Ch. 19

Walt felt like he had paced several miles around the waiting room. He hadn't even attempted to sit. He knew that wasn't going to happen. Not until he had some information. His hat lay where he had tossed it on a table atop a handful of scattered magazines. Walt reached up and rubbed his hands over his face. Hearing brisk footsteps coming down the hall, he stopped his pacing and turned just in time see Weston appear. The man always looked tired to him. And, this was no exception. He looked at Walt while he removed his thin rimmed glasses and rubbed his eyes before replacing the glasses.

"Sheriff."

Walt nodded.

"Doc, she alright?"

Weston glanced around the waiting room. Gesturing at Walt, he started to retreat down the hall he just came from.

"Come with me so we can talk."

Walt nodded and followed Weston, leaving his hat where it still lay. He was led to a small room. Weston stepped inside and closed the door.

"Normally, I would prefer to talk with family."

Walt shifted his weight nervously from one foot to the other.

"Her family isn't here."

Walt recognized the roughness of his own voice. Weston nodded.

"I know. And she does have you listed as an emergency contact. Were you uh…aware of any condition she might've had?"

Walt had zero patience in the moment for the doctor's attempt at discretion. It was yet another facet of their secret that made things difficult. He nearly told the doctor he was the father, but managed to rein in the frustration and impatience that threatened to overtake him.

"You mean that she was pregnant."

It wasn't a question on Walt's part. The doctor seemed to recognize that.

"Yes."

Walt nodded.

"Yeah, I know about it. Is she okay?"

Weston put his hand on Walt's upper arm for a couple of seconds.

"She's fine. Or she will be. In a couple of weeks. She's…miscarried the baby, though."

Walt felt the world spin on its axis and a loud rushing sound filled his ears. He swallowed and shook his head, trying to comprehend the word. Trying to understand what Weston was telling him and wrap his mind around it.

"Miscarried?"

Weston gave him a somber look.

"I'm afraid so."

"W…why? What happened?"

Weston shook his head.

"There's no real way to know right now. But, at this point in pregnancy, it's not uncommon. Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester. More than likely, there was a problem with the fetus that the body recognized. There's a good chance this isn't something that could've been prevented."

Walt reached up and ran his hand over his hair.

"Right. Um…can I see her?"

Weston glanced over his shoulder.

"She's asleep right now. We gave her a sedative to help her get some sleep. But, you're welcome to sit with her."

Walt nodded.

"Thanks, Doc."

Weston dipped his face a little.

"I'm sorry I don't have better news. I'll talk to her when she wakes up."

Walt stared at him.

"Does she know?"

Weston looked wary of that question as he pulled the door open. Walt followed him out into the hall. It was quiet and dark in contrast to most of Walt's visits here.

"She did. Now, how much she remembers when she wakes up, I can't say. There was a lot happening and trauma is different for everyone."

Looking away, Weston motioned for him.

"She's right in here. She should sleep for a couple more hours."

The doctor left him standing outside the door. Walt pulled it open and stepped inside. Vic was in a bed sleeping, just like Weston had said. Walt walked over to the bed and looked down at her. She still looked pale. He extended his hand and brushed some hair out of her face. Her skin was cool to the touch. The room was cold. He pulled the blanket up a little higher on her and pulled a chair over closer to the bed, so that he could sit down closer to her.

Lowering himself into the chair, he leaned forward, putting some of his weight onto the bed. He ran his hand lightly down the arm closest to him and traced his fingers across the small bones of her wrist. She seemed small in this bed in this room. Walt let out a sigh and let his head come to rest on the bed beside her.

xxx

Vic's head hurt. That was the first sensation she became aware of as her mind attempted to surface from the drug induced rest. She tried to open her eyes and they didn't want to work. God, her mouth was dry. She tried to swallow, but there was nothing to really swallow. Her mouth felt sticky and almost pasty. Inhaling, she tried her eyes again. This time, they opened.

Vic squinted and turned her head to the side. She felt someone's hand on her arm. It was warm on her skin and the warmth felt good.

"Vic?"

The voice sounded far away. She closed her eyes and opened them again, the room around her coming into focus. Her mind felt fuzzy like it didn't really want to work for her. She heard the voice again. This time, it sounded closer.

"Vic."

He was saying her name softly. In a gentle tone.

"Walt?"

The word came out sounding raspy. She could really feel his hand now, more insistently. He was standing beside her, leaned over a little, a look of concern on his face. A small smile flitted over his features when she looked at him.

"Hey, you're awake. "

She looked around.

"Do…do…"

Walt's hand moved to her face and stroked gently over her cheekbone.

"You're okay, Vic."

She tried to clear her throat. Walt seemed to recognize what she needed.

"Water?"

Vic nodded at the offer. Walt moved away momentarily and produced a plastic cup with a straw.

"Here."

He held it for her while she took a couple of sips."

Pulling the cup away, he set it down.

"Better."

She cleared her throat again, this time with more success.

"Yeah."

Her voice was still hoarse, but not as much as before. Walt's hand landed on her arm again. He could see she was still struggling to recall why she was here in this hospital bed.

"Wh…what happened?"

Walt felt a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. This was a moment he had been dreading since Weston broke the news to him.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

She frowned and he could see her trying to retrieve the memories.

"We were…at work?"

She sounded like she needed confirmation of that.

"Yeah, we were. You called me into the bathroom. Do you remember?"

She looked at him with an odd look

"I called you…"

Her voice faded out and he saw a thousand different things run across her face. The moment the thought came to her, he could see it as clear as day written across the features of her face.

"The baby."

Under normal circumstances, she should've been able to tell just by the look on his face. She was good at that. But, Vic merely looked at him with questions in her eyes that threatened to unravel that thin thread that his own emotions were being held in by.

"The baby…you had a miscarriage. You lost the baby, Vic."

She stared at him for a long moment like she was trying to process that. Walt stood by her bedside, his hand still on her arm, his grip tightening a little. She finally responded.

"Right."

That was it. Nothing like what he was expecting. Vic reached up and rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands. Walt wondered how much of this was actually permeating her brain and sinking in. Her lack of a reaction now made him feel apprehensive for the delayed reaction she would likely have later.

"What…happened?"

Her words were quiet, strained. Walt shook his head.

"They…don't know. Weston said this isn't uncommon at this stage."

She nodded and bit down on her lip.

"Do you…need anything? Do you want me to leave you alone for a while?"

Her eyes found his. They seemed out of focus and hazy. She shook her head in a manner that was barely perceptible.

"No."

She shifted her eyes away and to her hands, which were picking at the stiff white sheet that covered her.

"Any idea when I can leave?"

He hadn't even thought about that.

"No. Do you want me to go and find the doctor? Let him know that you're awake."

Her chest expanded and then fell again as she took a deep breath.

"Yeah. Please."

Walt wasn't anxious for her to leave the hospital. But, some part of him wanted to take her away from this place. Wanted to tuck her away somewhere safe and shield her from all that he knew was coming. Walt gave her arm a squeeze before letting go and wandering out into the hall in search of Weston.

xxx

Vic put up more of a fight to go home than he anticipated. And by that, he meant her own home at the RV park. By the time Weston cleared her for release and all the paperwork was in order, the effects of the sedative had completely worn off. That made her a much less agreeable version of herself. Her mood was dark and Walt took care not to push her, other than what was necessary. He didn't relish being on the receiving end of her snappiness.

He insisted on helping her into the Bronco, closing the door behind her and hurrying around to get in the driver's side. He started the engine and looked across the front seat at her. She seemed somewhat distracted, her eyes focused on some unseen point out her window. She seemed to sense his attention.

"Just take me home."

Walt gripped the wheel, steeling himself for the argument he knew was coming.

"You shouldn't be alone right now."

She kept her eyes turned away from him.

"The doctor said I was fine."

Walt looked her way.

"That's…not what I meant, Vic."

She dropped her eyes from the window and they fell on her hands sitting still in her lap.

"I'll be okay. I'm just…tired. I really just want to go to bed."

Walt wasn't prepared to give up just yet.

"You can do that at my place."

Seconds ticked by as they sat in a silent standoff. He was unsure what was running through her head and that worried him.

"You'll just hover and I don't have the energy for that right now."

Walt looked out the windshield at the dark parking lot. He had no idea what time it was. Early morning, most likely.

"Vic, come to the cabin. Just for a while. I'll take you home when the sun comes up if that's what you want. But, please come home with me now."

Another heavy silence fell over them and he could see her considering his point. After what felt like an eternity, Vic lifted her eyes to meet his. It seemed like the first time she had looked him in the eye since she woke up.

"Fine."

Relief washed over him. He put the Bronco in drive and pulled out. Walt cast looks in her direction on the ride to his cabin. If she noticed, she didn't say anything about it. Normally, that type of thing annoyed her to no end. But, she seemed eerily disconnected from her surroundings. It did little to ease the worry he was feeling.

Walt parked his Bronco in its normal spot. His intention was to get around and help her out. But, Vic had other ideas, sliding from the Bronco before he could get to her. So, he settled for a hand on her shoulder as she walked gingerly into the cabin. Walt flipped on the lights and set his hat aside.

"Are you hungry?"

His question was met with a wordless shake of her head. Vic sat down on the couch and eased her boots off. Leaning forward, she rested her arms on her thighs and took several deep breaths. Walt wasn't sure what to do, so he waited.

After a few minutes, she looked up at him with a hollow expression.

"I'm gonna get a shower and go to bed."

Walt nodded and moved to help her with that endeavor. She clearly didn't want him following her around, so he busied himself getting her a shirt of his to wear and some fresh towels. He needed to do something. At least this way he felt useful. He found her in the bathroom pulling her tank top slowly over her head. Her work shirt and jeans were already discarded on the bathroom floor. The water in his shower was running and he could see a bit of steam rising up from the hot water.

"Need anything else?"

Vic looked around the bathroom like she was looking for something. In the end, she replied with a slow shake of her head and more quiet words.

"No, I'm good."

He lingered a moment longer until she was stepping into the shower and stepping under the warm spray. Walt left her alone, hoping a shower would be the first step in relaxing her, connecting with her. He felt like a boat with no anchor in choppy waves at the mercy of the ocean.

Walt retreated to the living room, where he started a fire and pulled his own boots off. With nothing else to keep him busy, he sat down on the couch to wait.

xxx

Vic knew he meant well. And, she hated herself for feeling like snapping at him. But, all she really wanted to do was sleep. Her preference would have been to do that at her RV, but she was quickly getting the impression that Walt would camp out there if she persisted in her intentions to go home. Sleeping at the cabin and going home in the morning seemed like a good enough trade off in the moment.

He passed her a clean t-shirt and a couple of towels as he came into the bathroom. While undressing, she had already turned the water on to warm up. She wanted to wash off the feel of the hospital and the events of the evening. Under a different set of circumstances, she might've remarked that this wasn't her first night here and she knew where everything was. But, in the back of her mind, she knew he needed to feel helpful. She certainly didn't have the energy to protest, anyway.

She felt a bit of relief when he finally left her alone, pulling the door closed behind him. The relief made a twinge of guilt pull at her. But, she pushed it down. Right now, the only feelings she could be responsible for were her own. She lacked the strength to also deal with Walt's.

Vic closed her eyes as she stepped under the spray of water. Admittedly, his shower was a bit roomier than her own with better water pressure. Vic rubbed her hands over her face and up through her hair, her fingers digging between the strands and into her scalp. She took her time washing her hair and then her body. The smell of her shampoo and soap were grounding and she was grateful she kept her own preferred toiletries at Walt's. Once her hair was clean and she rinsed the last of the soap suds from her pinking skin, she stood for a few more minutes just letting the water run over her with her eyes closed. Taking a deep breath, she shut the water off and leaned her head against the shower wall. As the steam from the water began to clear, she felt a chill start to settle over her. It was that feeling that drove her from the shower and into the towels Walt had given her. She hurriedly wrapped her hair in one towel to keep it from dripping onto her neck and back, while she used the second one to dry her body.

Dressing, she pulled the towel holding her hair up free and let them both fall to the floor. Vic used her palm to clear the steam filled mirror and drug a brush over her hair. Normally, she would put more effort into drying it. But right now, the pull of going to bed was too strong. Pulling the door open, she stepped into Walt's bedroom. She looked through the door and saw him sitting on the couch.

Vic left the door open and crawled into his bed, which was admittedly more comfortable than the one at her RV. Something about the heavy quilt and sheets gave her an inexplicable sense of comfort. She settled onto the side she normally occupied and let out a sigh of relief as some of the tension coiled in her eased. The bedding smelled like a combination of detergent and Walt.

Burying her face in the pillow, she allowed her eyes to drift closed.

xxx

Walt heard her come out of the bathroom. He heard her movements as she walked from his bathroom to his bed. He heard the soft rustle of Vic getting into the bed and settling down in the sheets. His first instinct was to get up and go to her right then. But, the more rational side of his brain spoke up and reminded him that she didn't want him to hover. Right now, she seemed to want space. Whether he liked it or not, he would grant her that. It was her needs that needed to be prioritized over his own.

So, he waited. He sat on the couch watching the fire. Quiet settled over the bedroom. Walt wiped his hands over his jeans and stood up. He added another log to the fire and stoked it in order to gain maximum warmth from the fire. Satisfied with his work, he turned off the lights and made his way slowly into the bedroom.

He could just smell the scent of her in his bathroom as the last of the steam from her shower dissipated. He cast a look at her curled up in the bed. To no surprise at all, she seemed to be sleeping. That was good as far as he was concerned. More than anything else, she needed rest.

Walt retreated into the bathroom and made quick work of his own bedtime preparations. He showered quickly before brushing his teeth and turning the light off. He found Vic in the same position as before, the steady rhythm of her breathing reaching his ears and offering him some measure of comfort. Walt eased himself into the bed next to her, taking care not to touch or jostle her. The last thing she needed was for him to wake her up.

Walt settled in and let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He didn't know what the next day or days would hold for her or for them. But, right now, he tried not to think about it. For the moment, she was here with him and safe. That was the thought he held onto as he fell asleep.

xxx

It was light when she opened her eyes. Vic rolled onto her back and let her eyes drift to the ceiling. The space beside her was empty, but it was clear Walt had slept there. Vic closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Despite sleeping for a few hours, she still felt drained emotionally and physically. Rubbing her eyes with her hands, she opened them again.

Placing her feet on the floor, she looked around the room looking for her clothes from the previous night. Not finding them, she shrugged and stood up, feeling a bit unsteady. Vic paused to wait for the feeling to pass before walking slowly into the bathroom. Walt had picked up the towels and must have done something with her clothes. Shaking her head, she left the bathroom and shuffled into the living room.

She was greeted by the smell of coffee and of Walt scrambling eggs at the stove. He looked her way when he heard her feet brush over the floor. His expression was one of concern.

"Coffee will be ready in a few minutes."

Vic nodded. Moving to the table in his kitchen, she sat down. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion.

"Where are my clothes."

Walt looked at her over his shoulder.

"I washed them. They're drying."

"Okay. Thanks."

He pulled the pan from the stove and moved around the kitchen with precision as he doled the eggs out onto two plates. Vic started to stand, but Walt waved her off.

"I got it. Just sit."

She hated being treated like an invalid, but she also lacked the motivation to do anything. So, she accepted his words and waited. Walt set the plates on the table and poured them cups of coffee. When she saw him getting ready to add milk and sugar to hers, she spoke up.

"I can fix my coffee, Walt."

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stirred in the milk and sugar, lightening the color of her coffee to almost caramel. He walked over and offered it to her with an unapologetic look.

"I know you can."

Vic took the coffee and sipped it. A few more swallows made her feel almost human. Walt paused before sitting.

"Do you want juice?"

She shook her head.

"Coffee's fine."

Walt nodded and sat down, taking a drink of his own coffee. Taking a bite, he looked up at her. She was chewing slowly, but she was eating. He couldn't ask for much more than that considering everything that had happened. She took slow deliberate bites of her breakfast and intermittent sips from her coffee cup until it was gone. Walt was pleasantly surprised to see her clean her plate. Once it was gone, she sat there with her eyes on the blue mug, tracing her finger around the rim.

"Did you sleep okay?"

Without looking at him, she nodded in answer to his question. Walt watched her, his own plate now empty. He needed to go in to the office for a while, at least. But, he was hesitant to leave her alone. As though she was reading his mind, she spoke up.

"Can you drop me off at home on your way in?"

Walt's eyes stayed on her. Her eyes stayed on the mug in front of her.

"Why don't you just stay here?"

She looked up then. Her eyes met his, but they didn't seem to connect.

"All of my stuff is at home. My clothes."

Walt tapped one finger on the wooden surface of the table.

"I can pick you up some clothes."

Vic shook her head.

"I want to go home."

The sentence hung in the air between them. Walt nodded with a defeated sigh.

"Okay. I'll check on your clothes after I clean up. Should be dry enough to put on by then."

She stood up.

"Thank you."

xxx

As much as she hated to admit it, Vic was glad when Walt dropped her off at her RV and pulled out. He offered to walk her in, but she assured him that she would be fine and slid from the Bronco without much more than a half-hearted wave. She could sense his hesitation, but once she opened her door, she heard the crunch of gravel as the Bronco pulled out. Once she was inside, she locked the door and looked around. She hadn't spent much time here lately. Most of her nights were spent at Walt's. She liked being there. But right now, being in his presence felt stifling. She could practically hear him thinking and worrying.

Vic undressed, discarding her damp clothes. Pulling on a pair of cotton pants and a clean tank top, she sat down on the couch with a sigh. She left the lights off, so the only light was what filtered in through her curtains. The effect was a gauzy, hazy effect. That was how she felt. It was accurate reflection of her own psyche.

She felt mixed up by her own feelings. Being a mother was never something she coveted or thought much about. It never defined who she was or who she saw herself as. Then, she found out she was pregnant. The moment scared her shitless. She would be lying if she even suggested otherwise. It was so unexpected and not something she really imagined for herself. The thought of having kids was always an abstract kind of thing in her mind. Until it was a reality. Until she heard the heartbeat and saw the tiny mass of cells that was growing in her womb. That moment made it real.

It sunk it slowly after that initial moment of impact. It seemed like forever ago and it seemed like yesterday. Once the shock wore off, she started to really give it some thought. It was funny how one tiny thing could impact so much of her life. She knew adding a child to the mix would change everything. It would change her job and the way she approached it. It would change her day to day life and the way she lived it. It would change her relationship with Walt. No longer would they simply be together. They would be parents. Whether intentional or not, that would change everything between them.

Now, all of that was gone and she didn't even know why. It felt like her body had betrayed her when she needed it the most. All that kept running through her head was what she could have done differently to change this. Was there anything that could have altered the outcome? Weston attempted to assure her that most likely there was not. But, Vic knew it was something he couldn't guarantee. All he could off her were empty words about how these things happened and it wasn't preventable most of the time.

Most of the time.

That left a window of uncertainty in her mind. There was nothing concrete proving that this was not her fault. There was no clear evidence that she wasn't somehow to blame for this turn of events. That was what lingered in her mind. That was what her gut told her.

Vic tried to shake off the thoughts. She looked around the RV. It was quiet. Maybe too quiet. She was stuck here as long as her truck was at work. Or until Walt came back. But, having Walt take her from one place to another made her feel dependent on him in a way she wasn't quite comfortable with. Vic stood up and pulled a blanket from a cabinet. Stretching out on the scratchy couch, she tried to fall asleep with the hope that she might find some peace there. The peace that so far, eluded her.

xxx

Walt knocked on the door and waited. For the first few seconds his knock was met with silence. Then, he heard movement. He heard the lock turn and the door opened. Vic squinted down at him. Her hair was down and her expression was sleepy.

"Did I wake you?"

She yawned and stepped back as she pulled himself up the steps and into the RV.

"No."

Walt removed his hat and turned the brim in his hand before setting in on the counter.

"How are you feeling?"

His question was met with a shrug.

"Okay, I guess. I thought you were working."

"I was. I'm…off now. Quiet day."

Vic looked up at him, her face unreadable to him. Walt looked around. A blanket was wadded up on the couch along with a pillow.

"Did you get some sleep?"

"Not really."

She walked over to the couch and sat down rubbing her hands over her face. She did look tired.

"Have you eaten?"

She dropped her hands and looked up at him.

"At your place this morning."

He frowned.

"That was hours ago."

Vic rested her arms on her thighs.

"I'm not hungry. Anyway, I don't have much in the way of groceries. I haven't exactly had time to shop recently."

The words came out sharp. Sharper than he expected.

"Want me to pick you up some stuff."

Vic shook her head.

"No. Can you take me to get my truck?"

"It's still at work."

"Yeah, I know. I'll need it in the morning."

Walt felt himself bristle.

"Why?"

"Because…I'm going to work tomorrow."

She could see the protest on his face before he gave it a voice.

"That's not a good idea."

Vic stood up.

"What's not a good idea is me sitting here feeling useless."

"You need to rest. Give your body time to heal."

She dismissed his comment outright.

"It was a miscarriage. It's not like I was stabbed or something. There's…no injury."

"Maybe not physically. But…"

She cut him off, her impatience making itself known.

"Walt, I'm fine. I can't just sit here. It's not good for me."

"Come to the cabin. There's more room. More privacy."

She could see that he had no intention of backing down. But, neither did she. Vic sighed, her patience and her energy eroding rapidly.

"Either you take me to get my truck or I'll call Ferg and have him come get me."

She tossed out the ultimatum like she was throwing down a gauntlet. Challenging him. Walt placed his hands on his hips and studied her.

"Dr. Weston said you needed to rest. So…take a few days."

She stared at him.

"Where's my phone?"

Walt gave her a puzzled look.

"Your phone."

Vic nodded.

"Yeah, my phone."

Walt was quiet and she could see him thinking.

"Probably at work. I don't remember seeing it at the hospital."

"I need it."

Walt could see that she wasn't going to let go of this.

"Tell you what. You get dressed and I will take you to get something to eat and to get your phone. I…told Ruby and Ferg that you were sick."

She considered his offer.

"And my truck."

"Vic."

She never faltered in her stance.

"Walt."

He nodded slowly.

"Fine. But, we're not done with this topic."

xxx

"You need to eat."

Vic looked at the food.

"I'm not hungry."

"Vic, you gotta eat."

She sighed and picked up sandwich, taking a small bite. Walt hadn't been happy when she simply ordered a sandwich from Henry, but any food would be better than none. So, he stayed quiet. But now, she wasn't even eating what was in front of her. His own food was halfway gone and his own appetite wasn't really there either. His stomach felt sour.

She sipped her glass of water and swallowed the little bit of food she did eat. He was worried about her and there was no way around it. He couldn't get more than a couple of sentences out of her at once. Her eyes were dull, lacking their usual spark. Her entire demeanor was off. Vic was normally such a strong presence. Right now, she reminded him of how she was right after the ordeal at Chance Gilbert's place. That worried him. Her frame of mind after that had been so fragile. He was getting the same feeling from her right now.

"Eat at least half of it."

She gave him a long look.

"Or what?"

Walt shook his head.

"Nothing. I'm just asking."

He kept his tone as even as possible. He was well aware that she didn't take orders well, not even from him as her boss. He had known since the first time she walked into his office that it was her natural tendency to question authority and push boundaries. It was part of what made her who she was.

He saw her soften at the unspoken plea in his voice. She took another bite and chewed it slowly. If she felt anything like he did, her stomach felt like it was full of rocks. He could sympathize with her lack of an appetite. But, she needed to eat. He knew that.

Wordlessly, she ate a little more of her food and then pushed it away. Walt figured that was better than nothing and decided not to push his luck.

"Ready?"

"Yeah."

Walt held up his end of the deal and pointed the Bronco towards work. Vic sat quietly in the seat beside him, her eyes focused on something out the window. One arm was propped up on the door and the other sat in her lap. He noticed, her fingers moving over the leg of her jeans restlessly. She was thinking. About what he didn't know. Walt ran one hand over the wheel, while keeping it steady with the other.

"Something on your mind?"

His words broke the silence they were bathed. Vic turned her head and looked at him.

"No."

He knew she wasn't being honest with him. He also knew the harder he pushed, the more likely she was to resist and clam up. She turned her eyes back to the window and the quiet settled over them again.

It was a relief when he parked and she got out. Walt watched her deliberate movements. He couldn't tell if it was from discomfort or fatigue. She walked up the steps on at a time and hesitated before she walked through the door. Ruby looked at her from where she sat.

"Vic, what are you doing here?"

Vic glanced at Walt before answering.

"Left my phone."

Ruby looked concerned, but Vic made her way to Walt's office. Walt closed the door behind them to allow for some measure of privacy. Vic walked in and looked around before her eyes shifted to Walt.

"Where is it?"

Walt frowned.

"Where did you have it last?"

Vic shrugged.

"I don't remember. Maybe in the bathroom."

She started to turn, but Walt stepped towards her.

"Vic."

She paused and met his eyes. He could see her guard come up instantly.

"What?"

"Would you reconsider coming back to work so soon? Maybe give it a few days?"

She looked down at her feet and then back up.

"What do you want me to do? Sit around mired in all of this?"

Walt shook his head.

"No, I want you to rest. Take some time. Process this."

She sighed.

"Why are you doing this now?"

She gestured at the door. Before he could answer, she spoke again.

"I just…want my phone and my truck."

She turned and walked towards the door. On instinct, Walt reached out and his hand closed around her forearm in an attempt to stop her and turn her back towards him. Feeling his hand on her, Vic jerked and pulled it free from his grasp.

"Don't…grab me."

She nearly yelled it at him and he gave a nervous look at the door.

"I'm…I'm sorry. Just…listen. Please."

But, he could see that she was done with this conversation. He held his hands up like he was surrendering.

"Okay. I'll check the bathroom for your phone."

Vic shook her head at him.

"I can do it myself. My keys?"

Walt hesitated before he reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled them out. Vic held out her hand and Walt dropped the keys into her palm. Satisfied, she turned and pulled the door open, leaving his office. Walt stood rooted in place as he heard the sounds of her tread as she walked to the door marked Reading Room. The door opened and then he heard her walking again.

She reappeared in the doorway and her expression had changed. Her phone was in her hand and he could see that the screen was lit up. Vic looked down at it and the lifted her eyes back to his.

"There's like ten missed calls from Crane. I…I forgot all about it."