five, wildfire.

NATURE HAD TAKEN A moment of silence for their losses; the frogs were quiet and still, the birds were not cheery, the forest was eerie, and the wind blew past them like a whisper. Nothing had been the same since the attack, the atmosphere was a heavy burden upon the living's shoulders and nearly suffocated them- until it came the time to argue the fate of one their own.

Faith was seated upon the top of the RV; she had moved after the commotion with Jim and his bite. When he had been seated away from the group, Faith took it upon herself to examine the wound- maybe she could help, at least until they could decide what to do. She had poked at the wound, determined how tender the skin was, how angry the infection had become already before she drowned the wound in what little alcohol they had left. She had forced Jim to bite down on a semi-clean rag before she had attempted to clean the wound, and she wrapped the bite with a bit of gauze.

It wasn't much, but maybe it would slow down the infection until they could find proper medical care. Faith and Jim had heard a bit of the argument from the remaining survivors. Rick wanted to try the CDC, while Shane wanted to try Fort Bennings. She thought both were good options, but they needed to choose one because they were in opposite directions.

Things took a turn for the worse when Daryl turned around and brought up the axe, to drive it into Jim's head without knowing that Faith was crouched near him. She squeaked in surprise and fell backwards into the gravel as Shane stood between her and Daryl, then she caught a glimpse of Rick with his gun against the redneck's head. Faith watched with wide eyes and Jim reached out for her, to attempt to pull to her off her back, but he was way too weak already.

"We don't kill the living," Rick muttered when Daryl glanced at him with narrowed eyes.

Faith furrowed her eyebrows in confusion; the man literally had a gun to another man's head. Daryl said something about it, then Shane said something else. Whatever he said made Daryl throw down the axe with a grunt and he stomped of. Shane turned around and offered his hand to Faith, and she took it gently as he pulled her back up to her feet fully.

"Thanks, Shane." Faith murmured pathetically. She glanced up at his face and gave him a slight smile. "Appreciate it."

She glanced around as Rick pulled up Jim, and claimed to be relocating him some place safe. Faith just watched as they headed inside the RV, but once they disappeared inside, she took off after Shane. Faith had caught up to him by the large cargo truck.

"Whatcha want, doc?" Shane questioned when he paused, he could hear her footsteps in the gravel. For such a small woman, she could still make a ruckus.

Faith pouted at the nickname, "You aren't gonna call me doc now, are ya? 'Cause I'm not a doctor anymore. I dropped out during my residency." She then huffed and shook her head, "Anyway- what's the reasoning for Fort Benning?"

He spun around in the rocks, he had the hope that maybe she was on his side. He leaned against the vehicle and quirked an eyebrow up at her. "Why? Thinkin' we should head there?"

She shrugged, "I dunno. Both sound like good ideas," and Faith glanced back to the RV, where Rick was stepping off the stair and heading their way. She looked back to Shane. "I cleaned his wound, maybe it'll slow the infection just enough that we can get him some place. Maybe Jim has a chance."

Shane sighed, but he did tell her of the pros of heading towards the Army base. She had also received some of the pros of the CDC from Rick when he joined them. Faith wouldn't lie, both sounded like good ideas, but a small piece of her thought that the CDC would be better equipped for a situation of their nature- maybe they had a cure, or working towards one.

When Shane and Rick froze, stopped the conversation and looked towards the RV, Faith followed their gaze. An undead Amy began to reach for the living sister, and Andrea hadn't flinched. Faith stayed put as Rick and Shane walked towards them, but stopped when Andrea finally put her gun against her sister's head. When she shot her sister, Faith flinched at the sound of the final gunshot.

With the final bullet in Amy's brain, the immediate danger was gone; for now.

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BY SUN-FALL, THEIR DECISION had been made. By next sunrise, the camp had been packed away in the vehicles they had. There were no signs that human had ever been on the side of quarry, besides the fresh graves and the remnants of the put-out fires. Rick and Shane went over ground rules before they readied to leave, and Morales announced that he and his family would be going their own way. It was a tearful goodbye for the young family, and like that, they had lost another piece of themselves.

Faith was afraid for them, because she knew the likely hood of ever seeing them again.

Rick gave them a small pistol and a box of ammo, and it wasn't much, but maybe enough for their survival. Still, the chance of survival settled in numbers. After that, they began to disperse into the vehicles, packing together like sardines for the trip to the CDC.

Faith was thankful that Shane let her into the passenger seat of the Jeep, she couldn't bare to hear the painful whimpers of Jim. Jacqui said she'd ride in the RV with Dale and Jim, and would care for the wounded man. With that settled, Faith threw her small bag of belongings into the backseat of the Jeep and climbed into the passenger seat next to Shane. She glanced at him and swallowed the lump in her throat, sending him a slight smile.

"Let's do this, Walsh."

"We're gonna be okay, doc." He reassured her, and sent her a glance before he lurched the vehicle into drive.

Faith exhaled and rubbed her forehead, then leaned her head back against the seat. "You really believe that, Shane?" She asked.

In all honestly, she was sure that the light at the end of the tunnel was beginning to fade. Faith Parker needed a good day, soon.

He nodded, "I do, doc."

Faith hummed softly, and turned her head towards the road. She wanted to forget for a little while. She wanted to enjoy the wind in her hair without a worry in the world, but she'd never get that luxury again. Besides, if she was being honest, the attack had taken a big chunk of her- she had defended herself, sure, but it still didn't sit right with her. Faith wasn't sure that it ever would.

They drove for some time, most of the drive being silent between her and Shane. One of them would make small talk for a few minutes, but even then, their hearts weren't really into it. Shane focused on the road and the vehicles in front of him, and Faith watched as Georgia Countryside passed her. She didn't take her eyes away from the scenery, even when they passed a straggler, she just watched as the walker got smaller and smaller in her view.

Faith only looked up when Shane slowed to a stop. Their group of vehicles in a single file line on the highway. She had straightened in her seat, and she could see the steam coming from the front of the RV.

"He's been complaining that thing won't get far," she grumbled and watched as Shane undid his seatbelt, to check what was going on.

Faith followed his actions, and jogged to catch up with him. She stood off to the side when they arrived at the RV, she didn't say a word. Dale complained, Rick asked questions, T-Dog and Daryl stood watch, Glenn stayed by Shane's side, and Shane looked for what could be ahead of them. He mentioned that there was something, possibly a gas station if luck was on their side. Faith hoped that luck was on their side for today.

Faith looked over her shoulder as Jacqui rushed off the RV. "Y'all, Jim-" she paused for a moment, like she was catching her breath. "It's bad. I don't think he can take anymore." Then Jacqui went back to the RV.

Faith didn't stay to hear whatever Shane said, not that it was directed towards her, and she followed Jacqui. She made her way towards the back and sat on a stool as she smiled softly towards Jim.

He was sweating, bad, and the blanket over his body didn't help. He was complaining of chills, though, Jacqui said his fever had spiked. His body was attempting to fight the infection, but Faith feared it was too late; his body was losing. She hadn't said anything to him yet, but another pair of footsteps made them look up. It was Rick.

"We'll be back on the road soon," he announced.

"Oh, no." Jim muttered. "Christ. My bones- my bones are like glass. Every little bump- god, this ride is killing me. Leave me here."

Faith furrowed her eyebrows, in confusion and sadness. She didn't want to leave Jim on the side of the road, like some sick animal. But again, she wasn't sure what was happening to him, she had never seen an infection do this a to human. It was unlike humanity had ever seen before.

"You sure, Jim?" Faith questioned softly, and the small pout on her lips didn't go unnoticed.

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

Rick kneeled down by the bed, "They're all dead. I don't think you know what you're asking. The fever- you've been delirious more often than not."

"Rick, you've heard of death with dignity?" Faith glanced up at the man kneeled beside her. He looked at her, confusion written into his expressions. Faith sighed softly, "It's a term used in medicine, when terminally ill patients decide to use medication to end their lives peacefully, instead of continuing the path of pain." She spared a glance at Jim. "I think Jim wants the same thing."

"I'm clear now," Jim argued. "In five minutes, I may not be. Rick, I know what I'm asking. I want this. Leave me here."

Jim continued for a few more minutes before he decided he was done. Rick got up and left the RV, and Faith followed. They stood in a small circle outside the door, and T-Dog and Shane joined them when they got back.

Rick told them what Jim said, and that he appeared lucid. He was- in Faith's opinion. Rick agreed.

"Back in the camp," Dale started and all eyes landed on him. "When I said Daryl might be right, and you shut me down, you misunderstood." Dale shook his head. "I would never go along with callously killing a man. I was just gonna suggest that we ask Jim want he wants, and I think we have an answer."

"We just leave him here and we take off?" Shane questioned.

Faith crossed her arms and pushed herself of the side of the RV. She finally spoke up. "Look, it's not like I agree with his choice, but come on, are we really going to force a man through a trip he may not survive. You heard him, it's killing him. Forcing him through this, it's like forcing a woman to go through a pregnancy. Logically, and medically speaking, it's fucking insane. Period."

Lori agreed, and that seemed to be the end of the argument. It was settled, they were allowing Jim his last wish. Rick and Shane disappeared inside the RV, and a few long minutes later, they came back out with Jim, each on one side of him. The group of survivors slowly followed behind them as they carried Jim to a tree on the other side of a ditch. Rick and Shane made sure that he was comfortable, and when Jim looked up and weakly cracked a joke, Faith chuckled sadly.

They each individually said their goodbyes, and made sure he was taken care of in his final moments. God, that sounded terrible.

Faith was last, as she crouched down beside him. Her eyes were watery, and she gave him a sad smile. She took in a deep breath, "Hey, Jim, I'm proud of you, for fightin' as long as you did. You tried, and that's what matters, okay?" She gently laid a hand on his arm. "You be happy, in whatever comes after death; heaven, some sort of after life."

Jim blinked slowly as the woman stood up, "Thanks, Faith."

She nodded slightly, and began to climb down the incline and towards the jeep. Faith said nothing as she climbed into the passenger seat, and Shane started the vehicle again and drove off. Faith couldn't look in the same direction as they passed Jim. Now, she could only pray something good was coming their way; once again.

a/n → oh my god, that was a long one. however, I'm soft for Shane calling Faith doc, even though he's a douche, but in other news, I'm so excited for s2 😬