AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hi there guys, thanks to each one of you who have reviewed and are reading. I appreciate your time and comments. Here is Chapter 10...

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters

WARNING: I am not an expert in law enforcement or have any medical knowledge, just whatever is in my head which could be c*** - so any mistakes or errors sorry!

Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors.

Anything in Italics are thoughts

Featured song:- John Prine & Iris DeMent - In Spite of Ourselves

(I love Iris DeMent and John Prine - together and separately. Their songs are fun and about real life, some are sad but majority are beautiful songs!)

The Journey

Chapter 10

Carl was laying on his tummy on the comfy cushions on the floor, elbows propping him up, legs crossed behind him in the air whilst he watched cartoons swaying his head to the theme music to The Amazing World of Gumball still in his pyjamas. Judith was still in her onesie sitting on the sofa propped up by a pillow sucking on her bottle watching the cartoon.

Lori had ordered a special breakfast to be delivered and was arranging it on to plates. It was Rick's first day and she wanted him to have a good start to the morning.

Rick opens the door and walks through the corridor, he was in his running gear, dripping wet from sweating, he wipes his face with his T-Shirt. He stops. Looking up to his side, he sees Lori standing behind the counter in the kitchen. Their eyes lock for a brief moment across the small distance. His stare is cold and distant, there is no emotion, she couldn't read him. Her stare is nervous from remembering last night, maybe she went too far. She ties up her dressing gown and begins to walk towards him but he is already moving making his way to the bathroom shutting the door behind him. She stops and holds on to the counter, upset and angry.

She stands there looking into space for a couple of minutes remembering Beth, the way Rick looked at her, his stare was a million times intense of longing and regret. The kettle hissing loudly on the stove, there was too much going on around her, she closes her eyes and then they snap open.

"CARL! turn down the volume!" Lori shouts not able to hear herself think.

Carl was too engrossed in watching his cartoon laughing not hearing Lori.

"It's my greatest invention, I call it….The Entertainerminator!" Carl repeats in the same voice as Darwin explaining to Anais laughing to himself.

Lori rubs her head with her palm and noticing Carl in the same position not looking to move, she storms over and stands in front of the TV blocking the screen, Judith drops her bottle.

"I told you to turn down the volume, now turn the TV off! I DON'T LIKE BEING IGNORED!" Lori hisses crossing her arms over her chest. Carl looked so much like Rick looking at her in disbelief at her hasty outburst.

"I'm sorry mom, I didn't hear you!" Carl says looking up sincerely.

"Carl, don't make me repeat myself, turn the TV off." She repeats.

"But mom, I-" Carl says standing up.

Lori grabs the remote out of Carl's hand and switches the TV off.

"NOW GO TO YOUR ROOM!" Lori shouts pointing towards his room.

Carl stiffens still, Lori's voice echoes right through him and Judith starts to cry.

Rick was standing under the shower resting his hands against the tiled walls as the water runs down his face and his body, soothing his aches and pains from intense running and from the night of drinking, a lot going through his mind. He reaches for his towel turning the shower off and then he hears Lori's shouting. He quickly wraps the towel around his waist and without wiping himself he makes it out into the lounge dripping wet.

Carl is frozen to the spot. Lori had Judith in her arms who was still crying. Lori was suddenly feeling bad and she moves to go over to Carl and apologise but Carl seeing Rick walking into the lounge runs over to him and wraps his arms around his waist and buries his face into Rick's stomach.

"Carl? What's wrong buddy?" Rick asks looking down putting his arm around his shoulder wiping his hair out of his face and looking up at Lori and then seeing a teary faced Judith huffing in and out trying to look at the TV.

Lori looked guilty and Rick could only guess, she'd yelled at Carl, this wasn't the first time.

Rick crouches down so he's face to face with Carl and gently asks what had happened.

"I didn't mean to ignore mom, I didn't hear her, I'm sorry" Carl says trying not to cry, he didn't want to cry.

Rick looks up at Lori cross.

"The TV was on so loud, I couldn't hear myself think, I asked him to turn the volume down, he didn't listen and then I snapped for a second." Lori says trying to put her point across and knowing she sounded irrational for reacting the way she did.

He looks to Carl lifting his chin up to look at him, he didn't want Carl looking down and feeling upset.

"Carl, make sure you keep the volume down to a low, it's early and we have neighbours, the walls are thin so we don't have as much privacy like back at home, we have to understand, appreciate and respect others." Rick replies and looks up at Lori hoping she was listening. If she'd stop thinking about herself, then maybe she wouldn't have snapped like she did, Rick thought.

"Now, go make up with mom and go and get washed up ready for breakfast" Rick saying wiping Carl's face seeing a tiny tear drop down.

Carl walks slowly up to Lori and looks up to her.

"I'm sorry mom, I swear, I didn't hear you, I'll keep the volume down from now on!" Carl says standing in front of Lori looking up at her.

Lori hugs Carl and says sorry too and kisses his forehead.

Once Carl had left and gone into the bathroom. Rick walks up to Lori, keeping calm as Judith was there.

"Don't take out your frustrations against me on the Carl, don't drag him and Judith into this mess we are in. For them we put aside our differences and act as normal as we can be. We just take care of their needs!" Rick says firmly. "If you can't do that, then we have a problem and I suggest you go home." Rick stares a Lori.

Lori regretted her outburst towards Carl and she nods her head in agreement. Rick leaves and goes to his room to get ready.

Lori told herself to keep calm and think before she acts. She was annoyed at her short temper but she wasn't going to give up on them, she will do whatever Rick asks and hopefully with time, he'll have a change of heart. She hoped Beth would keep running away like she had if they dumped into each other, if not, she's going to have to find Beth and have a word to stay away.

Carl sits forking his greasy bacon and eggs around his plate resting his head against his hand. He wasn't in the mood to eat. Rick comes out of his room and there's a knock on the door.

Detective Douglas Nash follows Rick into the dining area. Lori is quick to offer him breakfast and coffee but he politely refuses.

Rick goes over to Judith in her high chair and gives her a few kisses on her cheek and he ruffles Carl's hair.

"Be good and I'll see you tonight but if I get in late as it's my first day, I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow." he smiles down as Carl cranes his neck up to look at him nodding okay.

"Rick, you're not goin' to have breakfast?" she asks looking at all the food.

Rick looks at the greasy food turned off, he wasn't going to keep any of that down.

"I'll grab something light on the way" and then he grabs his wallet and keys "I don't know what time I will be home, don't stay up" Rick says leaving and Detective Nash nodding bye and follows Rick out the door.

Detective Nash notices no goodbye kisses or hugs but doesn't show his awareness to the fact. A home cooked breakfast and a beautiful attentive wife, what was Rick's problem he thought?

Hearing the door shut with the men's voices muffled, losing her appetite and seeing Carl playing with his food, she dismisses him from the table, grabs the food and chucks it back into the take away bags and shoves the load into the disposal bin. The lid swings back and forth at her forcefulness.

"Okay, this is Head Quarters. That's front desk, that's Betty, nobody gets through without her say. You need to swipe in and out. We need to keep track of everyone coming in and out. Where everyone is, whose in and whose out the building in case of emergencies" Detective Nash points looking around the station.

"That's Bob, he doesn't talk, don't bother him, he likes to he left alone!"

Rick looks over at the cleaner with the headphones on his head mopping the floor.

Detective Nash puts his palm on the screen, a green light swipes over his palm and the door buzzes and then opens. Rick follows having been given the clear to go through.

"Tech will come looking for you to enter your palm print onto the system by the end of the day, if they don't, speak to Betty," He says loudly and Betty nods from behind the desk without looking up from her paperwork.

Detective Nash smirks and looks at Rick.

"She's the eyes and ears around here, nothing gets past her, get in her good books and your life here will run smoothly!" He says matter of fact.

Rick nods taking a look at the older female officer in uniform. Feeling eyes on her, she turns her face to take a look at him running eyes up and down Rick as if she was a scanner. She looks at him and turns back to her work looking expressionless. Rick was wondering how he was going to get into the good books of this woman who seemed as strict as his old Dean from college.

Rick follows Detective Nash through the doors as it shuts with a loud buzz behind him. He takes a look, he had to get used to that.

"This is the main hall on the ground floor but we're up on first floor," the detective clarifies.

They climb the steps, Detective Nash nods and waves to his colleagues. He doesn't break a smile only when he sees a young female officer running through the corridor sorting our her clothing.

"Late?" he raises his eyebrows at her.

"Yea, had to drop Meghan off at school, Lilly had to pull a double last night at the hospital and I was up studying for my test, I forgot to set my alarm!" the brunette says doing up her tie.

"Lucky you bumped into me and not Bobby then" he says grabbing her notes out of her hands and flipping through them. "Thorough" he says impressed.

Rick stands there watching and listening, feeling completely ignored until the girl looks up and smiles.

"Hi! I'm Tara Chambler, you must be Deputy Grimes - I've heard so much about you." she says holding out her hand which was full with her bacon roll. She scoffs and holds out her fist and Rick laughs and bumps his fist against her.

"Call me Rick" he smiles back.

"Whow, I love your tone of voice! It's music to my ears, compared to the gruff asses I have to listen to all day!" she nods towards Detective Nash who chucks her notes back and points towards the conference room.

"I'll see ya around Rick and welcome to the jungle!" she says biting into her roll, sorting out her notes, pulling a face at the detective and rushing off to where her other colleagues were congregating for morning debriefs and assignments.

"Break room, kitchen, boardroom, locker rooms that way, water dispenser and hand sanitizer" he points whilst walking by.

Rick watches following up the corridor they come into a large room full of pods with officers at desks on phones, tapping away on computers, officers discussing cases, this was a lot larger scale to King County. They climb up a couple of steps.

"That ways interrogation rooms," he points "the bathroom's that way, the bulletin board and this is our room. Detectives, Bobby Collins, Clayton Sinclair and Javeed Nasri are next door, they're part of our team" he says taking his seat.

"Welcome to Precinct 5, Atlanta PD is going to be your home for the next six months" Detective Nash says giving a welcoming arms out whilst taking a seat on his swivel chair crossing his feet up on to his desk.

Rick walks into the room, it was more modern and up to date than back home but it wasn't the same. He was in a boxed off office and other than meeting Tara, the place didn't feel friendly, everyone was busy and rushing around having somewhere to go.

Before Rick can take a seat, all of a sudden a huge commotion erupts and uniform officers are running through the corridor and one of the other detectives with braces over his shirt taps on their window indicating to move. Detective Nash gets up and unlocks his drawer. He pulls something out, looking at Rick, he flips it to him and Rick catches it with one hand. He opens his fist and sees a badge.

"You're a Detective now. Things are done differently round here compared to how you used to do them back in the sticks, you're with the big boys now, watch how we work as a team, your one of us now, use your instincts, keep your eyes and ears open, stay alert and close by and always have each other's back!" Detective Nash shoots a look at Rick whilst he loads his gun and then puts it into his holster.

"You good?" He asks Rick and Rick reveals his colt python in his holster and the detective smirks.

"We need to get you a modern weapon!" he shakes his head.

"I'm fine with what I've got, never let me down before" Rick says clipping his badge to his belt.

"Alright, your first case, time to kick some ass!" He says clapping Rick on the shoulder leading the way.

Rick sighs heavily and follows, it was going to be a long day. He was hoping to get a feel of the place before jumping straight into it but maybe it was the best way and maybe his mind will be free of thoughts of Beth which had kept him up all night. He needed to find her but his personal issues will have to wait.

Evening

Rick stands at the Nurse's station taking an update of the victim who had been taken to the ICU waiting for the family to turn up to give them the news.

They captured the assailant who hurt his arm when Rick had speared him down some stairs before he stabbed the victim and was getting medical attention with Detective Nash holding him in custody and would then be taking him back to the station to book him for Grievous Bodily Harm and Attempted Murder. Rick had been checked out and been given the all clear, all he needed was to keep an ice pack on his shoulder and he would be fine.

"Hey baby, you're so well behaved, you're a good boy for your mommy aren't you?" Lilly says to the baby.

He smiles gurgling and she laughs. Lilly stands on the opposite side of the desk asking the nurse with the records for Carol's release papers.

Feeling eyes staring at him, Rick takes a side glance to see a baby with piercing blue eyes and brown wavy hair watching him smiling. He was playing with his lip with his tiny hand looking straight at him. Rick wonders how long the baby was watching him, his gaze doesn't falter when he stares back.

"Hello" Rick says as he watches the tiny lips turn up into a big smile on his face and a little twinkle in the baby's eye, a twinkle in the eyes he recognises but can't put his finger on from where.

"Haaaaaa" the baby answers back not moving his gaze from Rick and he hides his face into Lilly's neck and then peers back up.

"What game are you playin?" Rick asks smiling

"Excuse me?" Lilly asks looking confused narrowing her eyes not understanding him.

"Erm…your baby, he's been watchin' me, playing peek a boo!" Rick stands from leaning on the counter smiling at the baby and then at Lilly "He's adorable" he laughs as the baby starts to shake his doll. Rick watches entertained as the baby continues to play.

"Oh!" Lilly laughs "I wish he was mine but unfortunately this gorgeous baby is not mine. He's one of my patient's relative's child" she looks down at him "and I think your mommy's gonna get worried if we don't get you back to her soon!" Lilly says wiping his hair to the side.

"Are you okay?" Lilly asks Rick seeing him waiting at the desk.

"Yes thank you, I'm just waiting for the patient's who was just brought into the ICU family to turn up" Rick says looking at his watch and down the corridor.

"Oh! you're the hero officer that everyone is raving about!" Lilly says looking up to Rick impressed.

Rick rolls his eyes smiling "C'mon, I was doin' my job!" Rick says watching the baby leaning looking at him and he can't resist, he strokes his chubby cheek and the baby lifts his head up straight giggling and a tiny snort comes out and Rick can't help the hearty laugh that comes out of him and Lilly laughs along.

An elderly patient nearly trips up over her wire walking holding her pole with her saline drip attached to it.

"Mrs Rogers, you shouldn't be out of bed!" Lilly goes to rush off but seeing the little angel in her hands not knowing what to do, looks around for one of her colleagues, she sighs watching Mrs Rogers walking off. Rick noticing looking over at the elderly woman and Lilly, he reaches out offering to take the baby and Lilly debating whether or not to hand him over but then Detective Nash comes over to Rick.

"Hey Lilly!" the detective says

"Hey Douggie" she replies back and then looks back up to Rick and seeing the way Rick was interacting with the baby who was leaning towards Rick, she finally hands the him over and Rick happily accepts him and cradles him into his chest.

"I'll be back in two minutes whilst I take care of Mrs Rogers, I'm afraid she might go to the wrong room!" Lilly turns to run and looks at Douggie to keep an eye and he nods watching Rick and the baby.

"Oh, his name is Olly, if his mother comes out looking for him but don't hand him over to anyone until I get back!" She shouts with strict instructions. Rick looks at the baby, there was a little sadness thinking of the name.

"We're cops! what do you take us for?" Douggie rolls his eyes and she shrugs running off.

"Hey Olly, you're a good boy, aren't you, you good for your momma? Hah?" Rick asks smiling down to Olly and he leans into Rick's shoulder shy and grabs hold of his ear and Rick starts to laugh and rocks him. "You fallin' asleep on me?" he asks looking down and Olly yawns ruffling Rick's hair and Rick closes his eyes rubbing his back.

"You're a natural" Douggie says and pulls out his hand to take Olly and Olly grabs hold of Rick tighter and his face into his neck.

"I take that as him saying no!" Rick smirks happily looking at Douggie who waves them off and takes a seat.

Rick walks up and down the corridor humming a nursery rhyme and then Lilly is back beside him after five minutes.

"Thank you so much!" she holds her hands out to take Olly who still clings onto Rick and Rick gestures for Lilly to show him the way "I'll hand him back to his mother, he's fallen asleep."

"Whow, you're good, I've tried for half an hour whilst his mom is in with the doctor but he was restless, you have magic in your arms!" Lilly says impressed and she leads the way and Rick follows.

"Rick, we've gotta go, he's been discharged, cars waiting to take him to the station!" Douggie calls out putting his cell back into his pocket.

Rick stops turning around and reluctantly hands Olly gently over to Lilly and he rubs his back as he peeps his eyes open.

"It was nice to meet you." Lilly says

"It was a pleasure to meet you and you too Olly - be a good boy!" he says leaning away and Olly touches Rick's face and his tiny hand lands on Rick's lip which brings a smile to his face at the contact.

Lilly walks off hearing her name being called. Olly drops his doll, Rick seeing jogs over, picks it up wiping it on his jeans and looks at it. Woody! His mind went back to the fair. It was all just a coincidence he thought. He places Woody back between Olly's arm and Lilly's shoulder.

"Thanks, he can't stand to be apart from it! You saved his mom from her baby crying a fit for the rest of the night, she'll really appreciate your kindness" Lilly says and Rick nods letting her go.

Rick watches until they disappear round the corner, he stands there and the follows Douggie.

"Right, we're gonna go for a drink tonight with the guys and I ain't taking no for an answer!" Douggie says looking at Rick happy that the raid went well as it could have. He was impressed with Rick and his strategic and physical efforts.

Rick sits in the bar with the guys for his welcome drink. He watches the couple performing on stage. The guys say they are going to go and have a turn at singing.

Rick laughing watching them larking around and he thinks back to happier times, the first and last time he went up on stage and sang to a rowdy crowd in The Lounge at one of Beth's gigs. He had the weekend off and he was surrounded by friends and just some local people who were out having a good time on a Friday night after a long gruelling week at work, everyone was looking to let their hair down and he, with Beth's encouragement let his hair down.

Flashback

Glenn jumps up on stage grabbing the mic with a big smile on his face, getting the crowd all hyped up for the performance of the night rubbing his hands together, lifting his cap up high on his head so they can all see him clearly.

"So, guys, this is a one-time exclusive performance!" Glenn points one finger out to the crowd "NEVER SEEN BEFORE! Get your camera's ready because this only happens once in a blue moon!" and the crowd cheer.

"OR - if all goes well, we may have found our next Sonny and Cher, right here in The Lounge!" Glenn teases the crowd "All rights go to Rhee Records, I'll be representing them!" He grins and the crowd begin to chant to bring out the duo and Glenn is fanning the crowd with his cue cards trying to calm them down.

"Without further ado, I'd like to introduce, Southern Belle - Miss Beth Greene and Deputy McDreamy – Rick Grimes! Let's give them a big welcomin' hands guys!"

Glenn starts off the clapping and everyone joins in astonished looking around at one another hearing Rick was going to be on stage. Members of the audience sit up in their chairs, leaning eagerly on their tables waiting to see if Glenn was pulling their legs.

Beth walks onto the stage with her guitar strapped round her body waving to the crowd and Rick walks up trailing slowly behind her covering his face not believing what he's about to do. Beth looked like the cat that got the cream! He wanted to reach out and spank her denim covered bottom sashaying in front of him at her triumph of convincing him, she could sell ice to an Eskimo he began to think.

"Yea Beth, I could kiss you, I haven't laughed so much since I watched White Chicks!" Shane shouts out from the bar lifting his beer up and he winks at Rick chuckling.

Rick tries to ignore Shane but he can't help the grin that keeps breaking out on his face and then feels he was way over his head finally feeling all eyes on him and seeing all those faces looking up at him, he gulps and Beth leans over and pinches him on the bottom to confirm that this was real, he grabs hold of the mic hoping nobody saw. He tries to remember the lines and then Glenn is standing at the side waving with the lyrics scribbled on massive poster sheets, he squints trying to read Glenn's hand writing and then the band starts to play and Beth begins to play her guitar.

"Baby, you're up!" Beth whispers and he takes a look to his side at her smiling, taking a deep breath narrowing his eyes towards the crowd, hoping nobody throws their peanuts at him, he taps his boot on the floor to the tune of the music imagining the crowd in their underwear.

Rick:-

"She don't like her eggs all runny
She thinks crossin' her legs is funny
She looks down her nose at money
She gets it on like the Easter Bunny
She's my baby I'm her honey
I'm never gonna let her go"

Beth looks over at Rick smiling not believing how good he is and then she wants to watch his face whilst she sings to him, to see him go all rosy and embarrassed, he looks incredibly sexy when he blushes. She looks him up and down and Rick looks amused, he seemed to have relaxed.

Beth:-

"Well he ain't got laid in a month of Sundays
I caught him once and he was sniffin' my undies
He ain't real sharp but he gets things done
Drinks his beer like it's oxygen
But he's my baby
And I'm his honey
Never gonna let him go"

Rick gives her a look with his eyes that warn her that he will get her back later, that cheeky grin of his gets to Beth and she shivers thinking what he will do and looking forward to the punishment he will inflict on her and they sing the chorus together laughing and Beth starts shaking her hips whilst she sings.

Rick & Beth:-

"In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes."

Rick looks smouldering when he gets ready to sing his part, he winks at her and looks around at the crowd. Beth couldn't believe how relaxed and chilled out Rick was, tapping his foot on the floor and his hand on the mic stand, she was glad he agreed to perform with her.

It took a lot of kissing, hugging, batting her eyelashes and handing him one beer after the other, he couldn't say no or he forgot how to say no, he was either intoxicated on the alcohol or he was intoxicated on Beth? He didn't care anymore, he felt euphoria running through his mind and body.

Rick:-

"She thinks all my jokes are corny
Convict movies make her horny
She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
Swears like a sailor when she shaves her legs
She takes a lickin'
And keeps on tickin'
I'm never gonna let her go."

Beth stops playing her guitar and puts her hands on her hips, trying to keep a straight face pretending to be insulted by Rick but failing, she sings to the crowd pointing to Rick with a smirk and the crowd laugh and clap.

Beth:-

"Well he's got more balls than a big brass monkey
He's a whacked out weirdo and a lovebug junkie
Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon
Payday comes and he's howlin' at the moon
But he's my baby, I don't mean maybe
I'm never gonna let him go"

The two tables of women in the crowd are laughing like hyenas. Rick looks over and recognises a few from The Town Hall, The Court House, The Bank and then he sees Carl's Pediatrician in the centre. He looks away cursing to himself knowing Carl had an appointment in a couple of weeks for a check-up and he was taking him, he had the afternoon booked already but when he looks back up, they all put their thumbs up encouraging him on to continue.

He was happy to know that they weren't looking at him as if he'd lost his marbles. He did know how to have fun, just forgot how to over the years, he had a fun side to him, it rarely came out but tonight he just wanted to be the person who was up front having fun, not a cop, not a father - just him.

He looks over at Beth and she looks happy and that was enough for him, he can look like a fool for a night for her and the stories she'll tell Carl and they'd bring it up every so often in years to come and he'll have memories and evidence that he hadn't lost himself but found himself all over again.

Beth grabs her mic and turns around and sings towards Rick and he does the same.

Rick & Beth:-

"In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes."

Rick ends the song looking at the crowd who are swaying, all flush in the face from drinking, laughing and having fun. He sees Shane at the bar leaning against Leon laughing like he's never laughed so much wiping tears from his eyes pointing at Rick and Leon with a bucket under Shane's face to emphasise how much Shane is crying. Leon was clapping his hand on the bucket, happy to see Rick on stage and not busting his balls.

Rick ends the song in his normal southern voice.

Rick:-

"In Spite of ourselves!"

Shane and Leon are on their feet whopping and cheering. Leon looks at Rick in awe not believing the difference in Rick from when he first met him. He had just joined the Sherriff's Department just before Rick and Lori were going through problems and Rick always looked depressed and then there was the sudden separation whispers that finally spread out into the town like a bush fire and Rick had withdrawn into himself and just focused on work, there was never any room for mistake, he took his failure at his personal life as fire to make sure his professional life didn't go the same way. Leon always heard about the down to earth, fun guy Rick was but hadn't seen it until today, he witnessed the Rick Grimes, Shane and the others talked about with his own eyes, only Rick was more out there than normal which was nice to see, he looked up to Rick, he was shrewd but human, he had an identity.

Rick grabs hold of Beth's hand and kisses it whilst Beth curtsies Rick giggling. He pulls her towards him into a bear hug and kisses her smack bang on the lips and the crowd cheer loudly.

"WOhooooo! Yehaaaaaa! Deputy Grimes!" the guys cheer whistling.

Holding Beth on stage whilst the crowd breakaway for a fifteen minute interval to go to bathroom, get drinks and chatter amongst themselves about what had just happened, Rick rocks Beth in his arms.

"Happy? You got me drunk and up on stage, making me, make a fool out of myself?" He asks looking into Beth's eyes.

Beth throws her arms around his neck "Yep, you're my fool, your my honey!" she smiles up and she has a mischievous spark in her eyes and Rick raises his eyebrow to spill.

"How about we go home and get it on like the Easter Bunny?" Beth wiggles her eyebrows and Rick grins thrusting the mic into Glenn's hand, smacking him on the back saying "goodnight"

Glenn about to protest looking at the mic in his hands to clarify that he's up next, sees Beth running dragging Rick whilst he waves good bye to people in the crowd, Glenn shakes his head and chuckles to himself, if he had a woman, he'd probably do the same and bolt out of there.

When everyone take their seats, the light dims down again and shines on Glenn.

"So…Sonny and Cher had to go attend to…erm…pressing matters" Glenn giggles.

"That means, you guys have me for the rest of the night! alright, alright, alright!" He announces into the mic trying to do his best Matthew McConaughey impression and the crowd clap enthusiastically and he begins his first story for the evening.

"So, this is about a girl who walks around on a cloud with a big ole smile on her face, come rain or shine. One day she fell off out the sky and fell into the arms of a certain broody moody deputy!" He chuckles and walks around the stage and comes back to the centre "I'm going to start from the beginning. We were running in the park, I'm running like a normal person and she's like some Russian Olympian! She runs like the speed of light!" Glenn emphasises this putting his hand above his eyes squinting trying to see into the distance and jogging on the spot trying to keep up then Glenn jumps off the stage making a few woman at the front squeal with laughter "she swings out of a tree, out of nowhere and choke slams the deputy on to the floor to get his attention…." And Glenn was off and everyone was in a fit of giggles.

End of Flashback

Rick smiles watching his new team attempting to sing.

Douggie next to him, observes Rick. Rick had been lost in thought the whole time they were in the bar. Rick had been smiling to himself and there was a hint of sadness and he wondered about what. But when he catches Rick looking up to Bobby and Javeed coming over, he smiled genuinely at their larking about, Javeed was red in the face with embarrassment hiding his face, he was the youngest mid-twenties not used to being so out of place singing.

Rick had an idea how he was feeling remembering how Beth tricked him on to the stage and the after feeling. Javeed was laughing, there was some sort of adrenaline coursing through the veins at doing something out of character and comfort zone.

Douggie remembers the previous night, the incident in the restaurant, he had only met Rick barely half an hour and all hell erupted when the waitress asked what they wanted for drinks. Rick had run out like a mad man leaving his wife and children at the restaurant. He, had to drop home a pissed off wife and miserable children when the night was cut short. He couldn't get away fast enough once he dropped them to the entrance of their apartment, the Doorman helping them in.

There was obviously something not right between the couple and something to do with the waitress. Her name was Beth from recollection, he's seen her about and she's served him many times he's been to the restaurant.

He wondered what the whole incident was, The Commissioner would have usually been pissed but he didn't even bat an eye and said they'd try again another night. Whatever the issues, The Brasserie is popular amongst everyone in the district and The Commissioner was always taking them there as a treat and to boost staff morale, so whatever was going on, Rick would need to sort it because he's going to be in that restaurant more often than not most weeks.

Douggie takes a swig of his beer going back to watching his silly comrades on stage.

Rick takes a sip of his beer and smiles at the memories and hearing the name he chose for his and Beth's dream baby and then the Woody doll, just too much in one day. He would try and find Beth and try to make things right with her, he didn't know how or what he was going to do but he had to do something, they are bound to bump into each other and he was sure that their lives are going to collide more often than not. He was sure he wouldn't be able to keep his head down and walk by if she was on the opposite side of the street. That would be impossible.

The crowd start to clap and cheer whilst the guys stagger back to their seats.

"To new beginnings!" Douggie toasts.

Bobby, Claydon and Javeed toast looking towards Rick. They all had their issues but they all got on and Rick would have to try and mould into the team, they were trying to help make him fit in, what did he have to lose?

"To new beginnings!" Rick repeats and they all clink their bottles together happy.

Rick feels his cell vibrating. He reaches into his pocket, lifting it up and sees Lori's name flashing on the screen. He stares at the screen, he presses cancel and puts his cell back into his pocket.

"I'm goin' back up!" Bobby slurs and he grabs Javeed who spills his beer on himself being dragged back to the stage protesting trying to get Douggie to help but Douggie waves him a bye.

Rick laughs and watches the two detectives attempting to sing. He thinks maybe he'll give Atlanta a go, it wasn't too bad, just different.

To be continued…..

A/N – Hopefully you enjoyed Rick and Beth's duet (I know it would never happen in TWD) it was to add some fun to all the angst that this fic has and the angst to come up. The flashbacks do have angst in them but they also have a lot of happy Beth/Rick memories.

My updates won't be as frequent as they have been. It's a hectic time of year at work and takes priority but when I get a free moment, I will open my laptop and type out some paragraphs. If I feel motivated, I might get something up quicker as I regularly have thoughts floating around my mind, too many so hopefully people don't lose interest and stick with me.

Until Next time x