Hello all! Got another update for you! Hope you enjoy!

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Daryl

For once I was up before Jo. It was still dark when I blinked awake, but I could feel dawn wasn't too far off. I hadn't moved much but still she shifted restlessly. She curled her warm, naked body around me and I flopped my head back against the pillow. I didn't want to move. More than anything in this world I just wanted to stay in bed with Jo all day.

But today was the day. War. Jo and I were going to get the garbage people this morning. If goddamn Dwight did like he said, Negan and The Savior's would be here in the afternoon. I didn't think we could trust Dwight, not really. He was an opportunistic bastard who had nothing to lose now. He was going to take care of himself first. Just thinking about him was riling me up.

I glanced down at Jo. Her hair was spread out across my arm, her face resting on my shoulder. My whole damn arm was numb but I wouldn't move for anything. She looked so peaceful. I wanted more than anything to keep things like this for her. I didn't want her to have to do this today. I wanted to protect her. I bit back a smile as I thought about how pissed she would be if I ever said that to her face. She would kick my ass.

I tightened my arm around her, pulling her closer. She felt so warm and soft. When she was awake she was a force to be reckoned with, a hurricane, but when it was like this I was reminded of how small and vulnerable she could be. The others never saw this side of her, it made them reckless when it came to her. They were too willing to let her be the first to jump in just because she could.

But something had happened last night in that cell with Dwight. It went beyond her getting a little lost in her mind or her PTSD. Last night she had lost control, not just lost control but had willingly given it up. She had gone to whatever that place was in her mind on purpose and stayed there. If Rick and Jesus hadn't been there she would have killed Dwight.

She had always been capable of that, but this had felt closer to the surface somehow. In the past when she lost control she had always been able to let it go, tuck it away somewhere inside herself and be okay. It worried me that she hadn't been able to last night. I wondered if it was getting to be too much for her. She needed time to heal, not just physically, but really heal from all of this. 

Jo was a fighter, but she shouldn't have to be. She was strong, but I hated that she had to push herself every single day. She was using herself up, letting herself break and fracture for us. We needed to end this as quickly as possible. I wanted so badly to protect her. When she told me last night she wasn't coming back to the house it felt like something much more important was happening. It felt like the first step to her not being able to come home at all. I had well and truly panicked. I hadn't let her see it, couldn't ever let her see it, it would just make her feel worse. But last night I had been terrified I was losing her.

Jo thought she was a monster, I knew she did. And sometimes the people around us made her feel even more like one without meaning to. I had seen it just today more than a few times, and it hurt her. Try as she might to pretend nothing could touch her, every flinch or careless word  from people in our group hurt her.

She hadn't chosen what had been done to her, she had simply survived it and come out the other side. Jo wasn't a monster, but there was one living inside her head. She dealt with it everyday, fighting a silent battle that no one around her could see or understand. There were days when it was almost too much for her, when she was tired of the fight. I could see it in her eyes. But she was Jo, and she would tighten her jaw and push back like she always did. She was stronger than anyone I had ever met.

I brushed my lips across her forehead. I loved her more than I had ever loved anything and I would do whatever I had to do to protect her. I just wished there was more I could do for her.

She shifted again, this time rolling away from me, I used the moment to slip my arm out from beneath her. Pins and needles shot down to my finger tips. I climbed out of bed as she settled onto her other side. I moved my warm pillow against her back, and tucked the blankets tightly around her. I hoped she would sleep longer, there was still an hour before we had to go.

I silently scooped up my clothes and headed towards the bathroom. I didn't shower. I could still smell her on my skin and I wasn't willing to give that up. Not with the uncertainty we were facing today. I had gone too long without her and there was no guarantee everyone would survive today. Last night may have been my last chance to hold her.

It was still dark when I slipped silently into the kitchen. The single light over the sink was on and I wasn't surprised to see Rick sitting at the counter, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand. I arched a brow at the sight. Coffee was rare and precious, it had been months since we had made any.

He followed my eyes and snorted. "If we lose I'm not leaving this for those assholes to enjoy."

I snorted and nodded, couldn't argue with his logic. I poured myself a mug and stood across the counter from him. Our plans and sketches for this afternoon were all laid out on the counter in front of him, but instead of looking at them Rick was studying my face. He had something on his mind, but his expression was unreadable.

"You get any sleep?" I asked sipping the scalding liquid. I winced as it burned my tongue, but it was worth it. It had been months since I had tasted coffee. This was good coffee too, the stuff Jo liked, not the piss water I used to drink every morning before the turn.

Rick glanced down at the plans and shook his head. "Naw, I tried. Too much to think about..." he cleared his throat and arched a teasing eyebrow at me. "How about you?" he asked.

I scowled at him, trying to shut him down right away. I had always made it clear talking about Jo and me was off limits.

He chuckled. "You guys came in pretty late," he observed, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Leave it," I growled and he laughed out loud.

"It's good to see you both happy," he said after a minute.

I nodded uncomfortably, pressing my lips together. "You too," I said awkwardly, jerking my chin towards the stairs where I was assuming Michonne was still sleeping. I wasn't sure if he understood what I meant but he nodded too.

There was a long moment of silence and I could see Rick rolling around what he wanted to talk about. I sipped my coffee and waited him out. Must be something serious if he was taking so much time to spit it out.

"How's Jo?" he finally settled on asking.

I looked at him over the top of my coffee mug. "Fine," I said, I swallowed another sip. "Sleeping."

Rick nodded and turned his coffee cup around in his hands first one way and then the other.

"Last night, down in that cell-" he started to say.

I bristled. "She's fine now," I told him tightly.

Rick stared at me, his expression grave. "She could have really hurt Michonne."

I licked my lips. "Maybe y'all shouldn't have all charged her when she was in a dark cell with someone she considered an enemy," I growled defensively. It was worse because I knew what he had seen down there and I was worried about it too. But I knew we weren't worried for the same reasons.

Rick's face was calm but he musta noticed my rising temper because he kept his voice very calm when he spoke again. "It took Jesus and I to restrain her," he said.

I set my mug down on the counter top freeing up my hands. "Good thing she's on our side then, isn't it?" I snarled. After all Jo had done for Rick and his family I couldn't believe he was being like this. "Ya can just turn her loose on Negan and his men and see what happens," I spit out the words as my hands closed into fists.

Rick cocked his head and understanding suddenly dawned in his eyes. "Daryl, I'm worried about her," he said in disbelief. "She's our family."

I froze, staring hard at him, trying to figure out what he was actually saying.

Rick made an exasperated noise in the back of his throat. "Daryl, everything that's been happening...she isn't getting better anymore. She was...before. She was better before, but..." he pressed his lips together. "I don't know what we can do to help her." He ran a hand over his face. "Sometimes I don't think anyone can get through to her but you and..." he shook his head. "For some reason Carl," he snorted.

I stared hard at Rick for a few moments while I settled down. He wasn't attacking her, he wasn't trying to throw her out or tell me she was broken. He was worried about her to. I sighed. It was a relief to know I wasn't alone.

"The kid understands her," I said picking up my mug again and taking a sip. "He understands how her brain works," I said distractedly. "He pays attention." 

Rick nodded, but I don't think he really got it. Carl would have never tried to grab her when she was in a dark cell. He would have known better. 

"You know," Rick said after a moment of silence. He looked up at me and I could tell by the look in his eyes I wasn't going to like the next words that came out of his mouth. "After you guys get the scavengers...I wouldn't blame you," he cleared his throat uncomfortably. "If you and Jo just-"

I scowled at him, not liking what he was getting at. "If we just what?" I demanded.

Rick met my eyes and I could see the sincerity in his. "If you just left, brother." He said seriously.

I pulled back, frowning. I couldn't think of anything either one of us had done to make Rick think that was something either of us would want. This was our home, our family and neither one of us were cowards. We were also some of the strongest fighters Alexandria had. It would be crippling to them to lose us. "We-" I started to say, but I was so shocked by his suggestion I didn't know what to say.

Rick leaned forward in his seat, his eyes burning with sincerity. "We might win," Rick said nodding, "I believe that," he said earnestly. "But...Negan wants her, and you too but-" he cleared his throat. "You guys could just go. Disappear into the forest, come back in six months, or..." his next words looked like they were painful for him to say. "Or, not at all. Just go. I know you wouldn't do it to protect yourself, but Dwight confirmed Negan wants Jo. We can't let-" Rick exhaled and I suddenly understood exactly what he was saying.

A sudden and not entirely forgotten wave of guilt hit me like a truck. Jo was taken to Woodbury because Rick and I hadn't done what we needed to do to protect her. I looked down at the floor. That was on us.

Rick sighed but didn't say anything else.

"She'll never go for it," I told Rick. "And if I tried to explain it that way...she would kick both our asses," I told him truthfully.

"Yeah," Rick said with a humorless chuckle. "I guess you're right."

I nodded and pressed my lips together. "I wouldn't leave ya guys either."

Rick nodded.

The door to the basement clicked opened behind me and we both turned together to see Jo step out of the dark stairs. She was dressed for war. She had her dark jeans, boots and a black t-shirt on under her shoulder rig. She had every knife she owned strapped to her body, including the throwing knives on her thigh and her kukri at her waist. There was a hand gun tucked under one arm. She had to be wearing at least ten pounds of steel. She smiled when she caught my eye and it made something in my chest tighten.

There were days when it was almost too much for her, days when she was barely hanging on. But today wasn't gonna be one of those days. Today her eyes were gleaming with anticipation and there was a bounce in her step. Today she was ready to take on the world. I felt a strange sort of pride that she was mine, that she called herself my wife. It seemed so unlikely that this incredibly strong, beautiful woman loved me, even needed me just a fraction of how badly I needed her.

She glided up to me and kissed me good morning. It was just a quick brush of her lips across mine, but it had my mind slipping back to the night before. She grinned up at me, biting her lower lip and I knew I wasn't the only one thinking about last night.

She stepped away, her beat up leather jacket was gripped in one hand. She looked back and forth between Rick and I. "What's up?" she asked.

I jerked my chin towards the coffee pot. "Fresh," I told her.

Her eyes glittered with excitement and she hurried over to the pot and poured herself a mug. She hummed in the back of her throat as she sniffed it. "Fancy," she said turning back towards us, both palms wrapped around the mug.

"If it goes wrong we ain't leaving it for Negan," I told her, taking a deep swig.

Her eyes hardened and her lips pressed into a grim line. "So," she said. "Today's the day."

Rick nodded.

"Well, the garbage people aren't going to show up on their own," she said, finishing off the last of her coffee. She slid her arms into her jacket and zipped it up halfway. She turned back to me and lifted a brow. "We ready to do this or what?" She asked and I could tell her mind had already shifted to the upcoming fight.

I nodded. 

"See you on the other side," she told Rick as she headed towards the door.

He didn't let her leave however. He stood up and pulled her into a hug. "See you when you get back," he told her.

She pulled back, shifting her weight uncomfortably. I snorted. She would never be comfortable being on the receiving end of a hug from the others.

"Let's go," I said holding the door open for her. The sky was just beginning to lighten in the east when we climbed onto my bike.

Jo climbed on behind me. She wrapped her arms around my waist, her chest pressing tightly against my back. I could feel the eager anticipation thrumming through her body. She leaned forward, her breath was hot against my ear. She nipped at it playfully. "Let's go."

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Jo

It was just after dawn when we pulled through the gate at the landfill. They waved us through without hesitation. Daryl parked his bike in the middle of their primary courtyard. We climbed off together and stood, surrounded by a group of a dozen or more eerily silent garbage people.

Jadis and Tamiel appeared out of one of the doorways of a storage container. Jadis cocked her head to the side when she spotted us. "Little," she said in greeting.

Beside me Daryl coughed to cover up a laugh. I scowled at him, but turned an expressionless face back to her.

"Jadis," I returned fighting to contain my annoyance over her continued use of the demeaning nickname. I had showed her exactly what I was capable of the first time we met. I was convinced she was continuing to use the nickname to try and get a rise out of me. 

Jadis stepped towards Daryl and I, she looked us over. "What want?" she asked cocking her head to the side. "Little come to deal?" She asked eagerly, anticipation sparkled in her eyes. 

It bothered me how little stock she seemed to put in Rick's leadership and how little respect she had for him. But it made me glad Daryl and I had volunteered to get them. I had a feeling she would accept it coming from me more than anyone else. For some strange reason she seemed to like me, or at least find me interesting, which was probably more likely the case. 

"It's time," I told her, my tone making it clear there was no room for argument. 

She pressed her lips together and anger flashed behind her eyes. "Guns?" She snapped off the question. The tone of her voice made me certain she resented being summoned by Rick.

"We've got them," I promised her.Jadis regarded me with shrewd eyes. "When?" Jadis asked.

"Today, now," I told her. "Say yes," I demanded lifting my chin in the same manner she did.

She must have recognized the action because she smirked at me. "Yes," she agreed nodding.

"Good. Get your people ready. You can follow us back," I said motioning to the bike. 

Jadis glanced back at Tamiel, she lifted a brow. Tamiel didn't hesitate to answer her silent question. "Two hours." Tamiel looked less impressed by us than Jadis was. Tamiel's eyes flickered to me and I could see the same anger burning there that Jadis seemed to have over Rick. These people made me uneasy. We had an agreement, but I didn't exactly trust them. 

"We'll wait," I told her and I leaned back against Daryl's motorcycle, crossing my arms over my chest. Tamiel continued to glare at me, as though she thought she could intimidate me into looking away first. Instead of giving in and playing her game I flashed her a friendly smile that had a little too much teeth to be a smile and didn't quite reach my eyes.

"Tamiel," Jadis said in a warning voice.

Tamiel scowled at me, but stomped off to do as she was told. 

Jadis watched her go before turning back to me. Her eyes found Daryl and she frowned as though she recognized him but was trying to place him. "Your's still?" she asked in surprise, looking over Daryl. Her eyes were greedy as she ran them up and down his frame. It put my teeth on edge. He was nice to look at, and I didn't blame her one bit, but he was also spoke for.

"You know he is," I growled. We had played this game the last time we had been here and I didn't like the way she was looking at him. 

"You keep him long time Little. Must be good," Jadis said leaning towards me as though conveying a secret. 

"He's my husband. Don't play games with me Jadis," I said in a warning voice.

She arched a brow as though she didn't understand why I was so offended. It irritated me when she pretended she didn't understand. It had only been a few years. They couldn't have forgotten that quick. 

"I lay with him after, you care?" she asked casually. She knew exactly what she was doing and she was trying to get a rise out of me again. She was seeing if I had a temper. Trying to find which buttons to push. I had a feeling she had already figured out which ones to push with Rick, which was why she had been acting the way she had towards me.

I took an aggressive step towards her. "Yes, I care," I growled in a warning voice. 

She smirked down at me. "Say yes," she demanded, jutting her chin out defiantly.

I scowled at her and rested my hand on my kukri. "No." I said firmly.

She studied my face for a moment and then she nodded though didn't look surprised by my answer.

"Never ask, never get," Jadis said with a shrug and I had a feeling it was her version of nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"Well, you are never going to get," I informed her tightly. Despite pretending to not understand social situations, Jadis really did understand people. If there was one thing that was going to set me off, it was something that had to do with Daryl. 

"Possessive Little," she observed in a teasing voice. 

"Yes, I am," I growled back resolutely.

She smirked again and her eyes ran up and down me this time with more interest behind them. I shifted uncomfortably but I wasn't willing back down. 

Her eyes flickered to Daryl.

"I'm possessive too," he growled before she could even open her mouth to say anything more.

Jadis smiled at us as though we had entertained her and it made me want to smack her. She preened at us for a moment before wandering off without a word.  

We watched her go and then relaxed a degree when it was just the two of us again. 

"Why does she call you Little?" Daryl asked after a few moments. 

I sighed. "Mainly to annoy me I think," I replied honestly. "She called me the little one when we were here the first time and I had a knife to the throat of her second in command. Sort of stuck." 

"The one who was glaring daggers at ya?" Daryl quipped, glancing down at me with a pleased smile on his face. He already knew the answer. 

I scowled up at him. 

He threw back his head and laughed. "Boy ya just make friends where ever ya go don't ya Darlin?" he asked and he slung an arm around me. Laughter was still rumbling in his chest as he pulled me in for a one armed hug. He pressed his lips against my forehead and released me. 

I exhaled impatiently but it wasn't like I could argue with him. He chuckled again as though my silence amused him ever more. There was nothing to say, he wasn't wrong. I settled next to him. 

Daryl and I were leaning against the bike together in companionable silence for a while before I spoke again. "So, are you going to tell me what you and Rick were talking about this morning?"

Daryl arched a brow at me.

"Don't give me that," I said wacking him on the arm with the back of my hand.

He snorted. Despite all that was happening around us he seemed more settled somehow, more comfortable. Maybe it had something to do with the crossbow slung over his shoulder. Or that we had something to do, action to take, a fight coming. Both Daryl and I had always been more comfortable with this part of the world than anything else. Or maybe it was last night, maybe he had felt as disconnected as I had. I didn't know. We didn't talk about our feelings very well. Maybe it was all of the above and maybe it didn't matter what the cause as long as he seemed better. 

"He told me he wouldn't blame us if we just left," he said in a quiet voice.

I straightened, scowling. "He said that?" I asked. "Why would he do that?"

Daryl lifted a shoulder. "Protect you. Keep Negan away from ya," he said his voice hoarse.

I opened my mouth, ready to argue and be pissed off, but the look on Daryl's face had me biting my tongue. I took a deep breath and actually thought about his words. Protect me. That's what he had said first thing. I stepped up to him and the wary look on his face made me feel a little bad. He expected me to be mad at him. He expected me to be ready to fight with, all because he wanted to protect me. I sighed. Sometimes I didn't know what I had done to deserve to have Daryl in my life and sometimes I wondered if maybe instead it was something he had done to be stuck with me. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him close.

"I would do it for you, you know," I whispered so only he would be able to here me.

He nodded but I think we both knew that neither one of us would ever willingly leave our family behind. If Daryl truly asked I would go, just as I knew he would if I asked. But neither of us ever would. There was no way Rick would willingly leave Alexandria, not anymore. He had found a safe place for his kids and he would die defending it. 

I looked up at Daryl, biting my lip. I would leave with him if he wanted to. I honestly would. And maybe, when all of this was settled and over with that was a conversation he and I would have someday. Neither one of us needed the trappings of civilization the others seemed so obsessed with. Both of us would be just as happy out in the woods, living off the land up in the mountains somewhere. Someday this war would be over and eventually the fight wouldn't be necessary anymore. I wasn't sure I would know how to live in that world.

But Negan had to die first. Whether it was Rick, or Daryl or me or even Carl who pulled the trigger it didn't matter. We had to end this thing. And today was the day. I stepped out of the circle of Daryl's arms, knowing we were getting a few looks. This community was different and I didn't want to risk losing the respect I had bled to achieve. We leaned against the bike, both of us with our arms crossed over our chests and waited for the garbage people to march to war.

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Hi guys! Hope you enjoyed the update! I so appreciate all your comments and votes and support. It keeps me writing! So thank you! 

If you haven't checked it out yet I have started a Last One Standing AU featuring Jo and Negan! Last One Fighting is it's own stand alone story where Jo meets Negan and the Saviors instead of Rick's group. Please check it out! Thanks!!!