Hello everyone. I do apologize for not uploading yesterday or earlier, it was my birthday yesterday so I figured I'd give myself a break.

Anyway, here's a new chapter for Mary's song, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Ten

Andrea slept. Lori was sharpening sticks. Maryanne wasn't sure what everyone else was doing.

"I've been thinkin' about Rick's plan to go to the C.D.C."

"And?" Maryanne asked, skeptical about the words that were about to leave his mouth.

"I've known this man a long time. I trust his instincts. I say the most important thing here is we need to stay together. So... those of you that agree, we leave first thing in the morning. Okay?"

Maryanne nodded, and went to her tent.

The next morning, the camp finished packing and began moving their things to the cars. After that was done, the group gathered.

"All right, listen up. Those of you with C.B.'s, we're gonna be on channel 40. but let's keep the chatter down, okay? If you've got a problem, don't have a C.B., can't get a signal, anything like that, you're gonna hit your horn one time, okay? That'll stop the caravan. Any questions?"

"We're uh... we're not going," Morales told them, and Maryanne's heart sunk.

"We have family in Birmingham," his wife added. "We want to be with our people."

"You go on your own, you won't have anyone to watch your back."

"We'll take that chance. I got to do what's best for my family."

"We understand that," Maryanne said with a nod of her head. She stepped forward and embraced Morales, followed by his wife.

"Thank you for everything you've done."

"Thank you, for everything," his wife replied with tears in her eyes.

As her husband and brother talked about what weapons to give the family, Maryanne embraced their children, kissing their foreheads as well.

Rick handed a .357 to Morales, and Lori embraced Morales' wife.

"Channel 40, if you change your minds," Rick told Morales, who nodded.

Final goodbyes were said, and their family got in their car.

"What makes you think our odds are any better?" Shane asked.

"Oh, shut up," Maryanne hissed.

Rick got into the car with Carol and her daughter. Maryanne followed.

"Come on, Carl."

"I want to ride with Aunt Mary!"

"Carl," Maryanne said gently, turning to look at him. "Go with your mother."

"No, no it's fine," Lori said, though Maryanne could tell she was hurt. "I'll just... go with Shane."

Maryanne sighed, leaning back in her seat.

Maryanne didn't know how long they were driving before she heard a single honk. The cars pulled over.

The R.V. was smoking, and Dale had the grate taken off.

"I told you we'd never get far on that hose. I said I needed the one from your cube van."

"Can you Jerry-rig it?"

"That's all it's been so far. It's more duct tape than hose. And I'm out of duct tape."

Maryanne sighed, running a hand over her face.

"I see somethin' up ahead," Shane said, looking through his binoculars. "A gas station, if we're lucky."

"Y'all," Jacqui said, urgency coloring her voice. "Jim – it's bad. I don't think he can take anymore."

She went back in the R.V.

"Hey, Rick, you want to hold down the fort? I'll drive ahead, see what I can bring back?"

"I'll come along, too, I'll back you up."

"Keep your eyes open now, we'll be right back."

Rick sighed, looked and Maryanne, and went into the R.V. Maryanne followed.

"We'll be back on the road soon," she heard Rick say.

"Oh, no. Christ. My bones – my bones are like glass. Every little bump... God. This ride's killing me. Leave me here."

"No," Maryanne said quietly, tears forming in her eyes. She couldn't.

"I'm done," Jim said. "Just leave me. I want to be with my family."

"Th-They're all dead, Jim," Maryanne said gently, sitting down next to his bed. "I don't think you know what you're askin', honey. The fever... you've been delirious more often than not."

"I know, don't you think I know?" Jim retorted, looking at her. It finally hit her how pale he was.

"I'm clear now. In five minutes, I may not be. I know what I'm asking, Maryanne. I want this. Leave me here. Now, that's on me. Okay? My decision – not your failure."

Maryanne nodded, wiping away a tear that escaped.

"He says its what he wants," Maryanne said to the rest of the group, crossing her arms.

"And he's lucid?" Carol asked.

"Seems to be."

"I would say yes," Rick added.

"Back in the camp... when I said Daryl might be right and you shut me down... you misunderstood. I would never go along with callously killing a man. I was just gonna suggest that we ask Jim what he wants. And I think we have an answer."

"We just... leave him here? We take off?" Maryanne asked, her voice breaking. "I don't... I don't know if I could live with that."

"It's not your call," Lori reminded her. "Either of you."

Rick nodded, and Shane helped him get Jim out of the R.V.

"Hey, another damn tree," Jim said, and Maryanne smiled.

"Hey, Jim?" her brother started. "I mean, you know it doesn't need to be this."

"No. It's good. The breeze feels nice."

"Okay. All right."

Shane stepped away, and Jacqui walked forward.

"Just close your eyes, sweetie. Don't fight."

She kissed his cheek, and walked away. Rick next.

"Jim – do you want this?" he asked, kneeling down and holding a gun to him.

"No. You'll need it. I'm okay."

"Okay," Rick replied. He stood and walked away.

Maryanne slowly stepped forward, kneeling beside him.

"I'm so sorry," she said, the tears in her eyes overflowing.

"Don't be."

Maryanne couldn't say anymore. The tears had a hold of her vocal cords, and she couldn't break the hold.

So, instead, she kissed his burning cheek, and walked away. She got back into the car with Rick, and watched Jim slowly disappear as they drove away.

She tried to control her tears, for Carl and Sophia.

What did you think? Let me know in a review, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks for reading, have a great day, and I'll talk to you next time.

-SparrowEyedGirl