I hope you all are well and staying safe. This is it, buckle up my friends!

Happy Reading!

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Jo
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Daryl

It was Daryl. Daryl was here. I didn't even know how long ago it had been since I last saw him. I traveled with Daryl Dixon for almost a week before I went off on my own and ended up with The Governor. We had watched each other's back and developed an odd friendship. He had helped me protect Kate and tried to convince me to stay with his group before I made the disastrous decision to leave.

Daryl frickin Dixon.

That friendship had led to my even odder friendship with Merle and eventually saved Kate's life. 'A sibling for a sibling. A life for a life.' Merle had believed he owed a debt and he had repaid it in spades. Now as I stared into the blue eyes of Merle's brother it was like I couldn't breathe. It felt like every decision I had made since I first met Daryl back in the woods so long ago was coming back to haunt me. Somehow it was like no time had passed.

Daryl stared right back at me, but I couldn't read anything through his guarded expression. Merle had always shown every emotion he felt. Not his baby brother. Daryl was more reserved. It had taken a while for him and I to become friends originally, and in the end I left him and his group, foolishly throwing that trust back in his face. Now I couldn't even tell if he recognized me.

Then it hit me. Daryl was the new prisoner. The prisoner I had come down to kill. I moved my hands away from my knives as I staggered back away from them.

"Jo?" Dwight asked uncertainly.

Daryl frowned and recognition dawned on his face as he heard the name.

Daryl was the new prisoner. The one Negan wanted to torture until he broke and became one of them...us? I didn't know any more. I practically tripped over my feet as I ran from the cell block.

"Jo?!" Dwight called behind me again. My name echoed through the hallway but I couldn't face this. Not now. I was too much of a coward.

With my mind racing I ran back to my apartment. I needed time to be alone with my thoughts. I don't know how long I paced the small room before I finally sat down and buried my face in my hands. I had wanted vengeance so badly, but I couldn't take it out on Merle's brother. What a sick twist of fate that Daryl Dixon had been part of all of this. He was from Georgia, before all this, before I became this person. How had he showed back up in my life now?

A couple of hours later there was a knock on my door that startled me from my thoughts. There was only one person who would come and find me here. Only one person who would dare facing me when I was in this bad of a mood. I stared hard at the door, willing him to go away. I was too confused, too torn up, I didn't want to face him. But, as it seemed to happen all too often these days, he didn't understand what I needed. The lock turned and the door swung open.

I turned and he was leaning his shoulder against the door frame casually, a bag of food in one hand. The smell of noodles hit me and my mind spun as memories of Merle became even stronger. How many times had he come here to check on me and brought food. I felt like he was betraying Merle's memory somehow by being here. Maybe I was just more sensitive to it now than I had ever been before.

"I half expected to find you in the cell block, burying a knife in our new recruit," he said swaggering into my apartment. "Glad you didn't. He shows real promise. I brought you food," He said holding up the bag as though I hadn't noticed.

I tightened my jaw but didn't say anything as he swaggered through the door. He moved around the kitchen like he owned the place, pulling down a bowl and dumping the noodles into it. He walked into the living room and set the bowl down in front of me with a fork and sat down across from me. He stared at me for a long time. When I still didn't move from my spot in my chair he blew out a frustrated sigh and leaned back in his chair, his eyes never wavering from my face.

He leaned forward then, resting his elbows on his knees. He scrubbed at his face. "Look sweetheart, I don't know what to say to make things better. Things have gone to shit and I've been shitty. I don't know how to make you feel better."

I shrugged, biting the inside of my lips. I honestly didn't know what he could say to make things better either. When I didn't say anything he pressed on.

"I know you're pissed that I wanted you to stay-"

"Wanting me to stay and refusing to let me leave are two completely different things," I snarled, unable to keep my silence any longer.

"It was for your own safety," Negan replied smoothly. His absolute certainty in his decision set my teeth on edge.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You trapped me here," I growled.

"No, Jo-" he started to say.

"You told me I would never be a prisoner here," I said dangerously. "What do you think is happening now?"

"I'm keeping you safe," he defended, shoving himself to his feet.

"Just like you kept the people Hilltop safe and the people who lived at the Satellite Station safe?" I asked knowing my words would hurt him. I wanted him to hurt like I had hurt over the last few days. While he had paraded around pretending to be king I had been trapped. I was done.

"That's a low blow Sweetheart," he said in a warning voice.

I lifted my chin defiantly, unwilling to give an inch on this. "I told you when I came I wasn't willing to bow. I didn't mean just physically."

"You are blowing this way out of proportion. You've been catatonic for weeks, and what? You just expect me to take you out to face a group of people that killed our trained soldiers?"

"I can handle myself," I growled.

Negan stared into my face for a long time. His expression slowly turning sad. "No sweetheart," he said with a somber shake of his head. "Maybe once, but not anymore."

He moved to the door and hesitated as he turned back to face me. "I love you Jo," he told me, his face completely open and honest. "But I don't know how to help you anymore."

"I don't know either," I told him honesty, all anger draining out of me.

Negan nodded and pressed his lips together grimly. "You eat up okay?" He said motioning to the bowl of food. "And get some rest. I'll see you in the morning Sweetheart. We'll figure all this out," he promised me.

But I knew it was a lie.

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Jo
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I tossed and turned all night unable to sleep as memories of Merle tormented my dreams. I could hear his voice in my head talking about his little brother as he sat outside my cell in Woodbury. Then I could hear his laugh when he saw me for the first
time at The Sanctuary. His knowing smile telling me I needed to let Katie grow up. Then I heard his screams as he died for me. I woke covered in sweat, sure in the knowledge that I could let his brother suffer.

It wasn't just Merle. Daryl had fought at my back when I was trying to protect Kate. I couldn't leave him down there to be tortured. I knew Negan's tactics for remaking new recruits and knew it would be brutal. I owed him more than that.

Finally unable to stand it any longer I threw the blankets off of me and got dressed. I pulled on my leather pants, long sleeve shirt and all of my knives.

I stopped near the table, staring down at the pad of paper Negan had written me so many notes on. I bit my lip. So many times he had reassured me or made me feel safe...I owed him something too. I scribbled down a message and left it sitting in the middle of the table. He would find it eventually.

I shrugged into my motorcycle jacket as I headed towards the door. If I did this I knew without a doubt there would be no going back, but I didn't even hesitate. The note made sure of that.

I scooped up my backpack and slid out into the dark hallway. I exhaled in relief when I saw there were no guards outside my door. I had honestly half expected there to be someone watching for me. When no one came into sight I slipped down the stairs towards the cells. It was nearly two a.m. and all of Sanctuary was silent.

I froze just around the corner from the cells. Dwight was sitting in a chair with his back to me. His chin was resting on his chest as though he were sleeping. There weren't any other guards in sight. I bit my lip, feeling a little bad for what I was about to do. I crept up behind him and pulled one of my larger blades. I used the blunt end of the handle and smashed it over his head.

Dwight slumped forward unconscious, falling to the floor. I caught him just before his head would have hit the concrete. I glanced around but there was still no one. I searched Dwight's pockets and pulled out a set of keys. It took a couple tries but I finally found the ones that fit the lock.

I opened the door and flinched when I saw Daryl, curled up in a corner naked with his arms wrapped around himself. I winced and turned away, moving back into the hall to find clothes. One of the closets down here had a pile of prisoners clothing. In a dirty pile on the ground I found Jeans, boots, and a black shirt crusty with blood. I took the jeans and boots but skipped the shirt.

I went back to the cell, he had rolled into a crouch but hadn't come out yet. He looked like a cornered animal ready to attack. I sympathized. It made me sick to think of what all had happened to him to make him this way in just a few short hours. His body was covered in bruises and small cuts.

I had deluded myself for too long that Negan was different from The Governor. The proof of it was etched in Daryl's skin.

I tossed his jeans and boots to him and began digging in my bag. When I didn't find anything big enough to fit him I turned back to the unconscious Dwight. I knelt down over him and pulled the vest and flannel shirt off of him. Daryl stepped out of the cell wearing his boots and jeans. When I turned back to him I tossed Dwight's shirt to him without a word.

"We need to get moving," I told him.

He nodded infinitesimally. "The vest too," he said in his slow southern drawl. It reminded me so much of Merle it hurt.

I frowned, not understanding, and he jerked his chin towards the vest Dwight had been wearing. I didn't recognize it at first. It was more worn but as Daryl shrugged into it I realized Dwight had stolen the angel winged vest Daryl had always worn when I knew him before.

I picked it up off the ground and tossed it to Daryl. He caught it one handed and shrugged it on. I pulled the knife and handgun out of Dwight's belt and handed the knife to Daryl. I knew Daryl and I was helping him, but I didn't think I was ready to trust him with a gun at my back.

"This way," I called to him, jerking my chin towards the stairs.

Daryl stepped over Dwight, tightening his grip on the knife as he stared down at the unconscious man.

I moved in between them. "I am here to help you escape, not let you kill my friend."

"This asshole is your friend?" Daryl challenged, his voice dripping with disgust.

"Yeah, and your friends murdered my family, so I think we can skip passing judgement. This way," I crept up the stairs towards freedom. Getting out of the cell block was easy enough, making it through the main gate was going to take a little more work. I led the way through more deserted hallways. I opened one of the side doors that led out to the courtyard. It was the closest access to the main gate and the one the guards often used when the weather was poor. I peaked out and blew out a frustrated sigh when I saw Arat staring out into the forest.

I glanced back at Daryl. "Stay here," I told him and I slipped out of the door.

I had two options. I could either attack Arat and knock her unconscious like Dwight, or I could try and reason with her. If I thought Negan hadn't gotten to her I would have been able to convince her to let me leave. Now I wasn't so sure. She had risen up the ranks awfully fast and a lot had changed in the weeks since Katie's death.

I swallowed as I walked up behind her, keeping my steps slow as I moved across the gravel.

"You're leaving aren't you?" Arat asked without turning around.

I froze where I stood and she turned to face me. Her eyes touched on the backpack I wore and the knives and leather jacket. She sighed. "I was wondering how long it would take," she said honestly. "Go ahead," she said motioning towards the gate. "I'm not going to stop you," she said sadly.

I turned and motioned over my shoulder. Daryl slipped out of the doorway. He glanced around suspiciously before he came up to stand beside me.

Arat frowned up into Daryl's face. "You're taking the prisoner with you?" she asked in shock.

I stared hard into her eyes, willing her to understand. Arat and I had been friends, I hoped I could trust her. "He's Merle's brother."

Arat's eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious?" she asked and her eyes ran over Daryl. "I could see it," she agreed.

"I owe it to Merle," I said pleadingly.

Arat nodded. "All right, get out of here. Go fast, I'll try and stall as long as I can, but Jo," she called after me.

I pressed my lips together and turned to face her.

"He'll come after you with everything he has."

I nodded. "I know he will."

"He won't let you go easily. If you're going to run, run far and run fast my friend," and Arat pulled me into a tight hug. "Thank you for everything," she said in a low voice.

I hugged her back as tears pricked the backs of my eyes. There was no going back as soon as I stepped outside of these gates. Really there had been no going back since the moment I saw Daryl, but this was the moment. No turning back. I took a deep breath and stepped outside the gate. Arat slid it shut behind me with a clatter. I took my first deep breath of free air and stepped into the forest without looking back.

Daryl stepped up beside me. "This way," he called and he turned into the night. With no better ideas I followed Daryl Dixon into the woods.

We traveled together in silence for a long time before he finally spoke. "Why are you helping me?" Daryl asked. "If all those assholes were your friends."

I glanced back at him. "You wouldn't understand, not really, but...it's for your brother."

"Merle?" Daryl asked pulling back with a surprised scowl.

"Yes, Merle," I said, feeling strangely defensive of him.

"Merle's dead," Daryl said. "Been dead a long time."

"Yes he is, but not as long as you think," I told him, picking my way through the underbrush. The moon was out but it still made it difficult to navigate the downed logs and sticks. "He died saving my life."

"So what? This is some guilt thing? Not necessary. Merle was always going to look out for himself. He left me to go his own way."

"Merle ended up with someone named The Governor, which is exactly where I ended up once I split from you and Rick. He...well we sort of became friends once he learned I had traveled with you. Then, when the Governor lost it, Merle got my sister out of there safely. He protected her and got her here, to safety...all because I fought at your back. So yeah, I'm doing this because of Merle. A sibling for a sibling."

"He saved your sister's life?" Daryl asked sounding a little like he didn't believe it.

"He did," I said with a nod. "Traveled with her all the way from Georgia to The Sanctuary where he found a group strong enough to keep her safe. And your friends killed her."

Daryl stopped moving with a frown. "Kate wasn't it?" he asked.

"Yes. She was at the Satellite Station you and your people attacked. She was murdered in her bed like everyone else."

Daryl stopped, a tormented look in his blue eyes. "Shit," he muttered.

"Yeah," I agreed. "Things aren't as black and white as everybody seems to think."

There was growling to our left. Daryl turned towards it. "Get behind me," he said trying to step around me as though he needed to protect me. As though I was still that woman he met in Georgia.

I snorted at him as three biters stepped out of the trees and shambled towards us. I flipped off a throwing knife at the first, landing it in the biter's temple. Then I rushed the other two. It had been so long since I had let myself go and really fight. It was like breathing again. I round house kicked the second sending it stumbling back and with an underhand flip of my wrist killed the third. Before the body dropped I had pulled another knife and rammed it up under the chin of the second biter.

Daryl was frozen, staring at me in shock. I flashed him a smirk and moved through the bodies pulling the knives and putting them away.

"Long way from your golf club," he observed.

I snorted. "I actually forgot about that. I'm surprised you remembered."

Daryl looked down at me, his blue eyes intense as he stared at me. "Hard to forget a little spit fire killing Walkers with a golfclub...where'd you learn to do that?" he asked, jerking his chin towards the bodies.

"The Governor," I said a little under my breath. "He had a fighting ring, liked to hold cage matches with people who displeased him. I don't know how long I was there," I said hollowly. "I wouldn't have kept my sanity if not for your brother."

Daryl nodded, chewing on his lip thoughtfully. "Let's keep moving," he said.

We traveled the rest of the way in silence. We stepped out of the forest in the predawn light. A huge metal fence rose up in front of us. I assumed it was his community.

"Okay," I said, and I turned to leave. I had repaid my debt, and gotten Daryl safely home.

"Hey," Daryl called after me. "Thanks."

I stopped and turned back to face him. His blue eyes reminded me so much of Merle it actually hurt to look at him.

He jerked his chin towards their compound. "You should stay."

I shook my head and jerked my chin towards the community. "They murdered my sister. They were all just normal people trying to survive and they were killed in their beds. That's not something I will ever be able to forgive. But I have paid the debt I owed."

"Things aren't always black and white," Daryl called, tossing my own words back at me. "You could learn to forgive. Learn to have a life here."

"He'll come looking for you. It's the first place he'll look," I warned him jerking my chin towards their community.

"Sounded more like he'll come after you," Daryl pointes out. "Where will you go? No one should be alone. You're one hell of a fighter, we could use you."

I shrugged. "I'm better on my own. I had family in Texas. Maybe I'll try there." I turned and looked out at the trees. The wind picked up and blew into my face. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of freedom for the first time in as long as I could remember. "I'm done fighting."

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Jo's Note
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Negan,

I don't know what to say. Everything has gone so wrong. Know that I did love you, very much, and I think I was happy for a time. But I stayed because of Kate and then because of vengeance. I think we both know I never needed to be here. Not really. I'm a survivor, not a Savior. I don't follow orders, never have, and that won't change. You put on a mask to rule this place, I put one on to pretend I'm like everyone else, but I'm not like everyone else. I'm tired of pretending I'm something I'm not. I did what I did because I owed a debt. Simple as that. The fact that it was owed to a dead man makes it no less important. Now that debt is paid. Please don't punish anyone else for what happened and don't follow me. Let's be content with the time we had together. I think you loved me, in your own way but to be with you I had to be strong and a fighter, and I'm just so tired. I've lost too much. I'm done fighting. I'm going my own way. Don't try and find me.

Jo

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The End
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Thank you everyone. I can't believe this story is over. I never intended to write it and I certainly never thought I would finish it. It started as a writing exercise, a couple of readers asking for a LOS AU where Jo and Negan met under different circumstances. I never believed I would write more than a couple chapters. It was the support and encouragement of so many of you that got me through. I sincerely hope you enjoyed the story. This was the ending I always intended to use. In fact I wrote this ending the same day I wrote their first chapter together.

If you haven't read my Daryl fanfic Last One Standing I suggest you check that one out!

Thank you again. Love you all!