Chapter 33-Explaining

Dwight's P.O.V

Dwight walks the walls of the campgrounds trying to clear his head. "You look like you've seen a ghost," Amanda says as she walks up to him. Dwight looks at her.

"Have you ever felt so much rage towards someone that you didn't care what happened as long as they died?" Dwight questions Amanda, who looks at her. Her smile drops, and she frowns.

"Yes," Amanda says sharply. "Dawn, the woman that ran Grady, who shot Beth. I wanted to kill her so badly, but I held myself back because if I did, I didn't know what would happen to the patients if someone worse stepped up," She explains to Dwight, who nods. "Is Negan that person for you?"

"Yeah," Dwight answers. "I caused what happened to Sherry, to me," He took a shuddering breath and explained. "We ran with another woman who died in the woods. I wanted us to leave, and Daryl...Daryl helped us. Sherry and I may have died without him. He offered us a chance to come back, and we didn't take it. We took his things, his crossbow, bike, and we left and went back and Sherry became Negan's wife, and he burnt my face. I told him about Alexandria. It was all because of me," Dwight says.

"We've both made mistakes, Dwight. You should have never gone back, and I should have killed Dawn long before Beth showed up. But we are here to make up for those mistakes," Amanda says to Dwight, who slowly nods, the frown still on his face.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane looks at Daryl, Michonne, and Rick, who is still just staring at him. "Have you finally lost it?" Daryl asks him.

"Hear me out. I know why this sounds crazy. Negan is being let out this early, but he is better out there than he is in here. Negan is a strong fighter, and he can keep people..."

"Have you lost it?" Daryl asks again firmly, his fury just underneath the surface

"Shut up!" Shane says to him sharply. "Let me finish. Negan can't prove himself here. It won't ever work. He may be able to prove it to us but everybody else. It will never happen," Shane says.

"Maggie will kill him on sight," Daryl argues.

"Maggie can't dictate every decision that involves Negan. She will never be happy with him. I don't blame her. He killed Glenn. Even on the farm, those two loved each other," Shane says, his voice steady.

"Why does this matter to you? Why do you want Negan out?" Michonne questions him.

"Negan and I are the same. We have both lost our ways. Sure he killed Glenn and Abraham. I killed Otis, Randall, tried to kill you. I found my way again because of Madison, Alicia, Nick. I would be lost without them. Hell, I would probably be dead. Negan deserves the chance to find his way again, and he isn't able to if we keep him prisoner. Because this is still a prison. The only difference is he has a little more freedom," Shane argues. "Please, let me give him the same chance my fiancee and kids gave me," Shane pleads.

He looks at all three of them in the eyes. Rick and Michonne look at Daryl, who is deep in thought. The room was silent for five minutes before Daryl spoke.

"Fine. You can take him on runs, but if anything happens, and I mean anything. I will beat the shit out of you and throw Negan back into a cell," Daryl says to Shane, who nods with a smile. Daryl stands up and leaves the cabin.

Damn it, he hoped he didn't regret this

Carl's P.O.V

Carl was with Enid. They were on the balcony of Barrington house with comic books. The door opens, and Al walks out. "Carl, Shane is on the radio," Al tells Carl, who nods. Carl stands up and walks inside. He walks over to the radio and sits down.

"Shane. What's up?" Carl asks.

"Can you come to the campgrounds tomorrow?" Shane asks Carl. "Alone, Carl," Shane firmly says.

"Shane, what's going on?" Carl asks.

"Are you alone?" Shane questions Carl, who nods.

"Yes," Carl answers.

"I'm taking Negan on a run tomorrow. Daryl, Rick, and Michonne know, but I would like you to join us, and I can't show up at Hilltop with Negan," Shane says.

"I'll be there," Carl says.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, kid," Shane says.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl walks up to Madison, who looks at him. "Hey," Madison says.

"Shane is taking Negan on a run tomorrow," Daryl informs Madison, who slowly nods.

"Okay, why are you telling me?" Madison asks.

"I want you to go with him. I trust Shane, I do, but I do not trust Negan, and if Negan tries something and Shane starts to fall for it, he'll listen to you," Daryl explains to Madison, who nods.

"Do you know anything about the run?" Madison asks.

"No," Daryl replies. "You'll have to talk to him," Daryl walks away from Madison as she leaves to go find Shane.

Tara's P.O.V

Tara and Beth go through the gates of Alexandria and go to the church. They climb out of the car and look at Gabriel as he walks up to them. Gabriel opens the back of the truck and looks at it. "Okay, we'll get this unloaded, and we'll get your fuel,"

Gabriel says to the two women who nod. Gabriel walks away as Tara and Beth start to walk down the street. They walk up to Aaron.

"Hey," Tara says. "Is Jesus here?"

"Inside," Aaron tells Tara, who nods as she goes inside. Beth sits down beside Aaron as Tara walks over to Jesus, who looks at her.

"Hey, Tara. What are you doing here?" Jesus asks.

"Delivering seeds with Beth. We're getting fuel," Tara answers. Jesus nods.

"She wants me back, doesn't she?" Jesus asks Tara, a bit worried cent events and how she was handling it, who nods.

"It looks like Alden will be staying at the campgrounds permanently. We could use you," Tara explains to Jesus, who nods.

"Does she want me back today?" Jesus asks Tara.

"She didn't give a time limit. I would say in the next week," Tara tells Jesus, who nods.

"Okay, give me a few days, and I'll be back," Jesus says. Tara nods as she walks outside.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane walks up to Negan's cabin and knocks on the door. Negan opens the door and looks at him. "What can I help you with?" Negan asks.

"Can I come in?" Shane asks Negan, who lets him in. "Get a bag ready for a run tomorrow,"

"So I don't know who hit you. Maybe you and Madison got a little too freaky, and you lost some memory, but I can't leave without getting my melon blown off or thrown in a cell," Negan says.

"Daryl, Rick, and Michonne gave me permission to take you on runs. We'll stay away from Hilltop," Shane says. "You'll use the crowbar,"

"Why?" Negan asks.

"You're a good fighter, and you are better out there than you are trapped in here," Shane explains. "It will be Carl, Strand, Cole, Madison, you, and me," Negan nods, giving a cheesy thumbs up, as Shane leaves the cabin.

Negan walked outside, sniffing the breeze and sat down…..

Morgan was walking back to his cabin when he saw Negan sitting on his porch. He walks over to Negan. "I lost my wife at the start," Morgan says, making Negan look at him. Admittedly curious where the damn Ninja was going with this

"It was just my son and me for a while, then we met Rick, and after he left, it was us for weeks until I lost him as well. It sent me down a dark path. I killed people if I came across them. I shot at Rick, Michonne, and Carl at one point. After I left King County. I met a man who turned me back on the right path. I know the pain of losing your family. I was so far gone, but Eastman brought me back, and you can come back to," Morgan says.

"You are living a dream," Negan says flatly. Morgan smiles at the man.

"Dreams are worth fighting for," Morgan says. Negan doesn't say anything as he stares at Morgan.

"You are a goddamn fortune cookie," Negan says, making Morgan laugh.

"I know about the run tomorrow. While on it and just in the next few days, think about this question I'm about to ask. Is this who Lucille wanted you to be?" Morgan questions Negan before he walks away, leaving Negan to his thoughts.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl was sitting on the couch with a cigarette in his hands. He looks at Alicia's door as she comes out of his room. "You couldn't do that outside?" Alicia asks him. Daryl shrugs his shoulders as Alicia walks over to him. She sits down beside him.

"So why are you in here?"

"Shane is taking Negan on a run tomorrow," Daryl informs Alicia, who nods. "I'm worried," Alicia lays her head on his shoulder.

"Shane knows what he is doing. Has he told you who's going with him?" Alicia wonders.

"Yeah, Madison, Carl, Strand, and Cole. Negan too," Daryl tells her.

"Then everything will be fine. Cole and my Mom survived a herd of walkers. They got this," Alicia says. Daryl nods. "Negan isn't stupid enough to try anything."

"I know," Daryl says as he puts his cigarette out. He kisses Alicia before he goes to bed.

Thanks for reading. I'm sorry about not uploading on Tuesday. I was moving, and I couldn't get the chapter written. But we are back. The next chapter will feature the run. Some scenes between Morgan and Rosita as well. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.