Author's notes: Listen to "Breaking out" by Smash Into Pieces, before you read. Thank You for being here! ❤

…

Negan, Alexandria

Negan was sitting on his bed, reading. The only book Gabriel gave him, which wasn't the Bible, thank god, but it was still some holy shit. He already read it three times, but only because he had nothing else to do. It was a pain in the ass.

Negan didn't see Judith for a couple of days. He was afraid the girl might have changed her mind and doesn't want to talk to him anymore.

As he was deep in thoughts, he heard the door open. Someone was coming down.

It was Michonne.

"Welcome home. I'm surprised it took so long," he said, while straightening up.

He could finally talk to Michonne. She was irritated though, like hell, and he irritated her even more. Michonne listened to him, but she left quickly and didn't give Negan a chance. Also, she saw Judith by the window.

"Damn!" yelled Negan and slammed his palm on the iron bars. He finally got to talk to her and she wouldn't listen. She was so selfish. And now Judith is busted too, Michonne will scold her because of him. "Damn it," he said again. He was pacing in his cell. What the hell should I do to make her listen? He didn't realize he was so upset. He kept pacing, he wiped his face then put his hands on his hips. Jeez, why wouldn't she listen… I know why I know what I did, but I'm gonna rot in here, she won't let me help. He stopped, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and let out a sigh. He heard the door again, someone was coming. He was hoping for Michonne to come back, but it was just Gabriel.

"Hi, Gabe. What's up?" he greeted him.

"Nothing that concerns you," he said with a faint smile, gave Negan his food, and left.

Negan laughed nervously.

"Wow…" he said and started to eat. He suspected something was going on.

…

Quinn, Hilltop

I was so curious what the yelling was about outside. I wish I could at least sit up to peek through the window, but I wasn't allowed to even move. Not yet. Only three days passed since the surgery. It was painful just to breathe, so I wouldn't dare to move at all. Enid said she was going to help me with a little physiotherapy, so she would move my legs for me, one week after the surgery. I'm like a sack of potatoes for a week. The yelling stopped a while ago, it was all too quiet now. Way too quiet. What the hell was going on? I could die from curiosity. I hope there's nothing wrong. I let out a sigh slowly.

And I was thinking about sneaking out to go to Negan and now I can't even turn to one side of the bed. I'm pathetic. First time I get out of the Kingdom after two years and I kill myself on the spot. Except it wasn't my intention this time.

I tried to listen carefully, but I didn't hear a thing. It was like I was the only person in the whole town. It creeped me out.

I was never, in my entire life, so bored like right now.

I let out a sigh again then buried my face in my hands.

That's when I heard the door's lock click. I jerked my head up, someone was coming in. It was Jesus, he smiled at me as he entered.

"Hi, Quinn."

"Hey," I smiled too. "What's going on out there?"

"Oh, you can talk again. That's good," he smiled slightly, then his smile faded and continued. "Uhm… yeah. Well, the skins came here and knocked on our front door."

My eyes widened.

"What?!" I asked, taken aback. I felt a little pain in my jaw, but I had to ask, I was shocked.

"Yeah… Turned out the girl we took was their leader's daughter and she came to get her back. The good news is that they had Luke and Alden, so we made a trade.

I couldn't say a god damn word, I was so shocked. Jesus continued.

"Yep. Daryl and Henry weren't happy. Enid was, though. So she might not come today. She asked me to check on you, but I also promised you that I'll come, so here I am," he said smiling. I smiled too.

"I'm glad Alden's fine. Enid must be so relieved."

"Yes, she is really happy."

"What about Henry and Daryl?"

"I think Henry has a crush on the girl and he argued with Daryl about giving her back. You know, her mother beats her. I'm not happy about it either, but what can we do? We can't risk our community and people's lives for a stranger."

"You're absolutely right. Maybe Henry's just blinded by love."

"Probably."

"Best time to be bedridden," I sighed.

"There's no right time for that. Anyway, how are you feeling?"

"Fine. Enid gives me a lot of painkillers, so it doesn't hurt that much. My jaw hurts a little sometimes, but it's getting better. I'm so glad you could find those painkillers when you went out. I don't know how would I be able to manage without them."

"I'm glad too, but you shouldn't talk so much just yet."

"It's harder to stay silent."

"There's a woman, who came with the newcomers, Connie, she can't speak, nor hear. We can't even imagine how someone can live like that until we have a little experience like this," said Jesus, I think he was just thinking out loud, but I was surprised.

"Oh my god… I won't complain about this ever again. She must be a badass woman."

Jesus smiled, then we fell silent for a moment. He took off his huge coat, threw it on the other bed, and sat next to it. He looked at me again. I turned my face towards him.

"So you know my secret now. About Negan. I'd like to ask you something."

"Yeah, go on."

"What's up with you and Aaron? I have a good eye for… things," I said with an impish smile. I saw his whole face turn red.

"Nothing," he said, laughing nervously.

"Oh, come on. It's crystal clear that you two have feelings for each other. Don't deny it."

"Alright, but Aaron lives in Alexandria and he went back. And now with the skins around, he can't sneak out anymore, he has a daughter, he can't risk his life."

"Now that you mention it, he was already here when I got here."

"Yeah, he used to sneak out to chat with me and to train together."

"I see."

Jesus' face went a little red.

"He asked me to teach him some moves."

"Yeah, you're really good at it. When we were at the cemetery, I was just speechless. I don't know anything like that."

"I can train you too if you are completely healed."

"Really? Would you? Oh wait… I don't even know where I belong now."

"What do you mean?"

"I want to go back to Alexandria, I have a house in the Kingdom and now I can't leave Hilltop. So I have no idea where I'll end up when I'm completely healed."

"You can't go back to Alexandria, not officially. Maybe, back to the Kingdom to be with Carol."

"Yeah, I had enough Carol in the past two years."

We both laughed.

"Aww, my jaw hurts," I said and I started to massage it, then I wiped away my tears from laughter.

"Easy. Yeah, so life's unpredictable," said Jesus, then he stood up. "Alright then, Enid told me to check on this thing, then I'll have to go if you don't mind," he said.

"Oh, okay. I'm just really bored in here. Daryl won't visit me, because he's really busy."

"Now that you mention it… What's going on between you two?" he asked while fixing the infusion bag, repeating my words, to mock me.

"Why is everyone asking me this? NOTHING!" I said. "We're just friends. Daryl never had any feelings for me, and he never will."

"Alright, alright okay," said Jesus defensively, while giggling. "I won't ask anything like that anymore. It's just hard to imagine Daryl with someone, that's why I was curious."

"You already know about Negan, so why would you even think…?"

"But you haven't seen Negan in a very long time, have you?"

"Thanks for reminding me," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Sorry. I didn't know it was that serious."

"It was... it is," I said, my thoughts wandered away for a minute.

Jesus looked at me.

"Okay, sorry about that. Well, I have to go, but I'll come back as soon as I can. I'll try to figure out something so that you wouldn't be so bored."

"That would be really nice. Thank you," I said with a faint smile. He put on his coat, smiled at me again, then left, but I heard him bumping into someone at the door.

"Sorry," he said, and I heard a growl as an answer. I knew immediately it was Daryl.

"Hey," I greeted him. I tried to talk less because my jaw started to hurt. He nodded. He was really pissed off, I could tell. "What's the matter?" I asked worryingly.

"Jesus told you?" he growled.

"Yes, he told me everything."

Daryl nodded.

"That crazy woman's beating the girl. Her mother."

I nodded.

"And Henry's just coming at me for it," he said, pacing in front of my bed. He was really pissed off.

I didn't know what to say, how to calm him down.

"I understand," I said finally. He nodded at me again, still pacing.

"There was nothing you could do for her. We can't risk our communities for a stranger," I tried to calm him.

He nodded silently again.

"How's your wound?" he asked, stopped suddenly.

"Tolerable."

"Let me see it," he said.

"Uhm, okay…" I said, hesitating.

He stood next to me. I felt a little worried, but I also got it, Daryl had to turn his thoughts away from the girl and the skins. He lifted the blanket, then my pajamas just as much to make the wound visible.

He glanced at me and lifted half of the gauze. Now that I think about it, I haven't even seen the wound yet. I looked at it curiously, like it wasn't my own stomach.

"I hope your hands are clean," I told him. I saw a really tiny faint, half-smile.

"Don't worry," he said and bent over my stomach to take a closer look. "It's really nasty, but better," he said.

"Thank you, doctor Dixon," I said mocking him. He smiled, now a little better than the first time. He put back the gauze and covered me back properly with the blanket.

"Would you sit down for a bit?" I asked him.

"Nah, I have to go. Glad you can talk again."

"Yeah, kinda," I said, massaging my jaw. He nodded.

"Good night," he said and left, locked the door.

I let out a huge sigh. I didn't expect him to check my wound. He learned some basic first aid shit out there over the years. Or should I say he learned how to stay alive? I guess he was looking for the signs of infection or something.

I closed my eyes. These skins were bothering me. I had the feeling that it isn't over.

My thoughts got back to Negan. Jesus reminded me. I wanted to sneak out to visit him… When will I see him again? If I see him ever again at all… I felt tears stinging my eyes.

I was left alone once more.

Author's notes: Listen to "The Lonely" by Christina Perri. Thank You for reading! ❤