Hello Everyone! Here you are! Another update for your reading pleasure! I just want to give you all a heads up that I will be away for work for the next week and a half, so savor this one!!! It has to last you!

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Jo

I flopped back against the pillows and closed my eyes. Thankful to be alone with my thoughts for just a moment. I just needed a few seconds where I didn't have to pretend. Where I didn't have to control every facet of my emotions. Tears burned the backs of my eyes and I squeezed them shut. I couldn't keep doing this. I wasn't strong enough to keep facing him like this. If given the chance I could sink a knife into him, but I couldn't stare him in the face and smile and pretend I wasn't scared to death of him.

I was just so tired and just wanted...I didn't know what I wanted. To not be scared anymore? I didn't want to have to be strong every second of every day. I didn't want to have to fight. I was so tired.

The thought went over me life cold water. I let out a shuddering breath as I fought to compose myself. I wouldn't be alone long. Daryl was hiding upstairs and Rick and Carl were still in the house and I didn't want any one of them to see me like this. No one could see me like this.

I strained my ears and heard Negan call to Dr. Carson that they were leaving. Negan chuckled about something and the sound of his gruff laughter made me shudder. I just wanted him to leave and never come back.

I just wanted someone to kill him, and as satisfying as I had convinced myself it would be to kill him myself, I just wanted it done. The truth was I didn't want to face him, I never wanted to face him again. The stairs creaked as the two men walked further away from me. I could hear the rumble of his voice but I couldn't make out the words. I raised my hands and covered my ears trying to block out the sound. I wanted it gone. I never wanted to hear it again.

The front door closed and I could breathe again. I drew in a choking breath and covered my mouth to block the weak whimper that somehow escaped my lips. I pinched my eyes shut and pressed the back of my trembling hand over my mouth.

He was gone. I was safe and he was gone.

A few moments later I heard my door swing open. I wasn't ready, I wasn't ready to face someone. I couldn't hide it. I dropped my hand but kept my eyes shut.

"I just want to be alone, Carl," I said without opening my eyes to look at him. Somehow I had managed to get my voice to come out steadier than I had managed all day.

The door never closed however which meant he hadn't listened to me. I peaked open an eye to see Carl standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. It looked enough like Negan it sent a shiver down my spine. Negan had taken a liking to Carl, just as he had with me. It was because he saw something of himself in the two of us. I shuddered and pinched my yes shut, I didn't want to talk. I couldn't talk yet. My thoughts were too dark and I didn't have enough control.

Carl had seen me open my eyes however and he took it as invitation.

"Have you told him yet?" Carl asked. His voice was tense with something, but I didn't think it was me. He couldn't know what was going on with me. He wasn't perceptive enough to be able to read my emotions like I could read his.

"What?" I responded feeling incredibly tired.

"Daryl," Carl clarified. "Have you told Daryl what's going on with Negan?" He spoke slowly, as though I was having trouble keeping up. Maybe I was. I didn't know anymore and that scared me more than anything.

I opened my eyes, scowling. "What about Negan?" I growled. I was not going to talk about this. I couldn't, not yet and certainly not with Carl.

Carl cocked his head to the side. "He's obsessed with you," he said confidently.

I didn't respond because not matter how I tried to lie to myself about it or justify or dismiss it he was absolutely right.

Carl made a noise in the back of his throat. "Come on Jo, it's pretty obvious and...and I think Daryl needs to know about it."

"It's nothing," I snapped a little harshly. "I have it under control."

"It doesn't seem like it," Carl argued back. "He's dangerous," he added unnecessarily as though I had somehow missed that. When I didn't respond he let out an aggravated sigh. "It seems like something my dad and Daryl need to know about so they can help keep you as far away from him as possible."

I shook my head. "Do you really think that will help?" I asked and my voice suddenly sounded incredibly exhausted. "All it will do is send Daryl into a rage and there's nothing he can do. If Negan wants to see me, do you really think your dad or Daryl could prevent it?"

"I don't know!" Carl snapped back frustration lacing his voice and he clenched his hands into fists. "But what if it's something we can use? Either way I don't think they should be surprised by it. You need to tell them."

"Are they gone?" I asked, dropping my arm over my eyes. I was not going to talk about this anymore, and certainly not with Carl.

Carl sighed and shook his head in frustration. It seemed as though I was frustrating a lot of people lately. When he spoke again he sounded exhausted. "I just don't want anything bad to happen to you," he said sincerely and he turned around and left.

I felt like a completely jerk for shutting him down so abruptly. He was a good kid, who cared. The fact that he cared...the fact that any of us cared, it's what kept us human in the face of all of this. I wouldn't be the one who pushed him away for caring.

"I have it under control!" I called after him weakly.

Carl just shook his head and disappeared up the stairs.

I exhaled and flopped back down. Too late. I had already made of mess of it. Just like I made a mess of everything lately.

I looked over at the nightstand where Carson had left the pills. I snatched them up and swallowed two dry. I lay back and closed my eyes. A few minutes later I could hear Daryl, Rick and Carl's muffled voices upstairs. I didn't want to bother trying to hear what they were saying. I had a feeling it was probably about me and I was too tired to deal with it. I just wanted to get some sleep and start to feel better. I was hurt and tired and scared and raw and sleep would be good. The only thing that would make it better was if Daryl was asleep beside me.

It didn't seem likely but I must have drifted off because when I startled awake it was after dark. The dream was hazy and it wasn't one I really wanted to remember. I blinked away the last images and saw Daryl sitting on the floor not far from me. His shoulders were tight with tension and his eyes hard as he stared at the floor.

"Hey," I called groggily. I cleared my throat and pushed myself up on my elbows.

He startled at the sound of my voice and looked up at me. His eyes softened but it took some obvious effort on his part. "Hey," he said, smiling gently.

I ran a hand over my eyes and when I looked back up he was already crouched beside the bed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked worriedly. He reached out a laced his fingers with mine, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

"I'm okay," I promised him, forcing myself to look like I actually was fine. I was feeling better. The sleep and the drugs had helped once again. Maybe if I just slept for a week I would feel like my self again.

He nodded thoughtfully. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." I replied honestly, but almost too quickly.

He pressed his lips into a firm line and I could tell he regretted asking instead of pushing until I told him. I wondered if he was going easy on me because I was hurt. Maybe there were a few advantages to this I hadn't considered.

When he didn't say anything more I sighed, scowling when it hurt.

"I'm fine," I promised him. "Nothing happened. The doctor looked me over, re-wrapped my ribs and they left."

Daryl looked doubtful but he nodded, I exhaled in relief when I realized he wasn't going to push. Not tonight at least. I scowled at him as I glanced at the clock. It was late, nearly midnight.

"What are you still doing up?" I knew he was still having trouble adjusting, but I hadn't noticed it nearly as much since we had come home. If he was struggling I needed to know. It wouldn't be something he would willingly discuss and my own issues with PTSD were not things I liked to talk about, but I would for him.

He shrugged, but he wouldn't meet my eyes. He looked down at his hands as he fidgeted with them.

I reached out and laid a hand on his forearm. He went still under my hand. "Dare," I said gently, imploringly. If he would only talk to me I could help him.

He met my gaze and I could see how troubled he was. Something was keeping him awake.

"Come on," I pressed, wrapping a hand around his forearm and squeezing gently. "Talk to me."

He looked away again, pressing his lips into a flat line. "He was here," he muttered. "He was down here with ya and all I could do was hide." He ground out the last word with so much venom it made me want to shift away from him. I took a deep breath however and forced myself not to react. I knew what would happen if I reacted and Daryl was already filled with enough self-loathing I wouldn't add to it. I could control myself.

"Dare I-" I started to say but he shook his head. He jerked away from me and shoved himself to his feet.

"He coulda done anything and there was nothing I could do to help ya," he muttered and he started to pace. "If I had tried I woulda got everyone killed."

I frowned up at him. "Daryl," I said, and he when paced towards me I reached out and caught his wrist as he went by.

He stopped before his momentum could put any pressure on me and looked down. His eyes were in shadow, but I could tell how much this had been weighing on his mind. "This isn't on you," I told him with certainty. "I don't need anyone to protect me and we're going to-"

It was the wrong thing to say.

In my defense I was tired and still a little foggy from the drugs. But it was really the wrong thing to say.

His eyes flashed with temper one second before he jerked his arm out of my hand. "Yes you do Jo!" he yelled.

I cringed. Thinking of Carl and Judith sleeping upstairs, but he didn't seem to have any similar reservations.

"Don't you get it!? Ya need someone to protect ya! And I can't while we are stuck in here!" he jerked his hand roughly through his hair and started pacing again.

I processed his words in silence for a moment. It was my fault we were stuck in here. My fault. I was the reason we had come back here in the first place. Hell, I was the reason Negan had come here today. All of it could be traced back to being my fault. Anywhere we went he wouldn't be able to protect me, and if he was found anywhere in Negan's territory...

My head snapped in his direction. He looked so torn and guilty.

He couldn't be serious.

I took a deep breath to try and get a handle on my emotions. I couldn't yell back at him, fighting wouldn't help. He didn't actually want to leave, I knew that. While it may seem like a great idea now he would never be able to live with the guilt of leaving Rick and the rest of our family behind.

But that didn't mean I couldn't use this. I drew in a deep breath, knowing exactly the effect my next words were going to have on him.

"You're right," I agreed and he slowed, scowling at me. I honestly didn't think it was that rare for me to agree with him, but the doubtful look on his face made me think maybe I wasn't as agreeable as I thought. "You can't protect me here, when you're here we have to worry too much about hiding you and to be honest, no one can be kept safe from Negan. Not if he decides he wants them," I said honestly. I drew in another breath. "If you and I go, it will give me time away to heal and keep you out of sight."

Daryl froze as my words went over him. For once he wasn't flat out fighting me, he was listening.

"If we go on that run, take it easy, no unnecessary risks then-"

He sighed, cutting off my words with a hard look.

"Just-" he started to say, but he stopped himself. We were both trying. I think we were both tired of fighting one another. I know I was. "Let me think about it?" he said quietly.

I nodded giving him a gentle, reassuring smile. "Course," I said knowing this was the best I was going to get from him. Daryl wouldn't make a decision like this rashly. He would think it through before he took me anywhere.

I slipped over to the far side of the bed and lifted the blankets in invitation.

He shook his head. "I'm going to head out to the wall," he told me hollowly. "Keep watch."

I tried not to take it personally. Some of these issues were his to work out, and if he didn't want to talk to me about them I would have to learn to be patient, just like he had with me.

His guilt was just below the surface and I felt like a complete bitch for using it. But we had to do this. It made the most sense and it got him out of harms way as well. It really was the only logical option. That knowledge didn't make me feeling any better for being manipulative, but I would do whatever I had to in order to protect him and our group.

I watched him slip out of the room, his crossbow hefted over his shoulder. Somewhere in the back of my mind I imagined I heard a small, pleased voice.

There's my girl.

I hated that voice, and the soft chuckle that would have accompanied his claim.

I pinched my eyes shut as tears sprung into my eyes.

Stop, reset. I willed myself but I couldn't seem to catch my breath.

I was nothing like him.

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Jo

I followed the doctors orders...mostly.

Three days later, while everyone was out of the house I got out of bed. I got dressed, strapped on my knives and headed for the stairs. So far the furthest I had traveled on my own was only back and forth from the bathroom. Otherwise Daryl was always there, supporting most of my weight. I felt better, the drugs were helping, they forced me to sleep and to rest. I don't know if I had gotten as much sleep in the last three weeks as I had in those three days.

After a full three days of laying around and sleeping however I couldn't take it anymore. Daryl and I had stuff to do. Things we could do to help. We hadn't discussed the run since that night but I could tell it was weighing on his mind. It would be easier to convince him to go the sooner I was back on my feet and able to prove to him I was back to normal. 

The house was quiet and it took everything in me to get up the stairs. I didn't understand, I should have been fine, but the days in bed had made my legs shaky and my muscles soft. It would have been so much easier to fall forward and crawl up the stairs, but I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't crawl. It felt too much like failure.

By the time I pushed open the door to the kitchen I had sweat running down my temples. I staggered the three feet to the nearest counter and leaned against it, setting my teeth into my lower lip. My temples were pounding and there were small flashes of light behind my eyes. It was painfully bright up here.

My muscles were shaking, but I had made it. But now what? Everyone was gone. After a moment I looked to the fridge and moved towards it. It was obvious I wouldn't be doing any training today, I doubted I could make it out to the targets. The least I could do was make dinner for every one or something.

My thoughts felt a little scattered even to me, but I couldn't go back downstairs and just wait. I couldn't wait any more. My nightmares had been on an endless loop with Negan at the center of them. I had to move, had to do something, anything but lie there and let him torment me.

I stepped away from the counter and nearly went down. I gripped the marble with sweat slick fingers.

"All that for a snack?" A snarky voice called from behind me.

I jerked around, gasping as pain shot through me. Tara was sitting on the couch, a book in her hands with her feet up on the coffee table. I frowned at her. Missing her presence was dangerous, and it told me I wasn't as sharp as I should be. I was also wondering what she was doing in the house. I hadn't heard her come in and she had obviously been sitting up here in silence for a while.

She must have read the look on my face because she quickly stammered. "I'm watching Judith," she explained. She glanced over me a little apologetically and a crooked smile tugged at her mouth. "And you."

I nodded as I worked on slowing my breathing and getting the pain under control so I could think again. I just needed a minute to compose myself and focus.

"You're doing a bang up job," I told her gruffly. I didn't like the idea of Daryl assigning a babysitter and it made me a little snarky.

Tara smirked and jumped to her feet exuberantly. Looking a little like a bouncy puppy. "Well I wasn't going to be the one to tell you you couldn't have a snack," She smirked and walked across the room towards me, stopping on the other side of the counter. She leaned her elbows against the marble and smiled at me hopefully. "Any chance you'll go back to bed if I ask really, really nicely?" She quipped.

I leveled a glare at her.

"I didn't think so...I don't know what he thought I could do," she muttered.

I arched a brow. There was no point lying to her. "I'm assuming you mean Daryl and I would guess he wanted you to stop me from leaving the house?"

"What?" she asked in surprise. "No! He wanted you to stay in bed. Why would you leave the house?" Tara asked. "Didn't that doctor tell you to stay in bed for a week and then at least another two weeks before any kind of physical exercise?"

I scowled at her, I hadn't told anyone what Carson had said, not even Daryl. So where had Tara picked it up? It wasn't anyone's business but mine how long I chose to heal.

She beamed at me. "Carl," she explained a little smugly, "Dr Carson gave him your care instructions...seems no one trusts you to look out for yourself," she chuckled. "Not even people who first meet you," she continued to prattle on.

"Must have made an impression," I sighed, feeling exhausted. I turned back to the fridge, determined to do something to be useful. I wasn't much of a cook, never had been, but there had to be something I could make.

The fridge was only four feet away, but at the moment it felt like four miles. I was going to have to step away from the counter at some point. I took a deep breath and attempted to take control of all of my muscles. It was just pain and I had pushed past pain before. I locked myself down, let go, took one step and promptly collapsed into a heap on the floor.

Tara let out a squeak and ran around to my side of the counter. She knelt down beside me, hovering. She looked like she wanted to touch me, to help, but she wasn't sure how or if she should. When she did reach out to help me I slapped her hands away.

She glared at me but didn't seem discouraged. "With good reason it seems," she snapped testily.

I scowled at her, trying to look menacing but she only blew a raspberry at me. I felt like I was in a battle of wits with a twelve year old.

"Come on, back to bed," Tara said in a chipper voice. She grabbed one arm and hauled me to my feet. I groaned in pain but she didn't stop until we were both up right. I was a couple inches shorter than her and she stooped a little to keep my feet flat on the ground.

"No," I argued, but she was already moving towards the door and I had no choice but to follow unless I wanted to land flat on my face.

"The Doctor says rest, you need to rest," she replied determinedly.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself to say the next words. It was hard, like I was swallowing glass. "Please," I said my voice cracking around the unfamiliar words.

"No," Tara started arguing automatically. "I told Daryl-"

"TARA!" I snapped.

She went still beside me, looking down at me carefully.

I took a deep breath, and calmed myself. "Please," I repeated. "I can't go back down there, I can't sit in the dark, alone anymore. Just...let me lay on the couch. I won't move, I promise."

Tara squinted down at me like she didn't entirely trust me.

"I can't take any more of that," I told her sincerely, my voice barely above a whisper.

Finally she nodded, her eyes gentle with understanding and what may have been pity. Normally I would have shoved her away from me right there. I detested pity. But right now I was too tired for that. I was just too tired and if a little pity got me out of that damn basement I would take it.

Tara helped me lay down on the couch. She went back downstairs and got a pillow and blanket for me after pointing an authoritative finger in my face and ordering me to stay put. Once she was back up she fussed around me for a few minutes before she went over to the fridge.

"What did you want to eat then?" She asked.

"What?" I asked her, confused by the question. She leaned out from behind the fridge door and lifted a brow. I caught up. "Oh nothing, I was just trying to help make dinner."

"Why?" she asked, closing the door.

"I need to do something. I need to get back on my feet. Daryl and I need to get going."

"Going?" she asked frowning.

"Yeah, a massive run for guns and supplies."

"You're going on a run?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Like that?" she asked motioning down at my useless body.

"Yes," I growled my patience slipping. I didn't need anyone, especially Tara pointing out my obvious weakness. I was embarrassed I had collapsed in front of her, and even more embarrassed she had had to help carry me to bed.

"And Daryl's letting you?" she asked incredulously.

"Daryl doesn't let me do anything." I growled.

Tara's eyes widened as she realized her choice of words and she took a step back even though I was still laying down. At least someone was still intimidated by me.

"We don't have a choice. We need guns and supplies so we are going to go get some."

"You know a place?" She asked eagerly.

I frowned at her sudden enthusiasm. "We've left a lot in our wake," I said tightly. I didn't want to give too many details. It was a dangerous run and I didn't want someone else thinking they could handle it. I wouldn't be responsible for what might happen if someone less skilled than Daryl and I tried to get into some of the places I was thinking.

Tara's eyes widened as she realized what I was saying. "You're going to go-"

I just nodded. "Necessity," I said simply. I took a deep breath. "So I need to get moving. It's a long way between here and Georgia."

"But-" Tara stammered, "you can't." She blurted loudly.

I lifted a brow. "Do you have a better idea?" I challenged.

"But Jo-" she started to say.

"It's the only option left," I said.

"But you're hurt!"

"I'll deal with it." I told her calmly.

The front door opened and Tara flinched whirling around as Daryl stepped into the room. He had a handful of squirrels and rabbits.

"I'll take those," Tara squeaked, and she stepped forward and took them from him quickly before hustling into the kitchen and away from our conversation.

Daryl let her take the kills. His eyes were already on me. There was an intensity there that I didn't think I would ever get used to. My heart started knocking out an uneven rhythm in my chest.

He pulled his crossbow over his head and leaned it against the wall by the door. His steps were silent as he crossed the wood floor, still in hunting mode. He must have been hunting most of the day for him to still be in that mindset.

"You're supposed to be resting," he growled, his words were chiding but there was a lightness in his eyes I only ever saw anymore after he had been in the forest.

I smirked up at him and opened my arms gesturing to the couch and the pillow. "I am," I replied.

He chuckled and shook his head as he sat down on the couch beside me. "In bed," he clarified reaching out and tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

"Got lonely," I told him, letting my voice drop an octave as I ran my eyes over him appreciatively. I was only half teasing.

Daryl glanced over his shoulder to where Tara was working in the kitchen. "Stop," he said, looking away.

I smiled and it felt like the first one in a long time. He smiled with me for a moment, staring into my eyes. Whatever he saw there however, worries him. His face grew serious and he reached out and cupped the side of my face, "ya good darlin?" He asked.

I nodded but I didn't think he believed me so I clarified. "Just couldn't stay down there any longer," I replied honestly and when my voice hitched with emotion I sank my teeth into my lower lip.

Stop, reset.

He nodded in understanding, pressing his lips together in a flat line. He opened his mouth to say something, but Tara chose that very moment to barge in. "You can't be serious about taking Jo out for that run," she blurted out angrily, "she can't even walk to the kitchen on her own! You can't do this!" She railed as though this were all Daryl's idea.

I drew in a deep sigh, resisting the urge to slap my palm against my face. Too soon, I hadn't even had a chance to gently broach the subject again. Goddamn Tara, I knew exactly what Daryl's response would be now.

Daryl went very still beside me and I knew it was the calm before the storm. He dropped his hand from my face and stood up painfully slowly. He looked over his shoulder at Tara and then very slowly turned his face back to me. The look on his face made me want to shrink back. This was going to be a fight. A big one.

Rationally I knew I had two options in the face of Daryl's temper. I could hide from it or try to reason with it. Instead however, I felt my own temper rise in an incredibly unhelpful third option.

Get mad first.

Instead of fighting with Daryl however I turned my anger into a much more deserving target. Tara. When I leveled my gaze on her she took two measured steps back, her eyes wide with panic. She glanced over her shoulder as though she were looking for the exit. I felt a cruel smirk form, I hadn't even had to stand up.

Daryl growled angrily in his throat and stepped into my line of sight.

"Don't do that! Don't blame her," he snarled. "We are not going on that suicide run and that's it! We are done talking about this!" he yelled.

All his yelling succeeded in doing was make me even more mad. I shoved myself to my feet, ignoring the flaring pain and the way my head swam. "Don't you dare!" I snarled back. "Don't you dare just disregard me and what I have to say Daryl Dixon! This is a good plan and we need it, don't tell me we don't need it!"

"Of course we need it!" he yelled back, marching further into the room. "That doesn't mean we need you to kill yourself for it!"

"I'm just fine! I decide what I can and cannot do! NOT YOU!!!" My voice cracked as my throat hurt from yelling so loud. But it didn't matter, I couldn't think past the pounding in my ear.

"YOU ARE NOT FINE!" Daryl bellowed in my face. "Goddamn it Jo you are so fucking determined to get yourself killed!"

"I took care of myself just fine while you were gone! You don't control me! We have to go! We need this!" I screamed. My whole body was flushed and shaking and I didn't for the first time in nearly a week feel any physical pain. This was so much worse.

"Then I'll go by myself!" He roared.

Absolute terror raced through me. He couldn't. He would die. He would drive away an never come back. "Don't you dare! It's too dangerous! And don't think for one second you can threaten me Daryl Dixon. If you leave I will follow you! Don't think I won't!" I hid my fear in my anger, wrapped it around myself, but the image of Daryl attempting that run on his own shook me to my core.

"You're so gaddamn stubborn!" He screamed in my face.

"Look who's talking!" I roared back. I would knock him out and chain him in the laundry room before I would let him go on his own. It was suicide.

Tara suddenly ran into the room between us, holding her palms out as though she would ward us off of one another. "Guys! Guys! Stop! Just stop!" She had to yell to be heard over us.  She was looking frantically back and forth between us. "Don't fight," she said weakly. "Please, I-" she started to say, but Judith started crying upstairs

I felt a swell of shame as I realized Daryl and I had been the ones to wake her. Tara glanced back and forth between us and there was something on her face, something that may have been guilt. It didn't make sense and if I was completely honest with myself I just couldn't find it in me to care. She wasn't a part of this.

"Shut up Tara!" I growled and I took a menacing step towards her. I leaned forward aggressively on purpose. I wanted to scare her, to punish her for sticking her nose where it didn't belong and ruining this for me. For a second Tara's eyes widened in fear and then she looked like she was going to cry. She whirled away from me and jogged to the stairs to check on Judith.

When I turned back Daryl was standing near the door,
his crossbow over one shoulder. He was leaving.

His eyes were unfathomable as he studied me like he had never seen me before. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded, in disgust.

Instead of waiting for an answer he whirled around and stalked out of the house. He slammed the door hard enough to make the windows rattle and I just stood, staring after him, because I honestly didn't know what was wrong with me.

I turned away as tears burned my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. My chest was tight with panic and pain and I felt like I couldn't breathe standing in this living room. My hand flew, bringing with it an inferno of pain but the knife buried itself in the door frame just the same.

I had a brief moment of release as the knife sailed but when it landed it was like the strings that had been holding me up were cut and I collapsed, sobbing. Huge, wracking sobs where every breath was like someone was stabbing me in the chest.

I was trapped. Trapped by the weakness in my body. Trapped by my own limitations. Trapped by Daryl's stubborn ways that were going to get us all killed because he couldn't see the bigger picture. Trapped by fear. But mostly I was trapped by Negan. He never even had to lift a finger and he had trapped me. I could practically hear his cruel chuckle in the back of my mind.

I couldn't stay here, not like this. I half dragged myself to the back door. I pulled myself up by the knob and staggered outside into the sunlight. I couldn't stay here. Not like this. I couldn't sit behind this wall helpless. I couldn't bear another second of it.

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Hey guys! Wow, what started out as kind of a filler chapter turned out to not be a filler chapter at all! I really hope you enjoyed the update. Thank you all so much for the continued support and encouragement it seriously keeps me writing!

Keep your eyes open I will be announcing a new project soon that I think all you Negan lovers are going to enjoy 😉