Heaven in Hiding (Negan)

Chapter 48

Nightfall came fast and people were still out and about. Jenny was fast asleep in her little basket in my tent. I let out a sigh as I got up and left my tent. I remember them talking about Aaron getting bit and having his arm chopped off. The medical tent was only a few strides away so I decided to check in on him. I know he had Gracie from the satellite post. I walked in and Rick was there too. I looked down at the bed Aaron was in. His arm gone from the elbow down.
"Damn." I said out loud. "Is he going to okay?" I asked. Rocked looked to me then to Aaron.
"As long as an infection don't take root. He should be fine."
"That's good."
"I'm goin back tomorrow." Rick said and I looked over to him.
"Yeah?"
"Just for some supplies." Before I could open my mouth he answered my obvious question. "I'm sure he's still alive and well." I sighed and walked out of the tent. Rick followed. "Hey," he called and I looked back.
"I have to get back to Jenny." I told him.
"I'll let him know how you two are. But that's all." I gave him a weak smile and nodded before heading back to my tent. I know he didn't mean to dangle Negan in front of me but damn. He must know it hurts.

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Rick walked down to Negans cell with a small sandwich in hand. Negan heard the door open and the footsteps descend down toward him. Laying on his cot he turned his head to see Rick who pulled a chair over. He tossed the plate in front of the bars and started to speak. He was telling Negan how the bridge was coming. Trying to show him how good of a leader he was. The communities coming together even with the hiccups they've had. Even mentioning Prudence. How she's stepped up and took charge of their people. Laying down the law and even getting her hands dirty in the process. Negan chuckled.
"That's a real pretty picture you painted their Rick." Negan turned his head toward Rick. "When do I get to see it?"
"Never." Rick spoke. "You're gonna die behind these bars. You know that."
"Well,then. Don't I get a finale request? Why don't you bring me my girls and-" Rick cut him off.
"Don't you ever get tired of acting like you're still in charge?"
"Do you? Do you think because they had a little weenie roast that you've got all this on lock? When it finally goes to shit. And let me tell you not will. You make sure to come and tell me all about that day too."
"We're thriving without you. Prudence and Jenny are thriving. Building a future."
"A future. For who? Carl?"
"Don't you speak his name." Rick said standing up.
"Your family is gone. Same as mine. My girls are out there but I can't see em. I'm missing out on their lives. That bridge your building. It's a monument to the dead. You're not saving the world. You just getting it ready for me." Negan smirked. Rick eyes him and turned toward the door. "My girls."
"Like I said. Fine and thriving." Rick said leaving it at that. Negan sighed and walked toward the plate in front of his cell before he heard the slam of the door. Fuck. Negan hated how Rick brought out the worst in him. He wanted to play a good guy to get some more information about Prue and Jenny but no. He went the asshole route. He grabbed the sandwich ate started to eat it. Negan really hopped they were thriving and living life well. As much as it pissed him off he was missing out he didn't want their lives to waste waiting for him.
———————
Few more weeks pasted and life was going back to semi normal. It was still tense. A lot of the saviors have been against me since the bridge. They weren't fans of me taking Ricks side. I wasn't a fan either but I want a safe place for Jenny. I also don't want to give him any reasons to give Negan a hard time. We were still using the camp by the bridge even though it was just about done and there's where I was for the time being. To try to help keep the peace. I was with Nabila playing with Jenny and the other young kids when I heard a lot of noise. It sounded like a fight was breaking out. I put Jenny down on the blanket and ran outside. There was circle forming with lots of yelling. Laura and I ran over and tried to push our way to the middle.
"Hey hey! What the fuck are you assholes doing?!" I shouted getting to the middle. Everyone started to go after eachother. Laura and I tried to separate everyone then Alden came in to help. "Stop it!" I shouted.
"We're gonna find out who did this so it don't happen to us again" Alden spoke.
"Did what?" I asked and followed Alden glance. It was Justin dead.
"Us? You ain't one of us anymore." One of the saviors spoke. He looked to me. "You either."
"Us as in all of us." Alden spoke. The savior pulled back and punched Alden right to the ground. I pushed him back and pulled my gun.
"I thought you were supposed to be our leader."
"I am your leader! And it's not my fault you refuse to move forward. And turn around and go back."
"What so you can go back to your new crew over there can shot me in the back?" He asked walking up on me. I gripped my gun tighter before Laura walked up.
"We don't want this. We just want to protect ourself." Laura spoke. Before I could answer Daryl shouted no guns. Arguing about Justin started again.  A few savior grabbed axes that were laying down and walked toward the others.
"Stop it! This is going too far! Justin was an asshole and I know he was one of us. He was pushing his luck. He knew the rules." I told them.
"Negan would never have let this happen." He spoke taking me aback. I mean he was right. But things were different now. Before it got worse Rick rode up in his horse.
"Now that's enough!" Rick shouted. I turned to the saviors.
"We're not doing this! Let it go. I'll talk to Rick okay? See if we can get some weapons. But after this. It's going to be hard." I told them. He shook his head and walked off. Everyone went their separate ways as Rick got off his horse. He went to speak to Gabe then walked toward me.
"I'm sorry. Shit is just hitting the fan so fast. Did you think about what I asked?" I asked Rick. "A few guns to the right people. I have one. But I trust Laura,Regina and Alden. I think it would really help. Ease the tension."
"No. No guns for anyone." Maggie said walking up.
"You trust me enough. Trust a few more. There's a few saviors that are on board."
"First. We have to find out what's happening. Who killed Justin . Then we can talk about the guns."
"Okay. Fair enough. But for the record. He ain't a loss." I said as I walked off with Alden. "What. A. Shit show." I said.
"Tell me about it. Most of the saviors aren't on our side you know." Alden said.
"Yeah. I've noticed. I don't blame them. I miss the way things were too. I miss Negan. But we have to do what we have to." Alden nodded.
Later that day I went off with Maggie to check the grids. It was Maggie,me and a younger girl. She was from Oceanside. I didn't know her name tho. She suggested going toward a house she knew was ahead. As we walked I looked over at Maggie.
"I'm sorry about my people. I don't want to be backsliding with you. You're a great leader and an amazing mom. I don't know how you do it. I feel like I'm failing at both." I admitted as we walked through a field.
"It ain't easy that's for sure."
We looked up ahead to see walkers swarming a house. We all walked up to the small horde and started to walk them away. The other girl split off and Maggie and I got the bill of them away from the house.
"You sure she's okay on her own?" I asked Maggie. Just when I asked her the door of the house broke and walkers came flooding out,knocking the girl over. "Fuck." I pulled my knife from my thigh hustler and ran up to the porch. Maggie close behind. I yanked the walker off the girl and stabbed it in the temple. I stabbed each walker as they bleed out of the house. After about ten of them it stopped. I let my arms down and panted. I looked over at the girl and Maggie. I heard foot steps and looked over to see Daryl and Rick walking up.
"Everyone alright?" Daryl asked.
"We're a trio of kick ass ladies. Of corse we're okay." I said with a half smile. I looked back at the girl to see her hand bleeding. "Wait are yo-"
"It just opened back up." I nodded and looked over to see Rosita had joined us. I shot her a look before going back to the other girl. I don't usually hold grudges but I just couldn't get over her.
"Let's go." Rick said.
"What happened?"
"Grid five isn't answering. Let's make sure everything is alright."
That's what we did. We all hurried to their last know position. On our way we saw a woman down. She was definitely from Oceanside. The girl who was with us went up to her.
"Bea are you okay?" Bea got up slowly. "What happened?"
"Arat called it all clear. We made our way to the road and then something hit me in the head."
"And Arat?" I asked her worried.
"Not sure."
"Fuck." I started to panic. "We have to find her!" I shouted. Rick put his hand on my shoulder.
"Let's regroup and get the others to help."
I reluctantly agreed and we went back to camp.