A Survivor's Diary of the Apocalypse (TWD/Daryl Dixon)

S4Pt7 - Sick

"It's spread." Hershel sighed. "Everyone who survived the attack on Cellblock D is sick. Sasha, Caleb, and now others."
"Oh, Jesus." Daryl muttered.
I moved my hand out of Daryl's grasp and scooted my chair away unnoticed. I wiped my forehead that was hot and covered in sweat.
"You're sick Kelley." I told myself.
My hands were shaking and I started not to feel well. I forced myself not to cough, but felt the need to in my throat.
"So, what do we do?" Carol asked.
"First things first, Cellblock A is isolation. We keep the sick people there like we tried with Karen and David." Hershel said.
"What the hell are we gonna do about that?" Daryl asked.
"Ask Rick to look into it. Try to make a timeline of everyone's actions." Carol suggested.
"But what are we going to do to stop it?" Daryl asked.
"There is no stopping it." Hershel said. "If you get it, you have to go through it."
"But it just kills you." I said with worry was in my voice, and I tried my hardest not to cough.
"The illness doesn't, but the symptoms do." Hershel said. "We need antibiotics, and fast."
"We've been to every nearby pharmacy and then some." Michonne said.
"One place people probably don't think to raid for medication was a veterinary college. The drugs for animals there are the same we need here." Hershel said.
"That's 50 miles, too big of a risk before. It ain't now." Daryl said and got up.
"I can lead the way." Hershel said and got up too.
Daryl looked at him concerned and shook his head. "It's always the same out there. Sooner or later, we run."
Hershel looked down at him leg and nodded. "I understand. I'll draw a map."
Hershel sat back down and starting drawing a map on a piece of paper in his journal.
I tried to stand up but felt weak and grabbed onto the chair. I needed to cough and I felt nauseous. I saw Daryl notice me and I kept him away. I quickly ran out of the room and outside the first door I saw. I coughed as soon as I got outside and ran into the corner. I coughed, gagged, and threw up in the corner. I felt weak and was covered in sweat. I looked down and saw that I coughed up blood.
"No... no, no, no. Oh God, no." I cried.
I heard the door swing open behind me. I turned around and saw Daryl staring at me concerned. He saw me leaning against the wall and panting.
"Kell, you okay?" He asked.
"No." I said and held out my arm. "Stay away, please st-" I said and coughed hard. "I have it."
Daryl grabbed a bandana and covered his mouth with it. I was careful not to breathe or touch him as he helped me walk to isolation.
Daryl dropped me off in front of the gates to cellblock A.
"Go into the viewing room. I'll talk to you there." Daryl said.
I nodded and entered the cellblock. Everyone around me was coughing and many people were too weak to even walk to their cell. Someone was wheeling out a few dead bodies on a cart and I stared at them. I walked over to the viewing room, and I had to hold onto beams for support. I opened the only door I could find and guessed it was the room Daryl was talking about. Inside the room, I saw Daryl was on the other side and I could see him through a large window that covered most of the wall. I dragged a chair over and sat down in front of the window.
I coughed and held my chest. I leaned back in the chair and struggled to breathe. I was glistening from all the sweat that was on my body. My forehead was burning with a fever.
"This virus hits quick." I thought.
"Kell." Daryl said.
"I'm okay." I said. "It's not as bad as it looks." I said.
"Hey, in sickness and in health, right?" Daryl said.
Daryl put his hand against the glass. I raised my hand towards his, and his hand was larger than mine. Of course. I sighed and looked at Daryl.
"I love you. I want you to know that I'm case-" I said and coughed. "In case I-"
"Kell." Daryl cut me off. "You are going to be just fine. I swear, I promise Kell. You're going to be okay." He said.
"I don't know." I sobbed.
I was so scared that I was going to die, just like Patrick, and everyone else in this cellblock.
My weak hand slid off the glass and into my lap. I sighed and wiped my tears and tried to breathe.
"I'll go get you medicine and you'll get better." Daryl said, and I heard the pain in his voice.
"I'll be fine." I said and coughed heavier. "Just-go get the medicine."
Daryl kissed his fingers and held them up to the glass. I stood up and put my hand against his.
"I love you. I'll be back soon." Daryl said.
I nodded and turned to walk away, when I lost my balance and fell to the floor.
"Kell!" Daryl yelled and hit the glass.
I held my hand out and slowly stood up.
"I'm okay." I called out. "You're okay..."
I leaned against the wall as I managed to walk out of the room. I couldn't bring myself to look back at Daryl. I just needed to focus on staying alive because I knew he'd come back with the medicine. He had to come back with the medicine. To save me... and to save all of us.