"We were gone for like five minutes, i swear."
Negan runs a hand over his face. "And you didn't fucking see anyone? I mean, what the fuck, Gareth? You go away for five minutes and someone fucking butchers the guy."
"Least they had the sense to put a knife through his head," Gareth says.
"Yeah, a silver fucking lining to every damn cloud. Why don't you tell me some more words of wisdom?" Negan says, sarcastically.
"Sorry," Gareth says, a little sheepishly.
"Just get the fuck outta here," Negan motions with his hand.
Gareth and Rich head off as Simon stands beside him, hands on hips.
"Maybe it's not such a bad thing? The guy was a fucking asshole," Simon points out.
"That's not the fucking point," Negan frowns. "I, fucking decide what happens here, me, not no fucker else. People need to know who's in charge round here."
"Any idea who it was?" Simon asks.
"Hmm, i've got a few ideas," Negan says, clenching his jaw. "Have someone get rid of this piece of shit before he starts fucking stinking up the place."
"I think it's ready," Katie smiles.
"Let me try it," Shaun says, pouring himself a glass. He takes a sip, his eyes widening.
"Not good then?" She frowns.
"You kidding me? It's awesome! Negan's gonna love it," he smiles, taking another drink.
"Good, i've got some stuff to do, you okay bottling it up?" Katie asks.
"Yeah, that's if i don't drink it all," he jokes.
John pulls the crowbar from the corpses head, watching it fall to the ground through the railing. He'd been helping clear the dead for the last hour, his hands aching and full of calluses.
"John!" Negan shouts from behind him. "You got a minute?"
John turns with a frown, wiping at his forehead with the back of his arm. He walks over to Negan, crowbar in hand. "What's up?"
Negan leans Lucille against his shoulder. "Where were you last night?"
"Balls deep in Katie," he smiles. "Why?"
Negan pouts, his stomach churning. "Chris is dead."
"Really?" John chuckles.
"Well i'm glad you find it funny," Negan frowns.
"What the fuck do you want me to say? The guy was a fucking asshole, he had it coming, so good fucking riddance."
"Was it you?" Negan asks.
John shifts his feet, staring at his brother. "The fuck does it matter? He's dead."
"It matters, because i fucking say it matters. I'm in charge around here, i can't have my people running round doing whatever the fuck they want without my damn say so."
"What? Like Chris was you mean?" John raises an eyebrow.
"I would've dealt with him," Negan assures him.
"Yeah, course you fucking would've," John frowns.
"Hey," Negan places a hand against John's chest. "I would. Now, i need to know that we're on the same fucking page here."
John glances at Negan's hand. "If it's the same page that reads keeping these people safe, then yeah, we most definitely fucking are."
"What do you think i'm doing here? Everything i fucking do is for my people," Negan says.
"Good," John nods. "Then we don't have a problem."
"Was it you?" Negan asks again.
John smiles at him. "Like i said, i was balls deep in Katie last night. Ask her if you don't believe me, or maybe you should go check our bedroom out, my manfat's probably still all over the sheets."
Negan grimaces, clenching his jaw. "The fuck is wrong with you?"
"Nothing's wrong with me, brother. I'm all fucking good. Now if you don't mind, i've got dead fucks to put an end to, i'm on a fucking roll," John smiles, turning away from him and heading back to the fence.
John walks down the corridor, wiping at his brow. He'd had an eventful morning, taking out the cluster of dead with the others, and he was very much in need of a shower.
"Excuse me, Mister," comes a voice from behind him.
John turns on his heels, looking down at a little girl a few feet from him. Her eyes widen as she stares at him, and she takes a step back towards her room. John frowns, then looking down at himself, his plaid shirt covered in walker crap, he realises why she's being cautious.
"What is it, sweetie?" He smiles. She looks up at him distrustfully. John takes off his plaid shirt, placing it on the floor. He kneels, smiling sweetly. "My name's John, what's your name?"
She stares at John, unsure if she should be talking to him. But then his smile seems kind, so she finds her voice. "Emma."
"Emma, that's a beautiful name. So what did you want to tell me, Emma?"
"My Momma's bin sleepin for a long time, she won't wake up, an i'm hungry."
John frowns briefly. "Really? Well maybe she's just really tired?"
She shakes her head. "She don't normally sleep that long. She always gets up before i do."
"Okay, Emma. You wanna take me to her?" He asks, holding out his hand. John stands up as she takes his hand, following her into her room.
"She's there," Emma points towards the bed.
"Okay, Emma. You just stay there, i'll see if i can wake your Momma," he says, placing his hand against her shoulder. John steps over to the bed, standing in front of the window. His eyes catch sight of a bottle of pills on the floor, or much rather, an empty bottle of pills. He kneels down, pulling the cover back, his eyes widening. John grimaces as the stench of vomit smacks him in the face. Shit! He frowns, glancing over at Emma.
John makes his way over to her, kneeling down and placing his hands on her shoulders. "I tell you what, sweetie. Why don't you go to the kitchens, and ask Janet if she'll make you something to eat, tell her i sent you. And i'll wake your Momma up."
Emma nods, then she looks over John's shoulder with a smile. "Momma! She's wakin up," Emma goes to run towards the bed.
John quickly grabs her arm. "Why don't i see if your Momma's alright? She might need some medicine, sweetie. I think Janet has cake, you like cake, right?"
"My Momma can take me," she frowns, trying to shake her arm from his. "Lemme go, i want my Momma!" She yells, kicking him in the shin. Just as he's about to carry her out of the room, she kicks at him again, getting him in the crotch.
John gasps, his hands letting go of her briefly. She runs forward, jumping on the bed. "Momma, tell the mean man to go away!" Emma says, as she pulls back the covers. Emma looks at her Momma, confused. There's something wrong with her eyes. "Momma?" She whispers, her lip trembling. Emma screams as her Momma lunges at her, her teeth snapping. She feels hands grabbing her, not her Momma's hands thankfully, but John's, as he pulls her from the bed.
"Out in the hall!" He shouts at her.
She obeys him, tears rolling down her cheeks as she runs out into the hall.
John takes the knife from his belt, plunging it into the woman's skull. He stands there a few moments, his breath heavy, heart racing. Then he takes the blanket, draping it over her body.
He goes out into the hall, looking down at Emma, who can't be more than eight he reckons. John kneels in front of her, not sure what to say. She runs at him, wrapping her arms around him in a bear hug, sobbing her heart out.
"It's okay, sweetie," he says, rubbing at her back. "It's gonna be okay."
She shakes her head, rubbing snot against his shoulder as she continues to cry. John picks her up and heads down the corridor.
Katie sits on her bed reading a book. The door opens with a swing. "Hey, babe, you have a good morning?" She asks, her head still stuck in her book. "John?" She looks up. Katie steps out of bed as she sees John trying to comfort a little girl, a little girl that is clinging to his shoulders for dear life.
John looks at her as he rubs Emma's back. "Can you look after her?"
Katie nods. "Of course, is everything alright?" She frowns.
"I'm not sure," he shakes his head. John walks over to their bed, attempting to place Emma down, but she refuses to let go of him. He stands back up. "Emma," he says softly. "This is my friend, Katie. You wanna say hi?"
Emma shakes her head, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
Katie steps towards her. "I had a friend named Emma," she smiles. "And, she had magical powers."
Emma lifts her face from John's shoulder. "Like a superhero?"
"Exactly, like a superhero. Would you like to stay here with me? I'll tell you all about her," Katie smiles.
Emma looks at John. "Will you come back?"
John smiles at her. "Of course i will."
"Okay," Emma nods, wiping at her nose with the back of her hand. John puts her down and she walks over to Katie.
Katie puts her hand on Emma's shoulder. "You know what? I think i have a chocolate bar somewhere," Katie digs through her backpack. "There we are, you like chocolate?"
Emma nods, wiping at her eyes.
"Here," Katie hands it to her. "Why don't you go sit down and eat that, and i'll just have a quick talk with John out in the hall."
"You'll come back though?" Emma pouts.
"Of course i will, we'll be two minutes," she smiles. Katie gestures for John to step outside.
"What happened?" She frowns, as they stand out in the hall.
John rubs a hand over his beard. "Jesus, her Mom just turned, right in fucking front of her."
Katie places a hand over her mouth. "Oh my god, how did that happen?"
"I found an empty bottle of pills by her bed, and she was all covered in vomit."
Katie frowns. "Wait.. she killed herself?"
John nods. "Looks that way," he clenches his jaw. "How could someone do that? Just leave their little girl like that? And knowing that they'll come back? I dread to fucking thing what would've happened if i hadn't passed by when i did."
Katie places a hand against his cheek. "Well thank God you did," she smiles, kissing him chastely. Katie glances at the door. "Does she have anyone else?"
John shrugs his shoulders. "I've got no fucking idea. I'm gonna go see Negan now, let him know about it."
John knocks impatiently at Negan's door.
"Hold the fuck on!" Negan shouts from inside.
John waits, tapping his foot against the floor.
The door opens, Negan buckling his belt. "John, what the fuck do you want? This better be fucking important, i was busy in there," he smiles slyly, licking his lips.
"Someone just OD'd," he frowns.
Negan stares at him. "Who?"
John racks his brain, then realises he doesn't know her name. "Fuck, i didn't get her name, but she has a daughter. Poor thing thought her Mom was sleeping. She turned while we were both in there, almost got the little girl."
"Holy fuck!" Negan frowns, rubbing at his temples. "Where's the kid?"
"She's with Katie, i'm not sure if she has any other family?"
Negan nods. "I'll ask around, but these days, that's pretty fucking unlikely."
"Why would she do that?" John asks.
Negan stares at him. "The fuck should i know?"
"She had a daughter, Negan. A roof over her head, it doesn't make sense," John says.
Negan shrugs. "Why does anyone do anything anymore? People do all kinds of crazy shit, you'll give yourself a damn headache trying to figure out why."
"I think we should have a burial for her," John says.
"Why?" Negan frowns.
"For the girl," John says, confused by his brother's response. "Why the fuck do you think? She needs to say goodbye."
Negan sighs deeply. "Yeah, of course. I wasn't thinking. You know me, John, i'm not the most fucking sentimental guy in the world."
"Yeah, you don't need to fucking tell me that," John frowns.
"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"Never mind," John shakes his head.
Negan stares at him. "You wanna bury her today?"
"No, it's getting too late now, and Emma's beside herself. It's best to leave it till tomorrow, she can stay with me and Katie till we figure shit out."
Negan nods. "Alright, i'll have someone take the body away, find somewhere to put her till tomorrow morning."
"Okay, we'll do it first thing."
"You look like you could use a drink, you wanna come in for one?" Negan offers .
John shakes his head. "I should be getting back, they'll be wondering where i am."
"Alright, well i'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah, seeya," John says as he walks off.
John heads through his door with a tray in his hands. Katie and Emma sit side by side on the bed, still talking about superheroes.
"You still talking about superheroes?" John smiles, as he places the tray down on a set of drawers.
"Emma was telling me that her favourite superhero is Spiderman."
"Spiderman? Spiderman has nothing on Superman," John smiles.
"Did all the superheroes die like my Momma?"
John stares at her. "No, in fact, i think they're out there right now, flying around trying to save the world," he smiles. "Are you hungry? Because i brought us all something to eat, and.. there's cake."
Emma nods. "Can i eat my cake first?"
John tilts his head. "Now how can i say no to that face?"
