Sheriff's Lover ||| Rick Grimes

66 ~ Rat

___

What the fuck?

I need a cleanse, need a detox

But we ain't got time to stop, the charts need us

___

Rick and Elaina exit cell block D together, keeping their distance as Carl, Maggie and Michonne approach the building.

Carl and Maggie practically holding Michonne up, it clear that her ankle is injured.

When he spots the two, Carl sprints over to them, ignoring their pleas for him to stay back.

He pulls Elaina and Rick into a tight hug. "I didn't see you guys come out." The boy says, voice slightly muffled due to his face being pressed into their clothing. 

Rick sighs. "It's okay. We're here. We're fine. But back away."

Carl listens this time, taking a few steps back. "I had to use one of the guns by the gate. I swear I didn't want to."

Elaina says nothing, looking over at Rick. 

Carl hasn't been allowed to use a gun since killing that teen from Woodbury.

Michonne speaks up. "I was coming back. I fell. They came out and helped me."

Elaina looks at her wounded friend. "Are you okay?"

She nods.

Maggie notices the blood on their clothes, and the way they back up from Carl even further. "What happened in there?"

"Patrick got sick last night. It's some kind of flu. It moves fast. We think he died and attacked the cell block." Rick tells them.

Carl looks at the floor and Elaina wishes she could comfort him. "I know he was your friend. I'm so sorry. He was a good kid."

Rick is silent for a moment before nodding. "We lost a lot of good people." He points at Maggie. "Glenn and your dad are okay, but they were in there. You shouldn't get too close to anyone that might have been exposed, at least for a little while. All of you."

___

The council now sits around a table in the library.

Carol speaks. "Patrick was fine yesterday, and he died overnight. Two people died that quick?"

"I think we should separate everyone that has been exposed." Elaina says.

"That's everyone in that cell block." Daryl says. "That's all of us. Maybe more."

"We have to think about the kids. The elderly. Immunocompromised people. This is bigger than us." She replies.

Hershel interlocks his fingers, placing them on the table. "We know that this sickness can be lethal. We don't know how easily it spreads. Is anyone else showing symptoms that we know of?"

"We can't just wait and see." Carol says. "It isn't just the illness. If people die, they become a threat."

Hershel nods. "We need a place for them to go. They can't stay in D. We can't risk going in there to clean it up."

"We can use cell block A." Says Carol.

Glenn huffs. "Death row? I'm not sure that's much of an upgrade."

"It's clean. That's an upgrade." Daryl says. He looks at Hershel. "Think that'll work for Dr. S?"

"I'll help Caleb get it set up."