Dark clouds lingered in the sky blocking out the sun and what warmth they offered. It was the perfect setup for a day where you knew that nothing was going to go good. It put a mix of emotions into your system that leeched into your bones. Warning bells were sounding in him that he'd always followed, his gut never leading him wrong. It wasn't just him he needed to be careful for.

"Where's Mac?"

Daryl looked up then and shrugged, "Around."

"He coming down here or not?"

Daryl cut his eyes to Brian who was silently sharpening his knives. Merle followed his eyes and nodded and then stepped all the way into the room. Michonne was just behind him along with Martinez and Rick. He bristled seeing Rick but bit his tongue. Despite his own feelings of the man he'd refrain from putting a bolt into him because then that'd be disposing of a body to soon after the time they'd had lately.

"Should we wait?" Rick questioned.

Daryl and Merle both looked at him and Rick stared back. Martinez intervened and cleared his throat. "Yes. He'll be down here in a minute."

Rick settled into a seat close to him and he felt his hackles rising again. Brian lifted his eyes then and stared at Rick. There was nothing friendly in his face before he curled his lip and went back to his knives. Daryl felt a smile pull at his lips before the door banged open. Mac breezed in and set on the table next to his son and surveyed them all.

"Why is your face red?" Martinez closed in on him.

Mac scowled and batted him away, "It's not."

Martinez smiled and Mac sneered. "Were you slapped?"

"Make me some tacos."

A soft snort close by had Daryl looking over and he seen a fleeting smile on Michonne's face. He raised a brow and she returned the look. Mac and Martinez started arguing more and Daryl sighed letting his head thump loudly against the wall. It always dissolves into something like this with those two and he just waited it out. Brian was watching and smiling brightly. It was almost enough to make him not see the scarring on his throat but not enough to stop the flood of memories. Clearing his throat loudly he interrupted his brother and Martinez.

"Didn't expect we'd see you so soon." Daryl offered to Michonne.

She relaxed slightly but nodded succinctly. "I didn't have plans to come back unless I had to."

"And you did." Merle interjected. He stood just behind Daryl on his right.

Michonne's eyes went to Brian for a minute. He could see her eyes following the motions of his hands. Michonne sighed heavily before looking back over. When she looked at them there was steel in her eyes.

"I ran into some men." She deadpanned. "At first I didn't think much of them because who isn't a bit warped and bent now days."

Merle's fingers bit into Daryl's shoulder.

"They just took a group of people. The women were made to watch as their kids were killed and then from there the men got to watch the rest."

Daryl felt his throat tighten and start to close up. The thought of having to watch anything happen to Sophia, Brian, or Carol made him sick. He'd burn the world to the ground before he'd see anything happen to them. From the grip Merle had on his shoulder he knew his brother was already getting kindling.

"They killed them all and just left what supplies the group had." Michonne said stoically. "They are killing just to kill."

Mac was beside him suddenly, "Where did you see them last?"

"Two towns away."

Merle nodded, "Martinez get the boys."

The clap of the door shutting was like thunder. Brian walked over to him and nudged his dad. Mac looked up and nodded. Brian slid his knives into their sheaths and disappeared. Daryl cleared his throat and was up on his feet pacing seconds later. His head was spinning and he felt sick.

"How many did you see?" Merle was already starting to think strategy.

Michonne walked over to where the maps and other paperwork they had here was. She was speaking to his brother but he couldn't focus on that. His chest was starting to ache and a rage like something he'd never felt was building in him. It was starting to boil in his blood and seep into lungs. It burned like acid and ignited a fire in him.

"Brian's going to get Sophia and Carol. Andrea's on the wall with Carter." Mac was trying to stop his pacing. "He's bringing them down here. If we have to plan I want them here for it. You do too or you will when your head gets out of your ass."

"You think we should send scouts?" Rick interjected.

Daryl bristled and rolled his shoulders. Merle's voice cut off his thoughts and he licked his lips feeling like he was swallowing more acid.

"Best scouts we got are in this this room." Merle looked at him and he met his eyes already knowing what was coming. "If they're that close we need to know what's coming this way."

The door burst open and Carol came in like a force of nature. Brian and Sophia were right on her heels but she was storming right for him. Daryl looked up but already knew that Merle was serious. He'd be going out and all the same he'd rather see it with his own eyes than rely on someone else. Mac nodded next to him and he already knew that he'd be going out with one of his brothers.

"Is what he said true?" Carol questioned forcing him to stop pacing.

Daryl nodded and met her eyes. Carol's flashed dangerously.

Carol swallowed and stepped closer to him as Sophia stood with Brian. She looked tiny next to him and Daryl felt bile rise in his throat at the thought of any man touching her. Brian met his eyes and he knew that even Brian would kill someone over her. As mad as he wanted to be at the thought of Sophia and Brian so close and the road they were on he couldn't. He couldn't say shit because so long as Brian was by her side Sophia would have someone who would fight to the death for her.

"How fast can you be ready?" Michonne turned looking at Daryl.

He arched a brow but nodded sharply, "Fifteen."

"Hit it." Merle waved and started towards the door jerking his head.

Carol walked right with him and he motioned Sophia with him. Brian, Mac, Rick, Michonne, and Martinez all filed out. Everyone split up but he knew Carol was getting ready to tear into him. Merle was barking orders at Mac and he could feel it starting.

"You're going out there?"

Daryl looked at but nodded and watched the way she flinched. Carol's eyes narrowed and he raised a brow.

"Why you?"

He pushed her up the steps into the house and straight upstairs. Sophia and Brian were right behind him. He swore under his breath when they came right into his room. Carol shoved him and he stepped back from her. Carol's eyes were on fire.

"You will not go out there alone!"

"I'm not." He huffed grabbing his pack, "I'm going because I move faster than anyone else. I can track...who else is going to go? Rick? He doesn't know his ass from a goddamn hole in the ground."

Brian chuckled, "Is my dad going?"

Daryl rubbed his face and looked at his nephew, "Go ask him."

Brian sighed and pushed off the wall, "If he's going so am I."

Daryl grimaced but seen the way Sophia paled. He called out to his nephew hearing Mac coming up the steps. Sure enough he appeared and Daryl looked at him. Mac had his shit and Merle was right behind him. Merle stepped around him and to Carol.

"All three of us are going but while we're gone Martinez and you- you got this shit." He smiled at Carol, "Keep those two from following us."

Carol growled, "WHY DO ALL THREE OF YOU HAVE TO GO!"

Merle looked at her and then Daryl. "Daryl's going either way Carol. He's the best. Mac will stay."

"What the fuck."

Daryl rubbed his face and pushed everyone out of the room. Carol looked at him but he silenced her. "Listen if Mac's staying he's going to be a fucking prick. He can't handle me and him be separated well."

"Brian and Sophia will be calmer with one of you all staying." Carol whispered. "Daryl come back."