in a darkened room --- skid row
♮♮♮
[POV]
Dwight was called out to where the other men had found Fat Joey's body. As he heard Negan's trucks roll up, he sprinted inside to bust open Daryl's cell door, which was unlocked and empty.
In the yard, Eugene was unloaded from the back of the truck as Negan extended a hand to JJ who was climbing out of the cab.
She eyed Eugene, who was welcomed with a bag being ripped off of his head. "What are you gonna do to him?" JJ questioned as she and Negan walked up the steps.
"Don't you worry about that, sweetheart." He grinned.
The other wives greeted Negan as they entered in. Katie was quick to pull him away from JJ, letting him know what she knew.
Sherry was gone.
And so was Daryl.
JJ didn't even have time to sit before Negan requested her presence elsewhere.
"JJ, may I speak with you privately?"
She didn't like his change in tone. It made her nervous. As she followed him out and down the stairs again, Katie had a look of suspicion written across her face.
"What's this about?" JJ's voice tried to not crack.
Negan remained silent, leading her to Daryl's cell. It caused her heart to drop. She wondered if she had screwed up today somehow, or if Negan was going to punish Daryl for what had happened at Alexandria.
But when Negan pushed open the door, no one was there. The cell was empty.
"Care to explain?"
It clicked in JJ's mind. She hadn't seen Sherry upstairs. And now Daryl was gone. They escaped.
She acted clueless in front of Negan. "I- I had nothing to do with this."
He nodded slowly. "I'll give you one more chance to not lie to me." Negan held up his index finger, taking a threatening step towards JJ.
"I-" She looked to the empty cell. "I didn't do it. I swear."
"Damn it, JJ." Negan rubbed his face, huffing loudly as he turned to one of his men, "Put her back in her box."
JJ instantly started shaking her head, as the man took her arm, dragging her back to the dark cell, "No. No!"
"I wasn't even here!" She shouted, hitting the door as hard as she could as the man pulled it closed behind him, making sure it was locked. "I wasn't here!" JJ started to pound the door with her palm. "I wasn't here!"
JJ did this until she eventually wore herself out. She fell to the floor, tear-worn mascara staining her cheeks. She tried to look on the bright side of things- at least she could take these damn heels off.
Negan didn't just throw JJ back in the cell, he also punished Dwight, sticking him in Daryl's cell, quizzing him about Sherry's disappearance.
♮♮♮
[JJ]
I had fallen asleep against the door, waking up to a light tap on the other side.
"JJ, you in there?"
I recognized the voice. Barely.
"The hell do you want?" I asked Katie. My mind circled back to how she was the one to pull Negan to the side and let him know that Daryl had gone missing.
"You know I had to." She stated. "You know I had to tell him."
"Bullshit." My voice was raspy, probably because of the amount of screaming I did at the slab of metal they called a door.
"If you just fess up...he'll let you out. That's what happened with me."
"Maybe I don't want out. Maybe I just wanna be left in here."
I heard her move to sit in front of the door. It was the same that I had done when talking with Daryl.
"Now that is bullshit. You remember your first nights here, I'm sure."
I fell silent as she talked.
"Negan doesn't want to hurt you. He never did. He wanted to give you what I have here. You could've been just like me." She told me. "After that last show, right before the world went to shit, I tried to call you. I did. I figured after the tenth time, you'd already been killed, or gone on some binder and overdosed in some motel room."
My brows twisted and my stomach dropped as I thought back to that time. It felt like so long ago when I'd woken up, confused, nearly dead in a motel room.
"Didn't hear from Maggie either. And Marcy...she left before bad got worse. I'd like to think she made it home. It'd been weeks since I'd heard from my family. Figured they'd been dead since the beginning... but my dad and sister, they found me. We went on the road after that. Just the three of us, setting up campsites every now and then. The woods reminded me of the ones from Maggie's farm that one summer. When the four of us went out at o-dark-thirty to smoke weed and write music. Hell, who knows, we might've been close enough to find the farm."
She stifled a laugh, but I remained quiet behind the door.
"People came through, JJ. Bad people. We'd just set up camp for the night when this group of men came through, said they were out savaging."
Katie paused, gathering the words to tell me what had happened.
"The things they did to me and Jane." She sniffled. "And they- they made our dad watch."
The story.
Randall.
It's what he told Daryl in the barn.
My eyes widened as I realized, but I kept listening.
"Jane didn't make it. Dad didn't either. But lucky me- I did. They took me with them. Only because one of the younger ones in the group recognized me, said we went to school together. He even went to a few of our shows."
My skin crawled.
"Think his name was...Randall."
It was.
"Well, anyway, this group-"
"Why are you telling me this?" I snapped, interrupting her story.
She sighed, "because I'm trying to get you to realize that we're here to help you. Not hurt you. All of the-"
"Maggie's dead." I stopped her again. This time, she went quiet. "I wasn't overdosed in some motel room; I went to the Greene's. And my brother was there, and his wife, and my nephew and this group of-" I collected my words as my lip began to quiver. "Maggie met Glenn. They got married. She was gonna have a damn baby!"
"But Negan-" I choked. "He killed Glenn. She was already sick, but that- that's what killed her. The night he died, she did too."
"JJ, I had no-"
My heart rate increased, so did my anger levels.
"He was gonna kill my brother, my nephew- he tortured the man I'm in love with. And you have the fucking nerve to come down here after you told him only God-knows-what about me?" My voice raised with each sentence. "I am going to kill him, Katie. And if you get in my way, I won't hesitate to kill you too."
There was nothing but silence, with pissed me off even more.
"Say something." I banged the door with my fist, causing it to echo loudly through the hall. "Say something!"
She was calm, "You should've never woken up, JJ."
My mind turned as I heard her heel clicking lessen as she got farther and farther away from the door.
"What does that mean?" I stumbled to my feet. "Hey! The hell did you mean by that?!"
She didn't answer.
"What did you mean, Katie?!"
♮♮♮
[POV]
JJ's anger was heard through the hall. A mix of her fist hitting the door and a variety of unpleasant language rang through the corridor.
Katie crossed her arms as she updated Negan, "I don't think she had anything to do with letting him out."
He looked down to the cell, "She knows more than she's lettin' on. Let her stay in time-out till she decides to start talkin'." He leaned towards Katie, whispering, "I don't care how long it takes or how crazy she gets. She doesn't come out of that box until she talks."
Katie shifted her feet uncomfortably, "what did D know?"
Negan curled his lip, shaking his head, "nothin'. He's goin' out to look for Sherry."
"Think he'll find her?"
"He better. Either she's here, or she's dead. I won't accept another option."
♮♮♮
Dwight went looking for Sherry. He knew where to start, but he also knew that she wasn't going to be there. She was long gone. Dwight reported back to Negan with news that Sherry was dead, and that he had been the one to put an end to her.
Although Dwight confirmed with Negan that she was the one who helped Daryl escape, Negan still believe JJ to have had something to do with it. Or at least that's what his excuse was for keeping her there. The real reason was that he was pissed and keeping her there until she went mad was his way of getting back at Daryl for leaving.
As the days progressed, JJ became ill. Katie thought it was because her emotions got the best of her, Negan thought she was faking it to attempt an escape, but Eugene, who'd overheard the conversation, insisted that someone help the girl.
"JJ, we're letting you out so the doc can check you out. If you try anything, and I mean, anything, I will shut that shit down." Negan warned before the door opened to JJ laying on the floor, seemingly paralyzed. When Negan saw how weak she'd become, he was more in favor of letting the doctor make sure whatever illness she had wasn't contagious.
Although JJ was sick, she used her last bit of energy to take a jab at Negan. She carefully hid one of her heels she'd broken off from her shoe in her arms she had wrapped around herself.
When she noticed that Negan had relaxed, she stood up, attempting to drive the heel into Negan's eye to make an escape, but he was two steps ahead of her already.
Dr. Carson had sedatives for moments like these. One of Negan's men was able to take JJ before she could get to him and jab the shot with the sedatives into her shoulder, causing her to go limp.
"Knew she'd try some shit like that." Negan huffed. "This ain't my first time dealing with a crazy bitch, boys." He joked, lowering his voice to Dwight, "Make sure she gets to Carson. And let me know whatever...disease she's got."
Dwight nodded, effortlessly picking up the unconscious JJ.
♮♮♮
[JJ]
I could only feel my neck where I'd been stabbed with a needle. It never stopped stinging. The rest of my body, however, was numb. My ears were the only thing that seemed to be working properly.
"Did you find her?" Someone asked. There was a pause. "Where is she?"
"I killed her."
It sounded like Dwight, although, I wasn't sure.
"She ran away from me right into a mess of dead ones, so I, uh...made it quick."
Was he talking about Sherry?
"It still hurts." The other voice realized.
"Feels better with a bandage."
"I wasn't talking about that. I would tell you to just forget about her, but...I don't see anybody else doing that anytime soon considering what she did. And this one..." I heard him shuffle, "Still wondering how she falls into it all. Other than the obvious."
What obvious was he talking about?
"Oh, we've all done things."
"Yes, but before we got here, before we understood...we were cowards about it. We don't- we don't get to have big hearts. Remember that."
I kept my eyes shut as the feeling slowly began to come back to my fingers. Once it spread to the rest of me, I soon realized that there was something restraining my wrists. And as any sane, or maybe insane, person would, I flipped out. I yanked my arms against the restraints, but they didn't budge.
"Whoa." Dwight jumped back at my sudden waking. "Calm down."
"How long has she been awake?"
Dwight glared at the doctor as I continued to fight the restraints, "No idea. You need to calm the hell down."
"I'll get another sedative ready."
"No." Dwight told him. "She's just freaked out. Sedating her won't help a damn thing."
"Then get her to calm down."
"Hey, hey!" Dwight stabilized my shoulders as gently as he could. "Calm down, or I swear I'll be the one to give you the damn sedative."
I began to resist less and relax into the chair. It wasn't helping anything anyway.
"There." Dwight backed off.
The doctor slowly approached me. "JJ, I'm Dr. Carson. Negan wanted me to check you over. Said you weren't feeling well."
"I'm fine." I answered.
"You refused to eat anything the past two days, but still managed to puke up everything in your gut. Know why?"
I glared, narrowing my eyes and cocking my head, "no."
"It's because you're pregnant."
I shook my head as Dr. Carson calmly continued, ignoring my response.
"No." I mumbled. "No, I'm not."
"Once Negan is aware of the situation, we'll get you the medicines, whatever vitamins, supplements, you'll need." He nodded to Dwight.
"I'm going to undo your restraints. I don't wanna make him sedate you, but if you try any bullshit, I won't hesitate." He warned. "You understand?"
I glared.
"I said... do you understand?"
I didn't have a choice but to nod.
Him and Dr. Carson shared another look before he cautiously started to undo my restraints keeping me confined to the chair.
I knew better than to try anything. Either that, or I was in shock.
Dwight kept a hand to my back as he walked me back to my cell.
"Sherry offered to get me and Daryl out." I admitted. "I told her to not wait."
We came to a stop.
"She didn't want to be here anymore."
"What else do you know?" He spat. I refused to turn to look at him.
"I know that she told me that when she saw her moment, she would take it. But she wouldn't be turning back. She got Daryl out...and I told her to leave me here. But now- you killed Sherry, Daryl's missing- probably- dead...and I'm still in here. Wishing I was dead." I finally turned to look at Dwight, realizing that he had no grip on me. "If I try something- kick you in the shin and run as fast and as far as I can-"
"You won't make it far." He told me.
"I know."
Dwight looked confused.
"I'm asking, that if I did, if I tried something, you would kill me, too, right?"
"No." He answered. "You don't want to do that, because I would have to drag you right back into that cell."
I shrugged, "you already are."
"Not when I tell Negan. You'll go back to how things were."
"I-" I took in a deep breath, "I don't want you to tell Negan."
"Why not?"
"Look," I swallowed, "I don't know you. I only know what Sherry told me. She told me that you were a lot like Daryl. So, I am begging you, Dwight. Do not...tell him."
Dwight was about to argue again.
"Please."
This time, he solemnly nodded.
Agreeing, "Okay."
♮♮♮
[POV]
Upstairs, the fire had been lit again, prepared with another iron.
"You are gonna want to pay close attention to this." Negan pointed to Eugene with the end of his bat, which seconds later he drove into the side of Dr. Carson.
"No..." He whimpered from the hit. "I didn't do anything."
Negan held up a small piece of torn paper, "I found this little souvenir tucked away in your desk."
The doctor stuttered, "I-I-I don't know what that is."
Negan hit him again, clearing his throat as he grabbed one of the gloves. "You...left the door open and let my puppy out. You knew Sherry hated Daryl being here, so you let him out for her, be the hero, then you could move in. That...is some weaselly shit right there."
"But I didn't. She's the one who ran-"
"Oh, she ran? You know why she ran?! Because she knew I would blame her, which...I did. But see, Sherry told Dwighty boy the whole story right before she was torn apart. A super-hot girl, horrifically killed because of your greedy, delusional and tiny little prick."
"It's not true. Dwight?" Dr. Carson looked for help. "He's lying about it. I would never do that."
"Why? Why? Why would he do that?" Negan questioned. "Why would he intentionally try to hurt you? Sherry's gone. And if he's lying...and she's out there, I will find her. And then I will burn the other side of his face off until he dies. So, what was he gonna get out of this? No, no..."
Negan looked over to Dwight, who refused to look up from the fire, "You see, I know my Dwighty boy. See, all he needed...was one more night in the hole, get his head screwed on straight. It worked before, and it worked now. Ain't that right, Dwight?"
Dwight, who still didn't look up, agreed, "Oh, yeah." He then handed over the iron to Negan as Dr. Carson pleaded.
"No, please, please. Please don't burn me. Please! No. No, no, please!"
"You know I hate this shit." Negan held the iron next to the doctor's cheek. "Just tell me you did it and that you're sorry, and I don't have to do this."
"Yes." Dr. Carson reluctantly admitted. "Yes, I did it- all of it. Sorry. I'm so sorry."
His confession appeared to appease Negan. "That's all you had to say." He dropped the iron to the ground. "That is all you had to say."
Negan looked to the surrounding audience before grabbing Dr. Carson and throwing him into the fire, holding him there until he was gone. Dwight refused to look. He felt guilty, yet relieved.
Negan patted his back, chuckling, "A good thing we got a spare Dr. Carson. I trust you, Dwighty boy. Never should've doubted ya. Sherry was one of my favorites. I'm sorry."
"I'm not." Dwight was quick to respond.
"Hoo, ice cold. I love it."
♮♮♮
Negan knocked at JJ's cell.
"JJ!" He called loudly. His tone was positive, but she never trusted his mood based solely off of his tone.
"Dwight told me."
Her heart dropped.
She'd asked one thing, and her trust was broken.
"He told me that you had nothing to do with Daryl getting out."
JJ was confused.
"It was all Dr. Carson's doing." Negan told her. She heard the lock on the cell turn and she shielded her eyes to the light that flooded in. "Sorry for blamin' ya, sweetheart. But you had to see how it looked from my perspective." He squatted in front of her. "So, what do you say...forgive me?"
She started intently at Negan's outstretched hand. In her mind, JJ quickly weighed the pros and cons of playing the card or rotting in the cell.
She took Negan's hand, being helped off of the cold, cement ground.
♮♮♮
[JJ]
After I had cleaned up, I decided to pay a visit to Eugene. There wasn't much sneaking I had to do. I'd decided by that point that whatever happened, I was okay with the outcomes. There was nothing that they could do to me that they hadn't already done...except kill me. And that was an outcome that I could accept.
I knocked on Eugene's door.
"Eugene." I called softly.
"I told you- I don't want any part of-" He abruptly opened the door, changing his demeanor when he saw it was me. "Oh, uh- apologies for my sudden outburst. I thought you were...somebody else."
I didn't know what Eugene was talking about most of the time, so I left it at that.
"Can I come in?"
He unsurely nodded, letting me pass through the door frame.
"How can I be of assistance to you?"
I swallowed hard, "I need you to help me get out of here."
Eugene shook his head, "No can do. I saw what they did to the doctor. I do not wish that same fate upon myself."
"Eugene, please. It's either that or kill me."
"I will not being doing either of those given options. You're one of Negan's wives. I'm not going to be the one who's found helping you escape and-or fall into a peaceful slumber never to wake up from."
I went quiet, which gave Eugene the floor to continue.
"I do not understand why you would wish either of those probably outcomes either. It seems that you have been well taken care of due to your upkept hygiene and appearance."
I nodded, frowning, "taken care of?" I began to unzip my dress.
Eugene was a scientist. He wanted fact, evidence. So, I was going to show him just how well I'd been taken care of.
"What are you doing?"
"Showing you just how well taken care of I've been."
"JJ, I have to insist you stop this inappropriate-" He shielded his eyes, turning his head from me.
"Here." I held my arms away from myself, showing the bruises that had been covered by the thin piece of fabric they called a dress. "What does this say about my appearance? Hm?" I cleared my throat, "you don't know the hell they've put me through here, Eugene."
Eugene still refused to look at me.
"This. Eugene, this is why I can't be here anymore." I breathed deeply, not fighting the urge to break down. "If you looked at me...you would understand. You would help me." I gritted my teeth together to be able to choke out my words.
He finally looked up.
Not for long before he went back to awkwardly staring at his shoes.
"And this...this isn't even the worst of it."
I took a step closer, "you know what they told me today, Eugene? Dr. Carson told me that I was pregnant."
That. That got his attention. He uncomfortably met my eyes.
"That seems like a predicament." I was honestly taken back. I was expecting some fake words of encouragement, or some agreement to help me. "But I, certainly cannot and will not be helping you during this troubling time. I don't know if you've been properly informed, but I, JJ, am now Negan."
I shook my head, "no."
"I am in fact-"
"No. You're not." I scoffed, painfully slipping my dress back over my head, "You're a coward, Eugene."
a/n: ok, ok, i know, just trust me on this....