Both Glenn and Nicolas had been banned from going out on runs until Deanna has a chance to think about things. That was fine with Glenn. Honestly, he didn't know if he could stomach seeing Nicolas at all after what he had done. He knew he would have to face Nicolas sooner or later. Glenn thought it was a good idea to wait until he no longer wanted to rip his face off, if that day would ever come. How could Nicolas be such a coward? People like him should not still be surviving. He should be dead, not Noah.
Glenn thought back to the revolving door for the hundredth time, he should have just pushed it open with Noah, and left Nicolas there. No, he couldn't think like that. He can't lose himself. But he still dwelled on the thought. Is that what Rick would have done? Glenn saw what was happening to Rick, how hard and strong he had become. He knew why Rick needed be the way he was, Glenn just didn't think he could become like that. But more and more Glenn had to fight with himself to keep his humanity. Why was he thinking about killing Nicolas? Or about deliberately leaving him to die? He shouldn't be. He made his decision in that moment and that was that. If he could go back to that revolving door, he would do it exactly the same way. It was the right thing to do to try to save everyone and he would do it again.
Glenn was outside on the porch talking to Rick about what had happened. Rick understood it all. The people in Alexandria are weak. They are endangering us and we need to change that. They have to become like us or this isn't going to work. And it has to work. Glenn already made that promise to Maggie. Alexandria is going to be our home and somehow everyone will be safe.
"Deanna wanted to see you today, Glenn." Rick said. "She spent the morning videotaping Nicolas."
"Great." Glenn sounded less than thrilled. "He's probably told her that I killed her son or something."
"Just tell your side of the story. Just like you told me. It's all you can do. And you know it's the truth. She'll see that." Glenn knew that Rick was trying to make him feel better. For a moment, he was thankful for that. He was actually a bit nervous to talk to Deanna, especially after Nicolas had.
"Well I guess I should just get it over with." Glenn starting walking toward Deanna's house.
Before he knew it, he was in front of that camera. Deanna tried not to look him in the eye; Glenn did not take that as a good sign. All of a sudden Glenn was tired. The truth was on his side but he couldn't help but thinking Deanna might not be totally interested in the truth or might not want to hear it.
"Just tell me what happened, Glenn." Deanna said, fiddling with her papers.
"Deanna, I'm so sorry about Aiden. I tried to save him. I couldn't…." He paused, and looked at Deanna. She looked so old and so sad.
"Start from the beginning."
"We got to the warehouse and we decided to check the perimeter to make sure that we had another exit in case things went wrong. We were trying to be prepared. We saw the front was overrun. After we saw what we were up against, we went in, and Eugene found the parts. But then walkers came at us. One had riot gear on and had grenades. Aiden started firing at it. I yelled for him to stop. I don't think he could see the grenades. He kept firing until it blew up. There was a big explosion. I think that's when Tara got hurt. But Aiden, when the smoked cleared, I saw that he was … he was…" Glenn paused and looked at Deanna.
"He had landed on top of…he had pieces of wood sticking through his body. I tried to pull him off but I needed help. So I got Nicolas to try to help. He was afraid of the walkers; they were coming. We needed to do it together but he got spooked and he left us there. And then more walkers came and I had to leave him. I had no choice. I couldn't help him." Glenn stopped again. This was harder than he thought. But Deanna had just let him talk without trying to interrupt. And without trying to question him about comparing stories with Nicolas.
"What happened after?"
"Then we were escaping. We tried to find another exit but we were right by the front, which we already knew was covered. That's when Nicolas jumped into one side of the revolving door. And Noah and I hid in the other side. It was the worst situation to be in. We couldn't turn the door or it would be over. Walkers from both sides. Then Eugene drove up in the van and kept honking the horn to get the walkers from the outside to go toward him. So one side was clear. We still couldn't turn the door because of the walkers inside, but I was going to break the glass. Nicolas didn't give me much of a chance and started moving the door to get out. We couldn't stop him and Noah….." Glenn's voice cracked. He cleared his throat and looked up to see Deanna and that stupid camera. "Noah died."
They were both silent for a long time. Deanna didn't try to ask any more questions and Glenn had realized that this was harder to talk about then he realized.
Glenn finally continued, "I got out of that door and ran toward the van. Nicolas was trying to take the van from Eugene. Eugene was asking about me and Noah. And I just… lost it on Nicolas. We dragged him into the van and came back."
"Ok, you can go."
That was it? Glenn was a bit taken aback. He was expecting some more like an interrogation but Deanna had just let him talk. And he was done. And he definitely wanted to leave so he got up.
"Again, I'm really sorry for what happened, Deanna. I wish I could have done more to save Aiden." And with that he went to leave. Deanna just starred at where Glenn had been sitting in a daze. He didn't look back.
On his way back toward the house, he stopped to see Tara. He hoped that something in her condition would change for the better. He really didn't want to lose two people in a matter of days. When he got inside, he saw Eugene next to her. Rosita told Glenn that he hardly ever leaves her. He was glad for Tara to always have someone there in case she woke up. Glenn thought that he saw a change in Eugene when they were out there. There was no doubt in his mind that Nicolas was more of a coward than Eugene. Eugene had saved his life with the van. That was something. And he had got Tara to safety somehow.
Glenn sat down next to Eugene and said. "How is she doing?"
"The same," Eugene replied. "But Pete said that he's hoping she'll come out of it."
"I hope so too." The two men sat in silence. A couple of times Glenn thought that maybe they should talk about what happened. But he had already done enough talking for one day and he was tired. He decided to go home.
