I'm off to Nashville tomorrow, for work, so I thought I would get this next chapter posted before I left.


From her doorway, Vic watched Henry make his way toward his truck, and then stepped back and closed the front door. She turned to find Walt standing near the stairs, his hands on his hips.

"Do you think Henry suspects anything?"

Walt glanced toward the front window even though she knew he couldn't see Henry's truck from his position. "Yep."

"Does that...worry you?"

Walt's gaze returned to her as he sucked in his lower lip.

"Should I have answered any of his questions differently?"

Walt stepped forward until he was beside her, leaning against the closed door. "No."

He reached out his hand and tugged on the hem of her shirt. She took a step forward, smiling up at him.

Suddenly there was a knock on the front door, causing them both to jump slightly. Eyebrows raised, Vic stepped back, her hand on the door knob. Walt stepped back as well, and she swung the door open. They found Henry in the doorway.

Vic smiled. "Forget something—"

"It is Cady." He held out his phone to Walt. "She is looking for you."

Walt's eyebrows knotted as he reached out and took the phone.

"What's up, Punk?"

He took a few steps into the room, and then stood with his back to the door.

"Wait, start over. What happened?"

Vic turned to Henry with a questioning look. "What happened?" she whispered.

"I am not sure. She did not tell me anything. She just asked if I was with Walt, and then asked if she could talk to him."

Both Vic and Henry turned their attention back to Walt.

"Are you injured?"

He listened to her response, pacing across the room.

"Where are you?" He paused to listen. "Alright, I'm on my way. I'll be there as soon as I can."

He hung up the phone, but took a moment before looking up.

"I need to leave." He crossed the room and started pulling on his boots.

Vic stepped toward him. "What's going on?"

"Cady's been in a car accident." Vic froze, her eyes growing big. Her gut wrenching.

Walt pulled his other boot on and straightened. "They were rear-ended. Nobody's hurt, but it was a hit and run, so she wants me to come out."

A hit and run? The sinking feeling increased. "They? Was she with someone else in the car?"

"She said her friend was driving. But they're both ok." Vic got the impression his words of assurance were meant more for himself.

Henry took a step into the room, a concerned look on his face. "I will drive out there as well. You only have room for one passenger. Depending on how damaged the car is, they may need a ride."

Walt nodded, his eyes falling to the floor. After a moment he lifted his gaze, and looked at Vic, before reaching over to the end table and picking up his hat.

Even if Cady was ok, Vic knew this was not going to be easy for Walt. She stepped forward and shoved her feet into her boots. "I'm going to come with you."

Adjusting his hat, Walt shook his head. "You need to pack for your trip."

"I just have to pack a suitcase, which I can do when I get back." He didn't seem convinced. "Walt, come on. You might need my help figuring out who hit them. Plus, I'm sick of staring at these boxes." What she wanted to say was that she wanted him to let her be part of this. To be there, for him.

Walt briefly glanced out the open door, and then turned back toward her. "Ok."

"Let me grab a jacket." She ran up the stairs and over to her closet, pulling a jacket from its hanger. As she jammed her arms in the sleeves and walked back toward the stairs, she spotted Walt's shirt on her bed. She picked it up and tucked it under her arm, and then grabbed her cell phone, wallet and keys. She bounded down the steps, finding both Henry and Walt just outside the door, quietly conversing.

Vic pulled the front door shut and turned toward the driveway, pausing. Again she thought about the protective bubble they'd been in since Walt had arrived the previous evening. Henry had already created a tear in their bubble with his arrival earlier, but now they were breaking it wide open. She hoped they were ready.

Walt was seated in his truck when she reached the passenger side of the Bronco. She got in, buckled up, and looked over at him. His key was in the ignition, but he hadn't started up the engine. With both hands tightly gripping the steering wheel, he stared out the windshield.

Vic brought her hand to his right shoulder. "You ok, Walt?"

He shook his head, bringing his focus back inside the vehicle, and started up the truck. "Yep."

XX

Walt remained silent throughout the drive. She tried to smile at him reassuringly the few times he glanced her way, but didn't engage him in any further conversation after her first attempt had proven unsuccessful.

As they pulled to a stop, relief rushed through her when she saw Cady standing on the side of the road, seemingly unharmed. Walt seemed to register this fact as well, unclenching his white knuckles from the wheel.

Henry pulled in behind them, and stepped out of his truck. Vic looked over at Walt, and then quietly placed his shirt on his right thigh. His gaze dropped momentarily to his lap, before he picked up his shirt and put it on. Henry appeared at Walt's window, causing Walt to look up. With a brief glance back at Vic, Walt reached for the door handle. Vic copied Walt's move, and got out of the truck.

Cady looked up and smiled at their approach. She hugged her father, and smiled at Henry. When she landed on Vic, a look of confusion flashed across her face.

"Vic...I didn't expect you to...aren't you leaving this weekend?"

Vic hadn't really thought through her responses to the questions she knew she would start getting. "I'm..." She paused and glanced over at Walt, but he was looking at the SUV Cady was standing beside, and didn't seem like he was going to step in. "I was with Walt and Henry when you called, and wanted to help."

Cady paused for a moment as she briefly glanced at Walt, but then she shook her head and turned toward the man standing beside her.

"This is Luke. A...friend of mine. Luke, this is my dad." Walt brought his attention back to the group. Luke stepped forward and offered his hand. Walt momentarily paused, but then reached out and shook it. "This is my dad's friend, and my godfather, Henry." Luke again extended his hand. "And this is Vic, who works...worked with my dad." Vic shook the hand Luke offered her.

Cady turned towards the SUV. "Luke and I were on our way to lunch..."

Vic turned her attention to the SUV, and began to walk around it. The back corner of the driver side of the vehicle was crushed inwards. The damage was greater than she'd expected, so she was even more relieved that neither passenger had sustained injuries.

As she rounded the front end of the SUV she heard Cady, as she continued to relay what had happened. "They were heading toward us when their truck suddenly swerved into our lane. Luke managed to turn away from the vehicle but they clipped the back corner. We both had our seat belts on, and Luke was able to stop the car before we hit anything, so..."

Cady paused, her eyes settling on Walt. "We're ok."

Walt had his eyes on the SUV. "Did you see who hit you?"

"It was a red truck, but it happened so quickly that we didn't see who was driving, and they peeled off before we could get a look."

Walt lifted his gaze to Luke. "Do you remember anything more about the vehicle or the driver?"

Luke shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. I was too busy trying to avoid them, and then trying to stop, that I didn't see much."

Vic looked up from the SUV. "Well we know they left the scene, which means they are either assholes, or scared shitless." She looked back at the damaged corner. "Or injured and not thinking clearly."

Vic pulled out her cell phone and began taking close-up pictures of the damaged section of the SUV, and then took a few pictures of the entire vehicle from multiple angles, as well as the surrounding area.

She looked over at the group. "Did it look like they lost control of the vehicle when they swerved?"

Cady and Luke glanced at each other before Cady turned back toward Vic. "I couldn't say. I didn't really notice them on the road until the last moment."

"Me either."

Vic saw Luke rub his hand along his chest, and wince slightly.

"I think we should get you guys checked out at the hospital...to play it safe."

"That's not necessary—"

Walt cut Cady off. "Yes it is."

Henry stepped forward. "I'll drive the two of you, and Walt and Vic can meet us there."

Vic looked back at the SUV. "Ferg's on duty today. I'll get him out here."

XX

Vic stood in the doorway, feeling like the room was already crowded with Henry standing in the corner and Walt hovering while Dr. Weston checked Cady out. Cady had been reassuring all of them, repeatedly, that she felt fine, and wasn't hurt.

She looked at Walt's stooped shoulders, and the worry he couldn't mask in his eyes. On the drive over to the hospital she had become frustrated with his continued silence and had tried to get him to share what he was thinking about. He had retreated further and she'd gotten a little pissed, and now here they were on opposite sides of the room.

Dr. Weston stepped back. "Seems like you have the same great luck with narrow misses as your father." He was referring to Walt's last visit to the emergency room, when his arm had been grazed by a bullet, and numerous other near misses in the line of duty. What he wasn't bringing up, of course, was Cady's last trip to the hospital. Both she and Walt could have used a narrow miss that time.

Cady looked over at Vic. "Hey Vic, can you go check on Luke? I'm hogging everyone's attention."

With a quick glance at Walt, Vic looked back at Cady and nodded. "Sure."

Luke looked up as she walked in, and she offered him a smile. "How are you doing?"

"Not too bad, considering. I've got some bruising on my chest from the seat belt, but my SUV is definitely in worse shape than I am." He paused. "How's Cady?"

"She's fine. She's been asking how you are, and sent me to check in on you."

The corners of his mouth rose, and he momentarily stared at the door as if he was considering going down the hallway in search of her.

"How long have the two of you been dating?"

Luke flinched slightly at Vic's question, but then looked over at her with a neutral expression.

"We're just friends—"

She gave him one of her patented incredulous Vic expressions and he stopped, looking down at his hands.

"We met almost a month ago when she interviewed at my firm. I ran into her at the Red Pony a couple nights later when she was out with friends."

"She'll be starting with your law firm on Monday?"

He nodded. "I know she hasn't told her father about the two of us yet..." He raised his head. "She says her dad learned some difficult truths about her mom's death recently, and she wants to hold off on telling him. Until he's ready."

Vic wondered if Walt would ever really be ready to hear that kind of news. There probably would be no man good enough for Cady, in his eyes.

"Is there anyone you can think of who may be angry with you, or with the fact that you and Cady are dating? Enough to try to run you off the road?"

"You think this may have been intentional?"

"I'm not sure, but we can't rule anything out."

"I can't think of anyone who's holding a grudge against me, or jealous enough to do this. And no one really knows about Cady and me."

Vic held his eyes, trying to determine if he might be holding something back. "Well, if you think of anything...or anyone, let us know."

He nodded.

Dr. Weston appeared in the doorway.

Vic greeted him with a grin. "Hey Doc."

"Deputy Moretti."

She briefly wondered whether he knew about her plans to leave Durant. She hadn't told him, but she didn't know if Walt or Ferg had mentioned it when they were at the hospital on Thursday, following up on their case. If he did know, he didn't acknowledge it.

Vic took a final look at Luke, before stepping aside to let the doctor enter. "I'll let the Doc here check you out."

Luke smiled at her. "Ok. I'll come down as soon as I get cleared."

Vic gave a small wave with her hand, and headed back into the hall. As she approached Cady's room, she saw Henry and Cady conversing, but Walt no longer appeared to be with them.

She continued past the room, arriving in the reception area, but did not see him. She was about to ask someone at the desk if anyone had noticed where he'd gone, when she spotted a familiar hat through the glass of the hospital's front entrance.

She walked up to the entrance, but paused just inside, watching Walt through the door. Being outside the bubble was really testing them. Walt had opened up to her last night. But here he was, back to holding things in and taking on his burdens alone.

When the automatic door slid open, Walt did not turn. She walked to his side, finding him staring off into the distance.

"Hey."

Walt seemed startled by her voice, as if he hadn't realized she was standing next to him.

"She's ok, Walt. So is Luke."

Without turning toward her, Walt dropped his head. "I know."

He shifted his stance, and adjusted his hands on his hips, but still did not look up. "You'd think it would get easier, being here, given what we do. What we've seen."

"This is different. This is someone you care about, Walt. It will never get easier."

He kicked the pavement with his boot.

Vic thought about placing her hand on his arm, but a couple was walking past them and she decided against it. Once the couple had entered the building and the door closed behind them she continued. "This is not like the last time, with Cady. Yes, it's a car accident, and a hit-and-run, but that's the only similarity. She's not hurt. She wasn't alone when it happened." She paused. "They're both going to be fine, Walt."

Walt looked up, but not directly at her. "If...if I hadn't cancelled my breakfast with Cady this morning, this would never have happened."

Her heart seemed to clench. "Walt, you're not to blame. A number of decisions and actions led to Cady being on the road at that location and at that time, not just you canceling breakfast. And even if you hadn't cancelled your breakfast with her, she might still have had lunch plans with Luke. And this still may have happened."

She pictured him sitting in Cady's hospital room after the accident, on the day of the election. She remembered his pain and his guilt, and her hesitation to reach out and comfort him. But in the end she had placed her hand on his back. Today, his look bore the same pain and guilt, but here, out in the open, she held back from touching him, although she desperately wanted to.

"Hospitals are often shitty places to be, Walt. They can send us spiraling. Make us feel guilty. And helpless. You've experienced some tough moments in hospitals with those you love. With Cady. And with Martha. You should not feel guilty. Everyone's ok. And just like before, this was not your fault."

Walt lifted his eyes to hers. "And with you."

"With me?"

"I've had to endure seeing you in here as well."

She looked over at Walt, who was back to looking at his boots. She wanted to go back to the humor, and the lightness, and the connection they had had between them just a few hours ago. She wondered if she could bring that easy smile back to his lips.

"I don't know. I think you may have enjoyed the time I was shot with the tranquilizer. I'm pretty sure you got a rear view of me in my hospital gown, and those things open in the back."

The corners of Walt's mouth slowly lifted. "Yes they do."

Vic smiled back at him. The Walt from earlier that morning was still in there.

"Those times were tough, Walt, but we both made it through."

Walt nodded, his eyes still downcast.

Not letting herself talk herself out of it, Vic reached out, wrapping her fingers lightly around his. Walt looked up, locking eyes with her.

"I'm sorry I got a little pissed with you earlier."

"I'm sorry, Vic. I...I know I've been in my head these last few hours. I want to let you in—"

With a whoosh, the automatic door behind her slid open and Cady's laughter peeled out. Walt dropped his hand and eyes at the same time. Vic took a step back, turning towards the open door, and the three exiting the building.

"There you two are!" Cady was in good spirits, and Walt put on a smile. Henry looked between Walt and Vic but said nothing.

"We've been released, and we're starving! We're going to have lunch at the Pony? You two in?"

XX

Walt brought the Bronco to a stop and cut the ignition, but did not exit the vehicle.

"I'm trying, Vic. But it's not so easy to change what I've spent years doing. Being in my head. Dealing with things alone. But I want to let you in..."

"I know you're trying, Walt. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to change your ways."

He looked over at her. "I've seen the damage I cause when I hold things back. That's not how I want to be with you."

"And I know I'm reactive. And I don't want to be that way with you."

She held his eyes with hers. "It'll take time, but we'll get there."

He nodded, glancing out the windshield.

"Are you ok with us doing lunch with Cady and Luke? There's a very good chance that Cady's curiosity is going to get the better of her, and she's bound to ask you questions about your...plans for the future. I could drive you home if you're not ready to talk about them yet."

"I'm going to have to start answering questions at some point. May as well get started."

Walt looked back at her. "I could pull her aside when we get in there. Let her know how your plans have changed, and ask her not to interrogate you about it."

"That's ok. I can handle it."

Her eyes still on Walt's, she wrapped her fingers around the handle of the door. "Come on. Let's go in. Otherwise they might start making some correct assumptions about the two of us."

Walt grinned, his eyes closing for an extra-long moment, and then he opened his door and stepped out.

He waited for her to join his side before heading toward the front door of the Pony. Again Vic wanted to reach out and touch his arm, but she kept her hand at her side.

Entering the bar, they pushed through the swinging doors, and then searched the room for Cady and Luke. As they approached the table where the two were seated, Vic saw Walt bring his hand down to pull out her chair, but she flashed him a 'what the hell' warning look, and he stopped. As his deputy, he never pulled out her chair, and this unusual gesture might be noticed by Cady.

As Vic took her seat, Walt stayed standing, looking down at them. "What do you three want to drink?"

"Beer."

"Me too."

"Same here."

Walt's eyes darted to Vic and then Cady, before landing on Luke. "Luke, do you want to give me a hand?"

Vic started, surprised by Walt's request. Apparently Luke was too. She watched him hesitate before pushing his chair back and standing. "Sure."

Watching the two men make their way to the bar, Vic felt a little panic settle in. She knew she had told Walt she could handle Cady's questions, but that didn't mean she wanted him leaving her alone, to be drilled by her.

With a final glance at the bar, where Walt, Luke and Henry were talking, Vic returned her attention to the table. She found Cady's eyes on her.

"How's my dad doing?"

"Uh—"

"I know this must be hard for him, having me be in another car accident, given how bad the previous one was."

Vic's eyes found Walt again. "Yeah, he's definitely been thinking back to that day." She looked back at Cady. "He felt a lot of responsibility for what happened to you back then. He does with this one as well."

"Did he say anything? During your car rides or when the two of you were talking outside the hospital?"

"Not much. You know Walt, and how he tends to keep things in. But he did say how hard it was being at the hospital with you again, and he blames himself for your accident because he cancelled your breakfast."

This time, Cady looked over at Walt. "None of this was my dad's fault. Or anyone's fault." Her eyes shifted to Luke. "Luke thinks he is to blame because he kept rushing us to get out the door, and he thinks if we had left five minutes later, none of this would have happened."

Vic watched Luke as he laughed at something Henry said.

"Thanks Vic."

Vic turned back toward Cady, her forehead creased in confusion. "For what?"

"For being there for my dad today. I know you probably have a lot you could be doing before you leave, so thanks for taking the time to come with us."

Cady looked from Vic to Walt and then back to Vic again.

"And I hope things aren't strained between the two of you anymore. There seemed to be some tension on Thursday night."

Vic tried to laugh it off. "You know Walt. He's not a big fan of change. My departure meant he was going to have to hire someone new, and break them in. I don't think he was too happy about that."

Cady watched her from across the table, but said nothing for a moment.

"My dad might not admit it, but I think he's really going to miss you, Vic. Probably why he's been such a grouch lately."

Looking across the table at Cady, Vic suddenly realized that Walt knew exactly what he was doing when he left her alone with his daughter. She was going to get Cady's questions out of the way, so she didn't have to stress about the potential of them being asked throughout their meal. And with Walt and Luke gone, she would get to answer them without an audience.

"Cady...I'm...I'm no longer going to be leaving Durant."

Cady's looked at her quizzically. "You and Sean aren't going to Australia anymore?"

"Uh...Sean's going, but I'm staying. We're...we're splitting up."

Cady's mouth opened slightly but no words came out.

"Sean and I have been having problems for a while, but we kept thinking we could fix what wasn't working between us. We finally realized we couldn't. And I...I decided last night to stay."

"I take it my dad knows."

"Yep. And Henry. And now you."

"Wow, Vic, I'm sorry."

"Thanks."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm...ok. Walt assures me I still have my job, but everything else seems so...up in the air. It's a little scary...and very overwhelming."

"Well, I know you were there for my dad, when he was lost the year after my mom died. He'll be here for you, when you need it."

Vic looked over at the bar and found Walt's eyes on her.

"And maybe it will be overwhelming for a while, but you'll find your footing eventually...and see it as a chance for new possibilities."

Vic smiled as she looked back at Cady. "Thanks."

Cady smiled and then looked back at the bar. "Hey Dad. Where are those beers you promised us?"

Walt and Luke laughed, wrapped up their conversation with Henry and returned to the table. Walt handed Vic a beer and then took his seat. Luke did the same with Cady.

Bringing the bottle to her lips, Vic looked around the table.

Cady lifted her beer in the air. "To narrow misses and new possibilities."

Vic smiled as she raised her beer, and then felt Walt's hand slip into hers under the table. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, but his focus remained on Cady and Luke, who had started talking about Cady's upcoming first day of work. After a moment, he squeezed her fingers, but to Vic's surprise, didn't remove his hand, even when Henry stepped up to the table to take their order.

XX

Walt pulled the Bronco into her driveway and brought it to a stop. They both sat silently, staring out the windshield.

After a few moments had passed, Walt turned in his seat. "I'm going to go back to the station, so I can be there while Cady and Luke give their formal statements. And I'll see if Ferg was able to learn anything new or make any progress tracing down that red truck."

"Ok. I'm going to pack for my trip."

He nodded. "Do...do you have plans tonight?"

"Yep. I called up Omar and invited him over to thank him for convincing me to stay."

Walt smiled as he bowed his head, shaking it.

She grinned back at him.

"After I'm through at the station, I'll go home, clean up a bit, and then maybe I could come back this evening with dinner."

"Three meals with you in one day." His head lifted, his eyes showing his concern that maybe she thought it was too much. She smiled at him. "I like it!"

He grinned. "Ok. Good."

"Ok. Great!"

He laughed.

At that, she opened her door and stepped out. She came around to his side of the truck and leaned in the window.

"I'll see you in a few hours. I may even start to read one of those books you seem to think are essential, and need to be unpacked."

Walt grinned. "Any particular book catch your eye?"

"Yep. Great Expectations. Seemed a rather fitting title for tonight."

Walt arched an eyebrow. "I don't think that book is about what you think it's about."

She slapped his arm. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Longmire. I know what the book is about. And my 'great expectations' are in regards to what you're picking up for dinner."

She leaned in further and gave him a quick kiss, and then pulled back giving him a wink.

"And don't think I don't remember you have my t-shirt. I'm expecting you to hand that over when you come back tonight, or I'm hunting you down."

Walt laughed. "I don't know. I might need to hold it hostage to ensure you come back from Philadelphia."

Vic laughed as she stepped back and headed for her front door. "Don't even think of using that shirt as a bargaining chip, Walt, or you may never get to see your 'great expectations' fulfilled."