Better Days

Chapter 289

Author's Note: Summer's being insistent that we get to the battle with the dang walkers, like now. I've told her she needs to calm down. I seriously don't want to catch up to where we are now. Though the meeting with Negan is going to be a bit different. I didn't say that did I? Nope forget that. Insert evil laughter. Review please.

Jewel, Rick and Carol's POV:

Jewel walked down the streets of Alexandria with Rick and saw Carol talking with a group of women. "The one talking with Carol, that's Erin. I know she has two kids, but nothing else. The one standing next to her is Stacey, the one who couldn't keep her mouth shut. I haven't met the third woman yet, she wasn't in the pantry that day and I haven't ran into her."

Rick gave his wife a smirk. "I am so glad you're on our side."

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer," Jewel said as Carol walked off the porch to join them. Both Rick and her gave the women a small wave.

"You heard about the party?" Carol asked them.

"Everyone's going to be there," Rick answered.

Carol glanced at Jewel. "Do you know what's going on?"

"The armory," Jewel answered. "I'm in Carol, you don't have to worry, just because I want to try another way. I am always going to be in," she answered.

"So tonight then?" Rick asked.

"I should be able to sneak out," Carol told them.

"The armory is right next to Deanna's, I'll back you up," Rick told her.

"People might wonder where their new constable is or Carl and Summer's dad, or those two cute little babies," Carol said.

"So I guess I'm out for similar reasons?" Jewel asked.

Carol nodded. "It's going to be suspicious if you aren't showing off Hope. They already know you are a protective momma bear, not letting anyone but one of us hold Hope," she told her.

"We can't use Daryl, they're watching every move he makes," Rick told them. "The same with Jes."

"Jes even more so, since she pointed out the flaws with the watchtower and being able to climb the wall," Jewel told them.

"It's fine. You know what's great about this place? I get to be invisible again," Carol told them.

Jewel nodded at her words. "A wolf in sheep's clothing," she answered. "Speaking of clothing, I need to go find Quinn and try to find a dress for tonight," she said as she rolled her eyes. "First I need to find a Hope, it's almost time for her to eat," she said as she kissed Rick.

Jewel and Rosita's POV:

Jewel had decided to recruit Rosita in this dress thing, since Rosita had previously mentioned they needed bonding time. Quinn was nice enough, but she wasn't part of her group, her family. She walked into the infirmary and looked around. She tensed up when she heard the voice of the man she really wanted to avoid.

"Jewel right?" Pete questioned.

Jewel turned around. "We've met before, you were on the porch, I was taking a walk with my husband," she stated.

"You finally coming in for that checkup? Giving birth out there, it could have done some damage. You weren't able to properly keep yourself clean, best to get looked at," Pete told her.

Jewel felt herself tense up but took a breath. "I appreciate your concern for my health, Pete, but Ronnie's already checked me out. I just came in to see if I could borrow Rosita, to help me get ready for tonight's shindig," she told him as she kept holding his stare.

Pete took a step closer. "I'm the doctor around here, Jewel. So, I know you understand that I'd like to see how you are for myself," he said.

Jewel took a step forward never letting her eyes leave his. "Is this where I am supposed to cower from you? Is this where I'm supposed to hop on the bed and let you "look" me over? Is this where I'm supposed to be afraid of you? Because if it is, I am glad to disappoint you," she said.

"I'm trying to help you," Pete answered.

Jewel took another step toward him, making him step back. "No you aren't, Pete. What you are trying to do is intimidate me. Just like you tried to with Ronnie, just like you did with the other doctor," Jewel answered.

Pete looked at her. "You don't know anything about me."

Jewel took another step making him hit a bed. "Oh, I've known men like you my whole life. You like to think that you're special, you like to think you are the most important person on earth, that your word is the only word that means anything. You expect every woman to bow down to you, to do what you say because you're the man," she said. "You get drunk and you think that it gives you the power to hurt people," she informed him. "You expect me to bow to you, to be afraid of you because you're bigger then me?" she questioned with a smirk. "Well, see my daddy kind of ruined me being afraid of any man. I swore to God after the beatings that man gave me, that no other man would ever make me cower in fear."

Pete tried to straighten up from against the bed. "I don't mean no harm."

Jewel took a step closer to him making sure he was penned. "I have my suspicions that you are the kind of man that my daddy was. That you rule your family with threats, that you use your fist when they 'misbehave.' Maybe Deanna can overlook that, maybe she can just pretend that if she doesn't see it, then it doesn't happen. Well, Doc, I'm here now and I'm your worst nightmare. If I ever see proof that you are hurting your wife or God forbid, your sons, you and me, we're going to take a trip out to get some supplies. I was an emergency room nurse, so me going on a supply run with you to look for medical supplies would be a reasonable request. You're thinking oh you'll just tell Deanna that I threatened you? Yeah, you could do that, but do you think she'd believe you? I mean, I'm a mother of a newborn, a mother to other children, would I ever risk there safety here by doing something like that? I mean risk being thrown out, back there with the Walkers', with the humans? No, a mother like me would never do that, no one would believe your word over mine. It would just be a nice little supply run," she told him as she patted his face. "You wouldn't want to show them that you were scared of me, Pete. That's not you, because you aren't afraid of a woman, we could never be something for you to be afraid of," she said as she stepped back. "Oh one more thing, you ever offer to check me over again, you're going to be losing an important part of your anatomy," she said as she smirked. "I think we're clear on where we stand don't you? Now, where is Rosita?"

"Rosita," Pete called out.

"It was nice to have this conversation with you Pete, I hoped it cleared up some things," Jewel said with a smirk.

Rosita came out. "Hey Jewel, what's up?" she asked.

"I was coming to see if you could take off, Quinn said she had some dresses for me to try on for tonight, and since you had already offered previously, thought you'd like to help," she told her. "I'm sure Pete wouldn't mind?"

"We're slow," Pete answered.

"Oh this is going to be fun," Rosita told her as they walked out. "I heard what went on between you and Pete."

Jewel glanced at her. "You think I was wrong?" she asked.

"Hell no, I think that man needed to be put in his place. Everyone is scared shitless of losing him, because he was the only doctor. They overlooked things," Rosita told her. "Is it true? About what you said about your dad?"

Jewel pulled down her shirt. "It's true, Merle and Daryl got it the same. Daryl the worst because he always interfered when the old man took out his rages on me."

"That explains a lot," Rosita answered.

"What do you mean?" Jewel answered.

"You stood up against Abraham, you held your own in Terminus. I don't think I could have had a baby and did what you did. You were prepared for this world before this world even happened," Rosita told her. "Speaking of baby," she said as she nodded her head toward Mika carrying a very unhappy Hope.

"She's hungry, and the bottle is not happening today," Mika reported.

"Oh goodness, you just refuse to take the bottle today huh?" Jewel told Hope as she picked her up. "Well, that's alright ladybug, because that just means I can bond with you and postpone looking for dresses. Yes," she told her. "Go on back to the house, Mika. Pick through the clothes Quinn brought over, pick something out for yourself, Hope and Judith."

"We're going to this party?" Mika asked.

"We are, and we're going to have fun," Rosita said. "After I get Jewel all fancied up, I'm going to come work on your hair!"

Jewel and Mika both gave each other matching looks. "Fun, yeah, I'd rather a horde of Walkers' come through the gate then me attend this party," Jewel answered as she put a blanket over Hope as she nursed.

TBC