Chapter 87: Negotiation


RPOV

~A couple of days ago~

Being guided inside by Tara, she had encouraged us to talk inside. What came out of her mouth, surprised me. She had told me of her trip with Heath, what happened with him and who she had met from the trip.

"They-" Tara hesitated as she sighed. "They have guns," Tara finally informed me of what these people had. "A lot of them. I saw it," Tara told me everything.

The fact she'd been keeping this from us, for so long, while me and Michonne had been searching high and low for guns, risking our lives, when she could of told us, had me stunned. "What?" I asked her, completely blown away by the information she'd been keeping from me.

Tara had approached me slowly as I took my seat in the infirmary. "That group," Tara explained to me. "Um, the women I met," Tara clarified just who had the guns. Her sigh was heavy, like she already was regretting telling me this.

How Tara was, she was nervously fiddling with the sleeve on her wrist, where she had a new bracelet but then I realised, it was gone. "They have an armoury. They have guns," Tara continued to give me all the information she knew of this group.

Oceanside sounded to be like the perfect group we could ask to help us win this war. With or without their help, their guns would do just as fine. "Why didn't you tell us before now?" I asked her but more importantly, why she'd told me this now.

Her eyes were firm, as her voice matched her expression. "I made a promise, Rick," was all Tara needed to tell me. Nodding, I looked down and understood just what that meant to her. I made a promise too. Not today. Not tomorrow...


DPOV

Riding out, I had Aaron and Father Gabriel driving a truck behind me, while Michonne and Rick drove the RV beside me. Since the news of another community hiding by the coast was told to us by Tara, we all decided to go, leaving Maggie at the Hilltop, myself, Jesus and Enid decided to help the others from Alexandria to get these guns and convince the community, to maybe join us.

Rowing out, myself, Jesus, Father Gabriel and a few others helped move our supplies to the other side of the lake. Today is going to be the day. It has to be. For Kat. For our child. For Maggie and for everyone we've lost. It has to be. We have to win.


RPOV

As we were getting into our positions, I stayed close to Tara, who looked to be nervous about all of this that we had planned since we heard of the place where she once was. A community, that had guns and lots of people.

We needed those guns and we had hope those people would join us too. "Are you ready if this goes south?" I asked Tara, glancing to her as we walked side by side.

"It won't," Tara was being stern in her words, needing for this to be clear to us.

Even if we don't want it to happen, we can't guarantee that it won't. "If it does, you don't need to feel bad," I tried to soothe her, to make her realise that this was something we needed. If we were going to win, we needed those guns and hopefully, those people.

The fact she told us, after she kept a promise to them, I knew it was the most devastating part of it. Her eyes quickly met mine. "I do feel bad," Tara's tone was as sad as her expression. "I will," Tara reassured me that regardless what happened, she'd feel guilt knowing she went against their trust.

Searching in her eyes, I tried to hold her gaze as mine softened to her. "Tara...you don't have to," I tried to make this known to Tara as we all kept moving, with Tara leading the way. This is how we win.


CPOV

Standing by the lake, we kept watch for any threats that would appear, as we were getting ready for the day we had ahead. "Do you ever think about who you've killed?" Enid asked me out of nowhere as we stood side by side. Is she afraid of killing someone today?

Remembering those I had killed, those that we had killed, it also reminded me of the people I hadn't killed. Kat killed many more people than I have. Dad has killed triple of what any of us have. "Yeah," I answered Enid as my eye met her gaze as I nodded.


KPOV

Waking up early, I had done my best to get as much sleep as possible, as Dwight had gone out to find my home, to tell them of Negan's plans. To warn them of what was to come. The thought alone, had kept me up most of the night but I kept pushing through it.

I had to.

For the sake of my child, I had to keep sleeping and keeping myself healthy. Without keeping myself running smoothly inside, I'd only make myself and my child sick. Stay strong. I'd hear my mother's voice collide with my own in my head.

Taking my vitamins before I'd leave, I'd been told I had an appointment with the new doctor, that I'd be one of the first people to be checked under Negan's instructions. Entering the room, I saw the familiar face turn to me.

"Dr Carson," I greeted him, alerting him that I was here.

Turning around, he smiled at me and offered me his hand. "Katherine, wasn't it?" Dr Carson offered to shake my hand. His smile far too friendly for a place like this. Does he remember me?

Letting out a soft scoff, hearing that name leave Negan's lips was enough, appropriate for who it was too. "Katherine sounds too formal," I tried to lighten the tense mood for myself with him. "You can call me Kat," I encouraged him to call me by that preferred name.

His eyes were squinting, but more by amusement, than it was by confusion. It was like he was surprised. "You're Rick Grimes's daughter," Dr Carson stated correctly. "A friend of Maggie's?" the friendly doctor questioned my relation to those from Alexandria.

"Yes," I smiled, at the thought of my father. Would he be proud of me now? If he knew everything I had done to get here? "And yes," I stated that yes, I was a friend of Maggie's. She's like a sister.

Flicking through the pages on his clipboard, Dr Carson appeared to be a little confused by the words on them. "It says here that you're pregnant," Dr Carson was careful with his words. "With...Negan's child?" Dr Carson tried to act like it wasn't a surprise.

I could sense he was hoping this wasn't true. We don't need the spawn of Satan walking around. "It...it's not his," I hesitated in telling him the truth. "If he knew I was pregnant before he took me for his wife he'd-" I tried to explain myself quickly.

"He'd kill you," the doctor finished for me. "I understand," Dr Carson nodded, his eyes light as they gazed to me. Gesturing for me to take a seat, I slowly did as I was encouraged.

I felt the guilt already creeping up on me. "I guess my brother knew this secret?" Dr Carson asked me, placing the clipboard down as he began setting himself up for the check-up.

When he assumed what he already knew, I froze up a little. "I-" I had no idea how to answer him. "I didn't want what happened, to happen," I tried to explain that hurting or killing his brother, wasn't my intention. "I hoped he'd feared me more than Negan," I spoke sadly.

My eyes fell to my hands, as I regretted the fact that loyalty blinded Dr Carson more than fear had. "Which he should have, by the looks of it," Dr Carson assumed that I was the bigger threat than what Negan was.

Meeting his gaze, his eyes appeared to be sad but almost emotionless. "It was either him or me," I repeated the words I had said to myself, over and over again. To somehow numb the fact that it was all my fault.

"He was going to tell Negan and I-" I felt my throat tighten. "I couldn't risk that," I croaked out my words. "I'm sorry," I apologised to him, feeling my bottom lip wobble as I gazed up at the man who had a brother. Just the same way I had.

He just lost his brother. Because of me. If it was Carl and I was in his position, I'd lose my shit. "I-I didn't want any of this to happen," I cried, my tears falling hard as I sniffled and gazed at him.

Seeing my sadness, his own eyes fell to the floor. "I should be back in Alexandria, with my family, with my child's father..." I spoke through my tears, trying to pull back the pieces of my breaking conscience.

"And I should be at the Hilltop, treating my patients and helping Maggie through her pregnancy," Dr Carson smiled sadly back up at me. His eyes met mine as he too stated how off all of this was for both of us.

News of Maggie, that she was well, made me feel a little relieved as I spun a little on my seat to look at him. "So, she's alright?" I had heard no news of Maggie for the longest time. "The baby is fine?" I knew the last I heard of it, Jesus was here and he told me she was fine.

Any news outside of this hellhole, was like music to my ears. "Both mother and the child, yes," Dr Carson let out a small, polite laugh. "Sasha's been taking great care of her too, Jesus, Enid, they've all been pitching in," Dr Carson informed me of everything that had been happening at the Hilltop.

People are looking after her, that's good. Hearing this news, made me cry tears of joy as I laughed at the news. She needs people there for her. The silence that fell over us soon was lifted as soon as the doctor spoke up.

His head had bowed for only a short matter of a few minutes as he thought over his words, or so I assumed. "I understand my brother was on the wrong side, he was willing to terminate a pregnant women for loyalty to a madman," Dr Carson sympathised with me.

As our eyes met, his gaze was strong, soft but focused solely on me. "I forgive you, Kat," the doctor forgave me for what happened to his brother and that was enough to give me a sense of relief.

Taking his tools, the doctor was ready to examine me. "Now, let's take a look at this baby and check to see if its healthy," the doctor suggested as he slipped his gloves on with a smile and got into position.

As he went to put the piece of machinery on my stomach, I gently took hold of his wrist and gazed up at him as I laid there. "Thank you," I whispered, appreciating his help. With a smile, we saw my baby and the heart beat was strong, which made me smile. My little fighter...


MPOV

Grunting as he helped me climb up a tree, I did my best to do the rest for myself as I grasped onto anything that would hold my weight and was easy to grasp onto. "Once you're up, watch for the signal," Rick told me.

Breathing heavily, I was struggling to catch my breath as I latched on. "What time does the clock start?" I asked as I looked down to Rick, the sniper on my back was weighing a lot more than what my sword normally weighed.

"Soon as she's in," Rick answered me as he gazed up at me. Nodding, I looked around and felt a strange feeling of dread. Something is going to go wrong. I can feel it. "You good?" Rick asked me, even after everything that happened, he was still worried for me.

We've come so far and I'm not giving up now. "I'm good enough," I reassured him with a nod as I glanced up then back down to him. "Kat always made this look easy," I commented. Remembering the thousands of times Kat had climbed a tree to see if a herd was coming towards us so we could try to avoid it.

The memory just proved how easy Kat made it look compared to how hard it actually was when doing it myself. "Yeah," Rick chuckled. "She makes everything look easy," Rick grumbled about his daughter, like the old man he was slowly becoming. Grandpa.

When he turned away, I began to climb and tried to stay focused, tried to stay quiet and calm. I can do this. I can. If Kat can do this, so can I.


DPOV

Setting up the explosives with Jesus, we worked quietly and quickly as we planted it where Rick wanted it. "I should've tried harder to stop Rosita and Sasha," Jesus was feeling guilty. "If they'd have just waited one more day..." Jesus was trying too hard to look on the past.

The past only gives you bad memories. That's what I've figured out since this whole mess happened. "Well, Sasha's a good shot, and Rosita knows how to take care of herself," I had faith in the girls.

I have to have faith in all our girls. Especially mine. "Probably back at Hilltop right now. Least I hope so," I did feel a little doubt but I needed to be hopeful as I kept untangling the wires we were putting down.

Jesus held onto the crate that held the explosives we were going to plant away from the houses, away from the community. "We're gonna need 'em," I said. We're going to need all of them. "There's a whole lot of people still got to die," I stated.

Negan wasn't just one of them. They were all Negan and until they were all wiped clean, off the edge of the earth, we weren't going to be safe. We weren't going to be free. We need Sasha. Rosita. We need Kat, too.


KPOV

Returning to my room, I came across a couple of Saviors who were stood by their open door, talking way too loud for it to not echo through the halls. Slowing, I stopped by their door and rest my back against the wall.

Their words were interesting for me to hear. "Those shots fired last night, they were pretty crazy," one guy said, it was a rough and a gritty voice. Remembering last night, gunshots had echoed around the complex, as I imagined someone broke into the Sanctuary or a walker had slipped in through the gates.

"Damn bitch has a death sentence," the other voice was rough, hoarse but it wasn't as rough and gravelly as the other guy's voice.

Hoping the person who had caused the commotion, wasn't my brother, or Daryl, I was hoping it would be someone I didn't know at all. But their bravery, only sounded like someone from my home.

"I'm pretty sure we saw her at the line up," the first guy said. "Could be she wants revenge for one of those dead guys we killed from Alexandria," the first guy said, making me realise that it must have been either Rosita, Maggie, Michonne or Sasha.

Holding my breath, I needed to hear every word of what came from this conversation next. "What's her name?" the second guy asked the same question I wanted the answer to.

Waiting for the name, the first guy must have been deep in thought over it. "Satcha, Sorsha, somethin' like that," the first guy answered. Sasha. "Besides the point," the guy said to the other. "All I know, is she is going to have a death wish, being stuck in those cells with Davey at the door."

Hearing that Davey was the one guarding the cells, I tensed up. "No shit," I heard the second guy answer with a chuckle. "Did you hear why he got put there?" the second guy asked the first guy.

Shuffling to walk past them, I was thankful the door was only ajar. "Was somethin' about him trying to kill Negan's pregnant wife, right?" the first guy asked as I kept walking down the halls.

Trying to be as quiet as a mouse, I had a job to do. "Sick lunatic," I heard the second guy comment. "Who the hell attacks a pregnant woman?" the second guy's voice echoed as I kept walking.

I need to get to her. My feet moved me quicker, as I forced myself to find my way to the cells. "Not just any pregnant woman, but Negan's pregnant woman," the first guy said, this was the last bit I heard of the conversation as I left them.

Finding the cells, it was empty. No guard was in sight. Leaving for a door, most were open, but only one was locked. "Sasha?" I whispered through the door.

"Kat?" I heard Sasha's voice speak back to me. "Is that you?" I could feel Sasha's hands make the door vibrate, as my palms pressed into the door too. "Is that really you?" I heard Sasha cry.

Letting a sad smile appear, I hated that she was stuck in there. "Yes, it's me," I answered her with a small sniffle, a few tears left my eyes. "God, it's so good to hear your voice," I shut my eyes tightly before opening them to gaze at the ceiling.

I heard a small laugh through Sasha's door. "You too," Sasha agreed with a small sniffle. "Are you okay? Is the baby okay?" Sasha's voice became suddenly firm, serious as she asked a serious question.

"Yes," I answered her. "Dr Carson told me Maggie is doing good, thanks to you guys," I revealed to her that the doctor was here, if Sasha didn't already know about it.

Hearing a soft scoff, I had a feeling Sasha knew. "Yeah..." Sasha's voice was light though, so I had hope she was smiling from the fact she did was she was set out to do in the first place. She looked out for Maggie. "Does Negan know?" Sasha asked me one question I dreaded answering aloud.

"About the baby?" I asked her. "Yeah," I answered after a few short pauses of silence. "How did Daryl take the news?" the question was burning inside of me, dying to get out.

There was silence for a few seconds. "As well as you can expect," Sasha answered me. "He was the first one to want to come back here and save you," Sasha told me. Hearing the fact Daryl wanted to save me, rather than leave me here, made my heart soar at the thought we'd make it through this.

He doesn't hate me. He wants to save me. "Sounds like him," I laughed through a few tears that streamed down my face. "I thought he wouldn't want to, after what he saw me do in here," I bowed my head as my words were sad.

Sasha didn't say anything, I assumed she'd only listened. "I had to kiss him...do things with him..." I told Sasha an idea of what I had to do with Negan to convince him this child was his and not Daryl's.

For a moment, I thought I heard Sasha nod. "Things you didn't want to do but had to," Sasha could understand, she could sympathise. "Davey tried to rape me..." Sasha revealed to me after a few moments of silence passed.

"He tried to kill me," I revealed to her.

Sasha was deadly silent in there for a few seconds, possibly trying to process it all. "Well, he won't be a problem anymore," Sasha snarled. "He's dead," Sasha informed me. "Negan killed him," Sasha told me the murderer to the asshole.

Truthfully, we all knew it was something Negan had been holding back since Davey tried to kill me. "But he's going to turn and he's in here, with me," Sasha sounded a little worried and sad by this information she was giving me.

I heard footsteps inside, making me think that maybe, Sasha took a few steps back. "Sasha..." I called to her, my hand pressing against the door. "You're going to kill him, right?" I asked of her, knowing how suicidal she could be when she felt she had nothing left.

Realising she fought her way in, she had a death wish. I knew as much. She's lost so much but she's still here. She needs to keep being here. "Do you have a weapon?" I questioned her and if she needed something. I was willing to find anything around here, if it meant helping her.

"Negan left his knife here," Sasha answered me almost bluntly.

Silence was getting louder but the fact she didn't reassure me she killed it, proved he was still turning. "What are you waiting for?" I wondered why she was just letting Davey turn.

The silence was killing me. "I...I don't know if I can," Sasha whimpered. "I've not been the same, since that day," Sasha had been referring to the day Abraham was killed. "I have nothing left, Kat..." I could sense Sasha was slipping.

She can't give up. Not like this. "There is always something. You can't give up," I encouraged Sasha to stay strong. "We're family, we all made this family come together because when we thought we had no one, or nothing left, all we had to do, was look to each other," I preached to her.

I had high hopes she was listening to me. "There is always a reason to fight and you..." I drifted, struggling to speak through the tightening feeling in my throat. I was threatening to cry. Damn hormones. "You can't give up now," I tried to get her to listen.

My head was resting against the door as I heard silence on the other end. "We can get through this, all of it, together," I did my best to give her the courage she needed. "I have to go but please, don't give up. Not yet," I pleaded of her before I slipped away.

Footsteps had been approaching and I didn't know who it was. I assumed it was the guard, so for that, I left and did my best to not get caught. I hope she stays strong. She has to. I know she can...


RPOV

Before we'd get to our positions, I made my way over to my son, needing to have a quick talk with him. "Hey," I called for his attention as it was drawn to me. "It's good you're out here but..." I began to talk to him as I slowed down beside him. "You could have stayed for this one, it's a pretty big thing we're doing here."

Not that I minded him being there, but many times, he refused, to look after Judith and I respected him for it. But this time, it was different. Carl offered to help. "Means there needs more people," Carl stated. "And it has a bigger meaning to us," the way Carl spoke, made me look to him through a slight squint.

It does mean something big to us. Means a chance to get my daughter back. "I had to be here, dad," Carl said softly to me, his eye meeting mine as we both agreed this was something far bigger than both of us combined.

Nodding, there was no point in arguing with the fact it was big but I knew we had enough people here today, that he didn't need to be here. "You didn't," I was being stubborn with this one. "But I'm glad you did," I looked to him with sincerity.

My kids, always making me prouder of them every day. "You're wrong," Carl disagreed with me. "I do have to be here," Carl stated. "For Kat," this was Carl's excuse. He always loved his sister, very much and she loves him just as much.

"I can't sit around anymore, waiting for a war to happen when I'm not helping to prepare for one," Carl gave me his point of view on things.

"Kat is helping, finding out all she can, even while she's stuck with those killers and carrying my unborn niece or nephew into this, which is dangerous as it is alone," Carl's tone was a little angry, as he spoke of his sister with an intensity.

But there was admiration at the root of it, too. "She's putting us before herself and her child," Carl's tone was sad this time as his eye met my gaze. "I had to do this, for them and for us," Carl was hinting he had to do this for Kat, her child and our own lives.

After a few seconds of deep thoughts taking over, I understood him and knew he was right. "You're right," I agreed with him. "This is important," by now, this was just fact for both of us. "For us. For all of us," I bowed my head down as I gazed into his eye.

When our eyes met, he looked to me with a small, sad smile and a glimmer of hope glistened in his soft blue eye. He looks like Kat when he looks at me like that. "We're going to get them back," Carl was certain in his words. "That's why we both need to be here," Carl stated this as though it was a fact.

In ways, it was a fact. We're both doing everything we can to win this war. For Kat, while she's out there putting herself at risk to save us. "We do," I hummed an agreement. "We'll get them back, we have to," I too, needed to be confident in this.

Carl's soft eye, gazed up at me with a softness but serious glance in it. "They're counting on us," Carl spoke with confidence as I did my best to hang on. To do everyone proud. But most importantly, to do Kat and her kid proud of us.


KPOV

Slipping past guards, I went to visit Sasha again, needing to know if she was okay and if she'd taken Davey out. I feared her suicidal thoughts returned now that she was trapped. When I rounded the corner and found myself face to face with Eugene, he was armed and ready to shoot.

Raising my hands, I kept my eyes on him and felt my heart race. Please don't make me fight you. "Can-Can I talk to her?" I asked of him but he didn't say anything, he only stared at me. "Please?" I begged of him.

Eventually, Eugene slowly nodded at me, letting me pass and talk to her. Finding her door, I pressed my hand and ear to it. "Sasha?" I called into it, hoping for a response.

Hearing shuffling, I could feel something stand up and come to the door. I didn't hear the familiar growls of walkers, but that could easily change. "Kat," I heard Sasha's voice call back to me with a sense of happiness in it.

"Everything alright?" I began to worry for her, knowing being stuck in there wasn't going to help her. "Did you kill him?" I asked her if she was safe from Davey.

I was staying deadly still, needing to hear for anything. "Yes," I heard Sasha answer firmly.

Letting out a laugh of relief, I was pleased to hear that she was safe. That Davey couldn't rise to his feet and hurt her. "Thank God," I blinked away tears at the sound of her being safe.

"Don't," Sasha warned me through gritted teeth. "Nothing's been easy for a long time because of him," Sasha was still rejecting religion and I could understand why. He hasn't been fair to anyone since the beginning of all of this.

We all had lost far more than any of us could have bargained for. "I know..." I agreed with her.

There was silence for a few moments. "No, you don't," Sasha argued with me and I swore I heard her shake her head. "Gregory, he was an asshole when we got there," Sasha began telling me what her experience at the Hilltop.

"He would pretend that we weren't working with them, kept telling us it was a favour for him to be keeping me and Maggie there," Sasha kept giving me information as I listened on. "Turned your father away when he was asking the Hilltop to join us in the war to come," this news Sasha gave me, angered me.

The fact he'd turned my father away, gave Maggie hell, I wanted to get out of here and put a foot so far up his ass, he'd be begging to help us instead. "Said we never made a deal with him," this, that Sasha told me, was the cherry on top.

"What?" I was stunned by the last part. "That asshole!" I snarled, hating that he went against us in every possible way. "I swear, when I get out of here..." I held myself on my promise. "He's going to wish we never met," I vowed to myself.

Sasha let out a small laugh, it was hopeful, light and like she was relieved to hear me be so angry about this. "Don't worry, Maggie's been giving him hell," Sasha reassured me that Maggie was already giving Gregory a time to remember.

Thinking of Maggie, I smiled and looked around. "She would," I knew Maggie well enough to know she wouldn't stand for Gregory's shit. Silence took over for a few moments, I assumed Daryl must have seeked safety at the Hilltop.

And at the Hilltop, it appeared to me, that Maggie stayed there to be treated or looked after by the doctor that was once there, but in the end moved here. And with Maggie there, with Daryl, I could only imagine how distant the two must have been after everything that happened with Glenn.

All because, Daryl couldn't forgive himself until she forgave him for that night. "Daryl thinks Glenn's death was his fault," I told Sasha, but I assumed she already knew.

There was silence for a few seconds. "She knows he does," Sasha stated that Maggie knew it too.

Bowing my head, I wanted nothing more than to be there with them, through it all and for Daryl. To get him through this pain. "We all make mistakes...but him thinking that, it's been crippling him," I told Sasha with a sigh. "I told him it wasn't his fault when I first got here."

When I said those words, it was like Sasha sprung to life. "You got to see him while he was here?" Sasha asked me.

Nodding, I smiled to myself but then remembered the times he saw me with Negan. "Many times," I answered Sasha. "But it was mostly in passing," I explained how it wasn't what she might of thought it would be.

Thinking back, it felt like forever ago since I got to the Sanctuary but it had only been a few weeks. "It was the first few days I was here, I asked Negan if I could see him. He let me," I told Sasha of what happened.

I could hear a soft scoff from the other side of the door. "He does that a lot," Sasha remarked. "Acts like he's not the bad guy...but everyone knows he is, even he knows it," Sasha made the snarky comment and it was the truth.

Little does she know. "I know," I let out a soft sigh, as this was Negan's game. A sick and twisted game. "But he's not just bad. He's pure evil," I told Sasha just how far it went when it came to Negan.

But I needed to be strong, to not let Negan's dark memories that had latched onto me, break me. "And we can end this, all of this," I said firmly, touching the door a little firmer. "Together," I tried to motivate her, to let her see that together, we were stronger.

The silence that followed, was brief. "Soon," I heard Sasha say shortly after the few seconds of silence.

Nodding, I smiled to the door and clenched my hand into a fist against the door. "Soon," I agreed with her. We can do this. Together.

As I left, I had gently placed my hand on Eugene's arm, who had gone to flinch but when he realised it was just a gentle touch, he relaxed. Squeezing his shoulder, I walked past him and returned to my room. We can do this. All of us. If we work together...


DPOV

Once the explosives lit up the sky, the streaks of red, orange, yellow and gusts of white with freckles of black interrupted the serene blue of the sky, we were left with no other choice. It was time for us to get these people to yield.

As we watched everyone scramble, two girls went to the armoury but Michonne had fired shots at their feet. "On the ground. Now," I ordered when they stopped in their tracks. Approaching them, I raised my crossbow while the others held their guns up. "Those hands, put them on your head," I instructed as they turned to face us.

One had done as we said, as she got to her knees and raised her hands to either sides of her head. All before she put them behind her head. But the other, she stood tall and stared us down. "Please," Jesus asked of her, taking a friendlier approach.

Looking to me, then to Jesus, she then lowered to her knees and did as she was asked before Jesus begged her to listen. None of them have to die. Especially if we plan on ending the Saviors with their help. Or so, we hope.

As soon as Jesus and Aaron went to tie them up, I took my rag and swung it in the air, signalling to Michonne she could look to the next point that she needed to protect. Let's hope this works. We're taking those guns either way.


CPOV

After more explosions sounded off to the side of evacuating groups of women with children, we began our approach. "Everybody down!" Francine yelled as she aimed her gun up at the women and children we were quickly surrounding.

"Hands on your heads," Tobin instructed as he came up beside her and aimed up at the group too. When did we all get so brave?

Stepping in front, the women and children began ducking down to their knees, to sit on the floor. "Everybody stay calm," I instructed. "We don't want anyone to get hurt. Stay down and listen to what we say," I tried to get them to see reason.

The same way, I hoped Kat would of if she was here. "We want this to go as simply and as peacefully as possible," Gabriel told them as he came to stand beside me. "All of you can make it that way," Gabriel encouraged them to stay calm and that it would all work out fine for all of us.


DPOV

Approaching Carl and the others, they had gathered the women and children. Thankfully, no shots had been fired. "Get down over there," I ordered as I dragged one of the girls to the group we had squatting on the ground.

The sight itself, wasn't one I was used to but it was one I was willing to have happen. We need to win. With or without their help. "Keep quiet," I instructed as we took them to the front to sit themselves down with the others.


RPOV

Following behind Jesus and Daryl as they held onto two of the brave girls that went to the armoury, I watched as Daryl took charge of them. He really means business.

"Now, we made a lot of noise. We want to wrap this up quick so you can send people to redirect anything coming this way," I said as I went to the front. "Tara said your forests are relatively clear, so we won't take any chances," I made it clear that we knew enough about this place.

But that none of us wanted to get lucked out at this stage. "No one needs to get hurt. This is just about what you have, what we need," I explained the reason as to why we were here. The explosives might have been a little much but at least now, we knew how to use them.

"Nobody's taking anything!" I heard an elder woman's voice yell to me as she approached. When I looked to her, I saw she was dragging Tara out in front of us with a gun to her head. "You need to let everyone go and leave right now," the woman I assumed was the leader ordered.

The woman looked around to all of us a little frantically. "Just walk away or this one dies," the woman, I assumed was Natania warned us that if we didn't leave, she'd kill Tara.

I didn't want to see anyone else get hurt, especially not Tara after all she went through to lead us here. "Yeah, we'll leave you alone," I reassured her we'd be gone. "But we're taking your weapons with us. That's not gonna change," I stated that this was going to happen, if she liked it or not.

"It's Natania, right?" I asked her, trying to get her to see that we were harmless, unless we were pushed. "Put the gun down, and let's talk about what we can change," I encouraged her to talk things through with me.

Natania looked annoyed to hear her name leave my lips. "No," Natania was quick to reject me. "Leave right now," Natania ordered.


MPOV

Getting a good clear aim at Natania, I was ready to pull the trigger if she dared make a move to hurt Tara. "Michonne, don't!" I saw Tara's eyes and head look up at me as Natania pulled Tara directly in my line of fire but the crown of Natania was still in sight.

I can make a clear shot but...shit. I can't risk losing anyone else but I don't want to be the start of a war. I need to trust her. I have to.


RPOV

Natania looked directly to Tara, then to me, as she was trying to find wherever Michonne was. "We just wanna be left alone," Natania was stern but I could sense this woman was close to pleading for us to leave.

What the Saviors did to them, it weakened them, broke them. "Yeah, we'll leave you alone," I reassured her that we would leave, only after we got what we wanted. "Just let go of her. Now," I encouraged her to let go of Tara.

"Or we'll kill you," I warned her of what would and could happen if she didn't comply. "None of us want that," I was sincere when I said this, because we weren't trying to become our enemy.

One of the girls looked behind her, to the group we had crouched on the ground. "They want us to fight The Saviors," the girl stood beside Natania said. The one, I assumed was Cyndie.

Natania glanced over to her, which I assumed, Cyndie tried to convince the others to fight with us. "We tried that. We lost. Too much," Natania spoke firmly. "We're not gonna lose anymore. Not our guns, not our safety, not after everything we've done to get here," Natania was determined to not give up everything she was protecting.

But neither could I. I have to save Kat. I have to protect her. "We're gonna win. With your guns, with or without your help," Tara spoke up, telling Natania as she looked behind herself.

Glancing to the group, they all looked afraid but some of them looked strong, as they gazed to Cyndie, because of what she'd said. "Natania, put the gun down," I encouraged for Natania to listen.

She needed to be reasoned with but she was being too stubborn to listen. "You kill me, and you die," Tara was trying to talk Natania down. "And my people take the guns and nothing changes," Tara was sure about this.

"Maybe we should try," one of the girls that Daryl had dragged spoke up as she glanced to us and to those around her. Hushed chatter was heard among the women that were sat on the ground.

"Grandma, stop," Cyndie whispered to Natania. "It's over," Cyndie told her. "Just talk to them, okay?" Cyndie encouraged Natania to discuss a deal with us.

But Natania had other plans. "It's not over!" Natania yelled. "They've forgotten. You've all forgotten," Natania snarled to her people. "Some of you actually want to fight them? After everything? We can lose our guns, but us leaving this place to fight? After everything?" Natania questioned her people.

"I have to remind you!" Natania yelled out of anger towards the bravery of her group. "Yes. I am gonna do this, and then I'm gonna die. But it's that important," Natania warned them of the decision she was about to make.

The more she talked, the closer my hand went to my gun. If she goes to fire, I'll stop her before she does. "This is your life, all of you. Remember what it looks like," Natania was rambling. "Remember what they did to us! You need to see this. Open your eyes!" Natania ordered of her group.

But a sudden shout to me pulled me to the direction Michonne was in. "Rick! Walkers!" Michonne warned us, as suddenly Cyndie threw a punch at her grandmother before taking her gun.

Looking around, we saw walkers were approaching and quickly. "Everybody up!" I ordered. "Get the children behind us!" I encouraged the women to keep the children safe. "They're coming," I warned them.

One of the women got up, her wrists shown to me, asking to be freed with her eyes. To help us fight the dead. As I broke her restraints, she began yelling her orders. "First shift, join them on the line. Knives out. Dead only. Dead only!" the one who encouraged the others to fight with us had instructed of her people.

"Don't go anywhere," I warned her as gave her my knife and took up my position, with others from Oceanside joining up beside us or behind us. "Everyone, shots within feet of the line. That's it," I ordered of my people as I stood beside my son, ready to shoot.

As soon as they got close enough for us to take them all down, I shuffled a little closer. "Now!" I ordered and we all began firing.


DPOV

So far, we'd been taking down as many of them as possible, protecting all the women and children as the herd approached. Women from Oceanside joined us and each shot, I was picturing it as Negan. Wanting to get rid of every walker, while practising for my biggest kill yet.

He's going to die. For what he did. For everything. For what he could be doing to Kat right now, he's going to die. Sooner or later, the herd was no longer existing and we were safe once more. We can do this. I know we can.


RPOV

Once the herd was gone, the one that gave instructions to her people approached me, offering me back my knife. Taking it, I offered her my hand. She shook it and I felt we had an understanding. An agreement. Hopefully, we can fight together, we can win.

Natania though, wasn't thrilled the moment she awoke from getting knocked out by Cyndie. "No," Natania grumbled. "We're not fighting them with you. So take your damn guns and go," Natania's voice shook as she walked away and left us with her group.

The only one who appeared to be against the idea of fighting the Saviors with us, was her. And only her. Maybe the others will help, the same way the people from Hilltop are willing to fight with us.


KPOV

Being called by Marco to meet with Negan, he was being an asshole about it, ordering me out of my room and into Negan's. As I made my way there, I wanted to knock but Marco did it for me, before he opened the door once Negan called for us to enter.

Entering Negan's room, he was sat on the couch with Eugene opposite him. "Katherine..." Negan greeted me by using my name. "Welcome," Negan welcomed me with a huge grin. "I'm glad you could finally join us," the more Negan talked, the more I was convinced he loved the sound of his voice.

My eyes darted between him and Eugene, who could hardly look at me. Did Eugene rat on me? "What? We were just talkin' about tomorrow," Negan answered my thoughts as he glanced between me and Eugene, with his tongue tracing the bottom of his top teeth.

Straightening my back, I looked down at them as they stayed seated and Eugene continued to not look at me. "What did you call me here for?" I asked Negan, wondering just why he called me here when he already had a visitor.

Something though, told me Eugene did rat on me. "Do I need any reason to call upon my pregnant wife?" Negan asked me rhetorically. "Other than the fact we have a routine appointment to follow through," Negan let out a small chuckle at the end.

Eugene awkwardly was rubbing his hands against his pants. "Pardon me but I must-" Eugene was getting ready to leave us, as he rose from his seat but Negan slammed his bat against the table.

This act alone, terrorised Eugene. "Sit...down," Negan ordered slowly as Eugene did as he was told and took his seat once more. After a few seconds, Negan's attention returned to me.

"See, I've heard all about your little chit-chats with our new pet, Sasha," Negan told me as I held his gaze. Don't snap Kat. He wants to get a reaction from you.

Raising a finger, it was as though he was going to stop me from saying anything. "And before you get upset, it wasn't just Eugene here that saw you talking to her. Marco did too," Negan gave me the names of people who were traitors. "But! You're in luck," Negan spoke loudly, trying to make me jump.

Only Eugene had flinched, like the scared piece of shit he was. I can't believe I believed in us. In him. "You might be getting just what you wanted in regards to Sasha," Negan said, getting my attention returned to him.

No longer glaring at Eugene, I was staring Negan down. "What do you mean?" I asked of him, needing all the information when it came to Sasha. If he dares hurt her, or use her, I'll kill him myself.

Negan's grin grew wider. "Maybe, she'll do what Daryl never could..." Negan spoke cryptically. "But you don't need to worry about that," Negan brushed over it. "You can leave now," Negan ordered as he looked away from both of us.

Eugene was the first to leave, just as he was leaving out the door, I was beginning to undo the zip of my dress but Negan's eyes shot up to look at me. "Both of you," Negan made it clear what he meant by his words before. "I'm cancelling all appointment for today," Negan announced.

Eugene didn't stop, he left and left myself and Negan in the room alone. "We both need to rest," Negan stated that sex, wasn't on the table today. "Tomorrow is going to be a big day," Negan announced as he got to his feet.

His steps were slow as he approached me. Stopping in front of me, his eyes studied my face closely as I held his gaze. I still don't fear you. "And you my dear wife, need to rest for it, too," Negan smirked and something in my gut, told me something wasn't right. "Go," Negan ordered.

Leaving his room, I went back to mine and sensed nothing was as it seemed. Negan's acting different and I don't like how he talked to me just now. Am I part of whatever 'tomorrow' is?


RPOV

Heading to the armoury, we took the guns and began storing them in anything we could take them in. From baskets, to crates, to cases. Approaching Gabriel as the people from Oceanside watched on as we took their weapons, I felt slight guilt for taking their weapons.

But I knew what the cost of winning meant. We have to be the bad guy, to be the good guy. "We don't need all this, do we?" Gabriel asked me, a little concerned for the people we were leaving behind with barely anything to protect themselves with.

Sighing, I already knew my answer before it left my lips. "Yeah," I answered him. "Yeah, we do," I repeated, even if it pained me to say so. To save Kat, we need guns and people. Lots of them. We need these guns.


CPOV

Carrying a case of guns and ammunition, Enid too the lead while I carried it from the back. Her question from earlier had been playing on my mind all day. Especially as we kept everyone on the ground, wanting them to cooperate.

But like Kat, I knew the strength I had when it came to killing people. I could do it, even if I didn't like doing it. "It's not just the ones I killed," I spoke up to her. "I think about the people I didn't kill, too," I revealed to her. One name on that list, was Negan.


RPOV

Watching Tara walk off, she went to talk to those of the Oceanside, Cyndie walked over to Tara, to talk to her. As I briefly spoke to Michonne, I walked past the girls and left them to their own thing. "You're not leaving us any?" a girl asked us.

"Nope," Tara spoke without looking at her as she caught up beside me. "See ya later, Rachel," Tara said to the girl that asked her if there were any weapons left. All before flipping her the bird as we walked on.

Truthfully, it was humorous how Tara could be charming, funny and sarcastic all at the same time. Especially with a kid, that appeared as tough as nails. "You okay?" I asked her, wondering if the guilt was settling in or not.

"Yeah," Tara answered quickly. "You're right," Tara told me. "I don't have to feel bad," Tara agreed with my previous statement, to a conversation we had this morning.


KPOV

Sat in my room, writing the remaining plans, remembering all I read, all I saw, even from the other day as I frantically looked for information on Alexandria, I had stumbled over important pages.

Jotting all the information I could down, I was just finishing up my notes when I heard a knock on the door. The rapt was small, quiet, shy. As I stored my notes away, I opened the door slowly and found Eugene stood behind it.

He looked terrified, sad, startled and like something had really rattled him to his core. What happened to him? "I fear I may be in need of your guidance on something of grave importance..." Eugene pleaded for my help in his original way of speech.

Sighing, I gazed over to him and gradually convinced myself to open the door for him. Whatever he needs help with, I hope it'll help us win this war. I hope he isn't really against me and is only acting like he is, to report back to Negan. At least, this is what my gut wants me to believe.


DPOV

Riding up to the gates, I rolled past Rosita, who had opened it for us and didn't appear to be accompanied by Sasha. "Hey, are you okay?" Enid quickly asked her once we all approached her.

"Where's Sasha?" Jesus asked Rosita as we all came to find out what happened.

Rosita glanced between all our faces before they landed on me. "There's someone here," Rosita told us.

Leading us to the cell, I didn't know who or what to expect. But when my eyes landed on a figure, sat on the bench, I was shocked to see Dwight stand up to be in the light. This asshole shows up in our home? After everything he did? To Denise, to me, to maybe even Kat? I should break him into pieces, make him be the bone Negan can catch.

Going to attack him, I wanted to rip him to shreds as my blood boiled. All I saw, was red, for what he did, what he'd said, how he treated me like I was nothing. And now they have Kat. A chorus of 'Woah's left Rick as I went to rip Dwight's heart out.

But both Michonne and Rick were trying to keep me back. "Slow down. Come on," Rick tried to calm me as he kept me back. His eyes looking for mine but my eyes were glued to my target. "Whoa!" Rick said as I finally calmed down. I'll get him. One day or another.


RPOV

Trying to keep Daryl back, I knew he needed to keep his cool, no matter how much we all might of wanted to rip any Savior's heads off, we couldn't. Not yet. He'll get his chance. "He says he's with Kat and that he wants to help us," Rosita said to us.

Daryl was breathing heavily but my breath stopped the second I heard my daughter's name. "That true?" I asked as I looked over my shoulder to Dwight and straightened up. Keeping my hand on Daryl's chest, I kept him away from Dwight. "You want to help?" I questioned him.

I questioned his loyalty to the man who he served. If he's lying. If he's getting my daughter in trouble by doing this...I'll kill him myself. "I do," Dwight said as he took a step closer to us.

But first, I needed to test his honesty. Nodding as I tried to calm my breathing, mention of my daughter from this Savior, had my heart close to racing out of my chest for fear of what they were doing to her.

Moving away from Daryl, I got in front of Dwight and faced him. "Okay," I agreed before I cocked my gun and aimed at his head. "Get on your knees," I ordered. Let's see how he likes it.


A/N: Here you go! We're so close to the season finale. Can you smell it? It's a big one. Not a heaping pile of shit, no. But a huge raging fire of awesomeness. Not that fires are awesome, but you get what I mean. It's going to be a big, crazy, incredible chapter. It's going to be pretty long too, so...be ready for that.

Now, as usual, I'm going to be posting the next chapter in two weeks. But...as this is a huge season. Where a lot happened, and where Kat has mostly been far from her family. Far from anyone she really knows and trusts. Which is huge, if you ask me. I'll be asking for 5 reviews next time, to pump us up for the next season, which will only get more intense.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW ALREADY. SO YOU NEVER LOSE ANOTHER UPDATE AGAIN, FOLLOW ME ON MY INSTAGRAM. IT'S THE SAME AS THIS. THERE, YOU CAN FIND UPDATES, EDITS, FUTURE PRODUCT IDEAS AND PLOT/EPISODE DISCUSSIONS.

Questions you can answer in the reviews:

1) What did you think about this chapter?

2) Favourite scene in this chapter?

3) What do you think about the scenes between Kat/Negan this season?

4) What do you think about Kat and Sasha's small scenes together in this chapter?

5) What did you think of that awesome final scene in this chapter now that Kat's in the mix of the Dwight situation with the group?

Until April 5th of 2020...


P.S: With the Corona Virus flying around, affecting us so badly, please, stay safe, wash your hands. Keep your distance and protect yourselves, protect your loved ones. Show them you care because at a time like this, we don't know if we're the ones to go or they are. It's a scary time to be living in this world. Look after yourselves and hopefully, I'll be posting again for you all soon.


Much love.

HeroJustInTime90