The First Responder

Chapter 12

A/N Happy Easter to everyone. I Hope the Easter Bunny is good to y'all. I know it's been a while and I thank you for your patience between updates. Your continued support: reviews, favourites and follows are greatly appreciated.

Summary: the last chapter picked up the morning after the dinner which went off the rails and we saw two very different pov's. We got an insight as to what Michonne's life at the office was all about. There was a surprise dinner which led to an engagement. Rick set into motion his plan to leave King's County but shortly after... tragedy struck.

This chapter picks up with the Sheriff and Michonne.

Please enjoy and leave a note.

During the drive from Atlanta to King's County, the Sheriff filled me in on the accident. Apparently, Rick was hurt while responding to a call out assisting the Macon Fire Department.

The Sheriff explained that he came to get me because they didn't want me driving upset. I truly appreciate his parent's thoughtfulness. They remind me a lot of my beloved parents, whom I didn't want to think about, especially right now. It felt good, however, to have their love and support especially since we've only been together such a short time.

Usually, the Sheriff and me would converse easily but today, I wasn't a very good companion so he just let me be. He, however, no doubt acting under strict instructions from ma found a coffee shop to get me something to eat. Truthfully, I wasn't hungry and I didn't think I could even eat but I acquiesced. I ordered a bagel with cream cheese, a large coffee and a half dozen croissants. It made the Sheriff feel better knowing that he did what he was tasked to do; whether I actually ate or not that was a task he was going to leave to his boss. Ma usually wins. I'm slowly finding that out. She's the head of this family unit, though if you asked her, she'd say dad's the boss, meaning the Sheriff but we all knew the deal.

…

Stepping off the elevator the Sheriff and I walked down the hallway towards Rick's room. His crew… his family were all in the waiting room. My heart lurched. Dear God, please don't let be that bad. His friends all acknowledged me as I walked by and into his room. Ma was holding a vigil at his bedside; as my shadow fell across her lap, she stood up and embraced me. We were both in tears.

I pull away from her to take in the sight of my fiancé lying there hooked up to the machines and an IV drip. My heart hurts. I can't lose him. I'm not ready for that… I'll never be ready for that.

"What did the doctor's say?" I whispered.

"They say he's resting. He's on oxygen, and will be monitored for the next forty-eight hours but apart from that… we wait."

Ma was exhausted, she usually has way too much to say but I understand. Her worry was my worry too. She kissed my cheek and wiped my tears as she cedes her place to me and walks into the Sheriff's embrace.

The Sheriff, on the other hand, he was trying to be strong for both of us but little cracks were beginning to show in his composure. I noticed his shoulders were slightly hunched and his eyes were watery as he took a final look at the inert figure, which looked nothing like the usual energetic younger version of himself. Together, they left me alone so that I could have some privacy with my fiancé.

I took to the seat recently vacated by his mother and I begin what I imagined was a similar behaviour to what he did when our roles were reversed and I laid in that bed.

"Baby, it's me. I know I'm not good at saying how I feel. I'm not like you… you tell me every day how you feel and I promise to tell you every day going forward how I feel about you. But in case you're having any doubts at all I want you to know… I love you and I need you. You know this is huge for me apart from my twin I've never needed anyone before...you changed that."

The tears were now streaming down my face uncontrollably. "You never gave up on me… and we'll never give up on you. The night we met, you told me you were responsible for me because you saved my life. You remember, I offered to free you from your obligation but you wouldn't hear of it. Well, secretly, I was happy that you refused."

Taking his right hand in mine, I rubbed it gently and continued talking. "I tried giving you your freedom again when we got confirmation of this pregnancy but you chose to be all in with me; so, I'm going to hold you to that because our babies need their daddy and I want a husband. I finally said yes to what was this.. your third proposal? I don't want anyone but you. My heart needs this. I tried changing it when I left but I couldn't because I was already yours as much as you were already mine. I couldn't quit you and you knew it… it's the reason you let me go… you knew I could never leave you."

I thought of all the things we have yet to experience all the things which remained unsaid between us; two weeks wasn't nearly enough time because our lives were ahead of us. Our life together was yet to begin, the foundation of our love was slowly blossoming, although some aspects were already under construction time was needed to solidify this union. Our love and all that flowed from it, the ups and downs, every smile, every success, every milestone yet to be realized. No, this wasn't the end… it can't be... we've barely just begun.

"We barely just begun building our life together… there are so many decisions we still have to make, like where we're going to live? Are we going to buy, build, renovate or sell… what will we name these babies of ours? Mundane as these questions maybe but it's our reality. Sure, these are decisions I can make on my own but I don't want it to be my way. I want it to be our way… yours and mine."

Exhausted from my lack of sleep and stress, I lay my head on his bed and sobbed myself to sleep.

...

There was a knock at the door as I fought a war on the phone with my not yet mother-in-law. It was my sister, Andrea. I had asked her to swing by my place in the city to grab me a bag of things. There was one at his parents' house but I didn't want a face to face battle of wills with ma. I was already having one on the phone and it was one she wasn't going to win. The thought of trying to sleep tonight was daunting enough, I knew the safest place for me was going to be right here with him.

"Ma, I promise I will eat whatever food you send me but I can't leave him. I won't be able to sleep without him especially after this. His presence calms me. I can't… I won't leave him. I'm sorry."

Shane arrived at the hospital shortly after Andrea did. He was ma's delivery boy. He knew from the look on my face the conversation I was having and shook his head in sympathy. He didn't seem too surprised to see my sister present. Although, Andrea seemed to blush the moment he walked through the door. I'm surprised, she's not one to be bashful. Plus, she had to have known coming here… it went without saying unless Shane was on duty he'd be here, that however, was a mystery for another day.

"Okay, dear but you better feed my grandbabies. Dad won't let me come back anyway because my pressure is up… but you call me if there's any change." I promised and end the call.

Presently, I had to deal with a hunger which seemed to have materialized out of thin air. Andrea and I dug into the small feast that Shane brought while he spent time with his brother.

...

Later that night, I got into bed next to him. I must have fallen asleep shortly after.

What the hell? I was sleeping and all of a sudden I felt Michonne's body tensed up next to me. I knew she was in the midst of another nightmare, "Noooo!" She yells.

My eyes flew open and I try to rouse her from her sleep, "Chonne… baby… wake up you're having a nightmare." I then realized we weren't home. I'm in the hospital and she's in bed with me.

The door flew open and the lights came on as Shane and Andrea spilled into the room to see what happened.

I recall his voice calling to me… it was scratchy and almost inaudible compared to my scream. I open my eyes to see Shane and Andrea followed shortly by the duty doctor and a nurse. He was awake and that's all that was important. He came back to me… to us. We were expelled from the room while the medical staff examined the patient.

Andrea hugs me and I allow myself to break. I sobbed though these were tears of joy which I could not yet articulate. "Come on sweetie, let's grab a coffee and a bagel then and you can call his parents. Plus, that way you won't be lying when his mother ask if you ate."

...

The doctor's released me twenty-fours after I woke up with strict instructions to rest. I was now on one-week sick leave to be followed by my week off. Michonne refuses to leave me alone at home even though she would have only worked half days. I didn't argue because my options were either her being my nursemaid or my mother. It was a no-brainer plus, dad told me to choose my battles well.

"Babe, I made reservations for tonight so that we both can relax and let someone else do the work."

"Michonne, I don't mind cooking… I actually like it." I say to her knowing that would get her going.

"I never said I didn't like cooking… I would just like for someone other than you or me to do it for a change. Now that we're living together doesn't mean we'll stop doing the things we did before. I'm sure a night out wouldn't hurt your recovery."

"Are you already bored with domesticity after three days?" I ask her as I playfully grab my fiancé from behind and toppling us onto the bed. She frees herself from my hold and turned to me, her face a little more serious than I expected with sad eyes. One hand cups my face the other covers my heart.

"I almost lost you and that scares me more than you'll ever know. When I saw the Sheriff at my door, I thought my worst nightmare was happening again… I couldn't breathe. When I saw you laying there… I was crippled with the fear of losing you. I have you now and if I want us to live in this moment, please allow me that. I don't want to put things off with you. I want us to do things… I don't ever want to regret not living my life with you."

I wiped the single tear which slid down her cheek and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make light of what happened because I do know how scary it must have been for you. I just don't want you shutting down on me. Michonne what happened was a fluke but I promise you that I'll be more careful. For one, I'm sleeping better because there's only one bed now and you're always in it."

He could disarm me by saying the sweetest things. I too am relieved that we're finally in one place. Tonight, I'm the one who will be asking the important question. In the meantime, the doorbell is ringing and I have a date to spend some time with Andrea allowing him some free time.

…

Dinner was a casual affair. I wanted to surprise him. I wanted the city to seduce him so I took him to the Polaris; the restaurant overlooked the city and it made a complete revolution every forty-five minutes. The view was breathtaking. Our reservation coincided with an amazing sunset. As we dined the sky became an orange blanket with fluffy white clouds floating by over the city below us.

"It's beautiful…" he says allowing himself to glance at the spectacular backdrop to our dinner, "but nothing compared to my date." He adds moistening that bottom lip of his with a sparkle in his eyes, no doubt remembering the last time we dined out. The sparkler on my finger reminded me it was definitely a night to remember. I smile at my handsome fiancé and I feel the heat as it crept up my neck and I break eye contact and he smirks knowing exactly where I was at that moment. He now suspects he knows my tell.

I attempt to deflect. I don't want to confirm what he suspects. "What would you say to a small intimate ceremony at the cottage let's say April 15? Your family already knows about the babies and we'll be just past the first trimester. I think it'll be a good time before I start to show."

Michonne just proposed a wedding date and I'm stunned. She was definitely serious about living in the moment. I knew my accident scared her but in a way it has pushed us closer. Her fears have done a three-hundred and sixty degrees on her and I'm here for her, through the good and the bad.

"Baby, we'll do whatever you want. Plus, I think it would be a good idea to talk this over with your therapist as well."

…

It was a lovely evening and I was fairly proud of myself for being proactive. I proposed a date to be hitched to the love of my life. Something happened to me when he got hurt. I realized how lucky I was when our paths crossed the first time there was something there. Then, unbeknownst to me it was a continuation of our story yet to be written. He has been patient with me while I caught up and even more so when I realized it was more than I expected and much too soon. I was ill-prepared for the love he showered over me but the universe had its own ideas of how to heal my broken heart… It sent me the one who had been watching over me from the day my world crashed and burned. He was the glue that kept me together and because of him, I'm blessed with his unborn children.

Yes, I was certain I wanted this.

…

As I was washing my hands I heard that all too familiar voice. The condescending prick had just stepped up to the urinal.

"I saw the ring… can't believe Michonne settled for something so small. I guess she had no choice considering she was settling for the fucking help. Did you come to the washroom to skip out on picking up the tab?"

I felt my jaw set as the anger rose within me. I couldn't very well go back to the table with bruised knuckles and this piece of shit would be the type to go back to the table all bloodied to make a point. I stood there taking deep breaths picturing my fiancé's face to keep me calm… to stop me from doing what I so wanted to do since the morning I found him in the cottage. I waited for him to come to the sink and when he did, I warned him.

"You ever say anythang like that to me again, I'll break your jaw, knock your teeth out. You understand? Say yes."

"Yes."

As I figured the piece of shit stood there shaking. I don't think he expected that from me but then again, he's never seen me without Michonne as a referee to keep me in line but I do believe he got the message. I turned and walked out the door.

...

Days later, we were driving to her friend Aaron's place for dinner but I could tell there was something on her mind, she's holding back. Ever since the damn accident, she's been treating me with kid gloves as if I would break or just disappear.

The first opportunity I got, I pat her knee. "Baby, I'm okay and we're going to be alright. I promise."

I worry about him. He's not telling me stuff. I turn to him and ask, "Baby, is it true that you threatened Spencer?" I knew this wasn't going to end well but I had to ask. I watch the tinge of colour as it crept up from the side of his neck; his grip on the steering wheel turned his knuckles white. He looked at me briefly his eyes were ice cold then his eyes returned to the road ahead. He said nothing but his temple was throbbing. I had my answer. "Babe, he's dangerous and we're trying to get rid of him. The last thing I want is for him to hire someone to beat him up and frame you for it. I didn't tell you this before because I didn't want you to get angry but I know he's been working with Philip, one of the partners' at the firm and has been prior to proposing to me. He was in debt having made some bad investments but managed to secure a loan from Philip just before he proposed. I'm not sure why he didn't ask his mother for an advance on his trust fund but the reality is, he's now indebted to Philip and will do his bidding."

Exactly as I thought, Spencer was a piece of shit; he went straight to Michonne instead of coming at me. What the hell did she see in this guy anyway? This revelation about problems at work had me worried not just for her but for the health and safety of our unborn children.

"Michonne, why didn't you say something before? I know I'm not a lawyer but if there's anythang I can do... I can listen if you just need to vent… I can have dad discreetly look into these people for you. He's got connections here in the city. I don't want any of this to become stressful for you and the babies."

He opened the door to the other thing that I actually knew about. "Spencer is an internal problem, Andrea's going deal with him but since you brought it up, I was hoping you'd level with me with regards to Abraham." I paused hoping he'd fill in the blanks but there was this silence yet again. When did he become so secretive?

I knew this conversation was coming sooner or later but with everything that happened since the weekend at the cottage, I forgot about it. It was stupid of me to have had Abe come by. I hadn't thought things through.

"About Abe, at first, I thought he just was another firefighter but Maggie tells me that he's a Private Investigator from Macon County; so, why was he at the cottage?

There it was... my fuck up was right there in front of me. How can I put it as delicately as possible?...The fact I want Karen out of our lives as soon as possible. I didn't want Karen around causing shit every time we turn around. If that Marc-André was, in fact, Michonne's nephew, I'm torn. I want him to be so she'll still have a part of her family; most importantly a part of her twin for her comfort. Unfortunately, if he was her nephew I could only see the innocent child being used against her and I will not allow it. I wasn't about to lie to her so I told her the truth.

"I asked Abe to look into Karen. I asked him to go back to Vegas and see what he could find on her."

"If Marc-André's my nephew I need our hands to be spotless. Between my current situation with both Karen and Spencer something's gonna happen. Just don't make something happen." I felt tired, these outside forces kept coming at us. I wasn't angry at him. I knew he was trying to protect me... our family. The mood had changed in the car and we spent the rest of the ride in silence.

…

We arrived at Aaron's place less happy than when we started out. We were both in a mood. At least, the dinner was an opportunity to discuss the business about Karen and on a personal level to toss ideas around for Andrea's dinner.

Aaron welcomed us with a surprise of our own."Surprise!" It was a surprise engagement dinner. Rick looked at me as if to ask whether I knew but I had no clue. His crew was all there, I immediately had flashbacks to a few weekends back at the cottage. On this evening, however, it appears the original hookups were now couples. They all seemed happy, even Andrea. I didn't worry about the place because Aaron was definitely accustomed to frat house parties. This place has seen many.

While the gang were busy in the backyard, Aaron, Andrea, Rick and myself we secluded in Aaron's home office discussing matters. He brought us up to speed that we'd be meeting with Karen in two days to explain the situation to her.

Aaron explained, basically, the time in which Karen could have challenged Mark's will had lapsed. The only exception was for her to demonstrate that she ought to have been notified of the probate. Unfortunately for her they were already legally divorced. At present, there was no proof the child was even Mark's. Also, Karen could have easily had a DNA test once the child was born and filed a caveat with the probate court to block the will prior to it being filed with the court. These were all things she could have been counselled to do or done on her behalf had she contacted the Legal Aid Society.

At times during the discussion, Rick's hold on my hand tightened, I tried pulling it away. Eventually, he let go of it. I knew it wasn't intentional but all the same, it was painful.

"Sweetie, I know how much you want this to be Mark's son but it feels more like a shakedown to me. She's got to be smart enough to know that you'll ask for a DNA test and if the child turns out to be your nephew, we'll talk about next steps. Now, can we party?"

"Sure, you mind giving us a minute? We'll meet y'all outside in a bit."

Michonne and I hung back, once we were alone I took her into my arms. "Baby, I'm sorry. I won't do anythang that could jeopardize this for us. You have my word."

I was relieved to hear him promise to hold off; I took a deep breath and allowed myself to relax if only for the evening. "Shall we go enjoy ourselves? We are the guests of honour after all."