The sun has set on the day but not our troubles. Super Sexy and her bureau crew are plodding away with the paperwork after finishing their takeout dinner.

"Ferg, I'm gonna head to the hospital and check on Walt."

"Ok." He says checking his watch for the millionth time.

"What's up you gotta date or something." I say as a matter of routine.

"Yeah, actually, I do." He looks worried, "I don't want to cancel, but I think I have to."

"You and Kristie?"

"Who else?" He says kinda shy.

I smile because I want to tease him and I smile because I'm happy for him.

"Go ahead and get out of here and have fun."

"You sure, Vic?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. No sense in both of us being miserable."

He leans in a little closer. "How's that going by the way?"

I look at him and scamper because I haven't prepared for this; this thing called friendship this thing called a relationship.

"One day at a time."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that there's so much going on …" I twirl my pencil in my fingers, rub my neck, and look around and I just smile at Ferg but it's a painful smile because as much as I know we have something special I know we can't predict the future.

I stand up and walk over to the Fed corner, "Hey Pat, I'm going to drop off Lucian and head over to the hospital. Ferg's leaving for the night but I will have my cell phone if something comes up. The phones are forwarded to me anyway."

"Thanks, Vic. You ok with us staying here and finishing up? The boys are going to camp out at my place anyway."

"Yeah, sounds like a plan. We'll meet you back here tomorrow morning at 0800 and finish what we don't tonight."

"Ok. The ADA will be here tomorrow so that works." She says and I turn to get Lucian who's lying down in Walt's office.

"Hey,Vic" she calls after me and closes the distance, "How's Walt doing with all this?"

"That's what I'm going to find out."

I step into the familiar office and Lucian's long legs are stretched out, one leg over the other, hat pulled down over his face and his hands folded across his chest.

Leaning over, I place my hand on his, "Lucian, wake up."

His blue eyes open and they are so innocent and sleepy, "Hey, sweet cheeks," and just as suddenly his eyes flood with the truth. The truth of our circumstances and what led him here.

I go to stand and Lucian takes my hand. "Thank you for today, Deputy Moretti."

"You're welcome, Lucian." I look down at my boots and back up at him, "I'm really sorry."

"Me, too." He says all soft and whispery.

He doesn't let go of my hand as he looks into my eyes, "You two going to make it through all of this?" He asks.

My eyebrows scrunch before I can reply.

"I've known Walt al lot of years and there's not much he can hide if you know where to look."

"I hope so, Lucian." I quickly abandon any thought of denial.

"He will never tell you but he asked me for advice awhile back. Asked me if I thought it was worth the risk seein' as how I was once Sheriff and all."

"He asked you about me?" My voice higher than I want it to be.

"Yeah, seems the old goat has been twisted up for a long time but I'm glad you two kids are figuring it out."

"I don't think I'll ever measure up to her, Lucian."

"Why are you worried about that?"

"How can I not be?" I dawns on me that I'm talking to Lucian about Walt and Martha. What the hell.

"People are placed in your life for a reason and sometimes we don't know what the reason is until they are gone. Don't wait to find out. Live your life, now."

He sits up and squares his hat on his head.

"If only my brother could have loved his family the right way none of this would have happened. To any of us. But what's done is done, sweetcakes. Don't let his evil stop anymore happiness."

I don't know what to say to Lucian because well it's Lucian.

"Let's go old man. I have to get you back to the old folks home."

"Mind stopping so I can get some decent grub?"

"No, not at all."

"You headed to the hospital after?"

"Yes."

He looks away and looks back but I don't make him ask instead I put my hand on his forearm, "I'll call you with an update."

Lucian nods and looks down his eyes are full but the wall is all the way up. The wall I'm familiar with, it's the same one that looks back at me in the mirror.

Dorothy is a doll and packs two specials to go. I drop Lucian off at the home and he tips his hat, the way they do in the West, and I head for the hospital.

Striding in the hospital with the Bee to go bag hanging from my left hand I check in with the reserve deputy from Cumberland County and hand him the food.

"Figured you were hungry." I say and am met with a beautiful smile and I think this guy must be a salesman when he's not playing copper.

"Thank you, ma'am. I'm starving." His voice is velvety smooth. Yeah, he's a salesman alright.

"I'm gonna go inside if you want to take a break."

"Thank you, again." He says and tips his hat. These guys I say to myself.

I step inside of the hospital room and it instantly throws me back. It throws me back to Cady and Walt sitting by her side in silence, completely retreated into his head, pushing us all out, when I thought I failed him.

The room is dark except for the illumination of the medical equipment and a soft light in the corner of the room. Reminiscent of the past, I put my hand on Walt's back, but this time he reaches up takes my hand in his. I look down and smile and he greets me with a quick upturn of the corners of his mouth. Sitting on the arm of the chair, he puts his arm around my waist.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm ok" He says and looks back at Barlow.

"This is a lot to take in." I say

He moves me onto his lap and his hand comes up to the middle of my back and for the first time, this so very odd time, I feel so totally completely exposed. My head falls into the hollow of his neck and my arm comes up to meet his shoulder, his face presses against mine, and he whispers, "I was just sitting here thinking of all the treacherous things this man has done to me, to those I love; Martha, Cady, Henry, Branch and that's what I know about. "

My eyes rise to meet his, "I'm so sorry, Walt."

"He's even hurt you and he hurt Sean."

My head twists and he explains, "I never would have gone to Chance's looking for him…." I put my fingers to his lips and he takes my hand.

"I've sat here and I've wondered why I didn't kill him when I had the chance. Why I don't pull the plug out of the wall?"

"It's the reason I fell in love with you."

His eyes search mine.

"You are a good man, Walt. You do the right thing even when no one is looking, especially when no one is looking."

"Phoenix."

I look down at him and think of when I made a fool of myself in Arizona.

"What?" I ask.

"Phoenix. Greek mythologist say the ancient bird would regenerate from self-incineration and rise from the ashes." He presses my hand against his chest and his eyes are so brilliant blue. "At the time, I didn't think…." He pauses.

"Walt." I say

"Vic" He says his voice sounds like hot honey poured over gravel, "We are going to make it, sweetheart."

I believe him; I know it to be true as I kiss him and he confesses his love for me and it pours through me, our bodies on fire like the Phoenix sun.

A/N: This fic is much longer than I originally planned but there is much more that I want to tell. I am stopping this fic here and will continue it with a sequel when I have more time to actually write which won't be for a month or so. Thank you for all of your support and patience through this journey.

For LongmireFan - Plans is complete.