Disclaimer: I own nothing.
––
"So, what's going on with Shepard?" Ceasar opened his pudding cup, stirring it up with the plastic spoon. "She came in here this afternoon, looking like a storm."
"The Governor," Carol replied. "He's been moving drugs through the city in a way she can't track, so she's peeved."
"Oh." He understood now. She'd been trying to nail him for years. "Are we ever going to know his real name and not his street name?"
"Beats me." She shuffled her cards. "Your move, kiddo."
Keira pursed her lips and made her move, Carol really didn't like Uno, but she didn't have a choice. She let Keira pick the game, and she didn't have anything else with her so Uno it was. She wanted to fry Keira, but she could only fry Ceasar. It wasn't fair. Damn game. It was better than Monopoly any day though.
"Ryan's in town," Carol drew a card, "with his girls."
"Oh? He called you?"
"He came to see me. He wants me to look after Mika, so I'm going to have to use a few vacation days in a couple weeks."
"Is the world ending? Carol Williams on a vacation? Holy crap." Keira laughed, and Carol flipped him off behind her cards. "Wow, I'm impressed. You two must have really reconnected."
She simply owed him, and she wanted to spend time with Mika before she was all grown and in college. Maybe she could spend some time with Lizzie before they left for the clinic. She could only hope. "It's been so long since I've seen them. Twelve years. I mean, I was there for Lizzie's birth and Mika's too, but I couldn't stay long." She looked over her cards with dismay. She wasn't going to win this round.
"I'm sure you two will get along well. You're good with kids."
"Why don't you have any?" Keira asked curiously.
Caesar looked at Carol, and she said, "It's all right." She cleared her throat. "I did. A kid. A son."
"You did?" She looked at Carol with big eyes. "Where is he?"
"With God," Caesar answered in a soft tone.
"Oh." Her face fell. "I'm so sorry."
"Oh, don't be, sweetie." Carol reached over and clasped her hand. "He's in a much better place, and while I miss him, I know he's watching over me." She smiled at her, and Keira slowly returned it.
Ceasar smiled a little at how easy it was for Carol to talk about Sam. It'd been twelve years since that damned day, and she'd come a long way. He prayed she kept improving. It was his constant prayer. Andrea's too. No one should have to endure all that Carol has endured. He couldn't even think about it. How it all happened there at the end. Christ.
– – –
Caesar woke to the sound of retching, and he found Carol on the bathroom floor, getting sick into the toilet. He held her shoulders and rubbed her back until she leaned into him, the nausea dying down, and he smoothed her hair back as she began to sob. He helped her up and guided her to the living room, getting her some water, and he sat on the table in front of her, holding the trashcan so she could spit out the first drink. He set the trashcan down and met her eyes. "Sorry, that was some shit food, I know. Don't cry, you'll only upset your stomach more."
She shook her head. "Caesar, I'm pregnant."
He gaped, eyes wide. "Holy fucking shit."
"I got sick at the crime scene for the first time." She wiped at the corners of her eyes. "I took a test last night, and I went to the doctors today...and I am pregnant."
"Does Rick know?"
"No." She shook her head. "Only you and Dr. S."
"Well, thanks for telling me first." She couldn't smile at him, so he smiled at her and shook her by her knees playfully. "This is a good thing, Carol. You're gonna be a mommy."
She laughed a little at his tone, still crying. "It's bad timing though."
"So? You're gonna have little piece of you running around here, and I get to be the cool uncle. You get to have a baby shower, and you have a legit excuse now to bail on those drinks at the bar. You can eat whatever you want, and you can decorate a nursery." He searched her eyes. "Are you not happy about this?"
"I'm just... It's a lot." She took his hand and smiled at him. "And I wouldn't want anybody else to the cool uncle."
He hugged her, and she buried her face in his shoulder. "I'm here for you, Carol."
"I know." She gripped his shirt tightly. "Thank you." Now all she had to do was tell Rick he was going to be a father. Well, shit. How was she going to do this when less than a week ago he wouldn't meet her and Ceasar and Andrea for dinner? God, help her.
– – –
She waited by his car, the wind blowing at her hair and cardigan, and she sipped on the ginger tea Ceasar had bought her instead of her regular coffee. It was the only thing about being pregnant she didn't like. That and the morning sickness. At least Ceasar was there to help her out. Best roommate award went to him.
Upon hearing the door open, she lifted her head and saw Rick with his partner. She waved, and Rick met her at the car, his partner walking away to make a phone call or just to look like he was so they wouldn't think he was eavesdropping. It had been a week since Rick and Carol had even spoken two words to each other. This was awkward.
"Tea?" He made a face. "Since when do you drink tea?"
"Since I discovered that I'm pregnant," she replied, deciding it was better to just blurt it out than beat around the bush.
"P—pregnant?"
"Yeah." She pushed off the car. "Would you like to go somewhere and talk about this?"
"I would, but...I promised to have lunch with Shane."
She almost scoffed. "Right, silly me. Have fun."
"Carol—"
"Don't, all I need from you are visits," she cut him off. "We may not be together or even friends one day, but this kid will not suffer for that. You're going to be in his or her life, understood?"
"Yeah, I want to be. I would like to talk about this, but not right now. I...I really have to meet Shane. I mean, go with Shane. I'm sorry."
"Well, I have to meet Ceasar anyway."
"Ceasar again?"
"Yep, we're going shopping since I just had a feeling you wouldn't make this a priority." She shrugged. "Don't worry about it. I'm not even mad. I just need you to be there for the baby." She walked away, and he just watched.
– – –
"He's beautiful." Ceasar smiled as he leaned over her shoulder, seeing his baby nephew. "He looks just like you."
"I think he looks like Rick," Carol confessed.
"I think you two are way too into this baby," Andrea teased.
"Just shut up and take the picture," Ceasar mused.
"Smile, butt munch." She took a picture.
"Butt munch?"
"You don't cuss in front of a baby." She sat down by Carol's feet. "He really is beautiful. Rick lucked out."
"Where is that...butt munch?"
"I don't know." She adjusted her son in her arms. "I think he had court." He's been working on this case for months, and he's been working and pushing himself so hard. She didn't even call him when her water broke. She wanted him concentrate on this case. That son of a bitch needed to be locked away, and Rick might not have been able to get away anyhow.
"Well, we're here." Andrea smiled, reaching over and gently stroking the newborn's cheek. She knew the truth. She and Carol had been having lunch when her water broke, and she knew Rick didn't know. It was for the best. Carol had mentioned how important this case was to him, and honestly, he didn't miss much anyway. It was somewhat unfair when she thought about it for too long, but it was just one day. What was one day compared to the rest of this baby's life? "What's this little guy's name?"
"Sam," Carol answered without hesitation.
"Just Sam?"
"Yeah, Sam Williams."
"Not Williams-Grimes?" Ceasar paused. "No, I get it. That was hideous."
Carol laughed. "Rick and I talked about it. We decided it'd be best for him to take my name. I tried to get him to see Grimes was fine by me, but he didn't back down." One day Sam could decide if he wants to be a Williams or a Grimes. Carol didn't care about his last name, just that he was healthy and happy.
He nodded. "Fits him perfectly."
"It does. So, how's the new place?" Andrea snapped another picture. "The nursery, I mean."
"It's really great." She smiled appreciatively at Ceasar. "Thank you for taking the time to do that for me."
"I'm a handy guy, and I felt bad about leaving you."
"Please, don't feel that way. You two are happy together, and I'm happy that you're living together, so please don't feel bad."
"I'll try." He sat behind Andrea and laced his fingers through hers. "We'll stay with you tonight. We don't have plans, and our place smells of wet paint."
"I told you to wait until spring to paint," Andrea murmured.
"Next time I'll listen."
Carol smiled at them, enjoying their playful bickering, and she felt truly blissful. She couldn't wait to tell Rick to come and see them. He was going to be so emotional. He would try not to be, but he would end up crying at least once. It happened to them all. There was something in the air or the water. She didn't know, and she didn't care, because she had a beautiful baby boy to raise, with the occasional help from her new friend Andrea and Ceasar and Rick.
She looked down at the baby boy in her arms and smiled tearfully. He was so real, so beautiful. She had never had anything like this before in her entire life. No real parents, no real siblings, but him? God, he was real and all hers. She was going to love him so much. She would never let anything happen to him. She would die before she let anything happen to him. That was a promise she swore to keep.
––
"All right, little man, welcome home," Ceasar announced to the babe that was dozing off. "I cannot wait until he's older and can get excited."
"I think you have enough excitement for the all of us," Andrea commented. "Help me with these bags!"
"Right." He slipped by Carol.
Carol gently rocked on her heels to lully her baby to sleep, smiling. "Welcome home, baby." She looked up at Rick, and he kissed his son's forehead tenderly, not wanting to wake him.
We will call this place our home, the dirt in which our roots may grow.
Though the storms will push and pull, we will call this place our home.
"Rick, here, like this." Carol set the laundry basket down and showed him how to properly hold Sam. "There." She ran her thumb over Sam's head and smiled a little.
"Carol, I just wanted to apologize again for not being there for you. I—"
"Don't. It was my fault. I didn't call, and I had Andrea and Ceasar. I wasn't alone." She picked up the basket. "You had court."
"I should have called to check in on you." Her due date was close.
"Stop. You can't turn back time, Rick. You made sure a vicious killer went to prison. You made the world a little safer for our son, okay? Focus on that." She smiled a little. "Besides it's not like we're together. We fight too much. It's easier this way, for the both of us." She didn't want to explain it to her doctor either. She kept asking about the father, and she didn't want to have to explain the story. Everybody kept saying they should get married, but they could barely date. She wouldn't put her child through that, and they needed to mind their business.
"So, what should I know?"
"Know?" She sat on the couch and began to fold the clothes. "About what? Sam?"
"Yeah."
"There's not much to know. He's barely a week old."
"There must be something. Does he like to held a certain way?"
"Well, he hasn't thrown up on you, but that's not much of sign." She ran a hand through her hair. "He's practically brand new, and don't ask me what our son likes. You can find out along the way, just like me."
He smiled at her.
"What?" She narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"It's...the first time you've called him "our" son and not "my" son."
She chuckled. "Well, I did do all the work." She smirked at him. "He looks like you though. His eyes."
He gazed down at their baby and smiled. "He does."
Her smirk turned into a smile at the sight of them, and she returned to folding her clothes.
We'll tell our stories on these walls. Every year, measure how tall.
And just like a work of art, we'll tell our stories on these walls.
"Rick! Ceasar!" Carol slammed her hand into the bathroom door twice. "Come here!" She hurried back to Andrea and Sam, and the boys were a few seconds behind her, both too tired for her banging after staying up most of the night trying to get Sam to sleep, and they both discovered what Carol had called them in there for.
"Oh, my God." Ceasar bent down. "Look at him go. How cute. Now...where's the coffee?"
Rick smiled at his son crawling for the first time, and he wondered just how bad Carol would be when he started walking. She practically video taped his every move. It was almost weird, but he understood why. She never had parents to do that for her, and she didn't want him to miss out on anything. It was very motherly, and he adored her for it. Of course he could never tell her that because she would assume that he had feelings for her when she strictly stated they were going to have a platonic relationship for the sake of the baby, as their romantic relationship didn't go all too well.
"He's learning so fast." Andrea gripped Carol's arms. "I think we know who he takes after for that."
"Thanks, Andrea." Rick lightly glared.
"Nah, it's true. Kid takes after his mama," Caesar replied. "Maybe he'll get your charming personality."
Rick turned and began to vigorously brush his teeth on his way back to the bathroom, and they laughed, and Carol set a hand to her heart at this feeling. She wanted to remember it always. Family. A real family. She had never been so blessed. It was a strange, small, broken mess, but it real and loving and teasing. She'd never let it go. Time and distance be damned, she wasn't letting was go of this.
Let the years we're here be kind, be kind. Let our hearts, like doors, open wide, open wide.
Settle our bones like wood over time, over time. Give us bread, give us salt, give us wine.
"I only want a family picture," Carol urged. "For Sam."
"We aren't a normal family, and it might...be misleading."
"Misleading to whom? Do you think I'm going to post it in The Times?"
"No. No, I don't, but...things are different. I can't just...be at your beck and call."
"My beck and call?" Carol's brows rose and she stepped back. "I'm sorry, but your son asked me for this so he could have a picture of you at all, but go ahead and tell him no. I'm sure he won't be disappointed. You've let him down so many times before—what's one more time?"
"Don't do that," he hissed. "Don't blame it all on me!"
"You're the one saying no!"
"Because I have other obligations!" he snapped. "I love him very much, and I will do anything he wants, but there are limits."
"Who is she?" Carol demanded. "I know this isn't you, and you don't have to protect me. We're barely friends at this point, so what woman said you can't take a damn picture with your son?"
He bit back and clenched his jaw. "Look, I don't want to have this discussion again. I will take the picture, but we need to work out a schedule. I'm too busy to be coming over here at one in the morning or later."
"He's three years old, Rick. We can't work out a schedule! Things pop up! We both have lives outside of raising him, but yours takes propriety over him, so why don't you just forget it? Forget the picture. Forget taking him on Thursday. Forget all of it! You probably already have."
"You will not keep him from me!"
"I'm not! You are!" Her voice broke and she had to take a step back. "Damn it, Rick. There are things he needs you for. Things he wants you for, and what the hell am I going to tell him? You're off with your girlfriend? You're across town at a murder scene? You don't even call to say good night anymore. He noticed you don't wear your jacket anymore. The matching ones you bought for him?"
"He noticed that?"
"Of course." She crossed her arms. "He notices a lot of things. Like your glaring absence."
"Carol, I am sorry. It's not a woman keeping me from seeing him. I just have a lot on my plate right now. I'm sorry. I'll... I'll do the pictures, and I'll take him on Thursday. I'll call before he's in bed."
"At least leave a message for him to listen to."
"I will."
She nodded. "Go kiss him good night, read him a story. He wants you to."
"He's still up?"
"He waited to wait for you, and I can't will him to sleep, so yeah." She gestured down the hall to his room. "We'll talk more later, just be here for him tonight."
He ducked his head and walked down the hall, finding his son on the bed with a storybook, and he joined him, seeing the many pictures of him with Ceasar, Carol and Andrea on his walls, and he sighed. He wanted to be better than this.
A little broken, a little new. We are the impact and the glue.
Capable of more than we know, we call this fixer upper home.
Carol sat in the window, cradling a cup of tea in her hands as she gazed out at the lights in the dark city, listening to Ceasar read to Sam, using ridiculous voices and making him laugh. She couldn't help but smile. She was glad he came over for dinner. It cheered Sam right up. He needed to be cheered up after the day he'd had. His babysitter was such a bitch, and she would not be allowed back into this apartment.
Ceasar joined Carol. "He's out."
"Thank you." She met his eyes. "I really appreciate you taking time to do that."
"I'm the cool uncle. It's my job." He smirked. "You look beat. How are you?"
"Exhausted." She shook her head. "I want to sleep, but I keep seeing their faces, wondering if...maybe I missed some detail that could lead us to this guy."
"Carol, you can't do it all. You're a mother and a cop and a counselor—you do volunteer work and bust your ass for this city. You need a break."
"My breaks would get someone killed." She sipped her tea.
"Then cut back a little. I'll pick up some of your slack. Andrea's always talking about how she would like to help out at a soup kitchen. We can do that together, and you can rest, spend time with Sam."
"Okay. That'd be nice." She rubbed her shoulder. "How is Andrea?"
"Busy. She's out of town, helping a friend with some...lawyer thing."
"You don't know?"
"There were a lot of complicated words," he teased.
She laughed softly. "You did used to copy my English work. You'd just give it that Martinez charm. Heh." She bit her bottom lip. "Didn't you get a better grade than me once?"
"The charm has never failed me."
"Clearly."
She glanced down at her lukewarm tea. "Did you ever think it'd turn out like this?"
"Hmm?"
"When we were kids, did you ever think we'd end up as cops, dying for a chance to a homicide detective?"
"No. Then again I wanted to be a rapper." She snorted and covered her mouth as she giggled, and he looked playfully affronted. "Hey, I could carry a beat!"
"Oh, my God! Is that what that was at night?" Her eyes got wide. "I thought that what rat fights sounded like!"
He glared. "I had skills. Now I'm just...waiting."
"For what, might I ask?"
"I'll let you know when I know." He leaned back. "I love this view."
"Me too." She drank from her mug. "It's the second most comforting thing I've had in my life."
"Sam first?"
"Tied actually," she corrected, "with you."
He smiled. "I love you, Carol, and I am always gonna be there for you. No matter what, I've got your back."
"I know you do, and I have yours." She reached over and grasped his hand. "Hey, do you remember the pact we made as kids?"
"The virginity pact or—?"
"Oh God, I told you to forget about that, or I would make you!" She smacked his hand away, and he laughed. "That was the worst pact ever, and you're an asshole."
"You came up with it!"
"No, I came up with the pact to make sure neither of us had sex drunk. You came up with the virginity pact."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Did you spike that tea? Carol, we've talked about this."
"Asshole!" She smiled and rolled her eyes. "Forget it."
"Wait, no, what pact?"
"Forget it."
"Carol, it'll bug the shit out of me if you don't tell me."
She smirked and slipped off the sill, heading to the kitchen for to warm up a slice of pizza.
He turned in the sill as she ate a piece of pepperoni from the pizza, smirking at him. "Oh, you asshole."
"Yep."
With each year, our color fades. Slowly, our paint chips away.
But we will find the strength and the nerve it takes
To repaint and repaint and repaint every day.
"Rick Grimes." Carol demanded again. "Where the hell is his room?"
The nurse just looked at Carol. "Are you family?"
It took everything she had not to reach over and rattle her. "Yes. I am family. Now, please, tell me where his room is!"
She moved slowly to find his room, and Carol turned her head and blinked furiously, laughed once humorlessly. She really wanted to climb over the desk and find the damn information herself. Andrea took her hand to try and keep her calm while Ceasar held his five-year-old nephew, Sam, by his shoulders and assured him mom was fine and so was Rick.
They had gotten the news about two hours ago, but between traffic and this bitch nurse, they had no idea what was happening to him now. Rick had been shot during a hostage situation, as were one of the hostages and an EMT. They had called during Sam's soccer game, and while Carol didn't want to drag him into this, she couldn't just up and leave. He had a right to know anyway. Rick was his dad after all.
About ten minutes later, they finally got his room number and an update. He was alive, the bullet had been removed and there was no major damage. Moreover he was lucid enough for visitors. Carol didn't know how long he had been at the hospital, but she was so relieved he was all right. She couldn't wait to see him. She had been so worried, but now that she knew he was okay, she could relax and really make sure he was okay.
Let the years we're here be kind, be kind. Let our hearts, like doors, open wide, open wide.
Settle our bones like wood over time, over time. Give us bread, give us salt, give us wine.
Andrea and Ceasar followed Carol and Sam to Rick's room, and Carol held her son's hand, seeing that he was a shade paler than usual, and she assured him everything was all right. He nodded, and she found Rick's room, and inside was Rick. And a guest.
A woman with long black hair and deep brown eyes was at his bedside, talking to him, eyes red from crying, but she was laughing now. She wore purple plaid and jeans, and she was way too skinny. She wasn't a cop, and she wasn't someone Carol knew, but by the way she looked at Rick, they knew each other. In more than just a friendly way at that.
"Sam." Rick's voice was rough, but he smiled.
"Daddy." He ran over to the bed, and since he wasn't tall enough, and Rick wasn't strong enough, Carol gave him a boost, and he hugged his father. "I was so scared."
"I'm so sorry." He kissed his head. "I never wanted to put you through that."
Ceasar and Andrea waited in the hall, both eyeing the woman who silently watched the family interact, and Carol met the woman's eyes and introduced herself.
"Lori." She rose out of her seat and accepted Carol's handshake. "It's nice to meet you. Rick talks about you all the time."
"Does he?" Rick just smiled a little, holding his son close. "Good things, I hope."
"Mostly."
Carol smiled. "Well, I don't mean to be rude, Lori, but I think it's best if you were to give us a moment."
"It's late, and I have to get back to work anyway." She turned to Rick. "I'll come back later, but get some rest." She left when he gave a nod.
"Ex-girlfriend," Ceasar murmured. "Kinda bitchy."
"Ex? I'd say current," Andrea whispered back. "Explains the bitchy. Your man's child and baby mama just walked in and cut your visit short. I'd be bitchy too."
"You'd tell me if you had a love child, wouldn't you?"
She just smiled.
"Andrea."
"You look cute today. I'm going to get myself a drink. My throat's been dry since the game." She walked off.
"Andrea!"
She turned and walked backward. "I'll get back to you on that. I like to watch you squirm."
He shook his head and entered the room as Rick told them what happened, Carol smoothed Sam's hair down, though Rick still held him, and Ceasar leaned against the wall. Rick looked like shit, but he was alive, breathing on his own, and that was something to be grateful for, even if he had a secret girlfriend.
Let the years we're here be kind, be kind. Let our hearts, like doors, open wide, open wide.
Settle our bones like wood over time, over time. Give us bread, give us salt, give us wine.
Give us bread, give us salt, give us wine.
"I'd never let anything take me from you," Rick swore to Sam on the phone that night. "I love you."
"I love you too, Daddy." Sam smiled.
Carol smiled and hugged him closer for Rick, and they spoke a little more, and Rick even read part of Sam's favorite bedtime story to him, and Carol read the rest while Rick listened. It was the first time since he was a baby that they had read to him together, and he fell asleep halfway in Carol's arms, and Rick could hear his soft breathing.
Carol picked up the phone. "He's out cold."
"Well, I should get to bed too."
"Yeah. Sleep well."
"Carol?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for bringing him to see me today."
"Rick, our fights were never his. I won't let him miss out on having a father, because we butt heads. I'll do as much as I can to make sure you're a part of his life, but you have to do the same."
"I will be there."
"I know you will. I'm so happy you're okay, Rick. I really am." Gently, she ran her fingers over Sam's hair. "And if you want to talk about what happened, I'm here for you."
"Thank you."
"Mmm-hmm."
Smaller than dust on this map lies the greatest thing we have:
The dirt in which our roots may grow and the right to call it home.
– – –
"Our first case," Ceasar smirked like a cat.
"It's not our first." Carol crossed her legs.
"As detectives, it is."
"You're like a schoolgirl." She smiled though. "But I did squeal into my breakfast this morning. I think I may have scared the crap outta Sam."
"How is Sammy?"
"At school. He's nervous, but he made a friend yesterday. I don't know how I feel about this kid yet, but Sam seems to like him. They switched lunches. I accidentally gave Sam my tuna sandwich on wheat."
"Is that why you gave me that ham and cheese sandwich randomly yesterday?
"I don't like ham."
"How do you not like ham?"
"I just don't." She stood up. "All right, c'mon, we have work to do."
"We'll talk about the ham later." He fell into step beside her. "I hope this case doesn't take long. I...have plans tonight."
"Plans?" She looked over her shoulder at him then turned to face him. "Ceasar, what plans?"
He looked around then pulled her aside and pulled his phone out. "I didn't want to risk losing it, but I knew you'd ask, and I'm shit at keeping things that excite me secret." He showed her the picture of the engagement ring.
"Holy shit, Ceasar."
"It cost me an arm and a leg, but it's going to be worth it. Andrea says doesn't care about this type of thing, but I know she does. I went ring shopping, and I would have asked you but Sam was sick, so I asked her sister Amy."
"It's beautiful, Ceasar. I'm sure she'll love it." She turned away from him.
"What is it? You think it's ugly, don't you?" He looked over the ring. "She likes white gold, and I though the yellow was hideous. She doesn't..." He trailed off and walked around Carol. "Why are you crying?"
"You're getting engaged." She covered her mouth with her hand then hugged him. "My baby Ceasar is getting engaged! I am so happy for you! Congratulations!"
He laughed at the name she used to call him when they were kids in that baby tone. "We don't even know if she'll—"
"Shut up! You know she will. You two are perfect for each other."
He smiled. "I'm glad you think that."
She released him. "You better call me once she answers, because I will be thoroughly upset if you call your mother first."
"I promise. I'll 3-way, if I have to."
"You'd better." She wiped the corners of her eyes and exhaled. "We have a crime scene to get to. Let's go."
~Forty-eight Hours Later~
Ceasar heaved into the corner of the room at the smell of rotting flesh, all of those eyes staring at him, the maggots rolling over each other, the beetles crawling, and all of them were feeding, nesting. He couldn't take the scent of it, and he couldn't get out. He could feel the air being sucked from the room, and he knew his phobia was catching up to him.
Christ, where was Carol?
He pushed himself up and removed his tie, forcing himself forward. He had plans tonight. Tonight was the night he was going to ask Andrea Harrison to marry him, because their original plans were put off by this motherfucker. They thought they had caught him, but when they began to transfer him, the real shooter put one between his eyes as they led him toward the vehicle. The shooter didn't make a move for any of the officers, just the false killer. Fucker vanished without a trace. Carol called just when Andrea was ready to leave. She was probably at home in her dress working. Always working, he loved that about her.
Ceasar slammed his fist into the wall beside him and gritted his teeth. He would not die like this. He would not sit in a room and let this son of a bitch win. He would not these people simply be dead and their murderer run around free. He was going to get out of here, find Carol, lock away this asshole then go home and propose to the best damn woman he'd ever been in love with. He needed to find Carol. This sicko had it bad for her for some unknown reason, and Ceasar would back her up. He wouldn't let him do anything to her.
"Martinez!" Carol called.
He looked around and spotted the edge of a vent in the far corner blocked the body of the woman who owned this building. "Williams."
"C'mon, hot shot."
Together, they pried the vent off and Ceasar slipped through after her. They managed to return to where they were before gas filled the chamber and they both blacked out. Carol had been left in a room with her hands bound with her own handcuffs. Asshole didn't think she'd break her thumb to escape. His mistake. Hers too, but she was determined to catch him, make him pay for what he had done, the families he had tore apart. She wouldn't let him get away with this, even if that meant traveling to the end of the world to catch his ass.
"You okay?" Ceasar noticed her grimace.
"I'll live." She started for the door, but it burst open and lights shined on their faces, and they both groaned and blocked it with their hands. It was their backup.
Michonne made them both sit out searching the building for the shooter who was still unnamed. He had many aliases, but none of them existed before certain dates, or they were already dead. He was surprisingly good at what he did. He was a ghost, and he eluded them, leaving bodies and bullets and even a goddamn note behind, but not a single shred of evidence. They had nothing. Not a damn thing.
Carol went home to Sam, and Ceasar went home to Andrea. He was right about finding her working, but she was working his case. She had all of the information he had on his laptop hanging from the walls, and she was studying them, so focused she didn't even hear him enter.
He looked at her—her red dress hugging her form, her once curled and pulled up blonde hair down and a curly, sexy mess, and her best pair of heels tossed on the couch like they were slippers. He walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her stomach, and he was damn lucky she didn't use any of her military hand-to-hand training her father insisted she get before moving to the city to chuck him over her shoulder and on the table.
"Ceasar." She didn't turn. "You smell repulsive."
"I feel pretty repulsive."
She smiled a little and leaned into him. "You didn't get him." It wasn't a question.
"No."
"He's very intelligent. Or damn lucky."
"He's not lucky. I'm the one who's lucky." He held her tightly. "Andrea, all of my life I've kept going for my short term goals, struggling not to succumb to the offers out I've had, and I never knew why or what was keeping me here. My mom—no matter how much I love her—wasn't enough, and I hate myself for that. I hate that Carol wasn't enough. I hate that I still...have so much rage, that it's so difficult for me to trust anybody, and that...I have so many things so important to me that death can touch."
"Ceasar." Her voice was soft, and she could feel him shaking, on the verge of tears.
"I lost my sister when I was thirteen, and ever since it's been hard for me to...go on. She was the best thing in the world to me. She was so smart and snarky, could talk her way out of anything, and I thought she was an asshole, but so pretty cool. She always had my back, always listened to me, helped me, protected me, and I couldn't do that for her. She was killed, and I couldn't save her. Carol couldn't save her. I never forgave myself for that..." She set her hands over his on her stomach, and he sniffed, trying to catch his breath. "Then...I met you while I working on a case. And I thought you hated me. You would not let me get one word in, and we were on the same side."
"You called me baby," she reminded him. "We weren't in Criminal Minds, and it instantly pissed me off. You haven't called me that since."
"I learned my lesson." He rested his forehead on her soft curls. "I don't know what I'll do without you in my life, Andrea. You've healed so many of my scars...and I love you with my entire heart, and I want to marry you."
"Why do I hear a but in there?" Tears filled her eyes, and she really hoped he didn't add more.
"But I lost the ring."
She turned to face him now and gripped his cheeks. "I don't give a damn about a beautiful diamond ring, you idiot. I told you that, and I meant it. All I care about is you, and I will marry you any day of the week, in any weather, in any clothes. I don't care, just as long as its you." She kissed him.
He smiled. "I love you too, and when I say I lost the ring...I really mean we're poor as shit now."
She laughed. "Well, then I have news about that." She stepped back and pointed to the table where his jacket was. "You left this here, and I felt a box in the pocket. I didn't look. I swear."
He stared at the jacket then hurried over and searched the pocket, finding the black box, and he chuckled to himself. "I forgot to take it with me." Thank God. It would have killed him knowing he spent that much money only to lose it. He removed the ring and walked to Andrea and got down on one knee. "Andrea Harrison, will you marry me?"
She lowered herself down onto her knees and met his eyes. "Yes."
He slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her deeply, encircling her waist, and she pulled back.
"I love you, and I want to make tonight special, but for the love of God, shower."
He laughed. "All right."
She looked at him with such love, and she smiled his favorite that showed all of her teeth, and she kissed him once more before sending him to shower.
––
Carol found Rick and Sam on the couch, watching the news, and Carol was about to chew Rick out, because a nine-year-old should not be learning about all the horrifying things that sicko had down there, but Sam ran over and hugged her.
"I'm so glad you're safe."
She kissed the top of his head. "I'm fine, baby. You should be in bed."
"He wouldn't sleep till you got home," Rick informed her.
"Well, I'm home now, so go brush your teeth." She let him go. "You can sleep with me tonight."
"Okay." He nodded and left to brush his teeth.
"Don't be mad about the news." Rick said once their son was gone.
"I am mad, but...it won't change what he saw." She dropped down onto the couch. "I need alcohol."
"Can't help you there."
"Too bad." She rolled her head to the side to look at him. "How long were you here?"
"Most of the day. I had some time off, thought Sam and I could hang out." He shifted on the couch. "How are you, Carol? They told us what was down there. You had to have seen."
"I'll survive. I have some meds to help me sleep, so I'll be fine." She shrugged. "And we made it out, so I'm happy about that. I just wish we'd have caught him."
"Next time." He set a hand on her shoulder. "You'll get him."
"Thanks." She smiled a little. "And thanks for keeping him company. He's missed you lately. What gives?"
"Well..." He removed his hand. "I'm dating someone."
"Oh? That's great. Who?"
"Lori. You met her at the hospital when Sam was five."
"Yeah, tall, skinny, hates me."
"She doesn't hate you."
"I'm the mother of your child. She isn't fond of me."
"She just doesn't know you. She...wants you and Sam to come over for supper one night. She's a decent cook, and she wants to know you both."
"I don't know."
"Carol, please. It's just one night, and if you don't like her, I'll never ask you to deal with her again."
"It's weird, Rick."
"It'll always be weird. We can make it...not weird if you try. Please, you and Sam are important to me, and she's trying."
"All right. Fine, but if she can't cook, you owe me dinner."
"Now that's weird."
"Who said you were invited?" She smirked.
"So, pizza?"
"Ugh, gross. I've had enough pizza." She hopped up. "I need a shower and a heating pad."
"Carol?"
"What?" She faced him.
"Could I stay over with y'all? Just...for old time's sake. He's been shaking for most of the night, and I want to make sure he's all right. I want to make sure you're all right too."
"That'd be nice."
He smiled at her. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me. Find my heating pad, please. I'm gonna shower." She strolled down the hall as Sam finished brushing his teeth the bathroom, and she told him Rick was staying over and to grab the extra blankets from the hall closet before she slipped into the shower. She had bruises all over and a broken thumb, but she was alive. And she would arrest that snake if it was the last thing she did.
– – –
"How are they?" Carol closed the lid to her dinner for tomorrow. She had a meeting with a "friend" who might be doing some illegal hacking into someone's computer to find out about a certain child. Ceasar knew a guy who owned him a favor, and Carol had to know why she watching Mika, if Lizzie was more than just "grieving". If Lizzie was a threat to Mika, she wanted to know. She had to know. Ryan barely left those two little girls alone in the same room, so something was up, and if Carol knew what, she could prod Ryan into telling her. If it was what she was thinking, she knew people who could help. Stookey might be great and all, but Carol wanted him to know there were other options, closer options. She wanted to do all she could to help Lizzie and Ryan.
"Asleep, finally," she joked. "And healthy. Happy."
"That's good. I haven't called in far too long." She put the container in the fridge, glad that she had acted on her urge to call her old friend. "How's the husband?"
"A lazy lug."
"You love him more than anything, Lori."
"I know, but he is." She sighed. "He's so proud of Judy going into first grade. They have a song they're going to sing, and I've worked with the teacher, and it is just precious. You have to come and see her. Carl would love to see you."
"I don't know if I'll have time, but I'll try. E-mail me the date, and I'll try my best to come out and see you guys. I'll even make you dinner. Unless you've improved."
"I have! I can even make proper pancakes. Sort of. Anyway I hope to see you then. I have to go now, because I just heard a flashlight click. Carl's reading comics at night again. I'll e-mail you tomorrow. I love you. Goodbye."
"Me too. Bye." She hung up and set the phone down, heading to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She changed into her nightclothes and lied down, setting her alarm. She had a lot of things to do tomorrow, and she needed sleep. She was exhausted already. It had been a very...long day with Keira's questions. Sweet girl, although she didn't know how rough it was to answer each question. Hmm.
Rolling over in a deep sleep, Carol was unaware of the men who had skillfully picked the lock to her front door and were in the room with her now, and oh so carefully, one leaned over and slipped a needle into her neck, ensuring she would be unconscious the entire ride. Where they were taking her, they needed her unconscious. They were told she was fighter, which they needed, but not until she agreed to work with them.
– – –
Plush sheets, sunlight, the scent of breakfast foods, fresh flowers, coffee and the sound of dog tags rustling. Carol's vision was blurry when she came to, shooting up as the bed and room were not hers, and she saw a tray of food beside her with a note. She grabbed the fork from the tray and crept over to the double doors. She listened, hearing hushed whispers, and she took a deep breath in before yanking the doors open.
She locked eyes with a man she had seen many times before but was never able to capture. He was someone who dabbled in both drugs and likely murder, and she was going to enjoy taking him in. He had no right to kidnap her, and she would give him hell.
Carol Williams stood less than ten feet away from the Archer.