John Walker had been dealing with too much chaos for a man who had been putting his community member's lives over his own. Since June of last year, John had done everything possible to maintain stability for everyone in the bunker. John was selfless through and through, nearly eighty percent of his life was spent doing good things for other people. The twenty percent of selfishness that lived inside of his body was only brought out when it was detrimental, otherwise John would have done absolutely anything to please each person in his life.
He let out a sigh of relief as he took in the sight before his eyes, four glass walls that protected the community. John had spent the entire year trying to find a sustainable way to ensure that the community could live somewhat of their normal lives like before the outbreak. For the first time in over three hundred-and sixty five days, John looked around and found that it could all be possible. Him and his partner Abdi had created a new material that was strong enough to withstand breakage, and clear enough to see out of. The clear walls stood tall as they had been drilled nearly ten feet underground within the span of three weeks, and all of John's hard work had finally payed off.
Alongside building enough materials to create such a unimaginable barrier, John had to create nearly thirty oxygen filtration systems in order for the air to become breathable. Each filtration system was high enough so that they couldn't be broken, John made sure that everything in this community was foolproof. Five acres of land were completely open to the living now, and the unhinged could no longer attack them unless someone screwed up. John was happier than ever about his hard work and dedication paying off, but he was even happier that he could remove his damn filtration mask as soon as the ceiling was finished.
John urged the entire community to stay inside of their rooms today unless they were on the construction crew or medical team. He wanted to surprise the community with a gift as beautiful as safety and security. Most of the community had been aware of the changes that were coming to the bunker because John had held a meeting about the renovations almost over a month ago, but he still wanted this to be a great revelation. As John stared at his job well done that was nearly complete, he was interrupted from his thoughts by Juliette Carter who was supposed to be in the infirmary.
"What are you doing out here? Connor said that it'a been a busy morning for you both" John stated, his arms folded as he stared straight ahead towards the construction.
Juliette sighed nervously as she crept closer towards John, she knew that he wasn't exactly happy that she was breaking his order but she had no choice. "It is, but I needed to talk to you and this was the only way" Juliette reminded him.
"Well let's make it quick, I don't want you to stay out here too long and leave Connor stranded by himself in the infirmary" John said as he turned to face her, studying how nervous she was because he could hear it in her voice.
Juliette hadn't spoken a single word about what had happened during her and Xander's training two weeks ago, but that didn't mean that she wasn't terrified by it. She wanted to stay as far away from him as possible only because she was beginning to understand what her entire family meant about his vendetta. He held a knife to her neck for crying out loud, and even though he didn't kill her, he sure as hell wanted to whether he admitted it or not. She couldn't commit to night-watch with a man who terrified the ever living shit out of her, and John needed to understand that.
"Listen, I've thought a lot about it and I think that you should find another nurse for night watch" Juliette admitted, getting her concerns right out into the open considering she was supposed to start tomorrow.
John narrowed his eyes towards her and knew instantly what this was about. "If this is about your father, he cannot control an order that I give you, you don't need to worry about him forbidding you from helping people" John reminded her, he knew how badly that Juliette loved helping others in need.
"It isn't about him" Juliette shook her head, she couldn't find the right words that didn't involve explaining to John that his son was a sadistic piece of shit and she liked it.
John furrowed his brows. "So what is it?"
"I just don't think that Xander and I work well together" She said honestly.
John sighed once more, and readjusted his glasses. "You let your father get inside of your head, didn't you?" John asked her, even though he knew the answer.
Juliette looked down towards the white, withered grass with a shameful gaze. Of course her father had terrified her, manipulated her perception of Xander, and forbid her from seeing him, but Xander confirmed all of those warnings on his own. She didn't want to be in the same area as someone who could kill her so easily without blinking, but she also didn't want to allow herself to fall into a cage that she couldn't escape, the cage being her inability to resist him. Finding someone else for the job would solve multiple problems, and it would save Xander and Juliette from forcibly enduring one another.
"No, I gave Xander the benefit of the doubt but he held a knife up to my throat during training" Juliette expressed with concern.
John laughed out loud, he knew that if Alexander was to kill anyone, Juliette would be last on his list. "I asked him to be rough, you hadn't been to a training in months and I thought that you would finally feel the need to attend" John smiled as he couldn't believe that Juliette genuinely thought that his son wanted to murder her.
"Rough is an understatement to what he did to me" she shook her head.
"He would never actually hurt you" John insisted, hoping that she could see the reassurance in his gaze.
Juliette blinked multiple times as she looked at John. "But he would, which is why I can't--" Juliette shook her head, she was running out of excuses.
"Juliette I'm sorry but you don't have much of a choice" John apologized while letting out a desperate sigh. "Connor can't take your place, you agreed to this weeks ago and it is too short of a notice to back out" John explained.
Juliette knew that the chances of getting out of her night watch shifts with Xander was going to be nearly impossible, so she hadn't set her expectations too high. John was right, he was right about everything but for some reason she felt the need to want to be as far from Xander as possible despite John's firm belief that everything was fine. She didn't want to cause a stir between her and John, especially when it came to something that could so easily be ignored. She had no choice but to suck it up for what felt like the hundredth time as she was forced to endure time with Alexander Walker.
"I understand, I'm sorry for bothering you-- I'll figure it out myself" Juliette nodded her head and instantly turned around to make her way towards the infirmary.
Before she could even walk two steps away from John, she felt his hand instantly grasp onto her upper shoulder. She paused and whipped her head around, facing him once more.
"Juliette, what is it that your family is telling you about my son?" John asked her, he was genuinely curious why she seemed so terrified.
Even though thousands of answers to his question popped into her head, she knew that she had to stay quiet. She remembered what Xander said to her a few weeks ago, he had told her that Elliot would be thrown out of the community in an instant if he continued on with his constant antagonizing and accusations. As much as her father deserves repercussions for his actions, he didn't deserve to be thrown out to the infected if John found out about what he had been saying.
"My dad is protective, that's all" She smiled lightly towards him, giving him no second thought as she then walked away.
John's questions were pointless, because he knew the answer to each and every one, but Juliette didn't need to know that. As much as John wanted to throw Elliot out of the bunker before he had ever come inside, he knew that he would have to wait. As many secrets and lies as the Carter family hold hostage, the Walker men have just as many that they plan on releasing when the time is right. How much longer can John continue to act oblivious, when the things that he knows are detrimental to many people's lives?
