Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait?
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know, you know, you know I love you

On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand all of hell to hold your hand
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me and you'll never go
Stop breathing if I don't see you anymore

So far away, so far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away, so far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know I wanted, I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed, I need to hear you say that I love you (That I love you)
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you (And I forgive you) for being away for far too long
So keep breathing 'cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and never let me go
Keep breathing 'cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and never let me go

Nickleback – Far Away

Rick tried to scream to Shane to stop pressing on his chest. It hurt, and he was finding it more and more difficult to breathe. He looked Shane right in the eye and was able to say "Beth."

"You don't worry. You'll be back at home with her and the kids before you know it."

There was room for only one guest in the helicopter, so Shane took the spot. He yelled to Bassett to go to Beth's and drive her, lights and sirens, to the hospital.

The incessant beeping of the machines was annoying. Rick hated it. It reminded him of the beeping of Judy's monitor right before she flat lined.

"Rick keep your eyes open, bro." Shane said, as he was inches away from his face. He was squeezing his lifelong friend's hand. "You can take the day off tomorrow, then we go golfing on Wednesday." Shane said, trying to get Rick to smile, do something to let everyone know that he can still hear everyone.

Tears started to spill from the corners of Rick's eyes, and ran to his ear.

"S'allright, bro...S'allright. Stay with me, k? Stay with me or I'll kick your ass." Shane said, his once confident booming voice was now replaced by a desperate plea.

"Rick, squeeze my hand…please…right now…." Rick could hear the beeping of the monitors and the engine of the helicopter. Everything was so loud. He just wanted to turn his mind off, just for a moment.

He knew they landed, and Shane was pushed aside while trauma doctors took his place.

"What's his blood type?" One asked.

"A Negative."

"Call the blood bank." The doctor barked orders to the nurse.

Rick watched as Shane put his face in his hands and started crying. His first instinct was to put his hand on his buddy's back to console him.

Rick saw himself standing outside the hospital and feet away from Shane. It was dusk and a few raindrops started to fall.

"Rick." He heard a familiar voice. He turned around and saw Lori, holding Carl's hand, and Judy in her arms.

"This isn't happening." He said to himself.

"Baby…" Lori stepped forward and put her hand against his face. Her hand was so warm. It felt so real.

He gingerly lifted his hand and touched her ivory skin. She was just as beautiful as he remembered. The memories he wanted to keep, not the mess she was in after the accident.

"I'm dead?" He asked. He knew, rationally, that this was one of those out-of-body experiences you hear about…seeing the white light at the end of the tunnel…

"You're with us now." Lori said with a smile, but sad eyes.

"No….please…I have three little kids. Just babies." He said, almost begging.

"I know, I'm sorry. We've got plans for Beth. The coach who made sure Andrea didn't move after she hit Beth…his younger brother. She'll have it rough for a while, just like you did. It's okay, though. She'll be okay. I'll send her Daryl, just like I sent her to you."

"This isn't happening. I'm dreaming. I'm inside, probably unconscious from surgery."

Lori gave him a half-hearted smile and pointed to the emergency doors. One of the trauma doctors came out of the hospital and said a few words to Shane, who fell to the ground in deep sobs.

"C'mon…it'll be a while before Beth gets here. Bassett is gonna get lost again. We've got people for you to meet. Beth's parents, her sister, your parents are here too."

Rick was holding Judith, and had Carl on his lap and Lori's hand in his, fingers entwined, as they sat at the kitchen table when the will executor read off Rick's final wishes.

"This is the tough part…seeing everyone hurt. When you cried, I cried." Lori said.

Katie, Michael and Shane were there, helping with the children. On the table, a foot in front of Beth, was a box the size of a shoebox, which contained Rick's cremated remains.

"Your babies are beautiful." Lori said. She rubbed Rick's back, since he was crying over losing another family. Hershel and Annette were standing behind Beth, and Maggie was watching over Jo.

"Mrs. Grimes, your husband took out an additional insurance policy two weeks ago. For one million dollars. He allotted it the following way; two hundred thousand to be put aside for the future education of Josephine Grimes, two hundred thousand for the future of Annette Grimes, two hundred thousand for Julia Grimes, and same for Richard Grimes. Two hundred thousand will be put in a trust for you, and funds will become available when you need it. Sheriff Grimes also prepaid for ten years' worth of yardwork and pool and weekly house cleaning."

After the details were read off, the executor said he had to stay to make sure the final piece of the puzzle was put together.

Beth, her face streaked with tears, nodded, and as Katie ran to the bedroom to get the urn, everyone walked outside to the former pigpen, now three rows of rosebushes.

"Good job, by the way." Hershel told Rick. "It made it easier on her. You were so good to her. You did more than I ever could have done. You made everything easier on her. Thank you for my grandchildren. We'll keep an eye on them too."

"I just roses. Especially pink." He said, as he wiped his eyes and motioned to the flowers. "I never got a chance to say goodbye."

"The sad truth is that those left behind have nobody to ask how to catch up." Hershel stated.

"That's beautiful." Lori told him.

"You pick up expressions here and there." He chuckled.

Rick pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger.

"I know what that means." Lori said. "It's alright, baby. Everyone has a hard time adjusting. I was sitting next to you every night during those first few months. When Andrea showed up with that low cut shirt I knew what she was up to."

"There's no way you could've known that…"

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "I was there, baby. I've never left you. Just like you'll never leave Beth."

"I'll bet you were picturing angels and harps." Annette chuckled.

Rick nodded his head.

"We go there once in a while. That's the best part about Heaven is there's no limit on vacations."

"Here we go." Lori said.

Shane had tears drop out of his eyes when Michael wrenched open the top of the urn.

Beth wordlessly stepped up and poured in Rick's ashes. "I'll do it." She said, and Shane handed her the vase. She took a deep breath, and stepped up to the roses. She poured the urn, containing the four original Grimes, into the soil of the pink flowers.