Sorry that I took so long to pick this back up. I've been sick and there was a death in the family and just a lot going on. I deleted my other stories cause I didn't like how I wrote them. Gonna redo them later, so for now gonna focus on seeing this through so that I'm not overwhelmed with too many projects at once. Thanks for your support, reviews, and patience. I'm glad this story has so many followers, I wasn't expecting it to be so popular. Love you guys, and God bless you.


"Larry! Oh, my God! I-I'll get the nitroglycerin pills!"

"Don't move! Don't you fucking move another step!"

"Hey! Don't you fuckin' dare talk to my wife like that!"

"Shut the fuck up, Kenny!"

"Negan, what the hell? You can't just let him die!"

"I'm in charge here, Carley. I decide how we fucking run things."

"But murder, Negan? Is that really the answer?"

"I need to make an example of him!"

"Dad! Dad, please wake up! Negan! God... please, somebody help him!"

"If any fucking one of you move, I swear to God you'll get some of what he did!"

"This is crazy!"

Everything and everyone was in complete chaos. People talking at the same time. The horse neighing and rearing in panic after the fight. Clem and Duck huddled together terrified of what they just witnessed. Lilly crying over her dad's body as she attempts to revive him with chest compressions. Nobody expected this and no one knew what to do. Doug was in shock and Carley was disgusted by what they had just witnessed. Negan was the only one calm about the entire ordeal, and he refused to save the poor bastard's life. Instead, he stood over the carnage preventing any of the group members from interfering. Finally, Negan looked toward the youngest member of their group. He spoke calmly, as though nothing had happened.

"Clementine. Bring me Lucille."

"Th-the bat?" She asked with uncertainty and innocence. "Why?"

"You know why." Negan glared down at Larry. Lilly screamed in horror, begging Negan not to do it.

"But, I don't want..."

"Now!" Clementine flinched at Negan's sudden tone. "I'm your fucking caretaker, girl, and you'll do as I say!"

"She's just a little girl, Negan." Katjaa tried to reason, only to be quickly put in her place.

"If I wanted your opinion, Katjaa, I'd fucking ask for it." Negan once again put his attention toward the scared little girl. "Now, Clementine."

Reluctantly, the child headed to Negan's bedroom where she emerged from a couple minutes later dragging the baseball bat behind her. She was little and it was heavy, but she managed to retrieve it on her own. Negan held out his hand, and Clementine gave him the weapon. As she looked up at her caretaker with fear in her eyes, she bit her lower lip and nervously grabbed her right arm with her left hand. She was young, but she wasn't stupid. She knew what was coming next. Scared of what Negan was going to do next, Clementine backed away whimpering and sobbing softly. As Negan raised the bat over his head, Katjaa covered Duck's eyes telling him not to look. All the adults just stood back and watched, most of them were scared of Negan as they had seen what he could do before. That's how he became the leader. Kenny respected the man, for the most part, and was made second in command by Negan. However, the two didn't always agree on everything; the mutual respect was still there.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Lilly's screams echoed through the Motel parking lot as the sickening sounds of flesh, bone, and brain matter being squashed filled the yard again, and again, and again. Negan was grinning from ear to ear as he smashed Larry's head in until it wasn't even recognizable. The worst part of this massacre is the fact that the old school coach seemed to enjoy it. Doug turned away and quickly released the contents of his stomach. Clementine was hugging her knees and crying with her face buried, her tiny body cringing from the squishing sounds as the bat hit the ground. Kenny never got along with Larry but at this point, even he thought Negan was going a bit too far.

"Jesus, man. Just..."

"Just what?" Negan glanced at Kenny.

"Just... stop, okay?"

Negan looked back at the brick house of a man he had just slaughtered in cold blood. He looked at the blood that coated and dripped mercilessly from Lucille. He looked at his people's faces to gauge their reactions, his eyes falling to Clementine last as the terrified child sat there in tears, trembling. Finally, Negan sighed and walked away from the corpse. "Clean that shit up." He ordered as he passed the group. Heading into his room, Negan glanced over his shoulder toward the small girl he had rescued months earlier.

"Clementine. Get in here." He gestured toward his room and held the door open waiting patiently for her to join him. Still shaken by the recent events, Clem stood up and wiped the tears from her eyes. Her cheeks were soaked. She looked at the splattered unidentifiable mess of flesh and blood as Kenny and Doug dragged the body away. Lilly was a mess as she sat there grieving, and Clem felt sorry for her the most. She turned toward Negan and slowly approached her caretaker entering through the open door which she then heard him close behind her.


"I'm sorry you had to see that, Darling." Negan said calmly as he held out his arm invitingly to the child.

Clementine nervously excepted his invite, walking into his room and flinching slightly as the door shut behind her. She trusted Negan, felt safe with him but at the same time she feared him because she knew what he was capable of. She knew the monsters were dangerous but she couldn't understand why people were hurting each other instead of helping each other. It just didn't make any sense.

Negan approached his bed and took a seat. He then pointed to the chair across from him and Clementine timidly sat down staring at her lap. Negan placed Lucille beside his bed resting her against the wall. Tears ran down Clementine's cheeks despite herself. Negan silently studied the girl, wondering if she was even old enough to understand what happened. Or even too young to handle this new world. She was the youngest in their group right now, and he was her caretaker. This made Negan uncomfortable as he worked with children when he was a coach. But he never fathered any of his own.

"Do you understand what happened?"

"Yes." Her voice was soft as the child stared at her hands which were folded in her lap. Her legs were crossed at the ankles and she avoided eye contact with Negan.

"Do you understand why?"

No response.

"Clem?"

Still silence. Negan raised his tone slightly to gain her attention.

"Clementine."

The child flinched.

"Look at me."

She slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. She was trembling. "Yes...?"

Negan looked her in the eyes. He could tell she was afraid. Of him. His expression changed to a serious frown. He let out a thoughtful hum. He looked down at her trembling hands then let his eyes wander back up to meet her scared gaze. "You don't have to be afraid, honey."

Clementine didn't answer. Instead, her eyes glanced toward the bloody baseball bat causing her to whimper involuntarily. Negan followed her eyes toward the bat and frowned. He then returned his gaze to Clementine who had returned to staring at her lap. Her hands were now tiny fists clutching the hem of her dress. Negan was becoming aggravated. He could feel his temper rearing and he had to calm himself; for her sake. He took a breath and sighed.

"You don't have to be afraid of me." He looked at Lucille. "Or her. We'd never hurt you. You know that, right?"

"No... I mean, yes...I guess..."

Negan sighed and ran both hands through his hair. He looked at the child and struggled to keep his cool. To remind himself of how young she was. The look on her face spoke volumes. She thought he was a monster. He knew that by how she looked at him. How she acted around him. Negan never had any kids, he had no idea how to talk to one. Yes, he used to work with kids but look at how much he fucked that up. And now, in a world like this where kids couldn't be kids.

'Fuck. This world fucked me over even before the dead came back. If this kid is a way to redeem my fucked up life, then I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.'

"Clementine. I am trying to protect you."

"I know, but..."

"But what?!"

Clem flinched. "But... why did you kill Larry...?"

"I killed him so he wouldn't fucking turn and kill you."

"But, Larry wasn't dead..."

"He had a fucking heart attack, Clem."

"You could have saved him. Why didn't you let Katjaa give him the medicine?"

"Because he was dangerous, Clem. He fucking attacked me. He got what he deserved."

"He didn't deserve to die..."

"Yes, Clem, he fucking did!"

"Swears..."

"I don't give a flying..." Negan took a breath and shut his eyes. As he exhaled he tried to remind himself that Clementine was even younger than his old students. "Sorry. This is a... screwed up world. It's easy to forget that you and Duck are just kids. But know that everything I do is to protect you and everyone else out there. You can't be weak anymore. That shit is what'll get you killed."

BOOM!


Negan returned to his quarters and Clementine timidly followed him. As the door shut, Lilly was left to mourn the loss of her father. He was all she had left; Negan took him away forever. She could never forgive him for this. She remembered her romantic moment with Negan. She had thought he loved her, thought he cared, thought he understood. And yet, he murdered her father simply because they disagreed on how to run things. Larry had assaulted Negan but in Lilly's eyes, that was no reason to kill him.

He had a heart attack. He was down. It was over. Negan could have let Katjaa treat him, and that'd be that. It'd be over. Larry wouldn't mess with Negan again. She was sure of it. But now they'd never find out. Everyone else stood around the scene watching as Lilly grieved. None were brave nor strong enough to stand up to Negan. And Kenny sided with him more times than not, earning a spot as second in command. Even so, Kenny knew this was going too far. Kenny went up against Negan once before and lost. He was lucky Negan gave mercy for his family's sake and spared his life.

A shame he failed to grant Lilly and Larry the same mercy.

As Kenny and Doug took away Larry's body, Lilly was left to grieve until anger took over sorrow. As she rose to her feet, she reached for her rifle and stormed toward Negan's room. As she cocked the barrel, Kenny and Carley ran after her. They called her name but she ignored them. Entering Negan's room, she aimed the rifle.

"But know that everything I do is to protect you and everyone else out there. You can't be weak anymore. That shit is what'll get you killed." Negan was saying as Lilly entered. Before Negan nor Clem knew what was happening there was a loud explosion, and blood was soaking Negan's shirt.

"Negan!" Clementine squeaked in horror.

"Jesus Christ!" Kenny shouted as he gripped the rifle tightly. He had grabbed it just as she pulled the trigger, causing the bullet to miss Negan's heart by 6 inches.

"Jesus, Lilly! I know you're upset but more murder isn't the answer!" Carley shouted as she struggled to restrain the other woman.

Negan's vision began to blur as he looked down at the blood on his hand and then back toward Lilly. "You... f-fuc..." He swayed slightly. "...Bitch." His body hit the floor with a thud. Katjaa raced into the room with her first aid kit. Kenny and Carley dragged Lilly away kicking and screaming. And Doug helped move Negan from the floor into his bed.

"Stay with me, Negan..." He barely heard the vet's voice as he drifted into unconsciousness.