Chapter 16:

"This is a nice little house you have here. Not to my taste but, it's still very nice"

Michonne sat on the coffee table facing Negan with her katana in her hand, her eyes locked on him, "Thank you, now take your foot off his head"

Negan glanced down at Tyreese, "Nah… I think I'd rather rest it here-"

"He hasn't done anything to you-"

"Don't think I'm doing this because I dislike him. He's a fucking stand-up guy-"

"How did you get out?"

The man gave her a charming smile, "Funny story, because I had planned to get out anyway, but the opportunity presented itself to me when this fucking amazing guy right here, opened the cell to let me out… by himself!"

She glared at him.

"Once I had the rifle from him, he got us to your house… we actually had a little talk before I knocked him out… took a look around-"

She narrowed her eyes at him, "Why didn't you just leave?"

He smirked, "Without you?"

Her face fell into a blank expression.

"I couldn't just break out of this creepy little town alone, could I 'Chonne?", He tilted his head, pouting at her.

She slowly shook her head, "You won't leave here alive-"

"But with you by my side… I might just"

"No. You still wouldn't make it out alive-"

"We need a plan then, don't we?"

"Negan."

His eyes darkened as he realised she was reluctant to leave, "I hope you don't think you're getting me back in that fucking cell? Because you and I both know that's not happening"

She rolled her tongue around her teeth as she thought, "So say we get out of here, then what?"

He blinked at her.

"We can run but everyone would be looking for you. Not just Rick. The kingdom… the Hilltop… the Savior's… they'd all be hounding us and the fact that you're out of that cell means you're free to kill. I won't be able to protect you-"

"We'll figure it out. We always have, and we always will", His gaze dropped to Tyreese, who stirred beneath his foot, "Hey! How you doing down there, big guy?"

"Don't move Tyreese", Michonne instructed, her eyes never leaving Negan's face.

He watched her, "So, are you ready to go?"

She inhaled slowly, "We are still in a position to turn this all around-"

He moved his foot from his prisoner's head and replaced it with the rifle, "Are we?"

"Don't.", She bit out at him.

"If I blow this fuckers brain across this lovely rug of yours, then you know we definitely can't stay here", He tilted his head at her again, "So we can either figure out a way to leave peacefully-"

"Negan. No."

"Is this your final answer? Do I have to kill this big fuck?", He barely blinked, knowing he had her backed into a corner, "Because you know I don't mind-"

"I don't want to live out there like we did before", She breathed angrily, "That won't work-"

"Stop stalling 'Chonne", He ordered, "You need to decide. Now"

She exhaled tiredly, shaking her head, "Why do you have to put me in this position? Why? It's like you love to see how much pressure you can put on me to prove myself to you-"

"You're stalling-"

"I'm not fucking stalling! I am so sick of you! I'm trying to protect you! Do you not understand that?! After everything you did, you deserve to die, but the only reason you're still breathing is sitting right here in front of you!"

He raised his eyebrow at her, responding dryly, "So what's your call?"

Her heart beat seemed to have gotten louder, and hand gripped the handle of her sword, "You can't do this-"

"So I guess this asshole has to die then-"

"Fine!", She spat out as she stood up. She snatched his bat off his lap and stepped away from them, "Let's go!"

Negan began to grin, "That's my girl"

The last thing she wanted was for Negan to kill Tyreese, or anyone else for that matter, so she knew the only way to avoid such a thing from happening was to follow his wish.

"Go on Tyreese", Michonne opened the door for the man, who was sporting a swollen eye.

He shook his head, "I can't let you-"

"Go on!", She urged, tipping her head towards the door.

He hesitated, his eyes darting from her to Negan.

"You heard her", Negan reinforced, pointing towards the door with the rifle, "Unless you want to end up under my boot again?"

Tyreese glared at him, backing up towards the door. Michonne waited until both feet where over the threshold, before slamming the door closed and facing Negan, causing her friend of frown.

"I didn't want anyone else to get hurt", She sighed, resting the bat against the wall, "I can't let you leave"

He eyed her suspiciously, "I hope you're not trying to do what I think? Because that would be a very shitty thing to do-"

"I can't let you leave", She repeated, placing her sword beside the bat, "So put the gun down. Now."

He chuckled at her, "Do you seriously think I'm going to let you-"

She cut his sentence short with her fist, punching him square in the jaw. His head whipped to the side, causing him to almost lose his balance.

"I won't let you leave", She shifted her stance, bringing her balled fists up in front of her.

He spat blood to the hardwood floor as he chuckled a second time, "I'll let that one slide-"

"No, you won't-"

"Yes it fucking will!", He barked, looking at her with angry eyes, "You cross this line with me Michonne, and there's no going back"

"I crossed the line when I took your hand", She challenged with a taunting tone.

He stared at her for a moment, before throwing the rifle down to the floor, then flicking his shoulders back so his jacket rolled down his arms, "If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you get"

In all honesty, she didn't want to fight him, and she knew he didn't want to fight her either, but it was the only way she could stop him without harming anyone, besides him.

"Your move", He smirked, with a clenched fist.

She had seen Negan fight numerous times, she knew his strengths and his weaknesses, but sadly, he could say the same for her. The only disadvantage that he has was his form, but the fact that he had managed to take down Tyrese with one hand proved that it wasn't that much of a disadvantage at all.

She pretended as if she was going to punch him, knowing he'd grab her arm to stop her, and as soon as he had a good grip on her, she brought her leg up, delivering a roundhouse kick to his ribs. His breath hitched, but he still swung her around, slamming her against the wall. Pain shot through her head, though it wasn't enough for her to lose focus, and she used a small window of opportunity to jump on his back, getting her arm around his neck.

He grabbed her forearm with his hand, leaning forward as he tried to pry her off him. She held onto him for dear life, wrapping her legs around his waist, but he threw himself against the wall, crushing her against the picture frames. She felt a sharp pain tear through her shoulder, causing her cry out as she let go of him. She figured she had popped her arm out of the socket again, and she could have groaned at the fact, but she had no time to worry, as Negan picked her up by her waist and threw her back into the living area, sending her crashing into a small bookshelf.

"I'm trying my very best, not to hit you", He was barely out of breath as he strolled over to her, "I hope you appreciate that"

She soon found her footing and charged, throwing all her weight at him. It was only enough to cause him to stumble back, so she punched him again, finally getting him to the floor with her on top of him. The rifle was only a foot away from her, and she lunged for it, but Negan rolled over, pulling her away as he did. He pinned her down, finally beginning to show some exertion as his breaths quickened. He grabbed her by her neck with his good hand, slowly pushing all his weight on her throat as he leaned over her.

"Just say the word", He breathed, "And I'll let go"

She fought to get his hand off her throat, finding it difficult to breath, her legs flailing beneath him. The only way she could see herself out of hold, was to fight dirty, so she hit him in the throat when he was close enough, leading him to crumble on top of her. She shoved him off with all her might and scurried for the rifle. As soon as she had it in her hold, she scrambled to her feet, while he rested on one knee, coughing vigorously.

One blow to the back of his head was all it took, and he dropped to the ground with a thud.

She sat down beside him, trying to regulate her breathing, finally feeling a soreness in her head, shoulder and hip, muttering to herself, "Guess he should have hit me after all"

The front door burst open, and Rick was the first one in view, looking at her from behind the barrel of his gun. He stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes dropping to Negan on the ground.

"Took you long enough", She sighed.

Nothing but confusion registered on his face, but he still had his gun pointed at the man, "Glenn-"

"Yeah, let's get him", Glenn appeared from behind him, along with Abraham.

The red haired man snickered, "And she got Tyreese down with no problem, huh?"

"Come on", Glenn began to flip Negan over.

"It's just funny to me", Abraham grabbed the man by his shoulders, "We were running around like headless chickens while she was over her kicking ass and taking names-"

"Let's go".

Rick eyes bounced all around the living room and hallway, before landing back on Michonne, "You alright?"

She huffed, "I think I should just keep that key to myself from now on"

"Yeah…", He held out his hand to her.

She began to reach out with her dislocated shoulder, but pain radiated from it, so she switched arms, "I busted it. Again"

He pulled her up, "What happened?"

"He wanted us to go. I sent Tyreese on his way and then the two of us got into it", She summarised, resting her hand on her sore hip.

Rick bit his lip as his gaze dropped, "I knew he'd be a problem"

"Not anymore he won't. I won't let that key out of my sight and I don't want anyone else down there but me-"

"Your gonna stand watch twenty four hours a day?", He cocked his head at her.

"If I have to, then yes", She shrugged, only wincing a little from the move.

"That's not happening. We'll have two people on him and that's it-"

"I don't want anyone else in danger again. He needs to have someone there that can-"

"He's lucky I haven't put a bullet between his eyes for what he's done to you", His hand motioned over her, "And Tyreese for that matter. He'll learn not to make a move like this again"

She stared blankly over his shoulder, hardly in the mood to argue with him.

"I'll be back to help with your shoulder, and I'll send someone over to help clean this place up", He instructed, before stalking out of her home.

She watched him leave before finally grimacing, rubbing her hip in a soothing motion. After everything that had happened, she was left questioning where her friendship with Negan stood. They had never fought before, and cutting off his hand had been the only kind of physical pain inflicted between the two of them. The fact they had now raised their hands to each other could change everything. She wished she wouldn't have to go to such lengths with him, but he rarely ever gave her a choice.

Sasha came over to help clear her home, sweeping up the glass and throwing out the broken picture frames. It was unnecessary as she could do it all herself, though she was in no rush to, as she was sure she was beginning to bruise, so the extra pair of hands were welcome.

She was about to make her way upstairs once they had finished and Sasha had left, when another knock came from her front door. She groaned as she turned around and stepped gingerly to see who it was.

"You can wait until morning to do this", She suggested as she moved aside to let Rick in.

"I think it's better to fix it sooner rather than later", He stomped past her, looking around her home, "Sasha came over then?"

"Yeah. She left a few minutes ago", Michonne closed the door behind him.

"Alright", He sniffed, turning back to face her.

She walked to the living room, "Is he back in his cell?"

"Yeah. I'm waiting for him to come around… I think I need to talk to him"

She sat on her couch, "Is that necessary?"

"Very", He responded firmly, "Lay down"

She did as she was told, while he kneeled beside her again. She still wore her halter top, which made it easier for him to begin, as he took her arm in his hands. The pain was near enough unbearable, and she covered her mouth with her hand as soon as she felt the urge to cry out.

"Hold on…", He whispered, concentrating hard on the task, "There it is"

He shoved her arm back in her socket and a muffled howl rang out behind her hand.

"You should probably try not to do anythan' with this arm for a while", He sighed, his fingers slowly massaging her shoulder, "This is the second time… I don't even think it's healed from the first yet"

Her eyes rolled open, her hand moving from her mouth, "That's not an option now"

"It is. Just rest it. No good of you having that sword if you can't even use it"

She was going to say something, when it dawned on her that he was still touching her. While her arm still hurt, his touch was a pleasant one, distracting her from the discomfort she felt.

"You can put somethan' cold on it now… help keep the swelling down…"

She could hear his words loud and clear but she found herself focusing on his touch more. His other hand held her wrist, and she hoped he couldn't feel the change in her pulse through his thumb.

"Better?"

It was as if her mouth was filled with cotton, and all she could do was nod.

His hand slipped from her arm, and she could breathe again. She sat up and threw her feet back down to the ground, "Thank you"

"No problem", He grunted as he rose from his knees and sat beside her, "Listen, I think we need to work some kind of punishment out for him. He can't get away with this"

The topic want one that she wasn't ready for, as her skin was still warm from his touch, "Can we go over this tomorrow? I took a hit to the head so… I'm starting to feel it"

His gaze sailed up to her hair, then back down to her eyes, "Alright"

"Thanks"

Rick Grimes was proving to be terrible at recognising his cues to leave, as he didn't move, but neither did she. Something about being under his watch made her feel powerless, and she had to summon great will power to look away, but for whatever reason, it was impossible in that moment. The longer his eyes burned into hers, the harder it became for her catch her breath. His gaze dropped to her chest when his tongue ran along his teeth, and the way his eyes crawled back up to her face made her stomach flutter.

"I know I should probably go but, I'm having a hard time with that", He almost whispered, his southern twang dripping from each word as they left his mouth.

"Yeah…", was all she could breathe weekly.

He closed the small distance between them with ease, his fingers resting on her neck, his lips hovering in front of hers, "Do you want me your stop?"

"You wouldn't have got this far If I did…"

A smiled tugged on his lips as he pressed them against hers. Michonne wanted to kick herself for moaning into the kiss so quickly but she could hardly help it. The cologne she could smell off him earlier still lingered faintly on him, his beard brushed over her chin as he parted her lips with his, and his tongue greeted hers with a stroke.

Both of his hands slipped to her waist as she laced her arms around his shoulders, immersing herself in the contact. The only thing on her mind was how her tasted, how his lips moved, and how his fingers gripped her.

She couldn't pinpoint the moment when the kiss became more feverish, but she felt a fire beginning to burn between her legs when his hands ran up her bare back.

"Bedroom?", She hissed against his lips.

"Anywhere you want", He mumbled, pulling her onto his lap to straddle him, then standing up and marching to the stairs.

She sucked and bit on his neck as he carried her, while he held her close to him, his hold on her tightening whenever her teeth grazed his skin. Her initial plan to stay away from him had failed quite miserably, and she accepted the fact while she was in his strong arms, ready to ride him into the night.