Disclaimer: I do not own the Walking Dead
A/N: Thanks for the reviews and messages and to everyone who is reading my musings; it is always much appreciated.
A few responses:
TheRealSusannahDean: Yes, our beloved Michonne is hard on herself sometimes; she needs to take strength in knowing that people actually do love her. So many feels indeed! Lol
Amrcncpprhd & literacturechick: It is really nice when they are on the same page and get their feelings across; I think Rick is a man of integrity and he would not have let her walk away upset without trying to find out what was really going on. Also, Thom's father could be troublesome…Hmm we shall see.
Lanie_Love: That's awesome! It's not really a common name. I actually met a girl with a nice face named Melanie, so I used her name lol I find inspiration in weird places!
Nin & Alex311: Thank you! You really do flatter me. I'm just glad you are enjoying my writing!
Now, where were we? Oh yes, the one where Rick Grimes' fate hangs in the balance and the conversation becomes focussed on Michonne's butt. Enjoy!
The whirring sound of the arrow cut through the morning air as it swiftly and accurately found its target; the hideously rotted head of a slight but lanky walker. It fell to the ground in an unceremonious manner as Daryl Dixon pulled another arrow from his quiver to drop yet another walking corpse. A small group of them had breached the perimeter earlier in the morning and were discovered chewing through some of the livestock that the survivors had been raising; all but a few of the animals had been lost. Now Daryl, Michonne and Tyreese were dispatching them quite efficiently as a few others made their way on the scene.
"What happened here?" Asked Charles, a stocky man in his late 40s with a receding hairline and a missing front tooth.
"Breached the fence just over there." Ty answered, a little short of breath as he motioned to the fence where Rick was mending the damaged section. Michonne cut down the last walker and flicked the blood from her sword and examined it.
"How?" Charles asked, looking concerned and annoyed at the same time. Rick fastened the last section of fence with wire, removed his gloves and walked over to where the group was talking to the man with all the questions.
"We're not sure of how." Offered Rick, staring at Charles and sounding annoyed himself. "But shit, it happens. Gotta be vigilant, keep an eye out for these things."
The older man looked at Rick seemingly exasperated at the way he had been spoken to. Not too many of the men in the Settlement particularly liked Rick Grimes; they found it peculiar that, while he and his group were part of the larger group, there was still his group. Some had spoken scornfully about how Rick and the others had been at the Settlement long enough and should have assimilated into the wider population forthwith. They camped away from the others; they ate with their own; and they had an odd and mainly exclusive allegiance with one another. It was very difficult to infiltrate their ranks; yes they were friendly, would smile and make conversation, but they were very reserved and wary of whom they let in. As far as they knew, Rick was the only one from their group that actively participated in a supply run without another member of his group present. It was almost as if he did not trust the survivors at the Settlement with his people, they often thought, sneering behind his back. He was obviously the alpha-male of their group; the leader. His people trusted his judgement and fell in line with what he said. He had an air of authority, and the others had heard that he was a police officer in his former life; they guessed that some people never really lost their persona, not entirely. His woman, the one with the sword, was the strongest fighter of the women, so it was only natural that she be with him; and his children were still alive, which was not a common occurrence in this new existence, so he had to be a fierce and strong protector. Rick kept pretty much to himself, the others had surmised, and he seemed to like it that way.
"I'll go up to the Council and let 'em know about the breach." Said Charles as he began to walk away.
"Hold up!" Called Daryl. "I'll come too."
"Oh, there ain't no need, I got this." Replied Charles, not bothering to stop.
"With respect," started Rick, causing Charles to halt and turn to face the group. "You weren't here to take care of the walkers or the fence, Daryl was. I know we'd feel a whole lot better if he went to deliver the report to the Council." Stated Rick, his whole demeanour exuded control and command. His eyes emanated a stern, cold expression as he looked at the older man. He made Charles feel edgy, they had heard how long he and his group were out on the road and some of the troubles that they had faced. This Rick Grimes was all about business, he was shrewd and calm, almost to the point of it being uncomfortably uneasy to be around him when he was focussed on you, thought Charles. He did not want to argue with this man, so he agreed to take Daryl along to the meeting. Although, all he did was point Daryl in the general direction of where the Council's security meeting was currently being held, and walked off in a distinctly worse mood than he had been in before.
Asshole, thought Daryl, as he approached the administration building. After he had spoken to the usher at the door, Daryl was seated and waited alone a short while in the corridor, tapping his right foot as he crossed his arms over his chest; he chuckled a little to himself as he remembered what it had felt like to be waiting outside the principal's office. Suddenly, the door flung open and out stepped four men, Daryl recognized them as being the same ones who were on the supply run with Rick. They looked at him with smug expressions on their faces, and stared him down. Daryl, not one to shy away from a bunch of pretentious pricks, returned their stares and proceeded to spit on the floor where they had just stepped. He smiled a haughty grin at them, and watched them walk out the door. This place is full of assholes, he thought as he waited patiently to be seen by the Council members.
Michonne sat with Carl at one of the picnic tables while they ate lunch, she vaguely thought that they should drag it to the shade of the tree where Rick sat feeding Judith and watching Michonne. The sun was particularly hot and relentless that day, and the boy had his hat pulled low to his face as he looked anxious to get back to his duties. Michonne wondered if that girl had anything to do with his quiet mood, she grinned and playfully tossed some scraps of food at him.
"Hey!" he exclaimed, returning her smile. "You don't work the garden in the heat to be wastin' food!"
"Ha! That's all you talk about these days Carl, the garden! Tell me, what's so exciting about the garden, uh? Can't be the plants, must be the company." She quipped, knowing that a certain young girl also worked the garden with Carl. Rick smiled, listening to their exchange.
The boy's face turned red, but not from the heat; he knew she was talking about Shelly. He thought of something he could say to get back at her for teasing him. His father was close by and obviously heard what they were talking about, it was embarrassing enough that Rick gave Carl funny looks whenever the girl giggled at something the boy had to say, now Michonne was starting to tease him too.
"Oh well, if you must know," started Carl wearing a smug look. "It's good working the garden, the people are nice, aren't they dad?" He offered, drawing Rick into their conversation. Rick grinned and nodded as Michonne gave him a wink. "But Michonne, we all can't work the rations store like you and, what's his name? The one who always stares at your butt? Brett, that's him; he must have a good day's work staring at your butt all day!"
"Carl!" Rick reprimanded, the smile dropping from his face. "Knock it off!"
"What?" Exclaimed the boy. "It's true! He stares at her butt all the time! God! It's okay for you guys to tease me, as soon as I say something it's like I killed someone!"
"Just stop talkin' about Michonne's ass, Carl. It's not nice!" Said Rick, a serious look on his face.
"I'm not talking about her ass, dad! I'm talking about Brett staring at her ass! God I can't say anything!"
"Watch your mouth, Carl!"
"Rick," Michonne interjected "It's fine, really, it is. Besides, no one stares at my ass, at least I don't think they do."
"He does though!" Carl interrupted again, looking annoyed that no one believed him and that he was in trouble from his dad for even bringing it up.
"Okay, okay. Maybe he does, but how about let's not talk about my ass anymore?" She said, hoping to calm down the situation before Rick took his frustrations about the young man gawking at her out on his son. She stood and squeezed Carl's shoulder in a loving manner, as a way to silently apologize to him for his father being short with him. She went over to where Rick was seated, with Judith playing in front of him and flopped down beside him.
"Anyways," she began. "I'd much rather talk about your butt, Rick."
At that, Michonne leaned in and gave Rick a quick kiss to his lips and let her head rest on his shoulder. A smile returned to Rick's face. Carl rolled his eyes at the two of them.
"Eww, do you have to make out in public all the time? God, old people are so gross! I have to go, see you later."
All Rick and Michonne could do was chuckle as they watched Carl stomp off in the direction of the garden.
"I guess I should get goin' too." She said, her head still on his shoulder as his arm lay possessively across her lap. "Brett's gonna start wondering where I am."
"Let the little shit wonder." Rick snorted with derision, wanting very much to have a small conversation with this Brett.
Just then, two large, armed and serious looking men briskly walked by an oblivious Carl to where Rick and Michonne were sitting in the shade of the tree.
"Grimes." One of them said, in a stern standoffish manner. "The Council members want to see you, right now."
Michonne sat up straight and asked "What's this about?"
"Don't you worry 'bout that, sweetheart." The other man jeered, and placed a hand to his side arm.
Rick stood up as Michonne, grabbing Judith, followed his actions.
"Don't make a scene now, Grimes. Just come with us, ain't nothin' gonna happen if you just come with us."
Michonne's eyes widened as she looked nervously at Rick. His expression stayed neutral, his chest heaving as his breathing quickened, and anger rose from within. He contained it well, he could not afford to let his rage put Judith and Michonne in any immediate danger. He kissed Judith's head and looked Michonne directly in the eyes.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm gonna go with 'em."
She shook her head and grabbed his arm, dread evident in her expression. She looked sad and worried, and that hurt him.
"Please," he whispered. "Don't follow us, stay here and watch after the kids, I'll go and see what they want. It's okay. I'll be fine."
With that Rick kissed Michonne desperately as the two men grabbed him forcefully and dragged him away.
