Rick's state of mind improved over the following two weeks. Now that October approached, the landscape was filled with burnt oranges and reds and the wind grew stronger with a stinging edge of coolness to it.
Early that Monday morning saw Rick at the pig pen staring at the dead mother pig whilst her offspring nudged at her in confusion. She had to have contracted some type of illness which had felled her with surprising speed and left Rick wondering how to proceed with the piglets. Carl approached with Hershel.
Under the older man's suggestion, he removed the dead pig from the pen and loaded it onto a barrow to burn.
"Most likely, some kind of swine flu," said Hershel as Rick cleaned his hands on a rag.
"What about the piglets?" Rick asked, "They look ok, but then she looked fine yesterday evenin'."
Hershel opened his mouth to reply but shouting from the prison cut him off. "What the-"
Rick and Carl ran ahead to be greeted with a worried Ty.
"Somethin' happened in Block D," the big man explained, breathless and covered in wgat could only be blood, which put the rest on high alert, "Was heading for the shower block, heard screaming. Looks like somebody died, turned and started chewin' up anyone in their path. Hollered for help. We put down all the dead ones, dealt with the ones that hadn't come back yet, so it's over now, but it's a damn mess in there." Tyresse gulped and looked at the ground. "Some of the kids who survived it are pretty shook up."
"Who's in there now?" asked Rick, unsheathing his knife and readying himself to move.
"The council members, some of the other adults," Ty looked on the verge of tears. "I'd say most of that block is dead. Including Karen." Karen and Tyresse had just begun to form a flirtatious relationship.
"Hey, take a moment, Ty." Rick grabbed the larger man's arm. "I'll take over from here."
Rick and Hershel advised Carl to stay with Tyresse. The boy looked concerned but nodded in agreement.
They hurried inside. Once in Block D, the scene which greeted them could have been from any horror movie.
Body parts lay with casual abandon across the floor, blood streaked most surfaces. The only sound was of children softly crying.
In that moment, Rick was thankful that Judith was safely slumbering in his cell, watched over by Beth on the opposite side of the prison.
"Do we know what happened?" He shouted from the hallway.
Glenn emerged from an upstairs cell, leaning over the metal barrier above. He looked sickened. "We think Patrick may have died at some point during the night. He's the only one not bitten or torn apart. He must have turned and attacked the others in here."
Daryl appeared from the cell at the end of the hallway, splattered with blood and shouldering his bow. "What we doin' with the bodies?"
Rick took a moment and motioned him over. "Any of us dead?" He lowered his voice.
"Nah," Daryl looked around. "These were all Woodbury. Put 'em all in here together. Everybody else is ok. There's just about twenty of 'em to deal with." Rick rubbed his forehead, nodding slowly, as if assimilating the situation.
Rick then checked over Patrick's body which was in cell number five. He called out to his friends. They all gathered around him in a semi-circle.
"Ok. So, we need to get any survivors and kids out of here, we'll have to clear out A and house them in there for now." He looked around at each of them, "Then we need to clear the bodies and burn them. Ty, will want to bury Karen, I know they were getting' close. Before anybody protests about the others, we don't have the time to bury them all. We also don't know what Patrick died of. Could have been natural causes but he can't have been sixteen yet and seemed in good health, so I'd say it's unlikely. There's not a mark on him that would suggest any foul play."
"He left book club early last night," offered Carol, her face and neck sporting blotches of drying dark red blood. "Said he felt sick. Like he was going to throw up." She eyed the group, sure only Daryl was aware that she had been teaching the kids how to use weapons during her weekly 'book club'. He kept her secret for her, believing, as she did, that it was best these kids had a fighting chance of surviving out there if the worst happened, which it could, at any given time.
"Well, I got a dead pig to burn too, she seemed fine last night and now she's gone." Rick turned to Hershel. "Is it possible both died of the same thing?"
Hershel was leaning against the metal staircase. "If it's a flu, passed from animal to man, it is certainly a possibility. It's also the season for it. I'm theorising, of course, but I'd say if Patrick was infected, it'll be extremely contagious. It'll spread like wildfire in here, with such close quarters and it's never gonna be sterile. We could all already be infected just from being in here."
A strained silence fell.
Rick spoke, "Everyone, find something to use as a mask when in here. Be careful. Daryl, Glen and I will start moving the bodies. Hershel, Maggie, you get the kids out of here and help them settle in Block A. We'll have to keep an eye on them the next few days. Carol and Sasha, you'll have to start the clean up and we'll help once the bodies are outside. Anyone feeling sick or out of sorts, running hot, come see me. Until then, we have to get to the task at hand and clean this block up."
Feeling subdued, they all set about their jobs. ~ Rick had discussed the implications of a flu outbreak with Hershel at length. Then a council meeting was called early on Tuesday.
The atmosphere was tense.
They could deal with the known dangers of Walkers, even other groups, who were hostile could possibly be negotiated with, but this was a situation seemingly beyond control.
"Now, we do have Caleb, the doctor from Woodbury. He was in Block D at the time of the attack and he is willing to treat any sick cases that develop. He ain't feeling too grand at the moment either, so it's likely he caught it." Hershel explained. "We've used A Block as a quarantine, most who survived Patrick's attack are now showing symptoms. Easier to keep them in there than attempt to move them across the prison and risk further contamination. Any of us who start to notice similar symptoms should go straight to A. We'll monitor how serious it gets and how many of us contract it."
"Is it always fatal?" asked Glenn looking pale and more worried than ever.
"It's like everything, son. It affects each person differently. It depends on your body's capability to fight the infection. There's no way of knowing who is immune or why. We're blind here. We don't know for sure what we're dealing with. This could be some entirely new strain brought about by the environment we live in now." The old man eyed each of them gravely.
"What about medication?" Maggie enquired, who was always eager to set up plans to overcome any obstacle or problem.
"That's the next point on the agenda. We need to organise a run for IVs, breathing apparatus, antibiotics and a whole lotta other stuff I got on a list." Hershel said, looking around.
"We cleared out all the chemists nearby," advised Daryl frowning.
"There's a veterinary college about hundred and fifty, two hundred miles East. They'll have the things we need there and they may be untouched. Vets use the same medications as Doctors, people just don't realise it. I think we could strike it lucky there."
"Ok, so we go hit that place." Daryl said absently, his eyes on Carol who had shuddered visibly, "You ok?" he asked her, concerned.
She nodded, keeping her eyes on the table. "I think I should go help Caleb in A Block."
"What?! No." stated Daryl grimly, shaking his head as though it was his final decision.
"Hang on," said Hershel coming around to Carol's side of the table. He put a hand to her forehead and got her to open her mouth wide. "Sore throat, running a temperature. You better had make your way over there."
"But…" said Daryl bewildered, looking from Hershel to Carol. "You look fine to me."
She gave a sad smile, stood slowly and headed for the door, "I really don't feel it. I'll go now and see what I can do while I'm there. Caleb can't handle it all alone besides, I'm a good nurse," her attempt at lifting the mood fell flat. "Be careful on that run and get back with the medicine. See you all real soon." Her eyes locked with Daryl's, an unspoken message in them.
A sombre silence fell.
Daryl felt panicked, he stood so quickly, his chair fell back onto the floor with a loud bang. He ran out of the Library after her.
"Carol," he called.
She stopped without turning around. "Please Daryl," she said, worry in her voice, "Don't come any closer. You can't catch it."
He swallowed and took a step towards her. "I'd risk catchin' anythin' if it meant not leavin' ya in there."
Carol's shoulders slumped slightly and she leaned against the cool wall for support, still not daring to turn to face him, "You need to go get what we need. They're all counting on you. I am too. I gotta go to quarantine, I'd never forgive myself if I spread it around. We can't risk anyone else. I can't risk you." Her voice wobbled, but she straightened her shoulders and set off walking.
Daryl sighed miserably and sagged against the wall, trying to stop himself running after her. "And I can't risk losing you," he whispered, as she turned the corner and disappeared. He took a moment to swallow down his panic.
Then he made his way back into the Library.
"You ok, Daryl?" Glenn asked quietly once he returned, his eyes showing concern.
"Mmm hmm," he replied, not trusting himself to speak, whilst picking up his fallen chair and sitting back down.
The others exchanged glances.
Glenn stood, "Um, I think I maybe need to be in the quarantine too."
"Jesus," Daryl muttered.
Could this get any worse?
Maggie put a hand to her mouth, "Why didn't you say earlier?" she asked wide eyed and on the verge of tears.
"I wasn't sure if I was imagining it, but I feel worse now." Glenn caressed her cheek and she brought her hand up to cover his, "I'm sorry." He said simply, dropping his hand.
"Go," said Maggie, wiping a tear away, "Help Carol and Caleb. Once the antibiotics get here, you'll be right as rain."
"Sure," he replied. "Don't anybody worry about me. It's just man flu." He laughed trying to raise a smile from them.
When no one saw the funny side, he turned and left after exchanging proclamations of love with Maggie. Once he'd left, she sat down, worry etching her features.
Sasha asked Hershel for his list and noticed a map drawn on the back of it. "This the place?" she asked.
Hershel nodded, preoccupied with worry.
"So," Sasha began, "There'll be me, Daryl, Ty, Bob and Michonne going out there. The others will have to stay, try to keep on top of things. Do you all agree?"
The others nodded.
Maggie spoke, "I'd rather be here so I can check in on Glenn. It shouldn't take you guys more than two days max to get back?" She looked between Daryl and Sasha.
Daryl didn't reply. He sat chewing his thumbnail. He was in turmoil. Just once, he wanted someone to tell him to stay behind. He had people he cared about here. He wanted to be around for them. Who was he kidding? He wanted to stay here for the same reason Maggie did. He wanted to check on his love.
If anything happened to her while he was out there….. It was a risk he took every time he left, but this time the risk was real, it was already happening, it was out of his control. She was in actual danger of not making it. It was up to him to get out there and make sure she survived.
"Much less, if it's got anything to do with me." He snatched up the list and stormed out. ~ Gathering their things for the run was like a military operation with Daryl hurrying everyone along.
"Come on!" he barked, "We're fuckin' losin' time here!" They were all going in one large people carrier. He banged on the roof of the vehicle in frustration as he waited for the others.
Rick was in the yard observing his friend's anxiousness.
"She'll be fine," he said quietly into Daryl's ear.
Daryl turned, "Not at the rate we're goin', dammit!"
"Why don't you go over to quarantine?" Rick suggested, "You can go say goodbye to her through that viewing panel and by the time you get back out here, they'll be ready to roll." He ducked to catch his friend's eye.
Daryl took a visible deep breath. "Ok." He started off across the yard, his head down, not trusting himself not to bite anyone's head off, should they try to speak to him.
Once in Block A, he noticed how cool and quiet it was, aside from the occasional bout of coughing. Caleb sat behind the partition glass, at a desk. The doctor had piles of thick books open in front of him, pouring over them. He looked up. "You sick?" he enquired, his brow sweaty.
"Nah," Daryl shook his head. "Came to see Carol. How is she?"
"Ah, well," The doctor answered, pulling himself up wearily. "She's not a good patient, as I'm sure you'd guess. She's stubborn and won't rest. Insists on doing the rounds, checking on everyone, so she's an able nurse." The doctor coughed into a rag for a few seconds. "We have a few kids in here. She and Glenn have been entertaining them. I'll go get her." Caleb stood at nodded to Daryl before disappearing through another door behind the partition panel.
Daryl waited, hardly noticing he was holding his breath.
She appeared, stripped down to a vest with thin straps on her top half and shorts underneath. She had dark circles under her eyes but the colour was high in her cheeks. He noticed cigarette burns on her inner thighs near where her shorts ended. That bastard. Her skin had a sheen to it, especially across her protruding collarbone and her eyes, while a more luminous blue than ever, looked slightly unfocused. She was in the grasp of a fever.
"Pookie!" she smiled.
"Hey, we're headin' out in a sec," he said. He desperately wanted to reach out and hold her in his arms. "Wanted to check they're treatin' you right in there."
"Oh,"she replied, her teeth chattered slightly as though she was cold. She crossed her arms around herself, "Be careful. All of you. But you especially."
"Sure," he said, "You cold? You gotta rest though. Gotta keep your strength up."
She moved toward the glass and rested her forehead against the cool surface. "Its freezing, but apparently I'm burning up." She shrugged, "There are others in here worse than me. Some of them are just kids. I gotta help."
Daryl moved across and rested his right hand to glass. "Please, look after yourself too. For me."
She raised her head from the window and put her left hand palm down on it against his palm on the opposite side. "Remember that jasper stone in your jacket? Take it out when you're on the run and remember that I'll be here, at home, waiting for you."
They looked into each other's eyes through the glass for a moment.
He leaned his forehead against the glass and whispered, "I'll always come back to you," before turning and leaving her standing on her side of the partition.