I'm on a roll! Please enjoy this new chapter. I'm adding a new perspective this chapter that I hope will enrich our story a little bit.
Daryl Dixon looked around the office of his therapist with interest. He didn't know or care much about interior design, but he figured this was one of the nicest places he had seen in awhile.
Instead of the office having sterile, whitewalls like the walls were a nice burnt orange with dim, intimate lighting. There was a nice woven carpet in front of a plush leather couch and to Daryl's surprise there was no desk. Just a couch and chair with a large window looking down at downtown King County. But the most notable thing about Michonne's office was the framed katana she had over the couch. Daryl kept meaning to ask about it but never remembered after their sessions began.
He walked over to a bookshelf and picked up a picture of a young boy smiling up into the sky. Daryl smirked at the picture and placed it back on the bookshelf just at the door opened and Michonne stepped in.
"Good afternoon Daryl, I apologize for the wait." Michonne said as she reached for Daryl's outstretched hand. She gripped his elbow gently and gave him a smile that put him at ease. She motioned for him to sit down as she moved across the room and reached into the cabinet.
"You want something to drink?" She asked as she rummaged on the top shelf and Daryl grunted.
"What I want to drink isn't exactly three in the afternoon appropriate."
Michonne turned to him and smiled as she pulled two bottles of water out of the cabinet. She shut it and took a seat in the chair directly across from the couch. She reached out and held a water bottle to him. He stared at her for a moment before taking it and screwing off the top. He took a long sip of water before leaning back into the couch.
"So Daryl," She takes a drink of her water and lets out a sigh, "What's going on?" She asks and Daryl bites on the side of his thumb nervously.
"Night terrors are coming back. Wake up most nights now drenched in sweat." He explained and Michonne's eyes softened with sympathy. It had been a couple weeks since their last meeting but Daryl hadn't talked about having night terrors in a while.
"Same thing happened in the dreams?" Michonne asked quietly and Daryl nodded and closed his eyes briefly. "Have you told Paul?"
Daryl laughed and scratched at his bread. "Jesus knows everything."
Michonne rolled her eyes and let out a small laugh herself. Paul was a friend some college and had been dating Daryl for a little over a year now. It was Paul's suggestion and the King County Police departments insistence (court order) that got Daryl in Michonne's office. Michonne considered the silent deputy a friend and hated to see him so distraught.
"I-I get panicky? Whenever I see Rick I don't know- I just feel like I'm gonna barf." Daryl admitted and Michonne leaned in with a raised brow.
"Rick?" She asked genuinely surprised by the revelation. Daryl had rarely talked about his partner Rick and after having spent the night with Rick and Carl last week Michonne was- interested in Rick- the Grimes.
"I was the first person to respond to the shooting. The first person inside the school while the shooter was still active." Daryl reminded her and Michonne noted that he began to pull on the loose fabrics on his jeans.
"I- I still remember seeing-." Daryl's breath came out much harsher and Michonne pulled her glasses down from her hair and onto her face. She tried to remain professional but seeing a friend in such distress, even if he was a client hurt her.
"Daryl." She whispered and he buried his face into his hands. "Daryl I want to remember that you have PTSD from everything. From serving overseas, and losing your parents and Merle. You have been through a lot."
"Shit Chonne. I saw Carl get shot in the face. I wasn't fast enough. And- and I killed a kid." Daryl wailed into his hands and Michonne abandoned the chair and scooted next to Daryl. She rested her cheek against his back and grabbed his hand tightly.
"You were fast enough- you stopped that boy from hurting a lot more people. And Carl? Daryl, Carl is doing fine. He's still here because of your action." Michonne said insistently and Daryl shook his head.
"I still had to kill a kid." He mumbled pitifully. "I shot a kid and now I don't know if I'll ever be okay." Michonne held her arms open and Daryl sobbed in her embrace. She tapped his back and he pulled back to look at her.
"I think you've earned something a little stronger than water." Michonne said with a wet smile and Daryl rolled his eyes. He stood up and reached behind a few books on the bookshelf where he knew their shared bottle of moonshine to be.
Daryl quickly opened the bottle of warm brown liquor and took a swig before handing the bottle off to Michonne. She cringed the whole time while she took a substantial drink for herself.
"Jesus Doc, save some for me." Daryl said humorlessly and Michonne moved to the window opening it up to allow in fresh air.
"You know this job isn't easy. I've spent years making a career of helping people deal with a very particular type of grief. And I know my ways are- unconventional, but I think it getting harder to keep doing this." Michonne admitted and Daryl watched as she stuck her head out of the window and took a deep breath.
"Have you ever, cured someone of PTSD?" Daryl asked seriously and Michonne turned to face him while shutting the window slightly.
"I don't think it's necessarily something you're cured of." Michonne answered and she furrowed her brows as she considered her next words. "Not cured of you just- learn to live again. You learn that life went on before and will go on after trauma."
Daryl wrung his hand nervously and nodded. He pulled at his leather vest and cleared his throat. Michonne reached into her back pocket and pulled out her phone.
"You're still taking your medicine?" She asked and Daryl nodded his head. She tapped on her phone a few times and smiled up at him. "I'm going to refer you to a psychiatrist. Her name is Denise Cloyd, she's great. I want to discuss getting you on something to help with sleep but I don't want it to interfere with your depression medication." Michonne explained and Daryl took a deep breath.
"More medicine? I'm starting to feel like a fucking pharmacy." Daryl said as he reached into his pocket and took a cigarette out of his carton. He placed it on his lips and Michonne let out a disapproving groan.
"We're inside an office Daryl, and I can't as your friend or therapist support you smoking." Michonne giggled and Daryl gave her a small smile as he tucked the cigarette behind his ear.
"I think we're done here Doc. My ride should be here anyway." Daryl said as he headed to the door and Michonne followed.
One thing that Daryl appreciated about Michonne is that she never pushed him for more than he was able to give. When he said a session was over, it was over. Some days it was the full two hours and other days he was out within twenty minutes. Daryl opened the door and Michonne walked behind him and took him to his receptionist.
"Ms. Jacqueline would you please schedule Daryl for the same time next week. Can you also call over to Dr. Cloyd's offer and make sure she received my referral for Mr. Dixon." Michonne requested as she leaned against the tall desk and Jaqui nodded as she smiled at Daryl.
"Are you feeling any better?" Michonne asked and Daryl smirked.
"I'm certainly feeling drunk." He teased quietly and Michonne nudged him. Jaqui handed Daryl a business card with his next appointment on it and Michonne began to bid him goodbye when Rick entered the waiting room his hat in hand.
When he saw Michonne and Daryl talking he looked surprised but smiled and approached the two. Rick stared at Michonne and could only hope he wasn't drooling. She looked.. Good. No great. Her glasses were something else that she looked great in and Rick wondered if there was anything she didn't look good in. She had her hair twisted into a low bun and had gold hoops in. She wore a burgundy silk top that was tucked into a tan pencil skirt.
Once again Rick chided himself for noticing these things about Michonne and he looked away.
"Carl was asking about coming to the meeting tomorrow. He really did enjoy it." Rick said earnestly and Michonne smiled and inadvertently moved closer to him. Rick smiled and stared into her eyes for a moment, he wished he had something- anything cooler to say to her but all he could do was…Stare.
Daryl looked between the two and rolled his eyes. For Rick and Michonne being two of the smartest people he had met, they were dumb as shit.
"Hey Doc, why don't you join us for some beer and wings down at Dale's?" Daryl offered and Michonne sighed ruefully.
"I actually have to go pick up Andre from my mother's. But please pencil me in for a rain check." Michonne said and Rick nodded.
"How is Andre? Carl also asked about him." Rick said and Michonne laughed at the thought of Andre asking about his new friend Carl ever night.
"Still curious, and kind; Way smarter than both of his parents. He asks about Carl every day."
Daryl sighed and grabbed his cigarette and jerked his head towards the door.
"I'll be outside." He held his hand up to Michonne and out the door. Rick watched Daryl for a moment before turning back to Michonne.
"So I'll see you tomorrow? You, Carl, and Lori?" Michonne asked and Rick's smile faltered. Shit. Lori.
"Yeah. All of us- See you then Ms. Gavins," He frowned before correcting himself, "Michonne."
Michonne was charmed by Rick's awkwardness and waved goodbye to him as he left the room behind Daryl.
Michonne pulled into her mother's driveway and stared ahead at her beautiful mid century house. She sighed and rubbed at the back of her neck and cringed as her hand hit a fresh bruise on her back. Michonne looked down at her wrist and noticed there were purple bruises beginning to form on her wrists. She pulled her sleeves down further before pulling down the visor and checking her makeup.
After deeming herself presentable she let herself out the car and marched her way up the driveway.
She knocked on the door and waited a moment before her mother opened the door.
Deanna opened the door with Andre balanced on her hip. Michonne laughed at the sight of her mother carrying her son on his hip. He was nearly half the size of her now but that didn't stop her from carrying her only grandchild everywhere. Deanna Monroe was a petite woman standing no taller than 5'3 with a delightful smile and the best advise. Although she wasn't Michonne's blood mother she had been in her life since Michonne's father married her 15 years ago.
"Michonne, darling. Let's talk."
A couple things to think about this chapter;Daryl is obviously going through some major trauma and grieving since the shooting. I'm excited to tell his story. Also Rick is struggling to understand his feelings towards Michonne, I think some of it is gratitude and a lot of it is actual attraction- definitely something he hasn't felt in a while if ever. And lastly Michonne. Our sweet Michonne is going through somethings as well that I will definitely touch on in the next few chapters. There is more Richonne to come!