Changing Everything
Vic gave Walt a sassy retort when he entered the outer offices and inquired first, before a hello to anybody, about the speed trap results from the previous night. He didn't even know what she said, he just knew the tone, something deep inside him stirred as he walked past her, causing him to clench his teeth, "My office," and move on to his office without missing a step. Vic followed close behind, as he stepped in the office, she stuck right behind him, and closed the door behind her. Walt turned sharply on one heel and faced Vic; his body scant inches away from her.
The look in his eyes made her question, "What Walt? What is it?"
He let out a deep breath, forced himself to hold her gaze and slowly confessed, "I want to kiss you."
"So go ahead" she challenged.
"Can't, it'd change everything."
"Sex changes everything Walt, not a kiss." But while they stared at each other she remembered 'this is the guy who thought calling another woman after his wife died was cheating.' She stared at him a second longer and then relented, "You're right, for you it probably would change everything."
"I just don't know that I'm ready for that. That we're ready for it. It's a small town, Vic. People will talk."
"They already do."
"Yeah but I don't want them talking about you."
"They already do."
"Not because of me."
"Yeah because of you. At least in part." he stared at her in confusion and she leveled a look at him, "Think about it Walt. Big city cop comes to 'middle of nowhere', Wyoming with a husband who divorces her and she stays? I'd already proven I could be a cop anywhere. Why stay? The rumor is I didn't leave, because of you."
He held her gaze in wonder and conceded slightly flat, "I guess I can see how they could think that."
"Assumption on their part or not, the fact is it's true. I couldn't leave, Walt. I couldn't stand the thought of leaving you."
"I don't want to lose you either. Vic, I couldn't survive losing you."
She looked at him intently and vowed, "You will never have to, as long as it's within my power to make sure of that, I guarantee you I will be here."
Walt had promised himself he would not do this in the office but he had not seen Vic outside of the office in so long; he hadn't had any other opportunity. Hell he hadn't seen her at all for two days. He knew there was just no other way around it, he had to do something. Her sass in the outer office had just flipped the switch; he had to act and now was the time. Her reassurances of just a moment before spurred him further and he stepped so close they shared the same air but didn't touch each other; as one inhaled the other's exhaled breath. Walt leaned in closer, only his lips touching hers; so lightly, that if Vic hadn't known better she would almost say that that small, short, soft kiss was an almost painful good bye kiss. When he leaned back she looked in his eyes and could see the guilt, questions, and insecurities he held deep inside.
Vic held his eyes and asserted softly, "I. Am. Not. Going. Anywhere. Walt. I. Swear."
She tilted her head toward him almost imperceptibly but it was enough for him to register the movement and he leaned into her fully and claimed her mouth. Her arms wrapped around his neck, fingers pushed into the hair at the nape of his neck as his arms pressed together just above her waist and pulled her firmly to him. They were locked in an exploration of each other's mouths, giving, taking, searching; reveling in the finding of home.
Several moments later when they came up for air they both knew that a kiss had changed everything and they were in for a new kind of challenge together in Absaroka County.
