AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks for the views and the comments for the last chapter. I know I said I was concentrating on LBTL & The Journey, I got completely distracted from those, I'm stuck on a part and once I become unstuck I'll get the new chapters up for those reading.
Back to this fic - Somebody unexpected turns up in this chapter to the displeasure of Rick!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters
Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors.
Anything in Italics are thoughts
The Rookie and The Deputy
Chapter 12
Beth sits in the passenger's side whilst Rick drives. It was by far the tidiest patrol car out of all the deputies she has ridden along with. Deputy Walsh was definitely fun to ride along with but he was really messy and when she was him, she started to pick up some of his bad habits unknowingly whereas Deputy Grimes was neat, tidy and regimental, he knew where everything was in his car and looking around it wasn't bad, everything was accessible and within easy reaching distance.
Beth started to wonder how neat and pristine his home was, wondering what colour his lounge was, was he a curtain man or a blinds man, a comfy cushiony couch guy or a royal regal hard leather type guy? She looks at him and couldn't figure out about the couch which was most important. He could be both but she was a comfy cushiony couch girl, she was a homey type of girl, she liked to snuggle up on the couch and hopefully he liked to snuggle as well. That would be one of the major pros to tick off on her list she's mentally been making up, she's been ignoring the cons, she was on that side, she was sure Rick wouldn't like some of her habits or hobbies. She was a girl who kept to routines but she did like to be spontaneous. Rick was a control freak and took things to an extreme, he admitted it to her once and she can see it, he definitely likes control and order, he might not be a spontaneous type of guy, she frowns.
Beth takes a look over at Rick when he lightly yawns, he gives her a small side smile and she smiles back facing forward to the road stretched up ahead with the headlights lighting their way. When Rick turns a corner, busy watching where he was heading, she sneaks a quick glance at his face. She can see the slight stubbles growing around his chin and jaw and she had to admit he looked good and he had a new cologne on and he smelled divine she thought which added to his appeal, a smart good looking smelling guy! What more could a girl ask for?
√ Tick she says to herself - another one to tick off her list, she grins.
She continues tapping lightly on the side of the inner door as Rick was concentrating on driving back to the station, it was change over soon and he wanted to get home and crawl into bed and sleep, he hated night shifts but the rookies had to be partnered with a deputy when they leave the station for the night shifts. Two more rookies added to the roster meant two more deputies were needed too. He and Deputy Lambert ended up volunteering. Deputy Lambert wanted to skip some family reunion with his wife's family so by the time he got home, they'd all be out doing whatever it was they planned on doing and he'd be snuggly tucked up in bed snoring with the house to himself, he'd be able to catch up with some sports channels and some trashy soaps he secretly liked to watch which was heaven to him. And then there was Rick, who could always be relied upon to cover at short notice. He lived alone and didn't have Carl or Judith until the weekend and Shane had a date so wouldn't be hanging out with him so he was free and he honestly could do with the distraction and the extra money which meant more money to spoil Carl and Judith with.
Rick and Lambert hadn't decided who got who but as soon as Beth saw Rick she bounced over to him to ask after Liv hoping she wasn't too hung over from the other night and if she was, she was sorry.
Rick shook his head to forget it, he had amusingly told her that Liv had fallen asleep in the car snoring. He had to carry his mother into the house, tuck her into her bed, tried to take off her makeup with some wipes only for her to snore louder and push him away so he gave up and ended up falling asleep in his childhood bedroom which he hasn't done since college. He only went to get a change of clothes but looking at some memorabilia's, he laid down on his bed and fell asleep.
He abruptly awoke the following morning at 5.30am to check on his mom, she was sitting up in bed with panda eyes confused and then thanked him for one of the best nights she had in years but she would have to recover a couple of months before partying again and by the time Rick had finished telling the whole nights account, Beth apologised for bailing and laughing at imagining Rick running around after his mom. They had already driven to a call out half an hour later, Rick got out the car and stopped in realisation he walked off with Beth and left Lambert and Tara without agreeing to who was partnered with who. Lambert would realise he was partnered with Tara, Rick had decided, it wasn't on purpose, he just lost track of everything with Beth chatting away.
Beth's tapping didn't irritate him, he got used to it and when she stopped, his eyes dart towards her and she's looking over her shoulder. Rick glances in the wing mirror and sighs disheartened when he recognises the woman stumbling down the sidewalk in the dark.
"I see her!" Rick answers without Beth having to verbalise anything, they were becoming comfortable in that way with each other.
He turns the car around and rolls up alongside the woman and finally parks up by the pavement. Beth about to get out, Rick grabs her arm.
"Put your gloves on when you pat her down, she might have stuff on her she shouldn't and watch out, she doesn't look good, like she may vomit!" Rick warns Beth.
"Got it!" Beth nods reaching into her back pocket taking out her gloves.
"Ma'am?" Beth calls out and Rick follows.
The woman turns around and starts to pick up speed and begins to try to run. Beth looks back at Rick, he shrugs and then Beth begins to take up after her, Rick watches out for any oncoming vehicles just in case the woman decides to jump into the road. Beth manages to catch up and Rick takes off his hat when he reaches them.
"Gwen! What are you doin' out this late in the evenin' and who's with the kids?" Rick asks coming to stand in front of her.
"Dep…Deputy Rick! Long time no see!" Gwen grins, her face was all droopy, her eyes bloodshot red.
"Whoa!" Beth says as Gwen nearly stumbles forward, grabbing hold of her and Rick reaches out to help.
"You got anythin' on you, you shouldn't?" Rick ask her and she shakes her head uncontrollably.
"Officer Greene, here is goin' to pat you down, so tell me now if you've got anythin' which might hurt her?" Rick asks again.
"Nope, nothin'!" Gwen shakes her head "Why can't you pat me down Rick?" She giggles and Rick ignores the question, telling her to stand still.
"All clear!" Beth reports standing up and just as she does, Gwen gags and all that was in her belly comes flying out onto the sidewalk.
Beth thanks her lucky stars she got up and Rick had pulled her out the way just in the nick of time, he was anticipating it and had warned her, a second too late, her head and face would have been covered. Beth looks over seeing the mess, sighs with huge relief and she directs the woman to step away and as she does, she nearly slips in her mess. Beth grabs Gwen and nearly stumbles but Ricks there in an instant, he grabs hold of them both.
"You ok?" Beth asks Gwen and the woman shakes her head.
"I need everythin' to stop moving! I don't feel so good!" She grabs hold of her head and her stomach.
Rick makes his way over and helps Gwen to sit on the stoop as he speaks into the radio that they're bringing in an intoxicated thirty-four year old woman. He looks up at Beth from where he's crouching.
"Can you grab a bottle of water from the car and the box of tissues, I'll stay here with her." Rick asks Beth.
"Sure!" She says tip toeing around the vomit on the floor giving a sympathetic smile to the woman and dashing off.
Once Beth is off towards the car, Rick turns to Gwen.
"Hey, what happened? He asks looking over the fragile woman "You were doin' so good!" he sighs rubbing his face.
"I'm just ticking along Rick, what else can a single mother of two do, I'm still waiting on him to return from the shops, that was six years ago!" Gwen says and begins to laugh hysterically and then she starts to cry looking down at her hands trembling in her lap, she wipes her nose with her sleeve.
Rick reaches into his pocket, sits down next to her and hands her his handkerchief.
She wipes her eyes and blows her nose into it "Thanks!" She says handing it back to Rick.
Rick gestures for her to keep it and she looks down at it fiddling with it in her hands.
Gwen had been a girl he knew back in high school, Shane had even dated her for a year in their sophomore year, so they hung out together after school until she and Shane broke up and each moved onto someone knew. After graduation, Gwen found out she was pregnant and ended up marrying the father of her unborn baby after pressures from both their parents to do the right thing.
Everyone in their year went off to college or got jobs and she was walking around with a bump, Rick didn't see her again until a couple of years later when he returned home and joined the Police Academy and shortly after he and Lori got married, Gwen's baby was then a toddler. Gwen would have been Lori's bridesmaid but Gwen had become a closed off person and was only seen with her son and her husband who was over protective and wouldn't allow her to mix, she and Lori lost complete contact and Lori had turned her nose up at her.
Gwen's husband turned out to be a deadbeat cheating scumbag. All through the years, Rick had watched him go about with different women, he was clearly having affairs left, right and centre but it was none of his business, it was a matter between a husband and wife and he was sure Gwen knew but didn't do a thing about it or couldn't do anything about it.
After they had their second child, he turned violent. Gwen was taking beatings from him once in a while and then they became frequent, one time it got really bad, a neighbour called 911 after hearing screaming and begging. Rick and Shane raced over to the house to restrain the husband and attend to Gwen who was laid out across the floor on her face. She had to be taken to hospital as she was knocked out cold, her face had been repeatedly hit.
In the end, the pathetic excuse of a husband jumped bail abandoned her, ran off with another woman and hasn't been seen since. Gwen was left to raise the two kids with no money, no job, the bills piling up facing being evicted and facing homelessness. She found a crappy job just to tide them over but it wasn't much and Rick had suspected she had started doing things she shouldn't be doing on the side, he had prayed he was wrong, nobody had caught her in the act but she had turned to alcohol.
It had been a massive blow for Rick and Shane to witness an old friend falling into the gutter and there was nothing either could do, she wouldn't accept help and they couldn't force their help. They'd even had to arrest her one time for being drunk and disorderly being a nuisance out in public. She had cleaned herself up and found herself a full time job and he hoped she still had it but seeing her the way she is, it didn't look good.
Beth is back with the bottle of water and hands it down to Gwen who takes it without looking up but manages a "thank you!" finally feeling ashamed and embarrassed. It was completely silent when she took a sip of the water and having Rick sat beside her as he was, she just needed to unburden herself, she needed to talk to someone, she really needed a friend.
"I got sacked last week for being late, Tommy was running a fever, I didn't have anyone to watch him so I had to take a sick day and then I go, she hands me my last paycheck and asks me to hand over my clocking in card, I wasn't required anymore, I had been replaced by someone reliable and capable and nobody wants to give me a job!" Gwen manages to say as the silent tears run down her face.
Rick looks down pinching the bridge of his nose. He sees her in a suit most likely been to an interview, got rejected and purchased a bottle of booze at the failure she was probably feeling.
He didn't want Gwen to go back down that road she was once on, she had got herself cleaned up and got her life back on track and this set back could set her back for good and she had two boys to consider a teenager and a boy the same age as Carl.
Beth sits down next to Gwen and puts a hand on her shoulder.
"Did you explain your situation? Maybe if you try and put your point across? They can't just sack you, you had an emergency situation?" Beth asks.
She remembers she and Tara were lucky they had someone like Rick who stood up for them when nobody would listen when it came to their suspension. If it weren't for him, she'd be still be sitting at home without a weeks pay. He had her and Tara's back, nobody had Gwen's back!
Gwen looks at Beth.
"You're a sweet innocent thing, not everyone's like you, nobody cares about a washed up middle aged woman like me, nobody cares!" Gwen says swallowing hard looking down at her torn tights.
"I care!" Beth whispers kneading her shoulder "Deputy Grimes cares!" She says looking towards Rick on Gwen's other side as he looks up at her "And you're not a washed up middle aged woman!" Beth reassures her scooting a bit closer "You just need to be given a chance and you need to be able to ask for help when you need it, there no shame!" Beth tells her.
She remembers her parents had always taught her to help the vulnerable and the less fortunate and Gwen was vulnerable and lonely, she needed help and she needed someone to reach out to her. Nobody has probably even tried Beth thinks. Rick sits there in thought feeling he could have been the one to have reached out all those years ago, he was too involved in his own problems, he neglected a friend, he looks down in shame now sighing.
Gwen wipes her eye and looks over at Beth and begins to cry moving closer towards Beth. Beth scoots over and puts her arm around Gwen's and lets Gwen cry on her shoulder.
"It's better out than in, let it out, let it all out," Beth tells Gwen tightening her grip and then rubbing her hand down her arm.
They take Gwen back to the station to get her sobered up. After sleeping it off for a while and grabbing a shower, Beth returned to the locker room with some spare clean clothes from lost and found for Gwen to change into. Gwen had asked Beth to throw away or burn her clothes, they had got torn and spoiled from when she fell over a few times and they just smelled badly of alcohol.
"Will your kids be at home?" Beth enquiries.
"Yeah, Max is good with Tommy, he'll have had him feed, bathed and in bed by 8pm, he knows the drill, he remembers the old days," Gwen says sadly as she tries to get the comb through her hair and when it gets stuck, she slumps in her seating position on the bench grabbing her face in her hands.
Beth can hear Gwen's tiny sniffles. She walks up behind Gwen and takes a hold of the comb and manages to ply the comb out of her hair. She breaks up the knots with her fingers and then combs it out. Gwen sits there with her eyes closed, this was the first time somebody had bothered to talk to her.
Beth looks at Gwen in the mirror opposite. She looked battle worn. She wasn't old, she was the same age as Rick, Shane and Lori but she'd been through a lot more than all of them put together, she had been through hell. If only she had a support system. She needed to know there were people out there who could help and she makes a decision that she was going to help Gwen get the right help she needed. She thinks of one person whose been through similar circumstance and who has turned her and her daughter's life around, she could definitely help, her friend, Carol Peletier who was now working to become a Social Worker, she'll drop by her shop and speak to her.
Leon and Noah drive her back home but before she leaves, Beth asks her if it would be ok if she stopped by tomorrow afternoon and Gwen considered her answer and nods in agreement. Rick looks on not sure if was a good idea but Gwen needed help and he feels like a terrible person for not helping and keeping an eye on her all these years. He needed to make sure Gwen, Max and Tommy get the help they need.
"Thanks for saving me back then, I could have been scarred for life!" Beth says jogging up the stairs towards Rick's desk.
"Anytime!" He answers back checking his messages and the handing them to Jessie who walks by turning up for the day shift.
"I'm just glad you didn't puke as well! I really didn't want the cruiser to get messed up with the both of you going at it one after the other, could have scarred ME for life and SAL! he and the boys did a good job cleaning it!" He jokes logging off his computer.
"Haha! Very funny…you're a real funny guy Officer OCD!" Beth replies back ruffling his hair to see what he would do, he tilts his head up shaking his head.
Beth lets go of his thick luscious dark locks and takes a look at her watch, it was 7.30am, she should have been home catching her Z's right now but her tummy rumbles.
"I'm gonna go grab some breakfast over the road…you wanna come?" Beth asks putting her sunglasses on her head.
"I'd love to join you," Rick says as his swivel chair magically turns around. He leans back into the chair with his hands crossed behind his head, his knees parted out.
Beth just loved this vision of him, smiling hoping he would join her, she could buy him breakfast, he was always paying for her meals and treats on their breaks.
"But.." He says and Beth frowns not liking the, but!
"What comes with authority, comes responsibility and the endless meetings!" He says rubbing his eye and looking up at her with a tired smile. "You go enjoy your Egg McMuffin and cappuccino, go home, sleep and revise," He smiles, he actually would have liked to miss the meeting and join her at the diner for a cooked breakfast, his tummy rumbles at the thought.
"I could grab something for you and drop it off, if you'd like?" She asks laughing hearing his tummy.
"It's ok Beth," He says grateful but hears a door open.
"Go, before someone ropes you into pulling a double!" He nods towards the opening door and tries shooing her away. Beth looks at his hand flapping, she wanted to reach out and slap it just to see what he would do but she takes the hint seeing Deputy Jackie coming out of her office and she dodges being seen.
She and Deputy Jackie have avoided one another so far. The Staff Sergeant wasn't happy that Rick had overturned her and Tara's punishment and she was looking for any excuse to say or do something that would make her satisfied that they didn't get away with their shenanigans i.e. making them do other jobs they hated or piling it on.
"Ok, I hope your meeting isn't too long and boring!" Beth looks over "I'm outta here!" She says backing down the stairs "Have a nice day!" Beth quietly sings and rushes off "I'll see you tomorrow!"
He watches Beth dashing off, she was pretty fast, marginally missing Deputy Jackie as she sneaks past and she does a little victory dance up the stairs making him laugh "crazy girl!" he shakes his head.
Beth rolls her eyes and puts her sunglasses down, flashing a smile, turning around.
"Rick!" Shane calls over winking at Beth and they fist bump each other as Beth leaves the station.
Shane turns back around to call Rick and he sees his best friend deep in thought, smile plastered on his face running his finger across his lips. Shane grins.
"Oh my god Beth!" Shane yells turning around facing reception both hands on his head.
Rick looks up worried, jumping to his feet he sprints down the stairs, across the floor, everyone stands to see what was wrong as Rick flies up the stairs staring wildly down the corridor to see nothing, he looks at Shane puzzled trying to stop his heart from thumping thinking something terrible had just happened.
Shane bends down and picks up an object from the floor and shows Rick.
"Beth dropped her Tic-Tacs!" He says shaking them.
Rick raises his hand to backslap him across the face for jerking about and Shane balls over laughing holding his stomach recounting the way Rick leapt into action. He got a kick out of seeing Rick's reaction, he couldn't wait to tell Liv, actually show Liv as he'd just recorded it on his phone and quickly shoves it away before Rick sees.
"What?" Shane chuckles and pointing the other way, he shakes the Tic-Tacs in Rick's face and makes his escape giggling like a girl down the stairs. Rick pulls up his sleeves and marches towards Shane who pulls out chairs as he runs and teases Rick.
"They're the limited edition Minions Banana Flavoured ones! She's gonna be bummed that she lost them!" He yells out in defence.
"BANANA!" Shane imitates a Minion and Rick kicks the chairs out of the way making his way over to Shane who trips over the box on the floor behind him, he does a rolly polly back up to his feet now backed up in the corner, he looks around "Shit!" he says noticing his predicament and then pretends to be quaking in his boots laughing at Rick whose trying his best to keep a straight face at his jackass friend but the silliness of what they were doing tickled him, his eyes crinkle as the corners of his mouth lift and he can't stop the laugh escaping him.
Before Rick makes it over to Shane to give him a knuckle sandwich, The Sheriff calls them both over for the meeting making his way to the boardroom. He laughs watching the duo, Cynthia shakes her head at the two grown deputies setting a bad example to rookies, she voices her displeasure of seeing them so but the Sheriff doesn't mind one bit, it's all in fun, he's seen them like this since they were kids running around the station, two naughty little boys, it reminded him of the old days, reminded him when he and Rick's dad used to fool around just like they were, he laughs thinking the two would probably still be running around like this when their hair turned grey and they'd be fighting with their walking sticks.
"Rick! Shane! get your chops over!" He calls out letting Cynthia into the room and following behind.
"Saved by the bell!" Rick says grabbing the Tic-Tacs out of Shane's hands, shoving them into his jean pocket and follows The Chief to the boardroom leaving Shane to tidy up the mess they had just made in the officer's section.
"Who are you kiddin' Rick?" Shane smirks picking up the chairs as he follows walking through, Amy smiles and Shane winks at her.
"You boys!" Amy blushes.
Beth was dreamily leaning on her elbows sitting up at the front by the counter waiting for her Egg McMuffin, watching it being made on the hot plate. She marvelled at how all the waitresses all worked behind that narrow long isle without bumping into each other, they were like dancers twirling around one another. She smiles, they make it look easy but truth be told, it was not, it was a lot harder than most people knew, it wasn't just taking an order, delivering it and wiping down tables, it was a lot, lot more gruelling work and the hands of the waitresses tell you that they've been hard at work since the crack of dawn.
She looks at her now manicured nails she and Liv got done the other day, she did a few waitressing jobs as a teen and it was pretty hard and when she finally got into the swing of things, it was time to move on to the academy, which truth be told again, was the hardest and most physically and mentally challenging thing she's done to date.
She then thinks about the teachers, she could have been one of them, another hard and fulfilling job. She thinks about Gwen, if only she had someone there for her, her life could have been different, she had said something about she had looked into going back to school to become a teacher but it was a distant dream.
You definitely need to make the right choices in life, the good things don't always stick around, you've got to grab it and make it work. Life! she thinks, so unpredictable, you never know what your gonna get from it, she hoped life would remain good to her and her loved ones.
She sniffs the air, this was her favourite time of the day, multiple people coming in to eat their breakfast, the quiet chitter chatter, the radio on low. Everyone local knew everyone, everyone knew your name. She nods her greetings to the teachers and nurses and a few business men sneaking in for a bacon sandwiches, their grins give them away that they shouldn't be indulging but were, she shakes her head, she loved it here in King Country, she could see herself living here for the rest of her life.
She hears her cappuccino being poured into her cup, her eggs were resting to be placed in her toasted muffin, she couldn't wait to get her teeth into them and when she takes a second whiff, she smells her new favourite men's cologne and she swears the scent is coming from behind her, she grins widely turning round.
"Great minds think alike! You made it…!" She beams turning around and then her smile slowly fades.
"Hey Bethy!" comes his voice.
"He…hey Jimmy!" Beth replies surprised to see him.
She looks up and her eyes search around the diner but there was no sight of the person she thought was nearby. When Jimmy steps closer, she looks up at him, his body closer, she inhales. He was wearing the same cologne as Rick, she frowns slightly.
Jimmy laughs and it reaches Beth's ears and snaps her out of her thoughts, she looks up at his handsome face, his eyes were sparkling down at her.
"You ok?" He asks.
"Great, good, fab, cool!" Beth smiles back, she really should concentrate and stop daydreaming!
"You clocking in or clocking out?" Jimmy asks Beth and dismisses the waitress as he was talking. The waitress rolls her eyes and moves on to the next hungry diner.
"Finally clocking out!" Beth yawns covering her mouth "Excuse me! I'm more tired than I thought!" She says.
"Are you eating in or taking out?" He asks her.
Before she can answer, her waitress turns around and places her order in front of her.
"There ya go Officer Greene, just the way ya like it! enjoy honey!" The waitress says.
"Thanks Beryl, it looks good!" Beth inhales smiling.
The waitress beams back turning to look at Jimmy raising her brow.
"I'll have the same," He replies and Beryl turns around in her station to make the order.
"May I join you?" Jimmy asks hopefully.
He gives her that pleading smile that he always used to give her and she used to always give in to those puppy eyes and those puppy eyes stare at her and she gives in smiling gesturing to the free seat next to her as she looks around one last time, he wouldn't be coming, why would he? She told herself, she moves her bag to the seat on her other side.
Jimmy slips into the seat next to her and leaning on his elbows on the counter looks at Beth taking in her appearance sitting next to him. He smiles, she still looked beautiful even after a nightshift. Her hair's a bit out of sorts, coming lose from her Kirby grips but the golden mane was so Beth, her face was free of makeup, he didn't care, she looked natural and what you see is what you get and she looked beautiful to him.
"What's it like here?" He asks meaning the county, she understood.
"I've been here just over six months and it's been the best months of my life!" Beth says sincerely, evident in the way she says it and in her eyes when they sparkle.
The Farm will always be her home, her safe haven but King County has become her second home, a home away from home. She never really understood the meaning until now experiencing it.
"That's brilliant Beth, I'm real glad for you!" He noticed how Beth did seem like she had found something here that was missing back home.
"And you?" Beth asks before taking a bite "I'm sorry it's rude of me but I haven't eaten in like six hours and if I don't I'm gonna get grouchy and then I'll start eating from your plate!" Beth replies and Jimmy waves her off to eat, he knew how she could get when she was hungry, she was tiny but she could certainly eat.
"I'm great, things are really good for me too!" He grins and seeing Beth taking the massive bite brought back memories "I remember well, you once nearly chewed my arm off when dinner was taking too long!" He chuckles remembering.
"Hey! you were like the slowest cook and when I'm hungry, I could literary eat a whole house!" She pushes his shoulder playfully and they were off joking like they used.
The meeting didn't last long and as soon as they were all dismissed, Rick grabbed his stuff and tells Shane he'll see him tomorrow, he was beat and wanted to go home and sleep for twelve hours and if he could, he definitely would!
He walks down the ramp chucking the keys to his cruiser to Big Sal and jumps into his truck.
"Deputy Grimes, what happened, it reeks of booze in here?" Sal asks confused, Rick's car always smelled good.
"I promise it won't reek tomorrow!" Rick replies back pulling up next to him and Sal nods.
Rick pulls out the gates with the morning shift cruisers filing out for the day, Shane waves as he drives off with Noah and he was giggling with Shane, Rick ignores them.
He makes his way to the end of the street. He fidgets feeling something digging into his thigh and he pulls out the plastic container with the Banana Tic-Tacs. Remembering Beth's offer, he looks at his watch and decides to join her. He swings the truck back around heading towards the diner and when he gets there, he parks up and pays the meter.
He stifles his yawn and opens the door for a couple of the nurses who greet him good morning and then walks in scanning the seating and then his eyes see her sitting at the counter, he makes his way over and then slows down he hears Beth laughing, he look over and he comes to a slow standstill. There was a guy practically on Beth, he didn't look like Fireman Chris, it was a guy with darker hair. He backs away to leave and bumps into one of the waitresses, he kneels down to help pick up the cutlery that feel off the tray.
"I beg your pardon!" Ricks apologies.
Beth hears his voice and turns around, she smiles animatedly when he gets up.
"Deputy Grimes!" Beth calls out as she turns in her seat.
Jimmy looks at Beth and follows her gaze to see Rick, he recognised him and then he realised it was the deputy Beth was with outside his office weeks ago, he almost didn't recognise him in casual clothes and without his hat but he recognises Rick, he had a distinctive face and a posture in the way he held himself.
Rick smiles and makes his way over. Beth grabs her bag and dumps it onto the counter for Rick to take a seat.
"You gonna have your usual?" Beth asks looking up at him.
"I was just gonna give you these, you dropped them," He says handing back the Tic-Tacs and Beth smiles putting them onto the counter.
"You're not going to stay to eat?" Beth looks up at him.
"Na, I'm beat, gonna head home," He yawns to emphasis his tiredness.
Beth get up and stands beside him, not going to let him leave.
"You're here! You might as well eat something! We ate like six hours ago and your tummy was rumbling and if you don't…I'm…I'm calling Liv!" Beth says adamantly crossing her arms "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I've got her on speed dial!" Beth threatens pulling out her cell from her pocket and swiping at the screen.
"Oh no you don't!" Rick reaches out and grabs hold of her hand with her phone.
"So?" Beth asks.
"I won't hear the end of it, you've met the woman, she'll literally drive down here and spoon feed me, I'd rather she do that with Judy and maybe Carl - I'd like to keep whatever dignity I have left thank you!" Rick answers and then takes a seat.
"Good!" Beth grins and sits back down.
She was sandwiched between Jimmy and Rick and Jimmy and Rick's eyes meet in the overhead mirror.
Rick recognised the man on Beth's left, it was the Lawyer friend of hers they bumped into at the callout they went to weeks ago.
Beth catches them both looking at each other.
"Oh, rude of me! Rick, you remember Jimmy and Jimmy, you remember Deputy Grimes, Rick Grimes!" Beth corrects.
Jimmy reaches over and Rick shakes his hand.
"Good to see you again..Sir," Jimmy says
"Likewise!" Rick replies, he didn't like the way he said Sir.
Rick orders his breakfast and they're all in silence. Beth looks over at Rick, he turns and smiles, she smiles back.
"Well, I better get going, work and all!" Jimmy says getting up watching them now knowing the greeting when he walked in was for Rick.
He puts on his sharp suit jacket and then he looks at Beth. Beth smiles seeing Jimmy dressed so smart, he certainly looked good nowadays.
"I hope you'll call me sometime soon so we can get together for dinner for old time's sakes!" Jimmy says looking down at Beth.
"Yeah sure," Beth replies.
And then Jimmy leans down and kisses Beth's cheek ever so slowly and when he moves, his eyes remain on Beth's and she looks at him surprised. Rick sitting beside was watching and then he pours sugar into his coffee as a distraction.
"Deputy Grimes!" Jimmy says and Rick was fine him calling him by his professional name, he didn't want to be on first name basis with Jimmy, so he just nods in return.
They both hold each others eyes - aplha male on alpha male!
Jimmy now gone, Beth turns to Rick and he was mixing his coffee and then Beryl places his plate in front of him and he just stares at it. Beth was still hungry and steals a sausage and a slice of his toast and he looks up at her raising his brow.
"I'm still hungry and you're just staring at it, if you want it, you better eat it or else I will!" Beth says in amongst munching on the toast.
"You're always stealing my food! I actually wanted that!" Rick mumbles and she offers it back and he laughs shaking his head he was teasing.
He digs his fork in taking a bite of his scrambled eggs. He sees Beth staring at her toast and then at his baked beans, he pushes his plate towards her slightly, she smiles and dips the toast into the sauce and happily munches away and he smiles slowly moving his coffee before she drinks that as well. She catches his slow motion and she laughs.
A/N - Ok it was Jimmy! He, Fireman Chris and Shane ;) will be a reason to get Rick riled up in the next chapters, it won't be the next one but one coming soon. Expect some tensions and words exchanged between Rick and Beth, could Rick be jealous? And you'll find out the reason why Beth became a cop and so will Rick (",) So stay tuned?
Let me know your comments if you get a minute.
