G.I. Jane

Better Angels

Shaylee's POV

"Dale could— could get under your skin. He sure got under mine, because he wasn't afraid to say exactly what he thought, how I felt. That kind of honesty is rare and brave. Whenever I make a decision, I'd look at Dale. He'd be looking back at me with that look he had we've all seen at one time or another. I couldn't always read him, but he could read us. He saw people for who they were. He knew things about us— The truth, who we really are. In the end, he was talking about losing our humanity. He said this group was broken. The best way to honor him is to set aside our differences and pull together, stop feeling sorry for ourselves and take control of our lives, our safety....our future. We're not broken. We're gonna prove him wrong. From now on we're going to do it his way. That is how we honor Dale." My dad says as he stands beside Dales grave before everyone slowly walks away leaving just T-Dog, Glenn, Ace, and myself

"Hey, we should check that far end of the fence line." Glenn says

"I'll do it. Just me and Ace." I say as I fish my keys out of my pocket

"That's crazy. We'll go with you." T-Dog says as they follow me to my jeep

"I just need some time. Alone. I'll be back soon." I say as I unlock my jeep

"Is it wise to be alone right now, Shay?" Glenn asks

"Yeah. I'm with Glenn on this o--" T-Dog starts

"Just back off, guys!" I shout as I spin around to face them earning the attention of the others

"You guys have been up my ass all night. I'm a big girl. I'll be okay. I just need some fucking space. So I'm gonna go by myself." I say before opening the driver side door

"K?" I ask

"Ace, up." I say before Ace hops into the jeep and into the passenger seat

I climb in the driver seat before starting my jeep and driving off towards the far side of the property

I put the jeep in park as I see the sun peek over the ridge before looking around and taking in my surroundings

I reach into my glove box and pull out a brown envelope filled with the pictures from when I was in Iraq

I reach in and pull out a picture of Espinosa, Barnes, Ace, and I

"Simpler times, huh, Acey-boy?" I ask as I show him the picture before dropping it back in the envelope and returning the envelope to my glovebox

"Jesus, I prolly look a mess, huh, Ace?" I ask before pulling down my sun visor causing a small polaroid picture to fall into my lap

I pick up the picture before realizing it's a picture of Dale and me that we took on my polaroid camera

"Oh, Dale." I say as tears flood my eyes before a quiet sob escapes my lips

-Narrator's POV-

"It's like hot and cold. I don't understand her, man." T-Dog says to Glenn

"Look, the thing you have to understand about Shay is she's wired differently than you and me. She sucks at relationships because she's constantly thinking the other person's gonna leave her. So her mind jumps to leaving you before you can leave her." Glenn explains

"She's got issues, man. Believe me." Glenn says

"That she does." Shane says as he walks past them

"Says the guy that utterly fucked her up." Glenn says

"Anyways, man. Does she have issues? Yeah. But is she worth sticking it out and proving to her you're not leaving her? Hell, yes she is. She deserves to be proved wrong. And you do, too. If you love her, T, you just gotta stick it out. Ride the wave, man." Glenn tells him