This Is How I Disappear (Negan/OFC)

Chapter 13

After a few hours, and with Negan still unconscious, Simon leaves to get some sleep. Chuck can see that Carson is exhausted, as well.

"Why don't you take the bed?" she says to Carson as she gets up.

"You should still be resting, Charlotte."

"I'm fine. I want to sit beside him, anyways." She moves slowly to the other side of Negan's bed as Carson lays down in the now vacant one. Chuck pulls a chair up to Negan's right and sits down in it, laying her head over his chest and staring at his face. She listens to his heart and feels his chest rise and fall with each breath. Her eyelids grow heavy, but she tries to fight it. Carson is snoring in the other bed already, so Chuck wants to stay awake in case something happens. It's a losing battle, though, and soon enough, sleep overcomes her.

Some time later, Chuck is awoken by the sensation of someone softly playing with her hair. She opens her eyes to see Negan staring back at her.

"Negan," she whispers excitedly as she moves closer to his face. She gives a quick look to the monitor before she shines her penlight in his eyes, rechecking his pupils.

"Fuck, sweetheart. That's bright as shit," Negan croaks out quietly and winces.

When she's confident that Negan is okay, she moves back to his face. She can't hold back her emotions any longer and she grabs his face, peppering it with kisses as tears stream down her cheeks.

"It's okay, baby girl," he coos as he brings his hands to her cheeks.

"I can't lose you Negan. You're all I have. I don't know what I would do without you. You can't leave me." She continues to caress his face and hair as her tears flow.

"I'm not going any-fuckin'-where, sweetheart." He sweeps the tears from her cheeks.

"You're my best friend, Negan. I love you." She brings her body down on top of his and hugs him. "I know you don't like to get really close to people, but I know we're friends. Even if you won't admit it. And I don't think I could go on without you."

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm not going down that easily." He rubs her back softly as they stay in a hug for a few moments.

Sunlight starts to seep in through the window signifying that morning has come.

"Fuck."

"What?" Chuck moves to sit up on Negan's bed, wiping her cheeks of the last of her tears.

"Give me a radio."

Negan's louder voice causes Carson to wake up. He turns back to Negan and gets out of the bed. "Negan. You're awake-"

"I'm fine, doc. Chuck checked me out." He grasps the radio from Chuck's outstretched hand and calls out to Carson, "Infirmary is closed while I'm in here. Which hopefully won't be much longer." He brings the radio up to his mouth, but thinks better of it. He hands the radio back to Chuck. "Get Simon in here. Don't mention me over the line."

Chuck lifts the radio to her mouth and presses the button. "Simon. Could you please come to the infirmary, please." She tries to sound casual, but fails miserably causing Negan to let out a chuckle.

"On my way," Simon's voice comes through the speaker.

Carson clears his throat. "You can't just walk out of here, sir. You have to stay off your leg. Not only could you reopen your wound, but you also have an injury to your knee. You won't be able to put any weight on your leg for several days and then you'll probably need crutches for a while after that, depending on how the swelling in your knee goes down."