Dexter didn't feel much like a prisoner at the Red River Creek Correctional Facility. At least he wasn't treated like much of one.
For starters, he had the whole cell block to himself. And all of the doors were open. The whole wing had been cleaned and the floors and walls were white. He sat out at one of the tables in the middle of the room, reading some poor deceased prisoner's paperback copy of Stephen King's 'Misery', while sipping a protein shake someone had scrounged up for him. He sighed and put the bookmark that was already in it, in a new place before closing the book. He then began to re-think what had happened earlier.
Carol had gotten away. And now Dexter had to wonder just when the sedative he had given her, had worn off? Had she been pretending to be out of it, while he was driving the RV? And he could only imagine what was going on back at Alexandria right now. What the hell did Maggie think as she was listening to Carol's accusations against him?
Then again, they weren't really 'accusations'. Dexter strongly suspected that everything, in all likelihood, had been brought out into the open. Dexter drummed his fingers on the table and looked around again, wondering if he would have been incarcerated in such a place, if his previous crimes had ever come to light?
Chances were, he probably would have been executed.
The doors to the cell wing opened, and Michonne was escorted in. She said something to the man that opened the door and he left. He also left the door to the wing open. Michonne walked over to his table and sat down across from him.
"What happened?" Michonne asked carefully.
"What happened is that I underestimated Carol. Or the drug I used on her didn't work long enough. What happened when she returned to Alexandria?" Dexter asked.
"About what you'd think. She told everyone that you tried to kill her. I confessed everything and put Carol in one of our jails."
Dexter's eyes widened!
"Wow. I wasn't expecting to hear that." he confessed.
"Believe me, I wasn't expecting to do it either. But Jerry and Gus were pretty insistent that we find out just what exactly happened to Ezekiel. And they weren't buying Carol's version. But the problem is, if Carol is innocent, then we look bad for trying to have their 'Queen' killed." Michonne told him. Dexter nodded and rubbed the side of his face. Michonne noticed his reading material and the sustenance he had been given. She then leaned forward.
"I think I can work out a trade. Meaning I take you back to Alexandria and the Kingdom deals with Carol here. But I need to know some things."
"Like?" Dexter asked. He was anticipating a question that in all likelihood, he would have to answer with a lie.
"I need to know that it's safe to bring you back home."
"What do you mean?" Dexter answered.
"What I mean, Dexter, is what are you planning on doing to Maggie and Darryl?"
"Oh. That. Carol talked about that too?" Dexter asked. That reveal told him a lot. He had revealed it to pull Carol out of her hiding place. But apparently it had bothered her more than she had let on. Interesting.
"How long?" Michonne asked in a no nonsense tone.
Dexter shrugged.
"Since it started."
"Which was when you first arrived in Alexandria?"
Dexter raised a brow.
"Uh, yes! When else would it have been?"
Michonne looked at him carefully.
"Darryl wasn't living in Alexandria all these years. Meaning the years that you were living with Maggie in that other community. He was out in the wild, by himself."
Dexter gave her a skeptical look.
"You think my wife was sneaking out into the wild to meet him?"
"No. I'm actually not suggesting anything really. Honestly, I guess what I am saying is that I'm not shocked. And this is in no way meant to insult you, but there is a bond between all of us. I guess I can see how it happened." Michonne said quietly.
"I sense a 'but' coming?" Dexter asked sardonically.
"But it bothers me that it doesn't seem to 'bother' you. It's like you just put it in the back of your mind someplace. I don't know if you did that because you just accepted it, in some way, or because you planned to deal with Darryl, and Maggie later down the road."
Dexter stared at her uncomprehending.
"I don't follow you."
Michonne stared back. She could see that he didn't understand. Which convinced her that Dexter Morgan did not need to be within the Alexandria stronghold. But she was not about to tell him that now. She was going to allow him to return and then tell him, and Maggie, that they would have to take their family and leave.
Dexter changed the subject.
"So…where's Negan? I'm surprised he didn't make the trip with you?"
He noticed her scowl slightly and knew he hit a nerve.
"I think we both know that I couldn't bring Negan here. He understood that and stayed behind."
Dexter grinned!
"Come on, Michonne! What's really going on? I don't personally care about seeing him, but Deb and him were just as much a part of what we tried to do, as we were. Did they stay behind to keep the peace?"
"Yes." was all Michonne was willing to say. She was not about to tell him that she had snuck out of bed at two in the morning to get here! She had left Negan a note and eased out of Alexandria without him. She had pretended to go along with him the night before, but Michonne did not want any trouble here. And she was convinved that she would have never been allowed back in this prison, if Negan had been by her side. Needless to say, she was not looking forward to going back home and facing him…
Dexter's eyes left hers and focused on a woman that was walking in with a tray of food. She had brought his protein shake earlier. She set it down before him, nodding at him, then looking at Michonne quickly before walking out. But Michonne slowly stood up and called out to her.
"Jadis? Your name is Jadis, right?"
Jadis, who now had bleach blonde hair, but the same page boy hairdo with bangs, slowly turned to face Michonne.
"Michonne. Hello." she said and turned away. But Michonne ran so that she was in front of her, blocking her way! Dexter walked over to them.
"What's going on?" he asked, eyeing Jadis.
"Have you been with the Kingdom this whole time? I never saw you here before." Michonne said carefully.
"I arrived last night. A few people remembered me from before…"
"From six years ago, right? That's how long you've been gone!" Michonne snapped. Dexter decided to be quiet and watch this play out. Whatever it was.
Jadis cleared her throat. She knew she had been taking a chance in coming back to this area, but she had no choice.
"Has it? Been that long? You know, days turn into months and months turn into years." was the only thing she could think to say. She hadn't meant to stay here long. She could see that Rick was not here. And she could also see that Michonne was suspicious of her appearance, meaning she must have connected it to Rick somehow. Jadis was spared Michonne's death glare, when William, a head Kingdom guard that had taken a temporary leadership position in the Kingdom, walked in.
"Jadis, I need to speak to Michonne and Dexter. Would you excuse us?"
Jadis nodded and walked out of the area. William started to say something but Michonne interrupted him.
"Do you remember her?"
William frowned.
"Who? Jadis? Remember her?"
"From years back. From when we were at war with the Saviors and after, when we first started to rebuild our lives? Do you remember her from then?" Michonne asked in a sharp tone. William looked from her to Dexter, who's expression was blank. He then looked at Michonne again.
"Yes, I sort of do."
"William, where has she been? You just let her in here, during a time like this, without finding out where she's been or what she's been up to?" Michonne asked.
William's answer, would shock both Michonne and Dexter.
"Where she's been? Michonne, she said things didn't work out in Alexandria with Gabirel and she needed a new start. She's been with you all this whole, time, right?"
Now Dexter spoke up!
"William, my wife and I have been in Alexandria, maybe a couple of months. I have never seen her before in my life." he said.
"And she disappeared after Rick disappeared!" Michonne snapped. "There are people that are now saying that Jadis left on a helicopter with Rick! Now she's suddenly back here? I want to talk to her."
Dexter frowned. Now that part, about Jadis and the infamous Rick, he had never heard! Dexter decided run interference. The point of this whole meeting was to get HIM out of here! All of this talk about Jadis and a dead man, was getting in the way of that. He pulled Michonne away from William a bit.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Michonne realized that Dexter thought she was out of control. But the idea of this woman being here and just casually strolling in, as if she knew nothing about what had happened to Rick! Where had she been all this time? Why hadn't anyone made her tell them that?
Probably because no one knew anything was wrong. Hell, if Jadis had shown up outside the gates of Alexandria, she herself probably would have let her in. The only reason she was feeling the way she was feeling, was because of what Negan had told her.
"I have reason to believe that Rick might not be dead and that that woman knows where he is." Michonne whispered.
"Where would you get an idea like that?" Dexter asked.
"Does it matter?"
"Uh…yes! I mean I didn't know Rick, but if he could've returned to you and the kids, he would have."
"Exactly, Dexter! And that woman could be the reason he couldn't!"
"But how did you find this out? Was it something you always knew or…"
Michonne clamped her lips together before opening them.
"Negan. Negan told me that someone saw Jadis leave with Rick by way of a helicopter. Suddenly Rosita and Eugene are hiding a helicopter that they got from some other community, somewhere…"
"Okay, but the 'other community', was Lakeville. They never had any helicopters when Maggie and I lived there. Look, Michonne, we still have to deal with that. Rosita and Eugene, remember? And we have to deal with Ezekiel and Angel's murder. Let me find out what I can from this woman. Just make the deal that takes me home and brings Carol back here, okay?"
Michonne looked unsure.
"Michonne, she's already lied about living in Alexandria, so I'm kind of curious as to why she would say that, instead of the truth. So I'm going to need you to trust me on this, just like I'm going to trust you to get me out of here. And right now, William over there, can't see you acting like anything else but a leader." Dexter told her.
Michonne took a deep breath and nodded, before turning back to William.
"I apologize. Negan told me something about Jadis and Rick that I should have known was bullshit. Sorry for losing it like that."
"Negan? Christ, Michonne, you know better than to believe anything out of that lying fuck's mouth! King Ezekiel was worried about him being there with you, especially after you let him out after the flood. Maybe he should be locked back up."
"I'm considering it. Really."
"Well it might not be such a bad idea to hand him over to us now. We have the facilities for it."
Dexter looked around. That was true enough. And it would give Maggie peace of mind.
"Like I said, I will consider it. Right now I'd like to see what can be worked out to get Dexter out of here. He was within the Alexandria stronghold when King Ezekiel and Angel were murdered." Michonne said.
"Yes. I believe that. But I am not following how he ended up near the road to this new stronghold, with our Queen?"
Michonne glanced over at Dexter. He would have to come up with a lie for that. And she strongly suspected he could come up with one.
"I had reason to believe with 'Queen Carol' knew about her husband and the late King. I don't know if you knew this, but there was an attack on Michonne's life recently. And I had reason to believe your Queen was responsible for it. I confronted her, then went to bed. I was awakened by a noise and I opened my eyes to find Carol standing over me with a syringe. The next thing I remember, I am waking up on the RV and Carol was trying to drag me off into the woods. I managed to escape her." Dexter lied.
William gave him a skeptical look.
"Yes, but why didn't you just jump in the RV and return to Alexandria? Carol found us and told us a similar story. One of you is lying."
"Maybe," Michonne interrupted, "but I think the main concern here should be ascertaining whether there actually was someone out there, besides Carol, when the King and Angel were killed. If they were not killed by some unknown person, then Carol needs to be held accountable."
William said nothing for a long moment. He then nodded.
"What is it that you are proposing?"
"A trade. We return Carol to you. Dexter comes back with me to Alexandria. Carol is your queen. The Kingdom residents should be the ones to find out what happened. Or if you even still want her to be Queen."
"Alright. But Dexter here does not leave with you now. Go and get Queen Carol and bring her back here. Then we can do a prisoner exchange."
"Agreed." Michonne said and William turned to walk off. Dexter rubbed the back of his neck.
"So far so good." he noted. But he saw that Michonne was not listening to him. He touched her shoulder.
"By the time you return here with Carol, I will find out what's going on with this Jadis woman. At the very least I can find out where the hell she's really been, since we all know she wasn't living in Alexandria." he said. Michonne nodded.
"Fine. I guess that's all that can be done right now. I am going to be pushing off. The next time you see me, I will have Carol with me and you'll be going home."
And that would be true, for the most part. But Michonne would find a pretty fucked up situation, when she returned to Alexandria.
Negan could barely contain his rage at Michonne's letter! But he knew he had to, for the sake of the kids, though Deb was eyeing him warily from the kitchen. Michonne had just snuck out of bed and went to the prison to get Dexter! They had talked about this! At least he thought they had talked about it!
He kept telling himself he needed to honor her wishes but as time dragged on, Negan felt less sure about that until finally, he decided he was going to just get on a horse and go there himself when…
"HELP! CHRIST OPEN THE GATE! DARRYL, MAGGIE! CHRIST!"
Deb hurried over to the window, while Negan opened the door to the house and peered over at the gate from the porch. Who the fuck was screaming like that this early in the morning?
Heath was scrambling to open the gate for some guy wearing an eyepatch. Deb moved away from he window and hurried to join Negan on the porch.
"Who the fuck is that Heath is letting in here?" she asked him.
"How the hell would I know?" he responded but he noticed Darryl gape at the man.
Maggie hugged him. What the fuck…
Negan suddenly backed back! Deb noticed.
"What? Who is that?"
"Shit!" he hissed. "That looks like Rick! That looks like Rick fucking Grimes! Rick with one fucking eye!"
Deb's eyes widened and she hurried down off the porch to see what was going on up close. Negan went back inside the house. He found a gun and then left the house as well. The kids were at school, than God. He slowly walked over and saw Darryl and Maggie ushering Rick into Maggie's house…
Meanwhile, Herschel ran to the jail to get the prisoners out, on Darryl's orders. Darryl faced the one eyed man, who was Rick, but not the Rick they knew…
"Darryl. Maggie. It's good to see you. I hadn't brought enough water and almost passed out. Thank that guy for getting me in here." he said, sounding a bit formal.
"That 'guy' was Heath." Maggie said. "You remember him, right?"
Rick said nothing for the longest time, before finally answering.
"I don't know what happened, exactly, but the last time I saw either of you was at the prison. It's been cleared out, by the way. There are people staying there."
Darryl eyed him.
"What do you mean you remember the prison? Rick, we all live here now."
"I don't remember that. I was told about this location by someone. I want my baby girl back. I know Carl is gone but I want Judith. I have a helicopter standing by. I just want to take her and go."
Maggie looked over at Darryl with horror, before looking at Rick again.
"Rick, you need to take a breath. A lot has happened since the prison. Since you were thought for dead. Now Michonne is raising her…"
Rick raised a brow.
"Michonne? She's here? With us? Why?"
"What do you mean, why?" Darryl asked sharply.
"We were going to give her over to the Governor, right? Isn't that the only reason we're alive? Did she escape?"
Meanwhile, Negan and Deb were eavesdropping on Maggie's porch via and open window. Deb looked at Negan.
"What in the fuck is that guy talking about?"
"I don't know," Negan said, trying to refrain from smiling, "but he clearly wasn't involved with Michonne back at this prison. And it sounds like he tried to trade her for something. Shit! I'm not letting him take Judith anywhere."
"No one's taking anyone. I doubt Maggie or Darryl will let that happen." Deb told him. They listened in some more…
"Look, I'm not here because I'm 'back'. I was told something that I found out was not true. That being that ALL of my family was dead. I now know my daughter is alive. I am in charge of a community that needs me. There are people there that I care for. I just want Judith. I don't need any trouble."
Maggie could not believe any of this! Any of it! How the hell could Rick just come here and expect to just take Judith and then leave again? And he really only remembered the prison? That was it?
Negan opened the door and walked in. Darryl groaned! Shit!
"Mr. Grimes! Welcome back to the land of the living! Though I told people I didn't think you were dead. Now everyone will know I wasn't bullshitting."
Rick stared at Negan. There was something about him that rang a bell, but nothing was coming to him. And yet it was clear to him that he was a threat of some kind.
"I don't know you."
"Oh you do, but you don't remember. Supposedly. How'd you fuck up your eye, Rick? Chonnie probably won't want you when she sees that."
Rick had no idea had no idea who Chonnie was, nor did he care. He was sensing something about this place. It was not the appearance of this stupid fuck, whoever he was. But it was who he was not seeing.
"Where are Glenn and Herschel? Beth and Carol…I'd like to say hello before heading out with Judith…"
"You're not taking Judith." Negan said coldly, wishing like fucking hell he still had Lucille. "And I'm not buying this one eyed, amnesia bullshit you're pulling, Rick! You ran off with someone and now you're fucking pretending you don't remember shit!"
Rick leaped at Negan but Darryl got in between them, just as Carol, Rosita and Eugene hurried in, followed by Herschel, who eyed Rick! He knew this was the Rick Grimes he had heard his mother talk about. He was also Judith and RJ's father. But he didn't know he had an eyepatch! He was going to go and get Harrison. They weren't on speaking terms but maybe they could begin talking again so that Harrison could get a look at this guy! He eased away from the house.
"Rick!" Carol gasped. Rick hurried over to her and hugged her! Rosita looked him up and down suspiciously and Eugene stared at him as if he had seen a ghost. Carol let go of him and stared into his face.
"What happened? Where have you been?"
"I want to see Judith." he said firmly.
"Of course! And your son!"
Rick frowned.
"I was told Carl was gone. Was that a lie too?"
Carol now frowned and looked over at Darryl and Maggie. Rosita folded her arms.
"I don't think that's a good idea. I think Rick needs to go in one of the cells until he can explain where the fuck he's been for six years. Michonne is going to want to know." she said.
Rick looked at Rosita.
"I don't know you. And I don't know why everyone acts as if Michonne's opinion would matter on anything."
"She's raising your children, that's why! What's wrong with you and what happened to your eye?" Rosita asked in a belligerent tone. Father Gabriel walked in, along with Deb. Rick eyed them both. Father Gabriel with curiosity.
Deb with interest.
Carol nodded to Maggie and Darryl and they had a pow-wow in a corner.
"What is going on? What happened to him?" she asked.
"Rick claims he doesn't remember shit past the prison." Darryl said. "And all he remembers of Michonne is that we tried to give her to the Governor."
Carol gaped at him! Maggie looked from her, to Negan, who looked pleased as punch.
"We need to run interference here. Michonne left early for the prison. Someone needs to get to her before she steps foot back in here, and tell her about what's going on." Maggie said.
"Nah." Darryl said. "That's not going to help anything. Right now, Rick needs to understand that he has two children and that they can't leave with him. He said he's running a new community and was lied to, or some shit. Maybe Rosita is right. Maybe he needs go into one of the cells until we can find out what's going on."
Maggie glanced at Rosita and Eugene before speaking.
"Rick also said he had a helicopter waiting." she revealed.
Meanwhile, Negan nodded to Deb and they left the house and stood on the porch to have their own pow-wow.
"He's cute." Deb said.
"Chonnie is going to love you for that." Negan noted.
"I can't help that. Besides, she's with you now. Maybe she won't care that he's back."
Negan snorted!
"Oh she's going to care. She's going to care that he's back, that he doesn't remember her and that he wants to take Judith. I'm going to pull the kids out of school and prepare them for this shit." Negan said, sounding decidedly unhappy about what he was going to have to tell the kids—that their father was alive and that he only remembered one of them.
Meanwhile, Michonne stopped her horse, got off and stared in shock at what was blocking her way back to Alexandria.
There was a helicopter, sitting in the middle of the road, with no one in it.