do your ghosts sing you lullabies

by jmd0820

Walt and Vic have left law enforcement. But, the appearance of a young boy threatens to pull them back in with an unthinkable mystery. Set after "Salvation."

1. do you see what i see?

Do your ghosts sing you lullabies

Summary: Walt and Vic have left law enforcement. But, the appearance of a young boy may draw them back in with an unthinkable mystery.

Ch. 1: Do you see what I see?

He sat on the couch with a book in his lap. The evening around him was quiet. The lamp on the table beside him was giving off enough illumination for him to read by. Even though it was a week after Christmas, the decorated tree still sat near the wall, the multitude of lights creating patterns on the interior of the log cabin. He couldn't remember the last time he bothered with a Christmas tree. This year was different that was what Vic insisted on him when she drug him to the lot to get a freshly cut tree. He knew where he could cut one on his own. But, there was something about the music and the other people that were also picking out trees that seemed to add to the mood. The season.

It was important to her.

That made it important to him.

"Walt."

Her voice pulled him from his thoughts and Walt looked up. He wasn't really reading anymore. Something in her tone set his heart to beating faster. Vic appeared in the doorway of the bedroom and she was pale. The book thumped onto the floor as he stood up, a feeling of concern washing over him.

"What's wrong?"

He crossed the floor to where she still stood, one hand on the wall.

"I think my water broke?"

Walt looked at her, seeking clarity.

"You think?"

She huffed out a breath of impatience.

"Either that or I'm peeing myself, which I highly doubt."

The sharpness of the sarcasm would have been amusing under different circumstances. Walt instinctively reached out and placed his hand on her abdomen.

"Any contractions?"

Vic shook her head.

"No. It's…it's too early."

Walt shook his head slightly.

"Only a month. A few weeks. She'll be fine."

He offered up the reassurance and hoped that it was convincing. He was the reader. He was the one who consumed the baby books that Vic mostly flipped through. Driven by a desire to know about the world around him, he spent the last few months trying to bridge the gap between what he knew once and what was accepted now.

"We should get you to the hospital."

Vic looked up at him and bit her lip.

"We should call the doctor."

Walt was already moving again. This was what they planned for. What they talked about.

"You can call the doctor on the way to the hospital. There was more snow tonight and we don't know what the roads are like."

He would like to be able to take his time if they were slick. Walt grabbed the overnight bag from the bedroom that he finally cajoled her into packing. Vic was a procrastinator and it bled into all aspects of her life. Where he tended to be thoughtful and organized, she was more reactionary and preferred to take things as they came.

Setting it near the door, he grabbed her coat and helped her put it on. Walt shrugged into his own coat and grabbed the keys to Vic's SUV.

She frowned.

"I'm gonna leak all over the damn seats."

Walt sighed.

"I'll grab you a towel."

He did as he said, grabbed the bag, and ushered her out the door. He could read the worry that was etched into her face. The concern that haunted her throughout this pregnancy, even with all the reassurances.

It was still snowing and Walt noted that a white Christmas was overrated. Vic sat in the passenger seat, her face turned away and looked out at the dark landscape that was passing them by. One hand tapped out a rhythmless pattern. Nerves. They always rendered her unable to find any stillness.

"Vic?"

She turned towards him.

"Hmm?"

"You okay?"

He kept his eyes on the dark road that stretched out between the cabin and the outskirts of Durant.

"Yeah. Just wondering why in the hell everything's got to be so damn exciting."

He nearly smiled.

Nearly.

xxx

It was like existing inside the picture on the front of a Christmas card. Or, being in one of those sappy holiday movies where everything worked out exactly the way that it was supposed to in the end. A guaranteed happy ending no matter what obstacle needed to be overcome.

Even after all this time, the scenery from the front porch of the cabin was breathtaking. Vic stood on the porch looking out, her hands resting on the wooden porch rail. It snowed again late in the afternoon and blanketed the world around them yet again with a few fresh inches that covered up the already existing snow pack.

In town, the beauty of it never last very long. Almost as soon as the roads were covered, the snow plows rumbled to life and took to the streets to clear the snow. The sides of the roads were lined with piles of it all mixed with mud and debris, making it more of a mucky mess than anything else.

It was different out here, though.

This far out in the county, it took the plows longer to reach the roads with the priority being more populated areas. The result was a longer stretch where the snow was undisturbed. That added to the beauty of it all. While Vic, could appreciate that beauty, she could also admit that the snow could be a major pain in the ass. So could the frigid temperatures that came along with it.

They were in the middle of what was proving to be a long winter. It wasn't so much that they were facing blizzards or dangerous conditions. It was the fact that for weeks now, the temperatures hovered between below zero and single digits. With no reprieve in sight, the majesty of a Wyoming winter was pretty much lost on the populace.

Vic sighed and turned away. At the door, she stomped her boots to loosen some of the caked snow and mud that clung around the edges. As soon as she opened the door, she was greeted with warmth. Shedding her boots just inside, she pushed the door closed and inhaled the much more pleasant air that didn't burn her lungs with its icy tentacles.

Walt was reading in a low voice. He glanced up when he heard her, but dropped his eyes back to the book almost immediately. She walked by where he sat on the couch and ambled over to the fire that was crackling away in the fireplace. Both the smell of the fire, and the sounds it provided as a backdrop to their homelife brought her comfort in a way she would have struggled to define.

Vic stood in front of the fireplace and let her eyes rest on the flames that danced and created a variety of patterns on the floor and the walls. Still, Walt read in the cadence that she was more than a little familiar with. Turning around, her eyes wondered the room. It was a little messier than normal with books here and there along with coats and hats that were messily discarded over furniture.

Along one wall, the Christmas tree still sat with its multicolored lights glowing cheerfully. It was the week after Christmas, but neither of them had gotten around to taking the tree down and hauling it outside. Her eyes left the tree and moved to Walt.

He sat on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table. Nestled into his side was a tiny figure with incredibly sleepy eyes. For a moment, Vic marveled that she was still even awake. Her small, dark head was tilted into Walt and her thumb was in her mouth. Vic watched as her eyes slowly started to close and her body relaxed even further.

If he knew that she was watching, which he probably did, he didn't acknowledge that fact. She liked watching him for all kinds of reasons, some that were mentionable and some not so much. One thing she never tired of was watching him with their child.

Anna Moretti Longmire.

Named for Victor Moretti's mother, it was Vic's own nod to her father who never got the chance to meet his granddaughter.

"What are you reading?"

She finally had to ask. After listening for a few minutes, she had a sneaking suspicion it was one of the books she never picked up. Walt finally glanced up at her and tilted the book forward so that she could see the cover. Vic's brow went up.

"The Iliad? Seriously?"

She kept her voice low, but the amusement was clear. Walt cast a look at the now sleeping one year old that was still tucked into his side.

"It's a classic?"

Vic huffed.

"Classically boring. Don't you think that's a little over her head? And mine?"

He smiled as he marked his place and closed the book, setting it on the arm of the couch carefully. Vic left her warm spot by the fire and walked over to carefully ease Anna up from the couch and into her arms. The small head landed on Vic's shoulder and her body was limp in her mother's arms. Walt stood up stretching his back.

"I think you bored her into a coma."

He gave her a look.

"It's never too early to start on real literature."

Vic vibrated with a laugh.

"Okay."

Walt reached out and smoothed the soft hair on Anna's head, his hand seemingly enormous in comparison.

Leaving Walt in the living room, Vic walked carefully into the baby's room and laid her in the crib that Walt made for her while Vic was pregnant. Vic stood for a moment and watched the small figure press her face deeper into the mattress before she exhaled.

Pulling the door partially closed, Vic found Walt in their bedroom removing his clothes. He tossed his shirt aside as she sat on the bed and pulled off her wool socks.

"Horses settled?"

"Yeah, Lady needed brushing. I need a shower."

Walt's mouth ticked up as she stood and stretched her arms over her head.

"A quick one?"

She shrugged.

"I don't know. Why?"

He stepped in close to her.

"Because, if you're not in a hurry…"

He left the thought unfinished, but she got the idea. Vic's hand landed on his sides and she drew him in.

"Did you plan this?"

His smile was soft and easy.

"Would that be a problem?"

She shook her head.

"Not at all. Just curious."

"Maybe."

"So…yes."

His smile widened slightly. Dipping his head, he kissed her causing Vic's fingers to tighten her grip on him. She pushed up into the contact and started to turn them so that she was guiding him to the bathroom. Breaking the kiss, she let out a breath.

"You know I'm always game."

She kissed him, this time with more force as she pushed him through the bathroom door and used her foot to close it behind them.

xxx

"Are you working tomorrow?"

Vic stifled a yawn and shook her head.

"Not planning to. Unless something comes up. I'm having lunch with Cady at the Busy Bee around twelve-thirty."

Walt was stretched out on his side with his hand supporting his head.

"How is Cady?"

Vic rolled her head to the side and gave him a look.

"Didn't you talk to her yesterday?"

His free hand was sitting on the bed in between them, his fingers playing with the soft material of the sheet.

"Yeah, but she tells you more than she tells me."

Vic shifted around on the bed trying to get comfortable, her hair was still damp from the prolonged shower.

"That's because you're her father. No woman wants her dad all the way up in her business."

He frowned a little.

"She and Cooper still having issues?"

Vic sighed.

"Walt…"

He interrupted.

"I worry about her."

Her features softened.

"I know you do. To answer your question, yes they are still having some problems."

His frown deepened.

"I was hoping they could resolve that. I like Cooper."

Vic's chin dipped.

"I know you like Cooper. We all like him. I honestly thought they would be married by now. But, deciding what kind of future you want together is a pretty big thing and it shouldn't be rushed. That only leads to problems. Trust me on that."

"I know, but…I always thought Cady wanted kids."

"Maybe she did once upon a time. People change. She's been Sheriff for a while now. Hell, that job alone is enough to make you take serious stock of your life. We've all been there in some way or another. What this really boils down to is they need to figure out if one of them is willing to compromise. If not…"

Her voice trailed off, but he got the point. This wasn't a new conversation. When he talked to Cady, she tried to present a rosier picture than he knew existed. She didn't like him to worry, and he did worry about her. He knew that what Vic said was true. Cady was a grown woman with her own life and she needed to live it the way she saw fit. It was just that saying that was much easier than putting it into practice.

Vic seemed to sense his internal struggle.

"You want her to be happy, right?"

"Of course."

"Then let her figure it out. Let them figure it out."

He didn't look convinced.

"But, you get to know everything?"

She offered him a smile.

"That's the benefit of being a friend and not a parent."

He made a face that eased up after a minute.

"You taking Ladybug with you?"

"Yes. Cady hasn't seen her in a couple of weeks. You know…"

She reached out and placed her hand on his stomach.

"…she's gonna hate that nickname one of these days when she's old enough."

He smiled and moved his hand, letting his head land on the pillow.

"Maybe. At least it's not the Terror."

Vic grimaced.

"True. Nothing like being compared to something that's horrifying."

Walt leaned over and bumped the side of her head with his forehead.

"I think it's more meant to imply that you're…formidable, which is true. I can only imagine how much fun you were was as a teenager."

Vic rolled her eyes at the jab.

"Be careful what you imagine. It didn't take me until I was a teenager to earn that name. Could be closer than you think."

"I'm sure."

She pushed at his side with her hand and laughed.

"Smart ass."

He gave her an innocent look.

"I was just agreeing with you."

Vic settled back into her spot.

"What does your day look like tomorrow?"

Walt's expression turned thoughtful.

"The Nelsons are supposed to be coming out in the morning to ride. Around ten, I think. The rest of the day should be cleaning out the stalls and exercising the horses."

She nodded slightly.

"The Nelsons own the big black horse?"

"Yep. He's a handful."

"I've noticed. He likes to rile up the others. Glad we keep our horses in a separate barn."

"They're supposed to be building a small barn for him in their pasture. Shouldn't be here too much longer."

Horses were one of Walt's earliest lessons in life. He spent much of his childhood following his father to ranches in the area when he was out of school and those were some of the fondest memories in his life. His father was a quiet, serious man. Not unlike himself. The man dedicated his life to caring for horses and he was well known for his abilities with the animals.

Walt was never the horseman that his father was. Still, he enjoyed the company of the animals and savored his time spent riding Horse out in nature just watching the world exist around him. Those were some of the most peaceful moments that he found in life.

When the topic came up of potentially building a second career around caring for them, he was more than a little intrigued. What started as an offhand comment from Vic had evolved into the construction of a new, larger barn that could house up to six horses in stalls that Walt was a little envious of. The barn was just finished as summer tipped into the crisp days of fall with help from Henry and Cooper.

Now, the business was in full swing and all six stalls were full. They boarded horses for people who were traveling and needed their animals cared for while they were gone as well as for those who didn't have the space to match their desire to have a horse.

Walt spent his days cleaning out stalls, exercising a variety of horses, and even offering riding lessons and minor training when it was requested. Their own two horses were still housed in the barn he rebuilt after the original was lost to fire.

"Walt?"

He snapped back to the present.

"Hmm?"

"Something wrong?"

Walt shook his head and settled into the bed, his arm sliding over her stomach and tugging her closer to him.

"No. Just thinking."

She gave him a curious look and then moved on. Predictably. Rolling onto her side, Vic pushed her back into him and inhaled a deep breath. From her turned away face, he could just hear her voice.

"You think all you want. I'm going to sleep."

xxx

"Morning, Miss Vic."

Vic turned as Eli Harper cruised into the kitchen with a smile on his face. The nineteen year old was Walt's solitary employee in working with the horses, but seemed to do the work of three with tireless energy. He was a good looking kid with dark hair and a dark complexion that spoke of his mixed Cheyenne and Crow ancestry on his mother's side. The deep set, light gray eyes seemed to be the only tell that his father was white, except for the last name that he carried.

Henry recommended the young man and Vic could see why. He possessed the work ethic of someone much older, something he said his grandmother preached to him on a daily basis. His way with horses was unrivaled and he was a natural at handling them. Next to Walt, Eli seemed on the smaller side even though he really wasn't. He was somewhat lanky, with his height falling a few inches under Walt.

Walt smiled as the young man flashed Vic a bright smile.

"Good morning, Eli. You know…"

She continued the business of mixing up fruit and yogurt for Anna in a plastic bowl.

"…it makes me feel incredibly old when you do that. There's coffee."

He shook his head at the offer.

"Had breakfast at home. Thanks."

His attention shifted to Walt.

"Want me to get started on the stalls?"

Walt nodded as he sipped his own coffee.

"Sounds good. I'll be out in a few minutes."

The young man nodded as he turned, his eyes finding Vic again. He wordlessly tipped the brim of the battered ballcap he wore and left the kitchen with the same flurry that he arrived in. Vic shook her head as the cabin door closed behind him

"Why does he do that?"

Walt leaned on the counter.

"His grandmother will have his hide if she finds out he's not showing respect."

Vic placed the bowl and spoon on the highchair tray.

"That's all well and good. But, now I feel ancient. No one calls me Miss anything."

Walt drained the rest of the coffee from his cup and set it in the sink. Turning to her, his eyes moved by her towards the door the young man just used.

"He has a crush on you."

Vic made a face.

"He's a kid."

Walt shook his head slightly.

"He's a young man and you are a…"

She cut in, her words sharp.

"You better not say older woman or I will kick you."

He attempted to stifle the amusement on his face and failed.

"That's not what I was going to say."

"Liar."

He stepped up to her and placed his hands on her hips. When he spoke, it was in a matter of fact manner.

"What I was going to say…is that he is a young man and you are an incredibly sexy woman. I don't blame him because I have a crush on you, too."

The remark earned him an eye roll that only encouraged the humor in his tone.

"You are a smart…"

Vic pressed her lips together, catching the word before it escaped and tilted her head back a little.

"Well just…use your imagination."

He tugged her all the way against him and dipped his face down to kiss her. Vic's hands landed on his forearms and ran up to his shoulders. Tilting her head, she deepened the kiss before smiling against his mouth.

"You should go before this gets out of hand."

He made no move to go.

"Out of hand, huh?"

Vic nodded as she put a little space between them.

"Yeah. Lucky for you, there are young eyes in the room and the front door isn't locked."

"I don't think that makes me lucky."

Vic shrugged.

"Guess not. Well…play your cards right and you might get lucky later on."

She pushed up on her toes and kissed him again, this time ending it before there was any opportunity for escalation. Walt cleared his throat and ran a hand over his hair in an attempt to smooth it down.

"Promises, promises."

Walt lifted his wrist and looked at his watch.

"I should get out there."

"Yep, you are the boss man."

He huffed out a quiet laugh as he set his hat on his head and studied her for another few seconds. Vic narrowed her eyes.

"What?"

He didn't answer her at first, just continued to study her in that way that only Walt was capable of. It never failed to make her feel mildly self-conscious. His expression was serious now.

"You'll tell me if Cady needs me."

Vic brow furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

He shifted on his feet.

"I know she prefers to tell you things. I understand. But, if there was really something going on…you would tell me. Regardless?"

Vic bit the inside of her cheek. Her chest expanded with a breath and then she exhaled slowly.

"You know that I would. But this is just…it's relationship stuff and she's really just trying to…get it out."

She reached out and placed her palm on his chest.

"Don't worry so much."

He gave her a look and shook his head.

"It's my job."

Vic offered him a soft smile.

"Actually, your job is to go out and take care of the horses. Worrying is more like a hobby."

She pushed at his chest and attempted to give him a reassuring look even though she knew she wasn't the best at it.

"Go on. We'll talk later."

He nodded, picked up his hat from where it rested brim up on the counter and set it on his head.

"Sure."

With that, he ambled out.

Vic watched him go and wondered about the sudden change in his demeanor. She knew that he worried about Cady. He worried about them all. Cady just happened to be the object of his focus in the moment since she was struggling with aspects of her personal life that she wasn't always willing to share with him.

It was hard to fault him when it clearly came from a place of love.

Vic shook off the thoughts and forced herself back into the moment.

xxx

Walt lifted a bale of hay and carried it into the barn. He dropped it on the floor of the barn, pulled a pocket knife from his jeans and cut the twine that held the hay together. Tucking his knife away, he pushed the hay into the stall with his booted feet and started to spread it around. Today was the day that he and Eli would spend most of the day cleaning. It was a necessary task when it came to dealing with horses.

It was a laborious job that would make his back ache by the end of the day. But, there was something undeniably rewarding that Walt found in the physicality of the work. It gave him a sense of satisfaction that could be hard to come by in other jobs. It kept his mind and his body busy and tuned into the present moment.

He needed it today.

He respected Vic's unwillingness to share everything that Cady told her. He understood that Cady was telling her as a friend. It could be hard to accept that, though, when he was worried about his daughter's happiness. On occasion, he and Vic clashed over this very thing. Although, those days weren't as frequent as they once were when he wanted to know everything.

He appreciated the closeness that Vic and Cady shared. It wasn't always that way. His daughter harbored her fair share of doubts when she first found out about their relationship. It felt like two lifetimes ago. In the time since, the two worked to overcome the differences that existed between them and honed in on what they shared.

Under the surface, they weren't so different.

Walt heard the sound of a motor. A vehicle. Leaving the barn, he removed his hat and ran swiped at his forehead before replacing his and peering into the distance. A black SUV was rolling its way down the dirt road towards the cabin. Walt didn't recognize it and his first thought was that it looked like a government vehicle.

Walt cast a glance at Eli to find him watching.

"I'll be back."

Eli nodded, his eyes tracking Walt as long strides took him from the barn to the cabin.

The SUV parked and a man slid from the passenger seat. Walt eyed the man.

"Bill Dwyer? What brings you out here?"

The man, Bill, was slightly older than Walt with thinning gray hair. Several inches shorter and with an impressive girth, he was dressed in what passed as casual amongst the political crowd, khaki pants and a light blue dress shirt underneath a coat that looked too new.

"How are you, Walt. It's good to see you."

He extended his hand, which Walt shook.

Bill glanced around.

"Nice spread you got here."

Walt nodded.

"I'm guessing you didn't come here to look at horses."

Bill smiled and pointed at the cabin.

"No, I did not. Mind if we get in out of this cold?"

Walt shook his head and led the way to the cabin, where the two men shed their outer layers and Walt hung up his hat.

"Coffee?"

Bill smiled in response.

"Sounds like the perfect remedy for this weather."

He followed Walt into the kitchen where Walt started the process of making coffee. Dwyer watched him curiously.

"You know, Walt, most folks just use a coffee pot. You dump in grounds and water and you're good to go."

Walt stayed quiet until he left the coffee to steep.

"Most people don't know what really good coffee tastes like either."

Walt gestured at the table.

"Might as well get comfortable. If memory serves me, you're long winded."

Bill grinned at him as he took a seat.

"Ah…Walt Longmire…man of so few words. How is retirement treating you?"

"Can't complain."

"Never thought I would see the day you would relinquish that badge."

Walt shrugged.

"People change, Bill. You still haven't told me what you're doing in Durant."

Walt poured the coffee into two mugs.

"Black?"

"All day, every day."

Walt passed the man a mug and sat down across from him, sipping his own brew as he waited.

"Why does everyone always assume I have an ulterior motive."

"Because…you're the assistant to the attorney general and you do."

"Fair enough. Listen, Walt, there's something I wanted to talk to you about. I've been tasked with forming a new investigative branch of our office. The job would encompass starting special investigations into cases that either the AG or myself feel are necessary. I'm looking for a good, solid person to head it up and I thought of you."

Walt set his mug down and ran his hand over the rim.

"I'm retired."

"As Sheriff, I know. But, this is a whole new ballgame Walt. I need someone with experience and a backbone. Someone with real character. You were the first person I thought of."

Walt settled back in his chair.

"I'm retired from that line of work."

Dwyer leaned forward, shifting his coffee out of the way.

"I understand that, Walt. I know that running a county like this is hard work. It's dangerous and the compensation isn't great. I'm talking about a job that will keep you out of the line of fire and pay you much better than this county ever dreamed of."

He shifted in his chair.

"I'm talking the kind of money that you could truly retire on in a few years with a very healthy nest egg. I'll give it to you straight. I'm not looking at the long term right now. I need someone who can get this department running smoothly and can train someone else to take over in a few years. It's not a real commitment, Walt. And…"

He looked around.

"…it would give you the flexibility to live like you want and you wouldn't have to live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. If you want to keep this place, you could rent it out. Tourists would pay for the experience of staying somewhere like this."

Walt sighed, but Bill pushed on, changing up his tactics.

"How's the wife?"

Walt tilted his head.

"She's fine."

Bill nodded.

"She's from…Pittsburgh?"

"Philadelphia."

"Right. You could move her up to Cheyenne, Walt. A real city that she would probably appreciate way more than Durant. Maybe you should talk about it with her before you go making any decision."

Bill lifted his coffee and sipped it.

"This is good coffee. Cheyenne has a Starbucks."

"Never been in one."

Dwyer shook his head.

"Why doesn't that surprise me. Look, here's what we're talking about. You would head up this unit. Five years at the absolute most. Less if you really want. We'll toss you cases and stay out of your way. You will have a staff under you to do the leg work…unless you want to do it yourself. You could pick and choose which cases you looked into personally and oversee the rest. Travel if you want."

Walt started to respond, but Bill rose and cut him off with a hand.

"Don't…give me an answer now. I want you to think about it, Walt. Really…think about it. Talk it over with your wife and I'll call you in a few days."

He smiled again and started out of the kitchen, pausing.

"Unless you call me first."

xxx

"How are you? Really?"

Vic looked across the table at Cady, who bounced Anna on one knee, her eyes lifting to Vic. Her expression turned slightly glum.

"We had a fight last night. A pretty big one."

Vic pushed her plate out of her way and tried to tune out the din that came with lunch in the Busy Bee. Even in the dead of winter, the café was busy this time of the day.

"How bad?"

Cady let her eyes slide back to her baby sister.

"Pretty bad. He left and didn't come back until this morning."

Vic frowned.

"That's not gonna solve anything."

Cady nodded.

"I know. But, he thinks it's better to cool off after a blow up like that. I can't say I blame him. I just…I don't know what to do about all this."

Vic ran a finger over her mostly empty water glass, tracing a pattern in the condensation.

"Is it still the baby thing?"

"You know it is. That's all we ever fight about. Outside of that, everything is good."

"Except that deciding whether or not you want kids is a pretty major topic."

"Right."

Vic dropped her hand away from the glass.

"Cady, if you don't want kids, that's your right. You shouldn't feel pressured into it. I know that you love him. But…if you can't reach some sort of compromise, you know how this ends."

Cady pushed out a breath.

"You think I should end it."

"No. I think the two of you should discuss this without fighting when you're both calm like rational adults."

Cady smiled in spite of her dark mood.

"Right. You're right."

"Don't forget. You told him early on how you felt. He's the one whose been hoping that you'll change your mind. You were honest with him from the get go and that's what really matters at the end of the day."

"I know."

She sighed and turned her attention back to the baby in her lap. Cady smiled and lifted Anna partially out of her lap.

"She's getting so big."

Vic smiled.

"They tend to do that whether you're ready or not."

Anna reached out with a hand and touched Cady's nose with a squeal and a smile.

"Maybe she's gonna be tall like you and Walt."

"Maybe."

Cady set the baby back in her lap and glanced at the time.

"Do you have time to come by the office? Ruby is there and she'll have a fit if she doesn't see this little one soon."

Vic nodded.

"Sure."

Standing, she pulled on her jacket before taking the baby from Cady and preparing her for the onslaught of cold that waited for them outside. Cady pulled on her own coat as they headed for the door and pushed through.

Vic sucked in a breath.

"God, I'll be so happy when it's spring."

They started down the sidewalk, making the short trek towards the office.

"I don't know. Crime is lower this time of year."

Vic cut her eyes at Cady.

"That's because it's too cold to do anything."

Cady smiled as they reached the familiar brick building and pulled open the door. Up the stairs and in the main office, they were met by Ruby who took Anna from Vic almost immediately and pulled Vic into a one-armed hug.

"It's good to see you, Vic."

Vic smiled as she pulled back.

"You, too."

Vic trailed Cady into her office and glanced around.

"This place never changes."

Cady sat down behind her desk.

"Do you miss it?"

Vic shrugged and took a seat in the guest chair.

"Sometimes. Not enough to come back if that's what you're getting at."

Cady considered her.

"How is the PI business?"

"I stay busy enough. It can be interesting."

There was something on Cady's face that held her attention.

"What?"

"You just…never struck me as the type to stay home."

Vic breathed a laugh.

"I'm not. I have a job. Just because I work from home doesn't mean I don't really work. Once or twice a week, I even go in to the office and work from there. Plus…I help Walt with the horses. That one…"

She gestured over her shoulder at the open door.

"…keeps me busy. So does the big one at home."

Cady grinned.

"The big one is handful."

"You know it. I've…had my fair share of this."

"You could actually be the private investigator. You know that, right?"

"I do. But, he got punched twice last week and I did not. See my point?"

"You know I do. But, I still miss you. What can I say?"

Vic stood up and looked around.

"You should make this place more yours. Bring it into the twenty-first century. Just because people think it should stay the same, doesn't necessarily mean that it should."

xxx

"How was your day?"

Vic stretched out beside him on the bed, slipping her legs under the layers of blankets. Walt set his book aside and waited for her to get settled.

"Do you know who Bill Dwyer is?"

Her forehead creased in thought.

"It sounds familiar."

"He's the Assistant to the Attorney General. He came by today."

Her eyes widened.

"Here?"

"Yep."

She gave him a curious look.

"You know him?"

"Yep."

Her patience was already evaporating.

"Walt, stop saying yep and tell me what he wanted."

Walt grew quiet for a moment. Her eyes stayed firmly on him.

"He offered me a job."

Now, she was the quiet one. He expected a stronger, more immediate reaction. But, she surprised him with the silence that folded around them. Vic sat up and leaned forward, drawing her covered legs up into a cross legged sitting position.

"A job? What kind of job?"

Walt cleared his throat.

"It's a new position they're creating. He tells me they are setting up a new investigative branch of the office. He asked me to head it."

Her head moved in a half nod.

"Wow."

She murmured the word. Walt made no move to respond.

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him no."

"But?"

"He said he would call me in a week or so for my final answer."

"He thinks you're gonna change your mind?"

"I suppose."

"Will you?"

Walt turned to face her more.

"What do you mean?"

Vic shrugged.

"That's a hell of a job offer. Are you really okay with just saying no?"

He didn't answer. Truth was, it gave him a few things to think about. Topics and realities that he couldn't get off his mind, even when he was out working in the barn.

"Walt, what is it?"

He sighed.

"He said the money was good. That…they're not looking for someone long term right now. He wants someone to get the program up and running, training people underneath. Bill says that's what made him think of me."

She studied him with an intensity that made him uncomfortable. That ability in her never seemed to ebb.

"You're really thinking about this."

Walt looked down. The blanket made a soft rustle as she moved her legs slightly.

"Why?"

He looked up.

"Why are you thinking about if you told him no? Can't be the money. I've never known you to be motivated by money."

"I'm not. But…that kind of money could set up the future…"

"The future."

She said the words slowly.

"It could be a nice savings for you and Anna down the road…"

He saw the expression that crossed her face and knew what she was going to say before the words ever left her mouth.

"Jesus. I knew you were going somewhere with this."

Walt pushed out a breath.

"It's something to think about."

She shook her head.

"What about this business that you have just really gotten off the ground? What about the cabin? I'm assuming you don't plan to commute to Cheyenne. So…so what? You gonna live in Cheyenne during the week and come home on weekends or do you want us all to move?"

The words were sharp and it was such a turnaround from her initial reaction, Walt felt like he had whiplash.

"Vic."

He saw her jaw flex underneath her skin and her chest expanded with a breath.

"What?"

"Calm down."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Do not."

He held up his hands.

"Okay, don't calm down. But, I can't talk to you when you're like this."

Her head tilted.

"Oh, I'm sorry if my reaction is inconvenient for you."

She bit her bottom lip and shook her head, her eyes closing and then opening.

"I'm sorry."

Walt waited a beat before he responded.

"I never said I was going to say yes."

"No, but you're thinking. We all know how you get when you think. Especially about the future. You get to worrying about…"

Her voice stopped and she lifted her eyes to connect with him.

"Okay, so…hypothetically…how would you see this playing out?"

"Uh…if I took the job, it wouldn't be for the long term. Obviously. The move wouldn't have to be permanent. I don't plan to sell this place. I could hire someone to run the boarding business. Keep Eli on to help. You're right about one thing. I can't commute to Cheyenne. I would need a place there."

Something flashed through her eyes.

"I can't do that again. I don't want to."

"I'm not Sean."

"I'm not saying you are. But…that's no way to live. I suppose it works for some people. Maybe I'm selfish. I don't want to see you twice a week. I want to see you every day."

He smiled a bit.

"That's not selfish."

She went quiet, but he could still sense there was something under the surface that she wasn't saying.

"Something else?"

Vic started to answer when her cell phone buzzed on the nightstand. Vic made a face as she leaned over to grab it. Late night calls weren't a normal occurrence anymore. She glanced at Walt as she lifted her eyes from the phone.

"It's Cady."

xxx

Vic was frustrated when she reached over and picked up her phone. They didn't get calls at this hour all that frequently anymore. That ended when she left her job. For the most part. Vic glanced at the name on her lit up screen and gave Walt a look as she moved to answer it, a bad feeling settling in the pit of her stomach.

"It's Cady."

He didn't reply, only watched as she answered the phone.

"Hello."

"Vic, did I wake you?"

"No."

Cady's voice sounded edgy, not unlike it did when there was something going on either with Cooper or at work. That was Vic's first thought. That something might be happening with Cooper and she needed an outlet.

"Good."

Cady huffed.

"Can you come to the office?"

Vic's eyes met Walt's. He was still watching her with an open curiosity.

"Now?"

She didn't bother trying to keep the surprise out of her voice.

"Yes. Please."

"Cady it's…it's late. What's going on?"

A few heartbeats of silence passed between them.

"It would be easier if you just came than for to try and explain it over the phone."

Vic sighed, but she knew that Cady wouldn't call her like this unless there was something important going on. She still wondered if this still had something to do with Cooper.

"Okay."

"Thank you."

The call ended. Walt leaned in.

"What was that about?"

Vic set her phone aside, tossed back the blankets, and got up.

"Cady needs to see me."

"Why?"

Vic shrugged as she rifled around for clothes.

"I don't know. She won't say."

His hand pulled at the top of the blanket.

"I'll come with you."

She was in the middle of pulling on jeans and shook her head.

"You can't. You need to stay here. There's no point in waking up Anna and getting her out in this cold. Besides, I'm the one she called."

She could see on his face that he wasn't happy. She could also see that he knew she was right whether he would admit that or not.

"Right."

Vic pulled on a thermal shirt and then tugged her Flyers hoodie over that.

"I shouldn't be long. If something is really wrong, I'll call you."

He nodded and stayed where he was as she breezed from the room and grabbed her coat. Slipping it on, she pulled on at hat over her messily pulled back hair, picked up her keys and left the cabin.