Jadis returned to get the tray of food she had brought in earlier for Dexter. She found it empty. She ignored Dexter's pointed stare as she picked up the tray and tried to scramble away in a hurry. But Dexter quickly got in front of her, blocking her way!
Jadis kept her cool.
"You should move."
"Because?" Dexter asked, trying to get a read on her.
"Because you just should." was her answer. But Dexter stayed put.
"Why did you lie to the people here about where you've been? You told them you've been living with us at Alexandria. Since that clearly is not true, I want to know why you said it."
"You do? Or Michonne does?"
"Jadis, is it? Let me just cut the bullshit and tell you the little I know: once upon a time, a man named Rick Grimes ran Alexandria. He also defeated the evil Negan and his group called The Saviors. There was peace for awhile. Then Rick was in an explosion and his body could have been eaten by walkers or not. But someone claimed they saw you leave with Rick by way of a helicopter. Fast forward six years. You're here. And you lied and said you'd been living where Michonne and her children with Rick, this whole time. So while I never knew Rick Grimes, indulge my mild curiosity and tell me what the fuck is going on." Dexter said dryly.
"Who is this 'someone'? That saw me with Rick Grimes?"
"I don't know or really care, Jadis. I'm actually wondering what would bring you back to this walker-ridden neck of the woods? The same walker-ridden area that Rick Grimes hails from?" Dexter asked knowingly.
"If you don't care then why I are you asking, Dexter Morgan? I know what the situation is here. You have other problems to concern yourself with."
"So William said that you told him things didn't work out with Gabriel. You were involved with our priest? I'm sure he'd be happy to see you after all of this time. Much like how people would be happy to see Rick Grimes after all of this time."
Jadis turned and began walking out. Only Dexter's final words stopped her briefly.
"You should make yourself scarce the next time Michonne comes around here. She's not going to let it go that Rick Grimes's disappearance, and you, are connected."
Dexter stared at Jadis's back for a long moment, before she left the cell area with his tray. Dexter sat down at a table, unable to ascertain if he had learned anything of value. But if this woman did do something to Rick Grimes, then Dexter had found another victim to satisfy his Dark Passenger.
Michonne slowly walked up to the helicopter in the middle of the road and opened the door to it. She stuck her head inside, then slowly came back out. The smell inside of the vehicle was haunting. Unsettled, she closed the door and looked all around.
There was no one in sight. Someone had just landed a helicopter in the middle of the road and left it? Maybe it didn't fly?
Michonne eyed the tracks that seemed to have moved off in the direction she was heading in. Meaning unless this person was waylaid in someway, he or she would end up outside the gates of Alexandria. Michonne walked back over to her horse and was about to get on, when she heard someone else coming on horseback. Her eyes widened when she saw it was none other than Carol!
Carol rode up to her, then got off of her horse. Michonne slowly did the same.
"Who let you out?" Michonne asked, confused. What was going on back at Alexandria?
"I'm here because I felt really strongly that you needed to be warned."
"About?"
Carol nodded to the helicopter behind her. Michonne glanced back at it, before focusing on Carol again.
"Okay. I take it this person that landed it here, is connected with Rosita and Eugene?"
"Rosita and Eugene?" Carol asked.
"Yes…we suspected them of hiding a helicopter from us? What's going on? Who's at Alexandria now?"
"What makes you think anyone is there?" Carol countered.
"How did you get out of the jail?"
"I was let out. Along with Rosita and Eugene. Michonne, there is no way to tell you this, but that helicopter belongs to Rick. Rick is back and he apparently has no memories of anything past our stay in the prison. He remembers the deal to take you to the Governor and I think he believes we followed through on it. He also wants Judith." Carol said, biting her lip. As angry as she was with Michonne right now, somehow she had not enjoyed telling her any of this. There would have never been a Michonne and Ezekiel affair, if Rick had still been in the picture.
Michonne said nothing for a long time and Carol began to suspect she was in some kind of shock.
But then she spoke.
"Jadis is at the Red River Prison. She told William that she had been living at Alexandria all of these years…" Michonne trailed off, trying to comprehend what an amnesiac Rick, who wanted to take Judith away from here, meant for herself? And when did Rick learn how to fly a helicopter? Had he been involved with Jadis when they were together?
No. No, Michonne knew in her bones, that Rick had wanted no one but her back then.
"Jadis said she'd been living at Alexandria? I can assure you she hasn't been in the Kingdom, that's for sure." Carol said, peering at her.
"You know," Michonne said slowly, "I guess I always figured if Rick was alive and out there someplace, I would have to go to him. I never imagined him returning on his own. Probably because I told myself he couldn't, for whatever reason. I guess I was wrong."
"Michonne, he doesn't remember squat! And he has one eye! So clearly he was hurt in that explosion. He got help and he just didn't remember this place. Darryl said Rick told them there were people living at the prison again. He probably went back there and got confused." Carol tried to explain. But hell, she didn't know anymore than Michonne, as to what had brought Rick to Alexandria, in a helicopter no less, when he didn't remember living here.
"You said he wants Judith? So he does remember her? Tell me you kept her away from him?" Michonne asked, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.
"Negan and Deb weren't going for it. Darryl grudgingly backed them up. Rick is one of the jails until we can figure out where he's been all this time." Carol said. Michonne sighed heavily.
"God, I am dreading this. And I never thought I would say that. Never in a million years." Michonne said, jumping on her horse and riding back to Alexandria. Carol got back on her own horse and followed after Michonne. She knew that Dexter, Ezekiel and all other problems would have to be forgotten, until they could find out where Rick Grimes had been for six years, why he had returned and how Jadis fit into all of this.
Deb entered the cell area and nodded at Deke, who had been keeping an eye on Rick. He vaguely remembered the asshole and thought things were better around here, when everyone thought Grimes was dead. He knew Negan had to be itching to get in here and beat the shit out of him, if for no other reason, to keep him away from Michonne…
"I'll watch him." Deb said. She was carrying a tray of food. Deke eyed the food.
"We're feeding this fuck?"
"Yes." Deb said impatiently. Rick, who had been sitting on a cot watching Deke, stood up and walked over to the bars.
"It's called hospitality, something the people I knew here USED to have." Rick said calmly. Deb smiled at him, then looked at Deke, who was pissed off that Deb had smiled at Rick!
"I'll be fine. I'll call you if I need you." she whispered to Deke, who said nothing but left the basement cells with anger coursing through his body. Deb had shown more interest in One-Eyed Grimes, than she had ever shown in him. And Deb had known him longer!
Once Deke left, Deb set the food on a table tray and pushed it towards the bars. Rick reluctantly picked up a sandwich and began to eat as Deb watched him. Rick swallowed and nodded towards the other half of the sandwich.
"There's plenty here."
"I've eaten already." Deb replied, looking him over. "You know, you're already causing a lot of trouble around here."
Rick set down his sandwich, rubbed his hands together and regarded Deb with amusement.
"I just want my little girl back. Judith belongs with me. I can't just leave her here. She's the only family I have left. So you can tell your boyfriend that I will be taking my daughter out of here."
"My boyfriend?"
"That guy you were so cozy with. The crude one."
"That's Negan and he's not my boyfriend. He's Michonne's. Judith and RJ love Negan." Deb said, unaware of her mistake.
"RJ? He is who, exactly?"
Deb took a deep breath.
"Just eat your sandwich. I'll send Deke back in here. You may not think that Michonne is important in this deal, but she is. You'll have to deal with her before you get any ideas about taking any kids anywhere."
"Again, you've mentioned more than one child. if I have another son, then I need to know that! And hell, I'd love to see Michonne again! I owe her an apology for something."
"Yeah…" Deb trailed off and began to leave the basement. But Rick kept talking.
"Why don't you tell me what your story is? I'm pretty good at sizing situations up."
"No you're not, since you thought Negan was my boyfriend." Deb said flippantly.
"Maybe. But there's something there." Rick said firmly. "How did you come to live here?"
"Okay. I'll bite. I came here because of Maggie. My brother is married to her."
Rick eyed her.
"Maggie is married to your brother and not Glenn? What happened to him?"
"He died."
"Died how?"
"How does anyone die in this world, Rick? Look, I have to get going…"
"It's Deb, right? Don't bullshit me here. What happened to Glenn? You can tell me or I can ask to see Maggie."
"Then ask to see her." was Deb's answer, before leaving the cellblock. Shit! The last thing they needed was all that 'Negan bashed Glenn and Abraham's heads in' crap! Not that it was 'crap', but things were complicated enough around here! She ran into Deke, who was on the steps.
"What'd he have to say?" Deke asked.
"I told him Maggie was married to my brother. He wanted to know what happened to Glenn."
Deke shrugged.
"Did you tell him? It's not like there's shit he can do about it anyway."
Deb folded her arms.
"No. He's probably going to be asking for Maggie. But I think maybe Negan should tell him about Glenn. Personally."
"Shit!" Deke cursed.
Deb opened the door to Michonne's house and heard some kind of eery music playing from the family room. Deb cracked the door and found that Judith, Harrison and RJ had closed the drapes to make it darker. A movie Deb recognized as the original 'Halloween' was playing. She knew Michonne wanted the kids doing homework after school, and she knew Negan knew it as well. Deb glanced towards the stairs. Negan had okayed this to get them out of his hair while he sulked or connived.
Deb walked up the stairs and dared to enter the room Michonne now shared with Negan. She heard water splashing and walked to the bathroom door and cracked it open a bit. Negan was sitting in a tub, surrounded by bubbles. And yes, he was sulking.
"You look stressed as hell. What's with this bubble bath shit?" Deb asked, now sitting on the toilet seat.
"You don't think I deserve a relaxing bath after the shit that happened today? Have you seen him? Over at the jails?"
"Yes. That's why I'm here. He wants to know what happened to Glenn? He didn't mention Abraham."
Negan said nothing. He didn't know the particulars of how the 'Grimes Group' came together. But clearly, Abraham Ford was not at this prison that Rick remembers. He looked up at Deb.
"You're suggesting something?"
"I think you should be the one to tell Rick what you did. Look, I have no dog in this fight, when it comes to who Michonne ends up with. But I do when it comes to getting Dexter out of trouble here. We're an alliance and that can't get fucked up."
The door to the bedroom suddenly opened and Negan could see that Michonne had returned! He got up out of the tub and put on a robe. Michonne lifted a brow when she saw both Negan and Deb emerge from the bathroom, but didn't comment on it.
"You've seen him?" was all Michonne asked. Negan did not answer but Deb did.
"Yes."
"I ran into Carol and she told me what Rick remembers and what he wants here. I found his helicopter as well." Michonne said matter-of-factly. Deb folded her arms.
"There is actually a helicopter out in the middle of the road?"
"Yes and I told Deke and some of the other men to get to it quickly. We can get it back here. Apparently Eugene knows how to fly one." Michonne said tiredly. Negan nodded to Deb and she decided to leave them, but not before asking about Dexter.
"What happened at the Kingdom Prison?" Deb asked.
"Dexter is being treated well. I think the people don't quite know what to believe about what happened. We're going to do a prisoner exchange. Carol for Dexter." Michonne said as her eyes slid off of Deb and focused on Negan. Deb said no more and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
That left Negan and Michonne alone.
"So," Negan drawled, "you didn't go to see him right away when you came back here? Why?"
Michonne slowly sat down on the end of the bed and looked up at him.
"You didn't kill him as soon as you laid eyes on him. Why?" she countered.
"Honestly? I was thinking of the kids. Now your turn." Negan said in a no nonsense tone. Michonne shrugged and said nothing. Negan slowly walked to the space beside her on the bed and sat down.
"I don't know what to think or feel. I just know Rick is back, he doesn't want me but he wants to take my daughter. This is not the way I ever envisioned his returning. Then again, I told myself he was dead." Michonne sighed and bent forward to put her head in her hands. Negan reached out to caress her back.
"I'll go with you. If you want." he said softly.
"I need to see him alone. Then I need to talk to the kids. What do they know?"
"Nothing. I made sure they came straight here and watched movies." Negan said. Michonne nodded and raised her head.
"Okay." was all she said. But she did not move.
"What is it?" Negan asked.
"I could smell him in that helicopter. I opened the door to it and it was like Rick was right there with me. And that was before I knew anything." she admitted. Negan said nothing to that and Michonne finally faced him. She slowly reached out and grasped his hand.
"I can't pretend to you that I don't still love Rick, even though he doesn't want me. But I won't pretend to him that you aren't in my heart as well." she said, letting go of Negan's hand and standing up. She gave him a last, wistful look, before leaving their bedroom to go and face Rick Grimes.
Negan stared after her, long after she was out of his line of sight. That was the first time Michonne had admitted anything close to having any real feelings for him. Yes, when they made love, the feelings were there, but in the back of his mind, Negan had assumed that he was what she would take in lieu of Rick or even King Zeke. But her words just now and the way she had looked at him…damn! He was not about to lose her to 'One Eyed Rick Grimes'! No way in fucking hell!
He got up from the bed and began to get dressed. He was going over to that jail whether Michonne liked it or not.
Michonne nodded to the guard posted and he left the cell basement. Rick, who had been lying on a cot, slowly got up and stared at her. He watched the man leave before speaking.
"Michonne."
Michonne said nothing about his casual use of her name.
"We secured your helicopter and Judith doesn't know you, so I won't be turning her over. You can say what you need to say to Carol, Maggie and Darryl and then you're going to have leave Alexandria. Are we clear?" she asked coolly, trying not to think that he looked sexy with the eye patch.
Rick walked up to the bars.
"No. We're not clear. I appreciate you looking after Judith but she's my daughter…"
"Actually, she's not." Michonne said. "You confided who her real father was to me. So that argument isn't really going to fly here, Rick."
Rick stared at her and Michonne could see that he was now beginning to take her seriously.
"Okay. Let's start over. I understand that I can't just come in here and uproot my daughter. I also understand that we have a son together."
"No we do not." Michonne lied.
"So this 'RJ' is not mine?"
"No."
"So what does his name stand for?"
"R. J." Michonne said slowly, repressing her hurt and anger at his lack of memory of her or what they had.
"I see. What if I offered a counter proposal? How about you give me back my helicopter and I take Judith, yourself and RJ who isn't mine, to the new community that I run. You can see the kids would be safe there…"
"I thought you only wanted Judith?" Michonne asked sarcastically. It was then that Rick did something unbelievable. Something she would've never imagined him doing in a million years.
Rick reached between the bars and grabbed one of her dreads…hard! He yanked her towards the bars, just as Negan walked in!
"HEY!" Negan yelled, pulling Michonne out of his grip! Michonne burst into tears and ran out of the basement cells! Rick could barely control his anger! Who the hell was she to tell him that he couldn't take his daughter? And she was keeping a son from him too?
Rick stared at the door Michonne had run through, then shifted his focus to Negan.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Negan walked up to the bars.
"I heard you wanted to know what happened to Glenn?"
Rick looked him over.
"Maggie is on her way over to explain…"
"Well all she's going to tell him is that I killed him. I bashed his brains in right in front of you while you quivered like the little bitch you are! Then I bashed in the head of someone else that I don't think you would remember. Our communities went to war, you won, you locked me up in the same cell that you're standing in now and then…then you ran off with Jadis. I knew Jadis. She struck me as kind of a weirdo. I mean she lived in a garbage dump, for fuck's sake! But you don't 'remember' that, do you?"
Rick just stared at him with his one eye. Negan tilted his head.
"Nothing to say about my killing Glenn? Nothing to say at all?"
"When I get out of here, you won't be here." was Rick's reply.
Negan grinned!
"When you get out of here, you're leaving. You're leaving without Judith and without your fucking helicopter! Thanks for that, by the way. We'll put it to good use."
"You're not here because of my helicopter or my daughter. This is about Michonne."
Negan said nothing so Rick continued talking.
"So, let me see if I can follow what's happened in my absence: Michonne got over me really quick with you, even though you killed Glenn, who I know she cared about. I do remember that much. And what else? You're playing daddy to my kids?"
"You don't have any children, Rick. At least not here." Negan said, now turning and pulling up a chair. "Why don't you tell me where the fuck you've been all of this time and if YOU have any other children yourself. I'm sure Chonnie would love to know."
Rick Grimes realized he had deeply underestimated how difficult it would be to get Judith out of here. Not to mention the son he never knew he had. He blamed Jadis and her goddamned lies for his not being prepared. But an idea formed as he stared at Negan. In order to get his children back, he would have to get to Michonne. And if that meant prying her away from this murdering fuck, all the better.
Rick stretched and yawned.
"I'm tired. That means I'm through talking, Negan. You have a pleasant day." Rick almost purred. Negan stared at him coldly, before slowly standing up and walking over to the bars.
"We'll be through talking, Rick, when I'm satisfied that you understand that there is nothing, and no one, here for you anymore. Do you understand that?" Negan asked coolly.
"I'll understand that when I'm satisfied that Michonne does." was Rick's reply.
Negan turned and left the cells. He was coming back to kill Rick in the middle of the night. Problem solved.