"Let's hope we get back before John does," Negan smiles.
"He's not the boss of me, i do have a mind of my own you know," Katie says.
Negan chuckles. "Never said he was, sweetheart. Can't fucking blame him for worrying about you though, i know i wouldn't want you out here if i were him."
"Well you're not the boss of me either," she smiles. "I don't wanna keep sitting at the school doing nothing."
"There's fucking plenty of shit for you to do there. Brewing beer for one."
"Yeah, and that's brewing nicely. I don't wanna get content, if things turn to crap i wanna be able to know i can handle myself out here," she says.
"I hear you, just don't expect John to be happy about it."
"I like to keep him on his toes," Katie jokes.
"I bet you fucking do," Negan grins. He looks out at the road, his eyes squinting as he sees something up ahead. "What the fuck is that?" He frowns. His eyes widen. "Shit!" He stomps on the breaks. Katie bumps her head on the windscreen. Negan turns to her. "Fuck! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she winces, rubbing at her head. "You think they've seen us?" She asks as she stares out at the sea of dead ahead of them.
Negan shakes his head. "No. We'd better turn the fuck around."
"It creeps me out how they all herd together like that. John and i saw a herd a month before we met you. It wasn't even half the size of that though, there's gotta be close to two hundred there."
"And then some," Negan says. "Just let me radio through to Joey, he's good with shit like this, redirecting herds. Not sure what he's gonna do about this one though?"
"Can't we just leave them to wander off?"
"No," he shakes his head. "Can't risk it. If those fuckers head towards the school they'll rip right fucking through it. That or they'll starve us out."
After speaking with Joey on the radio Negan had turned the truck around. He'd had every intention of heading back to the school, the herd freaking him out a little. But Katie had convinced him otherwise so they'd pressed on.
"Look at that," Katie says.
"What?"
She points to a sign saying 'Hitchhikers may be escaping inmates.' "That means there must be a prison nearby."
"Yeah, it does," he frowns.
"We checking it out?" She asks.
Negan chews on his bottom lip. "We'll head for it, see if it looks worthwhile. If it looks like it might have shit worth taking then i'll radio through."
"Can't we take a look?"
"Fuck no!" Negan frowns. "I know you said you wanna keep John on his toes but do you want him to fucking murder me? I'm not saying you can't come, i'm just saying we'll need more people."
They drive another few miles before they look on in disappointment.
"Well that's a damn shame," Negan huffs as he looks at the ruins of the prison.
"Looks like it burned down a while ago," Katie says.
"Yeah, probably happened when all this shit got started. Inmates probably started rioting, makes me fucking wonder actually?" Negan shudders.
"Wonder what?"
"How many fuckers starved to death?" He says.
"That wouldn't happen," she says, unsure of any such thing.
"Course it fucking would. Most of the guards that worked there probably stopped bothering to turn up for work soon as this shit started."
"But someone must've gone there, let them out," Katie says.
"Would you? I mean, some of the guys in there were probably serial killers and rapists. Would you really want people like that running around?" He asks.
"There are serial killers and rapists running around, i've seen it," she frowns.
Negan shakes his head. "Maybe some got out, but the rest were probably left to rot. That's a sick kinda justice when you fucking think about it."
"I don't wanna think about it, maybe we should change the subject," she says, a shiver running down her spine.
"Fine by me," he smiles. "We should probably head back, i..," Negan looks out at the road in front of him.
"Is that one of yours?" Katie asks as she looks at the truck blocking the road.
"No, it's not. And i don't fucking like the looks of it either," he stops the truck, the engine still running. Two men stand on the truck bed and another stands on the road beside it.
"What we were just saying, about serial-," she starts.
"Don't," Negan cuts her off. "If you start with that shit you'll fucking panic. We need to keep our heads clear, okay, sweetheart?"
"Okay. So what do we do? Maybe they're alright?" She says.
Negan shakes his head. "No, i don't think they're alright. You don't go blocking the road like that unless you're trying to trap people."
"Looks like only one of them has a gun," she gestures towards one of the guys in the truck.
"Yeah, it does," Negan frowns as the guy at the side of the truck begins to walk over. "It's them or us," he turns to her. "Can you shoot?" Katie nods. Negan grabs a revolver from the glove box and hands it to her. "Answer me honestly, have you ever killed anyone?"
"N..no," she stutters.
"I'm gonna need you to shoot him, soon as i open this door. I can shoot the other two from here. Can you do that?"
She nods, her eyes wide.
"Okay," Negan takes the gun from his belt. "On three. One, two, three!" He opens his door and jumps out, shooting at the two men on the truck. They drop before they even have the chance to go for their weapons. Negan spins quickly on his heels, fully expecting to have to shoot the other guy. But he's already on the floor, a bullet hole in his head. Katie hadn't even stepped out of the truck, still frozen with the gun in her hand. Negan opens the door and crouches in front of her. "Hey, you okay?" He places his hand over the gun and takes it from her.
"I.. i'm not sure," Katie says shakily.
He takes her hand gently. "You know that was the safest thing to do right? Those guys definitely didn't have good intentions."
"But what if-,"
"No," Negan cuts her off. "Don't do that. What if we'd given them the benefit of the doubt and they'd taken advantage of that? There'd be no coming back from that, not with just the two of us out here. We did that right thing, and we're still here because of it, don't you fucking doubt that for one second."
A tear rolls down her check as she trembles, half hanging out of the passenger seat. Negan lifts his hand to her cheek, wiping at her tears with his thumb. She leans forward resting her head against his shoulder, her arms wrapping around him lazily. Negan breathes in her scent, closing his eyes as he strokes her hair. "I know you're right, doesn't make it easy though."
"I know, that's because you're such a good person," he places his hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eye. "Just don't let this take over you. It had to be done, sweetheart."
They drive through the school gates, the only prize for their journey out being the dead men's weapons and gas. That and their lives.
"Fuck," Negan frowns as he sees John waiting for them impatiently. He steps out of the truck, John already racing towards him.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" John fumes.
"Calm the fuck down, we got back in one piece," Negan says calmly.
John stands right in front of him, his face mere inches from Negan's. "Don't tell me to fucking calm down! How the fuck would you feel if i took one of your fucking wives out there?"
"Oh come on, that's not even remotely the fucking same, they're my wives because they can't fucking handle shit out there. Katie's more than capable of handling herself," Negan reasons.
"Do i look like i give a shit? She doesn't leave here without my fucking say so! You might be in charge around here but you're not in charge of her!" John fumes.
Negan raises an eyebrow. "You know, you're starting to sound a little sexist."
John grabs him by the collar. "Fuck you, you sarcastic prick! I've had enough of you and your fucking jokes!"
Negan pushes John away. "Do i look like i'm fucking joking? She's not a fucking possession."
John stares at him and smiles coldly. "Oh i see. You want her don't you? I fucking new it!"
Negan's face drops, he turns towards the truck and sees Katie still sat in the passenger seat. "Can we put this to one side for now? She needs you."
John looks over at Katie and frowns. "She looks spaced out, what the hell's wrong with her?"
"We ran into some trouble while we were out. She's alright," he assures him. "She's not hurt. But she needs you right now. We can talk about this later."
John glances at him briefly and nods before heading over to Katie.
John knocks on the door of Negan's room before stepping in, he doesn't wait for an answer. "I could fucking knock that head of yours off your damn shoulders, you know that?"
Negan looks up at him from the sofa, a glass of whiskey in his hand. "I love you too, brother."
"Don't get fucking cute with me. If she hadn't been out there she wouldn't have had to do that." He frowns, clenching his jaw.
Negan nods before taking a sip of his whiskey. "I know that. But it's fucking done now," he looks up at him. "She alright?"
"She will be, no thanks to you. What the fuck were you thinking going out there just the two of you?" John asks.
"She wouldn't shut up about it," Negan reasons.
"You like her don't you?"
Negan sighs deeply. "You want one?" He holds up the glass.
"No, i don't fucking want one. I want you to answer my damn question!" John shouts, his fists balled at his sides.
Negan nods and downs the rest of his drink. He stands up, walking over to John. "Yeah, i like her," John grinds his teeth, his face going red. "But i'm not gonna do anything. I won't do that to you," he places a hand on John's shoulder.
John stares at him in surprise. "What?"
"I don't wanna fuck things up between us. You're my fucking brother for Christ's sake!" He tilts his head. "I promise you, John. I won't do that to you. We need to stick together, we're stronger as a pair. Together we can kick this world in the fucking balls! I fucking love you, you, asshole," he smiles.
John clears his throat, his face softening. "You really mean that?"
"I wouldn't fucking say it if i didn't. Katie's hot as fuck, and she's fucking awesome! You can't blame me for liking her?"
"No, i suppose not," John frowns.
"It'll fizzle the fuck out. But you and i, that's fucking forever," Negan says.
John breaths deeply, a smile creeping over his face. "How about that drink?"
Negan pats his shoulder. "That's the fucking spirit," he smiles, heading over to the drinks cabinet and grabbing another glass. John sits down and Negan sits beside him. "So seriously," he pours their drinks. "How is she, really?"
John rubs his temples. "I'm not fucking sure. She's sleeping right now, but i'm not gonna stay long, don't want her to wake up alone," he grabs his drink and takes a sip. "I've tried telling her she did the right thing but she's just not hearing it right now."
"I could get the Doc to give her something, help calm her down?" Negan suggests.
John shakes his head. "No. I mean, if she gets worse then maybe, but i don't want her getting doped up."
"I am sorry for taking her out there, if i'd know that was gonna happen i wouldn't have," Negan says.
"I know," John downs the rest of his drink. "I just hope it doesn't eat at her. Killing someone isn't something you get over lightly."
"You've had to do it then?"
"Yeah, more than once. This world is full of fucking assholes. Can you believe that?" John smiles halfheartedly.
"Yeah, i can. I've had to do it myself," Negan nods. "She'll be fine, she's tough."
"I fucking hope so," John frowns.
