Remember Me

A Day Early

"The fuck are you two doing here? A day early!" Negan demanded at the gate as Simon and Arat approached. He was flanked with Saviours, his trusty Lucille slung over his shoulder. He hadn't seen Rick, who was behind Simon and Arat.

"They were talking to me." Rick answered. Upon seeing Rick, Negan seemed to shrink down.

"Rick. Good to see you." Negan's tone was flat, emotionless. Rick glanced at Michonne, who was manning the gate. Daryl, who was standing a little ways behind Rick. Maggie, who was up on the watchtower. Arat didn't say a word, simply going behind Negan.

"Negan, where have you been these past two weeks?" Rick questioned, and Negan seemed to want to look at everything but Rick. Rick glanced back at Michonne again, who was watching curiously. Daryl was shifting nervously from foot to foot. 

"Negan?" Rick repeated his name.

"Simon. Arat. We're leaving, now. Rick, we'll be back next week for our stuff." was all Negan said, and he walked away, leaving Rick standing there, jaw ajar in shock. What the hell was wrong with Negan.

"Negan?" Carl called behind Rick, and Rick whirled around.

"Carl. Go home, now!" Rick ordered, heart racing. Carl wasn't supposed to see Negan, not yet. Not like this. 

"Carl?" Negan called at the gate, and before Rick could chew Carl out for being out here, he'd been distracted by Negan, who was staring at Carl curiously. 

"Negan." Carl went towards the gate, and Rick grabbed his shirt, yanking him backwards.

"Michonne, can you take him home please." Rick looked at her, and she nodded. She grabbed his arm, bringing him back to the house, and Rick went to the gate.

"Carl.. I... I need to go..." Negan muttered, going to his truck and getting in. 

"Negan!" Rick called his name again, and Simon glanced between the two.

"I'll be back next week.." Simon was almost hesitant to leave, but he got in the truck, and Rick could only watch as they disappeared. 

"Next week..." Rick muttered.

The next week, Rick was waiting at the gate. But, instead of Negan, it was Simon, and only Simon.

"Rick! Hey!" Simon walked through the gate, wrapping an arm around Rick's shoulders the way Negan had. Rick tensed, eying him nervously.

"Boys, get our stuff! I'm going to talk to Rick." Simon smiled, and they started walking. Simon's smile dropped as they got farther away.

"I need you to come to the Sanctuary." Simon said flatly, keeping his voice low.

"What? Why?" Rick looked at him incredulously. Simon sighed, glancing back at the men and continuing to walk. 

"Negan is... upset. Ever since he saw little Carl he's been.. weird. Skittish." Simon seemed to be struggling for words, and Rick frowned. 

"What? How?" Rick questioned. 

"He just.. he won't eat, he won't sleep. He keeps having panic attacks, he'll lock himself in a room and won't let us in. It's worrying us, me and Arat. We don't know what to do." Simon admitted, and Rick was quiet. Negan was having panic attacks? He wasn't eating? Or sleeping?

"I'll go." Rick nodded, and Simon looked at him, surprised.

"Oh. Alright, that took a lot less than Arat thought it would." Simon turned, leading them back to the trucks.

"Ricky is going to come with us!" Simon announced, and when Rick saw a few people ready to come to his aid, he shook his head. He had to help Negan.