The Walking Dead: The Shane Walsh Alternative (Season 2)

Fort Benning Guard Duty: Part I

As Belle and I start to head towards the main entrance Beth stops me. "You should have that taken care of, Glenn's wound too. I can sew you up good as new." She takes my hand and leads me to the corner of the room where she has a small medical bag. She looks through it for a few seconds before retrieving a needle and thread. "You know what you're doing with that?" I ask. "Yeah, my dad was a vet. I learned from him." She explains. This is good. Beth has medical training from a war veteran. "What branch was he in?" I follow up. "Not that kind of vet. He was a veterinarian." She smiles slightly. I wasn't ready for that carpet sweep of an answer. Nevertheless I let her stitch me up and after just a few minutes she's done. "All set Mr. Walsh." She announces. "Just Shane please. Thanks for your help. Feels better already." I respond, before leaving out with Belle to start our watch.

For the first hour of watch, Belle sits just outside the main entrance with her back against the wall. Her legs bent so that her knees point up, allowing her to put her head down. She hasn't done much as far as the actual watch is concerned. Neither have I to be honest. I've spent most of the time watching her. Trying to get inside of her head. I can't imagine what she could be thinking right now. I assume it's about the events from earlier, but with someone that has a past like hers, it could be a number of things. I feel bad for her, and even though it sounds silly, almost responsible for her well being. I feel like I HAVE to help her. Maybe this is how Daryl thinks of that Beth girl. "How ya feelin'?" I ask Belle. "Good." her response is muffled as she doesn't lift her head from her lap. "I just want you to know, you can talk to me if something's bothering you." I tell her. As if I could offer her anything. I've never been THAT person, but she makes me want to try at least.

A few more quiet hours breeze by before I sit down next to Belle. "Ya know, before all this happened, when I was still a deputy, me and my partner Rick worked in King County. A small town outside of Atlanta. Nothing crazy ever happened there, it was an easy job. Well one day we're eatin' lunch, when we get a call over dispatch. Cops from a neighboring town were chasing two suspects who were headed for King County. So we set up a road block with fellow deputies Leon and Lambert. As the car is approaching, the perps notice us and try to go off road, but they react too late. They hit the spike strip, flipping their car over. The two guys come out shooting. We take 'em down but not before one hits Rick. Luckily it didn't get past his vest, but as he turns around to talk to me, a third guy comes out of the car shooting. Hits Rick in the back, before I put a few bullets in him. I think about that day all the time." I tell Belle.

"Did he die?" She asks. "No. It put him in a coma though. I went to see him every day. I never had a family of my own, just like you. His family treated me like one of theirs though. Made me feel like I belonged somewhere. When the geek apocolypse was starting, I went to the hospital to get him, but there wasn't anything I could do. I left him there, and rescued his family, Lori and Carl." I continue. Belle gives me a look of realisation. "Why are you telling me this?" She asks. "I needed to tell someone, felt good to talk about it." I explain, hoping to get her to open up. "You guys were close huh?" She inquires. "Yeah, he was my best friend since highschool. Forget all that, what's goin' on Belle? I need you sharp. Don't let that Pete situation bring you down." I encourage.

"That's not what's bothering me." Belle says. I look at her awaiting further response. "It's ME. When I was in foster care, I played the big sister for a lot of the younger orphans. I used to look out for them and protect them from some of the much bigger bullies at the orphanage. I've fended off guys and girls my whole life showing no fear, but today was different. I was scared, I couldn't fend for myself. I felt helpless. I've never felt like that before. It was like there was nothing I can do. I just kept thinking.. I'm going to be taken, and who knows what happens to me afterwards if they had succeeded. I never did thank you for that. You may've very well saved my life. Thanks Shane." She says as she leans her head against my shoulder. "Don't mention it Belle." I put my arm around her and gently rub her arm.

As our watch comes to an end I tell Belle it's time for bed but she's already fallen asleep. I figure I'll be nice and not wake her. Instead I pick her up and carry her back inside of the fort to the sleeping quarters. As I lay her down, Lori and Carl enter, followed by Andrea and Pete. "Anybody see anything?" I ask. Everyone shakes their heads. We wake up the rest of the group so that they can start their shift. Lori and I, exhausted, lay down in our bed and quickly fall asleep together.

Rick!

I'm alright!

I saw you get tagged man. It scared the hell out of me.

Me too. Son of a bitch shot me. You believe that?

He got you in your new vest.

Yeah. Shane, you do not tell Lori that happened. Ever. You understand... Aah!

Rick! Rick! No, no, no! Shh, shh, shh. No, no, no, no... He's hurt! Leon! You get that ambulance down here, you tell them there's an officer down, you do it now! Shh, shh, shh, hey, you look at me, stay with me, you hear me? Shh, shh. okay. Shh, shh, stay with me, you hear me? Shh, shh, ok? You stay with me, ok?

I wake up breathing heavily and sweating. I notice the sun glaring in through our windows. It's morning. Before I can do anything, Carol, Sophia, Glenn, and Dale come rushing frantically into the room. "What the hell is going on?" I ask the group, but nobody is answering me. I give Glenn a serious look. "Tell me Glenn!" I say a bit agitated "Daryl and Beth are gone!"