In Another Time
"Look who we have here!" The deputy sheriff said bending down to look in the mirror.
She had been driving around town in her 1960 Porsche Roadster when she was pulled over on a quiet street.
"Mind stepping out of the car Ms.?"
She didn't want to create any waves in this small town, but some slights just can't be overlooked.
"Yes, I mind." She said flatly.
The deputy pulled his gun out and forced her from the car.
"Who did you steal this car from? It can't be yours." He said in a voice that made her skin crawl.
He made her bend over and spread her arms out on the hood of her car. He then proceeded to frisk her, but not before rubbing up against her from behind. She spun around and hit him so fast and so hard he dropped his weapon and fell to the ground landing on his butt. She kicked his gun away from him out into the street just as a sheriff unit pulled up and 2 deputies stepped out with weapons drawn screaming out instructions to her.
She raised her hands and stared at the deputies.
"You need to look at my ID."
"Why? What's it gonna say?"
"F.B.I." She said pointedly.
"She probably stole that too. Did you see what she did to me?" The deputy said getting up from the ground. He had a bloody lip and a very much bruised ego.
One of the officers holstered his weapon and proceeded to slowly approach her.
"It's on the seat of the car." She said not looking at the deputy.
"Why would she put you on the ground like that Connors?" The deputy still standing at the car asked.
The deputy at her car reached in and pulled out the thin leather wallet and opened it.
"Special Agent Michaels." The deputy read out loud. "I'm deputy sheriff Rick Grimes, my partner deputy Shane Walsh. The idiot you knocked on the ground is deputy Joe Connors. I'm sorry this happened ma'am." He handed her the wallet and turned to glare at Joe.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled.
She walked over to him and he wanted to run.
"Don't you ever try that with me or anyone again, because if I hear of it I'll have you arrested."
"Are you here on business or just passing through ma'am?" Rick asked her.
"Do you have a problem with me in your town?"
"No ma'am, I'm just asking. If you're here on business and on your way to the sheriff's office, I'll be glad to show you where it is."
"I'm here on business to see Sheriff Tanner."
"We're on our way to the office now if you want to follow us."
She nodded and got into her car.
"She's like a stick of dynamite." Shane said.
"Yes she is, but you know Connors, he did something to make her go off."
Rick parked the unit and him and Shane headed into the station.
"Are you going to stop at Tyrell's tonight?" Shane said changing into his street clothes.
"No. I'm picking up Carl tomorrow, and I need my wits about me to deal with Lori."
"She still giving you grief?"
"Yeah. That'll never change."
"Alright, I'll see you Monday then."
"You got it."
"Grimes, Tanner wants to see you in his office. FBI is in the house."
"Well, I wonder what that's about." Shane said smiling at Rick.
"See you Shane."
"Grimes, this is Special Agent Michaels."
"We've met."
"She needs an escort out to the county out past your dad's place."
"Alright. When?"
"Tomorrow morning, early."
"What's the situation?" Rick asked.
"I'm looking for this man." She pulled out pictures and handed them to him.
"This is Tyler Johnson. We went to school together. What is he wanted for?"
"For questioning on an FBI case."
"Rick, I realize tomorrow is your time with Carl, but this is important."
"I'll work it out sir."
"Thanks Rick, I knew you would."
"Where are you staying? I'll pick you up around 7."
"I'll meet you here at 7." She said flatly.
"Yes ma'am." He said coolly to hide his embarrassment, but his reddened ears gave him away. "Will that be all sir?"
"Yeah Grimes. I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night sir, special agent Michaels." Rick said with a quick glance to special agent Michaels while leaving the room.
"He is one of the best deputies in the state of Georgia. Honest, smart and always to the task." Sheriff Tanner said sitting down at his desk.
"Who's Carl?" She asked directly.
"His son. He's recently divorced."
Special Agent Michaels excused herself and went out to find deputy Grimes.
He was going to catch hell from Lori about missing his time with Carl, but this would be the first time he ever missed his planned visit in the 6 months since their divorce. He could have turned down the opportunity to work with the FBI, but for a deputy sheriff in a small town, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. He laughed to himself knowing that Carl would have been the only person involved who wouldn't have a problem with him working with the FBI.
She spotted him getting into his car and flagged him down. He got back out of car just as she was approaching him.
"Tomorrow, what time are you to see your son?"
Rick was a little put off by the question.
"At 11 o'clock, why?"
"When we meet here in the morning, I'll go over my case with you. We should be done by 11. We can go out to look for Johnson another day." She said and turned to walk away.
"Thank you special…"
"My first name is Michonne." She said without looking back.
Rick was at the station before 7 in the morning, and spotted Michonne's car in the parking lot. She wasn't inside, and he recalled hearing gunfire out back which wasn't unusual since that's where the gun range was located. He found her standing there with headphones on firing at a target. He waited until she was reloading before he approached her.
"Good morning Michonne." He said. His eyes were drawn to her weapon.
"Good morning Rick."
"I really like your choice in weapons." He said pulling out his gun and placing it on the counter in front of him. "4-inch barrel?"
"Yes." She said slowly gazing at his gun.
He caught the tiniest hint of a smile on her face at the fact they carried the same brand of weapon.
"6-inch barrel? You're not over compensating for something are you?"
He shook his head and smiled.
"I've never seen a woman carry a Colt Python before." Rick said putting a pair of headsets on.
"You think a woman can't handle a .357 magnum?"
"I didn't say that. I just said I've never seen a woman carry one. I'm impressed. Like I said, I like your choice in weapons."
They fired at targets on the range for about an hour before Michonne called their practice quits. He showed her to an empty office and she opened her briefcase and pulled out a file. They sat there together and she talked to him about the case. It was an unsolved murder case. They looked over photos of evidence and the crime scene. Something about the case didn't sit well with him, but he listened and watched her closely, she was not telling him everything.
They finished at about 9:45, and he waited while she put away the contents of the file.
"Feel like breakfast?" He said holding the door while she walked through.
"I could eat something."
He told her where the King County Café was, and would meet her there. She ended up following behind his car, and they went inside together and sat down at a booth. Of course with King County being a small town, all eyes were on Rick and the black woman he walked in with. Some saw the gun she was carrying and figured she was law enforcement like Rick, and maybe his new partner instead of Shane, and some just saw Rick walking in with another woman, even Carl.
"Dad!"
Before Rick could sit down, he searched the room until he saw his blue eyed, dark haired son running toward him.
"Hey Carl." Rick said hugging his son. "What are you doing here?"
"Dave brought me and Mom here for breakfast. Are you still picking me up today?"
Rick looked up and across the room and saw Dave, Lori's boyfriend, and Rick nodded in his direction.
"Of course. Carl, this is special agent Michaels."
Carl looked at her wearily and barely made eye contact.
"Hi." He said in a barely audible voice.
"Hi." Michonne said eyeing the youngster.
"Carl." Rick looked toward the sound of Lori's voice. She walked over to where they were.
"Hi." She said looking from Rick to Michonne.
"Lori, special agent Michaels, Michonne, this is Lori Grimes."
Michonne looked at Rick who looked as if he would rather be anywhere than there.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Grimes."
Lori nodded at Michonne politely.
"Are you still picking up Carl?" Lori said curtly.
"I am, actually, you can leave him here with me. Special agent Michaels and I were wrapping up our business meeting with breakfast."
Lori looked at him as if she didn't believe him. Nothing new there, he thought.
"Can I Mom?" Carl said pleading with his mother.
"Sure. Be good." She said kissing Carl's head.
"Nice meeting you special agent Michael's." Lori said.
Carl slid into the booth opposite Michonne and shortly afterward, a waitress brought over Carl's breakfast.
Michonne sat there and thought about what she just witnessed and internally shook her head. She wanted no part of the Grimes' family drama.
"I'm going to go." Michonne said grabbing her bag next to her.
"Please don't. We're ahead of schedule. We have an hour yet." He said glancing at his watch and then at her with a smile in his eyes.
She inhaled, rolled her eyes and picked up the menu. Blue eyes too. There should be a law against them.