"I'm not saying you aren't capable. You are capable of more than you let on. I am saying I don't want to ask you to do it, on account of our. Friendship. It does not have to be you." And it would not be, if Negan was around. And Negan wouldn't waste time pursuing dead ends, neither. 30 seconds was all it took to change everything, for Doc and Wyatt. If they only had thirty seconds or less around here, they couldn't afford to even hesitate.

"Besides." Doc sets what's left of the cup of coffee down, swallowing as he watches the ripples in the drink and the inky partial reflection staring back at him.

"If Malcolm likes him, he can stay." Of course Doc would take it into consideration if Raylan didn't. He seems to have fallen into a habit of deferring to the Marshal, as Malcolm had observed. But he thinks Negan handled Malcolm fine in the Boarding House. Neither of them had mentioned anything to the contrary. He knows the seriousness of what Malcolm is going through and probably wouldn't make light of it if his help was needed. That alone makes it important to keep Negan close.