"You just keep close watch and don't go getting your panties in a twist." Merle told Glenn and Maggie. "Don't go setting off them mines unless you're sure it ain't Daryl coming in."

"He's not back yet?" Glenn asked.

"That fire started a couple of hours ago." Maggie added. "He should have been back by now." She hesitated. "Merle if he ran into trouble..."

"Daryl kin take care of hisself. I ain't worried and I ain't gonna go beggin trouble. Till I see one of them walkers stumbling out of the trees with my own two eyes wearin my brothers face he ain't turned." Merle glared at the couple. "And if that does happen, I'll be the one ta put him down."

"Nothing happened to him Merle. Daryl hasn't come this far to get bitten now." Glenn said. "He's like a redneck Superman."

Maggie nodded and smiled agreeing with Glenn even as she tried to forget that even Superman was helpless again something.

"Shit! Watch where the hell you step!" Daryl hissed as he pulled Jose backwards a split second before he hit the trip wire. "Merle's got this whole area wired. I'd rather get there slow and alive than fast and dead...or undead."

The herd had caused them to take a major detour getting back and they had come out of the woods about a mile down the county road that ran along the side of the truck stop. They were making their way along the edge of the woods when Daryl sudden hissed "Get down and hide!"

The two found themselves in a clump of bushes as Jose hissed "What?" Daryl was staring intently down the road.

"Listen. That ain't one of our vehicles." Daryl said as the truck came into view from the wrong direction. "Dammit! That sumbitch got himself some reinforcements."

"That truck is going to call the herd." Jose said. "The muffler's shot. Walkers would have to be deaf not to hear it."

"Yeah and to make matters worse it's comin up on our blind side." Daryl said grabbing Jose to keep him down until Daryl was sure it was the only vehicle. "Just pray Merle left enough surprises ta keep em busy for a while."

"Rick!" Andrea yelled down from the roof. "Company is coming. Couple of vehicles and some people on foot."

Rick quickly climbed up to see the group slowly making it's way toward the truck stop. Turning back he called down over the edge. "Carl, you and Duane get that kid locked up so he's out of the way. Tell Carol and Hershel to get everything ready in case anybody gets injured. Make sure everyone else is armed."

Rick looked over the courtyard catching sight of Guillermo. "Hey G, You got guys on that back gate?"

"Yeah and along the fenceline. Some of the chicas are out there too." Guillermo said. "We got it covered. Those sorry bastards ain't getting in that way."

Daryl slipped up quietly behind the guy who was making his way toward the back of the truck stop. He took aim putting an arrow through the man's head. He didn't realize his mistake until the man fell forward on top of the trip wire.

Luckily he and Jose were far enough away to avoid the main force of the blast but some shrapnel still reached them.

"Shit!" Jose hissed as he looked down at the bleeding wounds in his leg.

"Damn! Can you walk?" Daryl asked looking at the three entrance wounds.

"Lay here and bleed for one of these maricons to get me or better yet one of the walkers? Yeah Esse I can walk." Jose said trying to pull himself to his feet.

Daryl slung his bow across his back and helped Jose to his feet. He couldn't help but grunt as he took the Vatos weight.

"Shit man your side." Jose said noticing the blood oozing into Daryl's shirt. "You got hit too."

"I'll worry about it when we ain't still out here with these bastards." Daryl said as the two began making their way toward the back gate.

"Shit." Miguel said. Seeing the two men shambling toward the gate. "Jose, talk to me man."

"We ain't dead yet but we ain't in the mood for no conversating either." Daryl yelled back "Open the damn gate and help me get him inside before I shove an arrow up your ass!"

Miguel smiled. "I don't think you're in any condition to shove an arrow up my grandma's ass."

Miguel hurried out to help support Jose and get him inside the compound. Once they were inside Daryl bent over for a moment to catch his breath. "Where's Merle? We got bigger problems than just them. A big assed herd, they were headed toward Edgar's little camp up the road but that big boom is probably going to draw them here."