CHAPTER FOUR|| THE REAL DISCOVERY

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Rick, Daryl, and Alex rushed back to the cars, ushering everyone back to where they had found the prison. excitement on high, the group had many questions that were left unanswered until Rick cut a gap through the first fence leading to the prison towers. The group squeezed through the fence. Alex stood behind Glenn as he squeezed through. He then held the wired metal fence open for Alex so she could fit through without a scratch, his selflessness taking Alex by surprise once again.

"Thank you," she offered a small smile as she squeezed through the fence, looking up at Glenn he nodded as she continued walking following her uncle and the rest of the group as Daryl and Glenn began tying the hole in the fence closed again to ensure no more walkers could make their way in. Rushing to the gate that separated them from the walkers, the group came to a stop. Alex stopped next to Glenn as everyone looked at her uncle for answers.

"If we can shut that gate, prevent more from filling the yard, we can pick off these walkers, take this by the night" Rick exclaimed, gun in hand. Alex nodded, agreeing. She knew Lori didn't have long until she was going to have the baby. if they could pick off the walkers, and set up camp in the field, maybe, just maybe it would be safe until then.

"How do we shut the gate?" Hershel asked, looking at Rick. Justas rick was about to speak and answer the older man's question, the boy stood beside Alex cut him off;

"I'll do it. You guys cover me," Glenn spoke, only for Alex to shake her head. He was good, but he hadn't proven he was that good, at least not to Alex. She didn't want to risk anyone else's lives trying to do this, shed lost too much already... the guilt ate at her, Eli's death ate at her.. she was not going to allow someone else to get hurt if she could do something about it.

"No I'll go," Alex spoke firmly, making Glenn turn his head towards her in surprise before looking back to Rick. Glenn would do anything for the good of the group, even if it meant putting himself in danger.

"I'm the fastest," Glenn tried to argue, but Alex wasn't willing to take the risk. She didn't know if he could make it, especially after the group had been rationing their food supply, so their energy levels would be low.

"No.. I'll go," Alex countered, and Rick, Lori, and Glenn all looked at her as she pulled her gun from her body, the strap of the rifle coming off from around her as she went to hand it to Glenn as his eyes widened in surprise he shook his head.

"No. Glenn, Maggie, and Beth draw as many as you can over there. Pop 'em through the fence," Rick pointed to the other side of the fence meters away from the gate. Alex sighed as her uncle shut down her idea in seconds. Glenn listened to her uncle's instructions, returning her gun to its rightful place. she wanted to prove herself, prove to the group she was valuable, and needed. She needed to feel like her being with them had meaning.

"Daryl, Alex, head to the tower over there. Carol, you've become quite a good shot. Take your time; we don't have a lot of ammo left. Hershel, you and Carl take this tower," Rick ordered. Alex didn't need to hear anything else; she followed Daryl to the second guard tower. she held her gun tightly in her hand checking the ammo she had left in her rifle, her heart racing. this had to work out.

She followed Daryl into the guard tower. once they reached the top of the guard tower her eyes darted across the land beneath them, the walkers roaming behind the fences, Glenn, T-dog, Maggie the rest of the group in their positions ready to make this possible. Her heart raced Rick had to make this.

"We got this," Alex nodded with a smirk, looking towards Daryl before raising her gun and looking down into the yard, preparing to look down her scope she took a  deep breath trying to clear her mind.

"hell yeh, we do" Daryl grunted, raising his crossbow. The familiar feeling of combat flickered in her mind, but it was quickly replaced with memories of her losses. The military was both the worst and best decision of her life.

Alex's heart raced as she watched Rick navigate the yard, dodging walkers left and right. She traced his surroundings for walkers, her military training kicking in. As Rick ran, she noticed a walker approaching him from behind. Without hesitation, she lined up her scope, took a breath, and pressed her finger on the trigger. Bang. The walker fell to the ground, lifeless.

She continued to take out the walkers one by one, sending at least seven of them to the floor. Rick finally reached the second gate and closed it off, preventing any more walkers from filling the yard. After another shot, Alex watched as Rick ran into the guard tower in the yard closest to the prison. she let out a sigh of relief knowing he was safe, at least for the time being.

"Light it up!" Daryl yelled, signalling for everyone to shoot the remaining walkers. Alex pulled herself away from the scope for a second to look at the yard. It didn't seem like they had made even a dent in the number of walkers inside. Taking a deep breath, she lined up her eye with the scope again, finding another walker. She did the same as the last, treating it like target practice. After shooting at least another ten walkers, she pulled away from the scope, looking down into the yard. Bodies. So many bodies. Walkers. All dead. They did it.

Smiling, she looked over at Daryl, and he nodded with a slight smile. They had done it. The pair headed back down to the gate where Rick had originally gone into the prison yard. her heart rate finally slowed down as the adrenaline wore down and was replaced with excitement. She caught sight of Glenn, the look on his face one she hadn't seen before. pure happiness. The adrenaline rushing through her veins reminded her of who she was before all of this happened, reminding her of her best friend.

"I didn't know you were such a good shot," Glenn stated with a cheerful smile as he walked up to Alex, she chuckled softly letting her gun fall to her hip as a small smile tugged at her lips as they walked into the yard.

"I told you I was a sniper," she shrugged, a small smile on her face as they walked. Looking around, she admired the space they had, the fences they had. That added safety. The smile on Alex's face grew as she looked around in disbelief, the laughs from other members of the group filled her ears an unfamiliar warmth pooling in her chest.

"You did good," Glenn smiled as they walked. Carol and Carl were both ecstatic as they ran through the grass. Seeing her cousin grinning ear to ear made her heart swell with happiness, it didn't feel real. the past week hadn't felt real. 

 A small growl caught Alex's attention before she could attack, Glenn did. He was faster. running up to the walker that was raising its head from the ground, Glenn's foot found its place on the walker's back pushing it back into the floor. the pole in his hand coming down to penetrate the walker's head, Glenn's muscles flexing as he killed the walker.  a pool of blood now on the floor surrounding the thing's head, it fell limp, as Glenn pulled the pole out of its head before making his way back over to Alex.

"so did you" She smiled, maybe he wasn't as innocent as she initially thought he was, his actions taking the ex-soldier by surprise. Maybe he was capable, maybe they all were. 

T-Dog's laughs filled the air as they walked further into the yard admiring the space. Glenn and Alex went straight to start Clearing the walkers, working as a team they began clearing a camping ground. And for the first time in a long time, Alex felt a sense of hope, not being able to help the smile that tugged at her lips as she caught sight of her family's smiles.

Alex tried picking up a Dead walker alone, but her weakened muscles and the pure dead weight didn't work well together, Glenn chuckled rushing over and grabbing the walker's ankles so they could carry it together.

"I guess you do need help sometimes," Glenn smiled jokingly. Alex scoffed with a smile shaking her head as they carried the walker over to the pile they'd created, relief rushing through her veins now that they finally had somewhere for Lori to have the baby.

"Not to burst your bubble, but I'm pretty sure I'm stronger than you," she joked, yet in reality she was serious. as they threw the walker onto the pile, making Glenn chuckle and raise his brow not convinced by her words.

"Is that you saying you want to do this alone?" Glenn asked as he wiped his clammy hands on his pant leg as he walked up to the next walker. Alex followed, shaking her head. They did the same. Alex grabbed the walker's shoulders as Glenn grabbed its ankles, using their combined strength to pick the walker up and carry it over to the pile.

"I'm definitely stronger," Glenn smiled as the two threw the walker onto the pile. Alex scoffed with a smile, shaking her head as they walked over to another walker. She didn't want to sound full of herself, but she was confident in her strength, at least when she'd been eating more than recently.

"Maybe we'll find out someday" she smiled, the silence soon returned as Rick and Daryl began helping clear some of the Walkers out of the way so they could set up a camp. when the space was finally clear enough the group could sleep comfortably without the smell of rotten flesh, T-dog started a fire as the daylight faded quickly.

Daryl volunteered to keep watch, so everyone else could get some rest. Alex offered to help, but Daryl insisted. So she sat around the campfire, everyone's happy chatter and laughter filling her ears. watching her aunt and cousin was enough for another thankful smile to grow on her face. how had she gotten lucky enough to survive?

Dinner was quickly made and portions were handed out and again, Alex gave up her food to Lori, she needed it more than her. at least that's how it worked In Alex's mind. she needed to keep them well-fed, she needed to make sure they were okay. Lori watched her niece with loving eyes thankful to have her back, the family was finally whole again. 

Glenn had offered Alex some of his food again, wanting her to eat, he'd noticed how the lack of food had affected her strength, he could see it everyone could. but again Alex declined his offer not wanting to take his food, not wanting anyone to worry about her.

Glenn savoured the last bite of meat off one of the bones, Sarcastically joking, "Mmm Just like Mom used to make" Alex smiled, huddled up in her army jacket as she sat by the fire. As the group erupted into laughter, happiness radiating through the group. 

Glenn looked over to Alex having now noticed her patterns of how she sits, how she presents herself and hands her the last pieces of his meal, a few pieces of meat left. she gently pushes his wrist away shaking her head, his brown eyes laced with  concern for the girl he barely knew as his gaze softened

"Alex, please, just that," he whispered. His voice was gentle and caring, something Alex wasn't used to. he noticed her hesitance as she finally gave in due to the desperation in his voice and the caring look on his face. There was something so different about him.

Alex had tried not to speak to anyone in the group, not get attached to them. Yet somehow she had already formed a bond with Daryl and had been talking to Glenn. Glenn was definitely different. He was almost like a breath of fresh air. His presence was somehow refreshing to Alex. Maybe it was the way he acted or the way he had treated her with so much respect in the short time she had known him. Or maybe it was just the lack of human interaction and the lack of attention from being alone for such a long time.

"The soil is good. We could grow some tomatoes, and cucumbers," Hershel smiled, rubbing a little bit of soil between his fingers to get a feel for the area as Alex bit into the meat Glenn had given her, her stomach immediately rumbling for more food as she swallowed the first piece of meat, her hunger finally becoming apparent. 

"That's his third time around. If there was any part of it compromised, he would've found it by now," Hershel added, looking over to Rick, making Alex turn her head to look at her uncle. watching as he walked the perimeter of the fences for the third time looking for any reason the place would be unsafe.

"This'll be a good place to have the baby," Beth's cheerful voice sounded in the background as she tried to distract from Rick's obvious hesitance. 

"He'll be okay," Glenn smiled, his hand resting on Alex's back, making her tense under his touch and lose her train of thought. She froze in place as Beth's voice echoed through her ears as she started to sing, the brunette's eyebrows furrowed as she finally tore her eyes away from her uncle and finished eating the small piece of meat Glenn had given her.

For some reason, Beth's voice brought Alex back, making her relax into Glenn's attempt to comfort her. Turning to look at him, she smiled with a nod, sitting back in a comfortable position. His warm hand lingered on her back as the cold air sent a shiver down her spine, making the look in his eye change.

"Cold?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper as Beth sang in the background. Alex shook her head, another shiver going through her body, disagreeing with her words as Glenn's brows furrowed together.

"Come here?" he questioned, his voice wavered almost unsure of himself as he raised his arm slightly inviting Alex to move closer to him. As much as Alex didn't want to, she couldn't help herself. She wasn't in control of her actions. maybe she wasn't as cold-hearted as she thought.

Shifting closer, she sat next to Glenn, their bodies touching, as his arm wrapped around her shoulders her breath hitched. It felt wrong, but it also didn't. She felt off but welcomed his warmth. Putting it down to Glenn's selflessness and her sleep deprivation, she knew she wouldn't speak of it again until she locked eyes with Lori and received a suggestive look from her aunt. Alex rolled her eyes as she focused on Beth's singing, as she tried not to focus on the fact she was so close to Glenn.

Alex watched as Beth sang, Maggie joining along as she leaned her head against Glenn, her eyes flickered up to the man she was leaning against, the light from the fire accentuating his features as her heart began to race, his eyes focused on Beth as she sang, he absentmindedly caressed Alex's shoulder. and at that moment, admiring him, she realised how beautiful he was... 

 Noticing Daryl and Carol rejoin the group, along with her uncle and the look he gave her. She knew something wasn't right, with Rick, with Lori. But she didn't want to pry. It could've been anything. so she went back to convincing herself Glenn was just a friend watching as Rick gave Lori his share of food too.

Lori took Rick's food after he insisted as Alex began feeling tiredness take over yet refused to let her eyes close. An unfamiliar sense of warmth ignited in the depths of her stomach as the two girls stopped singing, and all of her focus ended up being on Glenn and how close they were.

"Better all turn in. Got a big day tomorrow," Rick stated. Alex's head rose from Glenn as she looked at him in confusion as to what he meant. they didn't have any plans tomorrow at least not to her knowledge. 

"What do you mean?" Glenn asked. His voice sounded different to Alex with being so close to him. A part of her so desperately wanted to rip herself away from him, but he was warm, inviting.

"Look, I know we're all exhausted. This was a great win... but we gotta push a little bit more. Most of the walkers are dressed as guards or prisoners. Looks like this place fell pretty early, could mean the supplies are still intact. They'd have an infirmary, a commissary," Rick explained. The infirmary was enough to make Alex agree. Anything that could mean Lori and the baby would be okay. anything to prevent losing anyone. 

"An armoury?" Daryl asked from his standing position, crossbow hung over his shoulder.

"That would be outside the prison itself but not too far away," Alex answered before Rick could. Her uncle nodded, agreeing with his niece, her eyes glued to her uncle knowing  how dangerous going inside the walls of the prison could be.. they were built to keep people in, could be keeping walkers inside... 

"The warden's offices would have info on the location. Weapons, food, and medicine. This place could be a gold mine," Rick went on talking with his hands. Alex nodded in agreement. They didn't know when Lori would go into labour; it could be weeks, days. They needed to do what they could ASAP.

"We're dangerously low on ammo," Hershel reminded, making Glenn nod. Alex looked up at him to see him looking down at her. The faces were dangerously close, making Alex look back to her uncle as the warmth and anxiety in her stomach grew.

"That's why we have to go in there... hand to hand." Most faces around the campfire fell, yet Alex agreed. for lori.

"Can always put me on a guard tower, can clear as much of the courtyard with what ammo I have" Alex suggested, knowing the majority of the group wouldn't be comfortable with hand to hand. Rick shook his head.

"after all, we've been through. we can handle it. I know we can" Rick added, a sense of tension filled the air as people's anxiety grew at the thought of going inside an overrun prison hand to hand with walkers.

"these assholes don't stand a chance" he smiled down at Carl who was wearing ricks hat, the gesture making a small smile show up on Alex's face. the silence that followed made Rick stand up and turn to go back on watch, making Alex sigh. something wasn't right.

Glenn's hand rubbed Alex's shoulder in a way to show support, which only confused Alex about his intentions further. His generosity and selflessness had already confused the girl. She'd never met someone whose morals stood as high as Glenn's. She rested her head back on Glenn's shoulder, watching as Lori got up to follow Rick. hoping they were okay.

The exhaustion from the past days, lack of food, and the pure effort the day had brought made Alex's eyes droop with fatigue  As her eyes began closing, she pulled away from Glenn, sitting up. His hand lingered on her back as concern washed over his face.

"Are you okay?" he whispered. Alex looked at him, noticing the concern on his face, and wondered how such a nice person had ended up in a situation like this. She couldn't fathom why he cared, she hadn't done anything for him... 

"I'm tired," she said. A soft smile washed over his face as he gently rubbed her shoulder, his heart racing due to the close proximity between them. He shifted grabbing her backpack and laying it on the floor as a pillow for her. 

"get some sleep" he smiled, Alex's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion but she was too tired to question him, at least right now.. she yawned as she laid down her head on her backpack looking up at the sky she admired the stars... Eli 

As the fire crackled and the embers danced, Glenn's concern for Alex only grew. He could see the exhaustion etched on her face, and he wanted to do anything he could to help. "Are you still cold? Want my jacket too?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern. Alex's heart swelled with warmth at his kindness, and she smiled softly.

"No, I'm okay. Thank you," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Glenn nodded understandingly, and Alex watched as he laid down on the ground a few feet away, using his backpack as a pillow. She couldn't help but wonder more about the boy.

His selflessness and kindness were rare in this world, and she found herself drawn to him in a way she couldn't explain. But she knew that she couldn't let herself care too much. Not in a world like this.

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AN || i've learnt im shit at slow burn, lmao sorry for the slow burn lovers! i know it may seem like it's going too quickly rn but it makes sense as Maggie and Glenn got together quite quickly.

Anyway please keep reading i promise it gets better 😭

i'm so critical of my writing i low-key hate it but i hope you guys enjoy

update- this chapter has been edited... hope its better then before lol.