Chapter 35-Knowing better than most

Rick's P.O.V

Rick sat in the truck beside Reilly. "I thought Gabriel would come with me," Reilly comments, breaking the silence. Rick looks at him.

"I think they will listen to me better than they will listen to Gabriel, and I haven't been there in a while," Rick explains. Reilly nods.

"At the bar. Did you consider killing us?" Reilly questions. "I've been wondering for a while." Rick doesn't speak as he debates in his own head what to say.

"That was the plan," Rick admits. Reilly nods, expecting the answers. "Jared was only going to die. He had to. I saw the look in Morgan's eyes. He looked at me, and I was going to nod."

"Why didn't you?" Reilly asks.

"Because that would have made me no better than Negan. You were scared. Killing you would have been like Negan killing Glenn...like killing Abraham. You all deserved the same chance we gave Alden," Rick explains to Reilly, who nods as they sit in comfortable silence.

Alicia's P.O.V

Alicia walks up to Nick, who is feeding the horses. "Hey, sis," Nick says. Alicia smiles at him and holds up a bag of jerky. "Hello, my dear sister," Nick says with a smile.

"You want to go stare at a wall?" Alicia asks Nick, who grins. They walk to Alicia's cabin and sit on the couch. Alicia hands him the jerky.

"So, what do you need?" Nick asks.

"I have something to tell you?" Alicia says. "I'm pregnant," Nick's eyes widened.

"Oh, is Daryl, the father?" Nick questions Alicia, in disbelief, who nods. "Do Mom and Shane know?"

"Yeah, you were the last one in our family I haven't told," Alicia says.

"I'm feeling the love, Alicia," Nick says, smirking.

"Shut up," Alicia says, punching his arm. "What do you think?"

"I'm happy for you. I might not be showing it very well. Got some things on my mind," Nick explains. Alica nods.

"Well, come on. You got a good pair of ears right here to listen to you," Alicia says as she turns to face Nick fully.

"What do you think of Alden?" Nick asks Alicia, who looks at him confused.

"He's a good guy. Some of this may have been harder without him, and he got us the plow," Alicia answers. "Why?"

"I think Lucy likes him," Nick says.

"Why would you think that?" Alicia asks.

"She's been distant. She's been hanging out with him a lot. If she does, she does. It sounds like they grew close while we were in Georgia," Nick says. He was frowning, and Alicia could tell that he was deep in thought. Nick taps his foot against the wood as he waits for his sister to speak.

"I wish I could help you, but this is something you have to talk to Luciana about," Alicia says to Nick, who nods.

"I'll do it later. I'll stay for a little bit," Nick says. Alicia nods with a smile.

Negan's P.O.V

Negan follows Carl silently as they walk to another store. I didn't mean to bring that shit back up. Negan thinks as he follows Carl. "Kid, look, I'm sorry. I crossed a line," Negan says. His voice was soft as he spoke to the teen. Carl stops walking and turns to look at Negan. "It ain't my business."

"Have you ever gotten anybody killed?" Carl asks.

"Yeah, many of my men are dead because I led them into that field," Negan says.

"Someone close. Not one of your soldiers," Carl clarifies.

Negan was silent for a moment, then hung his head. "Before the saviors and after my wife died and I traveled with Laura. We ran across a kid and his mother. We let 'em join us even though we had very little supplies. We survived together for a little while. I grew close to this kid. His name was Jake. He was a fun kid. One day Laura and I were searching a house, and we ran into an asshole and his friend. They attacked us, and we let 'em go. We wanted to prove we weren't monsters. I wanted to," Negan explains. His face was filled with sorrow as he spoke again. "We went back to where we left 'em, and they were dead. Those two fuckers were putting their clothes back on. They'd raped his Mom. Made Jake watch before they killed him. Slit, their throats were going to leave them to turn. I killed them. Beat their head's in with Lucille. I made it slow," Negan says. Carl stared at the man in front of him in shock. Carl's face had paled with each part of the story. "After if I ran across anybody who hit a woman or tried anything else. I'd kill them. If you hit a woman, you are trash, but if you rape one, you are worse," Carl stays silent. He didn't know what to say. "So, kid. I know better than most what that feels like. Your friend at least got to be surrounded by people he loved in his final moments. Mine only felt pain," Negan says before he walks past Carl. Carl slowly starts to follow the man.

Rick's P.O.V

Rick and Reilly pull into the Sanctuary and climb out of the car. Arat comes outside and looks at them. "What can I help you with?" Arat asks.

"Arat, you have done a good job leading the saviors these last few weeks, but now Reilly will be leading them," Rick tells her.

"That's bullshit! I've kept the saviors in line, and they have been listening to me because they respect me. They aren't going respect this bitch,"

"I need someone I trust in charge of Sanctuary, and I don't trust you," Rick says as he walks past Arat. Reilly follows him inside. They walk past the saviors who look at them. Rick stops in front of them. "I am here to inform you that for now on, you will be following Reilly. Let's try to avoid another Jed situation," Rick explains to the saviors, who nodded. Rick looks at Reilly.

"You have a radio. Try to get along with Arat," Rick says to Reilly, who nods. Rick pats his shoulder before he leaves the Sanctuary.

Negan's P.O.V

Negan and Carl walk back out to the truck. The one with the trailer was gone. "They have it. I think Shane and Madison said they'd need it," Carl comments. Negan nods as he sits against the other truck.

"Carl," Negan says to Carl, who looks at him. "Have you ever talked to anybody about Dale?" Negan asks.

"My Dad once back when it happened," Carl answers. "Have you ever told anybody about Jake?"

"No, I have not. The only person who knows is Laura. Probably isn't healthy to keep the feelings from those events locked up, huh?" Negan asks.

"Probably not," Carl answers.

"Okay, kid, I got a good idea," Negan says.

"There is a first time for everything," Carl says with a smile. Negan chuckles.

"Every time you come to see me, you are going to tell me one thing from your past, and I will do the same. That way, we get to let our shit out," Negan says. "You're still young, kid. Your life will get worse if you keep those feelings locked up," Carl looks at Negan.

"Okay," Carl agrees.

"How did it go with you two?" Strand asks as he walks up to them. "Did he cause any problems?"

"No, we worked well together," Carl says as he stands.

"Good," Cole says. They hear a trailer and see Shane pull up with the trailer. It has two cribs in the back as well as other supplies.

"That for Maggie?" Strand asks.

"One is. The other is just in case. Figured we might need it down the road," Shane answers as he climbs out...but he saw Carl looking at him strangely, clearly seeing through it."Everybody ready?" They nod. They climb in the cars and leave.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane pulls into the campground and climbs out of the truck. The rest follows him as Daryl walks up to them. "Hey, boss," Negan says with a grin.

"How did it go?" Daryl questions Shane.

"Ask Carl. He was with him," Shane says. Daryl nods as he turns and looks at the teen.

"It went well. He did really good," Carl tells Daryl, who nods.

"Good," Daryl says. "Shane, can we talk?" Daryl asks Shane, who nods as he follows Daryl.

"What's up?" Shane asks.

"I want you to take over runs," Daryl says.

"Take over runs?" Shane questions, confused.

"You've been out there a lot. I want you to lead runs, put 'em together. I want everybody to have a role. Run crews, people that will work at camp," Daryl says.

"Okay, I'll do it," Shane says. Daryl nods as he walks away. "Come on, Carl. I'll give you a ride back to Hilltop," Shane says to Carl, who nods as he follows him.

Carl's P.O.V

Carl climbs out of the car in front of the gate, and Carl walks into Hilltop. He walks towards his trailer and sees Maggie sitting at the door, seemingly waiting for him. "You said you were fine with me going to the campgrounds," Carl says.

"I also said don't sneak off," Maggie says.

"Al and Enid knew where I was. I didn't," Carl says, annoyed."Now, can I go to sleep?"

"What did Negan say to you?" Maggie questions standing up, coming over in an almost accusing tone.

"None of your business. I'm not a spy," Carl says.

"When will you understand that he isn't safe? He won't change Carl," Maggie says angrily.

"He's no different than the rest of us," Carl says. "He's been through a lot of shit, and this world pushed him over the edge. We've all been there, and now he is coming back. Now let me in my trailer," Carl says firmly.

Maggie frowns as she moves. Carl walks into his Trailer.

Staring at it for several moments, Maggie turned and stormed back to Barrington House

Negan's P.O.V

He was lying down on his bed in the cabin...staring at the ceiling, twiddling his thumbs.

"...Fuck it."

And he sat up...seeing it was night and no one was out at this time...he opened the door and made his way to where the radio was being kept at one of the other cabins...

Entering he saw Troy sitting there, checking in...doing a double take at who was there "Negan?"

"Troy man. Hey!" Negan grinned as he entered.

"...Can I help you?" Troy said, a bit guarded.

"It's late...but first thing in the morning, I want to use the radio...and talk to someone."

Troy stared for several moments...then nodded slowly "Ooooook? Who? Someone at the San-"

"No no. Alexandria. Her name's Jadis...or well Anne now. Apparently."

Troy blinked, hearing about her "That Junkyard leader? Why?"

"She owes me a favor. I'm calling it in...I need to know if she can bring back some old friends. And...can you keep this between us?"

Negan KNEW if it was anyone else in the camp, they would likely talk...but he pleaded that Troy owed him one for helping save him from Jed.

For a long minute, Troy stared at Negan...then nodded "OK...I'm listening."

Thanks for reading. Being 100 percent honest, we are coming to the end of this part of the story. I say two or three more chapters, and we will be going to the bridge unless I think of something else. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.