Negan is a heavy fucker, but between the two of you you've managed to half-carry him, half-drag him through the woods and back to the truck. Laura has been trying to comfort you; to reassure you Negan will be okay. But you know from experience people are rarely okay.

But Carson is good. Maybe Carson can fix this.

You reach the road and one of the trucks is gone; and somewhere in the back of your mind you're hoping Dwight has taken those assholes back to the Sanctuary because shit, they have no idea what they're in for.

Reaching the truck you realize the doors are all wide open; and glancing inside you can see they've taken literally everything; your firearms, food, water; Negan's goddamn leather jacket. You grit your teeth and swallow hard as between you, you manage to haul Negan up into the back of the truck. You climb up beside him and Laura pulls shut the doors. She pauses briefly.

"I know it looks bad but he's still alive. He's tough. We're about ninety minutes out from the Sanctuary. I can get us back and Carson will fucking fix him." You nod, kneeling down beside Negan and pressing your hands firmly against the bullet wound in the right side of his chest, attempting to slow the bleeding; and if you weren't sweating from the heat before you sure as Hell are now.

You're in relative darkness as the doors are closed, although there's a crack where they meet that allows in a slither of light. And if Negan was to turn, right now, you'd be dead because your dumb ass didn't even consider grabbing a goddamn knife or a rifle. Maybe Laura has one. You don't know. You don't fucking care.

Time passes and it could be minutes or hours for all you know. Your arms ache from applying pressure to his wound and it's as though the tables have been turned in some sick twist of fate. Negan had saved you when you'd almost died and if you can't do the same for him – you shake your head. You can't think like this.

The truck begins to slow and there's a confusion of shouting and furious voices outside.

Then gunshots.

You can only assume you're back at the Sanctuary but who the fuck is firing at whom? The truck is now at a complete stop and you hear the driver's door slamming shut and then the back doors are pulled open. The sound of the Sanctuary's corpses rattling their chains carries into the back of the truck and you know you're home.

"I heard shooting. What the fuck is going on?" You nervously demand of Laura.

"I, I'm not sure. It's Dwight's truck. I think, I think those guys are dead." She side steps into view of the Sanctuary. "Dwight! Fucking get here now!" Laura is bellowing at Dwight and there's a shuffling of footsteps against the gravel as he appears in front of you; at first he's staring at Laura and there's no doubt he's wondering how she ended up covered in blood, but then his gaze drops to you and Negan and his mouth is hanging open as though he's going to speak but can't figure out which question to ask first.

"He's shot." You find yourself shaking at your own words as you stare at Dwight. "We need to get him inside. We need Carson." Simon rounds the back of the truck.

"Shit. What in Hell is going on, D?" And the look on Simon's face conveys complete confusion as he glances between you, Dwight and Negan's unconscious body; and you don't know what the fuck is happening yourself but goddammit, Negan is bleeding out and Negan is the priority.

"Just help me get him inside!" You scream at Simon.

Dwight and Simon are far more capable of lifting Negan than yourself and Laura, and they're quick to carry him down from the truck and toward the sanctuary. You follow them, along with Laura, past Dwight's truck and the lifeless corpses of your captors.

"Hey." Laura grabs you by the arm.

"What?" You stare at her and Laura shakes her head.

"Let the Doc do what he needs to. You aren't any help in there." You know she's right but you don't want to leave Negan's side. "Come on." And reluctantly, you allow her to drag you away as Dwight and Simon carry Negan inside.

"What happened, D?" You question Dwight, sitting beside him and Laura at a dimly lit table inside the Sanctuary. Dwight takes a breath and stares downward.

"Stupid cunts got what was coming. Simon saw us, driving up to the gates, knew something was up." One of 'em had a gun to my head, Simon must've seen him... They wanted me to bring 'em here." He pauses. "The other was in the back with Arat. The guy got out and he didn't stand a fucking chance; Simon shot them both." He grins a little but it doesn't last long before it drops from his face again. They were dumb bastards. Vicious, but dumb. "How did Negan…?" His words trail as he looks up at you. You glance between Dwight and Laura before standing and walking away from them.

You can hear Laura telling Dwight what had happened. Recounting everything and you can't listen to it.

You slide down against the wall and stare mindlessly at the ground, waiting for Simon to bring news of Negan's condition. Minutes become hours and you lose all track of time as you sit in position against the wall. And Laura tries to make small talk but you can't respond.

Then Simon walks in.

You climb to your feet and stare at him expectantly. Dwight and Laura look up from across the room. "He's okay. He's unconscious still, but the bullet went clean through him. He lost a shit ton of blood but Carson's patched him up." You feel a wave of relief wash over you.

"Where is he?" You demand.

"In his room. Doc's keeping an eye on him but if you want to see him-" Simon doesn't have a chance to finish his sentence before you brush past him and down the corridor.

"I'll go with her." You hear Laura behind you. She doesn't need to come with you. You know she only wants to make sure you're okay but she doesn't need to. "Hey, hey." She catches up to you and pulls you back. "Look he's still unconscious okay? He's lost a lot of blood."

"I fucking know that." You assert.

"I'm just saying. He's not in the clear yet." But you can't afford to think like that. You know he's going to be okay; because he fucking has to be.

You step into the room and find yourself face to face with Carson. You glance at him briefly before turning your eyes toward the bed and seeing Negan laid in the centre of it.

"Doc, wait outside." Laura orders. Carson follows the order and steps out of the room. You approach Negan and climb up onto the bed, balancing on your knees by his side. He's still unconscious; bandages over his chest and shoulder. Your fingers wrap around his own as you stare down at him.

"This is hard on you." Laura sighs. You glance at her as she crosses the room and drops down into the chair opposite the coffee table. You shrug, your gaze traveling back over Negan. You stare at his face; his hair has fallen in waves over his forehead again; goddamn, how is he so perfect? How has this happened? You close your eyes momentarily because it's all you can do to stop yourself from crying.

And you hate yourself for the way you're feeling. Why does he mean so much to you? You've seen people die. You saw your entire group torn apart viciously by those undead pricks. You never wanted him to mean so much to you.

"Do you love him?"

What? Your eyes are fixed on Negan as Laura's question sinks in.

"I..." Do you? "I don't know." You tell her, not looking up from Negan. She doesn't respond. "The world doesn't work like that anymore." But you're doubting yourself.

"Sure it does."

"No. It doesn't." You state bluntly.

"I heard about what he did for you." You glance up at Laura and you know exactly what she's referring to but you play dumb.

"I don't know what you're talking about." You lie.

"His wives. Ex-wives?" She muses. You bite your lip; you don't have an answer. "He cares about you. More than he's ever cared about anyone in this place. More than he's ever cared about any of his wives. I know you care about him a lot, too." She's not wrong.

"I know." You sigh. There's a long silence where you consider just how you do feel about him; because really, you hardly know him. But he's unlike any man you've ever known in your life and the thought of losing him is more than you can bear.

"Answer the fucking question, doll."

Negan!

His eyes are still closed but he's grinning at you and you can hardly believe he's awake. Somewhere subconsciously you're aware of Laura telling you she's leaving the room but you're so focused on Negan that you don't quite register her words.

"Negan, you're… Are you okay?" What a stupid question. "I mean, you're not. But-" You're staring at him with a grin that rivals his own.

"I'm alive." His voice is rough as he blinks open his eyes. "And in my fucking bed…" There's a look of bewilderment on his face as he takes in the situation. Then his eyes settle on you and you move your hand to rest on his stubbled cheek. He takes a deep breath and relaxes into your hand. "Is everyone else alive?" He questions.

"Yes," you nod. "Everyone else is fine." You lean forward, moving your hand to his chest and resting your head gently on him, your other hand still gripping his firmly. "I was so worried." You close your eyes as you rest against him.

"It's okay, doll. I told you it would be fucking okay." He pulls his arm up and around you. "Shit… Hurts like fuck, though. Hey I know just how you fucking felt now." He chuckles softly.

"I guess it's my turn to look after you, then." You pull your head up to look at him.

"I guess so." He has that smug smirk on his face and somehow you know he's going to survive this. "You didn't answer the question, though."

"What?" You frown at him.

"Do you?" The smile drops from your face as you realise what he's asking you.

"Do I…?" You're playing innocent like you have no idea what he's asking, because you still don't know how to answer this question.

"Love me?" His eyes are burning into yours as he holds you against him.

"I-"

"It's a simple question." No. It isn't. His tongue slips between his lips in signature fashion as he smirks at you. "I'm gonna make this easy as shit, for you, doll." He is? "I, fucking, love, you."

Did you hear that right?

"Negan…" You're completely lost for words.

"I just told you how I fucking feel. You're meant to say it the fuck back." He raises his eyebrows.

"I love you, Negan." Because of course you fucking do.

And he runs his hands over your back and his fingers drag gently through your hair as he pulls you closer to him, so that his lips brush yours. And the world falls away as you find yourself lost entirely in his soft embrace and tender kisses.

He moves away and you lay yourself beside him; his hands wrapped around yours and your head resting on the half of his chest that isn't bandaged from the bullet wound.

"So, what happened to Lucille? I don't see her." He glances around the room.

Shit.

You'd left her. You'd been so focused on getting Negan back to the Sanctuary that you'd fucking left her.

"Negan I'm so sorry," You begin. "I forgot, I was so worried about you we just-" You're expecting him to be furious.

"It doesn't matter." It doesn't? He takes a deep breath and sighs. "I don't need Lucille. I've got you."

A/N: Good news? Negan is alive! Bad news? That's the last chapter, for now at least.

You want more good news? I'm staring a new Negan fic!

I hope this fic was enjoyed because honestly, I was making it up as I went along with no end in sight. But I just got a great idea for something new so...
Anyways I'm fucking rambling.