Chapter 21:

'What are you smiling about then?'

Rick was in a horrible mood. He was in pain and was only able to sit or lay in one position, which made him even more uncomfortable, and he was still very angry about being shot. He also had never liked having to stay in the hospital for what he considered to be unnecessary amount of time. The nurses would come in and fuss with him, annoying him further, which effectively made him a particularly difficult patient.

The feeling of uselessness swarmed him. He would prefer to be the one handing out the care than receiving it. It wasn't something he handled well, and he would have preferred to be at home looking after his family.

"Good morning, Sheriff"

Rick watched the young woman make her way around to the monitors beside him with a clip chart in her hand.

"And how are we doing? Are you going to eat something for us today?"

Rick snarled at her, and she sighed, turning her attentions back to her task. While he knew she was just trying to do her job, he didn't care in that moment. He had no interest in being friendly with them, he just wanted them to leave him alone.

He heard the door open, then close, and Michonne appeared, improving his mood substantially.

She greeted the nurse as she walked around the bed to join him at his bedside, "What's wrong?"

His eyes darted to the nurse in the room, and he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Stop it", Michonne seemed to understand his silent answer, and waved a dismissive hand at him, "Andrea's bringing the kids down a little later. Your mom and Jeffrey will be back down too"

He blinked at her.

"I was just telling the sheriff that we hope he'll eat today. It'll be his first solids in a while", The nurse explained to Michonne.

Michonne glanced down at Rick, "He'll eat. I promise"

He rolled his eyes at her, and she whacked his leg. The nurse winced at the two of them, before smiling awkwardly and heading out the room.

"Stop being difficult you jackass", She breathed through a clenched jaw, "If you want to get out of here sooner then you listen to them"

"No.", He rasped, his throat feeling unnaturally dry.

She grabbed a bottle of water from her purse and opened it for him, cupping his chin as he all but drained it, "Don't you dare tell me no"

He felt much better after drinking something, "No."

She put the lid back on the bottle with an attitude, "You're being an ass-"

"Where's Daryl?"

"I don't know, but he'll probably stop by-"

"The guy?"

She released a low, almost feral growl, as she put the bottle down on the table across his bed, "Don't worry about that now. He'll update you when he gets here"

He pursed his lips in annoyance, but didn't say anything else about it.

"He said he'd handle everything at work… I'm probably going to have to hand Negan's case over to Andrea…", Her eyes wandered up and down the wall behind his bed as she relayed the information, "I might need to take up your mom's offer so I can sort all that out...We'll push the decorating back again-"

"I had a dream… you were shouting at me", He announced, not listening to her list of tasks.

"It probably wasn't a dream", She rose an eyebrow at him, "I did shout at you a couple days ago"

He frowned at her, "Why?"

"Because I was angry at you"

His expression didn't change, "Why?"

"Because you should have been more careful"

He wished he was in a position to throw his hands up in the air, "He shot me-"

"I know he did", She mocked, "But you should have taken precautions-"

He groaned as he tried to sit up straight.

"Hey! Knock it off", She warned.

"You're blaming me?", He breathed through a clenched jaw.

"I said you should have been more careful. That's it"

He snorted as he rolled his eyes, sitting back in the bed. The last thing he needed was to argue with her because it would take his bad mood to new heights.

She straightened up as she adjusted her locks into a higher ponytail. The only reason he focused on what she was doing was because something caught his eye on her hand. Her finger to be more specific. She was wearing her ring.

"Let me see"

She looked at him as she finished tying her hair, frowning at his request.

"Give me your hand"

She caught on, and softened only a little, but still held out her hand to him. He examined her slender hands, almost tutting at her manicured nails, but her focus was on the ring.

"This had to happen...for you to put it back on?"

She nearly pulled her hand away, but he held on to it, "I know why I put it back on"

"Tell me why"

"I already did"

He squinted at her, "When I was out?"

She blinked at him, her attitude making an appearance again.

"Tell me why. Now"

"So I get all your stuff if you put yourself in harm's way again", She raised an eyebrow at him.

"You would have got it all anyway", He knew she was being facetious but he also knew she didn't usually like to talk about things of that nature, so he seized the opportunity.

The cracks started to show, and her hand relaxed in his, "I told you that I do want to marry you again, and I want more children with you… and I want us to share a hearing aid when we're old"

He stroked her fingers with his thumb as his heart swelled, "That's what you want"

"It is"

"Alright then"

…

"Daddy you said you'd call mama if someone bigger than you tried to hit you"

Rick tried not to chuckle at his daughter's serious expression, "I know, but it was late… and mama was probably sleeping"

"You shouldn't have been out late daddy"

His frowned as he shook his head, "You're telling me off too?"

She stared him down.

"Alright, fine, I'm sorry sweetie"

Judith watched him for a few moments before nodding, "It's okay"

Rick couldn't believe he had to apologise for being in the position that he was, but he was willing to do anything to make his daughter happy, especially after hearing how upset she was.

"So how long will you be here?", Carl asked as he sat forward in the seat.

"Hopefully not long", Rick answered truthfully.

"Probably another week", Michonne answered realistically.

Rock groaned at the thought, ready to dismiss the idea, when the door opened, and in stepped Spencer, much to his dismay.

"How are you all doing?", He smiled, his eyes sailing across them all.

"Good", They all chirped, minus Rick of course.

"How about you sheriff?", the younger man stood end of his bed.

"Fine. When can I go home?", Rick tilted his head at him.

Spencer frowned, "Well you took a bullet to your chest and your hip-"

"I'm aware of that"

"We like to wait a week so we can check for any signs of infection-"

"Aware of that too"

"We think the remaining shards won't affect your quality of life in anyway so we won't need to do any further surgery-"

"So when can I leave?", Rick's tone dropped a few octaves as he dragged the question out.

"He's just a little homesick", Michonne inserted, sending Rick a cautionary glance.

"I understand, and we usually like to monitor people at the beginning of their recovery, making sure their heading in the right direction before we send them home. You haven't given us any cause for concern so I don't expect to see you around for too long", Spencer gave Michonne a friendly smile at the end of his smile and Rick was willing to suffer the discomfort from climbing out of bed to hit him.

"Well then that's great news", She raised her eyebrows at Rick in a matter of fact way.

He snorted.

"I was actually hoping to have a word with you outside, if you don't mind", Spencer motioned to the door as he looked at Michonne.

"What about?", Rick cocked his head at him, his eyes squinting.

"That's perfectly fine", Michonne insisted, her eyes looking at Rick with disbelief while she headed to the door.

Spencer looked between them nervously, before following her out, "I'll just be a moment".

Rick wanted to yank the man back into the room by his shirt collar.

"Where did mama go?", Judith asked, finally coming up for air from her father's phone.

Rick smiled at his daughter as he got an idea, "She just stepped out for a minute… in fact why don't you go and-"

"Dad", Carl deadpanned, giving his father an unimpressed look.

Rick pursed his lips at his son's good moral compass. He didn't like Spencer, and he had come to that conclusion the first time he met him. He knew he had a tendency to behave irrationally when it came to Michonne and other males but he didn't care. He smirked to himself when he realised that Michonne suffered from the same problem.

"Is it okay if Lauren comes with us tomorrow?"

Rick tore himself from his thoughts to look at Carl, "Uh, yeah sure, that's fine son… when is she leaving?"

"Wednesday", Carl almost muttered.

Rick felt for him, "Sorry we won't be able to have dinner with her and her parents"

Carl shook his head, "Don't worry about it dad. I mean, getting shot is a pretty good reason not to"

"Yeah, I guess it is"

"Are you gonna sleep here some more daddy?", Judith questioned as her eyes roamed the bed she slept on.

"Just a little more sweetie", He sighed stroking her hair back from her face.

"Can I sleep in your bed at home then?"

"Of course you can", He smiled, "You can guard it for me, okay? Make sure no one else tries to sneak in there while I'm gone"

Judith giggled, "What if Carl wants to sleep in your bed?"

"Carl can but I think he's a little too big, don't you think?"

Judith looked at her brother with calculating eyes, "He can sleep in my bed"

Carl snickered, "Thanks Judy but I think I'm too big for your bed too. I'll guard the door instead"

Judith seemed content with that imaginary plan of action, beaming at her brother.

Michonne came back in the room with a faint smile on her face as if she had been laughing. Rick's eyes narrowed at her.

"Oh stop it, you bear", She waved a hand dismissively at him as she resumed her previous position, reading through his care plan at the table.

"What did he say?", Rick frowned.

"He was just telling me about their plans for you and how I can help make things run a little smoother", She shrugged, her eyes scanning over the page.

"What are you smiling about then?"

She smirked, "I told him they can sedate you when necessary"

Rick's gaze darted over to his son when he heard a chuckle burst from his lips. Carl gave him a sympathetic look when he realised he was caught.

"Very funny"

…

"You need to get your strength back. Greens will do that for you"

Rick could quite easily hold his hands up and admit that he appreciated the fact that he and his soon to be father in law again, had mended their relationship. He had always admired the older man as he was very family orientated, and he would try his best to make them all happy.

That being said, the man could be determined and Rick was in no position to eat any more greens.

"Donald's right. You need to eat up", His mother agreed from the seat beside him.

"I don't think that's physically possible", Rick shifted uncomfortably in his bed, his stomach full.

"Oh please. You and your brother's legs are hollow. Always eating somethan'..."

"I've always noticed that too", Michonne's father nodded.

Rick between them both incredulously, "What? Hold on, have neither of you met your grandson? Carl? He's like a garbage truck-"

"That's different. My grandbaby is growing. He needs all that food-", His mother quickly defended.

"A whole large pizza? He needs all that?"

"He burns it off skateboarding", Her father insisted.

Rick soon realised he wouldn't win this discussion, as most grandparents looked at their grandchild through rose tinted glasses.

"Your brothers outside, I'm gonna quickly get him to take me to the store so I can get you one of those healthy drinks your Aunt Wendy was telling me about", His mother hopped out of her seat with her phone in her hand, and paced to the door, "I'll be back shortly"

"Alright", Rick sighed, dreading what she'd bring him back.

Michonne's father walked around the bed and took the vacant seat with a blank expression.

Rick stared back at the man.

"How are you and my daughter doing now?"

"We're doing great"

"Really?"

"No problems at all"

"Would she agree with that?"

Rick tensed, "To an extent"

Donald's brow dropped to a straight line.

"We're trying. We were seeing a counsellor before all this-"

"What for?", The older man frowned, leaning forward in his seat.

"Her idea", Rick shrugged.

"She couldn't talk to you?"

"Now I think she can but… before, I don't think she really wanted to"

Donald sighed, "She can be like that. Her way of punishing herself and others is by severing all kinds of communication. She's stubborn too"

"She is"

"But you're no better. You've always been forceful. Bullish"

Rick blinked at the man, who had similar traits as the ones he was listing.

"Just try to listen to each other. Take your time with each other, and always be willing to compromise, don't just make decisions for the both of you without consulting the other"

"I feel like that last point was directed specifically at me-"

"It was. You're bossy. She can be too, but she's willing to follow for lead of the ones she loves to make them happy"

"...That's true", Rick sat back in his bed as he thought of something else, "We met your... girlfriend? A while back"

Donald sat back, "Ah, Sharon, she did tell me about that…"

"...She seemed nice"

"She is… she really is. She's going through a tough time at the moment. Her children are moving away and taking her granddaughter, she's heartbroken about it"

Rick eyed him, "...Her granddaughter… her name wouldn't happen to be Lauren, would it?"

Donald nodded, looking at him strangely, "It is. How'd you know?"

"Carl's little girlfriend"

"Really? So wait, he's the boy that they think is trying to corrupt their daughter?"

"Yeah."

"But he's a good kid?"

"They were both stupid a while ago, skipping school to 'hang out'..."

Donald's expression grew serious, "What does 'hang out' mean?"

"Well we found them wandering the streets in the middle of the day so it better mean that"

"Those little-"

"He's been doing well to make up for it. He'd pretty upset about Lauren though, he's bringing her by tomorrow"

Her father rubbed the back of his neck as he thought, "You mind if I bring Sharon too? To meet Carl?"

Rick wished Michonne was present to handle such a request, "Uh, yeah? Sure, that would… that should work"

"Just so she can see that he's a good kid, and I've only met Lauren once before so… it would be nice to get everyone together"

"Yeah… it would be nice"

…

"He's down the hall. He gets out tomorrow, so we're taking him in"

Rick frowned at Daryl, "What? He's down the hall?"

"Yep. You forget you shot him in his legs?"

He did, "You checked out the cars?"

Daryl nodded, "Yep. All of them came from Negan's lot. He was mad as hell when he saw us bringing in his boys"

Rick smirked, "Good"

"He ain't happy about losing 'Chonne either"

"Ah well", Rick shrugged, "I just wanna be there when he gets sentenced. That's all I want"

Daryl snickered, "I'm sure you'll be up and out by then"

"I better. I'm sick of this place"

"Sasha's baked you some brownies. She'll bring 'em down in the morning"

"I'll be sure to thank her for them"

"I was gonna put pot in them. Make your stay here a little more interesting"

Rick was chuckling at his best friend when he heard a knock on the door, "Come in!"

The door opened and closed before he saw who it was, and his smile soon faded. Lori walked in holding a bouquet of flowers in her hand, looking sheepish. Daryl groaned as he covered his face with his hand.

"Hi. Sorry if this is a bad time", She breathed, ignoring Daryl's obvious distaste for her.

"I'm gonna get some coffee", Daryl stood from his seat, sending Rick a knowing look.

Rick was more confused than anything else as he watched her step over to the end of his bed, while Daryl left the room.

"I heard what happened and I thought it was the least I can do", She motioned the flowers in her hand.

"What do you want?", Rick finally asked, paying no attention to her gesture.

She sighed, laying the flowers down and brushing her hair from her face, "To talk. I need to talk to you"

"I thought I'd hear from your attorney first?"

"Look, I know what I said and I didn't want things to get to that stage but you gave me no choice. You act as if I'm a danger to your family and that's not what I want. It's the complete opposite in fact"

Rick raised an eyebrow at her.

"I don't know what it is but… you've changed. And I used to think it was for the worse but you're so protective of your family and you lavish them in attention and it's just… that's what I wanted from you when we had Carl. I wanted the man you are today and seeing you've become that… I just want us to have another chance"

Rick looked at her like she had just sat up out of a coffin.

"I know a lot has happened since then but I think we can make each other happy again. In fact I know we can. You, me, Carl and Milly, we… we can give them the home they deserve"

It all slowly started to fall into place as he stared at the woman in front of him. He could have banged his head against the brick wall for not seeing it sooner.

"You helped me, Rick. You didn't have to but you did and you must obviously still feel something for me and you want that kind of woman that you can look after and provide for and that's me-"

"Oh God", Rick muttered, running his hands over his face.

"I know it may seem crazy but the signs are there, and I know you see them too-"

"Lori-"

"Rick, I love you. And a part it you will always love me, even if you're not ready to admit it"

He dropped his head back against the bed as he looked to the ceiling, "She's gonna take that damn ring off again".