𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝘽𝙤𝙙𝙮 : ̗̀➛ 𝙙.𝙙

𝘽 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠

"Is he okay?" Del whispered to Kay as she left Jakes cell.

"He will be fine. He understands that its life now. Are you okay?"

"I killed that kid."

"That wasn't him anymore. You protected yourself, you understand?"

Del hesitantly nodded, seeing the boys face in her mind.

"You are to do the same if it was me, or Jake, or any of us. You protect yourself, you did a good job, okay?" Kay pulled Del into a hug. Dels breath was shaky from trying not to cry.

Sasha came around the corner, gripping onto the wall. All the color was drained from her, Del could see that even in the dark. She began coughing and Del ran to her side.

"Hershel!" She screamed. He hobbled from a cell, Daryl and Rick behind him. Everyone began slowly emerging from their cells.

"She's sick too." Kay informed him. Del helped guide her to her bed, gently laying her down.

"Everyone get back in your cells... Hershel, we can't keep her in here." Rick stared down at an exhausted Sasha.

"Clear out B block of everyone. We will move all the sick ones there. We have to keep it from spreading."

: ̗̀➛

Del watched Maggie and Beth talk through the glass, biting at her nails. It hurt her to see people she cared for separated, possibly to die.

"They'll be okay." Hershel stared at his daughters.

"You can't promise that." Del immediately regretted saying it, looking at Hershel with an apologetic look.

"You're right, I can't. I can try to though." He guided Glenn past Maggie. She reached for him but he moved away, giving her a smile. Most of them weren't too sick yet, just a sniffle or a cough. She knew it was best to be safe.

"You guys get better, I'll see you tonight!" Maggie called out past the door.

"Your dads got them, Mags, it'll be okay." Del gave her a hug.

"Patrick died from this. Sasha and Karen are coughing up blood now."

"I know. All we can do is hope."

"I'm tired of hoping."

: ̗̀➛

"I miss Patrick.. and Beth and Carl." Jake kicked the gravel at his feet while he walked with Del.

"Carl and Beth just have to be in quarantine for a little."

"But Patrick is dead."

She didn't reply, not knowing what to say to comfort him.

"Eddies dead, Dads dead, Davids dead, and now Patrick is dead." He continued.

"Jake, I..."

"You don't have to comfort me. I know thats how life is now. It doesn't make it less hard. You're going to die, and Kay, and me. Eventually."

She was shocked at what he was saying, but knew it was true.

"Hey," She grabbed his arm, "You are not going to die, don't ever say that again." Now she understood, she understood why it upset Daryl so much when she would say that.

"Sorry."

"You are going to be the last one standing. You are strong. You were out there in those woods for so long, by yourself. You don't ever just accept death, because then you are basically already dead." She didn't know if she was lecturing him or herself.

"I don't want to lose anyone else."

Her eyes softened, looking at her little brother who wasn't so little anymore. He was becoming a man and she hadn't even noticed it. Guilt ate away at her.

"Me neither, so let's stay alive for each other, okay?"

"Okay."

"Now go inside and get Carls things for him. He's going to get bored in there. Give them to Hershel, he will pass them on."

He nodded. She watched him walk back towards the prison, so much was on her mind.

Daryl gave him a squeeze on the shoulder as they passed each other, a cigarette hanging from his lips.

"How's he doing?"

"He thinks he's going to die."

"What did you say back?"

She didn't answer his question, just stared at her little brother.

"Daryl, we can't keep doing what we are doing."

"Huh?" Smoke rolled from his lips. She looked him in the eyes. It was hard to tell him no while staring at him.

"Having sex. We have to stop. What if I get pregnant? What if one of us dies?"

"You said I would be a good dad," he joked, but she didn't think it was funny.

"I'm serious. It would already kill me to lose you and if we keep going the way we are... I'll die."

He didn't say anything, just handed her the cigarette.

"You're not going to say anything?" She puffed.

"I ain't got nothing to say. I care for you. You say we should just be friends, then fine."

"Are you mad?"

"No. Just know no matter what we are, my feelings for you stay the same." He didn't look at her while saying that. She knew how hard it was for him to be honest with her, them having sex made it seem like it was easier for him to communicate, but made it harder for her.

"Don't think I don't care about you or feel the same, I do."

"I know. You don't gotta explain yourself... Now come help me dig Patricks grave."