Skeletons - 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 38 - 𝑵𝒐 𝑺𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝑺𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈

Daryl already had the hood of the car open, setting the battery up exactly like Iris had explained. He pulled a pack of cigarettes he found out of his pocket, lighting up with Iris' lighter. Well, she told him it was as good as his, since she had no use for it anymore, but it still had her family's gang symbol engraved on the side.

"You never told us about the group you were with before." Daryl said to Bob, hoping to start a conversation that would distract him from thinking about how sick Iris was.

"Which one?" Bob asked darkly, pulling out and lighting up a cigarette of his own. Daryl nodded in understanding. "You know when you found me on that road, I almost kept walking."

"Why's that?" Daryl asked, adding the water to the battery cells.

"I was done being a witness." Bob replied. "Two times, two different groups. I was the last one standing, like I was supposed to watch it happen, like it was some kind of curse. But when its just you out there with the quiet... used to be I'd drink a bottle of anything just so I could shut my eyes at night." Daryl perked up at the mention of alcohol. He and Iris had silently speculated back at the Big Spot. Seems as if Bob's still struggling."Figured the prison, the people, thought it'd be easier. The run to the Big Spot? I did it for me."

"You gotta keep busy." Daryl replied with a shrug, taking a swig of the water.

"No. I did it so I could get me a bottle. Of anything." Bob admitted. Daryl looked over at him, nodding quietly. He knew that already. "I picked it up, held it in my hand, but I put it down. I put it down so hard it took the whole damn shelf with it. That's what brought on the walkers, and that's what got Zach killed."

"That's bullshit." Daryl grunted, looking back up at Bob. He took a long drag. "Why don't you get in there and try the engine? It's the red and green wire. Go on, it ain't rocket science. Give it some gas." Bob did as instructed, the engine starting up like a dream. Daryl clapped his hands proudly, turning around to whistle sharply. Wherever Michonne and Tyreese were, they would hear it. He closed the hood, wiping his hands on a rag. "Sasha, Iris and me chose that spot. Took you with us. Ain't no way anybody could have known. You ain't gonna be standing alone, not no more. Let's go." He chucked his vest into Bob's lap, motioning for him to pull the car out of the foliage so they could get going. They loaded everything up into the van, back on the road once more.

The rest of the way to the veterinary college was clear. They got there in good time, parking the van in a safe spot before walking out into the campus. The buildings became a little more academic, the same brick walls and small windows featured at most post-secondary campuses.

"Getting closer." Daryl mused.

"Building we want is just up ahead." Tyreese nodded, pointing. Daryl took point, the door to the building creaking loudly as it swung open. They moved quickly through the halls until they reached a classroom with a lab.

"Alright let's make this quick." Daryl said, setting his crossbow down as they started filling their bags. Disinfectant, sterile alcohol, any spare meds they could find. Daryl and Tyreese ran to a nearby supply room while Bob and Michonne went into a pharmaceutical classroom.

"Anything ending with -cillin or -cin, grab it." Bob instructed as they hit up the medicine cabinets. "We'll dissolve the pills into the IVs, put 'em right into the bloodstream. Dosage will be tricky but considering the time we lost..." Daryl and Tyreese returned with full bags, hauling them up onto a lab table. "How'd you do?"

"Bags, tubes, clamps, connectors. Everything on the list." Tyreese nodded.

"What about y'all?" Daryl asked, feeling twitchy. They had to get what they needed and get back. There was only so much time to spare.