A/N: Hello, my viwers! Sorry the chapter was put up a day late; I didn't have any time to yesterday. So, the season five finale's tonight! Ahhhhh! I'm nervous and super excited at the same time. We all know by now that someone IS dying, but I have no clue who it's gonna be, and it's driving me crazy!

Oh, and btw. if you haven't figured this out yet, there are kind of a lot of swears in my fanfictions. If that offends you, sorry, but it happens. Nothing too major (in my standards,) just hell, dammit, shit and fuck. Sorry again if you don't like it, but my story swears.

And, as always, onto the chapter!

"Hershel?" I called out quietly into the cell block, looking for the wise old man. Instead, I found Dr. S, who looked worn out and ragged.

"Alyssa, what're you doing in here?" he asked me, holding onto the side rail of the stairs. His eyes had darker-than-normal circles around them.

"I want to help." I told him, straightening out my back and standing tall.

"No," he replied, looking around at the cells.

"No?" I questioned.

"No," he confirmed, and he began to walk away from me.

"But, I want to help!" I repeated. "There are more people in here that could use me. You need an extra hand."

"My extra hand is Hershel." he waved me off.

"That's two people against... How many in here? Twelve? Twenty? You need the help."

He ran a hand through his sweaty, mopped hair, and grabbed something from the cell where he had all of the medical tools in. "Wear that. Over your mouth."

He tossed me a green and black bandana, which I fastened over my mouth, tying it tightly behind my head.

Once it was securely fastened, Dr. S sent me to check on the, "patients," in the far left corner of the block. I was to take their temperature with an old electric thermometer and check the back of their throats with a tongue depressor. I was also to hand out half drunken bottles of water and damp cloths to them.

I met the first person infected. Since I didn't normally hang out with many people from cell block D, it took me a while to remember her name. Elizabeth, I think.

"Hey." I said. She looked up for a quick second, before moving her mouth down into a napkin, where she coughed violently into many times. When they stopped, she grasped the napkin forcefully in her left palm, shaking violently.

"Alyssa?" she asked, her voice quiet.

"Shh." I shushed her, grabbing the thermometer. "I'm here to help." I stuck the thermometer in her ear, waiting silently until the beep signaled it was done.

102. 7.

Damn.

"Could you stick your tongue out for me?" I asked her, and she complied. I used a tongue depressor, pushing it downwards as I looked at the back of her throat. It was red and swollen. A sticky film of blood and mucus was covering the throat and her tongue.

I took out the tongue depressor, putting the red covered end into a tissue to throw out. I handed her a water bottle. "Drink this. It's good to stay hydrated when sick."

She pushed the bottle away. "Keep the resources. Don't waste them on me; I'm going to die."

I shook my head at her, frowning. "Don't speak like that. You'll be fine. Take the water."

She gave me a rueful glance, then coughed more into another tissue. When her coughing fit ended, she grabbed the bottle. "I hope you're right, kid."

I gave her a nod, leaving the cell, whispering to myself, "I hope I'm right, too."

I did this five more times, checking infected people and giving them water bottles and damp cloths. I got coughed on a few times, which didn't make me feel any cleaner. Each person had such high temperatures; 102.7, 103.4, 101.9, hell, even 104.2. I wasn't sure how to handle them. Most were weak and lethargic, coughing up the disgusting red mixture of blood and mucus.

"Dr. S." I called, finding him working with another infected. He finished up with them, and we talked about what we found out about.

"It's not good." I said, and he nodded. He coughed, and my eyes widened. "Not you, too!"

"I'm fine." He waved a hand dismissively. "I'm fine. I can still help the others. They need it."

I gave him a stare. "You're one of them now." I shrugged my shoulders. "Fabulous."

He gave me a glare. "I'm fine, Alyssa." Dr. S went into a coughing fit, his hands resting on his knees as he heaved.

"You sure?" I asked him. He rolled his eyes.

"Dr. S?" I heard a drowsy womanly voice call at the front of the block. "Dr. S?"

He and I moved to the middle of the block, in front of the stairs. It was Sasha, her normally caramel colored skin pale and ghostly. She was coughing as much as the others in here.

"Dr. S." she said again, looking at him beside me.

"We have to tell them." he said to her, a hand grasping the stairwell rail. "It's starting."

With that note, we gave her her own cell, just like the rest. After her, five more people came in, each coughing up lungs and were very lethargic. I felt bad for them, but I still tried my best to help them.

While helping Sasha, I looked out the cell door, my eyes going to the window near the main door. Tyreese was staring at Sasha intently. He wasn't moving, wasn't talking. Just staring at her. I looked up at his face, and noticed his left eye was black and swollen shut. He had small cuts and abrasions along his face. What the hell did I miss?

He eventually left, and I took a big breath of air through my bandana. I never worked well when I was watched like a hawk.

Once he left, I continued to work with the infected to the best of my ability. I was, until Hershel came along.

"Alyssa? What're you doing here?" the one-legged man asked me, a look of confusion on his face. He was at the front of the cell block, a bandana loosely wrapped on his face, his hand on the open door handle.

"Helping." I replied, straightening out the bandana over my mouth. He ushered me outside the door, where we both took the bandanas off our faces. I took a great big breath, glad to be out of the room for a moment.

He ran a hand down his face. "You're supposed to be in quarantine with the other kids. There was a council meeting about this."

"There was?"

"About an hour ago, yes."

"Whoops."

"Yeah," he gave me one of those disapproving looks. "You should also know that Michonne and Daryl are going on a run. They're taking Bob, too. Getting some meds for the sick folk."

My heart leapt at the sound of my mother's name. "Okay, good. We need it. Nothing's looking too hot in there."

He nodded. "I know."

"What am I gonna do now? I can't go in quarantine with the others; I'd get them sick."

"I know." He said, looking away for a moment and thinking. "You've already been in there. Might as well get you a room to yourself. That way, everyone's safe."

I shook my head forcefully. "No."

"No?" He questioned me.

"No. I can help these people. I've already been exposed to it. Might as well do some good."

He studied me for a moment. "Does your mother know you're in here?"

I gave a sheepish smile. "No."

"Oh, Alyssa." He groaned. "Does Rick know you're in here?"

I shook my head again. "No."

He ran a hand down his face. "Does anyone know you're in here?"

"Carl."

"Of course." He shook his head. "You can't stay in here."

"But, Hershel-"

"No buts. Come with me." He began to walk out the main door of the cell block, using his hand to gesture forward. A signal for me to come with him. I groaned, but did as I was told, following him as he opened the door to the courtyard. Instead of moving through the courtyard, we both took a few steps back as we saw Glenn. He was coughing onto the pavement ground near the door, his shoulders shaking as he heaved up the red goop. I slumped mine, shaking my head.

"No." I whispered. Not Glenn, too!

"Stay away." He held out his hand in a warning gesture. "I can't get you two sick, too." He had another coughing fit on the ground.

I fastened the bandana around my mouth, looking to Hershel for confirmation. He nodded.

I went to Glenn, kneeling down next to him as he finally stopped coughing.

"C'mon, big guy." I said, moving his arm around my shoulders. I began to pull him up off the ground, one hand grasping his forearm, the other around his waist to wrench him up. He turned his head away from me as he coughed again. "We're going to A."

He gave me a weak nod, and together we managed to make it to the cell block opening. Hershel held the door open for us as we walked in. Glenn and I weakly walked up the stairs of the block, and I found him an empty cell to rest in. I helped him lie in the bed.

"Thanks." He murmured, his hands holding his head.

I nodded to him, then bounded down the stairs two at a time to get the thermometer and a cold, damp cloth.

I took his temperature. 102.8. Crap. I put the cloth on his forehead, then left the block, assured by Dr. S that he would be taken care of.

"Okay," I said to Hershel as I got out of the block, "He's with Dr. S, he'll be fine."

Hershel nodded and jerked his head to the door to the courtyard. "Now, let's get going. I'm sure there's an empty office that you can stay in for quarantine."

"Where are the other kids?" I asked as we walked to the offices.

"They're all in the office at the end of the hallway, the large one." Hershel answered as we went into the administrative block, pointing down a large hallway. "Beth and Judith are in one on the other side of the cell block."

I nodded again, and together we walked down the long, dark hallway. We went into the office that was two doors down from the one occupied by the others. It was dusty, dark, but safe for me.

"Now, stay in here." Hershel gestured to the lone chair behind a cluttered and messy desk.

"For how long?" I asked, flipping a light switch. The one light bulb hanging loosely from the middle of the ceiling flickered on. Huh; I didn't know our electricity went this far. Go figure.

"Until we're sure that you aren't contaminated."

"How long will that be?" I looked at him, my head cocked to my right.

He shrugged his shoulders. "We'll find out."

I rolled my eyes at him, giving a weak smile. "Okay. See you later, then."

He nodded to me, and then walked out, closing the heavy door behind him. I looked around the office. No books to read, no one to hang out with, no chores to do.

What the hell am I supposed to do now?

I sat in the large cushioned office chair, looking at the desk in front of me, littered with papers.

"Ugh, I'm bored." I said into empty air. No reply. Not that I was expecting one. I ran my fingers through my messy hair, attempting to brush it through. It proved to be a harder task than I thought. At least I was doing something.

My fingers stopped as I heard a knock on the door. Curious, I walked to it, listening to the sounds of the person behind it.

"Angel, you in there?" I heard Carl's voice ask on the other side of the wooden door. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yeah." I answered, standing in front of the door, but keeping it closed. "I'm here."

"Good. I was wondering where they put you." He replied. I rested my back against the door, listening to him speak.

"How are the others?" I asked, resting my head against the door, looking at the ceiling.

"They're fine." He answered, and I could feel him resting against the other side. "Molly's in the room, and Mika is, too. Luke started coughing; I think Hershel brought him down to block A. Lizzie had to go, too."

I bit the inside of my cheek. "They're infected?"

"... Yeah." Carl replied softly. "Beth and Judith are safe, or that's what they told me."

"Good." I nodded, but remembered he couldn't see me. I slid to the floor, my back against the door, my knees bent in front of me. "How are you?"

"I'm okay. I gotta be."

I shook my head. "Drop it, cowboy. Tell me what's up with you."

I heard him sink to the floor on the other side, and felt the small bump of the door against my back. He must've sat down against it. "This isn't what I wanted. I have my gun back, but now people are dying left and right. And, now I can't hang out with Judith, or dad, or Michonne, or you. This sucks."

I chuckled lightly. "You could say that again."

I felt the door move slightly, making me believe that Carl rested the back of his head against it, too. "How are you doing in there?"

I answered. "I'm fine, I guess. Bored, but that's about it. I don't feel sick or anything, so I'm okay."

"Good." He said. "Maybe they'll let you out soon."

"I hope."

We sat in silence together, resting our heads against the door. I continued the earlier task if brushing my hair out with my fingers.

"I'm bored." I said, my hand moving through my brown mane.

"Hi Bored, I'm Carl." I heard him reply, chuckling at his own joke.

"Did you just use a dad joke against me?" I feigned anger.

"I guess I did." He replied. I could hear the grin on his face.

"How dare you!" I playfully tapped the door behind me, as if I were punching him. He laughed. I hit it again.

"I love you." I heard him murmur behind the wood.

I stopped punching the door. "What?" I turned so I sat on my knees, looking at the wood.

"I-" he gave a nervous chuckle and whispered again. "I love you."

I smiled at the door, and rested my forehead against the cold surface. "I love you, too." I heard him nervously laugh again, and felt a bump of the door on my forehead. He must've done the same on his side.

We rested like that a moment, each grinning widely. Those three words weren't exactly something we've told each other before, but I'm glad I said it. I'm sure Carl was, too.

There was a sound on the other side of the door, like footsteps.

"What's that?" I asked Carl, getting my head off the door.

He moved on the other side. "I'm not sure. Wait..." He stood up, brushing dust off his jeans.

"It's Hershel." He answered, whispering quickly. "I'll be right back."

"Okay." I said, hearing his footsteps go away from the door. I tried to listen to what he and Hershel were saying, but I couldn't make out words. There was the sound of a door opening.

Then silence.

Damn it! Alone again.

"Feel free to come back soon." I sarcastically said to empty air. No response. Ugh, I hate being alone.

I went back to the chair, finding it comfier than the floor and door. I spun around in it, making myself dizzy. At least I wasn't bored.

I stopped spinning for a moment, holding my head in my hands to help me see straight again. I began to cough, my eyes widening as I did.

Fuck.

No, I thought, no need to panic. I'm not sick. Of course not. There's a lot of dust in here. Dust can make people cough, right? Sure it can. I'm fine. Really.

Really?

I shook my head, telling myself I was fine. I coughed into my hand again, my shoulders shaking as I did. I didn't cough up any blood, so I was sure I was fine. I'm totally okay.

I heard two sets of footsteps moving in the hall, a few doors opening and closing. Carl and Hershel must've come back.

"Alyssa?" I heard a rough voice call on the other side of the door.

I stood up from the chair, moving to the door. "Who is it?"

"Rick."

I stood in front of the door. "What're you doing here?"

"I need to ask you something. It's important." He told me, opening the door from the other side. I took a few steps back, looking at his worn out face. He had small cuts on his tanned skin and a large bandage wrapped around his hand.

"What's wrong? Are Carl and Hershel back?" I asked, unsure of what was important.

"Yeah, they're back. Carl's with the other kids. Hershel went to A block." He replied, running a hand through his hair. He was nervous.

"Oh." I said. "Then what's wrong?"

He looked at me, hands resting on his sides. "Have you seen Carol at all?"

I raised an eyebrow. "No; not since the walker attack on D. Why?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "You had nothing to do with it, then?"

"What did I have nothing to do with?" I asked him.

He moved an inch closer, his voice whispering. "She killed Karen and David."

My gaze hardened. "She did what?!"

He looked behind him, making sure no one was near us. "They were infected. Carol was trying to stop it from spreading. I thought, since you and her were working together at story time..."

"No." I said immediately. "No, this was all her."

"Good." He nodded.

We stood there a moment, my hands running through my hair. "What are you gonna do about it?"

He stared at me. "She can't be around us."

"Rick-"

"My family is here. Your family is here. Do you really want someone who has killed because of a flu around them?"

"I-" I shook my head. "So what're you gonna do? Kill her?"

"No." He answered, looking out the door. "She's just not gonna be with us anymore."

"Where is she gonna go?"

"I don't know. That's not my problem. My problem is to get her out of here."

"You can't just-"

"I have to. She'll make it out there. She's strong."

I dropped my head. "She's my family, too."

He gave a slight nod to me. "I know. She'll be fine on her own."

I looked up at him. "I know. Doesn't mean I like it."

"I know." He advanced towards me, just another step, dropping his voice again. "You can't tell anyone. Not your mom, not Beth, not even Carl. This needs to be kept a secret until I deal with it."

I nodded at him. "Got it."

"How're you feeling?" He asked, making his way out the door.

"I'm fine." I gave him an answer, though I wasn't sure if I was lying or not. I certainly wasn't going to say anything about me coughing. I wasn't even sure if it meant anything, so, yeah, fine works.

"Good." He walked out the door, closing it behind him.

Ugh, I hate keeping secrets.

Only a few moments after Rick left, Carl went to the door.

"Hey." He said, the door in between us.

I sat on the floor, resting my back against it again. "Hey."

"What did my dad want?" Carl asked. "He sounded nervous, or something. What'd you guys talk about?"

I gave a weak smile, rubbing my eyes with the palms of my hands. "Nothing important. Nothing important at all."

A/N: Hope you liked it! Feel free to review it.