She Has Fire

Chapter 16

Mary's POV

I sat on the porch steps outside the doctor's office. I hadn't slept at all. I couldn't. Simon was sitting on the bench, slumped over asleep. The sun had started to rise now. It painted the sky in blood red and pink and orange. Any other time I would revel in the beauty, celebrated something we rarely got. Not today. Negan was on the other side of the door fighting for his life. Had been for hours. Michonne came by and made me eat. I forced it down my throat. My instinct was not to eat, but I knew she was right.
I started crying again. It came in waves now. I didn't want to keep going without him. I knew I could, that was clear. I just don't want to. I heard the door click open and turned to look at Dr.Carson.
"He's stable. He'll be okay, but he needs rest. He can't be moved for at least a week." Carson said, a worried look on his face.
"I'll deal with that later." I said getting up and pushing past him. I walked in and Negan was asleep in his bed, nasal cannula on his face, it made him look weak. I'd never seen him like this. It was disconcerting. I moved to sit in the chair next to him. I went to grab his hand, but something stopped me. I was scared. His hand reached up and grabbed mine, making me jump.
"You haven't been fucking crying over me, have ya sugar?" He asked in a gravely voice. I gave a half-hearted chuckle.
"No. Simon just snores so bad, it's devastating." I joked. He laughed.
"I stayed for you." He said.
"I know. Thank you for not leaving me."
"I'll do anything for you." He smiled. I gave a short smile, my eyes falling to the ground. Negan squeezed my hand.
"Sugar, why are you so upset? I'm okay." He said.
"I...I thought I might lose you. I had a lot of time to think, waiting. I don't want a life without you. I just...I don't want it..." I said, the tears starting up again. His hand reached up to wipe away some tears, cupping my face.
"I don't want any of this without you. Trust me, I know how you feel." He chuckled.
"It fucking sucks, don't it?" He asked. I nodded.
"Now, can we both agree to try and stay out of trouble for a while?" He laughed.
"I'll try." I smiled. Carson came walking in writing something down.
"Well, you need a week of rest. I don't want to move you. I told Mary that already." Carson said.
"Well, shit. That is some real fucking inconvenient news, Doc." Negan grumbled.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it." I told him.
"Mary, you should sleep. Get something to eat. He'll be taken care of." Carson said.
"No, I'm fine. My stomach's upset anyway. All this stress." I snorted.
"Sleep at least, you look more pale than normal." Carson smiled. I rolled my eyes.
"Doc's right, Sugar. I'm fine. Go get some proper sleep. You can come see me when you wake up." Negan said. I surrendered and kissed him before leaving.
"You can go see him, Simon. I'm going to have a talk with Rick." I told him, Simon nodded and walked in.
The walk back to Rick's house, felt longer than normal. I was exhausted. I knocked on the door. Michonne answered.
"Everything alright?" She asked. I could feel she wanted to know if Negan was dead. I knew she wanted him to be.
"Yeah. We all need to talk, Rick included." I said walking into the house. Michonne ran up the stairs and a second later she reappeared with Rick following.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Negan is fine. He will make a full recovery." I could see the disappoint in their eyes.
"Right. Didn't need to come here at the crack of dawn to tell us that." Rick growled.
"Carson says he can't be moved. He needs to stay for a week." I said. Their eyes went wide.
"No. No way. I'm drawing the damn line!" Rick yelled.
"He still has his army here to protect him." I snapped.
"Mary, this is bullshit!" He yelled.
"I'm going to get some rest. I'll come by later. Think before you do something stupid, Rick." I said and turned to leave.
When I finally got to my room, I nearly collapsed into bed. I had dealt with so much, but it felt as if I had never been this exhausted. I fell asleep instantly.
My head was filled with bizarre dreams and images. I woke up, unnerved. I rarely remembered dreams, but I didn't dream quite so oddly. I sat up and shook the sleep off. I stood up and it hit me.
"Oh crap." I muttered. I ran down the stairs and out the door. All the way to the clinic. I came running in, alerting everyone to my presence. They all turned to look at me.
"Wow, Sugar. That eager to see me?" Negan chuckled. I gave a forced smile back.
"Um...yeah. What can I say? I missed ya." I said standing at the end of the bed for an awkward moment.
"Dr.Carson, might I have a word in private please?"I asked.
"Yes, of course." He said and lead me to the back.