"BACK OFF!"

"Carley…" Lilly chastises, watching as the ex-reporter aims it at a pair sketchy-looking men wandering outside the motor-inn fence. They look pretty damn similar to each other, so Lee's not really surprised when they explain that they're brothers.

"Y'all can call me Andy, and this here's my brother Danny," the man explains, holding up a gas can as a sign that they mean no harm. Lee doesn't really know what to think about these guys. "It's a nice place you got here – all fenced up and whatnot."

Kenny, wanting to keep his family safe no matter the cost, steps forward with a look of suspicion on his moustachioed face.

"Yeah? What about it?" he questions, narrowing his eyes as the group remains silent. After just having Mr. Parker turn and try to attack both Katjaa and Lee, you could say that they're more than a little on edge right now.

And a couple of strangers just happen to miraculously show up right after such a scary situation like this? To the motor-inn group, that seems a little bit… suspicious.

Maybe it's just the paranoia getting to them.

"Whoa, whoa, relax! We don't mean nothin' by it!" Andy tries to reassure, smacking the gas can with his hand to prove his point. "Just tryin' to make polite conversation, that's all! A little southern hospitality, if you will!"

Danny tries to step in before things get out of hand. "We live a couple miles up the road, you see. Our land is protected by an electric fence," he explains, getting some looks of surprise from a number of people. "We're runnin' on fumes at the moment, and thought that maybe you could help us out."

Furrowing his brow, Lee folds his arms across his chest as he shields Clementine protectively. Something about these people seems… off.

"What do we get in exchange?" he asks on behalf of the group, not wanting to get the short straw and have these two clowns pilfer their gas away. Not that they really have much use for it other than sitting around the parking lot, but still. "No offense, but it seems kind of odd for a couple of farm boys to be out on the road like this."

"And maybe you should mind your god damn manners, asshole!" Larry berates, causing Lee to roll his eyes and try to block out the old man's voice. Honestly, at this point it's gotten way out of hand.

The big guy's been chewing Lee out about the secret for months now, and to be honest he's really surprised that he hasn't just blabbed out the secret to everyone to try and have him tossed out of the group. If he was willing to throw Duck of all people out just on a hunch that he might have been bitten, then you'd think that having a murderer among their ranks would be twice as cause for alarm.

Choosing to turn the other cheek, Lee sighs before telling the brothers that he'll meet them outside the gate. Naturally, his little companion wants to join as well.

"I need you to stay here, alright? You're my last line of defense in case something happens," he tells her, tipping her hat so that it's better fixated on Clem's head. "…and between you and me, I don't think Ben's really up for the job. Too scared, you know?"

Giggling slightly to herself, Clementine reluctantly nods before Lee (along with Kenny and Lilly), move the dumpsters out of the way so that they can bargain with Andy and Danny. Considered to be the little triumvirate of the group, they figure it'd be best for them to listen to the terms and come to a consensus.

They all have their weapons on standby in case this is some kind of trap.

"Y'all are pretty suspicious folks, ain't ya?" Andy comments jokingly, getting a grunt of annoyance from Kenny and Lilly. "Anyways, I suppose you'd want something in exchange… hmm…"

"How are y'all doing on food?" Danny suggests, getting a precautionary glance from (what Lee can only assume) the older brother. "We've got plenty at the dairy."

Glancing over at each other, Lilly, Kenny and Lee widen their eyes in surprise. This could be just what they need! Macon's getting pretty empty as far as supplies are considered, and the kids right now look as though they're starving to death with how scrawny they are.

"Just give us a minute," Lee says, bringing the two over to the side in order to talk it out. "Well, what do you guys think? Should we trust them?"

Kenny shrugs his shoulders as he sighs. "Doesn't seem like we have much of a choice."

"There's always a choice!" Lilly retorts, not seeming to trust the brothers too much. "We can just send them on their way, and not have to worry about a couple of hillbillies out in the woods. Plain and simple."

Glaring intently at Lilly, Kenny shakes his head as he prepares to get into yet another argument with the woman. They literally couldn't be further apart from each other, and Lee worries that one of these days it's gonna cost them hugely.

There's always a boiling point – Lee knows this better than most.

"Simple?! I'll tell you what's simple – getting over to this farm and getting some food into my boy! I ain't willin' to let Duck go hungry just because you were too fucking scared to go!" he argues, getting more riled up by the minute. "If you want to stay behind, then fine. Be my fucking guest, Lilly! But the rest of us are checking the place out, right Lee?"

Oh no… here we go again. This happens literally every single time – Lilly and Kenny are each on their own side, and Lee's caught in the middle. For once, just once, he wishes that all three of them would be able to find some common ground. It's not likely to happen at this rate, what with all of the in-fighting that's been going down. But would it really be too much to ask for a day of peace?

…nah, that'd just make things kind of boring around here, wouldn't it?

"How's about this," Lee tries to compromise, wanting to get in good with both parties, "we'll send over a small party – maybe four or five – to go check the place out. If we don't like what we see, we'll high-tail it out of there on the first chance we get. If it's safe enough, we'll send someone back to get the rest of the group over. Sound fair?"

"Fine, I can get behind that," Kenny nods, looking exhaustedly over at Lilly. "What about you, princess?"

Giving him the finger, Lilly huffs out a sigh as she frowns and folds her arms.

"…whatever. Let's go get fucking shot by the hicks. I'm sure they'd be more than willing to use us for their target practice…"

"We can hear y'all, you know that?" Andy comments with a raised eyebrow.

Turning around with slight embarrassment, Lee rubs the back of his neck sheepishly as Lilly and Kenny try to avoid eye contact.

"Sorry 'bout that – we've just been through a lot lately," Lee excuses his friends, giving them both a death glare. "Anyways, you've got a deal. We'll give you some gas for your generator, and you give us some food for the group."

Nodding, Andy and Danny head on through the gate with Kenny, who's eyeing them like a hawk as they introduce themselves to the rest of the camp. If they try anything, these brothers will most likely be gunned down in seconds.

Kenny and Carley have kind of got itchy trigger fingers today.

"Do you really think this is a good idea?" Lilly comments dryly, causing Lee to dart his head towards the stern woman. He had almost forgotten that she was still there. "Going off with a bunch of strangers is never a good idea, Lee. What if they turn out to be a bunch of freaks or bandits? Do you really wanna put Clem's life on the line like…"

Knowing that she just crossed the line, Lilly stops herself as Lee looks down to the pavement steadily. She didn't really mean for that to come out of her mouth – it just happened! She knows that Lee would do anything to keep that kid safe, but sometimes she has to wonder…

…is he really able to fill the void that her parents left behind?

"That's why you and Kenny are gonna come with me," Lee affirms, causing the girl to look up at him in surprise. "If they're really not what they seem to be, then we've gotta keep each other safe. Carley can watch after Clem – I'm not worried, and you shouldn't be either."

"Lee… I didn't mean…"

"I know what you meant," Lee shakes his head, telling her not to worry about it. There's more important stuff to be concerned about right now – there's no use in getting pissed about the little things. Patting her shoulder with a smile, Lee returns to the group and leaves the stubborn lady standing there confused.

Did he really trust her that much? As far as Lilly's concerned, she's pretty much been nothing but a complete bitch to her ever since they met – why would he be acting like they were practically best friends?

"Huh," Lilly smirks slightly to herself, fighting off the slight fuzzy feeling growing in the pit of her stomach.

Maybe Lee Everett wasn't as bad of a guy as her Dad had told her before.

…..

Orange, brown, yellow and red leaves rustle in the wind as the autumn encapsulates the survivors in a flurry of colour; making everything seem more vibrant and alive, even in a world of the dead. Lee used to love this time of year back home – heading off with his brother and his friends messing around in the woods. In their teens, they'd usually head up to the top of a local waterfall and chuck rocks down below; scaring the fish away and often pissing off the people that were trying to catch them.

It's not as if it was illegal per say, but to them at that age, it certainly felt like they were living life on the edge. Drinking beers and causing shenanigans… sometimes Lee wishes that life could return to that state of simplicity.

Watching as a groundhog scurries back into its hole, the man's stomach rumbles even more as he clutches it hungrily. There better be something for all of them to eat back at this place. Lee's not so sure that he can take another missed meal at this point.

"Do you think this place is gonna be safe?" Ben asks timidly, trying his best to make small talk since he's still the newbie around here. "They don't look like the guys who raided my camp, but…"

"But… what?" Mark asks, not wanting the kid to feel unwelcome around here.

Glancing at the back of the brothers' heads as they talk to Kenny up ahead, Ben shrugs his shoulders as he frowns; no doubt reminded that both Travis and Mr. Parker are now dead. The only people from his past life just… gone. Just like that, in the span of a couple of hours.

It's not fair.

"I…I don't know," he confesses, only seeming to aggravate Lilly. "Most of them were wearing ski masks and sunglasses, so it could've been these guys and I'd have had no idea. Maybe they're here to finish the job…"

"Gee, thanks for the vote of fucking confidence," Lilly mutters sarcastically, causing Lee to chuckle slightly at the bickering.

Squinting his eyes, Andy peers over the hill as the sun flashes on them, but he nods all the same as they start heading up. "Shouldn't be too much farther now," he confirms, slowing down a bit to allow Lee and the rest of them catch up. "You know, we found y'all just in time. Without that gas that you folks gave us, we'd have been royally screwed!"

"It's really electric then?" Kenny questions, sharing Lee's slight doubt that this place might not be up to snuff.

Nodding feverishly, Danny scouts up ahead through the treeline as they bank a left through the brush. "The fence keeps them dead ones from creepin' up on us. That baby fries those sons of bitches up like bugs in a zapper."

"Sounds impressive," Mark states, nearly tripping over a tree root as he holds his rifle out in front of him. Fixing himself back up, the glasses-wearing, ex-military man ushers for Ben to keep up with everyone else.

Lee's about to ask about how safe this dairy of theirs actually is, when all of a sudden they hear a bunch of shouting coming from the path to the right of them. If they hadn't just taken that shortcut that Danny lead them to, they would've been caught right in the middle.

"Shit…" Andy curses, glaring at the oblivious bandits fighting amongst themselves down below. "Should've figured we'd run into them sooner or later. Fucking assholes, the lot of 'em…"

"You think you're gonna cut me outta this?!" the one bandit snarls, getting all up in the face of the man in front of him. "You and Gary are always so full o' shit! There's plenty to go around, and there y'all are – hogging the good shit for yerselves!"

"Nobody's tryin' to cut you outta anything!"

"There's only two of them…" Kenny whispers, figuring that there must be more where they came from. "Please tell me you don't know these fuckers…"

"Not personally…"

"Great. That makes me feel so much better."

"Calm down! Your paranoia's always pissin' everyone off!" the man says in annoyance, holding his hands out to the side as he speaks.

"Fuck you! You knew we were hungry, and you guys were keeping it all to yourselves!"

Leaning to the side behind a bush, Lilly furrows her brow in anticipation as she holds her pistol at her side. If they turn to their direction, then she's gonna be ready for the worst.

"Yeah, and you know what?" the bandit mocks, giving the angry man some lip as he stands there. "We ate it all! What are you gonna fucking do about it?"

"Oh shit…" Lee whispers, knowing fully well that this is gonna turn ugly.

BAM!

"Wh-what the fuck?!" the bandit panics, turning this way and that as the man he was talking to instantly dies from a shot to the head.

But it wasn't from his gun.

"FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU!" the man rages, firing a blast at Mark who still had a smoking rifle in his hands. The bullet rips through the air as the shrapnel pelts him right in the chest; sending him flying backwards as he moans in pain.

Once the rest of the group stands up, the bandit runs for cover deeper into the woods as bullets chase behind him. Danny manages to hit part of the man's leg, but he scurries deeper into the thicket and out of sight before anyone can put him down.

"Son of a bitch…" Kenny snarls before turning back towards the wounded party member. "Jesus Christ, Mark! Just hang in there, man!"

"Fuuuuuucccckkkk…" Lilly groans, placing two hands over top of his chest wound in order to try and stop the blood flow. The crimson liquid quickly stains and goes in between her fingers as Mark shudders in agony. "We need to get him somewhere safe right fucking now! He needs medical attention – how much farther is this place?!"

"'Bout a mile or so," Andy comments, pointing straight ahead through the trees. "If y'all intend for the guy to live, then you'd best get a move on! We can try to fix him up at the house!"

Quickly grabbing the man's legs as Kenny grabs his arms, Lee lifts upwards as they follow the farm boys to wherever the hell it is that they're going. They're at the complete mercy of these two now, and there's nothing they can do about it.

Mark's life is truly on the line, and the group barely notices the distance as they keep running until a peaceful-looking property comes into view on the horizon.

"This had better be worth it…" Lilly comments as she rips a bottom part of her grey shirt and fastens it around Mark's wound.

Nodding, Lee sighs as they rummage through the gate; noticing the warning sign for the electric fence before rushing their patient inside.

God help them if this is all a trap…