Chapter Thirty Nine

Dani was still unconscious for the next two hours when Rick told Daryl and David they had to go back to the Safe Zone. Daryl wanted to go with them, ensuring their safety. But Rick shook his head, placing his hand on Daryl's shoulder.

"You and her brother have to be the first people she sees when she wakes up," Rick told him. "And she may have information that could help us, like what we're dealing with."

Daryl remembered what Dani had said right before she passed out. "The devil. I saw….the devil." He remembered how terrified she looked too. Another horrible thought came to him as well. She was held in a motel room surrounded by those pricks. It may have been possible that she was assaulted. Raped.

He pushed those thoughts from his mind. He knew that couldn't have happened. But whatever did happen in that motel room scared her.

"She said something before she blacked out, Rick," Carol spoke up. "She said she saw the devil."

Rick huffed at that statement. "Negan," he replied. "She may have seen him. And he may be at the safe zone now, trying to get Dwight back."

Rick then turned to his friends and told them they were all going back. "We need to ready ourselves ASAP," he told them.

"Not so fast," a voice spoke from behind, grabbing his upper arm. Rick turned around and saw Gregory, looking pissed off. "This woman, Jane, she going to be here for a while?"

Rick nodded. "I'd appreciate it if she could stay here," he told Gregory.

"Doc Carson says she can't move for a couple of weeks," Daryl grunted at him. "I'm staying with her till she recovers."

"Me too," David spoke up. "If it isn't too much trouble."

Gregory glared at Jesus who was standing in the corridor. Jesus returned the glare then shook his head slightly at him.

Gregory gave an annoying sigh. "Fine, they can stay." He walked down the hall and turned a corner. A loud sound of a door slamming shut could be heard through the hall. Everyone looked at each other in disbelief.

"What the hell is his problem," Glenn spoke up. "Dani….I mean….Jane was hurt badly."

"He's just an asshole, Glenn," Jesus replied. "But when threatened he can be a perfect little push over. Which is how we got into this situation in the first place."

Rick then looked around and saw that his son Carl was not in the room. "Carl," he called out. "Carl, where…."

"Right here, Dad," Carl replied, poking his head out of Dani's room. "I just wanted to say goodbye to her before we left."

Rick nodded and walked up to him. "She's unconscious, son. She wouldn't be able to hear you."

Carl shook his head. "You were there when I was shot, remember? You and Mom wouldn't leave me." His face became glum. "I hate leaving her here, Dad."

Rick shook his head. "It's so that she can get better, Carl. And Daryl and David are going to be right here with her."

"Your Dad's right," Daryl told him. "She's going to be okay."

Carl nodded and walked to the front of the house. "We better go," he said. "It's getting really late."

Rick smiled a bit, amazed at how much his son grew up. He really wasn't a child anymore. He was a young man.

Rick felt Daryl pat his shoulder. "I'll try to come back tomorrow morning if I can. Just to get our things for our stay."

"I'll be coming too," David said. "I need my car."

"If it's all right, I'll stay with you, David," Rosita spoke to him. "I can keep you company."

Rick nodded. "I understand." He headed for the front door and paused for a moment. He turned back to face Daryl and David once again, looking very sad. "We should have killed Nicholas," he said. "This never would have happened if we hadn't been so stupid and let him live."

David shook his head. "He had every one of us fooled, Rick. Guys like that are fucking weak, pathetic pieces of shit you need to scrape off your shoes. Just promise me one thing; he shows up again, you hold him for us." David smiled wickedly. "Please."

Rick smiled weakly at both of them and left the house with the rest of his group. Daryl felt a little sad about staying behind and leaving his friends. But Dani had to come first now. She needs him.

One by one, everyone hugged Daryl, encouraging him to be strong. He merely nodded, trying to show appreciation, but deep inside he was still reeling. Watching Dani drop like that, covered in blood, brought back the horrible nightmares he tried so hard to get rid of.

And deep down, he knew another one was coming their way very soon.

…

It was after midnight when Rick and his group left Hilltop Community. Carol rode up front with Rick, shaking her head, keeping her finger on the trigger of her handgun. She looked out the windows very determined and angry.

Rick didn't say anything to her because he knew exactly what she was thinking. This was all on themselves. Actually forgetting about the Saviors, Negan, making light of Nicholas' betrayal, Abraham. And now Dani. Taken from right under their noses with no one suspecting a damned thing. How the fuck could that have happened?

"We got too complicate," Rick finally spoke. "I know that."

"It's not that," Carol said. "We just didn't want to believe in the monsters living inside our walls, not outside."

"You referring to Nicholas," Rick said. Carol shook her head.

"Rick, if there is one thing I've learned through all of this, every part of it, it's not to become a monster. And in this world, you have to kill not to become one." She wiped her forehead and turned to face Rick. "I don't regret what I had to do. I knew everything I've done was to save us, keep us safe. But the price we're paying gets bigger every day. And all I keep thinking of is what I could have done differently. If….." she stopped herself. And then took a deep breath. "But every time I think of different possibilities, more people die regardless. I just see what we're all becoming, what I'm becoming, and I worry."

Rick looked at her sadly. "Carol, you're not a monster. Remember at Pete's funeral, what I said, about how it was the situation that changed him? I still believe it." He then sighed deeply. "And Jessie? Damn it. I didn't want to…..I did care for her. But she was grabbing my son, putting him in danger, and my family comes first." He wiped his eyes. "Yeah, Jessie and I had our thing, but she wasn't family to me at that time." He then looked right at Carol, his eyes encouraging. "All of you are family. Especially you, Carol."

Carol gave him a small yet hopeful smile. She nodded quietly. "And Rick, whatever you had to do, you know that I…"

Suddenly they heard a loud bang. The car began to swerve right under them. Rick steered the car to the right, trying to keep control over the wheel. He then came to a stop by the side of the road and cursed.

"What the fuck," he muttered. He then felt Carl grabbing his shoulder and pointing to the right of them.

"Dad, look! Oh my God," he cried.

Ten men jumped from the woods in front of them, aiming their AK-47's at them. Rick looked behind him, and to his horror, he saw his people getting pulled out one by one by at least fifty armed men, ordering them to get out of their vehicles and drop their weapons.

His car door flew open and immediately he was pulled to the ground and kicked in his stomach.

"YOU STAY ON THE GROUND AND DON'T MOVE! WE'LL FUCKING KILL ALL OF YOU IF YOU EVEN TRY," a man screamed right into his ear.

He heard Carl cry out as he was dragged from the car and thrown right next to his father. Carol was also pushed next to him, scared but very angry.

Rick looked over and saw his friends, his family, lined up on the ground, huddled together. Glenn was holding his wife who began to tear up. Morgan and Michonne held hands as Morgan looked at their captors with a sneer.

All Rick could think was how he let them all down. Why didn't he think this could happen?

Rick looked up and saw all of these men keeping their weapons aimed at him. He knew they were the Saviors right from the start. But there was no point in fighting. They were outnumbered and outgunned. There was no hope left. None at all.

Then a man stepped out of his car. A very tall, muscular man wearing a black leather jacket, carrying a bat wrapped in barbed wire. His jet black hair was slick back and had a cocksure smile on his face. He grinned widely at Rick and proceeded to walk over to him.

"I bet you're the head asshole in charge, aren't ya," he asked, his voice practically laughing. "Nicholas told us all about you guys." He tapped Rick's chest with the tip of his bat. "You're Rick Grimes, and you and your people killed at least 40 of mine." His voice became serious now, his face angry. "That….will not do."

He then walked to the center of the lineup and looked at his recently taken hostages. "You are all very lucky tonight, everyone! You get to meet me in person! Not everyone has that chance, except for Nicholas, whom I spoke to personally. And that hot as fuck girl Dani! Wow, that woman has a vacuum of a mouth!" He then sighed exaggeratedly. "Such a shame, right?"

He then shook his head and smiled wickedly. "In case you fuckers haven't figured it out, I'm Negan. And these are my mother fucking bad ass men the Saviors. We save lives. And because you killed my men, I'm going to be very fucking generous. More than I have to!

'You see, the way it goes is, your community will work for me now! You give me half. Half of everything you own now. Half of your guns, your food, your medicine, your very own people. Just half of everything per month. In return, I protect your asses from the biters and from the living. I think it's a fucking fair deal! But anyone who has a problem with it will meet the only woman I will ever truly love."

He held up his bat and smiled proudly.

"Her name is Lucille, and she and I have been through so much fucking shit together. She has never betrayed me or let me down. She is my special lady. Too bad I can't fuck her properly since she doesn't have a pussy." He then looked closely at everyone lined up. His eyes fell on Maggie, seeing her condition and shook his head. "No way Lucille will do a woman, even when she's knocked up." He then glanced at Carl, who trembled. "No way will I kill a fucking kid. I'm a Savior, not a monster!"

Kill? Rick began to breath heavy.

One of them will die tonight.

…

At Hilltop, Jesus could tell there was a big problem with Gregory. He seemed agitated and worried. He then ordered Jesus to come into his office, his voice shrieking of panic.

"I know her name isn't Jane Woolworth or whatever name you gave her," he told Jesus. "Her real name is Danielle Evans. And out there are Daryl and her brother. You knew the Saviors had been looking for them, and you brought them here? Why the fuck would you do that?"

Jesus nodded quietly and then he lifted his head up and looked at him angrily. "They stood up to the Saviors a long time ago. Three took out thirty of them. If three could do that much damage to those pricks, imagine what an entire community just like them could do."

"Paul! You are bringing more fucking trouble here! If the Saviors find out that we are hiding her here, do you understand what could happen? How they could destroy everything we've built?"

"Yes, Gregory. Destroy their other half, right," Jesus said as he leaned into meet his gaze. "And we are not going to say who she is. As far as they know, Danielle Evans is dead. We are all in mourning. That's all they know. But in fact, she is alive. And when she recovers, she will help us defeat these fuckers once and for all."

Gregory looked at him astonished. "You're talking about war," he intoned. "You want us to risk our lives by fighting them?"

"We are already risking our lives, period," Jesus yelled.

Both were quiet for a moment. Jesus took a deep breath.

"And by the way, should you tell anyone what you know, I'll make she the people know how you've been spying on the younger, prettier women. I know you can be a degenerate, your people know that too. Imagine how Bill Connors will feel when I tell him you've been spying on his daughter through your little peep hole as she changes."

Gregory's eyes widened. "You…can't prove that."

"I can. And I will expose you. So be a good little leader and keep your mouth shut. Let us handle everything." Jesus then left the room, feeling a bit more confident than before. Gregory Mitchell was a push over and a scumbag. What more could be said about that?

…

"So, since you all are going to be part of the network, Lucille needs to get her kiss before the night ends," Negan boasted. "And you fuckers kept us up all night waiting for you to come home. So I gotta do this right away." He then proceeded to walk up and down the line, watching everyone squirm and cry, making him smile even more.

"Einee, minee, miney, mo! Catch a tiger by its toe."

"You don't have to do this! Please," Rick cried out. "We'll work with you! I swear! We have so much to trade with! Don't kill anyone! Please!"

Negan marched up to Rick and kicked him hard in his gut, making him lurch forward.

"You fucking piece of shit! You think I'm going to let you get away with what you all have done? You killed nine of my people not two days ago! Your redneck right hand man, his fucking girlfriend and her brother took out my whole outpost! THESE WERE MY BEST MEN AND YOU KILL THEM! DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE SAY I'M THE BAD GUY HERE!"

Negan then took a deep breath. "Besides, I already knew about what you all have. Now, don't fucking interrupt me again, or I will make an exception and have your kid's brains all bashed in."

Carl gasped, and Negan gave him a wink and a smile. Then he went down the line again. "Now, before I was so rudely interrupted by that prick over there…..enie minie miney moe. Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, let him go. Enie, minie, miney…moe." Negan paused for a moment on Carol. She gave him such a cold defiant look. Negan merely glared at her. And continued his selection. "Out goe and you are now…..IT!"

The bat rested on the shoulders of Glenn. Glenn shook and breathed hard. Maggie screamed.

"It's okay, Maggie. It's okay," Glenn assured her. "I love you."

"YOU'RE IT! STEP UP TO RECEIVE YOUR KISS."

Glenn did step up, looking so boldly at him. He was going to die tonight, but he wasn't going to cry or scream or beg.

"Maggie," he said, still continuing his strong gaze on Negan. "You tell our child that I was killed by a coward tonight."

Negan huffed. "You think the martyr act will help you, you are fucking dreaming."

"I don't care, you fucking animal," Glenn said. "You want me petrified, you got it. I am scared to death. But you are not going to get any satisfaction from watching me cower at you. So go ahead. Do it. Kill me in front of my pregnant wife."

Negan raised his bat and tapped Glenn's forehead lightly with it. Glenn still kept his vicious glare on him and then slowly closed his eyes, waiting to receive Lucille.

Negan swung his bat above his head. Maggie screamed and cried, being held back by Morgan. "GLENN! NO! GLENN!"

"I LOVE YOU MAGGIE! I LOVE YOU!" Glenn cried out, taking deep breaths.

Then Negan brought down his bat.

….

Daryl still sat next to Dani, watching her carefully as she slept. He gripped her tiny hand in his huge palms, tracing her knuckles gently with his fingers. He chuckled a little, remembering how he first commented on her tiny hands. Small bond structure, she said. He then noticed round red marks around her wrist and sighed sadly. She was cuffed, it looked like. And it seemed she pushed herself out of the cuffs. Tough woman.

He then heard her moan softly. He instantly stood up to look at her face. Her eyes began to flutter and slowly she opened her eyes.

"Dani, it's me," he whispered. "It's Daryl."

"Um…..Daryl…where…." her eyes flew open. "Where…where am I?" She started to sit up, but the pain in her shoulder made her gasp out loud. "What happened?"

"Baby, you were shot," he told her. "Don't you remember? You were running to me, and then some fucker shot ya."

Dani winced from the pain. "The Saviors," she asked. "What….." Then her eyes widened in shock. "Oh my God! Negan! Negan! I saw him!"

"What, Dani? You saw Negan," he asked her, panic rising within him.

She nodded hurriedly. "He knows all about us! Nicholas! He…..took…me….."

"We know, baby. We figured it out."

Dani shook her head.

"No, Daryl! It was why I escaped! I overheard them right before I could run! Daryl! They're going to ambush us tonight! They're going to attack the Safe Zone!"

Daryl began to fear the worst. He called out to David who ran into the room. David looked relieved to see his sister awake, but he knew something was wrong.

"We hafta go back," Daryl told him. "Our people are in trouble!"

David nodded and ran out of the room. Rosita immediately entered and stood next to Dani. "You stay here with her till I get back," David told her.

Rosita nodded her head. "Keep safe," she told him. David kissed her lips and ran out of the room.

Rosita sat next to Dani. Dani could tell something was very wrong.

"Rosita, are you all right," she asked.

Rosita looked at her alarmed. And then she realized that Dani had no idea what had happened today. She looked at her very sadly. Dani became more worried than ever.

….

Glenn crumpled to the ground in absolute shock. He had felt the bat swing so close at him, felt its wind fly by his head. And now it hit the ground.

This fucker better not be playing games with him that prick!

"Ah…you're no fun," he laughed at Glenn. "Let's see…"

And he bashed in Morgan's skull, spraying his blood on Maggie and Michonne. Both screamed as Negan continued to beat Morgan's head until it was a pulpy mess. Negan laughed with every swoosh of his bat, every splatter of blood that hit the screaming women. After he saw that nothing but blood and brain matter was left, he chuckled.

"Normally I don't break the rules, but you proved you had guts to me, Jackie Chan," he laughed at Glenn. "You get to live for now. But try that shit again, and I'll play the World Series with your brat as the ball. Get it?"

Glenn didn't say anything, but felt his chest heaving, his tears in his eyes. Negan than ran right up to Rick, who had tears streaming down his face.

"Hey Rick! We're all friends again," Negan bragged. "Provided of course that you will agree to my terms. Fourteen days from now, you are to give me half of everything you own, because you now belong to the Saviors."

He then ordered his men to leave. But then a car pulled up, and to Rick's surprise, he saw it was Daryl and David, coming to help but they were too late. They were pulled out of the car and led to Negan who looked them over and then smiled proudly! To Daryl's horror, he saw the sad remains of Morgan, his skull bashed in, lying on the ground, and everyone in tears. He was too late. Not again!

"Ah! You must be the redneck loser your that girl Dani was fucking! And you must be her brother! Too bad you missed our selection tonight, but since she shed her mortal coil earlier today, you both are safe for now," he said as he handed one of his man Lucille. "What a shame about that fucking hot woman, you know? Certainly would have had her sucking on my junk with those ripe hot lips of hers, huh?"

Daryl wanted to kill this man. He tried to jump him, but David held him back, whispering, "don't even try it."

The sight of this redneck angry made him laugh even harder. "You better keep this dog on a leash, David. I bet he's rabid."

"YOU FUCKER! I SWEAR I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU! ONE DAY!"

"Yeah yeah yeah, and I fucked your mother too. Who the fuck cares but the fact that tonight you paid your debt. And now you will receive the benefits of being part of our family! I mean, I was going to make Dani choose between the both of you for what you did at the outpost all those weeks ago. But since she's gone, you're off the hook! You get to live to work for us! So there!"

Negan than jumped into his jeep and became sullen this time. "Two weeks, and we will pay a visit to Alexandria. You better of our shit ready."

All of his men dispersed into their vehicles and drove off behind Negan, leaving Rick's group in ruins. Maggie and Glenn held each other, crying and wailing into their shoulders. Michonne let out such a sad roar, holding Morgan's shoulders, crying for losing him.

Carol stood up on shaky legs and grabbed Rick's forearms. He stood up, tears streaked down his face.

Daryl fell to his knees, completely defeated and broken. What they had promised would never happen again did happen again. Their community, everyone they fought so hard to protect is in danger.

I really hope you love my version of what I think would happen! And I am so excited about this Sunday! YAY! TWD RETURNS! I hope to write more soon. Please let me know what you all think! And thank you so much for reading! Have a great weekend everyone!