Mostly conversation, but an update. Please review! I'm thinking of having Jamie interact more with some minor characters like Rosita, Gabriel, and Eugene. Thoughts?
Also some Jamie/Enid interaction. They don't breach the subject of who's in a relationship with Carl, but talk about him nonetheless.
"And he believes you?" Rick asked, scrutinizing her from across the table carefully.
She nodded. "Yeah. I don't look that much like Daryl- as long as we weren't talking or working together, it'd be hard to assume we were family."
Rick sighed, stroking his unshaven chin anxiously. "I don't like it. It seems like a test- when Negan took our guns- it was a test of faith. We gave them up and he realized we were serious about this. If Dwight knows that Daryl is your father- why wouldn't he tell him? You're lying- and if he knows you're lying, then there will be hell to pay..."
"And if I do tell him, he brings me back there and uses me as a pawn to torture my Dad." Jamie said, frowning. "Either way- we lose. Are you suggesting I waltz over to Negan and tell him I'm Daryl's daughter?"
Rick's gaze snapped up, eyes going cold. "No- not after Maggie, and Enid, but... this complicates things. Why wouldn't Dwight tell Negan?"
"Maybe Dwight doesn't want him to know either. He may be a kicked dog, but he isn't cruel... and from what Dad said, Dwight owed him a favor or two. So maybe... he's keeping it quiet." Jamie said simply. "Either way- Negan thinks I'm just an orphan you guys picked up. He offered me a place at his camp- I was tempted to take it, but I wanted to hear your take."
"You're not going. Daryl would want you to stay here- where you're safe. Even if you did go with them and find the location of their camp, there's no guarantee you'd ever get out."
"I know. But if I could find where they were keeping my Dad, then maybe..." she couldn't help but let the hope leak into her voice as she spoke, her green eyes growing slightly brighter.
"No. I know you want to help him- and I do, too. But the fastest way to get your father back is to go and scavenge for Negan. The more effort we put in- the sooner we get him back. It's that simple."
She let out a slow breath. "Yeah. I know." That's what I was afraid of.
Rick reached across the table, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know you miss your Dad. Trust me- I do, too." the emotion glittering in Rick's eyes let her know he wasn't lying, and she felt bad for the man. She thought of him like an uncle- they'd been through so much together- and to be broken down like their group had- well, it hurt, to say the least, to see Rick like this. A servant to Negan, constantly running around to make sure their people were left alone and alive.
"But he'd want you to stay here. To stay alive. We'll look out for each other- all of us. I know I haven't been around much since... Negan- but while Daryl's gone... you need something, you come find me, alright?" Rick looked at her seriously. There was real pain in his eyes, and it ached to see him struggling like this.
"Can I help with the supply runs? I'm good outside the walls- my Dad knew that. An extra pair of hands means more stuff, so we can get him back faster..."
Rick looked hesitant. "...maybe. Negan likes you- he'll expect to see you around. If we go on short runs, then I'll consider it, but since he thinks you're just a kid we found... it's better if you don't associate with us. For you and us. Understand?"
It hurt to hear that. Almost like a slap to the face, really. But she pasted a crooked smile on her face, one that didn't quite reach her eyes, and nodded.
"Besides- we need people on the wall. With Sasha, Enid and Carl heading to the hilltop, and Mark and I scavenging tomorrow, we could use all the competent people we have on walker duty. If something happens with the walker's I'll expect you to be the gate keeper. Get the people who've been here from the start inside, round up all the people you can to fight."
She nodded, pausing slightly. "... can't Michonne do that? I thought that was sorta her thing..."
Rick shook his head, looking pained. "No. Michonne's... hunting... and we could use all the hands we could get. I trust you with a gun more than some of the men here, so you're on wall duty. Can you do that for me?"
"...sure." there was something he wasn't telling her. And it had something to do with Michonne. She knew the two of them hadn't seen eye to eye since that night with Negan, and it was best not to push painful topics. Not when everyone was in so much pain already.
"Thanks." Rick gave her a tense smile- it was the first smile that actually reached his eyes- before he patted her on the shoulder. "I'll feel better leaving tomorrow knowing I have you on wall duty."
She nodded, standing. It was going to be lonely tomorrow- Carl gone to the hilltop, Rick scavenging- but she knew better than to ask to go to the hilltop with them.
Her relationship with Daryl- and her unique status as the 'outsider' of the group- made her one of Negan's favorites. So she was pinned down inside the wall, for now, to keep up appearances.
She hated being caged- but at the same time, she was glad she was being put on the wall. Back when he'd still been here, when they'd been short handed, Rick had pulled Daryl aside and asked him to guard... She'd do the same. She wouldn't let him down.
"Be careful, alright?"
Carl scoffed, looking down at her with his one remaining eye. "Aren't I always?"
She simply stared at him for a long, hard moment.
"I'm being serious. This isn't a game anymore- things have gotten real lately, and you need to be ready for anything."
"Alright, alright." Carl sighed, running a hand through his shaggy mane of hair. "I'll be careful. I just thought it'd be nice not to have such a serious goodbye before I left..."
"What, you want me to slap you on the back and tell you to have fun out there? With things the way they are right now?"
"Yeah. I know things are serious, okay? Everything is, now- so just pretend that it's not, for once. I want it to be like we were sneaking smokes, you know?"
She looked up at him, arms crossed, unamused, before she leaned forward, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. "Don't get into any trouble without me, Grimes."
Carl smiled that stupid smile he had- the one that made her melt a little inside but also made her want to punch him. "That's more like it."
"Yeah, whatever. Just get your ass back here in one piece." she muttered, staring at the ground.
"Hey, you almost ready to go?" Enid rounded the corner, nodding to Jamie in greeting. She returned the gesture politely.
Carl nodded. "Um, yeah..."
"Lunch is in the kitchen." Jamie said simply. She'd taken to packing his food and cooking in general, since Michonne had been outside the walls.
"Almost ready." Carl corrected himself with a grin, bounding up the steps to the house and letting the screen door bang shut behind him.
Enid and Jamie stood in silence for a moment, before Jamie stepped closer to the other girl.
"I have a feeling he's going to do something stupid. I can't go with you because... reasons, but... look out for him for me, alright? He thinks he's a lot stronger than he is."
Enid paused for a moment, expression turning skeptical for a moment. "What do you think he's going to do?"
"I don't know- but it'll be something stupid. He's like that- with our backs against the wall, he'll try something risky if he thinks it'll give us a better chance. Head off a herd of walkers or try to change our alliance with the Hilltop or... something... so we have a better chance. He's like that. Watch him for me."
"Yeah... sure." Enid nodded slowly. "You could come too, you know." she eyed Jamie's splinted upper arm cautiously. "They have a doctor."
"Rick told me to stay here and be on wall duty. We're short handed as it is... But thanks for the offer." she said simply, nodding to the girl.
Enid didn't stop looking at her. "I'm sorry. About your Dad, I mean."
"Thanks." she spoke quietly, not meeting the other girl's eyes.
"Take care of yourself." Enid said simply.
"Yeah. You too. Watch his back for me."
Enid simply nodded.
The screen door banged shut a moment later, and they both looked up to see Carl heading down the stairs, backpack in hand.
He nodded to her. "I'll be back soon."
"You'd better be, dumbass." she muttered affectionately, stepping back to climb up the porch. She looked strong, but she still flinched when the car doors shut and the car pulled away.
She had a bad feeling about this.
Thoughts? Give me one sentence/question you had with this chapter.