Quinn, Alexandria
"Alright, there's nothing to see here! Keep walking, please," said Jesus raising his voice slightly, addressing the bystanders. They were whispering to each other, but eventually, they walked away. Maggie stopped and watched me running towards Negan with Daryl hurrying behind me.
"Negan!" I yelled as my tears were pouring instantly. As soon as we heard the yelling with Daryl, we came running towards the noises and I saw Maggie beating up Negan, while he didn't do anything to defend himself. How could he do this? I ran up to him and fell on my knees next to him. His face was covered in blood. "Negan?" I asked crying, my hands were shaking.
"It's okay," he said quietly, his voice hoarse.
"Shit," said Daryl when he took a look at Negan.
Maggie was watching me for a couple of minutes. Maybe she saw herself in me. In my reaction. She started crying again and left with her friends hugging her.
"Negan..." that's all I could whimper.
"Did she break something?" asked Carol as she kneeled next to Negan on the other side.
"If she did, then probably my ribs," Negan said painfully. Finally, Gabriel arrived at the scene too and Jesus told him quickly what happened.
"What should we do?" I asked.
"I'll get a stretcher!" volunteered Jesus and hurried away. Gabriel kneeled next to Negan as well.
"Did you..." Negan tried to talk. "Did you see it?" he asked me. I nodded yes. "Shit... sorry," he said.
"You idiot... why did you do this?? Why??" I asked crying, then I put my forehead gently against his.
"Sorry... I just wanted to get it off my chest," he said barely audible. Carol, Daryl, and Gabriel examined Negan's injuries as much as they could. Jesus arrived back with a stretcher under his arm. He placed it on the ground next to Negan, then he and Daryl lifted Negan on it, then they carried him to our house.
"So much for avoiding Maggie," said Carol grumpily, staring at Negan.
"Sorry... I had to tell her," Negan said quietly. Carol rolled her eyes and exhaled sharply, then she stepped next to me. "It's okay, honey. He'll get better," she said. "I'm sorry I didn't stop him, but I didn't know what he was going to do. He said he goes for a walk and I told him he shouldn't."
"It's okay, it's not your fault," I said then I sniffed, wiping my tears.
"He'll get better," she repeated embracing me with one arm, to comfort me. We went inside and I closed the front door behind us. Daryl and Jesus placed Negan on the dining table. Gabriel and Carol started looking at his injuries.
"Let me see your side," said Gabriel. Carol grabbed scissors and handed them to Gabriel. He cut Negan's shirt and pulled it off. I was watching, holding my breath. Carol and Jesus stepped closer to him. Negan's right side had bruises all over. Gabriel touched his side and traced his ribs along with his fingers. Negan groaned painfully.
"I don't feel any irregularity," said Gabriel. "They are not broken."
Jesus stepped next to him and traced Negan's ribs along too while he was groaning again.
"They might have cracked a little bit, but definitely not broken," Jesus stated. I let out a relieved sigh. My tears still falling. Daryl stepped next to him and checked his side too, but only with his eyes. Then he gently turned him over slightly, to glance at his back, while Carol got a bowl and towel quickly. She was already way too familiar with where she could find them. She stepped to Negan and wiped the blood off of his face. I sniffed, wiped my tears quickly, and reached my hand to Carol.
"I can do it," I said. She handed me the towel and I continued gently washing Negan's face, while he closed his eyes. Carol brought some painkillers. When I finished washing Negan's face Gabriel helped him sit up. Carol gave him the painkillers and a glass of water, Negan took them. After he swallowed, Gabriel gently placed him back down and Carol brought a piece of wet cloth. We couldn't make ice, but it seemed like it was cold enough.
"Arghh! Jesus Christ! Carol!" Negan yelled painfully as Carol placed the wet towel on his right side. It hurt him and it was way too cold.
"Don't be childish," said Carol strictly. Negan exhaled sharply and glanced around.
"What?" he asked. There was a moment of silence and an exchange of glances.
"That was very... thoughtful of you," said Gabriel looking for the right word, thinking out loud, but probably all the others thought the same. "Also, quite stupid."
Negan chuckled painfully.
"Hell, someday I gotta die. And I didn't want to carry this with me anymore," he explained.
"But you have to," growled Daryl. "You can't make just everything up with a sorry."
"I know, Dixon. But... I really meant it. She had to hear it from me," said Negan exhaling sharply. Daryl was staring at him disbelievingly. I could tell he was impressed. I slightly smiled to myself. I was... proud of Negan. Also angry as hell for letting her beat him half-dead.
"I have to admit it, I got taken aback a bit," said Jesus. "I didn't expect something like this from you."
"I know," said Negan glancing at him with a slight smile.
"How's your face?" asked Carol.
"Fine... nothing cracked or broke. She was hitting my mouth and cheeks... because I smiled... back then..." he said turning his eyes away with regret.
"Your teeth?" asked Carol avoiding Negan's eyes. Negan checked his teeth with his tongue.
"Got all of 'em," he announced when he finished. "None's loose."
"Good," said Carol. She stepped to me this time and handed me the painkiller.
"Give him three pills a day and he'll be fine in no time," she said gently smiling at me.
"Yeah. If you stay in bed cracked ribs heal in like... six weeks. But I don't think they're cracked. Probably just a bruise," said Jesus.
"Thank God," said Negan, trying to joke because of Jesus's name and because Gabriel was there too. I rolled my eyes, but still, I smiled. He was half-dead and yet he was still joking.
"Okay, I think we finished here," said Gabriel grumpily, then he eased up a bit. "Get well, Negan," he said and headed towards the door. Daryl stepped next to me and embraced me with one arm.
"He'll get better in no time. Don't worry," he murmured.
"But if it takes six weeks how are we going to leave in time?" I asked him.
"Don't worry about that. I'll talk to Maggie," said Carol.
"Thank you," I said. They nodded goodbye and followed Gabriel outside. Jesus was about to leave too, but I just remembered I didn't have the opportunity to talk to him yet. I hurried after him and stopped him on the porch.
"Jesus!"
"Yeah?" he turned around to face me.
"Thank you so much... not just for today, but... for coming to get me from the forest. And trying to be a lightning rod between me and Maggie. I know it's not easy and I don't want to ask you to pick sides, but just know that I'm very grateful."
Jesus exhaled sharply as he put his hand on my arms.
"I'm glad if I can help, Quinn. Don't worry about me. Just stay strong," he said smiling at me gently. "I have to go, I have to catch up with Carol. I want to talk to Maggie too," he said.
"Thank you," I said again.
"Anytime," he smiled at me, then he hurried after Carol. I went back inside. Negan was already sitting when he should have been lying.
"Negan!" I scolded him.
"What? I have to get upstairs somehow," he said while he was holding the wet towel against his bruised ribs. He was shirtless and full of injuries. Why did I think he looked insanely hot?
"You shouldn't get up," I said as I stepped in front of him.
"Help me to the stairs," he said.
"Nope. You're sleeping on the couch," I stated. I didn't want him to go upstairs. What if he slips and falls and his ribs break? He exhaled sharply.
"I don't want to sleep without you," he stated.
"Who said I'm sleeping upstairs? I'm staying, of course," I stated as I put his arm around my shoulder, while I was holding on to his waist from the left side. His right side was injured. I helped him walk to the couch, then slowly lay down. I went to the front door and locked it for the night, I also locked the back door, then I headed upstairs. I heard Negan exhale sharply, painfully downstairs. I grabbed our blankets and headed back to him. I threw them on the armchair, then I felt Negan take my wrist. I glanced at him and crouched beside the couch to get on the same level.
"I'm sorry, Quinnie. I just wanted to tell her that I was sorry. It felt like it was some kind of unfinished business," he explained. I shook my head slightly.
"I'm so angry and so proud of you at the same time... I can't decide whether to hit you or kiss you," I said.
"I got enough punches today, so I'd go with the kiss this time. If you don't mind," he said smiling slightly.
"Alright... I'll wait till you get better and then I'll hit you," I concluded.
"Nah... you don't wanna hit me," he said with that impish look in his eyes.
"Yeah, I do. I'm so angry, Negan... I'm not just saying this, I mean it. We agreed you stay inside. What were you thinking? She could have killed you," I said worryingly.
"But she didn't. I knew she wouldn't," he said.
"How did you know?" I asked.
"I saw it in her eyes. She will never forgive me, but she accepted my apology. It's a closed chapter. At least for me," he explained. I let out a sigh.
"I'm still mad at you," I said as I caressed his cheek. He turned his face towards me and I put my forehead against his. "I was so worried about you. Your face was covered in blood... and your ribs..." I said quietly.
"It's okay... They'll heal," he growled in a lower voice than his usual.
"You're so stupid!" I said as I squeezed his hand.
"I know... but you love me for it," he said with a slight smile.
"I love you for many things," I replied. "Recklessness is not one of them."
He chuckled and slipped his hand on the side of my neck and kissed me. We were kissing very gently, softly, and slowly for a long time. I was caressing his cheek and the back of his head, trying to comfort him. He just kept his hand on the side of my neck. It could have been so hot if he wasn't half dead. I mean he wasn't, but he had so many injuries. This time I had to act like he was the one made out of porcelain. So I slowly backed away, before the situation would escalate.
"I'm so proud of you, Negan."
"I love you, Quinnie," he replied quietly while keeping eye contact the whole time. He was breathing a bit heavily, I saw his chest moving up and down and I found it so attractive... I had to get hold of myself, I didn't want to make love with him when he was so much in pain. And yet he was attracting me, like a magnet. No, stop. I didn't want to do this now. I had to calm down.
"I'll change into pajamas," I excused myself and went upstairs to get changed.
"Why don't you get changed here?" he asked disappointed.
"Because I don't want to tease you now. We have to sleep. You have to heal," I stated. As I put my clothes away the sign language book fell from my pocket. I grabbed it and placed it on the nightstand.
"Oh, come on," said Negan disappointed. I went back downstairs while wearing pajamas. He glanced at me.
"At least help me get rid of my trousers, it's uncomfortable to sleep in them," he said. I let out a sigh.
"Okay."
I helped him quickly, then I covered him with the blanket, so I won't see his body for too long. He was only wearing a boxer, again. I pushed the armchair closer to the couch and sat down, covering myself with my blanket. By the time I arranged myself he fell asleep because of the painkiller. I watched him for a little while. I must have been creepy, but I just couldn't resist, just to take a glance at him. He was a sleeping beauty in the male version. Sleeping handsome? What did Daryl call him? Oh... pretty boy. The sleeping pretty boy. I smiled to myself at this thought. I got up quietly, pecked his cheek gently, then I nestled back into the armchair.
This is exactly why I fell in love with him. I knew this was inside him. I knew he was good. And even though it seemed like I was the only one who could see through him, who could understand him... I didn't mind. I was just so glad that I could see him and know him for who he really is. He was an angel disguised as a devil to survive this world. I knew it all along. And now, everyone else could see it. I was so proud of him and yet, it broke my heart how much he got beaten up by Maggie. My poor little devilish angel. My heart wanted to break in two, seeing him so beaten up. I looked at him once again, then I closed my eyes and fell asleep too.
...
Author's notes: Listen to "Worst in me" by Citizen Soldier.
Negan feels this because of Maggie. ☹
Also, listen to "I fell in love with the devil" by Avril Lavigne. ❤
Quinn... It doesn't need any explanation. ❤
Thank You for reading! ❤