Alexandria

Chapter 17

They had made good time, in spite of Negan's inability to ride a horse. Negan and Rachel ride through the gates of Alexandria, Negan jumping off his horse gratefully.

"Janet! Run ahead to Carson. Tell him Gabe's got a severe compound fracture and he's lost a lot of blood," Rachel says.

Negan grabs Gabriel from the horse, carrying him over one shoulder.

"What the hell happened?" Rick frowns as he walks over.

"He was on look out, fell from the tower," she says as she hurries towards the infirmary. "We can't stay. The others need us. Do we have another horse cart?"

"Yeah. But what do you need it for? You've got two horses."

"Someone can't ride a horse." Rachel gestures towards Negan.

"Hey," Negan steps out of the infirmary. "I thought i'd get the fucking hang of it, okay."

"I'm on it," Rick says.

~

They ride down the road, Negan sitting beside Rachel on the cart.

"Rachel."

"Yeah?"

"Do you really wanna go back there?"

She turns to him with a frown. "What are you talking about?"

"We know what's ahead. A whole fuck load of mess. We keep going that way, maybe we die? We could take the next turn we see, ride the fuck on outta here," Negan says.

Rachel brings the horses to a stop, staring at him with wide eyes. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about us not dying for a bunch of skin wearing freaks."

She gets down from the cart, crossing her arms as she stares at the road ahead. "Why did you come back?"

"Why the fuck do you think? I came back for you."

"So you don't give a shit about these people?" Rachel frowns.

"Why the fuck should i? What the fuck did they ever do for me?" Negan says as he gets down off the cart.

"I thought you wanted to make this work?"

He rubs at his temples. "Do you wanna die? Is that it?"

"No, i want to live. And we can't do that on our own." Negan places a hand against her shoulder, but she shrugs it off. "If you don't want to be here, then don't be here. Take that cart, and don't look back," she says, her throat thick as she chokes back tears.

Negan rolls his eyes. "There's no need to be so fucking dramatic."

"This isn't a fucking joke, Negan! These are my people! And i won't turn my back on them!" She yells, wiping at her eyes. "All this time, and you still don't know me."

"The fuck i don't," he frowns.

"If you knew me, then you wouldn't have even suggested leaving."

"That's fucking bullshit! And you goddamn know it! I wanna leave, because i fucking know you all too well!" Negan shouts, his face an angry shade of red and the veins in his neck fit to burst. "Sooner or later, you'll put your fucking ass on the line, like you did with Gabe, and it'll cost you your fucking life. And i won't fucking have that! I can't fucking lose you! You hear me?!" Negan turns away from her as he wipes at his eyes, his jaw clenched. Rachel comes up behind him, slowly wrapping her arms around his waist, her head resting against his back. "I can't lose you, Rachel. You're.. you're too fucking important to me."