A/N I'm not sure if anyone reads this story anymore but here's a small update. This chapter lays some of the events for the fight with the Syndicate. There are important easter eggs that will divulge information about the Syndicate in this chapter.

I rub my wrists where the ropes Alice tied me up with last night have left impressions. Who knew I was such a submissive kinky fuck? But, fuckedy fuck fuck fuck, it gets my dick hard. I yawn before taking another sip of my coffee as I look at the gates of Sanctuary. Call me paranoid but, after that hurricane, I'm just waiting for another one to follow. I come outside every morning and look for anything suspicious. Animals. Clouds. People. I tilt my head to the side. "I'll be fucked. Haven't seen you around much."

Church seems nervous, fidgeting with his hands in front of him. "I'm still contributing."

"Relax, it was just an observation."

"Oh," he flushes.

"Where have you been running off to?"

Church is hesitant at first like he's going to be in trouble. "I met someone, but he lives in another community."

"Alexandria?"

"Yes and no. He wanders between there and the Hilltop. Well, yeah, I guess just Alexandria now."

"Why can't he come here? That's a long fucking way to walk."

"Because he told me he put a knife to your throat. Figured you probably didn't want to see him again."

"I knew you were smart." Now I'm trying to think of all the people who have put a knife to my throat.

"Anyway, I'm here for a few weeks now. Cosworth needed some help with this project he's working on."

"AC? Because the motherfuckers who do that will never have to work for points again."

"Challenge accepted."

Maybe I shouldn't have opened my mouth though it'll be worth it. "Well… what is it?"

"I've been advised not to say anything. That way if it doesn't work out, no one is disappointed."

Fair enough and I need more coffee.

Sanctuary is rather still this morning but that's because Marshall took several of the other members out scouting for the Syndicate. Until the scalpel jockey fucks are dead, I don't see the point in spending any more time reinforcing Sanctuary. It still makes me unnerved not knowing if we killed all their men. Knowing one of them might have revealed our location and our days are numbered is always in the back of my mind. It also makes me cautious about even sending Marshall and the other's away.

I pay my respects to the people we've lost and I always find myself standing at the same grave for a longer time than the others. Charli's. "Hey, loser…" I'm usually interrupted by Bryan. He still visits her every day. I don't often get emotional with this shit but I don't like watching it. If he's having this much of a time, how is Alice dealing with it? Would she even tell me? Truthfully, I worry a lot about Alice. Her mental state especially after losing her hand. She trains some with Butcher but it always ends with that gaze in her eyes like she knows it's pointless.

I return to the parlor to find that gaze as she sits slumped on the couch. One boot on untied and the other beside her. She's too young to be this tired but she's dealt with more than anyone I have ever known.

"I don't know why I even bother. I'm confined within these walls. No sense in having attire on my feet." She angrily throws the boot at the wall.

I hate seeing her like this because this is not my Alice. Her spirit is dead. That's something that fucks me up when I'm away from her. That, god forbid, I come home after a run and find out she's taken her life. I don't think logically that she'd do it but it's something I constantly concern myself with. I don't see much point in living without her. As I watch her return to her slump, it gives me an idea.

Inside my end table, I pull out a book and hand it over to her. "I have been holding onto this for like two years now. Waiting and waiting for the right time to give it to you but I don't fucking know what that is. Here." I didn't want to present this to her now and like this of all ways. I'm just hoping that something, anything, will fucking help.

Her eyes widen when she brings them up to mine. "You… you remember this conversation?"

"I do. I mean, I spent a lot of time looking for a book called the washing machine until I realized it was 'The Time Machine' but I found it.

"It's a first edition."

"I know that. I wish I didn't," I laugh.

"I gave up searching for it."

Kneeling in front of this woman, I rest my hand on her thigh. "You've been giving up on a lot of things, and truthfully," my eyes well up, "it fucking terrifies me, Alice. I think… what if you give up on us? I know your hand is gone, and I can't even begin to imagine how fucking hard that must be, but you need to snap out of this. If those men who abducted you and Charli took your hand from the very beginning, I know there's no way in hell you would have given up. So why give up now? Is it because you have everything you need? Because you're complacent now? Don't be. You of all people know how easily that can be stripped away in our world."

"I'm sorry I've been selfish," she cries.

"You're not a fucking liability because you lost your hand. Your strength is your intellect, and you still have that. If I could fuck that brain of yours I'd probably do it. And don't fucking tell me that's illogical."

Her lip tugs upward as a tiny giggle escapes her.

"I can send Marshall and Dwight out there all day but, at the end of the day, I know you're going to be the one to find the Syndicate. And you won't need your hand to do it. It's that sweet fucking intellect that's going to do it. Alice, let me be our strength and you be our intelligence. We will make one badass motherfucker. I don't need some woman that's my equal in strength. I need you, Numbers."

"Very well, Lout."

I retrieve her boot and put it on for her. It reminds me of an older couple where one isn't able to take care of themselves like they once could. I know with the way things are in our world Alice and I might not get that chance to grow old together. If we don't, I am just thankful for the time we have been given. "I love you."

"I love you, as well. Thank you for my gift." She hugs the book tighter.

"Sir?"

Alice doesn't have to leave but she always respects the times that I need to step up and lead people by dismissing herself.

I get up off the ground and have a seat in my chair. "Let me guess," I sigh. "Food."

"Yeah," Carson starts, pushing up his glasses, "and it's not just food. Here's inventory."

I rub my brow annoyed. Why do motherfuckers wait until the last second to show me this shit?

"Do you want me to schedule some runs?"

"Not until I can find out what the fuck is going on."

...

Which after two hours still isn't any better. I rub my eyes, then thumb through the color-coded maps that Alice made. Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. Instead of looking for food, I need to-

Alice quietly shuts the parlor doors.

I scratch my head with the pencil, acknowledging her with a half ass smile before going back to my thought process. Instead of looking for food, I need to-

"I'd like to go lay down, please."

"In a minute. I really need to finish this." I hear some rustling and when I glance up, my lips part. The papers fall from my hand, scattering about.

She is completely undressed. "I'm lonely."

"Horny?"

"Lonely."

My pencil drops and rolls across the floor as I swallow the lump in my throat. I rather enjoy seeing that cop uniform of hers scattered about because it reminds me just how far we've come. Especially to know how confident she is despite the scars on her body.

"Make it go away, Negan," she moans.

I'm so fucking hard, I spring from the fly of my pants. Before I can unbutton them, her lips are wrapped around me. "Oh, shit," I cry, bracing the arms of the chair. "Holy fuck!" I throw my head back and shut my eyes. Don't come! Fuck! I move my head back, exhaling heavily. How fucking pathetic I can't last fifteen seconds from a fucking blowjob. Her mouth is fucking incredible and this thing she's doing with her tongue. You can do this, Negan.

She looks up through her long lashes.

No, I can't! Oh, fuck, oh, fuck! Get it the fuck together! I'm spared when she pops me from her mouth because I can't take one more second.

"I always do as you ask, so to reiterate. I am lonely. You will stop what you're doing and make me your only priority. Do you understand me, Negan?"

I am fucking speechless. Is this my Alice? I nod because I'm unable to form words.

"Follow me."

I follow mindlessly behind her because I am incapable of making decisions for myself it would seem.

Alice sits at the edge of the bed as she parts her legs. "Satisfy me, Lout."

This is a dream. Or a test. Or both. Fuck!

There's a knock on my bedroom door. "Sir?"

I knew it was too fucking good to be true.

"Negan, harder," Alice yells. "Oh, yes," she moans.

We both hear Carson trip twice as he runs from the parlor.

"I didn't think I could possibly be any more attracted to you than I am right now. Blowing me off under the table. Tying me up. Getting rid of him. Have I ever told you that-"

"Use your mouth for something else other than speaking."

Fuck yes, I pant.

The tip of my tongue pokes out from the corner of my mouth as I stay completely still. My finger squeezes the trigger of the paintball gun and it's a direct hit between the eyes of the walker. "You fucking see that shit, boys?" I thrust my hips against Connor because I win our little bet.

"That shot was nothing but luck. Fuck!" He strips down completely naked and sighs.

"That's it. Now march."

We all laugh so hard we're drooling as Connor approaches several of the Savior women and he's slapped for his indecency.

"You ever feel any guilt that while we're up here messing around, people are down there trying to rebuild the fence? Rebuild Sanctuary," Dwight comments.

"No." I mean, it's not entirely goofing off. I'm trying to figure out how to use this gun fuckery. Christ knows I need the fucking practice. I'd be a fool to believe that I'm taking down the Syndicate with just Lucille. No matter how many meat puppets we seem to kill, they just keep coming back. Hold the fucking phone. That's it!

"What is it? Negan?"

How come every time I get an idea someone thinks I'm in pain? Do I look that confused when I actually use my brain? Whatever. "How much of that chain link do we have?"

"Not much. That's one of the issues we're having rebuilding the fence."

"No. Fuck the fence. What if we used that corner over there and set up the rest to finish off a small square?"

"What are you trying to put in there?"

I fire another shot is fired at an undead.

"You really don't want them on the fence once we rebuild it all?"

"No. Make a small section to protect the front of Sanctuary and that's it. The leftover fencing we're going to build a holding pen then fill it."

"What for?"

"Because I fucking said so." And partially, because I don't know. I mean, I have an idea but I'm sure if I run it across my men it will sound fucking mental at this point. Speaking of, where are my men? I'm missing more than half. "Dwight, where is Kid?"

"She's with Kuzma, Dog, King, Dalton, and Butcher."

"Because that fucking tells me what I need to know." And why don't I know where my men are?!

"I mean, everyone is looking for the Syndicate if they're not here. What else do you want from us, Negan?"

"Why don't you go to Alexandria next time Church goes for your own safety. Fucking salami sandwich faced prick." Fuck!

My door flings open and I stand in the doorway with my chest puffed out. "I'm going to fuck you so hard-"

"Silence." Alice goes back to furiously scribbling.

I deflate with a sigh. "Alice, Alice, Alice!" I pull on her braid. "What's wrong? That's not your usual scowl."

"You're giving me a headache. Go to the other side of the room."

I plop down on the couch. "I can still annoy you from over here."

"I don't doubt that."

"Whatever, you fucking grump. How long you gonna be doing that nerd shit for?"

"Every time you interrupt me, the time starts over."

"I'm going to go shower. You wanna come?" I sigh annoyed when she doesn't get my joke. Or maybe she did and she just was ignoring me. Either way, I thought it was fucking funny.

...

Alice has her head cocked when I walk out of the bathroom. Damn, I guess I didn't really think this one through. I stand behind her until the words surface. "It, uh. It was Lucille's favorite painting. I took it from the Hilltop."

"I see."

"Are you mad?"

"No."

"Well… what's going through that overactive brain of yours?"

"Did you ever notice her face looks like it has a phallic symbol on it?"

I just bust out laughing. Here I thought my ass was going to be ripped up one side and down the other but she's just concerned with the dick on the painting. "Yeah, and she's more well-endowed than I am."

"I'm available now."

"I don't need you now. I fired one off in the shower."

"As if that would deter you from coming onto me. Anyway, I thought we might go for a walk."

"Like romantic shit?"

"No. What's romantic about a walk?"

"Uh," I shrug. "I don't really know. I just thought that was some fuckery that couples do."

"I don't understand. It's a walk, not a couples massage."

"Well, now that I've made it awkward, shall we?"

"I don't know if I want you to accompany me now."

"Fuck you," I laugh.

...

Christ, it's kinda chilly today. "Thanks for not giving me shit about that dick painting." Like every other woman would. "Negan, you take that down right now," I impersonate a female nag.

Alice returns a smile. "I've already told you where I stand on Lucille. I'm not jealous of her."

"I still keep track of about the time she died. It's coming up soon."

"I wish she didn't suffer such an egregious death at the hands of that coward Leon."

The awkwardness aside from earlier, there's still this tension between us. Mostly because I think Alice is trying to hide her depression from me.

"Alice," Cosworth calls. "Greetings."

"Greetings."

I roll my eyes at this stoic fuckery until I see that Church is joining us. Oh? Is this what they've been working on all these weeks?

"Alice, Church and I have spent a bit developing something for you. It's not exactly perfected, but… well, here." Cosworth hands over a wooden crate with protective packing inside.

I'm eager to see what it is but she's taking a substantial amount of time. Then I feel bad because it's only taking her this long from the lack of her… hand?! "It's a hand?"

"It's a bionic wrist and hand, yes," Cosworth says.

I can see the hope in her eyes for the first time and look away because goddammit. There's some shit in my eye or something. I wipe the corner and look back.

"If all goes as planned, this should give you mobility back. It has numerous joints controlled by several different motors..."

I don't pretend to understand what he says after that. The point is that she has her hand back, and not just her hand but her freedom. If these fuckers can do this, there is no telling the kind of success they're going to bring us in the next couple of years. It takes several hours for Cosworth and Church to fit it specifically to the needs of Alice. I try to pay attention but I'm just ready to see this thing in action.

There are small tests they do at first. Finger movements and being able to turn the hand back and forth.

"I don't comprehend how it knows what to do," Alice comments.

"That's one of the things that took us so long. Why don't you try something a little more involved?"

"Yeah, like jerk me off," I smirk.

The robotic hand clenches shut.

"Or not." I ain't letting that thing near my dick.

Alice slips a knife from her vest before taking a deep breath. She passes it off to the robotic hand and gets a feel for it because launching the knife across the courtyard. She's not as accurate by any means, but I'm certain with practice she'll get there. "I don't know what to say," she sobs softly.

Cosworth and her share an emotional hug, followed by Church.

I look away because, yeah, it fucking chokes me up, too. What a pussy.

Alice smiles, looking the robotic hand over as she watches all the poses it makes.

"Damn, that's pretty fucking badass. You're like that robot you were telling me about. The killer emotionless one."

"The T-1000," she giggles. "Though, the T-1000 didn't have an endoskeleton like the T-800. You see, the T-1000 was composed entirely of mimetic polyalloy, therefore it-"

"Alice, it's a fucking movie."

"I'm surprised you're so eager to wear it considering how anal you are about safety regulations and all that shit."

As she starts to roll her eyes skyward, they stop and widen.

"Oh, come on, Alice. That shit doesn't apply anymore." Her expression as she stares back at me is starting to freak me the fuck out. "What is it?" I wave my hand in front of her face. "Alice?"

"Negan," Kid shrills, tears streaming down her face as she runs in the gates.

My first reaction is that the damn dog is dead. Or some horrific fuckery I can't even imagine.

She doesn't make it to me before crashing to the ground.

By this time, my men gather around her.

"Kid," I call, bracing her small arm.

"It was the Syndicate. They got him," she sobs.

"Got who? Calm down! I can't understand you. Who did the Syndicate take?"

"Butcher!"

I shake my head side to side in disbelief. "What happened?"

"We were all in a group on our way back when they attacked us. Butcher and I got separated from King, Papa, Dog, and Dalton as we were trying to run. When I thought we were far enough, the Syndicate ambushed Butcher."

"Are the others dead? ...is Butcher dead?"

"I don't know. I just saw them take Butcher in a white truck." She chokes out more sobs into the ground. "My papa."

"Goddammit," I sneer. Men like these are not men that I can afford to lose this early on. "Kid, did they follow you back?"

"They didn't need to, Negan. They know where we are. That's why they didn't take me. Their leader said that they will start picking us off one by one."

Hysteria starts to fill the crowd as people all become experts all of the sudden with their point of view.

"Quiet," I order them.

"Negan." Alice steps forward through the crowd. The small robotic hand clenches closed. "I know where to find the Syndicate."

A/N Does anyone want to guess where the Syndicate are at? Bragging rights for the one who guesses it, and a shout-out in the next chapter if you do. LOL! I know, worst contest ever.