YEARNING - Daryl Dixon

ELEVEN.

FRANKIE sat in cell block C with Beth, Carl, Judith and Carol while waiting for her Aunt to come and fill the five of them in. They waited patiently, though Frankie had grown worried after hours had passed and they still heard nothing.

Frankie stood up and began making her way towards the doorway as Daryl emerged, crossbow strapped to his back. Frankie grinned at the man running towards him, Daryl knelt down to the girl's level.

"Hi Dare." Frankie grinned wider, if possible, and Daryl smiled slightly at the girl.

"Hey Frank," he began and rested his hands on her elbows with a sigh "listen, your Aunt is sick." He watched the little girls face falter, her lip quivering just like Bonnie's did earlier in the courtyard.

"But, she is goin' to be fine 'cause she is strong, jus' like you." Frankie looked deep into Daryl's eyes "Is she going to die Daryl?" she barely whispered, as a few tears escaped down her cheeks.

Daryl's heart broke at the sight "Nah, she ain't gonna die 'cause she has you to come back too." He whispered back as Frankie shuffled forward and wrapped her tiny arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder "I'm scared Daryl."

Daryl hesitantly wrapped his arms around her tiny frame "Don' be, you are one badass little girl remember? You gotta look after Beth and Judith with Carl, I'll be back in a little while ok?" He responded and she held him tighter.

"Don't go Daryl." She pleaded softly as Daryl pulled away "Frank I gotta go, I 'ave to get the medicine to save your Aunt. I promise I'll come back alright?" she looked at Daryl with tear stained cheeks and red puffy eyes, before reluctantly nodding and letting out a soft "Okay."

Daryl grunted and stood up as she waved at him "Be careful!" Frankie pointed at the man and he half smiled, the girl was only six and he could see so much of Bonnie in her "Yes ma'am." With that, Daryl left the prison to go try and save the lives of all those sick, but especially Bonnie's, if not for Frankie's sake, but his own.

He had grown a soft spot for the two with the little time they had known each other.

\/

Everyone in cell block A was getting worse by the hour. Day had turned to night and they had already lost three people from the illness, and without the medication more would continue to die.

Hershel and Bonnie were sitting down in the common area of the cell block as she sipped on the tea Hershel made. Bonnie had stabilised since this morning, only having a fever and feeling weak.

She looked around the cell block as mostly everyone was asleep as best they could, Sasha and Glenn made their way over slowly, sitting across from Hershel and Bonnie with heavy sighs.

"You know," Bonnie paused as she placed the empty tea cup on the table and caught the others attention "I always thought a walker would take my life in this new world." She let out a dry laugh and bowed her head as tears brimmed the girl's eyes.

Hershel, Glenn and Sasha looked on in sadness "But the damn flu? God, I certainly did not expect that to take me away from my niece and my new family." Bonnie looked up and sniffed quickly, making eye contact with Hershel, and in that moment he could see the fear that rested in her eyes.

"Bonnie, you are going to make it, I will make sure you do because your niece, that little girl, needs her Aunt Bonnie." Hershel stated and Bonnie nodded her head.

"Hershel," the elderly man rested his hand on her back "I'm scared."

Glenn stood up and walked around the table and brought the girl in for a hug "We're all going to make it, ok?" Bonnie nodded her head and sniffed "Yeah, yeah we will."

Hershel stood up "How about you go wait in the front room, I'll get Rick to grab Frankie to come see how you are, alright?" Bonnie nodded, pulling away from Glenn and stood up slowly "Yeah, that sounds great. Thanks Hershel." He turned around and walked towards the door.

Bonnie smiled weakly at Glenn and Sasha before she walked over to the rooms that allowed visitors to talk through the glass and sat on the gurney.

Bonnie felt incredibly nauseous, closing her eyes for a second before she heard footsteps and her eyes snapped open to see the little blonde headed girl that gave her more happiness than she could bargain for.

Bonnie smiled and sat up, leaning toward the glass "Hey baby!" Frankie smiled and waved through the glass "Are you alright?" Frankie asked the woman as Rick kneeled beside the girl supportively.

"Just peachy." Bonnie replied with a slight grin and the girl nodded her head "You'll be fine, Daryl promised he would make you better with the medicine he's going to get."

Bonnie smiled at the thought of the man, his help with Frankie had lead the woman to admire him, he did not have to help and let Frankie follow him around literally all day.

Bonnie smiled at the relationship the pair had.

"Now, go and rest Aunt Bonnie, I'll see you soon." Frankie sent her Aunt an assuring smile as Rick watched Bonnie carefully "I love you, Frankie." "I love you more Aunt Bonnie."

Bonnie mouthed a thanks to Rick as he took Frankie back to cell block C.

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