The First Responder

Chapter 2

A/N: Thanks to everyone who favourited, followed and or reviewed what was originally a one-shot fic. Thank you to RJD for the mention on their reading list, it was truly an honour. As well, thanks to the readers who asked whether or not I could explore this story further. This is for y'all.

Summary: On Christmas Eve, Michonne Jones and her family were involved in a fatal MVA on their way to the family cottage in Kings County, GA. The accident occurred during a snow squall. Rick Grimes, is a firefighter and the first responder who rescued her. He also visited her in the hospital where she remained in a coma for almost three months. One day she woke up and after a short stint in the rehab centre, she was transferred back to Atlanta to complete her recovery. Nine months later, Michonne was at the roadside memorial saying her goodbyes to her family when Rick showed up to pay his respects. It was a chance encounter which brought them together again. Rick extended an invitation to Michonne for coffee as she desired to know more about what happened that night.

It had been ten minutes since I arrived in the parking lot of Olivia's Café and was waiting for Michonne to arrive. We got separated about ten minutes into the drive but she had the directions. I cursed when the pick-up truck cut in front of her but I could do nothing about it, we were on a rural road after all which fed many dirt roads. I suppose I could have turned off onto the next dirt road but it would have defeated the purpose nor did I want to chance her following me and we both get stuck. The shoulder of the road on this stretch was pretty meagre and the snow was coming down pretty fast now.

It also did cross my mind that perhaps she could have had second thoughts about meeting a man she just met on the side of the road; perhaps she thought the better of it and went back to the city.

I was about ready to turn back to make sure she hadn't run into any danger when her silver SUV pulled up next to mine.

She exited her vehicle and came to join me. I wanted her to feel comfortable because I don't know what I'd do if she just vanished again. "A man of your word, I see," she said with a smile that challenged the stars on a clear night. I returned her smile as I got out of my SUV to join her.

I opened the door to the Café for her and the bell chimed. There were about half a dozen other customers inside but Olivia was in the back obviously preparing to shut up the shop if the weather got worse.

Michonne and I sat at the last corner table and waited for Olivia to come and take our orders.

"Hey, Rick. Merry Christmas to you. Well, good evenin' Miss. Who's your new companion, Rick? You certainly chose a hell of a night to invite your lady friend out."

Michonne nods her head in response to Olivia's greeting.

I got to admit, I've known Olivia for years. Our families go way back. It is for this reason, she feels comfortable enough to talk to me the way she does. I blushed at her comment, I didn't want Michonne to think that I'm a player and that bringing women to the Café was my thang.

From my reaction, Olivia quickly picked-up on the fact that this wasn't a date in the typical sense. She apologized profusely, then took our orders and disappeared. I was trying to get a read on Michonne but she hid her feelings pretty good, which probably had a lot to do with her profession. In an attempt to get to get the awkwardness out of the way, I broke the ice.

"Well, I did promise to tell you how I came to be at the roadside that night. I'm a firefighter, my truck is the heavy vehicle rescue. I was working the night of your accident and caught the call. I found you and carried you up the embankment to the EMTs. As I laid you on the stretcher you briefly opened your eyes for a few seconds."

I watched as she literally shivered in front of me. I didn't mean to upset her but something I said triggered a memory. I was secretly hoping that she might have recalled seeing me but that obviously wasn't the case. I wanted to tell her about the times I spent at her bedside but I didn't think it was the proper time to do so.

"Anyhow, at the one month anniversary, I erected the roadside memorial and once a month I would go out there and say a prayer for them. I felt it only right given that you weren't able to do so."

It was obvious this woman, Olivia and Rick knew each other well enough for her to tease him the way she did which caused him to blush. I did feel a little uncomfortable by the term 'new companion' although I'm not quite sure why. It wasn't a date, we were only meeting for coffee so he could fill me in as to what happened that night.

"Thank you for being so thoughtful. I truly appreciate it." I watched him blush ever so slightly but I noticed.

As Rick spoke, his genteel southern drawl made me feel safe even though I was immediately transported back in time. I had flashes of the accident. Visibility was extremely poor that night but there was this eerie like glow and the sound of an engine approaching; then, there was the crunching sound of metal on metal and the shrill sound of breaking glass. It sounded like wind chimes followed by a rush of frigid air, then two pops. I guess those were the airbags deploying. I heard my parent's last sounds and eventually my bother Duane's too after the vehicle rolled over the embankment to its final stop.

Mark, he stayed with me for as long as he could. He didn't want me to follow him but I wanted too. We were never apart for any protracted period of time. He was floating above me and willing me to stay, then he was suddenly gone and I began to float too. I was happy. I was finally going to meet him and the rest of my family too; that was my last conscious thought until I woke up that morning tethered to machines in a hospital.

"I remember floating, I guess that would be when you were carrying me up the hill. Thank you for saving me."

"I'm just so happy that I saw you twitch. At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, then I took your pulse and it was extremely faint. I didn't take a chance to wait for the EMTs I didn't know how long you had so I got you to them as fast as I could."

"So, you're essentially my guardian angel. I owe you my life." Rick blushed, though it was the truth. How else could I categorize what happened? I owed him a life debt. I will forever be indebted to this handsome soft-spoken blue-eyed Samaritan who was now sitting before me. He suddenly found something rather interesting in the handle of his coffee mug he could no longer look me in the eyes.

I felt my complexion change as the heat rose within me. I'm blushing. I pray he doesn't notice it. He hasn't known me long enough to distinguish that I'm blushing. I pray he's not as perceptive at reading people as I am.

I glanced out the window to avert my eyes so that I wouldn't betray myself. It was then that I realized the snow was coming down much heavier now than before. It was at that moment, the woman named Olivia announced she would be closing up given that the weather seemed to be getting worse. Rick settled up the tab. I went to the cash to order a half a dozen croissants on which to gorge myself because they tasted heavenly. I tell myself that I'll diet in the New Year. However, Rick insisted on paying for those too, though he needn't have done so.

...

In the parking lot as I said goodbye to Rick, he insisted on seeing me home. I told him I'd be fine but he argued, having saved my life meant he was now responsible for it. I offered to sign a waiver relinquishing him of said responsibility but he wouldn't hear of it. I was secretly happy for his stubbornness. There was just something about him that drew me to him.

I relented, eventually we got into our respective vehicle and he followed me home. Being off the beaten track and a private laneway, the snow hadn't been plowed and it had accumulated quite a bit more than the rural road we were previously on so both vehicles got stuck. We had to walk down the remainder of the laneway to the cottage. Rick insisted on carrying my suitcase while I took care of my backpack, I insisted.

Michonne and I had been talking for quite some time now and the snow had been coming down quite heavily. I was totally wrapped up in all she had to say I hadn't noticed the time pass by.

Olivia announced she was closing up due to the inclement weather. In any event, the shops around would be closing in about thirty minutes too. It was the official end of the holiday shopping season.

I insisted on seeing Michonne safely to her destination. She was reluctant at first but I reminded her that I was now responsible for her. She eventually ceded.

I'm certainly glad I stuck to my guns because her cottage was the very last one down by the lake. It was perfectly secluded and surrounded by Red Oaks and some Pine trees. The falling snow made it postcard-worthy.

Nonetheless, a couple minutes from her door we both got stuck. Her caretaker wouldn't be venturing out until the morning or whenever the snow stopped to clean her laneway. I was basically snowed in with her. I can't say that I mind it one bit. It just prolonged the amount of time I get to spend with her. I loved her company, especially now that the conversation wasn't so one-sided.

Once inside, I busied myself to get a fire going. Michonne apologized for me getting stuck. I told her, these thangs happened sometimes. She found it ironic that the rescuer was essentially in need of being rescued himself. I was happy that my predicament could put a smile on her face. She has such a lovely smile and her laughter was like music to my ears. I could easily listen to this sound for the rest of my life.

"I could call my buddy Shane and he'll have me good to go within the hour. I wouldn't want you feeling uncomfortable in your own home." I offered.

"It's fine… I don't mind. Like you said you're now responsible for the life you saved. Are you sure you don't need to call anyone, like your parents or …? If you do, you'll have to use the landline because storms like this usually knock out the cell service."

She was really cute when she asked whether I needed to contact anyone regarding my whereabouts. "As a matter of fact, I'll give my folks a call," I said. "They'll need to know I'm bringing someone for Christmas dinner," I answered her with a smile. There was no way in hell that I was going to leave her here on her own on Christmas Day.

Michonne looked surprised but she didn't decline.

Since the awkwardness of talking about the accident at the roadside and in the Café, it seemed like she had pushed passed it and was trying to make the most of the night. I didn't want her lingering about this place beautiful and as homey as it was thinking about all that she was missing once I left especially with the family photos around the place.

After squaring away my suitcase I again apologized to Rick for getting him stranded here with me.

"You can use the guest bedroom on the far right. Although, even though you'll be down the hall I have to warn you. I sometimes have nightmares and wake up screaming. Unfortunately, there are no earplugs here as I didn't plan on having guests. I'm sorry. In the linen closet, you'll find toiletries, you can choose what you like, even a brand new pair of pjs. Mom believed in always being prepared. Personally, I think she was just a shopaholic and preparedness was her justification."

It was the first time in over an hour that I hadn't thought about or mentioned a family member. It felt weird. I had prepared myself for the flood of memories the moment I walked through the doors. I expected to be assaulted and to be crying because of the past but instead, I… we were preoccupied with getting the place up and running there was no time to be sad.

My intent was to spend one last Christmas here and put the place on the market because I couldn't handle the pain of what it represents to me. What the hell was happening to me?

"So, I'm invited to Christmas dinner, just like that?" I asked with a smile. "Do you usually work this fast?" I teased him.

"Well, you didn't say no," he quipped with the sexiest smile I've seen on him thus far. The twinkle in his blue eyes danced with mischief. "You could have but you didn't. Anyways, you're hosting me tonight, let's just call it even with dinner tomorrow, okay?"

He was right, I had no defence. I'm not quite sure what's going on with me. I'm never this relaxed with anyone I've just met. "Fair enough," I then offered to make some snacks and asked if he cared to watch some movies before turning in. "I promise, no Chick flicks."

I played along with her but if the truth be known, if Chick flicks were the only kind of films that would make her happy, I'd gladly watch them all with her as long as it kept a smile on her face. "What do you have in mind then?"

"Die Hard, Die Hard 2, Lethal Weapon and Bad Santa. Remember, I had two brothers. What should we start with?"

"I'm kinda partial to Die Hard, myself."

We began watching the movies and by the third film in we both fell asleep. Her gentle snores woke me and when I came to Michonne was in my arms. It felt so natural that I didn't move for fear of losing this connection. It wasn't the most comfortable position for either of us but the kinks and stiffness tomorrow were going to be so worth it.