Surviving All Out War (BOOK FIVE IN THE SURVIVING THE WALKING DEAD SERIES)

Dear Negan (MINOR SMUT ALERT)

     We drove in silence, no one wanted to speak, especially not after what had just happened. I pushed Rick too far, but it had to be done. I couldn't believe Rick did that to Jadis. All she wanted was help getting out of the junk yard, she didn't ask to join us. I could see the fear in her eyes, but Rick? He's blinded by anger. Anger over the death of Carl, but taking it out on the wrong people.

     I was't lying about what I said to Michonne, I don't want to overthrow Rick, but if I have to, I will. Personally, I think Maggie would be a better leader than myself, more fit for the job, but she lacks what experience I have. Military training. If there's one thing my mom's stupid husband did for me that was a blessing, it was how he raised me. He unknowingly prepared me for this world, made me into a survivor. He taught me how to survive everything from famine to a nuclear war. I'm grateful, but he's still a piece of shit in my eyes.

     "I shot above 'er head." Rick spoke up as he looked up at me through  his rear view mirror. "I just wanted 'er gone." I didn't respond, causing Rick to sigh. "Look, I saw 'er. She made it. I didn't want 'er dead, I just wanted 'er gone."

     "You didn't see shit." I grumbled. "You ran like a fuckin' coward while I told 'er how to help herself." I scoffed. "Man, it's times like this that make me-"

     "What? What does times like this make you do?"

     "Question your leadership, for one."

     "My leadership? I've gotten us here all the way from Georgia!"

     "Yeah, and look where that got us. We're in the middle of a goddamn war!"

     "You sayin' this is my fault?"

     "I told ya not to take the deal with Hilltop, I told ya it was a bad idea, now look where that's gotten us. I don't warn people not to do shit for shits and giggles, I warn people because THERE IS A REAL DANGER TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING!"

     "Enough!" Michonne snapped. "I've had it from the both of you!" Michonne turned to me. "Michaela, you may be used to running your own show at the Sanctuary, but with us, you aren't. You do as we tell you when we tell you because you're not the leader, Rick is." Michonne turned to Rick. "And you, you need to calm your ass down."

     "I am calm." Rick grumbled.

     "Really? Because I just saw you take a swing at a pregnant woman a while ago, and that's not the definition of calm." The van fell silent. "Feels like what Carl was talking about, all this with the Saviors. What we should do when we have a choice." Rick suddenly put his foot on the brakes and pulled off to the side of the road.

     "Um... I need- I need a second."

     "It's fine." Rick put the van in park and turned off the engine before grabbing a radio and two of Carl's letters. He thought to himself for a moment, and finally climbed out and walked off into the grass.

     "What the hell is he doin'?" I asked.

     "I don't know." I reached up to the front of the van and grabbed the stack and quickly looked through them.

     "Sonuva bitch." I grumbled.

     "What?"

     "He's got Negan's letter." I handed Michonne back the letters and quietly climbed out of the van and made my way over to Rick.

     "Get me Negan." Negan spoke into the radio.

     "Who the hell is asking?" A voice answered back, who I recognized as DJ. He was a Savior, but I didn't deal with him much, mainly saw him when he brought back supplies from tribute.