All Nightmare Long

Chapter 569

Author's Note: Let's continue, shall we? I'm going to pick up where I left off last chapter. Jes isn't done with Shaw yet. I want to flesh out some of the people in Arlington since they are going to be part of the coalition. Not everyone will make it. Please review, it means a lot.

Arlington:

Shaw looked at Mitch, taking a step forward. "You need to learn how to talk to your elders, kid."

Jes and Joey both took a step forward. "Take another step toward him and it's going to be the last thing you ever do," Jes warned him.

"Take your weapons and go," Shaw told her. "And I don't want to see any of your faces around here again. This is done, I'm done."

"Shaw, maybe we need to rethink this," Jake offered.

"What is there to rethink? It's not our fight," Shaw said. "I'm not going to risk any of you for a fight that we aren't involved in."

"Isn't that what we did before sir?" Harris asked. "Most of us served in some way, we risked our lives in some sort of way for other people. And there's not a whole lot of people, good people, left in this world."

"Finally, someone talking some sense," Jes murmured.

"Maybe the three of you should step out, let us talk about this," Garza suggested.

"I'm not going anywhere," Jes said. "This involves us."

"Right now, this is about this group, our group. We need to discuss this, among all of us. Just wait outside, please?" Shaw asked as he looked at Jes.

"Come on, Jes, let's give them time to talk," Joey said. "Give us a couple guns, we'll walk the perimeter, look out for threats," he offered.

Shaw gave him a look before looking at Mitch.

"I can shoot," Mitch assured him.

Shaw sighed. "Cece get them guns, go with them."

"She can stay, she's part of this too," Claire said, as she went over and got guns for the three of them.

Jes took the guns and handed them to Mitch and Joey before glancing at Garza and the three of them going out.

Shaw waited until the three of them left. "What the hell do you all think you're doing? I've kept you all alive since the beginning of this, and now because a pretty face from Garza's past shows up with some story about a boogie man and you all start doubting me?"

"We know that this boogie man exists, we can't deny it," Harris pointed out.

"I saw him, I saw just a small fraction of his group. I also saw him kill a man because he had a difference of opinion, he told him he had no guts and literally stuck a knife in his guts. He did it in front of the man's sister and laughed while he was doing it. In the old world we would have called him a dictator, taking things and conquering people. Ruling by fear. And, disposing of dictators is Jes's specialty," Garza told him.

"So, you want to risk all of our lives because you trust someone from your past?" Malia asked.

"If we don't do anything, then our lives are in danger anyway, aren't they?" Jake questioned.

"Exactly," Garza said.

"But our lives are always in danger," Malia added.

"By the dead," Harris said.

"If we go out and join this fight, some of us may die," Shaw pointed out.

"Some of us may die every time we step out the door," Colton pointed out.

"I'd rather die by fighting then waiting for them to find us," Thor added.

"Does sitting by and doing nothing really feel like the right thing to do to you sir?" Harris questioned.

"They said it themselves, they don't have a lot of soldiers," Shaw answered.

"But they can fight, that's obvious or they wouldn't have survived this long," Garza responded.

"And they have a better chance to succeed if we help them train the ones who don't have experience," Colton responded.

"You really think that kid can fight?" Shaw asks.

"You really need to stop underestimating us kids," Cece answered. "Mitch heard me while I was following them, and you know I don't make noise, you all taught me that."

"So, what do you all suggest? A vote?" Shaw questioned.

"You're still our leader," Harris pointed out.

"Bring them in," Shaw responded.

Garza nodded and opened the door. "Hey, come back in."

Jes glanced at Joey and Mitch as they walked in. "So, are we going on our merry little way?" Jes questioned.

Shaw looked at them. "How many of your people know how to fight?"

"We've been training people at Alexandria soon after we got there," Jes answered.

"They any good?" Shaw questioned.

"The ones that didn't learn, didn't last long," Mitch answered.

"We've got another community that we are trying to get us to join, they don't know how to fight, but they were being led by an idiot," Jes said.

"You mean a coward," Mitch stated.

"Yeah that too," Jes answered.

"We've got another community who got fighters, the leader doesn't want to fight but he's got a soldier that wants to fight, so they're may be hope," Joey answered.

"What it does matter if we got people who can fight, we don't have a lot of weapons," Jes stated. "If you aren't going to help us, then we are wasting our time."

Shaw glanced at the other member of his group. "Against my better judgement, we'll help."

"I wasn't expecting that," Jes answered.

"This is where you say thank you," Garza teased her.

"Thank you," Joey responded. "So, what now?"

"Garza will go back with you," Shaw responded. "We'll need information, so we can be ready. I also want to set up a meeting with your leader," he told them.

"Rick and Jewel Grimes," Mitch answered.

"We could meet with these other leaders, try to offer our support," Malia responded.

"Show them that they aren't alone," Thor stated.

"I'm not sure the one community we just came from would be so willing to accept more outsiders," Joey said.

"And they have a tiger," Mitch added.

"Cool!" Cece said.

"I didn't know about that," Jes responded. "You think Gregory would accept help?"

"I don't think it's up to Gregory anymore," Joey responded. "I could lead a couple to Hilltop. Summer and Maggie would welcome the help to train the people. Maggie shouldn't be exerting herself, but she will," he said.

"Who's this Maggie?" Shaw questioned.

"She was married to Glenn, one of the guys that Negan killed. She's pregnant," Mitch stated.

"Her and Summer are taking charge of the Hilltop," Joey said.

Shaw nodded. "We've got work to do," he said.