This was inspired by the film Family Man with Nicholas Cage. First TWD fic hope you like it. Enjoy Season 7

An unnatural silence hung around the room. The situation room, also known as the pit was standing room only with everyone staring at the many screens dotted around the FBI behavioural analysis main office with abated breaths. The presence of the Deputy Director was an indication of how important this case was. Other staff, not allowed in the room stood against the windows trying to catch a glimpse of the operation on screen. The Cupid Slasher has been devolving at a rapid rate with the period between each victim decreasing at an alarming rate. His calling card remained the same, a red heart cut out of a crepe paper always stuck onto the victim's chest. The calculated way the unsub also lures his victims in spite of the city being on edge for the past 4 months meant no one felt safe. 18-year-olds have been taken from libraries, supermarkets, clubs and even their homes with no clue to follow. Always 18 year olds, black white and Hispanic, it didn't matter. The only consistent thing he did was his calling card and the age of his victims.

It seems they knew their attacker but nothing linked the victims so far. Parents and educational establishments were on edge and unsure of what to do to keep their children safe, calling the governor and local officials who in turn were pressuring the FBI.

Unfortunately it became a battle of wills within the FBI once politics got involved and when the two most senior profilers had different theories the deputy director had to step in. Rick Grimes had been overruled for 2 months and last week he was asked to lead a new direction. The man in question stood on the mezzanine floor looking down into the pit and at the screens. While everyone was wondering if this operation was going to catch the guy or become another dead end, Rick knew he was right. The unsub will almost certainly be at home sitting down to dinner with his family, his family will be shocked to find out he was the cupid slasher because he was a man of routine, no history of violence. Never late, gravely serious about timekeeping and has no real interest beyond work and his family but hugely repressed. He knew this 2 months ago but the powers that be took a decision to follow Gabriel Day's theory. Rick was still fuming at the 2 months of wasted resources, chasing the wrong leads just so the deputy director could cover her ass. The decision was not based on any scientific reason, just because there were rumours that they were sleeping together she wanted to appear impartial. Even if the rumours were true. Last week, she finally ordered a change of direction and now Rick had delivered a viable suspect. Right now the team was in place to search the property and arrest the unsub.

The sounds of the door being smashed open brought his attention back to the screens. The shaky camera filtering the view through the army green night light was not the best but it was enough to understand what was happening. The first room, the living room was empty and the first point officer called out 'Clear'. The team proceeded to the next room when they encountered a man and woman coming towards them. Everyone seem to be shouting at once, 'Get down! Get down! Hands in the air'. The couple complied and the camera moved with the officer who continued to search the house. The house was searched with no sign of the latest missing girl. The whispering begins in the pit. Rick knows it's about who to blame even before the operation is over but his face is inscrutable not losing any confidence in his plan. The team leader returns to the couple but Rick gets on to the mic before he starts talking to them.

'Alpha 1, do not interrogate them together. Separate them and speak to the wife alone, he will be itching to talk soon but ignore him. Over'.

Once the couple were separated and the camera returns to the frightened woman, the questions begins and soon she reveals they have a survivalist basement behind the house. A team of 5 officers rush there, the camera view jumping with all the running motions. Nothing is clear until they pry the door open and climb down the stairs. All available space seems to be shelves stacked with cans of food with a little gangway between them. As they make their way through the pantry it leads to a bedroom and woman lying in bed. While its not very clear to the viewers in the office, she was tied up and had been tortured. The pit bust in cheers of congratulations, hugging each other. The deputy director looked to Rick who in turn walked away and left the room.

A few minutes later he receives a call on the phone on his desk.

'Hello'

'Dr Rick Grimes' a female voice came over the phone

'Yes?'

Deputy Director Holly will like to see you in her office now'

Obviously she knew he wouldn't come if she had called herself. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to reduce his annoyance.

'Dr Grimes?'

'Yes. Please tell the deputy director I'll be there in 5'.

'I'm sorry Rick' she was standing between his legs staring into his eyes with regret in hers.

'Holly this' waving his hands in the space between them 'this does not work for us. How many girls were taken just because you needed to prove that you were not treating me differently? 4 Holly! 4! I can't do this anymore. It's over'.

Holly eyes fills with tears that shed rapidly into his arms.

'Don't do this Rick. I was trying to be fair. Do you know what it takes for a woman to get to this position and stay here? I'm doing my best here. We have something here, you and me'.

'No Holly. No. Your best is not good enough. Our best is not good enough. You can't seem to separate us from work so I'll do it for you. It's over. I'm done'. He reaches into his pocket and gets a bunch of keys out, twisting one off and handing it over. When she didn't take it, he drops it on the desk.

'We had a job to do and we didn't do it'.

This is easy for you Rick. Drop my key, you don't even have a toothbrush in my house. You won't let me stay over at yours. You didn't intend for this to last. If it wasn't this reason you'd have found something else. Fine, I made a mistake. A mistake Rick! You are not perfect. I tried to do the right thing. The fucking right thing and it's so easy for you to drop off a key and say you are done. Fuck you! You didn't have a heart to give anyway. Just your precious work'. Noting how unmoved he was by her speech she shook her head.

'Its over. I get it. Don't worry from now I'll just bow to your superior knowledge. Go. Get out'

Rick gets up and turns back when he reaches the door.

'Get the fuck out' she growls.

As he shuts the door he closes his eyes at the inconvenience of it all. Normally all his casual relationships have been with people within the FBI but not directly in his unit. He rarely had time to meet people after pulling 12 to 14 hour days at work and usually they both understood the boundaries but this is what happens when he doesn't follow his own rules. He opened his eyes to see an elderly janitor with a mop bucket staring at him.

'Good evening' Rick said after the staring got uncomfortable for him.

'I see congratulations are in order'

'Eh thank you' and he moves to leave.

'Rick?'

Not sure how he knew his name he turned around, faced the janitor and waited.

'You heard that man cannot live by bread alone. No man is an island'.

Not sure where this was going, he doesn't answer.

'Do you think you can go through this life by yourself'.

This is crazy, he thinks to himself and Rick starts to walk away.

'If you don't need your son do you think he needs a father'. Rick marches back and steps right into his face. 'What do you know about my son? How do you know my son? What do you know about me? If someone sent you…'

'No one sent me. You left Carl 10 years ago and never looked back. You've been going through woman like a sieve and you have no regrets. I just wanted to be sure you had no regrets'.

'I've done my best, paid for private school for my son. He has the best start in life. And I don't lead women on. Most of all I don't answer to you'. He walks away this time, fuming.

The janitor picks up he mop and starts working. 'We'll see Rick Grimes. We'll see'.

Rick walks into his condo and goes into his cloak room to hang his coat and briefcase. He heads straight for the bathroom without putting on any lights. His barely lived in look and minimalist décor means he is very unlikely to run into anything on his way to his bathroom. Usually after a big win, he would reflect on the case, making notes for his latest manuscript but tonight, under the hot steaming shower he is unable to revel in his success.

He ponders on the scene with Holly and quickly dismisses it. He was upfront with her, no deception, no regrets. An image of his son rose and he quickly tampered it down. He'd made his decision for the benefit of his son. He clears his mind of all questions and recognises he was right. And in spite of what the old man said he wasn't an island. He worked in a team although he may have to consider some of the offers he's received. Maybe a move to academia wouldn't be so bad, he thought while putting on his pyjamas bottoms and got under the covers. His last thought was maybe he should have called Tina from accounting to come over but he soon drifted off to sleep.