"Sally in the Alley"
Author: carmen_085
Disclaimer: I don't own any Rookie Characters. All original characters belong to me
Summary: They stared at each other in the darkness; the endless Wyoming sky above them. It was another dead end and she knew he was at the breaking point. They were risking it all to find a killer, hundreds of miles from home and no back up. But they wouldn't go back, not until they found justice for her. (Takes place after 2x11)
Author's Note: Some of my inspiration for this story came from the movie "Wind River". Along with that there are several interesting online articles detailing the reality of life on a reservation and the violence that is endured, especially by women.
Chapter Eleven
Lucy quietly adjusted herself in the chair careful not to disturb Tim, who was sleeping just feet away. Every hospital, no matter where, was exactly the same; white walls, endless drab corridors, and an antiseptic smell that burned the nose. Staring blankly at the dated Zenith's black screen she averted her gaze out the window. In the setting sun, Fort Washakie seemed almost idyllic; a western outpost in a sea of windswept prairie. A light came on here and there, proof of life in this place where death was always in the shadows.
Slouching down in the chair, she let a measured breath escape her lips. Her head was throbbing; eight stitches in the gash on her forehead and what felt like a hundred bumps and bruises. Eyes wandering to her partner, she watched as his chest steadily rose and fell in the waning daylight. A concussion, a few broken ribs, stitches across his cheek and down the side of his forehead. Lucy sighed; it could have been worse...a lot worse. Despite his vocal protesting; the doctor in the ER recommended that Tim stay the night upstairs, just for observation...just to be safe. His pragmatic smile and sound voice of reason had clearly been used in the past to defuse other surly patients who didn't know what was good for them. Finally after hemming and hawing, he agreed to one night and one night only. Lucy felt a sigh of relief escape her lips as they wheeled him to a room. She had done all that she could do; and he was going to be alright, they were both going to be alright. Allowing her eyes to slip closed she exhaled slowly, seeing blackness and allowing herself to fully relax for the first time in months.
The first sensation that came back to Tim was aching pain in his chest. Blinking he saw an old tile ceiling and a dated white room with pink trim. For a moment he had no idea where he was. Turning his head to the side he saw his partner sitting in the chair, her eyes closed and her breathing slow and regular. Her face was bruised and in a moment he remembered all of it. The casino, the woods, the trailer, and everything that came after. He lay there staring at her, not having had much opportunity to really look at her. She was beautiful, that he knew from the day they met, but she was more than that. She was strong and brave….no.. brave was for kids…she was a warrior. No matter how high the deck was stacked against her, she never stopped fighting. She wasn't perfect, no one was, and he knew that she struggled like anyone else but she never gave up.
A soft smile came to Tim's lips as he stared at her in the last light of day. This was his vendetta, coming here to Wyoming to find justice for Isabel, she had just come to back him up. And yet somehow he thought that maybe she needed this more than him. He didn't plan for things to go as wrong as they had and he certainly never wanted her to have to finish this, but before they even left LA he knew that she could do it…if it came to that…she could do it. Despite all the taunting and silliness of his "Tim Tests" throughout her probation he knew, deep in his bones, that she was going to be a good cop….a great cop. And she had something that couldn't be taught, she was willing to fight for what she believed in, didn't matter how long or how hard. She had no quit in her.
And now she knew that too. Beyond any shadow of a doubt ,she knew that. After everything with that prick Caleb, he saw a hesitancy in her that hadn't been there before. An unsureness that was so unlike her, it actually scared him. He wanted to scream at her, make her do push ups until she snapped out of it. But then he remembered…it had been her who wasn't sure about Caleb in the first place and he who pushed her right into that psycho's arms. What she was now…it was no one's fault but his own.
He didn't bring her here for anything more than to back him up. He never intended for her to get her hands dirty. Never wanted for her to bear the burden of taking someone's life in cold blood. He'd been there before, it was no place to go if you didn't have to. But sometimes a situation goes sideways. As they fought in the dark with those two drunk assholes, only one thought crossed his mind. If there was a chance that one of them could survive this, he would make sure that it was Lucy. No question. He promised her that what happened in that barrel would never happen again. And it wouldn't. Even if it meant he paid the price with his own life. He was ready to do that. Everything that happened after that….well it was a result of that moment.
Their lives were imperfect and sometimes things just didn't work out. Just the way it was. And sometimes instead of getting what you want, you got something else. Not better or worse just different. Lucy didn't need him or anyone else to save her. She was powerful in her own rite and he always knew that…always believed that. Now she knew that for herself; fighting for her life and getting to walk away with it because of that.
Stirring in the chair Lucy's eyes fluttered open. She scanned the room before meeting his gaze, a soft smile on her lips. "Hey…" The room was nearly dark now. The corners of Tim's mouth twitched as he pushed himself up in the bed careful not to look too miserable for her benefit. Scooting over, he made some room flashing her a hopeful look. Lucy looked down to her lap before slowly getting out of the chair and sitting her right hip on the edge of the bed angling the rest of her body into his.
Gritting his teeth he lifted his arm feeling a stretching sensation in his chest. Exhaling, he gently wrapped her into his side as their bruised faces came to rest against one another. Tim's eyes drifted shut for a moment inhaling deeply as he turned placing a light kiss against her temple. Without thinking Lucy curled herself into him. This felt so natural it was almost scary, like it was always meant to be. Swallowing hard, Lucy exhaled before speaking.
"I know how important this was to you…I'm sorry that it worked out the way the way it did." Tim's eyes opened as he stared at the wall blankly before casting a glance in her direction. He couldn't see her face and she couldn't see his, they were too close. Exhaling Tim shook his head slightly.
"I came here because I was angry. Angry with Ferguson for what he had done to her, angry with Isabel for what she had become, and angry with myself for not protecting her…." Lucy was silent as she felt his hand absentmindedly run through her hair. He paused for a moment as the room fell quiet. "But I missed the point….Isabel was a person, who made a mistake, but she was still a person." His voice faltered for a moment, "And I loved her…and what happened to her shouldn't happen to anyone. But it does because there are other men out there like Joey Ferguson….and I can't stop them all even though I want to." At the sound of raw emotion in his voice, Lucy felt tears in her own eyes. Reaching up, she rested a steady hand on his chest feeling a ragged exhalation beneath her fingertips. "And I can't believe I had to come all this way just to remember who she was….I thought I knew….but in all the pain and hurt of her addiction I let myself forget."
Lucy's voice came out low and just above a whisper but he heard her. "It's easy to forget who we are sometimes….especially when it's too painful to remember."
A silent understanding passed between them as he held her close letting his eyes drift shut.
Lucy's hair blew in the wind as the sun crested the mountains. Chief Bennett had given her a lift back to the rental and and helped to change the tire. As it would turn out, the creek where she had killed Ferguson was part of the reservation and not federal land. That meant it was Bennett's investigation and as far as he was concerned it was a simple case of self defense.
Their time here in Wyoming was almost over and part of Lucy was almost reluctant to go back. This place made her feel free in a way that LA never could. She had found a way to be true to herself here and she didn't want to lose that. Lucy also knew that the things going on between her and Tim would need to stop once they got home. Her partner was nothing if not professional and he took his duties as a TO very seriously. She just hoped that it wouldn't stop forever. That what they felt here wasn't just a byproduct of an extremely emotional situation.
Slowing the rental in front of a familiar log cabin, she put the SUV into park before sliding out. Taking a deep breath she walked up to the front porch and peered inside the house seeing no one. The cool wind blew her hair around her face as she stuffed her hands into her back pockets stepping off the porch and walking around the cabin. As expected she found Wallace sitting next to the fire staring out at the endless prairie behind his house. He didn't turn to look a her, although he knew she was there. Silently Lucy took a seat as she looked between him and the vista in front of them.
Wallace shook his head, the corners of his lips pulled downward. "I thought….I thought I would feel better. That killing him would make this right somehow…." He trailed off, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared into the fire. "But it didn't bring her back…." Quietly he added, "Nothing can do that." Lucy was silent, there was nothing she could say right now that would matter. Nothing that would change this moment. So she stayed quiet, hoping that her mere presence offered some measure of comfort.
Lucy had come here one last time to say good bye. She and Tim were flying back to LA tonight. The only left to do was pick Tim up at the hospital and make the long drive to Casper. She couldn't leave, though, without somehow telling Wallace how much what he did last night meant to her. Not for backing her up and helping to save Tim, but for creating that moment….that singular moment where she truly felt free for the first time in her life.
Poking at the logs Wallace stood up brushing his pants off as he met her eyes for the first time. "Want to go for one last ride?"
A smile broke out across Lucy's face as she nodded. "I would like that."
Riding a horse, she found, was like riding a bike. You never forgot. Last night she had been all hopped up on adrenaline and honestly didn't remember much about riding the horse. Today was different, she memorized everything about how the animal felt underneath her as they galloped across the prairie. Brown and yellow scrub grass faded to tall, lush greenery as they ventured into the mountains. The sun shone brightly as high clouds cast momentary shadows across the desolate landscape. She didn't care how far they were going or how long it would take, for now she was just content to be in this moment.
When Wallace finally slowed his own horse to a stop she turned to take in a breathtaking view. A high meadow with wild flowers of every color that overlooked the mighty Wind River below. Dismounting, she held onto the reins as she took a few steps, not quite believing her eyes. This was a post card and she was in it. Wallace came to stand next to her. "My grandfather brought me here as a kid…he said this place made him feel close to God…" Lucy glanced at him for a moment before shaking her head.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything as beautiful as this…" Wallace nodded silently an easy smile breaking over is normally serious face.
"I come here when I want to be close to him….close to this land and our people….close to God." Gesturing to a spot near the overlook he continued, "Come…let's sit for a while."
Taking both of the horses he tied them to a shady evergreen. Together they sat on the ground as Wallace started a small fire. For a while they didn't talk, neither of them finding a need to fill the moment with unnecessary words. Finally it was Wallace who broke the silence. "There is an ancient Arapaho Tradition called smudging…it is said to cleanse a person of any unwanted or negative energy." Placing a dried roll of sage into the fire, Wallace watched as it caught. He stared at it as it began to burn, "Burning white sage is said to be a scared act." Lucy watched as he blew the bundle out. The smoke coming from it smelled earthy and pleasant as she let her eyes drift shut trying to just exist.
The ground beneath her was solid as she felt a connection to the earth and all the people who had ever walked this land. The wind was cool sliding over her face and though her hair blowing it side to side. Letting all the air out of her lungs she heard the fire and the the wind in the tree tops, she heard the grass swaying and the wildflowers bending. In that moment she even thought she heard the clouds moving in the sky, chasing one another past the sun. It was the deepest mediative state she had ever known and it was only possible because she had learned to open her heart and not live beyond the present.
Wallace began to speak and although she couldn't understand a thing he said she knew he was praying. Instead of searching for meaning in his words, she listened to the cadence of his voice and the intricacies of a forgotten language. Inhaling the burning sage deeply she thought of nothing but the moment and the almost intoxicating connection she felt with the earth.
When he stopped speaking she opened her eyes meeting his placid gaze. "That was beautiful." Her voice sounded thick and foreign. She hadn't spoken but a few sentences since she arrived at his cabin. It was strange what one could hear when they truly listened.
Wallace nodded as he snuffed the sage out on the ground. "It is an Arapaho prayer for peace. I prayed for you and Tim and for myself to somehow go forward from this moment in peace." Rising to his feet he looked at the sun over head. "We should get going…" Lucy was reluctant to leave but she knew that he was right. As they walked to their horses she took one last look over her shoulder. Turning back she noticed a smirk on Wallace's face.
"What?"
Untying the horses he handed her the reigns to her own mount. "I don't think you'll be seeing anymore of Caleb either…"He trailed off looking decidedly amused.
Lucy was intrigued as she cocked her head raising an eyebrow. "Oh yeah…Why's that?"
Wallace laughed a little. "Well I added a little something…." He met her gaze and for the first time she saw a playfulness behind his piercing brown eyes. "I prayed that all the Arapaho warriors that have gone on from this world would protect you from above…that they would guide you on the streets and keep you from any harm."
The thought of prep school pussy Caleb taking on a whole band of armed warriors brought a smile to her face that quickly faded into sincerity. "Why would they look after me…I'm not Arapaho. You said that your people take care of their own."
Wallace looked at her before averting his eyes and busying his hands with saddle on his horse. "I may have lost a sister but…" He met her eyes as she looked at him feeling suddenly emotional. "I found another in you…..Kiyaya."
Lucy exhaled a shaky breath feeling overwhelmed with something she didn't yet understand. When she spoke her voice was breathless, "What does that mean?"
Mounting his horse, Wallace gave her a knowing smile. "Howling Wolf….your Arapaho name. A name fit for a warrior." Lucy was speechless as she remembered forcing everything out of herself last night in a primal yell that had been answered by a lone howling wolf. Not waiting for a reply he began trotting down the mountain.
Lucy didn't remember much about the ride back, only feeling an ache in her heart that she would undoubtedly miss this place beyond words. When they finally got to the cabin, the sun was high in the sky as Lucy knew her time here was over. Dismounting the black horse she lingered next to it for a moment rubbing its nose and stroking its silky coat. Following Wallace through the house she stopped just shy of the door in front of the family photos he kept there.
"You never told me what your name was…your Arapaho name." Leaning against door frame he crossed his arms over his chest.
"It's Cheveyo….it means spirit warrior." Lucy stared at him for a moment before repeating the name, allowing the syllables to roll off her tongue.
"I couldn't imagine anything else…" Nodding he ducked his head almost as if embarrassed. Exhaling Lucy shook her head, "Well I guess this is it…"
Nodding, Wallace forced a smile. Without thinking, Lucy took two steps toward him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. For his part Wallace returned the embrace allowing his eyes to drift closed in the comfort of human contact for just a moment.
When she spoke her voice was barely above a whisper. "Thank you….Thank you for everything." He didn't reply and he didn't need to. They stayed that way for a few more moments before letting go, Lucy swiping at her cheeks with the back of her coat sleeve. Turning she took a step toward the door, not wanting to make this any harder than it already was.
"Wait..I have something for you." Disappearing around the corner he quickly returned with a small Tomahawk. It was similar to the one she had used before, the one that was now, regrettably, property of the Wind River Police Department. This Tomahawk had a white handle and was adored with beads, feathers, and had a small wolf charm hanging from the handle. Lucy looked at it in awe.
"I can't take this…"
Shaking his head Wallace pushed it back toward her, "No…I want you to have it. So that you never forget that you are a true warrior…."
Looking down at the weapon in her hand she nodded. "Thank you… I will never forget you or this place."
Forcing a sad smile Wallace nodded, "We will always be connected…in this life and in the next."
Lucy stood at the departures counter staring at the marquee. United 785 Casper to LAX…departure 0700 PM. Looking down at her watch she saw that they still had an hour. It was hard to believe that they had only gotten to Wyoming five days ago….so much had happened in that time it felt they had been here for a year. Looking down she knew her life wasn't here, but she would be eternally grateful for what this place showed her ABOUT her life. That she was strong and powerful and that she didn't need anyone to save her. That it was ok to scream and yell and howl at moon if that's what it took for feelings to truly be felt. And that in the most unlikely of places under the most desperate of circumstances someone can change your life for the better.
She would never forget Charlie Wallace. It would be impossible. Nor would she ever forget Chief Bennett, Christina, Mikey, or Emily….or their stories of hope, loss, and survival in this unforgiving place.
"All set…" Looking up she saw Tim walk toward her with Hertz folder. Grimacing Lucy's shoulders slumped.
"Were they pissed about the tire?" Shaking his head he slid the paperwork into his backpack.
"They don't give a shit….Gray might…when he sees the bill…but they don't." Lucy exhaled in no particular hurry to go back and face that music. Casually Tim put his arm around her shoulders as they began to walk toward the terminal.
"Tim! Lucy!" Turning together they were surprised to see Chief Bennett walking through the glass doors. He looked, almost out of place in such a modern and urban like setting.
"Chief?" Lucy had handled all the necessary paperwork and statement giving about what happened and the Chief had already assured her the case was closed. Still, seeing him here so suddenly caused a bubble of fear to rise in her throat.
Seeing the apprehension on both of their faces the Chief was quick to offer an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry…I just wanted to catch you before you left…" Taking a breath he looked at their expectant faces. "Every year the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Wyoming has a town hall meeting with state and local politicians about these drilling and fracking sites…most of the time it's environmental freaks and tree hugging weirdos…" Tim smirked, in another life and time, he would have loved to have worked with Bennett on the streets of LA. "I usually don't go; as you might imagine my concerns about the inability to police these sites and the type of perverts they attract usually fall on deaf ears." He paused for a moment licking his lips, "This year I wanted to tell them about Christina….and with your permission I would also like to tell them about Isabel." Lucy shot a glance at Tim suddenly feeling the air become thick.
Tim swallowed hard. It was the first time anyone who had never met Isabel said her name out loud. She meant something, her life and her death meant something. What happened to her, that God Forsaken image he had of her in that alleyway, it didn't have to be for nothing. Her story and what that man did to her could change something. Maybe not something big but something. Even though Isabel could not have looked more different from Christina, they had so much in common. Two women looking for love and acceptance in all the wrong places, two women who were lost, and two women who met terrible violent and tragic ends that they didn't deserve.
"That would be fine, Chief. And let me know if I can help in any way." Bennett was silent as the two men exchanged a knowing glance between them. Reaching out Bennett shook both Tim and Lucy's hands as he offered them a warm smile.
"Good luck to both of you….and safe travels." Turning to leave they were stopped short by the Chief's voice. "Oh and Tim…." Looking back toward the Chief, Tim reacted quickly to catch something flying through the air toward him. Staring at his hand he saw what looked like a fang attached to a simple leather cord with two beads and a small feather. It was a tooth from the wolf he killed that day on the prairie. Bennett let out a low laugh as he shook his head. "Told you I'd get you a souvenir to take back to LA….and it will be great to scare the kids with…"
A wide grin broke out over Tim's face; as he already began weaving a fantastical tale for his next boot.
Seeing this, Lucy rolled her eyes dramatically… "Oh Chief…he needs no help doing that.."
Bennett chuckled as he began to back toward the door. "Take care…my door is always open for both of you." Throwing his hands in the air he raised his eyebrows playfully, "And I'm always hiring…"
Both Tim and Lucy laughed at that before bidding their final farewell to the Chief and headed down the concourse. Turning back once more Lucy saw those blue hued peaks and endless sky…she would miss this place.
The flight back to LA went without incident as the drama of their inbound trip did not repeat itself. Their bruised faces received a pause and a long glance from the flight attendant but nothing more. Stepping between the jet bridge and the plane Lucy was immediately greeted with the warm air, aggressive honking on the freeway, and the smell of exhaust. They were home.
Just as he had dropped her off, Jackson was waiting at the end of the terminal to pick her up. Coming around the corner, Tim saw the rookie bent over his phone not paying attention as his fingers snapped up and grabbed Lucy by the elbow pulling her behind a wall. For a moment they were silent, each willing the other to speak. This conversation, in some form, was inevitable. He was her TO….she was his rookie.
"Lucy…."
Shaking her head she wanted to beat him to the punch. It would hurt less if she heard herself say it. "No…Tim…I get it. What happened between us there can't happen anymore." Looking down she added quietly. "It should have never happened in the first place." Her eyebrows knit together as she willed herself not to cry in front of him.
He was quiet for a moment and while she initially didn't want to hear him say those words, she also didn't want him to say nothing at all. Swallowing audibly he shook his head, "Is that what you want to do?"
Lucy shrugged, clearly feeling powerless in this situation. Biting her lip she answered quietly, "No."
The corners of Tim's lips tugged upwards as he spoke. "Lucy…you are amazing in every definition of the word. You are one of the most incredible women I have ever known. Nothing in this world keeps you down…no matter what…the deck can be completely stacked against you but you never stop fighting…." Her eyes slowly rose to meet his own. "And I won't let anything get in the way of you becoming a great cop….not even me." She opened her mouth to protest as he held a hand up. "You have something that can't be taught…can't be learned…it just is. What you did in the river up there…that's a warrior….you don't become that, you just are. And I couldn't be more proud of you if I tried."
Lucy felt her cheeks flush as she shook her head. Never in her life could she have imagined this at the start of her probation. "Tim…I…"
Again he cut her off, slightly amused with the exasperation on her face. "I can't deny what I feel for you…and I don't want to. But I won't let it get in the way of you becoming what you were always destined to be. So…for now this is on hold…after your probation is over…that's a different story…but for now…"
"Tim !" Nearly yelling his name she was finally able to successfully interrupt him.
"What ?" Without hesitation she rose to her tip toes and their lips met in a kiss that was completely unlike the first. The contact wad hard and desperate as her arms wrapped around his neck and his around her back pulling her in so that their bodies made contact everywhere that it counted. Months of longing and a life or death ordeal heightening their already insatiable need for one another. How they were going to make it three months….neither of them had any idea.
TBC….Just the Epilogue left and Wallace's secret will be revealed ! Will be posted within the next three days ! Check back for conclusion
I created a board on Pinterest to share some of my inspiration for this piece and so that you may see what I see while reading. Please check it out
Pinterest User Name: carmenk543,
Board Name: Wind River
Original Characters Inspired By:
Charlie Wallace: Rodney Grant / Dances with Wolves "Wind in his Hair"
Chief Bennett: Wes Studi/ Hostiles "Chief Yellow Hawk"
Christina Wallace: Q'Orianka Kilcher/ The New World "Pocahontas"
Emily Wallace: Tanaya Beatty/ Hostiles "Living Woman"
Mikey Wallace: See Pinterest Board, not inspired by an actor
Chris Porter: James Jordan/ Wind River "Pete Mickens"
Joey Ferguson: John Bernthal (a drug addled, skinny, toothless version)/ The Walking Dead "Shane Walsh"