Sorry this took so long. I had a surprise city inspection and had a bunch of work I had to do in the house. Thank you for all the reviews and I should have the next chapter up faster than I did this one.

"Negan," Dwight called out when he saw the man leaving the meeting room with Arat and some of the others.

Negan turned around and smiled widely, "Dwighty-boy! Just the man I was hoping to see. What's up?"

"Got a bit of a problem," he told the man. "It's Simon."

"What about Simon?"

"Look, he came to talk to me," Dwight said, looking both guilty and anxious which made Negan smile all the more. "He's not happy with how things are playing out. He has Gary and the rest of his posse are meetin' up outside. He wants to take over."

"Well, ain't that just a kick in the nutsack," Negan commented.

"They want me to help."

"And you came to me? I mean, I'm touched. After the sizzle and Sherry, you're still. So. Loyal. I should be honored to have such a loyal soldier like you by my side. Tell you what, you go back to Simon. Tell him you're sold on the idea, that you've decided to join his little enterprise."

"How you want me to play it?"

"Make 'em think you've got a plan. A way to make it an easy transition. Get 'em all in one place at the same time. Then we take care of the problem at its source. Cut Simon off from his supporters. Break his back, so to speak. Then, the real fun begins."

Negan smiled even wider and chuckled while walking away from Dwight to gather a bunch of his other soldiers. He was more than happy for at least one of his problems to be taking himself out of play by being an idiot. Simon had been given chance after chance and yet he still wanted to overthrow him for no good reason. Just earlier that day Negan had been thinking about killing the man himself and now he was a bit regretful that he hadn't. It didn't surprise him, though, since Simon had been acting squirrely ever since he'd come back from that asshole's attack in the basement. He'd chalked it up to the fact that Gary had decided to go off script when Simon himself had done the same. There still was no rhyme or reason to what the man had been thinking by leaving the entire thing with the garbage people to Gary to begin with. Negan couldn't believe that he'd missed not one, but two, different foxes in his hen house and was wondering whether it was Simon or Dwight that started it all. Hell, there was a chance that Simon had been the one that had supplied the workers with the guns. He'd made it very clear in the last week just how discontent he was with Negan's command and the way he was dealing with the communities. It wasn't overly surprising that the man decided to try to pull a stunt like trying to get rid of him in order to take back control of the Sanctuary.

"Arat," he called out when he saw the woman. "Gather the men. We got some rats to exterminate."

"We got trouble?"

"Not exactly," he smiled. "But we're gonna be given a couple backstabbing, greasy pigs a lesson they won't forget, or rather, can't. Just like Rick, the Widow, and the King, we're cleanin' house to day, folks," he told them. "Get your guns, get to the windows and blind spots in the courtyard. When Simon and Gary and their slimey, weasel friends show up, wait for my signal. Then mow 'em all down."

"Simon and Gary are planning a coupe?" one of the other men asked. "We were just talking this morning. Everything seemed normal."

"And ain't that the shit?" Negan asked. "Here's the kicker, Simon ain't the only rat we're dealin' with either. Dwight is just as much as a sniveling, sneezing bastard as Simon and his crew. He's been working with Rick and Ani this entire time. Know Simon was starting to get cold feet after the counterattack was less than successful. But Dwight? Hell. How much you wanna bet he's the cut down those trees when we went trying to take out Alexandria the first time."

"We taking him out, too?" Arat asked.

"No. I have a different plan for him. Let him play out this last fantasy that he's a loyal soldier. Won't take too long for him to get his dues. Now, move out."

It didn't take a long time for everyone to get everything ready while he simply watched and waited for it all to unfold. Everything was going to resolve itself today and then tomorrow, his action went into plan. He couldn't wait to see the look on Simon's face when he walked out into that courtyard behind Dwight and all his men went down. When he found out that he had no leg to stand on in the Sanctuary anymore, Negan wondered what Simon would try to do next. If he was so against the way things were going with the Saviors, maybe he'd even try to take matters into his own hands. There was a chance that he might try to challenge himself to a fight in order to try to take back the control he had lost once already. Negan knew that Simon had always disliked the fact that he had been stripped of his power almost as soon as he came on the scene. He'd been a weak man then and he was even weaker now that he had been on the back burner running a smaller outpost. With how many Saviors were willing to immediately jump to arms to kill all the men and women trying to overthrow him, Negan knew that Simon wouldn't have one anyway. The man couldn't hold a candle to the loyalty of the Saviors to Negan; well, most of the them.

"Where's Simon?" he heard Gary ask from his position behind the dumpster.

"I don't know," Dwight answered. "I thought he was supposed to come out here with you."

"He said to meet him here," came the confused reply.

"Maybe he's running late," Dwight suggested.

"I haven't seen him in a while," another voice called. "He took a car out on patrol."

"It don't matter. We know what we've gotta do. Negan has to be dealt with. Those assholes at the Hilltop need to be dealt with. Simon says it's time to take it out and find new communities. You good with that?"

"Yeah. He told me everything."

"Good. You can make the move. He's done more to you than any of us. Something quiet. Nothing up close and personal, though. Might get a little too messy. Then we take out the Hilltop. Kill 'em all like we did the Scavengers. Those trash people shouldn't have been living in the first place."

Negan decided that he had waited long enough and began whistling before showing himself, "Thank you, D. I'll take it from here," he said, clapping the man on the shoulder even though he was upset Simon wasn't there. "Three...two...one," he drew out, gunfire sounding from around them and all the men falling to the ground. "Well, damn. I was hoping Simon wouldn't be the slimy jackass he is, but it seems he's managed to weasel his way out of this. Or did you warn him?" he asked, turning back to Dwight.

"You know I would never," was his answer. "I know who I am."

"Oh? And who are you?"

"I'm Negan."

"Damn straight you are. Now, follow me. Let's go see if we can't go figure out what the hell just went wrong." He lead Dwight back inside and through the halls of the Sanctuary, "Such a damn shame-a waste-slinkin' behind my back like some kind of dickless worm. And Simon turly is dickless, runnin' away like that. Leaving his men to die like that after planning of killing me. Like, what else am I gonna do besides take his men out?"

"Yeah," Dwight responded. "You know, I bet he planned it from the start."

"Oh, I know he did. But, eh, you know, what's bad for Simon, it's good for you. I know we've had out ups and downs, D, but I've always been able to count on you," Negan told him as tehy stopped in front of the door to his room. "So...congratulations. You are my new right-hand man. That is, if you accept the promotion."

"I do," he answered. "And I'll help you finish this thing with Rick."

"Don't sell yourself short, D," Negan laughed, clasping his shoulder. "You already have."

Dwight went to open his door only to see Laura sitting in his chair and Negan could not help the smile that momentarily graced his face. It was hilarious to see how he immediately attempted to turn and run while he was standing right there. He really hadn't seen it coming and truly thought that he wouldn't find out about his hand in helping Rick. Laura was sitting there staring at him in anger as he was cornered by Arat and three other men, who were standing behind Negan ready to detain the man. Everything was going exactly according to Negan's plan, well, almost everything. Simon running away was unexpected, but it really wasn't entirely out of character for him. He'd always blamed others for his wrongdoings even if he was the one that had directly disobeyed orders. Negan still wasn't sure if it was Simon that had convinced Dwight, Dwight that had convinced Simon, or if they had both decided separately to try to get rid of him. At the end of the day, however, it didn't matter when the only thing that actually did was making an example out of those who would even try to take power from him. Dwight had already been given a chance to stay alive and in good condition when he'd run with Sherry and Tina the first time. This time, however, the man was going to show everyone, including Rick the Prick, what happened when they tried to take his position from him.

"Well, you look surprised, Dwight," Negan said happily, pushing the man back with his bat. "Yeah, see, I found her on the side of the road. Laura, why don't you tell D what you told me?"

"That night in Alexandria, he turned on us," she said as she got in the man's face. "He killed our team. I ran, and I kept running. I was hurt. But what kept me alive was the thought of getting back here and exposing you for the scum weasel you are."

Negan chuckled and said, "It all makes sense now. You told Rick when to attack. How to get to the outposts...You keep us locked in here, slippin' them workers guns. Maybe you even lied to me about killing Sherry. Oh, hell. You, for sure, lied to me about that. So, what? Hmm? You think you're some sorta," he paused and sucked in a breath looking at Dwight like he was a comedian that had just delivered a joke, "hero? No. You are nothing. A nobody way in over your head. But when I said that you would come through for me when I needed it, oh, I meant that 110%. See, I knew that I could count on you to deliver my plan to Rick, my brilliant, if I do say so myself, fake-ass plan." Negan chuckled again as Dwight looked down, "I don't know where Simon went, but I will find him. You, though, you used Gregory to send warning to Rick, right? I mean, I was thinkin' maybe you'd take some kind of field trip or somethin', but...no, you got yourself a little delivery boy. Good for you. To deliver all that intel to Rick and the piss patrol that's gonna lead them directly into the line of fire. They are not gonna know what hit 'em, all thanks to my new...right-hand man," he whispered, leaning up close. "Now, see, I-I thought about killing you, and then," Negan told him, "I thought maybe that'd be too dignified for a...backstabbin', double-crossing' dirtbag such as yourself. No, Dwighty-boy, I got plans for you," he said, chuckling and walking away, leaving Dwight to be beat by the men he left.

~x~

Simon left Dwight's room as soon as they had agreed with the course of action they were going to take. All he had to do was find Gary and the others and get them to head out to the courtyard, preferably unarmed. He wanted to make it seem like it was just a meet and greet of like minded individuals without the need for firepower. On top of that, he wanted to do as much for the Hilltop as he could before he made his way there, which meant a hopeful stop at the machine shop. If he could take them bullets on top of the plan Negan had in motion to wipe them out, the Widow might not kill him on sight. Then again, with everything that he had done to her and their community, if she did, it was no less than he deserved. He had made a lot of poor decisions since his sister and niece's deaths and nothing would ever make up for those mistakes. Even if he was trying to do something to change someone's opinions about him now, there was very little that would prove his sincerity. Simon knew that the Dixon girl might have been able to sway Ani to believing in him, but it was Maggie that he had to persuade himself. The Widow and the Hilltop had been the target of some of his more ruthless actions after what had originally happened at the satellite station. He knew that he had a lot to explain and a lot that would never be forgiven, but if he could get them more supplies, bullets, and the information on Negan's next attack, he was hoping to at least be given a chance to speak. Simon knew that he was most likely going to end up dead by the end of the day one way or another, but better to die by a bullet than beat by a bat.

"You got a minute?" he asked when he found and walked up to Gary. "We need to have a little discussion about our honorable leader."

"Honorable?" Gary answered before scoffing. "The man's a prick. He's got us out here trying to argue with Rick and taking the long road. What we should be doing is mowing through that damn place. Burn the damn thing down and find more communities."

"And I agree. Something needs to be done. If he won't do what's right for our comrades in arms, we need to."

"A bunch of us are already ready to go. Just need a plan of action."

"Well, look at you! Taking an initiative and taking the reigns like a big man. I'm gonna need that if I'm gonna get this situation under control."

"You're taking over?"

"Who else? Do you think you've got the balls big enough to manage this place? To keep everything in line? You're a very competent man, Gary, but a level head you are not. Look at what you did to the Scavengers."

"You did the same at the Library."

"My orders were misconstrued that time, too. Now, I can admit my fault in not being clear enough for you nincompoops to not screw things up, but that all ends now. We do this, we get Negan gone, we find a new community. New settlements to take over. Some place more...demure," Simon said while looking around, the concrete of the factory giving no release from the bitter cold or scorching heat during the respective seasons. "Anyways!" he sighed jovially. "I've talked to Dwight and he's on board. Get the rest of the others and meet me out in the courtyard. We'll make a plan from there."

"You got it, boss."

Simon clapped the man on the back as he moved back to the room he used at the Sanctuary to grab what few supplies he had before heading to the small room Gregory was in. Once he got there, he grabbed the man and headed out to the cars in an attempt to get out before hellfire rained down on the others. His knew he had to head straight to the machine shop if he was even going to have a chance at getting any resources from Eugene. As soon as Negan got wind of their little insurrection and then found out that Simon wasn't there, the man was going to put out an APB on his whereabouts, if not a shoot to kill order. No matter how everything went down, he would either be dead at the end of the day by the Saviors, or begging for mercy at the hands of Maggie. Gregory, for all his cowardice, had no problems in leaving the community and keeping his mouth quiet in the car. They'd made it halfway to Eugene's outpost before Negan's call came through the walkie to bring Simon back to the Sanctuary. Gary's betrayal had been dealt with accordingly and now it was Simon's turn to pay for his own traitorous actions. Everything was laid out for all of the Saviors to know that he had decided to help the communities and had attempted to stage a coupe. There was nothing that could be done once the orders were given other than to turn towards the Hilltop with what little time he had before the roadblocks started up.

"And there she is," Simon said as they rolled up to the gates. "You're gonna help me get in there alive. Play my wingman."

"How do you want me to do that?" Gregory asked nervously.

"You always say you're good with these people, how it's your roost. Figure it out. Now, get out there and gap the bridge," he told the elderly man.

Gregory timidly got out of the car and held up his hands up, "He-hey! Hello!"

"What the hell are you doing here, Gregory?" one of the guards shouted down at him.

"I...I come in peace! W-we come in peace! We...we have information!"

"Who's with you?"

"Uh...Si-Simon! He...He came with me...he...he knows Negan's next plan!"

Whatever happened next, he wasn't sure, because they were left outside for quite a while before the gates opened up. He was forced to get out of the car at gunpoint and quite roughly frisked to make sure he had no weapons on him, or rather, to take his weapons from him. He only had a knife and a pistol to begin with, though it really wouldn't have mattered one way or the other. Simon was quite surprised that he wasn't being attacked on sight and that the worst that was happening as he was escorted into the community was being pushed so hard into a holding pen that he scrapped his arm against the barbed wire. It barely bled, but it sure stung like a bitch and it was clear that they wished they could do more to him than something so superficial. The leaders of the communities, all four Dixons, along with who he assumed were the other important players, were gathered around staring at him and Gregory. It was clear that none of them were too enthusiastic about his presence, but at least they didn't seem to want to kill him. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but it was quite clear that they were discussing what they were going to do with him. Several were staring at him in anger, Maggie being the angriest and most offended by his presence. Simon knew he had a lot to explain and try to make up for and could only hope that they would hear him out as they moved closer to the pen, Ani stepping forward with Daryl just behind her.

"Why are ya here?"

~x~

"Did you get 'im?" Merle shouted as soon as Daryl stepped out of the car when he and Abraham got back to the Hilltop.

"Naw, bastard gave us the slip," he answered, watching Ani exit the house and come his way.

"We gotta have some words about your woman," the older Dixon said when he noticed her, too.

"Why? What happened?"

"Left on 'er own, that's what happened!"

"I wasn' on my own, Merle," Ani sighed while walking over to Daryl. "Sasha and me went ta find Simon's apartment and got a bunch a stuff tryin' ta. Lots a apartments in the immediate area that had some good shite."

"Thought I told you to stay in the walls," Daryl said, though his tone was much less accusatory than Merle's had been.

"Thought I told you that if ya want me ta stay, you have ta stay, too. I did try ta stay, like I promised, but I was too antsy and had nothin' ta take my mind off a it. I did take a nap, though."

"Could've waited 'til I got ba-"

"Ya really want ta start on it again? I'm already 'bout ta deck ya brotha for this shite and I don' want ta be stressed out 'bout it. I would choose ya next words very carefully if I was ya," Ani cautioned, having already had a conversation with him regarding the topic.

Daryl had been being overbearing the night before he'd left with Abraham about how she had left the house too early when she was supposed to stay closer to Maggie. It had been the first time they'd been able to really wind down and even discuss the situation, even though it ended in an argument that didn't stop on a good note. She had gone into a full-on meltdown after Daryl shouted at her, her stress level rising so high in such a way that had her shaking just as bad as she had in the tunnels. She'd already been coming down from the battle and the walkers and everything that had happened between her, Carol, and Sophia. All she'd been able to do was sit on the bed folded in on herself and rock with her arms wrapped around her knees while the blood rushed in her ears. She couldn't even handle his touch and he had been at a complete loss of what to do because he'd been scared shitless by her reaction. Daryl had finally sat and listened to her when he managed to get her calmed down and they came up with as good of a solution as they were going to get. As long as it was something they both considered easy, like going hunting and foraging or making easy runs, he'd back off for the time being.

While Ani didn't outright say it, she heavily implied that she didn't need him and Merle to constantly tell her what to do because it was degrading. Being pregnant and made to feel like little more than a walking incubator was demeaning and the constant fights were humiliating. She was sick of being treated like that and sick of feeling like the pregnancy was constantly being used against her. He felt like a fool when she was done talking because he finally realized the toll he was taking on her by trying to protect her. His protection was suffocating and over the top and he needed to back off a bit or stay with her to make sure she did what he wanted or couldn't go anywhere without him. But if he couldn't do that, he couldn't expect her to stay put, either, at least not until the pregnancy was starting to do more than hurt her back and hip and make her a hormonal, emotional mess. He had been forced to agree with her but had asked that she at least try to wait for him or Merle or, at the very least, make sure there were enough people going with her to keep her safe. While there wouldn't be anywhere near enough people to protect her that would ease his mind, it was the best he was going to get. She managed to drive the point home that she needed him to be there for her, not try to control her or treat her like a child. She wanted to be able to lean on him, not constantly be carried around by him or being forced to sit on her butt. They both agreed to be a little more considerate of the other when it came to problems and actions concerning the pregnancy on top of being more open in their communication.

"Who'd you take with you?" Daryl asked through his irritation with a scowl on his face.

Ani gave him a small smile, thankful he was at least trying to behave himself, as she answered, "I told ya, I went with Sasha. Would a taken Phia, too, but she's took off. Let Maggie, Enid, and Carl know where we were goin'. Got a crib for Lou," she shrugged before looking him in the eye. "Even ya can' say it wasn' an easy run."

"Why ain't you pissed off?" Merle shouted when Daryl simply kept scowling, which made Ani take a deep breath and shift her weight in anticipation. "She left the damn walls! We keep tellin' her to take it easy, and what does this bitch do? She fu-"

Whatever he was about to say got cut off when Ani's fist connected with his cheek, leaving the other two men stunned and Merle on the ground. She had warned him; she had told both of the Dixon men time and time again that she was sick of their behavior. The older of the two just wouldn't learn his place and she could only hope that this lesson would make it clear. Daryl's lesson had been traumatic for both of them and she hadn't even blown up at him like she had Merle. Then again, maybe if Merle had seen firsthand how much pressure they had been putting her under like Daryl had, he would lay off, too. It was part of the reason he had agreed to leave with Abraham while she stayed at the Hilltop; they needed to prove that they could trust each other to keep to their agreement. Ani didn't want to have to go through that again, though, because she had been shaking uncontrollably then, too. Daryl had forced her to let him touch her by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her onto his lap, holding her tightly while rubbing circles on her hip. It didn't take long for him to realize just why Ani had hit his brother and compared to what he'd had to deal with, he felt like Merle got off light. Daryl wished that he would have been decked rather than be the cause of his wife's mental breakdown and it was part of the reason why he was trying to keep his anger from showing. It wasn't as if he wasn't angry or as if he didn't care that she'd left the Hilltop when he was trying to get Eugene, but if Merle had seen what they were doing to her, he'd be backing off, too.

"I gave ya warnin', Merle. Told ya not ta call me a bitch. Told ya not ta keep usin' the 'take it easy' excuse ta try ta control what I do. Told ya not ta act like ya get a pass at this shite. Let this be a lesson ta ya: Back the fuck off, now. Or next time, I'll break ya fuckin' jaw! And if ya still don' get it afta that, I'll cut ya fuckin' dick off! I'm done with ya bullshite!"

"Ain't like I ain't pissed," Daryl told him. "Ain't like I like that you went out, neither," he said, turning towards Ani. "You could've waited or taken a couple more people with you. Could've ran into Saviors or some other trouble."

"Simon's apartment was nah where near where the Saviors would a been lookin'. There weren' any otha cars or people we even saw. Got some food, though. More medical supplies. Got a cute little onesie I already claimed for Lou. It's got duckies all ova it! Like I said earlia, I got a crib for baby boy, too," she assured him, wrapping her arms around him. "I was safe, like I promised ya I would be. And ya promised me ya wouldn' be an ass 'bout it all so long as I was safe and it was easy. Ya can talk ta Sasha. I didn' even do any heavy liftin' and the worst thing that happened was I almost puked from the stale smell a the buildin's, 'specially Simon's."

Merle looked at the two of them as Daryl's arm came around her and his face contorted in defeat before he stood up and started yelling again, "You're gonna let 'er get away with this? Where's your head at, boy?!"

"She ain't a kid," Daryl told him. "Ain't like somethin' happened and she got stuff we can use. Ain't happy she went without us, but-"

"Are you fuckin' serious?!" the elder Dixon shot out. "Have you lost your mind?! Did she finally cut off your dick?! She was told to take it easy and to stay in the walls! She don't need to be stressin' herself out bein' a stupid little cunt!"

As soon as he said the words, Merle's head reeled back as a harsh uppercut from Ani connected to his chin, making him fall to the ground once again. This time, though, he wasn't going to be getting back up as she had made sure to use enough force to knock him out. Abraham had whistled and come around the car to see her handiwork and grab the unconscious man to take into the trailer he'd taken to staying in after the battle. When the other redhead had gotten closer, Ani had gagged and asked what the hell he'd rolled around in only to be completely disgusted by his answer. She was thankful when he left with the older man in tow so that the smell went away, too, turning back to Daryl and hoping she wouldn't be fighting with him again as well. He didn't look happy, but he just brought her under his arm and lead her towards the house while telling her what had happened with Eugene. They had been close to getting him back to the Hilltop until he'd puked all over Abraham and given them the slip. He did chastise her for going out after telling him she'd stay back, but he had to admit, the two women had brought back quite the haul. She had kept to the agreement they'd made by letting people know and keeping to an easy run while simultaneously taking the best shot and one of the best fighters with her. By the time Merle woke up and joined them sitting at the picnic table, taking a cigarette from Daryl in the process, the two of them had gotten over the situation.

"Ya goin' ta apologize for bein' an ass?" Ani asked him, only to get a dirty look in return. "I did warn ya. Been tellin' ya for a week ta let up. Two if ya include gettin' back from the Sanctuary."

"We gotta ease up, man. She can't handle it. Broke down because of all this. As bad as she did back in the tunnels," Daryl told him. "Doc said to keep her stress level down. We're makin' it worse. I don't like it, but we gotta ease up."

"What the hell you talkin' 'bout, boy?!" Merle growled out.

"He went off on me for leavin' the house and I jus'...broke. Everythin' ya two are doin' is puttin' me unda more stress than the damn war has been, Merle. I'm already stressed enough 'bout the pregnancy and Lou afta Alexandria. I can' jus' sit on my ass doin' nothin' but worryin' 'bout the two a ya. And I can' handle ya bein' so far up my ass ya can see the sun shinin' out a my mouth," Ani answered for him. "Like I said, D and I talked 'bout it 'fore 'e went off with Abraham. I don' need or want ya ta act like ya my dad. Ya can be protective like a brotha, but let that bruised jaw be a lesson ta ya. Ya keep pushin' my buttons, I'm goin' ta lash out every time. It's stress relievin'," she shrugged.

"Save it for when she's about to pop," Daryl agreed. "Or one of us can stay here and keep an eye on 'er."

"See? He gets it," Ani said. "If ya want me ta relax, stay back and relax with me. If ya want me ta stay 'ere, then stay 'ere with me. I love the both a ya ta death, but ya got ta stop makin' a fuss ova me doin' anythin' and everythin'. Ya got ta let me breathe."

Merle gave them both an angry look, not saying a single word about it, which Ani took as him silently agreeing with them. She hoped that she had finally managed to get through to both of them and the fights would end so that they could all move forward. They made small talk after the men had finished their smokes and Ani had a problem with the ensuing awkward silence. Daryl and Merle discussed how they were going to get back at Eugene for his role in the war and everything that had happened since he'd been taken. Ani offered some ideas here and there about how to make their suggestions even worse, but it was all just talk. They all knew they'd blow his head off or shove a blade through his eye the moment they saw him after all the help he'd given the Saviors. If he had been tortured like Daryl had been or isolated like Ani had, they might be more understanding, but Eugene was nothing but a coward. He probably agreed to help them as soon as he got to the Sanctuary out of sheer fear, and from what Beth had told them combined with what Abraham and Daryl had seen, he had climbed up the ranks fast. He was considered one of the best leaders they had after just two weeks and had completely destroyed their first attempt at attacking the Sanctuary, resulting in the destruction of Alexandria and the Kingdom. Ani had just asked if Merle was planning on helping plan their next move on how to get Eugene away from the Saviors when Sophia came running up to them.

"Gregory's back," she told them.

"Ok? Did ya tell Maggie?" Ani asked.

"Enid's doin' that and Carl's gettin' his dad, but...Gregory's not alone."

All three Dixons became interested and followed the teenager to the holding pen only to stop short at the sight of Simon standing inside with the old leader of the community. Ani was shocked and both Daryl and Merle immediately took a defensive stance on both sides of her, similar to what Abraham and Sasha were doing with Maggie. Jesus, Rick and Michonne were out there, too, with Carol standing off to the side, everyone simply staring at the pen. Maggie asked if they should give him a chance and Ani relayed what she had discerned from the man's apartment. Merle told them about how Simon had been the one that had given him the truck of goods he'd first come back with while Carol mentioned about how Sophia had said he'd helped her. Ani was tucked under Daryl's arm trying to figure out just how she felt about the situation even if she trusted the man to at least not try to pull anything stupid behind enemy lines. He had been nice enough at the Sanctuary, but she still wasn't sure if he was being truthful or if he was simply putting on a show. Daryl wasn't about to let her leave his side until he knew exactly what was going on, and if he did, he'd be standing right behind her with his knife in hand, ready to throw it at the bastard. Merle was obviously of the same mind since he had his rifle ready to shoot the second the man made the wrong move.

"What should we do?" Maggie asked. "He says he's here to help, but the last time I saw him, he killed Wayne. I don't think we should trust him."

"He's the Savior that's been in charge of this place for a while," Jesus informed them. "He's always been eccentric. The prisoners we took...they're from the outpost he's in charge of. All but one was pretty good up until Henry opened the pen."

"Some of them are helping with repairs now," Carol added.

"We should at least talk to him. See what information he can offer us," Sasha said.

"Let me guess, ya want me ta talk ta 'im?" Ani asked.

"You're the best chance we have at knowing what he's playin' at," Rick told her. "You won't be alone."

Ani gave him a dirty look before shooting back, "Nah shite, Sherlock. Ya think these two knuckleheads are goin' ta let me walk up ta that fence alone?" she asked, motioning to the Dixon brothers on either side of her. "Ain' nothin' I'm worryin' 'bout anyway. Though I still ain' sure how much is genuine and how much is fake, Simon liked me well 'nough at the Sanctuary."

"Why?" Merle asked in an accusatory tone, Daryl's arm holding her even tighter to his side.

"Told ya when we had ta hide in the attic. He was one a the people keepin' watch ova me. Wanted me ta stay and tried ta win me ova ta stay at the Sanctuary. I don' mind talkin' ta 'im, but I wouldn' get ya hopes up. Ain' like Dwight; the man don' got a reason ta double cross Negan as far as I know."

"Alright, we'll give him a chance," Maggie agreed. "The minute you think he's lyin', though, shoot him in the head."

They all moved towards the pen, Ani stepping up closer to the wire, feeling Daryl press his chest against her back, and asked, "Why are ya here?"

"I came bearing the gift of knowledge," Simon said with a smile, his posture seemingly friendly enough.

"What kind of knowledge?" Maggie asked.

"Well, we have a common enemy, now don't we? I know his next move."

"Tell us."