Authors' note:

So, long time away from this story. But after a few reviews, it has now made me get back on track with this story. Thank you for the guys who left a comment. I appreciate it so much. I hope you continue to enjoy this journey as there is lots planned for my favourite couple.

I do have the bulk of chapters done, so hopefully, I will be able to fire some frequent updates at you.

Ok, quick recap: The time at the cabin has now come to an end. We meet a familiar face in this chapter and we get a glimpse into what happened to Michonne all those years ago.

Let's begin...

Chapter 10

Don't Make Me Go Back

January

This time of year, in Atlanta, there was a slight chill in the air. But today, it seemed even colder than normal. Michonne couldn't place her fingers on it, but something felt different in the atmosphere.

Michonne was coming out of work at Wright & Associates, walking towards her car in the underneath car park. It was about 7pm in the evening and she was on her way home. Over the past week, she had been working late each day. It didn't leave much time to spend with Rick or Carl, but this weekend, they were all looking forward to family time.

Over the last month, Michonne many times thought back to the weekend she had with Rick and their friends at Rick's Cabin, and how perfect their time away had been. How they managed to reconnect with their relationship, as a couple, after the last few months.

They were stronger than ever before and would be spending their first Christmas and New Year's together as Carl was staying with Lori over Christmas and New Year's Eve and Day. Rick and Michonne would miss his company, but they were able to Facetime with him daily.

Speaking of Lori, she still had not apologized for her behaviour a few months back, so Michonne spoke to her only when it was completely necessary.

Rick and Michonne celebrated by staying in and making love into the New Year. They spent all day at her apartment, naked, which was just the way Rick liked her. They were still trying for a baby, so that's what they did over the weekend, and at any opportunity they were given. Rick only let Michonne go when she needed the toilet or they had to eat or take a quick shower. After a few days of earth shattering orgasms, they finally got back to their everyday routine. Things with Rick were back on track. It was good, very good with Rick. Michonne was very happy and content for the first time in months.

Michonne had on her trench coat, wrapping it tighter around her waist with her free hand. Her heels clicked against the concrete floor as she made her way to her car.

She was carrying her black leather briefcase in her right hand, swinging it, and her handbag over her shoulder. She clutched her car keys in her other hand.

Michonne was too lost in her own thoughts to hear the sound of man's smart shoe behind her.

"Michonne," the voice spoke. It was a deep man's voice, but not just any other man's voice. It was that voice. The voice she hadn't heard in so long. A voice that didn't belong in this part of Atlanta.

She froze in her steps, her feet coming to an abrupt holt and her mouth dropping slightly open. She had to stop and think if this was a dream. She hoped it was a dream, because what she was hearing couldn't be real.

Michonne's heart started to beat hard in her chest; her stomach felt like it was doing summersaults. She didn't like the feeling that she was starting to experience again.

She was afraid to turn around. Oh God no it can't be. Can it? She thought.

"Michonne," the voice spoke again. It can and it was.

She turned around slowly, tears slipping from the corner of her eyes, and locked eyes with the man. Michonne closed her eyes and reopened them, as if he would disappear. He didn't. He was real. It was real. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped partially open again.

He was skinnier than the last time she saw him. His once sleek jet black hair, now had whisks of grey covering his side burns. He was clean shaven, not like the stubble he used to keep. But, he still wore the same expensive Dior suit and he still had that flashy smile that was now beaming at her as if nothing had happened all those years ago. She was looking into the eyes of someone evil.

Michonne stumbled as she took a step backwards, nearly losing her balance in her heels.

"Negan. What do you want?... Whh when, When did you get out?" she struggled to speak. It was the man that so often haunted her dreams, nightmares really. It took her years to get over what he did to her.

He ignored her questions.

"Did you get the flowers, I sent you?"

"Flowers? oh god no," she whispered to herself. Michonne felt sick. Her stomach started to turn over. Michonne felt a mixture of sadness, anger and fright.

"I said, when did you get out? And what do you want?" she raised her voice.

"I thought you would be happy to see me Michonne."

"Happy to see you? After what you did to me?" She tried desperately not to cry in front of him, brushing her eyes with the backs of her hands. It was as if he was talking and she couldn't hear. Everything went quiet as if the sound was muffled. She had zoned out, oblivious to what he was saying. Michonne breathed in and everything zoned back in. Michonne could hear Negan talking again.

"The champagne for your birthday, and the charm bracelet I got you for Christmas." Negan slipped his hands into his trouser pockets.

Michonne looked down at the bracelet on her wrist. Her work colleagues had played secret Santa at work, and she never could have imagined that this could be from him. Michonne started to shake as she took a step back, away from Negan. He was too close to her.

Her knees were starting to buckle beneath her. She needed to get away from him. Michonne looked around the car park, but there was no one insight. How was she going to get away?

"Why are you in Atlanta?" You're not supposed to be anywhere near me!" She asked the question again.

It was him with the lavish gifts the flowers, the champagne, the bracelet. Michonne's heart started beating fast as she started to lose her breath. She had her suspicions it was him, but didn't know how he could have sent them. Or even when he would got out.

She could feel his arms wrapped around her neck, squeezing tight. The flashbacks were starting again. Michonne wiped her eyes, careful not to let any tears slip.

"Bye Michonne. I will see you tomorrow," a colleague called her. Michonne turned to her work friend, Jamie.

"Oh, Jamie wait. I have that book for you in my car," Michonne said as she glared at Negan one more time.

Michonne walked off with Jamie just as a black car blacked out windows pulled up and Negan stepped inside. The car's wheels screeched as it was driven, fast, out of the car park.

As soon as Jamie left, Michonne threw her bags on the passenger side next to her, got inside, and she locked the doors. Michonne sat there shaking as she rested her hands against the steering wheel. She closed her eyes. She sobbed loudly for 10 minutes before she opened her eyes and looked at the charm bracelet on her right wrist. She wound down her car window and snapped the links so all the beads and charms fell onto the floor. Michonne couldn't look at the chain on her wrist.

"Breathe Michonne, breathe," she whispered to herself.

She couldn't sit here any longer. Michonne had to get home. She needed to see Andrea.

Her fingers shaking, she dialled Andrea's number. Andrea answered on the first ring.

"Hey babe,"

"Andr- Andrea," she tried to fight back the tears.

"Michonne what's wrong?"

"Oh god, oh..."

"Michonne you're scaring me, tell me what's wrong?"

"I've just seen Negan,"

"NEGAN?" Andrea raised her voice.

"Where are you?"

"I am at work. In the car park. I had to stay later tonight."

"Can you drive home?"

"Yeah, I think I can,"

"Ok, go straight home I will meet you there. Michonne, when you get home, lock your doors."

Michonne nodded before ending the phone call.

Andrea raced to her car, pulling up Maggie's number as she did so. She explained to her what had just happened. She told her to ring Rosita and Aaron; she would call Sasha. They needed to meet at Michonne's apartment. It was an emergency.

"Yes! Daryl. There...oh god there." Sasha moaned.

Sasha's phone started ringing. Then it stopped ringing as Daryl picked his pace up. Her phone started to vibrate against the surface.

"You like that?"

"Mmmm."

"Leave it," Daryl mumbled, into Sasha's neck, where he was placing kisses.

Her phone kept ringing. She wrapped her arms tighter around Daryl's neck; her eyes were closed. His thrusts then became painstakingly slow again.

"I need to answer it, might be important," she spoke through laboured moans. Sasha stretched over on to her bedside cabinet where she grabbed her phone answering the call.

"Andrea, this best be important!"

"Andrea," Daryl grumbled. He was still kissing on her neck whilst Sasha had her phone to her left ear trying to muffle her moans.

Negan was all she heard in that moment. Sasha sat up and pushed her boyfriend's left shoulder off her. He pulled out. Feeling the loss of him just inside her, she squinted.

Sasha ended the phone call and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

"We were in the middle of love making, it best be damn important!" Daryl groaned. Rolling onto his back, and pulling the bed sheets over him.

"It is. I'll make it up to you I promise- and I will explain everything later." Sasha placed a kiss on her boyfriend's lips. She pulled her jeans on from the floor and her grey t shirt and trainers. Jumping into her car, she made her way over to Michonne's apartment.

Sasha arrived at Michonne's apartment 20 minutes later and knocked on the front door.

"What took you so long?" Andrea asked, opening the front door.

"I was with Daryl," Sasha whispered.

"Doing what...?" there was a slight pause before she spoke again.

"Who makes love at seven in the evening?"

Sasha glared at Andrea as she walked into the apartment. She walked over to Michonne who was sitting on her couch wrapped around in a blanket, mascara running down her eyes. Maggie had her arms around her rubbing her back. Rosita was pacing backwards and forwards shaking her head from side to side, her hands balled up in a fist. Aaron sat on the opposite side of the couch to Michonne. He looked distraught at seeing how upset his boss was.

Rick walked into Michonne's apartment. All he had was a phone call of Andrea asking him to come over as soon as he finished work. Rick had some overtime accrued, so he left straight away, bringing Shane with him. Rick didn't know what to expect when he walked into her home.

"Hey, Rick come inside," Andrea said as she opened the front door.

Michonne was sitting on the couch, tears swelling her eyes. Rick looked around the room Maggie, Sasha, Rosita and Aaron was all there. He didn't know what to think, or who had her so upset. Andrea pulled Rick to the side as Shane shut her apartment door behind them.

"Has Michonne ever told you about a man named Negan, Negan Jefferson?" Andrea spoke above a whisper.

He shook his head to the side looking at Andrea's face.

"No, no she hasn't, who is he?" he asked. Andrea closed her eyes.

"I think Michonne needs to be the one to tell you,"

Rick walked over to Michonne, stopping in front of her.

"Who is Negan Jefferson, Michonne?" Rick asked softly. There was a pause as Michonne flicked her tear filled eyes up at him.

"He was someone who used to be a client of mine."

"Do I need to-" he was interrupted by Michonne.

"You can't break everyone legs!" she snapped at Rick. She got up of the couch and walked off into the kitchen. Everyone in the room watched her walk away.

When Rick walked into the kitchen after Michonne, she was looking up at the ceiling and letting out a shaky breath. He ran his knuckles against the kitchen counter top as he walked round to stand near her.

"Why didn't you mention it?" he asked.

"Didn't know I had to and I wasn't ready!" she snapped. Rick wasn't helping her; he was only making things worse. He was asking too many questions a that she didn't want to give him the answer to, even though he deserved an explanation of some sort.

"You weren't ready?" he asked, resting his hands on his waist before he continued.

"This is important Michonne. Whoever this guy is, he's got you so shook and upset. You need to tell me what's happened. I come over and all your friends are here. And I don't have a clue why they are. And now, I'm hearing about this Negan guy for the first time."

"You need to go. You're not helping." Michonne turned her back away from him. She knew it wasn't his fault he didn't know anything about her past and what happened to her. She was shutting him out. She knew that, but Michonne needed to be alone with all her friends.

"Michonne." Rick tried to reach out to her, but she shrugged her shoulders away, crossing her arms over her chest.

"No Rick!" The tears trickled down her face. Michonne knew how much that must have hurt him, that she was shutting him out.

"Go, I will take care of her Rick," Andrea said as she pushed Shane and Rick out of the door. Shane placed a quick kiss on his girlfriend's cheek.

"I won't go back to that place Andrea I can't go back... please don't make me go back." Andrea comforted her wrapping her arms around her and holding her tight.

Rick wanted to stay comfort her, but he knew she was in the good, capable hands of her trusted friends. He had to do some research on this guy. Rick needed to know who this guy was and why the hell he had Michonne so shook up.

"I can't go back to that place. Andrea- don't make me. Please... don't make me." She was rocking her backwards and forwards, as if she was soothing her child.

Rick and Shane got into his black SUV and Rick slammed the car door shut behind him.

"Man, what the hell was that bout?" Shane asked, looking at his best friend.

Rick ran his hands through his hair, shaking his head.

"I don't know man, but we're going to find out," Rick said, putting the key in the ignition and pulling out onto the busy main road.

Thirty minutes later, Rick and Shane were back at their police department. Rick walked up to a colleague.

"Gareth, I need you to find something for me."

Gareth specialised in everything computers and he could find out a lot of information with a few taps of his fingers.

"Sure boss. What is it?"Gareth went to sit at the computer on his desk.

"Type this name in. Negan Jefferson."

"The file says it's locked." Gareth looked over the top of the computer screen.

"Well, I am a need you to unlock it." Rick looked at him.

"When?" he asked.

"Don't play dumb Gareth," Shane said. Wrapping his arms around his chest and stroking his fingers over his chin.

"Like yesterday." Rick motioned his hands before him.

"Ok, give me about an hour?" he replied.

"You've got twenty minutes." Rick knocked his right knuckle on his desk before he walked away from Gareth's desk.

He pulled out his iPhone and dialled a number, waiting for it to ring a few times before the person on the other end picked up.

"Abraham. I need you and Tyreese to find a guy for me,"

"Negan Jefferson."

"Ok. Let me know when you have that information. I want everything on him, what he did, where he's been the last 6 years, where he's been living, I want everythan. Don't leave nothan out! He did somethan to Chonne," Rick growled.

"And when you find him, I want to know where he is. I want to know when he breathes. Find him for me, but most of all find him for Michonne!"

Rick hung his phone up and placed it in his back pocket.

20 minutes later...

"Say, you have that information for me?" Rick walked through the double doors to where Gareth was sitting at his desk.

"Yes, I got it, and more. Had a friend from New York send me some extra information over."

Rick took the brown case files from Gareth's hands.

"Thank you," he spoke, walking back out the doors and heading to his office. Gareth nodded his head at his boss.

Rick stood behind his desk as Shane sat down in the chair in front of Rick. He handed Shane a file as he read through the other, licking his finger as he turned the pages quickly.

He was dissecting the information. The more he read, the more his blood boiled. How can anyone have done this to Michonne? My Chonne Rick thought. He ran his hands over his face and through his salt and pepper beard. Rick stared up at the ceiling and he flung the case file down on his desk, the papers spilling everywhere. Shane looked up and watched his best friend.

Rick pulled out his phone, checking for any missed calls or messages from Abraham. There was nothing. Rick slammed his phone on the desk, startling Shane.

"Man, come on, we will get this son of a bitch. I promise you." Shane stood up and squeezed Rick's shoulder.

He just nodded, sitting back in his chair and picking up another file from the desk and opening it up to read. Shane sat back down opposite him, picking up another brown envelope and reading through. Shane looked up at his brother, at how upset he was over this. He knew how much Michonne meant to him. Shane was certain they were going to find Negan. What he wasn't' so sure about was, when they did eventually find him, what Rick would do to him.

Sasha arrived at her apartment close to midnight. Daryl was sitting up waiting for her to come back. She spent the next 15 minutes explaining to him what had happened to Michonne and about her past.

"Negan? That was his name. That was the guy who came in. Yeah, yeah," he said, bouncing his head up and down.

"You sure it was him?" Sasha asked looking at him.

"Sasha, ain't nobody with that name around here woman that I wouldn't remember. Plus, the guy was wearing some fancy suit. He was asking about cars and some shit and he was with some other guy." He got off the couch and paced in the front room.

She looked up at her boyfriend.

"But you know, when Rick finds this guy, he's going to be breathing through a straw right? That's if Rick lets him live. He doesn't like anyone talking bad about Chonne. But if he finds out that he actually touched her like that? Hell Sasha, you best pretend you knew nothan, about nothan!"

Sasha looked up at Daryl, folding her arms and thinking back to that night in the bar in Kings County when Rick threatened that guy for only looking at Michonne. Oh shit! She thought.

"I gotta ring Rick," Daryl said, pulling out his phone from his front jeans pocket. As Sasha looked on at her boyfriend, Daryl bit down on his nails, patiently waiting for Rick to answer.

"Rick, I am sorry I know it's late. But I have some information for you."

The next day, Michonne decided to take the next few days off work. It was the first time since her accident that she had taken any time off. She explained to her boss Ezekiel, and he was very understanding of the situation. Michonne hadn't spoken to Rick since yesterday when he left he apartment. She knew he was only giving her space. He had sent a couple of texts that she couldn't bare to reply to. Whether that was due the embarrassment of how she felt, Michonne didn't know.

Michonne got into her car, making her way into a part of Atlanta she hadn't been in a while. Pulling into the car park and grabbing her bag from the trunk of her car, she walked inside.

Michonne walked in to the sounds of punches being thrown at punching bags. There were also the sounds of heavy weights being slammed. Metal against metal. There were also groups of men laughing and chatting.

Two years ago, this place was like her second home. She came in every day after work to help relieve her mind of stress. It also helped her get back to a place of normality. At least, as much as was possible at the time. There was a man leaning against the red tight ropes inside the boxing ring. He was a familiar face.

"Oh, look who it is?" the man looked up and smiled.

"Hey Joe,"

Joe had dark, deep rich skin, the same colour tone as hers. Joe had a shaved head and sported a black beard, which he had grown out since the last time she had seen him. He had bright green eyes and wore white diamante earrings in each ear. Joe may have been her type at some point years ago, but he was also happily married.

He stepped out of the ring, pulling her into a hug; she hugged him back. After several moments, she pulled out of his embrace.

"What has it been, two years?" he asked.

"Yeah, something like that," she smiled.

"Hear you got a new boyfriend these days that's been keeping you busy."

"Yeah. how do you know?"

"Andrea," they said at the same time, letting out a small laugh.

"So, what brings you back to my boxing gym?" He gently pushed his shoulder into hers as they walked side by side.

Michonne paused for a second before diverting her gaze back to Joe's face.

"He's out. Negan, he's out. I saw him yesterday." Michonne let out a shaky breath.

Joe stopped in his tracks, his smile fading as he nodded his head slowly. They continued walking to the side to place her bag down on a wooden bench.

Joe really helped Michonne through it about 5 years ago. As soon as she moved to Atlanta, she joined his gym. Her Therapist had said it would be good. He was not only a coach, but became a really good friend to her.

"Come on. Let's see if you still got it."

Joe shouted. "Hey Max, play Michonne's workout playlist through the speakers."

"Yes sir," Max said, walking off to change the music.

She nodded her head, turning back to the wooden bench and pulling her boxing gloves from her bag. She walked back over to the ring, lifted the tight rope up and stepped inside. She dropped the rope back down, letting out a shaky breath. They both stood in the middle of the ring.

Michonne rotated her neck around, eventually closing her eyes. As the music kicked in "X Gon' Give It to Ya by DMX", she stretched out her muscles and opened her eyes.

Joe raised his hands, with the blue pads in place, up in front of her. Michonne held her hands up and raised her elbows.

Michonne fell into a familiar rhythm as she warmed up. She then moved into a hook and elbow strike, hitting Joe in his side. She followed that with a knee strike. Michonne stepped back, bouncing between each foot and raising her hands bac in front of her face.

Meanwhile...

Andrea dialled a New York number, tapping her foot against her office floor. When they finally did pick up, Andrea didn't have time for hellos.

"I thought I told you to tell me when he gets out?"

"Hello Andrea. How are you? Yes, Heath I am doing well. It's been a long time. How have you been? I am good thank you for asking Andrea." The man on the other end of the phone replied bluntly.

Andrea rolled her eyes.

"Hi, Heath. I don't have time for pleasantries."

He tutted. "Well since I have you on the phone I had a man named Abraham Ford call on a behalf of a..." there was a pause on the phone.

"Yes, a Rick Grimes." Heath added.

"What...are you sure you have the right name?" Andrea closed her eyes.

"Yes that is name I have written down"

"What did he want to know?" she whispered into the phone before opening her eyes.

"He wanted to know about Michonne, and what happened to her. I gave them all the information I had."

"You gave them EVERYTHING?" Andrea raised her voice.

"I had too. They said they needed for a case they were working on."

Why was Rick working on this case? Andrea thought.

"Thanks for nothing Heath...Bye."

Andrea ended the phone call in a huff. She started pacing in her office, wrapping her arms around herself. Why did Rick need the case files? He was going to read every detail about what had happened to Michonne. Andrea knew when he did, he'd be furious. She had seen how he handled Mike when he spoke to Michonne. This isn't going to end well she thought.

"You need to focus, Michonne. You're letting him get in," pointing towards his head.

"Joe I can't-"She started to panic again.

She wanted to give in. She wanted to stop. Michonne was letting him beat her. Letting him get back to her again. Michonne tried to hold back the tears. She wanted to give up, but giving up would mean that he's won. He can't win. She wasn't weak. Not anymore. She needed to be strong, not just for herself, but for Rick, for Carl, and for their future together.

"Relax your mind."

Michonne took in Joe's words as she slowed her breathing, letting small breaths, in through her nose, then out of her mouth. Michonne could feel her heart rate dropping back down, beads of sweat dripping from her forehead.

"Pretend I am him. I am Negan. COME ON!" Joe shouted.

"Remember that word 'fear' you told me about."

Michonne thought back to what that word 'fear' meant to her. 'Fear' was the word that Negan had knocked into her and the word she needed to knock back out of herself. Michonne concentrated on Joe's words.

She stepped her right foot onto Joe's right leg Michonne turned in mid air and used her left foot to push him and knocked Joe down to the floor. He fell back with a thud. She landed on both of her feet.

"Shit! Yeah you still got it," he grinned, as Michonne leaned her hand out to him, pulling him up from the ground.

"Thanks Joe, I needed that."

A few minutes passed as they sat on the bench, drinking water and talking.

"So, tell me about this new boyfriend then?" She couldn't help the smile that formed on her face.

"Rick, he's everything to me. He's the most caring, selfless person I ever met. He's a good guy. A really good guy, and the best father to his son Carl. I don't see my future without him and Carl. I wish...I wish I would have met him sooner. Before any of this happened to me." Michonne looked up at Joe, who just nodded his head.

But she also felt sad because of how she treated him yesterday. She knew he was only trying to help.

"Yeah, I understand that. He's a cop isn't he?"

"Yeah, he's a cop. Is there anything Andrea didn't tell you?" she laughed.

"No. Well, I guess he is the perfect partner to protect you from all of this." Michonne thought about the lengths that Rick would go to protect to her.

"How's Olivia doing?"

"Yeah, she's good. We're having another baby,"

"What? Isn't that like your sixth?" She laughed, taking a sip from her water bottle.

"No, four," he scoffed.

"Close enough!" she said as Joe nudged his arm into hers.

"Thanks for everything. I mean it. Thank you Joe, you really helped get me back on track today. " She looked down at the floor before pulling her gaze to look at his.

"You're welcome. You can come back any time, you know that Michonne. Please, don't let him get to you again."

They knocked knuckles as she left. Michonne placed her gloves in her gym bag, throwing it over her right shoulder and heading out of the gym and towards her car.

Michonne was ready to tell Rick about what happened to her all those years ago. She rang Andrea as she would need her support. What she had to tell him wasn't going to be easy. It was going to bring out some bad memories, at least the ones she could remember, that is.

Authors note:

Things get super emotional next chapter. Rick will do anything for Michonne, and I mean anything. So, do we know who Andrea was talking to in New York? Negan has been revealed as the one who's been sending the flowers and expensive champagne, but does that mean the mystery is solved?

Would love to know your thoughts on this chapter.