Chapter 2 : Negan
Negan spoke with his signature lean, almost looking as if he was going to fall. Rick just hoped Carl wouldn't turn as Negan held him, that wasn't the way for him to go, he needed a proper burial, not a bunch of Saviors shooting up his dead corpse, hell, Rick didn't even want him to get to the point of becoming a walker, Rick was relieved he was alive but if he had to die, he wanted him to go out as a person, and that chance seemed to be going away.
Negan spoke again "To think I was actually starting to like old Carl over here, I mean, I still do, how do you not love a dying little boy? He looks like absolute SHIT. But we all know this is your fault Rick, instead of focusing on your family, you've been focusing on me, and while it is absofuckinglutely, FLATTERING. It is also really creepy. You really should back off before Lucille gives you a restraining order, see, your son is quite a smart kid, and I really like how he sees things, but at the same time, Carl over here wouldn't be in the situation he's in right now if he realized that his dad either doesn't give a shit. Or he's completely incompetent. I tracked you Rick, see my boys thought you were all dead, but when they got me to confirm the job, I figured Carl might be injured, from me, not from whatever this shit is, I actually felt GUILTY Rick, if you can believe that, for a bit anyways. Then i heard all of this mushy crap from the charred remains of your little base up there, and I just had to come down and see who kicked the bucket, and make you ALL kick the bucket, maybe sparing Carl here." Negan paused as he noticed Rick blankly staring into his eyes "Who by the way is my favorite, and he's not even my boy. Yet I seem to protect him better than his pop." Negan looked at Michonne who seemed like she was about to attack at any second. " Now, tell your girl not to get any ideas." He looked at Carl. "WOULD hate to make Carl's farewell short lived." He then looked at Rick. "I am sorry, I really am, but what Carl did here to my guy, as he seemingly was about to kick in anyways, is just NOT FUCKING COOL, THAT SHIT DOES NOT FLY, AS YOU ALREADY KNOW! I liked you Carl, you know that, I would of let you live, well, the remainder anyways, your dad... not so much. Maybe that's what this is, Carl trying to make it up to pops. Well, it's cute to know that he would have went ape shit as he died to protect his old man, but even with the power of 'I don't give a fuck' on your side Rick, I still come out ahead, and don't worry, we ain't going to kill your boy, I want him to have a proper burial, so that's what we're going to do, we are going to go bury him, have a funeral, maybe some snacks, and THEN I'm going to kill you, because Carl, Carl deserved that, wouldn't you say? Or I will kill you now and bury Carl myself. I ain't letting you ruin this for him, I know I know, you're his dad, so you get to pick the spot and the arrangements, but I get to be the protection, sound good?" Negan smiled and looked at Rick "Of course it does, not a better deal here, because that is the only one you got." Rick shook his head in approval "Yeah, Yeah, okay." Rick looked at Negan with tired eyes. "I didn't really need your approval." He then looked at Carl "Listen kid, I ain't letting you do this to yourself, it isn't right, is it boys?" He said to his backup. "No!" They responded. "I can do it if Rick doesn't want to, no father should have to do that, but Rick, you really were going to let HIM do it? Man Rick, I knew you were weak but that is just SICK. I get it, it's hard, but you need to be strong, for Carl, for your fucking self Rick!" Negan shook his head as he walked forward. "So where is it gonna be? And before you get any ideas, my men are many and more are coming, so unless you want your whole group dead, I would recommend you keep things calm. Because Carl deserves that, right?" Rick shook his head yes. "Yes, Carl deserves that." Rick was thinking about what Carl said as he looked at Carl, who was barely conscious. "I'll carry him." Negan said. "I got experience with these sort of things." He said referencing Lucille, and his inability to end her. Rick had to try, for Carl. "Let's go." Rick said. "Where to?" Negan asked. "To Hilltop." Rick spoke.