They'd stayed in the same place for three days before moving on, Gareth spotting a herd as he stood on top of one of the supply trucks. Surprisingly, there had been no casualties, considering the size of their group.
As Negan stands with Simon, in yet another large open field, he rubs at his temples.
"We're low on fuel, Negan."
"Can't you tell me some good news, Simon? I really wanna hear something fucking positive."
"Well we've got plenty of water, and enough food for two days, so that's something," Simon reasons.
"We need to find somewhere, it's been two weeks, we can't keep staying out in the fucking open like this," Negan frowns. "I've got my wives bitching at me every five fucking minutes, and i can't fucking blame them. This is not what they signed up for, they're not built to be out here."
Simon spreads out a map on the bonnet. "This is where we are, see here, that's a town. If we move just a few more miles, we should be able to see it. There's gotta be somewhere that we can make our own, i'm sure of it."
"So your suggesting we move here," Negan points at the map.
Simon nods. "It's not far. And it should give us a good view of the town below, that's our best bet. We just need to find more fuel."
"Alright, you take some men out, see if you can fill up those fucking Jerry cans," Negan says.
"Sure thing," Simon nods.
Negan makes his way over to his wives, kneeling beside them as they spoon what looks like regurgitated bird seeds in their mouths.
"The fuck is that?" Negan frowns.
"Muesli," Lisa says. "And yes, it tastes as disgusting as it looks."
"I quite like it," Karen says, through a mouthful. "What i don't like, is freezing my ass off after dark. Are we any closer to getting some decent clothes?"
Negan rubs at his temples. "Look, i promise we'll find somewhere soon. How about i give you my blanket? So you have an extra one at night?"
"Wow, an extra blanket, problem solved," Karen says, sarcastically.
"Karen," Lisa frowns, digging her in the ribs.
Karen sighs. "Sorry, that'd be great," she smiles, weakly.
"Good, it won't be for long, i-," Negan looks over at Simon, seemingly deep in conversation with Katie. "Hold that thought," Negan says, barely giving his wives a second glance.
"Hey, is everything alright?" Negan smiles.
Katie drops her head, staring down at her feet.
"Yeah, Katie says she wants to help look for gas, i was thinking i could send her with Gareth," Simon suggests.
Negan shakes his head. "Absolutely not."
Katie clenches her jaw, refusing to look at him. "And why not?"
Negan turns to her. "Because you're not fit to be out there, and if something bad happened to you, i'd never fucking forgive myself."
"That's funny, you seem to have gotten over your brother quick enough," she spits.
"Katie," Simon frowns.
She looks up at Simon before storming off towards the truck she'd been sleeping in.
"You want me to talk to her?" Simon asks.
"No, leave her. She's hurting, i get it. I can take whatever shit she wants to throw at me," Negan says.
Katie holds her stomach as cramps rip through her. She hadn't eaten properly in days, and it was taking it's toll. As she kneels down on the moss covered floor of the woods, she hears a branch snapping. She gets up, the world around her beginning to spin as she draws her knife.
The dead thing makes it's way towards her, it's jaws snapping as it reaches out it's hands. She has neither the strength nor the will to fight as it lunges at her, Knocking Katie off her feet and falling on top of her.
She pushes at it's chest, but her efforts are futile. Suddenly it's lifted from her, Katie's eyes widening as John lifts the dead thing from her, throwing it down on the ground and putting an end to it with Lucille. Katie looks away, her breath heavy and her heart sinking with disappointment.
"What the hell are you doing out here?" Negan frowns.
"I had it," she barely whispers.
"Bullshit! That fucker almost had you, what the fuck were you thinking? Do you wanna die? Is that it?"
Katie shrugs. "That's none of your business."
"It is my fucking business. Look at me, Katie."
She gets up, staring down at her feet, refusing to meet his gaze.
"I said fucking look at me!" Negan yells.
"I can't! Okay!" She shouts. "I can't look at you, because when i do, it's like i'm looking at him," Katie shakes her head, tears falling down her cheeks. "I can't, it hurts too much."
Negan's face falls, his shoulders sagging. "I.. i'm sorry, i didn't think," he says, realising that with his hair unkempt and his growing beard, he must look the spitting image of John. He kneels down in front of her, forcing her to see him. Katie looks away, but he places his finger under her chin. He wipes at her tears with his thumb as she looks at him, her lip trembling.
"He's gone. It's not fair, he didn't deserve to go like that," she sobs.
"I know, and i'm sorry," Negan says, softly, running a hand through her hair.
Katie falls forward against him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean what i said, about it being your fault. I just.. i want him back," she sobs.
"Don't be sorry," Negan says, his eyes wide as he strokes at her hair. He places his hands against her shoulders, looking up at her. "I need you to be strong, it's what John would want. He wouldn't want you to give up."
Katie nods, wiping at her nose. "I know, but it just feels wrong to keep on living."
"I know, but that's what you have to do. Not just for yourself, but for everyone else. You're important to this group, you know how to handle the dead, when your not half starved that is," Negan smiles weakly. "We need you. I'm not saying don't grieve, that's as natural as fucking breathing, just.. try and make some room between the grieving to live. I want you to live."
"Okay, i'll try. But..," she looks away, breathing deeply.
"But?" Negan raises an eyebrow.
"Could you sort yourself out?" She gestures towards his beard and mess of hair.
Negan chuckles lightly. He nods. "Well it wasn't exactly on the top of my list of priorities, but i'll get right on it," Negan smiles.
"Fuck!" Negan frowns, as he nicks himself with the blade.
Frankie stands behind him with her arms crossed. "Why are you even doing that?"
"What business is it of yours?" He says, staring at his reflection in the wing mirror.
"You know, it wouldn't kill you to just answer a simple question once in a while, i am your wife after all."
Negan grabs a cloth and wipes at his face. "It was upsetting Katie," he says, as he turns to Frankie. "There, you fucking happy?"
"Do you even want us anymore?" She asks.
"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"It doesn't seem like you have much interest in us anymore."
"Really? Seems like i was fucking interested last night," he smiles.
Frankie shakes her head. "It's not the same, it's like you're a million miles away."
Negan stares at her, bemused. "Cut the shit, Frankie. Being deep doesn't fucking suit you."
"You want her, don't you," she says.
"The fuck are you talking about?"
"Katie."
"Hey," Negan steps closer to her. "Watch what you're fucking saying. She's my brother's fucking widow, i don't want people hearing you say shit like that, especially her, you fucking hear me?" He says, through gritted teeth.
Frankie nods. "I hear you."
They roll on out, Simon and his men coming back with just enough gas to take them a few more miles.
Negan sticks his hand out of the truck, slowing it to a stop. "That it?" He nods.
"Yeah," Simon looks at his map.
"Let's step the fuck out, see what we can see," Negan says. "Everyone stay in your trucks," he orders. He walks through a field, Simon right beside him, a pair of binoculars in his hand. "Give me those," Negan gestures with his hand. He looks down at the town below, his eyes squinting. "Looks quiet. Apart from a few stragglers. Nothing we can't fucking handle."
"What's that?"
Negan jumps, lowering the binoculars. "Jesus, Katie. I thought i told you to wait in the truck?"
"Since when do i do as i'm told?" She smiles weakly. And though it doesn't quite reach her eyes, it's the first smile he's seen from her since John died, and his heart skips a beat.
"Well you're out here now, so what are you talking about?" Negan smiles.
"That big building there," she points. "Looks like a factory."
Negan aims his binoculars in the direction she's pointing. "Yeah, i think it is, or it was. Oh shit, it's got fences."
"They intact?" Simon asks, his voice sounding hopeful.
"Most certainly fucking looks that way," Negan smiles. "Here," he says, passing Simon the binoculars. "Take a fucking gander."
"You think we could take that place?" Katie asks.
"Don't see why not, it looks fucking perfect. It's high as well, which will come in handy for keeping an eye out for herds," Negan says.
"So what's the plan?" Katie asks, seeming much more focused.
"Simon and i will take some men out, check the place over, make sure it's safe. If it is, we move in."
"I can help," Katie offers.
Negan looks at her with uncertainty. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Don't do that, i wanna help. This is the first time i've wanted to do something other than cry since we left the school, let me do this," she says.
Negan lets out a deep breath and nods reluctantly. "Alright, but i want you right by my fucking side. If it all goes tits up, you fucking run, don't go being a fucking hero, okay?"
"Okay," she nods.
"We're gonna need a bolt cutter, gates are still locked, which is a good thing," Simon points out.
"Gareth has some in his truck," Katie says.
"Alright, let's get this fucking show on the road!" Negan smiles.
Katie looks up at the factory, her eyes wide. It's tall, with too many windows to count. The fences seem to be intact as Simon had suggested, and she figures it'll make a great place to stay, provided it doesn't have any residents, dead or alive.
Simon cuts the Chain, the gate creaking loudly as Gareth pushes it open.
"You stick to my left," Negan says to Katie.
She nods, holding her handgun low and pointed at the ground.
They head through the gates, ten of them in all, carefully looking at their surroundings.
"We'll check the outside first, make sure it's secure," Negan says.
They make quick work of securing the outside, splitting into teams of three and four.
"There's more outside space than i thought there'd be," Negan smiles. "Maybe even enough space to grow shit."
"It's really quiet, i don't like that," Katie shakes her head.
"Me neither, lulls you into a false sense of security. Don't worry though, we'll be careful," Negan says. "How did everything look?" He asks Simon, as they meet near the gate.
"Secure. I'm just waiting for the shit to rain down on us, seems almost too good to be true," Simon says.
"I hear you," Negan nods.
"You think we should split up or stay together? There's a million damn entrances into this place," Simon frowns.
Negan runs a hand over his cheeks, his face already like sandpaper in spite of shaving earlier. "Fuck, i'm not sure. We're stronger together. But if we get cornered by dead fucks we'll be fucking tripping over one another. Be faster if we split up into three groups, we could each take a floor, anyone sees something more than they can handle, fucking holler."
"Alright," Simon nods.
Negan, Katie, and Gareth, take the first floor, watching as Simon and the other group head in opposite directions. They step quietly and cautiously into a big hall, what they assume must have been the factory floor.
"What do you think they made here?" Katie whispers.
"Fuck knows?" Negan says, holding Lucille tightly. "This place is fucking huge though, plenty of room for everyone."
Once they're assured the ground floor is cleared, they make their way up, floor by floor. The come across a grand total of three of the dead, and from the looks of them, Negan guesses they must have topped themselves.
They make their way back to the main floor, waiting for the others. Katie walks over to a table, rifling through some tattered paperwork. There's a logo in the top right corner. "Sanctuary," she reads.
"What's that?" Negan asks, walking over to her.
She shrugs her shoulders. "Maybe it's the name of whatever this place was? Or the name of a company they worked with?"
"Sanctuary," he nods. "That's exactly what this place feels like right now. Once Simon gets his ass back down here, i'll have him bring everyone back here. This place is fucking perfect."
"It is," Katie nods, her jaw clenched as she bites back tears.
"Sorry, i'm here talking about how perfect this place is, and everything couldn't be further than fucking perfect," Negan frowns.
Katie shakes her head. "Don't be sorry. This is a good thing, for our people, for us. Least i can grieve in peace without having to worry about the dead. I needed this, to do something, thanks for not making me stay with the others."
"Well this is where you're meant to be, doing shit. You're not made for sitting in a truck," he smiles. "We're gonna make something of this place."
"I'm sure we will," she smiles.
