Ch. 15
Vic lay in her bed trying to will herself to get up out of the bed. After a morning where she felt perfectly fine, she was back to that tired, drained, and sick feeling that plagued her at Walt's. Last night, she had spent the night at home. That might have been a small blessing as Walt would have amped up his doctor talk. Her head was hurting, too.
Vic closed her eyes and ran he own palm over her forehead. Her stomach felt like it was lurching and rolling. And despite the fact that she slept well enough, she felt tired. Incredibly tired. Finally, with little choice, Vic rolled off the bed and forced her legs to support her.
Being upright did little to ease her nausea. As a matter of fact, it made it worse if that were even possible. She stood, unsteady on her feet for a moment or two before the sour taste started to gather in her math. Adrenaline kicked in and Vic rushed the few steps to the small RV bathroom. Her knees hit the floor as she bent over the toilet and heaved harshly. With a lack of food on her stomach, all that came up was a vile tasting liquid which she spit out.
Vic involuntarily heaved a few more times, but nothing more came out. When the retching ceased, she flushed the toilet and pushed herself up. Avoiding the mirror, she turned on the faucet and cupped her hands under the running water. Vic rinsed her mouth and spit. It did little to rid her of the taste in her mouth. She would need to brush her teeth for that. Collecting more water in her hands, she splashed cold water on her face.
Turning the water off, she pulled out a clean towel and patted her face dry. If the way she was feeling was any indication, it was going to be a long day.
xxx
"Why the hell won't you give me a chance?"
Walt stood in the middle of the office with his hands on his hips. True to his word, Travis had sauntered in with a resume in his hand and a hopeful look on his face. Vic noticed that he didn't take her advice just to apply like everyone else. Instead, he showed up unannounced and with way more confidence than he should've had.
Thanks to the lunch hour, Ruby and Walt were both out. Ferg was on a call, leaving Vic alone in the office for the time being. She glanced up when she heard the door open and leaned back in her chair, spinning it in his direction.
"You gotta be kidding."
He gave Vic a dirty look and then looked around the office.
"Walt here?"
Vic shook her head.
"No, he's not. He went to get some lunch. You're really not supposed to just show up for a job interview unannounced."
He sighed, his shoulder sagging a bit.
"When do you expect him back?"
Vic shrugged.
"I don't know. I'm not his secretary."
Travis stubbed his shoe at the floor. They had to be the nicest shoes he could scrape together. Vic gave him credit for his dress. It did appear that he made an effort to look less like a cowboy and more like the kind of person Walt might hire.
"Damn it. I wanted to talk to him in person."
Vic flapped a hand at him.
"Wait if you want. But…I don't think you're gonna like what he has to say."
Travis opened his mouth to reply when the door swung open and Walt came through it. He stopped short when he saw Travis standing there near Vic's desk. His eyes moved between the two of them as he removed his hat and hung it up. His gaze settled on Travis.
"Travis."
Travis' expression brightened.
"Hey, Sheriff."
He sounded a little too eager as he crossed the few steps to Walt and extended his hand. Walt stared at him like he was speaking a foreign language. Vic turned her head in an attempt to suppress a smile at Walt's expression.
"Is there something I can do for you?"
Travis dropped his hand and nodded.
"Yeah. I wanted to talk to you about your job opening."
Walt glanced at Vic, whose back was now to him, and then back to Travis.
"There is a procedure. I believe it was in the job listing."
Travis dismissed his words.
"I thought it would make more of a statement if I came in person. Let you know I'm really interested. I got my resume here."
He waved the paper. Walt made no move to take it. He studied the younger man.
"Travis, not that long ago, you pulled a gun on one of my deputies when he came to reclaim some property. After that, you helped him drug a man and then dumped that same man while he was under the influence. And that's…just two of your most recent brushes with the law."
Travis shook his head.
"I've changed."
Walt sighed and placed his hands on his hips.
"That may be. But, there are certain criteria that deputies have to meet. Those aren't my rules. They're mandated by the law and for good reason. I can't just give a badge to anyone. There are background checks. You won't pass. And on a personal note, you're impulsive and hot headed. And while I can overlook that to a certain degree, I haven't seen any signs that you have changed."
It was clearly not the reaction Travis had expected, despite Vic's earlier warnings.
"So that's it then? Why the hell won't you give me a chance?"
Walt's demeanor never changed. Even as Travis grew more agitated and flustered.
"I just told you why."
Travis huffed out a frustrated breath.
"Branch was hot headed. Hell, he ran against you and you didn't fire him."
Vic was watching now and she saw the slight twitch in Walt's face at the mention of Branch.
"Branch had a clean record when I hired him. And this discussion is over."
Walt dropped his hands to his side and turned towards his office.
"Walt…"
He turned back to Travis.
"I'm sorry."
With that dismissal, the conversation was definitely over. Travis looked to Vic, who only shrugged at him. Clutching his resume in his hand, the paper wrinkling under his grasp, he left the office and slammed the door behind him.
Vic exhaled and stood up, trailing Walt to his doorway. She leaned on the doorframe and crossed her arms.
"Sorry, he just showed up."
Walt shook his head as he walked around his desk and sat down.
"You warned me."
Vic nodded a little.
"So…are there any real candidates for this job?"
Walt leaned back with a sigh.
"Yeah. Ruby gave me a couple of names today."
He drummed his fingers on his desk. He seemed unhurried.
"Walt, you're gonna have to hire someone."
"I know."
The words came out sharp. Vic's eyes dropped to the floor before she lifted them back up to meet his eyes again.
"I'm just saying…"
She let the words speak for themselves. Walt's hands stilled, his posture rigid with clear discord.
"I've got some calls to make."
It was clear he wanted her to drop it. Vic lingered for another few seconds before she pushed up off the doorway and nodded.
"Right."
Reaching in, she pulled the door closed harder than normal, causing Walt to jolt slightly and returned to her desk.
xxx
Walt sat at his desk and sighed heavily. The office outside his door had grown quiet. He couldn't have said with any certainty when everyone else had left. If it were like most nights, they would've left slowly, one at a time as they finished up their work for the day. He kept himself entombed behind the solid wooden door as the afternoon wore on into evening. The windows in his office let him know that night had fallen. No one bothered him. No doubt, Vic warned them that he was in a foul mood.
He didn't intend to be short with her. He knew that she was right. He did need to hire someone. As much as Walt hated to admit it, he was putting it off. Vic was also correct about that. Leave it to her to see past his insistence that he was just too busy to look at applications. Or that there weren't any good ones.
Okay, the last point was true to some degree. He was slightly disappointed with his pool of applicants. The ad had been running for some time and there still wasn't anyone who grabbed his attention. There were a couple of possibilities. And he did intend to call them in for interviews. It was just…replacing Branch felt like the final step in letting go. And that was something Walt had never been very good at.
Letting go.
Walt placed his palms on his desk and forced himself to stand up. Opening his door, he ambled out into the main office. He was right. He was alone. Walt looked around. Funny how, in moments like these, everything felt settled and calm. That was rarely the way he would describe this place for any length of time. Switching off the light in his office, he grabbed his hat from where it hung and set it on his head, pressing down.
His eyes roamed the room, landing first on Vic's desk. Her Flyers mug and hockey puck sat centered, the puck holding down some papers she must be planning to get back on first thing. He could picture her sitting there, palming the puck while she thought in the manner she was so prone to do. It was one of her hallmarks. She was rarely still. Even, when deep in thought, she would pass the puck from hand to hand. Or turn it around in her palm, while she bounced ideas around.
Across from her was Ferg's next. Neat, with everything put away. It once was Branch's desk. But, as Branch slipped farther into whatever madness David Ridges brought down on him, Ferg stepped up and became indispensable. It was fitting that the younger man move up to what he saw as the 'big kid' desk. Walt nearly smiled at the thought.
Flipping off the lights and locking the door. He stepped outside. He paused at the board that still held all four of their names. That was yet another thing he had avoided. Taking down the letters that constituted the name.
Branch Connally.
At some point in the near future, he would have no choice but to pull the name down and replace it. That was the way of it. As much as people tried to avoid it, life went on. The world continued to turn. With a heavy mind and a heavy heart, he turned away.
Not tonight. Tonight, they would stay.
He left the building and stepped into the cool night air. What he really wanted to do was go by Vic's and apologize. He assumed she was angry with him for his snapping at her earlier. He supposed he would deserve her anger. But, with the case and the situation with the mayor, he didn't have the luxury of doing what he wanted. His bronco being seen at her RV was a chance he wasn't willing to take.
As he drove his Bronco home, he cursed his job and wondered why he was defending it so staunchly. Lately, it seemed like it was nothing but trouble and hardship. Keeping him from the things he wanted the most. Maybe not long term, but certainly in the short. And definitely in this moment.
He drove home with only the thoughts in his head for company. He could always call Vic from his cabin. Ask her to come over. Or, he could start on the first of a line of beers that might make this all sting a little less.
He was still deciding between the two when his cabin came into view. Walt slowed when he saw the familiar vehicle sitting in front of his cabin. The white color of it shown ghostly in the pale light of the moon. Walt parked and got out, closing the door behind him. His eyes scanned and didn't pick up on anything. The lights inside were off. Deliberately, he took one porch step at a time. He was halfway across the porch to the door when her voice startled him.
"It's about time."
Walt pivoted towards the sound of her voice. Now that he knew where she was, he could just see her at the far end of his porch sitting on his bench. Either he had neglected to turn his exterior light on or the bulb was blown. Either way, they were bathed in the night. Walt pushed the brim of his hat up and walked slowly down the length of his porch so that he could see her better.
Vic had changed clothes. In the place of her uniform, she wore jeans and tee shirt with a light jacket over it. Instead of the work boots she wore every day to the office, her feet were clad in the Converse he knew she liked when she was being casual.
To his surprise, her voice didn't hold the anger he expected. Nor did her posture. She didn't seem to hold any ill will while she sat there, waiting for him. She didn't smile, though. Her face was serious. At least, it seemed to be. Walt stood, looking down at her.
"How long have you been here?"
Her shoulders rose and fell in a shrug.
"Don't know. Didn't check the time. A while. I was starting to wonder if you were gonna sleep at the jail."
Slowly, she stood up, momentarily stretching her arms over her head. She jerked her head at the bench.
"That thing is not comfortable."
The slightest of smiles tugged at his lips. He felt some of the heaviness of his day begin to slip away.
"Thought you were mad at me."
She gave him a long look, her eyes no doubt attempting to decode his body language and his facial expression.
"I was. But…"
She paused and looked out across the dark yard before turning her eyes back to his.
"…I needed to talk to you."
"About?"
Vic looked at the door.
"Can we go in?"
Walt's mind snapped back to the present. He found himself so taken into the moment, he still stood there unmoving.
"Right."
His boots scuffled across the porch as he unlocked and pushed open the door. Walt waited while she passed him and walked inside. Closing the door and flipping on the lights, Walt removed his hat. Turning to Vic, he saw she still stood near the door. Now that they were in the light, he could see her face more clearly. And he wasn't sure about what he saw there. It wasn't anger. Maybe some tension. But, there was also something else. Something he couldn't quite name. An odd feeling started to pull at his gut.
"Everything okay?"
Vic regarded him with the same serious expression, her goldish eyes reflecting the lights in the room.
"Um…there's something I need to talk to you about."
Walt nodded slowly.
"Okay."
The word came out slow and cautious. Something was definitely off with her. And he didn't like not knowing what it was. One hand tapped nervously on her leg as it hung at her side.
"Wanna sit?"
Vic looked over at the couch for a long moment before she finally responded.
"Yeah."
He sat beside her and angled his body so that he was looking at her.
"Crane call you?"
For a moment, Vic looked confused at his question. Then, she shook her head.
"No…no. This isn't about him. This…is about us."
The comment and her tone both set him on edge. Whatever it was, he wished she would just come out with it.
"Vic, what's wrong?"
She looked down at her hands.
"I was sick…again this morning."
That was news to him.
"You seemed okay at work. Are you feeling bad again?"
Vic shook off his question.
"No, no. I feel fine now. It…passed again. Like it did the other morning. But…there's something else. I…I'm late. I hadn't even thought about it until this morning. With everything that's been going on…I just…haven't been paying attention. And…I thought it might be stress."
Walt was confused. The words came out of her mouth like she was attempting to exorcise them. Fast and forced.
"I…late for what?"
The confusion he felt was evident on his face and Vic tilted her head slightly.
"Late. You know. Late."
He didn't know. But she continued.
"I stopped by the store on my way home."
Walt felt like he was trying to construct a puzzle without all the pieces.
"Vic, I don…"
She cut in, not giving him a chance to finish his thought.
"I'm pregnant."
In the next second, everything went quiet. Neither of them spoke and silence hung in the space between them. It took her words time to permeate the fog he was in and process their way through his brain. Walt's mouth dropped open slightly and he squinted like he was trying to see something in the distance.
Finally, he found his voice.
"What?"
Vic cleared her throat. Her expression was still difficult to read. Now, he knew why.
"I'm pregnant."
The second time she said it, he was no less surprised. Walt inhaled a deep breath and blew it out slowly, trying to regain his composure. The words bounced around in his mind like a shiny ball in a pinball machine, creating just as much clamor and noise.
"You're pregnant."
The words sounded just as strange coming from his own mouth. Slowly, she nodded as though she was just now accepting this revelation.
All the pieces slid into place. That would explain the sickness in her stomach. The fatigue. The headache. He hadn't seen it. Neither had she until today, apparently. Walt felt like his entire world had just been spun like a globe by unseen hands.
"Okay."
Vic shifted beside him.
"That all you have to say?"
He shook his head. There was something incredulous in her voice.
"I just…I wasn't expecting that."
She huffed out a breath that sounded like a low laugh with no humor behind it.
"Yeah, me either. But…there were two tests in the package. And…they were both positive."
The analytical part of Walt's brain whirred back to life.
"How late are you?"
She was quiet for a few seconds as she thought.
"A little over a week. I really thought it was just stress. God knows there's enough to go around. But…when I got sick again…I just….started to think…and it just…sort of occurred to me."
She spoke haltingly, the fear evident in her words.
"How are you feeling now?"
"Fine. Except…you know shocked as hell."
Walt nodded.
"Yeah."
But, now he could see it. She was on the pill now, but Walt knew there had been a lapse in her birth control around the time Sean left. She had mentioned it to him in passing when she made an appointment to see her doctor after things took a turn between them. Even then, they hadn't always used a backup method. They simply hadn't been careful. And Walt knew that was just as much his responsibility as it was hers.
He reached up and ran his palm over his hair. Vic sat, one knee bouncing slightly.
"Uh…you…uh…you need to make an appointment."
He wasn't sure what else to say. Vic nodded.
"Yeah, I know. But…Walt…how do you feel about it?"
She was biting the inside of her cheek. Walt looked down and then around the cabin.
"I…I'm not sure. I mean…this is…"
Walt shook his head, still trying to gather himself and his thoughts. He met her eyes.
"How do you feel?"
Vic sat on his couch in front of him pulled into herself. She shrugged.
"I don't know."
They hadn't gotten around to discussing the future. Their future. Any future. It occurred to him that he didn't even know if she wanted children. She and Sean were married for years and childless. It was something he hadn't ever questioned. Maybe there was a reason other than biology.
"Do…do you want children?"
The question hung in the air like mist dissipating. Vic held his eyes and he thought she was going to shrug again. She didn't.
"I…I haven't really thought much about it. I was…always on birth control while I was married. The time…just never seemed right, you know?"
Walt nodded. He did understand. Cady was planned. Carefully and in a well thought out manner. The baby Martha carried briefly in the years before Cady was not. And it might've been the most scared he had ever been. Young and just starting out in the world with a child on the way. A child they hadn't talk about. Or planned for. They had both been confused and worried. He wasn't even sure he was ready to be a father until Martha lost the baby. And then the wound cut deep. Deeper than he could've imagined.
Slowly, he reached out and placed his hand on her knee. The one that was still in motion. When the heaviness of his palm came to rest there, she stopped moving it. The question had to be asked. He had to know.
"Do you want this baby, Vic?"
His voice was quiet and low. Her chest and shoulders rose and fell as bit as she inhaled and exhaled. There were a myriad of emotions playing across her face. When she answered him, the word came out husky and with a depth of feeling.
"Yes."
Walt released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Okay, then."
It was as simple as that. And it was not simple at all. Vic blew out a breath. Like a load was being lifted off. Walt offered her the best smile he could muster. An unexpected pregnancy at his age was not something he gave much thought to. Until just now.
"Have you had dinner?"
Vic shook her head. She still wore a slightly shell shocked expression. Walt stood up.
"You need to eat."
Vic made a face at the suggestion.
"I'm really not hungry."
Walt sighed.
"You're gonna have to take care of yourself."
He held out his hand.
"C'mon, you need to eat something."
Vic gave him a hesitant look before taking his hand and letting him pull her up off the couch. She followed him into the kitchen.
"There's….there's a lot we need to talk about."
Walt nodded as he sifted through his refrigerator and stared to pull out the makings for a sandwich.
"Yeah, there is. But, we don't have to do it all tonight. You're gonna have to keep your stress levels down. Eat and get some rest."
He started to make them both a sandwich, while Vic poured herself a glass of water and sat down at the table.
"Easy for you to say."
It gave him some level of comfort that she was more herself now. Walt slid the plate to her and started to put the food away. Vic took a bite, but her appetite wasn't there. Her stomach felt knotted up after their earlier conversation.
If she were being completely honest, she knew Walt would do the right thing before she ever talked to him. Still, there was a nagging thought in the back of her mind. What if he was mad at her? What if he didn't really want to be a father again?
"Vic?"
Her eyes snapped up. Walt was watching her from across the table.
"I'm sorry. About all this."
Walt frowned at her.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for. We're…both adults."
His words were simple and the most Walt like thing that he could say. But he knew that she would know the meaning behind them was deeper. Emotions were something he still struggled with. In a lot of ways, they both did. So, they were getting better as the days passed at reading between the lines and hearing what wasn't necessarily said aloud. Vic ran her index finger over the edge of her plate and looked across at him. The skin around his eyes crinkled as he offered her a smile. A smile of comfort and promise. Despite everything that was happening inside of her and around both of them, in that moment it all seemed okay. Vic smiled back. A small, barely there smile of understanding and acceptance.
"Thank you."
xxx
"Are you awake?"
He was almost certain that she was. Her breathing didn't seem to be the deep breath of sleep. At the sound of his voice breaking the silence, she moved and confirmed his thoughts.
"Yeah, why?"
"Can I ask you something?"
Vic twisted her head so that she was looking at him, or at least in his direction in the dark bedroom.
"What?"
Walt hesitated. The question had been on his mind since their talk earlier. He just hadn't asked it yet. He wondered if he should.
"Why didn't you and Sean have any children?"
His question was met with a stretch of silence. Either she didn't like the question or she needed to think about the answer. Maybe she didn't know herself. As the seconds ticked by, she moved against him in the bed. Rolling fully onto her stomach, she crossed her arms underneath the pillow and bunched it up before laying her head on it. Now, with her head turned to the side and resting on the pillow, she was looking directly at him. Even in the darkness of his bedroom, he could see her eyes.
"We talked about it. Early on. But…neither of us was ready. Or, that's what we told each other. Over time it just kept getting pushed back. I wasn't opposed to having children, but it wasn't what I would consider a priority. I mean…I had my job and that was time consuming enough. You know…when you're a certain age…like in your twenties…you think you have forever. Then you turn around one day and realize forever is a myth and time is almost up."
She paused, but Walt could tell there was more.
"Now, I'm glad that we didn't because of the way we managed to fuck things up between us. A kid should grow up feeling loved by both parents. And feeling like their parents love each other. You know…a real home."
She paused again. Walt did know. That was the way he had grown up. It never crossed his mind when he was a child that his parents didn't have a deep love and affection for one another. He and Martha always strived to offer Cady that same sense of home and family. Most of the time, they were successful.
"My parents fought a lot when I was a kid. Sometimes I think…if they didn't have five kids, they would've divorced. But, no matter how many times that threat was tossed around, neither of them had any follow through."
Walt studied her.
"Is that a bad thing?"
She smiled a little.
"Having to hear your parents fight and threaten to leave each other fucks you up. And it doesn't exactly give you a healthy relationship role model to follow. So…in the end…I'm happy that there weren't any kids around when Sean and me were fighting."
Her words touched something deep inside of his chest. It was these glimpses into the softness underneath her rough exterior that he loved so much. They captivated him and drew him in time and again. There was so much more to her than what met the eye. Vic sighed in the pillow case that was wrinkled up near her mouth. Her eyes held his.
"Did you and your wife fight a lot?"
Walt swallowed. Even now, thinking of Martha created a dull ache around his heart. He exhaled a deep breath.
"Not really. Once in a while, of course. Everyone does. But, for the most part, neither of us were big on that."
Vic smiled.
"What was she like?"
Walt hadn't expected this turn in the conversation. He and Vic rarely talked about Martha. He wasn't sure if that was some attempt on his part to keep her from thinking he wasn't over his wife. Or if it were some method of self-defense. The reality was it was probably a little of both in his mind. Vic never outright asked about Martha outside of specific things. And he rarely volunteered more than she asked for.
"Uh…well…Cady favors her a lot. Same hair. Same skin. Same practical nature. She was…a calm, steady person. She rarely lost her temper. She was strong, but in a quiet way. She went to church most Sundays and she had the patience of a saint."
He fell quiet and waited. Vic lifted her head a little.
"So…basically…you don't have a type."
He was clearly lost.
"A type?"
Vic nodded a little.
"Yeah. Because, clearly she and I are nothing alike."
Walt smiled.
"No…you're not. Mostly. Well…"
She could see him gathering his thoughts.
"…you're both strong women. But…in different ways. And you can both keep me in line. You share that. That's about it."
Vic's brow furrowed.
"So…what changed? How could you fall for two women who are so different?"
Walt grew quiet again. It was a good question. It was one he thought about from time to time. Because they really were very different people. But then, so was he. That was where the truth lay.
"I was…young…when Martha and I married. Just...starting out. I went to work for Lucian about the same time. And…then…we were raised to grow up, get jobs, get married, and have children. So…we did. And it was a good life for the most part. I don't have any regrets about it. But…after she died…I changed. I guess we all change over time anyway. But…I really changed. I almost didn't recognize myself anymore. So…I think that's the difference. Me."
Vic cleared her throat.
"I get it. I've…changed myself. Since moving here. I am not the same person I was when Sean and I came out. That's for sure. Do you…do you think it's age or experience."
Walt smiled.
"Age is experience."
She laughed quietly.
"True."
Her face grew serious. Walt tilted his head.
"What is it?"
Something seemed to be weighing on her. For some time, she didn't answer his question. Finally, she lifted her eyes to him and they were full of uncertainty and worry.
"Do you think I'll be a good mother? I…didn't have the best example growing up. My mom…isn't very affectionate with me. She never has been."
Walt sat up then, her concern burning deep inside of him.
"Vic, you…are one of the best people I know. People who don't see that just don't know the real you. Not like I do. You'll…be the best mother. You'll make mistakes. Everyone does. But, you learn from them and do better over time."
She smiled up at him. Then her expression grew pensive again.
"Your case…"
Walt sighed heavily. The case had been the last thing on his mind. Since she told him her news, all he had been thinking about was her and the spark of life that was growing inside of her. And the fact that he was going to be a father again. That was something completely unexpected. But, there were things they would have to work out. Sort out. For one, with a child on the way, he felt he needed to win his case even more than before. If he lost, he would lose everything he had worked his whole life for. What money he had, his home, his land. Things he would want his child to have and experience. It felt like in the couple of seconds it had taken her to tell him about the pregnancy, the stakes had been raised exponentially. Before, it was just about him. Possibly them. But now, there was an entirely new life to think about. One that he was responsible for.
"Vic, about this thing with the mayor…"
Knowing where he was going, she cut in.
"Don't ask me to stop."
"Vic…"
She lifted her head and shook it.
"No, don't ask me not to help you."
He sighed.
"There's no reason for you to endanger yourself."
Vic rolled her eyes.
"I'm not in any danger. And, now more than before, you need to win. We need to win."
"This is my case…"
He could see her dismissal of his statement.
"Walt, don't be stupid. Everything is riding on this now. This isn't just about you. Or me. And…we have time before we have to say anything. We should just keep on the road that we're on. Keeping all of this under wraps until we get something to take down this asshole mayor and this Tucker Baggett guy with. We're just getting started good. I'm not…in any physical danger. And I won't let them railroad you. Not now. Not after this."
He could hear the resolve in her voice and he knew she was digging in for the long haul. It crossed his mind to argue with her. He knew he could push her. But, what good would it do? Once Vic made up her mind to see something through, there wasn't much anyone could do about it. Still, it all gave him an uneasy feeling. All of it.
He was already trying to figure out how to tell his attorney that Vic was carrying his child. It would make keeping their relationship secret more complicated than they first thought. The main issue being time. There was a chance his case could drag on. Before, as long as they were careful and patient, that wasn't a problem. But now, there was a concrete time frame and the minutes were ticking by. Vic would only be able to keep her condition a secret for so long. They both knew eventually that she would start to show and it would be undeniable. So, he could understand the urgency in her words.
And as much as he hated to admit it, she had a good point.
If they could get something confirming that Sawyer Crane and Tucker Baggett were working together, it would blow holes all in the case against him. What was supposed to be a simple wrongful death suit would be exposed for the scheme that it was. One set to ruin him and take him out of office. If they could prove to a judge that this was all some crazy vendetta brought about by those who wanted to see him fall, then their chances of having the case completely dismissed were good. More than good according to his own attorney.
Walt dipped his chin a little.
"Okay. Forget I said anything. But…you have to promise me that you will be careful and not take any unnecessary risks. And…I want to know when you're meeting with Sawyer. Someone needs to have your back."
She nodded.
"Fair enough."
Vic reached up and stifled a yawn. Walt glanced at the clock and realized just how long they had been lost in conversation. It was late. Or early, depending on your point of view. Walt felt his own features soften.
"You should get some rest."
She smiled sleepily.
"Yeah, so should you."
Vic lay her head back down on the pillow facing him. Walt relaxed as well, laying back. Her eyes were still half open and on him.
"There's something else."
Walt raised his eyebrows.
"What's that?"
"I was scared to tell you."
Walt turned his head fully in her direction at the sound of her confession.
"Why?"
She shrugged the littlest bit.
"Don't know. Just…was."
Walt extended his hand and let his palm come to rest fully on her back.
"Don't ever be scared to tell me something like that, Vic."
She nodded and her eyes closed slowly. Walt lay there, waiting for her to fall asleep before surrendering himself.