Shadows

10) Protocol

It was morning now, and Alicia was still wrapped in Daryl's arms, her body shaking and her mind numb.

The RV that Negan had taken Rick in pulled back up, and out came both of them. He threw Rick on the ground, still clutching the hatchet. Negan drug him forward, dropping him in front of the group.

"Here we are." He smiled. "Let me ask you something Rick? Do you even know what that little trip was about?" Rick made no answer, only looking around at his people. "Speak when you're spoken to." Negan sighed.

Rick's breath was heavy. "Ok." He huffed. "Ok."

"That's trip was about the way that you looked at me. I wanted to change that, I wanted you to understand. But you're still looking at me the same damn way." He chuckled, scratching his beard. "Alicia come here."

She flinched when his voice said her name, and Daryl's grip on her tightened. "Daryl." She whispered, her voice hoarse from crying.

"Hello?" Negan walked over to his daughter, bending down in front of her. "I said," he grabbed her arm and pulled her up, "come here."

Daryl tried to grab her but Negan pointed his bat at his face. "Try something like what you pulled last night... and I will beat the fuck out of you wife, child, son in law or not."

He walked over to Rick, pushing Alicia down beside him. "Rick I-"

"Shhh." Negan smiled. "Now, the reason I brought my beautiful daughter over here, is because she used to look at me the same mother fucking way you do Rick." He knelt down beside Alicia, grabbing her face. "And what happens when you disobey Negan?"

She looked anywhere but his eyes, trying her hardest to ignore him. Her eyes finally locked with Rick's, and she silently pleaded for him to forgive her.

"What happens!?" Negan boomed, his face inches from hers. She still didn't answer, and she saw the way his eyes darkened and his lips pulled into a think line.

She prepared herself for a slap across the face... but it never came. Instead he turned her head so she could clearly look him in the eyes.

"When I ask you a question... you answer the fucking question." He said lowly. "I am your father, you do as I say!"

She shook her head, quickly pulling away from him. "No!" Alicia yelled. "You're not my dad! You never fucking were! So fuck you!"

Negan laughed, shaking his head as he watched her back away. "Put her in the truck."

—————

When she woke up the truck was pulling to a stop. She could hear footsteps walking towards the back of the truck and the latch of the back being undone.

Negan opened the door, smiling. "Welcome home."

This time when he held out his hand she went with him willingly. There was nothing left for her to do. She couldn't fight back. He would win.

So that's why while he was making Rick cut off Carls arm, she was devising a plan. She would play along with him and his little games.

Then at the right moment, she was getting her and Daryl's ass out of there.

She stopped walking, raising her eyebrows at him. He looked at her and  furrowed his own. She raised her tied hands, pushing them towards him.

He pulled her gag down, allowing her to speak. "God I know you were trying to go for major asshole... but was all this really necessary?"

Negan stared at her for a moment. "What?"

She laughed. "Like yeah I get that you had to make all this seem real. I mean it would look pretty weird if I just willingly ran back into your arms. I mean they've all seen the scars from before."

Negan cocked an eyebrow. "The hell are you saying?"

Alicia rolled her eyes. "Damn, I thought we were on the same page. I was pretending to hate you and you know, oh no Abraham's dead, so they would think I was on their team." She shrugged. "Truth is I never have been."

He put a hand on her shoulder. "So you didn't mean that shit you said back there?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "No I didn't mean it. Of course you're my dad." She internally cringed as she said this, wanting nothing more than to be home. "I guess it took the end of the world to realize that."

He smiled, pulling her into another hug, and this time she hugged him back as tight as she could allow herself. It was still very stiff but she figured it would pass for a real hug.

"So what about Daryl?" He asked. "That a fake marriage to?"

She shook her head. "No. He's not like the rest of them. When we were all together it was kinda like me and him were our own little side group. We distanced ourselves from everyone else."

Negan nodded. "Well... I've got to keep him in the hole for tonight, standing protocol, but in the morning you can see him."

Alicia smiled. "Great."