Rand paid attention, subtly, to her advisors. After Daryl's bombshell a few weeks ago, she felt it was needed. This Rick guy kicking Daryl out was the best thing that had happened to her since she found out what the hell was going on. She didn't know and didn't want to know why Michonne left, but whatever it was it was the best thing that had ever happened to her since she found out what the hell was going on. She'd like to shake his hand, actually. She might give him a cow as a thank you.

They didn't seem too bothered by what had happened to them at this Alexandria place. Rand trusted them to tell her if they wanted her to move them. She would. Her advisors comfort over the Crazy Ass' residents? No contest.

Snickering to herself she looked down at Andy as she pushed the modified stroller down to the farms. Shit. She was a mom. Sometimes it hit her in the face. Hard. She loved her little girl and wished she could grow up in the old world. Of course she wouldn't have been born, but it was the thought. It was a good thing minivans were passé.

When they made it down to the farm Rand took Andy out of the stroller and put her on her hip as she looked over the fruits and vegetables that were growing. The chill was in the air and they were trying to get the last drop before they rolled up the fields for the winter. Ugh. Winter. She'd always hated it. Considering her profession before it was kind of a joke. She looked at Andy again, put her down and sat in the dirt watching her daughter play.

Tony, Ash and Andrew watched as Ford and Lisa headed to the Training Grounds to pick up their person for patrol. It was the first one neither of them had gone on, but they'd only done two. Once the car was out of sight they went back to the house and into the living room. Tony wasn't surprised when Andrew came in a few minutes later and headed for the kitchen. They could hear the sound of something being poured before the poor guy joined them, glass in his hand.

"Whiskey," Andrew volunteered before he sipped. "It's the first time since." He paused. "She's the only one left. My wife and brother-in-law. They didn't make it."

Ash hummed a sympathetic noise.

Michonne and Daryl were in the office with Rand, Jake, Dominic, Tammy and Jonathan Wilmer as they gave their report. They'd come in a while ago, ate, showered and spent a few minutes with the people they were close to. Janet and Bradford were very reluctant to let Jake go when she called them into the office.

"It's good to see you all back in one piece," Rand greeted. "Just a thumbnail right now. If you think of something after, find me."

"With the time you gave us, Rand, we didn't find much. Yeah, we found some towns cleaned out of some things, and we stayed away from the base, but nothing that looked like someone was setting up shop," Jake started.

"Gas, of course, was gone from some cars, not all. Food. We couldn't tell with clothes or blankets. The hardware stores we found could have had shit missing, but we couldn't tell if it was before or after," Dominic added.

"We need more time, Rand," Jonathan seemed to lecture. "The homing pigeons may have been a…mistake," he admitted as he hunched his shoulders.

"They were." Tammy shot him an ugly look.

Michonne was ambivalent about Tammy Jenkins. After months of mooning over Daryl she'd stepped up, she didn't know who threatened her, but she did. She'd done a few patrols. She looked between Dominic and Tammy. Ah. A romance. They sat close to each other and did watch together sometimes. Interesting.

"Okay," Rand drawled as she smirked in Jonathan Wilmer's direction. "Why?"

"They made noise, drawing attention to us. We had to let them go," Jake ground out.

"They didn't come back here," she said.

Daryl rolled his eyes. "Coulda told ya it was a damn dumb idea. I did tell ya it was a damn dumb idea."

"It wasn't a dumb idea, really," Rand interrupted. "Just not feasible in current conditions."

Jonathan Wilmer seemed to sag a little and Michonne hoped he finally learned his lesson. He did know a lot of stuff but not more than Rand. When she thought things out.

"We didn't see any traps or farm animals," Tammy continued. "The houses looked in bad shape. I mean, we stayed in a few and they looked like my apartment when we were told to evacuate. The basics were gone and that's it."

"Hm." Rand drummed her fingers on the top of the desk. "Walkers?"

"After we let the pigeons go." Jake glared at Jonathan Wilmer before looking at Rand, "they weren't bad. Decomposing, of course. We saw some that had grown into their car seats."

"Scared the shit out me," Dominic shuddered.

"They were gross," Tammy seconded.

"Gas? Is it worth it to go get the gas?" she asked the group.

"I don't think so, Rand. It's been sitting for years. It wouldn't be any good," Jonathan spoke up. "The shelf stable food wouldn't be worth it, either. Everything else we saw was like the towns between here and Charlottesville. Decaying. The Castle meets all of our needs."

"Hm," she muttered. The look on Rand's face told Michonne this wasn't finished. It was a good idea, really, to expand the patrol and, hopefully, find more communities.

"Alright. Thanks for doing this. I appreciate it. You're off patrol for a while. The next social is still on. I know you didn't go last time. You can go this time. It was…interesting."

Jake smiled. "My mom had a good time. She really liked mingling with the other places."

"Whoo. All we need is music," Tammy grinned.

"Take some guitars or something," Michonne suggested.

"That's a good idea," Dominic agreed.

More time was spent with them going over the state of the roads they'd used, if the water sources on the map were dried up or useful and the animals they'd hunted for food. When Dominic yawned Rand let them go and stared at the door after they left before she looked at her and Daryl.

"I don't think I thought that out well."

Daryl laughed a little. "You always gonna say that, Rand?"

She shrugged a shoulder. "I'm ambivalent this time. I thought it was well planned out."

"Was, except it was a dumbass idea about the pigeons." He frowned.

"I agreed with you," she nodded her head.

"It was well thought out, Rand," 'Chonne countered. "We're not going to be so lucky like we have been. Not that it was luck finding those people, it was work." She paused. "The mountains are a good idea. It snows so there's water. The walkers aren't coordinated."

"It's what I thought."

"They are a good idea. How many of them people at the ice breaker thought of it? Not many, I bet. Not like this area's easy to get in and out of, Rand. Gotta drive to reach anywhere," Daryl pointed out. "Maybe we should stay on the Trail."

"Maybe."

"We shouldn't try east. Of the mountains," 'Chonne suggested.

"Those Savior people?" Rand raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. If they did burn those communities…" Michonne trailed off.

"Fuckers," he swore.

"Big dicks, I agree. That was pointless," Rand frowned. "Hm. Alright. We'll stick to the Trail."

Daryl did think it was good they was tryin' to find other places. It worked out so far for the Castle. All the places they found grew food and had a watch. Couldn't ask for more. They didn't stay long at the ice breaker, so he couldn't tell what kinda people they had. They'd have to do the next one.

Michonne was with Rand in the pasture waiting on the Training Grounds, Blue Mountain, the Fort and the Crazy Ass Bunker residents for the patrol. Daryl was going on this one and she was nervous. After the Tennessee scouts had returned she and Daryl spent most of their free time with Jasper. Not that they didn't already, but this was the first patrol Daryl was doing. The parents couldn't do patrol until their child reached six months, then they had a choice to defer until the child was a year old. She liked that rule. Everyone liked it.

She knew Adrian was going to ease her mind. Daryl could take care of himself, but back up was better and Adrian didn't mind going again so soon.

"Nervous?" Rand asked.

She nodded. "A little. I know Daryl can take care of himself, but this will be the first patrol he's ever done."

"True. Seth, Waya and Adrian never did full patrols until recently. Sometimes I hated that rule."

"I didn't. It was, is, a good rule, Rand. Before? Paternity benefits were unheard of and maternity benefits weren't much better."

"I get that. I feel that I should have been out there anyway."

"You were pregnant and gave birth and it's a rule."

"I run this place. I would have gone out sooner, but we had enough people."

"Bullshit. You could have gone, so don't feed me," Michonne scoffed. "These people, our residents, know you're capable. Besides, I think Helen threatened them to give you some slack."

Rand laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised."

Michonne put her hand on Rand's arm. "She's good a friend."

"I know. You all are. Thank you."

"Thank you," she smiled at her friend.

"Come on, Japer, give your pa a kiss," Adrian crooned to the little boy in his arms as Daryl took his crossbow off the mantle and slung the strap across his chest. "How are you doing?" the man asked him.

Daryl didn't want to admit he didn't wanna go. It would be the first time he'd be away from 'Chonne and his son since he was born. Goin' out for classes didn't count. He'd be gone for two weeks on patrol.

"I didn't want to go, either, the first time," Adrian commented.

"Feel like I'm goin' off to war or some shit," he grumbled.

"You are. Somewhat. We'll be fine. And you'll get to meet Lenny," Adrian smiled evilly.

"He sounds weird as fuck, Adrian."

"He is weird as fuck, Daryl," he laughed. "This is how he wants to live. As long as he doesn't try and kill us, we get along."

"Whatever, man. Let's get goin'."

Daryl took his son from Adrian and put him on his hip. Jasper didn't understand what was goin' on, just babblin' away as they left the keep, over the drawbridge and down to the pasture. He saw 'Chonne and Rand just waitin'. Everyone else goin' on patrol was already down there. He'd never done this part before. He sure as hell hoped Rand didn't give no speeches or shit. When he reached Michonne Jasper held out his arms and she took him. He patted himself down making sure his gun and knives were close then picked up the backpack 'Chonne had made up for him. He wanted to leave it, but he knew she'd upset. He didn't need no damn backpack.

He rolled his eyes when he saw Abraham and was never as happy until now that he knew another language.

"See you in two weeks," Rand said before he kissed Michonne on the lips, his son on his cheek and headed out the gate with Adrian at his side. The rest fell in behind them and they headed for the first house.

Abraham grunted when saw Daryl joining the patrol. The man kissed Michonne and the kid before him and the English guy headed out of the gate. She nodded to him as he walked by and he did the same.

He was better prepared this time out. Tony and Ash wanted at least another person familiar with the patrol to go with the newbies until all their people were trained that wanted to do it. Hell, he thought they should all do it, but it was Tony and Ash's place. He liked everyone had to do runs, but patrol was different.

"I hope you have your dancing shoes on, Lisa," he grinned.

"I can handle it," she retorted.

Ignoring the muttering she sent his way he sized up the others on patrol. The Castle had Glen, an older white guy, Leslie, an older white lady that reminded him of Carol with her short gray hair, Manny, a young Hispanic guy and Janette, a young white lady. The Fort had sent Bonnie, a middle aged black lady. He and Lisa rode with Arthur from the Training Grounds. He was a middle aged white man and Blue Mountain sent Mario, a young Hispanic male. Since they were all here they knew the score. He wondered how many would be able to keep up. Hell, he hoped he'd be able to keep up.

When he got back the first time he started hitting the gym a little more. He kept an eye on Lisa and Bonnie when they fell to the back of the line. No way was he even going to worry about Glen and Leslie. It was a good thing because they were in better shape than he was. They were hauling ass like Adrian and Daryl. Mario and Arthur stayed more in the middle of the pack with Manny. Janette seemed to stay with him, Bonnie and Lisa. He nodded at her and she gave him a 'what are you going to do' look and kept everyone in sight.

When they stopped the first night things were a little looser than the first time he'd done this. Sash told him the people on patrol were a little friendlier now. Adrian and Daryl gave out the watch shift when they arrived at the first house. Abraham wasn't going out of his way for the man and Daryl didn't look like he wanted anything to do with him, aside from that. Fine by him.

He got why Daryl was pissed but the person he needed to be pissed with was Rick. He understood where Rick was coming from. Someone who'd been with him for a while chasing after another person from the group that left on her own. Some fucked up shit there. They'd all been fucked up when they got a load of Alexandria. It was in the past. The man needed to grow the fuck up. Michonne, too.

The rest of the patrol was smooth. Abraham did see Adrian and Daryl take off outside of Blue Mountain and show up on the way to the Training Grounds. He tried to remember if it happened on the first patrol.

Sasha and Rick were looking over the maps that Linda had someone drop off of Mount Jackson. Glenn and Tony were making plans for a shopping trip with the Training Grounds and they were going to have a big strategy meeting after the next social.

"We're not going," she told Rick after everyone else left and they headed outside.

"To the social?" Rick asked her.

"Yes. We're staying here for watch."

"Okay."

She paused as they neared the barn. "You're not mad?"

"Why would I be? If you and Abraham want to stay you should stay."

"I thought you'd be mad."

"Why?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I though you would be. Mad."

He smiled at her. "I'm not."

"Good." She nodded. "Good."

"Let's muck this barn. It won't shovel itself."

She laughed. "Damn it."

"I miss the pigs," he sighed.

They worked quietly, mostly griping about shoveling horseshit.

When she was in the shower later she was smiling. She'd left that place.