Author's note: Thank you to all who took the time to review (to those who review as guests - I cannot reply personally - so I will say here: thank you for reading and reviewing it is appreciated).

My apologies for posting a bit late today RL got in my way this morning and early afternoon :) but here it is. Thanks again for reading hope you all enjoyed it.

Marked Territory

The next morning Walt was first in the office, as usual, followed shortly by everyone else. In fact, Ruby and Vic entered at the same time with the Ferg and Branch not far behind a few short minutes later.

As everyone was saying good morning all-around Walt noticed a mark on Vic's neck. It was on the inner edge of her collarbone; not quite in the hollow of her throat. He swore silently to himself but kept his voice neutral, "Vic can I see you for minute?"

She made her way into his office right behind him and closed the door. He turned to face her as soon as he heard the door click shut but made sure to keep plenty of distance between them. Vic smiled brightly and although he was upset about leaving a mark on her Walt couldn't help but smile back. They just looked at each other for a moment.

After several seconds Vic finally said, "Good morning."

Walt returned her good morning with one of his own and then felt silly that the only thing they could think to say to each other was 'good morning'.

He pointed to her neck and said, "I'm sorry I marked you, Vic."

She looked confused and a little hurt. Vic looked down and realized she couldn't see, the mark she knew was there, as she raised her fingers to it. The somber look on his face scared her and she crossed her arms protectively in front of herself, "Are you regretting last night?" Fear of an affirmative answer nearly strangled the words from her before she could voice them.

Walt closed most of the distance between them in one long stride. Hesitantly reaching his fingers out, he tenderly stroked her collarbone and skimmed his thumb over the mark. His eyes mesmerized by the evidence of their time together, his voice not more than a whisper, "No. Just sorry I left marks on you." He raised his face to hers and found her looking almost wolfishly at him, part of him wasn't sure he wanted to know but he went ahead and asked, "What?"

She smiled, her question almost a challenge, because she distinctly remembered the marks being placed on her, "You don't like hickeys?"

He took a moment to consider her question then answered honestly, "Not for public viewing."

"Oh. Well, that's good because you sure seemed to enjoy giving and receiving'em last night."

She noticed the light blush that drifted across his cheeks, "New experience."

She was a bit surprised but the look in his eyes and blush on his face made her keep her tone neutral as she asked slowly, "You've never necked before?"

"Sure, just uhm, never left, uh, marks."

"Hickeys?"

His face showed displeasure, "Never liked that word."

"How about 'love bites'?"

In concession he nodded, "I've never left love bites on anyone."

Vic knew it was trivial but it made her ridiculously happy to know there was something he had only done with her and no other woman. Maybe it was more than a trivial thought; she felt emotion tightening her throat slightly and impulsively shared her thoughts, "Walt I want you to know that that's special to me. To know there's something that I am the first, only woman, you've done that with."

He gave her a half smile, still a bit embarrassed by his confession. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Aside from Martha and" she stalled briefly and then forged ahead, "Lizzie, I have no idea who you've been with or what your experiences have been. But I figured with your good looks and in a small town; probably quiet a lot. And that didn't leave much room for anything that was just ours. That make sense?"

"Yep."

"Good" she had begun to think she might have to explain herself more and didn't quite know how.

"Just..." His tone was very cautious.

Vic was a bit concerned by his tone and the look that flashed across his eyes, "What?"

He shook his head and tried but failed to hold her eyes, staring at her boots he said, "You give me too much credit."

She could tell he was genuinely embarrassed. Even though it had been intended as a compliment and she had thought of him in those terms, she suddenly realized she should have known better. Any man who thought calling a woman was cheating on his dead wife was probably never much of a player.

Vic stepped into him and placed her hand over his heart, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. I guess it's just how I think of you."

He raised his head, "But that's not me, Vic."

She saw a jumble of emotions drift across his face and her heart constricted; she offered sincerely, "I know that. I do." Her hand gently patted his chest to emphasize her next words, "You're the guy who thought he cheated on his wife."

When his expression turned puzzled Vic clarified, "You got drunk after calling Lizzie because you felt you were cheating on Martha. You're no player Walt, I know that."

He placed his hand over hers and held her gaze, "Just don't want you thinking I'm something more than I am. Don't want you to get your hopes up with expectations…"

"Walt I..."

He leaned in and whispered passed her ear, he could not look her in the eyes, as he confessed "There's a lot I've never done with any woman, Vic. There were only two before Martha."

She slipped her hand from under his and hugged him tightly, "First, it was a stupid assumption even if I meant it as a compliment, I know that's not like you," she buried her face against his neck, breathed in his sent, and almost immediately released him, and took a half a step back; a mild panic in her eyes, "Probably not a good idea to go around smelling like you," she explained quickly and then took his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers, and holding his gaze with hers she said earnestly, "Second, I do not have any undue expectations of your, uhm, of you, uhm of, well I just don't okay?"

He stared at her and tried to nod but didn't quite make it.

Vic tried another tact, "What I'm trying to say is we'll figure it and us out together. No pressure okay?"

This time he nodded, "Yep." He pulled her into another hug.

Vic squirmed a little and protested, "We're gonna smell like each other."

Walt held her close and whispered deeply, "Too late, we already do," before he kissed her gently.

Vic relaxed into his embrace and returned his kiss.

He reluctantly broke the kiss and stepped back, "I shouldn't have done…"

"Don't start that again!"

He smiled, "No, no, I just meant we shouldn't be kissing or hugging each other at work."

"Oh, okay, you're right. I'm already gonna smell like you."

"Sorry," he gave her a small grin.

"No, you're not." She was challenging him with her words but smiled at him so he would know she was kidding.

"I am if it makes you uncomfortable or afraid it'll cause people to ask questions."

"What it makes me is, well, that's not something we should be discussing at work either." She ended with a very pointed look that told him much more than her words hinted at.

Walt blushed slightly, cleared his throat, and managed to mumble, "Right," in a very hoarse tone. He quickly changed the subject, back to the reason he had called her into his office, pointing to her neck he said, "About the love bite."

She thought he was going to apologize again so she interrupted, "I like it. It helps me fend off advances from other men."

He didn't asked but he did wonder how many advances were made on her and how often, "Thanks for placing your love bites out of public view."

"I didn't think you were ready to deal with looks or comments from a hic… uh, love bite, yet"

"No, and I don't think such public displays are appropriate for the Sherriff's department. Don't let me mark you like that." At her look he amended, "For public viewing."

"Okay, but if you do I can probably hide most of them with makeup."

"Why didn't you?"

"I liked the idea of showing people I was yours." At his frightened look she smiled at him and clarified, "I mean they wouldn't know whose I was, just that I was someone's. But I know it's you."

He relaxed and felt foolish for the thought, "Right, sorry."

"It's okay. We said it's just between us for now and I'm good with that."

When Vic left his office Walt followed her out to get a cup of coffee and left his office door open when he returned. A while later he heard Branch tease her about having a 'hickey' and asking if she had 'a new boyfriend'.

"Something like that."

"Oh? Friend with benefits?"

Walt grabbed his cup, on the pretense if refilling it, when he heard Branch start in. The phrase 'friends with benefits' registered in his ears and although he couldn't recall knowing what it meant exactly, he didn't think he liked it being applied to Vic and himself.

He stopped their conversation by saying, "I just told Vic such displays were inappropriate in our department," then he leveled a look at Branch, "and so are such discussions."

Branch gave him a short nod and a clipped, "Right," and then turned his attention back to the files on his desk.

Walt turned and went back to coffee pot, topped off his coffee and returned to his office, again leaving the door open.

A little while later he could just make out Branch's quiet, "Boy you really pissed him off with that hickey, huh?"

Vic mumbled what sounded like "Guess so."

And that ended any more on the subject.