All Nightmare Long
Chapter 445
Author's Note: Something funky happened with the last chapter and chapter 441 got reposted instead of 444. So go back and read it if you haven't. Thanks. I know I said I would be checking with Alexandria, but this thing with Hilltop is taking so long. I mean I kind of get why the writers of the show skip a lot, but you all know (hmm after 445 chapters I think you know my style by now) that I'm all about character development, along with story development. So hear we go. Please review.
Maggie and Beth's POV:
Maggie knocked on Gregory's door, not waiting for him to say come in, before entering with Beth.
Gregory looked at Beth. "I told Jesus that I didn't want to deal with her again," he said.
Beth and Maggie looked at each other. "We've never met before," Beth said. "I'm Beth, Maggie's sister, not Summer," she said.
"Ah, well nice to meet you. Sorry for the gloom, they have me on these antibiotics, they make me sensitive to the sun light. This is agony, it's like somebody's twisting my intestines with a cement mixer," Gregory said.
"It could have been worse. You're lucky we were here. Jesus told you about our offer?" Maggie asked.
"He did. What makes you think you can do what we haven't done?" Gregory asked.
"Have you tried anything other than giving him half of your things? Jesus made it sound like you just rolled over with out fighting," Beth said.
"I did what I had to do to keep my people safe," Gregory answered.
"We've handled people like Negan," Maggie answered.
"How?" Gregory questioned.
"They're dead. We can get your man back," Maggie informed him.
"I don't know if Craig's worth the trouble. I mean it's his brother that did this," Gregory said.
"You don't leave your people behind, no matter what they've done," Beth said.
"He was fighting to save someone he loves, he was afraid," Maggie said.
"That makes him weak," Gregory said.
"It doesn't, it makes him human," Beth insisted. "You protect those who who love, no matter what," she told him.
"Do you all have a script you follow? That older blond, the nurse, said almost the same thing," Greg told them.
"We all feel the same way," Maggie said.
"Well frankly, I don't know if I want him back in our gene pool," Gregory said.
"Our dad used to tell me that forgiveness takes more strength than anger," Maggie said.
Gregory sighed. "Well, I guess, he's a hell of a cook. Makes these amazing baked eggs with tomatoes,"he told them.
"You should want him back because he's one of your people, not because he can cook," Beth said.
"You give us supplies, we'll save Craig and take care of Negan and the saviors permamentaly," Maggie said.
Gregory laughed. "I'm sorry, I find this whole conversation pretty funny. I mean you balked when I proposed your people work for our supplies. Now isn't that exactly what's happening here?See, I had leverage and I used it. See it wasn't personal," he said.
"Yes we need food you have it, we're willing to work for it,"Maggie said.
"Then I'll get supplies for your people," Gregory said.
"Good" both Beth and Maggie said.
"I'll talk to Jesus, he'll make the arrangements. See this was fun, exciting," Gregory said.
"We want it before we leave,"Beth said.
"And half," Maggie said.
"Excuse me?" Gregory asked.
"Half of what you have. We saw what happened out there. Negan's expecting more supplies from this place, then more, then more. And if it keeps going like that, pretty soon you won't have anything left," Maggie said. "What happens then without ammo Without fighters, you'd be a dead man. So half of everything you have, right now. Or the deals off. You see, we have leverage," Maggie said.
Gregory clapped. "Congratulations, you have yourself a deal. Want anything else? Kidney maybe?"
"No, not that. But I do want something. I want the doctor to check me out, and give me prenatal vitamins," Maggie said.
"And an ultra sound picture," Beth said. "We'll send Jesus up," Beth said with a smile.
Abraham and Jewel's POV
Jewel looked as the door opened and Abraham came out on the porch. "Any word?" she asked.
"Maggie and Beth are still up there," Abraham said. "Can I ask you something?"
Jewel looked at him "Yeah," she answered.
"How did you know you wanted to settle down with Rick? Create a family in this shit storm?" Abe asked.
"If you are asking if Hope was planned, she wasn't," Jewel answered.
"I get that," Abraham said."Guess I'm curious how you decided to give it a chance," he said.
Jewel shrugged. "I never believed in love, never thought I was worth it, but in this world, it's better to have someone than not. Every day, I thank my lucky stars for having Rick, for meeting him. He's the first thing I think about in the morning, besides the kids, and the last thing I think about at night. If I'm scared, then I try to look at him, because I know he's doing the same. I don't think I ever made a conscious decision about falling in love, it started out as a friendship. I want to live, and I want to show my kids, show all of you, that life is worth living. Is this about Glenn and Maggie having a baby?" she questioned.
"Guess it got me thinking. I mean I'd be wearing a rain coat, so pancake's don't get made," Abraham said.
Jewel arched an eyebrow. "I'm going to assume the rain coat is a condom a pancake is the baby," she said. "Rick and I used protection, Hope still happened. But this is what we live for, not for us, but for them. We're fighting for the future," she explained.
Both turned as Rick came out. "Gregory agreed to the deal, Jesus is going to talk to him," he said as he kissed Jewel.
"What did he agree too?" Jewel asked as Maggie and Beth came out.
"Half of everything," Beth said.
Abraham whistled. "Well damn," he said.
"He didn't really have a choice," Maggie said. "Not if he wanted our help to get rid of Negan," she told them.
"I'll go start getting everyone together, ready to help pack up," Jewel said as she kissed Rick. Jewel wanted to talk to Summer before heading back to Alexandria. She found her sitting on the RV steps. "Gregory agreed to the deal."
Summer sighed. "So we're going to go chase down Negan and his men?" Summer asked.
Jewel had Summer scoot over on the step so she could sit down. "We aren't going to do anything. You don't have to do this, we're not going to make you take part of it. If you believe that this is something you can't be part of, then you don't be part of it. You can stay in Alexandria and help watch the gates, and help watch over your sisters. You are old enough to make your own decisions, and no one is going to make you do something that you don't want to do," she said as she kissed the top of Summer's head.
"But I'm a good fighter, and I've never sat out of a fight. Uncle Daryl even pointed that out," Summer said.
"You're right on both counts, but that doesn't matter," Jewel said. "You don't believe in this fight, then you don't fight. Simple as that," she said.
"No one is going to be disappointed if I don't?" Summer asked
"No," Jewel answered. "And if they are, then you are going to have to deal with me," she said. "No one is going to be angry with you either. Sometimes families don't agree with how to handle things, and that's OK," she said. "You know how your Uncle and Merle and I were, we hardly agreed on anything. I just want you to do what you feel is right. I don't know what you saw that day with Negan, but if it makes you feel like you need to stay out of it, stay out of it," she repeated.
"I want none of us to get involved," Summer said.
"It's something we feel like we need to do, and we made a deal, we're getting half of the food and medicine they have," Jewel told her.
"We're going to lose people, things like this comes with a price," Summer reminded her.
Jewel kissed the side of her head. "We'll handle it, we always do," she said.
Summer nodded as she stood up. "I'm going to say good bye to Raina before we go," she said as she walked into the house and up the stairs with no intention of seeing Raina but Gregory. She knocked as she walked in. "You made the deal with my family," she said.
"They offered, taking half of the stuff we have. This better work or we are going to come short of our half for Negan," Gregory said.
Summer went over and sat on the edge of the bed. "I was thinking the same thing, that this better work," she said. "Because if one member of my family gets hurt because of this deal, or worse, killed, I'm going to make you wish that Ethan had killed you."
Gregory looked at her. "Come on little girl, don't threaten me," he said.
Summer smirked and pressed her hand down on the wound. "Dixon's don't make threats, they make promises. I'm your worst nightmare," she said as she got up and walked out of the room.