When Aaron awoke, they were all staring at him. He laughed. "That's a hell of a right cross you've got there Rick." He said.

"Sit him up." Rick commanded, Bryce hadn't seen him like this before and it scared him somewhat.

"I don't think-" Maggie began, but Aaron cut her off.

"It's okay." He told her.

"He's fine, sit him up." Rick ordered again. Michonne pulled the man into a sitting position.

"You're being cautious, I get that." He said to them. Noticing the apprehensive look on Cas' face, Bryce frowned at him.

"What's wrong?" He asked gently.

"I don't like this." Cas answered, Bryce frowned harder.

"Why not?" Bryce asked.

"I don't understand his motive." Cas replied. "I feel like there's something he's not telling us."

"How do you know?" Bryce asked.

"I know when I'm not being told something." Cas answered. "This feels wrong."

"How many of your people are out there?" Rick asked loudly. And then he continued before Aaron could answer. "You have a flare gun, you use it to signal to your people. How many are out there?"

"Does it matter?" Aaron closed up suddenly. Bryce frowned, that didn't match the personality he had been showing before.

"Yes, yes it does." Rick answered seriously. Bryce was beginning to feel as wary as Cas was, Aaron was definitely lying to them.

"Of course it does. Of course it matters how many people are out there. But does it matter how many I tell you are out there, because I'm sure, no matter what number I tell you, eight, thirty two, four hundred and fourty four, zero, no matter what I say, you're not going to believe me." Aaron told them, putting them all on edge.

"He's right." Cas muttered, surprising Bryce. Aaron clearly heard him as he looked their way and stared at him in surprise. Bryce glared at him until he turned away, not liking the half angry, half upset expression Aaron had gained from looking at Cas.

"Well it's hard to trust anyone who smiles after getting punched in the face." Rick replied at once, as though he had been waiting to get that one out.

"How about someone who leaves bottles of water for you in the road." Aaron shot back, they all stared at him. A few put their hands on their guns, including Cas and Tara, which surprised Bryce.

"How long you people been following us?" Daryl asked, stepping toward the man, his crossbow in his arms.

"Long enough to see you practically ignore a pack of roamers on your trial. Long enough to see that despite a lack of food and water, you never turned on each other. You're survivers, and you're people." Aaron shook his head. "Like I said, and I hope you don't punch me again for saying it, that is the most important resource in the world."

"Does he want to use us?" Tara muttered to Cas.

"I think his people have forgotten what it's like to be out here." Cas sighed. " If they were ever out here."

"I don't follow." Bryce muttered to him.

"Some communities were built so early on they've never even faced rotters before." Cas explained quickly to him. "They're weak, they rely on those who can fight and outsiders."

"Why do you have such a low opinion of people?" Bryce asked him. Cas shrugged.

"If you've had as many people try to kill you as I have, so would you." Cas sighed, before glancing at Daryl, who nodded and leaving the barn. Bryce followed him at once.

"Cas?"

"I thought I saw..." Cas muttered, frowning as he stared into the trees.

"Saw what?" Bryce asked, Cas sighed, his head in his hands.

"I think I'm going crazy." He replied shaking his head. "I'm going for a walk."

"You can't just go for a walk, there are walkers everywhere, you don't even have a knife." Bryce pointed out. Cas grinned and pulled a large meat cleaver out of the waistband of his pants.

"I think I'm good." He replied. Bryce rolled his eyes, Cas was always like this.

"At least let me come with you." Bryce bargained, Cas nodded.

"Come on then." He said, walking around the back of the building and off into the woods. "Could have sworn he went this way."

"Who are you looking for?" Bryce asked, Cas stopped, looking at him anxiously.

"I know it sounds crazy, but I thought I saw my brother out here." Cas sighed. "I don't like the thought that he might be alone."

"Eddie?" Bryce asked.

"Yeah, he hasn't answered for weeks and then he miraculously does, and now I think I see him? It doesn't make sense." Cas replied. Bryce frowned.

"You knew I saw you?" His eyes widened. Cas laughed.

"Of course I did, you're the least subtle person in the world." He patted his back. "I saw you."

"You're not angry?"

"No, I wouldn't trust me either." Cas said. "I just can't make myself seem trustworthy."

"I trust you." Bryce told him. Cas stared at him in surprise.

"You do?" He asked. Bryce nodded.

"You underestimate yourself." He replied. "And yeah you come off a little harsh, but you're okay really." Cas looked shocked, his eyes seemed suspiciously watery.

"That's probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to be." Cas muttered, turning away from Bryce and wiping his eyes. He sat down dejectedly on a rock. "Thank you."

"For what?" Bryce asked, he sat down beside him, not really knowing whether he could help the boy or not.

"Being nice? Caring? I don't know." Cas sighed, he seemed a lot more vulnerable, not to mention comfortable around Bryce now, which made the older boy glad.

"We're friends aren't we?" Bryce said. Cas nodded.

"I guess we are." Bryce smiled at this, he hadn't had an official friend in this world before. Yes, he had the rest of their group, but they just tolerated him, they didn't think of him as someone to confine in, neither did he think of them as such. But to have a real friend, someone who had saved his life and would continue to have his back, was all he had ever wanted.