The next day, Joe woke up early, before any of his wives. He kissed each of them before he headed out.
He reached Deanna's house and knocked on the door. Reg answered, "Morning."
Joe nodded. "Morning. I'm here to talk about defenses."
Reg's eyes widened. "Already? I thought..."
Joe cut him off. "You've been lucky to survive this long with these walls. That luck's running out. We fix them now."
Reg sighed. "Alright... come in. I'll make some coffee."
Joe walked past him. Reg settled him on a couch before going to the kitchen to put on a pot.
Joe sat in silence for a couple minutes, looking around the room. Everything was clean and the air smelled of lavender.
He looked at the photos on the wall, older ones in color and more recent ones in black and white.
From the kitchen, Reg called, "Cream? Sugar?"
Joe answered, "No. Black."
Reg nodded, coming over with two mugs.
Joe took one and sipped. The men sat in silence for a moment, enjoying the brew.
Finally Joe broke the silence, "I've got plans for the walls and supports."
Reg asked, "What kind of plans?"
Joe replied, "First, spikes along the I-beams. After that, barbed wire on top of the wall."
Reg nodded slowly. "Alright. I know a place we can get the wire. Spencer said there's a FEMA camp set up at a supermarket."
"Perfect. We'll get it and..."
"Wait," Reg cut in. "That supermarket's overrun. He said a hundred walkers, maybe more." He looked at Joe, expecting hesitation.
Joe said, "That all?"
Reg stared at him. "What do you mean, 'that all'? That's suicide!"
Joe shook his head. "I've fought that many with Rick before. A hundred's nothing."
Reg's eyes nearly popped. "You're insane."
Joe sighed. "Probably."
Reg rubbed his face. "Not what I meant... Fine. So we get the wire. Then what?"
Joe leaned back. "Long term, we move the I-beams inside the walls. There's room for it."
Reg nodded. "That'll take time, but doable. We've got more people now."
"Good," Joe said. "That's step one."
Reg asked, "And after that?"
Joe smirked. "That's just the start. When I'm done, this place won't even look the same."
Reg swallowed. "Alright... what else are you planning?"
"Guard towers," Joe said. "And we clear some trees. Too much cover for attackers."
Reg stiffened. "Attackers? You know something we don't?"
Joe shook his head. "Not yet. But people out there see what you've got here and they'll want it. I won't let that happen."
Reg nodded slowly. "Towers and line of sight. Got it. Anything else?"
Joe said, "Training. My people will start teaching yours to fight."
"Hand to hand?" Reg asked.
"No," Joe said. "Guns. Knives. Whatever it takes. They need to hold their own if things go bad."
Reg frowned. "Is that really necessary?"
Joe nodded. "It is. Let me tell you about Woodbury..."
By the end of Joe's story, Reg was pale and shaking. "My God. You went up against that and lived? Next you'll say you fought cannibals."
Joe didn't answer... just stared.
Reg froze. "No way."
Joe nodded once. "Terminus. They promised sanctuary. Instead, they said, 'You're either the Butcher, or The Cattle.' They took my people, locked them up. I burned their base to the ground."
Reg slumped back. "Jesus... we've been stupid lucky, haven't we?"
Joe's voice was firm. "Yeah. And luckiest people I've ever met."
Reg nodded, still processing. Finally he said, "You have my full support. Whatever you need, say the word."
"Good," Joe said. "I also want to start recruiting. Daryl, Lee, Aaron, Eric. They'll lead it. Later we'll build more groups."
Reg hesitated. "More people? What if they're bad?"
"Then I'll deal with them," Joe said flatly. "We don't have enough to defend this place as it is."
Reg nodded reluctantly. "Alright. We'll start soon."
Joe stood. "Plenty of work to do."
Reg pushed himself up. "I'll gather the people who helped me set up the supports before."
Joe said, "I'll get Noah. He was an engineering student. Good chance for him to learn under you, if you're willing."
Reg chuckled. "Of course. Bring him by."
Joe nodded and headed for the door. He paused. "Where are we meeting?"
Reg smacked his forehead. "I forgot you're new. Meet me at the gazebo by the pond. All my meetings happen there."
Joe gave a short nod and walked out.
Reg stayed seated, drained by the conversation. For the first time, he realized how blind he'd been to how far the world had fallen.
Quietly, he muttered, "I'm glad Joe showed up to knock some sense into me."
...
Rick, Daryl and Carol were outside the fence having a private meeting about taking a few of the guns out of the armory to enhance the stash they were creating.
Just in case someone ever got the upper hand and they had to hand them over.
Rick asked, "What do you think? How do we get the guns?"
Carol said, "We go in when it's empty."
Rick frowned. "How? It's locked up at night."
Carol smirked. "They just latch the window. I can leave it open."
Rick blinked. "A latch?"
Carol nodded. "Yeah."
Daryl asked, "What if one of 'em closes it?"
Carol shrugged. "Then we wait a couple days and try again."
Rick nodded. "Alright. If that doesn't work, we get creative. But sooner's better. They won't expect this, not with my role. Not with Joe's."
Daryl and Carol both nodded.
Rick sighed. "Luckiest damn people I ever met. And they keep getting luckier."
Daryl asked, "How do you figure that?"
Rick chuckled. "Because we're here now."
Carol said, "They've got a footlocker full of 9mms, Rugers, Kel-Tecs. They don't even touch them. They won't notice a few missing."
Rick said, "We'll change the inventory sheet, just to be safe."
The others nodded.
Rick said, "This stays between us. And Joe."
Daryl grunted. "Good."
A walker came shambling toward them. Daryl said, "I'll take it."
Carol stopped him. "No, I got it."
She raised her gun and fired, hitting it in the chest several times before finally putting it down.
Daryl smirked. "Are you drunk or something?"
Carol sighed. "Told them we were going shooting. Can't go back with a full clip."
Rick and Daryl both nodded. They were about to leave when something caught their attention.
The walker Carol had just killed had a W carved into its forehead.
Daryl muttered, "That ain't right."
Carol nodded.
Rick said, "Let's tell Joe. Whoever did this..."
Carol cut in, "Probably not friendly." Rick and Daryl nodded, their faces grim.
Rick thought, 'Trouble seems to follow us wherever we go.'
Rick and Carol headed back to Alexandria. Daryl stayed behind, deciding to hunt and clear his head.
...
Joe found Noah sitting with a young lady on a bench, chatting enthusiastically.
They were so zoned in they didn't notice him approach.
Joe cleared his throat, and both of them jumped.
Noah glanced up, flustered. "Oh... hey, Joe. Sorry, I was just talking with Serena."
Serena smiled softly. "Hi. Nice to meet you."
Joe nodded, shaking her hand briefly before turning to Noah. "I've got something to discuss with you."
Noah's face lit up. "Okay. I'll see you later, Serena."
She nodded and waved as Noah fell in step with Joe.
"So... what's up?" Noah asked.
Joe said, "I'm working on the defenses here. You told me you studied engineering."
Noah nodded. "Yeah, but only for a year..."
"That's fine," Joe said. "I want you apprenticing under Reg. He built these walls. You'll learn a lot."
Noah's eyes widened. "I'd love that. But... you really think I can..."
"Believe in yourself," Joe cut in. "Tyreese did."
The name hit hard. Noah's eyes watered, tears slipping down his face.
Joe sighed, giving his shoulder a firm pat. "Come on, kid. Wipe those tears. We've got a meeting to make."
Noah sniffed, wiping his face. "I won't let you down."
Joe allowed a faint smile. "I know you won't."
...
Daryl was walking through the woods when he heard footsteps.
Too controlled. Too rhythmic.
Human.
He raised his crossbow and barked, "Come out!"
Aaron stepped from the brush. "You can tell a person from a walker just by the sound?"
Daryl ignored the question. "Why're you following me?"
Aaron held his hands up slightly. "Didn't know I was. I'm out hunting rabbits. Same as you, I'm guessing. Mind if I tag along?"
Daryl shrugged. "Keep up. Stay quiet."
Aaron sighed but fell in step behind him.
They walked a few minutes before Daryl froze, hand raised. He crouched, aimed, and loosed a bolt. A rabbit dropped.
"Nice shot," Aaron said.
Daryl gave a slight nod, retrieving it.
They pressed on until they hit a clearing. A black stallion grazed in the grass.
Daryl muttered, "A horse?"
Aaron nodded. "Yeah. Name's Buttons. One of the kids named him. Me and Eric tried bringing him inside the walls, but he spooks easy. You ever catch one before?"
Daryl said, "The group did." He took the rope Aaron handed him and stepped forward slowly.
He kept his movements calm, letting the horse see him. The animal shifted but didn't bolt.
Just as Daryl was about to slip the rope around its neck, a pack of walkers stumbled into the clearing. The horse bolted.
Daryl spun, driving a knife into the nearest walker.
Aaron dropped two from a distance with his rifle, then rushed forward with his machete, cutting another down.
The pair cleared the rest quickly, then took off in the direction the horse had fled.
...
Joe and Noah arrived at the gazebo after a few minutes. Reg and eight men sat drinking beer, waiting for them.
They looked over as Joe and Noah approached.
Joe took the lead. "Hey, I'm Joe. This is Noah. Let's get this meeting started."
Reg walked up and handed him a beer. "So this is my apprentice, huh?"
Noah shifted nervously. "Yes, sir. I look forward to learning from you."
Reg chuckled. "No need to be so stiff. Come on, sit with me."
Reg and Noah took a seat while Joe moved to the front and laid out his plans for the supports and the barbed wire.
Everyone listened closely, nodding along. At the end of the day, they wanted their families safe.
When the meeting ended, Joe followed them to a supply shed where the men grabbed welding torches.
They headed out the front gate and began adding spikes to the support beams. Foot-long nails welded on at all angles.
Joe kept watch, dropping a few walkers that wandered too close.
He noticed the men had no awareness of their surroundings. Noah was the only one who reacted quickly to the sound of shuffling feet.
Reg caught Joe shaking his head. "What's wrong?"
Joe sighed. "Just realized we need those combat classes sooner than later."
Reg nodded quietly. He could see now how the walls had both protected them and left them unprepared.
The group managed to finish the entire eastern side's supports before the sun dipped low.
No one wanted to risk staying out after dark.
Joe thought about pushing them, but let it go. They'd done enough for one day.
Back inside, Joe said to Reg, "Tomorrow, you don't need to be out there."
Reg frowned. "Then what do you want me doing?"
Joe answered, "You and Noah figure out the layout for the barbed wire. Make sure it's as efficient as possible."
"Alright," Reg said. "But we still don't have the wire."
Joe nodded. "I'll send Rick, Glenn, and a few others to get it."
Reg asked, "Think Rick could take Spencer, Aiden, and Nicholas along?"
Joe hesitated, then said, "Fine. But Rick's in charge. They stay in line. I won't have them putting my people at risk."
Reg gave a serious nod. "I'll hammer that into their thick skulls. Thanks for letting them go."
Joe nodded. "Have a good night, Reg."
Reg smiled. "You too, young man... Oh, wait."
Joe stopped and turned back.
"Almost forgot," Reg said. "Deanna's throwing a welcome party tonight for your group. She wanted me to ask if you'll be there."
Joe nodded. "I'll be there. Pretty sure the rest of my family will too."
"Good," Reg said. "See you later then."
Joe gave another nod and headed back to the house