Shambles- The Walking Dead [Alden x Maggie] [1/2]

13- One of us

Alden woke up groggily and looked up at the ceiling. He didn't know where he was, but because of his headache he didn't care much. He blocked out most of the light with the crook of his elbow. "Fuck," he groaned softly.

Maggie had Alden brought to Spencer's vacant home as soon as more and people started to recognize him. She didn't want anyone else to go after him and the only safe solution was to take him away.

"And he's awake," Sasha said. "Here." She handed him a rag doused in cold water.

Alden took it, sat up and pressed it down on the side of his forehead. He felt nauseous as soon as he moved his head and the world spun around him. "Oh, I feel sick," he mumbled as he closed his eyes again, cradling his head. "Rick sure as hell knows how to throw a punch."

"You're probably concussed," Maggie insisted.

The nausea ebbed away a bit when he stopped moving and he opened his eyes again. He looked up at her. "I'll be fine, just give me a minute."

"You're gonna need more than a minute," she shot back. "Sasha, make sure he doesn't leave the house and get the crap beaten out of him again." She didn't give him the space to reply as she left.

He leaned back into the couch and watched Sasha sit down in one of the armchairs opposite of him. "I'm kinda done being everyone's punching bag." He sighed as he continued to press the cold rag against his face. "Everyone's allowed to be mad. Hell, I understand why they're mad as hell at me, but I don't know if I can take another beating."

"Maggie made it clear to Rick and the others that it's up to her to decide what to do with you," she explained.

"That sounds pretty ominous." He tipped his head down. Another wave of nausea washed over him and he waited for it to eb away again. "Maggie's going to need you, Sasha. Glenn's gone. Beth and Hershel didn't make it. She's going to need someone to look out for her." He saw that she looked confused. He shook his head slightly and continued, "I'd look out for her myself. Glenn saved my life, I owe them both that much. But we both know that's not an option, not now at least."

"No, I know that. But what do you think I've been doing?" She shifted slightly. "It's an odd thing for you to note and ask."

"Sorry," he mumbled. "It's just that I feel like I have to look out for her because I'm the reason Glenn's gone." He held a short pause. "She held a gun to my head. And for a second there I really thought she was going to shoot me. That's not how I remember Maggie."

"None of us are the same anymore, Alden."

He closed his eyes again, "no, we're not. But maybe, hopefully, when this is all over, the people we used to be can make a return."

They traveled back to Hilltop the next morning. The Kingdom's people also followed because it was on the way. Some from Alexandria also came with to pick up the children they had brought to Hilltop for children. They had already nearly reached Hilltop.