Sadie's POV
It couldn't have been much past around 6am, when I was awoken by the…..admittedly, main reason I asked Gareth to take Aaron out on this run that we needed so badly, instead of going with him myself.
This wasn't exactly the first day, within the past few, that I had been either going to bed or waking up feeling this way, so I had to be coming down with something, and I definitely didn't need him worrying about me every step of the way.
I just hoped that my decision to not go with him this time isn't worrying him anymore, because this isn't exactly like me either.
I had started to glance over at the alarm clock that sat by, what was usually, Gareth's side of the bed, when my stomach decided to remind me of why I should be bolting, not taking my time, to get to the toilet.
Admittedly, it's probably ALSO on me for sitting up too quickly when I had just gone to bed, the previous night, not feeling too great.
When I really couldn't hold it back anymore, I stumbled out of bed cupping a hand to my face, as I began my race for the connecting bathroom.
—
—
I had barely made it down to my knees, when I did make it in there, and started retching up last night's dinner almost as soon as I'd lifted the toilet seat and lid out of the way.
I continued to retch into the bowl until it felt like there was nothing left to come out of me but dry heaves.
I coughed a couple more times before putting my hand back up to my face again.
"God…." I moaned to myself.
—
When my stomach started to feel just settled enough, I carefully stood back up to make my way over to check out into the hall to make sure the sounds of my aforementioned retching hadn't awoken Alex through these thin walls and resulted in another crib escape.
Nope, empty as it should be, and Alex is somehow still sound asleep.
I just shrugged, as I returned to the bathroom to check my temperature for about the third time this week before crawling back into bed.
After, somehow, getting in another few hours of sleep, I got Alex up and ready to take him over to Jessie's for her to watch over for the day, while I went out to take my usual morning smoke, just before heading out to check in with everyone who was working on the bridge repairs.
—
—
I made my way over to my usual smoking spot, just a few feet or so from Alexandria's gates, and, knowing that Gareth and Aaron probably weren't too far out on their trip yet, pulled out my walkie and decided to try him while I lit up.
"So, I did catch you." I chuckled when he picked up and greeted me.
"You caught me." He chuckled. "What's up?"
"Why does something gotta be up? Maybe I just felt like hearing your voice before I go out on my rounds today. You ever think of that?" I took another drag from my cigarette.
"Never even crossed my mind." He teased.
"No, of course not. Why would it?" I teased back. "...So, is Aaron there with you right now? Or uhh.. " I lowered my voice, closer to a whisper. "..do I get to have a little fun with you, this morning?"
I could hear Aaron chuckling in the background, at the implication
"Hi, Sadie."
"Goddamnit." I muttered, snickering under my breath.
This got a good chuckle from Gareth too. "Why don't you just gimme a sec, lemme step away from the RV with ya."
"Or better yet, take the RV and ditch Aaron all together." I teased.
"Right, need I remind you, that this was all your idea for me to go with him?"
"Umm, correction, it was my idea to stay behind and take care of things here, check in on and help out with the bridge where needed, that sort of thing…" I reminded him. "Whoever you took with you on your supply run, or if you'd decided to go by yourself, was completely up to you."
"You're right." He chuckled. "My bad, entirely."
"As long as we're in agreement." I teased. "So, how are things on your end?"
"Ah, not too bad, actually. Got a good start yesterday, today we're getting more of a late start, getting back on the road, you know?"
"Mmm hmm...You know, you could've started with that. I don't wanna waste too much of your time."
"Well, you're in luck then. You are never a waste of time."
"Now that…" I cleared my throat, trying to fight back the nauseous feeling that was starting to resurface from earlier. I threw in an exaggerated cough in, to add to my cover. "...was the correct answer. Especially if you have little to no intentions of getting off this walkie."
"Right…" he gave somewhat of a nervous chuckle. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." I half fibbed. "...just having a smoke."
"If you say so." He chuckled, clearly sensing that I just wanted to lighten the mood back up.
"Anyway, I'll let you go now. I should get going, myself. You're not the only one who's behind schedule, here."
"Ohh, well, sorry for wasting your time, then."
"Hey, I called you, Smartass."
"Fair enough." He chuckled. "Alright, talk soon. I miss you."
"I miss you too…..and, you better…..and Aaron?" I said Aaron's name a little louder.
"Yeah?!"
"You make sure he gets back here in one piece." I teased.
"Ohh, don't worry, I don't wanna be anywhere near you, if he isn't."
"Smart boy." I snickered. "Later."
As soon as I arrived on site, I met up with Tyra to get the rundown on everything, from the bridge's progress and the current state of the nearby herds, down to the supplies and what was needed.
"What about the scouts?" I asked.
"Just got back. Horatio's gonna pass us by, but it'll be close."
"Got a head count?"
"About a hundred and some change." She noticed the look on my face, as I continued to try and keep myself together. "What? You think we should push back the blasting?"
I sighed, hoping she wouldn't catch on or pry too much. "No, I do not. If we do, we'll draw in that other herd."
"Margaret."
"Yeah." I scoffed.
I honestly don't remember whose idea it was to start giving these herds actual names, like we're talking about fucking hurricanes or some shit, but it sure isn't one I'll ever get used to.
"...and that one's five times as big." I continued. "...We got the sirens in place?"
"Hell yah."
"Alright. Calm down, JD." I teased. "...in that case, we'll blow the rockslide. If the herd comes, we'll redirect."
"Alright, I'll let them know."
I nodded and had to call back out to her when she started to take off.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!"
She turned to come back. "Yeah?"
"Where's that little Savior boytoy of yours?" I asked, to her clear displeasure.
"Alden."
"Whatever." I scoffed. "I need to know about those walkoffs. How many of them now?"
"Well, off the top of my head, we are down one more savior." She sighed. "That's six in the past month."
"That figures." I scoffed.
She just shrugged. "Actually, Carol's the one you'll wanna talk to about that. She's the one who took over for Daryl at The Sanctuary."
"Well, that's certainly fitting." I smirked at the idea. "...and want is a pretty strong word, but I'll see what I can do."
"Right." She scoffed, even further displeased, but clearly not wanting to get into it right now.
I shook my head to myself, as I continued onto my next stop.
—
—
When I got to the infirmary, I noticed that Enid was finishing stitching up the hand of some young girl, Cyndi, I think her name was, while Siddiq supervised her.
"How's the star student doing? I greeted with an, I hoped, encouraging smile.
This brought a small smile to her own face, as well.
"Ready to take on anything." Siddiq answered with pride.
"Well, good. Cause it looks like she's gonna get her chance. I'd like you to go back home." I explained. "There's a bug going around. I think I might even have caught it."
"Okay, I'll head out with the next escort." He agreed.
"Wait, he's leaving?" Enid panicked. "What about Denise?"
"Yeah, she's out sick with it too. That's why I asked."
"Oh….well, then. Yeah, y-yeah, I've got this."
"I know you do." I chuckled, trying to reassure the poor girl.
—
—
From there, I continued on the rest of the few rounds I had left, all the while trying to come up with someone who I could send up to The Sanctuary to get a clearer update on those Saviors from that Queen Bitch for me.
Just as I was about to get on my motorcycle to head out, I caught sight of Michonne, who looked like she was on her way out too.
"Hey, Michonne?!"
She turned at the call of her name and came over to meet me.
"Sadie." She greeted with a, still surprisingly to me, genuine smile. "I thought you'd left already."
"Ouch?" I chuckled. You know, if you want to get rid of me, you can just say it. God knows no one else around here really has a problem making that known."
"Well, I guess they can speak for themselves then." She tried to reassure.
I scoffed. "Right, if you say…"
Mid sentence, however, that nauseous feeling started building up again, causing me to gulp and let out a soft groan, under my breath, as I tried to hold it back.
The expression on her face shifted to one of genuine concern when she noticed.
"You okay?"
"Yeah." I exhaled. "I think s- "
But, of course, I lost my previously internal battle with it and could only use the hand, which was now over my mouth, to hold it back just long enough to find a nearby bush I could retch into.
—-
"Sadie!" She called out to me in concern, rushing over to my side.
I flinched slightly when she offered her hand to comfort me and hold my hair back...the latter of which, I allowed her to do.
"Thanks…" I sighed, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand when I was finished. "...God…"
"Don't mention it. You're sure you're okay?"
I nodded, slowly putting my hand back down. "I will be, I think I just caught that bug that's going around, back at Alexandria."
She nodded. "Are you okay to drive back, I could have someone- "
"No, no. God, no." I sighed. "I- thank you, but I'll be fine, once I sit down for a while.
"Alright, well, you let me know if you change your mind."
I just nodded, half smiling. "I'll keep that in mind. You heading over to Hilltop?"
"Yeah, just about to. Something you need?"
"Just a message passed along, if it's not too much trouble." I glanced around the immediate area. "...and someone to go up to The Sanctuary, and get an update for me on those Savior walkoffs."
"I'll see what I can do about it." She promised. "What's the message?"
I sighed, looking off into the distance, before looking back at her. "Well, I'm supposed to be going on up to Hilltop too, talk to Maggie about something. I just don't think I'm making it up there today."
"I'll let her know."
I nodded, before turning to leave. "I appreciate it. I'll see you around, then."
I didn't bother telling Jessie I was back early, when I finally did get back to Alexandria, figuring I'd let Alex stay over there for another couple hours or so, before I picked him up, spare him having to see me like this, and give me some much needed rest.
Since my earlier nausea had ended up fading away and replaced itself with the headache that was currently killing me instead….
Yeah, that checks out, it's not like my stomach let me keep much, if anything, down today.
….I trudged over to the bathroom, on the hunt for some aspirin.
.
"Thank God…" I muttered to myself, downing the three that I had found in the cabinet with the water that I leaned my head into the sink to drink.
Jesus, I don't think I've been THIS miserable since I was preg-
The realization hit me, mid-thought, just as I was wiping my mouth off with a nearby towel.
"Oh, shit…" I whispered to myself, counting out on my fingers as I started to do the math.
Yeah, that checks out.
I sighed to myself as I mulled over what to do next.
If Siddiq had left to come back here with the next escort, as he promised, he should've gotten here shortly before I did, so I really didn't wanna bother him before he was really settled back in, and Denise, our only other doctor around here, was still laid up with that bug that's going around.
Of course, there was always the possibility that Alexandria's pantry might have a box of tests that would be easy enough for Jessie to grab for me, but then again, with my luck, who was I kidding?
In the amount of time it took me to mull all that over, the aspirin I took managed to kick in, essentially making the decision for me.
You know what, fuck it. The suspense is just going to eat me alive if I don't find out soon.
I'll just go over to Jessie's now, pick up Alex, and run it by her.
When I got to her house, Jessie had a somewhat surprised, yet warm as usual, expression on her face as she opened the door for me.
"Hey, you're back early. Everything okay?"
"Yeah, fine. It's just….." I sighed." "Look, I have a small favor to ask you, but it needs to stay on the down low for now.
She smiled, but looked considerably more worried now. "After everything you've done for us? Of course, anything. Come in."
"Thank you…" I sort of chuckled, stepping in the door. "...I promise it's not as ominous as I probably made it sound just now. It's just that I'm thinking I might be pregnant, and Gareth doesn't know yet, so…"
Her face lit up when I said that, an expression that looked simultaneously like relief and actual joy. "Sadie. Of course, I won't tell anyone. Congratulations."
"Thank you." I chuckled. "I'm not actually sure yet though, I was actually hoping you could snag me a couple tests or so, if that was something you might have in the pantry."
"Yeah, that'd actually really be more Denise's department, actually, or I guess, Siddiq's, while he's taking over for her. Sorry."
"You're fine." I chuckled, reassuringly. "I figured that was probably the case, but I mean, I gotta pick up Alex anyway, figured I might as well put it out there."
She nodded, then snapped her fingers as a new realization came to her.
"You know what, though? I might have some in my cabinet, from when I was holding onto them for a friend a while back, lemme go check."
—-
"Thank you. It's really no big deal if you don't, though." I called out to her as she disappeared down the hallway.
When she returned, she was holding a small box that had already been opened, though was mostly full.
"Thanks." I chuckled nervously, fidgeting with the box a bit in my hands.
She nodded with a smile and pointed back towards the hallway.
"I'll go get Alex up from his nap now."
"Thanks. I owe you...like, a lot!" I called after her.
—-
"Please…" She insisted, on her way back. "It's like I said, you've done more than enough for us."
Before I could protest, or even say much to it, Alex noticed me and started reaching his little arms out, as Jessie brought him out.
"Mommy!"
"Hey, bud!" I greeted him, smiling back at him, as Jessie handed him back off to me. "Did you have fun with Auntie Jessie?"
"Yeah!"
"Yeah?" I chuckled. "Well, why don't you tell me all about it, on the walk home?" I turned back to wave to Jessie. "See ya, thanks again."
"Anytime. Good luck."
"I'll need it!" I called back, shutting the door behind me, as I left.
Well, here goes nothing.
