She hadn't realized he showed up next to her. She breathed in the crisp air with her eyes closed and stretched her hands, like she was embracing the world.

He took her hand softly, and she opened her eyes with smile.

"You talk with Daryl?"

She was already inside his mind and it made him smile back. He looked well rested and the dark circles around his eyes weren't as noticeable.

"Yeah, about us staying here," Rick felt like it was an out of body experience, "You have to be here for Jessies case either way don't you?"

Michonne hesistated slightly, as much as the thought excited her, it also felt like a very irresponsible move on her part. Everything had happened so quickly that it was hard to comprehend what was going on.

"Sure," She swallowed nervously, looking into the distance, "But I'm not going to stay here before we handle Shane and Lori."

Ricks smile faded, he wasn't too happy about the answer, "How do you wanna do that?"

She turned to him, eyes determined, "Divide and conquer."

Michonne was maybe inside his mind, but he was also inside hers. He didn't like where this was going.

"Nah," He frowned, "You ain't going near Shane. I don't like that."

"Well this is not going to solve itself Rick," She had bad habit of bulldozing people and things, the controlling side in her wasn't letting go," Shane thinks he has the upper hand. Let me talk to him."

He wasn't having it, "It's only going to provoke him."

"So what?" She sighed, pushing her braids on the other side of her neck as she streched her other arm, "I'm not going to bring Andre here if this town is a battlefield for all of us. I don't think Shane is a malicious person. I can get him to listen."

Rick shook his head, they were equally headstrong, "You don't know him Michonne. You've seen him for like two seconds. He is insane. I'm telling you, we need to ignore him and Lori and it'll be fine."

"No." Michonne argued back, not giving in.

"No?" He challenged her, not afraid of confrontation with her at all. They had the ability to go from zero to a hundred without losing the main focus which was having each others backs at all times.

"I'm done with this back and forth drama with your wife and her lover." She snapped, unintentionally making this argument into a bigger deal.

"My wife? Are you kidding me right now?" Rick was a little more heated, his blue eyes searching her brown ones for answers, "What the fuck is going on with you?"

"What the hell is going on with you?" She accused back, "Rick, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to just live here on a farm with you and play house while your past literally has you on a chokehold. That's not what I agreed on when we started this."

He took a step closer, yearning her presence somehow more when they were on a different page," I'm not saying we live here ignoring the world around us, but I don't see the point in trying with them. They've decided to hate this, us, and everything that we have."

"No," She crossed her arms, "Lori is the one who has the problem. Shane is easy to maneuver if you just let me do that."

"Michonne," Rick grabbed onto her shoulders, "I don't want you mixed up in it okay? Let me handle them."

"Your way of handling it means turning a blindeye," She was irritated and her skin felt clammy again, "We get on top of it. We deal with it and we move on."

He dramatically dropped his arms from her shoulders, "I'm not going to argue about this."

"So you have the final say?" her expression of irritation turned into disbelief as she stared back.

"You're twisting my words," He grunted lowly, clearly frustrated, "I'm saying, we find a solution that works for both of us. We think about this and we don't go around looking for trouble."

She walked past him towards the door, "You do that."

"Michonne." He pleaded. She was for sure more intense this morning, deep down there was something bothering her and he didn't know if it even had anything to do with him.

She walked inside, slamming the door behind her like a disgruntled teenager. She could certainly be a handful if she wanted to.

Rick stared at the door in disbelief. What the hell just happened?

"Jeez," Daryl pushed his bangs from his sweaty face as he approached Rick, "What the hell did you do now?"

"I don't know." He shrugged.

Michonne was aggravated.

Her mood had completely switched. Rick was annoying the crap out of her and it didn't really make sense. Everything was overwhelming. She decided to change into her athletic gear and run it out.

Thankfully he knew her well enough. He gave her the space she needed and only glanced at her quickly before she was out of the door.

She was content with this relationship.

But she wasn't content with the idea that someone could rip it away in a heartbeat. It wasn't Ricks fault. She just had a bad habit of burdening the ones closest when things were bad. Shane held a huge thing over him. Since yesterday her whole body was reacting in an unusual way. Her pulse was all over the place, her whole body was flushed and she felt like something was wrong. The stress of Jessies case and Ricks confession on top of it all was draining her quickly.

She picked up her pace and ran opposite direction from the dirt road that led towards Daryls house.

Michonne gnawed on her bottom lip as she did her best to breathe steadily out of her nose. She thought back to Vegas and how far they had come.

Rick brought fulfillment. A cool breeze passed her and she could feel the sweat dropping on her back as she ran.

And now she felt bad. Rick didn't deserve the attitude she gave him.

She stopped and waited for her breathing to even out. When it did she turned around and jogged back towards Daryls. Something inside her told her to turn around. Each step felt like it took forever.

She didn't even notice it at first, but all of a sudden a blue pickup truck came out of nowhere and drove behind her slowly. From the corner of her eye she could tell it wasn't a truck she had seen before. Her gut told her it wasn't just a neighbor passing by. She picked up her pace. There wasn't anything she could use to protect herself. This was an open road. Just her and the road. Michonne kept her gaze forward, trying to remain calm. She would be fine. This was an odd coincidence. She swallowed and took off. With everything she had in her. She felt like throwing up. She could hear the car engine literally growl as it took off with more speed. She closed her eyes and ran for her life. Michonne finally reached the end of the road where Daryl lived and the car bumped her, making her lose her stepping. The csr backed away screeching as it accelerated off the scene.

She fell, but caught herself quickly and avoided any damage. She watched in shock as the car disappiered from the view.

"Michonne!"

Ricks voice brought her back as she tried to process what had happened. She was still sitting on the ground when he got to her.

He couldn't get another word out when she jumped into his arms. Clinging to him like little child who had been scared to death.

"It's okay," He soothed her and ran a comforting hand over her back, "You're fine. I'm here."

Rick had seen the whole thing from the porch and could feel his own heart beating out of his chest.

"What the hell?" Daryl ran to them, "Who the fuck was that?"

"Get the car." Rick said back to him. His eyes steely blue as his thirst for justice clouded his judgement.

"No," Michonne pulled away from his embrace and said shakily, "No, no, nobody is going nowhere. Please, Rick."

She couldn't hold it back anymore and turned around to puke her guts out. Rick quickly helped her by taking a hold of her long braids and rubbing her back.

Daryl grimaced at the sight, "It sure ain't boring with y'all around."

Carl chuckled as he listened to Negans cursing. A cigarette hang from his mouth and with his hands he was shoving the carbage into the trashcan. Trying to at least.

"Motherfucking dirty ass motherfucker."

Carl cleared his throat, interrupting his desperate attempt at getting this done.

"Never marry a woman who buys so much shit that your carbage is over flowing twenty fucking seven," he tossed the cigarette into the street and looked at the teenager suspiciously, "Aren't you supposed to be at school?"

He shrugged, "They let us go early."

"That's stupidest shit I've ever heard, no they didn't." Negan chuckled.

"Well aren't you supposed to be at work? Like at the school, you know where you have classes to teach?" Carl raised his brow, knowing he got him.

He rubbed his bearded face and winked, "That's a checkmate I guess."

Carl smiled, "I didn't see you if you didn't see me."

"Deal," Negan could tell he wasn't there for a random visit, "What's up kid?"

"Things are kind of shitty," He looked over at his own house, "Anyway, could I stay with you guys?"

"I don't think your mom and dad will like that." Negan walked towards the garage, Carl following closely.

"They won't even notice, mom didn't notice last night, " He chuckled back, "I swear they won't give a shit if I stay with you two."

He turned around, his jaw tense, "Look kid, I know your mom and dad are going through some serious... changes, but eventually it will work out and if you distance yourself now it's gonna be hard for all of you."

"I don't care," he said bluntly, "they are too occupied to even remember they got kids. I'm not sleeping under the same roof as Shane."

"I don't blame you, he is a fucking asswipe." Negan grumbled as they stepped inside the garage and he retrieved two beers.

"Cool." Carl held out his hand.

Negan pushed it away and kept the beers close to his chest, "Hell no. These are for me. I ain't doing this therapy session with a dry mouth."

He rolled his eyes and jumped on to the very old and used up beanbag chair in the corner of the room. This place was his safe space.

"Go on, tell me," Negan opened up his first beer and plopped down on the black leather couch, "let it out."

Carl looked at the ceiling, paint was cracking all over the place. He focused on the cracks and allowed himself to be vulnerable, "I always knew mom and dad wouldn't last. It's not that... I don't think they are even good together, but I'm just tired of being the bigger person."

"I get it kid," Negan took a swing from his beer and scoffed, "Did I ever tell you about my folks?"

"Yeah, how they just argue whenever they see each other and that's why you don't see them."

"Exactly," He laughed, "That ain't going to be your situation. I promise."

"Well it feels like we are headed towards that direction," Carl was beyond frustrated, he wanted to scream and fill the world with his anger, but he couldn't, "I can't be around them. Please just let me crash here. I know Lucille won't mind, she is still trying to make up for what she did."

Negan could sense the desperation in his voice, "I would never turn my back on you or your monster of a sister. You know that."

Carl chuckled, "So I can stay?"

"Sure. Just talk to your mom and dad first."

"Ugh." He grunted like his dad, "I don't want to."

Negan drank his beer and wiped his mouth, "You deal with your parents and I'll deal with that one asshole for you."

"Shane?"

"I'll make sure he is out of here." Negans voice got lower as he thought about something.

Carl didn't know if he was joking or not, but agreed on it. If anybody could make Shane Walsh question his decisions, it was Negan.

"Negan?" Carl looked at him.

"What kiddo?" He looked back at him.

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

Michonne laid under the covers comfortably. He didn't really give her a choice.

"You know I'm fine."

"No, you aren't," Rick sat on the edge of the bed, "You need a break. Just today, you stay in bed and rest."

She didn't like how helpless she felt, "I have to-"

"You don't have to do anything," He insisted, eyes bright, "I'll figure out how to get Andre here if that's what you want. I already talked with Sasha and she is handling everything with Jessie. You need to rest and stay here, safe, until I figure out what was that."

This all felt like a nightmare, "Maybe it was just an odd freak accident and who ever it was didn't mean to run over me."

"Michonne," Rick argued with a valid point, "It's an open road. There is no way that was a silly accident."

Michonnes thoughts were a jumbled mess, "You think it was a warning?"

He caressed her leg from over the blankets and nodded, "I do."

"Pete?" Her brow arched.

"Nah," He said quietly, "He was still in holding. I talked with Aaron and he was just released. Couldn't have been him."

Her heart sped up again and cold sweat formed on her skin. She grabbed his hand for support and squeezed it, "Shane?"

Ricks face twisted in anger, he tried to hide it from her, but failed miserably, "He is capable of anything."

"I don't see how it makes sense. Threatening me when he has this thing on you, why would he do that?" She wanted to piece this puzzle together, "I don't see it being him."

"But there is a chance," He scooted closer to her, "That's why I don't want you to talk to him. Not until we figure what's going on. Aaron is trying to piece together clues from the cameras, maybe a plate, but it's going to take some time."

"Rick," She leaned into him, dropping her head against his shoulder, "I'm sorry for earlier. I don't know... These past few days have been stressful. I just don't feel like myself."

Rick kissed the side of her face and sighed, "You don't need to apologize. You were right about somethings. I don't want you to break because of me. That's why you need to rest today, okay?"

She wrapped her arms around him and nodded, "And sorry for puking on your shoes."

He chuckled, "They were Daryls, so I don't mind."

She raised her head to look at him and they exchanged smiles.

"I have to go soon and find Carl," He changed the subject, "He tried calling me earlier and I missed it. Judith is also coming home soon from my ma's. I need to make sure she is okay about having Shane around."

Michonne nodded again, "Yeah, we need to focus on the kids more. I feel like shit about it."

He agreed, "Yeah, it's been hard on them, I know it and I feel bad about it too."

Silence took over as he studied her. She didn't look like her radiant self. He caressed her back slowly and asked cautiously, "You sure you're alright?"

Michonne looked away for second, her thoughts clearly taking her somewhere before looking back at him, "Considering someone tried to run me over, I'm fine. I'm just probably dehydrated."

Rick kissed the side of her neck and she leaned into his touch, "Daryl and Connie left to check out the RV. Call me if there is anything and please stay in bed."

"I will. And you keep me updated."

"I promise."

She kissed him as a goodbye and watched him leave.

There was still something she had to do.

Negan wasn't having a fantastic day. When he realized Shane was back, it rattled him. He did not like to be rattled. As confident as he was and portrayed himself to be, one guy could only take so much.

After Carl left and a few beers more he picked up his trusted friend. His bat.

He walked across his yard quickly, not really stopping and thinking about the possibilities. Or what could go wrong. Lucille would hate the phonecall she got into work after this.

He swinged the old baseball bat back and forth in his hands as he approached the Grimes household.

Negan laughed almost manically as he tapped the door with the handle of his bat.

"Little pig, little pig, let me in." He chanted playfully, not giving a shit what were the consequences. .

Shane opened the door with annoyance, though he didn't have a chance to properly react when Negan pulled him out with one hand and pushed him off the porch.

The former friends looked at each other, Negans eyes were dark. He enjoyed watching Shane crawling on the ground as he stepped closer.

"What the fuck man?" Shane questioned as he looked at the bat hanging from his other hand.

Lori had already stormed out, screaming, "Negan! Stop it!"

Negan smiled back lazily, "You really think I was gonna just sit back and let you come up here like it's all good."

Shane acted quickly and got up on his feet, he snapped back, "Swinging a bat at me is the last thing you should be doing."

"Really?" He chuckled in his usual manner, and then turned serious, "You, you fucking rat."

The other man was searching his eyes for mercy. But Negan was not about to give it to him.

He swinged the bat, missing Shane by an inch. He laughed menacingly at his terried face and continued, "Rick ain't doing shit about you because he knows you ain't worth shit. But, my problem here is," He turned to look at shocked Lori and then back at him, "Y'all think you can take Carls home. Judiths home. Think again."

Lori barged down the stairs, eyes darting at him, "I'm done with you ordering me around over my children. You aren't their parent so you have zero say in how I raise them or who stays in our home!"

Negan was tired of Lori, really fucking tired, "Maybe, if you were a better mother I wouldn't have to be here in the first place!"

Her eyes widened in shock, "Excuse me!"

"Do you even know where your kid was last night? Or how he skipped school, again," He laughed, "I mean jesus christ, Rick is just as much to blame, but you think you can take those kids from him when you don't even parent them?"

Shane placed himself between the two of them as he noticed Loris lip quiver in anger, "Let's not bring the kids into this."

"No," Negan pushed up against him, "Lori wants custody of the kids right? Why the fuck is her son sleeping inside my home if that is her number one priority? Huh?"

"You piece of shit!" She shouted at him as Shane blocked her, "You give Rick this same talk or does he get a free pass like always? You don't come at me preaching about my children when you don't even care about them! this is about your sick obsession with Rick! You want this stupid brotherhood and you will never have it because he thinks you're a total loser!"

Shane cringed at the harsh things that were being exchanged and breathed out in relief when he noticed a familiar car closing in.

"Oh fuck you Lori and your fucking stupid flat ass!" Negan waved his middle finger at her.

Rick jumped out of his car when he noticed the three of them on his front yard, "Negan!"

He pulled his friend away and looked at the baseball bat in horror, "What the fuck are you doing? I told you to let it go."

Negan smiled wide, his perfect white teeth shining as the sun hit them, "Just looking out for a neighbor."

Rick shook his head at him, he didn't know what else could go wrong during this day.

Shane was comforting Lori who was whispering something under her breath.

"Where is Carl? He is not answering his phone." He didn't bother to even ask what the hell was going with the two of them. Frankly he didn't care. There were more important things on his mind.

Loris gaze snapped up and met his, "He was supposed to be at school..."

"Well he ain't Lori!" Negan roared and then looked at his friend, "He came by, but left when that little emo called him up."

"Who?" Rick had a bad feeling about it.

"Petes kid, Ryan, Ron, Ross, I don't fucking know," Negan explained, "He wanted trouble earlier with Carl. He told me he was mouthing you off and... Peaches," He looked knowingly at Rick as he referred to Michonne with a clever nickname, "Anyway now he wanted to apologize or some shit. I wanted to go with him, but he told me no. I went to take a piss and he was gone."

"Wait, what the hell is going on? Ron is supposed to be with Jessie." Lori held hear forehead in worry.

Suddenly his hands felt numb as he pieced it together in his mind and he knew the worst was yet to come. His phone rang and he answered it with urgency.

"Yeah?"

"We got clear surveillance footage," Aaron announced with matched urgency, "The pickup. It was-"

"Ron." Rick finished for him. He pinched the bridge of his nose as the worries turned real, he gathered himself quickly, "Find him. Find Pete. I think Pete orchestrated it and is going after my son next. I want everyone on this, send someone to Daryls to check on Michonne, she might be in danger."

"Copy that."

Adrenaline pumped as he ended the phonecall. He didn't have time to explain it again as he headed towards his car.

Lori hugged herself as her eyes turned teary, "Please find him Rick."

As Rick opened his car door, both Shane and Negan jumped into action. They ran to the car. Shane jumping on the back and Negan taking the passenger side.

Doors closed simultaneously. They looked at each other with only one thing in mind.

"We do what we gotta do." Negans voice was raspy as he rubbed the handle of his bat.

She knew she would get a lecture for this. Rick specifically told her to rest and stay inside, but it was impossible when the thought came into her head.

Michonne was bad with time. In general, it was hard to separate days, hours and even minutes from each other. She was so used to just going and not stopping.

She really didn't want to give it a thought, but as absurd as it was, it was possible. Anything seemed to be possible these days.

And in all honesty she hoped she was wrong.

Thankfully Daryl wasn't the type of person who kept car doors locked and keys hidden. She took one of the old spare cars he was working on hoped it would get her to town without breaking on the road.

As she drove, she didn't think about the incident from earlier. She didn't want to give fear power over her. It didn't feel as important right now.

She pulled on her sunglasses when she parked and hoped the rumors had died down. Maybe people wouldn't recognize her as the Sheriffs mistress who broke his marriage. Michonne chuckled at the thought. She tried to keep her spirits up. She was not ready to face this thing and the heavy aftermath of it. As she was heading towards the pharmacy, she noticed the same blue pickup truck. She could vividly remember the rusty bumper.

Michonne swallowed the lump in her throat and looked around. It was a regular day and it seemed wild that the car that tried to run her down was just sitting there at a red light. She wished her thoughts hadn't been a mess and she remembered her phone that was left behind at Daryls. She never forgot her phone. What were the odds.

She watched the truck drive into the nearby parking lot that was empty. She didn't hesitate to follow, but kept her distance. The car stopped and she almost gasped as she noticed Carl hopping off from the passenger side. The driver, wasn't a familiar face. It was just a teenager.

She was angry. Her emotions got the best of her and she stormed on the otherwise empty parking lot.

"You know it's illegal to try to run people over!" She shouted as she confronted the teenagers.

Carls eyes widened in shock, "Huh?"

"Carl I know it's bad right now with your parents, but that's dangerous and crazy what you're doing!" She pointed her finger accusingly at him, "Was this some kind of sick prank? Well I'm not laughing! Neither is your dad!"

The other boy stayed quiet and seemed timid to Michonne.

Carl was quiet, and visibly confused as he looked at Michonne and then at Ron.

"I don't...I have no idea what you're talking about."

She could tell from his body language he was being genuine. Michonne looked at the other boy again and turned her attention on him, "Who are you?"

"That's Ron..." Carl answered quietly for him, "Anderson."

Michonne stared straight into Rons eyes and could see him shake a little, he was terrified and couldn't get a word out.

Then it clicked inside her head. She just wished that it happened sooner. Car tires screeched and all of a sudden they were blocked with another car.

"Carl," She moved in front the boy who was having a hard time understanding what was going on, "Run."

The door flew open and Pete hopped out with a shotgun, "You shouldn't do that."

His plan had worked out better than he suspected. He only wanted Ricks son, but he really struck gold this time.

He raised the weapon at Carl and Michonne, and opened the door to his backseat, "let's take a little ride."

Dun dun dun...

Until next week lovely people!