Sorry it has taken me so long to update. I've had writers block and nothing would come for any WIP. I tried over and over, I just had to take a step back from everything. I'm hoping that it's good and gone by now and that I can get back to my normal writing schedule. But if my updates take a bit longer, you know why now. Here's to hoping. Thanks for sticking around and reading/reviewing/favoriting/following. It's appreciated.

Moving on swift feet Mac and Daryl were hauling ass through side streets in towards where Rick and Shane would likely be held. There was a slim hope that they would be there but if it meant that they left the city sooner then he was all for it. Shooting a look over to Daryl he let his eyes search for any signs that he was hurt or not right, he seemed fine but his eyes were off.

Mac shifted and stopped closer to broken wall letting the brick that was busted bite into his back as he shifted. The scrape and burn of the rough brick wasn't unwelcome and he let his eyes flash to Daryls, "If they aint here...we're getting the fuck out of here."

Daryl looked up at him his normally bright blue eyes darkened to dangerous intent. "They're here."

Mac snorted but let his eyes shoot around the corner, "So sure brother?"

Daryl gave a slight smile and shifted closer to Mac his body brushing his as he peered around the corner, "Call it a hunch."

"A hunch? What the fuck happened over night that has your balls thinking that good shit happens to people in this world?" Mac growled, "You know those men aint looking to make friends. Friendly and dick lips are likely dead. Seeing as how they think they are the law."

Daryl snorted at his words and shook his head, "Colorful Mac."

"Fits them don't it? Fuck if he is alive I'm calling him dick lips for now on."

Daryl shifted again his body in front of Mac's both of them on the balls of their feet crouched, "You're looking for a reason to fight him."

"You goddamn right I am. I aint forgot that he had you on a motherfucking chokehold! If I had my way I'd leave him for dead." His voice a low growl forming snarled words.

Mac watched Daryl for a second longer before coming around the corner both of them lowering their weapons. Silently walking through the old yard they could hear the movement of the men, could sense the eyes on them. It was starting to send adrenaline spiking through his blood so hard he was ready for the fight.

"Ahhh, I thought we would see you again." The charming voice spoke from just above the door. Mac and Daryl both lifted their eyes the sun shining just behind the man. "Martinez let our guest in."

The door slid open for them and the brothers walked through their eyes scanning the area in rapid fire motions. Martinez was looking at them his eyes cautious and worried. He was looking around to but his eyes was watching his own men that he was there with. Mac raised an eyebrow and Martinez raised his own.

"Follow me." He spoke his accent tempered.

Mac shifted closer to Daryl their shoulders brushing with each movement, "Let me talk. I know men like this brother and I got his number." He felt a smile splitting his face.

Stepping into the room a grunt was the only response he got from Daryl.

"My my, I was knew I'd see you two again. Men like us stick together in this world." Phillip spoke.

Mac moved forward in the room ignoring the way the men watched him. He felt Daryl shadowing his movements, "We aren't here to join you. You have something we want. Somebody who owes us a debt." He growled.

Phillip set back smiling, "What could I have that would interest the two of you?"

Mac leaned on the desk, "Our brother was left behind like a goddamn animal chained up. The men responsible, you have them. We want them." The threat to Shane and Rick rode heavy through his voice.

Phillips pupils dilated with the threat and set forward, "And tell me what would you do with these men?"

The smile that split Mac's face was like hell rising, "Blood is blood. You spill ours..." Mac stood tall spreading his arms wide that smile riding free and his eyes blazing with the fucked up thoughts he generally kept bottled.

Phillip's eyes shifted to Daryl's silent brooding form and he studied him. "If I was to give you these men to harm...to do as you see fit. What will you do afterwards?"

Mac shifted he knew who Phillip was talking to and his eyes went to Daryl. Daryl shifted his eyes own fiery blue gaze shifting Phillip and by passing Mac altogether, "Merle. I wont stop till I find his body."

Phillip folded his hands in front of him steepling them, "And if you found this brother of yours...where would you go? Can't be on the move forever." His eyes locked on to Mac, "We have a place where men like you are needed."

Mac eyed him seeing something flicker in those depths his eyes kept shifting back and forth between them. Daryl moved forward suddenly, "Right now we just want to find our fucking brother and deal with these motherfuckers. Everything else can wait."

Phillip nodded, "I know the importance of family. Martinez bring them in here."

Mac watched Martinez leave the room his eyes worried and he felt unease crawl up his spine.

"You should consider my offer. It's secure. Women. You could have whatever you wanted..."

Daryl growled and Mac stepped closer to his brother his shoulder brushing him and he felt Daryl's tension bleed into him. It was rare for Daryl to start getting worked up before him. Phillip was smiling at them his smile hiding something that both knew was simmering below the surface.

"I can't just let you walk out with them. See..." Phillip stood as Shane and Rick were pushed in the room, "They have a group. Women, children. What kind of man would I be to leave them behind?"

Mac felt tension radiating through his body at the thought of this man close to Andrea, Kit, or Silver Fox. He was getting strangely attached to the thoughts of these women even though he barely knew them but it was there regardless. That protective nature that always radiated through him over his brothers was starting to spread to these women and he'd be goddamned if he seen this psycho near them.

Shane and Rick were shoved to their knees as Phillip walked over, "So you aim to do unto them as they done onto your blood?"

Daryl's scowl as on his face thickly his eyebrows heavy with disdain, "What will happen to them is still up in the air." His voice low.

Rick and Shane were both looking at them wide-eyed. Mac didn't blame them for the looks, the last time they had a run in with the pair of them things had got heated. Mac wouldn't have quit if it hadn't been for Daryl. And with the way Daryl was looking at them he could see the gears in their eyes trying to find a way out of this.

Phillip looked at them both, "How am I to know if you wont just set them free?"

Mac stepped forward suddenly his fist connecting with Shane's face. His head snapped to the side and blood splattered the ground as Shane coughed. Blood was sliding from his mouth over his chin to his throat and Mac squatted in front of him his eyes blazing with all the hate he felt for the man. "Don't worry about freedom. There is no such thing from the demons that will plague you in this new world."

Phillip chuckled and motioned to Martinez, "Consider my offer. I'm sure men like you can be resourceful and useful." Phillip looked at them both, "Remember my words though...I always get what I want in the end."

After every thing was worked out they started down the grassy incline that would lead back to the streets. Shane and Rick's hands were tightly bound with Daryl flanking while Mac lead them away. He could feel eyes on them and knew they were being followed. That was fine though, he'd lead them right through hell before they broke away.

Shane and Rick were silent as they walked. Smart enough not to bring walkers on them as they navigated the broken war zone and body littered streets. It wasn't sight soon forgetting seeing mother and child scorched and left behind as if a reminder of things lost. Mac sneered walking quick wanting away from it all. Phillips words were sounding off in his head over and over. He had viewed him and Daryl as assets to acquire. He knew men like that before. He'd killed a man like that in the old world before he was even eighteen. If he had too he'd tear his throat out and curb stomp him to ensure his brother was safe again.

Flicking his eyes back he looked at Daryl seeing that tension rolling thick through his body. He needed to talk to him. He'd been like this since they had met back up. He didn't miss the way Carol was with him and the way his eyes lingered on her. He sure as fuck didn't miss that Kit was holding on to him as if he was the only reason she was alive. What the fuck had happened?

"Mac."

Slowing his pace Daryl moved closer up to him, "They broke away about a block back but I don't trust it."

Nodding his head he looked back at Shane and Rick, both were eyeing them. "These sorry fucks wont even say thank you."

"Why should we thank you?" Shane spit through his busted lip splitting it back open.

Mac smiled, "I'd be careful about bleeding so much in the open there dick lips, it's like ringing a dinner bell."

He smiled watching Shane tense his eyes flicking around before landing on the extra weapons on both brothers. "And to answer your goddamn question. We saved your fucking lives back there."

Rick nodded his head, "Our group...?"

Daryl looked at him his eyes changing, "Fine."

Mac shifted, "Before we get back to them.." He looked to Daryl and he nodded, "After you two were taken we ran into Andrea.."

Mac let Daryl take over talking to them. He couldn't keep his anger from boiling over into the conversation at Lori's stupid actions. It was her fault that they had been split up, it was her fault she got killed. Woman was a moron.

"Ca-Carl?" Rick's breath stuttered out.

Mac looked over his shoulder, "Fine. He's fine he's with the group."

Rick's rapid paling face broke with a flush as he doubled over heaving almost onto Shane's boots. Mac looked off as the man got himself together and Shane tried to talk to him. Funny that he would choose to try to calm to the man when he'd left him for dead. When he'd been fucking his wife and playing daddy to his son. Man was a piece of shit.

"We can't wait here." Daryl growled storming forward.

Rick was silent the rest of the way his breathing shallow and fast. Shane was talking low to him and Mac let him have at it. He had his own shit to face.

"What happened?" Mac spoke low only to Daryl.

Daryl didn't break his stride but he seen his jaw tighten, "Nothing."

"Don't give me that shit. Your ass has been cagey ever since we left fox and kit.'

Daryl growled and shook his head sweat sliding further from his hair down his face, "She about died yesterday."

Mac picked up his pace keeping up with him, "Who?"

"Kit."

Mac nodded. "Got to her in time though brother."

Daryl nodded, "Barely."

"Barely don't matter in this world. It's alive or dead and that girl is breathing."

Slipping through a broken door they cut the ropes binding Shane and Rick. Both men were looking at them wide-eyed and searching. Rick was starting to get some color back and for that Mac was thankful. He wasn't sure if he could handle it if the man broke down right now. He might drive his knife through his eye if he started being a pussy.

"From here we need to keep low and make sure we aren't followed. We are leaving as soon as we get there." Daryl snapped.

Both men nodded with no other choices. Moving fast they were thankful not to come across anyone and even more thankful that no walkers had lingered in this area. They had moved off that first night after Daryl had set off a car alarm about ten blocks away. He'd rightly cleaned out the area making sure nothing was lingering to surprise them.

Slipping through the broken pawn shop door they were met with silence and his heart bottomed out before slamming up into his throat. Moving quick up the stairs they were met with T and Glenn standing guard. The men both visibly relaxed seeing them and smiled seeing Shane and Rick.

A door down the hall pulled open and Sophia's small face pressed to the crack before the door pulled back fully. The women slipped out and bags were gathered.

"Fast. We're losing light and we need to leave tonight." Mac barked.

Shane stepped forward his face bruising, "Wouldn't it better to wait till tomorrow?" The challenge in his voice vicious.

Mac stepped forward, "Do what you need to. Stay if you want. But I told you how things were. We're leaving."

Shane smiled, "You can't tell them what to do."

Daryl shoved Mac back getting between them, "Aint got time to be measuring our dicks! If they wanna goddamn stay let 'em. But we're getting the fuck out of here before he comes looking for you and your group. Your dumb fuckin' ass told him about them and if he finds them" Daryl snarled, "That's on YOU!"

Andrea moved closer to him and Mac's eyes flicked from Daryl to her. Her eyes were sweeping over him quickly searching for injury and he just nodded at her. She slung her pack up over her shoulder and he watched as Carol and Sophia kept their eyes on Daryl. He was squaring off against Shane. Though he'd love to see him lose his shit and stomp dick lip's face into the ground his brother was right about not having the time.

"Not now Daryl." Mac growled grabbing his brother's arm. "Break his fuckin' neck another time."

Sophia moved closer to him to them and Carol trailed after her. Daryl's eyes flicked to Carol's and red painted her face and throat when his eyes stayed on her and Mac kept his face in check but filed it away.

"Listen. We need to stay together and the Dixon's have got us this far." T shrugged, "Sorry Shane but I'm going with them.

Glenn and Dale moved with them as Jacqui gathered her stuff as well. Rick had ahold of Carl's hand both of them looking like they were on edge but Rick was keeping it together for the moment.

"He kept my son alive and they kept the group alive, they saved us." Rick's voice was low.

Shane shifted closer, "And Lori? What about her?" Shane was shifting anger radiating through him.

Rick's throat tensed as he swallowed, "Not now Shane."

Shane fell instep with the group as Daryl lead them away. Sophia was back behind her little hand looping through his belt again as she was between Daryl and Carol. Mac raised an eyebrow and Andrea's hand grabbed his forearm. He let some of the group pass them not liking being so far from Daryl again.

"What's the urgency?"

Mac looked at her and shook his head, "Not now."

"Later Mac."

He chewed his lip feeling that protective need to get her away from here clawing its way up his throat. He shifted her in front of him his body almost brushing her with how close he was to her. "Just stick close." He growled.

She turned looking at him her hand smoothing down his arm before grabbing his hand up, "Planned on Dixon." She dropped his hand before he could pull away and started walking again.

He let out a breath as he seen the vehicles coming into sight. Daryl was already at the truck the stuff they had managed to gather with their time in the city being placed in the back. He was talking low to Carol and jerked the door open Sophia climbing in. Daryl turned looking at him and Mac walked for the bike knowing his brother was going to let himself be split away from either Kit or Fox.

He nodded and Daryl nodded back before climbing in the truck. He grinned planning to corner his brother the first chance he got. He'd find out what the fuck was going on. There was a tension between those two now that wasn't before, he wanted to know what the hell he missed. He wanted to know how the fuck he could instigate more of it.

Straddling the bike he kicked it to life but jerked when he felt Andrea's body slide against his. He figured she'd ride with her sister. Her lips touched the side of his throat briefly, "Told you I was sticking close." Her hands came around him locking around his lower stomach settling just over his lap her thighs cradling around him.

Mac growled feeling heat burn through his body and need. Shaking his head he gave it more gas and they were on the road out of the city. The sun wasn't too far from dropping but they'd be far enough from the city that Phillip wouldn't chance anything.

Her face laid against his back and he felt her breathing evening out. Snorting at her ability to pass out on the bike his hand slipped down jerking her arms tighter around him, "Hold the fuck on. You're gonna cause us to wreck."

He felt her laugh against his back as her fingers brushed his stomach tracing his belt and then his happy trail. She was going to get him killed.