Negan was in the meeting room of the Sanctuary, pacing in front of the window. In his hand, he was swinging Lucille, mindlessly. It had already been three days since the encounter with Rick in the middle of nowhere and he felt restless. As much as he had tried not to think about his new prisoner, he was on his mind anyway. All he could think about was the haunted gaze of his enemy when he confronted him. Same eyes that almost instantly lost their color and life once Negan had grabbed him.

Rick had not always been a fighter, especially when they first met, but he since seemed to know better. Saying all what Negan wanted to hear in the front side only to conspire against him with some mercenaries behind his back. That was not good for his business of course, but as a leader, a part of him could only respect his boldness.

So why would Rick act so resigned now that he was finally getting back at him? Was he feeling guilty for all the injuries his little rebellion had caused? Was he tired of all the responsibilities he had to take on? Did someone from Alexandria died? Rick had such a strong sense of responsibility that he wouldn't be surprised if losing even one soul from his community was hitting on him so badly. Though it all seemed like a pretty extreme reaction to him.

Negan had always imagined Rick as the kind of man who would mourn by letting his rage loose. Entering a room or a hallway full of walkers and slaughtering them with only his machete of his to protect himself. Not that he would care for his own safety at this point. And he wouldn't care for all the blood splashing around the walls, on his clothes or on his face either. He would cry and shout but of all that would not be anywhere enough to quench his thirst.

He was there on his quasi-dream, his head having started to wave when some knocks resonated on the door. Grinning, he promised himself to head directly to his room after that for a well-earned nap. He was in no condition right now to do anything useful, as dozy as he was feeling.

- "Come in!" He simply stated. And the door opened, slowly. Almost too slowly for Negan who thought for a moment that he was still in a hypnotic state. He even had to reach for the table to steady himself. And after what felt like ages, Simon appeared in the doorway. He looked hesitant and was clearly dragging his feet.

- "Well come on in!" Negan called him out, impatient. "I never ate anyone. Yet anyway." That joke, Negan realized, had a hell of a different meaning, now that actual flesh eaters were walking the earth. And this last sentence seemed to worry his lieutenant as a concern look appeared on his face.

- "Damn, you almost look like you fucked something up!" Negan let the silence drag for a few seconds before adding, eyes as cold as steel: "Did you?

- I don't really know if we can call this an issue… But we might have a situation with the last prisoner.

- Did he come to his senses and put up a fight?" A grin appeared on Negan's face. That would be such good news. If Rick had put an end to this farce, he could finally come back to his old since-when-do-I-even-care self.

- "Well, it's actually quite the opposite. He refuses to eat." Simon looked like he was walking on eggs, not knowing if the news he was bringing were music to Negan's ears or if he was gonna be upset and lash it all out on him. Taking care of prisoners was normally Dwight's job, for christ's sake. Frowning, Negan came back to a neutral look, his brows furrowing. Then, out of nowhere, he just thumped the table, making Simon shake in his boots.

- "Take me to him." Since they came back with Rick, Negan had not come to his cell nor did he even know in which cell Simon had put him in. Despite the tiredness that was creeping in his body and in his mind, now was more than time to pay him a visit.

Simon opened the cell and pushed the door wide open. The only light was coming from the hallway, the prisoners always being kept in the dark. From the outside, Negan switch the light on and a powerful and raw brightness flooded the room. Rick, huddled on the bare floor, didn't even flinch.

- "Did he eat anything at all?" Negan asked as he stepped in and saw the untouched tray on a side with some bread and a glass of water. On his side, Simon took the calmness in Negan's voice as good news and he regained some confidence.

- "No, I changed the food twice per day and it was always intact like this.

- Did he drink anything?" Negan continued, his emotions unreadable.

- "No, boss." Negan could sense so much pride on this laconic answer that he almost gritted his teeth.

- "He's been here three days.

- Yes, boss.

- That was not a goddamn question, Simon. He's been in this cell three whole fucking days and you didn't force him to drink anything at all? Do you know how many days a human being is able to survive for without water?"
Taken aback by this sudden rise of cold anger, Simon was only able to mumble out some vague excuses like "You didn't say anything" or "How was I supposed to know".

- "Tell me Simon, what would I need his corpse for? Those are not really bargain money, ain't them?"
In his mind, a flash of Sasha coming out of that coffin appeared but he dismissed it as fast as it came. Rick wasn't dead yet and he was gonna make sure it wasn't gonna come to that.

- "Just go, Simon." Negan sighed, dismissive. "And I know it's hard, but try to think next time."
Simon, still upset to have been called out, didn't ask twice and left.

- "Three to four days." Negan mumbled to himself, answering his own previous question with a bit of apprehension.
Taking hold on the still full glass on the floor, he approached Rick carefully. He could swear he hadn't moved an inch since he was here. Even his eyes, almost closed, were fixing a point on the opposite wall without ever blinking. Cupping his head on the side, he was going to bring the glass to his mouth when he felt the burn on his hand.

Pushing gently but firmly on his cheek, he was able to put him in a sited position against the wall. Then he shifted his hand to his forehead. Rick was burning hot with fever, his entire body boiling from the inside out. It made Negan wonder how the man was able to stay this still when his whole body was crying for help. But he had no time to lose in hollow thinking. Quickly, he pushed the glass of water to his mouth once again and inclined it. Though, it seemed the water was not able to make its way down Rick's throat, instead coming out in little rivulets on his chin.

- "For fuck's sake, Rick. Are you really gonna turn water down in your condition?"

But deep down, in his core, he knew what that was. The leader of Alexandria was going on a thirst strike. And if he had already suffered three days long to prove his point, he wasn't gonna stop there. But if his point was to be set free, then first, it was never gonna happen on his watch and second, he had played with a match so carefully that his whole body was now on fire. Simply put, he was in danger. Even if Negan would let him go as some kind of Christmas fucking miracle, Rick wouldn't even be able to go out of this cell by himself. Or even stand. Or even move his fucking little toe for that matter.

- "Well Rick. I know you're not gonna like that but you lost the right to complain when you refused water once too many." And without further ado, he put one hand under Rick's knees, the other passing under his elbows and he lifted him, bridal mode. Rick's head felt against his chest, lifeless. He would not even have been able to protest anyway. His mind was gone. Negan was sure he wouldn't even remember this moment if… No, not if. When. When Rick would get better. Because he would. Negan was gonna make sure of that personally. No more delegating something that important.

Strengthening his grip on Rick, he reached for the door then stepped into the hallway. Looking around, he shouted out to some woman that just happened to be there, not minding how strange he looked with Rick in his arms and the look of concerns on his face.

- "Hey, go get the doctor in my room. Please, that's an emergency." Not that he would have been that polite in normal circumstances but if a bit of good manners could make her go faster, the better. At that, the woman just nodded and went on its way. Negan, on the other side, headed directly to his room, thankful that he wouldn't have to leave Rick's side to go get the doctor himself.

- "It's gonna be okay, Rick." He whispered as he was laying him in his room on his own bed. "I promise you, you're gonna be okay."