Fiona rested her forehead against the cool window, staring out into the black night. They drove in silence for awhile and that was fine with her because the last thing she wanted to do was make small talk. She was drained, both physically and emotionally,
and all she wanted to
do was close her eyes and fall into a deep oblivion of sleep.

But from the sound of things, there would be no sleep for her tonight.

Not if Negan had anything to say about it.

Getting a sick feeling in her stomach just thinking about it, she turned her thoughts overto Rick and her friends instead. Had the rest of the Saviors let them go? How were they holding up? She hoped they wouldn't try anything stupid like try to
rescue her. Actually, on second thought, how could they? They had no idea where Negan and his group called 'home." There obviously was more than one community since up until today, they had foolishly believed with their last attack, they had taken
them all down, Negan included.

God, how wrong they had been.

Sitting up straighter she realized she should be paying more attention to where they were driving, but the dark woods looked all the same to her and unfortunately no familiar landmarks caught her eye.

How long had they been driving so far? What seemed like an hour was probably only mere minutes. Time had a funny way of distorting itself during stressful situations didn't it?

Meanwhile as Negan drove, he would sneak an occasional glance at Fiona from the corner of his eye. She was quiet and subdued, just staring blankly out the window. If he was exhausted, she had to be a thousand times more so. From being captured, tied up
and gagged, to thinking she or one of her friends was on the verge of death, he was surprised she was holding up as well as she was. He had to give her credit. For such a tiny thing, she seemed stronger than she appeared. He was still finding it hard
to believe she was a doctor.

"So are you really a doctor or do you just play one on TV?"

His voice sounded even deeper in the quiet confines of the truck. It was low, a little gravelly and had a bit of a twang. In any other circumstances, that voice would be described as pure didn't know why suchinappropriate thoughts
were suddenly invading her doctor in her chalked it up to mild post traumatic stress disorder.

"I'm really a doctor. Or I was one. Back... then."

"What kind?"

"Pediatrician."

He whistled under his breath. "Wow. Tough gig."

She couldn't help but smile faintly at his accuracy. "It was."

"So what happened to the kid's eye?

"Stray bullet grazed him. Walkers had infiltrated our community and it was chaos. That night..." She shuddered just remembering it. "It was one of the most terrifying nights I've experienced since this whole thing started."

"I take it you were able to take them all down?"

"Yes. But it wasn't easy. And it came with a hefty price. We lost 3 of our people that night."

"Walkers, huh? Is that what you call them? We just call them zombies."

"How original," Fiona quipped dryly.

Now it was his turn to smile faintly. "Thanks."

She snuck a glance at him and saw that dimple reappear in his right cheek. He was charming. There was no denying that fact. But Fiona scolded herself to stop falling for whatever act he was pulling. She couldn't be that naive. He was a bully, but more
importantly, a cold blooded killer.
She'd heard about the horrible things he'd done to innocent people who didn't cooperate with him and it made her blood run cold. Hell, he was going to do the same tonight to one of her friends if he hadn't decided he was suddenly horny and let his little
friend below his belt call the shots instead.

"We're here," he said, and her heart started to pick up its pace again. She didn't know what kind of community this was or what his living arrangements were. There was no way it could be as posh or as modern and comfortable as what they had in Alexandria.
For all she knew, he was going to handcuff her in a cell and leave her there indefinitely.

Ok Fiona. You need to stop thinking, she scolded herself silently.

She peered out the window and saw a large mechanical gate being opened from the inside onto a paved driveway. He pulled the truck through and the gates closed again behind them. "What is this place?" she asked quietly.

"Old military base."

Sure enough, they came to the end of the drive and she saw multiple rows of two story
barracks. He drove past them and stopped in front of a large red brick colonial house which was off to the side.

"Home sweet home," he drawled, cutting the engine. He looked over at her in the
darkness and saw her hands had begun trembling in her lap. So he kept talking in an attempt to
make her less uneasy. "This place was overrun with zombies when we came across it. Took us awhile to clear the place but, hell was it worth it. This here would have been a general's house. They always got the upgraded accommodations. And it
is a pretty sweet spot. Hot running water, electricity, a small library- you like to read, doc?" He could tell she wasn't listening to him when she didn't respond. She was still staring blankly at the house. He hoped she wasn't going into shock or
anything.

"It also has some damn comfortable beds. Especially the king in the master bedroom." He had a feeling that would get a reaction out of her and sure enough,she flinched at his comment which reassured him she was okay. Cmon. Let me give you
the grand tour."

He stepped out of the truck and walked around to the passenger side. He opened the door for her but she made no attempt to climb out. He stood there with his hands on his hips while she ignored him and continued to stare straight ahead.

"'Cmon, doc," he cajoled again. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Don't make me carry you because you know I'd thoroughly enjoy that."

Fiona willed her legs which felt like lead to move and she slowly slid down from the passenger's seat, ignoring his outstretched hand which offered help. She started towards the house and heard him fall into step beside her.

A man was heading towards them smoking a cigarette. "All good, Negan?"

"All good. We are doing a pickup run tomorrow at Alexandria. I'll brief everyone in the morning."

The man stared at Fiona curiously but Negan ushered her to the door with a hand on the small of her back, without any explanation or introduction. "Gnite Bill," he said, and Bill knew to keep on walking, no questions asked.

Negan unlocked the door and stepped into a two story foyer. He flipped on the light and a chandelier blazed from the ceiling. He tossed his keys onto the hallway table and moved into the living room/library which boasted a fireplace and two walls
of shelves filled with hardcover books. He tossed his leather jacket on one of the overstuffed leather chairs and turned on a small table light. A hardcover book lay open on it, with a pair of black reading glasses doubling as a bookmark. In
any other time or place, Fiona would have drooled over a room like this. It was her idea of paradise. A cozy room with comfortable chairs to lose oneself while reading.

She wondered if the book and glasses were his but then quickly asked herself why she cared.

The doorbell rang and Fiona nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Stay here," Negan told her and returned to the foyer to answer it. She heard muffled voices which meant he must have stepped outside to talk. Unable to make out a word they were saying, she stopped listening.

The conversation lasted all of thirty seconds. He shut the door and she heard the ominous sound of the lock clicking into place before he reappeared in the doorway. Motioning with his head to follow her, he started towards the stairs.

Just do it, Fiona. You'll be okay. You're a survivor. Just remember, it could have been much worse.

She repeated that four-line mantra over and over in her head like a prayer as she left the room. He was waiting by the bottom of the stairs for her to go first. Like a real gentleman.

Right.

She knew he was watching her but she refused to meet his gaze. She didn't want to encourage him, and she was also afraid of what she would see in those intense brown eyes. But this was a business arrangement, nothing more. And it had saved her friends'
lives. That's all that mattered right now.

The heavy footfalls of his boots behind her echoed through the quiet house and seemed to synchronize with her pounding heart.

"Turn left", he ordered her when she reached the top. There was only one room on that side of the landing-a bedroom-and the door was open so she walked right in. She had noticed two other rooms on the opposite side, which she assumed to be more bedrooms
or a bedroom and a bathroom. Because this room didnt have its own bathroom. It was sparse but adequate, with a large bed in the center, a small dresser with a mirror on one side and a cushioned window seat on the other. The room was empty of belongings
and the bed was neatly made, telling her it hadn't been inhabited in awhile.

Or maybe never.

And it certainly wasn't his room.

She backed up until her legs hit the edge of the bed and she had nowhere left to go. She slid off her jacket and wrapped her arms around her chest protectively. Then she finally found the strength to look up at him. His expression was unreadable. Maybe
because it was such a mixture of lust, curiosity, admiration and indecision that each emotion cancelled another out leaving one hell of a poker face.

Her voice cracked when she spoke. "Go get it over with and please don't prolong it. That's all I beg of you."

Negan's eyes narrowed as he studied her intently. "I don't rape women", he said quietly after what seemed like an eternity. His answer surprised her because he said it with such conviction that she knew somehow he was telling the truth.

So in her state of semi-shock she resorted to her dry humor.

"Really? You're into men then?"

A small smile played at the corner of his lips which, dammit, he couldn't prevent from turning into a full fledged grin.

Dimples and all.

"No. No men for me."

"But... Why... Then what did you want me for?"

His eyes held hers again and whenever he looked at her like that she found it a little harder to breathe.

"Haven't figured it out yet." He pointed to the bed. "Why don't you get some sleep? We'll talk more in the morning." He held up a key. "And I'm not locking you in, alright? I'm locking them OUT. Not that any of them are stupid enough to cross me and try
anything but a few guys have access to this house and ...you never know. They aren't used to having a pretty thing like you around if you catch my drift. Besides, I'm sure you'll feel safer that way."

Fiona nodded warily. "Thank you. And... Thank you for showing mercy to our group tonight. What you did..Was... Well... Just ...Thank you."

"Would you still be saying that if I threw you on the bed, tied up your hands and fucked you senseless right now, no questions asked?"

Her eyes widened for a brief second in fear but then she quickly disguised her emotions and tilted her chin up at him defiantly. "Yes, " she said, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Because the people I love would still be alive."

He let out a derisive chuckle. "Love? Love in this time, in this fucked up world, is foolish. It's don't get attached to anyone. Because odds are, they wontsurvive. Whether it be walkers, or dicks like myself and your boyfriend,
someone orsomething will do them in. Trust me on that."

"He's not my boyfriend."

She didn't know why the words came out so quickly and easily. Or why she was feeling the need to explain herself to this intense stranger. She just didn't want him knowing how she truly felt about Rick and then using that against her.

Or against Rick.

He was her weakness.

Because as of very recently, their friendship had naturally blossomed into something more.

"He's not, huh? So he's just a fuck friend then?"

When she didn't answer, he leaned back against the door and crossed his arms over his broad chest. "I saw the way he looked at you when I singled you out. I also saw how badly he wanted to kill me at the thought of me touching you."

"He's protective like that. Of all of us. We're a family. "

"That's cute. Nice try but you're a shitty liar, you know that? Bet you'd suck at poker. Which, come to think of it, wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if it was strip poker. Well, bad for you but definitely not bad for me."

She turned away from him and walked over to the window, refusing to answer and pissed that he was mocking her and getting a good laugh at her expense.

She hoped her back would be his cue that their conversation was over, and she waited to hear the door close, willing him to just leave so this nightmare of a day could finally end.

But he didn't.

Next thing she knew he had closed the gap between them and was standing right behind her, so close she could feel the heat radiating off his tall, lean frame. When he spoke, he leaned down and his breath tickled her ear.

"Tell me, is he any good?"

When she refused to answer, he continued, "Does he know how to touch you? Does he even care what you like? Can he make you come so fucking hard your body is blissfully numb afterwards?"

Her stomach fluttered at his words and at the image they created in her mind.

Because she honestly never had a lover capable of such a feat.

Either pre OR post apocalypse.

And something told her this man standing behind her was in a league all his own. He was cocky and confident and most likely MORE than capable. And God help her, he was turning her on right then and there.

Willing her body language not to betray her, she spun around and shot back, "Sounds like you're in the midst of a pretty bad drought if my sex life is so damn interesting."

One dark eyebrow arched in amusement but this time, he wasn't poking fun. He was admiring her comeback. She wasn't as fragile or meek as he had initially imagined. And he was growing more attracted to her with each passing second, yet he couldn't
quite decide if that was a good or bad thing.

He graced her with another cocky, dimple bearing smile. "You got me there."

Then he took a deep breath and stepped away, finally heading towards the door.

"On that note, sleep tight. We'll talk more in the morning."

He left the room and just as promised, locked it from the outside.

"Wait!" she called out to him frantically.

Negan reopened the door and stuck his head in. "What? Had a change of heart and realized you want and need me in your bed this very minute? You know I'll be more than happy to oblige." He took a step back into the room and pretended to pull his t- shirt
up. His jeans hung low on his hips and she got a quick glimpse of a well toned abdomen and a trail of dark hair leading down from his navel.

Fiona narrowed her eyes, unamused, and looked away from the disturbingly inviting sight. "Bathroom. Please."

"Shit. Forgot about that. Sorry. It's down the hall."

She followed him out the door and down the landing to the other side. He pointed it out then disappeared into the room opposite. She saw a rumpled bed (king sized of course, just like he had bragged) with dark sheets, flanked by two nightstands, and a
room off the back which she assumed was his own bathroom. He disappeared into it just as she closed the door to hers. She splashed cold water on her face to wash away the day's grime then leaned over and drank greedily from the faucet. She was hungry
too but that could wait until tomorrow. After relieving her bladder she washed her hands and left the room.

He was sitting on the edge of his bed, waiting. "All set?"

"Yes. Thanks."

She hurried back to her room and closed the door behind her. Once again she heard the lock click into place and her breath, which she hadn't realized she'd been holding, escaped her in one long whoosh. She kicked off her boots and collapsed on the bed.
And her heart, which had been beating in overdrive for most of the night, finally began to return to a more normal pace.