Chapter 1: "Consequences"

The squad room was so quiet, you could hear a cricket pass gas. All eyes on the outside was looking in the captain's office and taking in the sight of the Director of the FBI Negan Mc Avoy chewing out Captain Ford. Although the door was closed, the Director made sure the blinds wasn't drawn so they were able to see every angry hand gesture...every spittle that flew in the captain's face.

Some of the observers claiming to be expert lip readers was actually translating the words of the director to other spectators looking on. They were speechless as their captain took the verbal assaults like a champ, occasionally glancing out in the charge room where persons began shuffling around papers pretending to be busy and not being aware of what was going on.

It appeared that the captain tried once to explain himself during the melee folding his hand to make emphasis only to have the Director drag off his expensive and well tailored jacket off his buff shoulders and angrily point his hands up the captain's face. He then threw a glass cup across the room.

The sound of breaking glass barely made a dent in the minds of the crowd absorbing it in. Captain Ford took a step back to bring some distance and measure of calm between them. The director, not pleased with this counter move took a step forward and pushed the captain up against the wall. The captain has had enough and he brought his clenched fist up at the Director's unsuspecting face.**************

Rick was sitting outside of the captain's office. He knew he was in big trouble but he didn't care. His partner was dead and he needed answers. He promised Rosita, Daryl's wife that he will find justice for her husband and she made him swear on the life of their unborn child. His contacts led him to a well known FBI informant Chirpie.

Since Chirpie wasn't too forthcoming with the much needed information Rick had to extract it from him…..painfully. Now the captain was taking to full heat for what he had done. Rick glanced up and saw eyes on him..some sympathetic to what his fate could be, others smirking broadly. He didn't have much friends in the department and quite frankly he didn't mind.

His one and only true friend was dead and he didn't need the burden of risking it happening again if he let someone too close to him again. His new partner Glen Rhee stood by and would get accusing stares once in a while from the others in the squad room. When word travelled about what he done to the FBI's informant Rhee went into panic mode.

Rick assured his timid friend that he had nothing to worry about. Rick had deliberately left Rhee out of his plans so that he can rely on plausible deniability in the event something should go wrong...exactly for the present situation.

'What if they ask me?'

'What can they asked you? You weren't even there. You didn't know what I was up to.'

'They wouldn't believe that! I am your partner!'

Rick vividly remembered their brief but heightened conversation in his garage when Rhee came over to his house like a madman..

'You are covered. I made sure of that. Relax!' He had told his panicked comrade.***************

It was the crash in the office that caused Rick to shoot to his feet and turn around. Just then two officers rushed past him and bolted in the room to part the warring men. Rick looked on slightly amused at the two men both of almost equal height of almost 6 feet and body mass between 200 to 250 lbs trying to unsuccessfully take out the other.

They lock arms like horns around each other necks. The two officers had difficulty prying them apart forcing two other deputies to also rush in to assist. After five minutes of pulling, tugging and loud shouting of expletives the men were finally separated. Mc Avoy tasting blood in his mouth made one last ditch effort to get at the captain and quickly pulling free, swung at the Captain.

The captain saw and quickly countered by ducking and the deputy behind him was the unlucky collector of the unwanted gift. The officer crashed into the filing cabinet in the office. Rhee was now standing besides Rick horrified by what just happened and at Rick's indifference.

"Get off me!" Mc Avoy screamed at the men holding him back. "I want him gone! You hear me?! Gone!"

The director then stormed out of the office only stopping briefly besides Rick to utter some ominous words.

"Your days are numbered f*cker!" He whispered to Rick. Then he angrily left the building.***********

Captain looked on annoyed as the officers tried to clear up what looked like a tornado torn through his office. He looked at the pieces of his favourite cup on the floor. He got even more pissed.

"The four of you leave! Grimes...in here! NOW!"******************

Rick stood before the captain who was pacing furiously before him..hands on hips in defiance. The door was closed and this time the blinds was pulled shut. After a minute, Rick pulled a chair to sit down.

"Who the hell told you you could sit down?"

The captain stopped pacing. "Ohhh...I want you standing for this!"

Walking up and getting into Rick's face Captain Ford sneered.

"How the f*ck can you be so stupid?"************

Rick said nothing to the most obvious question.

"Do you know what you have done?! You don't piss off the f*cking FBI without consequences! Its already hard with them pissing all over our cases pulling rank and shit! We do all the hard work and they take all the glory!"

Captain Ford slammed his hand on the deak

"Why did you have to talk to Chirpie?! You know he's theirs and he is well protected…. What the f*ck is wrong with you?!"

"He had answers!" Rick shouted back. "Are you really going to sit here and tell me you believe the FBI's report on Daryl's death?"

"Watch your mouth!" The captain warned

"He was my best friend...my partner and they killed him! Since when don't we protect our own?"

The captain laughed.

"You really want to talk about protecting our own?! What about Rhee? He could lose his job over this stunt you pulled!"

It was the first time Rick was concerned about the mess he created. Rhee is just an innocent bystander and had the shittiest of luck in having him as a partner.

"What does Rhee have to do with this?! He wasn't even there?"

"But he is your partner! That's all that matters! You know how this works Rick."

"That's bullshit! He has plausible deniability!"

Ford shook his head.

"That phrase is horse shit and only sounds good rolling off an idiot's tongue. In the real life, it doesn't hold goat piss. If this goes any further and ends up infront of a tribunal its a lose lose situation for him. Is either he admits that he knew what you were doing and agreed with it or he turns against you, testify and become a rat. Either way...he's finished."

Rick ran his fingers through his hair. He really hasn't thought this through. Anything could happen to him...he doesn't really care either way but Rhee? He's just a 25 year old kid starting off with only 6 months of policing under his belt. He has to make this right.

"Tell me what to do Cap. I have to make this right."

The captain smiled.

"Fortunately for you Mc Avoy have no control over who leaves or who stays in this precinct. I do."

The captain sat on the edge of his desk.

"I'm sure the prick is already at One PP lobbying for an enquiry into your actions. I'll write them a lovely letter stating that you are still grieving for the lost of your partner of 15 years etcetera etcetera AND that you are currently receiving help."

Rick squinted at the captain.

"Help?"

"Yes..help. Professional help."

"Like a shrink?"

Ford nodded.

"No way...no way! I am not going to sit on a couch talking to a perfect stranger about my feeling and what not!"

The captain now stood on his feet.

"It's either that or he joins you in the social welfare office waiting in line for unemployment cheques. Pick your poison."

When Rick said nothing the captain pulled out a card from his draw and handed it to him.

"She's good and comes highly recommended from the courts. Go to her office...today."

When the captain saw the cheeky look on Rick'a face he decides to change strategy.

"In fact...I'll call her office and set up an appointment for you. This is your last chance Grimes. Don't f*ck this up." He picked up the phone and began dialing.***********

Rick met a nervous Rhee on the steps infront of the precinct.

"We good."************

That same evening the shrink's secretary called and an appointment was scheduled. He went home to think over what he had done.***********

Three days later….

Rick walked into a well polished five storey building on 7th Avenue. Taking the elevator to the fourth floor he walked into an elegantly furnished hallway. He looked at the card and began walking down the hall looking to match the names to the one on the card.

"Can I help you sir?"

He turned around to see a petite brunette sitting behind the reception desk. He handed her the card.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Yes."

The woman gave Rick the once over and quickly consulted her appointment logs.

"It's the fifth door on the left."

Rick walked silently down the corridor and when he found the name he knocked. He was hearing voices behind the heavy mahogany double door.

"Come in!"

When Rick walked in a woman in her mid thirty was laughing with a tall slim grey haired man. She politely gestured to him that she had a client. The man planted a lingering kiss on her cheek and gave Rick a sly eye on his way out. Rick turned around to see the woman looking at him. As he walked towards her she held out her hand.

"Mr Grimes?" Rick nodded and she smiled at him.

"Hi. I'm your psychiatrist.. Dr Michonne Greaves."