CHAPTER TWELVE || THE FIRST RESCUE

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"the prison!" Glenn stepped forward panic etched on his face as the man pressed the gun against Alex's head. he couldn't hold it back anymore, he wouldn't be able to live with himself if They hurt her. if they killed her, right in front of him. he couldn't let that happen.

"the one near Nunez" Merle questioned looking between the two, Glenn nodded his lip trembling slightly looking at Alex his swollen face making Alex's chest constrict, the pain from his injuries making it difficult for him to stand straight... Alex's eyes flickered over his body taking in how badly he'd been beaten, her heart consumed with pain. 

"that place is overrun" The man questioned his Gun still against Alex's head wanting confirmation. Alex's heart raced as she thought of Carl, The baby. They had to leave. she had to get them somewhere safe... and that was not at the prison. 

"We took it" Glenn stated his voice wavering, Alex sighed looking at Glenn, his bloodied lips and nose having stained his neck and face with blood. she wanted to tell him everything was okay... but it wasn't. 

"how many of you?" Merle questioned amusement lacing his voice as Alex readjusted her arms to better cover her chest, she answered: "10"

"10 people cleared the whole prison of biters" he lowered his gun in disbelief, Glenn letting out a sigh of relief the gun no longer lined up with Alex's head. the stress, and the sight of Glenn bringing a tear to Alex's eye. the governor noticed as the tear slipped down Alex's cheek and gently wiped it away hushing her,  Glenn watched as guilt consumed him, unsure of what the Governor had subjected Alex to, but by the sight of her, he knew it wasn't good. He couldn't protect her. The Governor cupped Alex's cheeks, pulling her into his chest. The stern look on her face faltered as nausea seeped into her stomach. She felt dirty, the disgusting trail he'd left on her skin burning as he kissed her head.

Glenn's heart raced as he used all of his self-restraint not to lunge forward and attack the man, despite how much he wanted to. He knew that would just put Alex in more danger. A scowl on Glenn's face as the Governor smirked at him before pushing Alex towards him. Glenn pulled Alex into his arms.

 One arm wrapped around her waist while the other rested against her back, his hands holding her against his body tightly. Alex gripped his shirt, her bare chest against the material as she felt relief wash over her, tears pooling in her eyes. The warmth coming from Glenn's body was enough to give her an ounce of comfort after what she'd been subjected to. So many emotions rushed through her body.

She clung to him, thankful he was alive. He buried his face into her neck, tears coming to his eyes as the tears rolling down Alex's cheeks stained his shirt. Memories flashed before her eyes. What the Governor had done was all too familiar. The door of the cell closed as the two were left alone.

They stayed in each other's arms for a while, letting the initial shock subside. Alex clung to him she didn't want to let go, the pain in her chest almost unbearable as Glenn slowly pulled himself away, averting his gaze to preserve Alex's dignity. He looked off to the side, lost in thought. He then took off his shirt and handed it over to her. Alex took it and pulled it over her head. The past few days had triggered memories of her past, and she took a deep breath, hoping it wouldn't trigger her PTSD, but she knew better...

"Thank you," she whispered her voice barely audible yet laced with pain. Glenn looked down at her and nodded his brown eyes glued to hers as he examined her for injuries guilt forming deep within his stomach, his hand gently caressing her cheek. He noticed a small bruise forming on the side of her face.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly. guilt flooding through his veins upon examining the bruise, Alex shook her head. She wasn't hurt. not physically. but mentally there were now three wounds open, this experience opening one she thought she'd closed 2 years prior.

Alex's arms wrapped around her waist as if giving herself a hug as she walked over to the wall, slowly sitting down, Glenn followed sitting next to her. His blood-stained face making Alex's heart ache as the two leaned against the wall. glenn's eyes trained on the women he wanted to protect.

the silence lingered between the two, the pain they'd suffered clung to them like bees to honey. Alex was consumed by her own thoughts, Lori, What she had just experienced, Eli. her own brain tormented her. The human brain is truly the scariest thing of all.

Silence consumed them as Glenn turned to Alex, his heart ached as he looked her up and down catching a  glimpse at her wrists, the skin torn and bruised from where she had been tugging at the restraints, taking her hands in his he examined her wrists, his touch was gentle, soft. 

"I'm okay..." Alex whispered taking his hand, their fingers intertwined without a second thought as he looked up meeting her eyes, a mutual sadness hung in the air as Glenn nodded, the silence returning... processing that was the worst part. sitting with your thoughts as you take in everything that happened, that was always the worst part. Glenn's head rested against the wall as he finally broke the silence with a burning question. one that would break him, one that had tormented him in the silence of the room.

"Alex... Did he-"

"no. no." Alex cut him off before he could even say the word that made her shudder, the ghost of the governor's hands on her body still fresh. as well as someone else's. her stomach churning as she thought back to it, any of it. 

"He barely touched me.. all this time, fighting, running from walkers. You forget what people do... but I'll never forget," she said, her blue eyes consumed with pain as she turned her head to look at him, Glenn's jaw clenched tight, his expression filled with anger.

"Look at what they did to you.." Her shaky hand came up to brush a few strands of his hair off of his forehead, examining his bruised, swollen skin. Her hand gently rested on his cheek as she examined his face, littered with bruises and blood. 

"Doesn't matter... as long as he didn't," Glenn said, his eyes glued to hers. Their faces were inches apart, and the trauma hung between them as Alex shook her head. Glenn's eyes filled with pain and anger, and his jaw was clenched tight at even the thought of someone touching her.

"He didn't. I promise," Alex said, her voice shaky, broken as she looked into Glenn's beautiful brown eyes. She saw the pain and anger in his eyes, and her heart ached for him. She gently brushed her fingers over his bruised cheek, and he closed his eyes for a moment, savouring her touch. When he opened them again, he admired her.

Her hand remained on the side of his face as their red-rimmed eyes connected again. Leaning closer, they closed the gap between them. Their lips connected softly, and Glenn tasted the metallic tang of his own blood in his mouth. Yet Alex's lips were warm and soft, inviting and she could feel the soft tickle of his breath beneath her nose. Her fingers ran through the soft hairs at the nape of his neck.

Alex's warmth consumed him, it was dizzying. His hand laid weakly on her hip, sending butterflies through her stomach as their lips connected for the first time. It wasn't a kiss of passion, but rather one of affection. They were both so thankful that the other was alive, and the relief they felt in each other's grasp was intoxicating. Glenn felt like he was drowning in her, and he never wanted to come up for air.

Pulling away, Alex leant her forehead against Glenn's, breathless. Glenn pulled Alex into his arms, and she accepted the hug, leaning into him. Her arm went around his bare torso, and for the first time in a long time, she felt that comfort, a sliver of that safety that came with his arms. it was what she needed, it reminded her she wasn't alone, he was with her, alive.

Glenn slowly pulled away, trying to get up. A pained groan left his lips as he gripped onto his ribs, standing up. Hearing the pain-filled sounds leave his mouth reminded Alex of a scream she'd never forget. She looked at Glenn with concern, She felt a pang in her chest when she saw the way he was holding his ribs. Glenn was trying to be strong for her, but she could see the pain in his eyes. She wanted to take away his pain, to make everything better, but she knew she couldn't. she'd take his pain in an instant if she could.

"Be careful" Alex warned not wanting him to hurt himself further, she watched as Glenn walked over to the body of a walker he'd killed earlier in the cell. His bruised torso caught Alex's attention, her eyes fixated on his injuries as he grabbed the walker's arm, His foot firmly against the walker's chest as he groaned pulling the walker's arm, bones cracking as he pulled the limb off the body.

"argh," He groaned in pain again as he snapped the arm, Alex getting up concern filling her eyes not having seen this side of him before as he pulled the bone out of the walker's arm. Passing Alex a piece of the snapped bone to use as a weapon she looked up at him, worry filled her eyes the clear agony he was in enough to fill her with rage stronger than before. Taking hold of the bone she noticed his jaw had begun to swell, her whole body wanting nothing more to get him back safe.

**

Alex stood beside Glenn the sharp bones in their hands as they heard the click of the metal lock within the door. The door opened and the pair lunged toward the Merle and one of the governor's soldiers. Alex's knuckles came into contact with the man's nose as he fell back. Glenn knocking Merle back against the wall. Alex wedged the sharp bone into the man's neck sending a blood splatter across her face. adrenaline running on high despite the exhaustion.

Merle's elbow connected with Glenn's face making him fall back as Alex pulled the bone from the man's neck, his finger pressing the trigger of the automatic weapon as he fell to the floor, bullets flying. Alex's heart raced As she caught sight of Merle overpowering Glenn's injured body, the knife on Merle's prosthetic hand pressed against Glenn's throat as she reached for the automatic weapon gripping hold of it she pointed the gun at Merle.

"Let him go. Now." sweat beaded on her forehead as Merle pressed the blade down on Glenn's neck. Adrenaline pumping through her veins seeing that smirk on Merle's face again, her heart racing as his demeanour changed and a look of defeat shone in Glenn's eyes. 

"okay" he muttered pulling the knife away a false sense of relief washing over her. until she heard the clock of a gun behind her. Turning her head. More of the governor's men behind her. Cursing under her breath she threw the gun to the floor. Within seconds Alex and Glenn were ordered to their knees, Merle tormenting the pair as he walked a circle around them.

"Glad we could catch up" Merle scoffed, Glenn's hand slipped into Alex's clammy one. her eyes darted to his as she squeezed his hand in an attempt to reassure him, he reciprocated coping her actions, they weren't alone... they had each other... 

"just keep looking at me" he whispered before a bag was slipped over her head the same happening to Glenn as Merle ordered them to stand up, Alex heard a pained groan escape his lips as he got to his feet. The governor's men led The pair out of the room. blinded by the bags. Alex heard a familiar sound before multiple bangs left her ears ringing. the sound triggering her fight or fight mode.

Seconds later she felt a strong pair of hands on her shoulders as a familiar southern accent rang through her ears, pulling the bag off her head she saw Daryl leading her away, relief flooded through her veins as she laid eyes on the familiar redneck.

'you alright kid?" the redneck asked as he lead her, her vision blurred, shaking her head still disorientated from the bag that had covered her eyes and adrenaline. Her uncle was beside her with Glenn as they rushed out of the building relief setting in.

Wrapping an arm around Glenn's waist she helped him walk as her uncle ushered them into a small building across the street from where they'd been held captive. Glenn's weak body collapsed onto the floor the pain and exhaustion taking over. Alex bent down next to him checking he was okay as Rick spoke.

"how bad are you two hurt?" he asked Gun raised in the direction of the door Daryl doing the same with his crossbow followed by Oscar. hoping they could make their escape quickly... safely. 

"I'll be alright" Glenn stated through gritted teeth. gripping his midsection Alex took hold of his hand looking up to her uncle as Daryl scouted the building for a way out, the tension in the air was thick as Alex looked up to her uncle, their eyes connected as they shared a mutual look, despite glenns words they both know he couldn't travel far alone...

Alex's focus Purely on Glenn drowning out the conversation of the rest of the group. Alex's eyes laid on a zip-up hoodie quickly grabbing from behind him, she shook the piece of clothing before she helped Glenn put his arms through, the boy groaning in the process.

"Daryl. this was Merle" Glenn spoke between winces as Alex helped him put the hoodie on his bruised body, to give him some type of comfort and protection as she zipped up the clothing her thoughts remained purely on him.

"you saw him?" Rick questioned in disbelief, Glenn confirmed. Alex's concentration still fixed on the injured boy, as his breathing finally began returning to normal as Alex's hand laid on his leg her eyes flickering between him and her uncle.

"so my brothers this 'governor'?" Daryl asked stepping forward, the disbelief evident on his face. crossbow still in hand as he processed Glenn's words.. his brother was alive... 

"no he's his right hand" Alex scoffed looking up at Daryl, she couldn't believe his brother could be capable of something like this. Hurting Glenn the way he had. these were the reasons why Alex was so distrustful. why Alex had warned Glenn of his own generosity.

"he know i'm still with you" Daryl questioned which only received a nod from Alex. She hadn't even began to process what happened, Dealing with her anger, her flashbacks. that worried her. she wanted to get out of this town... forget it ever happened. 

"he does now. rick, i'm sorry. we told him where the prison was we couldn't hold out" The pair shared an overwhelming amount of guilt for letting up the location of their camp, Putting everyone in danger. Carl, Beth, Carol, the baby..

"don't. no need to apologise." He shook his head walking over to the pair, his hand landing on Alex's shoulder relieved he got to her on time. he lost his wife, he could not leave his niece. his hand gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze as his eyes darted over his niece's face looking for injuries, worry consumed him... and the relief she was okay was overwhelming. 

"can you walk?" Rick questioned his eyes shifting from Alex to look at Glenn, who insisted he was okay. Both Rick and Alex helping him to his feet as Daryl spoke about needing to see his brother. Alex held Glenn up as her Uncle Reasoned with Daryl getting him to agree to help get Alex and Glenn back to the prison. Alex liked Daryl, but if he wanted to leave after everything... fuck him.

**

Everything was a blur, Smoke, Bullets flying. Alex supported Glenn's body weight while shooting rounds towards the governors men as Rick led them out. Rick covering, shooting rounds as Oscar helped Alex and Glenn over the wall. it was a mess, she could barely grasp what was going on... her training had completely gone out the window as she focused on getting glenn to safety.

Alex turned her back for a second helping glenn over and when she looked back Oscar was on the floor, Blood pooling around his midsection. cursing she looked back to see her uncle still in the cross fire. her  heart racing... another life lost, because of  her...

"Rick!" Alex yelled hearing Glenn Call her name, She shook her head shouting her uncles name again making him turn and head for the Wall. Alex looked down at Oscars body Aiming her gun at his head she pulled the trigger Before rushing over to Glenn helping him scale down the rest of the wall.

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a/n - lowkey this chapter is ass even though i've editted it so sorry and  for some reason my computer is laggy asf  also i have grammerly cause im dyslexic as fuck, and it keeps auto correcting the names wrong for some reason. im trying proofread best i can but things do still slip through the cracks anyway  id love to hear what  you think of the  story  so far!