Chapter 1

Rick looked at his red haired friend sitting across from him on the table. He looked a bit tired and Rick was worried about him. He was afraid to ask and watched as Abe concentrated on the chess pieces on the board between them. Smiling to himself, he moved one.

"Your move."

"Are you ok?"

Abe looked up at him saying nothing.

"You look tired…worn out."

Abe diverted his eyes back to the chess board.

"I'm fine Rick. Don't worry about me."

"How can I not?! Look at you!"

Abe looked at the orange jumpsuit that he was wearing. It was alittle disconcerting that the colour blended with his hair and skin. It bothered him and he knows that it bothers Rick too.

"Tell me what wrong Abe. Please."

Abe saw the desperation in his eyes. Rick already feels guilty that he's out there and he's in here but if he tells Rick what's wrong it will only make him feel worst. However, if he doesn't tell him he knows that it will eat Rick up inside.

"I'm just tired…that's all."

"Aren't you getting enough sleep?"

"Something like that."

Abe was trying to answer his question and be vague at the same time.

"Why not?"

Clearly it's not working.

"Just had some trouble a few days ago. Had to sleep with one eye open since."

Rick stared at him…waiting for an explanation. Abe sighed.

"Apparently the little ass wipe family have a few dirty little connections in here or they are trying to make these connections…I don't know for sure. Anyway, some men came at me in the lunch room with shanks."

Rick's eyes widen with horror. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. Abe suspect the shock stole his words.

"I'm alright. Can't say the same for some of the others."

Rick swallowed hard before he asked the next question.

"Did you?"

Abe finished his sentence.

"Kill anybody? No…but it wasn't pretty when I was through with some of them. The guards broke us up before I didn't get to deal with the rest."

Abe saw the look on Rick's face.

"Come on man! Don't look at me like that."

"This is partially my fault! I should be in here with you…fighting beside you!"

"And what good would that have done?! It doesn't make sense for two of us to lose our freedom over that asshole. Besides…you couldn't stop me even if you had tried."

"Still doesn't make it right Abe."

"I did what I did because the courts didn't give me…us any justice. I didn't do what I did just for you. Don't take that burden on yourself. We both lost something that day. The courts spat in our faces when we were trying to seek justice and basically told us that our loss...our feeling didn't matter because we didn't have money…the right last name...the right connections. I am glad I did what I did! No regrets. You chose a different path to deal with the pain. I wish I had the balls to do what you did but you know me…act first then deal with consequences later."

He smiled at a sombre Rick.

"Don't regret the decision you made Rick. It was the right one. Maybe if I had a do over I would have followed you but unfortunately we only have one life and it doesn't allow any do overs."

The two men stared at each other for a couple of minutes.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Nah. I have the situation under control. I made friends with some quite unsavoury people. They have my back."

Rick eyed him.

"At what cost?"

Abe smirked.

"All the stuff you send me…shampoo, cigarette, soap, books. Hey! You are helping me after all!"

"That's not funny Abe."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Rick folded his arms across his chest in frustration.

"What you can help me with is a job…a decent one. One that pays atleast $15 per hour. That would be nice. I would need a place to stay too."

"You know you could stay me. That's already settled."

"Do you have a girlfriend now?"

"No."

"Well you might get one by the time I get out. You will need your privacy so I will need my own place."

"I'm not looking for any relationship right now and even if…and that's a big if. Even if I get a girlfriend the house is big enough for you to stay in without you disturbing our privacy."

"We'll deal with that when the time comes."

"How long again until you are released?"

"Eighteen months."

Rick seemed shocked by the answer.

"Yes Rick. I still have a long way to go before I taste freedom."

"Jesus Christ! Do you have to be so damn flippant about it? F*ck!"

"What the hell do you want me to do Rick? I'm in a damn cage and there is nothing I could do about it other than to keep my head down and do my time until my appointed hour of liberty come."

Rick could tell that Abe was getting annoyed with him. He apologized.

"I'm sorry."

Abe nodded.

"It's still your move."

Rick smiled and looked at the chess board. Then the visitor's buzzer sounded. Both men looked at each other.

"Till next time?"

"Yeah."

Both men got to their feet and embraced each other. Rick was almost out the door when Abe called out to him.

"Hey! Tell Sasha I love her."

"I will."**********************

Rick parked his car in the parking lot of the huge commercial complex. He checked his time and saw that he would arrive to the meeting just in time. He briskly walked up the stairs and headed towards the elevator. He pressed the button for the sixth floor. The elevator whirred silently until it reached its destination. The door opened and he walked up to the reception desk. He greeted Rosita…the bubbly receptionist.

"Good evening Mr Grimes."

"How long have you known me?"

"Three years."

"And how many times have I told you to call me Rick? This is an informal setting here. I want people to feel comfortable. All this Mr stuff will turn people away."

"I know and I'm sorry Rick."

"That's much better. Do we have any new clients?"

"Yes. Eight."

"Wow! That's good. Are they already inside?

"Well seven of them are."

"Ok…..so where's the eight?"

Rosita nodded over his shoulder causing Rick to turn around. There he saw sitting in the last row of chairs in the sitting area a woman. She had a large scarf over her head and it partially hid the rest of her face as well. She wore huge dark shades covering her eyes. The clip board with the registration form was on her lap and the pen was in one her hand while the other was fisted at her side. The woman stood still staring blankly at the paper in her lap. Rick looked at Rosita who shrugged her shoulders.

"How long has she been like this?" Rick whispered to Rosita

"Actually she was the first one here. She took a form and have been sitting there ever since?"

"And how long was that?"

"Three hours."

"And you didn't try to help her?!" Rick asked annoyed.

"I did! I asked her if she needed help. She didn't even look up at me! What else am I supposed to do?"

"Help her! Somehow!"

Rick put his bags on Rosita's desk and began walking over to the woman. It appeared that she sensed his approach because quick as lightening, the woman put the clipboard on the seat next to her, grabbed up her bags and fled the area towards the stairs. Rick called out to her.

"Miss! Wait! I can help you!"

By the time Rick reached the railing at the top of the stairs and looked down, the woman was on the third floor. Shit! She's quick! Rick thought to himself. He watched as the woman reached the last set of stairs then she paused. She glanced up at him briefly then disappeared. When Rick walked back to seat and picked up the clipboard the application sheet was tear soaked. It startled him. Rick walked over and handed the clipboard to Rosita. Her mouth opened. She looked up to Rick feeling guilty.

"This woman is very distressed and she needs help. The next time she shows up and I hope she does…do whatever it takes to keep her here. Call me. If I'm not around call Karen or Carol."

"Are you mad at me?"

"No Rosita. I'm not. Don't worry."

"Ok."

Rick walked through the door marked C.V.O.C.*********************

Rick stood before the group of about 25 people. He asked the newcomers to come forward and to sit at the front row.

"To all the new folks, I will like to tell you welcome to this C.V.O.C group which stands for Child Victims Of Crimes."

The old members of the group clapped to welcome them. Some of the new members began to cry and some of the older members came forward to comfort them. Rick continued.

"Although the group is called Child Victims Of Crime it is a grief support group for everyone. Anyone who has lost a child, whether through a crime or not is welcomed. My name is Rick Grimes and I am one of the co-founding members of this group. There are two other co-founders who will be joining me soon."

As if on cue, both Carol and Karen came through the door.

"And here they are!"

After apologizing to the group Carol and Karen took their places besides Rick.

"To my left is Carol Pollack and she is a licenced grief counsellor with over 20 years experience and to my right is Karen White and she is our liaison with the police department. She is specifically here to help those of you whose children were victims of crimes. However anyone of you are free to come to her for anything that you may need help with."

"And what do you Mr Grimes?" One of the new members asked.

"First things first...we go on first names basis only. That way everyone will feel comfortable. It puts all of us on even footing. Secondly, I am a sponsor for anyone who needs it. I also assign sponsors as well. Some of the older members of the group have volunteered to be sponsors to new members and I match persons based on their individual experience."

Carol and Karen each waved to the group and all three of them took their seats at the front. Carol decided to chair this meeting.

"So…which one of the new members wants to go first?"

A minute passed without anyone saying anything.

"Come on. Don't be shy." Karen coaxed.

Another minute passed when a hand slowly rose up. Carol and Karen smiled.

"Ok. Just introduce yourself and tell us your story."

The woman began.

"Hi. My name is Jessie and I lost my child six months ago."

"Hi Jessie!" Everyone said in unison.

Jessie was hesitant to speak again. Carol decided to help her.

"Was your child a victim of crime?"

"No." Jessie answered softly.

"That's ok. You are still welcomed here and your loss is not less painful than those who have lost a child to crime."

Jessie nodded.

"Continue." Karen urged her.

Jessie continued to speak while the others listened but Rick was slightly distracted. He was hearing the words coming out of Jessie's mouth but he wasn't actually paying attention. His mind was elsewhere…more specifically, his mind was on the woman who fled from him in the reception area. After Jessie was done speaking the others clapped her for her contribution when the next person rose to speak, Rick glanced at the door.