My brother's keeper…

Michonne walked into the police department. She greeted Cynthia, the secretary and asked her to let Rick know she was there. Cynthia obliged with a smile and Michonne looked around to find a seat and wait. She saw from her peripheral view a wooden bench where a boy sat quietly reading what appeared to be a comic book. The boy looked up, stared at Michonne and smiled. His beautiful blue eyes glistened and his smile was so contagious that Michonne reciprocated. She strolled over to where the boy sat.

"Hi, mind if I sit down?" Michonned asked.

"No, sure go ahead." The boy answered with another one of his infectious smiles.

"So, what are you reading there?"

"It is 'The tales of Gera, The Warrior Queen." The boy answered with excitement.

"Oh, she must be very exciting."

"Yeah, she is. She is a badass… Oops sorry, I mean a great warrior with a sword and she fights the evil Queen Luna and her Army of Darkness."

"Wow, but how can she fight all those people by herself?" Michonne asked as she glanced at the comic book in the boy's tight grip.

"Well… She has help from her friends. There's an archer, a boy soldier, a huge warrior with a hammer and many more cool ones. But the best one, besides Gera is Rocco. He has this awesome gun and he and Gera, well they…" His cheeks become red. "They love each other and they kiss a lot too."

"Oh, so it's also a love story? Maybe I will get me a copy and read it too?" Michonne said and grinned with the delight displayed on the boy's face.

"Hey." Greeted Rick as he walked up to the pair in conversation.

Michonne looked up and stood to give Rick a kiss.

"I'm sorry, that I didn't call you earlier, but something just came up and I don't have anyone that can do it for me right now. But I promise that I will be back quick." Said Rick as he held Michonne in an embrace. The boy returned his gaze to his comics.

"It's OK; I guess I'll just wait here with my new friend until you return, then." Stated Michonne as she looked over to the boy.

"Your friend, huh?" Rick asked with a smirk. "Well, your friend here is why our lunch date will be a little late. Rick brought Michonne over to a corner where the boy could not hear him.

"What happened?" Asked Michonne.

"The poor kid can't adjust to the foster homes he gets placed in. He has had a couple of fights in school and ran away from he's latest foster home yesterday. I just found him this morning sleeping in an abandoned car." Rick shook his head and looked down. "The poor kid is only eight years old."

"What happened to him?" Asked Michonne. "Where are his parents, family?"

"Both his parents tragically died in a car accident and he has no other close kin that would take him in." Responded Rick. "I'm gonna to take him over to Jacqui's for the night until I get a better idea of what would be best for him. I think children's services are tired of his antics. They might just send him to a group home upstate."

Michonne looked over at the boy that suddenly looked up from his readings and smiled at her quickly and continued his task.

"Rick, can I go with you to drop him off?" Asked Michonne with a pleading stare. Rick smiled at his love and nodded and kissed her softly.

"Let's go then." Rick looks over to the boy. "Hey Carl, let's go!"

XXXXXXXX

Rick and Michonne arrived to the shelter for abused women and children where Jacqui worked. Rick introduced Michonne and instantly, Jacqui was delighted upon meeting her, especially since the center was in need of the representation of an attorney and Michonne was considering applying for a job in town to be closer to home. Jacqui did not waste any time offering Michonne a part-time position to start, and Michonne quickly accepted. Michonne was in Jacqui's office completing paperwork, while Rick was getting Carl settled in one of the rooms. Louise entered the office looking for Jacqui, but unknowingly stumbled upon Michonne.

"Oh… What are you doing…? Sorry, I got to go." Louise turned quickly to leave.

"Hi, Ms. Grimes. I will be working here." Said Michonne with urgency in her voice trying to keep Louise from leaving.

Louise suddenly stopped with her hand on the door knob. "You'll be working here doing what exactly?"

"I will be representing some of the families. It is part-time… I was looking for something closer to home… To be closer to Jade and Rick." Shared Michonne as she looked over to Louise who still did not turn. Michonne nodded and looked down and was about to continue to complete the required documentation for hire.

"How is she by the way?" Asked Louise who finally turned to face Michonne.

"Jade?" Michonne asked with joy because Louise asked for her precious baby. "She's great, and loud and beautiful… Would you like to see a photo…? I know I have one…" Michonne quickly rummaged through her purse trying to retrieve a picture.

"It's OK… I know she is beautiful… I have a picture." Stated Louise. Michonne smiled and nodded slightly. She knew it had to have been Rick that gave her a picture.

"Ms. Grimes." Michonne took a few cautious steps towards the guarded woman. "You can come over any time you'd like. I want her to see you too."

Louise took in a deep breath and looked straight at Michonne. "I better let you get back to those papers. They aren't going to fill out themselves." Louise turned to leave, opened the door. "I would like that." Louise said quickly and walked out with the same swiftness.

XXXXXXXXX

It had not been easy, but slowly, Michonne and Rick had been settling down into a lifestyle that they felt was becoming comfortable and convenient for their family. Michonne quit the job she had in the city and worked exclusively in town. She worked for Jacqui and did freelance jobs for whoever needed legal representation.

It was a Friday night and Rick had to work a late shift. There was a knock at the door and Michonne was home with Jade.

"Shane? Hi." Michonne greeted Rick's good friend. The man that Rick considered his brother. "Come in… Rick is working late tonight. He is at the station."

"I know. I didn't come looking for Rick… Actually, I wanted to speak with you." Said Shane as he looked passed Michonne and then to her.

"Why? What's wrong? Is something wrong with Rick? I just called him…." Michonne began to panic fearing that Shane came to the house to inform her that something happened to Rick on the job.

"No, he's fine… You see… I need legal representation. And I know you are an attorney and by all accounts a damn good one. I need you to help me."

"Rick, told you to come to me?" Questioned Michonne with a puzzled look on her face.

"That's the thing; I don't want him to know. It is a private matter and I don't need him or anyone else to know. I don't even want him to know I was here. "

Michonne fully understood and followed client and attorney confidentiality, but keeping a secret about Shane visiting didn't sit well with her. Shane pleaded for her to represent him, because he felt he could trust her. As much as Michonne wanted to decline, she accepted. She didn't accept for Shane, but she did it for Rick. She did it for the man that she loves.

Shane explained that he had invested in certain deals with unsavory people and in turn put some of his lady friends in debt. He was in a very bad legal situation and needed her help. He was embarrassed and didn't want his friend Rick to know what he had done and what he had done to others. He finally left after explaining his situation. Shane walked to his pick-up truck and pulled out. He passed Rick's jeep, but didn't wave towards his direction, which was uncanny given their close relationship. Rick looked and noticed that Shane appeared to conceal himself from his view. Although Rick found his friend's behavior to be odd he didn't put much emphasis to it.

Rick arrived home and was greeted with a kiss.

"Take off your boots and relax while I heat up your dinner." Said a smiling Michonne.

"What did Shane want?" Asked Rick as he removed his boots and unbuttoned his uniform shirt. He didn't get an answer. He walked to the kitchen and saw Michonne preparing his meal. "Hey… Yeah, that smells good… So what did Shane want?"

"Shane?" Asked Michonne. She tried not to appear as if she was hiding a secret, but the guilt was very much present within. "Shane never came here, sweetie. Now, go and relax."

Rick shrugged it off and thought that maybe Shane was answering a call around the area, but he wondered why he appeared to obscure himself from his view.

XXXXXXXX

Shane stopped the car and parked it on the side of the road. He looked at his reflection in the rear view mirror. He looked away. He couldn't stand the sight of himself. He sat in his squad car, took out his cell and made a call.

"Hello… Did you do it?"

"Yes, Lori… She took the bait. He also arrived when you said he would." Reported Shane as he looked outside the car window. Rain began to fall and the view became less visible.

"Who knows, she might not throw herself to you. With that bitch, you can't really tell, but as long as there is doubt. If he suspects her of anything, he will finally see her for who she really is and that is when I step in." Although Lori is on the phone, Shane can practically hear her grinning.

The police radio turned on and the dispatcher informed Shane that there was a robbery in the local church.

"Look, Lori I gotta go. Talk to you later." Shane ended the call before Lori can say good bye. He drove to St. Sarah's Parish and is met by Father Gabriel.

"So, Father, what was taken?" Asked Shane while he took out his pad to write everything.

"Well, it's not like we have much. But the money collected for the family shelter was taken and some donated clothes and shoes. The worst was the writings on the wall." Father Gabriel said as he looked at the vandalism and shook his head. "I do not mind if there is a need, but not to deface the house of the Lord."

Shane looked around and saw Bibles and other biblical books and readings thrown every which way. He picked up a coloring book. On the cover a child had written 'Ricky' on the cover. It was thrown on the floor and when Shane picked it up, turned it, the coloring book was opened on the page titled 'My brother's keeper.'

"Hmmm." Shane gave the coloring book a side stare.

"The story of Cain and Abel." Said Gabriel as he watched Shane look at the coloring book with more intrigued than it should have gotten otherwise. "God asked Cain, for Abel's whereabouts and his response was, 'Am I my brother's keeper?'"

"Why would he ask God that?" Asked Shane.

"Maybe guilt… Or shame. You see, God knew that Cain killed his brother… Out of jealousy. He should have been there for his brother. He should have been his keeper, but instead, he was his destroyer."

Shane closed the coloring book and placed it on a pew. He completed his report and walked to his squad car. He sat there as the rain continued to fall. He looked at the rear view mirror and saw himself looking back. His eyes became cloudy with tears and disgust.

"Am I my brother's keeper?" He questioned.

_0_

I wanted to include Carl, he is one of my favorite characters and I love his relationship with Michonne. We will see a lot more of him as the story progresses. My Lori is a very dark character in this fic and out of respect for Lori and Carl's original relationship I wanted to introduce his character another way. I always felt that Lori had a side to her, especially during season two, when she spoke in Rick's ear while they were in the tent and she said, "You will kill the living to protect what's yours? He thinks the babies his Rick. He thinks you can't protect us." If I misquoted some of it, please forgive me and if you don't well, whatever, LOL. She changed her tune in season three when Rick and Carl became cold and she was pregnant, but I always felt the writers could have explored that a little more and Sarah Wayne Callies would have played that beautifully. Well, that is why we have fanfiction and I get to explore it here.

So, Lori and Shane are in cahoots to destroy Rick and Michonne's relationship. Will they succeed? We will find out soon…

Thanks for reading