Don't look back

Fifty nine

That morning Mary slept in late, feeling dizzy as she woke up.
"We've gotta go into quarantine." Carl announced as she woke up. "Are you okay?"
"I wet the bed again. I'm... I'm thirsty." Mary croaked, getting up weakly and wandering over to get a drink. By the time she had drank it and walked back up the stairs, she was exhausted.
"Maggie?" She whispered shakily, stumbling into her cell, but just seeing Glenn, sat facing the wall with his head in his hands.
"Moo, don't come in." Glenn mumbled.
"Glenny." She sobbed, walking over, shaking and crying.
"Mary? What's wrong?" Glenn asked gently, suddenly alert, as Mary went over to him shaking and crying.
"I feel so sick. Where's my daddy."
Glenn looked at her and sighed. "You've got it. God. Oh Mary." He whispered, tearing up.
"I'm sick? I feel sick." Mary cried.
"Yeah. You're sick. I am too." Glenn whispered.
"Where's daddy?"
"I'm so sorry, sweetie, you can't go to him. You can't make him sick." Glenn explained, his breathing ragged, his heart breaking.
Mary began to fully sob at that, and curled up into Glenn's lap, clinging onto his shirt.
"It's gonna be okay, it's gonna... G-gonna be okay." He soothed, struggling to breathe.
"Glenn?" Maggie asked fearfully from the doorway.
"Oh no, don't, don't come in." He panted, holding Mary closer.
"What is it?" She questioned, her voice shaking.
"I have it," Glenn mumbled, "we both have it."
"No. No you don't. You can't. You can't." Maggie said firmly. "She's not even been exposed."
"She's been with Tommy and Rick."
"But you're not sick. Glenn, you can't be." Maggie whispered shakily.
"I'm gonna be okay. As long as you stay back. If you're okay, so am I."
"Everyone... Everyone who's sick has to go to Cell Block A."
"I know." Glenn nodded weakly, Mary still crying.
"Mary, I'm gonna go get your daddy, okay? Then you have to go to the other room. Just for a little bit." Maggie explained, her voice cracking.
"No." Mary wailed, but Maggie left anyway, coming back a few minutes later with Rick.
"Rick, you can't get close. You can't." Maggie said firmly, holding him back.
"Mary." He cried softly.
"Rick. You can't get sick. Not you." Maggie hissed, pushing him back. "Don't," she whispered, "you know there might not be a cure. Don't do that to Carl and Judith."
Rick nodded slowly, looking childish and broken. "Mary. Baby girl, you're gonna be okay. You're gonna be just fine. Okay?"
"Daddy." Mary sobbed, her tiny cries breaking Rick's heart.
"I'm so sorry you feel so sick. But you're going to be okay. I promise. So, you've just gotta stay with your Glenny. He's gonna take good care of you," Rick cried softly, "he's gonna make sure you're just fine. 'Cos you're going to be okay. You're my big girl. You're gonna be okay."
"Daddy, I'm scared." Mary wept.
"I know. I'm scared too. But you're going to be just fine. So just... Just be strong. You're gonna be okay. So you go to the hospital, yeah? And Doctor S is there. You like him. Remember when he played hopscotch with you? He's nice. And your Glenny is going with you. You're gonna be just fine, okay my Princess?"
"Okay Daddy." Mary nodded shakily. "I'm brave, jus' like you."
"No, I'm brave like you."
"I wanna go to sleep. I love you daddy. I'll see you when I'm better." Mary cried groggily, closing her eyes.
"We're gonna go." Glenn whispered, getting up. "You two just stay back."
"I'll walk you." Maggie nodded shakily and tearful.
Rick was fully crying now, and instead of stepping back when Glenn stumbled out, carrying Mary, he went forwards and kissed the top of Mary's head. "I love you so much. Don't you fucking dare die." He whispered into her ear, kissing her again, then stepping back, sobbing, as Glenn stumbled away with Mary.
"Fuck!" Rick sobbed, kicking the wall, "Shit! Shit!"
"Woah! Man, what's wrong?" Daryl asked, grabbing Rick as he punched the wall.
"She's fucking got it!" Rick screamed.
"What? Whatcha on about?"
"Mary's got it." Rick sobbed shakily, falling onto the floor.
"Shit. Shit, man. I'm so sorry." Daryl whispered, raising a hand to his head.
"She's dead." Rick breathed to himself, shaking.
"Nah. No, man. She... She," Daryl stuttered nervously, "She's a strong kid. Ain't nothin' gonna kill her. And it's not a death sentence. We're just about to go get the meds. She... She's gonna be fine."
"I don't think her body will stand another rough patch. After that time, after the woods, she struggled to get back to normal. She's too young. My baby..." Rick cried.
"Hey. Stop that. Now." Daryl said firmly, "Don't talk like that. Your girl's gonna be fine. I know you. But yer can't be with her. Yer can't. Don't do that to Carl and Ass Kicker. She's gonna be fine. I'm gonna go get the meds, and she'll be fine. You hang in there."
"Think I sprained this knuckle as well." Rick mumbled.
"Dumbass," Daryl smiled pitifully, "I'm gonna go."
"She'll be okay." Rick nodded slowly.
"Hey. I'll go as fast as I can." Daryl nodded, before going, leaving Rick to cry in peace.