The Beginning of the End

Sleep didn't come easy when rage sat heavy in my chest. It boiled in my stomach, pulsed through my veins, kept my eyes wide open while the rest of Alexandria lay quiet. This was our home, the place we were meant to feel the safest, but I didn't - not while Dwight was here..

The thought of him festered like an open wound, poisoning every attempt at rest. I turned onto my side, staring at the wall, trying to focus on the warmth of Daryl beside me. He hadn't fallen asleep easily either - it took hours - but he'd succumbed eventually, unlike me.

I'd been able to quieten the storm inside me while we were tangled up in passion, but once the post-orgasmic bliss had subsided, I was as pissed off by Dwight's presence as ever.

I was angry for Daryl. For everything the asshole had done to him, everything he'd taken.

I was also angry for what he'd tried to take from me.

I clenched my teeth, staring at the ceiling, forcing my breathing to stay slow, even. Daryl would sense it if I let it take hold - would open his eyes, see the fury raging inside me.

Fuck it. I was going to see the bastard.

Slipping free, I tucked the blanket around Daryl, then pulled on my clothes and boots. I strapped my knife to my belt and slipped out the door, stepping into the cool morning air.

I wasn't planning to kill him. Not yet. Not when he claimed to be able to help us win the war against the Saviors, though I doubted it. The knife was a habit... but if the opportunity presented itself... if he pushed me... at least I'd be prepared.

Rick and Aaron sat outside the new jailhouse, steaming cups of coffee in hand. They seemed unsurprised to see me approaching.

Rick sighed, shaking his head. "Thought we'd see you sooner."

I crossed my arms sassily. "Yeah, well... I was getting laid."

Aaron spat his coffee out.

Rick failed to hide a smirk. He studied me for a long moment, his eyes dropping briefly to the knife at my hip. Then, with a resigned sigh, he held out his hand.

"You can go in," he said. "But not armed. And I'm coming with you."

"There'll be bars between us."

"Yeah, well, I know that won't stop you." He gave me a knowing look. "Not after what he did to your husband."

My jaw tightened. "Oh, I am going to kill him for that. Don't you worry. Just not today."

"I know. If Daryl doesn't get to him first. I know you will."

Slowly, I unbuckled my knife and slapped it into his palm without a word.

Rick slid the key into the lock and opened the door. He gestured for me to go first, and I stepped inside, finding Dwight curled in the corner of the cell. Smaller than I remembered. Weaker-looking.

Good.

I hoped he was rotting from the inside out.

I kicked the bars hard, the metal rattling. "Wake up, fuckwit."

He flinched, blinking blearily up at me. His gaze darted past me to Rick, like he wasn't sure if I was real or some kind of fever dream.

I bared my teeth in something that wasn't a smile. "Good morning, Negan's Bitch. I hope you slept terribly."

He swallowed. "What do you want?"

I leaned in, my voice a blade. "I want to tell you more about my husband - the man you tortured."

Something flickered in his face. Guilt? Shame?

I didn't care.

"You think you know Daryl," I said, voice quiet but lethal. "You think you broke him. That the man you threw in that cell - stripped down, beaten - was the whole of him. But you don't know shit about shit."

Dwight's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Daryl's the kind of man who spent his whole life being treated like nothing and still managed to be good in a world that beat it out of everyone else. He'd give you the shirt off his back even if he didn't have another one. He'd risk everything for the people he loves, no matter what it cost him."

I wrapped a hand around one of the bars.

"Did you know he scavenged formula for a baby whose mother died giving birth to her - so she wouldn't starve? Then came back and bottle-fed her, comforted her to sleep?"

Rick shifted behind me, but I didn't stop.

"Did you know he spent weeks searching for a little girl in the woods? Almost got himself killed looking for her - but still didn't give up? She wasn't his. But she was someone's, and he wasn't leaving her out there alone."

I let that settle. Let him picture it.

"Did you know that despite being exhausted from searching, he still found time to bring her mother a Cherokee Rose? Told her the legend behind it - so she wouldn't lose hope?"

Dwight's jaw tightened, but I wasn't done.

"Did you know he thought I was dead - but still clawed through rubble with his bare hands, cutting himself to shreds to find my body? And when he found me - barely breathing - he carried me half-way back here and gave his own blood to save me?"

His breath stilled.

"And did you know-" I leaned in closer "-that he gave himself to Negan so I'd be set free? Oh, wait. Yeah... you do know that." My voice was poison. "Because you were there."

I let the silence drag between us, let him choke on it.

"You locked him in a cell. You fed him like a dog. You tried to destroy him." I tilted my head. "But you didn't. Because you can't."

I let my voice drop to a whisper.

"You don't destroy a man like Daryl Dixon. But you'll damn sure pay for trying... Despite his heart of gold, he's also a very dangerous man. He's tougher than anybody I've ever met, smarter, and brave as hell.

A muscle twitched in Dwight's jaw.

"You won't die today, Shit for Brains. But when the day comes?" I smiled. "You'll wish I'd gotten it over with... especially if it's my husband that comes for you."

I turned to Rick, heart hammering but trying to sound nonchalant. "I'm done."

Aaron looked apprehensive as I exited, but he didn't say anything.

"Athena." Rick caught up to me as I'd started heading back home.

I stopped and turned, but I didn't say anything. I wasn't upset with Rick - not really - I knew he thought Dwight was our best chance at winning the war - but I didn't have to be happy about the cretin being here.

He gave me a sympathetic look. "I know it's hard - having him around."

Hard. What a damn understatement. It was a special kind of hell. Every time I thought about Dwight, my brain imagined Daryl bloody and beaten, being forced to eat dog food, thinking he was broken.

It wasn't just what Dwight did to Daryl - it was what he did to me, too. The way he taunted me, kept me caged like some animal while Negan decided whether I was worth keeping alive. On top of all of that - he'd tried to take my husband from me.

"He shouldn't be anywhere near here" I muttered. "Not after-"

"I know," Rick cut in. "I know what he did. To Daryl. To you. I'm not asking you to forget it." He sighed, rubbing a hand over his beard. "But we need him."

I turned to him then, narrowing my eyes. "Do we?"

Rick met my stare, and I could see the war happening inside of him. He didn't want Dwight here either - that much was clear. But Rick was always looking at the bigger picture, at what would get us through the next fight.

"We're outnumbered," he admitted. "Outgunned. We don't know what we're walking into with the Saviors. If Dwight's really turning on them, if he's really willing to help-"

I scoffed. "He's a liar. A coward. You really trust him?"

Rick shook his head. "No. I don't. And I sure as hell don't like him. But if he can help us beat Negan, we'll use him. Then we deal with him after."

I turned my gaze back to the street, anger simmering just beneath my skin. I wanted to tell Rick that it wasn't enough, that Dwight deserved worse. Now.

Rick exhaled sharply. "I hate him too, you know."

That made me glance back at him. He wasn't looking at me, just staring out into the night with that same tightness in his jaw.

"I think about what Negan did to Hershel, to Abraham. To you and Daryl," he went on. "And I think about how Dwight was a part of that. So yeah, I hate him." He turned his head toward me, voice quieter but just as serious. "But we got bigger things to deal with right now. And I need to know you and Daryl can hold it together while he's here."

I let out a slow breath. I didn't answer right away, because I wasn't sure I could promise that. Every part of me wanted to rip Dwight apart, to make him feel every ounce of the pain he put Daryl through. But I wasn't stupid. I knew what was at stake.

"We'll handle it," I said, though the words tasted bitter in my mouth.

Rick gave me a small nod. "Good." He lingered a moment longer before adding, "We'll end this, Athena. Negan. The Saviors. All of it. Then he gets what's coming to him."

I didn't watch him walk away. I kept my eyes on the dark streets ahead as I made my way back to Daryl.

By the time I got back to our room, dawn was creeping in through the curtains. The dim light made everything look peaceful - like the world wasn't currently spinning on the edge of a knife.

I slipped inside, easing the door shut behind me.

Daryl was still there, curled on his side, blankets half-kicked off, hair a wild mess. His fingers twitched slightly against the sheets, curling toward where I'd been.

The mattress dipped as I settled, pulling the blanket up. He stirred, his breath catching for a second before evening out again.

I ran my fingers through his hair, brushing it back, grounding myself in his warmth. He grunted, shifting closer to me, so I pressed a soft kiss to his temple, then soothed myself by listening to his heartbeat.

Eventually, sleep took me...

...until yelling jolted me awake.

I shot up in bed, heart hammering, pulse spiking with the instinct that something was wrong. Daryl was already halfway out of bed, yanking on his jeans, face set in a scowl.

"What the hell-" I started, but then I recognized the voice.

Merle. Who sounded incredibly pissed.

I already knew where we'd find him.

By the time we reached the jailhouse, a small crowd had gathered. Rick, Michonne, and Aaron were already there, standing between Merle and the building's entrance, but Merle wasn't having it. He was pacing, eyes wild, hands clenched into fists like he was barely holding himself back.

We'd heard him from all the way across Alexandria.I knew was here for the same reason I had been just a few hours earlier... Dwight.

Merle's voice was rough with rage. "Ya mean to tell me ya let that sorry ass son of a bitch in here!?"

Rick put a hand up, trying to calm him. "Merle-"

"Don't 'Merle' me, Officer Friendly," he spat, stepping closer. "Ya know! Ya know what he did to my brother, 'n' ya ain't killed 'im yet!?"

Daryl tensed beside me, and I saw his hands twitch like he couldn't decide whether to jump in and help or hold back and let Merle rip Dwight apart.

Merle turned to me, eyes burning. "Ya knew too, didn't ya?" He let out a humorless laugh. "Ya gotta be kiddin' me. What, y'all just forgave this asshole?"

"No one forgave him," Rick snapped. "He's useful. That's it."

Merle let out a sharp bark of laughter and suddenly lunged forward, shoving past Aaron. "Useful? USEFUL? Ya think that makes it okay?"

Rick didn't get chance to react before Merle's good hand cracked across his jaw, sending him staggering backwards. The growing crowd gasped, someone cursed, and suddenly, the whole thing was about to explode.

Michonne grabbed Merle, quickly joined by an approaching Jesus. They attempted to haul him back, but he wasn't having it. "He tortured my baby brother, that fuckin' sumbitch! Caged him like a goddamn animal!

Daryl finally moved. He stepped forward and grabbed Merle's arm, yanking him back roughly. "Enough."

Merle whirled on him. "Yur defendin' 'im now?"

Daryl's voice was low, firm. "Ain't defendin' shit. But ya gotta calm down."

Merle stared at him like he'd just spoken another language. Then he turned back to Rick. "Ya've all lost yur damn minds!"

Rick shook his head. "Merle, need you to trust me. We're gonna take down Negan, and Dwight's gonna help us do it. Then we deal with him."

Merle scoffed, shaking his head. "If I don't kill 'im first..."

Rick held his ground. "If Daryl and Athena can wait, so can you."

A tense silence stretched between them. Merle's jaw was pulsing, his breathing heavy, but even he wasn't stupid enough to push Rick too far. Finally, he let out a sharp breath and wrenched his arm from Daryl's grip. "Fine. But when this is over, that bastard's mine."

He stormed off, shoving past the onlookers, still fuming.

The second he was gone, I turned to Daryl. He was staring at the jailhouse, hands clenched. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away too.

I followed, catching up to him and Merle just as they entered the house.

"Yur goin' soft brother." I heard Merle sneer.

"Shut up." Daryl scowled back. "Just ain't stupid."

Merle readied to reply, but I interrupted, shocked by something I'd seen on his neck...

"Merle!" I exclaimed. "Is that a hickey!?"

Daryl's eyes flew to his brother's neck.

Merle's entire demeanour changed instantly, his anger vanishing and being replaced with a cocky grin.

"Well, hell yeah, little sis. Old Merle's always been a hit with the ladies."

Daryl and I looked to each other, confused as hell, but smirking.

"Ya gon' tell us who the unlucky lady is?" Daryl teased.

Merle hesitated for a moment, then quietly, "Annie."

Daryl looked rather impressed.

I considered being annoyed about it, but realized I was pretty impressed too. Annie had been at Alexandria since before we arrived. She was tough, unafraid to muck in with runs and duties, and she was HOT.

"Wow." Was all I could say, smiling.

"No need to make a big deal outta it. It's... new."

Daryl looked like he was going to burst out laughing at Merle's sudden shyness. "That where ya ran off to last night?"

"Mhmh." Merle confirmed.

"Well, I'm happy for you." I glared at Daryl. "We both are."

~

Rick invited Daryl and I to question Dwight with him, Tara, Michonne and Jesus. It was a bold move. He knew we wanted Dwight dead and buried - and he had to know Tara felt the same after what he'd done to Denise. I half-wondered if having the three of us involved was Rick's way of making us feel like we had some semblance of control over the situation.

I deliberated whether or not I wanted to breathe the same air as Dwight for the second time in one day, but Daryl was going, so I decided I was in.

When we arrived, Dwight sat on the cot, hands bound, shoulders slumped. The cell was unlocked, likely to make him feel like we were open to what he had to say, encouraging him to reveal more.

All I could think about was how easy it would be for me to drive my knife through his temple.

Rick stood with his arms crossed, face hard. Michonne leaned against the wall, katana within easy reach. Tara paced the floor like a caged animal. Jesus looked as relaxed as always.

I stood near Daryl, who had barely moved since stepping inside. I could feel the tension rolling off him, thick as the humidity in the air. I was proud of him for facing Dwight yet again.

Rick finally got started. "Why?"

"'Cause I want it stopped." Dwight replied. "I want Negan dead."

I was sick of the sight of him already. I wanted nothing more than to rip Daryl's vest from his back - he didn't deserve to be wearing it.

I knew though, that if we did decide to let him help us, Negan would be suspicious it was missing. The loser wore it like an unearned badge of honour.

Tara stopped pacing, her fists clenched. "That girl you murdered... she had a name," she spat, her voice shaking with rage. "Her name was Denise, and she was a doctor. She helped people."

Dwight met her glare. "I wasn't aiming for her."

The room went deathly silent.

I fought every single instinct in my body to remain still, not attack.

But Daryl didn't.

He lunged at Dwight, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and slamming him against the stone wall. The impact echoed through the room.

Before anyone could stop him, Daryl had his knife out, the tip of his blade just millimetres away from Dwight's right eye.

"Do it." Tara stepped closer to Daryl, eyes blazing. "Do it."

Dwight's breathing was steady, but I could see the muscle in his jaw flexing. "You wanna end it this way... you go ahead." He didn't struggle. He didn't beg. I'm sorry. - I am... I know you want to."

Daryl's grip on the knife tightened. I could tell it was taking every ounce of his self-control not to drive the knife forwards.

"He could just be here to see if you two were here." Rick mused aloud to Daryl and I.

But Dwight kept talking. "What I did, I was doing it for someone else. She just got away. So now I'm here. "He addressed Daryl. "So are you because of her.

Daryl didn't move.

"Do it!" Tara urged him again.

"There's another choice." Dwight continued. "Daryl... Daryl, you knew her... You'd have done the same for your wife."

Daryl's heavy breathing echoed off the walls, but I could tell something inside of him shifted.

Dwight still hadn't shut the fuck up. "Negan trusts me... We work together, we can stop him. You knew me then, and you know me now. You know I'm not lying... I'm not."

I kept my eyes trained on Daryl as he slowly released his hold on Dwight, lowering his knife, despite Tara's continuing pleas.

Rick finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Then why should we trust you?"

Dwight exhaled sharply. "Because I know what's coming." He looked around the room, meeting each of our eyes. "Negan's bringing three trucks. At least twenty men. They'll be here in two days."

The weight of his words settled over all of us.

"His plan's the same as always," Dwight went on. "Make an example outta you. Take what he wants. Burn the rest." He swallowed hard. "But I got a way to stop him."

Rick narrowed his eyes. "Go on."

Dwight licked his lips. "You hit him here - while he's in Alexandria. Take out as many as you can. Once it's done, I radio the Sanctuary. Tell 'em it's all clear. No problems. Then we use their trucks to roll up to the Sanctuary. Then, we get the workers on our side, build our numbers up, and go from outpost to outpost and end this."

Michonne folded her arms. "And once we're inside?"

"We rally the workers," Dwight said. "They hate the Saviors. Always have. They outnumber 'em, but they're scared. You give 'em a chance? They'll fight." His jaw tightened. "We take down Negan. Destroy the outposts. End it. All of it."

Silence.

I exchanged a look with Rick, then with Daryl. It was a plan. A damn good one. But could we trust the source?

Rick studied Dwight for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Alright."

Tara let out a sharp breath, shaking her head. "This is a mistake."

Rick ignored her, looking straight at Dwight. "You head back. Play your part. But if you turn on us-"

"I won't," Dwight said.

Rick's expression hardened. "You better hope not."

"Aaron and I will see you out." Michonne told Dwight, as they began they escorting him away, making sure he left Alexandria without any funny business.

As soon as he was gone, Daryl let out a slow breath, his hands still clenched at his sides.

Jesus glanced at Rick. "You really think he's telling the truth?"

"We'll find out in two days." Rick replied. "We just started it - the whole thing."

Then Daryl addressed Rick, his voice sharp, final.

"If he's lyin', I'm gonna kill him real slow. When this is done, I don't give a damn if he's sorry... I will kill that son of a bitch.

"If he's lying..." Rick responded. "This is already over."

~

The church was packed. Everyone who had a stake in this war - who had something to fight for - was here. The air was thick with tension, but no one spoke until Rick stepped forward, his presence commanding the room.

"We've got a new plan," he began, his voice steady but firm. "Dwight says Negan's coming here two days from now with three trucks, at least twenty men. We're gonna hit him here, when he least expects it. Then, we take his own trucks, drive straight to the Sanctuary, and finish this for good."

A murmur rippled through the group. Some nodded, some exchanged uncertain glances.

Rick continued. "We can't do it alone. We need numbers. Jesus-" he turned to him "- I need you to get back to Hilltop. Make sure Maggie, Glenn and the others are ready."

Jesus nodded without hesitation.

Rick turned to Daryl. "You think Carol's had enough time to convince King Ezekiel?"

Daryl exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "Hope so. I can go find out."

Rick shook his head. "No. I need you and Athena for somethin' else."

I glanced at Daryl, but he looked just as confused as I felt.

Before I could ask, Beth spoke up from the other side of the room. "I can go."

We hadn't yet seen her since we returned. She'd moved into the other house, the memories of her father in ours too painful.

Rick hesitated, then said, "I'd rather you stay here and watch Judith."

Beth's expression hardened. "I'm not just your babysitter, Rick."

The room went quiet. Even I was surprised by the bite in her voice.

Rick blinked, taken aback.

Beth lifted her chin. "I can help."

Rick studied her for a long moment, then finally relented with a small nod. "...Okay. But take Merle with you."

Beth huffed, crossing her arms. "Deal."

I hid a small smirk. She wasn't the same girl who used to sing by the fire back at the prison. She'd changed, just like the rest of us.

"There's another group... A few of us met them not too long ago, call themselves the Scavengers. They're on board. I'll get a message to them. They'll be here."

I had no idea who the Scavengers were, and my face clearly betrayed it.

Tara leaned over to me. "Garbage people." She whispered.

That didn't help at all.

Rick looked around the room. "Everyone knows their job. We do this right, we win."

The weight of his words settled over us. No one doubted what was at stake.

This was it. The beginning of the end.

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Thanks so much for reading. ❤️