Author's Note: I think it's important to note that while this story is mostly centered around Michonne, Rick, and Carl there are other stories to be told. I want to make sure I write something that tells all the character's stories fairly. Again I want to say thank you so much for the reviews, I really appreciate all of you taking time out to write helpful criticisms and praises. Also to flacagonzales who left a review stating that her daughter had a very scary encounter at school, I see you. There is so much danger that kids face when going to school today and it's ridiculous. No child should have to be fearful of losing their life at school. Something needs to change.

I humbly submit this chapter from my insomniac mind :)

"I shouldn't be here."

Rick sat outside of the hospital telling himself that over and over but still hadn't driven away. He left before his shift started, making sure Carl was still asleep.

Mike Freeman was in there.

He knew he should stay in his car and just drive away.

But he didn't.

He unbuckled himself and adjusted his holster as he slammed the door shut.

He walked through the otherwise quiet hospital nodding at familiar faces and he smiled when he saw an old friend.

Sasha Williams was busy typing away on her computer when Rick approached her. She stopped her work and smiled up at him.

"Good morning Officer." She greeted and Rick nodded back as he stepped in closer."Can I help you?"

"I'm hoping to visit a patient." He said lowly and Sasha looked back at him with an amused look.

"I see. Name?" She asked and Rick looked over his shoulder.

"Michael Freeman." He answered and Sasha stood up and walked around the desk to stand in front of him.

"Is this official business?" She asked and Rick stared down at her. He wasn't quite sure how to play this.

He flashed her badge and she narrowed her eyes at him. He shifted under her gaze but maintained eye contact.

"I don't know exactly what happened with him and Michonne but I know it's not good. I also know that Martinez and Walsh came and talked to him earlier." She said and Rick tilted his head to the side slightly.

"Which room is he in?" He asked calmly and Sasha shook her head. She wasn't scared of Rick but she was worried about why he was here by himself. Why he seemed so adamant about seeing Mike.

"I don't think I can tell you that Rick." She said as she moved back behind the desk and Rick sighed. "I don't think I can tell you but- I," She dropped an open folder in front of him and he glanced down, "I do know that I can't stop you if you happen to see what's in this folder." She swirled her chair away from him and he quickly looked down at the paper.

207

"Thank you." He said with a bow of his head as he moved away from the desk. His boots clicked down the hall as he walked harshly and with purpose down to the room.

He stepped into the room and was surprised to see that Mike wasn't in the bed. The door to the bathroom was closed so Rick figured he was in there. He closed the curtains and closed off the view from outside the room. He moved the chair from the corner of the room closer to the bed and sat down.

The toilet flushed and Rick sat up just as the door opened. Mike shuffled out of the bathroom with a noticeable limp. Rick almost smiled at Desmond's damage on Mike. That was definitely the work of a vengeful father.

His eyes were almost swollen shut and there was a cast on his right arm and another bandage on his left. Mike didn't seem to notice Rick sitting in the room and fell back onto the bed with an exhausted breath.

"You know I never understood what men got out of making women feel weak." Rick said and Mike jumped in surprise when he finally noticed another person was in the room. He looked around and finally saw Rick sitting in front of him. "It's take a real son of a bitch to do that doesn't it Mike?" Rick asked his voice low and Mike stumbled to stand up.

"Sit down." Rick growled and Mike did so almost instantly. It was silent in the room for a moment and Mike waited anxiously for Rick's next move.

"I've already said what I needed to say to the other cops. I don't have to talk to you." Mike stated boldly and Rick smiled.

"Nah, I'm not here to talk." Rick said as he dragged his chair to the foot of the bed. He sat back down and watched Mike squirm under his glare.

"You w-won't do anything. You can't do anything, you're a cop!" Mike warned as he fumbled around for the nurse call button.

Rick grabbed Mike's hand to keep him from moving and Mike stared up at him in shock.. Mike pulled away from him and Rick held on tighter.

Mike managed to pull his hand away from Rick's and he looked up at him with curious eyes. Suddenly a look of recognition came across his face and he smirked.

"Oh shit I remember you. You were at my house one night.. Staring at my Michonne like some lovesick puppy. I fucking remember you." Mike said through a light laugh and Rick took a step away from the bed. "She's not worth it. Whatever this is. She only sees you and your freak boy as a charity case, it's what she does. Fixes people and-." Mike didn't finish his sentence before Rick punched him in his already cracked cheek bone.

Before Mike could react to the assault Rick had wrapped a hand around his throat. He squeezed hard and he ignored Mike's hand clawing at his own.

"I think it's time someone shuts you the fuck up." Rick spat in a voice that even he didn't even recognize.

All he could think about was how afraid Michonne seemed last night. He thought about his son that Mike dared to speak about. He thought about Lori and Shane and the fucked up shit that had happened to his and so many other families this last year.

"Rick stop!" Sasha yelled as she pulled Rick way from Mike and he let go of Mike instantly.

His eyes were wild and pale as he looked at Sasha who was staring at him in confusion and fear. She shook her head and he took a step back and ran his hand over his face roughly.

Daryl entered the room and looked around confused. "What the fuck are you doing Rick?" Daryl asked as he pushed him further away from Mike who was being checked on by Sasha.

"Rick get out of here." Daryl mumbled and Rick did so without another word. He took a deep breath when he was out of the room and paced back and forth when Daryl stepped out.

"What are you doing here?" Rick asked and Daryl shoved Rick in the chest.

"What am I doing here? What the fuck are you doing here?! What were you going to do, kill him?!" Daryl whispered harshly and Rick folded his arms over his chest. "Sasha called me and said you were here. That you were actin weird. But Jesus man I didn't think I'd be walkin into you tryin to strangle the man. You've lost your goddamn mind!" Daryl said and Rick stared at his partner with his nostrils flared.

"Don't." Rick warned and Daryl took a step back from him. "He said something about Carl."

Something about Michonne.

"Look man you think you're the only person who wanted to come down here and kick his ass all over again? But I'll tell you what Carl and Michonne don't need is you attempting to murder Mike." Daryl warned and Rick walked away and down the hall. "I'm going to have to tell the Captain. You know I am Rick." Daryl warned as he watched Rick walk away.

"I know!" Rick yelled back without breaking his stride.

And even as he drove to the station he wished he had just finished the job.

" Three weeks no pay and you are suspended until the investigation is finished." Captain Lee said and Rick nodded his head as he moved to stand up. "Grimes this is unlike you." Captain Lee said and Rick sat back down and scratched at his brow.

"Is it unlike me?" Rick asked and Captain Lee stared intently at the younger man. "With all do respect sir, I don't think I've ever done anything that was less like me." He moved to leave again when the Captain spoke up.

"Did I ever tell you about Camille Robertson?" He asked and Rick just stared at him. "She was this woman that used to come into the station almost every night back in 89'. Back when I was still a rookie. I thought she was the most beautiful, broken creature I had ever seen. She had a shit husband who loved to beat on her." Captain Lee began and Rick sat back down.

"She was the one who called him in and the one who always came to bail him out. I just couldn't understand. And then one day she stopped calling. Didn't hear anything from her for months. Found out that she had tried to leave one night, husband found out and pushed her down. She hit her head on the side of the coffee table and died instantly." Lee deadpanned with a distant frown.

"I can't say I agree with what you did but I understand." Captain Lee said and Rick nodded as he left. "You can't let this anger take over, you can't always be the one to bring justice. I want you to take this time Rick. Figure out why you did what you did." Captain Lee advised him and Rick turned to face him as he opened the door. "I need your badge and your gun son." Lee said quietly and Rick took his gun out of his holster and fished out his badge from his pocket.

He slapped them both on the table and left the station without another word.

Jessie Anderson sat in her room in silence. She lived most of her life like this now- in the darkness and alone. She moved her fingers over the glossy pictures of Ron and sighed. She didn't have anyone to talk about the pain of losing a child, she was sure nobody wanted to listen.

Ron was an angry boy. Jessie knew that, she think she always knew he had a problem.

He used to play particularly rough with Sam and would struggle showing remorse for any of his actions.

Pete said it was normal behavior of a boy, some bullshit about masculinity.

But of course, Pete wasn't the best person to turn to for advice.

He punctuated his arguments with fists and usually only spoke in harsh, spitting, tones to her and their boys.

She took his anger and had always foolishly hoped that her boys would always remain unaffected by it all.

Her youngest, Sam, was quiet and began regressing. He was wetting himself at school and hardly spoke to anyone but her and sometimes Ron.

And Ron? Ron was just always so angry.

Last night she saw him alive he seemed better. He ate dinner with her and Sam and laughed at her corny jokes. He offered to do the dishes and hugged her goodnight- something he hadn't done in years.

She woke up from a call from the police and a note on the kitchen table.

I'm sorry mom.

It's lonely.

Yes I kinda do need to write about Jessie. But it won't be too much just enough to add some realism and a new perspective. Next chapter we're going to see Michonne returning home and Rick dealing with the aftermath of attacking Mike.

P.S! Wanna listen to some music while reading? I am still constructing the playlist to go along with the story but should have the first 13 songs ready soon. Spoiler alert there will be a lot of James Blake, some Billy Joel, some Lauryn Hill... Johnny Cash. Something for everyone. So listen! Or don't lol