Daryl sits me down in D block, we can't go in C right now, Judith is in there, and gives me food.
"Thanks, baby" I say and take the plate. I pick at it for a moment before letting out a sigh and dropping my head into my hands.
"Hey, hey" Daryl says gently and wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest "It's gonna work out."
"Is it?" I ask sceptically "Everything just seems to be collapsing around us. I promised to keep them safe"
"Hey, don't do that. All of these people know you did your best to keep them alive. No one is safe in this world anymore. They are a little more protected behind these walls. Walls that you have kept up" Daryl says firmly
"But for how long?" I say quietly
Daryl kisses my forehead "You owe these people nothin'. Stop stressin' over things out of your control"
I laugh a little "I need control, Daryl. It's slipping from me. One disaster after another"
Daryl pulls back and forces me to look at him. The look on his face tells me to stop arguing with him right now or else. "Now, you listen to me Guinevere Dixon. The stress you're putting yourself under will start messin' with your health again. There is nothin' you can do about an illness is there?"
An idea pings into my head and I grin at Daryl. I kiss him hard "You are so fucking smart!" I jump up "We need to hold a council meeting."
Daryl stands with me "What did I say?" He asks looking confused.
The door bursts open "Gwen! Sasha and Caleb!" Andy shouts.
My heart jumps "What?"
"Hershel wants to call an emergency council meeting now." Andy says.
I nod "Okay, let's go. Andy, you and Ness have been exposed you feel anything you go straight to A got it?"
He nods "Yeah."
"Wear a mask too, tell Nessa, now. Go" I tell him as me and Daryl head to the library.
It's just me, Daryl, Hershel, Glenn, Carol and Michonne "Its spread. Everyone who survived the attack in cell block D. Sasha, Caleb, and now others."
"Oh, Jesus." Daryl mutters
"So what do we do?" Carol asks
"First things first. Cell block A is isolation. We keep the sick people there like we tried with Karen and David." Hershel says
"What the hell we gonna do about that?" Daryl asks
"Ask Rick to look into it. Try to make a timeline, who's where when. Plus the weapon mould Gwen made should make things easier" Carol says "But what are we gonna do to stop this?"
"There is no stopping it. You get it, you have to go through it." Hershel says
"But it just kills you?" Michonne says
"The illness doesn't. The symptoms do. We need antibiotics."
"We've been through every pharmacy nearby. And then some." Daryl says with a shrug
I speak for the first time "That's what I thinking earlier but then I thought about animals. There must be some sort of animal hospital or Veterinary college around here, right Hershel? They'll have the same antibiotics we need"
"You're right. The veterinary college at West Peachtree Tech. That's one place people may not have thought to raid for medication" Hershel replies
I pat my hand on the desk "That's what I thought" Then I look at Daryl "Have you seen it when you've been out?"
"Yeah, it's 50 miles" Daryl says as he nods his head "Too big a risk before. Ain't now. I'm gonna take a group out. Best not waste any more time." Daryl says and stands.
"I'm coming with you." I tell him and stand
"No you ain't" He says
I smirk "You need me to read the big words"
He shakes his head "No, way. I ain't risking you out there"
I roll my eyes "Yeah because it's safer in here" I say sarcastically "I'm going and you can't stop me"
Daryl sighs "Fine but you stay beside me at all times, understand"
I salute him "Sir, yes sir"
"I'm in." Michonne says
"You haven't been exposed. Daryl and Gwen have. You get in a car with them..." Hershel says
"Daryl's already given me fleas." She replies with a smirk and I giggle a little
The rest stand and Hershel says "I can lead the way. I know where everything's kept."
Daryl and I share a concerned look and Daryl says "When we're out there, it's always the same. Sooner or later we run."
Hershel looks a little down put "I can draw you a map." I nod "There are other precautions I feel we should take." He says more firmly
"Like what?" Carol asks
"There's no telling how long it'll be before Daryl and his group return. Wouldn't it make sense for us to separate the most vulnerable? We can use the administration building. Separate office, separate room." Hershel says
"Who is the most vulnerable?" Glenn ask
"The very young." Hershel replies
"And the old" I say looking at Hershel pointedly "No offence"
An hour or so later I meet up with Daryl "Everyone is sick. Andy and Nessa need to stay to keep things running. Rick needs to stay for his kids. Who else is there?"
"Bob" Daryl replies
"and?" I press
"That's it so far" He replies.
"That's okay, we've worked with less" I says "Should we take Zack's car? It is the fastest"
Daryl stops me in my tracks and kisses me "I still find it so sexy that you're in to cars" He tells me with a grin
I push him away playfully "Shut up"
Michonne appears as I open the driver door and look for the keys. "Open the trunk, Gwen" She says.
I pull the lever at my foot and the boot pops open "Daryl, you got the keys? They're not in here"
"Nah, just hotwire it" He replies "Pop the hood first" he says
I do that and crawl to the floor and open the panel under the steering wheel with my knife before climbing out.
"Son of a bitch is about a quart low." Daryl says looking at the oil stick
"You still keep it in the bottom of tower three?" Michonne asks
"Yeah." Daryl replies
"I'll go get one." She says with a grin
"Hey." Daryl calls after her, she stops and turns "I'm glad you're here."
"Where else would I be?" She asks
I watch the scene carefully "Running off." Daryl replies
"You know I'm not running off." Michonne says and Daryl does that nod he does when he pretends to agree with someone but he doesn't
"So it's just gonna be the three of us like in the old days?" Michonne ask throwing me a wink
"Yeah, and Bob. Still, feels like we could use another person." He says
"Who else isn't sick?" She asks
"We don't ask Rick. He wants to stay here with Carl and Little Ass-Kicker. Keep 'em safe. Plus there's plenty of stuff that needs to be done here so Nessa and Andy need to stay. Andy is the only one that knows how to work those things he built. Nessa is the closest thing to Gwen these people have got when Gwen's not here." Daryl states
"So who else we got?" Michonne asks
I lean on the car roof "Just throwing this out there, but what about Tyreese? He's not sick but Sasha is. For her he might come along"
"He's unstable. I don't want that around you" Daryl replies
"Daryl, he's all we've got." I say feeling pretty fucking irritated now.
"Fine, I'll go find him" He says
"I'll oil the car and take it down to the front gate for gas" I tell him
"I'll get that oil" Michonne says and they both walk off in separate directions