Broken Realities: What-if

Author note at the end. Enjoy.

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It's been a week since the talk with Glenn and things have been different ever since. With a different mindset, Alex began to do things to take his mind off Sarah and Glenn's parent. Thanks to it, the trenches and fortifications of the farm were also going well, with Daryl implementing distractions but also warning systems. If anyone or anything tripped his alarm, the whole house would know it.

Though a tragic development was that the group as a whole had given up on Sophia since they hadn't found any traces of her ever since Kenny had joined Carol and Daryl on the search. Except for her mother that is. The poor woman had appeared lifeless. Alex didn't know how to comfort her other than just stay next to her and do nothing.

Two days of silent company, Carol had opened to him regarding her daughter. Her description, her quirks, her personality, and her innocence. The only thing Alex could do was just stay silent and listen while the feeling of helplessness kept growing ever since the talk with Glenn and T-Dog.

The night after the nightshift that Alex and Glenn had taken, T-Dog turned. Everyone was asleep. Alex and Hershel had given him painkillers to numb the pain at least a little. But the night he turned, Alex, Dale, Shane, and Rick were there in the same room, already being warned about the possibility by both Alex and Hershel.

The room was quiet save for T-Dog's labored breathing. Alex leaned forward, dabbing T-Dog's forehead with a cool cloth. T-Dog's eyes fluttered open, focusing on Alex with difficulty.

"Hey," Alex said softly. "How are you feeling?" T-Dog managed a weak smile despite the extreme headache and pain. "Like... like I'm ready to check out, man." Alex swallowed hard, fighting back the lump in his throat. 'Another one.' He thought. "You've fought hard, T-Dog. Real hard. I'm sorry I couldn't do much more."

T-Dog's breathing became more ragged. "Tell... tell the others... thank you. You too. For everything." Alex nodded, gripping T-Dog's hand. "I will. I promise." As the hours ticked by, T-Dog's breathing grew more labored. Alex watched helplessly as the life slowly ebbed from the man's body. Just before dawn, T-Dog took one final, shuddering breath, and then was still.

Alex sat there for a moment, the silence deafening. He knew what came next. He'd seen it before. As if on cue, 5 minutes after his last breath, T-Dog's body began to twitch. His eyes snapped open, but they were no longer the eyes of the man Alex had known. They were milky, unfocused, filled with an inhuman hunger.

He turned as Shane had woken up after his last words. Before Shane could reach him from the other side of the room, Alex moved, smashing his machete on T-Dog's head as soon as a growl escaped him.

The sound of his weapon and T-Dog's head had woken up everyone in the room, watching as Alex removed his machete and coldly stared at the split head. Dale stood there, his face a mask of shock and grief. "T-Dog... is he...?"

Alex nodded grimly. "He's gone." Dale stumbled forward, collapsing into a chair beside the bed. "Oh, T-Dog," he murmured, his voice breaking. "I thought you were gonna test on it." Shane stated and Alex, with his empty gaze, turned to him before exiting the room.

The word spread through the farmhouse when everyone woke up in the morning, the group gathered, their faces somber. Rick and Shane exchanged a look, both noting the calm efficiency with which Alex had handled the situation.

"We need to bury him," Rick said quietly. "Give him a proper send-off." The group worked together to prepare T-Dog's body, wrapping him in a sheet and carrying him to a spot near the edge of the property. They waited for Alex to show up, but he never did. Instead, he kept himself busy. So, Dale decided to progress with the burial. As they lowered him into the ground, Hershel spoke a few words of comfort.

As the impromptu service concluded, Rick pulled Shane aside. "We need to talk about Alex," he said in a low voice. Shane nodded, his eyes moving to the trenches, as the young man continued to dig on the other side. "Kid's got a good head on his shoulders. Didn't hesitate when it came down to it."

Rick ran a hand through his hair. "He's what, 19? And he's handling this better than some of the adults."

Surprisingly, it was Shane that shook his head. "Not right now." He denied, eyes never leaving Alex as everyone dispersed from the filled grave. "He looks like he needs to work on somethings."

As they discussed Alex's role, Carl emerged from the farmhouse for the first time since his injury. He walked slowly, supported by Lori, his face pale but determined. "Dad!" Carl called out, drawing Rick's attention.

Rick hurried over, a mix of concern and joy on his face. "Hey, buddy. Should you be up and about?" Carl nodded. "I'm feeling better. And... I wanted to thank Alex. For saving me."

Rick smiled, ruffling Carl's hair. "Alright, let's go find him." They made their way towards the trenches where Alex, who had stopped checking up on him, was still digging, his movements mechanical and focused. "Alex?" Rick called out. The young man looked up, surprise flickering across his sweaty face as he saw Carl.

Carl stepped forward, his voice a mix of shyness and gratitude. "I... I wanted to thank you. For giving me your blood. Mom says you saved my life." Alex's expression softened, a hint of his usual self breaking through the stoic facade he'd been wearing lately. "You're welcome, Carl. I'm just glad you're okay."

As they talked, Lori watched from a distance, her face a mix of gratitude and concern. She couldn't help but notice how much older Alex seemed compared to when they first arrived at the farm.

Meanwhile, across the farm, Lee and Carley were working together on chores around the farm to pass time. Their closeness was evident to everyone now, the casual touches and shared glances speaking volumes.

Glenn, passing by with a load of supplies, couldn't help but smile. "You two are good together," he commented. "It's nice to see something positive in all this… mess." Carley blushed slightly, but Lee just grinned. "Thanks, Glenn. We're just taking it day by day."

After a few minutes, Carl and Rick returned inside to let Carl rest up, while Alex lost all his pretense and went back to digging, trying to make himself useful to combat the feeling of uselessness.

The only good thing he could think about that he had done was assisting Hershel in saving Rick's son. Everything else have been going downhill for him. He was beginning to second guess himself and doubt himself. Just the other day, he had been distracted enough for a runner during a parameter sweep to get inside the yard before it was killed by Dale of all people, who had paired himself with him.

Frustrated, Alex threw his shovel against the trench walls, needing to scream but not wanting to scare others. As Alex struggled with his inner turmoil, Beth approached cautiously, a canteen of water in her hand. "You've been out here for hours," she said softly. "You should take a break."

Alex looked up, his eyes meeting Beth's. For a moment, he considered brushing her off, but something in her gentle concern made him pause. He accepted the water with a nod of thanks, taking a long drink.

"I'm sorry about T-Dog," Beth said, settling herself on the edge of the trench. "It must have been hard, being there at the end." Alex's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "It had to be done." He paused, then added, "Thanks for checking on me."

As they sat in silence, Hershel watched from the porch, his brow furrowed with concern. Maggie joined him, following his gaze. "You're worried about Beth," she observed.

Hershel sighed. "I'm worried about all of us. This world... it changes people. I just don't want Beth to lose her kindness, her hope." Maggie squeezed her father's shoulder. "Beth's stronger than you give her credit for. And maybe... maybe Alex needs her kindness right now."

Sensing that he wanted to be alone, Beth nodded and left the canteen with him. After two hours, Alex was told to gather inside for a meeting after T-Dog's burial. When he joined them, he was tired and panting, his black shirt soaked in sweat. Rick glanced before starting the meeting.

On most things, Alex didn't participate, simply going with the flow. When it was turn for another scavenge hunt, the room quietened. The main targets were still medical supplies, canned good, clothing for everyone else and if they were lucky, water. It didn't hurt having more of it.

"We also need a greenhouse." Alex finally voiced, everyone turning to him. "And beehives." He added, confusing everyone. Seeing their expression, he sighed but explained. "The main thing with greenhouse is we could have leafy greens, cucumbers, herbs, and other fruits. Broadening our options."

Seeing everyone paying attention to him, with Beth standing taller than everyone else with a proud smile, Alex continued. "Right now, this farm only has sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, berries, peaches, and watermelon. Alongside some peanuts. While the list is impressive, we need diversity to make sure everyone gets all the nutrients their body needs. Especially with all the new variants of undead that could pop up anytime."

Getting a little comfortable, he scratched his head, meeting some smiles that confused him. "And honey is extremely good for medical reasons as well. Daryl." He turned to the hunter who raised a brow in response. "Could you check with someone around the forests to see if you find a bee colony?" The man smirked at him as if it were easy.

"That's pretty good reasons, but we need a group to get those things." Dale stated and Alex nodded. "I'll go." Again, all eyes turned to him as if he proposed something stupid.

Rick was the first to speak, his voice measured but concerned. "Alex, are you sure about this? You've been through a lot lately."

Shane stepped forward, his expression a mix of respect and worry. "Kid, we appreciate your initiative, but maybe you should sit this one out. Take some time to process everything that's happened."

Alex shook his head, determination evident in his stance. "I need to do this. I can't just sit here and..." He trailed off, unable to articulate the restlessness that had been building inside him.

Glenn, understanding his friend's state of mind, spoke up. "I'll go with him. We work well together, and I've been studying the area with his laptop. Google maps, baby." The joking manner he told it brought along some chuckles, even to Carol and Alex, who appreciated it.

Daryl nodded, adding his support. "I'll join too. Could use a chance to scout for those bee colonies while we're out there." Rick looked between the three volunteers, considering the options. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. But you take extra precautions. No unnecessary risks. Glenn, you're in charge of the run."

As the group began to disperse to prepare for the supply run, Beth approached Alex, with no one being ignorant of her feelings by now, except Alex, her face etched with worry. "Be careful out there, okay?" she said softly. "Promise me you'll come back."

Alex met her gaze, seeing the genuine concern in her eyes. For a moment, the dark thoughts receded and he could finally breathe, his tough exterior softened. "I promise, Beth. We'll be back before you know it."

The next morning, as the sun barely peeked over the horizon, Alex, Glenn, and Daryl gathered by the vehicles, going over their plan one last time. Retail chain, get all seeds available at the entrance, and all of dirt bags outside, then come back. They had mapped out a route to a nearby town where they hoped to find and possibly scout for their gardening tools.

As they loaded up Alex's truck, Maggie approached Glenn, pulling him aside for a moment. "You watch out for him, okay?" she said, nodding towards Alex. "And yourself too, of course." Glenn smiled, touched by her concern. "We'll look out for each other. Always do."

Alex thought he heard Daryl scoff, which in turn made him turn towards the older man wielding his crossbow. "No one?" Though the question wasn't meant as insulting, Daryl looked like he really wanted to punch Alex at that moment.

The drive to the town was tense but uneventful with Alex's truck. As they approached the outskirts, Daryl spotted a retail chain that looked promising. "There," he pointed. "Might have what we need for the greenhouse."

They parked a short distance away, approaching on foot to avoid attracting attention. The garden center seemed abandoned, but they knew better than to let their guard down. Glenn took point, with Alex covering the rear and Daryl scanning their surroundings.

Inside, they hit the jackpot. Seeds, small tools, and even some collapsible greenhouse frames were scattered throughout the store during the panic. As they began to gather supplies, a crash from the back room put them all on high alert.

"I'll check it out," Alex whispered, his machete at the ready. Before Glenn could protest, Alex had already slipped towards the source of the noise. In the storeroom, Alex found himself face to back with a walker. He prepared himself to simply smash the walker's head with his machete, but all of that went out of the window as soon as the walker literally jumped to his direction to face him.

"Fuck." He couldn't help but curse. It moved right then, more fluidly than the others he'd encountered in Macon. As it lunged at him, Alex barely had time to react, bringing up his machete to hold back its head, while its hand clasped around him in a bear hug.

The runner's momentum carried them both backwards, crashing into a shelf of fertilizer bags. Alex struggled to keep the snapping jaws away from his face, the walker's strength surprising him.

Just as he thought he might lose the battle, an arrow whistled past his ear, embedding itself in the runner's skull. The creature went limp, collapsing on top of Alex. Daryl appeared in the doorway; crossbow still raised. "You alright, kid?" he asked, helping Alex push the corpse aside.

Alex nodded, his heart racing. "So, this is a runner." He muttered, pushing away his emotions as hard as he could, while the tremble in his hands and legs continued due to another close call.

Glenn joined them, concern etched on his face. "You okay?" Alex nodded after swallowing his saliva. Though Glenn said nothing, there was a note of frustration on his face that went missing by the other two.

They finished gathering supplies quickly after that, all of them on edge. As they loaded up the truck, Daryl spotted something in the distance. A walker, limping on the street as it growled and groaned even they couldn't hear it. "Hold up," Daryl said, squinting against the sun as he aimed.

But the walker, instead of continuing to keep walking towards their location in a slow pace, it changed direction. Alex grew confused alongside Glenn and Daryl who didn't shoot. Though it was about 40 meters away, Daryl could still shoot it in its head and kill it. But he didn't and Daryl would regret that. As the walker walked up to a blue car and bumped into it. Hard.

The car's siren blasted throughout the entire place. From the retail chain's parking space to at least four or five streets in both direction. "Fuck!" Glenn cursed, as he ran into the car to start it up, with Daryl and Alex entering as well. "DRIVE!" Alex hissed.

The truck's engine roared to life as Glenn floored the accelerator. Tires screeched against asphalt as they peeled out of the parking lot, the blaring car alarm fading behind them. But the damage was done. Walkers and its variants were emerging from buildings and alleyways, drawn by the noise. Some, seeing them, would shriek as if to call more of them.

"We've got company!" Alex shouted, spotting a group of three runners converging on their position. Glenn's knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he navigated the cluttered streets. "Hang on!" he yelled, swerving to avoid a pile-up of abandoned cars. The truck drifted, its rear end clipping the three runners and sending them spinning across the road, unmoving.

As they cleared the town limits, the horde thinned out behind them. Glenn eased off the gas, his breathing ragged. "Everyone okay?" he asked, glancing in the rearview mirror to make sure there wasn't a chase.

Daryl nodded, reloading his crossbow. "That was too damn close," he growled. "What the hell happened back there, Alex?" Alex swallowed hard, guilt washing over him. "I... I thought I could handle it. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put us in danger."

Glenn's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "You can't just rush in like that, man. We're a team. We look out for each other." The weight of Glenn's words hit him again and he gulped. Alex nodded, unable to meet his friend's eyes. "I know. It won't happen again." With frustration, Glenn nodded, "Yeah, I'll make sure of it." He promised, not saying anything else.

As they pulled up to the farm two hours later to make sure no runner or survivors were on their tail, Beth was the first to spot them. She ran towards the truck, relief evident on her face. "You're back!" she exclaimed, her eyes scanning Alex for any signs of injury.

Rick and Shane approached as they began unloading the supplies. "How'd it go?" Rick asked, noting the tension between the three men. "Not right now." Glenn ordered, walking in front of everyone to the middle of the yard. "Get your ass here Alex."

Shocked by the threat, Alex slowly walked up to his friend, with those who weren't inside getting out due to the commotion, while everyone else followed after Alex. "What's going on?" Dale asked, sitting on his RV with a bolt rifle.

"Glenn?" Rick called him, but the Asian's focus was Alex as he stopped in front of him, a meter away. Without any warning, Glenn lunged, a punch flew and connected with Alex's jaw.

As Glenn's fist connected with Alex's jaw, a collective gasp rippled through the gathered group. Alex stumbled backward, both from shock and the force of the blow. For a moment, stunned silence hung in the air.

"What the hell, Glenn?" Rick shouted, moving to intervene. But Daryl held him back, sensing this was something the two friends needed to work out. "No one interfere!" He shouted back, glaring at everyone. When the two former cops turned to him for explanation, Daryl spit to the side, glaring at the knocked back Alex. "It's time for him to man up."

Alex straightened, rubbing his jaw. "I deserved that," he said quietly. Glenn shook out his hand, his face a mix of anger and concern. "Yeah, you did. But I'm not done yet." Glenn's words hung in the air for a moment before he lunged forward again, this time landing a solid punch to Alex's stomach. Alex doubled over, the wind knocked out of him.

"You think you're the only one hurting?" Glenn shouted, his voice raw with emotion. "You think you're the only one who's dealing everything you're dealing with?!"

Alex straightened up, his eyes meeting Glenn's. For the first time in days, there was a spark of life in them. "I know," he gasped. "I know, Glenn. I just... I'm a doctor. I'm supposed to fix things. I'm supposed to be use-" Before he could end, "Shut the fuck up." Glenn interrupted with a growl, before throwing another punch, knocking Alex down.

"You call yourself a doctor?!" He asked with his voice raised high, looking down at the groaning Alex. "That's funny, cause last I remember, we didn't finish our studies." He crouched to grab him by the arm, making him stand on his feet again. "Last I remembered, doctors care about their patients." He pushed Alex, making him stumble back, before getting a hold of himself, that same flicker of life growing in him.

"And last I remembered, Doctors talk to their patients. They don't shut them out!" Glenn shouted, walking up to him to throw another punch. Something snapped inside Alex. All the pent-up emotion, the guilt, the fear - it all came rushing to the surface. With a yell, he tackled Glenn to the ground. They grappled in the dirt, trading blows, neither willing to back down.

With a kick, Alex broke the wrestling match and stood up with a bloody nose, but Glenn was faster, a scratch on his cheek due to the punch thrown by Alex wildly during the wrestle. "You think I don't care?!" Alex hissed with frustration, wiping his bloody nose with his forearm. "I care too much! That's the problem!"

The group watched in shock, unsure whether to intervene. Beth made a move to step forward, but Maggie held her back, understanding that this was something the two friends needed to work through.

Glenn charged forward, grabbing Alex by the shirt. "Then start acting like it!" he shouted, his face inches from Alex's. "Stop trying to be some kind of lone hero! We're in this together, man!"

Alex shoved Glenn back, his eyes blazing. "I have to be strong! Because at the end of the day, when one of you gets bitten or scratched, I HAVE TO END YOU!" His voice cracked on the last word, the pain he'd been holding back finally breaking through.

The words that blown away Glenn's frustration for a moment, a moment that Alex took and lunged at him, punching him in the face. The hit hurt him, and it hurt enough to flare him up as he steadied himself.

Seeing another punch coming to the side of his face, Glenn ducked instead of blocking it. The arm flew over his head, making Alex stumble. Taking his chance, he kicked his friend's leg, making him stumble and almost trip.

Before Alex could right himself, Glenn, fully committed, pressed his advantage. He rushed forward, tackling Alex to the ground. They rolled in the dirt, each trying to gain the upper hand.

"You think you're the only one who has to make tough choices?" Glenn grunted, pinning Alex down and throwing a punch to his face. "We all do!" Alex bucked, one of his hand shooting up and grabbing Glenn by his ear and pulling it away from himself. "FUCK MAN!" Glenn backed off, checking to see if he had an ear after that. Meanwhile, Alex scrambled to his feet, breathing heavily. "I can't... I can't let myself get close. It hurts too much when we lose people. This is easier." Glenn stood up, his stance ready for another attack. "And you think pushing us away makes it hurt less? Wake up, Alex! You're hurting people that care about you!"

Alex charged, throwing a wild haymaker that Glenn barely dodged. The momentum carried Alex forward, and Glenn used it to his advantage, grabbing Alex's arm and using his momentum to flip him onto his back.

"Oof!" Alex gasped as he hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of him. Glenn stood over him, panting. Just for being petty, he threw a kick at the downed Alex, another "oof" escaping him. "You done being an idiot yet? Cause I can do this all day." He told him, while being out of breath.

Alex lay there for a moment, staring up at the sky. The fight seemed to drain out of him, replaced by a weariness that went bone deep. "I... I don't know how to do this, Glenn. I thought it'd be easy. But things… it keeps piling up with no sign of ending." he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Glenn's expression softened. He reached down, offering Alex a hand up. "None of us do, man. But we figure it out together. That's the point." Alex hesitated for a moment before taking Glenn's hand. As he stood, Glenn pulled him into a fierce hug. "You're not alone in this, you stubborn idiot," Glenn muttered.

Rick stepped forward alongside Shane, his expression a mix of concern and relief. "You two done working out your issues?" Glenn and Alex exchanged a look before nodding. "Yeah," Glenn answered. "I think we're good now."

"Good," Rick said firmly. "Because we've got work to do. Let's get those supplies unloaded and see what we're working with."

While Kenny, Lee, and others went to unload the truck, Daryl walked up to the two panting friends. Alex, seeing him, opened his mouth, only to get interrupted.

"Oof!"

By a punch.

His head snapped back as he fell on his back, clutching his nose, while Daryl smirked, spitting to the side as Rick and Shane held him back. "What was that for?" Rick asked in concern. "His earlier comment." Was the short answer before the redneck walked to help unload the truck.

As the group dispersed to unload the truck and tend to their various tasks, Alex and Glenn found themselves sitting on the porch steps, both nursing their injuries. Beth approached with a first aid kit, her eyes wide with concern.

"Here," she said softly, handing Alex an ice pack for his swollen jaw. "Are you okay?" Alex winced as he pressed the ice to his face. "I'll live," he muttered, then glanced at Glenn. "Might need to work on my right hook, though." Glenn snorted, dabbing at his split lip with a cloth. "Yeah, and maybe learn to duck once in a while. Better yet, learn to fight. You fight like a little girl. I bet Clementine could beat your ass."

Though it was insulting, Alex couldn't help but snort at the picture of himself being under Clementine, and then full blown laugh with no sign of destress he had been carrying for the past week. After finally calming down, completely missing Glenn's question of where's his ice pack, to which Beth realized before giving him one as well from the bag she was carrying.

Beth looked between them, confusion evident on her face. "I don't understand. Why did you two fight like that?" Glenn and Alex exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them. "Sometimes," Glenn started, "friends need to knock some sense into each other. Literally."

Alex nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the pain. "And sometimes, you need to get knocked down to remember how to stand up again." Beth shook her head, but there was a hint of a smile on her face. "You boys are strange," she said, but her tone was affectionate.

As Beth tended to their wounds, Rick approached, his expression serious. "When you two are patched up, we need to talk about what you found out there. Any new information." Alex nodded, his mind already racing with plans and precautions and a grin on his face. "We'll be right there."

"Finally." Glenn muttered with a groan, leaning back into the steps of the porch. "I'd like a pretty lady to patch me up as well."

For his comment, he received a bag of something thrown to his face by a blushing Beth. "Rude." For that comment, he received a slap to his torso from the side, making him groan again. "See, just like a little girl." The next one was on the back of his head, making him shut up.

.

.

.

For a moment.

"So… When are you two getting together?"

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Author Note:

I really need feedback on if you guys mind or dont mind the rant here.

Anyway, sorry for the late upload. I really pushed myself hard yesterday that I blanked out everytime I opened my word document to continue writing. The block hit hard, but after taking a break, I kinda knew what to do.

I've seen the issue of me uploading a chapter but not seeing much progress in the story due to focusing on everyone's action and trying to make sure you guys know who's doing what. Which I think had me overwhelmed. I tried to speed up the plot with timeskip, as you can see in the beginning of this chapter, but I ran into another issue. Alex has been pretty distant towards most, if not, all farm members.

If I kill off a character in the future, there won't be any emotional impact and it'll seem... lame. As seen by Audrey, Audrea? IDK the blonde chick and T-Dog in this one. So, I tried to fix that problem in this chapter with Alex getting his ass beat by Glenn to knock some sense into him. Some of you might not like it, but I needed a plot reason as to why I'll suddenly SHOW his care to you guys.

I'm still trying to figure out how to make each characters impactful and have a connection with you readers so you're not reading a boring story. And with a cast this long, I'm really struggling. There are characters that I don't know how to tie them to Alex. What do I do in that situation? Do I give them a different POV? Like... idk. I'm really hitting a wall on that front.

Another issue is, I've kinda given up on the series. The plot has derailed too much for it to matter. I'll still try to watch it since I might discover an interesting location. But this is its own story now.

Next chapter more focused on the bonding between Alex and some of the characters that have fallen off my radar. Though there will be progression in the plot as well.

I hope this chapter was good, stay safe.

Author out.

PS: @LocalDrunk suggested me making books for each simulated arc instead of volume in this. Which I think is a good idea. The only issue I have with it is do I start from "zero" or do you want me to keep his progression. If keeping his progression, it means new readers of the new book will have to check walking dead book first before reading the next one to understand things. And that might turn them off. If you guys have an alternative suggestion, I'm open to it.

PSS: I also have to change my promise. 80 powerstone by the end of today (meaning in 3 hours), and I upload at least 2 chapters of 5k words instead of 3 chapters of 4k words.