knew that there was nothing else we could right now. The only way to stop the walkers, were to kill them.

"All right. Listen to me." he turned away from the trolley, moving back to face the walkers again. "Magazine goes in here." he showed me. "Release is here. Make sure it latches. Pull back the operating rod and rounds feed up. Keep squeezing the trigger for rapid fire, okay?"

"All right." I nodded, taking in everything he said.

He stopped us, looking me right in the eyes. "You shoot or you run. Don't let them get close, okay?"

I gave a short nod, ready to o this, and with that we both turned ready to go.

The fence fell pretty much straight away, walkers filing in. We didn't wait, shooting at them right away. We didn't have time to aim and shoot, just hitting whatever we could. As long as they fell, we didn't have to worry.

RPOV

Carl and I moved around the walkers that lie on the floor, stabbing any that were still alive. I felt wrong. After months of trying to stay away from this, from violence, I had come back to it so easily; and I dragged my son along with me.

"Dad." I looked up at Carl as he went on. "It's gonna be okay." he told me before rushing off to the gate to let Daryl and the others in.

I waited, standing where I was without moving, until the car came up. I felt numb. No, I wanted to feel numb. It would be better than the shaking, scared feeling I was dealing with right now. I hated being the kind of man I had to be tonight.

Tyreese opened the van door before it even stopped. "Sasha? How's Sasha?"

"I don't know." I shrugged, being honest. "I'm sorry."

"Get in there." Daryl nodded to Tyreese. "We got this."

Tyreese didn't wait a moment before running off. Sasha was all he had left, and after what happened to Karen I didn't blame him for worrying.

Daryl moved to the back of the van, but I grabbed his arm before he could get too far. He stopped, looking up at me with a confused frown. I just looked at him, without saying a word, and just like that he knew.

"Where is she?"

I gestured to the cell block. "With the others."

He nodded a quick thanks before rushing off to go find Vickie.

VPOV

It was over, at least for now.

I sat in the cell, the kids on the ground playing with toys. I watched, noticing how both of them weren't really in the mood to play. They just went through the motions. It was like they thought the right thing to do was to play, even though they didn't want to.

"Vic! Victoria!" Daryl's voice echoed off the walls.

I stood, looking to the kids as they watched me. "Stay here, okay?" they both just nodded, not speaking. Moving towards the door, I tried to ignore all the pain in my body, especially my arm. I moved to lean against the railing, looking down. Daryl was going from cell to cell downstairs, looking for me. "Here." I called, weakly.

He looked up right away, eyes locking on me. Turning to the stairs he took three at a time, running up as fast as he could. As soon as he stood in front of me, he stopped, taking a good look at me. I could tell he wanted to touch me, just as I wanted to touch him, but he had to check to see if I was okay first.

"Your shoulder." he stepped closer, reaching to move my shirt down, revealing my shot shoulder. I hissed out in pain, his hand falling instantly. "What happened?"

I just shook my head. "It's a long story."

Looking at me he could see I was tired, could see how bad I was. "Come on." he reached for me, lifting me into his arms. "Where you sleeping?" he asked, looking to the cells.

I knew Lizzie and the little boy were in the cell I slept in, and I had a feeling Daryl wanted to talk some more. So I gestured to one of the empty cells. He carried me inside, gently placing me on the bed. I groaned, my body aching all over.

When he didn't speak, just looked down at me with worry, I reached for his hand.

"I'm okay."

"No, you ain't. You can't see how bad you look." he argued. "Vic-" he shook his head. "Shoulda stayed with you. I knew I should've stayed." he scolded himself.

"Hey." I squeezed his hand. "I'm fine. You guys are back, and you brought the meds. I'll be back to normal in no time." I offered a kind smile.

"You're shot!"

Rolling my eyes I shrugged. "So what, it's not the first time."

He didn't exactly find that funny. Getting to his feet he started pacing, looking pissed. Though I don't know if he was pissed at me, or himself, or something else. I could just see he was pissed.

"You should go check on Aly." I told him, trying to find a why to distract him from his worry.

He shook his head, gesturing to me. "Not till you're fixed up."

"Daryl-"

But he wouldn't have it. "Vic, no. Aly's fine. You're not. So I'm stayin'."

There was nothing I could do. I knew he wasn't going anywhere, probably not for the whole night. So I just laid down on the bed, scooting over and patting the spot next to me.

He watched me for a moment, hesitating. Not because I was sick, but because he didn't want to hurt me. But he came over anyway, sitting on the bed next to me. He got comfortable, making sure not to hurt me at the same time. He stayed there all night, I was pretty sure he didn't even sleep. Just watched me, making sure nothing happened, making sure I was okay.

BaMbY