Summery: Rick wakes from his coma alone and determined to find his family. When he finds Lori and Carl, he is relieved. What Rick hadn't planned on was becoming a leader to a group of survivors, his best friend trying to kill him for control and his family, or finding out Lori had been sleeping with Shane. To make matters more confusing, Rick is getting closer to Shane's wife, Alice Walsh, and is finding he wants more from her than just someone to confide in. But he loves Lori and is willing for forgive her, right? So why can't he stay away from Alice?

"Shane?!"

Rick's body suddenly jolted and his cobalt eyes shot open. He could feel sweat running down the temples of his face. It was quiet. The room was hot and musty. His eyes frantically darted around, trying to find his friend. Hadn't Shane just been standing beside him, talking?

"You in the john, Shane?" his voice was raspy and low. There was no reply.

Rick noticed a heart monitor beside his bed, but it was off. All the machines he had been hooked up to were off. He forced himself to sit up, wincing when he felt a sharp pain in his side. He pressed his fingertips to the spot that was lightly throbbing and felt gauze. Looking down, he realized it was covering a wound he vaguely remembered receiving.

He recalled being shot, but after feeling the intense pain and passing out, he could hardly remember what had happened next.

This door to his room was close and on the bedside table sat a vase of flowers. They were the same ones he could have sworn Shane just dropped off, but they were dead. A thin layer of dust covered the table. With startling realization, he began to piece together that more time had passed than he thought. Next to the vase was a pocket-sized bible he instantly recognized. Its leather cover was a faded brown; the pages dog-eared at certain sections. A chair by his bed had been knocked down and he wondered why no one had picked it up.

In frustration, he repeatedly palmed his forehead, trying to mend his fragmented memories. Where were his wife and son? Why wasn't anyone from the hospital staff checking up on him? Why would they leave him alone in a room with no power?

Rick stopped hitting his forehead and closed his eyes, trying to recall how the last day he could remember started. He figured backtracking would help him figure out what was going on. He remembered waking up with a stiff neck because Lori had banished him to the couch the night before. He also remembered her almost spilling hot coffee on him as she slammed his mug down and then accused him of not caring about her and Carl. He remembered how hurt Carl looked as he considered whether it was true or not.

Rick had left for work at that point, not wanting to argue in front of their son. He and Shane made their usual jokes, followed by some serious conversation. Less than an hour later, Rick had been shot. He almost winced as he recalled how painful it had been, how hard it was to breath, and how sure he was that he was going to die with Carl thinking he didn't care about him. Rick shook his head in frustration as he reopened his eyes. That was all he could clearly remember. There was no point to this, he just needed to find a nurse or doctor and have them fill in the blanks.

Removing the nasal cannula, he looked for any sign that someone was coming to his aid. His throat was aching and dry. He needed water first, and then he would figure everything out. He attempted to stand, using the heart monitor to lean his weight against. His legs violently shook underneath him. Before he could even take his first step, he collapsed on his injured side. A wave of pain hit him hard as he folded into a fetal position and let out a silent scream.

"Nurse!" he weakly called, hand pressed against his wound. He waited to hear the sound of footsteps approaching his room. Surly someone had heard him fall, but he was greeted with silence. "Nurse, please!" No one was coming. He pulled out the IV needle, groaning in discomfort.

Rick forced himself up, letting out labored breaths that racked his body with more pain. His footsteps were heavy as he stumbled to the bathroom. He caught his reflection in the mirror and examined his scruffy face. When his eyes drifted to the sink, his appearance and confusion took a back seat to his thirst. Turning on the faucet, he watched the brown water run clear before eagerly sipping a palm full of it. The water tasted normal, so he shoved his face into the sink and drank as much as he could. His empty stomach ached from the shock of the cold water, but his thirst urged him to keep drinking to sooth his throat.

Once he had his fill, he knew it was time to solve the mystery. His legs, still like wet noodles, carried him towards his closed door. Rick paused mid stride, glancing back at the Bible. He wasn't sure why, but he made his way over to the book and grabbed it. Taking what he thought was a calming deep breath, Rick began to make the journey towards the room's entrance. Finally reaching the door, he grasped the handle and leaned his forehead against it for a moment. He was nervous, but not scared. He had no clue what waited for him outside his room. He convinced himself that whatever was going on couldn't be too bad and he'd have all his answers soon. Taking another deep breath of musty air, he turned the door handle.

Nothing could have prepared Rick Grimes for what awaited once he stepped out that room.

She had been in her own thoughts when she heard a twig snap and footsteps behind her. She didn't want to risk looking back and losing any time she had to run. She hadn't taken a weapon with her and suddenly regretted it. Dropping her mushroom filled bucket, she began to run. Before she could get a good amount of distance between her and the threat, a thick arm caught her around the waist and a large hand covered her mouth, muffling her scream. She began to struggle, her legs and arms flailing wildly trying to make contact with her attacker.

"What did I tell you about running off alone?" A deep, familiar voice asked. The heat from his breath hit the side of her face.

Instantly, she stopped struggling. Of course a geek hadn't been behind her. They didn't have the sense to cover someone's mouth. The man let out a laugh as he let her go, making her feel even more silly. She turned around and hit him lightly with one hand and placed her other over her rapidly beating heart.

"Why would you do that?" She asked. She tried to look angry, but her lips twitched upwards.

"To teach you a lesson about running off alone."

"That was the lesson, Shane? I thought the lesson was how you can give me a heart attack."

"I got you good, didn't I?" She rolled her eyes and began to walk back to the camp, forgetting the mushrooms. Shane quickly grabbed and pulled her back against his chest. "Aw, come on now. You ain't really mad, are you? It was just in good fun, Lori."

Lori tried to control the shiver that ran through her body from the way his lips ghosted her ear. She wanted to be mad at him for scaring her and was about to tell him to let her go until he began to kiss down her neck. Lori's head rolled to the side, giving him better access, but he suddenly stopped. She turned her head to look at him, her brows furrowed in confusion. Shane didn't speak, but reached in front of her and held up a pair of rings that dangled from a silver chain around her neck. Lori gently made him release them. She took the necklace off and tucked it into the front pocket of her pant.

Shane rested his head on top of hers for a moment. Lori knew he was feeling guilty again. He always did when he saw her and Rick's wedding bands. A part of Lori wanted to put them away forever, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

"I think about him every day." Shane spoke softly, still holding Lori close to him.

"I do too." Lori wondered for a moment how twisted they were. There they were in the middle of the woods with Shane intimately embracing her while they talked about missing her dead husband.

"It'll get easier. I think he's lucky not having to go through this hell."

Lori wanted to snap at Shane for saying that, but bit the inside of her cheek to keep quiet. Maybe Rick was better off dead now that the world was in chaos, but when she would look into her son's eyes, she couldn't agree with Shane.

It was still hard for her to talk about Rick. Lori couldn't clearly explain her feelings for her late husband and bringing him up reminded her how wrong things were between them before he died. Some days, she could only think of all his flaws and blame him for getting shot. Other days, she missed him terribly and would give almost anything to have him back. She loved him still and always would, but she hadn't wanted to be with him anymore while he had been alive. The day he had been shot, she planned on asking for a divorce when he came home from work. The guilt still ate at her. The whole time he had been in surgery, she couldn't help but feel selfish for her reason behind wanting to leave him. He risked his life every day for her and Carl so she could be a stay at home mother like she had wanted. And instead of being grateful, she managed to find a flaw with everything he did.

Lori had sat in the waiting room wondering if she had indirectly been the reason Rick had been shot. He looked so tired that morning and she knew for a fact the couch wasn't comfortable to sleep on. Maybe if she hadn't found another reason to kick him out of bed, he wouldn't have been shot. Rick would have been well rested and focused. He wouldn't have died. She had promised that if he made it out alive, she'd put thoughts of a divorce aside and give them an honest try. But he was dead and his last interaction with her had been another stupid argument.

Did she wear their wedding bands around her neck out of guilt or love? She couldn't be sure. But what she was sure of was that Rick wasn't better off dead just because the world had changed drastically.

"Lori, I know I can't replace Rick, but-"

"Mom?"

"Shit." Lori cursed as she pushed his arms off of her and hastily put space between them.

"Mom?"

"I'm-" she cleared her throat. "I'm here, Carl."

A boy pushed pass a row of bushes, stepping into the clearing. His feet loudly crushed twigs and dried leaves with each step. He frowned as his eyes darted between his mother and his father's best friend. "I couldn't find you."

"I'm alright, baby." Lori walked over and hugged him close. "I just needed to get some air."

"Why is Shane with you?"

"He uh…"

"I got worried about your mom too, so I came looking for her." It wasn't really a lie. Carl looked at him with those familiar blue eyes that always shot a jolt of guilt through Shane and smiled. Shane forced on a small smile in return and tried to shove away the feeling that began to make his stomach ache. It still caught Shane off guard how much Carl was starting to resemble his father.

"Why don't you go back to camp and I'll check over the work I assigned you in a few minutes. I need to talk to Shane for a moment."

"Alright mom." Carl sauntered off, relieved to find his mother safe.

"We can't keep doing this." Lori finally spoke once she was sure her son was gone. "This isn't right."

"I know that Lori. I feel just as bad as you do." Shane closed the distance between them and grasped her upper arms. "I know we shouldn't do this. Rick was my best friend and Alice is my wife, but… Shit Lori, you can't deny there's something here!"

"That's the problem. Alice is back at camp, oblivious to what's going on. I have to look her in the face and smile, knowing I'm sleeping with her husband. Rick… He hasn't even been gone that long. What's wrong with us?"

"Hey, hey, look at me." He caressed the sides of Lori's face and tilted her head up. "Nothing is wrong with us. We didn't plan this. I love Alice, you still love Rick, but we have a connection Lori. The timing is bad, I know, but there's something between us."

Lori placed her hands over his and felt her eyes water. He was wrong. There was nothing between them other than sex, the protection he provided, and someone to reminisce about Rick with when she felt like talking about him. She wanted to tell him that she didn't feel the same way, but knowing that she and Carl's survival depended on Shane always stopped her. Everything about this was wrong and she still regretted the day she let him kiss her. But it felt good to be wanted after months of no intimacy with Rick. It felt good to be someone's first priority for once in a long time. It also wrecked her mind with guilt whenever she saw Alice. Lori avoided her like the plague. She had no excuse for what she was doing other than it felt good for her ego, but that was no justification.

Alice was her friend. She was someone she vented to when she and Rick had problems. Alice wasn't close with Rick, but she would take time from her breaks at the hospital to sit with him after he had been shot, just because Lori asked her to. She didn't judge Lori for not being at Rick's side 24/7. She didn't even complain when Lori asked her to check on Rick as often as she could because it put her mind at ease. Alice had done so much for Lori during her time of need, and her payment was sleeping with Shane, and then having him confess to having feelings for her. Feelings Lori knew she did not return in the same way. But Lori couldn't let him go just yet. Not because she loved him, but because Shane provided protection and affection. She'd make things right with Alice one day. Lori had managed to convince herself that Alice would understand. It was about survival now and Lori had to make sure she and Carl made it. Alice had to understand that.

"Can we talk about this later?"

"Um… Sure." Shane let go of her face and took a step back.

"Carl's waiting for me." Lori began to walk away, not once looking back. She could avoid this conversation for a while until she found a good reason to break it off.

"I am so sick of potatoes. I used to love these things. Bake potato, french fries, home fries, I loved them all. Now, I'd be too happy to never see one again." Jacqui, a thin, dark skinned woman, threw an unpeeled potato into a burlap sack. "Need help with those?"

"I got it." Alice replied, flashing a crooked smile before peeling a potato with a dulling knife.

"You're real quiet today." Jacqui sat on an overturned bucket beside Alice and nudged her with a shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." Alice began to frown when she spotted Lori walking out of the woods and Shane trailing not far behind.

"Ah, I see."

"What?"

"Funny how they spend so much time together, wouldn't you say?"

"No. They're both mourning over the loss of her husband. Shane was his best friend. Why wouldn't they spend time together? Shane says they just talk about Rick."

"Alone? In the woods?"

"They just talk, Jacqui!"

Jacqui held her hands up and leaned back a little. "Whoa, I'm just saying. No need to snap at me."

"I-I'm sorry Jacqui. I'm just really tired. It's so hard to sleep in that cramped RV and this heat is getting to me." It was a half-truth. Jacqui didn't need to know she was just as aware of how suspicious Shane's alone time with Lori was and that she lost sleep over it.

"I know what you mean. I miss air conditioners and my own bed like you wouldn't believe."

"I miss eating something other than potatoes and squirrel." A new voice added.

"Take that up with the residential hunter." Jacqui joked.

"And risk getting an arrow in the ass? I'll pass. I'd rather bitch to you two."

"Oh, Glenn, we're honored." Jacqui replied with an amused smile and a hand over her heart. "But I'm sure you didn't come here to complain about the food."

"Oh, right! I need to make a run into the city to get some stuff today. Usually I fly solo, but we need a lot of crap. I was wondering if you two wanted to tag along. Since it looks like we're all stuck together for a while, it could be a, I don't know," the young Korean shrugged his shoulders. "team building exercise."

"I'm in. I need a change of scenery. I am getting so sick of looking at trees and rocks. What about you, Alice?"

"I'm not sure how I'd be useful."

"You're kidding, right?" Glenn tipped his baseball cap back to get a better look at Alice. "You know how to shoot a gun. Do you know how many people here can't?"

"Plus, I'm sure you're just as tired of only seeing trees." Jacqui added, but the tone of her voice hinted she really wasn't talking about the greenery.

Alice glanced over towards Lori and saw she was sitting at a picnic table with Carl and Shane. They looked like a little family. Her chest felt tight as she let her eyes linger on Carl. This was no world for a kid and for the first time ever, Alice had been grateful her own child wasn't around to witness the chaos.

Carl lost his father and had his world flipped upside down on the same day. He never complained, but Alice could tell he missed his father terribly and was scared.

Shane had told her there was nothing they could have done as they fled the hospital that day, but Alice couldn't shake the feeling that leaving Rick had been a mistake. She had spent so much time with him while he had been in a coma, she felt they were friends. Alice knew it was one sided, but it didn't change her feeling as if she had left a friend behind. Dead or alive, it would have been nearly impossible to get Rick out with them and logically, Alice knew that.

She often wondered if Rick had really died when the power went out in the hospital. He had been in a fragile state and the machines were keeping him alive. When Shane asked her to check Ricks pulse, Alice had been panicking. Guns were being fired in the halls and people were screaming. She didn't feel a pulse, but her hands had been shaking. She tried to tell Shane she could have been wrong, but he pressed his ear to Rick's chest and told her he was gone. It was loud, how could Shane have known? Especially if Rick's heart beat was weak. Lori had depended on Alice to look out for Rick, and she couldn't help but feel she let her friend down.

It was why she refused to question how much time Shane and Lori spent together and how they would both conveniently disappear around the same time. Alice hadn't witnessed them doing anything wrong and maybe they really were just talking about Rick. But that didn't mean she liked seeing them so comfortable together and looking like a family, especially when she knew deep in her mind that they were more than friendly.

"Yeah… Yeah, alright. I'll go. Beats peeling potatoes."

"That's the spirit!" Glenn playfully punched her shoulder, making Alice laugh lightly. "We head out in a few." he spoke over his shoulder as he walked away.

"I don't know how you do it." She heard Jacqui say.

"Do what?" Alice asked, arching a brow at Jacqui.

"See those two together and not spazz out."

"They're just-"

"Friends. Yeah, I had one of those in college. Used to keep me company on lonely nights."

"Jacqui, stop it. It's not like that between them." Alice liked to believe that if she denied it enough, eventually there really would be nothing going on between the pair.

"I know you have to know something is going on between those two, and it isn't just talking. It isn't fair to you, Alice. You should say something about all that alone time they're spending together."

Before Alice could reply, Shane came strolling over. "What's this I hear about you going into the city, Alice?"

"I wanna help out."

"I don't want you out there. You know it ain't safe."

"Glenn's never had a problem whenever he's gone. This time won't be different."

Shane frowned, his fingers looping through his belt hoops. "I'd feel better knowing you're safe where I can see you."

Jacqui looked down at her lap and rolled her eyes. "She'll be fine. We'll all be looking out for each other, and like she said, Glenn's never had a problem."

"I don't know…"

"You taught her yourself how to shoot a gun. You know she'll be fine."

"She's right Shane. I wanna do more for the group than peel potatoes and wash clothes."

Shane ran his hand down his face and let out a hard sigh. "Fine. But don't play hero. You stay with the group at all times."

"Alright." He reached out a hand and helped Alice up. Pulling her into a tight hug, he kissed the top of her head and whispered for her to be safe. Alice closed her eyes and for a moment, allowing herself to pretend they were fine.

Shane was genuinely worried about Alice going into the city. And as he watched her check the gun he gave her for ammo and pack a few supplies, he felt guilt creep into his chest. He knew he had feelings for Lori. She had started off as a link between him and Rick. Someone to reminisce with. Shane honestly had no intentions to take it further than that, especially with his own wife close by. However, slowly he began to look forward to his time with Lori. He enjoyed the light touches she gave him and the way she looked at him with her big brown eyes. It reminded him of how things used to be with Alice before everything went wrong between them. He craved the feeling Lori gave him and how needed she made him feel.

But Lori had been Rick's wife. Shane had been there when Rick picked out Lori's engagement ring and even served as best man at their wedding. He had witnessed his best friend, his brother, go through ups and downs with Lori. He knew how much Rick loved her, and yet that did not stop Shane from wanting her. He had also begun to love Carl like a son. He hadn't tried to replace Rick, but Shane had to admit that it felt good to play the father role after the chance had been abruptly taken from him.

Then there was Alice. Shane would have thought being thrown into an apocalypse would be the thing that brought them together again, but it just pushed them further apart. He knew he loved her still and despite how hard the last year had been on their marriage, he always would. They had been separated, but living in the same house before the world had been completely flipped on its ass. Back then, Shane was sure it was just a rough patch and they'd fix things between them.

But then he fell for Lori. Now, he wasn't sure what he wanted. Sometimes, he'd look at Alice and all he could see was their troubled marriage. Then he'd look at Lori and saw a real future together. Other times, he'd get glimpses of the old Alice and considered putting an end to him and Lori. But then she'd go back to being a stranger to him and he suddenly longed for what Lori could give him. Shane didn't know what to do and the women were no help. Lori refused to talk about what was between them and Alice was emotionally distant.

But he still loved his wife and hated that he was sending her into danger.

"Well looky here! Sweet tits is gonna be joining us!" Howling laughter followed the crude remark, sending unpleasant shivers down Alice's spine. She tried to ignore it.

"Oh lord." Jacqui mumbled, walking towards the truck they would be using for the run.

"You're coming with us?" Andrea, a tall blonde wearing a disgusted sneer, asked.

"You bet your fine ass I am! Darylina ran off to hunt this morning, leaving me all alone. I wanted to shoot the shit here, but I wanna shoot shit even more." The man replied, grinning and thinking he sounded clever.

Andrea rolled her eyes. She, like everyone at the camp, knew better than to engage Merle Dixon in conversation longer than needed. He was far from politically correct and was the owner of a hair trigger temper. Andrea's biggest issue with the larger, rude man was his sexist views on things. If anyone listened to him tell it, women were only good for cooking, cleaning, and fucking. His brother, Daryl, was the lesser of two evils though. He was the silent, brooding type. Andrea and her sister, Amy, wondered if the younger Dixon could do anything other than scowl and snap at people.

"Just try not to be too much of an asshole." She said as she walked past him.

Alice tried to sneak onto the truck without drawing Merles attention, but that had proven to be a waste. "Hey sweet tits, wanna sit on Ol' Merle's lap on the way there? I don't mind none, but you might feel something poking that pretty little backside."

"Come on man, be respectful!" A muscular African American poked his head out from the passenger side of the truck. He insisted that everyone call him T-dog and Alice was sure he and Jacqui had something going on.

"Respectful?" Merle repeated as if he sucked on a lemon. He watched Jacqui help Alice into the truck and leered openly at her ass. "Respect what? Women are only good for one thing, and ain't nothing respectful about it. And don't you be ordering me around. I don't take too kindly to people like you telling me what to do."

"People like me?" T-dog repeated, opening his door.

"You know what I mean. Want me to spell it out? You know I'd be glad to."

"Why don't you-"

"Okay boys, break it up. We have to go." Another man spoke, stopping the potential fight.

"Oh, come on! You're going too? How'd you cross the border anyway?"

The other man bit the inside of his cheek, but stayed silent. Even he was afraid of what Merle Dixon was capable of.

"Yes, Morales is coming Merle." Andrea answered, glaring at the older Dixon. "Now let's go please."

"I like my women feisty, bet she's a real hell cat in the sack." Merle watched Andrea's ass as she walked to the truck, licking his lips while grinning.

If the ride to the small department store had been an indicator of the journey back to camp, Alice was more than sure no one but Merle would be looking forward to it. Merle was barely tolerable in small doses, spending a half hour in a confined space with him felt like an eternity in a special hell. During the drive, Alice had seriously contemplated tossing herself out of the moving truck. Breaking every bone in her body would have been worth it. As Merle made his rude, insensitive jokes, Alice remained silent. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Andrea lightly banging the back of her head against the truck wall. Morales just kept shifting uncomfortably in his seat every time Merle made a 'beaner' joke, and Jacqui rolled her eyes. A lot. Alice knew everyone in the back would fight T-dog for the front seat on the drive back to camp.

As Alice scouted the store with Andrea, she wondered about the Dixon brothers. They were so different, yet both men were intimidating. Daryl hardly spoke unless he had to, and unlike his brother, Alice was sure he didn't indulge in a meth and coke habit. It was the worst kept secret at the camp that Merle was floating on a constant high and Alice had to question if he was really even aware of the fact that society went to hell. She wished she was blissfully oblivious. Life seemed easier that way.

"It's clear on my side." Andrea spoke, snapping Alice from her silent musing.

"Same here." She softly replied, watching the taller woman tuck her gun into the waistband of her jeans. Andrea whistled to let the others know it was safe.

"I always imagined I'd be over the moon if I ever got the chance to shop and not pay a thing. Doesn't feel as fulfilling anymore. Kind of feels like we're stealing."

"From whom, Andrea?" Jacqui questioned as she strolled over, a blue duffle bag dangling from her hand. "For some reason, I don't think the geeks lurking out there will need any of this stuff."

"I know that." Andrea replied, rolling her eyes slightly. "I just… It feels weird, you know?"

"No." Jacqui answered as she began to shove packages of socks into her bag. "It doesn't feel weird at all. It feels like we need this stuff."

"You seriously want to get a conscience about this now?" Glenn chimed in as he power walked past them. "We need to grab," he held up a shirt before shoving it into a bag. "and go."

"Kid's got a point." Jacqui ventured off, shooting a smile at Alice first.

"Ok, I get it, I get it." Andrea mumbled.

Alice let out a small chuckle as she began filling her own bag, not giving much thought to style. As she tossed a plaid shirt into her pile, she imagined her sister standing next to her and shaking her head in disapproval. Jessica was always the fashion conscious one. Alice shook her head, refusing to think about her sister. She wasn't sure if Jessica was alive, but after seeing the condition of her parent's home before they left for Atlanta, she knew the chances were slim.

Images of bloody handprints smeared on the walls and furniture overturned suddenly appeared in her mind like scenes from a horror film. Only it had been real. She knew her parents were dead, she had seen them with her own eyes, but Jessica was a different story. Blood made a trail upstairs and Alice didn't have the courage to see if it was her sister either dead or a geek. She nearly flew out of the house, trying to forget the carnage she had seen. Shane never asked about it and she never brought it up. Alice rubbed her eyes so hard, she saw stars. It wasn't the time to think about her family being dead. There was never a time to think about it if she wanted to stay somewhat sane.

She began to move to another part of the store when a small jewelry showcase stopped her. Alice had never cared much for jewelry, and other than her wedding band, she hardly wore any. However, a silver chain bracelet with a dangling cross charm caught her attention.

She looked around to make sure no one had been paying attention to her before pulling a small pocket knife out from her pant pocket. She wedged the blade between the glass and lock and pried at it. Alice grinned when it popped open, the door nearly nailing her in the face. She reached inside and grabbed the bracelet. Morally, she knew it was wrong, but who would she get in trouble with for taking it?

"I don't think that counts as supplies." A playful voice spoke from behind Alice, making her swing around. "Cool it now, it's just me." Jacqui held her hands up, but was smiling.

"You scared me!"

"So I noticed." She gently grabbed the bracelet and examined it. "Not bad. I would have gone for more bling, but I suppose every thief has to start somewhere."

"Thief?" Alice repeated, frowning as Jacqui motioned for her to hold her wrist out. "I don't see Johnny Law around, so I don't think it counts."

"It does when your husband is Johnny law." She replied as she clasped the bracelet on Alice's wrist.

Alice rolled her eyes. "Shane isn't an officer anymore. No one's anything but survivors now. And thanks for putting this on for me."

"No problem and try telling Shane that."

"You can't tell Shane anything." She mumbled, but Jacqui heard her clearly. Before the other woman could reply, Glenn informed them it was time to go.

"We got a problem." T-dog pointed to the double glass doors. Geeks were starting to gather.

"You have got to be shitting me." Glenn looked up at the ceiling in frustration.

"We need to go." Morales stated, popping out from behind a rack. "Like, now."

"I know, I know. I think we can take out the few that's gathered and just make a run for it."

"I think we'll need a new plan, man." T-dog nodded towards the door again and everyone grew silent. Too many geeks had gathered for them to get out that way.

"Look, there's a storage room in the back. Let's just go there and-"

"And what? Stay there until they break the door and get us?" Andrea looked like she was on the brink of a break down.

Glenn rolled his eyes, frustrated with himself for not taking the trip alone. It was turning out to be more trouble than it was worth. "No. There's an exit there. I'll go and check out how bad it is and we'll take it from there."

"Where's Merle?" Alice asked, suddenly aware that there had been no hyena like laughter since they entered the department store. Everyone looked at each other, waiting to see if anyone knew.

"Shit, that can't be good. Someone needs to go find him."

"One problem at a time, Andrea. Finding a way out before it gets too dangerous is the priority. The racist, sexist asshole comes second." Jacqui looked around to see if anyone disagreed. No one did.

"Me and Morales will back you up." T-dog handed Glenn a walkie talkie.

Glenn took it and gave it an unsure look before letting out a sigh. He ran his free hand down his face. "Let's just get this over with. The sooner we leave the better."

"He's been gone a while. That's a bad thing, isn't it? This is bad." Andrea paced back and forth, running a hand through her hair. "He should have been back by now."

"Relax Andrea."

"Relax? Alice, do you realize how fucked we are if we can't get out of here?" she hissed.

"I do, but stressing out won't really change much." She replied with an uncomfortable shrug. Andrea glared at her, making Alice's look down at her feet. She wasn't one for confrontation.

"And what? Standing there staring at our feet will?" Alice opened her mouth to reply, but quickly closed it.

"Lay off her, Andrea. We're all stressed." Jacqui spoke, coming to Alice's rescue. Morales and T-dog stood awkwardly by the back door in their padded suits. Their job was to take down anything that followed Glenn back inside when he returned and the suits would prevent blood and bites from touching them.

"Apparently Alice isn't. According to her, stressing out won't solve anything. Right, Alice?"

"I didn't say I wasn't stressed out or worried. I just said it wouldn't change much."

"Whatever."

"Do you think Glenn's okay?" Jacqui hesitantly asked. No one answered, not sure what was going on.

"Man, have we got a serious problem." Glenn's voice suddenly filled the room. There was a collective sigh of relief. "Some moron riding on a horse managed to get just about every geek in Atlanta's attention. There's gotta be like… Over a hundred of them. That guy is so fucked."

"Are you exaggerating?" T-dog asked, holding the walkie talkie a few inches from his face.

"I don't know. Maybe, but it's a lot. Like way more than we can take down. I shit you not, it's like a swarm of them. The idiot didn't help by firing his gun."

"What should we do?"

"Uh… Honestly? I have no clue." Andrea palmed her forehead hard at Glenn's reply. They were fucked.

"And the man?"

"Stuck in a tank that's surrounded. I feel bad for the guy."

"He's the one that lead all the geeks to us! He's the reason we're in this mess and Glenn feels bad for him!" Andrea snapped.

"Chill out." T-dog attempted to calm the storm Andrea was about to bring. "Can you make it back here?"

"Yeah, but um… I'm gonna help that guy. I see an opening for him to get out."

T-dog let his head softly hit the wall behind him. "Alright man. Just don't die."

The air sizzled with tension and worry. No one wanted to say it, but the only reason they were anxious to get Glenn back alive was a selfish one. No one knew the back alleys of Atlanta like the former delivery boy. Though they had spent nearly every waking moment together for a month, it was hardly enough time to claim to really know each other. What they all had at the camp a casual friendship that came with the perks of looking out for one another, as long as self-sacrifices wasn't an option.

It made Alice feel guilty because Glenn had been willing to do what none of them wanted to. Even though he felt he had a better chance of retuning if he went alone, she felt someone, herself included, should have at least volunteered to tag along. Her stomach began to ache at the thought of him getting hurt and being alone. Just to imagine being alone, armed only with a walkie talkie, and surrounded by countless geeks terrified her. Lacing her fingers together and resting them under her chin, she began to pray. She silently promised that if Glenn came back without a scratch, she'd never let anyone volunteer to do anything dangerous alone.

A few gun shots went off and everyone instantly knew things were about to get worse. Whoever was out there with Glenn didn't seem to care about the mess they were making.

The walkie talkie suddenly began to buzz back to life. "I'm in the ally by the door. Four walkers are blocking the path."

No one said anything as T-dog and Morales placed helmets on their heads with face guards. The two men looked at each other and nodded before opening the door and running out, armed only with wooden baseball bats.

Glenn ran inside, but he wasn't alone. "Ah shit," he kneeled over, hands resting on his knees. "that was a workout."

Alice barely paid attention to the new comer as she ran over to Glenn and hugged him. He looked surprised. His hands dangled uselessly at his sides as he let the older woman, who was pretty hot in his opinion, squeeze him to her and ask if he was alright.

"We should have never let you go alone." She mumbled.

"It's cool Alice, I got back in one piece and-"

"Son of a bitch! I ought to kill you!"

Alice and Glenn jerked away from one another at the sound of Andrea's outburst and boxes being knocked down. Alice caught sight of a familiar tan shirt and let her eyes travel to the owners face. "Oh, God…"

"Chill out Andrea, back off." Morales ordered, sweating as he removed his protective padding.

"Back off?" she hissed, shoving her gun into the new comers face. "Because of this asshole we're dead!"

"Either pull the trigger or put the gun down."

Andrea let out a low growl, shoving the man one last time before easing off. "We're dead. We're dead because of you."

"I don't understand." The man spoke for the first time, breathing hard. His blue eyes darted around the room before landing on a familiar face. "Alice?"

The room went silent and all eyes were focused on the Alice, waiting for a reaction. Jacqui fingered the knife that was tucked in the waist band of her jeans, just in case the stranger was a threat to her friend. Alice stared at him, her lips parted slightly. He was alive. Rick was really alive. But that meant she screwed up. Badly. Nervously, she began to speak.

"Hey. I'm glad you're alright." She lamely replied.

In large steps, Rick was in front of her. For a moment, she thought he was about to lay the smack down on her for leaving him in the hospital for dead. And she would deserve it. Instead, he pulled her into a hug.

Rick's heart was beating wildly against his ribcage at the sight of a familiar face in a confusing world. Seeing Alice alive strengthened his belief that Lori and Carl were also alive. Rick felt her arms tentatively wrap around him, returning the much needed hug. He could almost cry at how good it felt to see someone he knew when the odds were so stacked against him.

"You are a sight for sore eyes." He let her go and smiled down at the shorter woman.

"As touching as this is, we have a serious fucking problem on our hands thanks to you. I'm sorry if I'm not feeling all warm and fuzzy, but we need to figure this shit out." Andrea hissed.

"I'm still not sure how I caused this."

"Look," Morales grabbed him, pushed him out of the storage room and began to lead everyone back to the front of the store. "we were here to scavenger for supplies. And the point of doing that is to survive, not draw attention by shooting in the middle of the street like Okay Corral!"

There were geeks pounding on the cracking glass door. Andrea glared at Rick and fingered the trigger of her gun, ready to shoot him as a sacrifice if things got out of hand. It was his fault after all.

"What the hell were you doing out there anyway?" Andrea asked.

"I was trying to flag down a helicopter."

"Helicopter?" Alice repeated. "There aren't any of those out there."

"You were seeing things, it happens-"

"No!" he snapped, cutting Jacqui off. "I know what I saw!"

Morales shook his head, but refused to acknowledge the delusions of a man he didn't even know. "Hey, T-dog, check that CB again. See if you can contact the others."

"Others? The refugee center?"

"Yeah, the refugee center. They got biscuits waiting in the oven for us." Jacqui sassed.

"I got no signal. Maybe we should try the roof."

Before anyone could move, another gun shot rang out. Glenn let out a groan and pulled his cap over his eyes. "The one damn time I bring people along, everything that could go wrong fucking goes wrong."

"Oh, God, was that Dixon?"

A/N: I hope those who read the original won't be disappointed by the rewrite and I thank you for giving it a chance. I'd like to think this version is better organized and written. Now, obviously, this is a Rick story so it's predictable in the sense of you know eventually my OC and Rick will be getting it on... Wait, you came for the romance, right? Well there's that too before they get it on... But they will be getting it on.

This isn't an insta-love story. If that's what you were expecting and wanting, you won't like this. In my opinion, it goes at a realistic pace if you take into consideration that it is a love story between two married people who can't just drop their spouses for one another and walkers are trying to eat them... And sometimes other people too. This is the Walking Dead world and to expect an easy, drama free romance is just going to equal... not a good time.

Reviews, comments, and favors are always appreciated!