I don't own TWD series/ comic. Any recognizable scenes are from TWD comics, volume 21, All out war part 2. this chapter also becomes AU. Enjoy, sorry for grammar mistakes.
*6th of December, 2015*
''Eat.'' Negan ordered.
Amelie looked up at the Saviors' leader from where she sat on a fallen log.
'' I don't understand how I could possibly eat right now…People are about to die. You're about to kill people, your men are about to kill people and be killed too.'' She growled on a hard tone.
He ignored her words and bit into a chunk of dried meat: '' You will need your strength. Eat.''
The girl averted her eyes and glanced back at him; the tall man sighed: ''Not these eyes…no…not the goddamn, beaten dog's eyes. You know how it fucking affects me.''
'' Please…don't do this… try to speak with Rick…there are innocents there…women and children…'' She pleaded.
Negan bent his head backward and moaned: ''…fucking stop. I will offer them to surrender, alright? ''
No, not alright! She wanted this stupid war done. The young woman raised her head; the sun was getting down…And Negan noticed too.
The man rose, looked around and shouted: ''Get ready, we're going to Hilltop!''
The Saviors roared and everyone grabbed their weapons before going into the trucks. Amelie watched and remained unmoving; her eyes open but blind to their surroundings. It was the Leader who pulled her out of her reverie by shoving her carbine into her arms:
'' You will go on a roof and shoot anyone that comes near us.'' He ordered.
She slowly nodded and got up to her feet, unenthusiastic. The woman followed him into his truck and they headed to Hilltop. It was a short ride there since they were near; the Saviors stopped the cars at the gates before getting the chained Walkers out of one of the trucks. Negan was already out of his car and walking toward the doors Amelie on his heels.
One man was on the walls, a spear in hand: '' Stop right there! This doesn't have to escalate. You have no idea what's on the other side of these walls. Believe me when I say you will not survive this! '' The stranger warned.
The girl knew it was bluff; she glanced at their Leader: he knew it too. '' Shut the fuck up! Put the spear down and go get Rick; I know he's in there! The adults need to talk.'' He demanded.
The man didn't obey: '' Right now you're talking to me!'' He said, pointing at himself.
The tall, black haired man scoffed: ''I don't even know who the fuck you are! '' He sighed: ''Someone, shoot this motherfucker.''
The order was quickly executed and the man was shot in the head; he fell forward in front of them.
''Rick! I need to hear from you! I will kill every sorry fuck on that wall…and thins will get ugly really fucking quick! SHOW YOURSELF!'' Negan warned in a loud booming voice; Amelie was certain all Hilltop heard him.
At his threats, she gave him a reproachful stare; he shot her the same look… which meant: Not now and fucking listen.
''Rick? I don't know who you're talking about!'' Someone shouted from the other side of the walls.
The Savior's leader pinched his nose, mumbling and ordered his men to muck their weapons on the undead.
Negan spread his arms: ''We're coming in Rick! This is your last chance to hang your bare ass over the side of that wall and let me climb up and slap it red for you getting your man killed just now! It's the right thing to do!''
The Canadian stepped closer to the man and glared at him: You know what you promised me, stay true to your words.
He rolled his eyes and shouted: '' Okay! Anyone in earshot listen the fuck up! Lay down and bury your fucking face in the fucking dirt! Got it? Put your fucking hands behind your back and don't fucking move! You surrender, you live. Otherwise, we mower all you fuckers down! You have been warned!''
Turning to her, he asked: ''Satisfied?''
She nodded and the man turned toward the cars, raising a fist: ''Take it down!''
Their biggest truck charged the gates and brought it down, however, the other group was ready on the other side. There were gun shots all around as the Saviors entered the town.
Then, the war began.
Amelie hurried inside, avoiding to been seen by moving rapidly and subtly. Her carbine swung over her back, she jogged from hiding place to hiding place. The girl moved deeper into the village and climbed onto a roof. She laid on her stomach, leaning her gun on the roof's edge. From her vantage point, she surveyed the battle with a sad sigh: what a mess. The woman had no intention to shoot on anyone, she contented herself to fire at their feet, driving people away from the hiding Saviors.
The night had fallen and it was dark and the fight was still going on. Suddenly, she heard a wave of gunshots and the screams of many men. From her spot, she couldn't see what was happening, but a minute later, she heard Negan cursing loudly and then shouting the retreat. Apparently, Rick had been planning an efficient strategy.
There were still shots here and there when a faint 'click' reached her ears; Amelie didn't have the time to register anything else that her breath was taken away. She tried to breath, but she only felt pain. Liquid gurgled up in her throat and she spat blood; that's when she understood that she had been shot.
Someone must have been sniping at a higher place than hers and had spotted her. The girl moaned; she was suffering badly; she reached behind her to felt where she had been touched in her back. The bullet must have entered on the right side of her upper back and was most likely lodged in her lung right now. Her chest felt painful as she slowly rose on her hands and knees; she couldn't stay here.
The sniper who had shot her must had thought she had been dead because when she crawled down the roof, nothing happened to her. Hidden by the dark of the night, Amelie retreated to the Saviors' camp.
Xxxxxx
Negan had been discussing their imminent victory with Dwight over a campfire, when he noticed a form dragging itself toward the back of the camp. He immediately recognized the Canadian. The man frowned: she wasn't moving in that predatory way of hers. Her steps were sluggish and staggering.
He shouted: ''Canadian! Amelie! I've been looking for you! Where the fuck were you?!''
Dwight scowled: ''Sir… I don't think sh-''
Both men watched her slump to the ground and he rushed to her; blood covered her chin and throat…he didn't see any injury on her front. Kneeling, he passed an arm under her shoulders and sat her up; her back was drenched in blood.
He gathered her against him and tapped her cheek a few times: ''Amelie!''
He glanced around: ''Help! Where is that fucking Doc?! Someone get the doctor! ''
Dwight went running in search of the physician and he rose with the girl in his arms. He felt her blood on his arm as the warm liquid slid over his skin.
He shuddered and brought her to their makeshift infirmary and deposed her on a cot: '' Tell that Doctor to hurry the fuck up!'' He roared at his nearest man.
''Stop shouting…'' A weak voice mumbled.
The man bent over her body, even in the dim light of the place he could see how pale she was. He went to grab her face, but she feebly pushed his hands away.
'' What the fuck happened?'' he asked.
'' Can't you guess? I was shot.'' She said flatly as she took a shuddering breathe; she coughed and blood splattered her chin once more.
The man over her had a look of horror in his face and she chuckled: '' What? That is what war brings… I'm sure I'm not the only one who was shot like this… ''
The Doctor arrived and Negan shoved him away when he attempted to remove her clothing. She was then laid on her stomach; judging by the silent men bending over her, she presumed her time was coming soon.
That was the last thing she thought before losing consciousness.
Xxxxxx
He walked to Hilltop's gates shouting that he came to negotiate, to accept their peaceful surrender. He offered them their old truce and peace, shouting loudly that he knew Rick was dead. Negan had seen Dwight shot him with an infected arrow.
The Saviors' leader stopped talking when he saw Rick appeared: What!?
He turned to his second in command: ''Dwight!? This better be a fucking ghost!''
Rick stepped toward him: ''Don't look at him, look at me!'' He growled.
Both leaders began to speak; the smaller man told him he was the stupidest person alive. He told him they could work together if he'd stopped fucking everything up. That they were fighting for a world without him. Negan told him his version of the story; that he was giving a purpose to his men, he was establishing order.
But the more Rick spoke about helping each other, about being productive, about fighting their common enemy together, the more the black haired man saw he was right. Rick was proposing to establish a barter system that would benefit them both. He saw then, how Rick was intelligent and how his thinking was functioning on the long term plan.
His rival explained to him how together they could be stronger, everything they could build if their group was working as one. The Saviors, Hilltop and the Kingdom would be formidable if they'd work together. They could restore the civilization.
This fact hit him like a brick in the face and all of sudden, he could see in his mind all they could do. He saw what Rick was seeing and what Amelie had been telling him for a long time.
Make peace with Rick.
''Fuck.'' He muttered in realization. ''We could establish a safe zone between our communities for travel…if we work together it could be easily maintained. If we divide certain tasks among our communities there is very little be couldn't accomplish…food, supplies, construction, security…if we delegated and collaborated, it could change everything…''
He realized then he had been wrong all the way.
''Goddamn it, I think you're right.'' He told Rick.
The other leader came closer: ''We could do so much more together, united…so much that could be changed. You're seeing things my way?''
''Yes, yes I am.'' He confessed.
They exchanged a hard stare, one full of understanding and acceptance. Rick nodded to him: ''good.''
Rick extended his hand to him and he took it, shaking it firmly: ''As a first gesture of peace…my men will help you repair this place…but I will ask something in return for now… ''
His rival frowned: ''I'm listening.''
Xxxxxx
The Doctor had told her he couldn't remove the bullet: he didn't have the necessary equipment here. He could only bandaged her wound…He had told her everything would be fine, but she had seen him pulling Negan apart. She hadn't heard their whispers, but she could guess things were not going to be fine for her…And judging by the way she felt, it was true. She had been in and out, nothing was clear anymore…she felt pain, then she didn't feel anything…she heard sounds and then not. At some point, Amelie knew she was being moved and passed out again.
The next time, she opened her eyes she was in a room, in bed. Her torso was bandaged, there was something plugged in her arm and Theo was lying beside her, sleeping. She didn't feel better; all she felt was weakness, thirst and pain. Amelie couldn't gather her thought or focus on anything; her mind was fuzzy.
Everything became black again and she didn't fight it.
It was voices that woke her up next time:
''Do something!'' a voice growled.
''Negan…the doctor did what he could…he removed the bullet, cleaned the wound and bandaged it… No one knows her blood type so it's too risky to do a transfusion…''
Rick and Negan were arguing, how surprising. But they were both here…had they made peace?
''…She lost too much blood and Harlan said an infection had begun when he operated on her… the antibiotics probably helped, but it also make you weaker…''
Amelie opened her eyes and groaned as she tried to sit. Negan was immediately at her sides.
'' Where am I?'' she whispered weakly.
Un-Negan-like, he pressed his forehead to hers in a show of affection: '' You're at Hilltop… you've been taken care of… Everything will be fine.''
Rick gave him a flat look and looked at her: '' You've seen better days.''
She glanced at him and could see he had been wounded too: '' Same for you.'' She mumbled and closed her eyes again; everything even talking and breathing were hard. She felt dizzy and the world seemed to be turning and moving. For a reason or another, she also felt cold…
Theo appeared in the door frame, probably drawn by their voices: ''Amelie!''
He ran to her and went to jump on the bed, but Negan caught him before he lands: ''Careful, buddy; you can't jump on her right now…She's not well enough.''
He looked down: ''Oh…can I go in bed with her then? I'll be careful!''
Amelie nodded to Negan's inquisitive look and her kid huddled next to her. Another shiver shook her and she sensed she wouldn't be awake for much longer.
Something caught her eyes in the corner of the room and she stared. Both men frowned and glanced at where she was looking.
The Saviors' leader frowned and placed a hand over her arm: ''Amelie?''
Kelly, her little sister, was standing there, staring at her…Her father and mother were behind her; their arms circling each other. Her eyes widened as she watched them.
''Vous êtes partis…vous n'êtes plus là.'' She mumbled.
Both men looked at Theo: ''What is she saying?''
''I don't know…she said they were gone…that they weren't here anymore. I don't know who she's talking about.'' The kid explained.
Rick and Negan looked again at the corner and back to her.
'' Kelly…'' She muttered.
The Savior's face blanched and he shook her lightly: ''no, no, no! Fuck no! Kelly's not there! ''
Scowling, Rick asked: ''Who's Kelly?''
'' Kelly is her sister's name…She's dead.'' He informed him.
Everyone glanced to where she was looking with empty, drowsy eyes.
'' That shit is fucked up…Call Harlan.'' Negan demanded.
Rick sighed and slid a tired hand over his face; it wasn't hard to understand…this girl was dying. Plain as that.