Chapter 29: "Allies"
Jesus sat quietly as Rick explained all that has happened in Alexandria, all the people that have died, the people they caught and the information they have gathered so far.
"So these people was here all this time, hiding among the residents?
Rick nodded.
"Are you sure you got all of them?"
"Sure as can be at this moment."
Jesus then went into deep thought.
"It is making me wonder about the Hilltop. I wonder if these people are among us as well waiting to strike."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we have taken in a couple of people..,maybe 10 person or so since the world get down hill."
"You should check into that."
Jesus agreed.
"As soon as we get the location of the other camp, we need your help."
Jesus nodded in agreement.
"I don't think my people are combat ready for that type of mission as yet." Jesus observed.
Rick acknowledge this.
"Michonne suggested we take two teams from here..I could lead one and you could lead one."
"Sounds like a plan." Jesus chuckled…"Talking about plans...there's new leadership at the Hilltop."
"Really? You?"
Jesus laughed.
"Yeah...but only temporary until someone more qualified steps up.*************************
Negan stared at Dwight trying to digest the bullshit explanation he was just given. Trevor chuckled in the background.
"So let me understand this...I ordered you to watch Alexandria and report back to me. Instead you tried to infiltrate it..which I can excuse. You infiltrate and tried to take over without my consent. Is that right?"
Dwight nodded.
"In addition to not having my consent you failed to take over the place. Am I missing something here?
Dwight said nothing. He looked at Trevor for an explanation.
"We found him. He wasn't coming back here. He was trying to leave."
"Really?" Negan turned and faced Dwight again.
"How many of these people have you killed?"
"I don't know. I was on the outside looking in."
"Are anymore of your crew still inside?"
"I don't know."
"So it is possible that at least one of them if they are alive was caught by….."
"Rick."
"Caught by Rick?"
Dwight said nothing.
"Hmmm..so Rick now knows we are out there now."************
Paula woke up to Denise bandaging her arm. Her leg was already bandaged. She looked over and saw a dazed out Daniel looking at his severed hand. It was also bandaged.
"Where's the other doctor?"
Denise didn't answer the question. She was all but done when Rick, Abe and Glen walked in. Paula looked at Rick and the red handle machete at his side. Rick threw a notepad on the table with a pen.
"Draw."
Paula quickly compiled without any resistance. ***********************
Rick, Michonne, Abe, Glen, Daryl and Jesus examined the two drawings of the camps at Carol's house. Jesus seemed abit skeptical.
"You think these are accurate?"
"Not 100% percent, but it's a chance we have to take." Rick observed.
"After what we did to them, they would be foolish to lie to us." Abe said, confident of the accuracy.
Jesus accepted Abe's confidence.
"So what do you want to do?"
"We take two teams..I'll take one...you lead one. We each take a camp and hit it at the same time."
Everyone nodded except Michonne. She frowned.
"Michonne?"
"I don't think we should split up. We don't know how many we are dealing at each camp."
The others were looking at her.
"We should ask them." Glen suggested.
Michonne shook her head.
"Don't need to. If we take the camps by surprise as one large group it would throw them off no matter how many people they have."
She paused and thought some more.
"Rick could lead the team to attack inside while Jesus lead a team to cover the extreme perimeter for anyone who may have escaped from inside and made it outside. It's called swarming."
Abe smiled...that's military language. She looked at the men.
"We also don't know how far the camps are from each other so we hit the camps at night...they will be less alert...most would be asleep. But it should be two nights in a row. Impact will be greater. We will regroup while they are counting their losses."
Michonne was confused at how the others was looking at her in amazement.
"What?"*************************
Jasmine and Robbie was on perimeter watch when Renée approached them. She needed to clear the air with her. Robbie saw her first and whispered to Jasmine. Jasmine turned to face her mother as Robbie walked away.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"You're upset."
"More like embarrassed. I've never seen you with anyone so this is new to me and you guys are going at it like rabbits."
Renee said nothing. There is nothing she could say.
"Just need some time to get use to it."
Jasmine smiled and hugged her mother.*******************
Rick and the others decided that they will hit the camps in two nights. Rick and Michonne walked home hand in hand.
"You know we haven't names the twins yet."
Michonne laughed.
"Ah...we have been kinda busy lately...me being unconscious and you being Mr Badass."
"I am fighting for my people...my family."
Suddenly Rick slowed down and stared off in the distance. Michonne followed his eyes.
"Was it from over there we were shot."
Rick clenched his jaw and balled his hands in a fist.
"Yes." He murmured angrily.
"Hey." Michonne turned Rick's face towards hers and kissed him.
"I'm still here. I am safe. The twins are safe. We are all safe...thanks to you and Abe and Daryl and Glen and everyone else who worked so hard to contain the threat."
"You have no idea how it felt seeing you on the ground, bleeding out."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be...glad you're here now...all three of you."***********************
"Can we talk?"
Negan approached Jasmine sheepishly.
"Sure."
"Your mom and I…."
"It's OK. Don't need any details. I am fine about you guys getting together. "
"Are you sure?"
"I spoke to mom already. I'm cool. I just dont want her to be alone anymore and to be happy.
"Me too."
"Just don't hurt her...OK. Whatever my father did really messed her up."
"I care for you and your mother alot. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that."
"I hope so."******************************
Rick and Michonne lay in bed, the twins squirming in between them. As Michonne fussed over the twins..Rick looked at her...smiling.
"You want to name them now?"
"Ok."
"How about Avery and Liam?"
"Or Xavier and Quinn"
Rick frowned.
"Not Quinn."
"Ok..Avery and Xavier."
"I like Avery."
Rick picked up his infant daughter and put her on his chest. Avery yawned.
"Hi Avery!"
"We still need a name for our son."
She rubbed her son's tiny tummy as he held on to her fingers.
"Ooh...how about Ryan?"
"Hmmm. Ryan can work."
"Dominic too."
"I like Dominic."
"So…."
"Avery and Dominic."
Michonne kissed her son Dominic.************************
"Sweet Jesus!" Renee whispered under her breath.
Negan knew that was his cue. He thrust deep and hard into her and held it there. He watched with pleasure as Renée's body trembled under him.
Her eyes were shut tight as she bit down on her lips trying not to scream out. Finally, after a few minutes her body relaxed and she opened her eyes. Negan was playing with her hair.
"I talked to Jasmine. She's OK about us."
"I know. I spoke to her too. She isn't accustomed to seeing me with anyone. She needs time to adjust."
"She will."****************************
Abe and glen stepped outside briefly to catch some fresh air from the stench in the basement where Paula and Daniel was being kept.
Paula looked over at Daniel. His eyes was closed and clearly he was in pain.
"Hey.."
Daniel didn't respond.
"Hey!"
Daniel slowly opened his eyes and turned towards her.
"Can you move? We need to get out of here!"
He just stared at her.
"F*ck!"*****************************
Later that day, Marcus and his crew returned from their one week supply run. They had picked up three persons while they were out there and brought them back to the Sanctuary.
Marcus was talking to Renée about the people he brought in. She saw that they had a lot of stuff. Renée began giving directions to persons on where to put what. Suddenly, she heard her name.
"Renee?"**********************
