Chapter four
Washington D.C. 5 Years Ago
It was a Monday night and Rick was sitting at the bar in his hotel, not really watching the football game that was currently on television. He took a drink of his Bourbon, sighing as he sat it down. It had been a long two days. His flight from Atlanta had been delayed by 3 hours the day before, so he was stuck in the terminal with dozens of grumpy people and screaming kids. When he finally arrived in D.C., he had to wait in a 45 minute cab line. By the time he reached his hotel room, he was too tired to go out to grab a bite to eat, passing out as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Today hadn't started out any better. He over slept, making it down to breakfast just in time to grab a bagel before rushing to find a seat on the bus. Then came a long day of seminars, hours of sitting in a packed auditorium, surrounded by cops from around the country. He tried to engage conversation during lunch, but his family problems were swirling around in his head, making him miss the questions that were being asked of him. After the third time he asked someone to repeat themselves, he decided to give up for the day. Instead he went outside and walked around, hoping that when Carl was in high school they still took the kids to Washington. He would love to chaperone and get a chance to explore the city with his boy.
After having dinner with a few of the cops from Atlanta, Rick had went up to his room and called home to talk to his son before he went to bed. The result of that was a yet another argument with his wife Lori. They had been separated for nearly 2 months and by the tone of the argument, they would continue to be for many more. Changing into jeans and a brown button down shirt, Rick decided to get out of his room and grab a drink to clear his head.
He was currently pondering how his relationship had gotten to the point that it was when he heard one of the men at the table next to him let out a low wolf whistle.
"Boys will you look at that? They sure don't mak'em like that in Montana!" he said.
Rick looked in the direction the table of guys were now staring in, heads turned towards the bar. What he saw made his mouth dry out and he had to take another sip of his drink. The ebony beauty stood at the bar wearing low cut fitted bleu jeans, and a University of Georgia jersey that was tied up in the back, exposing her toned stomach. The effect of the jeans and shirt made her waist look miniscule, while the v neck of the jersey made her breast look fantastic. She had pulled up her braided hair into a high ponytail, which exposed her beautiful face. She chatted with the bartender while he prepared her drink, and when he said something that amused her, the laugh that reached Rick's ears sounded like angels singing.
"That must be why they call them Georgia peaches. I would like to take a bite out of that sweet ass," volunteered another man.
" Here, Here!" said yet a third and they all raised their glasses to toast each other, laughing at their wit. All of a sudden something happened in the football game and their attention was drawn that way.
Rick continued to stare at the woman, infatuated by her looks. He had never seen anything like her. Yes, there were black and Latin people in Kings County, but none as exotic as this woman was. As she moved from the bar, drink in hand looking for an empty seat, he noticed how she seemed to glide across through the room. She was about to give up and just go back to stand at the bar, when she stopped. As if feeling Rick's eyes on her, she turned around and locked eyes with him. Rick took a deep breath as she approached him, her almond shaped brown eyes never leaving his bleu ones. When she reached his table she stopped and smiled.
"Hello. Do you mind sharing your table with me? I mean, you are the only person that has empty chairs at your table. I could go back and stand at the bar, but the bartender is a talker and I really want to watch this game!" she said with a laugh at the end. "I will even buy you a drink for your kindness."
"Well, ugh, I mean," Rick was so shocked that the beauty was at his table talking to him, he couldn't form a sentence. The guys at the next table had turned to look at the situation, wondering if their "Georgia Peach" knew the man she was talking to.
"Oh I am sorry! You are waiting for someone!" she exclaimed. "I just assumed you were alone, but why would you be? I will just go back to the bar."
As she turned to walk away, Rick rose from his seat and grabbed her arm, desperate for her not to leave. The feeling he got as soon as his fingers met her skin surprised him; it was as if she was made of pure energy and had shocked him. "WAIT! You don't have to leave. I'm not waiting for anyone. Have a seat please and enjoy your game. I would be honored to have you join me," he said finally releasing her.
She looked at where he had touched her, obviously also having experienced something from their brief contact. "Thank you..?"
"Rick. Rick Grimes."
" Thank you Rick. My name is Michonne," she supplied sitting down. "Cheers" she offered raising her glass.
"Cheers" Rick replied. They watched the game, with Michonne clapping and cheering every time her team made a big play. Well, Michonne watched the game. Rick PRETENDED to watch the game, while in actuality he really was observing his new table buddy out the corner of his eye. Every time there was an important play, her breast would heave up and down with each anticipating breath. If it the result was good, her face would light up, allowing her perfect white teeth to show. If it was not, her plump heart shaped lips would form a pout. Rick felt a stirring in his pants as he observed her.
When it was half time, she turned to him. "So what are you drinking?" she asked standing up
" Bourbon," he answered. "But you don't have to buy me a drink."
"Oh be quiet! I am a woman of my word. Besides you are empty and I don't want to drink alone. Be back in a minute," she called as she started for the bar.
Michonne walked to the bar and ordered their drinks, plus 2 shots. Her heart was beating soundly in her chest and she didn't know why. She was used to dealing with men. Damn, almost her entire firm was male and she wasn't one to get nervous. But there was something about this man that she couldn't describe. She felt it the moment she could feel him staring at her. Sure, a lot of the men there were looking at her, the bartender had even given her a free drink. However, this man's stare had stopped her dead in her tracks, their eyes connecting instantly. Sure, she had noticed him observing her as she watched the game; Michonne noticed everything. She even noticed the wedding he wore and it should have put her at ease that he was unavailable. She would NEVER touch a taken man. But when he grabbed her arm, the feeling she got was…. Indefinable. She looked down at the spot again as she stood at the bar; it was like she could still see it. She certainly could feel it.
Waiting for her drinks, she took the opportunity to get a good look at him. His dark brown, wavy hair was a bit longer than she normally liked but on him it worked . He had a five o'clock shadow, that emphasizing the sharp, attractive angles on his face. And EVERYTHING brought attention to his beautiful bleu eyes. They were breathtaking and she knew she could easily get lost in them.
"Want to start a tab?" said the bartender pulling her from her thoughts.
"Sure," she said, making the move to pull out her credit card.
"Oh don't worry about. I know you will pay," he said flashing her a smile. "I see you found yourself a seat."
"I did. I am buying him a drink to say thanks."
"Lucky man. Come back when you are ready for a refill."
Picking up the 4 beverages, Michonne responded with "Oh! I will. Especially if our defense doesn't pick it up!"
Making her way back to the table, Rick stood up to help her, grabbing two of the drinks. "I got us shots too," she informed him. "You looked stressed and my team is losing. What's a better relaxer than tequila?" she said with a smirk.
He smiled, causing her heart to beat even faster. "You trying to get me in trouble?" he asked her, tilting his head slightly.
"Not at all. Maybe I am just trying let your wife take advantage of you to say thanks." As soon as the words left her lips she knew she had said the wrong thing. "Oops. I was just trying to be funny. I over stepped my boundaries."
Rick looked down at the band around his finger. "No it's okay. I can understand why you would make that assumption. We are separated, probably getting a divorce soon. Don't even know why I am still wearing the ring," he said with a sigh twisting the ring on his finger.
"Oh. I am sorry" Michonne said, searching for the right words. She could tell he was not lying just to score as some married men did. She sensed genuine sadness. "Well, then I say lets raise our shots and toast to new beginnings. A new beginning to your life and to a new half for my team!" She hoped that she did the right thing.
He couldn't help but smile and shake his head. She truly was adorable. The momentary sadness he had been feeling was gone. Somehow, she had managed to do what only Carl had been able to in the past few months: make him relax. "To new beginnings," he said taking the shot with her.
They chatted during the commercials, relaxing the longer they spent time together. He had even started to watch the game, helping her cheer on her team. When they scored the winning touchdown in the last seconds, she jumped up and gave him a high five. "HELL YEAH!" she exclaimed.
"What a comeback, " he added, walking to the bar with her. "I can't let you pay for my drinks. I had quite a few," he said pulling out his wallet.
"Put that away!" she scolded him, slapping his hand, delighting in the contact again. "I am charging it to my room anyway."
"So you are staying at this hotel too?"
"What? Did you think that I just came here to meet a handsome man and have him buy me drinks? Cause if that was my intention, I failed miserably" Michonne quipped.
Rick looked down, smiling before bringing his eyes up to meet hers. "You are something else," he chuckled.
They walked out of the bar, side by side in comfortable silence. When they reached the lobby, she turned to face him.
"My elevator is over here. It was nice to meet you Rick Grimes," she said imitating his southern accent. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight" he replied as she turned to walk away. "Michonne! Wait!" he jogged over to her. "Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow? There is no group dinner planned so we are on our own and I would love to talk to you without hearing cheering in the background."
"I would enjoy that very much Rick. Here is my number" she said pulling out a business card and handing it to him. He did the same, allowing his fingers to graze hers a little longer than they needed to.
"See you tomorrow." He said with a deep breath.
Walking to their respective elevators, they each looked down at the hands that had touched each other. Both smiled as the others touched still lingered on their skin.