AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you for reading and thank you DarylDixon'sLover, castlefan83, WalkerHarley, Guest and brinxb for your comments. I wrote, deleted and edited this chapter many times, I hope it came out okay.
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 49
Shane taps his fingers across his keyboard pretending to be busy at work whilst sneakily watching Rick getting up from his seat when Chief called out from across the room. He picks up his I'm a Jackass mug and takes a noisy slurp of his coffee taking a look around noticing the phones had mysteriously stopped ringing. There was a sudden silence, you could have heard a pin drop. Shane grabs a paperclip and drops it and it bounces making noise every time it hit the wooden floor. Amy from across the room looks up like how Casper his parent's Pit-bull does when his ears catch the tiniest noises and then Amy looks over her shoulder. He flashes her a smile thinking she must have super-sonic hearing to have heard from way over where she is sitting. Amy throws back a flirty smile biting the tip of her pencil, sucking it and twirling it around her mouth. She winks and turns her attention back to her screen.
She so wants me! Shane smirks taking another long drag from his mug and turns his attention back towards Rick.
He huffs, Rick had that annoying unreadable look on his face, the look and stance Rick has perfected over the years that pisses him off because he can't read what's going on up in Rick's head because he's built up many layers over the years, he won't let them come down. He never really lets anyone in any more unless he wants to. Shane focuses harder and takes a closer look trying to telepathically communicate to Rick like they used to when they were younger, somewhere over the years they'd lost that connection or more so, Rick tuned himself out. He's concentrating on Rick more than he's concentrating on the report he needed to have done and handed to Deputy Jackie before switch over and he goes out on duty which is in the next half an hour and his undivided concentration on Rick pays off. The corner of his right lip turns up into a smirk when he sees Rick's hesitation to want to go to Big Daddy. Usually, Rick would do cartwheels and back-flips all the way over as soon as he was summoned, like the good protégé he is but right now, he'd seemed rather reluctant. Shane straightens up and looks over towards Cynthia's room and sees the Chief enter his office and push the door back but it stops slightly ajar obviously left open for Rick and Beth to enter when they get themselves over there.
Shane decides it's time to have just a little fun. Rick was practically a virgin, this was the first time Rick will be standing in front of that desk getting a colossal talking-to from The Chief and it was only right that he be the one to have the pleasure of taunting Rick like he always got from him when he got into mischief and been on the receiving end of The Chief's fury and cautioning - the old man was very intimidating when he wanted to be and now Rick was going to experience it first-hand. Rick was forever warning him not to do certain things that would make an uproar, there were consequences for actions, big slap on the wrists for defying their Chief and his sets of law in his station and Mr Number One had broken one of the rules most precincts wished to avoid, one that Chief would also want avoided – superiors getting romantically involved with a subordinate officer they were training. He loves Rick like a brother and is all for him to get together with Beth plus Rick hasn't had any action coming up to two years which in his books needed immediate addressing but for the first time in this job, he feels satisfied that Perfect Rick Grimes isn't so perfect and restrained like everyone thinks him to be. There was something or someone he couldn't steer clear of even if he tried to avoid even if warned off – Rookie Beth Greene and he was sure Beth wouldn't give Rick up without a fight, she was quite the firecracker when the time called for it.
Jessie walks into the hub of the station listening to Deputy Jackie speaking, they make their way towards the elevator. Once in the elevator, Jessie watches Rick trying to get the imagine of him looking at Beth with those gorgeous eyes, his roaming hand over Beth's younger derrière out of her mind but fails. She continues to stare until the door shuts ending the vision of Rick but the vision of Brick was still plaguing her. She had gone home last night and had heated sex with Pete imagining it was Rick the whole time touching her being the one making her see stars over and over but the thought Rick was having that type of physical sex with Beth had her seething, she wants to punch the wall but Deputy Jackie continues talking whilst the elevators moves up.
"Would love to be a fly on that wall!" Shane muffles to himself wanting to know what's said in that office.
"I wonder what's got Big Daddy barking so early?" Shane asks grabbing his stamp, lines it up on the file and then smacks his hand down making that loud stamping noise. He just stamped Epic Fail on his report and frowns, it was meant to be the date stamp.
Rick looks at him as he nudges his chair in.
"Usually Chief's right on over singin' ya praises, pettin' ya head, bein' his Number One an all!" Shane adds "He don't sound like he's gonna be singin' today!" Shane tutts his lips.
Shane puts a serious look in his eyes, looks around, leans forward and whispers so nobody can hear. "Ya didn't do somethin' to piss Chief off?...somethin' un-Rick-like?...somethin' I would normally do?'" He asks with a wiggle of his brows, clicking his tongue against his cheek wanting to antagonise Rick before he sets off.
Rick stares at Shane seeing that glint of mischievousness all over his face. Rick was used to this and wasn't going to let Shane get under his skin like he always tries. Rick grabs a handful of files from his desk and chucks them over to keep Shane occupied, out of trouble and out the way.
"Stop playin' with Carl's Fisher-Price Stamps and get on with some work and don't you have a report that needs finishin' like now?" Rick reminds Shane putting some heat on him.
Shane watches the files land in front of him, he sits back with his arms crossed behind his head like he had all the time of the day looking straight at Rick who looks unimpressed at him and his timings of being irritating. Shane shakes his head with a laugh.
"Would sure love ta be a fly on the wall!" Shane sings and smirks grabbing the files and dumping them on the mountain he has beside him whilst he takes a quick look over at Beth who was looking guilty waiting for Rick.
Rick takes one last look at Shane and turns on his heels. Shane hums the Star Wars' Darth Vader's Imperial March as Rick sets off. Rick throws him a stern look over his shoulder refraining himself from flipping Shane off. He had been contemplating on telling Shane about him and Beth but he decides Shane can wait longer now, he knew Shane was waiting for him to slip up but nothing so far. Shane just snorts and waves when he sees Rick holding himself back.
"What do you think Chief wants?" Beth asks anxiously once Rick makes it over to her.
Beth was about to reach up and place her hand on Rick's torso, a reflex reaction but snatches it back realising they were in the middle of a roomful of people. She was now worrying herself silly, chewing down on her lower lip in a frenzy that maybe Chief did catch them in the janitor's closet fooling around and he was waiting for the right time to pounce at them unexpectedly once he had a bit of time to stew over whatever he saw. Beth winces and swallows deeply remembering the compromising position they were in when the door swung open. She wouldn't be able to form two words when Chief looks at her, asks her to explain why she had her legs wrapped around Rick's body with her tongue rammed down this throat. She gets a mental image and she feels lightheaded, she was sweating, her hands had gone clammy, she rubs them down on her trousers, she was internally freaking out.
Because of her, Rick would possibly get into serious trouble because she had wanted to be spontaneous and surprise him with some affection. There was a time and place and The Sheriff's Office was not it she reminds herself now after the incident had happened. She didn't think any of this through, this was all her fault. She just couldn't contain her excitement when she saw Rick, to tell him how much her family loved him and he was the innocent party here, he was overpowered by her and oh she really needed to think before she acted and not ruin things between them, things were going good, she feels like she's ready for the next step with Rick but maybe now Rick would change his mind once Chief was finished with them. Beth was now feeling sick to the stomach, anxious and fidgety. Her stomach starts to churn and she suddenly feels like she's going to heave seeing her colleagues walking past looking at her as the colour had drained from her face, the room suddenly felt small.
Rick reaches out placing a hand on her shoulder, crouching down concerned in front of her, checking she was still there with him. He had watched her for the ten seconds they stood there and he needed to take control before Beth had one of her episodes.
"Beth, just relax!" She hears Rick says in front of her.
"I'm okay! I'm okay" Beth answers opening her eyes, reaching up and placing her hands atop of his which were still resting on her shoulders.
She hadn't had a panic attack in months and she really didn't want to have one now after working so hard to control them and so far, she hasn't really had anything to make her clam up but the thought of losing Rick was a suffocating feeling. She blows out the hot air that had gotten caught up when she was holding her breath, she just wanted to get it over and done with but she was still frightened.
Rick looks over towards Chief's office, he was ready to do what he needed to do.
"Judith's got a new favourite word she's been tryin' to say…it's Beef!" Rick says after a small pause. "Lori thinks she's tryin' to say Beth! She was babbling it when she saw me yesterday mornin' when I turned up to take Carl to practice and she kept on lookin' back at the door!" Rick adds turning his face to hers "Think she was expectin' you to appear from behind me." He smiles "She frowned when you didn't and let out a little whine mumbling Beef. Lori's askin' when your next free to visit or babysit, Jellybeans is missin' her Beef."
Beth takes in this new information, she couldn't believe it, a big blush and smile appears on her face.
"You never said!" Beth says surprised looking up into Rick's eyes.
"There was no time at dinner, you manhandled me and dragged me into a darkened closet!…held me against my will!...got my jean leg soaking wet in not sure how many days old dirty water!…had half the cleaning items collapse on my head which could have knocked me out and given me a concussion!...and then proceeded to assault me with your lips and tongue!" Rick states cocking his head "I didn't have time to fill you in and I hope you weren't gonna pass out on me a moment ago now were you?" Rick asks raising his brow and she notes the teasing tone in his voice.
"No thank god and stop that! You're makin' me feel worse than I already feel!" Beth replies pushing his hands off of her with a strangled laugh.
"Judy misses me?" Beth asks and Rick nods.
"Can we see her tonight?" Beth requests, she was missing Judith and wasn't sure when she'd be able to see the sweet baby next with a jam-packed week running up to the big day of the triathlon and Rick nods again.
"But, what if," Beth trails off hesitantly.
"You have faith in me?" Rick asks, Beth looks up and nods.
"C'mon, let's see what Chief wants, we won't find out standin' out here." He says gently eyes soften to ease her doubts and then lets go of her shoulders and gestures for her to follow him.
Beth wonders how Rick can be this calm and not worried. He's walking off casually, acting like they were just going in to get an assignment that the Chief wanted them to specifically handle because they worked well together, Chief had commented a few times when they'd get the desired results.
When Rick doesn't hear Beth's footsteps behind him, he reaches back pulls her hand and she springs to attention and follows once her feet begin to move, Rick lets go. As they're making it up the stairs, Rick looks beside him and notes the colour had resurfaced back on Beth's cheeks. She was a little apprehensive but no longer panicking like before good Rick exhales.
When Rick reaches the top of the stairs and make it over, he stops at the door waiting for Beth to catch up and steps aside letting her enter in first. Walking past Cynthia's desk, Beth ignores the woman's eyes watching her and concentrates on walking and then she sees The Sheriff sitting in his seat writing with that expensive fountain pen his wife had gifted him on his birthday when she first started at the station. He had shown her the personal engravings of some Latin words that meant something between husband and wife and she thought it was the most romantic and thoughtful gift to have been given by a loving spouse, he uses that pen everyday since she's known him. They'd always chatted away like old friends, Chief never minded her company and her suggestions on particular things, he was approachable, a reasonable man but then he did have a temper at the best of times when things didn't go his way - he liked things done particular ways.
Rick taps on the door and Beth continues to stare at the pen, they made a connection via that pen.
"Come in and shut the door!" Chief says without looking up.
Beth had somehow gotten behind Rick, he looks around and sees her hiding. Rick twists his arm behind him bringing Beth back round to stand in front of him. Beth shakes her head, she turns to make a run for it and smacks right into Rick's solid chest. He turns her back around, stepping forward pushing her ahead of him as he's moving into the room. Beth skips in when Rick gives her a little shove, she stops at the little tub chairs grabbing hold of one so she didn't go flying onto the desk.
"Sit!" Chief points towards the chairs squiggling on the paper.
Beth slides into the chair and Rick takes the chair beside her. He takes a quick sidewards glance at Beth and from the corner of his eyes, he spots Shane trying to peer in through the blinds. He could see Shane but Shane couldn't see them. Rick lets out a breathe leaning back in his chair rubbing his forehead, the schmuck had somehow gotten to him. Rick braces himself to receive a clip round the ear, like he does with the boys when they misbehave and step out of line but this was a much more greater scale than anything they've done. The repercussions he or Beth may face if the man before him is against their relationship. He vaguely remembers years back to when he was a Junior Deputy, a similar circumstance and after the gossiping, the rookie involved had been transferred to another county but it could have been a mutual decision or a request, he wasn't sure of the details, it was all hush hush. He was ready for the people who needed to know, to know but he doesn't want to see that look of disapproval from the man he's looked up to since before his dad died.
This time Beth reaches over and squeezes Rick's hand when Chief had lifted the paper up to blow on the ink to dry and not smudge and then his phones rings, he picks it up.
"Yes?" He barks into the phone.
Beth leans to her side next to Rick "I'll tell him it was all me!" Beth mumbles.
"Don't say a thing unless he brings it up, stop talkin' and only answer the questions he asks and don't elaborate!" Rick advises and nods to look forward.
"I can do that!" Beth says straightening back in her seat, she takes her hand back clasping her hands together in her lap and then her knee starts to bounce.
Rick catches that nervous tick like back at The Steak House. He grabs her knee still making her stop, he squeezes up higher to get her attention and Beth looks down to see Rick's hand, her head shoots up to see that Chief couldn't see. Rick looks down and quickly takes back his hand and crosses his arms over his chest.
Chief reaches up touching round his neck, his head and then down around the table for his glasses and then he locates them and puts them back on.
"Ok, I've got a top secret case and I'm partnerin' you both up for this!" The Sheriff says closing his file, getting up from his big comfortable leather chair and begins walking around the room hands crossed behind his lower back.
Beth's mouth drops open nearly reaching her lap and Rick just sits there uncrossing his arms. He turns to look at Beth, he elbows her and she shrinks back into her seat closing her mouth to listen.
Their eye's follow their Chief around the room and turn their heads and watch him walk back over to his desk and then they look at each other as the man stands there running his hand through his beard thoughtfully. Beth looks at Rick in question and he shrugs his shoulder. They look back at their Chief.
"It's top secret and I'm entrustin' you both to help me and keep this hush hush until the time is right!" He says boring his eyes into Rick and then to Beth.
Beth just nods her head confusedly, this wasn't what she thought they had been called in for, she was waiting for the interrogation but nothing so far but it could be a trick, reeling them in and not knowing what she was agreeing to, she fidgets in her seat.
Chief looks up at Rick for his agreement.
"What exactly are you entrustin' on us and what is this case?" Rick asks turning to look at Beth who had just said yes.
Beth abruptly shakes her head no and turns and stares straight ahead tight lipped. Rick had once told her never to agree to something without finding out what it was and she knows Rick was thinking the same as she hears the audible exhale coming from his mouth. She slowly turns her face back to see Rick's exasperated expression and then the shake of his head in disbelief at her. Beth mouths I'm sorry! and turns back in time to see Chief putting his glasses back on after he wiped them clean. Rick moves his gaze off of Beth and then looks back to his Chief before he agrees.
"Always the suspicious and wary!" Chief says narrowing his eyes at Rick and he just stares right back.
Chief then looks over at Beth.
"And that's how you should be! You could learn a lot from this man, never say yes without knowing what you're gettin' yourself into, even if it's me - understood?" He asks Beth leaning forward in his chair once he'd retaken his seat.
"Yes Chief!" Beth replies.
"Good!" He smiles back and leans back in his seat comfortably.
"It's mine and by wife's 40th Wedding Anniversary and I want to surprise her by renewing our nuptials and I need help. I'm terrible at these things and I remember, Beth, you telling me about your parent's wedding anniversary, you and your siblings organised it and I was wonderin' whether you could help me organise mine and my wife's by being our Wedding Planner as they call them nowadays for busy people?" He asks looking shy at her now.
Beth swears she can see a blush creep up Chief's face and Rick just looks on, his mouth was partially agape now. This wasn't what he thought they had been called in for, he was expecting a rolled up newspaper being smacked repeatedly across his head right about now, he slumps back into his seat confused.
Beth jumps up throwing her hands in the air. Rick jumps in his seat watching as Beth rushes over and hugs Chief like a teddy bear squealing in delight. Rick continues to watch the scene before him.
"Renewing nuptials!" Rick breathes now rubbing his throbbing head. This was what had him shitting his pants for the first time in a long time.
"I'll take that as a yes?" Chief asks patting her back and then extracting Beth off of him, he could see how excited she was at the assignment.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Beth repeats, the old man grins broadly.
Beth walks back to her seat. Rick watches her, her hands were clasped together and she had the biggest smile on her face, he could see Beth was off in some daydream. Beth takes a seat and Rick squints when he thinks he can see Beth's eyes begin to water and before they all know it, Beth without warning, bursts out into tears.
Both men jump out of their seats, Rick was crouched down beside her and then the Chief sees his box of scented tissues and offers Beth one.
"That's the most beautifulest thing I've ever heard!" She whimpers out hiccupping.
"Seriously?" Rick responds watching Beth.
Beth nods her head "Why can't there be more men like you Chief!" She says blowing her nose into the tissue.
Rick retakes his seat when Beth hands him her snotty tissue, he just stares at it.
"This is why, my wife is not to find out until the day, this is a surprise, she did a lot of that when both our daughter got married, heaven only knows what she'll do when she finds out she's gettin' hitched a second time!" He says handing the whole box of Kleenex's over to Beth, she takes a tissue out and wipes beneath her eyes thankful that she had clear waterproof mascara on.
After twenty minutes of discussion, the Chief makes Beth take notes and he gives them a list of the guests he wanted to be invited and they had to swear nobody but them are to know until he hands out the invitations a week before the big day and a fortnight for those flying in.
Beth is in charge of the clothes, the flowers, the food, the decoration and entertainment.
Rick is in charge of the alcohol, to find and rent a nice venue, hotels for Chief's relatives and friends who would fly into town, he was in charge of collection and delivering them to their destinations, the car hires and the minister and anything else he missed, they were to converse with each other and only involve him when making the final decisions. They were both in charge of making the seating arrangements.
The last favour Chief asked for had Beth sniffing. It was an important one. Rick's dad was Chief's best man on his wedding day and now that he isn't around, he would like it if Rick would step in and do the honours, it would feel like his dad was standing up there with him again. Rick was touched and speechless, accepts and they shook hands both missing the former Sheriff.
"Off you go back to work!" Chief says when his phone rings initialling the meeting has come to an end.
Beth sits there blowing her nose, Rick reaches over helping her up and leads her out of the office.
"You alright?" Rick asks seeing Beth's pink and blotchy face, wondering why women always cried at anything to do with weddings.
"It's got to be perfect and I need to go home and get out The Book!" Beth tells herself.
"The Book?" Rick asks puzzled hearing her mumbling to herself and seeing her mind going into overdrive.
"Yea, The Book and you're goin' to have to come with me because I won't be able to bring it in, it's too heavy and I don't have it insured! It has all the answers that we're lookin' for!" Beth turns towards a perplexed looking Rick.
"How big is this book and what exactly does it contain that we're lookin' for?" Rick asks baffled.
Beth just stares at him, eyes like saucers like he was unbelievable. He shrugs confirming he honestly had no clue what she was going on about.
Rick rolls his hand prompting her to elaborate with a questioning look on his face, what The Book was and why it was so important.
"You're one of the most smartest men I know after my daddy but sometimes like him, I just wonder," Beth says and shakes her head "It started when I was seven so it's got fifteen years' worth of research and samples in it, it's not allowed to leave the farm!" Beth informs him.
Rick looks at her even more confused rubbing his face with his hand now, he watches her not knowing what to say and she lets out a sighing tut.
"My daddy's farm - this Saturday morning, 9am sharp – I'll text you the address and how to get there!" Beth orders him.
"Bossy much?" Rick mumbles beneath his breathe.
"What?" Beth asks stepping closer, she didn't hear him.
"Busy Saturday - camping and training?" Rick says clearly and reminding her of what they had planned weeks ago, the extra-long weekend they were granted by Chief.
Beth just stares into the distance wide eyed. She always started assignments straight away, she never left things for a week, she needed to brainstorm and branch out ideas. She needed to use her big whiteboard and marker pens and post-its and highlighters.
"Beth, we've got three months to organise, we'll go the following weekend, there's plenty of time!" Rick interrupts her calculations of how much time they had to set the wheels in motion.
"Three months might as well be three days! Do you know how long and how much effort it takes to put into organising a wedding?" Beth ask holding her hips "You've been married once before if memory serves me correct?" She adds craning her neck up at Rick in disbelief.
"Lori and her mom dealt with all that, I just turned up for the suit fittings, the rehearsals and on the day!" Rick replies defensively scratching his chin "Besides, it was just a small affair with a handful of people."
"A wedding, big or small is not a small affair!" Beth retorts back "It's a happy occasion of the binding of two souls to become as one!" She sighs remembering her parent's tear jerking vowels.
Rick pulls out a tissue and holds it up for Beth to take and she does.
"Well, I'm goin' to start lookin' into some stuff online tonight once we've seen Jellybeans!" Beth says decidedly. "It's got to be perfect, everythin' has to be to detail as per Chief's specifications and maybe you might want to get pointers from him now because when we get married, you're not gonna be let off that lightly and just turn up Rick Grimes!" Beth lets his name roll off her tongue in a strong southern accent as she wags her finger up at him "You're gonna be involved from pickin' and lickin' the envelopes all the way up to handin' out the little gifts to kids for bein' well-behaved and writin' out the thank you notes to all the guests for attending and the lovely thoughtful gifts they gifted!" Beth says assertively to Rick not believing how blasé he was on such a special occasion.
Beth thrusts the box of Kleenex into Rick's hands and marches off to join Tara, they were on street patrol.
Rick stares at the box and then looks up watching Beth zooming off, a woman on a mission. Nobody but his mom is that bossy with him and able to get away with it, he'd just swallowed it without complaint or argument. His mind goes over Beth's sentiments, his sweet Beth would be his Bridezilla one day. He looks back towards Chief thinking he'd just unleashed a monster and what would Beth be like when the day came when he proposed to her. He realised he needed to get a head start now, this would be his dummy training for the future when that time came.
Rick looks at Cynthia, she had her earphones in her ears bashing away at the keyboard typing up dictation, she missed their little domestic which he was pleased about. Rick walks out to the top of the stairs to watch Beth grabbing her things from her desk and joining Tara. She throws him a smile as she leaves. He smile back whilst in deep thought and then his eyes shift to see Jessie coming down the opposite stairs and coming to a top in front of Beth. Rick leans against the railing to see if he can read Jessie's lips to know what she was saying as Beth stands there listening to whatever it was Jessie was saying. Beth had responded and began to leave but Jessie grabbed hold of her arm stopping her. He debated whether to go down there but he didn't need to as Beth snatches her arm back and makes her way to catch up with Tara leaving Jessie reeling watching her go.
Rick pushes away from the railings and turn back around and knocks on the door.
"Chief, you got a moment?" Rick asks peering in.
"Come in Rick," The Sheriff says looking up "What's wrong?" He asks and nods to the seat he was previously sitting on.
"I want to talk to you about Jessie and I want to talk to you about Beth." Rick says taking a seat opposite Chief.
Rick takes a deep breath and reveals everything. Chief slumps back in his chair listening intently to every word that left Rick's lips and once Rick was finished, he sits back in his seat and awaits for Chief's verdict.
"Rick, I hope Shane's influences of dating haven't rubbed off on you and you're not leading this girl on a merry dance, if this is some rebound or fling after Lori, end it now before you get in too deep! Beth's a good girl, works hard and I want her to succeed just like the others! If this thing between the two of you goes south and ends on a bad note, you'll be protected but Beth, she'll come out worse and will never be taken seriously by her peers or anyone above her, are you okay with that?" Chief asks Rick.
"Chief, you've known me all my life, do you think I'm that type of guy?" Rick asks.
"You're not but did you ever think you and Miss Lori would end up divorcing when you were both young and in love?" Chief asks.
"I didn't but there are no guarantees in life but don't I have the right to find out if I'm supposed to be with Beth, doesn't Beth get the right too? We're both consenting adults and in a couple of years, I won't be her training officer anymore. I care deeply for Beth, our relationship won't get in the way of work if that's what you're worried about. If it means not partnering us up together, then fine we won't object but I'm not walking away from Beth and a future we can have, I didn't mean to fall for her but it's happened and I can't and won't take any of it back." Rick replies and has nothing more to add.
"Well then," The old man says rubbing his beard "I can't stop you from continuing your relationship but at work, in the job, you treat Beth the same as the others, she gets no special treatments for dating the Senior Deputy, she continues to prove herself like she is and I expect you to continue to treat her well like I know you will, all I can say is best of luck and my good wishes to you both and the future!" Chief says revealing a smile at Rick.
Chief had worried Rick had turned off women completely, having made no interest in anyone since his divorce. He knew Rick needed that sort of companionship only a woman could offer and it would seem she was right under all their noses the whole time and he knew Beth was a great girl, a little eccentric but maybe that was what attracted her to Rick's attention.
"I will and we're both clear on our responsibilities! You have my word, work will remain work, our relationship won't get in the way of carrying out our duties." Rick says letting out the deep breath he had been holding.
They both sit there in silence, taking a moment to absorb it all and then Chief pipes up.
"I had a few girls lined up for you, I better tell their fathers you're no longer available!" Chief scrunches up his face for all the raving he did about Rick. "But, you may have to take the newest District Attorney to dinner, get her on side, she's very smart and attractive I might add so you'd better tell her you're a taken man now because I hinted that you were free and possibly ready to mingle just needed prompting and she seemed keen on you, impressed with your credentials and she's Officer Harrison's older sister Andrea Harrison." Chief reveals.
Rick was a bit taken aback by the news, Chief was trying to hook him up behind his back but he pushes that aside, he wouldn't have ever gone on a single date.
"And Jessie?" Rick asks.
"I'll have to think long and hard on the Jessie issue! But I can't be havin' officers defying orders especially in drastic situations like the fire, the outcome could have been a lot different to what it had been. I need a day or two to deliberate, I'll let you and Deputy Jackie know what I decide." Chief confirms rubbing his temple.
"Before I leave, how big are you goin' on the wedding because I think Beth's planning on the whole white wedding?" Rick informs his boss.
"It's our 40th Wedding Anniversary which makes it our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and from a woman's perspective that's a big one and it is, so let Beth go all out but there is a budget and it's this," The Sheriff scribbles down some figures and Rick's raises his eyes in shock, grabs the paper just to be sure.
"So this is what a Sheriff's salary can pay for?" Rick asks reading the numbers.
"Yeah, it's good to be Sheriff and in a few years it could be yours!" He tells Rick.
Rick walks out the door in thought. With money like that; he could set up Carl and Judith's college funds, pay off his mortgage and put some money away for his plans in between now and retirement which was for a wedding and the possibility of adding a further Grimes or two before then.
