Daryl's Precious Gem (Daryl Dixon FanFiction)

37: Negan

My eyes widened as Jesus revealed the name we all anxiously waited to hear. I didn't know I had held my breath until Daryl nudged me.

"Ya good?" His brows furrowed.

"I'm fine. Just a sore eye." I brushed it off, finally releasing my breath.

"What do you know about him?" Rick narrowed his eyes at Jesus.

"Negan's the head of a group of people he calls the Saviors. As soon as the walls were built, the Saviors showed up. They met with Gregory on behalf of their boss. They made a lot of demands, even more threats." Jesus let out a deep breath.

"And he killed one of us-- Rory. He was sixteen years old. They beat him to death right in front of us. Said we needed to understand, right off the bat." Cal spoke as he leaned against the spear. Him and Nathan stared sadly the ground.

"Gregory's not exactly good at confrontation. He's not the leader I would've chosen, but he helped make this place what it is, and the people like him. He made the deal." Jesus continued. "Half of everything. Our supplies, our crops, our livestock, it goes to the Saviors."

"And what do you get in return?" Michonne asked curiously.

"They don't attack this place. They don't kill us." Jesus crossed his arms over his chest.

"Why not just kill them?" Rick wiped sweat off of his face.

"Most of the people here don't even know how to fight, even if we had ammo."

"Well, how many people does Negan have?" Rick sighed.

"We don't know. We've seen groups as big as twenty." Jesus frowned.

"Now, hold up. So, they show up, they kill a kid, and you give them half of everything?" Daryl shook his head in disbelief. "These dicks just got a good story. The bogeyman, he ain't shit."

"Well, how do you know?" Jesus eyed us curiously.

"Almost five months ago, we took his guys out. Left them in pieces and puddles." Daryl huffed.

Rick took over, "You know, we'll do it. If we go get your man back, kill Negan, take out his boys, will you hook us up? We want food, medicine, and one of them cows. Confrontation's never been something we've had trouble with."

"I'll take it to Gregory. They have food, we don't. We don't have enough of anything."

"Except us. What we can do. This is the trade. It's gonna cost us something." Rick spoke, his foot lightly tapping the ground.

"Like I said I'll take it to Gregory." Jesus glanced between us before he strode off to the doctors trailer. Michonne, Rick, Daryl and I formed a mini circle as we chatted.

"What's it gonna be?" Daryl crossed his arms over his chest.

"We need to find out whatever we can about their base and then we attack them! We'll finish this once and for all." Rick explained.

"We may need more people and ammunition for the mission." Michonne spoke up. "Seven, maybe eight, people won't be enough to take a large group out like that."