Dixon's Girl- TWD- Completed

Ear Infection

Jody Pov

All night, Daniel had been crying. He was asleep so fast, but woke up just an hour later with red cheeks and tears. I didn't think much of it at first, but then he just wouldn't go down.

I felt awful having daryl get up, especially because he had been working all week, but I didn't know what to do. I was bouncing him and rocking him for hours and nothing worked

"Daryl," I groaned, waking him up as I nudged him. He woke up quickly and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes

"What's wrong? He been like that all night?"

"I don't know what to do. He just keeps crying. I think somethings wrong."

Hearing my sobs, daryl flicked the bedside lamp on and opened his arms, letting my sit in his lap with crying Daniel

Daryl kissed the top of my head and ran his hand over the baby's. "He feels warm. Have you checked his temperature."

"An hour ago. He was fine."

"Alright. I'm gonna check it again." I got up and daryl held the baby. He said I could go back asleep but I was too worried, so followed him around the entire house in a panic, crying almost as much as Daniel. But, it was 4 in the morning and I had been awake since 6am yesterday without so much as 5 minutes sleep.

Daryl checked his temperature and it was quite high, so he began to take off some of Daniels layers. "He might be more comfortable with a fan. I'm gonna call merle and see if he's got one he can bring round."

Daryl went to make the call and I just held my baby, kissing the top of his head. "I'm so sorry. Mama's so sorry."

When daryl came back, he said, "merles bringing a fan round but he doesn't sound too happy about it. I've put Daniels cot mattress next to our bed so we can keep an eye on him and the fan can reach him better."

"Do you think it's something serious?" I asked, sniffling my tears away

Daryls tired face softened and he bought me in for a hug, stroking my hair comfortingly. "Sshh, it's alright. You're getting yourself worked up over nothing."

"It's not nothing. He's sick."

"Yesterday, you said he kept tugging on his ear. He's probably got an ear infection. In the morning, I'll make him an appointment and we can get some antibiotics for it. Within a day, he'll be fit and healthy. Alright?"

I nodded weakly against him. If I closed my eyes, I was sure I would've fallen asleep, despite Daniels continuous crying

Eventually, merle bought the fan round. We put it in our room and put Daniel in there aswell on his mattress. He would have been too warm in the bed, but we didn't want him in his own room with a fan. We were worried about him getting too cold so wanted to keep an eye on him

"We can cool him down but we can't do anything about his ear. He's just gonna keep crying."

Daryl offered, "I could take him into the living room and sleep on the sofa."

"No, no. I'm glad he's here. Thank you for waking up and being so calm."

Daryl leant over and kissed my cheek whilst Daniels cries started to die down a little bit. "We're in this together. The highs and the lows."

"So, how was merle?" I asked

"God Jo, how do you think? I'd woke him up at 4am for a fan. He was fuming."

"He's a good man for bringing it round though. Even if he does complain."

"He loves you and his nephew. Of course he'd bring it round," daryl shrugged

I rolled my eyes and reminded daryl, "he loves you aswell, you know? Even though you both refuse to say it to eachother."

"I know, I know. Right, I think we should get some sleep. He's quietened down but if he wakes, just kick me and ill handle it. I love you."

"I love you too."

Later that day, when it was a reasonable hour, me and daryl went to the doctors office with Daniel, his eyes still red from crying. The doctor had a look in his ear and said, "it's definitely infected. I'm going to prescribe some antibiotics. He'll need them 3 times a day for a week, although it should only take a few days to clear up. Just use it for the whole week to be certain."

"Thank you, doc. Erm, what caused it?"

"Ear infections aren't usually related to activities or environment. They just appear, especially in children. Don't let him go swimming until its cleared and be careful when washing his hair. Try to avoid getting it wet," she advised

On the ride home from the hospital, Daniel was in his car seat fast asleep. I turned back to see him and smiled. "He's so much cuter when he's asleep than when he's awake," I giggled

"Agreed. Shit, I'm exhausted."

"I know, me too. When we get home, we are going to have the nap of a life time."

Daryl nodded and we rode in silence for a little bit before he started a new conversation. "Jo, I know you might not wanna talk about it, but I just wanna check, are you alright. I know Freddie is in prison now, and that's good, but that doesn't make what you did easy."

"I'm fine. I'm just so glad he's out of our lives."

"Okay. You can always talk to me, if you're not. He was still your dad."

"He doesn't deserve my sympathy. The only thing worrying me is that he only got 5 years. What happens when Daniels 5 and this man just walks into his life claiming to be his father? How confusing is that gonna be for a little boy?"

Daryl reached over and gripped my hand reassuringly. "Hey, we won't let that happen. They'll let us know when he's coming out and we'll file a restraining order as soon as possible."

"A restraining order never stopped him before."

"Then I'll stop him. Me and merle. You and Daniel are safe now, i promise."