A/N: A chapter two days in a row, go me! Apparently I have a lot of procrastinating to do.
Everyone was gathered around Jim at a distance as he assured us that he was fine. This was the first time we really had to deal with someone who had been bitten. Last night people had been torn apart as opposed to just getting a single bite. It was a lot more difficult to think about what to do in this situation than dealing with the others.
Jim was sitting behind the Rv as the rest of us talked about what to do. There was no clear solution because most people remained neutral on the subject. Rick wanted to take him to the CDC and Daryl was strictly against anything, but killing Jim.
"We can't just starting killing. Where would we draw the line." Rick was desperate to get others to agree to go to the CDC and try to get Jim a cure.
"The line's pretty clear. Kill are biters an' them to be." Daryl was furious. "Cure's a bullet to the head."
"Is that what you would want?" Shane was finally speaking up.
"Yeah an' I'd thank ya while ya did it. 'Nough of this." Daryl turned and event to hit Jim in the head with the pick ax. Rick quickly pulled his gun and put it to Daryl's head.
"We don't kill the living."
"Funny comin' from a man wit' a gun to my head." Daryl dropped the pick ax and walked away from Jim.
We all packed up what belongings we wanted into the caravan of vehicles that would be going to the CDC later that day. Then we all moved to the graves that had been dug to hold the mass funeral for the victims of last night's attack. The guys had moved all the bodies into the graves and finished covering them. Andrea struggled to place Amy into her grave, but refused any help Dale offered. After everyone was buried, we all stood silently. Finally, Rick and his family left and everyone else followed.
When we got back to the cars Rick explained how the caravan would work. Then Morales said that he and his family wouldn't be coming with us. Apparently they wanted to try their luck going to find their family. Rick gave them some of the guns and spare rounds. We all said our goodbyes before they drove out ahead of us. I started to follow Mom and Sophia towards the Cherokee when I saw Daryl out of the corner of my eye.
I turned and looked at Daryl while still walking towards the cars. He was leaning against the side of the truck looking at me. When he caught my gaze he nodded me over. I stopped confused and put my hands on my hips. He nodded again before grabbing the passenger door handle and unlatching the door. He wanted me to ride with him. I dropped my hands and took a few steps towards Daryl. I stopped and turned toward the Cherokee. Mom was helping Sophia into the back before she turned and looked at me.
She saw me standing away from the cars and looked confused. I glanced at Daryl before looking back at her. Mom continued to stare at Daryl for a few minutes. I looked at Daryl again and he was leaning just behind the passenger door looking at the ground and chewing his thumb. Twice I saw him look up. Once at me and then towards my mom. When I looked back at my mom she was walking towards me, but I couldn't read her face. She stood in front of me and put a hand over her mouth before dropping it again.
"Maybe you should ride with Daryl. The Cherokee will be pretty cramped and it would be better if no one rode alone." She reached out a hand and moved my hair over my shoulder. "Come say bye to your sister." I quickly ran to Sophia and gave her a hug and a kiss on the head.
I jogged back to Daryl's truck and moved under his arm to get in the seat. Once I was in the cab he closed the door part way and moved around to get into the driver's side. I pulled the door closed before fastening my seatbelt. I saw Shane looking at us strangely through the windshield before he climbed into his Jeep. I rubbed my legs and looked down at my lap. I didn't even know where Daryl and I stood yet, but people were already starting to question it.
Finally the cars started to leave the camp one by one and I looked out the window at the place I had called home for the last two months. I wondered if I would ever be able to get back here. I knew that someday when all this was over I would want to come back to my father's grave. I sighed and leaned back in my seat before looking ahead again.
"Ya can sleep if ya want." Daryl was watching the road, but glanced over at me.
"I can never get very comfortable in cars." Daryl looked over at me before arching up in his seat and throwing one arm behind my seat. He was feeling around behind my seat and I quickly sat up and turned toward him.
"What are you doing?"
"Just gettin' somethin'. Calm down." He was glancing back and forth between the road and the back of the cab.
"That's dangerous just keep your hands on the wheel. Why aren't you wearing a seatbelt?" I was panicked and didn't know what to do. Daryl smiled. It was the first time I had ever seen him really smile, but I was way too nervous to enjoy it.
"Yer the most distractin' thing right now, so just settle down and let me handle it." He pulled his arm back and tossed something in my lap and before putting his hand back on the wheel and glancing at me. "What would I wear my seatbelt for? Nothin' to run into."
"Civilization fell apart, but things still exist. You could run into anything. Put your seatbelt on." Daryl rolled his eyes and brought his knee up to the wheel before taking both hands off to fasten his seatbelt. I squealed and covered my eyes. I heard Daryl laugh before I opened my eyes again and saw his hands on the wheel again.
"You did that on purpose to scare me!" Daryl glanced at me again still smiling. I suddenly blushed and realized how bold I was being. I hadn't been this talkative since I was little and Dad was still a good father.
"Just go to sleep and give me some peace woman." He sat back in his seat before resting his elbow on the door.
I glared at him before looking at what he had thrown at me. In my lap was the pillow that I had used used in Daryl's tent. I melted a little inside and smiled. I glanced at Daryl, but he was focused on the road. I put the pillow against the window and settled down for a nap. I didn't know how long I had been asleep before I woke up to the truck slowing down. I rubbed my eyes and arched my back to try and wake up.
I sat up and hugged the pillow while looking out the windshield to see why we were stopping. I turned and looked at Daryl as he put the truck in park on the side of the road. He didn't say anything, but reached behind the seat and grabbed his crossbow. Daryl then moved to get out of the cab, but he forgot to unfasten his seatbelt. When he moved back in to undo it he turned and glared at me. I smiled and laughed a bit as he struggled to get out of the truck. He walked around the front before stopping next to my window. I quickly rolled it down as I took off my seatbelt and grabbed the handle. Daryl grabbed the door and held it shut.
"Wait here. I'm gonna see what's up." He walked up to the Rv and I saw him disappear around the front. I sat in the car worried for a few moments before Daryl came back and opened my door.
"RV's got trouble, may as well stretch yer legs." I slowly slide out before following him up to where everyone was gathered. Shane was looking ahead with binoculars while everyone else milled around.
"There's a gas station up ahead. I could go check it out see if there's anything useful." Shane brought the binoculars down and turned back to us.
"I'll come with you." T-dog came forward and the two headed off to the Jeep when Jacqui came out of the Rv.
"Jim's doing real bad. I don't know how long he's gonna make it."
Rick went into the Rv to talk to Jim while Dale tried to make the Rv last a little longer. I walked over to the Cherokee where Sophia was sitting with her legs out and Carl was standing next to the door. When she saw me coming Sophia got up and ran to me. I picked her up before taking her seat and settling her on my lap.
"How did the ride go you guys."
"Lori, Rick and Mom told us stories. It was fun." Sophia bounced on my lap.
"Did anything exciting happen on your ride?" Sophia looked up at me and Carl turned towards us. I smiled.
"No, I just slept while Daryl drove." Carl turned back away from us back towards the woods.
"Adults are boring." I laughed. Mom was coming over to us and she looked worried.
"Can Dale not get the Rv going again."
"No its about Jim. He wants us to leave him here. You all need to come say goodbye." Carl and Sophia slowly stood and followed Mom. I was stunned, but slowly stood and walked over to where everyone was gathered. Jim sat on the ground leaning against a tree. He was pale and looked like he was in terrible pain. Everyone went up to him one by one to say goodbye. When it was my turn I slowly walked up and sat on my knees next to Jim. He turned and smiled at me.
"Don't tell anyone, but you were always my favorite. You remind me of my daughter." He lifted himself up and winced. When he was settled back down he put his hand over mine and leaned forward to whisper. "Don't listen to what anyone else says, Daryl's good for you. He'll take care of you I can tell."
I quickly glanced back at Daryl and he was staring at us with his eyes narrowed. I scooted closer to Jim and put my arms around his neck. I started to cry into his neck. I held onto him for a while before pulling back and looking him in the eye.
"Thank you." I hugged him once more before standing and heading over to the truck I leaned against the door. I wiped my eyes as I waited for Daryl to come back and for our caravan to leave.
I looked up and saw Daryl coming towards me. He stopped in front of me and grabbed my arm. He pulled me to his chest and held me for a few seconds before kissing my head and opening the door. I got in and fastened my seatbelt before leaning my head against the back of the seat. I heard Daryl climb in and start the car before fastening his seatbelt. I smiled slightly as he pulled out to follow the Rv. As we drove by Jim I pressed my hand against the glass. I saw Jim lift his hand slightly and I immediately started crying again. felt Daryl reach over and put his hand on my knee. He slowly rubbed my leg as he drove. I turned towards him as I sniffled and Daryl glanced at me before he held up his arm.
"Come ,ere." I slid across the seat into Daryl's side. "Don't get too used to it. I ain't gonna cuddle ya all the time." I smiled and buried my face in his shoulder. I knew he wasn't really kidding, but it still made me feel better.