Zedler, M.D. // Daryl Dixon

Chapter One Hundred and Ten: Kick

•one hundred and ten•

Beatrix

"So are we gonna lose them or not?" Daryl finally breaks the silence, looking between Saddiq and me. "Tell me what the medicine is, and I'll go find it."

"Either labetalol, hydralazine, or nifedipine for her blood pressure. She'll need some kind of corticosteroid, like betamethasone or dexamethasone, and magnesium sulfate. We're gonna have to do our best to prolong this pregnancy. When you go, she'll also need—" Saddiq says, but I have to stop him real quick.

"No, you aren't leaving," I shake my head. "We'll send somebody to the Sanctuary to see if they have anything. High blood pressure medication and steroids are pretty common. I'm sure they have some."

"She needs ondansteron, too," Saddiq adds. "It's pretty common, and it'll make her a lot less nauseous."

"Make a list," he tells me, and I nod. He pulls my hand up to his face so that he can press a kiss onto the back of it. "Whatever you need. I'll get it done."

Saddiq hands me a piece of paper and a pencil so that I can make a list. I write down what I need as he wipes the gel off of my stomach and puts the ultrasound machine away.

"Daryl, she needs to stay in the bed until she delivers," Saddiq says, so fast I can't even interrupt him. "Bed rest until we're ready for the babies is what's best for her."

I glare at Saddiq before turning to Daryl. He knows I wouldn't have told him that. Saddiq does, too; that's why he spoke up while I was distracted.

"No arguing," Daryl's voice was stern as I opened my mouth, but he held up his hand to stop me. "Think about the babies, Trixy. Don't risk them for some stupid shit."

"I can't be staying in the bed while our people need us the most," I sit the pencil and paper down, really ready to fight him on this one. It isn't fair that I'll just get to lay on my ass while everyone else works to rebuild what we've broken. "I will stay off my feet. I'll sit, but I won't stay cooped up in a room alone all day. I can't. I won't."

"We'll discuss this later," Daryl's eyes flicker between mine and Saddiq's, showing that he obviously doesn't want to have this conversation in front of him. Good. I don't either.

I shut my mouth, and Saddiq looks awkwardly between the two of us before excusing himself. Daryl and I are left alone, staring at each other as the impending doom of our children hangs in the air around us. It's difficult to do or think of anything but the horror that's bound to come out way. We just defeated Negan, but we still can't catch a break. At this point, it feels like we never will.

After a moment, I sit up and hold my arms out toward Daryl. He immediately steps forward, enveloping my body in his as he rests his head on my shoulder. His tears come, but mine don't. Not yet. I can't let them yet, not while he's here with me.

We stay in our embrace for several minutes, seeking comfort in one another. When Daryl finally pulls away, his eyes are red and stained with tears. He gives me a look of confusion, but I shake my head. I truly have to hold it together.

"I'm going to see if I can get Jesus to run to the Sanctuary for us. I'll be back," he mutters, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Just stay here for now."

Without waiting for an answer, Daryl turns and rushes out of the trailer. As soon as he's gone, it comes, hard. I let my body go limp on the bed, and the tears start to flow. The pain, grief, sadness, and everything else wrapped up inside of me has to come out. It has to break loose, and now it is. Every emotion I've packed up over the past few months comes rushing out, so hard and so fast that I can't stop it.