Since the moment Negan took Sally from the scene of the crime, she refused to acknowledge anything had ever happened. He took it as some kind of coping mechanism. And it was hard to blame her. His body still ached from the quake his body went through as he was kicking down the door for so long that the material finally gave way and he could get to her. The horror possessing her face was real.

His girl clearly lost it down in the corridors but his voice somehow brought her back. She set her eyes on him and never let him go up to the point when they were back in the bedroom. The locker on the door was broken but he brought the wings together and secured them with an armchair so they held for the night. It took him only few seconds but by that time Sally was already waiting in bed for him to join.

He got what he was thinking about earlier before falling asleep the first time. Sally immediately curled around him, her head rested on his chest. He reached out to turn off the lights so they could get some rest but hesitated.

"Do you want me to leave the lights on?" He lifted his head so he could see her.

"No, please, turn it off so they can never find us." She wrapped around him even tighter. She set the night watch.

"Alright then." Negan was stroking her hair until he fell asleep.

Sally stared into the darkness so long her eyes adjusted and she could see the shadow world around her. Her eyes did not close for a second, she'd been listening to the sound of Negan's heart that was going to beat as long as hers. One was not alive without the other.

In the morning, Sally still didn't let Negan to shift their conversation to the happenings of the last night. All she knew was she couldn't handle the matter objectively and therefore she was no help for him there. But she could definitely apply her potential elsewhere.

"Do you remember how we talked about Rick not working alone?" She asked him over breakfast.

Negan only nodded, trying to sense where she was going with that.

"He's not willingly bringing his loved one into this," Sally continued. "He can't fight you alone, that's for sure. But I think I know who they are allied with."

"Please, do tell," Negan said with big smile plastered on his face. He loved seeing Sally in charge like that. She made him proud.

"Before we met... I came across this... community. They are very particular but... they'll go for the best offer."

"Do whatever it takes. We need an upper hand. Who are they?"

Sally enjoyed being so helpful and she didn't want to let go of that feeling so easily. She let him wait, playing hide and seek, so Negan could search around in his head.

"We need to take out some garbage, don't you think?" She told him after moment of silence with cunning smile.

Negan's face brightened in recognition. His neighbors!

"Grass is always greener... I'll have to take care of the situation at hand here but you... Take whoever you want, just get it done. We need them on our side or out of the game."

Sally nodded. The new found freedom in Negan's trust in her was wind at her back. And she just made it blow in the other direction than suspecting Hilltop. Negan had other concerns already.

"If it takes longer than expected, take shelter, don't risk traveling at night," he said.

She leaned over the table and asked for a kiss. "How sweet. Don't you worry about me."

"Worry? About you?" He scoffed. "It's not like you're jumping in front of flying bullets or anything." He put his hands up, giving up, it was hard to keep up with her, but at least she kept him occupied. He was laid back that day and Sally was sorry to miss his white T-shirt promenade but she couldn't stay.

"You're in such good mood today," she smiled. "Hope it will be here when I'll get back."

"Always, love," he smiled back. "I'll see you to the gate."

___

The next morning Negan loaded his trucks and headed for Alexandria. It was trading hostages time. The punishment time.

Sally didn't make it back last night, she was joining him on the road later. She was close enough for their walkie-talkie signal to reach each other. Her convoy was already right behind him.

He had to wait anyway. The road had been blocked and while his people worked on removing fallen trees in their way, Sally made the distance catching up with Negan,

"What is this?" She jumped down from the truck. "Can't help yourselves, boys?"

"Oh, hey there, love," Negan put his hand around her waist. "Nothing these gentlemen can't handle."

Sally heard the language he used while talking to his men or to Rick for that matter, but the second he let out something for her ears only he smoothed all the sharp edges, from words to look in his eyes.

"By all means, pitch in, Sally," Simon could hardly pass the opportunity to joke on her account. They often did that on their trips to Hilltop.

But Negan shot a killer glance at him. There was no chance in hell he would put a chainsaw in Sally's hands. He had a poisonous remark on the tip of his tongue but then he remembered who was standing right beside him and besides, Sally got really attached to Simon. She felt comfortable around him, Negan knew that much.

"Less talking, more working." Negan let him off with just a warning and watched him get back to work.

Sally couldn't corrupt Negan's authority but his jealousy amused her to the point she could hardly hold her body from reacting. Instead of laughing, she decided to show him her affection another way. She lowered her hand resting on his waist and pinched his butt.

His head immediately turned to examine her face. His eyes had popped just a little bit wider and he leaned back just a tad more but Sally kept her composure and wouldn't give anything up. There was nobody seeing them at that moment, she made it their private joke. Negan was not used to jokes being pulled on his account but he gratefully went along with this one.

Sally was in no rush to remove her hand from it's comfortable position, she kept it right where it was and stood up on her tiptoes and kissed Negan before she moved ahead to see how fast were they progressing.

It seemed like they were sitting a hole in the road before the chunks of wood made way for their convoy. And every minute they spent wasting on the road-block meant more time for Rick to get ready. They could do without any smart surprises on his side.

"Do you want me to go ahead?" Sally turned to Negan, her face worried.

"Did you get them on our side?" He asked her absolutely positive about her answer, but had to somehow make her believe in their ability, too.

She nodded. There was no way she would come back to him without good news. She was his little helper.

"You're coming with me, then," he said definitely. "It's like we're already there. Now, were they reasonable in their requirements?"

"I guess. Rick had a deal with them, he got them guns... I had to get them something more valuable. And the only thing more rare than resources to kill is the life itself. They want bodies, well, body in particular... You know their leader... She just wants to lay with you after this and I said yes."

"She wanted what?" Negan was stunned, but then he saw that spark in Sally's eye. "You're so naughty today."

Sally smirked. "You promised me good mood when I get back. She wants 12 people, but you can break her for less, she'll say yes. They are corruptible but while we got the best deal, they'll stand with us."

"I don't like this one bit, you know that but Rick needs to see he can't do whatever he wants. Good job, sweetheart."

Sally had to check the ground was still under her feet. Negan's words of approval were her uprising. There was no room for recklessness, though, so she brought herself down immediately, there was one very effective way how to get her head from the clouds.

"Where is she?" Sally turned to look for their intruder. "Did you..." Lucille was what the lady that disturbed Negan's sleep deserved but the man himself saw it otherwise. Sneaking up on him like that, it took courage. That fearlessness was what he loved about Sally, too.

"She's in there," he pointed to the truck. "In the casket. She insisted." Negan shrugged and Sally felt relieved because she hardly could look at her and not tear her apart with her bare hands. "Now about our plan..."

___

Author's Note:

A little bit lighter chapter before we take it all down next time. Ready for a season finale? 😱

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