Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead or any of its characters.
I received some amazing reviews on my last chapter. Each of them put a smile on my face so thank you.
I really don't know whether this chapter is good or not, I struggled with some seriously bad writers block. I hope it's okay, please review it means the world to me.
Danny's POV
The pain kept me up most of the night and it's pain that forces my eyes open now, it's like a hot poker is being twisted into my thigh. I can feel the sweat soaking through my ruined dress but even with the weight of the duvet and arm that is across my torso, I'm still cold. I barely shuffle and with it I let out an involuntary groan. I instantly try and stifle the sound but it's too late, the arm across my chest tightens slightly and then it's removed, Daryl's awake.
He makes his own sound as he sits up and runs a hand through his hair. Even with him getting to sleep on a bed I doubt it was comfy, I'm lying in the centre of the double bed. There was still plenty of room beside me but Daryl forced himself to balance on the edge, he didn't want to accidentally hurt me.
"Mor..." My voice comes out croaky, I cough and try again. "Morning".
He takes one look at me over his shoulder before switching from his seat on the bed back to the chair he inhabited for most of yesterday.
He holds out a glass of water. "Drink this". He puts the straw to my lips but I only manage a couple of sips before I have to let my heads drop back down. After putting the glass back he leans his elbows on the bed, there's something wrong with him, there's something in the way he's looking at me. Has something happened?
"What's wrong?"
He shakes his head once and diverts his gaze away from mine. Oh, it's bad. Something bad has happened. Is it Merle, Sophia, Glenn?
"Please tell me".
He's on his feet before I've even managed to finish speaking, his sudden movement sends a jolt through me but this time I manage to bite the noise that threatens to escape. "I'm gonna go get Herschel". And then he's striding right out the door.
Is this to do with the fact that someone else is requiring medication. Did my running off cause this? Is it serious, serious to the point where Daryl won't even talk to me this morning.
The five minutes it takes for Daryl to come back feels like an eternity, but he finally returns with Herschel and Merle in tow.
Merle locks his eyes on me and smirks, yet it's just a mouth movement, the rest of his face doesn't react. "Dunno how to tell ya this Squirt but ya look like shit".
"I could say the same about you, you not heard of soap and water". I tease back at him.
This time his smile does reach his eyes but it's gone again by the time he's lowered himself into the chair at the end of the bed. Daryl retakes his seat beside me but it's Herschel I'm staring at as he gets to work removing the coverings on my leg.
The pain is just as bad as yesterday but somehow I manage to stay awake, although maybe passing out would be better. The room goes silent except for the sharp intake of breath that I take when my leg is released to the air of the room.
"Danny". Nope, I don't like the way Herschel says my name. "The infection is bad and without the use of proper equipment there's no guarantees that you can fight it. It could easily start spreading throughout your body, if that happens then there will be nothing that can help you". He steps closer. "Even if we can stop it from spreading and it stays how it is it could..."
"I'll die", I close my eyes and tilt my head back against the headboard. "Whatever we do you think it'll kill me". I let out a deep throaty sound, half between a scoff and laugh. At least I'll get to spend the rest of my life in a nice comfy bed, maybe they'll let me bathe, clean myself up. You can't refuse a dying woman's wish.
"If the infection doesn't spread there is one thing we could try." He pauses. "We could amputate your leg above the wound. Now that doesn't mean it will fix the problem as we could be too late or a whole new infection could take you. If you do try this option it does mean you will lose all your leg. The wound is too high on your thigh to save anything."
I finally open my eyes to look at the Doctor before me. I thought I was going to die in those woods, I'd resigned myself to the fact that there was no way I would live through it; But then we were told about the farm and I had hope again, but I was wrong.
I have two options, two terrible options. One is my death the other, lose my leg and be completely useless therefore dying anyway.
"So, you don't think I can fight it?"
He clears his throat. "My professional opinion is to not leave it but if that is what you'd want to try and do then I would help as much as I can. But I would strongly advise against it". He starts working on my leg, cleaning and the covering it back up. "I'll let you think on it but you will need to decide quickly. Until then we need to work on the fever you have, I'll bring some water up." When he's done he looks at me one last time before leaving the room.
I address the room, not looking at either one of them. "You two already knew this!" It's not a question. I turn my head to look at Daryl, he's slouched forward with his elbows on his knees. His head is bowed slightly but his eyes are looking right at me. "You could have told me".
"I didn't know how". Daryl keeps his voice low, barely above a whisper.
"What would you do?"
Daryl does another shake of the head. "I don't want you to die", he then scoffs, "but they're both shit options". Yeah no kidding. "I don't know what I would do". And somehow I don't believe him, there's no way he doesn't have an answer.
"Alright, what about you?" I turn my question onto Merle who's slouched back in his seat, his booted feet resting on the very edge of the bed.
"I ain't telling ya Angel, It has to be your decision and tellin' ya could sway you to do somethin' you don't want to". I mean he makes sense but it really isn't what I wanted him to say. "You're strong, strongest person I know".
Before I can make a sarcastic remark back the door opens and there's a blonde woman stood there. I vaguely recall seeing her yesterday but I don't know her name. She puts the bowl down on the cabinet beside the bed and rinses a flannel out.
She reaches out for me and then hesitates. "Can I put this on your forehead?"
I nod my head once and then she's holding it to my forehead, its feel amazing and cold. She looks at Daryl. "You need to keep her cool, if it gets any worse there might not be anything we can do".
He replaces the woman's hand and presses the flannel down. "Thank you". She takes that as her dismissal and leaves the room. "Doc says considerin' the infection ya fever ain't as bad as it should be. If you can stand it you can have a bath later, it'll help". And it would be oh so appreciated. I can't smell anything but I'm almost certain I stink.
Merle removes his feet as gently as he can so as not to move the bed too much. His stumped arm is resting on the arm of the chair and I realise that it looks like he's had it looked at because that bandage wrapping is so much neater than what he had before. I really don't understand how only after three days he was up and acting like nothing had happened; But even though he acts like he's fine there's no way he isn't in pain. I am really glad he managed to get an actual medical professional to look at it though.
Merle groans rather exaggeratedly as he gets to his feet. "Right Angel, I have a run for supplies that I'm late for. So don't move and I'll see ya later". He squeezes my hand that's sprawled on the bed beside me and then leaves.
"Who's going with him?" The words come out a little strained. Last time Merle went on a run with someone other than Daryl or myself he got left behind and lost a hand.
"Glenn!" I raise my eyebrows waiting for him to throw in another name but he doesn't.
"Just Glenn? Is that a good idea?"
"This run is important. We need things to help you and if he messes this up he knows it'll end badly." Badly for me. "He ain't gonna cause a problem", He runs his fingers lightly over the back of my hand. "Ya mean too much to him and Glenn did find ya, Merle respects him for it".
"How long will they be gone for?"
"A day maybe two. Herschel says the closest hospital doesn't exist anymore and that the closest FEMA shelter is overrun. They think they've actually found a medical supply warehouse so they're gonna head there and hit every pharmacy in between".
"Someone else is injured, aren't they?" He just looks at me. "It was what Herschel was going to say yesterday before he got cut off, wasn't it?"
He lets out a harsh breath and rubs his hand across his mouth. "Yea..."
"It's because of me isn't it?" Of course it is, I let Sophia run off, I failed to go back and someone got hurt trying to rescue us.
"No". He latches onto my hand and squeezes my fingers. "No, it was T-Dog. Up on the highway when the Walkers were moving through, he sliced his arm on a car. It was bad. Just like yours but he managed to get help quick and he's doin' fine".
"Promise".
"I promise he's fine and it had nothin' to do with you. Now I think you should try and get some more sleep cause I know ya didn't sleep much last night".
I nod my head slightly. There's very slim chance of me actually getting some proper rest, the pain is too much but I am tired so what's the harm in trying; Plus Daryl probably has other things to do than sit around with me.
"You don't have to stay, doubt you wanna be cooped up in here for another day". In answer Daryl leans back in his chair and puts his feet back up on the bed, crossed at the ankles.
"Someone's gotta make sure ya actually stay in bed". There's a slight tilt in his lips. On a less serious injury maybe but honestly I don't think I could get out of bed on my own even if I wanted to.
...
I don't know how long I slept for but Daryl stayed like he said he would. Every time I cracked open my eyes there he was, Feet on the bed, hands behind his head. Sometimes he had his eyes closed and sometimes he was just staring ahead. I've never really seen him just sit and do nothing before, he's always doing something.
I decided to give up on sleep when Carol brought food. I didn't eat it all but what I did eat was amazing. Fresh veg with some potatoes and there was even some meat, I haven't had vegetables that weren't out of a can in some time, it's not until that food touched my taste buds that I realised what I was missing.
After eating enough to satisfy Daryl Carol reappears in the bedroom door, she smiles at me and places some folded clothes on the bed beside me.
"I've got the bath running. Herschel says don't get the bandage wet so I'm only going to put a small amount of water in the bottom". Daryl nods to show he is listening to her. "Well shout if you need help with anything". And then she's gone.
Daryl leans over me to grab the clothes she brought in. "Ya ready for a bath then?" He tucks them under his arm.
My lips lift up into a grin. "More than anything".
"Can I carry you or would ya rather walk?"
"Walk" and I mean that in the loosest sense of the word because I'm not walking on this leg but I'd rather hop along than have someone touch my leg.
He gets to his feet and holds out his hands for me. Right, deep breath. I bite my tongue to keep myself quiet, the tears aren't as easily controlled as I stand up. My entire body weight his leaning on Daryl right now, it's like my entire body has no energy, I feel all heavy and weighed down. He wraps one arm around my waist and grips tight, and I put my hand in his other one.
The first step is horrendous, it makes the tears fall harder and this time around I can't control the whimpers, with each agonising step a cry tumbles from my lips.
We don't even reach the door before I have to take my first break just so I can get my breath back. I stay standing though as I'm not sure I'd be able to get back up again if I sat down.
"This was a bad idea". He sounds tense, I look up at his face to find it's scrunched up with worry.
"No, it was a good idea." I then try my hardest to make my smile not look like a grimace, I'm not sure I succeed because his face doesn't change.
It takes way too long to get to the bathroom, especially considering it's the room opposite. I can't help the sigh of relief when we finally step over the threshold. As quickly as I can I take a seat on the closed toilet lid because I'm in dire need of another break before the hassle of undressing.
I eye up the bath and then I'm blushing because what's about to happen hits me, he has to bathe me. The last time I was bathed by someone it was my mum and I was probably four or five. I know I shouldn't be embarrassed because it's not like he hasn't already seen me naked, although I did have liquid courage when that happened.
"Ya blushin'." I force my eyes away from the bath to find him staring at me, his eyebrows raised slightly and one side of his mouth lifted in a small smirk. "I can get someone else to help ya instead".
"God no, I think I'd be even more embarrassed". Self-conscious is more like it, I have never been someone that could just get changed in front of someone, unlike my old best friend. She had no problem with it, at all.
"Ya ain't got nothin' to be embarrassed about, there ain't nothin' wrong with ya body." I swear his smirk lifts higher, "and I won't complain 'bout seeing it again".
I narrow my eyes at him as my cheeks burn hotter at his little flirt. "That's not helping." The mans never flirted before and he chooses now to be the time to start; When I'm looking like the dead and probably smelling just as bad.
"Sorry", he sounds far from meaning it as I can hear the slight laugh in his voice. "Right, lets get ya in 'fore it gets cold".
There's a moments hesitation where we try and figure out how to get my dress off but then Daryl seems to fix the problem by pulling out his knife and slicing it all the way down the back. It was ruined anyway. My underwear is removed and then he's lifting me into the bath, there was no physical way I could do it myself. Once I'm down I hang my head forwards trying to calm the dizziness him touching my leg caused.
In spite of my objections he insists on washing me himself, including my hair which felt amazing. The part that caused me to feel so sick is when he tried to wash away the blood and dirt on my bad leg. I had to lean back and close my eyes, and take in deep breaths to try and control myself. I had one hand gripped so tightly around his wrist that I'm convinced there'll be a bruise there by tomorrow but at this moment in time I couldn't care less about it, in fact there's a small part of me in my mind that says he deserves it.
Being lifted out of the bath is even worse to the point when he puts my feet back onto the floor he has to hold me, dripping wet, against his chest while I silently cry into his shirt. When I'm back under control he reaches for the towel, while helping me stay upright, and wraps it around me.
Ten minutes of airdrying later and I'm no longer dripping wet so he forces me to sit on the edge of the tub. He helps me put on my pair of cotton shorts that someone must have washed for me. He then pulls out a t-shirt I recognise, but it's not mine.
He pauses in unfolding it when he notices me staring at it. "Carol wanted ya to wear something loose, which you don't own so Glenn gave her this for you". The end of his sentence comes out a little bitter but I ignore him, it is just a top that Glenn probably stole from someone else originally, nothing more than a friendly gesture.
...
The journey back to the bed took even longer and by the time I was back in it I was ready to crash. I'm feeling so ill I honestly think I could throw up, in fact I'm so worried I will that Daryl has had to find me a bin just in case. As I lay here with my eyes closed willing the pain to go away my mind drifts to Sophia. Carol came in earlier, I should have asked how she was because that girl was by my side for over four days and it feels so strange to not have her here now.
"Sophia?" I roll my head to the side to look at him. He slowly opens his eyes to look at me.
"She's okay. She slept for a long time but now it's like nothin' even happened".
"I miss her". Even though she is right outside this window.
"Carol told me earlier that the girl's dyin' to come and spend time with ya but she's been told to wait until ya a little stronger." He reaches over and pulls the covers up slightly. "Sleep, ya look even paler than before."
Please forgive any medical mistakes that are in here, I have never nor do I know anyone who has ever gotten a serious infection and required medical treatment.