My Damaged Protector

Chapter Twenty-Seven ~ Infected

That night, it seemed like the entire prison fell asleep right after we returned from the run. I was wrapped up in Daryl's arms, listening for Judith and Jasper out of habit, while Daryl's arms tightened around me every few hours.

The morning came all too quickly. I hadn't gotten much sleep at the feeling of something horrible about to happen. When Daryl finally woke up, we changed into proper clothing and headed downstairs. I snatched Judith from her playpen in Rick's cell before she could wake her father and sat beside Daryl at the tables as I fed her. Daryl was handed a plate full of food, obviously meant for the two of us as we sat there, Daryl scooping food into his mouth before taking Judith to let me eat.

I smiled at him as he rocked Judith and talked quietly at her, smiling at every sound she made. It always amazed me how good he was with children, especially after the childhood he had and the fears that clouded his mind, he was amazing with the little ones of the group. I was completely lost in the moment when three muffled gunshots went off somewhere down the halls. Daryl was quick to push Judith back to me. "I'm going with you." I tried arguing as he snagged his bow from the floor.

"No, stay here and watch her and the others, keep Jasp safe. Anyone else wakes up, send them to help." He ran out of the block, Rick buckling his belt and chasing after Daryl.

"Be careful!" I shouted after the two. Judith erupted into tears from the sudden movement and the loud noises. I grabbed her pink blanket and wrapped her up, watching Merle run out of the cell not long before I left for the courtyard outside, hoping it would be a bit quieter. Jasper had come down just as I was leaving, following me out into the sunlight. As Jasper and I waked out, we were met with Maggie and Carl supporting Michonne, who was favoring one foot over the other. "Do either of you know what's going on?" I wondered, hoping they had heard something while outside.

"Walkers in D." Maggie said, grunting as she pulled Michonne to the steps.

"How? The fences are still up, and we patched that hole." I wondered, patting Judith's back and watching Jasper go over to Carl.

"Don't tell my dad I used the gun, alright?" Carl had looked at Maggie with wide eyes, scared Rick would be angry after he set up a 'No Guns' rule for himself and Carl.

"Ok, I won't." Maggie assured him. He nodded before his eyes focused on something over my shoulder. I turned to see Rick approaching us but keeping some space. Carl took off, running straight into Rick's chest while completely ignoring the warning from his father.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I had to use one of the guns by the gate, I swear I didn't want to." Carl spilled.

"I was coming back. I fell, they came out and helped me." Michonne defended.

"You alright?" Rick asked and Michonne nodded.

"What happened in there?" I adjusted Judith up my hip and put another foot of distance between him and I, listening to his warning.

"Patrick got sick last night. Some kind of flu that moves fast. We think he died and attacked the cell block." Patrick was fine yesterday before we left for the run. If something like a sickness was that easily deadly, what was there for us to do? "Glenn and your dad, they were in there." He pointed to Maggie. "Daryl, he's fine but you shouldn't get too close to anyone who may have been exposed. Merle's good too." I nodded, pulling Judith tighter to my chest, worrying about the Dixon boys instantly.

"Skye! Where's Merle?" Jasper pulled on my jacket as we walked back inside.

"He's with Daryl right now. Why don't you go see if Carl will play with you?" I offered, mentioning new comics up in my cell. Jasper smiled and took off to look for where Carl had gone while I headed to Beth's cell. "Hey, you mind watching her for a bit? I gotta go talk to Daryl."

"Of course." She smiled, taking the baby from my arms and allowing me to venture around the courtyard in search of Daryl. I finally found him out in the field where we burry our dead, already waist deep in a grave.

"Hey." I said softly, keeping in mind to leave space between us, no matter how badly I wanted to be closer.

"You shouldn't be out here, I was exposed, Merle too. Keep your bro away from him." He said a little harshly.

I nodded, opting to cross my arms over my chest, worrying that I had done something wrong, or that he was hurt. "I just wanted to check on you. Rick told us what happened but didn't give details. I wanted to make sure you were alright and unhurt."

"Go watch the baby, keep an eye on your brother and stay away from everyone that was in that block." He instructed and went back to digging. I sighed dramatically, turning sharply and walking back into the prison, trying not to let his words hurt me. My feet carried me back to Beth's cell, thanking her and taking Judith back. I took her up to my cell, hearing Carl and Jasper laughing from the top bunk of my cell, the new comics in their hands.

"Knock knock." Maggie said, smiling as she came in and sat beside me. "Glenn managed to get this on the run ya'll just got back from. It's a polaroid camera. He was exposed in the other cell block and asked that I bring it to you." I gently took the camera box from her, thanking her over and over. She left after that, leaving me to open the box and set the camera up. Judith was sat on her blanket on the floor, playing with some cups so I quickly put the film in the camera and crouched down to her level.

"Hey there baby girl." I cooed to Judith, getting her to look up and smile long enough to snap the picture. I then turned to the boys on the top bunk, the flash going off and capturing a perfect candid of the boys laughing at the comics. The photos and the camera were at on the desk next to a few other little things I had collected over the months. The cell was so different from when we first moved in. The bedding was a pale blue that matched the curtain, the top bunk fitted in green for Jasper. The desk had large enough to fit most of our clothes while leaving space on top for Jasper's comics, most of Judith's things, and a little snow globe Daryl had found on a run, a crossbow with a little Georgia sign in the center with blue and green glitter filling the water.

"Dada." Judith mumbled, knocking her cups over.

The boys on the top bunk stopped laughing and peered over the edge. "Did she just..." Carl trailed off, pointing to his little sister.

"Yeah, she did." I sat down on the floor beside the little girl. "Say it again baby. Come on."

"Dada." She laughed, clapping her hands.

"Yes! Good job Judy!" I praised while the boys clapped along with her. "Dada." She was reaching for me now and I knew it was close to her nap time after all the playing. "Boys, let's go get some lunch." I snatched the little girl off the floor and let the two boys race out of the cell and down the stairs while I walked behind them. Carl and Jasper were already seated at a table and eating flavored oatmeal when I joined, taking a mug of food, and cuddling a now sleeping Judith as I ate. The boys and I ate, joking with each other in between buts of food before they ran back up to my cell to read while I placed Judith down in her play pen in Rick's cell.

"Skye?" I heard Rick call from the other end of the block. He motioned me to follow him, making me snag the bandana from his dresser to tie around my face as I followed him down a few halls.