The expressions on Negan's face and the way he touched him told Rick all he needed to know, confirming Daryl's suspicions he whispered to him before they were ripped apart from each other. Even with the days blurring together, Rick knew it had been quite some time since he saw anyone from his group but he had plans for fixing it. He just needed to earn Negan's trust first and a little more attachment before he started shifting things. Negan needed to believe he still held all the power but Rick knew he actually took it the moment their eyes met.

The Saviors seemed to have won the war but they hadn't really and soon enough they would see how wrong they were. They were counting him out but in so many ways he was more dangerous than Negan could ever be.

"Wouldn't think you'd appreciate me fightin' back," Rick responded, especially when he tended to not stop until others weren't breathing any longer. How would Negan react to coming back into the room with ten men dead at his feet and only Rick standing there. One man shouldn't be able to do the things Rick managed to do. Plus, it would clue others in too much and he needed to seem not as lethal for the rest of his plans to work.

Picking up the filthy shirt, he pulled it back on and moved to sit back down. Later, he'd make a demonstration of what would happen if anyone else dared to touch him. One guy in particular already had his target on his back. Oh, he wouldn't kill him but he would make it difficult for the man to ever eat again.

The concern again.

Fingers picked at the canned meat substance and he brought a little up to his mouth to chew and shallow. To think he missed cans of beans lately.