Well this is early but I'm not sure if I'll get to update for this again before the holidays. Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Mac walked out on to the landing and towards where Daryl was standing. He was going to scout out the area before they all split from this area. Before they would have all just took off and not thought shit about it...but things were different now. No one wanted to Sophia in danger and the girl had no idea how to defend herself.

"If you would hold still it'd be fine." Daryl huffed.

Mac came up the last set up steps and seen Daryl on his knees in front of Sophia. She had her arms crossed over her chest and was scowling at Daryl looking like she was about to slap him. "Well you didn't say that! I gotta move eventually ya know."

Daryl chuckled, "Smart ass."

Mac leaned against the railing and let his mind drift to Hannah. He didn't let that happen after how things had went all this shit fell apart. Mac wasn't one to dwell but he felt his stomach churn when he seen Daryl on his knees in front of that little girl. How many times had he seen Daryl like that with Brian? Too many times that was how many.

"See now your ass can move without it shifting and dropping to low." Daryl chuckled.

Mac looked over briefly and swallowed before forcing himself up the rest of the way. Daryl turned his head and Sophia beamed at him and motioned to her hips, "Look now I can help!"

Mac shook his head, "No, no you can't." He snapped, "This shit aint a game, that is a last resort thing kid. You will never be in a situation where you need it so long as we can help it."

Sophia's face dropped slightly, "Yes.'

Daryl looked at Mac for a minute, "He's right Sophia it isn't a game and it is for protection. When things smooth out I'm going to start showing you more things about taking care of yourself."

Mac nodded along. He thought that was a brilliant idea but didn't say anything about it. "I'm going ahead and I'm going to scout it out make sure things are clear before he leave." His eyes went to Sophia before meeting his own matching eyes watching him, "I'll be back."

"Be careful Mac." Sophia called after him as he disappeared down the steps.

Looking at the bodies of walkers he felt like he was a murder scene that had long since been beyond the point of clean up. Bodies were everywhere and the more he looked the more he laughed. Someone had taken some target practice. Eyes lifting as he stayed squatted he looked around and seen the place clear of walkers. Whoever had been here had done their fair share of shooting than high tailed it.

Mac walked down the road some watching the road that took off out of the subdivision. He felt uneasy. He didn't like this and he knew people were close. Could they be Sophia's group or was it another altogether. He wanted to seek them out. He wanted to see if he could get that kid back to her mother just as bad as Daryl but something about the possibility of another group made him pause.

If he went and got Daryl and her and they searched this out even as Merle bitched and Martinez agreed there were a lot of what ifs. What if this wasn't her group? What if this was a worse group? What if this group seen that kid and shit went off. People weren't the same anymore and there were a lot of sick fucks out there before the turn, now? Now it was just easier for them to do the shit they wanted, all fucked in the head.

The prospect of it being Sophia's group were even more sickening. The scene earlier today of her holding on to Daryl's shoulders as he tightened that knife holster fitting it for her was something that stuck with him. Daryl didn't let close. Neither of them did, fuck especially not even Merle. Out of all of them it was always Martinez who was a softie about this shit, pussy. But here him and his brothers were growling like a pack of dogs around this little girl ready to tear people limb from limb. It hit close to home for them and he realized right then that they'd stoically avoided the subject of Hannah and Brian since that first week. Mac swallowed and forced the thought away again.

"Fuck it." He muttered and pulled the truck door open, "If it is another group close we need to know."

Mac took off on the road and followed it for a while. He didn't have much time before he needed to get back before they came out looking for him. He would make this quick. Real quick. He'd search the area and see if anything could be seen before he was gone again.

Mac came to a stop suddenly when his eyes cut back to the road. Walkers were but it was the ugly green Hyundai that had his attention. It was stopped in the middle of the road. He took stock of the situation and pulled his pistols out. Checking the clips and making sure rounds were chambered he drove forward some more. He busted out laughing at the last second when he realized the vehicle was rocking.

Throwing it reverse he started to back up when a shot rang out. Mac turned his head his arm still over the back of the seat. There was a man standing without a shirt and his pants only partially done. He was holding a shot-gun and glaring at him.

He pumped it and he swiveled his eyes seeing a mop of bright blonde hair as a one righted her clothes. She climbed out and Mac let out a breath seeing it wasn't Sophia's mother. She had described her mother pretty damn good and this woman wasn't her.

"Out of the vehicle!" The man barked.

Mac shoved his door open his pistol going to the back of his jeans and the other setting in the front just over his groin. He stepped out and cocked his head to the side, "What the fuck you want?"

"What're you doing out here!?"

Mac gave him a look and then glared, "Could ask you the same thing? Last I checked this was a road way and not a hotel room."

He watched as the woman's face reddened and the man seemed to get madder. "You got a group?"

"You got a reason for asking?" Mac snapped.

He hadn't stepped from beside his truck. The woman looked over at the man, "He was trying to leave, just let him go."

"Shut it."

"No! We need to go anyways."

Mac's eyes went around them and his fingers itched to pull his knife. The walkers were close.

"Don't try to follow us!" The man barked a threat evident, "We have a LARGE group and we will not hesitate to put you down."

Mac sneered at him just as a walker got close to him and he pulled his knife free and moved quick dropping it. The woman was watching him and she motioned to him getting his attention. He looked over and seen the man bristle.

"Your name?"

"Shut the fuck up, we don't need his name and he don't need ours."

Mac looked over and for no other reason than to piss the man off he smiled and looked at her. He knew how to kick the charm up when he needed to. He knew. His smile was broad and he looked her over, "Mac."

"I'm-"

"Get in the vehicle."

She as cut off and Mac dropped another walker seeing things heating up as more came out. He looked at them one last time and knew that the group had to be hostile if they let a crazy fuck like that man have a gun. He done a quick turn and watched in his rear view mirror as the other vehicle pulled away speeding faster than necessary.

"Fuck that shit." Mac chuckled.