Survive ( twd carlgrimes)

Chapter 73

MADISON'S POV.

"And so, those are all the rules." Dawn finally finishes ranting on about some rules and punishments, but in all honesty I couldn't give a shit as I throw up in the bucket for the fourth time.

"I thought you said you fixed me." I moan, wiping my mouth.
"We did, but obviously you're not gonna be better straight away. That was a serious operation you went through... plus, you know, we're not doctors and we're still testing the medications we have here so those might be side effects to medication that doesn't ... agree to your situation."

I'm lying in a bed different to the room I woke up in. It's smaller and darker, cold looking even but the bed is comfortable and so I can't help but relax as more as I can, ignoring the chills and the pain in my body.

I refused the wires and tubes they urged me to take earlier but agreed on one IV to flush the medication out of my body that, as Dawn said, doesn't agree with me.

A nurse sits opposite my bed scrawling notes on a clipboard as Dawn peers over her shoulder. The nurse tried to give me an oxygen mask too but I politely declined. She left it at the side of my bed to use at anytime. We made small chat, it was short and awkward but she's still the nicest person from here that I've spoken to.

"So you understand the rules?" Dawn pushes.
I ignore her.
The bed shakes when I shiver. The cold feels like it's set in my bones and freezing my muscles over, making it painful to move even a fraction of an inch.

"You're cold." The nurse states, writing on the clipboard again.
"And you're sweating." She points out.
"She'll be okay though ? All the others are working, she needs to earn her keep here too."
The nurse shoots a disapproving look to Dawn but shrugs.
"She should be better soon but she'll need daily checkups for those stitches. She'll need a day or two or rest."

Dawn sighs. "You're very stubborn, and very annoying. It was better when you were unconscious, you didn't talk or fight with people."
"I wish I was unconscious, I wouldn't have to listen to you complain all the time." I snap.

God I really hate her!

"When can I see my family?" I ask.
"Soon. I think your sister is on her way down." She explains.
Butterflys dance in my stomach at the thought of Abbie again. I just want to see her safe and with me.

The butterflys soon vanish as I find myself hunched over the bucket again.
I wipe my mouth and catch Dawn giving me a hateful stare.

"Why did you save me? You didn't even know me." I ask.
"We're in a hospital, thats what we do."
"Yeah, but I think the rules have kinda changed now" I admit
"We don't just let people die. Then what's the point? The dead would win. We would be giving points to the biters We're supposed to fight the dead bit each other." She tells me.

"That seems awfully ironic coming from a woman who has been on my back since the moment I got here."
She glared at me but I drop the argument I was about to pick with her.

"I don't understand. What points?"
"I just mean that we would be letting the biters win, we would become extinct and they would roam the earth."
She explains and I nod.
"Plus, I didn't know you were an asshole when I decided to save you."She admits and now I can't help but laugh.

"But in truth, Rick promised me he would help our people if we saved you." She tells me and I let that sink in.
Suddenly the door is nearly all but shouldered to the ground when Abbie runs in and hugs me a little too tight. A small cry escapes my lips when my abdomen ripples with pain.
"Sorry!" She cries.

"Why are you crying Abbie? It's okay now, you don't have to be frightened." I whisper and Dawn takes that as her cue to leave.
"I'm not scared, i'm just really glad to see your eyes open. It's been too long. Everyone came to visit everyday" she explains.
I hug her tighter and then allow her to slip into the bed beside me. She snuggles into my side.

"Where is everyone?" I ask.
"They're fighting with the staff to come down and see you." She chuckles.
"I don't get these stupid rules. They make no sense." I roll my eyes.
"Dawn didn't explain them to you?" She asks shocked.
"No she did, but it makes as much sense as wiping before you shit."
Abbie laughs in unison with the nurse who I had all but forgotten about.

Abbie shakes her head. "You're going to get us in trouble here."
Dawn opens the door again and step inside. "Turns out stubbornness and annoying people run in your family." She growls and opens the door wider for Rick, Maggie and Glenn to walk in.

I shimmy myself into a sitting position and open my arms wide for Maggie who's already flung herself around me.
"It's good to see you awake." She rubs my back comfortingly and I can't help but smile.
When she pulls back to look at me I find her fighting off tears but I don't mention them.

"I just didn't think you were ever gonna wake up." She chuckles.
"So little faith in me?" I gasp in mock horror.
"You're one tough son of a bitch." Glenn laughs.
"Don't you forget it."

"I'm really glad that you're okay." Rick sits down next to me on the bed He places one hand on my shoulder before deciding to pull me into a hug.
"We knew you were awake the minute there was havoc in the reception. It couldn't only been you." He tussles my hair.

"Yeah well..." I shrug
"Dawn is a bit of a -"
"Bitch?" Maggie interjects.
I nod.
"Nice job on her hand." Glenn smirks.
We all burst into laughter, knowing each of us is picturing her losing the plot in the reception, holding her bloody hand. 

People flood the room coming and going. Telling me that they were glad I was alive. Daryl and Abraham made some funny remarks about returning to the land of the living.

Michonne and Tara came and talked for a while. But when a new group came the others had to go and every time a new group came in I always looked for that one face. But he didn't show. Eventually when I thought everyone had left, the door opens again, revealing the face I had been searching for since the minute I opened my eyes.
"Carl."