Mac watched as Brian made his way towards him and climbed up to him, grabbing his hand when he was close enough and pulling him up the rest of the way. He was in what he like to call the eagles nest. It was above the walls and was mostly hidden. If you didn't know it was there then you'd think nothing of it. That is exactly what they'd wanted and it gave them a wide range of observation. Not only could he see all of this shit hole of a town he could see the entire surrounding perimeter.

Mac handed off a rifle to his son and watched as he took it wordlessly. He smiled and went back to watching the tree line. If something was out there that had half a brain it'd come from there. Nothing that could think or plan would come through the rest of the barren town. The people on the walls would see them and walkers would as well.

Time passed slowly and Mac watched it move closer to sunset. Brian had been next to him for the better part of six hours and barely spoke. He'd known when he seen him storming across the town that his son was on the warpath and like him it was best to leave it. He'd talk when he was ready. No doubt Sophia pissed him off again. She was good at that and enjoyed doing it.

Cutting his eyes to his son he watched as the sun moved behind him throwing him into a halo of fire. He was rubbing the side of his face and scowling. He looked more like Daryl at the moment then his own father. Which sure they were twins but it was in the pout. Daryl was good at making you feel like shit without ever uttering a word. Mac like screaming and yelling too much to ever go for subtlety.

"Did we take someone else's shift up here?"

Mac raised a brow and turned leaning into the structure. He was more shadows compared to Brian's fire. He smiled and nodded slowly, "Yes."

Brian looked at him guiltily. "I guess we should trade off then. I know you gotta be tired you've been non stop since they went out."

"I'm fine." Mac corrected. "We both know this mood your in ain't about me. What she do?"

Brian huffed but remained quiet. Mac watched him shoot a dirty look towards him but otherwise they were silent. Mac just smiled and couldn't wait til Daryl got here to see this awkward shit. He knew where this was heading, not this fight in particular, but these two. Hell anyone with two eyes could see it. Daryl was just the first to see it and acknowledge it by threats of castration.

"Are you worried?"

Mac licked his lips and blew out a breath watching as the air barely fogged anymore. He didn't bother forcing a smile. Brian was enough like him to know him and see through it. Besides he didn't see the point in lying.

"Yes." He stated bluntly. "Merle and Daryl move quick in the woods."

Brian nodded and chewed his lip, "Martinez and Carter might not be as good though. Not everyone was raised in them. And that weird woman with them might be slowing them down too."

Mac nodded but didn't let himself hope like his son. He was young and still had that glow about him that let him see stuff sometimes rose tinted but Mac refused that. He'd had those ripped away early on in his life and never looked back. But now- seeing his son and the way he was shifting he wished he could lie and tell things were going to be okay. Hell he'd like to know that himself. Merle and Daryl were his brothers. Daryl was his twin- his other half, he'd spend his entire life standing next to him and if he were to lose him it'd be losing a piece of himself. Merle was more a father than anything but goddamn he was just as important to him. He'd not survive losing him because when times were really fucking bad Merle was there- he was there and he saved his ass more times than he cared to think about. He could forget about Martinez either because as long as Merle was in the service that mouthy motherfucker was there giving him shit and worming his way into their family. He wasn't blood but sometimes you picked your family. Carter was like that annoying ass little brother you wanted to backhand and knew if you did they'd run to tell on you. Merle would always jump his ass for manhandling that little shit. He was friends with his own son, watching his ass before they could ever get here to Brian. He'd owe that man til the day he died.

"You think something happened." Brian stared at him and stood. "Then why are we standing here?"

Mac shifted and rolled his shoulders, "I'd take off in a heartbeat and hunt them." Mac snapped, "Stop fucking questioning me like I've done something here. You know damn well I can't leave."

Brian bristled but visibly bit his tongue shaking his head. He wasn't sure where he got that restraint because it damn sure wasn't a Dixon thing. Must be Carol. He smiled to himself though and watched him.

"Is this because of me?" Brian's hand went to his throat rubbing at the nasty scar there. "I can watch my own ass."

Mac stared at the hand rubbing his throat and grimaced. He knew his son could watch his own ass. Anyone who underestimated him for his age was in for a surprised. Between Mac, Daryl, and Merle his son was a goddamn weapons expert. There was a goddamn thing here he couldn't break down and rebuild with his eyes closed. Same with knives and close combat. He'd been fighting since he was big enough to stand on his own. It's what he'd like doing, always said he wanted to be like his dad. Sure thinking of it now made Mac laugh because bare knuckle boxing shouldn't have been such a fun hobby as it was but it was. The rush he'd get feeling his fist connect and break bone when he'd fight was worth, better than any drug he'd taken. So when they looked a this son and thought he'd be an easy target, he hoped like hell the last thing they see was his sons smiling face. He'd raised him to be just like he was. Take no shit and just as rough. And when the day came he was a full grown man he was going to be an imposing force to come up against. He was already eye level with him and Daryl. Looking down on the women around them and starting to fill out and he wasn't even sixteen yet. Give a man something to fight for though and he becomes a whole other monster. He seen it in his self and his brothers. Merle would always fight for them, and Daryl would for them but that girl changed his brother and Carol came along and finished it. Daryl wasn't someone he'd ever want mad at him.

"Say I go-" Mac met his eyes and stepped closer to him gripping his jaw forcing their eyes to meet, "Something happens and someone gets the drop on you." Brian sneered but Mac tightened his grip on his jaw. Eyes flashing his voice rolled on like the storm coming down on them. "I told you what those men were out there doing. Why they went."

Brian's lip curled and his teeth flashed in anger, nothing close to a smile. "Nasty motherfuckers."

"Watching after yourself is a lot different than when you have someone to look after." Mac said pointedly.

Brian's eyes were bright and shining. He was mad as fuck and wanted to fight, wanted to rail against what his dad was telling him but couldn't. Mac forced him to keep eye contact. He knew that hell was in his eyes because he'd stewed since those gates slammed behind his brothers. It was clear in Brian's face, father like son. He was just upset at the thought of someone hurting women like that and their father and husbands being forced to watch. Good. He needed that fight because it was coming for them. This world was going to be full of those men and he needed to be ready.

"I told you-"

"SOPHIA!" He barked in Brian's face.

A rough lump formed in his throat for the girl who was every bit his family. Fuck the blood, she was theirs. What did he think would happen to her? He wasn't a stupid man and he wasn't blind. Sophia was a beautiful girl, a little girl. She'd always be a little girl to him. But to others they'd see something else and that made him so fucking mad he felt like he was breathing fire. Brian's face paled violently. His eyes widened and jumping back and forth between his father's. He swallowed harshly and Mac let some of the tension he'd held against his jaw go. It didn't last long though because quickly that wide eyed look disappeared. He watched the blue in his eyes turn to granite and a darkness start coiling and tightening like a snake getting ready to strike in his eyes.

Mac smiled then and nodded, "I'd fight through hell to get to my brothers. I have before and will again." His voice was hoarse. "But I'd die for you thousand times over, I'd suffer some terrible shit to make sure you were okay. Don't tell me to walk out those goddamn gates and leave you behind. Leave her behind or her mother, Andrea."

Brian was quiet but that look was still in his eyes. His chest was heaving but Mac's eyes snapped away from him. Brian tensed and Mac let him go and jerked his rifle up looking down range. Brian was watching just as calmly, waiting. Mac held his breath and let it out slowly and steadied the rifle. He could see movement but it was all shadows. Walkers or deer? But he didn't think so.

Standing up he slung the rifle over his shoulder and turned to Brian, "Girls, now! GO!"

Brian wasted no time and ripped the hatch open. He was on the ladder and was gone in an instant. Mac could hear the leather against metal as he slid down the ladder instead of climbing. He was moving like the devil himself was after him. Sickening thoughts were coiling in his stomach on the thought of these men being here and not his brothers. If they stepped out and he didn't see that cocky smirk and awkward grimace of his brothers, he was going to scorch and salt this fucking place.

Cutting his eyes over he followed Brian as he lifted the walkie talkie. The men on the wall hadn't seen anything but then they'd be watching the men there. They wouldn't want to get caught before they had a plan. Brian was half way to the house and Mac let out a breath. The crackle of the walkie talkie telling him it was live was the only thing stirring in the night air. The sun dipped just behind the mountain and the limbs of the branches started reaching in shadows towards the walls. Like ink in water he watched as the first man stepped out...

"They're here."