Carl's heart plummeted when Negan found his little sister's room. Judith was blind to the danger that stood before her, to her it was another new person for her to meet. When Negan held out Lucille Carl was tempted to kill him with it. But he knew that if he even attempted he would be putting Judith in danger.
So he reluctantly grabbed hold of the bat's handle and watched as Negan lifted Judith out of her crib and held her close. Seeing her being held by that murderer was so strange, it was like seeing a dangerous animal caring for a human child. For a moment Carl was convinced this was all just one big horrific nightmare. Sadly his hopes were shattered when Negan turned and addressed him.
"C'mon kid let's take this little bundle of joy outside to get some fresh air." Negan says to Carl and starts for the stairs, cooing to Judith all the while. When they got outside Carl sat in one of the rocking chairs while Negan took the other. There they sat for a few moments in silence, aside from the few babbles Judith would let out every now and then. Carl couldn't even begin to describe the fear that was welling up inside him. This is not where he pictured himself an hour or two from now, far from it. When he went to find and kill Negan, he was fully prepared to die avenging his two friends. He could still recall that night with such clarity, no matter how hard he tried to forget it. Of how Abraham and Glenn had died by Negan's hands.
Some nights he could still hear the sickening sounds of their heads being caved in by Lucille. Ever since then he had been filled with this deep hatred for the man beside him. Unlike his dad and the others who were petrified of the man, Carl was dead set on seeing him pay for what he did.
But now here he sat surprisingly unharmed and back home, with the devil himself beside him. When he exited the truck he had a clear shot, why he didn't take the shot he could still not understand. He had wondered this many times since Negan had spared him, but he still couldn't come up with a reasonable answer.
"Whatcha thinking about over there kid?" He snaps out of his thoughts and glances over at Negan, who is giving him a questioning look. Carl looks at him for a minute before looking forward again. "It's nothing." He says quickly hoping Negan would drop it. Carl had seen first hand how well he was at reading people, and really didn't want to have that discussion with Negan. "I thought we had been over the fact you're a terrible liar Carl." Negan sighs while looking back down at Judith resting soundly against his chest. Carl cursed in his head when Negan had caught onto his lie, but still this is not a conversation he wanted to have.
"Really its nothing." Carl argues weakly, looking back over at Negan to check on Judith. He was slightly startled to see that Negan was staring at him again, with a smug grin firmly planted on his face. Seeing this Carl just glared right back refusing to let him think he was right. "Ya know kid I've been thinking about what you said back at the Sanctuary. About why I haven't killed you or your dad yet.." He exhales as he pulls a fussy Judith up to face him. He starts to talk to her in a gentle playful voice to calm her down. "I mean why am I trying so hard? I could just bury you both in one of those flower beds, and settle down right here in the suburbs." He started to bounce Judith on his knee and grin at her, as he told her how he would potentionly kill Carl and his dad.
"Don't fucking tell her that." Carl growls at him before he can stop himself. But it was too late as Negan let a out a laugh and grinned at Carl. "Hoo damn look at Mr. I'm so badass over here. I swear kiddo your brother has no filter." Negan jokingly tells Judith who is still not fully comprehending the situation her brother had landed them in. Out of nowhere though Judith starts to get fussy, and making grabby hands in Carl's direction. "Oh whats wrong darlin'? You wanna go to your big brother?" Negan questions the young child, and without hesitation Carl is there in a instant. He took his sister from Negan's arms, and she started to calm down slightly.
"You hungry Judith, huh? Come on lets go find you a snack." Carl says to the little girl who has already started to play with his hair. He even finds it relaxing at this point to have his sister back in his arms, where he knows she's safe. As he heads for the front door he is stopped in his tracks at Negan's voice. "No trying to make your great escape kid. Remember you're still being punished." He teased Carl who just let out an aggrivated breath and kept walking.
Once inside he set about getting Judith something to settle her hungry stomach. When he had her settled and for the most part content, he was free to have his mental breakdown. True to Negan's word there was no way Carl could get out of his house, without the Saviors seeing him. Letting out a frustrated breath he walks back over to his little sister, who is still sitting on the counter where he left her. "Oh Judith I really screwed up this time huh?" He asks her, but recieves no answer from the child. Upon closer inspection he could see her eyelids drooping slightly, and Carl graced her with a smile. "Thank god lets get you back in bed Judy. I think you need a nap after dealing with that guy for so long." Carl jokes with her picking her up off the counter, but on his way to the stairs he stopped by a sight in the window.
There sitting on the porch in his vacated seat was Spencer. The weird thing was though is that Spencer seemed totally at ease, sharing a drink with the psychopath. From what Carl could see they were having a nice little friendly chat, but he just shook it off and started for the stairs. Once he made it to his sisters room she was already fast asleep in his arms. Trying his best not to wake her, he placed her gently in her crib. Before he leaves though he places her blanket over her, and puts her plushie elephant toy beside her.
In all honesty he wanted to stay up here with his little sister, but he knew that he needed to go back downstairs. This was all his fault. Had he thought through his revenge a little more carefully, and not run headlong into it he would not be in this position. He didn't want to be the reason someone was hurt, just for his foolishness. So with that thought in mind he made his way back down into the lions den.
What he found once he reached the bottom of the stairs though threw him for a loop. Standing in the front door was Olivia, giving him a frightful look. "What happened? Did they leave?" Carl questions hopefully, but Olivia just shakes her head. "No, he and Spencer are in the street playing pool. He told me to come find you actually." She said and Carl nodded in response. "Do you know why Spencer was even over here? Does he have a death wish?" Carl asks her as they head outside. "I have no idea, maybe he just wants to ease tensions?" She throws a guess and Carl scoffs.
Once they exit the house, they are greeted with an incredulous sight. There in the middle of the street sat the pool table, that once sat abandoned in the house across the street. Standing right next to it was Negan and Spencer each one holding a pool que, all the while this spectacle was attracting most of the Alexandrian residents to watch. Along with the dozen or so Saviors standing around guarding their leader. Carl stayed up on the porch with Olivia incase things went sideways, but from where they stood he was able to catch the conversation Negan and Spencer were having.
"So what everything was just peachy here for what years? Then Rick shows up and suddenly your an orphan?" Negan questions while glancing at Spencer. He lets out a
sarcastic huff and continues with fake sympathy lacing his voice. "That is the saddest story I've ever heard." But when he said that he glances up at me, and gives his
signature smirk. I knew he was refrencing our talk when I told him about my mom. The funny thing was though was that he actually seemed remorseful about what happened,
but I saw it for what it really was. He was just trying to get under my skin and make me see him in a better light, it'd be a cold day in Hell before that happened.
I am pulled out of my musings though when I heard Negan speak up again, and see Spencer lent across the table about to strike his intended ball. "Well good thing for
you that he's not in charge anymore. -" But he was cut off by Spencer looking up at him and interupting. "It doesn't matter! His ego is out of control. He'll find a
way to screw things up, to try and do things his way and take over." Spencer rants and all I can't think is you moron. When Spencer cut Negan off I noticed the man's
face grow dark as he stalked over to Spencer. "Thats what he did with my mom, and thats what he'll do again..." He says with a sigh as he strikes his ball and looks up
at Negan.
"What exactly are you proposing be done about that?" Negan asks him with a cold tone of voice, and I already knew what was coming. Either someone was gonna get hurt because of Spencer or it would be Spencer himself. If there was one thing I picked up about this mad man was that he despised cowards. Men that talked a big game, but would never follow through with anything. I look at the two's exchange as Negan sizes Spencer up. Spencer stands to his full height as he addresses the leader of the Saviors. "I am my mother's son. I can be the leader she was, thats what this place needs and thats what you need." Spencer states honestly and I knew he fucked up as I saw that manic grin come across Negan's face. "So I should put you in charge?" He questions Diana's son slowly and grins all the while. "Thats what you're saying?"
Spencer obviously didn't realize his error and just continued to dig a deeper hole. "We'd be much better off." He states with a smile, but Negan just scoffed at him. "Ya know Spencer I'm thinking how Rick threatened to kill me. How he CLEARLY hates my guts, but he is out there right now gathering shit for me. Just to make sure I don't hurt any of the fine folk that live here." Negan states matter-of-factly with a smile on his face and I could see Spencer clearly stiffen up with doubt. "He is swallowing his hate and getting shit done." Negan then leans over to strick a ball still with that damn grin on his face. I still fail to see how a man that has killed so many innocent people, can still act all happy go lucky.
Once he made his shot he stood and faced Spencer again and its like the air grew ten degrees cooler. "Then there's you." He drawls as he lays down his glass and pool que, walking over to Spencer. "The guy who waited for Rick to be gone, so he could sneak over here and talk to me. And get me to do his dirty work, so he could take Rick's place." Negan drones but as he continued to acuse Spencer for being a coward I saw his grin melt away as he got into Spencer's personal space. "So I gotta ask. Why not just kill Rick yourself? And just take over?" He questions with an aggressive edge to his voice that I have only heard a few times before. Spencer even seemed to see his situation now and tried to back track.
"What,no no, I didn't-" He tries to correct but Negan cut him off while keeping direct eye contact."You know what I'm thinking? 'Cause I've got a guess." He then leaned foward as if he were sharing a secret with Spencer. "It's because... you got no GUTS." And before anyone can even act or comprehend what happened, Negan pulled his knife free and plunged it into Spencer's stomach.
We all just stand there and watched shocked as Negan with a sick smile pulls his blade to the side and ultimately pulls it free of Spencer. The result is horrifying, just as bad if not worse then what happened in that clearing with Glenn and Abraham. Spencer's intestines spill forth as he tries to grab them, as so much blood gushes out onto the pavement. He then falls to his knees still clutching his insides, I suppose in a failed attempt to put them back where they belong. But in a few seconds he starts to cough blood up as well and falls to his side sputtering.
"Oh how embarrassing..."