Phoenix
Author's Notes:
There is a lot of emotional stuff in this chapter…like you might want some Kleenex and probably some wine, too.
The good news is that there isn't a cliff-hanger.
The bad news is…yep, it's TWD. You know what that means…
Chapter 14
SIX MONTHS LATER
The physical and emotional scars seemed to be fading. Life at PRD had settled into a routine, with everyone contributing to the community.
They were all doing their best to provide a sense of normalcy, especially for the children. All the children five and older went to school. It made Hershel think of the old-time one-room schoolhouses. The children were also taught skills that they would need in this new world. Even with the reduced risk from the walkers thanks to the capsules around the virus, there still was a risk from other people, as they learned very well after dealing with the Governor. Most of the time, everyone stayed in the compound unless there was a need to try to get more supplies. The older children were taken outside of the compound to learn how to hunt. Daryl was the expert but everyone knew that he liked to hunt alone and had minimal patience, so Glenn always went with them to act as a buffer.
Others contributed in areas where their skills best matched. Beth worked with a few other women in the daycare, which was set up for children too young for school. They also helped take care of the orphaned children. They worked together to make sure that all of the needs of the children were being met. Rick, Maggie, Tyreese, Sasha, Michonne and T-dog all participated in the security detail.
Rick, Maggie, Carl and Judith were settling into a family life. People in their group were surprised initially to find out that Rick and Maggie had been together for a while, but when they really thought about it, they realized they shouldn't have been. There had always been a special bond between them. Carl thought it was great that Maggie was now part of their family. Judith would never know a time when Maggie wasn't.
Beth had gotten close to Chase and Leigh. Some were worried that she might have a little "white horse" syndrome in that she had a hero worship for the man who saved her. As time went on, it really was apparent that he was just as taken with her, and Leigh absolutely adored her. It was only a few months after their return to PRD when Chase asked Hershel for Beth's hand. With his blessing, Chase asked Beth to marry him and she, of course, said yes. When Leigh called her "Mama" for the first time, Beth cried.
PRD continued to work on developing their vaccine, or anti-viral medication, or whatever you wanted to call it. They needed all the help they could get and there was no shortage of volunteers willing to help. Their standards for human testing were different now. It was difficult to balance "do no harm" when the information was so desperately needed, but they had lines that, even in this new world, they would not cross. If they did, they'd be just like the Governor. They knew they were getting closer, seemingly right on the verge of the answer, but there just seemed to be a piece of the puzzle missing.
PRD's development took on a new urgency when something unexpected happened. Someone working for PRD got bit. As had become the norm, no one expected a reaction. This, however, was a mistake. He was sick within a few hours and dead less than a day after the bite. Then he came back. He had previously tested at 96% which is why no one thought he was in danger. They retested him and saw that his capsule count had plummeted to nearly zero. They retested everyone and determined that the capsule counts were decreasing at an alarming rate. It really came to a head when the bite survivors started getting sick.
They determined that, like the capsule creation, the loss of the capsules was also a natural phenomenon. Unfortunately it was one with similar outcomes as when Governor's serum dissolved capsules. If there was disintegration, but the person was not bit, the person will only have a reaction if they are bit or when they die for some other reason. If capsule disintegration occurs in a person with an existing bite, once the capsule level decreased enough, the disease process would start and the virus would be able to overwhelm its host.
Those with bites continued to hope but they knew what was coming and, so far, couldn't do anything about it. Once their capsule count became low enough, they would start to feel the effects.
SACRIFICE
In their group, Glenn was the first to get sick. He wanted to help them find a solution so he told them to do whatever tests they needed to do to figure it out. He would hold on as long as he could in order for them to get every bit of information that they could.
Glenn continued to get sicker. Late one night, Glenn and Daryl were laying facing each other with their hands clutched between them. Daryl was watching Glenn sleep. Glenn opened his eyes and looked into Daryl's.
"We've had a lot of time…," Glenn said, through labored breaths, "that we shouldn't… have had… I'm grateful… for every second… of it."
"Me too, Short Round, me too. Every single second." Daryl said. Glenn smiled at the name and drifted back to sleep. Daryl raised a finger and ran it over Glenn's lips, now graced with a bluish tinge. He watched Glenn working to breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Daryl chanted the mantra in his head with each cycle.
As PRD continued to work around the clock, Glenn continued to get worse, seemingly hourly. They knew Glenn was dying and wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. The pain he was in had to be indescribable.
"Daryl… need to see… doctors," Glenn gasped out. Daryl got Kevin, Susan and Chase. "Almost done… know you… need more… don't shoot me… use me… instead… anesthesia… take what you need… then Daryl… can do… what I need… him to do." The doctors were shocked.
Daryl looked him in the eyes. "I'm only gonna ask ya one time. Are ya sure?"
"Yes… Let them do… what they need to… then you make sure… I'm taken… care of."
Daryl respected his decision. Even though it was the hardest thing he ever had to do, he nodded in agreement. Susan exchanged glances with Kevin and Chase. She then left the room quietly to get what was needed. Daryl leaned over and gave Glenn and gentle kiss.
"You have… a fever," Glenn said.
"I'm fine," Daryl whispered.
"It's time," Glenn said. "S'ok… pain'll be gone… want to help."
"I know," Daryl replied. "I'm gonna see if I can help, too, then I'll be right behind ya."
"Fight… if you can… if they figure… it out… keep promise… like before… you better… choose to live… if you can."
"I love you so much."
"Love… you… too."
"I'll be there soon."
"I'll… be… waiting."
Glenn nodded to Susan and watched as she put an injection into his IV line.
With a small smile and Daryl's lips on his in a final kiss, Glenn faded away.
PRD got the information they were unable to get before. Daryl appreciated that they were very respectful of Glenn and were honoring his sacrifice. Daryl stayed with him until the end. After PRD did their part, Daryl did his.
SUCCESS
It was a couple of days later when Daryl started to get sick.
"Well, Doc, time to get the party started," Daryl said with a sad smile. He sat down on the bed and watched as they started his IV.
Rick stayed with him most of the time, occasionally relieved by Hershel or Maggie. The days dragged on while Daryl got worse and worse. Periodically one of the doctors would come in and inject something or take more blood or cell samples. Nothing seemed to slow the virus down. Daryl's pain was getting worse. The medications could no longer control it. They knew Daryl was running out of fight.
Rick was sitting at Daryl's bedside when Kevin, Susan and Chase came in. From Daryl's position curled up on his side, Daryl tilted his face toward them and looked at them.
"m'tired… yer running… out of time… t'figure… it out."
"That's why we're here," Chase said quietly. "We used all the information that we got from you and Glenn. We did it. We made a serum that will create capsules. It will create capsules for anyone missing them and it will create capsules for those that had the capsules disintegrate. We found the missing piece of the puzzle thanks to you."
"That great!" Rick said. "So you have the cure." Chase looked at him with sadness.
"Daryl..."
"Already… know," he said gasping. "S'too late… for me… 'm too… far gone."
"Yes," Kevin said. "I'm so sorry."
"Wait…wait," Rick said. "You just said that you have a cure. How is it too late?"
"Too many of his systems are already failing. Recreating the capsules at this point won't help," Kevin tried to explain.
"Rick… s'ok… really… want to be… with Glenn… only reason… for living… already gone… m'ready… to go," Daryl said, struggling for every breath and the pain showing on his face. Susan leaned forward to get Daryl's attention.
"Daryl," she said, "we can do like we did for Glenn, when you're ready," she offered. He nodded.
"M'ready… now," Daryl gasped. "Rick… once told ya… no reason… ya needed… t'do… all the… heavy liftin'."
"I remember."
"Still… m'gonna ask ya… for a favor… m'gonna ask that… you do it… K?"
"Yeah, Daryl, I'll do it. I promise."
"Thank you."
"Tell Glenn that they were successful," Rick said, grasping Daryl's hand. "You both saved us all."
"I will… see ya… on the… other side… Brother."
"Yeah," Rick said through his tears. "See you on the other side."
Daryl nodded and Chase administered the injection. Rick stayed and fulfilled his promise.
A/N: I know, you all probably hate me right now. I hope I don't have a bunch of people now "Un-Follow-ing" and "Un-Favorite-ing" my story right now.
There is only one more chapter which is the Epilogue, so I hope you stick it out. The final chapter will also be posted today.