Everyone was busy packing up their belongings preparing to head for the CDC. Riley had put all her clothes into the duffle bag already and had rolled up her sleeping bag. She sat on the floor of her tent reloading the clip for her gun, that she had found still lying on the ground near her tent. Once the gun was loaded she slipped into the back of her jeans and carried her things outside setting them on the ground and taking her tent down. Slinging her duffle bag over her shoulder and carrying her tent, she made her way over to Shane and Rick who were organizing everyone into vehicles for the trip.
"Riley, your riding with Daryl." Rick pointed to the old blue truck with Merle's motorcycle in the back. "You can put your stuff in the back of Carols car," he threw in.
"Thanks." She headed over to pack her things in the back of the already crowded vehicle. When she was sure that her things were secure she made her way over to the old blue truck, climbing in and getting comfortable for the long trip ahead. Everyone was getting into their respective vehicles when the driver side door opened and Daryl slid into the seat starting the truck, not acknowledging her presence once. Shrugging Riley turned to stare out the window watching the scenery as they followed the line of cars being lead by the RV down the highway.

They had been riding in silence for a few hours when she heard Daryl curse under his breath slowing the truck to a stop. She looked up noticing the line of vehicles had pulled over and people getting out to see what was going on. Daryl got out of the truck following everyone over to see what the hold up was, Riley stayed back for a minute before finally making her way over to them. By the time she got there Rick and Shane were helping Jim out of the RV sitting him down against a tree on the side of the road. He was sweating profusely and looked like he might pass out any minute.

"You're sure this is what you want?" Rick asked him. Jim didn't answer but instead locked eyes with Riley.
"I want you to do it." He held her gaze with pleading eyes.
"What?" Her voice tiny. She had a feeling she knew what he was asking and silently prayed it wasn't true.
"Don't do that. You know what. Please. Just like anyone else, please?" he asked again. Riley was slightly shocked, after telling him how she had left that part of herself in the past, that he would want her to drag it all back up like this.
"How can you ask that of me?" she raised her voice a little. She knew if she did this, it would only open a can of worms that she wasn't ready to deal with yet.
"You're the only one who can," he said simply and Riley knew he was right. She doubted any of these people, including Jim himself, had it in them to do what needed to be done. "Please, I just want to be with my family again," he pleaded.
By this point everyone was staring at them thoroughly confused, trying to understand what exactly was happening between Jim and Riley.

"This is really what you want?" Riley sighed.
"Yea. Just like anyone else, ok."
Riley moved a little closer to Jim standing directly in front of him. She couldn't believe what she was doing, after working so hard to lock away that chapter of her life, here it came slapping her in the face again. She took a deep breath and locked gazes with Jim once more deciding she at least owed him this much for keeping her secret for so long. She would do what he asked of her, she would honor his last request.
In one quick motion she whipped the gun out from the back of her pants and shot him in the head. The group members stood in stunned silence as Riley slid the gun back into her pants as if nothing had ever happened.

Then, like a dam bursting, everyone was yelling at her all at once.
"The fuck was that?" Shane grabbed her by the shoulder.
"What the hell kid?" Daryl growled at her.
"Oh, God!" Carol looked sick.
"Riley, why did you shoot him?" Lori's voice was shaky.
"I think we deserve some kind of explanation." Ricks calm voice broke through everyone's questions.
"He asked me to," Riley stated simply. She shrugged her arm from Shane's grip and made her way back to the truck leaving the confused people behind.

Riley climbed into the passenger seat of the truck watching as the group had a quick frantic conversation, probably trying to understand what just happened and what they should do now. How ironic that she was so worried about Jim keeping her secrets from them, and by granting his last wish, she had managed to open the door for all to see. She had tried so hard not to be that person anymore, but here it was, like nothing had changed after all these years. She sighed, frustrated with the whole situation and watched everyone going back to their vehicles. Daryl climbed back in the truck without a word, started the engine and pulled back onto the road behind the others.

They had been on the road for a while and Riley could feel Daryl watching her from the corner of his eye. She had tried to ignore it but was starting to get annoyed. Daryl wasn't the kind of person to hold his tongue, she knew that. If he had something to say to her why didn't he just say it already? Another 30 minutes passed in uncomfortable silence, Daryl still burning holes in the side of her head, when she couldn't take it anymore.
"If you want to ask, just ask already." Riley turned to look at him. He kept a straight face, looking forward at the road as he seemed to think about what he wanted to say.
"It'll have ta wait," he nodded toward the large building of the CDC coming into view.

The line of vehicles came to a stop in front of the large building. Riley looked out the window shuddering at the scene before them. There were dead bodies everywhere as if a war had broken out. Everyone got out of their vehicles following Rick up to the big metal doors that were shut tight. Rick began banging on the door screaming, instantly putting Riley on high alert. What the hell was he thinking making so much noise out here? Was he trying to attract every walker in the area?

"Walkers!" Daryl raised his crossbow. Riley reached for her hatchet in her belt but it wasn't there. She cursed remembering she had packed it her bag thinking she wouldn't need it. She pulled the gun from her jeans, knowing she couldn't shoot it or she would only attract more trouble, and held it by the barrel. It wasn't the most effective weapon but it would have to do.
The walkers were coming in quick, Daryl and Riley fighting them off as Rick and Shane were arguing about a camera over the door. She smashed the butt of her gun against a walkers skull until it quit moving, quickly switching to the next one. She was smashing the walkers skull in when she felt a hand grab her arm, reflexively she spun around slamming her fist into their face.

"Son of a bitch!" Daryl swore holding his cheek. Riley panicked for a second as he grabbed her arm again but noticed he started to pull her towards the now open door, dragging her inside.
"Sorry about that. Are you alright?" she asked once they were safely inside. Daryl opened his mouth to respond but was cut short as a man in a lab coat announced that they would need to do blood tests in return for sanctuary. The guys ran back out to grab everyone's bags really quick before the man shut the door. The man, who introduced himself as Dr. Jenner, went one by one taking a sample of everyone's blood then showing them to an elevator promising them something to eat.

The food was amazing and a welcome change to Riley, eating rabbit and squirrel for so long had gotten a little old. Everyone was in a great mood laughing and joking around, though Riley didn't miss the sideways glances she would receive every few minutes.
Obviously they hadn't forgotten about what happened back on the highway with Jim, and she knew it was only a matter of time until she would be forced to give them a proper explanation.
Sighing she downed the rest of her wine and poured herself another glass. If this could possibly be her last safe night with these people before they decide to make her leave, then dammit she was going to enjoy it.

"Yo Daryl," T-dog suddenly caught everyone's attention. "Been meanin to ask ya bro, what happened to your face?" All attention suddenly turned to Daryl and his slightly swollen and bruised cheek.
"That little shit over there punched me." He pointed to Riley, everyone's eyes shifting to her.
"Who can't fight a wet paper bag now, Dixon." She snickered feeling the warmth of the alcohol in her veins. Everyone laughed at her comment, including Daryl, likely a result of the alcohol since she didn't find her comment to be that funny.

As dinner wound down Dr. Jenner showed them to their rooms, mentioning hot showers. Riley, as well as everyone else, rushed to whichever room was closest to them, claiming it as their own. As soon as the door was shut she was stripping her dirty clothes off and making her way to the bathroom. She turned on the water letting it get hot and looked in the mirror. Her long brown hair was tangled and her face was dirty. She could tell she had lost a little weight too. She climbed in the shower and scrubbed her hair and body until she finally felt satisfied that she was clean enough.
She stepped out of the shower and dried her body and hair with a fresh towel. She sighed as she realized that in her excitement to shower she forgot to grab some clean clothes. Wrapping the towel tightly around herself she stepped out of the bathroom and went to the bed where she had tossed her duffle bag on the way in. She pulled out clean underwear and slipped them on tossing the towel to the floor. She quickly pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt when knock on the door caught her attention. She opened the door surprised to see Rick and Shane on the other side.

"We'd like to talk to you," Rick got straight to the point.
"Yea, ok...," Riley didn't bother trying to delay the inevitable. She followed Rick and Shane back to the dining room where everyone was waiting at the table, except for the children, who were probably in bed already.
"I'm sure you already know what this is about," Shane said as she took a seat facing the group.
"Yea, yea, I know." Riley rolled her eyes. "Look, I only shot Jim because he asked me to. If the circumstances were any different I wouldn't have done it."
"We know," Rick said
"He wasn't making it with that bite," Dale jumped in. "We know that."
"So what's the problem then?" Riley started getting annoyed. She could be asleep in a comfortable bed right now, but they wanted to discuss the fate of a dead man.
"It's not that you did it, its how you did it," Andrea said looking her in the eyes. "That look on your face when you shot him, like it was just another day to you."
"As if it was as normal to you as tying your shoes," Lori added.
"Oh, that..." Riley felt her stomach drop. She was hoping they had overlooked that particular detail.
"Yea, that," Shane said sarcastically.
"Well is kind of a long story..."
"We got time," Rick shut down her attempt at delaying the talk.

Riley looked around the room at all the curious faces looking back at her. She knew there was no getting out of this without telling them about her past, but she would still have to be careful how much she told them. They only needed to know the basics, they didn't need to know her whole life story. If they knew everything about her, she knew there would be no way they would ever want to keep her around.
She didn't like the feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach at the thought of being cast out of the group. She had only just decided to try and open up to them a little, and now here she was, forced to tell them more than she had ever planned to. Slowly looking at each person at the table she decided to just woman up and get to it. If they decided they didn't want her there then so be it. She could always try to find another group, right?

"Ok Fine, I'll tell you," she sighed.