I'm back!

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Jo

"Well, well, well," Negan tisked, "I gotta say, and maybe I'm wrong, but this does not seem like it went according to plan." He smiled down at Martinez, showing too much teeth.

Negan, Merle and I were all standing over Martinez in his small cell. To say Martinez was sitting up would have been a stretch. He was sort of in the sitting position with his back leaning against the wall. Both his arms hung limply at his sides, the tendons must have been severed by my knives. Whoever ever had thrown him in here had pulled the knives but done nothing to treat the wounds. Blood continued to seep from the wounds and if he didn't get medical attention soon he was going to bleed out.

Negan twirled his bat theatrically as he paced in a half circle around Martinez like a wolf closing in for the kill. He stopped, cocking a hip and leaning backwards as he looked down at him. "Oh I am sorry, where the shit are my manners? I can't believe I was so goddamn rude. You remember Dixon right?" Negan asked jerking his chin to where Merle stood over his left shoulder. "He betrayed your boss to save my Hot Friend here. He was the mastermind behind us swooping in and burning your club house to the ground."

Negan flashed his most charming smile. It was the smile that reminded me of a shark...or the big bad world. Then he jerked his head towards where I stood over his right shoulder "And of course you remember my Hot Friend, right? You imprisoned, tortured and starved her for a psychopath. Then tried to kill her a few times here..." he rocked back on his other leg and tilted his head as a slow, dangerous smile spread across his face as his eyes hardened. "You tried to use her to get to me. So I guess...Yes, you must remember her." The smile fell from his face and his eyes were like granite. "Silly me," he dead panned, his weight shifting forward aggressively.

Martinez shifted and his eyes flickered towards the door behind us as though he somehow thought there was still hope. Negan crouched down in front of the injured man, resting the top of the bat against the floor as though he were using it for balance.

"Well you've got my attention now. So...what can I do for you?" He drawled dangerously. He turned the bat ever so slightly and the barbed wire ground against the cement like nails on a chalk board.

"Get me a Doctor, man," Martinez growled. He seemed to know what the rest of us did. He was dead if he didn't get some help. At this point though, I wasn't even sure if Doctor Carson could save him. There was a lot of blood. It had pooled beneath him and soaked his clothes.

Negan threw back his head and laughed like it was the funniest thing he has ever heard. Beside him Merle followed suit, chuckling darkly.

I couldn't. I couldn't break the intense focus I had being in this cell with Martinez so close. He had never been like Merle. He had enjoyed the power he had over me with The Governor. He had always stuck around to watch The Governor torture me and had helped in every way he could to make my life miserable. Even knowing I was in the position of power here I couldn't quite turn off that part of my brain. It was all still too recent for me.

Negan continued to chuckle. "You think I'm going to waste resources on a piece of shit like you?" Negan shook his head. "Here's the deal," Negan cleared his throat, his face changed to a serious mask like a curtain had been pulled down. "You answer all of my questions truthfully and quickly," Negan added glancing at Martinez's shoulders. "And I will leave you to my Hot Friend here," he said. "I'm sure you remember your bosses death at her hands. While not pretty...it was quick," Negan shrugged a shoulder as if to say it wouldn't have been his preference. "But...you don't answer my questions or you waste my time...I'm gonna leave you to Dixon here."

Merle smirked dangerously. He had the bayonet attachment on his prosthesis and he held it up with an excited glimmer in his eyes as he took a menacing step forward.

"Now I'm sure you remember Dixon's set of skills. I mean you did work with the man. What you may not know," Negan said holding up a finger. "Point of interest. Is that Dixon has come to love my Hot Friend here like she were his own blood...and I think," Negan said resting his free hand on his chest. "He may have taken offense to all the ways you have tried to kill her in the last two weeks," Negan turned to Merle, lifting his eyebrows as though he wasn't sure.

Merle for his part scowled down at Martinez dangerously. I resisted the urge to shiver. This was not the face of my Uncle Merle. This was the face of the man who had worked for The Governor. Merle could be dangerous, he could be unpredictable, and he had skills that had impressed The Governor enough to make him a trusted ally. Seeing him stand here beside Negan reminded me without a doubt he was one of the most dangerous people in this compound. Possibly in this room.

Martinez for his part didn't look impressed. He shook his head and chuckled, leaning his head back against the cinder block wall. "Man, you act like you so high and mighty. Like you save people. Like you're so much better than him. Man, you are just like him. Standing here with fighters on either side of you too shit scared to get your hands dirty. Little more than a week and I almost had you," Martinez snorted. "No wonder."

I was still processing Martinez's words, completely shocked at how brazen he was when Negan struck. He moved faster than I had ever seen him with zero hesitation. He swung the bat and slammed it down on Martinez's ankle, shattering the bone. Martinez's body jerked forward into the fetal position as he made an inhuman sound of pain.

I flinched back, nearly stumbling over my feet. It wasn't the violence, but rather I simply hadn't anticipated Negan's reaction. Without realizing it part of me concurred with Martinez's assessment. Part of me had expected Negan to act just like Phillip. I expected him to mock Martinez in some way or talk his way through this. I hadn't expected the fast and furious violence.

Seconds after it was done Negan had cocked a hip and was leaning casually against his bat with that terrifying jovial smile stretching his face.

He calmly waited for Martinez to stop screaming. Martinez was stooped forward panting through the pain, but he was still glaring at Negan. He was tougher than I had anticipated. But now I was beginning to wonder if the shock wouldn't get him before blood loss. I glanced down at the demolished remains of his foot and my stomach rolled.

"I'm sorry," Negan drawled cheerfully. "That," he said whipping the bat up on one smooth, lightning fast motion, pointing the bloodied end at Martinez's chest. "Was not the answer to one of my questions."

Negan slammed the end of the bat straight down inches from Martinez. Martinez flinched, but he was too hurt to pull away. Negan crouched down so he was close to Martinez.

Negan leaned in close, as though he were sharing some great secret. "In case you were wondering, because you don't seem to have a firm understanding of how things work here, I am generously offering this opportunity to my friends here because the way I see it, they have been subjected to the piece of shit that you are for a hell of a lot longer than me. And in that...they have a history and a prior claim to your death. I respect that history, just like I respect that claim. Just like I respect that for one of them, killing you might just be cathartic. However. If it weren't for that, challenging me and the threat you posed my people would have earned you a place of goddamn prominence out on my fence." Negan leaned closer and his smile turned into a baring of his teeth. "I'mma let you in on a little secret..." Negan's face shot down into a mask of barely contained rage. "You don't want to know what I would do to you for what you did to Jo," Negan moved the bat and rested the end of it on top of one of Martinez's useless hands.

Negan took a deep breath as though he were struggling to control himself. He cracked his neck and shrugged his shoulders, then cocked his head to the side as he stared Martinez in the eye. "Now, I know my Hot Friend severed the tendons in your shoulders. Which means even if you stood a chance of walking out of here you would never be able to hold a spoon again, let alone a gun...but there's still a chance the nerves are intact...should we find out?" Negan slowly increased the pressure on Martinez's hand, pressing down slowly as the barbed wire wrapped around the end of the bat cut into the back of his hand. Martinez was shaking from the pain but he was fighting a losing battle to not show it.

His eyes were glassy and I knew the shock was setting in. He turned hazy, hate filled eyes towards me. "Found yourself another sadistic psycho, huh puta? He see the goods yet or you still holding out?" Martinez cut his eyes to Negan and lifted his chin defiantly and I realized in that moment Martinez had decided how he wanted to go. He was done. "It's good stuff man. Sexy as hell. When she was in that cage The Governor would let us all stand outside the cage and watch while he made her get-"

Negan's spine snapped straight as rage flooded his body. He lifted and slammed the bat down as hard as he could destroying Martinez's hand. Martinez howled in pain as he collapsed, no longer able to hold himself up. Negan swung the bat up once more, and took a menacing step closer ready to swing at Martinez's skull and end it all.

"Negan!" I yelled jumping forward. I grabbed his arm and was shocked to find he was trembling beneath me hand. He was a ball of barely contained rage, but it didn't scare me. It wasn't at me. It was for me. He was this upset over what had happened to me in the past. I was baffled. It didn't make sense, but I couldn't let him do this. Not yet. We needed information.

Negan's whole body was shaking the the effort to hold himself back. As soon as I touched him his head snapped towards me, but he never took his eyes off Martinez who was wailing in pain. His grip tightened on the bat and I felt him coil his muscles somehow still one notch tighter.

I was losing him. I moved my hand up and cupped the side of his face, turning his eyes to meet mine. This was the most dangerous I had ever seen Negan. His eyes were clouded with rage and pain, and he was ready to eliminate what he considered a threat.

"Don't kill him," I told him in a low voice. " not yet."

Negan jerked his head up and down to show he understood. Though I wasn't sure if he had the control he was trying to convince me he had. I stepped back, letting him go, and not two seconds later Negan slammed the bat down once more demolishing one of Martinez's knees.

We waited it out but the warm, coppery smell of blood in the air and the gruesome remains of Martinez's joints made me a little sick to my stomach. That combined with the small cell made the air start to feel thick and hard to breathe. I needed to get out of here before I lost my control as well.

"Anything else to add?" Negan asked, his voice was a dangerous growl. He was done playing, the mask was gone and what was underneath had not been what I expected. But it was something I understood. Something primal and powerful and just begging to be let loose.

Martinez was shaking and there was blood dripping out of his mouth. He wasn't going to last long. "I hope that bitch slices your throat while you're sleeping," his voice trembled as he shook with his last efforts to remain conscious. He was dying and he knew it.

Negan flashed a wide, pleased smile. "I certainly hope she is given the chance." And he kicked Martinez in the face. The body flipped over from the force of the blow and didn't move again.

The three of us walked out of the cell. My control was slipping, but Negan's was gone. That interrogation had been a disaster. We couldn't afford to screw up with the next one. As soon as we stepped out. I glanced around. Thirty feet down the hall was an open door. I didn't know what was inside, but I hoped it was a closet or an empty room. I jerked the bat out of Negan's hand and strangely he let me. I shoved it at Merle who caught it with a confused look, but he also didn't argue. I dragged Negan after me down the hall. I heard a snicker from one of the guards and another one mutter something about a quickie.

I didn't care what they thought. Neither one of us were ready to walk into that next room. I could feel the delicate control hanging between. If one of us lost it the other wouldn't be far behind. And if I lost it and Negan wasn't there to pull me back I didn't know what I would do to the men with guns standing outside the cells.

I shoved Negan through the door and slammed it behind us. It was almost pitch black, but I didn't bother feeling for a light switch. It didn't matter. I could feel him just inches away and that was enough.

"Negan we can't-" I started to say, but he cut me off.

Even though I had been the one to drag him in here he was the one who grabbed me in the dark. One warm hand slid across my low back while the other cupped the back of my neck. He pulled me roughly into him and his lips were a forceful demand against my own.

I made a noise of surprise in my throat but I didn't pull away from him. I couldn't. There was still the subtle tremble to his muscles and the desperation I could feel in his touch had me pulling him closer instead of pushing him away. I recognized the nearly overwhelming desperation for some kind of reassurance. I recognized it in myself, but never thought I would see it in Negan. Not over someone like Martinez. It was just words.

His hand tightened on my low back, trapping me against him and his tongue slid against mine. I met him with equal enthusiasm. For all the issues between us, there was no doubt in my mind that he cared for me. He had never denied me when I lost control and needed him, and I couldn't push him away.

Seeing what he had done in that room should have scared me or disgusted me. There was a piece of myself that still clung to the societal norms from before. That piece of me was a quite voice in the back of my mind telling me to run...but we didn't live in that world anymore.

We lived in a world where we were reminded that humans were just another kind of animal. Where you had to be strong to survive and the groups that had formed were little better than packs, held together by a strong alpha. And Negan was an alpha. Whether he has always been this way or like me he had been made I didn't know. But he was absolutely one now.

He backed me against the wall, his hands demanding as he rubbed against me pulling my focus entirely onto him. I shivered and wrapped my arms around his neck drawing him closer. His body was like a cage around mine and I shuddered beneath his touch. He slid his hand up under my shirt so his fingers teased along my low back just along the straps of the shoulder rig. I buried my fingers in his hair, trying to take control. A low, knowing chuckle rumbled up his chest and he smiled against my lips.

It was like once he got the reaction from me he was reassured enough to be able to think again. His hands became less frantic, his lips slowed until he was kissing me as though we had all the time in the world. His lips and tongue maddeningly languid. I made a noise of frustration in the back of my throat and he snorted again. He pulled back and rested his forehead against mine sighing deeply.

I blinked my eyes open to look up at him. I could barely see his outline but I could tell his eyes were closed. After a moment he let out a shuddering breath. "I'm sorry," he whispered and I could feel the brush of his lips against my skin as he spoke. In the dark all I could feel was his warmth and I could still taste him. I wanted more.

As his lips brushed against my skin I shuddered his hands. I marveled at both the feel of this incredibly powerful man leaning into me for support and how he could reduce me to a trembling mess in seconds. I felt more relaxed and pliant in his hands than I had in years. When it was just the two of us nothing else mattered.

"Why are you apologizing?" I asked in a low tone that matched his. There was something about this moment of vulnerability with him that I felt like I had to be so careful not to spook him. All it would take is one word and he would snap back into the mask he wore for the world.

He shook his head and cleared his throat as though he were uncomfortable. "I lost it in there," he muttered. "I-" he started to say and I felt him tense. Felt him begin to pull away and compose himself and in a moment if incredible bravery I reached out to him.

I couldn't let him pull away when he was hurting. And he was hurting. I could feel it in the way he touched me, it was like he had to make reassure himself I was still with him. So I reassured him. I cupped both sides of his face. The stubble on his cheeks scratched my palm and I glided my thumb along his cheekbone.

His eyes opened and while I struggled to read the emotions in the dim light I could see the shine on them so I knew he was watching me.

I licked my lips feeling somehow like this was a bigger step, a bigger moment between us than when we kissed. This was something different and neither of us knew what exactly to do next.

Negan's breath fanned my skin as he leaned in close to me. "When he started talking about-" Negan shook his head and pulled me into his chest. He was holding me almost too tightly. He pressed a kiss into the top of my hair. "I will never let anything like that happen to you again." He promised. "I won't." And he kissed the top of my head again. The tremble was back. The need for action, to kill people who were already dead, to somehow save me from a past I had already survived.

I pulled back to look up at him but he didn't let me go. I laid a hand on his chest over his heart and the tension was slowly leaving his body. "I know." I responded firmly to appease him. And then, because I didn't quite like the way that sounded I couldn't let it rest. "I won't let it," I said with certainty. He might be an alpha male, but I wouldn't be controlled. I wouldn't kneel.

Negan snorted and pulled me back into his chest, wrapping his arms around me tightly. "I know sweetheart," he whispered into my hair. He exhaled a shaking breath. He cupped my face in his warm, powerful hands and pressed his lips against mine in a painfully gentle kiss.

He pulled back and drew in a deep breath and when he drew in the next breath it was like he pulled the mantle of control back around himself. "Okay." He said nodding. "So that went to shit. My bad," he allowed. He smirked at me. "We aren't really going to get any answers out of him now, huh?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "Ah, no." I pressed my lips together. "But, I've got another idea."

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Negan

"Wakey! Wakey!" I yelled slamming the door of the cell open. It banged loudly against the wall and the man on the floor flinched in his upper body and made a strangled noise of terror. I flashed him wide smile. This was a hell of a lot more promising. Now we were getting somewhere. Fear was productive as shit.

Dixon came in right behind me dragging Martinez's body by the collar. He slid the body across the floor towards the man leaving a trail of blood behind him. Martinez was beyond making any noises. Hell I didn't know if he was alive or dead. If he was still breathing it wouldn't be long now.

Behind me Jo stalked in and stood beside me. She crossed her arms aggressively over her chest and glared down at the man who was looking up at her like she was the antichrist. She was more comfortable with this douche bag. Martinez had scared her, then tried to terrorize her and I had absolutely lost my shit. I had to hold it together on this one or we wouldn't get the information we needed.

"Now," I said pleasantly as I crouched down beside him. "I have some questions to ask you," I let him see the blood coating Lucille. "I mean, you attacked my people, so we both know you are a dead man walking..." I paused dramatically and let a slow smirk cross my face. "So to speak. Pretty sure that blade in your spine made it so you'll never be walking about," I chuckled and glanced back over my shoulder at Jo. "She's magnificent don't you think?" I asked rhetorically. Jo's face remained absolutely impassive, but there had been a flash in her eyes.

I couldn't help but think about how she felt in my hands and how badly I wanted to get this done so I could drag her upstairs. But I had to do this right. If I screwed this one up we would be left with nothing. "Now, clearly you are acquainted with my Hot Friend and her proclivity for knives. This over here is her Uncle Merle...he is holding all that remains of your fearless leader who is about to start snacking on your worthless legs in about-" I paused dramatically and pretended to check my watch. "Twenty minutes. If you don't answer my questions I'm going to-"

"I'll answer anything you want," the man whined, interrupting me before I could finish. His eyes were locked on the corpse laying between us.

I scowled at him, pulling back slightly. "Excuse you," I snapped. "It is rude as shit to interrupt someone when they are threatening you. Jesus, were you raised in a barn? What kind of lawless shit hole was that place? Jesus!" I exclaimed, letting myself get worked up just enough so I didn't completely lose it on this piece of shit.

"Please," he begged. Blood was soaking the concrete beneath him, but Jo had done a bang up job on his spine so I didn't know what kind of pain he might be feeling.

"Well...alright then," I agreed shrugging. "You are from Woodbury?"

"Yes."

"You worked for the pussy ass little bitch in charge of the place?"

"I worked for The Governor," he agreed swallowing.

"What did you do for him?"

"I...I ah...I worked in the ring...I..."

I glanced towards Jo, but she hadn't reacted, she was staring straight at him totally stoic.

"Were you a part of what happened to my friend?" I asked and as much as I tried to sound casual, even I could hear the tension rising in my voice.

"Negan," Jo's voice was almost soft and I turned my head towards her, unable to completely take my eyes off the asshole who had tried to take her from me. She waited to continue until I tore my eyes away and met her gaze. She looked exhausted and a protective swell worked its way up my chest. I just wanted to get her out of here.

"It doesn't matter," she told me.

I tightened my jaw, grinding my teeth together. "Yes it does." I told her absolutely. I would kill anyone I found who touched her. Anyone who had a hand in what that bastard had done. Martinez's words kept chasing themselves around my brain and I couldn't turn it off. I wanted to kill him again for even looking at her.

A small, sad smile tugged at the corner of her mouth but it was the haunted look in her eyes that made me take a step towards her.

She held up a hand to stop my and I was surprised to find I did.

"Not anymore," she promised me.

There was no one in the room with us but Dixon. I didn't count the dead man we were interrogating. I  didn't like Dixon witnessing this moment between us. He cared about Jo but I didn't trust how far that went. And Jo and I were the strongest in the place and he had just seen how vulnerable we could be with each other.

I tightened my jaw and looked away from Jo. The look in her eyes made my chest ache. She stepped forward, brushing against me as she slipped past me. This wasn't part of the plan.

She knelt down in front of the deadman on the floor.

"You know who I am," she clarified.

He was beginning to look feverish, his eyes locked on the corpse we had brought with us. He nodded a few too many times.

"Who else was working with Martinez?" She asked in a low, quiet voice.

"No one else," the man croaked.

I opened my mouth to say something snappy but Jo kept going. She cocked her head to one side as she studied the man's face. "Why were you doing this?"

The man snorted and looked a little more lively for just a moment. "To take the place. Had to get rid of Negan."

"You sowed unrest so they would happily accept new leadership," Jo supplied and I was surprised she had picked it up so fast.

"Just a matter of killing everyone who would be a problem huh?" Dixon's voice rumbled from behind us somewhere but I didn't take my eyes off of Jo.

She glanced back at me, lifting her brows as though to ask if there was anything else I wanted to know. When I shook my head she turned back to the man.

There was something different here. She wasn't trying to be intimidating. She was staring at the man with a gentle understanding that terrified me. She couldn't hesitate when faced with our enemies. It was dangerous. 

She laid a hand on the man's forearm. "Is there anything else?" She asked in a low, gentle voice.

The man shook his head. "Make it quick?"

She moved so damn fast I didn't see the knife until it was buried in the man's temple. The body slumped and she pushed herself on her feet. She exhaled and she looked so small standing there. Like the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. When she turned around she glanced first at Dixon then looked at me.

"It's over," she said and a small, relieved smile crossed her face. She sniffled once and a strangled sob choked it's way up her throat. I stepped up and pulled her into my chest holding her as sobs of relief shook her body.

I didn't have the heart to tell her it was never over. But she needed this victory and she needed tonight to feel safe.

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Jo

Surprisingly, Negan left Merle in charge to finish cleaning up what was left. Not that it was a particularly glamorous job but it showed a level of trust that hadn't been there before.

I was absolutely useless. Every time I thought I had myself together I would break down again. It really was over. They were all dead, there was no one else who would make me go back there. No one else other than me and Merle who even knew all that had happened.

Negan held my hand as he led me away from the cells. I didn't ever want to go back there. I had assumed he would lead me back to his room, like the caveman he was, so I was surprised when he stopped outside my door. I wasn't surprised when he produced a key to unlocked it. He brought me in, closing the door behind us. I walked over to the bed and sat down, hanging my head.

He moved into the bathroom and turned on the water before coming back out. "You should get cleaned up sweetheart," his voice was rough with emotion but I nodded. A hot shower and warm bed sounded exactly right.

As I stood in the spray I wondered if there was a way for me to ask Negan to stay without it seeming like I was propositioning him. I didn't know what he meant by his earlier words about the en suit in his room and I was trying not to read too much into it. But I was so tired and if I was honest I felt incredibly vulnerable after everything that had happened and I just wanted him to stay and hold me so I could sleep.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped towel around myself. I pulled opened the door and opened my mouth to ask him when I stopped. Something wasn't right. He was standing with his back to me, staring down at something on the bed.

"I opened your drawers to find you some pajamas," he explained, his voice strangely detached and calm. "But they were all empty."

A bad feeling went through me. I opened my mouth again to say something, anything but it was like the air stopped in my lungs.

He turned around slowly to face me, holding up a backpack, my bug-out bag. The one I had packed earlier today when I was so sure leaving was the right answer.

"So," he said conversationally, but I could hear the anger and, more painfully, the hurt in his voice. "Do you want to tell me when the hell you were planning on leaving?"

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I hope you guys enjoyed it! Thank you so much as always for the amazing support! I love reading your comments!