Apologies it has taken me so long to update this story! I've been working on papers for college, a couple of Walking Dead fics that just won't leave me alone and I even did a Boondock Saints challenge fic. It's my hope that I can figure out how to update at least one story every week until they are complete. Thank you all so much for your follows/faves and reviews on this story! It means so much to me. Thank you all for being such awesome fans! As always, please leave me some love in the box on your way out and enjoy this new chapter!
Sarah looked up from the chart she was documenting into to see an older couple standing on the other side of the nurses' station. Durant Memorial hadn't updated to EPIC system yet, which meant Sarah was still writing in paper charts. One thing she was glad for, setting her notes on the patient in room 142 aside to help the people looking at her.
"Can I help you folks?" Sarah smiled, seeing the people visibly relax.
The gentleman looked at Sarah as if he had seen a ghost, his dark eyes widened as his long black hair shimmered in the artificial light. Sarah knew him from somewhere but couldn't place him, he was definitely Lakota though. His wife was shorter than him, piercing green eyes with red hair, her skin was porcelain next to her husband.
"We're Nicole Red Bird's parents. We got a call from Branch Connally that she was here?" The woman's voice held a slight brogue, which made all the pieces fall together for Sarah. These were Nicole's parents that used to come to the rodeos when they were in college. Sarah skirted around the desk; greeting them cheerfully, she was glad to see them even given the circumstances of their trip from Minnesota.
"It's good to see you Mr. and Mrs. Red Bird. It's been a long time. I'll take you down to Nicole. She's just down the hall." Nicole's father nodded, following Sarah down the hall. Sarah motioned into room 142; seeing a figure get up from the chair next to the bed to greet Nicole's parents.
Joseph Red Bird's deep voice caught Sarah's attention as he grasped forearms with the man who stood, "Hau takoš."
Sarah saw the face of the man who greeted Joseph Red Bird formally, "Hau ate." Why would Branch be calling Joseph Red Bird 'father'? Branch's eyes turned to Sarah, who scooted out of the room quickly. Sarah broke into a run down the hallway, hearing Branch's boots not far behind her. She busted through the door leading out to the employee parking lot, hands on her knees gasping for breath.
Branch quickly excused himself from Nicole's parents, laying chase after Sarah down the hallways of Durant Memorial. He straight armed the glass door following her into the employee parking lot. Branch slowed his pace, walking up to Sarah who was pacing to catch her breath.
Her eyes trained on Branch; looking him up and down, seeing he was ready for a confrontation. He still looked the same, older, filled out a bit but still in great shape. Her heart ached for the man standing a few feet from her, arms crossed over his chest.
"What the hell Sarah? When did you get into town? Why didn't you tell me you worked here?" Branch kept his tone neutral, he didn't need to jump down her throat. Sarah looked amazing, just like his memories every night reminded him of.
Sarah took a deep breath, hands on her hips. "What the hell Branch? Calling Joe father? Care to explain? I've been in town about a week now, I live and work here. I didn't think I needed my ex-fiancé's permission to move to Durant."
Ouch. Branch should have expected that one to come, Sarah was still hurting over what happened between them when Branch was deployed. He couldn't blame her to be honest, he was still hurting himself.
"You never needed my permission to do anything Sarah. That's why I let you go. When Duke was laying in my arms in Afghan bleeding out from his wounds in the blast, I promised him I would take care of Nicole. Duke saved my life, giving his in the process. I can't lie and say I didn't go a little crazy when I got home to our apartment in Laramie and you were gone. I went over to see Nicole and things just happened. We were both grieving for Duke. We ended up getting married by Judge Copenhagen in Laramie. We tried to make it work for a while, but by the second year she'd took off with one of the guys from the rodeo team. Hadn't heard from her, till yesterday. I'm sorry Sarah. I just didn't know what to do."
Hot tears welled in Sarah's eyes; Branch had told her in Germany that Duke was fatally wounded, but she didn't know Branch had married Nicole in Laramie. Now it all made sense, mostly.
"So you're still married to her? And how did you find out she was here in the hospital?" Sarah had to know, she had to have that closure. Just to be able to move on with her life. Branch being a part of her life now was going to be inevitable; he knew she was here for the long haul, he was stubborn enough to try and make a go of them again.
Branch sighed; he hated being grilled, but he knew Sarah needed answers. He could tell she was trying not to cry, Sarah always hated crying. "Technically, we're still married. She never came around to sign the divorce papers, I'd had wrote up. With her being gone for almost four years by Wyoming law, we're divorced by abandonment. I was one of the ACSD officers who found her yesterday. I took it upon myself to call her parents yesterday."
Sarah's jaw dropped; she never figured Nicole to walk out on anyone. Especially Branch. If it hadn't been for his deployment throwing a monkey wrench into everything and throwing Sarah's emotions all over the wind, they would probably be married. Branch was great guy, he had a lot to offer a lucky girl. Not only would she be seeing Branch around town, but if Murphy's Law had anything to do with it they would be working together at the ACSD.
"Well, shit. I'm sorry Branch. I guess we need to work through our problems now, since we're both in the same town and we both work for Walt."
"I'd say that's a damn fine idea. I don't need you two fighting while on a case. Thanks for the stab in the ass on calling Nicole's parents, Branch. You should have told me she's your estranged wife." Walt's voice broke the tension between Branch and Sarah, he had a way of doing that somehow. Why no one had heard him walking up was clearly evident, they were going at each other like two caged animals.
Sarah was the first to disengage, greeting Walt before heading back into the hospital to her patients. It would do her good to immerse herself back into her patients, getting her mind off Branch for the time being.
Branch rubbed the back of his neck, glancing over at Walt. "Sorry about that Walt. I felt responsible you know? Guess you heard all that between us?" Branch hoped Walt hadn't heard the entire fight; he doubted it, nothing got past Walt.
"Uh huh. And you wonder why I waited to marry Martha till after I got back from Vietnam. Didn't want to put her through what Sarah went through with you. I understand you feeling responsible for Nicole, she was your best friend's wife. Knowing you the way I do it doesn't surprise me. I'm going in to talk to the Red Bird's. You go get cleaned up and back to the station. Vic needs relieved for lunch."
"I'm on it. And Walt," Branch turned back to his boss, thankful the older man understood what was going on. He hated having to explain things to anyone, especially when it came to his personal life.
"Yeah Branch?" Walt reached down to scratch behind Dog's ears, the beast was his shadow. Everywhere Walt was Dog was with him, he preferred the canine partner to a human more often than not.
"Thanks for not asking about things." Branch walked on towards his cruiser parked next to the Bullet.
Walt grumbled to himself pushing the glass door of the hospital open. "Wasn't anything to ask about when you two made it all public notice."
Walt met Henry in Nicole Red Bird's hospital room, he was quietly chatting with her parents. Even with Henry being Cheyenne, he could see the Red Bird's felt more at ease in his presence. Walt sat down in a chair near Joseph Red Bird, keeping eye contact as he explained the incident of yesterday, what they had found out so far and that they would keep working to bring Nicole's attacker to justice.
"Why wasn't Branch with her when it happened? Last we knew they were married?" Leah Red Bird's quiet voice questioned from the bedside, her small hand entwined with her daughter's.
Henry's brows popped at this revelation of surprising information. Walt waved him off to explain later as he swallowed. Walt hated airing anyone's dirty laundry, but questions needed answers.
Walt turned to Leah at the bedside, "Ma'am, from what I understand from Branch per a conversation outside with him, that he and your daughter were estranged. Apparently Nicole ran off on him in Laramie four years ago with a guy from the rodeo team. By Wyoming Law, they are divorced by abandonment, which is defined as no contact, shared property or cohabitation for a period of time exceeding three years. At least he had the respect for you both to make the call to inform you. Had he not, it would have been me calling you this morning."
Leah nodded her head, processing the information that her daughter never had the thought to share with her. Joseph thanked Walt for his time, taking a seat next to his wife. Walt and Henry headed out of the room for the parking lot. Henry stopped walking, which made Walt and Dog turn to face him.
"Walt, you know a Lakota girl being raped, beaten and left for dead will cause an uproar on the reservations. We need to get this buttoned up quickly before it blows out of proportion. It seems you have a problem on your hands of what could be conflict of interest with Branch being the estranged spouse of the victim. I will do what I can with my contacts to see if someone knows something of the attack with it being so close to the reservation." Henry was always quick with the observations and lending a hand where he could.
"It's bigger problems than just that. I somehow hired Branch's ex fiancée' who's Nicole's nurse. Branch and Sarah are going to be working together on a case sometime. That was how I found out about Nicole and Branch. Sarah was having a fight out here with Branch. I'm pretty sure I got the entire story out of that fight. Do what you can with your contacts. I'll check in with you later at the Red Pony." Walt rubbed the bridge of his nose before donning his antique Ray Ban's.
Henry sighed, Walt could get himself into situations that was for sure. "Well, it sounds like you have your hands full figuring out how to not have this all blow up in your face. Keep me posted. I'll see you for dinner tonight then?"
Walt nodded, hustling Dog off to the Bullet. There was work to be done on Nicole's case at the station, as well as lunch to be had with Vic at the Busy Bee. Vic wasn't going to believe what was going on with Branch and what could potentially turn out to be a huge mistake on Walt's part. He knew she would get a great laugh of all of it. That was Vic though, she found the most messed up things funny. At least someone would benefit from the shit storm that was about to go down. Walt sighed, fired up the Bullet and headed for the Busy Bee. His stomach growling beat out his senses just about any day of the week.