Just One Bullet Goes A Long Way

***Just One Bullet Goes A Long Way*** is the fifth chapter of the alternate universe (AU) fanfic, Dawn of The Walking Dead. It introduces the drugstore survivors Carley, Doug, Glenn, Lilly and her father Larry, main characters from the original Walking Dead series by Telltale games. The chapter also marks the end of episode one.

## Cast Guide

Starring
Clementine
Rachel Paul
Travis
Lee Everett
Kenny
Katjaa
Duck
Carley
Doug
Lilly
Larry
Glenn

## Summary

*Lee, the kids, and Kenny's family head for downtown Macon, only to discover the city in ruins and infested with the undead. When all seems lost, they come across a group of survivors in a rundown drugstore, offering a glimmer of salvation.*

## Plot

For the survivors, the trip from the Greene farm to downtown Macon proved to be an arduous one. Travis and Rachel, taking refuge in the truck bed's open air, saw the world's unsettling change as they travelled into the unknown. Mechanical issues with Kenny's vehicle resulted in a two-hour delay and heightened stress in the already tense mood. The environment became more eerie as they continued their road journey. The smell of filth and a dark gloom filled the air. The senses were assailed by the road's twists and turns, which revealed both familiar and foreign sights that cast a disquieting shadow over their voyage.

About a quarter of the way to Macon, Kenny saw the truck's gas tank was becoming low, which made him worry about having to locate a gas station without having to stop. Looking out of the truck bed over the barren landscape, Travis saw a world gone wrong. The environment was filled with an uncomfortable silence, abandoned automobiles littered the area like abandoned toys, and empty buildings mirrored the lack of life. The transition from fields to concrete in the downtown area was a grim transformation, engulfed in an acrid smoky shroud with debris floating by the wind, reminiscent of war movies Travis had seen.

After driving to Macon, the vehicle runs out of fuel . Everyone gets out of the car and strolls a little while till Duck identifies a person who seems to be repairing a large rig truck's engine. Calling out to the guy, "You friendly?" Kenny yells at him. When the guy turns to face Kenny, he growls and reveals that he is really a walker who is not conducting repairs but is instead consuming a bloodied, untidy body. The survivors turn to face a pharmacy as a number of other walkers approach from all angles. Following a walker's takedown on Duck, Duck cries out for assistance until a gunshot is heard. kills the walker, spraying blood all over Duck as he fearfully runs to his dad. Lee looks and sees the shooter; a woman who had come out of the drugstore with an Asian man. The woman shoots at several more walkers as the man ushers everyone inside the drugstore. After everyone safely enters, he locks the security gate to the drugstore and runs inside.

Immediately, an argument ensues between the two rescuers and another woman who appears to be angered by the shooter leaving the drugstore. The angered woman's father says "Goddammit, Lilly! You have to control these people."

The leader's father then notices Duck in the corner with his mother covered in blood and immediately assumes he was bitten. He decides that they must kill the boy before he turns, but Kenny steps between them, threatening him. Katjaa says that there is no bite, but the man refuses to believe her and explains that they had already seen this happen where a man with a bite had died, turned and attacked them all. Lee tells him to stop yelling and making the situation worse, but Larry does not want to wait. Lee becomes overwhelmed with anger, blasting at Larry that he will kill and beat him down should he kill anyone in the room, firmly asserting he will die before he sees Duck thrown out.

Although during the arguement, Clementine and Rachel are trying to find a way into the restroom. Clementine soon cries out as a walker attacks her at the bathroom door. Lee rushes over to help her but stumbles past Lilly and falls. He gets back up and runs to Clementine to get her out of harm's way, but inadvertently pulls the walker to its feet to attack him.

As the walker claws at him, a gunshot rings out and kills it. Lee sees that the previous shooter had shot the walker and killed it, but a bunch of walkers outside start banging on the gate in response. As everyone cowers behind the counters, a string of gunshots, explosions and aerial vehicle sounds, presumably from the military fighting hordes of walkers not too far from Macon, draws them away from the drugstore. Larry then throws another tirade at the stupidity of Carley's shot but soon falls to his knees with severe chest pain. Lilly explains that he has heart problems and that he needs the nitroglycerin pills in the pharmacy. Lee suggests that they find a way into the pharmacy through the office and leaves Lilly and her father alone. Kenny takes charge of the situation and tells the quiet man in the corner to be the lookout. He says his name is Doug while the shooter introduces herself as Carley. Lilly introduces herself and her father, Larry, and is told to keep an eye on him. The Asian man, Glenn, volunteers to run to a nearby motel to find fuel for their truck. He leaves and Clementine gives him one of her walkie-talkies.

Lilly appreciated the concern from Clementine and Rachel, her gaze shifting between the two girls. Clementine, with her bouncing curls, baseball cap, and walkie-talkie in hand, and Rachel, with her blue eyes, squeaking rain boots, and a tight grip on her stuffed doll, presented a contrast of youthful innocence amid the harsh reality they faced. Despite Lee mentioning having kids with him, Lilly had only seen Clementine before, likely due to the chaos of recent events.

Assured of her well-being, Lilly nodded in response. Rachel knelt beside her, comforting her with a tight hold on her rabbit. With optimism, Rachel reassured Lilly about Lee's capabilities and how he helps everyone, instilling confidence that her father would be okay.
Lilly turned her attention to Rachel, who introduced herself and Clementine. Lilly reciprocated with a simple, "Lilly."
Travis ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, his exhaustion evident after the tumultuous day. All he desired was to escape into a peaceful sleep, to wake up to a world where the undead nightmare was just a fading memory, and he could resume his normal life—going to school, enjoying mundane routines.
As he found himself idly scrutinizing the shelf filled with magazines and various items, including sleeping aids and earplugs, his stress levels surged. Boredom and weariness gnawed at his sanity. Travis couldn't help but contemplate the choices that led them to this point. If he knew the outside world would devolve into this chaotic mess, he might have chosen the relative safety of the treehouse, even if it meant enduring hunger a little longer.

Katjaa, sensing Travis's silent contemplation, expressed gratitude for his help with Duck. Travis nodded in response, his attention momentarily drawn away from his thoughts. Katjaa then turned her concern toward him, inquiring about his well-being.

Travis hesitated, contemplating how to articulate the complex emotions swirling within him. He felt not just physical exhaustion but a weariness stemming from the dire circumstances they faced. The violence, the constant running, the questions without answers—all of it wore him down. His longing for the normalcy of life, the absence of reanimated corpses and gunfire, intensified with each passing day.

As they approached Macon, Travis found himself considering leaving the girls under Lee's care. Trusting Lee's ability to protect them, he entertained thoughts of returning to Stone Mountain, desperate to see if his dad had made it home. The idea of theft, once alien to him, now flickered in his mind as a potential means of survival.

Kenny, sensing Travis's internal struggle, offered reassurance. The older man acknowledged the shared emotional toll of their situation and encouraged Travis to confide in them. Travis admitted missing his family, especially his dad in the military. Kenny, with confidence in his voice, assured Travis that his father, being a military man, could handle himself, and they were likely fine.

Travis, gazing through the boarded-up windows into the unknown, accepted the reassurance. Kenny suggested helping Doug as a distraction, and with a grateful nod, Travis stood up to do just that, expressing his thanks before leaving.

Clementine and Rachel stood beside the door as Lee moved a pallet that blocked access to the prescription area. The room was in disarray, marked by bloody prints and trails. Lee's face showed signs of grief as he witnessed the grim scene, but he shook his head, focusing on clearing the clutter.

As Lee shifted the pallet, a wooden stick fell out and clattered onto the floor. He picked it up, revealing it to be his dad's cane. Lee explained to Clementine and Rachel that his dad used to zip around the store on it and even used it to whoop shoplifters.

Clementine, intrigued, asked if Lee's dad was sick. Lee chuckled and shared that his dad was okay; the cane was more of a protective tool. He admired how his dad made it look cool, much like Clementine with her hat.

As Lee cleared the desk blocking their path, memories flooded his mind of his parents working there. The trio then positioned themselves to move the desk, with Lee cautioning them about their fingers near the drawers.

The weight of the desk was evident, but with the girls' help, the process became a bit quicker. During a break, Lee inquired about how they were doing. Clementine assured him it wasn't too heavy, and Rachel nodded in agreement. Lee then asked about their thoughts on everything outside.

Clementine admitted it wasn't good, but she felt it would be okay. Rachel added that they'd have something crazy to tell everyone at school. Lee smiled and prompted them to continue moving the desk.

During this, Rachel asked Lee if he had kids, and Clementine inquired about his family. Lee evaded the questions, redirecting the conversation toward the girls' parents' occupations. As they pushed the desk, Rachel persisted in asking about Lee's family.

Clementine, growing curious, pressed on, asking if Lee's family hated him. Lee closed his eyes briefly, sighing before acknowledging that they didn't talk for a while. He gently explained that his family was gone, expressing a wish for things to have been different. An awkward silence followed, but Lee shared a bit more about getting into trouble and not talking to them for a while.

Lee redirected the conversation, focusing on completing the task at hand. They successfully pushed the desk against the wall. However, Clementine hurt her finger in the process. Lee quickly attended to her, assuring her he would find a bandage.

As Lee went to fetch a bandage from the first aid kit, Clementine and Rachel chatted about previous injuries they had, trying to lighten the mood. When Lee returned, he bandaged Clementine's finger.

The conversation then turned to the girls' concerns about their parents coming home. Lee reassured them that they would track them down. Clementine mentioned using her walkie-talkie, and Rachel expressed sadness that her mom didn't have one. The trio discussed finding their parents and staying close to Lee for the time being.

Lee continued searching for the pharmacy key, and as he stepped on scattered glass, he found a broken frame with a familiar photograph. In the photo, his family stood proudly in front of the drug store. Lee carefully tore himself out of the picture, separating his image from the rest, and tucked the family photo into his pocket.

Carley suddenly interrupted, startling Lee. She confronted him, revealing that she knew who he was—Lee Everett, a professor who killed a state senator. Lee blinked, absorbing the revelation. Carley explained that she was a reporter for WABE and had paid attention to his trial. Despite the accusations, she expressed that she didn't care, seeing his potential skills as useful in their current situation.

Lee denied revealing his identity to the group outside and tried to downplay his connection to the store. Carley warned him not to be a detriment to the group, and they reached a tentative understanding. Carley promised to keep his secret but emphasized that if he became a problem, they'd have an issue.

They shared a moment of camaraderie, with Carley assuring Lee that she would keep his secret to herself, and Lee expressing his gratitude.

Clementine and Rachel settled on a couple of sturdy boxes near Carley, engrossed in their own thoughts. Lee, feeling a sense of responsibility, decided to check on Lilly and her father, Larry, and update Lilly on the progress of opening the pharmacy.

Lilly, initially guarded, asked for Lee's name, and he introduced himself. Lilly introduced herself and mentioned her father's name, Larry, who glared at Lee but remained silent. Lilly expressed her frustration, explaining that Larry had a heart condition, and she was trying to keep him relaxed. She shared that Larry had a temper but insisted that he didn't mean it.

Lee inquired about Larry's condition, and Lilly explained that he had a heart condition, regularly taking nitroglycerin tablets. She had seen him go through bad attacks that required hospital visits. Lee noted that going to the hospital was not an option at the moment.

Larry interjected with a defensive remark, and Lilly acknowledged that he didn't mean it. Lee tried to assure Lilly that he understood Larry's situation. When Lilly asked about their mom, Lee hesitated but mentioned that the girls' parents were both in Savannah. Lilly, assuming Lee was the girls' father, expressed confusion, but Lee clarified that he found them in a house while escaping Atlanta.

Leaning closer, Lee shared in a hushed tone that he believed the girls' parents didn't make it. Lilly cast a pitied look at the girls, and Lee explained that he heard answering machine messages indicating that the girls were at home with a sitter, and it wasn't good. Lilly expressed sympathy and acknowledged that the girls were lucky to have Lee.

Lee, trying to shift the conversation, asked if anyone was at the pharmacy when Lilly and her group arrived. Lilly explained that the place was wrecked, and they found an older couple in the office, whom Larry had hauled out in case they weren't truly dead. The mention of bodies in the office visibly affected Lee, but he assured Lilly that he was fine, though his nod betrayed the sorrow he felt for the loss of the owners, whom he mentioned being close to.

Glenn's voice crackled through the two-way radio, seeking assistance. Lee took over the conversation and learned that Glenn was stuck at the motor inn, surrounded by roaming zombies after attempting to gather medical supplies. Lee assured Glenn that they would send a group to rescue him.

Lee decided to go on the rescue mission with Carley, and to his surprise, Travis volunteered to join them, expressing his eagerness to help. Carley approved of the idea, and the three of them prepared to leave for the motor inn.

Before departing, Lee approached Clementine and Rachel, who were seated nearby. He assured them that he would take good care of the radio until they returned with Glenn. Lee then asked if the girls needed anything, and both Clementine and Rachel mentioned that they were a little hungry.

Lee greeted Kenny's family and expressed his concern about Duck's well-being. Kenny and Katjaa appreciated Lee's support during the tense encounter with Larry. They discussed the toughness of the two girls, acknowledging their resilience for surviving on their own for a couple of days.

When the topic shifted to the plan, Kenny suggested hanging tight and waiting for things to clear up since it seemed dangerous outside. Katjaa inquired about Lee's family in Macon, and he sadly revealed that they owned the store and were now gone.

Katjaa and Kenny offered their sympathies, understanding the pain of losing loved ones. Lee, after the emotional conversation, approached Travis and Carley, who were near the counter. On his way, he grabbed two energy bars and handed them to Clementine and Rachel, ensuring they had something to eat while he was away.

Lee complimented Carley on her shooting skills, and as they discussed the radio, he discovered that there were no batteries in it. Carley and Travis were embarrassed by the oversight, and Lee, with a sigh, assured them that he would try to find batteries when they returned. The trio then headed to the office, the awkwardness lingering in the air.

Lee, Travis and Carley find Glenn inside of a broken ice machine at a motel infested with walkers. Lee and Carley learn from him that there is another girl hiding up inside one of the other rooms upstairs. Glenn and Travis say that they need to save her, but Carley is hesitant to do so. Lee convinces her that she would want help if she were in the girl's position. Lee tells them that they must kill all of the walkers in the area quietly, as noise would attract more. Using various items around the parking lot, Lee dispatches five walkers in silence before taking a fire axe. He then moves upstairs to where the girl was trapped and kills two walkers crowding her door. He then warns her that he is coming in and tries to break the door down, but she tells him to stop and voluntarily comes out. She reveals her bite to them and says that they should have just left her before noticing that Carley had a gun. Afraid of becoming a zombie-like her boyfriend, she asks for the gun so that she might kill herself.

Lee tells her that she can't take the gun, but she desperately begs Carley for it. Carley refuses again, but the bitten woman lunges at her and tries to grab the gun. Lee and Glenn try to pry the woman off of Carley, but their combined weight on the second-floor balcony is too much and a section of it collapses beneath them. Carley drops the gun and the crazed woman takes it. She levels it at her own temple as Lee tries to talk her down, but she shoots herself in the head anyway. Glenn goes to retrieve the pistol from the corpse, and he vomits upon picking it up. As more walkers are drawn to the noise come out of the forest, Carley calls for them to get in the car. Glenn grabs his truck and drives them all back to the drugstore.

The group quietly entered the store through the office door. Kenny inquired about everyone's well-being, and Lee updated him on the situation with Glenn, mentioning that they managed to get some gas for the pickup truck. Carley asked about the situation in the store, and Kenny mentioned that Larry was still unstable. Lee acknowledged the information and emphasized the importance of retrieving the pills from the pharmacy as their next task.

Lee approached the girls, checking in on them. They mentioned being bored, and Lee assured them that they would be leaving soon to go somewhere safer. Clementine asked where they were going, and Lee explained that he had a place in mind but needed to discuss it with Kenny. He encouraged the girls to be ready when the time came. Lee noticed Rachel hadn't eaten her energy bar and offered it to him, but he declined, stating that he was going to check outside with Doug.

Travis struggled to get the radio to work until Clementine and Rachel pointed out that he had inserted the batteries incorrectly. Once the issue was resolved, they tuned into a news station, hearing a grim report about the spreading affliction and the increasing death toll. The broadcast ended abruptly, leaving Carley and Travis somber.

Travis, sensing Carley's unease, asked if she was okay, and Carley, while denying her distress, admitted that the situation sounded dire. Travis inquired about Carley's background, prompting her to share her story of how she ended up in the drugstore in the first place.

Rachel's wanderings in the store led her to an unclaimed energy bar. Reflecting on the changes in their circumstances, she decided to give the extra bar to Duck, who had recently faced a monster attack. Rachel approached Kenny's family and offered the treat to Duck, receiving gratitude from Kenny and Katjaa for her kind gesture.

Lee reports to Lilly that he had the keys and the two enter the office. Lee uses the pharmacy to open the locked door, but as soon as he enters, the alarm to the pharmacy rings out and begins attracting walkers. Lilly runs for the nitroglycerin pills as Kenny prepares everyone to move. He tells his family to remain in the office and wait with Glenn until he honks the horn in the alley. He orders Lee, Carley, Doug and Travis to keep their defenses up until then, and he takes Lee's axe as he goes out through the alley. Lee rushes over to the main doors as the walkers break through the gate. Doug tries to tell Lee that- in case they didn't make it- he thinks Lee is a good guy. Carley tries to tell Doug something else under the same circumstances but is cut off by a particularly ferocious bump against the door. A window shatters behind and Doug and Carley leave them so that she could shoot at any walkers trying to get in. Lee asks Clementine and Rachel to look for anything that could keep the doors together. Doug leaves Lee to hold the doors as he goes to repair a boarded-up window that had caved in. The girls return with a walking cane Lee's father had used before he'd died. Lee sticks it between the handles and then sees both Carley and Doug held by walkers.

Doug's terrified cries for help echoed through the air, and Carley desperately reached for ammunition from her purse as a walker threatened to pull her down. Faced with a split-second decision, Lee directed Travis to assist Carley, while he rushed to Doug's aid. Kenny burst through the door, urging everyone to move quickly.

Amid the chaos, Clementine and Rachel sprinted towards the exit. However, a walker grabbed hold of Clementine's leg, and she screamed in terror. Lee intervened, stomping on the walker's head to free Clementine. As they hurried towards the office door, Larry blocked Lee's path, delivering a powerful punch that sent him sprawling to the floor.

As darkness threatened to engulf him, Lee faced the imminent danger of a final blow from Kenny's axe. However, Kenny's swing narrowly missed Lee's head, instead striking a walker. Kenny extended a hand to Lee, declaring that he wouldn't let somebody get eaten, especially a good friend. Together they entered the office, slamming the door shut behind them and leaving the chaos of the pharmacy behind.

Several hours later, Lee and the group are settling in at the motel Glenn had found gas at and are stocking their supplies. Lee stares sadly at the torn picture of his family before hearing a few gunshots accompanied by screams out in the distance. Both end abruptly as Lee turns and sees Glenn standing in front of his car. Glenn beckons for silence as he listens to a FRS report on the level of infection in Atlanta and various other cities within the region. He tells Lee that he thinks he has to go and find his friends. Lee understands and supports his decision and lets him leave the motor inn. Lee then thanks Kenny nearby for saving his life and they discuss their plans for the future. Kenny suggests that they remain at the motel until the zombies are all exterminated by the government. Lee then goes over to Carley and Doug, who thank him for saving them.

Lee then approaches Clementine as he notices her looking sad. She tells him that Glenn had kept her walkie-talkie and that hers had broken when she had fallen in the drugstore. She knows that it wasn't really important, but was still upset as it had sentimental ties to her and her parents. Larry gruffly calls Lee over. Lee, sore over the fact Larry had tried to kill him, goes over passively and ask what he wants.

Lee found himself facing not only the relentless threats of the undead but also the volatile tensions within the group. Lilly called him over just in time to prevent a potentially violent confrontation with Larry, expressing her gratitude for Lee's intervention that saved her father's life.

Regret and a sense of powerlessness weighed on Lee as he wished he could have done more. Lilly, however, reminded him that he was only one man and that they were lucky to have him. Despite the strained beginnings, Lilly acknowledged Lee's pivotal role in their survival that night.

As they stood together, the distant sounds of military helicopters and gunfire reached their ears. Kenny, joining the conversation, expressed hope that it signaled a turning point in the ongoing crisis. Observing the motel's potential defensibility, Kenny proposed a plan to fortify the motor inn, block off entrances with cars, and stay until the military arrived.

Lilly, Lee, and Kenny agreed with the plan, finding comfort in the idea of the motor inn as a temporary safe haven. The group, despite the challenges they faced, began to feel a glimmer of optimism. As they stood on the sidewalk, Kenny noted the amenities they had—beds, water, and light—and expressed confidence that the motor inn could be a relatively secure place to call home. Lilly echoed the sentiment, and for a moment, the group felt a collective belief that things might be okay. But the power to the area goes out, leaving the group in darkness.

## Cast

* Clementine
* Rachel Paul
* Travis
* Lee Everett
* Kenny
* Katjaa
* Kenny Jr
* Carley
* Doug
* Lilly
* Larry
* Glenn
* Irene - †

## Deaths

* Numerous walkers
* Irene - †