"We're moving out, leaving the quarry. If you heard me yesterday you may coming here; if you are we'll be gone by the time you arrive. I'm leaving a note and map behind for you, taped to a red car so you can follow our trail. We're heading to the CDC; if there's anything left then it's got to be there, don't you think? Morgan, I hope you were right about that place. I need you to be." Rick walked out alone and tried to raise Morgan on the Walkie Talkie. He leant his head against his hands and pinched the bridge of his nose in an effort to combat the weariness that never seemed to leave his body. He rose to his feet and thumbed off the Walkie as he walked back into camp.

"We're not coming along," Morales announced to the group; Miranda hugged Eliza close to her side and looked over to where the others looked stunned. "We have family in Birmingham, we want to be with our people."

"You sure? You won't have anyone to watch your back."

"We'll take that chance. I gotta do what's best for my family." Morales looked over at Rick.

"You sure?"

"We talked about it, we're sure." Morales looked down at his wife and she nodded in agreement. Rick looked over at Shane who knelt to the ground to rummage in their bags containing the handguns and ammunition.

"Give him a .57." Rick handed Morales a hand gun and Shane a box of cartridges.

"The box is half full." The women gathered around to make their tearful goodbyes and Rick took Morales to one side to palm off a CB radio.

"Channel 40 if you change your minds, alright?"

"Yeah…"

The caravan slowly moved out of the mountains, Morales and Miranda turning right and the rest turning left. Dale was driving the RV with Glenn navigating; Jacqui was sitting in the back soothing Jim's fever with a damp washcloth. Shane was following along in his open top jeep; Daryl and Merle were in Daryl's truck with Merle's motorbike strapped to the back. Rick was driving Carol's minivan, with Lori beside him; Carol, Carl and Sophia tucked up together in the backseat.

They hadn't got too far along the road when the radiator hose started to spring a leak on the RV. They pulled over and Dale shook his head as he poked and prodded in the engine. Shane and T-Dog volunteered to drive ahead to the next town to see whether there was a garage that they could scavenge spare parts from. Jacqui burst out from the back of the RV; distressed over Jim's worsening condition. Rick ran inside to see what he could do to help.

"Jim, this is a slight hiccup that's all; we'll be back on the road soon."
"Ah, Christ no! My bones…I can't take anymore. Just leave me here, please I want to be with my family."

"They're all dead, I don't think you know what you're asking. The fever…you've been delirious more often than not."

"I know, don't you think I know?" Jim winced as he shifted himself higher on the cot. "I'm clear now, in five minutes I may not be. Rick, I know what I'm asking. I want this, leave me here. Now that's on me, okay? My decision, not your failure." Jim stared long into Rick's eyes wanting the other man to know that he was perfectly sane and that Rick was not to blame for anything that would happen. Rick left Jim alone and went outside to tell the others the decision.

"He's lucid?" Carol asked Rick.

"He seems to be, yes."

"We just leave him here and take off? I'm not sure I can live with that." Shane removed his cap and ran a hand through his hair.

"Well, it's not your call." Lori stepped forward and glanced between the two men. "Either one of you."

Rick and Shane carefully carried Jim out of the RV and placed him gently beneath a tree at the side of the road.

"Look…another damned tree!" Jim quipped weakly and fell back against the trunk with a groan. Shane leant in closer and whispered into his ear.

"Jim, you know it doesn't have to be this."

"No, it's good the breeze feels nice."

"Alright." Shane patted Jim's leg and made way for Jacqui to say her goodbyes.

"Just close your eyes Sweetie, don't mind." She leant in close as Jim closed his eyes and kissed him tenderly on his whiskered cheek. Rick stepped forward and knelt at Jim's side.

"Jim, do you want this?" Rick opened his hand to reveal a small handgun. Jim pushed his hand away and shook his head.

"No…" he breathed softly, "You'll need it, I'm okay…" Rick nodded slowly and stepped back to let Dale make his goodbyes.

"Thanks…for fighting for us." Dale patted Jim's leg and quickly walked away before his emotions got the better of him. Glenn nodded without moving closer.

Jim looked over to where Carol was hugging Sophia into her side and noticed how closely she was watched by both Daryl and Merle. A thought flittered through his hazy mind as he wondered whether she knew just how much attention the Dixon brothers paid to the quiet female and her little girl. He'd seen how the younger brother's eyes would sweep over her and then turn back to linger longer. He could almost feel Daryl's yearning, for it was something he had experienced with his own wife, Jessica.

"Jessica….I'm comin' darlin'…it won't be long now…" Jim leant back against the tree and stared back over to where Merle had nudged the little girl toward the beige minivan; giving her Momma and his brother a moment alone. Jim watched as Daryl reached out a hand to touch Carol's shoulder and then pulled it back before it could make contact. Carol looked over her shoulder at the younger man and smiled slightly before turning away to get into the car next to her daughter. Daryl turned to follow and then paused to look back at Jim. They exchanged a long look before Daryl nodded slowly showing Jim that he respected his decision. As the caravan pulled away once more, Jim tipped his head back to stare into the sunlight filtering through the leaves overhead and felt his breath stutter in his chest, once then twice. He closed his eyes and let the pain drift away focusing on his heartbeat until there was no more.

Wildfire MSB3417 Active – Jenner here, its day 194 since Wildfire was declared and 63 days since the disease abruptly went global. There's no clinical progress to report.