Spider Monkey

Chapter Twenty - Two - Fever Dream

Hedley woke up aching all over. He coughed every time he breathed, and his chest wheezed whenever he moved.

Suddenly Hershel was by his side, holding a steaming mug.

"Hey there, Spider Monkey." He said, "Let's get you sittin' up so we can get some tea in you." He helped Hedley sit, guiding the mug to his lips. Hedley gulped; his throat so sore he choked a bit. "Easy, boy. Small sips."

Hedley sipped a few more times before Hershel took the mug away. The old man put a hand onto Hedley's head. "You're still burning."

Doctor S came in, "Dixon's at the window. He wants to see Hedley."

Hershel nodded, helping Hedley stand. He was taken into a room with a massive window separating the room in two. Daryl was waiting on the other side.

Hedley went over to the glass, smiling weakly.

"Hey there, Spider Monkey. How ya feelin'?"

Hedley coughed, shaking his head.

"It's gonna be alright."

Messily, Hedley reached into his pocket for his cards, swaying slightly as he flipped through them. He showed a card against the glass. 'Scared'.

"I know ya scared. There's nothin' wrong with bein' scared. That when ya know ya bein' brave. Besides, Merle and the others went out to get ya meds. So, stay strong, okay?"

Hedley fiddled with the cards again. 'Daryl'. 'Scared'.

"Yeah. I'm scared too. But we're gonna be just fine."

Hedley coughed, blood splattering the hand he used to cover his mouth. Hershel came stumbling in, bringing Hedley against him for balance. "You're okay." He soothed, patting his back, "Let's get you back for some rest and more tea."

The two went to journey back into the cell block but Daryl called for Headly, making them pause.

"I love ya, kid." Daryl said for the first time, eyes glassy, "Keep strong for me... Or Uncle Merle will kick my ass."

A little smile appeared on Hedley's face. He gave a wave goodbye then was out of Daryl's sight. The archer leaned against the wall, head bowed, tears escaping. He left lost, hopeless, worthless. He just wanted Hedley to be okay. That can't be too much to ask... could it?

****

The group managed to make it to the veterinary college before dark. They went in, weapons raised.

"Alright, bitches. Everyone split up and look for whatever's on the list and whatever else could be important!" Merle yelled and they all got to work, scanning the shelves and putting stuff in their bags.

"Hey, Merle!" Michonne called out, making the man look at her. She was holding up a cube of resin that had a little stick insect inside. "Think Bug will like it?"

"Yeah. He's gonna want somethin' to cheer 'im up."

Michonne smiled, putting the resin cube in the front zipper for later.

Tyreese came through, "Got a bunch of stuff. Filled my bag under a minute."

"Good. More the better."

Suddenly the familiar growls were heard. Everyone's heads snap up.

"Shit!" Tyreese shouted, closing the door to the room they were in, "Walkers. Whole lot of them coming this way!"

Soon they were running, walkers surrounding them as they ran through hallways. Merle stabbed one as Michonne sliced three in one swing. Tyreese axed another while Bob cradled his bag.

"Let's go!" Merle yelled, "Go! Go!"

"There's no exit!" Tyreese yelled back, looking around wildly.

"We'll make one!" Merle smashed a window using his metal arm, looking out to see a flat roof on a shed that's a leap away. "Here! Jump!"

"What?!" Michonne's eyes widened.

"Either jump or die, Black Beauty!"

Michonne sighed heavily, leaping from the window and onto the shed roof. Walkers were below, reaching for Michonne but not able to grab. Tyreese was next, then Merle. All landing on the shed. Bob was last but as he got to the roof, he fell, the bag hanging over the side. Walkers grabbed it. Bob tugged at the bag.

"Leave it!" Michonne urged but Bob kept pulling.

He managed to get the bag out of the walker's hand, but it ended up spilling out the contents. 

A single bottle of booze. No medication.

Merle took the bottle, anger clouding his vision, "This all ya got? You got no meds in your bag? Just this?"

Bob looked down like a child, "I didn't want to hurt nobody. It was just for when it gets quiet."

"My kid Nephew is fightin' for his life back home!" Merle shouted, nose to nose with the other man, "Ya call yourself a man. Ya ain't nothin' but a coward."

Merle went to throw the bottle, but Bob reached for his gun, making Merle smile. He took the gun from Bob then gave him the bottle. "Ya take one sip before I get these meds to my Nephew and ya gonna wish you were dead."

"Let's go." Michonne said, but there was anger in her eyes, "We need to get to Bug."

They went off back to the car and headed back home in silence.