A/N - So, check it out. I haven't had a lot of time. I appreciate your patience. I will update when I can. Thank you for reading and reviewing.
You know when you know and he knew. He pounds on the non-insulated door waking her like an IED exploding in her cramped living space.
"What the fuck?"
She pulls the door open just missing her forehead. Her polymer frame Glock pressed against her tender stomach.
"Hey"
He does that thing with his voice and her eyes blink from the sunlight. She relaxes from the realization the threat isn't real but in a strange way it is.
"What the hell?"
"You didn't show up for work." His eyes don't avert from her tired features, "Ruby tried calling…" His hips shift and his finger points forward to an imaginary phone.
"Fuck." She looks over, picks up her iPhone and steps back, tacitly inviting him inside the cramped quarters.
"My phone is dead."
She sighs and he steps forward.
"You want some coffee?"
He ducks inside and gives her a soft smile, "Love some."
His long legs take up the narrow path between the seat cushions and he turns his hat up like they do in God's country. He gently places the full paper bag on the counter and points, "Saltines and 7-up." He smiles. His fingers pull through his soft brown hair and he pats it down. He cares how he looks or maybe it's what he's thinking as he soaks her in noticing her smooth legs and breasts pushing her tank top forward.
He's comfortable as he leans forward, "Can I help?"
She nods her head, not looking at him, and pulls on her Absaroka County Sheriff's dark brown hoodie and zips it halfway up covering her braless tank. She feels his eyes on her skin and it feels warm like sheets just out of the dryer and she likes it.
She pours his cup before it's finished brewing and hands it to him, "Thanks, Walt. I do need the day off."
He looks into the black coffee before blowing it cool and thinks about his thinking, "You've been through a lot."
Her eyes are sharp, "I can handle it."
His face softens and he takes another sip and wraps his other hand around the cup, "I know you can, Vic."
She sits opposite him, her hand on her stomach, and she sips her sweet milky coffee. It's silent between them because she chooses it this time.
He doesn't do that nervous thing he does, "I wonder if you're safe out here? You know with the Irish mob I pissed off?"
"I'm not staying at your fucking cabin." She rolls her eyes even though she's past it.
"I wasn't suggesting that. I just thought…"
"Thought what? It would be crowded with your girlfriend there." She blows into her cup and tastes the fullness of the coffee.
He looks over and then locks his eyes on hers, "Donna," He pauses, "We broke up. I guess you call it that. We weren't really ever together. I guess."
"Shut the fuck up."
He does. His face is frozen like thunder as he processes the honesty passing between them.
"Walt." She leans forward. "I'm sorry." Her hand touches his knee, "Really."
His finger glances the back of her knuckles like a feather dusting. "Ah." His eyes look up to the Navajo white ceiling and back down again as the corner of his mouth bends slightly.
"I worry about you out here by yourself."
She leans back, "I'm not by myself."
His eyebrows rise, "Oh."
"Travis is just a couple of trailers down."
His face scrunches as he looks away dismissing the notion, "Didn't know you were so close."
"We're friends." She takes a swallow of her coffee, "Pretty good friends actually."
His lips purse like he's deciding which tact to take.
"Ok, Vic."
Her nose wrinkles, "Ok, what? I don' t need your fucking permission."
"I know."
"You know. You don't know anything."
"I know."
Her hands surround her forehead as she sighs, "You can't do this."
"What?" His voice is soft and he smiles a little and a year ago she would have lost her shit at his tactic but she's over it and him because she doesn't trust what she feels. It made her weak. It made her vulnerable and she's not good at either.
"Listen, Vic." He simply stops talking as he looks into his nearly empty coffee cup. His chest expands and her eyes meet his, "Maybe I had just better go?"
Her eyes close a beat too long in disappointment in knowing she is right, "Whatever."
He smacks his lips but doesn't say anything and she pinches her nose forcing her eyes to shut.
"Ok, Vic." He drains his coffee as he stands, places the cup in the sink like he was trained well, and looks at her once more. His lips purse with the quiet confidence he exudes so well. It's just where they are now.