She Has Fire

Chaptar 8

Mary's POV

The truck sped down the abandoned road, trees becoming a blur as I stared out the window. I could feel my heart beating fast in my chest. We were on our way to Alexandria. I had thought about saying no, about just staying back. Something told me I needed to do this. I needed to face them.
"Listen, Doll. If you need to just sit in the truck that's fine. This isn't going to be comfortable." Negan said.
"I'm a big girl. I can handle them." I said, perhaps trying to convince myself that what I said was true.
"Of course you are. You just say the word and I get you the fuck out there." He told me, his hand resting on my shoulder. The trucks pulled up to the gates of Alexandria. I watched Aaron open the gates and we drove in. For a moment I thought maybe Rick was out on a run, that we wouldn't have to see each other. But as I climbed out of the truck I saw him and Carl walking toward us. Negan hopped out and got in front of me, before Rick could say anything.
"You better have something nice for us Rick. Last we came, you were a little light." Negan said as Rick came up to him.
"We did our best." Rick said, jaw clenched.
"Let's hope that's good enough. Simon! Get started." Negan yelled. Simon and the Saviors started going through everything.
"Mary? Mary can we talk? Please." Rick looked at me pleading.
"I just...I don't think that's a good idea." I told him looking at the ground.
"I..Are you alright? You're doing alright?" He asked, his eyes begging for me to give him something.
"I'm alright. I'm doing fine." I told him.
"She's doing fucking great with us, Rick! She's one of my best people! Kicking ass, taking names!" Negan smiled.
"How can you be okay with this? How can you be okay with him?" Carl growled. I looked up at him, the venom in his voice surprised me.
"How can you be okay with what Dad's done?" I spat back.
"We never take from people." He said getting closer.
"Yes we have. We took this place. Said if they didn't give it, we'd kill them and take it ourselves. Or did you just conveniently forget that conversation?" I growled.
"You know this is wrong. Just...go. Just go back and be his new whore!" Carl yelled. It hit me like a ton of bricks, I stumbled back. I had never thought he'd talk to me like that.
"Enough! That is my fucking line kid! Do not go over it again!" Negan yelled as he got between Carl and I.
"Rein in your damn son, Rick. Or do you think that is fucking alright for him to talk to her like that?" Negan said, fire in his eyes.
"Go back to the house Carl. We'll talk about this later." Rick said. Carl huffed as he went back to the house. She could tell, Rick had the same thought. That she was just one of his whores. Carl wasn't getting reprimanded.
"We've got everything Boss. Aaron here, was very helpful. But they didn't have much." Simon said an arm wrapped around a stiff and clearly nervous.
"I just want everything to go smoothly. For everyone." Aaron said. Simon laughed and squeezed his shoulders.
"Your cooperation will be remembered for next time." Simon smiled and walked back. I walked over to Aaron and hugged him.
"Thank you. They need someone level headed." I told him.
"I know. I always have to be the voice of reason." He smiled.
"You're just so damn good at it." We laughed and he wrapped me up in his arms.
"Make sure you look out for yourself. We only want to know you're safe. Maybe this is the safest option for you. I don't know. But, just know that you still have family here." He said letting go. I nodded, unable to speak. I walked back over to Negan.
"You alright, Doll?" He asked putting a hand on the small of my back.
"Yeah. We're done right?" I asked clearing my throat.
"Yeah, we're done. We loaded up Simon?" Negan called.
"Pretty much, just a few boxes left." Simon told him. I turned to see Daryl in the guard tower. He was looking at me, shook his head. I watched as he lifted his gun and aimed. I don't know what came over me in that split second. My only thought was Negan. He was going to shoot Negan, and I didn't want that to happen. I pushed him back, holding onto his arms as I stood in front of him. A gunshot rang out. There was silence for a moment, but the red started seeping through my shirt.
"...Mary?" Negan whispered, holding onto me. I opened my mouth to talk, but no sound came. My knees gave out under me, Negan caught me. I looked over to see the horrified expression on Daryl's face. He hadn't expected me to jump in front of the bullet. Aaron had his hands over his mouth. Rick started for me, but the Saviors stopped him.
"Mary! Mary! Let me go! She's my daughter! Let me go!" I heard Rick scream. Negan looked at me with panic in his eyes.
"We'll get you back. You'll be fine." He said. I nodded.
"I know first aid. Let me ride with you. Let me help her." Aaron said. Negan looked up at him and then to Simon.
"Fine. Help me get her to the truck." Negan growled and lifted me in his arms, it sent a shockwave of pain through my body causing me to whimper. He laid me down in the back of the truck and Aaron climbed in next to me.
" You're going to pay for this! You hear me fucker!!!" Negan screamed to Daryl and jumped back in the truck. Aaron was trying to assess the wound.
"We have to try and stop the bleeding." He said. He took off his jacket and pressed it firmly to my wound, making me scream as the pain became unbearable. Negan grabbed hold of my hand stroked my hair.
"I'm sorry, Doll. I'm really fucking sorry. I'm right here." He said, over and over again. I tried to speak, to say anything, but I couldn't. My vision blurred and I couldn't fight it anymore. Everything went black.

Negan's POV

I should have seen this coming. I should have known those fucks would try something. I just never thought she'd jump in front of a damn bullet for me. Shit, I didn't think she liked me that much. I was burning with rage. That motherfucker would pay.
"Mary? Mary, babe stay with me. You have to stay with me!" I pleaded as her eyes closed.
"You're stronger than me. Put your hands on the wound and press down. Let's hope she passed out from the pain." The new fuck, what was his stupid name? Aaron. Aaron said. I put y hands over her stomach and pressed down.
"Simon step on it you fuck!!" I yelled and felt the truck speed up.
"How far away is it? How long?" Aaron asked.
"The way Simon is driving? Maybe twenty minutes. I don't fucking know." I said shaking my head.
"Where the fuck did he get a gun? Where did the prick get a gun and how many do you have?" I growled looking at the man. His eyes wide with concern.
"They've been scavenging for weapons and ammo. No one knew this was happening. Daryl has been a shut in since he came back. He won't talk to anyone. He planned this alone." Aaron said, there was a tinge of anger to his voice that made me believe him.
"This won't end well for him. You know that." I said. Aaron nodded.
We pulled into the Sanctuary and I grabbed her in my arms as he burst out of the truck. Simon and Aaron running behind me as we made our way to the infirmary. I kicked the door in, Carson nearly fell out of his chair. I put Mary on the table, she groaned and her head lolled back and forth.
"What happened?" Carson asked as he ran over.
"What the fuck do you think happened!? She was shot! Fucking fix it!" I yelled.
"We tried to stop the bleeding. I'm O positive. I can give blood." Aaron said. Carson nodded.
"Negan, keep pressure on the wound while I get blood from...him." Carson said putting Aaron in a chair and sticking a needle in his arm. He instructed Simon on what to do when Aaron had give enough blood.
"Negan, you should step outside." Carson told me.
"Like hell I am." I growled. He washed his hands and put on some gloves. He cut her shirt away from the wound. He gave her a shot to try and ease the pain. He started digging around in her belly. For the first time in a long time, I thought I might throw up. He got the bullet out and started repairing everything.
"It missed the major organs. I just have to get the bleeding under control." He said. I felt Mary's hand squeeze mine and my chest started to hurt. She could feel all of this. I couldn't imagine the pain she was in. Carson fixed her up and hooked up Aaron's blood into her arm. She looked so fragile. I'd never seen her this vulnerable. It only made the anger grow. I sat next to her bed, holding her hand. Aaron on the other side.
"I want that fuck dead. She'll never let that happen. But that's what I want." I said, not looking away from Mary.
"I know. I don't want him dead. I don't usually believe in punishment the way you do, but I might in this case. He was reckless. He was stupid." Aaron said, his voice cracking. The door opened and Lacey and Angela stood in the doorway looking over to Mary.
"We heard...we thought it was wrong. That it was someone else. Shit..." Lacey said putting a hand over her mouth as the tears started to fall down her face.
"Is...is she going to be okay?" Angela asked with a shaky voice as she held Lacey in her arms.
"Don't know. But she's a fighter." I said clearing my throat.
"Lacey. Honey, it's okay. She'll be okay." I got up and wrapped her in my arms and let her cry for a second. She was always so emotional. I didn't blame her. Who wasn't anymore?
"I need you to do me a favor. I need you to get Aaron here some fresh clothes and take him to room 13. Just down the hall. Make sure he's got everything he needs to clean up. Can you do that?" I looked between them.
"Yeah. Of course." Angela said taking Lacey from me.
"Anything else? I can get one of the other girls down here to keep him company?" Angela offered.
"No, that won't be necessary. He's not really into female company. He's gay. Just the clothes and shower shit." I told them. They nodded.
"Go with them." I told him.
"I appreciate that, but I'd like to stay-"
"Go. With them." I growled. He stood silent for a minute before walking out of the room with the ladies. They left and I let out a sigh.
"Shit. Shit, this wasn't supposed to happen. Any of it. Just...please...come back to me." I held her pale face in my hand, willing her to open those beautiful blues.