Ruins

49

Aaron was meeting with Daryl and Carol in the front of the house and I was attempting to alleviate my nausea in bed.

"I'm sorry about your friend. Siddiq was a good guy."

I sighed at Lydia's words.

"Thank you." I rubbed my fingers over my temple.

"Lydia!" I heard Carol call. Lydia left me and I began to wonder what she had to do with them finding the horde anyway.

I pulled myself from bed before checking on Noah in his room, then moved to the front.

I stopped when I heard Lydia's voice. "Okay, I'll get my stuff."

"We're leaving in ten." Carol replied.

I stepped into the kitchen to see Daryl leaning against the counter.

"Why do you need your stuff?" I asked when I spotted Lydia. "You aren't taking her-"

"Sam-"

Daryl cut Carol off by standing and shaking his head at her.

"Y'know I ain't gon' letting anything happen to her, but we need her help." He shrugged.

I looked over at her, and felt my heart fall into my stomach.

I shook my head, knowing this was a bad idea, but I didn't have it in me to fight this battle.

I shook my head and turned around without another word.

I tucked myself back into bed, this day seemed to get worse and worse, along with my symptoms.

"I sent Noah over hang with Gracie, so you could rest." Daryl walked in with his crossbow over his shoulder.

I swallowed hard and didn't reply.

"And Gabe's gon' come by and check on you while I'm out." He sat next to me.

"If anything happens to her-"

"Don't threaten me." He chuckled, rubbing his hand over my thigh. "You gonna be okay?" He furrowed his eyebrows, lifting his hand to swipe over my forehead.

"Are you?" I asked, sitting up, stuffing a pillow behind me.

"We're gonna be fine. You just stay in bed, take care of this little guy, alright?" He rubbed his hand over my belly.

"I love you. Please take care of her." I sighed.

"Yeah, love you too." He leaned down to kiss me and then left, taking Lydia with him.

And to make things worse, Gabriel had decided that I'd contracted whatever infection it was that was coursing through the town.

Gabe brought me Siddiq's journal and I read through his latest patients. A few of the older ones had died but with some antibiotics I'd be already, just ten times worse than I already was.

I felt like I'd sweat out all the fluids I was refilling.

Rosita had survived this and so could I, it'd just take everything out of me.

I felt like I was waking up in flashes, one moment Gabe was there, then the next Rosita and Noah. But not Daryl or Lydia.

It felt like I was asleep forever, but it was only three days. But I'd gotten stronger in the last two nights.

"Mommy, if I get a brother can he sleep in my room?" Noah yawned, making me chuckle.

"Yes." I answered him. "But not until his bigger, okay?"

"Okay." He sighed. "If I have a sister... Can she live with Gracie?"

I laughed again, but sucked in a hissed at the cramp in my stomach. "No, Noah. If you have a sister you have to love her just as much as if she was a boy." I rubbed away the ache in my stomach.

"Knock, knock!"

I didn't know who it was until Laura peeked into my room.

"Hi." She smiled. "Gabe and Rosita are busy." She held up a pill in her hand. "But I have your last med."

"What's going on?" I asked.

"A skin showed up, she's in the cell now, but Gabe's taking a group out to reroute a herd." She said, sitting on the bed with us. "What's up kiddo?" She nudged Noah's shoulder.

"Nothing." He giggled.

When night fell, I had Noah and Dog in my bed, but Dog's growls at the front door woke me.

I left Noah in bed and flicked the kitchen light on. "Dog." I called, beckoning him. "Hush." I commanded, listening until a rapid banging came to the door, causing Dog to bark again.

"Sam! It's Laura."

I pulled the door open to see her with her weapons ready.

"There's walkers, locked the door and get upstairs." She told me quickly. I nodded, as she shut the door, letting me lock it. I hobbled through the house with Dog at my feet and locked the backdoor.

"Noah." I called, moving into my room. "Noah, come on, we gotta get upstairs."

"Mommy?" He whined, wiping at his eyes.

"Come on!" I grabbed this hand, pulling him from the bed and into my arms. "It's gonna be okay, we just need to be quiet okay?" I told him, locking us in Lydia's room. "Dog will keep us safe." I sat down, holding him in my lap and rubbing his back. "It's okay."

It felt like hours that we waited until Dog started growling at the the door. I sucked sin a shaky breath and got up.

"You stay here with Dog, okay?" I held Noah's shoulder. "Do not come downstairs until I come get you, alright?"

He nodded, and I snapped at dog, letting him up on the bed. I closed the door behind me, moving down the stairs, and clutching the knife from Lydia's room. The knocking at the door was consistent so I knew it was someone...alive.

"Are you guys okay?" Rosita panted.

"Yeah, is it over? How'd they get in?"

"A whisperer got in and killed them, and they turned. " She shook her head. "But they're gone."

"Okay." I nodded. "Do you guys need help?" I peeked out of the door. I could see someone dragging a body down the street.

"Considering you look like you're about to vomit." She chuckled. "No." She patted my shoulder. "I'll come check on you in a little."

And she did, she brought Coco with her, bringing a little light to my depressing few days.

I found myself tearing up at the baby girl who wore her dad's eyes.

The next day Gabe relayed to me that Rosita and Aaron were taking the alone, Mary, to Hilltop.

"Hey, would you... If Daryl is there tell him I'm better, and we're alright here."