Broken

Chapter 23

Negan stares at the bathroom door, and yet his mind is a million miles away. How was he supposed to tell her they were going to lock him up for at least the next two weeks? How would she cope without him? How would he cope without her?

So many questions run through his mind, that he fails to notice her switching off the shower.

Eve opens the screen door, looking over at Negan with a frown. He had a habit of asking if she was all done once she switched the shower off, even though it was obvious she was all done. But now, he just stood there, as if he were in a world of his own. She knows that feeling all too well, getting inside your own head and zoning out.

"Negan." She rests a hand against his shoulder, Negan jumping a mile as he spins on his heels. "Sorry, i didn't mean to make you jump."

Negan shakes his head, running a hand over his beard as he let's out a chuckle. "That's alright. Jesus, i must've been in a fucking world of my own there. You all done?"

"Where did you go?"

"Where did i go?" Negan stares at her. "Oh, i get what you meant." He smiles. "Fuck knows, sweetheart. Just.. thinking about random shit."

"Anything i should be worried about?"

Negan opens his mouth and closes it, running a hand through his hair nervously. You're gonna have to fucking tell her. "Actually, i have-" Negan turns his head at the sound of knocking.

Eve reaches for him out of habit. Half way through using him as a shield, she stops, settling for just clinging to his arm. "Who is it?"

Negan tilts his head, smiling sweetly. No matter how many times he'd told her he can't see through walls, she still insisted on asking him who was at the door, as if he could give her an answer. "I don't know, sweetheart. Probably Rick. Why don't you go get dressed, i'll go check."

"Okay." Eve smiles, exiting the bathroom and giving the stairs a wide berth.

Negan reluctantly makes his way down the stairs, sure it must be Rick, come to take him to the cells no doubt. Fucking fucker doesn't trust me to hand myself in. He opens the door, breathing a sigh of relief as Marie stands in front of him. "Hey, Marie. Everything okay?" Negan raises an eyebrow, Marie appearing anything but okay.

"No, Negan. I'm not okay. What the hell were you thinking?"

Negan steps out onto the porch, closing the door behind him. "What are you talking about?"

"Jim handed himself over to Rick last night, said he was the one who stole from the pantry."

"What? Why would he do that?"

"Because he's an idiot!" Marie spits, running a hand through her hair. "Because.. he's a decent guy, and he knows Eve won't be able to handle two weeks on her own, that's why."

"Really? He did that?"

"Yes, he did."

Negan looks down at his feet a little shamefully. "I'm sorry."

"So you should be. Did you not think about what would happen after?"

"No, i just.. i wanted to make her happy."

"I understand that, i really do. But you're part of a community, Negan, whether you like it or not. It's not right to just take what isn't yours. And now, Jim's gone and got himself locked up for the next two weeks."

"Look, i'll go straight to Rick and confess myself. I was gonna do that anyway."

"No." Marie shakes her head. "Dont do that. Jim wanted to do this for you, and as much as i'm pissed off, i respect his decision. Just.. think in future. Your actions have consequences. You making Eve happy for a day could've set her back. Not just that, but you took food out of everyone's mouths. We're supposed to ration during the winter, and now we're probably gonna have to eat a little bit less to make up for what you took."