Broken Realities: What-if

Author note at the end. Enjoy.

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The first light of dawn was just beginning to peek over the horizon when Alex stirred from his fitful sleep. For a moment, as he blinked away the remnants of uneasy dreams, he forgot where he was. Then reality crashed back, and he felt the hard surface of his truck bed beneath him.

With a groan, Alex sat up, rubbing his eyes and taking in the peaceful farm around him. The contrast between the serenity of the morning and the chaos of the previous day was jarring. He took a deep breath as a reminder of what he promised himself the previous night, steeling himself for the day ahead.

"Okay, Alex," he muttered to himself. "Time to put on a brave face."

He climbed down from the truck, wincing slightly as his injured foot touched the ground. The pain was a sharp reminder of everything that had happened, but he pushed it aside. He had work to do.

As Alex approached the farmhouse, he saw Shawn already up and about, checking the fences. He raised a hand in greeting, forcing a smile onto his face.

"Morning," Alex called out, his voice sounding more cheerful than he felt. "Need a hand to finish that?"

Shawn looked up, surprise evident on his face. "Oh, hey Alex. Didn't expect to see you up so early. Sure, I could use some help if you're offering. Though, are you sure?" He glanced at Alex's limping foot; he shrugged it off.

Together, they set to work on reinforcing the fence. The physical labor was a welcome distraction for Alex, allowing him to focus on something other than the memories that threatened to overwhelm him even now.

As they worked, Shawn broke the comfortable silence. "So, how are you holding up? After everything that happened..."

Alex paused, considering his words carefully. "I'm... managing," he said finally, a sigh leaving him.

Shawn nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Yeah, I get that." With that, the noises of hammers on clues and saw returned as they worked. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, more people began to emerge from the house.

Glen joined them at the fence, looking like he hadn't slept much either. "Hey guys," he said, stifling a yawn. "Room for one more?"

Alex managed a genuine smile at the sight of his friend. "Always," he replied, handing Glen a hammer, while he backed off, sitting on the picnic table that was still out. "How was your sleep?" The Asian man asked his friend, a hidden meaning behind his words as Alex nodded. "Same as yours."

As they worked, Alex found himself relaxing slightly. He didn't know when Glen started it, but the familiar banter with Glen, it all helped to ground him in the present. "Here." Glen muttered, throwing the hammer, as Alex stumbled to catch it. "Careful!"

"Hm, what do you mean, 'careful', I'm doing your job. Your turn."

"Sure, make the handicap do the hard labor." Alex muttered, though Glen just smirked. "Handicap? I don't see one. Though we got a saw to cut that little leg of yours if you want."

"Wow, straight there, huh." Alex glanced back at his best friend as he chuckled in response.

Carley emerged from the house a little later, looking somewhat out of place in the rural setting. She approached the group, a determined look on her face.

"Mind if I join?" she asked. "I'm not much for farm work, but I figure I should learn."

Alex nodded, appreciating her initiative. "Sure thing. Here, I could use a hand since a certain Asian is too busy to get burned by the sun." Though Carley raised an eyebrow, she still walked up to him, while the targeted man laughed mockingly. "Ohh, that's a good one. Well, at least the white boy finally learns instead of delegating his work."

"Kids." Shawn called out to them, a smirk on his face, as he turned to them. "Please."

As the morning progressed, the farm began to come to life. The rhythmic sound of hammering and sawing filled the air, punctuated by occasional banter and laughter from Alex, Glen, Shawn, and even Carley who joined. Despite the underlying tension from recent events, there was a sense of normalcy in the simple act of working together.

Their light-hearted conversation was interrupted by the sound of the farmhouse door opening. Lee emerged, Clementine close behind him. The little girl's eyes lit up when she saw Alex. Though she looked worried for him instead of of him, like Lee who seemed to be feeling both. She ran over, leaving Lee to follow at a more sedate pace.

"Alex!" Clementine called out, "Are you feeling better?"

Alex felt a lump form in his throat at her innocent concern. He forced a smile, kneeling down to her level. "I'm doing okay, Clem. Thanks for asking. How about you? Did you sleep well?"

As Clementine launched into a detailed account of her night before they came, and after sleeping without worrying about them, Alex could only let out a chuckle before hugging the 8 years old in gratitude, surprising her. "Thank you, Clem." He whispered to her, holding onto her tightly.

Lee approached, giving Alex a nod of acknowledgment. "Mind if I join in?" he asked, gesturing to the fence work.

"The more, the merrier," Shawn replied, gesturing to his work station and his saw at Lee.

As they worked, the conversation flowed more freely. They discussed plans for the farm, ideas for fortifications, and strategies for gathering supplies. Alex found himself contributing, his mind working on practical solutions rather than dwelling on recent traumas.

Around mid-morning, Kenny and his family emerged from the house. Duck immediately ran to join Clementine, while Kenny and Katjaa approached the working group.

"Looks like worker bees hard at work." Kenny commented, his eyes meeting Alex's briefly before looking away. Alex swallowed hard, recognizing the awkwardness between them. 

"Annette and her daughters are finished with preparing breakfast as we speak. So, why don't you all take a rest." Katjaa sweetly told them, not looking towards Alex's direction.

As the morning sun climbed higher, the group gathered around the large picnic table outside the farmhouse for breakfast. The Greene family joined them, bringing out platters of eggs, hash browns, cheese, fruits, and fresh-baked bread. The aroma of coffee wafted through the air, a comforting reminder of normalcy in these uncertain times.

Alex found himself seated between Glen and Carley, across from Beth who kept stealing glances at him. He tried to focus on his plate, the food tasting like ash in his mouth despite Annette's culinary skills. 'Did I lose my sense of taste?' He wondered to himself.

Hershel cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Before we eat, I'd like to say a few words." He paused, his eyes sweeping over the gathered group. Alex, feeling extremely embarrassed, sat down his hash brown, as he avoided everyone's gazes. Though Glen didn't seem to let it go, as he laughed, alongside two others, Maggie and Beth.

"We've all been through a lot these past few days. Some of us have lost loved ones, and all of us have seen things we never thought possible. But we're here, together, and that's something to be grateful for."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the group. Alex felt a twinge of guilt, remembering Larry and Lilly, but he pushed the feeling aside.

"Now," Hershel continued, "let's enjoy this meal and be thankful for what we have."

As they ate, conversation flowed more freely than it had the night before. Kenny and Lee discussed plans for reinforcing the farm's defenses, while Katjaa and Annette exchanged recipes and gardening tips.

Clementine and Duck, well, at least, Duck excitedly chattered about exploring the farm, with Shawn promising to show them around later, while Clementine was focused on eating her breakfast.

Alex found himself drawn into a conversation with Glen about the farm's resources. "We've got some stock of canned goods," He was saying as he seemed to be deep in thoughts, remembering the few canned goods he had in his bag, "but fresh vegetables will be crucial in the long run."

"I have some canned goods in my truck. It will be best to put them in the basement." He contributed as Hershel nodded. "We could set up a rotating crop system," Maggie suggested, glancing at Glen and Alex, while other's conversation slowly died down to listen. "Maximize yield and ensure we have a steady supply year-round."

As breakfast wound down, Hershel stood up again. "Alright, folks. We've got a lot of work to do today." As his daughters, wife, Katjaa, and even Clementine helped out with clearing the picnic table, the platers, and utensils. Kenny cleared his throat, bringing everyone's attention to him. "Shawn and I will to continue reinforcing the fences. Lee and Glen, sweep around the fields, even outer fields if you could, make sure we don't have any unwanted visitors."

Kenny turned to Alex, for a second, an awkward silence settled before he fake coughed. Not knowing any safe task to give him. " if you're up for it, the chicken coop could use a good cleaning." Hershel interrupted.

Alex nodded, grateful for the task. "I can handle that, sir."

As the group dispersed to their various tasks, Alex made his way to the chicken coop. The repetitive work of cleaning out old straw and laying fresh bedding was oddly soothing. Though different things could be said by the chicken's poop being everywhere. But it allowed his mind to focus on the present.

He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't notice Beth approaching until she spoke. "You missed a spot."

Alex startled, nearly dropping the rake he was holding. "Oh, uh, thanks," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze as he attacked the missed patch of dirty straw.

Beth leaned against the coop's entrance, watching him work. "You're not much for conversation, are you?"

Alex paused, finally meeting her eyes. "Sorry, I'm just... I've got a lot on my mind."

Beth's expression softened. "I can imagine. Must've been pretty rough out there." Alex nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Beth seemed to sense his discomfort and changed the subject. "So, what did you do before all this?" Though she knew by now, she thought the conversation would be a good way to distract him from his thoughts.

"I was studying to be a doctor," Alex replied, surprised at how distant and real that life seemed now. Beth's eyes widened. "Really? That's amazing. We could really use a doctor around here."

Alex nervously chuckled. "I... I'd need to study to remember some things though." Beth, the blonde girl, didn't answer, instead she simply looked at the 19 years old in front of her, eyes trained to the ground, cleaning chicken poop, while being extremely careful with his step. As if he was afraid to hurt the chickens that were running around him.

Beth stepped closer, her voice gentle. "Hey, whatever happened out there... it doesn't change who you are. You're still that person who wanted to help people."

Alex felt something loosen in his chest at her words and while a stranger, he did appreciate it. Their moment was interrupted by a shout from the house. "Beth! Can you come help with lunch?" It was her mother's voice.

Beth sighed. "Duty calls. Don't work too hard, okay?" With a small smile, she headed back to the house. 'Don't work too hard?' Alex confusedly thought, staring at her back as she walked away and then around him. 'This is hard?'

As the afternoon wore on, Alex finished with the chicken coop and moved on to other chores around the farm. He found himself working alongside different members of the group, the physical labor and casual conversation helping to ground him in the present.

It was late afternoon when the peace of the farm was shattered. Maggie's voice rang out, urgent and alarmed. "Dad!"

Everyone dropped what they were doing, rushing towards Maggie's voice. They saw a shocking sight. A man was running towards them, carrying what looked like a child in his arms. Behind him, there was another two men that tried to follow the first one, looking exhausted and terrified.

"Please!" the man shouted as he got closer. "My son... he's been shot!"

Hershel was the first to reach them, his face set in grim determination. "Bring him inside, quickly!" Immediately, Alex moved, his foot forgotten. "Alex!" Hershel called, but he was already next to him as the police officer entered the house. "I need your help. You've got medical training, right?"

"A little." Alex answered, turning to Glen, while Hershel went inside, ordering his wife and Maggie what he needed, such as pills and pain killers. "Bring me a clean shirt from the truck." Glen nodded and ran towards it. "Passenger seat, in the back." He took out his dirtied shirt in that moment and threw it towards Glen who throw a white one back.

As they entered the house, Hershel directed Rick to a bedroom. "Put him on the bed," he instructed the man. "Alex, we need to stop the bleeding," Hershel instructed. "Apply pressure here while I prepare the antiseptic."

Alex placed clean gauze over the wound, pressing firmly. Blood seeped through quickly, and he called for more gauze. Beth rushed to provide it, her face pale but determined.

As soon as Beth came with rubbing alcohol, Hershel cleaned his hands moving to the side of the bed, his eyes staring at Carl's wound that Alex was putting pressure on, while his other hand travelled, a finger on the boy's throat to check for pulse. "He's alive." He told the room, the officer almost collapsed right then in relief.

"What's his name?" Alex asked the man, trying to keep his voice calm.

"Carl," the man replied, his voice shaky. "I'm Rick. Please... please save my son."

"Nice to meet you Rick. I'm Alex." He replied, while Hershel turned to everyone who was crowding the room. "Everyone out, except Beth, Maggie, Alex, and Annette", who came with the medical kits and things that Hershel had requested. Turning back to Rick, eyes as calm and lively as Glen could remember, Alex nodded to Rick.

"I'll try my best, Rick. But I need you out."

The boy moaned weakly, his eyes fluttering and Rick looked on the verge of cryin- he was crying. Alex turned as soon as he heard it, focusing on the task at hand. "Carl, can you hear me? You're going to be okay. We're here to help you." He assured. "Rick, please." Alex ordered, eyes instead going to Hershel to ask about the context.

Alex placed clean gauze over the wound, pressing firmly. Blood seeped through quickly, and he called for more gauze. Beth rushed to provide it, her face pale but determined.

"He was shot by a neighbour, Otis."

"Okay. Okay." Alex murmured, "remembering" how to treat a patient who was shot.

Hershel took a solution from his wife. "This will sting, but it's necessary to prevent infection," he explained, carefully cleaning around the wound. "We need to check for an exit wound," Alex suggested. With Maggie's help, they gently turned Carl, confirming the bullet was still inside.

"He's losing too much blood," Hershel muttered. "We need to remove the bullet and suture the wound."

Alex nodded, reaching for the surgical kit Maggie had brought. "I'll assist. What's our anesthetic situation?"

"Limited," Hershel replied grimly. "We'll have to work fast." Alex nodded, "On it." As they prepared for the delicate procedure, Carl's breathing became labored. "Pulse is weakening," Alex reported, his voice tense but steady.

Hershel took a deep breath. "Alright, let's begin."

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Author note:

Part 2 of the encounter.

Time to meet the main cast, Rick, Carl, Shane, and others. Hopefully, what I have planned, will be enjoyed by you guys. I might need to make a slide of presentation for each character now, since there will be clashing of ideals and thoughts with the group getting bigger. And while some have similiar mentality, personality, mindset, they are also very different.

Example I can give is Kenny and Rick/Shane. All 3 in the leadership roles. Lee also a little bit, due to him playing as peacemaker in each arguments so far.

I am not exited to try and remember every single character in the group, since they are a "main cast". Which will be hard and I might lose track of them. Videos of Dale also makes me starting to hate the character, but he's another type of "weak" person in the apocalypse. Just like Alex is a type of "weak" guy.

I'll try to explore that angle a bit more since I haven't seen it in fanfiction except character essays. Most fanfics deal with character's weakness as annoying or something to die for and instead, they focus more on them being badasses. I'll try to balance that.

Anyway, enough rambling. Stay safe.

Author out.

Most hated/annoying walking dead character. Post here.