Quinn & Negan, Tower

"THEY ARE HERE!" we heard someone yelling. We turned to the window and saw the horde completely surrounding the tower. I gasped, I looked at Negan, he was breathing heavily, staring at the horde.

I hurried out of the room, looking for Carol. I ran into Daryl.

"Hey! Have you seen Carol?" I asked. He nodded back at the stairs.

"She's down there," he said. I hurried down. Carol looked at me, she still seemed weary.

"What's up?" I asked, panting. "They are here!"

"Yeah, I know, we just got back. There's something you should know," she said. "Judith told Daryl that Michonne went away to help some people."

"Okay. Best time to leave her kids alone," I said sarcastically. "They are not alone, they have us, but you know what I mean," I said disapprovingly.

"Yeah," she turned her eyes away, I could tell something was not right.

"What's bothering you?" I asked.

"Daryl said he is afraid we will never see Michonne again like everybody else is gone as well…"

I frowned my eyebrows.

"That's positive, but what else we expect from Daryl?" I asked.

"I told him I'm still here and he didn't answer."

I stepped to Carol and hugged her.

"Oh, honey. He will come around. Give him time."

"I gave up hope," she whispered. "We are about to die once again anyway, so… whatever."

"No, don't say that," I said as I was stroking her head. Then I released her, looked her in the eye. "We will survive like we always do, and then you can figure things out."

She shook her head silently, I patted her shoulder.

"Come on, let's go upstairs," I said and we headed back. Everyone gathered in one room. I was searching for Negan instantly, without even realizing it. Finally, I spotted him, sitting on a table at the back of the room. I wanted to go to him, but then Gabriel started talking and I didn't want to interrupt him by walking all over the room. So, I stayed by Carol's side, but my eyes met with Negan's. We locked eyes for a long minute, then I turned my attention to Gabriel, who let us know about the plan. People had to go out to lure the herd away. I glanced at Carol, she looked determined.

"You're going, aren't you?" I asked in a whisper. She nodded. I glanced at Daryl, he locked eyes with me, I shook my head slightly. He nodded. He was going too. I felt my stomach was shrinking more by the moment. No. I have to worry about Carol and Daryl once again. In the meantime, Lydia offered her help and got rejected by Oceanside. Negan looked at the scene very grumpily. He knew that feeling all too well. Gabriel finished the meeting. I turned to Carol.

"Are you really going?" I asked, I felt my mouth winced.

"Someone has to do it," she said. "We can't just sit here, waiting."

I shook my head disapprovingly.

"I hate that you always have to do this…"

"You worry too much," she said, smiling slightly. Carol hugged me, then she left. My eyes met with Daryl's. I approached him.

"Are you going too?" I asked, it was hard to hold my tears back.

"You don't have to come if you're scared. It's fine," he said.

"I'm scared of losing Carol and you," I said. He looked me in the eye and took a step closer to me.

"I'm scared too," he said in his low, growling voice, so quietly no one heard, but me. "But people here need us. Need our help. There are children, who need us."

I felt a tear roll down my cheek, but I nodded understandingly. Daryl put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently. He continued:

"You don't have to come. Stay here and protect them. I know you never had to go through a horde like this before, but Carol and I did it. Several times."

"I did it once too. When those guys attacked Alexandria with a W on their foreheads…" I said. "Daryl's mouth winced this time. Carl and Rick… They were only distant memories."

"I don't want you to come. It's enough for me to worry about Carol," he said. "I would feel better if you stayed here and protected the tower."

I nodded and quickly wiped away my tears.

"Please, come back safe. And bring Carol back too," I said quietly. He nodded silently and hugged me. When we parted we looked each other in the eye for a long moment. It felt like goodbye, but I hoped it wasn't the last one. When he left me, I searched for Carol with my eyes once again, she went to get a weapon for herself. I saw some people staring at her. As I approached I heard Dianne insulting Carol for letting Negan out and Carol said she was sorry.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I snapped at Dianne, I was too emotional already, so my frustration turned into aggression in an instant. "Carol was trying to help, while you did what exactly?" I was way too emotional, so I couldn't control myself.

"We should have figured out a plan with the council, instead of Carol going on self-centered, lone wolf missions," she stated.

"Carol saved your fucking ass! You should thank her! Also Negan! Because he killed Alpha, to save us all!" I said. Dianne stood my gaze. She looked at me with hatred and despise then left us without a word.

"Let her be, Quinn," said Carol.

"Bitch," I said. Dianne winced, glanced at me again with despise above her shoulder, then she went on without saying anything. I watched her go away, then I turned my gaze back at Carol.

"Did you just say sorry to her?" I snapped at her.

"Yeah," she said.

"You regret letting Negan out?" I asked irritatedly.

"Quinn, you act a little crazy right now. So, just calm down, okay? Not everyone is in love with Negan here," she said softly like she was trying to calm me down, but actually, pissed me off even more.

I was offended. I opened my mouth to say something, but she intervened.

"Quinn. I'm sorry, but… Dianne might be right. I'm selfish. And I act on my own terms. I tend to go far to save people I love."

I gulped down my anger.

"Yeah, I saw that at Terminus," I said grumpily.

"So, it might not have been the best idea that I let Negan out," she said quietly. "Maybe Hilltop would still be there."

"The whisperers would attack Hilltop anyway, with or without Negan!" I stated aggressively. "Negan helped us and he is harmless!"

"We'll see about that," she said, deep in thoughts.

"How many times does he have to prove himself?"

"We shouldn't discuss this now. I have to go," she said, I stepped in front of her.

"No, you don't."

"Daryl needs help."

"Are you really going out like this?"

"You started arguing."

"I hate you. Why do we always have to fight before you go on a suicide mission?" I asked.

"I'm sorry. About everything. But I really have to go now."

We locked eyes for a long moment, then I stepped aside and let her go. She hurried downstairs, after Daryl. I just hoped this wasn't our last conversation. I had no idea why I had all these "last one thoughts", but I hoped they were just fears and not instincts. As I turned around I saw Negan standing by the wall, watching.

"Were you eavesdropping?" I asked, I was still angry.

"You didn't have to do that," he said gently, avoiding my eyes.

"They are narrow-minded idiots," I said angrily.

"They are right. I deserve this," said Negan casually.

"No. No one deserves anything like this!"

"Quinn…" he stepped closer to me and caressed my cheek, finally looked me in the eye. "They are right about me. Don't fight them, because it will be worse for you. Everyone will hate you for being with me."

"I don't care at all what they think. They didn't care about me ever, not even before you. I only had Carol. I don't give a shit about them, just like they didn't give a shit about me. I only care about my friends."

"Are you willing to sacrifice everything for me?" he asked quietly.

"There's nothing to sacrifice," I said seriously looking him in the eye, then I left him alone, but I barely took a step when he said:

"That was damn hot, by the way," he said. I stopped dead and turned back to him, I saw him smiling widely. "The way you gave them a piece of your mind," he said and looked me in the eye.

No one ever said that to me before. That something I did was "hot". I felt my cheeks were burning, they went so red. I rolled my eyes, I was still angry, so I just left him there. I went to my backpack to get my other knife. I was so angry. Because of Dianne, because of Alexandrians being brainless idiots, and because of Carol regretting letting Negan out. As I took my two knives and arranged them on my belt, I saw from the corner of my eye that Daryl was coming upstairs once again and he was heading straight to Negan. I approached them as well, I heard Daryl wanted Negan to go with them but Negan wanted to stay because he was scared for his life.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I snapped at Daryl. Both of them looked at me. "I have to worry about Carol and you and now you want to take him too?!"

"We need every help we can get, and this asshole is good at walking with the horde," said Daryl, nodding at Negan.

"I'll pass, sorry. They want to kill me for Alpha, I'm not going out there," said Negan. Daryl shook his head disbelievingly, then he glanced at me.

"Protect the tower," he growled and headed downstairs. I was staring at his back. My thoughts wandered away again… What if this is the last time I see Daryl?... And now I was so angry with him too.

I snapped out of this awful thought and I noticed Negan watching me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said and glanced after Daryl, then he left me there. I frowned my eyebrows. Is he jealous of Daryl? Because he is important to me? I followed Negan, he was getting a bottle from his backpack and drank some water.

"He saved my life, several times," I said. "I owe him and he is my friend."

Negan put the bottle back in the backpack and looked at me.

"I didn't say anything," he said.

"I saw the look in your eyes."

"You can lie to yourself, but… Whatever."

"What on earth are you even talking about?" I snapped at him, I was still pissed off. Always everything comes at the same time, to make me explode with anger.

"You still have feelings for him," he said.

"You're nuts. I want him and Carol to get together! I don't want anything from Daryl!"

"I don't blame you… he saved you several times, that's quite attractive," he continued like he didn't hear what I just said.

"Negan… Are you listening to me?"

"You're lying to yourself," he said.

"Jesus Christ," I exhaled furiously. I grabbed a binocular from the table and headed to the window. I was searching for Carol. Negan stood by another window. I spotted Carol walking with someone I didn't recognize from behind. I saw Carol's silver hair and I recognized her movement.

"Did you find him?" asked Negan.

"I was looking for Carol and yes, I found her," I said grumpily. "No…" I breathed. I saw a whisperer attacking Carol and her company fell. "Carol's in danger!" I said and I hurried to go after her but Negan grabbed my arm.

"Don't," he said.

"Let me go! They need my help!"

"You can't help them."

I was struggling against Negan, but he grasped my arm stronger. I felt anger and frustration building up inside me. What if Carol is already dead while we are struggling here? Negan reached behind his back with his other hand and pulled out his whisperer mask from his pocket. I stopped struggling.

"What…?" I asked. He let go of my hand.

"I'll go help them. Daryl was right, I know how to move with the horde. Promise me you'll stay here."

I was speechless, I was so confronted. I was going nuts because of worrying about Carol and Daryl and now Negan wants to go out, so I have to worry about him too?!

"No! No!" I said, I was overwhelmed by my emotions. He was looking me in the eye the entire time, he slowly put his mask on and then left me there.

"I'll come back," he said and disappeared into the elevator shaft. I was sobbing, I felt my whole body was shaking. I couldn't take this. Everything happened at the same time I was so angry and frustrated and now going crazy from worrying. I hurried back to the window and was trying to find Carol or Daryl or Negan in the crowd. My breathing became heavier, I was on the verge of a panic attack when Henry appeared beside me.

"Have you seen Lydia?," he asked.

"No," I said, sobbing, panting.

"Quinn, are you crying? What's wrong?" he asked as he approached me.

"Negan went out to help them," I said.

"Oh, you're worried. Lydia disappeared again, I'm afraid she went out too. Can I take that?" he asked, pointing at my binoculars. I handed it to him and he started searching. He probably saw better, I had my eyes full of tears, barely seeing anything.

"Don't cry, Quinn," he glanced at me," They'll be okay, they did this several times.

I shook my head silently. Henry kept searching.

"I found them! Lydia is helping mom, they are almost out of the crowd!" he said. I quickly wiped away my tears to see better. "There," Henry pointed in the direction, I saw them. I let out a sigh.

"Can you see Negan?" I asked.

"No, not yet," he said. "I got Daryl, Lydia and mom are just approaching him."

I nodded. It was already dusk.

"It will be dark real soon, they should hurry," I said, my voice shaky.

"They are coming!" Gabriel yelled somewhere in the building.

"We have to go!" I said, I had to gulp down my feelings, I got my shit together. I grabbed my backpack and we hurried in the direction of the voices with Henry. We found Gabriel and Judith, they were saying goodbyes too.

"Go! I won't let them go after you," said Gabriel. The little girl nodded and headed to the elevator.

"You should go too," I turned to Henry. "Protect Judith."

He nodded without saying anything. I hugged Henry, then he hurried after Judith. I locked eyes with Gabriel, he held a gun, I took my knives out. We turned our gazes to the barricaded door. I quickly put down my backpack. The whisperers were breaking through. I felt my stomach shrank once again. I grabbed my knives stronger. As soon as they came through Gabriel started shooting. I stood in the position Jesus taught me. One of them got close enough to us, I fought him. He was quick. I cut his arm. He knocked me over. I fell on my back.

"Quinn!" Gabriel yelled, and he kept shooting, but there were too many. Two of them grabbed Gabriel. Everything happened so fast. I was struggling against the one who got me. I was kicking and trying to stab, but he stepped on my wrist. It was painful. That's when he got stabbed with a familiar sword. As soon as he fell off of me, I saw Jesus standing right in front of me, smiling.

"Are you alright?" he asked as he took my hand to pull me up.

"Jesus…" I panted. "Perfect timing," I said and I hugged him. I saw Aaron and Alden too and then… I realized that Gabriel was hugging someone too… My eyes met with Maggie's, she smiled at me. She didn't know yet. It felt like lightning struck me. Maggie is back…

"What's wrong?" asked Jesus, seeing my shocked face.

"Maggie…" I looked at Jesus. "Negan…" I whispered to him. He understood immediately.

"She doesn't know," he whispered.

"She will, sooner or later," I said.

"Don't worry about it now. We have to go," he said, I nodded. Maggie stepped to me and hugged me too, I didn't expect it at all. We barely talked to each other before.

"Are you okay?" she asked, seeing my shocked and scared face, but she didn't know I wasn't afraid of the whisperers, I was scared of her…

"Yeah," I said and quickly turned away. I grabbed my backpack once again.

"Let's go," said Jesus and we entered the elevator shaft, one by one. My thoughts exploded. Maggie is back… She is going to kill Negan. She spared him once, but probably she regretted it. She won't be happy about our relationship… And I was still worried about Negan, Carol, and Daryl. I hope everyone was okay. They have to be okay.

….

Negan was walking with the horde, his heart pounding heavily. He hated the smell, but he had to do it once again. He wanted to help Carol and Daryl, so Quinn wouldn't worry that much. He had no idea, or he didn't believe, that Quinn will be even more worried about him. Quinn was going nuts about worrying, but Negan just kept going to help Carol and Daryl for her. He was walking in the dark, silently with the horde, when he spotted Beta. His heart started to pound even faster, he was scared.

That's it… this asshole's gonna kill me. – he thought. He fake-stumbled his way towards Beta.

"Heeey, shithead!" Negan whispered like the whisperers did. Beta turned around in an instant and jumped on him. Negan fell on the ground and fought Beta.

"For Alpha!" said Beta, his voice sounded like a thunderstorm. He was about to stab Negan when suddenly Beta was attacked by Daryl from behind. He got off of Negan and Daryl stabbed him in the eyes. Negan was panting, watching the scene speechless. Beta got surrounded by walkers. Daryl stepped to Negan and helped him up. Negan grabbed his hand and they backed away from the walkers, watching Beta being ripped apart. His mask was torn. Negan took off his whisperer mask too. He suddenly recognized Beta.

"You know who that asshole was?" he asked taken aback.

"Yeah. Nobody," said Daryl and he headed back to the others. Negan followed him speechless. He used to listen to Beta's songs in his car when he was driving to work. He didn't consider himself a fan, but still, he was listening to this guy's songs. In the apocalypse, fame doesn't matter at all. People die the same way. Negan was still panting as he followed Daryl back to the others.

….

Author's notes: Listen to "Not gonna die" by Skillet.

This turned out quite long, sorry about that.

Thank You for reading! ❤