ONE WEEK LATER:

Michonne's life went down the toilet after Beta died. And yes, he stayed dead.

First, she read the fifth book, 'The Best Defense' and decided to block her depiction of being beaten and raped by the Governor, twice,(oddly though, the Governor's drawing looked more like an actor she had seen in a few movies back in the day, named Danny Trejo…) out of her mind. But it wouldn't go away. If anything, it caused her to have the most fucked up dreams…

Dreams that told her she needed to find the 'New Beta'. Dreams in which she could see a man, with dark hair and dark eyes, beckoning her. Telling her to come to him.

Secondly, she couldn't hear or feel Beta/Brian any longer and yet, Michonne's control over the walkers was stronger than ever.

Third, Michonne and Negan had RJ's paternity test done by Virgil and Eugene. The results proved that RJ was Rick's child! Negan accused both Virgil and Eugene of lying, and then Negan accused her of telling them to lie because she still loved Rick! Michonne, who wasn't in the mood or mindset to deal with Negan and his crap, just shut down and shut him out.

Fourth, because Michonne would not deal with Negan, he got drunk and Maggie, who was despondent over Beta's death, was given the same pills by Virgil that Michonne had been on, years ago, after losing Rick. And unfortunately, the same thing happened—meaning Maggie and Negan ended up in bed together and everyone found out. Only Maggie claimed that Negan raped her.

Negan was put in the same jail cell he had spent almost seven years in, until everything could be sorted out. Negan claimed they were both drunk and knew what they were doing, but there was an unsettling piece of evidence that had been part of the 'crime', that at best, could be described as 'confusing'. Maggie claimed that she awoke, naked in Negan's bed with him snoring away beside her, equally as naked.

And, still inside of her, was an object.

Michonne's 'Rick Action Figure'.

Fifth, Michonne left Alexandria for Camp Packanack with Judith and RJ, who did not understand why Negan was suddenly NOT his father. Michonne decided that the DNA results, coupled with Negan being locked up again, were two confusing for the kids to deal with. So she packed them up and moved, temporarily, to another residence. The camp was peaceful, the walkers, under Michonne's control, now avoided people she did not want them to bother, so Judith and RJ could move around, unrestricted, while she pondered the mess she had made of her own life and her children's.

Negan did not understand why the hell he was still locked up!

Maggie had taken Herschel and left Alexandria. She had left with Carol, who had left with Morgan's group! Her accusation against him was nothing more than pure bullshittery. Bullshit in a can!

No, he had not 'raped' Maggie. Yes, he had been quite drunk but he remembered most of it.

Maggie had burst in to his goddamned home, high and drunk, screaming at him about killing Beta!

He had told her to 'excuse the fuck out of him, but he had not shoved lake water down his throat and caused him to choke it up'. He told her to take her shit to Darryl!

Then, Maggie had the nerve to tell him some crap about how her and Beta could have made a life together…blah…blah…and how she couldn't do what Darryl wanted…

Negan asked her for clarification, and her drunk ass told him that Darryl asked her to pretend to like him! Maggie had to pretend to like him so that Michonne would hate him!

Negan's response to her admission came in the form of his standing up, dropping his pants and telling her to 'prove that she could pretend'.

Maggie started to cry and call him 'Beta'. Then she crawled over, took him into her mouth and bit him on his dick! Negan grabbed her hair, yanking it and calling out for help, since she would not let go!

Then that's when things got hazy for him. He remembered waking up on the floor, naked and looking over at Maggie, who was also naked and lying on the floor. And that damned dog of Darryl's, the one he just called 'dog', was lying on Maggie's hair! Her hair was kind of fanned out and the dog was using it as a blanket or some shit! Negan wondered if the animal had come in when he called out for help?

Negan then passed out again and when he awoke, he was being dragged out of bed by Darryl, Aaron and Gabriel! They were screaming and cursing at him and before he knew it, he was thrown into his old cell again and told that he had raped Maggie!

Bullshit!

As he sat in his cell, pondering what it meant that he was still in it, after Maggie had left with her child, the door opened and Lydia hurried down the steps! Once she was in front of his cell door, Negan could see by her sympathetic facial expression, that he at least had one friend left in this stronghold.

"Lydia! Thank effing God! Why am I still in here if Maggie left? And when is Michonne coming back with the kids?" Negan asked her. He noticed she was holding something in her hand. An envelope.

"I think," Lydia said slowly, "that the council thinks you're a danger, because of what you did. Or what they think you did. I think they're going to throw you out of here."

Negan said nothing to that. That was better than being strung up, he guessed. He nodded towards the envelope.

"What's that?"

"Something I thought you should see." Lydia said, slipping him the envelope through the bars. Negan nodded and Lydia turned to leave but he had one more request for her.

"Is that book still around? The one Michonne was reading before Beta died?" he asked.

Lydia nodded, reluctantly.

"I need to read it. Can you bring it to me?"

"Negan…" Lydia began, but Negan cut her off.

"I need to read it for myself. Please?"

Lydia nodded and slowly turned to walk up the stairs. Negan waited until he heard the door close and lock, before he opened up the envelope. He had expected to find a letter from Michonne to him.

But this was a letter to Maggie, from Grace, Morgan's girlfriend. Puzzled, Negan began reading…

"Dear Maggie,

Morgan did not want you to know any of this, but I felt it was important that you were told something of what was going on at our prison, since what I am about to tell you, originated on your family's farm.

I used to work at a power plant, back when this world was a livable place to be in. So I always carry geiger counters. We passed your family farm and saw the destruction that a hoard of walkers had brought to your property…and probably your lives. As we passed, all of the geiger counters in our vehicle went off like crazy.

We continued on to the prison, but once there, Morgan and I put on hazmat suits, told the others in our group to stay behind, while we looked for the reason that our devices would be acting like this. Your farm was a few miles away from a power plant and some time after your group left, gamma radiation permeated your property.

We found walkers that had, and there is no way but to just say this, 'become flesh and blood' again. They were talking gibberish and had brain damage, but the rotting skin one suffers due to death, had repaired itself somewhat. Many had frostbite damage and leprosy. We could do nothing but put them down.

There was one man there, however, that was completely whole. Meaning he had not decayed very much and was alive, but comatose, and had been either for seven years or maybe just recently. We had no way of knowing. Morgan and I got him back to the prison, where he still resides.

But we noticed something about him. As soon as we brought him back to the prison, the walkers that clamored outside of our fences, turned and walked away. They wanted nothing to do with our prison. It was very similar to how the walkers responded to Michonne.

We returned to Virginia to get Dwight and Sherry and tell you about what was happening. But that all got lost in the chaos that was taking place within Alexandria. Our plan had been to take Beta back to Georgia with us and have the man we found, kill him. For that man, eventually awoke and it was discovered that the radiation triggered something in him when he was stressed or upset. He becomes unnaturally strong and is filled with rage. A rage that I do not think even Beta could have withstood.

But once Beta died, in that peculiar way, Morgan figured it was best to just not say anything. I did not agree. This man was found on your farm and I thought he could be a relative that could maybe help you in your grief.

I am encouraging you to come to Georgia and see if you know his name? He has told us nothing. Morgan thinks Carol can identify him but suspects he is someone Rick might have known?

Grace

Negan slowly stood up! What in the living fuck? Gamma Radiation? Gamma Radiation? Why did that term sound so familiar?

The door opened again and Lydia hurried down the steps with the graphic novel. That was when Negan knew where that phrase came from. It was out of a comic book. A Hulk comic book!

Negan looked at the letter again. What did this mean for Michonne? This 'Farm Walker' had come back to life and walkers avoided him.

Michonne could control walkers.

Negan's mind went back to that day when Carol and Morgan tried to force him to leave with them. They had not said what they were going to do with Beta. But Morgan had seemed pretty sure they could rid the earth of that giant freak!

Lydia handed him the book.

"The book has changed now. There's an author." Lydia said quietly. Negan took it from her, read the author's name and asked her for one more favor. He needed to see Darryl.

Michonne watched from the porch as Judith and RJ played near the lake's edge. They looked up when she appeared on the porch and she called them in for lunch. She had set a table on the porch and there was lemonade, tuna sandwiches along with potato chips. They came running and dove right into food that for most people, had disappeared years ago.

Judith eyed Michonne, who was not joining them.

"Aren't you doing to eat, Mama?" she asked. Michonne could see she was worried. RJ wolfed down one half of his sandwich.

"I'm just a little tired, honey. I'm going to go and lay down. Wake me up if you need me." she smiled gently and now even RJ looked at her. He had told her he knew she was 'sad' about Negan. Michonne did not want to worry her children and yet all she had done was worry them and herself. She was going to lie down on the couch and once she did, she was going to dream. Dream of that man that was now calling himself Beta.

Michonne sat down on the couch. It was not long before she moved to lie down and was out like a light. It was not long before familiar events began to unfold…

Michonne walked through the graveyard, carrying flowers. She was wearing a black, short sleeved sheath dress and a wide brimmed hat. She stopped when she arrived at the grave that read 'Rick Grimes'. She stood there, staring at his name and began to sob, dropping the flowers and putting her face in her hands. Merle Dixon walked by her and murmured that he was sorry for her loss.

Michonne sniffed and tried to turn away from Rick's grave, when hands stopped her. Hands that had rested on her shoulders from behind her. They kept her from moving. She knew it was him. The dark haired man. The dark haired man with dark eyes that hated Rick.

He whispered in her ear…

"You are the Alpha. Do not cry over someone that was so weak."

"He's not dead. He's lost. I shouldn't be here." was her response. The man's hands dropped from her shoulders and rested under the shelf of her breasts. He cupped and squeezed them.

"Don't." Michonne responded but she felt powerless. Powerless to resist him, even though he was Beta now. He wasn't obeying her. She had never dreamt of Brian Heriot in this way.

"He's not coming back because I won't let him. Not again." the man murmured, as his lips moved to kiss the back of her neck. Her hat was dislodged in that moment and Michonne watched it fall on top of Rick's grave.

"Our little girl is now 'Delta'. Bring her to me. Bring her to me…" he moaned and before Michonne knew it, they were both naked and on the ground, in front of Rick's grave marker. She was on her hands and knees, facing it, while the new Beta guided his length carefully into her body, grasping her hips firmly and reveling in her softness. The man slowly pumped deep inside of her until the words on Rick's gravestone blurred and…

Michonne was now sitting on the new Beta's bloated length, impaling herself repeatedly upon it as he himself sat on top of Rick's grave marker. His hands pressed against her hips firmly, welding her to him…

Michonne awoke with a start and sat up! The kids were out on the porch, still eating and giggling. Still having a good time. The man in her dream had said something different this time. Something about 'our little girl'? What did that mean? Was she going to have a child with this man?

She could not sit here and wait any longer. Michonne could not keep wondering what about what happening to her. She knew that the answers she sought were back in Georgia. How she knew this, Michonne did not know. But she had decided to go back there. To join Morgan's group and look for answers.

She would deal with Maggie and what happened with Negan, when she returned to the West Georgia Correctional Facility. The new Beta was there and he was going to give her the answers that Beta #1, would never provide.

Michonne continued to stare at Judith and RJ. This time, she was taking her children with her.

WEST GEORGIA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY—

Carol awoke and looked over at the sleeping John Dorie Sr.. This would be the last time he would see her. A blanket was wrapped around his waist.

Morgan had asked her to leave. Morgan, along with John Dorie Jr., his wife, June and Grace.

Victor Strand, who was in no position to judge, had thought her eviction after two weeks, was a bit harsh. He also thought something about the whole thing sounded a bit off.

But Carol accepted the blame and just asked that John Dorie Sr., was not told the real reason she was returning to Virginia. Carol didn't want such a beautiful man hurt by her deception. In her heart, she hoped that maybe he would leave here and come find her at Alexandria.

Carol stared down at him regretfully as she left the cell/ bedroom that had not had a chance to be theirs for very long. Morgan and some of his people, had actually been knocking down walls so that the cells could be more roomy. Carol walked past a construction crew of sorts before heading to the cafeteria. She had no idea where their supplies had come from, but there was plenty to eat. She put together a small breakfast of bread and roast beef, along with fruit, before heading to a table. There was orange juice as well.

She sat down and began to eat, just as Maggie sat across from her. Carol set down her food.

"I'm sorry. Thank you for covering for me." Maggie said.

"What are you doing with your life, Maggie?" Carol asked her. "We were told not to tell him anything."

"I couldn't help it! Carol, he is SHANE! I don't know how or why, but he is! Rick is gone…he has a right to know about Judith, Michonne and how that piece of garbage, Negan, is playing Daddy to her!"

"You see what happened when you told him, right? The south wall has to be repaired!" Carol fumed.

"I know." Maggie said quietly.

"What would make you want to have sex with him when he gets like that? Jesus!"

"Again, thank you, Carol!" Maggie stressed, not answering her question. "Herschel likes it here and I don't want to uproot him again."

Carol said nothing to that. She had found Maggie fucking Shane all while he literally pulsated with rage! June, John Dorie Jr's wife, who was the nurse around here, had been tending to Shane since he had been found. Apparently, Gamma Radiation that had permeated the Greene farm, had brought Shane back to life and left him in tact, lying on the farmland for years—comatose!

Now Shane was awake, angry and able to turn into something that could throw you through a wall! The walkers feared him and kept away. They kept away from him when he was calm as well. And now that Shane was awake and one with the world, he wanted to know about Rick, Lorie and the baby she had been carrying.

It took Carol back to those last days on the farm. She had not really been a part of the group them. Not really. She had been too busy mourning her girl, Sophia. Darryl had kept away from everyone as well. But Shane…everyone knew that something was going on between him, Lorie and Rick. And it was something that should have died when Rick killed Shane.

It had been decided when Carol returned her to the prison, that she would help June slowly get Shane to understand what he had missed. And it was working until Maggie interfered, ran her mouth, turned him into a frothing mad man and then jumped on to his monster cock for her own enjoyment! Carol now had to wonder where the hell the Maggie Rhee she had known, before Glenn was murdered, had gone off too?

Maybe that Maggie had died when Glenn had.

When Carol had discovered Maggie and 'Hulk Shane', she ordered Maggie to get dressed and leave the room.

She then took off her own clothes and waited until June, Grace and Morgan arrived! Carol had not actually went near Shane in the state he was in, but she figured seeing her naked with him, would be enough for the others to see.

It was. Morgan asked her to leave. June gave her a dirty look and Grace just looked shocked. Carol was not surprised by any of this. She knew Maggie could not go back to Alexandria with Negan. She just couldn't.

So Carol would.

Carol picked up her meal and stood up.

"I'm going back to Virginia and I'm telling Darryl and Michonne what they could be facing. There is no way either of them are going to let Shane…this Shane, near Judith. Repair the damage and tell him you lied about what you told him last night, Maggie. Otherwise, you'll destroy lives."

Carol walked out of the cafeteria after saying her peace. Maggie sighed and put her face down on the cafeteria table. It was too late for that. Lives had already been destroyed. And she planned to use Shane Walsh to do what Brian Heriot had not lived to do.

Kill Negan.

Meanwhile, in his medical cell, Shane Walsh sat up on his bed. He was wearing a medical gown now and was struggling to shake off the grogginess that had come on, when Nurse Dorie gave him something to sleep.

He had dreamt the same dream he had been for awhile. Rick had left Lorie to die here. Within these walls someplace. And he had taken the child she had, the one that had been HIS, and left for other parts.

Shane felt his body coil with rage but quelled it. He had dreamt of a woman. A woman he had made love to in a graveyard in front of Rick's death marker.

Rick was dead, though Shane could not shake the feeling that that weak bastard was still walking this earth someplace. He had been a weak husband to Lorie and had raised Carl to be just as weak.

Carl was dead. Maggie had told him that. That was Rick's fault as well.

His daughter was alive and this woman…this woman he had sex with everytime he closed his eyes, had her. Was raising her. She had his daughter. She was raising her with some piece of shit that had killed Glenn and others in cold blood. How could Rick have let that happen?

The woman…the woman that was raising her. She was the Alpha now.

Her name was Alpha. Alpha Michonne. And she would come to him soon. Shane could feel it.

THE END

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I want to thank every reader and reviewer of this story. I am working on a second installment that will be called 'Michonne's Way', where in which the Fear the Walking Dead cast, figure prominently into the lives of Michonne, Negan and Darryl, as they deal with their return to the Georgia, the prison and what Shane's being alive, could mean to them all.