She Has Fire

Chapter 4

We got back to Sanctuary later than expected. It was dusk, the sky was still tinged orange. Mary had fallen asleep on my shoulder. The bright lights from the guard station flashed over her face and made her scrunch up her nose in displeasure. She groaned and sat up.
"We're here Doll. Welcome to the Sanctuary." I said as Simon parked the car in front of the large complex. I jumped out and offered her my hand. She gave me a confused look and jumped out herself.
"It's...massive." She said looking up.
"You have no idea." I chuckled. She shot me a glare, but there was a smile in her eyes.
"Simon, have them take inventory of everything. I'm going to escort our newest member to her room. Laura! You just bring her things to her room. Don't worry about that shit." I instructed. Laura nodded and grabbed some boxes and shuffled off.
"You run all of this?" Mary asked, rubbing her arms and shivering.
"I do. Simon helps, but it all falls on my fucking head. Let's get you out of this cold before you freeze your tits off." I said guiding her into the building. She walked beside me down the halls, her eyes wide and alert. Her brow furrowed. She clearly was thinking about if she had made a mistake or not. We got to her room.
"This is yours." I said motioning to the door. She opened and walked in. It was fine, nothing like my room. It had a bed and a tv. There was a small kitchen area on one wall, and a bathroom. She walked in and looked around.
"How did you have this all ready for me?" She asked looking intrigued and maybe a little frightened.
"I radioed back here while you were talking to Carl. Wanted to make sure you were comfortable." I smiled leaning on the door frame. Laura brushed by me, setting the boxes of Mary's things down and leaving. I saw Mary's face fall at the mention of Carl.
"Listen, Doll, you can see them sometimes. If you want to go on runs to Alexandria, I'm fine with that. This isn't a prison sentence. I want you to be happy." I said walking towards her.
"Thank you. This is all wonderful. Thanks. I'm just...I'm tired." She said her voice cracking.
"Right. Of course you are. You must be fucking exhausted after today. I'll let you sleep. I'll show you around myself tomorrow." I smiled down at her. She gave a weak smile and a nod.
"Get some rest." I nodded and left. Did I fucking break her, bringing her here? She looked different. It was probably just the exhaustion. I didn't want to lose her fire. I fucking loved it. I went to bed thinking of her, wondering if she'd like it here or if she would vanish by morning.

"What do you think you're doing, Negan?" I opened my eyes and saw Lucille staring down at me.
"What? What are you talking about?" I sat up and pulled her towards me. She pushed back from me.
"That girl. You think you love her, don't you?" She sighed looking away from me.
"I...I don't know. She's not like the others." I told her. She shook her head.
"I didn't mind the others, you just fucked them. This woman...you want more with her. Why?" She asked looking up at me with tears in her eyes.
"You're gone Lucille. You're dead. I can't make choices based on you anymore." I growled standing up.
"You see me in her don't you?" She said, stopping me in my tracks.
"Shut up." I barked.
"You see her as a way to make right between us."
"She isn't you! No one is! She...she has hair like yours. Her eyes...they shine just as bright. But she's more than you ever could have been. I can tell that already." I said. Lucille looked up at me with her mouth open, agast.
"You can't fix us anymore Negan. Don't hurt her because of that." She barked and walked out slamming the door.
"Lucille..." I sighed.

I woke up in a cold sweat, panting. I didn't have vivid dreams, but when I did they were always with Lucille.
"Fuck...." I ran a hand threw my hair and got up to get ready for the day. I got dressed and left, walking to Mary's room.
"Rise and shine Doll!" I knocked on the door. I heard some movement behind the door before she swung it open.
"Morning." I smiled down at her.
"Good morning. I thought you were blowing smoke saying you were going to show me around." She said.
"I don't lie and I don't blow smoke."I told her. There was a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Well, give me the grand tour." She said stepping out of the room. I swung Lucille over my shoulder as we walked down the hall.

Mary's POV

He walked me around the place, showing me all the different rooms. He took me to the training grounds, the commissary, everywhere. We walked into the cafeteria, there were people everywhere.
"Normally people use their points to get food. But you don't have to worry Doll. You don't need points." He told me as he lead me around the room. People knelt as he passed. It all felt like a bizarre dream. We walked back up towards my room. He lead me just past it down the hall to two big double doors.
"This is my room. The door is always open for you. Whatever you need, you just come knocking." He smirked. I smiled and looked down the hall.
"What's that door?" I asked. He looked uncomfortable.
"You're not gonna like it. Don't go opening it." He warned. I raised an eyebrow and started towards it.
"Mary, don't-" But I reached it before he could stop me. I opened the door and was met by a room full of women in scantily clad clothes. I was confused, upset, somehow I felt betrayed.
"What...what is this?" I asked whipping my head to meet his gaze.
"These....they are my wives." He sighed. I closed the door and stomped off.
"I...I'm going to my room." I huffed.
"Mary...doll! Hey! Just stop a minute." He said grabbing my wrist. I turned to face him, anger bubbling in my veins.
"So, what? Am I just some kind of trophy you're trying to add to your collection?" I barked.
"No! You are most certainly fucking not!" He yelled back at me.
"Who just keeps women like that? Maybe I was wrong..." I shook my head.
"Hey! You want them gone? They're gone. I never treated them badly. They were my wife because they need to be. They couldn't pay for meds, they couldn't hack out there. They all came to me. If you want them gone they will be gone." He said. I stared at him dumbfounded.
"I...I don't know what I want. But it's not you right now." I told him.
"That fucking hurts Doll." He growled.
"It's the truth. You didn't want me to lie. I won't lie." I said.
"Fine. I get it. It's a lot to take in. Digest it all. You start working with Laura tomorrow. She won't take it easy on you. Don't expect her to give you any special treatment."He growled.
"I wouldn't." I spat back.
"Fucking good then. I have shit to do. Do whatever the fuck you want. If you steal any weapons, I'll fucking know about it." He said as he swung Lucille onto his shoulder and pushed past me. I stood in the hallway and watched him walk away. Why was I so damn mad? We didn't have an agreement. We didn't even know each other well. There was something about him that I wanted all to myself.