Hey guys! See, I promised you wouldn't have to wait too long! Buckle up, it's a LONG update. I would have to look, but I'm pretty sure it's the longest or really close, coming in at over 7,200 words. I tried to edit it down or cut it in half, but couldn't find anything I could bear getting rid of and didn't want to mess with the flow. I hope you enjoy! 

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Jo

When Negan and Rick took off at a brisk walk in the direction of the gun shot he left Daryl, Arat and I behind. As soon as Negan turned away Daryl lifted his eyes and met mine. I could see the rage swirling in them. He glanced at Arat, but Gabriel had stepped up to her and was distracting her. Being left here with the three of us was making her uncomfortable. She wasn't used to being outnumbered and didn't know how to position herself to maintain the upper hand. Instead, when Gabriel stepped up into her space she turned her whole focus onto him since he was the closest. It was a rookie mistake. Always keep you eye on the most dangerous person in the room. And that wasn't Gabriel.

Daryl cut his eyes back to me and he shook his head firmly he didn't want me to accept Negan's offer.

I scowled at him. He wasn't thinking clearly. I turned to trail behind Negan and Rick. Daryl followed. Once we were a few dozen yards away Daryl glanced back. Arat's back was turned and she was still distracted by Gabriel. She was too used to everyone doing exactly what The Saviors wanted. She just assumed we were following suite. We weren't. Daryl jumped forward and grabbed my arm, jerking me roughly around the corner between two of the large bushes that provided cover. We were out of sight unless someone came around the corner and looked directly to their left.

I almost choked over the emotions that were running through me. I was shaking from the physical act of holding myself back and all of the other incredibly intense emotions that I didn't have a name for. But when I looked up into his face he was more angry than I had ever seen him.

"What the hell do ya think you're do'in?" he demanded angrily.

I hesitated and tried to take a step back away from his rage. I pulled back but his hand was locked around my upper arm in a bruising grip. I had never once felt uncertain of Daryl before, but I had never seen him like this. There was rage and an undercurrent of desperation. 

I opened my mouth to respond to his angry words, but he cut me off, shaking his head.

"Ya ain't got any idea," he glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was coming. This close I could see the bags under his eyes and how sallow his skin looked. He wasn't sleeping and he looked like he hadn't been eating well either. Up close I could see the extensive bruising as well.

I swallowed thickly. "Daryl I'm-I'm just trying-" I stammered.

"Well don't," he snarled and it felt like he slapped me. He gave my are a rough jerk. "Stay as far away from these assholes as ya can. Do ya understand? All it will do is land ya in the cell next to me. And they'll use ya against me even more than they already are."

There was movement behind us and rather than looking to check who it was, Daryl dropped my arm and stormed away. As soon as he was out in the open he dropped his eyes to the ground and hunched his shoulders forward.

Arat appeared moments later, walking past where I was standing. She didn't even notice me. She wouldn't have found us here.

I stood there swaying softly, feeling like I had been cut adrift. I closed my eyes and let out a shuddering breath as tears burned the backs of my eyes. I didn't know how to help him. I felt as powerless as I used to locked up in that cell, only this was worse. So much worse. 

When I looked up I saw Enid standing on the sidewalk watching me. I met her gaze and she gave me a sympathetic look. I nodded, took a deep breath and went to find out what was going on. I was going to be missed soon.

I quickly figured out the gun shot had come from the infirmary. I was behind the others, but when I walked in Carl was still pointing a gun at a couple of Negan's Saviors.

Negan had stepped up next to Carl so he could look him in the eye.

"You should go," Carl snarled. "Before you find out how dangerous we all really are."

Negan smirked and he lifted his eyes over Carl's shoulder to see me standing in the doorway. "Oh I think I have a pretty good idea." I could see a dangerous glimmer of amusement in his eyes.  "And pardon me young man and excuse the shit out of my goddamn French, but...did you just threaten me? Look, I get threatening Davey here. But me? I can't have it. Not him, not me, not ever."

"Carl just put it down!" Rick gasped from across the room.

"Don't be rude Rick!" Negan snapped without looking away from Carl. "We are having a conversation here. Now boy, where were we? Oh yeah, your giant man sized balls. Now, I like you, so I don't want to go hard proving a point here. You don't want that. I said half your shit so half is what I say it is."

Carl didn't move, but I could tell by the tension in his shoulders he was considering what Negan was saying to him, but I didn't always trust his teenage emotions and reactions.

Negan took a step closer to Carl. "I'm serious. Do you want me to prove how serious? Again?"

Carl still didn't move. He didn't want to give in to Negan. I glanced over at Rick, but his eyes were bordering on panicky as he stared at his son. Rick wasn't going to fix this.

I stepped up behind Carl. I made sure my boots made noise against the floor so he would know I was coming and I laid a hand on his shoulder. He glanced over his shoulder to look at me. He held my gaze for a few seconds before he nodded and handed over his gun.

I heard Rick exhale from across the room. I handed off the gun to Rick without even bothering to look at it. I held Carl's gaze and I let him see the resolve I had. I wasn't laying down, I was angry. For the briefest of moments I let Carl see that just so he would know he wasn't alone. He nodded to show he understood.

Then I tucked it all back away and turned back to Rick and Negan.

"You know Rick," Negan said. "This reminds me that you have a lot of guns. There's all the guns you took from my outpost when you wasted my people with a shit ton of your own guns. And I'm betting there's even more. Which adds up to an absolute ass load of guns. Which, as this little emotional outburst has made crystal clear, I can't allow that. They're all mine now. So tell me Rick, where are my guns?"

Rick didn't argue, and he didn't hesitate. He just turned around and led the way to the pantry. Carl broke off from us once we were out on the street. I didn't blame him and honestly thought it was better for him to not watch Negan playing head games with his dad.

Negan looked around and whistled to his men, summoning a group of them to follow us.

I stepped forward to lift up the garage door, but Negan stopped me. He held out his hand so it blocked my shoulder. "Now, now boys where are your manners? You don't let a lady do the heavy lifting by her lonesome."

I snorted and stepped around him before anyone could move. I jerked the door up and it crashed into the top with enough force it nearly came back down. I stretched up and stopped it. Then I turned back and arched a brow. "After you."

Negan smiled and shook his head. "You are classy as shit. I love that," and he stepped around me.

Olivia appeared, standing in the doorway, her notebook tucked neatly into the crook of her arm. "Hi," she said, her voice tight with nerves. "I figured you were coming," Olivia greeted.

Rick sighed, he looked exhausted. "Just show them where the guns are Olivia."

Olivia's eyes were wide as she looked back and forth from Rick and then back to me. I nodded encouragingly. Her eyes dropped to my knife sheaths and she seemed to tense even more when she noticed I wasn't armed.

"You run the show in here?" Negan asked and her eyes flashed over to him.

She took half a step backwards as she hesitated before answering. "I-I just keep track of it all...the rations, the guns."

Negan nodded. "Smart, don't let me stop you. Take Arat and the boys and show them the goods."

Olivia bit her lip nervously and turned around, hurrying towards the stores.

Negan and Rick stopped in the pantry. "I want to point out that I am not taking a scrap of your food. Now, I can't be the only one to notice that you have a fat lady keeping track of rations. Either way, you starve to death, I don't get shit. So for now, you get to keep all the food. How about that?" Negan asked holding his arms out dramatically.

Rick glared back. "What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know Rick, how about a thank you? Is that too much to ask? Now, I know we started off on the wrong foot, but you forced my hand. Now, I am a very reasonable man as long as you cooperate. So let me ask you a question Rick? Are you cooperating?"

Rick went very still at that. "What's it look like?" Rick growled.

All humor was gone from Negan's face. "Oh, I know what it looks like. But what I really want to know is if we are going to find all the guns there or if you got a few just waiting for their moment...Just like my Lucille," he lifted his eyes to where I was standing. "And my hot but deadly friend back there waiting for her moment."

I swallowed. I had never actually thought he would assume I wouldn't kill him if given the chance. I was just surprised he had thrown it out casually so soon after offering me a place to go back with them.

Rick looked uncomfortable by his words and he refused to even look at me. "They're all in there," he said, then after a few seconds he added. "To the best of my knowledge."

"Oh, I am counting on that Rick."

Negan led Rick and I around to the front of the townhouse in order to supervise the loading of the guns. When we stepped around to the front, there was already a flurry of activity as men went back and forth from inside carrying guns out by the arm load.

I stood silently by and watched Negan's men load up our security and our ability to defend ourselves. I wrapped my hand around my opposite wrist, forcing myself to stillness. Negan wasn't paying attention to me anymore, his entire focus had switched to Rick.

"You know what today is Rick? Today is a banner day. I think this little arrangement of ours is going to work out just fine."

Daryl came out of the door with an armload of guns. "Hold up," Negan commanded and he pulled one off the pile. "Let's see if you've been taking care of my guns." He lifted the hand gun and pointed it at Daryl as Daryl continued to the van.

I startled forward a step and Negan cut his eyes over to me. My hands were clenched into fists, and the smirk on his face told me he knew it and he was doing it on purpose. I took a breath. Negan wasn't going to shoot him, he wouldn't. The rational part of my brain knew that Daryl was too valuable as a hostage for Negan to kill him like this. But not everything I was feeling was rational, and the coil of that spring wound another round tighter.

When Daryl didn't react Negan turned the gun towards the window and fired. "Feels good, sounds good. I do believe Lucille is getting a little jealous," one of the men came out with the rocket launcher in his arms. "Well, holy smokes!" Negan exclaimed, snatching it up. "Look at this. It was you guys who took out Little Timmy and the dick brigade? Wow Rick, getting in your last licks. Oh man, I am going to have some fun with this."

Arat dragged Olivia up the stairs. Olivia whimpered as Arat shoved her towards Negan. 

"Arat," Negan said in a warning voice, as he handed off the launcher to one of his guys and turned his attention toward Arat and Olivia. "You don't do that unless they have done something to deserve it."

Arat ignored Negan's reprimand. "Yeah, we went through the inventory. Guns in the armory and guns they had around the walls, they're short," Arat handed Negan Olivia's notebook. "A glock nine and a twenty-two bobcat," she reported.

Negan's eyes gleamed dangerously. "Is that true?" He asked Olivia.

Rick stepped forward, putting himself closer to Negan than Olivia. "We had some people leave town those guns probably went with-"

Negan scowled at Rick. "So Olivia sucks at her job?" he asked pointing aggressively at Olivia. "Is that what you are saying?"

"No, no, I'm not saying that," Rick quickly covered.

"There should be a full accounting here right? Top to bottom. Am I right?" Negan asked, turning towards Olivia.

"No," Olivia stuttered wringing her hands. "I mean yes, the inventory is correct."

"Good," Negan said nodding. "And not so good. See what's in here," he knocked against the cover of the notebook. "Isn't in there. You're two handguns short. Do you know where they are?"

Olivia shook her head, tears springing into her eyes. "No, I-"

"Well that's disappointing, because I thought we had an understanding, because this, this shows that someone is not on board. And I can't have that." Negan turned back to Olivia. "I don't enjoy killing women. Men, I can waste them all the live long, but this Olivia my dear, this was your responsibility."

"Wait, we can work this out-" Rick started to stammer.

"Oh yes we can. And I'm going to, right now," Negan snapped at Rick before he swung back to face Olivia. "This was your job and you screwed it up. Keeping track of guns, that shit is life and death," Negan growled in her face as she whimpered.

"Wait-" Rick started to speak.

I stepped forward, putting my shoulder in front of Rick's, putting myself closer to Negan than the others. "Let Rick talk to our people," I said calmly. "He will explain and whoever took them will have the opportunity to bring them back."

Negan looked at me sideways out of his eyes. He glanced from me to Rick and then a slow smile spread across his face. "Well now, that makes sense don't it Rick. So go on now Ricky boy, do what she says. Go beg your people to bring you back my guns."

Rick swung around to immediately start gathering our people. I turned to follow him.

"Stop," Negan commanded.

Arat stepped in front of me, blocking my way. I looked the other woman up and down. She was taller than me by a few inches even with me wearing my boots. She smiled down at me, she seemed to think those extra inches would save her. I let that little bit of myself show out my eyes and Arat flinched and took a step back. I smirked at her.

Negan stepped up and I quickly schooled my expression. He looked from Arat to me and back again. "Get back to work," he ordered Arat and then he looked sideways at me. His expression was thoughtful as he watched me for a few moments. He watched Arat walk away and then he looked back at me. "Do you know where the guns are?" he asked in a bored expression as though he already knew the answer. 

I stared back stone faced. "I'm not really a gun type of girl."

"No, you're not," he agreed. He clapped his hands together. "Well, in the mean time you can keep me company. Hell, provide a little entertainment for me and the boys."

Negan led the way back towards my targets.

It didn't take long for Rick to gather everyone from the community into the church. Negan let them have a meeting in peace. It surprised me he didn't want to be there or at least have one of his men inside to make sure Rick wasn't in-sighting anything.

I followed behind Negan. When he arrived at the targets he plopped himself down in the grass. I stood a few feet away, waiting to see what exactly he had in mind. When he looked back at me he gestured towards the targets.

"By all means sweetheart. Get your toys."

I swallowed, wondering what the game was this time. I stalked back to the targets and ripped my knives free. Game or no, I felt better having my knives back in my hands. I slid them all back into my shoulder rig and started to walk back toward Negan. Arat and Dwight had appeared and had Daryl standing between them. Arat had her gun in her hand, it wasn't pointing at Daryl, but it was close. Their meaning couldn't be clearer.

I hesitated, I hadn't seen Dwight since they first came in through the gate. He had a bag over his shoulder that I immediately recognized as Daryl's backpack, but my eyes zeroed in on his waist. Tucked through his belt was my kukri. Both of those things had been in our bedroom. I stumbled a step and a cruel, victorious smile flashed across Dwight's face when he realized I was staring at him. I had left my kukri on our bed but the backpack had been in our closet. The thought of him going through our room made me want to sink one of my blades into his chest. 

As soon as I reacted, Dwight turned to look smugly at Daryl.

In that moment I realized exactly what Daryl had meant. They would use us against one another, it was too easy. No matter how hard I tried and how many of my other emotions I was able to push to the side, my feelings for Daryl were too close to the surface. And Daryl was a protector through and through. Whether he realized it or not, it was such an integral part of his personality, giving someone he cared about to The Saviors would be the easiest way to control him. 

Negan chuckled as he watched the whole thing. When I was back standing in front of him he motioned to the targets. "When we arrived it looked like we had interrupted your morning training session. Well, I'm not one to get in the way of a woman wanting to better herself. Please," he motioned towards the targets.

I pressed my lips together and looked from Negan over the group of his followers who were all watching me with mild curiosity. I wasn't sure how many of them had been there that night. I didn't recognize any of the faces, but other than Dwight, Negan and Simon I didn't think I would have been able to remember anyone anyway.

Judging by the amount of curiosity of the few that were gathered here I had a feeling they hadn't been there for my performance in the woods.

"Now Jo," I startled at Negan using my actual name and even Daryl cut his eyes over to The Saviors leader, though his hair shielded his eyes once more. "Don't be rude," he chastised. "I am giving you a chance here to finish what you started."

I nodded and turned back toward the targets knowing this was exactly what he wanted. Me to dance like his own personal monkey, putting on a performance whenever he wanted. That's what it would be like if I went with him. And just like now, I was certain the only time I would have the opportunity to touch a weapon would be when someone had a gun pointing at Daryl. I realized then that I would never have a chance to get the upper hand if I went. No matter how long I waited. Looking into Negan's smiling face I knew he was too smart for that.

I needed to find another way.

Negan would take me if I offered, but he knew who and what I was. I had already played my ace, I had shown him what I was capable of out in those woods. If I ever wanted to get the upper hand, if I ever wanted to outsmart him and beat him and get Daryl back I was going to have to start thinking.

I threw my first knife.

Daryl wouldn't last much longer. They were torturing and exhausting him both physically and mentally.He was stronger than anyone I knew, but everyone had a breaking point.

I threw my second knife.

I had to figure out a way to get him out of there, and my going wasn't the answer.

I threw my third knife.

Daryl had signaled to me a direction but I didn't know if anything would ever come from that. Would he actually tell me where they were? Or would he be trying to keep me as far away from The Saviors compound as possible? Was it a risk I could take?

I threw my forth knife.

I couldn't just let Negan take him back. He had dragged Daryl here with the sole purpose of torturing him and of using him against us.

I threw my fifth knife. It was the hunting knife out of my spine sheath and it took a little more focus than the others. I grunted softly as it took more effort to get it to reach the target than the light weight throwing knives.

Dwight said something in a low voice and Negan started laughing. 

The sixth knife was my last one and it was the steak knife resting on my belt. When my hand closed over the handle I lost a tiny piece of control. There was something about the combination of the knife and that laugh. I stilled my entire body and took a deep breath.

Stop, reset. I told myself. This man is not that man. 

He's worse. A tiny piece of my brain screamed over and over again

Stop, reset. You aren't there. You are here and in control. 

I threw the knife, just to get it out of my hand. It landed with a satisfying thud and I walked towards the target. I pulled all the knives out and paced back. This time I threw every one of them lefty. Negan whistled in appreciation as the steak knife drove home once again.

I didn't bother looking at him. Instead I walked back and collected my knives. I was just tucking away the last one when the door to the church opened and everyone filed out.

"Well, playtimes over," Negan said sadly and he pushed himself to his feet and dusted off his jeans. "Back to work." Negan ordered his men. They all disbursed without hesitation.

I watched as our people all went their separate ways. I glanced over my shoulder at Negan as Carl approached. But Negan was speaking softly with Arat and Dwight. Judging by the wicked smile twisting his lips he was trying to get a rise out of Daryl once more. 

Carl stepped up next to me. I arched a brow at him and he shook his head. I pinched my lips together. So no one had come forward.

"Dad and Aaron are searching Spencer's place," Carl reported in a low voice. "Gabriel and Eugene are checking Rosita's and Tobin and Eric are searching Tara and Denise's."

I nodded, though Denise was dead I think it would always feel like her house to us.

Beside me Carl went ramrod stiff. I turned him and his eye was locked on a Savior. The man was leering over Enid. I wasn't able to hear what was said but I could tell it wasn't a pleasant exchange. When the man stepped closer to Enid and touched her hair Carl tensed.

"Carl," I said in a warning voice.

Carl turned and met my eyes. I nodded subtly. 

Not now, my eyes told him. But Soon. 

Carl's jaw tightened but he jerked his chin down once. He understood.

Soon.

Behind me I heard Negan and I knew he had witnessed our exchange, but it didn't matter any more. He knew who Carl and I were. There was no chance of hiding it anymore.

I heard the slap of cowboy boots as Rick came jogging down the street. Guns in one hand and Lucille in the other. I clenched my jaw. I could do a lot of damage with those weapons in my hands.

"What you got for me Rick?" Negan asked.

Rick handed over the guns without looking at him.

Negan chuckled. "Well would you look at that. They were here after all. Funny how a 'little holy shit someone's going to die' lights a fire under everyone's ass. So tell me Rick, which one of your fine folks almost cost Olivia the rest of her days."

"It doesn't matter any-" Rick started to say, but Negan cut him off.

"Oh it matters. See, you need to get everybody on board. Everybody, or we just go right back to square one and we start all over again."

"Everyone's on board," Rick responded quickly.

Negan looked at me. "I don't know about everyone just yet, but we are well on our way," he looked around at his men. "Let's wrap it up boys!" he called loudly. "Rick," he said turning to face him. "Be a peach and bring my girl there to the gate. I would like a moment alone with Mrs. Dixon." He raised his eyes tauntingly to meet Daryl's. Daryl kept his chin tucked and his shoulders down, but his hands were in fists at his side. Negan laughed and jerked his chin towards Dwight. He nodded and hustled off shoving Daryl ahead of him. 

"So," Negan said turning to face me. "Have you given any thought to coming back with me?"

I chewed on my lip and looked over his shoulder at the trucks that were packing up and preparing to leave. I took a deep breath, knowing there was only one way for this to work. "I will if you trade me for Daryl."

Negan chuckled then, shaking his head at me. "You," he said thoughtfully. He paced a line in front of me, then glanced at me out the corner of his eye. "You."

I could tell that I had surprised him. It made him even more interested. I shoved down the brief flicker of hope that ran through me and stared back at him impassively, waiting for his answer.

He looked back over his shoulder to where Dwight stood by, forcing Daryl to load one of the trucks. "See, my man Daryl there. He's a soldier. A hell of a good one. Brave, loyal, resourceful. Shit, I don't know why I'm telling you this, you obvious already know all about his fine qualities. I would assume it's why you were screwing the guy. But he's a soldier and a damn fine one. And somehow Rick got a hold of him and sank his claws in deep. Now, I intend to change that. He's got the potential to be my right hand man some day. Simons great, but Daryl," he let out a low whistle. "You don't just throw that's aside..and you...you my dear are no soldier."

I scowled at that. He was absolutely wrong. I had turned myself into that. It was all I was. 

He chuckled at my expression and stepped towards me, his face serious for once. He leaned down so he was whispering into my ear. "You're a queen."

I blanched at that, pulling back I was unable to keep the shock off of my face.

He just laughed again, "Come on sweetheart. You are no soldier. Oh you're a fighter, but you're a warrior queen. Ain't no one around here is the boss of you."

I glanced at Rick. Negan followed my gaze. "Please," he said waving a hand dismissively in Rick's direction. "When was the last time you actually followed an order from Rick you didn't agree with or weren't already going to do? Hmm? Never." He whispered the last word, his body brushing against mine as he walked around me. "Now I need me a soldier like Daryl, so I won't give him up. But I gotta admire the balls on you for asking. You love him, I can see that. However, the offer still stands, you could come back and be one of my wives."

I bit back the scowl that threatened to deepen, he had surprised me with his insights and I felt like he had the upper hand. I wouldn't let him keep. So, I leaned towards him, pushing up on tip toes so I was speaking low in his ear, my breath falling on his neck. "I don't share." I growled out the words suggestively.

Goosebumps raised on his skin. I had surprised him. He turned back to me and a please smile crossed his face. "I know sweetheart, me neither. It's why I didn't take your fine ass with me that first night. I don't need or want a queen." And he started to saunter away towards the gate. He paused and turned back to me from a short distance away. "But if I ever thought you were serious, and weren't coming along just looking for your moment. I think I would make an exception for you Mrs. Dixon." He sauntered away. 

I let out a shuddering breath. I had failed Daryl again. Maybe if I tried harder or seemed more interested. I scrubbed at my eyes. Negan was too smart for that. I just needed to come up with a new plan. 

The trucks were starting to pull out, one slowed, waiting as the tan van pulled back in. I looked up to see Spencer and Rosita climbing out. I followed at a more sedate pace. I was done. I needed room from these people, but I couldn't resist seeing Daryl one last time before they took him from me. 

"Well, this is one hell of a place you got here Rick," Negan was saying. 

But Rick was distracted. "Give me a second." Rick said, glancing towards the abandoned houses outside.

Negan's eyes hardened by Rick giving him an order. I had done the same thing earlier and Negan hadn't reacted at all. In fact, Negan had listened to me. I wondered if it had been on purpose, or if Negan even realized he had done it. 

"No." Negan ground out dangerously. 

"Please, can you just give me a second?" Rick asked a little more desperately. 

There were only so many people that were missing, and I had to assume it was Michonne, back from her scavenging run. 

Negan finally nodded and Rick trotted towards the houses. 

I stood amid the group and looked at Daryl. It killed me to see him standing there like that, looking so defeated. He raised his eyes to look at me and I cut my eyes to the truck, shook my head and clasped my hands behind my back dropping my shoulders. I wasn't coming. 

I almost choked on the tears that threatened to come at the profound relief that spread across Daryl's face. I hadn't realized how terrified he was that I would be getting into that truck with him. For just a brief space of time he let me see that. Then he took a breath, and his face became and expressionless mask once more but he didn't look away. 

I took a breath and cut my eyes to the east then stared back at him intently. 

He blinked once very deliberately.

Yes.

Michonne came stomping out ahead of Rick. Michonne had a doe draped over her shoulders and Rick was carrying a hunting rifle. Negan smiled. "Look at this!"

Rick handed Negan the rifle. "I thought she was scavenging, she was hunting. This one never came inside we kept it near the line."

Negan took the rifle and looked it over. "Look at this. This is something to build a relationship on. Good for your Rick, this is reading the room and getting the message. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are special."

Rick shifted his weight. "Now that you know we can follow your rules..."

"Yes?" Negan asked, drawing out the word. 

"I'd like to ask you if Daryl can stay," Rick asked submissively. 

Negan barked out a laugh. "Not happening..." then he paused, met my gaze and a slow smile crossed his face. "You know what. I don't know. Maybe Daryl could plead his case, maybe Daryl could sway me. Daryl?"

Daryl dropped his eyes to the ground, his jaw tightening. I knew then and there they were already using me against him. Or maybe it was the guilt from Glenn's death or a combination of both. Whatever they had threatened before bringing him here, they had made an impression, it worked. My anger coiled a little tighter and I had to sink my nails into my palms to force myself to hold it in. 

"Well you tried. Now what you gotta do is get over that tall wall of yours and try harder out there and earn for me. Because we are coming back soon and when we do you better have something interesting for us or Lucille is going to have her way. I want you to hear that again. If you don't have something interesting for us somebody's going to die. And no more magic guns. Arat, grab that deer, it's getting late. Let's go home."

Michonne glared over her shoulder at Rick and Negan and then threw the deer down on the ground.She stalked off. 

Negan chuckled at her obvious anger. "Man, I love a gal who buys me dinner and doesn't expect me to put out."

Spencer rolled Daryl's bike out of the van and my breath caught in my throat. I looked back and forth between Spencer and Rosita feeling like they had betrayed us somehow.

"I'll take that," Dwight said stepping forward, his thumb hooked over the handle of my kukri.

Another coil tighter. I felt like a pot about to boil over. The fear and tension of the whole day were mixing and my hands started to tremble at my sides. 

Spencer stepped back as though he were presenting a gift. I wanted to punch him. That wasn't his bike to give. It was Daryl's. 

"Rosita," Dwight motioned to the bike. "I got a little thank you," he tossed her hat to her. "That's all you're getting back. Took all your guns and most of your beds. I hope you find a place to lay your pretty little head." He climbed on the bike. "Did you find anything else out there?"

Rosita shook her head. "Just your dead friends."

Dwight laughed and started the bike. Something in my chest tightened. It was a sound I associated so much with Daryl and safety. I wanted to wrap my hands around Dwight's throat for taking that from me. 

Dwight stopped the bike next to Daryl. "You can have it back," he offered. "Just say the word."

Daryl didn't respond. Dwight shrugged and peeled out on the bike.

Negan turned to Rick. "So...nobody died, and you know what I think? I think you and I refined our understanding. Yep, a win-win. Let's move out!" he called to his people. "Oh wait, how careless of me. You didn't think I was going to leave Lucille did you? I mean after what she did, why would you want her. Thank you for being so accommodating friend."

Negan leaned forward and spoke in a low voice with Rick, but I wasn't paying attention to him anymore. My entire focus was on Daryl. Arat shoved Daryl back towards the truck. I took a step towards them, but the other saviors had their eyes on me. I stood in the middle of the road and watched them load him up and drive away. 

Daryl met my gaze from the back of the truck and I couldn't help the wave of guilt and anguish that threatened to swallow me whole. Had I made the right choice? He was right. He was always right. Negan never would have given me the option. I would never have escaped. I would have been locked up in a cell right next to him. But for some reason that didn't make me feel any better. 

I was angry. I was mad I hadn't done something more. I wasn't thinking clearly. I hadn't been for days now and Daryl had paid for that today. I was smarter than Negan, but once more I had let myself be manipulated by a damn warlord. I was better than this. Daryl needed me to be better than this. 

I stood in the middle of the open gate and watched until the trucks disappeared from sight. When I couldn't see him anymore, something like panic blossomed in my chest. 

I heard Rick speaking behind me.

"Spencer," he said. "We took the guns you had in your house. The saviors wanted ours, all of them. There were two missing from the inventory. They were going to kill Olivia."

Spencer didn't respond and my anger with him grew. He had handed over Daryl's bike like the Savior's were his best friends. He had smiled at them, and done it happily, sucking up to the bastards. 

"Spencer," Rick demanded.

I turned to see Spencer facing off with Rick. His stance was aggressive, like he might attack Rick. 

"You went into my house?" Spencer growled as though that mattered at a time like this. I hope they tore his house apart. 

Rick met my gaze and his eyes narrowed at my expression. Then he turned back to Spencer. "They were going to kill Olivia. Look, I'm not faulting you for having the guns, I did it myself, but the food, the liquor. That's because you're small, you're weak. You got lucky with the walls, you got lucky with us." Rick turned around and started stalking off up the street.

Spencer made a noise of disgust. "We should have made a deal with them while we could." When Rick didn't respond he continued. "Oh yeah, we're so lucky, you led us all to the promise land. Isn't that right Rick, here we are. I guess Glenn and Abraham were lucky too. And Daryl's well on his way. All you had to do was look at his face. I give it a day or two, tops before he's dead."

I saw red at his words. 

Rick hesitated. "You say anything like that again to me, I'll break your jaw, I'll knock your teeth out. You understand?"

Silence from Spencer. 

I moved my hand to the knife in my spine sheath. 

"Say yes Spencer," Rick growled. 

I coiled my muscles. I had had enough. I had reached the end of my patience and my control. Spencer had crossed a line.  

"Yes," Spencer ground out the word but he didn't mean it. He was still standing there, wrapping himself in his own selfish, righteous anger. He didn't get it and he was going to get someone hurt. It was unacceptable. 

I was already moving. Rick may have been satisfied but I wasn't. The spring inside of me snapped and I pounced. He wasn't expecting it and I rode his body down to the ground. He cried out in surprise and everyone turned to face us but nobody moved. 

I didn't care. 

I leaned down, pressing the spine of my blade up under his jaw. The tip pressed into the thin skin just behind his ear and he whimpered.

"If you do anything that endangers Daryl's life or the lives of anyone here. I'll kill you." I promised him, staring down into his eyes and letting him see how little I would care if I killed him right now. "Rick is the leader here and you either fall in line, or the next time they come, you can climb into one of their trucks and try your luck with them."

He shifted under me and his eyes went to Rick. Rick looked on impassively from Spencer to me and he simply continued walking away. 

I was not in control. I could feel it, like an inferno had been let loose in my mind. But it felt so good to not be holding back any more, to not have to. It was a heady release and an ugly, mirthless chuckle tore it's way out of my throat. . 

I pressed the spine against his skin harder and watched as he squirmed, trying to escape the pain. "If you do anything that gets Daryl hurt, it won't matter what Rick says," I leaned closer so my breath was hot against his neck and only he would hear my next words. "I will slam a blade into your skull so fast you won't see it coming."I pulled back and glared down at him. "And Rick..." I shook my head. "Even if he wanted to, without his gun Rick can't stop me," I pulled up thoughtfully and looked around. "Michonne might stand a chance...but I doubt she'd risk it. There's no telling when the pesky PTSD will kick in and dear little Jo has trouble telling friend from foe anymore." 

Spencer's eyes were wide and brimming with tears. He was finally starting to get it and it made me smile. But it wasn't a happy smile. It was a brittle thing, like broken glass, and it didn't reach my eyes. "Well, I've always been able to identify my foes." 

I climbed to my feet, slid my knife back in it's sheath and stalked out the open gate. A few seconds later it slammed behind me but I didn't look back. I turned to the east and started walking. I had a new plan and I had a direction.

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Hey guys! I hope you liked it! So I don't normally pay much attention to rankings, but I just saw Last One Standing is currently rated #101 in Fanfic!! I can't believe it! And it's all because of you, my awesome and supportive readers. 

Please keep up the hilarious and insightful comments and the much appreciate votes ;)