I Will Fight for You

Chapter 2

"So the girl is your niece, making Negan your...." Michonne questioned Rick once they got back to Alexandria.

They'd just finished burying Abraham and Glenn and were now in their house washing up.

"Negan's not technically related to me. Milo's Mum was my half-sister, but Negan and her never got married," Rick explained., as he shook the water off his hands before grabbing a towel and fully drying them.

"I see. So technically your only ties to him is through Milo, therefore, we won't have an overly complicated issure of gettng rid of him," Michonne said.

Rick looked at her. "He's the only parent Milo has left. Her Mum my sister, died when Milo was 10, so Negan is all she has left. So yeah, that does overlly complicate the issue of getting rid of him."

"Rick, sh has you!" Michonne argued.

"She barely kmows me! My parents didn't approve if Negan, so he was forbidden from seeing Ally, so naturally Ally snuck out and say him anyways.

"When Ally got pregnant, my father disowned her, dispite Ally being born in literally the same scenario created by him," Rick sighed. "Before Allly's death, I'd only met Milo twice. After Ally's death, I was told to stay away from MIlo. The last time i saw her, she'd just graduated high school. I didn't recognize her.

"She kept a picture of her Mum's — of Ally and I, and that's how she knew who I was," Rick rubbed his hands over his face.

Michonne gripped Rick's shoulder in comfort. "I get that you loved your sister and love your niece, whom you barely know — but we've got to take Negan down for the greater good of this communtiy."

"Maybe....maybe there's another way to stop this," Rick said. He doubted it, but if anyone had any better ideas than killing his niece's dad, he was open to hearing all about it.

Michonne sighed. She'd leave it be for now, knowing Rick needed the time to process the fact that they more than likely have to kill his niece's dad — a niece whom he hasn't seen in almost a decade.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The doc had cleaned Daryl up the best he could. He stitched the gash on Daryl's forehead —above his left eye, he wrapped his abdomen in order to stablize his four broken ribs. He got as much as the dirt and grime as he could with jsut giving him a sponge bath. He even went so far as to wash Daryl's hair. With the help on his assistant, the doc had Daryl changed into scrubs in order to wash Daryl's clothes and mend them.

After beinf out for two whole days, Daryl woke. Not knowing where he was, he feaked out a little and moved to get up quickly, but instantly regretted it. He let out a pained groan, and fell back against the pillows.

"Easy ther big guy; you took quite the beating. You have 18 stitches in your forehead, and four broken ribs," the doc informed him.

Daryl just groaned in response, holding his ribs. "How's the kid?" he asked, then groaned in pain.

"She's lucky to be alive. She's only alive thanks to your quick thinking and actions," the doc filled him on.

Daryl nodded in acknowledgement "Can I see her?"

"You really shouldn't move around for the next few days; your ribs need time to heal," the doc said.

"I'm fine . I need to see her," Daryl insisted and struggled to get up.

With a sigh, the doc moved to help Daryl. "If you insist on ignoring my instructions, at least let me hlep you so you don't damage yourself even more."

Daryl gave a turt nod and witht e help of the doc, walked over to Milo's section of the room, which was curtained off for privacy.

She was still unconsious and hooked up to various monitors, an IV, and an oxygen tank.

Daryl made his way to a chair by Milo's bed, and sat down. He gentle grabbed her hand and held it. "It was stupid of ya ta jump in front ah me like ya did. Ya don't even know me. Ya shouldn'ta done that," he whispered to her in his low, gravelly voice. "Please don' die. I need ta thank ya in person — proper like," he kissed the back of her hand.

The doc stepped out to check on his next his other patients, and stopped Negan before we went into Milo's room. "Daryl's with her right now. He's begging her to live. She's stable, but hasn't woken up yet."

"How's he doing?" Negan asked.

"He's got 18 stitches in the gash on his forehead, and 4 broken ribs. Some bruising too, but other than that, he'll be sore for a while but will be just fine."

Negan nodded his thanks and moved to the curtain, pulled it back a little -- just enough to watch how Daryl was interacting with Milo.

"I don't know if ya can hear me or naught, but mayber....maybe I could read ta' ya or somefin' ya know, ta past the time. I'm not that god, but I can get by.

"I don't know if ya like that or naught, but ya woulddn'ta be alone or nofin'" Daryl whispered.

"She loves books. I'm sure she'd love for you to read to her," Negan said as he stepped into the room.

Dayl startled and went to get up quickly, however, the sudden movement was again too much on his broken ribs. He groaned in pain.

Negan placed his hand on Daryl's shoulder. "Easy, you nedd to take it easy -- let your ribs heal

"I'll get you some of her favourite books for you to read to her."

Daryl just nodded. Relaxing after he shrugged Negan's hand off his shoulder.

Negan left the medbay and went into Milo's room. He walked over to her bookshelf and picked out her top four favourite books. After he grabbed them, he stopped and looked around her room. He hadn't been in there for a while, and was surprised to see that it was decorated with various bands, wolves, and a few old family pictures. Some with her Mum and Rick, some with her as a baby with her Mum and him. Some with just her and him. He smiled seeing all the memories of when the world was a better place.

Daryl sat by Milo's side, begging her to wake up. "Please Milo, ya gotta wake up! Ya shouldn'ta jumped in front of the gun. Yer just a kid; ya got ya whole life ta live; I was ready to die. I already lived ma life." he cried. "Why would ya do that fer someone ya don't even know?" He laid his head on his, which were still clasping hers.

Negan walked in and saw Daryl. He saw that Daryl's shoulders were slightly shaking, and knew that he was crying. Despite everything, he honestly felt bad for the younger man. Only a world gone to s**t with walkers in it would bring a strong, hard, stoic man like Daryl to tears.

After a few minutes of crying, Daryl sat up and wiped his tears with his forearm, and cleared his throat.

Negan took that moment to step into the room. He placed his hand on Daryl's shoulder. "She's going to be alright. She's got her mother's fighting spirit in her. "She's going to pull through." he tried reassuring Daryl, but it sounded more like he was trying to reasure himself.

Daryl could omnly nod. He knew there was nothing he could say, especially since he didn't know Milo at all. However, he was somehow drawn to her; was willing to fight for her.

"Anyways, I brought her top four favourite books for you to choose from. They might be a little hard to read because they're written during 1847, 1813, 1862, and 1854," Negan said as he held up each book, one by one. Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Les Miserable, and A Tale of Two Cities.

Daryl merely nodded.

Negan patted Daryl's shoulder then walked to the door. He stopped and turned back to face Daryl. "If you need anything at all, just hollar into the hallway. Someone, is always within earshot."

Daryl grunted in acknowledge, not bothering to look Negan's direction.

Although Daryl can't see him, Negan noddedat him, then left.