Sadie sighed and pulled up the blankets to cover her mouth. She slightly shifted her body and let out a quiet sneeze.
Still in just his boxers, Negan stood in the doorway with his arms folded. A soft smile appeared on his face. 'Damn.' He walked over to her side of the bed and knelt down, running his fingers through her hair.
"Almost there babe." He kissed her on the forehead and left back to the kitchen.
Sadie silently yawned and lifted her head. "New day, new duty." She tossed back the sheets and stood up to make the bed. Once it was made, the girl wandered into the kitchen to make herself breakfast, but noticed three platefuls of pancakes, toast, and sausage. A pitcher of apple juice sat next to a pile of napkins and silverware.
"Mornin' darlin'. Hope you're hungry." He placed a mug of coffee on the table with a smooth smile.
"I.." Sadie was lost for words. "That's so sweet Negan. Thank you." She tried her best to reach him by standing on her tip toes, but failed miserably yet again.
Negan picked her up with one hand on her butt and the other on the back of her head. His eyes looked into hers. "It's my way of sayin' thank you. By letting me sleep last night."
"This is more than a thank you." She smiled. He put her down. "Alright then. Consider it my sympathy for you being so god damn short." He bore his teeth with a grin and grabbed her with his arm.
"That's most accurate thing I've heard this year."
Negan hugged her then led her to the table. To not risk ruining the moment, he let Sadie pull out her own chair.
After filling their plates, they quietly ate. "So what's the plan today Negan?" Sadie asked, sipping her apple juice. "The plan.." He stood up to get more coffee. "..is that you and I are bunked. Then later today at two, we are still bunked."
She smirked. "So what you're saying is that we are spending the day together then paying old Ricky a visit?" "Bingo." He kissed the top of her head and sat back down across the table.
"Although." Negan cleared his throat. "Eugene told some major information about you yesterday." Sadie gulped. "A..About what?" "And I am so anxious to find this out."
"Wh..What is it? Whatever it is I didn't do it! It was.." She panted. He hummed. "So you are telling me that you haven't touched the gaming console yesterday and that Dr. Smartypants is a big fat f*ckin' liar?"
Sadie slowly sighed. "Please don't toy with me like that." He laughed. "Why not? I'll keep doing it until you give me something worthy of an answer." "Alright fine." She took a pen and napkin off of the table. The girl lightly coughed and wrote down her high score from yesterday, including each type of kill she made.
She folded it up and slid it over to him. "Now do understand that actions speak louder than words. And I have absolutely no problem executing just that." Sadie took her empty plate and set it in the sink. She turned on some hot water and let it sit.
Negan tilted his head as he unfolded it. "Sounds as good of an idea as any." He set his plate on top of hers and placed his hands on her hips. "I'll meet you there. Just have to find Simon real quick." "Not like that I hope." She smirked.
He scoffed. "Oh no no no darlin', this is all for you." Negan kissed behind her right ear. She smiled and walked down the hall to the bathroom, purposely swinging her hips. Negan huffed. "Pushing it!" "I know!" She whined.
Sadie dressed back in Negan's hand-me-downs after showering and walked down the hall towards the den. She then froze once she walked in.
Davey turned to her with a can of beer in his right hand.
The girl quickly took one of her pills and swallowed it with a gulp of water.
"Baby girl is sick? That why daddy bought you some new clothes?" He hazily grinned.
"Go screw yourself Davey. Negan's not my dad."
He loudly belched and walked over to her.
"Charming." She replied blandly and turned on the gaming system. "I appreciate that finger gesture you gave me the other day."
He held her left cheek against the wall. "Ugh!" "Why don't I return it?" He rubbed her butt. "Don't you f*ckin' dare. I will.." He held her face firmer. "..uggh..kill you." "Language." Davey hushed her. Sadie rolled her eyes and back kicked him between his legs.
"Drag your drunken butt somewhere else." He tightened his eyes. "Not without you I won't."
Negan folded his arms with a scowl.
Davey swung a punch but it's speed was more than easy to dodge.
"In case you haven't noticed, Fat equals less stamina. Less stamina leads to stupidity. And stupidity can lead you into a boatload of problems. You, my friend, are a mighty fine example of that. So I'm going to be a lady and let this slide..for now."
Davey huffed and rose back up to his feet. "It's not me you should be worried about. Give me a little kiss like you did with daddy and we'll call it even."
Sadie shakily sighed in anger and punched him in the cheek. "He's not my dad you prick!" "That all you got princess?" He chuckled, wiping away some blood from his lip.
"The f*ck is going on in here?" Negan asked rather casually, looking dead straight at Davey. "I.."
"Well. Daddies do happen to be protective of their little girls." He stepped closer to him. "But, sooner or later, every caterpillar has to evolve and grow it's wings." He slowly leaned back.
"So I'll make this reasonable. I'll let the little butterfly decide just what the best choice is." He gently moved Sadie in front of him with his hands on her shoulders.
Davey quickly panted and lightly rubbed her arm, angering Sadie even more. "P..Please don't kill me Sandra. I..I'm sorry." "Oh don't be sorry Davey. There will be a bunch of other women in hell waiting for you." She replied in a forgiving tone. He gulped.
"Nighty night Gravey Davey." Negan grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "She does not accept your apology." He clarified.
Negan turned her head away with one hand while stabbing a knife through his skull with his other. Sadie huffed once she heard his body drop to the floor. Negan let go of her with a sense of panic.
"I did not know he was up here. Are you alright?" He quickly felt her arms. "Yeah. The rules matter. Break them and pay the price." His hands moved down to her waist and then her legs. "Negan. I'm okay. My cheek hurts a little, but I'm fine. I promise."
He sighed and rested a hand on her chest. "Alright. That f*ckin' scared me darlin'." Negan took a bottle of beer and soda out of the fridge and set them on the coffee table in front of the television. He unfolded the blanket and flipped a lever on the left side of the couch.
Sadie hummed. "I always thought recliners were awesome. My grandfather had a few actually." "Did he?" He sat down and put his feet up, slipping off his boots. "Yeah. Brings back memories where I would sit on one of them watching tv and he would watch with me with his coffee."
Negan smirked. "Well darlin', prepare yourself for a little deja freakin' vu." Sadie smiled and set up the game where she left off. Paranoid, she locked the door.
He rose his head once he heard it. "What?" "Why'd you lock it darlin'?" Sadie huffed, trying to hold back her emotions. "No reason."
She sat beside him and he covered her with half of the blanket. A light hum escaped her mouth once his arm was rested around her neck.
"I hate people." She hiccuped. "As do I." He whispered back while rubbing her shoulder. He helped remove her leather jacket after he did the same.
Negan's fingertips lightly touched her left breast with his arm still securing her. "Sorry darlin'." He apologized in advance before moving the drinks to the side table next to him. "No problem." She pressed play on the controller.
"Alright. Where are you?" "It looks like an abandoned snow cave of some sort. There should be a large chest in here based on my map but..oh shit." She ran away from a large snow creature. It was as big as the cave itself.
"Hey hey. Tone down the language for me baby alright?" She nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry." He kissed her temple. "Thank you. Now. Why don't you just turn around and sneak under his legs?" "Huh. Sounds risky. I'll try it. Just have to wait until it swings it's axe."
Once it did, Sadie ran through the cave and slowly panted. "Found it!"
She quickly opened it and took the fifty coins, a yard of rope, and a fire machete twice the size of her character. "Ohh yeah." She grinned. "Sorry about my amateur commentary."
"Don't sweat it." Negan opened his beer and took a big gulp. "I love girls invested in this sort of thing. I'll tell you when you're too loud." "I'm flattered." Sadie giggled. "Oh how I love that morning dose of sarcasm."
Negan breathed on her neck before gently licking it. Sadie lightly smiled but was still able to concentrate. "How do I taste?" "Bittersweet." "Good boy." She grinned and quickly kissed him on the lips.
After reaching the next checkpoint an hour later, Sadie saved her game and turned it off. Negan had his eyes closed. She lay her head and right knuckle on his chest.
"How's your side darlin'?" "Better. I barely feel it." "That's good." Her eyes shut as his fingers played with her hair. "I saw ya climbing the fence last night." "Oops." She hummed with a smile.
Negan let out a deep breath. "I don't know darlin'." "About what? Would you like me to get you another beer?" She stood up and walked to the fridge. "I thought you hated that scent." "I don't like it, but I can tolerate it. But I can not stand cigarette smoke and heavy cologne or perfume." Sadie handed him another bottle.
She lay back down on the couch. "That reminds me, there's an employee round-up kind of deal later tonight. And I was going to ask you to be my itty bitty bartender and waitress. But now learning that you're sensitive to that shit, I'll leave that up to you."
Sadie gulped and slowly shook her head. "No. I'm sorry. No. I can't. Claude almost killed me and Davey almost raped me. No." He frowned and scratched the back of her head. "I'm scared to be alone with other men."
Negan sighed. "I will hire Simon to be your look out. He's well trained for that shit." He nodded. "I..don't know." Her eyes welled up again. "I..won't get strapped down into a corset right?"
"Oh I am way ahead of you on that baby. I have one reserved just for you in my closet." Sadie gulped. "I..didn't mean it that way. I don't want to get objectified."
He huffed. Sadie softly yawned. 'Simon didn't lay a single finger on me. Should I trust him?' "But I'll make you a deal." She sighed. "If I can wear this tonight,.." She gestured to her current clothes. "..then I'll wear it when it's just you and I later this week."
Negan scratched his chin. "You and your hard bargains. Hmm.." Sadie stood up and put her jacket back on. "..You got a deal darlin'." "Pleasure doing business with you." She smirked and held out a hand to help him up.
He took hers and stood up. "Can I ask you a question?" Negan put his boots back on. "Yes?" "It's rather dumb. But does your back ever hurt from all that leaning you do?" He chuckled, playfully pushing her shoulder and not answering.
Sadie put on her boots after he did. "Ever played a game of pool?" "Maybe five years ago at most." She shrugged. "But where are you going to find one?" "I'm the king Sadie. Everything I touch turns to gold." He walked out of the room and the girl hurried after him.
"No public affection." "I was just going to ask about that!" She gasped. He smiled and rested an arm on her shoulder. "You don't get any do overs, nothing."
She hopped into the truck. "Oh what a pity. What are we going to play?" "Classic eight ball. You just shoot the balls in the pockets." "Hm. Sounds easy enough." He started the truck. "M..hm! Not much to it."
Sadie opened her door once they got to Alexandria. Rick looked up with a sense of fear. Sadie gave him a friendly smile, while Negan freely walked over to the pool table in the middle of the street. Carl held his little sister in his arms with a straight face.
'This is really freakin' awkward.' Sadie sighed as Negan picked up a pool stick.
"You don't know him Sadie! He'll.."
She turned around but didn't speak up. 'Let me be! I can make my own choices!' "Calm down Rick. We're just fancying a game." She looked straight at the ground to avoid any eyes on her and picked up another pool stick. Negan started by knocking two of the balls into the sockets with one shot.
'Don't look up Sadie. No one is looking at you.' The girl tried to assure herself.
As he missed knocking another in, Sadie sighed. 'I hope I remember how to do this.' She held her breath and shot one of them in the pockets. Negan kept a straight face. 'Make me proud.'
She turned away suddenly once someone motioned her towards the church.
Out of Negan's sight, she fell to her knees and onto the church floor. "Where's Claude?"
"Claude, my dear child, was brought to the Hilltop. He is quite a religious figure." "What the heck are you talking about? Where is his grave?" She wiped her eyes.
He sighed. "There is no grave Sandra. He was asking about you. I have never seen someone so concerned before."
Sadie tightly pinched her side. "What do you mean? He's dead! A corpse! He was hit to death and.."
Father Gabriel looked at her rather confused. "He is alive and well Sandra. In fact, Claude is wishing to reunite with you."
Sadie groaned and held her aching head. "No! He is dead! This is a dream! A nightmare! I saw him get beaten and.."
Gabriel knelt down to her. "Sandra. You are not dreaming my child." "But.." She shook her head. "..What was.." "You were hallucinating. Negan brought you to the Sanctuary to allow you to recollect your thoughts."
The girl started to pant. "No! This isn't true." He helped her stand up. "Relax Sadie. You are not dreaming." Clearing her thoughts, Sadie sighed. "May..I see him then please?"
"You can't just leave me hanging there kid." Negan opened the church door with a smirk. She turned to Gabriel.
"I..have respects to pay." "You can repay them later." He said strictly, pointing Lucille at her. "Now come on." Sadie blinked.
"Thirty minutes. Please." She pleaded. "I said to follow me Sadie." Negan narrowed his eyes, circling the bat in front of her face. "I..claim sanctuary here." She gulped. "Don't play stupid with me." "Please! Half an hour!"
He slowly backed out the door. "Oh you crossed the line big time darlin'."
Sadie quickly ran after him. He said not a word as they returned to the truck. She slumped in her seat and bit her nails. 'F..Frollo's alive? What the heck? I must have been crazier than I thought.'
"Just what the shit was going through your mind?" He parked the car back at the Sanctuary. "Well?" "I just.." Negan dragged her by the right arm back to his room and pulled her onto the floor.
"It is not polite to refuse an order." She widened her eyes as Lucille was only centimeters away from her face. "Do I need to make it through to you? Again?" "You..wouldn't hurt me." Her voice quieted.
He relaxed his eyes and lay the bat against the wall. "Get up. We're going to be late." Sadie immediately stood up without a word and followed him down the hall. She started to shiver.
"Stop!" 'Am I not aloud to have any freakin' emotions?'
"No. I won't stop." Negan grabbed her face. She pushed his hand away with a grunt. "Get out of my sight you brat." "It would be my pleasure." She turned her back and walked away.
"I f*ckin' bet."
Sadie sighed and left down to Dr. Carson's office. Just knocking on the closed door relaxed her. It opened two minutes later.
"Oh. Sadie. Hello." He lightly smiled. "Hi. May I come in?" "Of course." She walked in with a smile. "How are you feeling? Any better?" "Ninety percent." The girl nodded. "But..can you check please?" "Certainly." He helped her onto the table. Sadie lay her head back.
He lifted her shirt, only exposing her scar. "By the looks of it, it's like nothing ever happened." 'Yet.' Sadie gulped. "Wow. Thank you." "Is that all?" "Do you happen to have some duct tape?"
He tilted his head. "For what?" "My mouth doesn't know when to stop yammering." He slowly nodded. "Negan is a very sensitive man. You have to be extremely careful with what you say." "This is going to be tougher than I thought then. Okay. Have a nice night." "You too Sadie." He smiled.
She happily undressed to her underclothes once back at Negan's place and purposely stretched her entire body onto the bed. She slid under the covers. "Ha! You want be a domestic jerk, Fine!" She shut her eyes with a smile. 'The sheets are cold too.'