"So, Fort Benning is standing?" Daryl asks. "Yeah, it's not the military safe zone we thought it was, but it works. We have power, water, food, shelter. It's pretty nice compared to living on a hill." I joke. "Yeah I bet. The farm was nice too while it lasted. I'm gonna miss those dinners. Speakin' of the hill, what happened?" Daryl inquires. I shoot him a serious look. "Me, Glenn, T-Dog, and Andrea went lookin' for you and Merle. When we got back the camp was in shambles. We lost Jim, Jacqui, Ed, Amy, and Morales' family that night. Lost T-Dog shortly after." Daryl puts his head down. "I'm sorry, man. I was on my way back when Merle.. we could've--" I stop him. "I don't wanna hear it. What's done, is DONE."
"Beth, what was your father's name?" I change the subject. "Hershel." She responds. "Daryl said he was collecting geeks in the barn, because he thought they were sick people. You know better now, right?" I follow up. "Yeah." She answers. "You don't talk much do you? That's okay, as long as you know how to listen." I say with a joking smile. She doesn't think I'm funny. She gives me an unimpressed, mundane look. "She hasn't said much since the farm got overrun. She tried to kill herself, but she lost her nerve. I showed her how to handle a crossbow while we were on our own, she's pretty good. Just don't have an extra one to give her." Daryl says. "We have a girl at camp, Belle, around her age. Maybe she can get her to open up a bit." I tell Daryl.
After a few minutes we return to Fort Benning with Daryl and Beth, and enter the main post where, Lori, Carl, Sophia, Carol, Dale, and Belle are all gathered. "What the hell is HE doing here!?" Lori starts screaming. "Hey, it's okay." I try to calm her down. "No. No it isn't okay. He ROBBED us and left us, and now he's back?" She continues. "I said it's okay. HE'S okay. You're gonna have to trust me on this." She shakes her head defiantly and briskly leaves the main post. "Well I'm glad you're back. Who's your new friend?" Carol asks Daryl as she takes him by the hand and leads him and Beth off to the side to catch up. Carl gives me a look of disappointment before also leaving the main post in a similar fashion as his mother.
"Mind explainin' what the hell is goin' on here?" Belle asks me. "Long story short, him and his brother were part of our original group. His brother robbed us while he was out hunting. They met up in the woods and disappeared with our stuff." I answer. "Oh. And he's back, why?" She adds. "You gonna get on my case too? It was MY decision, I'll keep my eye on him. He seems honest about having nothing to do with the situation and he's an asset to us. People you KNOW, are hard to find these days, don't wanna just send him packin'. Plus, the girl looks like she could use a hand. She's just a kid." I explain. "So much for your 'people are a burden speech, huh." She says before grabbing her skateboard and heading outside.
I'd like to see anyone else make these decisions and LIVE with them. These people all depend on me to lead them and protect them, and have the nerve to put me down when I do something they wouldn't have. In this case I'm being shunned for something that everyone thinks MIGHT happen. See, everyone thinks being a leader is about making tough decisions, it's not. It's about being able to live with them, whether they're right or wrong, and keep making them for what you think is the good of the group. It's taking on, and bearing all the guilt and criticism that comes with the unpopular decisions, without folding. It takes a strong will to really LEAD. Something I believe nobody else in this group has.
Fed up, I leave the main post and head towards the housing building where Lori is. I enter and see Lori and Carl sitting and talking on a bed. "Hey, can we talk?" I ask her. "Carl, go play with Sophia." Carl does as his mother asks. "I'm sorry Lor. I--" I start before she cuts in. "No I'm sorry. You've put your own life at risk over and over for me and Carl. I know you're doing your best. Nobody could've been ready for this world. I don't think I could ever get used to this. I've been thinking, how is this going to effect Carl? He can't possibly grow up 'normal' now can he? He should be playing video games, and playing with friends. Instead he's learning how to shoot and kill monsters." She starts crying. "I'm scared, Shane." I hug her closely. "There's nothing to be scared of." I assure her. "I'm pregnant." She says through tears.
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The Walking Dead: The Shane Walsh Alternative (Season 2)
FanfictionWe've followed Shane and his group as they fled the hilltop camp outside of Atlanta. We've followed them as they made their way to the King County Sheriff's Department. We've followed them to what was left of the Center for Disease Control. With lit...
