Hi Guys! so it's the next chapter, I'm back up to my usual length as the last one was a little short for me. Again a heads up for some cannon moments in this, but for those who don't follow the show you will be fine, everything will still make sense. Anyway, thanks as always to those who are reading, faving, following and reviewing, (you know I always would like more of the last one.) Hope you enjoy this next part. Cheers! D.S X
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or The Walking Dead. Any OC's are mine though.
Crossroads
Part Sixteen
Dean stayed in the room for five days. The only reason he knew this was because of the window, allowing him a glimpse of the sun outside. The only visitors he had were people bringing up a tray of food for him. There was no sign of his dad. Dean wondered what he was doing? Why hadn't he come to see him again? What was happening to Daryl and Kid while he sat in the room? He'd tried questioning the people, but all he got was Negan was busy and would see him soon. That was too vague for Dean and put him on edge. But it didn't stop him from sleeping when his body became so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open. That was why he was fast on when a knock came on his door. At first, he didn't really acknowledge it. No one knocked on his door, not even to bring in the food, they just walked right in. So, he was surprised when it came again. He stretched out on the bed, pulling the joints so that they would offer his battered body some relief. His eyes blinked open just as the thumping knock came a third time. "Sugar, you still alive in there?" Dean groaned his brain taking a moment to gather itself. He swung his legs down and onto the cold floor. The shock woke him up a little. He rubbed at his face, pushing the hair out of his eyes. "Honey? If you don't say anything I'm just going to have to walk in. I hope you're naked."
"What?" Dean snapped, that got him a giggle, then the door opened, allowing Nina, dressed in a short dress that left nothing to the imagination, to walk in, carrying the usual tray.
"So, you are up," she gave him the once over, taking in his messed-up hair and the clothes that were rumpled from sleep. "You sleep in your clothes?"
"What else was I meant to wear?" Dean found himself asking. Nina placed the tray on the desk, glancing at the old one, frowning at the left overs still on it.
"Nothing," she shot him a sultry look. The hunter scoffed, turning away. "What, don't you want me to see you in your skin?"
"You're a demon," is all Dean said in explanation. It was simple enough. No matter what she looked like, it was a demon talking to him, not the poor woman whose body the damn thing was using. Nina pouted, crossing her arms under her cleavage.
"Well that's racist."
"Like hell."
"Been there done that," Nina smirks, Dean didn't bother to say anymore. "You should eat," she nods to the tray. It was a plate, a couple of pieces of fruit on it, along with something that looked like bread and a bottle of water. "You've got a big day."
"Why?"
"Negan's got plans for you today honey."
"So, he's here?" Dean asked.
"Where else would he be sugar?"
"It's been five days," Dean pointed out. "All anyone would tell me is that he was busy."
"Well the Sanctuary is a big operation sweetheart. It takes a lot of time to make sure its running like clockwork," is all Nina said. Dean wanted to probe more, but he saw the instant shut down in Nina's face when Negan, his dad was brought up. He glanced at the food. He was tempted to leave it, but the pang in his belly was worse and he didn't have tiredness and adrenaline to keep it at bay anymore. Sighing he got up, picking up the tray. Nina smiled at him, but Dean didn't stay near her long, putting distance between him and the demon by going back to his bed. He picked up the apple and took a bite. It was nice. He couldn't remember the last time he had a piece of fruit. Not even from his own reality. "Good?" Dean shrugs at Nina's question. "It's from the Kingdom."
"Kingdom?"
"Another human community," Nina waved a hand dismissively. "They have decent stores. Great fruit though, better than Hilltop."
"There's more communities?" Dean asked. He hadn't heard of this Kingdom. As far as he knew the only other community that Alexandria had heard of was Hilltop. Just how many more people were out there?
"Oh sugar," Nina laughed. "You're cute when your confused."
"Answer the question," Dean snapped. He would have pulled the demon killing knife if he had it.
"It's just another group of survivors," Nina shrugged. "They were saved."
"Saved?" Nina nodded, but it didn't really answer Dean's question. "What are the Saviours?" Nina tried to mask her confusion, but Dean saw it, even if only for a second.
"You don't need to know that yet," she says.
"What are demons doing working with humans?" Dean followed up quickly, not willing to let her get him off topic. "Demons don't work with humans, never have and never will."
"Things change."
"Because of the dead?" Nina froze, and Dean knew he was going to get the confirmation of what his dad had told him. "What about them has you all so frightened? Why can't you stop this?"
"We didn't do this," Nina growled.
"So, I've been told," Dean said.
"It's true."
"Yeah," Dean snorted, he could see how wound up Nina was getting. He hid his smirk. The demon growled low again, standing straight.
"You know nothing, little hunter," she snarled.
"I've dealt with demons before," Dean said, injecting his tone with enough derision it would be enough to piss anyone off. "You lie, cheat, kill. You don't care about anyone but yourselves. I wouldn't be surprised if you cooked up this whole thing and fed the story to Negan that this was because of humans."
"It was."
"Yeah, right." That does it. Nina lunged, grabbing a hold of Dean's shirt, pulling him up, so the tray fell to the floor with a clang. The half-eaten apple was abandoned as Dean wrapped his own fingers around the slender wrists of the demon's arms. Black eyes met his.
"You think humans are so great?" she hissed, Dean didn't speak. "You have no idea."
"I think I do."
"You want to know why we're still here?" Nina said, tone changing to a light one, soft and coxing. One hand started to pull up her dress and Dean's eyes widened as he saw the bite mark. A Walker bite. He stared at it, then flicked his gaze back to the black eyes that were boring into him.
"What?"
"You know nothing."
"That's enough, Nina." Dean couldn't see over the demon's shoulder, but he saw her stiffen. Her hands released him and they both turned to see Dwight stood in the door way. Dean took a step away from the woman. Was she a woman? Or a demon? Or a Walker? To take in Dwight. He didn't look like he cared what he'd just walked in on, though the scar on the side of his face made it hard for Dean to read him completely. "The hunter has to get moving."
"Of course," Dean was shocked by how demure Nina spoke. Subservient almost. He took another once over of Dwight, he was sure the guy was human. Dwight's eyes moved from the two to the food on the floor, he snorted.
"You shouldn't waste food," Dean wasn't sure who he was talking to, but Nina answered anyway.
"I'm sorry."
"I'll have to report this," Dean definitely saw the shiver go through Nina that time. What was going to happen to her? "Come," that barked command was directed Dean's way. He glared at Dwight who just stared back with a bored expression. Dean wanted to tell the guy to piss off, but he really needed to figure out what was going on around here. And there was Daryl. Where was he? Was he ok? They couldn't have hurt him. His dad said that he wouldn't. He didn't actually say that, the voice in the back of his head chimed in. Dean ignored it, he needed to get his game face on. "Get here," at the second barked order Dean moved, though he couldn't resist throwing in a barb.
"Yeah sure, scar face," Dean knew he'd struck a nerve at the way Dwight scowled at him, but he didn't care. He held his head high and strutted out of the door. Dwight was quick to follow, grabbing a hold of his elbow to guide him to who knows where. "So, what's on the magical mystery tour?"
"You're being introduced."
"To who?"
"You'll find out."
"Will Daryl be there?" Dean was surprised when Dwight laughed. "What?"
"That's the first time you've asked about your friend from what I've heard," he said with a smirk. "You must not be that worried about him."
"Who said I'm not worried about him?" Dean asked. Even though he covered it with a question, he was worried about Daryl. Sure, he hadn't quizzed the people who brought he food about him, but that didn't mean anything. He didn't know where he was, or what they were doing to him. Hell, if he was even still alive. Even with his dad's word he was having trouble believing that he would leave Daryl in one piece if he did anything that pissed him off.
"For a hunter you're easy to read," Dwight looked at him, up close Dean got a real good look at the scar. It went all the way down one side of his face, even to the point of part way down his neck. The hunter wondered how the man had got it. Was it before or after the world went to shit?
"What do you mean?"
"In all this time you haven't even noticed that I'm wearing his coat," that rocked Dean. He took another look at Dwight as a whole. He was right. He saw the angle wings on the back of the leather sleeveless jacket Dwight had on. They were faded, but Dean recognised them. How many times had he seen Daryl with that on? "If you cared you would have seen it as soon as you saw me." Dean reacted. The shock wearing off to give way to the rage that seemed to simmer beneath the surface. It was fuelled by the old paranoia and fear, but he seemed to have moved passed the shell-shocked stage and onto punch first then think about it later. He jerked himself free of Dwight, using his speed he slammed the man up against the wall. His arm jamming under his throat, cutting off his air. If he wanted any confirmation that his man was human, he had it right then. This wouldn't have bothered a demon.
"What have you done to him?" Dean demanded. Dwight tried to speak, but with the pressure on his throat, he could barely breath, let alone speak. "Where is he? Come on, you bastard. Talk!"
"Bit difficult to do that with you choking him to death, son," Dean stiffened. He turned his head only to see his dad, he hadn't changed at all from the time he had last seen him. Still wearing a leather jacket, Lucille at his side on his belt. He was with a group at one end of the long corridor they'd stopped in.
"Dad," Dean started, but Negan just shook his head.
"I know he can be a spineless little bastard, but I kind of need Dwight at the moment," he smiled, and Dean just thought it looked wrong on his face. "Let him down." Dean wanted to respond to the order. To do as he was told, but he hesitated. He didn't want to do it. He wanted to find Daryl and this guy knew where he was. "Dean," his name was said like a scolded five-year-old, but the young hunter could hear the threat in it. Slowly, Dean removed his arm, allowing Dwight to get his breath, coughing as he rubbed his throat.
"I want Daryl's jacket," Dean said, eyes now only for his dad, even as the group of Saviours behind him watched curiously.
"Daryl's jacket?" Negan asked, turning eyes to Dwight, who had gathered himself together, though he was glaring at Dean. He stilled under Negan's stare, turning in on himself as his leader looked to him.
"He won't need it," Dwight said, though he wouldn't meet Negan's eyes. "He's in the hole."
"Yeah, he's in the shitter right now," Negan nodded. He turned to Dean and shook his head. "Dwight gets to keep it until we're done with him."
"But -"
"Dean," the young hunter stopped, the simple act of saying his name like that enough to shut him up. Playing on the memories he had of a man who drilled him like a solider to survive the dark underbelly of the world. His dad smiled, but Dean looked away, he didn't know how to react, how he was going to react. His body was betraying him, falling back into old patterns without his say so. "Now that's sorted, come on son," Negan held out his hand and Dean had no choice but to walk towards him, allowing the man to clap him on the shoulder, wrapping his arm around them, pulling him close as they started to walk back in the direction of where they where supposed to be headed. "I've got some people I want you to meet."
"I thought Dwight -?"
"I was waiting for you," Negan said, the show casing tone he used when he killed Glenn and Abraham was back. It made him sound so different from the John Winchester that Dean knew. It was a little easier to think of them as different people when he spoke like that. But Dean still wasn't sure why he did it. Was it for him, or for the Saviours? How exactly had this all started for his dad? He was lead through the large building, his dad sometimes speaking to some of the group that surrounded them, but most stayed silent, trailing behind like dogs after their master. They eventually found their way to a room. It was big. Near the back of the factory that the Saviours made their home. If Dean was to guess, he thought that it was the most secure. If anyone tried to take this place, the room he found himself at would be the hardest to find and the longest to reach. Negan walked straight in, not even bothering to announce his presence. There were benches set up, books piled on top of them, along with papers, and other bits and pieces. Dean's eyes landed on something. A book on ancient myths, it was sat on top of another about folk legends. If fact all the books were about the supernatural, just like the ones at Bobby's house.
"Negan," someone called. Dean turned and saw a man making his way over to them. Older, probably in his forties if Dean was to guess. Well built for a man his age, but what little hair that was on his head was grey. He wasn't anyone Dean recognised, but he knew he was a hunter. From the way he checked out the group, along with the visible de-possession tattoo on his neck. The man stopped, eyes finally moving to Dean with a frown. "This him?"
"Yeah," Negan clapped Dean's shoulder again, the sound echoing in the large room. "This is my Dean. Dean, Marcus." Dean nodded, but Marcus just frowned at him.
"Little young, isn't he? You sure he's a hunter?"
"Trust me, Marc," Negan laughed. "He's a hunter alright."
"Well, we'll take what we can get."
"I'm here you know," Dean snapped. Glaring at the two men as they talked over his head. He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't like being out of the loop. Negan just laughed again, but Marcus looked pissed off that Dean had dared too even speak.
"That's my boy."
"We'll have to get him up to speed," Marcus said, ignoring Dean. "The others -"
"Dean?" the young hunter froze. That voice, he knew that voice. "Dean Winchester?" he looked beyond Marcus, there was another door across the large room, it was partly open, allowing a man to stand there, probably was on his way in here before he spotted the group. Dean didn't need to be any closer though to know who it was. He would recognise that man anywhere. Shaking Negan's grip off his shoulders he stalked passed Marcus, not even pausing as he enveloped the man in a hug.
"Bobby," Dean muttered. Hands came up and clamped on to Dean. The young hunter panicked a second. This wasn't his Bobby, he might not even know him in this reality. Dean had just reacted to seeing the man that was practically his second Father. He hoped he hadn't just messed this up. But the hands didn't push him away, instead they hugged him tight, and a laugh came to his ear.
"Damn boy. I thought you was dead?"
"Thought the same of you," Dean muttered. Finally pulling back to look at Bobby Singer. He looked older, that was probably the end of the world taking its toll. There were a few new scars on his face, and his clothes were clearly not his, but other than that he looked just how Dean remembered. Cap on his head and grey hair framing a face that could read Dean so well. The hunter almost wanted to cry at the recognition in the man's eyes. Finally, someone who knew him. "Can't believe you're still kicking," Dean smirked.
"Oi, don't right me off boy," Bobby smacked him on the arm, but Dean didn't care. He was so damn happy.
"Bobby, you know this kid?" Marcus's voice broke the moment. The two hunters turned to see they were being watched. Dean tried to ignore the searching looks from the Saviours, the calculating one by Dwight, but what really got to him was his dad's. He looked pissed. Why though? He just hugged Bobby.
"Yeah, I know him," Bobby said, coming up beside Dean, walking back towards the group. "Met him when he was still a snot nosed brat learning the ropes. Pulled him out of some serious shit when he was in over his head."
"I wasn't in over my head," Dean denied, but Bobby just snorted and shook his head.
"So, you can vouch for him?" Bobby nodded. "Well, that's something at least."
"Hey, I may be younger than you, but I'm still a hunter," Dean glared at Marcus, but the older man didn't seem to care. He had already turned back to Negan.
"We'll take him from here then? Negan?"
"What?"
"I said are we taking him now?"
"Yeah, yeah," Negan muttered, though he turned his attention to Bobby, who stiffened up under his gaze. "You didn't tell me you knew a Dean Winchester, Bobby?"
"It never came up," Bobby answered back. Dean glanced between the two, not sure what was passing between them.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Negan turned, directing the full force of his smile onto Dean. Before the young hunter had time to think he was pulled into a hug. Tighter than the one he'd just shared with Bobby. It pinned his arms to his sides, not allowing him to reciprocate. "You just make sure that you look after my boy."
"You're sure he's your son?" Marcus asked, though Dean couldn't see he felt the way the rooms atmosphere changed with the silent pause that followed those words.
"I know who he is," was all Negan said and Dean was released, but not before a hand fell on his shoulder and he was pulled close to Negan's face. "Now behave yourself, you hear me? I don't want to come back and find out that you've been causing trouble. I might have to spank you."
"Dad -"
"Don't think you're off the hook either, I got to pay Rick a visit." That had Dean's insides churning. Negan was going to Alexandria, where Kid was? No. "I'll be back later. Be good." Before Dean could speak though, Negan, his dad, was gone. Followed by his entourage. Dwight lingered a little, giving Dean a hateful glare, then he to was gone, leaving Dean alone with the two hunters.
"Well, that was something you don't see everyday," Bobby breathed out.
"Yeah, how'd you get him to believe you were his kid?" Marcus asked Dean. The young hunter gave the man a glare.
"It's because I am," Marcus snorted, but didn't press more.
"Well, I guess we better get on with this."
"What do you mean this?"
"Do you know what happened, Dean?" Bobby asked. "Do you know how this came about?" Dean eyed the man but shrugged.
"I got the basics."
"So, you know this isn't supernatural?"
"Yeah," Dean shook his head. "Kind of hard to stomach."
"We know what you mean," Marcus said.
"You know what it was?" Marcus shook his head.
"I was part of the first wave, but no one knew what caused it. The first we got that something was even happening was when it came up on the news that there were some strange attacks in California." He sighed. "Even then we were to late."
"What did you try?"
"Well we thought it was supernatural at first," Marcus shrugged. "We tried getting the psychics that would help to get a feel for what was going on, but they came up with nothing."
"Research was as much of a dead end," Bobby said. "The only thing that came close to fitting what we had was the Bible."
"You mean Revelations?" Dean confirmed.
"Yeah," Bobby rubbed his cap over his head. '" Course most of us thought it was a load of horse shit, but it was spreading. It wasn't isolated anymore."
"When Miami was lost we started getting together," Marcus said. "We couldn't take this on, on our own anymore."
"What'd you do?"
"What do you think we did boy?" Bobby snapped. "We charged in there to take them down."
"Guess that didn't work," Dean muttered.
"You got that right," Bobby nodded. "We were over run quick. No one knew how to take them down then. Course we learnt afterwards that destroying the brain was the only way to get them to stop, but by then we'd lost so many."
"How many?"
"Don't know," Marcus admitted. "Fifty, maybe more. There wasn't that many hunters to begin with. After the failure, we knew we needed more information and hunters work best alone."
"So, you split up?"
"Some of us. Bobby went off on his own. Some stayed in groups. Others thought it best to try and help the public. I don't know how many have died since then."
"We found out we were all infected when a hunter managed to get into one of the remaining science centres." Bobby explained. "It was from that, that we also discovered that it was man made."
"Which hunter?"
"His name was Sam," the name jolted through Dean, but he forced his mind to ignore it. That man wasn't his brother, even if they shared a name. "He made it back to one of the hide outs and managed to get a message out. But he'd been pretty badly hurt."
"So, he's dead?"
"As far as we can tell."
"And you went off on your own?" he shot a look at Bobby who nodded. "Why?"
"I work best by myself. And I didn't know where you were." Dean snorted.
"You thought I was dead, just admit it." Bobby didn't answer, but he looked a little ashamed.
"Oi, this isn't about you," Marcus scolded. "Bobby was the one that found out about the demons. We owe him a lot."
"What about the demons?" now they had Dean's interest. "I know some are with the Saviours," he levelled a heavy stare on both men. "Why are you working with them?" Marcus snorted.
"More like they're working with us."
"Why?"
"They're trapped here, Dean," Bobby said. "The demons that are with the Saviours. They can't leave."
"Why though? What's stopping them? I've tried figuring it out. Even talked to a wendigo."
"You can talk to a wendigo?" Bobby asked.
"Not important. It said they were scared. A demon told me that they were ignoring summons." He held Bobby's eye, making sure he was looking at him. "It was in your basement." Bobby blinked, shocked.
"You made it to my place?"
"Where else was I going to go?"
"But, you've never -"
"That doesn't matter," Dean cut him off. "It said that you summoned it to try and get information."
"I did."
"And how could you do that? That was an innocent woman," Dean spat. At the time he hadn't really thought about it, but he'd had plenty of time to think since then. "You took that woman and got her possessed. You practically killed her."
"Dean," Bobby spoke softly, trying to calm the younger hunter down. "I had to."
"No, you didn't."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it!"
"She was already bit," Bobby growled, stopping Dean in his tracks.
"What?"
"Dean, the woman I had that demon possess was already bitten when I found her," Bobby said. "I thought it would be better."
"Was she still alive?" Dean asked.
"She was breathing, but she wasn't conscious."
"Well at least that's something."
"Hey, kid, don't be pissed at Bobby," Marcus said, a sad look on his face as he watched the two friends. "He had to do what he had to do."
"And was it worth it?" Bobby sighed, taking his cap off to rub a hand over his face. He licked his lips, then spoke.
"I found that the demons that are trapped here are all in bodies that have been bitten. For some reason, if they end up inside an infected body, they can't leave it."
"Why?" Dean frowned.
"Maybe they get infected too?" Bobby shrugged. "But they can't leave. Even if they end the possession, they just go back in."
"What about if you destroy them?"
"Destroy?"
"Destroy the demon, you know, permanently?"
"That's not -"
"You mean with that interesting little knife you had on you?" Dean whips his head to look at Marcus. "Oh, we've already looked at that. It's still with Clara now."
"Clara?"
"Our last hunter, you'll meet her later."
"You have a knife that can destroy demons?" Bobby quizzes.
"Yeah."
"How'd you get it?"
"From some demons," Dean hedged his answer. He couldn't exactly admit that it was given to him by an interdimensional crossroads demon. Bobby frowned, but Dean wasn't going to give him the chance to interrogate him. Thinking it best, he changed the subject. "So how did you end up here?" Dean waved a hand at the room, filled to the brim with supernatural research material. "If you all split up, how'd you lot end up getting together?"
"Negan," that was all Marcus offered as an explanation.
"What about Negan?" Dean asked.
"He found us," Bobby said. "Or at least he was looking for hunters."
"Why?"
"To help people survive," it was Marcus who answered. "Even though most of the human population may be walking around dead that doesn't mean that the monsters that lurk in the dark are just going to disappear." Dean nodded. That much he himself had seen. Creatures, monsters, spirits, they weren't going to just go away, in fact they were probably going to get worse. "Besides, hunters make the best survivors."
"What about all this?" Dean gestured at the books.
"With only three of us, we can't be expected to know everything we might come across," Marcus explained. "And it keeps the demons in order." Dean raised an eyebrow. "If they know we have the materials to make their trapped lives hell, they don't think about causing trouble." Dean frowned, but filed the information away for later, instead asking.
"Do you know how Negan knows about hunters?" he looked to Bobby, who wouldn't meet his eye.
"Probably was one," Marcus said with out much care. "He knows his stuff, I checked."
"And you're just going to work with him?"
"Thought he was you're Daddy, kid?" Marcus asked.
"This is the first time I've seen him in a long time," Dean said, he didn't want to reveal too much. He didn't trust he could keep the story straight. "He killed two people whose community I was living in." The young hunter watched as Marcus barely blinked. But Bobby looked stricken, he lowered the brim of his cap over his face, turning away.
"Damn."
"He needs to keep them in order," Marcus states. "How else are we supposed to survive?"
"They were my friends," Dean pointed out.
"Friends don't matter when it comes to survival," Dean didn't bother arguing. He could spot a stubborn bastard when he saw one.
"Maybe we should move this along," Bobby said, cutting through the tension that had settled on them. "We still need to check him."
"Right," Marcus smirked, and Dean swallowed nervously. "Hope you know your facts, kid. Or you'll be spilling your guts, I don't just mean metaphorically."
Dean wanted to just sit in a quiet room and fall asleep by the time Marcus was done with him. Him and Bobby had taken Dean into the back room. It wasn't as big as the first room, with no windows or other doors. Dean recognised the symbols that were etched onto the walls, very much like Bobby's bunker. Dean wondered just what they did in there. It was there he met Clara. She was younger than Bobby and Marcus, but older than him. She was a thin thing, with glasses perched on her nose as she poured over a book not even bothering to look up to greet him when they first came in. Marcus didn't even wait for Dean to sit down before he was on him. He started with the tests. Dean should have seen this coming. Touching silver, swallowing holy water, and all other nasty things to be sure he wasn't some sort of monster, creature, spirit or demon. Dean took it all in stride. He knew he would probably do the same if he was in Marcus's position. Hunters are paranoid after all. When all of that was finished the questions started. Asking him about how he got into hunting, what he knew, what he'd killed, what he knew about the Walkers. Dean had put on his best bullshitting face and winged it. He used a couple of his own experiences, but he kept it light, trying his best to avoid anything that Bobby might not recognise. Dean was a little nervous that the man was keeping so quiet, he just watched as Marcus laid into him, question after question. Dean breathed a sigh of relief when they got to easier ground. What he knew about the dead, how he found his group, what he had come across since everything had gone to hell. Dean for once, had told the truth, though he kept Kid's name out of it, they didn't need to know about that. Clara had become more involved when his knife came up, asking her own set of probing questions. Where did he get it? How did it work? What demon had it before? Dean had gotten through it relatively unscathed but was thankful when the remaining hunters were finally up to date and they left him alone. Marcus had left, to go who knows where. Clara had shuffled back to her books, nose so close it was touching the page. Dean leaned back in the chair, enjoying the silence, though it was interrupted when a hand fell on his shoulder.
"Come on," Bobby said with a jerk of his head.
"Where?"
"I'll take you back to where you were sleeping," Bobby said as he levered the young hunter to his feet, pushing him out of the door. "You look like you need it." Dean nodded, allowing Bobby to push him ahead. As they left where the hunters made their home, Dean let his mind wander and his shoulders relax. It was all so confusing. The hunters working with demons. The demons being trapped in bitten bodies. That was probably why Nina was scared to piss off Dwight. The guy knew about hunters, he probably knew she couldn't leave that body, even if she wanted to. Dean found it rather funny that the demons were trapped. A little bad karma to the beings that treat humans like meat suits. As they rounded another corner Dean heard something shift behind him.
"Bobby what-?" Dean didn't get a chance to finished as a hand grabbed his shoulder, shoving him up against the wall. Dean gasped, the breath knocked out of him. He blinked, Bobby was glaring at him, brows furrowed. "Bobby?"
"Who are you?" Bobby demanded.
"What are you talking about? It's me Dean."
"Really?" Bobby said, he reached back, pulling out a wicked looking long knife. Dean didn't recognise it, but that didn't matter, Bobby was bringing it up close to his throat. "I'm having trouble with that."
"Bobby, it's me," Dean tried to protest. "You know me."
"Dean's never been to my house," Bobby said, Dean froze. "He doesn't know where I live, and I never told him. So, tell me," Bobby pressed the knife to Dean's throat, drawing a little blood. "How do you know about it?" Dean swallowed, this was what he had feared. That Bobby wouldn't know him, or that things were different than what he knew from his own reality. If anyone could out him, it would be Bobby.
"Look, Bobby, you need to listen to me."
"Yeah, you going to lie to me?"
"No, I'm just going to explain."
"Who are you?"
"I'm Dean."
"Dean doesn't -"
"But I'm not your Dean," the words came out in a rush that they didn't even make sense to Dean himself. Bobby frowned, his grey brows bunching together.
"What are you on about? You some type of monster? Shapeshifter?"
"No, you know I'm not. You think I didn't know what Marcus was doing when he checked me in there? Those tests?"
"You passed them all," Bobby admitted.
"I'm human, Bobby. I'm just not the Dean you knew." The words eased Bobby back a bit, but he didn't remove the knife.
"I don't know what your getting at boy, but you better start explaining."
"I will," Dean said. "Just not here." He glanced up and down the corridor, making sure no one was about. "Lets head back to my room." Bobby didn't move, looking unconvinced. "Please Bobby, trust me."
"I trust Dean Winchester. I don't know if you're him though."
"I am, I just need to get to a more private place before I can tell you want I mean." Dean knew he must look pathetic, he was practically begging the man to listen to him. Then again it wouldn't be the first time he'd begged Bobby to listen to him, the man sure was stubborn. Slowly the knife was eased back, Bobby stepped back, but didn't place his weapon away. Dean stepped from the wall, lifting a hand to his neck to feel at it. "Did you have to press so hard?"
"Start walking," was all Bobby replied to his flippant words. Dean did, but not before asking.
"If you think I'm fake, why didn't you confront me with Marcus and Clara?"
"This has nothing to do with them," Bobby said gruffly. "Besides, I needed to know what you would say. See what you knew. Marcus is good for at least that." Dean didn't ask Bobby anymore. He had enough to guess that Bobby hadn't wanted to involve the other hunters in what he considered his business. Typical Bobby. They walked. Bobby made sure he was behind the young hunter. Dean allowed it, knowing it would only make matters worse if he tried to ease back to stand beside the older man. Like he'd said before, hunters were paranoid, there was no way Bobby was going to risk Dean getting too close until he was sure about what was happening. As they made their way back, they passed through the main part of the Sanctuary. Dean paused a moment when they passed over a large work area. There were a lot of people below, working from what Dean could see, with food, metals, guns, some were even cooking. It was like a factory.
"What the?"
"You not been shown the workers yet?"
"The what?" Dean turned back to Bobby, who had a sad look of his own as he stared down at the workers. Dean followed his gaze and found him looking at two little girls, probably no older than Kid. They were rolling out dough, trying there best to make it as thin as possible. They looked tired, but they were clean, which was something at least.
"What are they doing?"
"They're the workers," Bobby said. "They're the ones that make sure Negan's elites have what they need."
"Like a class system?"
"Kind of. Keep walking." Dean did as he was told. Carrying on passed the workers, he caught a glimpse at some men, all carrying guns and doing nothing but watch the workers, sometimes even stealing a bit of food. Dean scowled but said nothing. They moved on and soon enough they were back at Dean's room. It was empty, thankfully, so Dean walked right in, Bobby behind him. As soon as the door was such, Bobby turned and growled. "Start talking." And Dean did. He told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. About how he was from another reality, about Sam, his crossroads deal, then ending up in this new world instead of Hell. Bobby listened to it all in silence, not once asking questions, just letting Dean talk. The young hunter was grateful, and he spilled more than he should have. He even told Bobby of Kid, how they met, how he was teaching him about hunting. When finally, he was done, Dean sat, slumped on the bed and waited. Bobby watched him, the knife still in hand. Dean cocked his head.
"Well?"
"That's on hell of a story," Bobby mumbled.
"You believe it?"
"I'd be stupid if I did," he said, and Dean tensed, ready for anything. Then Bobby sighed and slid the knife back away. "But it's the only thing that makes a lick of sense." Dean blinked, not able to fully comprehend what had just been said.
"Y-you believe me?"
"Yeah," Bobby took of his cap and rubbed his hair.
"Why?"
"Because it sounds just like something you would do, you stupid boy," Bobby grunted, walking over and sitting down beside Dean.
"You can't just believe me because of something like that," Dean protested.
"Why? Do you want me to think you're lying?"
"No."
"Then be grateful."
"I -" Dean cut himself off when he caught the smirk on Bobby's face. "Thanks Bobby."
"No problem. Now we got to figure out what the hell to do."
"Yeah."
"This Gatekeeper, she said that the Dead could end the Universe?" Dean nodded.
"If it spreads."
"But there's no cure?"
"No."
"Shit."
"That's how I feel," Dean admitted, his shoulders slumping. "I don't know what to do Bobby. I don't know why she thinks I can do this. Or even what she wants."
"Well, I don't know how things are back in your old reality," Bobby wrinkled his brow at the last words and Dean chuckled. "What? It's strange for me, alright?"
"For you? How do you think I felt?"
"I couldn't imagine," Bobby said with a shake of his head. "But she wouldn't have sent you here if this was impossible. Like she said, if there was a cure we would have found it."
"So, then what needs to happen?" Dean asked. "She said that I was looking at the obvious. What else should I look at?"
"I don't know Dean," Bobby sighed. "We're all in the same boat. We don't know what to do apart from try and survive. And even that is hard enough when you have someone like Negan running the show."
"Did you know he was my dad?" Dean asked.
"No."
"Did the other Dean know?" Bobby shrugged.
"He never mentioned his Father. We weren't as close as you make it sound you are with the ... other Bobby?"
"But you knew my dad?"
"I knew John," Bobby said. "Never went by his last name and never said he had a kid. Then again we only hunted together a couple times before he got out."
"He said he met someone," Dean explained.
"That I find hard to believe," Bobby snorted. "That man went through women as they were going extinct." Dean stiffened, and Bobby gave him a sympathetic look. "John wasn't like that where you were from?"
"No," Dean shook his head. "He raised me and Sam as hunters."
"Sam?"
"My brother," Dean answered shortly. Bobby looked like he wanted to ask more but merely nodded his head for Dean to continue. "Dad mourned Mom for the rest of his life. He never got over it."
"Things went differently here?"
"Yeah," Dean said, not willing to say more, so Bobby dropped it.
"You going to tell him?"
"Who? My dad? That I'm from another reality?" Bobby nodded, which caused Dean to snort. "No way. He wouldn't believe me."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah," Dean said hesitantly.
"Then I guess we're on our own." Dean blinked, then gazed at Bobby in confusion.
"We?"
"What, you think I'd leave this just up to you?" Bobby asked with a smirk of his own. "You may be from another reality, but your still an idiot." Dean didn't know what to say. So, overwhelmed that someone knew where he was from, that believed him and was now willing to help him. It was too much.
"Bobby, I -" the rest of Dean's words were cut off as a loud series of bangs came from the corridor. Dean tensed, standing to his feet.
"What's that?" Bobby asked.
"I don't know," Dean said, crossing to the door and opening it. He looked out into the corridor only to gasp. "Jesus Christ."
"Dean?" Bobby called from inside the room, but Dean ignored him to busy staring at the coverall covered man who stared back at him beneath his dirty mop of hair.
"Dean?" his voice was low, as though he hadn't spoken for a while.
"Daryl." Dean stared at the man. He looked a mess, his skin pale, hair filth ridden. What had they been doing to him? Shouts came, coming up the corridor. Daryl whipped round, looking like a frightened rabbit. Dean couldn't leave him out there. "Here," Dean called, opening the door wider. Daryl didn't need another invitation, he rushed inside, not caring the Bobby was still sat on the bed. Dean snapped the door shut. He could only hope no one would come in here. He turned and took a better look at Daryl. The overall was a yellow colour, with a letter A on the front and back. His hair was even more of a mess, it covered most of his face, hiding his eyes, but Dean got the feeling that they were spooked, frightened, apprehensive.
"Who's this?" Bobby asked, getting to his own feet. Daryl startled and looked ready to bolt, but Dean stepped in.
"It's ok Bobby. This is Daryl, he's from Alexandria."
"Alexandria? That place you were living in?"
"Yeah. Daryl," Dean stepped closer to the older man, gaining his attention. "It's alright Daryl. I know Bobby and he won't do anything."
"He's a Saviour," Daryl growled.
"He's a hunter, like me," Dean said, sharing a look with Bobby over Daryl's shoulder, hoping the man would know to keep some of what Dean had told him to himself. He thought he got a small nod before Daryl levelled his hard gaze on him.
"He's a hunter?"
"Yeah, it's ok Daryl. It's alright," Dean lifted his hands, trying to get Daryl to sit down.
"He's right son, I won't hurt you," Bobby said softly, talking as though to a spooked horse. Daryl looked at him, his eyes taking in every little detail they could. Dean didn't want to give Daryl the chance to think about things to much, he needed to know what had happened to the man.
"Daryl, where did they take you after we were split up?" Daryl didn't answer right away. His shoulders were stiff, and his hands twitched as though he wanted to pull something. Dean hoped he didn't try anything, he didn't want to have to hurt Daryl more than he probably already was.
"A cell," he finally answered. "They put me in a cell. One door, no windows. Padded."
"A padded cell?" Dean raised an eyebrow at Bobby, who shrugged.
"Negan doesn't tell us about things like that. He keeps us hunters separate from most of the Saviours. There're only a few humans that know who we are. The demons obviously do, but as for the rest, we're no one." Dean frowned but didn't press for more, he didn't have the time.
"What did they do to you?" he asked Daryl.
"Played music."
"Music?"
"Same song. Easy Street. Played it at odd times. They gave me dog food."
"Dog food?" Dean wrinkled his nose. "What they give you that for."
"To eat." Dean held in his natural response. Instead he looked at Bobby, who appeared just as disgusted. He didn't ask if Daryl had eaten it. He didn't need to. Five days with nothing but dog food as an option? He'd probably have eaten it too.
"How did you escape, son?" Bobby asked gently.
"They left the door open."
"They didn't lock you in?" Dean questioned, confused. That didn't sound right, why would they leave the door open?
"So, you just walked out?" Bobby asked further. "No one stopped you?" Daryl shook his head. "That's strange."
"Why are they doing this to you Daryl. Did they say?"
"They want me to be a Saviour. They want to convert me." Dean shivered. He couldn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it. The Saviours were doing this to Daryl, his dad was doing this to Daryl.
"Who's been doing it?" Dean's voice is low, angry. "Whose been doing this to you?" Dean didn't ask if it was Negan, he didn't want it confirmed.
"Dwight. It's Dwight."
"The scared man?" Daryl nodded, and Dean cursed.
"Dean?" Bobby asked worriedly.
"I knew I should have killed the bastard," Dean spat, his mind taking him back to when he had the man pushed up against the wall, chocking. He should have told his dad to go to hell and finished him.
"Ya' seen him?" Daryl said.
"Yeah. Choked him."
"Good."
"Did anyone see you come up here?" Bobby asked. Daryl shrugged, which made Bobby sigh. "We should get him out of sight. Maybe smuggle him out when it gets dark."
"Ya' gonna to help me?" Daryl snorted.
"If you want to leave son, I'm not going to stop you," Bobby said. Daryl still looked disbelieving, so Dean cut in.
"I'll get you out Daryl. You can hide here, maybe under the bed. Then you can head back to Alexandria."
"What about yar'? Ya' coming with me?"
"I -"
"I'm afraid Dean, will be otherwise engaged until further notice." The three all stilled, spinning back to the door, now open, cold dread filling each of them as they saw who stood there.
"Negan."
"Dad."
"John."
The man smirked at them, a group of Saviours at his back as he took in all three of them, before his dark eyes fell on Dean. He grinned. "Daddy's home."
"Dad -" Dean didn't get the chance to say more as Daryl reacted. He lunged for the man. Not caring that he was backed up by a group of Saviours that would more than likely beat Daryl to death. "Daryl!" Dean called, managing to get an arm around Daryl's chest, pulling him back.
"Let me go, Dean. Let me go!"
"You heard him son," Negan said over Daryl's yells, laughing at the scene playing out in front of him. "Let him go."
"Daryl," Dean spoke to his enraged friend, ignoring his dad. "Daryl, you need to stop and think about this," he whispered in his ear. Hoping that Negan couldn't hear him.
"He killed them!"
"I know, but you can't do anything about that now. He'll just kill you too. Please Daryl. I need you here. We need you to stay alive." Dean didn't know if his words were really taken in correctly by Daryl. But the older man did stop his struggles, though he did keep that tense posture.
"Well, that was exciting," Dean turned to his dad, who was still in the doorway, having watched the entire thing with out a care.
"Dad," Dean tried to start again but he was out of time.
"What's all this, Dean?" Negan cut him off, stepping further into the room to take in the three of them. "You got something to tell your old man?" his dark eyes landed on Daryl, who looked ready to go for him again. "You know where he's supposed to be."
"It's not what it looks like," Dean tried to deny, but to was useless. His dad just smiled at him, and Dean had to swallow as he reached behind his back to bring out Lucille.
"Now, I don't think that's true," he said, that tone back in his voice. The one he used right before he bashed Abraham's head in. Dean could only gape, it was like watching a transformation take place. Where his dad should have been, instead was a powerful man that was capable of things Dean didn't want to think about.
"We're were just talking to the man, Negan," it was Bobby who spoke, edging his way closer, though he wouldn't look directly at the other man. "Found him wandering, so thought we would find out what he was up to."
"Ah, Bobby," Negan grinned at him. He gestured with a hand for the capped man to come closer. Dean didn't want him to, not when his dad had that look in his eyes. But Bobby either didn't see it or didn't dare argue as he came forward and allowed Negan to place a hand on the back of his neck. "We've known each other a long time."
"Since before," Bobby agreed.
"Then," Dean saw the way the fingers that were placed around Bobby's neck tighten. The knuckles whitened, and Bobby jerked a little from the sudden pressure on his neck. "In respect of that. I'm asking you, to keep your beak out of any business I have with my son." All of this was done with a grin, spoke as though it was two old friends out for a drink. Dean wanted to do something. To interfere, to get in-between the two men that meant the most to him. But his body was too well trained. Too used to just letting his dad do what he wanted, doing as he was told. He couldn't get it to move.
"I get it," Bobby said. His voice was horse, tinted with a little pain, but he kept it off his face. Ever the hunter Bobby would never let Negan know he was hurting him. Negan smiled, guiding Bobby out of the door, passing him on to the gathered group of Saviours.
"Take him back to the secure zone. Make sure you tell Marcus where he's been."
"Yes, boss," one of the Saviours said, then Bobby was gone and all who was left were Dean and Daryl.
"And then there were two," Negan said. He jerked a hand behind him and the remaining Saviours rushed into the room. Surrounding the two of them in a tight circle. Negan took his place at the top of the ring. His eyes found Dean and he sighed. "I really didn't want to have to do this in front of you, Dean."
"What's going on?" Dean asked, glancing at the other Saviours whose faces were blank. He could even spot a few demons in the circle. With their black eyes not even turning to sneer at the hunter in their midst.
"It's time to see if Daryl is ready," Negan said with a grin. "Dwight's been working you hard." That got Daryl tensing up even more, fingers clenching into his palms. "Whatever he's done to you, there's more. There's always more. You won't get away. And when you're back, it'll be worse." Daryl hissed, as though he wanted to spit at Negan, but didn't dare. Dean needed to do something, he couldn't let this carry on. He stepped forward, in front of Daryl.
"Dad, stop it. Daryl -" the smack to his face stunned him. It was enough to send him stumbling into the human wall surrounding them. Dean was quickly caught by hands and held in place. His cheek stung as he looked to his dad, who still had his hand in a fist.
"Stay out of this, Dean," Negan growled. Dean gaped, opened his mouth, but he must have missed something as a hand was clamped over it, locking any protests he could have made in his throat. Negan nodded and turned back to Daryl. The other man hadn't moved, though he was watching through the dark curtain of his hair. Dean struggled a little, but there was no way he was getting free. He only hoped that Daryl wouldn't do anything stupid. "Now that he's sorted," Negan said, that grin coming back, Lucille swinging in his grip. "Are we pissing our pants yet?" Daryl didn't answer the question and Negan frowned a little. He opened his arms and said louder. "Who are you?"
"Negan," the answer came from one of the circling Saviours. Dean would have gasped if he could. It was spoken so surely, as if they truly believed it.
"Who are you?" his dad asked again, and another answered the same.
"Negan."
"Who are you?"
"Negan."
"Who are you?"
"Negan," they all said it on the last one. In compete unison, like robots. Dean's eyes widened as Negan chuckled, stepping closer to Daryl, talking directing into his face.
"Who are you?" there was silence, Negan waiting for Daryl's answer. Dean could only watch as the man he considered his friend, kept silent. Dean didn't know what Daryl was going to do. But he was thankful when Daryl's mouth opened, and he muttered.
"I'm Daryl." Dean would have smiled if he could, but his attention was taken up once again by his dad who reared back and shook his head.
"Now you see, that's not right. You see that?" he gestured at the other Saviours who hadn't moved a muscle. "I am everywhere. And this was your shot to prove to me that, that fundamental fact was sinking in, and you failed." He sighed dramatically. "Which sucks, because your life was about to get so much cooler. Am I right?" He asks the last question to the Saviours who nod. "Damn right. Now," Negan stepped in close again. "Dwight gave you some options. I don't think you get it yet. So, I'm gonna break it down for you. You get three choices." Three fingers were put before Daryl's face, so close that they would send him cross-eyed if he looked at them to long. "One, you wind up on the spike and you work for me as a dead man." One finger is put down. Dean furrowed his brow. On a spike? What did that mean? He wasn't going to kill Daryl, was he? "Two, you get out of your cell, you work for points, but you're gonna wish you were dead." Another finger was put down, Daryl didn't flinch, but Dean was more confused. What was his dad talking about? Points? "Or three, you work for me, you get yourself a brand-new pair of shoes, and you live like a king! Maybe even get to spend some time with my boy. I think you'd like that more than he knows," the last was said in Daryl's ear, but not whispered so everyone could hear. Some of the Saviours laughed, but Dean watched Daryl. His shoulders stiffened and of what Dean could see of his jaw, it locked into place, as though he was stopping himself from shouting. "Choice seems pretty obvious." Negan carried on as though nothing had changed. "You should know, there is no door number four. This is it. This is the only way." Even with a count down, Daryl didn't say a word, just stared straight ahead, right at Negan, who laughed. He threw his head back, lifting Lucille. "Screw it." He swung. Dean couldn't watch. He closed his eyes, expecting to hear the crunch of the wire wrapped bat smashing Daryl's head in, but it never came. Instead there was only silence. Dean peeked his eyes open, seeing his dad hovering over Daryl, Lucille in hand, but not buried in Daryl's head, it was poised above it though, stopped mid swing. "Wow!" Negan exclaimed. "You don't scare easy," he grinned like a maniac. "I love that. But Lucille," he shook his head. "Well, it kind of pisses her off. She finds it to be disrespectful. Lucky for you, she's not feeling too thirsty today." A hand landed on Daryl's shoulder and for the first time he flinched. "But I am. So, I'm gonna go get me a drink with my boy!" The last words were said with so much cheer it rocked Dean. The hand over his mouth was removed and he was shoved at his dad, who wrapped an arm around his shoulders leading him from the room. "You know what to do boys!" he called. Dean didn't get the chance to look behind, but he could hear the rain of fists come down, no doubt beating Daryl.
"Dad -"
"Don't speak, Dean," his dad cut him off. The arm around him tightened and Dean stiffened. "I'm really not in the mood to hear your excuses."
"I -" the crack to his face was fast and swift. Dean gasped but managed to keep his feet. Fingers grabbed his face and Dean was turned to the frowning expression of his dad.
"I said I don't want to hear you. Don't make me do more," Dean kept his mouth shut and his dad released him, transferring his grip to his elbow tugging him along. "I thought we would be able to do this the easy way Dean." The young hunter wanted to say something but didn't dare. "You were doing so well. Guess I'll have to discipline you more than I'd planned." Dean was pulled through the Sanctuary, all the way outside. It wasn't the way they'd come in, more like a back area. There was a fence a few feet away from the building, Dean could hear the moans and groans before he saw them. Some of the Walkers were tired to the fence, others tethered so that they could roam but not to far. There was spikes with heads on, running along the exterior, along with other pieces of metal that are scattered about. Dean swallowed at the sight of them. That was what his dad had threatened to do to Daryl. Negan dragged Dean down the stairs, there were a couple of Saviours hanging about, but they didn't seem to care about the two of them, barely giving them a glance. Negan pulled Dean right up to the fence. So close Dean could see that on the other side, extending from the fence, was a cage. The young hunter didn't get a chance to really look at it as Negan turned to face him. "I'm disappointed, so disappointed, Dean."
"Dad," Dean spoke, hesitating in case he was hit again, when nothing happened, so he carried on. "That with Daryl -"
"He needs to be broken in," Negan said. "It'll just take time."
"You're torturing him," Dean protested.
"Discipline," Negan disagreed.
"It's not right."
"Dean," his dad sighed. "You really don't get it do you?" A large hand is placed on Dean's shoulder and the young hunter gazed up at Negan. "We need to make sure that everyone is on the same page."
"And torturing people does that?"
"They need to understand."
"Understand what?" Dean asked angrily, shrugging off his dad's hand, finally pushing back his automatic response to just do as his dad said. "Hunters are supposed to protect people. They aren't supposed to do ... do this!"
"I am protecting people."
"You killed Glenn and Abraham. Threatened Alexandria and the Hilltop," Dean spat it out before he could second guess himself. "How is that protecting anyone?"
"It keeps them alive."
"How?"
"People can't be trusted to take care of themselves," his dad said it so calmly, so sure of himself. "They waste so much. Do you know how many times I've seen people kill each other over stupid shit? A bit a bread, some clothes. It's pathetic," Negan curled his lip in disgust. "They needed to be kept in line. If not than all falls to chaos." This time the hand lands on Dean's head, fingers threading in his hair so that it can force him to look into his dad's face. "I don't want to kill anyone," he said. "But it's the only way people are going to listen and do what they must for the greater good. If they know that if they cross the line, they will be punished!" by the end he was shouting, spit flying in Dean's face. The young hunter felt a quiver of fear run up his spine.
"This isn't you." He muttered. "This isn't my dad."
"I thought you would be able to understand," Negan sighed again, "But it looks like I over estimated you. Ready the cage!" One of the Saviours that had been loitering moved to the fence, jerking away part of it so that a space opened that led to the cage in the area where the Walkers roamed. Negan gripped Dean's hair, dragging him over. "This will give you some time to think."
"Dad -?"
"Get in Dean," the young hunter couldn't argue as he was thrown through the gap so that he crashed into the cage side. It was hard metal, welded together, just big enough for him to stand up in. A snarl came from beside him and Dean had to tuck his limbs in tight as dead hands reached through the gaps in the cage, groping for him. As he turned back to the fence, he saw it was too late. It had already been closed and a lock was being secured in place.
"Dad!"
"You need to be disciplined Dean," Negan said with a shake of his head. His arms crossed over his chest, looking like any parent would when telling off their unruly teenager. "Think of it as a lesson from your old man."
"You can't leave me here," Dean shot a look at the roaming Walkers that were starting to get closer, attracted by the noise.
"Don't worry, if you don't get to close they can't reach you." Negan threaded his fingers through the fence and smiled. "This is for your own good."
"How is this good?"
"You need to be broken in," his dad shrugged. "I didn't think about it at first. You're a hunter, they're cynical, jaded. But you're young. You haven't seen what it can be like yet. Why it needs to be this way."
"You think that you can keep doing what you're doing?" Dean asked, a pleading note entering his voice. "You can only use fear to keep them in line for so long. At some point they'll revolt against you."
"That won't happen," Negan shook his head. "You see, people are animals, Dean. With the right motivation, they'll do anything."
"Like what?"
"Like if you don't take your punishment like a good boy, then maybe another will take your place." Dean stiffened.
"No."
"Oh yes," his dad leaned into the fence. "You think I wouldn't hear about him? I hear he's quite the prankster."
"Don't hurt him," Dean said, the pleading now clear for all to hear.
"Hurt him? Why I'd never do that. He's the future Dean. He's why I must do this. For you to. I do this all for you."
"I don't want this." Negan shook his head.
"You'll understand, someday." With that his dad walked away, leaving Dean with the Walkers that continued to reach through the cage, trying their best to rip him to shreds. The young hunter could only hope that Kid could keep out of his dad's grasp until he could think of how he was going to get himself out of this.
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