Chapter 1: The Atlanta Group
{A/N: OCs will be paired with canon characters just as canon characters will be paired with original characters. I don't find very many fics where female characters end up with male oc characters, so if this isn't something you like then I suggest you discontinue reading and ask that you don't, for lack of a better term, leave an asshole comment. Creative criticism is welcomed though. Since this is a fanfic things will be changed such as Andrea being 27 and Amy is 22 and doesn't die (spoiler). Feel I should inform you Carol in the fic is precisely 38 (instead of mid to late 40s). Also, I apologize ahead of time for dialogue changes, lack of detail, and grammatical errors, don't have spell check or a beta reader. Other than than, hope you enjoy.
P.S.: DISCLAIMER (only one I'll do): I don't own The Walking only the OC characters which came from my own imagination (even though some of their occupations are unoriginal.
P.S.S: Chapters will vary in length.
Warnings: mentions of sex, some smut, bad-language, death, blood, bullets, cheating, sexual frustration, pairings you may not like, etc.}
Standing at a table setup outside the tent he shared with his younger cousin, was 23 year old former Army Ranger Sergeant First Class (SFC) Jake 'Tex or J' Gonzalez who was six feet tall with light brown skin, medium length dark hair that still showed a bit of his disconnected fade combover, green with a haze of grey colored eyes, and a short thick dark beard. He wore a dark grey thin short sleeved athletic shirt that clung to his broad shouldered lean form and covering his three tattoos and slightly outlining his dogtags as well as his six pack when he took a deep inhale, tactical gloves, a pair of dark blue cargo pants, and black combat boots.
Laying on the table in front of him was a MK 16 Mod 0 SCAR equipped with a suppressor, strap, interchangable scopes, flashlight, foregrip, IR laser, but was currently unloaded with a couple dual mags beside it. Next to that was a suppressed M39 EMR with a bipod, flashlight, IR laser, a strap, and interchangable scopes with two mags. A supressed MARSOC 45 ACP with two mags, a MOD H.E.C.K knife, Mtech knife, Ruger Vaquero, a machete, and lastly a Oneida Kestrel Compound bow with a quiver of 10 arrows.
He'd already packed a few glow sticks, some flares, a military walkie talkie, an MPK with an extra mag, crackers, small bag of pretzels, a few protein bars, a jacket, some water bottles, and a box of Ruger Vaquero ammo. The former SFC even went as far as to pack 3x frags, 3x flashbangs, 3x smoke, and 3x concussion grenades in case he and the others came across a herd or people who want to kill and loot him, they would serve as a means of either protection or distraction. Lastly, as a last resort a couple blocks of C4.
"Which are you thinking of taking?" The voice of his best and oldest friend, since they were nine, Aaron 'Bear' Gomez asked sounding curious.
Jake turned his gaze to the left to see the three males who were his brothers in all but blood except one, the last piece of family he truly had remaining. He could say how the rest of the camp of survivors had grown to feel that way but other than a certain few it wouldn't be true.
Aaron 'Bear' Gomez was 23 years old and a former Army Ranger Staff Sergeant (SSG) who stood 5'10" tall with brown skin, short dark hair covered by a grey baseball cap, sunglasses over his light brown eyes, and thick dark beard. His broad shouldered muscular torso with a bit of a gut and two tattoos were covered by dark blue shirt, tactical gloves, grey cargo pants, and brown combat boots. Across his back was a suppressed SR-25 with interchangable scopes, bipod, flashlight, dual mag, and IR laser. On his left thigh was a survival knife (Rambo), on his right a suppressed Colt 1911, and on the back of his belt was a brass knuckle handle knife.
To his friends left was his second oldest friend was 22 year old Tyrone 'Rone or TJ' Jackson who before the outbreak was going to college and was double majoring to be a electrical engineer and mechanical egineer and while just doing one was hard, his friend never backed down from a challenge seeing as on a good night he got six hours of sleep and a bad one either three or four, but it didn't stop him. He even quit his job as a forklift driver at a warehouse just to stay on track, but luckily he was attending college on a full scholarship.
Rone stood at 5'11" tall with lightly tanned milky skin, medium length brown hair, short thick brown beard, grey with brown eyes covered by a pair of sunglasses, and short thick brown beard. His thin yet toned torso with a flat belly and three tattoos was covered by a red athletic shirt, he also wore a pair of blue jeans with a suppressed M9 Beretta on his right thigh, a curved machete across his back, bowie knife on his left thigh, and was holding a suppressed AR-15 that had a foregrip, dual mag, flashlight, and IR laser.
Jason 'Jase' Gonzalez was Jake's 17 year old cousin who before the Outbreak was a highschool senior who played sports, had an A-grade averade, and worked part-time as mechanic for some extra cash with hopes of joining the Marines after graduation. The teen stood 5'10" tall, with light brown skin, short dark hair, green with a touch of light brown colored eyes, and a dark thin stubble beard. His thin but muscled athletic body with a tattoo was covered by white muscled shirt, a pair of black basketball shorts covering most of his legs, and sneakers on his feet showing that today was one he'd be relaxing though as a precaution he had on his shoulder holster which held a suppressed Glock and two extra mags.
Other than his brothers, the Harrison sisters Andrea and Amy, the Peletier women Carol and her daughter Sophia, Glenn, on occasion the Dixon brothers there wasn't much bonding going on with everyone else.
Well that wasn't true becase he also interacted with Lori Grimes, but a lot of the time they just fucked and she was quite skilled there's no denying that. At first when they started 'interacting' they both felt guilt seeing as she was married but her husband was dead while J had been dating a girl for three years who before the Outbreak went to visit her family and the two kept in-touch, up until phones became worthless and now he didn't know whether she was dead or alive and sure she could take care of herself, more so after he took to teaching her to fight and using a gun, and while he liked to think she was alive it was possible he may never see her again. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility that she and her family could've left their home and sought out safety elsewhere but there was no real way of knowing. They both felt guilt for their actions though finding release with someone who knows almost exactly how you feel made it less wrong.
Alhough, he wasn't the only one of the group she fucked and he knew that and was cool with it, it was the end of the world after all and she was a grown woman who could do what she wanted and with whoever she wanted to do it with. Shane who thought he was the sole leader of their group, even though it was a Democracy had saved her and Carl her son, who Jake was nice with, after everything went to shit and even started this camp with her, she was co-leader along with two others, was the other person she was fucking. Though, in her words Jake pleasured her better and knew how to keep emotions out of it, he even used condoms when he had them and when he didn't he fucked her ass to be safe, while Shane was the opposite and was tresspassing into emoitonal territory that he shouldn't.
Everybody else he was somewhat on friendly ground with but they tended to keep their distance because two days after he and his brothers' intial 'friendly' first impression he witnessed Ed Peletier assault his wife, Carol, and instantly went to over to push the man away and place himself between them acting as a shield for the woman. Carol had tried to defend the man, but Jake quickly told her that what he did wasn't right and going back to him could only result in bad things continuing to happen and possibly worse if he decided to treat his daughter the same way which caused her to stop and allow him to protect her and Sophia, it angered Ed.
The Peletier male had tried to reach around him and forcefully take his wife and daughter, but J instantly pushed his hands away which only angered the man even more and it showed in his eyes. He tried again, but Jake quickly shot the attempt down yet again and it appeared to be the last straw. Ed seemed to have had enough and thinking he could win, threw a punch at the former SFC only to have it blocked then proceeded to get his ass beat. It took both Bear and Tyrone to forcefully pull him away and it was only after seeing the scared looks of almost everyone around them, did he calm down.
Shane had wanted to kick him out, but if he did then the three he came with and the Harrison sisters would leave too and take with them the firepower they brought themselves which was plent of weapons, ammunition, gas, and other gear which were a necessity for survival. Plus, it served to have two highly trained former military men, an almost electrical and mechanical engineer, and a teen who spent most his life learning about cars which he fixed and built in his spare time who all of knew how to fight, hunt, tell what was edible and what wasn't, and lastly actually wield weapons correctly which would help the groups chances of survival.
So, they were 'allowed' to stay and since they were they moved Carol and Sophia away from Ed and into a new tent between the ones Jake was sharing with Jase and the one Bear shared with Tyrone. It was labelled the safest place in camp and due to the threat the four posed, Ed, kept his distance and Shane kept an eye on them.
Two weeks after the situation there was a meeting which by the end of it had four members in charge of the group Shane because he was an ex-cop, Lori cause she was part founder of the camp, Bear because of his army background, and Tyrone because he was quite possibly the smartest person in the group. Since then everyone started pulling their own weight around camp, even Shane who was forced to stop considering himself King and the groups glorified bodyguard who had to do nothing else but watch them which was put to an end.
He disliked Shane very much and if given the chance would kick the mans ass because he still acted like the leader of the group and tried to boss them around, when he tried it on Jake the former SFC just flipped him off and said he didn't listen to him. It ticked the former cop off but since then they didn't interact. If J were to be honest he sorta respected the man knowing he'd go to great lengths to protect Carl and Lori, but knew it would also be at the expense of everyone else even if it meant them all dying, and it usually even it out.
It was quite funny how the former deputy didn't know he wasn't the only one fucking Lori nor was he the best one either according to the Grimes woman and if he did know then he hasn't said or done anything about it. He knew that piece of information to be true, because if the man had known then he would've started shit with him and Lori but had done neither.
"The SCAR with a suppressed long barrel which takes accuracy off but I doubt I'll have to shoot too far into the distance, the MARSOC 45, MOD H.E.C.K knife, Mtech knife, and the Ruger Vaquero, three of each ordinance at our disposal except for C4 I only grabbed two bars as a just in case, I've also taken extra ammo for the guns, and grabbed some small snacks just in case" he answered low enough so only the three other males could hear seeing as nobody except for Andrea and Amy, who could keep a secret, know they had explosives with them. It was kept a secret simply because if others found out then they'd want some and nobody was really trained to use them properly nor were they trusted to have them.
"Sounds like a wise choice, brother" Bear nodded as he walked over to the table and grabbed the M39 along with the bow and quiver of arrows before taking them over towards their trailer which only the four of them and the Harrison sisters knew what was inside which was guns and ammuntion of all sizes and calibers though they told everyone it held their extra gear which it did but also a '69 which it didn't.
"I'll take this into the tent" Jase claimed before grabbing the machete and taking it into their joint sleeping space where it would be placed under his cot.
"I know what you're going to say Rone and I promise that no matter what happens, I will make sure that Andrea comes back to you and Amy" his gaze shifts over towards his second oldest friend who gives him a satisfied look then a nod before walking over towards the Harrison sisters' tent to more than likely talk with his older blonde lover and maybe fuck seeing as they still had a good hour before the group was to head out, which was more than enough time.
"Jake..." a small voice called out followed by a sniffle and he turned to his left again only to this time see Sophia looking up at him with worried eyes that had tears pooling in the corners as she held her doll tightly to her chest and the sight broke his heart. The two had grown close since he 'rescued' her and Carol from Ed and according to Bear she worried for him everytime he went out on a run. The man then said it was probably because she looked up to him as their protector and he had possibly a father figure to her seeing as he's already treated the young Peletier better since their arrival than her father probably had the girls whole life.
"I'm going to come back Soph" the former SFC tells the child softly, knowing exactly what she was worried about, though loud enough for her to hear him before walking over and kneeling in front of the young brunette as he slowly lifts his hands to her cheeks and wipes away the tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. "Have I ever lied before?" J asks her and she shakes her head but still doesn't appear reassured. A childs fear knows no bounds, especially when growing up with a father like she had.
"You know what, why don't you hold onto these and protect them for me until I get back?" He questions, after a couple moments of silence, while reaching towards his neck and pulling off his dogtags which he then slides over her head and lets it rest at her neck where the pieces of metal hang lower than they do on him landing on her belly. "Do we have a deal?" She gives grabs the tags and looks at them for moments before giving a small nod then lunging at him and wrapping her small arms around his neck. It takes him a moment having been caught off guard before he returns the gesture.
"Sophia?" Carol's slightly worried voice calls out and the two pull apart and turn in the direction the older Peletier's voice came from just in time to see her come from around the corner while her gaze ran over the camp in search of her daughter.
"Over here, mama" Sophia calls out to her mother who turns and her eyes immediately soften and grow calm seeing that her daughter was in view of everyone and with one of the safest people in the entire camp. The elder Peletier woman had also been growing close with him since he'd taken to showing her how to defend herself and use a handgun and during that she tended opened up about her life.
"There you are baby, I told you to stay with Lori and Carl" the grey, almost silver, haired woman haired lightly scolded her daughter, but he could tell there was no real heat behind her words only worry because her little girl wasn't where she left her or listened to the instructions that were given.
"I'm sorry, mama. I just wanted to talk to Jake before he left" Sophia replied sounding like the small worried and fear filled child that she was, though her fear was based on the thought that she might be in trouble with her mom and no longer about what her father might do or say.
"I understand that sweetheart and I'm not mad. Just, next time wait for me, okay?" Carol asked her daughter who gave her a nod then looked down at the floor with guilt knowing that she worried her mother. "Good, now go and finish your school-work" she intructs the young brunette who after another nod glances briefly back at Jake before going on her way, J had been watching the child the entire way just to make sure she got to her destination safely.
"She looks up to you, you know" Carol stated causing the former SFC to break his gaze away from the young brunette, who after taking a seat sent them a quick glance before looking down at the paper in front of her, and looked up to see the grey haired woman still watching her daughter.
"Yeah, I know. It's sort of a new thing, having a young girl look up to me..." J replies before pushing himself up to his full height causing Carol to turn her gaze on and up to him with a raised eyebrow in silent question. "I've had a couple young males look up to me over the years, but never a young girl seeing as either they naturally prefer or are taught by their parents to idolize strong women and to strive to be like them. She may look up to me now, but that young girls being idolizing you her entire life, I doubt she'll ever find someone as brave, strong, or loving" he explains in a soft and knowing tone and watches as Carol flushes slightly at the compliment but her eyes and the way she wraps her arms around herself show that she didn't believe she was all those things, but she was and he'd remind her again and again if he had to.
He's been watching the woman standing before him slowly break out of her shell that was made from the fear and pain her husband or rather ex-husband created around her all those years ago which, in a horrible way turned her into a survivor. Though now in this new world where she's free from the man who caused her all that pain, she's becoming the person she always should've been. A fighter, but while it may be coming along slowly, it was still coming.
"I hope this doesn't scare you or make you start treating her differently, in a bad way cause that would break her heart, but in the few weeks since we've met you and you saved us and shown my little girl more care than her own father has her entire life, she thinks of you as a father figure and sadly, it's taken twelve years the world ending for her to find one" Carol tells him while looking slightly nervous at her claim about what his reaction would be. This wasn't new information too him and seeing as he hasn't done anything to stop it, he didn't mind at all and if her were honest he actually quite enjoyed it.
He'd honestly once thought of settling down and having kids, but at the time he was in the Army and with him being away a lot of the time he felt it was better to wait because he wanted to be a full-time who was around for everything and not away fighting a war and missing out on so many things. Plus, it wasn't like he was dating women who were exactly at a place in their lives where they wanted kids. His current or recent girlfriend, depending on whether she was still alive or not, had been his longest relationship and knew she wasn't ready seeing as she had an IUD put in, but they did have 'someday' talk and he never told anyone but he was actually looking forward to it.
Then the world had to go and enter the apocalyptic age throwing him a curveball when he'd been prepared for a fastball down the middle.
"It doesn't scare me, if that's what you're thinking. In all honesty, I've always sort of wanted kids, but being a soldier and the occupation that followed after I got out and me wanting to be there for it all put a hold on things. While she may not be mine or you may not even want her thinking of me that way, I'd care for and protect that little girl til my dying breath" Jake claimed in a serious yet gentle and genuine tone that showed he meant what he said and would've be backing down from doing so no matter what anyone said. His gaze met hers and he could see she was trying to hold back tears and he couldn't tell why exactly they were falling since several emotions were mixed into one.
"Thank you" is all she got out and he knew had the woman kept going she wouldn't have been able to keep her tone steady and likely end breaking down in tears. He didn't want her to cry, she'd done enough crying over the years because of the man that was her husband and he had no intention of being like Ed and making her cry for his own pleasure. He'd never want that, he'd only accept tears of joy.
"Anytime" Jake tells her briefly prior to softly pulling her into a hug which causes the short haired woman to tense up though it's only lasts a second before she returns the hug with her forehead resting against the top of his shoulder. "You know, you may not know it but you've been that little girls mother and father her whole life, so don't think she never had one. That girl is safe and if who she is because of you" he adds sounding serious and her eyes are wide at his statement and can tell she never thought of it that way but after a moment nods.
"You make sure and come back for her, for your brothers, and for the rest of us. The others don't see it but you're more important to their survival than they realize" Carol informs him softly before pulling away, he supposes she didn't register the kiss she reached up and placed on his cheek until after doing it. "I'll see you when you return" the short grey haired woman says quickly before walking away towards where her daughter looks hard at work while rubbing his tags, without leaving him any time to respond.
With a sigh and seeing as he had around a good fourty minutes before he and the others who'd be tagging along on the run were to set out. He might as well make sure his bladder and intestines were clear for the road, there won't be much time, if any, for rest stops. They were going to get in and back out as soon as possible or at least before nightfall when things usually got worse.
Signaling to Bear who was returning from the trailer where he was going and getting a nod he headed off into the woods to do his business. J was unaware of the pair of eyes that followed him and shortly after he was out of sight excused themselves from what they were doing and discretely as possible followed after him.
He was taking a wizz, cause the urge to shit hadn't been present, about a five minute walk from camp which gave him plently of privacy as well as time to fully clear his head before getting it in the game when he heard a branch snap behind him and before he cold turn around a voice, a female voice spoke out.
"Need someone to help you shake..."
A/N:So, like I said some characters are OOC and many things have changed. If this fic isn't for you and if this idea has been overused and it annoys you then I suggest you stop reading but be nice enough not to leave a (for lack of a better term) asshole comment and just go on your way. As always constructive criticism is welcomed. I had the idea for this fic because I couldn't find many OC males paired with female canons, mostly female OCs paired with canon males. Many more changes will be happening in this fic. As always I apologize for grammatical errors and if my writing isn't that great. One last thing, update times may vary due to well life and all that. Til Next Time.
