Chapter 175-Making a Deal
Negan's P.O.V
Negan sat in a hospital room, looking around with an uneasy look as this was eerily familiar to him, the first few times he visited with Lucille before the world went to shit. He looked across from him where Kate who was tapping her foot in a chair impatiently while Lydia was bouncing Rose in her arms, biting her lip. Breaking the silence, he complained, "I feel like a child getting their fucking shot." Negan says.
"Negan." Lydia hissed, looking down at Rose and then back up.
"What? Not like she can understand me."
"Hopefully they'll have some good news then," Kate says as the door opens and a man in a full doctor's uniform, complete with glasses and a clipboard walks in with a beaming smile
"Hello there, Mr. Smith. I'm Dr. Clay!" He says as he shakes Negan's hand. "Is this your wife and daughter?"
"Oh uh Girlfriend, this is Lydia and our daughter Rose," Kate said, as Lydia blushed at that assumption but didn't seem too bothered.
"So how is he doing?" Kate then asks.
"Before, can I ask what happened to you?" He asks Negan.
"I fought a big ass crazy motherfucker in a burning building while he was swinging knives at my head," Negan answered flatly.
"Oh uh...ok." The Doctor stared at him and then said slowly. "I'm glad my people found you when they did. Your condition was getting much worse with the ribs scratching your lungs but with the medicine and rest. You should be back to your old self within a month or two."
"How long do I have to stay in this fucking chair?" Negan complained, not keen on being in it for a month.
"A week, maybe two." Dr. Clay answered.
"Great," Negan mumbled, at least it was better than nothing. "Alright, thanks Doc."
"You folks have a good day. Ma'am, please make sure he gets plenty of sleep and rest and bring him in here in 3 days regularly to see how his progress is going." He says, Kate, nodding, before he leaves the room.
"It could have been worse," Lydia said quietly.
"You're not the one being pushed around in a fucking chair." Negan griped "I'm gonna smash this thing to pieces the second I get out of it."
"Oh stop your whining or I'll push you down the stairs," Kate says as she begins to push him.
Negan paused, then sighed "Fine, I'll behave."
Rick's P.O.V
Rick, Alicia, Carl, Maggie, Tara, and Beth stood in one of the apartments, all gathered around in the living room. Rick looked out the window briefly, Michonne just leaving to scout around the place that almost seemed like a glimpse into the past. "What do you think?" Maggie asks him.
"She doesn't think this deal is worth it," Rick says as he looks back. "She believes she has built something that will never fall, that's better than anything else left in the world."
"It's a nice place," Beth commented. "But I don't trust it, it seems too good to be true."
"She's right." Tara's face darkened "They're hiding something, places like this always are and anybody who calls themselves a governor is not someone we should trust."
"We don't need to trust them." Carl looked at Tara calmly. "But we do need their supplies, even if it's just for a little bit, Hilltop most of all."
"So how do we convince Pamela that this deal is worth taking?" Beth asks as she looks at Alicia who is silent. "You're quiet?"
"When I talked with her, she was asking about the bond we shared, like trying to find a flaw in it."
"She's trying to find a weak point," Rick says. "A reason to not work with us, just like a politician. Truth is, we're probably the largest group she's run into since the World fell, and even though our world isn't as big and glamorous as hers, we built it and we made something just as strong as the Commonwealth."
"It—" Alicia is cut off when they hear someone shout, Rick and she standing as they realize it is Daryl's voice along with Eugene's. They quickly stand up and leave the apartment, heading to the hallway to see Daryl and Eugene...Eugene looked more then a bit nervous while Daryl looked sour face and growled.
"It was made perfectly clear to Governor Milton that you would not be leading anymore! I don't know why she wanted to see you!" Eugene tried to explain.
"Well clearly it ain't, first that lady wanted to see me then Hornsby wants to make me a leader again?!" Daryl shouts. "When you're talking to these fucking people, keep my name out of the fucking conversation! I am done!"
"Daryl!" Rick barked making Daryl look at him, face falling seeing the stern look on Rick's face. "Go cool off." Daryl scoffs as he turns and leaves the hall heading downstairs. "What the hell was that?"
"I don't know." Eugene took a calming breath and looked at Rick. "I came upstairs and he was pissed about his conversation with Governor Milton and the position Mr. Hornsby offered him. I don't think he appreciates them still trying to force leadership on him."
"His grief is turning into anger, don't take it personally," Rick says before he looks at Alicia. "We need to talk with Pamela."
"What about-" Alicia clearly wanted to go after Daryl.
Rick nodded "I know, let's give him a bit to cool down. Eugene don't take it personally, you know him. Give him a few hours and he'll already be apologizing."
"Hoping so." Eugene nodded, rubbing his forehead.
John's P.O.V
John walked through the Commonwealth with June and JJ. "Enjoying this place?" Regina asks as she walks up beside them dressed in a t-shirt, blue pants, and black boots, all with a beaming smile as she waves at the giggling JJ.
"It's an interesting place, It's...it's like a city brought to life," John says as he looks around. "So what are you doing?"
"I came here to talk to you," Regina says to John as she pulls some money out of her pocket. "Why don't you go and get some ice cream?" She says as she holds the money out to June who takes it and walks away.
"What's up?" John looked back, confused.
"I'm here to offer you a job." Regina tells him.
"As a soldier?"
"Not exactly. You're the best shot I have ever met, John. You're better than anybody here, I promise you that. I want you to become a weapons instructor. Teach people how to shoot, and how to handle a weapon property, because the one who does it now, is not the best fit. But you, you could make our soldiers actually useful with a gun." Regina promised.
"What will June be doing?" John asked after a moment, looking to where his wife walked off.
"She'll be in the hospital as a nurse." Regina followed his gaze and nodded. "Lance will be talking with her about that soon. Think about it."
"I don't need to, I'll do it," John tells her.
"Great, we'll talk more about it after Rick leaves," Regina tells John who nods as she heads off with June coming back, cones in hand.
Negan's P.O.V
Negan looked outside of the window of the apartment he was assigned to, looking out at the Commonwealth as people walked around. After a moment, he mumbled, "Seriously, what the fuck is this place?"
"Quite a sight isn't it?" He then turned to see Eugene walking inside with Daniel, Frankie, and Princess, licking a cone.
"Damn I know! Looks like it's out of a dream or something. They even have ice cream!" Princess says with a grin, holding it up with pride as Frankie froze as if seeing who was there.
"Ice Cream?! Hell yeah. Wonder—" Negan wooped, but then paused as he looks at Princess. "Wait. Who the hell are you?"
"This is Princess." Eugene grimaced.
"FULL name Juanita Sanchez, nickname is Princess 'cause I deserve to be treated like one. S'up!?" She waved.
"Cool name." Was all Negan said, bewildered that there was someone who talked faster than him.
"You're Negan. I've heard stories about you from Eugene. You're a badass! Is it true you fucking got in that chair fighting a fucking supervillain with a skin face?! Sounds like something out of a Stallone movie!"
Negan stared for a long minute then slowly grinned at Eugene. "I like her."
Eugene sighs as he backs away as the two of them continue to talk, Frankie hissing at him "I told you not to let them meet."
"I'm sorry," Eugene says as the two continue to talk, already on how many walkers they both killed and 'favorite one'.
Daniel stares at the pair with a look of disbelief. "Oh my God. There are two of them. May God have mercy on our soul."
"I'm leaving, good luck," Frankie says before she leaves, leaving the two men staring at them still talking enthusiastically.
Carl's P.O.V
Carl walked through the Commonwealth with Arya, the pair looking around at the shops and bustling crowds. "So, what are you going to do?" Carl asks his daughter.
"About?" Arya asked absently, holding her hat as she looked at one clothing store curiously.
"Lydia is staying here, this is different than living at the Campgrounds."
"I know," Arya says softly, rubbing her hands. "I don't know what I am going to do, on one hand, I want to be close to Lydia and on the other, I want to be close to Robert."
"I can't tell you what to do this time, sweetie. You have to make this choice on your own, you still have a couple of days to decide. If you decide you want to stay. You know that I will support you fully. So will your mother."
"I know." She nodded, then looked around, her awestruck expression falling to worry. "These people have gotten lucky, Dad. What happens when their luck runs out?"
"Hopefully we'll be able to save them," Carl says as he looks around. "We saved Alexandria. We can save these people too."
"I hope you're right," Arya shook her head. "Come on, let's go look around and then we can get Mom and Robert," Arya says and Carl smiles as he follows her.
Mercer's P.O.V
Mercer walked into Pamela's office and stood at attention, ever the soldier. "You asked for me."
"Correct General, at ease." He crossed his hands, as Pamela looked at him over several papers "Rick and Alicia will be here soon, but I want to talk with you first. You saw what they could do."
"I did," Mercer says. "I think working with them is in the best interest of the Commonwealth."
"Why? We can defeat any enemy that tries to attack," Pamela narrowed her eyes.
"The group they were fighting, the Whisperers, I saw their horde. It was the biggest group of corpses I have ever seen, and according to them, that was barely half of it. Yet, they fought it, they were going to fight it knowing they would likely die. They had a plan to save their homes. Here is something else, one of them, their second Bigger than me, Daryl killed him, by himself. It took him four knives in the chest to kill that man but he did it. Now sure, Daryl is stepping down, but the strength these people have. It will be valuable to the Commonwealth."
"You truly believe that?" Pamela asks him.
"I do," Mercer says. "It would be better for them to be our ally. Lance may be an idiot but he's right about one thing, with them on our side, no one is going to be able to take us down."
"...Thank you, General. You've been most informative."
Ofelia's P.O.V
Ofelia walked onto the roof of the apartment building, looking for her missing father and saw her father sitting on the edge. "It's high up here." Ofelia said in awe looking at the large buildings around them, making Daryl look at her in surprise.
"What are you doing up here?"
"I saw you come up here," Ofelia says softly as she walks up to her father and sits down beside him. "I was worried. Why were you yelling at Uncle Eugene?"
"Because I'm an idiot." Daryl sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I'm tired, sweetie. Tired of fighting and tired of losing people and it's all become too much."
"But we have to fight Dad. You're the one who says we fight for our future. If we stop fighting, that future that you want us to have, that you want for everybody. We'll never have it and I know you want it."
Daryl looks at her and smiles. "When did you become so smart?"
"I got it from, Mom," Ofelia says. Daryl smirks.
"Does that mean you got your charm from me?"
"Definitely!" Ofelia beamed. Daryl smiles before he kisses her head. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, sweetie."
Alicia's P.O.V
Alicia and Rick sat in Pamela's office as she shut the door. She walks over to her desk and sits down. "I will tell you both the truth. When Lance came to me with this, I thought it was a huge waste of resources. I only let him do it so he would shut up."
"Do you still think that?" Alicia dryly asked, Rick looking at Alicia and then back.
"I'm more willing to give this a chance," Pamela says after a moment. "I respect the both of you, I respect what you have built because it is amazing. Even Mercer agrees and I can tell you that it is hard to impress that man. So here are my terms, I will give you the supplies you need. I will let Alicia's group stay here. You will have jobs and homes. My first term is that in one month, the rest of you will return here for the Halloween celebration, and we will make our deal more public then. It will also give me a chance to hear an update on your communities condition. In four months, I will come to your communities and see how it is going for myself, if I like what I see, than our deal will continue, in return, you will help the Commonwealth against people who may want to harm us, you will help us build and expand."
"How long will you provide supplies?" Rick asks after a minute silent talk with Alicia.
"If after four months I see that the supplies are being put to good use, I will provide you supplies until your communities are built and your crops have started to grow again. Pamela says. Rick looks at Alicia who nods.
"We accept," Rick says and Pamela nods with a pleased smile.
"Ahh good decision Rick, you may leave. Mrs Dixon, I would like you to stay a moment." Pamela says.
Pausing, Rick gave Alicia a worried look, but she nodded in reassurance as he stood up and left. "I have a job for you, Alicia."
"What is it?" Crossing her arms, she leaned back in her chair.
"I want you to be an ambassador of sorts," Pamela says. "I already have enough to handle here, and I imagine you know what your people need more than I do. So I would like you to work with, myself, Mercer, and Lance to keep things between our people productive. Help get them jobs here, make sure everything is going well with the rebuild. Those sort of things, if you wish have someone help."
"You'll pay me for this?"
"Of course." Pamela beamed. "You are the other leader of your alliance, I feel it is important that we work together."
"I'll do it and I will bring in someone else." Alicia said "I'm pregnant and I have to stop soon enough.
"Great, we'll talk more later, I have another meeting," Pamela says. Alicia nods as she stands. She leaves the room as she passes a young man with black hair and a scrawny build walks in and shuts the door.
Thanks for reading. Next chapter the group continues to settle in as Rick prepares to go back home and Arya makes a choice. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.