Post Season 5

"In war, truth is the first casualty." Aeschylus

He switches his hands from his front pockets to under his arms with such frequency he begins to notice his own anxious behavior. It makes him odd. His worn boot presses against the wall holding up his thick weight. The door closes behind him, the metal lock latching into place, and the latex smell whiffs past him as Doc Weston snaps off his gloves and casually tosses them into the trash.

"So ah, what's up Doc?" He smiles and his dimples shine through but his face grows serious as the doctor rolls his eyes.

"Really, Travis."

"I didn't mean it the way it sounded." He smiles, "I didn't mean to smile either. You know. It's not funny." He runs his hands along his biceps, folding the grip around his chest tighter, "It's a nervous reaction. You gotta believe me."

The two men pause, the pause that tells us nothing good will come after, "How is she, doc?"

"Deputy Moretti will be just fine with time."

His voice lowers and there is a detectible sadness, "The baby. Is the baby ok?"

He shakes his head and his eyes stay focused, "She miscarried the baby."

"But we heard the heartbeat."

He looks down at his worn boots, now evenly spaced on the linoleum floor, holding his weight.

"I'm maybe the father." His nervous smile reappears as he wipes the moisture from his eye. He snakes past the sullen medic and stands next to her bed.

"Hey." His voice is tempered by the possibility of what could have been and the reality of where they are now.

"Hey Travis." Her eyes are red and swollen and they don't need to speak of the sadness they both feel but for much different reasons. It's there even if it's not his to share. She looks away and then back at him.

Meg slowly pushes the door in and she smiles because it's natural and not because she's a bitch.

"Deputy Moretti, you are ready to be discharged." She looks at Travis, still smiling, "Is this handsome man taking charge of you?"

Travis nods and Vic scoffs.

"Oh, I see." But she really doesn't. "I have your prescription. You will need someone to drive you with the medication they have already administered.

Travis clears his throat, "I can take you home." He stutters a little though suddenly regains his confidence, "I'm parked just outside."

Meg looks back at Travis, "I'll just go get the paperwork and the wheelchair." She says pointing toward the door.

He wheels her out and tucks her in her singlewide bed. He promised to be her friend and he's living up to his part. That's what he's thinking about as he feels the last drop of the third beer on the tip of his tongue. He folds his arms on the Red Pony bar and presses his forehead down. He's not sure what he feels other than loss covered with a thin layer of sadness. He sets the empty mug next to red plastic burger basket in front of him and doesn't notice the large dark shadow enveloping him.

The lawman's face bears the scars from the fight with his best friend and that more than anything has him less than compassionate though he asks because it is in his nature to do so and his instincts kick in.

"What's wrong, Travis?"

Travis runs his fingers across his close cropped beard his eyes suddenly filling with wetness and remorse, "Life just sucks sometimes, you know."

Walt's lips press firm waiting for the rest of his thought.

"I, ah, I thought I was going to be a father."

Walt's eyebrows raise.

"She lost the baby."

"I'm sorry." He reaches out and grips his shoulder.

"Yeah, me too. I mean I guess."

"You guess, what?"

"That I'm the father."

"But you just said."

"It was a 50/50 chance."

"Oh"

Travis leans forward, "Me or you."

"What?" Walt's response is louder than he expects and his sudden escalation surprises even him.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Travis nods his head and turns to face him, "Vic." His eyes land on Walt's, "It's Vic. She lost the baby."

Walt pauses with his hands on his hips trying to comprehend.

"I didn't know."

Travis's face goes blank. He's a little too dumb and a little more drunk to lie, "I found out by accident."

Walt leans forward, pressing his weight on the bar, "Have you mentioned this to anyone else?"

He shakes his head, "Nah."

"Don't."

His eyebrows once again give away his question.

"She doesn't need something like this going around." His voice lowers, "Do you understand?"

"Yeah, sure." Travis reaches for his burger and pushes the tray away.

Walt leans on the bar, his stomach tight and his heart hurts. He's not sure what to do with either as his brain tries to comprehend Vic and Travis and his inexplicable jealousy and disappointment all rolled in and mixed together as one emotional mess on his insides.

He casually asks, "You seen Henry?"

Travis shakes his head.

Walt knocks on the hardened bar wood with his knuckles, smacks his lips, and walks out of the bar without another word. Travis eats his burger and with the last bite wonders how the lawman will deal with Vic and his may be baby.