Crossbow Lovers

Only A Few Days

Tegan and Daryl didn't want any one to know about the advancement in their relationship. They tried not to be obvious, but Tara knew. She had a knack for that sort of thing.

"Hey, T!" Tara yelled running to catch up with the girl walking down the street with a big smile on her face.

"What's up?" Tegan asked Tara, trying to contain her happiness about the night before.

"I saw you and Daryl coming out of the watch tower this morning. What was that about?" She asked as they made their way towards the pantry. A blush rose on Tegan's freckled face.

"W-what? We checked and we didn't see anyone," Tegan stuttered, the smile growing on her face.

"You did it, didn't you?" Tara asked, the corner of her lips spreading farther up her face.

"Did what?" the redhead coyly asked. 

"Oh my god! You slept with the redneck!" Tara yelled causing a few heads to turn.

"Tara!" Tegan scolded, gently shoving her friends arm.

"Sorry, sorry! I'm just surprised it took you two this long," she giggled. The pair arrived at the pantry to find Oliva panicking. The young chubby girl with long black hair pulled up tight on her head had her, normally snug against her face glasses, in her hand.

"Did you guys hear?" she asked facing the two girls.

"Hear what Olivia?" Tara asked, the smile fading from her face.

"Rick was just here. There's a problem. I guess him and Michonne found a man while they were on a run. They brought him back and he was telling them about this group who basically owns them or something. I don't know, but I am freaking out!" she explained tugging at her hair.

"I am going to find Rick. Help her calm down," Tegan instructed. Tara nodded walking over towards Olivia. Tegan ran down the street and up the stairs to Rick's house. She banged on the dark red door. Carl pulled the door opened. His face was straight and grim.

"Dad's in the kitchen with Carol and Daryl," Carl stated before leading her there. The three were silent, eyes at the ground.

"What's going on? Why is Olivia freaking the fuck out? Should I be freaking the fuck out? Right now, it really feels like I should be," Tegan said. Their eyes shifted to her.

"Tegan, is there something you haven't told us?" Rick asked turning his whole body towards her.

"No?" she questioned rather than stated. "Why?" Daryl looked back at his feet, not able to make eye contact.

"Well, Michonne and I were on a run today and we came across this man. His community is not far from us. They call themselves the Hilltop. They are controlled however by a different group. A group that calls themselves the Saviors," Rick explained. Tegan was puzzled. What did this have to do with her?

"Okay?" Tegan trailed off, waiting for more explanation.

"The leader of the group is a man in his mid 40's. His name is very familiar though," Rick continued. At this, Daryl looked towards Tegan.

"What is it?" 

"Negan," Daryl growled. Tegan's face dropped, her jaw almost hitting the floor. 

"Negan? Are you sure it was Negan?" She asked, stepping close to the trio.

"It's Negan," a new voice came from the living room. Tegan turned to see Carl who pointed at a man on the couch. He had long brown hair that was held down by a gray beanie. His long trench coat covered all the way down to his shins. The beard on the face finished his look.

"Who are you?" Tegan asked the man who stood up from the couch.

"My name is Paul, but my friends call me Jesus," he said holding his arms out.

"Right. Now, you are sure it is Negan?" she asked one last time.

"I am positive," he nodded towards the girl.

"Guys, that's my older brother. I didn't know he was still alive! My mom had him when she was in high school. His father was not in the picture for long. Not long after she gave birth and dropped out of school did he leave her for another girl. My father came into the picture when Negan was 17. A few years later and I was born," I explained. Daryl just stared at me, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"Your brother is a cold blooded murderer," Jesus said to her. Tegan whipped her head towards him, eyes glowing with red flames.

"What?" she snapped through clenched teeth.

"He has killed more people than you and I combine. He uses a barbed wire covered baseball bat that he has named Lucille," Jesus explained. The name took Tegan by surprise. That was the name of Negan's wife. She had cancer the last they spoke. Poor thing must not have made it.

"Can you take me to him?" Tegan asked the man.

"No!" Daryl snarled stepping towards her. "I don't care who he is to you, you are staying inside these walls at all times until we take care of this."

"Take care of what? Are you just going to kill him? He is my brother Daryl! I know how much your brother means to you. You would want to go find him right now if you knew where he was," she countered. Daryl stared at her for a seconds.

"You won't need to find him. He will find you sooner or later," Jesus said shaking his head.

"I need to find him before he finds us," Tegan begged. Daryl huffed, looking into her eyes.

"I know you won't listen if we tell you no, but please wait for us. We will find him together. Like we always do," Carl spoke up. Tegan turned towards him. "If you go out there on your own you could die, get kidnapped, or get hurt and we wouldn't know." 

"Fine. I will wait, but only a few days," Tegan said turning to go out the front door. "I am going to clear some walkers from the wall."

"I will come with you," Carl offered, but before he could follow, Daryl stopped him.

"I got it," he grumbled, following his new found love out the door.  Carl scowled towards the man. 

"She's too old for you anyway," Carol laughed at the young boy. Carl blushed.

"What? It's nothing like that! I just wanted to help," he lied. Carl was young still. About 16. Even though the girl was 9 years older than him, he still had a major crush on her. Poor kid didn't know about the feelings Daryl and Tegan shared.