Title: What If…?
Timeline: What if Shane and Lori hadn't a fight at the quarry during 'Tell it to the Frogs' and he didn't punch Ed?
Flavor: The Walking Dead
Characters: Carol Peletier
Rating: T
Word Count: 211
A/N: With beta help of Vicki.
Even the yelling of Andrea, Amy and Jacqui couldn't stop Ed. He grabbed his wife around her neck and jerked her away from the quarry. Having a little fun during an endless nightmare, he only would see the disrespect. In their tent he would teach her how to honor him.
Carol came around late in the evening. Everything hurt...again. New bruises decorated her body and the copper taste of blood was in her mouth. She could hear Ed order Sophia around to make supper. Carol hurried, blanking her pain to unburden her daughter.
The apocalypse hit their camp - screams, death, blood and panic. Carol reached for Sophia, carrying her through the chaos, Ed close by. One of the geeks got closer, no weapon to defend. She could see it in his face. He wanted to push them toward the danger to save his own life.
Suddenly a small-shot charge smashed the geek's head. Carol turned and saw the younger Dixon reloading. He shouted and she got behind his back, abandoning Ed to his fate. It was finally over, she realized. She ended her marriage and the abuse at this point. And as another Walker sneaked closer, Carol pointed out someone else for Daryl to rescue, someone who deserved to live.
