Rick had been settling into his hotel suite when a familiar face crashed in on what was supposed to be a simple unpacking. Shane Walsh, a man who had some small semblance of fame as the guitarist in a rock band, crudely named 'Sweater Puppies.' Rick confides in Shane on the situation with himself and Michonne. Shane derails the singer with a suggestion that the two do some research on the actress, so they decide to watch a few of her films. An idea Rick was into for the purest of reasons, in contrast to his friend.

"Why isn't she ever naked in her movies, where's the fast forward button?" Shane said searching for the remote. Rick sighs as his friend speeds up the movie in an attempt to see some booty.

"Shane, stop that. Can't you see I'm trying to watch this?"

"We're doing research man, we need to know what you're gettin' into... literally. Okay, her dress is good here, it's short and tight... look at them legs Rick. God damn!"

Rick rubs the palms of his now sweaty hands against his face in frustration and embarrassment, wondering if Shane was the only person who watched her moves for the soul purpose of getting off, instead of for her craft. Shane pauses the movie and watches the blush on his friend's face in amusement.

"You gonna be datin' her right? You shouldn't be ashamed of liking what you see."

"Shane, this whole thang may be a farce, but could you please tone down on the objectification. All you ever talk about is sex, while I'm here hoping not to screw this whole thing up. I feel like you ain't taking this thing seriously."

"I've been ordering all her movies. I'm helping the both of you out... Oh look, a shower scene!" Shane says in excitement as he plays the scene in slow motion. Rick laughs at a frustrated Shane who's watching steam covering Michonne's body from his view.

"Oh yeah, she has a no nudity clause." Rick remembered as Shane threw down the remote and got up.

"You think you could of told me that before I wasted eight hours looking for a pair a tits that weren't even there! Man, fuck you!"

Rick couldn't help but laugh. This man was his complete opposite, but he was like a brother to him. Even after he left Lori, Shane had been there for him, he even promised to catch the prick who she was cheating on him with and kick is ass. Rick obviously declined, but he appreciated the kind gesture.

"Shane have you ever been in one of these arranged relationships?"

"If I have a woman for more than one night, I'd lose my fan base."

"What you should lose are the monthly mug shots you get for bar fighting and DUIs."

"It adds to my image." Shane defends, "and speaking of image, I have yet to take one bad mugshot...except for that one time in Vegas, but those cops fucked my ass up. If I were ever a cop I would never beat anyone up that bad, that was some crazy excessive force man."


Across town, in a home obnoxiously to big for just one person, Michonne had invited over her close friend Andrea, to be an ear for the actress to vent to. She knows Andrea can be trusted but she had no idea how much of a die-hard fan her friend was of the blue eyes serenader. The two are in Michonne's living room for a little listening session when Michonne comes to a realization about Rick.

"All of his songs are so... sad." Michonne said as her friend played the next song which consisted of a low, pitiful guitar strum and Rick's smooth southern voice, belting out his sorrowful life story.

Andrea takes a second to elaborate some meaning behind the music. "The song you heard before was about the troubles in his marriage, and how he regretted marrying so young. And this one is about his ex-wife, and how he lost the soul of the woman he once loved."

"I still can't believe I'm doing this-"

"I still can't believe you're doing him. He's so hot and cute, and his voice is to die for!" Andrea praised hoping Michonne would share in her enthusiasm.

"First of all, I'm not doing him, it'll be like an ongoing movie. When the cameras are on, we'll be all lovely dovey, but once we're alone, he'd better keep his hands to himself."

"I wish I were you, but when do I not-could you get him to autograph something for me?"

Michonne looked at her friend "like what?"

"A poster for me and Amy and a few CDs... I also have a t-shirt-"

"How about I invite him over and you can meet him yourself... " Michonne stopped when her friend yelled at the top of her lungs and hugged a brow raising Michonne.

"Oh my gosh, the southern gentleman himself, talking to me... what do I wear, what do I do? If he talks I will literately faint-whoops, I don't mean to act so... crazy." Andrea apologizes.

"I really need you to stop acting like a fan, and start behaving like a friend. I'm nervous about this. I don't know this guy. I have no idea what I'm getting myself into." What Michonne fails to acknowledge is that she's simply afraid to date in general.

"I may have an idea, let's do some research on him." Andrea says while in the action of pulling out her phone.


"Look, if you want some insight on this chick, go to the internet good or bad they'll have it." Shane says as he's walking around Rick's room, idly touching his things and searching through places he shouldn't, out of pure boredom.

Rick shakes his head. "I don't know about that. I don't rely on the internet for facts on people's personal lives."

"Did the internet lie when I'm writing an email and I need to check the spelling of a word through google? No."

"Shane, what does a spell check have to do with anything?"

"It was there for me when I misspelled disappointment and it'll be here for us now."

Rick laughs.


Andrea filters out Michonne's name since she knows all recent updates would be talking about his possible relationship with her friend. "Lets type in, Rick Grimes salacious...no Rick Grimes scandal." Michonne sits close by watching as the blonde typing into the search bar. "Ooh look I found a ton of links here...Rick Grimes divorces high school sweetheart. Rick Grimes and Shane Walsh, more than just friends? Rick Grimes gives fans more than they've bargained for with accidental wardrobe malfunction. A nasty dispute with ex-wife proves fatal for country singer Rick Grimes, as his car goes up in flames."

Michonne sighs. "Besides that article about him and Shane, we know all of this already...he wrote about these troubles in his music. Oh no...he writes his entire life in his music...remind me to get him to sigh a confidentiality agreement."

"Oh yea I know what that song would be called...sign on the dotted line or else, an ode to Michonne." Andrea jokes as Michonne rolls her eyes.

"I can't imagine what's on the internet about me."

"I'm guessing nothing bad. You're kind of a good girl."


"Oh my god she's so boring!" Shane complains as he's looking through the non-exist dirt on Michonne. "No stumbling out of clubs, no feuds or leaked nudes...look at this shit." Rick leans over looking at the screen on Shane's phone. "Actress Michonne digs deep in her most riveting role yet, but will playing a shut in plagued by crippling anxieties grant her a nomination at the Golden Globes? Michonne creates latest charity organization to help children suffering from poverty. Michonne makes a speech at New York University about the misconceptions of feminism."

"She sounds like a good woman. I'd much rather she be boring than some lunatic, which just so happens to be your type of woman."

"Let's see what else I can find," Shane says as he's continuing his search. "On her IMDB page, she's listed as an actress and philanthropist. She's 26, works full time on a series call Six Psychotics..." Shane is still bored out of his mind and decides to switch to some gossip blogs. "Oh my god!"

Rick jumps. "What?"

"Rick, she hasn't dated anyone in three years, what if she's crazy? What if she has a whole bunch of cats...you could be dealing with a crazy cat lady."

"I haven't been with anyone in two years, and before Lori, I hardly dated anyone. According to your logic, that must make me crazy too."

"Well, they always say it's the quiet ones who snap the loudest."


The actress is pacing back and forth before Andrea who was still surfing through stories and gossip on her phone. She takes time to vocalize some frustration. "The only legitimate information you've found is that he's a 30-year-old country music singer. A newborn baby can tell me that." Michonne sets her hands on her hips realizing Andrea isn't paying any attention to her. "Andrea."

Michonne leaves Andrea alone with her fixation and sits on the couch. She takes the time to listen to Rick's music and really listens. The rhythm of his voice, the tone of his pain and the slow melody that complimented it. She realized that she can connect to his music, it's about loss and she knows that feeling all too well.


With Shane out of his hotel room, Rick replays one of Michonne's films from the beginning. He kicks up his feet getting comfortable and watches her as if she's a work of art on screen. It's a dramatic film that he understands. In the ways he writes his pain, she portrays her's on screen, he knows it's a role but also knows that hurt comes from a place she finds deep inside herself. He's not just curious about her anymore, he's impressed.

A/N So I think these coming chapters are going to be very light. With this chapter I wanted Rick and Michonne's confidants to be on opposite ends of the same unhelpful spectrum. I'm still kinda writing this idea to idea. Thank you to everyone who's reviewed so far.