That Valley Girl || Daryl Dixon

[ 008 ] Goodbye Jim

"I've been thinking about Rick's plan." Shane said, walking up to the campfire. "Now look, there are no guarantees either way. I'll be the first one to admit that. I've known this man a long time. I trust him, so I say the most important thing is, is that we stick together. So those of you that agree, we leave first thing in the morning." He announced

That means we're going to the C.D.C. Maybe there's some sort of camp there- maybe my family will be there.

-

"Okay listen up. Those of you with C.B's, we're gonna be on channel 40. Let's keep the chatter down, okay?" Shane spoke to the group.

"We're uh- we're not going." Morales spoke up.

"We have family in Birmingham. We want to be with our people." His wife said.

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

"We'll take the chance, I gotta do what's best for my family." Morales said.

"You sure?"

"We talked about it. We're sure."

Rick handed Morales a small gun. Lori hugged Miranda, Shane and Morales shook hands. The kids said their goodbyes to their friends. And they were off.

-

I had gone in the RV with Glenn, Dale, Jacqui, and Jim. I was in the back, helping Jacqui tend to Jim. He wasn't looking so good, he probably doesn't have much time left.

He groaned in pain as Jacqui continued to pat him down with a towel, absorbing his sweat.

The van came to a sudden stop, jerking us forward a bit.

"What happened?" Jacqui asked.

"I'll go check, stay with Jim." I said, getting up from my seat.

I made my way out of the RV, going outside to see Dale in front with Rick, looking at the engine.

"What happened? Why'd we stop?" I asked.

"Hose broke down." Dale explained. "If I had the one from Rick's cube van, I'd be able to start it back up."

"I see something up ahead." Shane spoke up. "Gas station if we're lucky."

"Y'all- Jim- it's bad." Jacqui told us from inside the RV. "I don't think he can take it anymore." She went back inside.

"Rick, you wanna hold down the fort?" Shane asked. "I'll drive ahead, see what I can bring back."

"Yea, I'll come along too." T-dog said.

"We'll be right back." Shane told us.

I went back inside the van, followed by Rick. We headed to the back to see how Jim was doing.

"We'll be back on the road soon." Rick told him.

"Oh no- Christ. My bones- my bones are like glass. Every little bump- God, this ride's killing me." Jim sighed.

"Leave me here. I'm done. Just leave me." He breathed out.

"Jim-" I started. "Just hang on a little longer, we'll be at the C.D.C soon, they'll help."

"This is what I want. I want to be with my family." He said.

"They're all dead." Rick sat down. "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?" He sat up, grunting. "I'm clear now. In five minutes I might not be. I know what I'm asking. I want this. Leave me here, that's on me. My decision. Not your failure."

-

"It's what he said he wants." Rick told the group outside.

"And he's lucid?" Carol asked.

"I would say yes."

"Back in the camp, when I said Daryl might be right, and you shut me down, you misunderstood." Dale said. "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." He concluded.

"We just leave him here? We take off?" Shane questioned. "I'm not sure I could live with that."

"It's not your call. Either one of you." Lori said.

-

Rick and Shane carried Jim out of the RV, sitting him down under a tree. We all walked up to say our goodbyes.

"Hey, another damn tree." Jim laughed.

Shane tried to change his mind at the last minute, but Jim insisted this is what he wanted.

Jacqui and I were the first to say goodbye.

"Just close your eyes, sweetie. Don't fight." She told him, giving him a kiss on his cheek. She got up, wiping her eyes and walking away.

"Rest easy, Jim." I said, giving him a sad smile. He nodded.

I followed Jacqui, giving her shoulder a quick squeeze. Tears were now falling from her eyes, she brought her palms to her eyes, wiping them away. Everyone else said their goodbyes to Jim and once Dale fixed his RV, we were off again, with one less person.