AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks for the views and the comments from; DarylDixon'sLover, megs27, brinxb, malzateb, Guest, Ameliya86 and alliesmiley2! – Thank you guys, your comments mean a lot (",) Here is the next chapter...

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

Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors.

Thoughts in Italics


The Rookie and The Deputy

Chapter 29


Beth sits in the waiting area, her eyes scan the warmly decorated room. There are a couple of women scattered around the room sitting with a family member or a friend staring blankly ahead of them. Beth now wonders was this what Lori wanted to ask her when she came into the station that day? She had looked pale and gaunt back then and backed out and made an excuse and left without asking what she wanted to ask. Beth wished Lori had said something, asked her - she'd have come with her without question.

Beth wonders how long Lori has kept this to herself, when did she discover the lump, when had she gone to the screening, did she go alone? Most likely as there's nobody with her today. So many questions running through her mind as she remembers an old friend went through this same process. It was a long and agonising process of waiting. If only she'd been a better friend who Lori trusted, Beth frowns. Had she of been, then Lori wouldn't have hesitated in asking her. Not only that, Lori is Jellybean's mom sitting beside her, scared to death about what today's results would be. Judith and Carl! Beth worries, they must be at the forefront of Lori's mind with all this going on.

The grey door clicks open, both Beth and Lori look up broken from their thoughts as a woman walks out looking relieved. A younger woman rushes over to the lady who seems to look like her daughter. They whisper discreetly turn around and walk out arms around one another holding each other tightly. Beth sighs, that was good, Lori will definitely walk in there and walk out just like this woman but what if she doesn't Beth frowns again, she just didn't know what to say or what to do to ease the worry for Lori.

Beth takes a side glance at Lori, she looked white as a ghost. Seeing Lori's trembling hands fiddling with the strap of her handbag, Beth reaches over and rests her hand atop of hers and holds it tightly. Lori stops and finds Beth's hand holding hers. She looks up to see Beth giving her a small smile and she looks back appreciatively.

When the receptionist was booking Lori in for her appointment, she was asked the normal questions; her name, date of birth, address and her appointment letter. Beth took Lori's letter and handed it over to the receptionist and she took Lori's drivers licence and confirmed the details. The receptionist understood and gestured for them to take a seat and that's where they are now, waiting for Lori's name to be called to go through that grey door and find out what her fate is to be.

"Lori Grimes!" The nurse calls from the door where all the other women had gone through to see the specialist.

Lori gulps with fear, once she walked through that door, her life and her children's lives could change forever!

Lori had stiffened not able to move, not able to feel her legs or feet. Beth squeezes Lori's hand and encourages her to get up and leans over and gives Lori a hug. She looked like needed it and Beth couldn't help it as she whispers into her ear.

"Whatever happens, I'll be waiting right here for you and if you want me to come in with you, I can ask the nurse!" Beth offers her support.

Lori's eyes were watery from fear, from gratitude and for not knowing what would happen in the next half an hour. She couldn't believe Beth had stuck around and been so nice to her, she didn't deserve Beth's kindness. She's been such a bitch to the people who have always been kind to her. She thinks about all the friends she's lost over the years, her attitude, the family who just put up with her and her tantrums and then she thinks about Olivia, the mother-in-law who probably loved her more than her own mother, she lost her husband in a terrible way and what did she do, stole Rick away from her when she needed him and needed to be with her family.

Lori's feels an ache in her chest.

Rick! Dear Sweet Rick!

Rick, the man she fell in love with in High School. The man of her dreams who she happily married and had his children. She pushed him away, resented him for focusing on his work, wanting that boring life with routine and surrounding them with the same people that she then wanted to flee from. She wanted a different life, wishing she could be someplace else and not in King County. She always blamed Rick for not getting them out of the place, getting a better paid job so they didn't have to struggle by on a Deputy's salary and she started to despise him for not communicating enough with her but she remembers it was all her, she kept on badgering on and on until Rick just couldn't speak anymore.

I was such a horrible, horrible, mean bitch to Rick!

Lori treated Rick badly in the last few years they were married and he focused his energy at work in the end, the only place Rick was truly appreciated and wanted. The only reason he went home after his shifts was because of Carl which didn't gone down well with Lori when he voiced it in the end. The times Rick had tried to make it up to her, show her that they could make it work and all that was left was pity sex and that wasn't enough, a few minutes once in a blue moon just became a chore, a chore neither wanted to partake in any more and they stopped kissing. How she thought she'd never tire of kissing Rick Grimes once upon a time, the kisses he gave her, she now missed them immensely.

Rick got tired and gave up! Rick Grimes never gives up on anything! Lori tells herself.

But Rick finally found something to give up on – me! She reminds herself sadly knowing she pushed him to it.

Lori still loves Rick she knows deep down in her heart, nobody would ever love her the way he once did. She wished she never let it get that bad, she wished he was right there beside her holding her hand, telling her everything was going to be fine. He was so calming and reassuring but then she looks up and sees the serene face of Beth Greene, the woman Rick is in love with holding her hand and reassuring her. She closes her eyes not wanting to cry about her predicament but she knows Rick had moved on a long while back.

"It's okay Beth, I've got to do this myself, I'll be fine! You don't have to wait with me!" Lori says giving Beth a smile when she opens her eyes holding back her tears.

"I've got time, I'll wait out here, I've got no place I need to be right now but here!" Beth reassures Lori.

Lori smiles gratefully and stands up when the nurse comes over to take her. Lori follows the nurse but turns around and looks over to Beth.

"Beth," She calls and Beth looks up.

"Thank you!" She says, her eyes softened but still the fear was there.

Beth smiles back and then Lori turns and walks through the grey door being held open by the nurse. Once Lori enters and the door shuts, Beth slouches down into the seat and leans forward resting her head in her hands praying that everything would be ok, that Lori will be fine, it was a false alarm.


Beth's eyes snap open when her cell goes off after half an hour sitting on the now very uncomfortable chair.

"Hey Deputy Walsh!" Beth says into the phone breathing heavily.

"Beth, the Docs gonna be another half hour or so, you might as well take a longer lunch, no need for ya to come over here, the guys a complete and utter tool, I might just smother a pillow over his face if he don't pipe down!" Shane confirms and then she hears Shane mumble something back to the man to pipe down before he smothers him.

"Thanks Deputy Walsh, I might need to borrow the car if that's ok?" She replies back asking permission.

"Sure, just be back soon, once this ass is checked out and discharged, I wanna get him back to the station ASAP and throw him in a cell!" Shane says and Beth can hear the smirk in his voice.

"I won't be too long." Beth confirms "I've just got to drop someone home."

"Alright, I'll see ya later then!"

When Shane disconnects the call, Beth puts her cell into her pant pocket and buttons it up. Her head turns up when she hears the grey door creek open and Lori comes out walking really slowly, her face was blank, there was no expression on her face at all to reveal whether it was good news or bad news. Beth immediately stands up and rushes over to Lori and puts her hand on her shoulder.

"Lori?" Beth whispers looking up into Lori's face, the suspense was killing her.

Lori's eyes dart all over the floor and then up at Beth's face, her lips tremble, she tries to speak but finds nothing comes out. Beth sees Lori's lips dry and chapped and she becomes all wobbly standing there. Beth immediately makes Lori take a seat as she rushes to the water dispenser and grabs a cup filling it looking at Lori and is back within seconds crouching down next to her and tipping the cup between Lori's lips. Lori takes small sips of the water, she puts her hand up signalling she was finished. Beth places the cup down on the table and takes a seat back beside Lori giving her all the time she needed. Lori looks at Beth, confusion and disbelief washes over Lori's face. Beth's eyes are glued to the brunette and then her mouth begins to move.

"I'm okay! The mammogram result came back clear! I don't have cancer!" Lori says in disbelief.

"Oh Lori!" Beth beams finally able relax with relief.

"I don't have cancer!" Lori repeats again quietly still not believing it and she repeats it again, now tears rush down her face.

"I'm so happy for you Lori!" Beth says with a knot in her throat and they both look at each other both have tears running down their eyes now and laughing at the same time as they hug.

"I need to see Carl and Judith!" Lori says breaking the hug.

"I can take you to see Carl now if you want!" Beth offers and they both set off in a hurry.

Beth drives Lori to Judith's babysitter's house to pick her up. Judith was supposed to be there until later that evening. Lori had assumed the news was going to be bad and she needed time to sort herself out but she wanted nothing more than to race over there and collect Judith. She had a quick hug with Carl at the school office saying it was important that she speak to Carl and the secretary seeing Beth, a Police Officer with her, asked no questions just rushed and took Carl out of class for five minutes.

Carl was puzzled and just hugged his mom back saying he loved her too and was asking if she was okay, was Judith okay, was his dad okay in alarm staring over at Beth. Beth watched Lori pull Carl up into her arms and kiss him all over his face. Beth could see how embarrassed Carl got turning pink, she gestures to him go with it and he does. He lets his mom hug and kiss him repeatedly, he realised she seemed to need to do what she was doing and he actually didn't mind it now. He hasn't had this much affection shown to him by his mom in a long while. He forgets that Beth is standing to the side watching them.

"Beth, I wanna say thank you for today and for all the other times you've helped me and for looking after Judith," Lori expresses.

"You don't need to say thanks, we're friends and I'm glad that I could have been there for you and Judy's very dear to me, we've got a little connection to which would be impossible to say no to that sweet baby girl!" Beth says genuinely.

Lori smiles broadly, she knew Beth doted on Carl and Judith particularly Judith and Judith absolutely adored Beth. Every time Judith saw Beth or a blonde bouncing ponytail, she would practically try and tear herself out of anyone's arms to go to Beth. Judith's even done it to her a dozen times and at first it did upset her that her own daughter wanted to be held and played with by Beth rather than by her own mother. But she knew that Judith and Beth have a special bond and she was now okay with it, she's accepted it and even was glad of it. Had today of been a different outcome and the future looked bleak, she was relieved and happy to know there was another mother figure there watching over Judith and Carl.

"Do you want me to drive you guys home?" Beth asks.

"Today's such a lovely day, I think I'll just run in there, grab Judith and we'll take a walk to the park, feed the ducks and then pick Carl up from school and then we're going to get some ice-cream and maybe dine out, it's a Friday night, we could do anything!" Lori says excitedly.

Beth smiles liking the idea, Lori deserved to enjoy her time with her kids.

"Go for it…do it all and go for the Whackey Triple Tour Sundae with extra sprinkles and flakes...tell them I sent you, they'll know what to serve, Carl and Jellybeans will love it!" Beth suggests and urges Lori.

"Whackey Triple Tour Sundae with extra sprinkles and flakes it is then!" Lori laughs wanting to know what else was in the sundae!

Lori leans over and embraces Beth before she got out the car and before she does, she sits back in the seat and looks back at Beth.

"You should tell Rick how you feel!" Lori says.

Beth's smile evaporates in an instant, she looks like she's been caught out like a silly school girl and now rendered speechless staring at Lori, her mouth parted slightly.

Lori just smiles which turns into a smirk.

"I…I don't…I don't understand what you mean!" Beth replies back stuttering a bit high pitched.

Lori begins to laugh and she reaches over and puts a hand on Beth's shoulder.

"That you're in love with him and that you want to be with him!" Lori reminds Beth.

"Did they zap your brain with something in there?" Beth asks getting all fidgety trying to blow off Lori's scent.

"Maybe!" Lori laughs and then she looks seriously at Beth.

"Rick's a real great guy, loving and caring and I see how you look at him, how you are with him and I've seen how he is with you!" Lori states.

Beth tries to make an excuse but Lori interrupts.

"When I first met you and the way Rick was looking at you, the way he was with you, his attention was solely on you and Judy...I was shocked and I was angry at him that he could look at another woman like he was looking at you! That was a look he used to give me when we were together but he never tore his eyes off you, I could have snakes coming off my head and he'd still be staring at you! so I know and I understand and I'm not jealous any more…well maybe a tad but I've come to accept it!" Lori says reassuringly.

"Accept what?" Beth asks now clueless to everything Lori was saying.

"That Rick is in love with you!" Lori says squeezing Beth's shoulder.

Beth stares at Lori and then bursts out laughing, she even snorts loudly pointing at Lori for trying to pull her leg, she nearly almost started to believe her.

"That's a good one, I'm so happy you've got your sense of humour back!" Beth snorts wiping her eye.

Lori leans over and kisses Beth on the cheek.

"Call me when you figure it out so I can say told you so!" She says softly with a hint of laughter into Beth's ear before she gets out the car.

Beth watches Lori walking with a spring in her step. When she stops at the door pressing the doorbell, Lori turns around and seeing Beth still sitting there, she gives her an award winning smile and turns around when the front door opens and slips in, she can hear Lori and Judith laughing. Beth sensed Lori was attacking Judith with hugs and kisses as she did with Carl.

Beth turns on the engine and makes her way back to the hospital to collect Shane.

"There's no way Deputy Grimes remotely likes me like that…she's all mixed up, her happy chemicals have overdosed with happiness!" Beth says out loud and then she sits there wondering.

"Nooooo!" She laughs looking at her reflection in the mirror for even contemplating thinking it could be remotely true.


A/N:- So Lori's not a bitch, I kept her and Beth amicable from the beginning when she was introduced. She's all for Brick. I wanted to show the friendship between Lori and Beth as Beth's going be an important person in lives of Judith and Carl and especially Rick's.

*Some Beth/Rick times coming up...Rick's bored in his meetings until Beth's catches his eyes.

*Friday Night Drinks at the Bar - Rick suddenly loves Friday Nights.

*Saturday rolls on and ...