[SIX] going back

                                    

                                          
CHAPTER SIX // GOING BACK
"YEAH, WELL, I'M BASICALLY HIS LAWYER. 
GOTTA TAKE CARE OF THE OLD FART."
 ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ 
The next morning, Jade was sat atop the RV, one of Dale's spare bucket hats on her head as she stared at the hills, a shotgun resting in her lap. She was almost falling asleep as she watched the sky, due to the lack of sleep she had gotten the night before due to a painful ache in her lower back.
When Nick had come up to relieve her and take his shift in watching, she was bit startled as she tried to seem like she wasn't drifting to sleep. "Are you alright, Liz?" Nick asked, taking the shotgun from the girls hand.
"Yeah, fine. My face hurts, but I'm good." She replied, handing him the hat back.
"Are you sure? I heard you tossing around all night." He insisted, his eyebrows furrowing together as his lips pressed into a line. On most nights, especially those after a run, she would spend the night in the RV, switching between the passenger seat and one of the benches at the table.
When Shane had been on watch and Nick was allowed to get what little rest he could, the older sibling heard Jade moving around and fidgeting as she tried to relieve even the slightest bit of the pain she was feeling.
"Nick, I told you I'm fine."
"Is it your back again?" He asked, standing in front of the girl to make sure she wouldn't try and climb down. Noting how the girl looked down to her boots, Nick sighed before running a hand over his face. "What happened? You haven't had a flare-up in months."
"Merle. He kicked me. When we were in the city. After he did this." She explained hesitantly, pointing up to her bruised cheek and brow bone, as well as her busted lip.
"Let me see." Nick spoke, watching as Jade turned to show him her back, lifting up the bottom of her shirt, to where only he could see. There were numerous deep blue and purple bruises along her lower back, beside where the scar was. Nick sighed as he studied them, noting the slight discoloration of the scar due to the bruising.
"It doesn't hurt when I'm standing or walking around. Only when I'm sitting and laying down." She described, turning back to face her brother.
"If I ever see that ass again, I'm gonna beat his ass." Nick spoke, staring down at his sister.
"Yeah, idiot, you and me both." She muttered before walking past him, deeming the conversation over as she climbed down the ladder. Jade watched as Glenn painfully stared at where Dale, Jim, and Morales were taking useful items off of the car they had stolen the day before.
"It was such a nice car." Glenn muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It was. But, the cars being useful. We can always steal another one. It is the apocalypse after all." She replied, smiling up at Glenn. "Although I did take that CD before anyone saw it."
Glenn chuckled as Rick walked up to stand beside him, noting his saddened stature. "Look at 'em. Vultures. Yeah, go on, strip it clean." The Korean called out, watching as Dale walked towards them with a can of gas in his right hand.
"Generators need every drop of fuel they can get. Got no power without it. Sorry, guys." Dale explained, squeezing Jade's shoulder as he walked by.
"Thought I'd get to drive it at least a few more days." Glenn whispered.
"Maybe we'll steal another one someday." Rick suggested, patting Glenn on the back as he walked away.
"That's what I said." Jade mumbled before walking towards her small tent that she had to herself. Despite rarely sleeping in it, it was still her space where she kept her items. Normally, she would have shared a tent with her brother or another girl at the camp, but Nick and Theodora chose to stay in the RV with Dale.