All Nightmare Long

Chapter 576

Author's Note: I should have Daryl and Mar reunite with Carol, but I got to get Jes to Alexandria, and Joey and Mitch to Hilltop with their perspective recruits. I'm sure Jewel is going to LOVE Shaw. Like I said before Shaw is a combination of many men I dealt with when I was in the Army. Please review.

Jes POV:

Jes glanced in the rear-view mirror at Shaw. "So, how'd you put your gang of Merry Men together?" she asked as she was driving.

Shaw looked at her. "What does that matter? We're here, and possibly ready to assist, so what difference does it make how we met?" he asked as he took out the cigar.

Jes glared at him. "Don't light that in this car," she demanded.

Garza sighed from the passenger seat. "Shaw, she'll pull it out of your mouth and throw it out. Just wait til we get there."

"I wouldn't light it in front of Jewel either, especially if her kids are around. She yells at her brother enough for it. And back to my original question, it matters because it tells me a lot about your leadership. Since you're not going to tell me, I'll take a wild guess. You and Harris were sent to Washington to help evacuate, you can tell he was in your command before this, he still all yes sir, no sir, right away sir. By the time you got there, a lot of the soldiers had left to be with their families," Jes explained.

"Deserted you mean," Shaw hissed.

"Yea, been there done that, not apologizing, especially to you. So, you found Garza and Larsen, dedicated soldiers, just trying to help out, doing their jobs," Jes suggested as she looked at Garza for confirmation.

"And Wolf, she was on the medical team, a couple others but they aren't there anymore and Brady was assigned to another area," Garza added.

"Garza," Shaw warned.

"As the police and secret service fell, you took in people. Somewhere down the line, you and Wolf got involved, it didn't end well," Jes pointed out.

"How the hell could you know that? Garza," he said accusingly.

"I didn't say a word," Garza insisted.

"He didn't. It's easy to tell by your body language. The two of you can barley look at each other and hardly speak a word to each other. Probably because she figured out she was attracted to Pan, it happens. You really couldn't throw Wolf out, she's your only medical doctor. If her and Pan want to leave, Alexandria would be grateful to have them. We lost our only doctor recently. The wild card is the kid, you obviously don't want kids and family arounds. At least the younger Reid is helpful with training the dogs. I'd guess that the kids sisters wouldn't leave her out there. How'd I do?" Jes questioned Garza.

Garza let out a laugh. "Pretty damn well, you still got it," he said as he glanced back to Shaw.

Jes slowed down the car. "We're here," she said as she rolled down the window. "It's me," she yelled out as Vince opened the gate.

Vince opened the gate then closed it before Jes got out with her guests. "You got any weapons, you need to hand them over," Vince told them.

Jes nodded at them as Garza handed his gun over. "Shaw," she said.

"I'm not handing over my weapons," Shaw told her.

"Then you aren't coming into Alexandria," Vince told him.

Shaw stepped forward. "Now look son," he started to say as Jes got into the middle of them.

"Shaw step back. You're not in charge here, you need to get that out of your head now," Jes warned him. She looked back at Vince. "Rick and Jewel back yet?"

"They just got here about an hour ago," Vince answered.

"Alright," Jes said then turned her attention back to Shaw. "Look, if Negan comes back and you have a gun, you're putting everyone here at risk. You're putting Garza at risk. He's not going to kill you; he's going to kill someone else. It could be Garza, it could be me, or it could be a kid. You can ask Rosita how well trying to take him out worked for her. One of her best friends is being held hostage. So, giving up your weapons isn't too much to ask to keep someone alive is it?"

Shaw sighed as he took out his gun on his hip and handing it over to Vince. "I really don't like you," he told Jes.

"The feelings mutual, but we both want the same thing, to be the hero," Jes said. "The one in your boot."

Garza bit his lip to keep from laughing as Shaw bent down and took out his weapon.

"How's the woman who saw her brother die?" Garza asked.

"Quinn? She's strong. She's been helping watch Jewel and Rick's little ones. You were here when it happened?" Vince asked.

"I was," Garza admitted.

"Let's go," Jes ordered.

"Hey, Jes, are these allies?" Vance questioned.

"That's still to be determined," Jes answered as they walked into Alexandria. She saw Jewel looking out the window and nodded. "We'll wait out here," she said.

"Why? Why shouldn't we go in?" Shaw asked.

"Because momma bear isn't going to want strangers in her house. She barley knows Garza, and she doesn't know you," Jes answered as Jewel came outside.

"Jes, welcome back," Jewel answered. "Garza," she greeted as she looked at Shaw. "I don't know you. I'm Jewel Grimes, co leader of Alexandria," she introduced.

"Shaw," he introduced. "There's no such thing as co leaders. I'd like to talk to the true leader, your husband."

"Bad idea," Jes murmured to herself.

Jewel stepped up to Shaw. "Yeah, you and I are going to get along splendidly," she said sarcastically. "Garza and Jes told you what we are dealing with?"

"A man named Negan and his group the Saviour's," Shaw answered as he watched her.

"A monster named Negan. He doesn't get the honor to be called a man. I'm sure she explained to you that the more people we have, the better it is for all of us. I am sure she also explained to you that he took all our weapons, killed two of our people, took my brother hostage. I'm pretty sure that Garza told you that he saw Negan kill a man and took another one of ours hostage. And he threatened my son. So, any little patience that I would have had to deal with your male chauvinistic attitude is gone. You're dealing with me, the co leader of Alexandria. The more people we have, you have, the better for all of us. Now, we're going to go inside, and we're going to talk, like leaders, maybe further down the line as friends. If you can't treat me, Jes or any other woman with respect, you can leave. Garza will be fine as a leader. Understood? Good," Jewel said as she turned and walked inside without another word.