XIII
"Mich, you are going to wear a hole in the carpet."
"You should sit." Yumiko coaxed.
Michonne's anxiety was through the roof as she awaited Rick's arrival at the scheduled meeting with Smith Hospitality. A sleepless night where she picked up her phone numerous times, contemplating calling or typing a text only to delete it, had her uneasy. Her restless frustration had her up, getting ready to head to the office earlier than necessary.
While on the train headed to work, she decided to message Andrea and Yumiko about what occurred between her and Rick. She was grateful for the spotty underground service that kept her from being able to accept their incoming calls. Once she was in her office, they swooped in to voice their concern and supply her with sympathy. But she didn't want to rehash last night's events because her eyes were puffy enough.
Instead, she readied the conference room and paced the floor. She sat for a few minutes but every time the elevator doors opened, her heart nearly leapt from her throat, only to have her stomach bottom out when it wasn't who she hoped for. When the doors opened the next time, it was who was expected but not who she yearned to see.
It was Negan.
Gavin and a few of his other employees scurried behind him with anxious faces. Their expressions explained by his furious face as his footsteps pounded past the receptionist desk. Sherry tried to intercept them and he snarled at her, but she didn't back down. Suddenly, Gregory scuttled out of nowhere to join the silent fray.
Through the glass walls, they could see Gregory attempting to puff his chest before leading Negan and his people to their location. They stormed into the room and Negan immediately began to roam around the area in his typical grandstanding way. Oddly enough, he didn't speak which was highly unusual, in his place Gregory did.
"I gave you three a simple task and you couldn't get it done."
Michonne, Andrea and Yumiko quickly glanced at one another before turning back to their boss.
"Gregory, what are you talking about?" Yumiko asked even though she already knew the answer.
"Ricky decided to not sell the lodge to Negan."
"How do you know this?" Andrea asked.
"Uh duh, I'm the boss."
Andrea looked as though she was ready to leap across the table and smack him but she crossed her arms over her chest instead.
Gavin stood to Gregory's side and looked around in anguish before he spoke. "Rick called last night to nix the whole thing."
Negan's maniacal chuckle interrupted. "So I had old Gavy here, send that prick back home on the first thing smoking."
Michonne was a ball of emotions, she wanted to run Negan through for calling Rick out his name. But she also felt her heart drop, when she realized Rick was really gone. Not here in New York avoiding her, but headed back to Colorado. Her hopes dashed since she wouldn't see him today to try and explain her stance.
"You three said you could close this deal and you failed." Gregory's bothersome voice broke her out of her thoughts. She couldn't show her sadness right now. She'd have to stuff it down and deal with these two assholes first.
"We never agreed to anything of the sort. We can only work with a client to come to mutual terms." Yumiko reminded.
"That was rhetorical, okay!"
The women looked to each other with scrunched brows not understanding Gregory's idiotic response in the least.
"We can only-" Andrea opened her mouth for a rebuttal but he cut her off.
"Let me stop you before you break into song."
This was clearly a last ditch effort to show Negan he was still in charge but, he was failing miserably from the contemptuously look on the dark haired man's face. Gregory oblivious, rested his hands in his pants pockets waiting for one of his attorneys to speak again, but became befuddled when the ire was directed at him. Negan walked over leaning his pelvis forward as he angrily glared at Gregory.
"But I want answers. Now!" Negan demanded, a breaths distance from the cowering man's face.
"You said you'd get this whole deal squared away. You promised there would be others. And pardon my goddamn French, but you said you were the one that kept the fucking trains on time around here. Isn't. That. Right?"
Gregory eyes bulged as the blood drained from his face when the foreboding man began to lean even closer to him.
"To be fair this isn't just Gregory's fault." Negan looked over, oddly smirking at Michonne's matter of fact tone.
"I would love to say if you hadn't been so spiteful as to send Mr. Grimes back to Colorado so quickly, maybe we could have talked him into taking the deal."
Gregory visibly exhaled now that Negan had turned his attention to her with a raised eyebrow. "But the truth is, I wouldn't have." Michonne placed her hands on her hips.
"Neither would I." Yumiko stated.
"What they said." The men looked to Andrea in shock.
"You all have got some gigantic sets of lady balls. Way bigger than this idiot." he snarled at Gregory making him cower more.
"I can practically feel the heat coming off of them from over here." Negan grinned which seemed to make his staff and Gregory even more nervous, but the women stood firm.
"May I ask why you would not have gotten me the deal?"
"Besides you being an asshole?" Andrea scoffed.
Negan chuckled and began to pace. "Well excuse the fuck out of me, I thought I was rather hospitable."
It was Michonne, Andrea and Yumiko's turn to laugh and they did, loudly.
"It's not my fault Rick Grimes doesn't know shit. Hell, who shows up to sell their property without a goddamn lawyer?"
Michonne smiled brightly, confusing Negan. She couldn't admit it to him but she gathered it was because Rick never really had any intention of selling to Smith Hospitality, he had truly come here for her. Just for her.
But she didn't have time to truly digest that and stepped forward to glare directly in Negan's eyes, since he had rounded the table. "You were beyond low balling Rick."
"Was I?" his eyes gleamed as he looked her over.
"Oh, that wasn't a question. I know you are used to coming in places and charming people with your own personal brand of bullshit. They eat it up just hoping to hold on to the crumbs you offer along the way. Fancy house, nice cars, exotic trips, etc. But just look at them, they all secretly despise you." that statement had his grin rapidly fading.
"You pretend that you really want people to fear you but the truth is you desire to be adored and worshipped. But it's never going to genuinely happen so you use force." Michonne sighed and walked over to the conference table and sat on its edge so one leg swung.
"The smart ones…they are just waiting for an opportunity to usurp you." Negan turned towards his people who all averted his gaze.
"You may be able to fend off the likes of former associates like Simon and Dwight. But when they all realize they have an option to be free, do you think they won't turn on you?"
Negan's face twisted and Gregory looked as though he wanted to intervene but the death stares Yumiko and Andrea had locked on him made him keep his mouth closed, not wanting to have his own shortcomings aired.
"So no, I wouldn't have helped you swindle your way into low balling a client that was undeserving. But, neither of you will have to worry about that in the future."
"What do you mean?" Gregory finally managed to speak.
"Because I handed in my resignation to HR this morning. I would say sorry for the short notice but, today's my last day at Barrington House."
"Our last day." Yumiko and Andrea both stated before the latter went to a folder on the table and slid three sheets of paper across to Gregory.
"What?" he grabbed the stationary looked them over as his hands shook. "You can't quit. You're all fired!"
The ladies just burst out laughing again to Gregory's chagrin. Negan turned back to their now former boss with renewed irritation. He was beginning his pleads for opportunities at redemption while threatening to call security on the women at the same time then the elevator doors opened again.
This time, Sherry didn't make a move from behind her desk as a large group of men and women dressed in mostly navy blue track jackets swarmed the lobby. They moved swiftly and in sync, some with weapons drawn heading for the conference room. A cluster broke off and went down the hall to the area where most of the executives' offices were located.
The surprise on Michonne, Andrea and Yumiko's faces would have been enough to make the rooms other occupants turn to look, but the sounds of fright from a couple staffers that walked through the halls also alerted them. The women all stood together on the opposite side of the table from everyone else but they all stared through the glass panes. As a few of the collective entered the room, others turned their backs to the glass in a defensive formation, making the yellow lettering easily read.
FBI
"What the shit!" Negan shouted.
A tall dark haired handsome man held papers in his hand as he approached. "I'm Agent Cole Devoti with the FBI and we have several warrants. Negan Smith, you are under arrest."
"I want my lawyer. I'm not saying a damn thing until my lawyer arrives!"
"That might be a little hard since he's currently being arrested too."
Two other men moved in to hold the tussling Negan while Cole put the handcuffs on him. Everyone else stood in shock while some executives were being carted off to the elevators with their hands cuffed as well. But then the group at the door parted, allowing a confident brunette woman to enter the room. She walked in authoritatively and the other agents looked to her, letting it be known she was the leader they followed. Gregory's face blanched even more and he looked as though all the blood drained from it for the third time in the short minutes that passed.
"Natalie?"
The woman stood firmly before addressing him.
"It's Federal Agent Margaret Greene, but you can call me Maggie, honey."
"But…but I thought we were going to have something special?"
The brunette smirked. "You know what I had the whole time?" Gregory's mouth was open but he shook his head side to side.
"Leverage and evidence. Get him out of here fellas."
"You can't arrest me. What ever happened with Negan and Smith Hospitality, happened outside of my purview!"
"You think that's a valid defense?" Andrea couldn't help but to interject.
The agents that put the cuffs on Gregory began to parade him out of the room when Negan slipped from Cole's grasp and used his shoulder to nearly knock Gregory to the ground.
"You son of a bitch! Shut your fucking mouth!"
One of the agents helped Gregory regain his balance as the man all but ran into the waiting arms of the authority to get away from Negan's continued attempts at attacking him.
"Take Gavin into custody too." Agent Greene instructed and the man's face dropped.
"I want a plea deal. I will testify against both of them." he begged.
"You little shit!"
Gavin was also incurring Negan's curse filled tirade as he was dragged to the elevators. Gregory's sad whimpers could be heard from the lobby, even though he didn't fight his captors.
A chuckle could be heard coming from Maggie, making the women turn to her. "You three and your friend Luke could've thrown a wrench in this whole operation."
The women were stunned about what just happened but now the pieces of the puzzle were coming together. The firewall was the FBI's doing, hence the files being blocked instead of deleted. They watched as boxes of paperwork were being removed from a file room and rolled out on dollies.
"We didn't intend to case any harm. We just knew something was going on here."
"That's alright. We got it done in the end. I'm just happy that you three weren't involved. We probably should have pulled you in to help with the investigation like we did with Sherry."
The women all smiled at the receptionist who was being briefed by other agents in the lobby before Maggie continued.
"Unfortunately, this means you may probably be out of a job. Unless you plan on running a heavy duty salvage mission with the couple executives still here?"
Michonne, Andrea and Yumiko looked to each other and chuckled. "We put in our resignations this morning, we had enough of Gregory's bullshit but once he saddled up with Negan, our days here were numbered."
"Well timed." Maggie smiled. "Excuse me, now I've got a ton of paperwork to complete."
And with that Agent Greene and her team walked out, leaving them shocked as to the events that just occurred. This meeting had not gone at all the way Michonne or anyone else had anticipated.
After packing up her personal items, Michonne hugged and thanked valued employees who were even more stunned by her and her friend's departures. Everyone was still reeling from the day's events and their possible approaching lack of employment. The remaining partners that weren't arrested gathered the workforce into the lobby in an attempt to quail their fears. Some staff decided they too had had enough and decided today would be their last day at Barrington as well. They all prayed the stench of whatever the CEO and a few execs had been arrested for wouldn't taint them professionally.
As they left, Yumiko and Andrea gathered around Michonne while they each waited for their individual rideshares to take them home with their belongings.
"Mich, are you going to be okay?" Andrea asked with a sadness in her eyes that Michonne was fighting to not reciprocate, less she break down on the sidewalk.
"I'll be fine."
"You can come by my place." Yumiko offered.
"So I can be the six toe? I'll pass. I'm just going to go home and down a bottle of wine. Watch a movie, take a nap or maybe I need to work out." she was just randomly listing options at this point.
"You would never be a six toe, we love you."
Michonne smiled at them as her phone pinged to let her know that her driver had arrived. "That's my car." she motioned before picking up her box. Her friends hugged her and watched as she climbed in, waving as the car pulled off.
Unpacking her things, running on the treadmill to release some energy and showering had kept her preoccupied for a while. Now, she sat on her couch with her phone turned off so no one would bother her. News of Gregory's arrest had spread, alarmed as well as curious people had been contacting her all day. With her phone off, it would also stop her from constantly checking it to see if she had any messages, out of sight out of mind.
She decided a movie would help take her mind off of her hurt but Love Jones was definitely not the right choice. It just happened to be on, she had not seen it in quite some time and continued searching was a task she didn't want to kept at. Her red wine was now replaced by Tequila, thinking tomorrow's migraine would help her with her current state of avoidance. But in the here and now, she couldn't seem to stuff it down any longer.
The scene in the office had temporarily kept her from getting to ruminate about her situation with Rick. But now that she was home it was all hitting her, hard. She was relieved that he hadn't gotten entangled with Barrington House or Smith Hospitality. But she was melancholy about Rick's early departure and not getting to say goodbye. He was obviously heartbroken about her response to him last night. Or was he just over it with her and ready to move on, she wondered. That thought had tears welling in her eyes until the fat droplets bounced off her cheeks, splashing on her hand that held the rocks glass.
On the tv screen, Nina stood at the train station in hopes that Darius would show up to see her off. But he didn't, opting to fall into another woman's arms in order to conceal his true feelings for the woman that was supposed to just be an extended booty call.
Michonne swallowed the last gulp of liquor in the glass. She decided to just be miserable for a minute and she wailed. She gave sound to her pain, allowing the flood gates to open. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her nose was clogged yet runny. She didn't care if neighbors heard her noise, she just needed to release it.
After she calmed herself, she grabbed a napkin to wipe her face, just as a knock sounded at her front door. She didn't even allow herself to dream but she dragged herself to the door. She nearly looked in the mirror she mounted at the entryway, but changed her mind. Her swollen, puffy, tear stained face was her truth so she opened the door.
Yumiko, Magna and Andrea stood there with bags of what smelled like Chinese food in their hands. She didn't even say anything to them she just pushed the door open and let them in. They took off their coats and shoes and followed her to the living room to see the mess she wallowed in.
"Oh, Michonne-" Yumiko began but she cut her off.
"I don't want to talk about it."
Her friends looked at each other before they sat the food down and busied themselves getting plates and water for their slightly drunk and depressed friend. Magna still stood awkwardly, looking around before she softly spoke.
"Is it okay that I'm here?"
Michonne looked to her after balling herself in a corner of the sofa. "Yes."
"Are you sure, I could just go visit my foster brother Jesus and give you guys space."
"Sit." Michonne demanded and she followed her orders before her girlfriend and Andrea joined them.
"Luke found out what Negan, Gregory and the others were arrested for." Yumiko offered and Michonne perked up.
"Really, tell me." she was hungry for any distraction.
"Well for starters, bribery, embezzlement and money laundering."
"We kind of assumed those ourselves." Michonne slightly slurred her words.
Andrea offered her a bottle of water that she waved off. "And sex trafficking."
"What?" she eyes opened as wide as she could manage in her state.
"Yes, Smith Hospitality was using its hotels as a front to appear on the up and up with normal guests, mixed in with their clients. Rich business men would book stays so they could have sex with women they coerced into prostitution."
"What the hell!"
"Apparently, Gregory had only just become a part of the operation recently. Negan was using Barrington House to clean his money, hence the triple payments. Gregory jumped at the opportunity to impress Negan when I told him about…the lodge."
Andrea looked distressed and came to kneel in front of her. "Mich, I'm so sorry. I opened my big mouth to Gregory, I could have caused not only us but Rick so much unnecessary heartache. I'm so sorry and I will make it up to you anyway I can."
Michonne's mind was reeling again and she looked to her misguided friend. "Andrea, I know you are working on yourself and I forgive you, but this will take some time."
Andrea nodded understandingly and went back to her seat.
"I'm glad you talked us into resigning this morning." Yumiko sat next to Magna and Michonne half smiled. "I think you should eat." she opened the bag and started taking out containers, rattling off the contents but Michonne just kept shaking her head in decline.
Andrea saw the half empty bottle of tequila and knew Michonne should eat to soak up the liquor but she was nervous to push her. Just as she was about to open her mouth to gently suggest it, Michonne spoke.
"Maybe, I'm just dickmatized?" she shrugged and her friends looked to each other.
"Really, Michonne?"
"You know that's not true."
A wayward tear rolled down her cheek that she quickly dashed away. "He told me he loves me."
Their jaws dropped, her statement stunning them into silence.
"He probably didn't mean it. It was after we were fucking."
Even she couldn't convince herself of that. They weren't just fucking. It may have started out as fucking but it quickly transformed to lovemaking. A soul piercing connection, complete with eye contact that made her weep. Her eyes welled up and her lips trembled but she fought it back to the best of her ability.
"You know what I did when he told me? Pretended to be asleep." she hated herself for the cowardice.
Her fear of the unknown had her keeping this wall up. Her fierceness in the courts and in the boardroom was something she could control. She could plot, debate, and design her moves for the outcome she desired. Now, she didn't know if she should submit to a process that allowed someone in fully. No book, research or strategy could guide her when hormones and emotions claimed her heart. When Rick and his son had claimed her heart.
Her friends remained silent letting her work through her course. "What could I have done? Run to JFK airport like I'm in some romance novel?"
She grabbed the bottle and poured some in her glass. "How the hell does that even work? TSA won't let you through!" she downed the shot.
Surprising them all, Magna leaned forward and they gave her their hesitant attention. "You three inspire me. I've done things, ran from my responsibilities living a mostly nomadic lifestyle with only a couple people I could depend on." Yumiko reached over and rubbed the top of her hand, making her delicately smile.
"I know you've all got responsibilities so pulling one of my moves doesn't came easy. And if I had all of this…" she looked around at the fancy apartment. "I probably would be afraid to trust my heart too."
"I'm not...I just can't pack up my life and-" Michonne exhaled and looked down in contemplation.
"It's better than losing someone that could be everything." Magna stated making Michonne look back up.
"You'll never know unless you let that wall down, Mich." Andrea softly spoke.
The effects of her last downed drink were starting to take effect on her and her head began to swim. "I-I just want to get some sleep."
"Of course, we're going to stay here with you. Just to make sure you're okay." Yumiko replied and Michonne nodded her acceptance.
Andrea gathered the throw blanket and laid it on her. Magna dimmed the lights then came back to settle in on the floor. Michonne didn't realize so much time had passed and the end scene of the movie was playing. Nina was outside the club, she had nearly hailed a cab trying to escape the downpour she abruptly walked out into. Darius stood across the alleyway, surprising her since she thought he hadn't heard her heart song that took shape in a spoken word poem at that evenings amateur night event. Michonne listened, realizing she had forgotten the movie's ending dialogue.
'You always want, what you want when you want it. Why is everything so urgent?'
The words from Nina caught her attention and she fought her fuzzy brain's demand for rest and focused.
'Let me tell you something. This here, right now at this very moment is all that matters to me. I love you. That's urgent like a motherfucker.' Darius proclaimed.
'How do we do this?'
'I don't know.'
'I live in New York.'
'I don't care.'
Michonne watched the couple kiss passionately in the rain before Nina pulled away to mouth I love you. She pulled the blanket that Andrea laid on her in tightly and closed her eyes pressing her head into a throw pillow, letting sleep take her.
"No, I don't think I will. I think I should stay here tonight."
Tammy Rose looked at Rick as though he was one of the most pitiful souls she had ever seen. He snickered at the look and it seemed to startle her all the more.
"Tammy, I'm fine." he sighed. "I'll be fine."
"I think if you come out with us to celebrate that will help. Don't you think?"
Rick pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. She could be right, but he really didn't want to be the one dragging everyone down with his mood. He was happy and thankful on the inside that the lodge was saved. Carl's legacy was secured but he couldn't help but be reminded how he was back to being the lonely widower. In a few years' time, he'd morph into a crabby white haired old man that walked around town with a limp. His cane and boots tapping, a signal for others to clear the path not wanting to incur his surly wrath. Colorado's very own Ebenezer Scrooge. The thought had him snickering again and the older woman's eyes opened even wider. Must have looked as though he'd lost his mind so he sobered.
"I promise you Tammy, I will be fine tonight. Go have fun and celebrate all you've done to help me and my boy."
She dolefully smiled at him and came over to embrace him. He hugged her back, just as tightly before she half-heartedly pulled away. After adjusting her silky headscarf, she went outside to join Earl. Rick started on his way to his private section of the hotel, deciding to spend the last few evening hours with his son. But the fishing hat clad man coming down the hall surprised him.
"I thought you left for the restaurant in town already."
"I was about to, but then my bladder had other plans." they both chuckled.
"Natania is in the RV waiting for me out front. You grabbing something before you join us?" Dale inquired.
"Actually, no."
"Hmm…" Dale looked at him with concern after his eyes cast down. "Have you called her?"
Rick looked up, astonished that everyone appeared to know his personal issues.
"No one told me anything, but it's written all over your face."
Rick nodded. "They're waiting on you. You should probably go."
"They can wait a few minutes. After all, I am the new investor." Dale smiled and Rick couldn't help but join him. He then led the way to his office, giving them some privacy and they sat down.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm ecstatic that you've decided to invest in the lodge and become my partner."
"Silent partner. I don't know anything about running this type of business. But whatever you need, we will figure it out. When I came back to visit Natania, I talked about the comfort that the mattress here had provided my achy back. So she suggested we come here for a night, just for a change in scenery." the man reddened from a memory that was clearly replaying in his mind and Rick smiled, happy for him.
After a moment, Dale went on. "Well, when I came down for breakfast I noticed Earl was doing some work. I'm pretty handy and I always have my tool box somewhere nearby, just in case. While I was helping him with some quick fixes, I got to see the place more and hear some of the stories. Tammy Rose, Barbara, Aaron and other staff members told wonderful stories. Anyone could tell they really enjoyed working here. That joy translates into the effort they put into keeping this place afloat. They are dedicated."
"They are and I really appreciate them, more than they know."
"Oh, I think they do. Carol and Tobin came by with Carl and Sophia and they only added to the homey feeling that resides here. I had to be a part of that. I couldn't not help when I knew a good man and his son's lives were on the line. I've got the means from all the stocks and investments I made in my lifetime. My business manager always found new and innovation companies he thought I should invest in. Ones I had never heard of before, Apple, Cable One and Amazon."
Rick was a bit shocked by those revelations.
"My late wife and I were never able to have children. My monies just sitting there in the bank with nothing to do, so why not? I had been unknowingly looking for something for a long time since my wife passed. And I've found it here in this quintessential town."
Rick was even more thankful now for his fortunate circumstance even though his heart ached. But part of Dale's statement had him reeling. The parallel between their situations couldn't be denied.
"Look, son. I just don't want to see you go the way I did. I wasted a lot of time not finding happiness. I didn't think it was out there for me, but now I know better."
"I felt that way before…before Michonne." he was just able to get her name out without the yearning breaking him apart. "I tried, I went all the way to New York for her. I was ready to give all this up for her."
"If that's true, how can you just give up now?" Dale urged him. "You've got to fight for it. Nothing worth having will come easy. I didn't take you as the type of guy that would just…give up."
"I'm not."
"So have you reached out to her?"
"I made a big mistake back in New York. I thought I was doing the right thing by telling the company that had brought me out there that I wouldn't be taking the deal. That asshole that runs the company had my departure changed to a five am flight." Rick huffed thinking about what happened once he returned to his hotel room after leaving Michonne's.
"I barely had enough time to just toss my stuff in the suitcase and make it to the airport in time for my departure."
"Oh."
"I tried connecting to the airlines Wi-Fi to message her. Let her know I hadn't just run off without saying goodbye but the texts wouldn't go through."
"So why didn't you message her again once you landed?"
Rick sighed and got up to begin pacing the floor. "When I landed and there weren't any missed calls or incoming messages from her. I- I thought maybe she needed some space."
"Rick-"
"I pushed it. I pushed her, probably too hard. Too soon. I should've given her more time." he rubbed his forehead.
Dale's bushy eyebrows furrowed as he contemplated. "Well, you just have to try again. And if that doesn't work, try again. Just keep trying." he stated matter of factly, until Rick smirked and nodded.
Dale stood and came over to clasp a firm but comforting hand on Rick's shoulder. "I'm gonna leave you to it."
"Okay, have a good time. Tell Natania I said hello."
"I will."
"And Dale…Thank you."
The older gentlemen smiled and tipped his hat before he turned around to depart. Rick watched him leave his office but his fingers tapped anxiously against his hip. He exhaled after pulling his cellphone from his pocket. He went through to his favorites and found Michonne, listed with sparkly heart emoji's next to her name. She added them one night while they laid in her bed together and it made his heart flutter.
He took a deep breath and pressed the screen. He'd not even given himself a chance to formulate what he'd say when she answered, but it went immediately to voicemail. He chewed his lip as he put the phone back in his pocket, wondering if she'd blocked him or if she just hadn't been taking anyone's calls. The fear almost took him over but Dale's speech was still fresh in his mind. He'd not give up so easily but for now he'd spend time with Carl to keep his spirits high. He'd try again tomorrow or maybe even later.
Michonne's head felt like it weighted a hundred pounds when she awoke. The sun had risen but the clouds kept its rays at bay only allowing the rain admittance. The drops splashing against her windowpane were somehow soothing in their rhythm. It matched the soft sounds of breathing from her friends that slept in various locations around her living room.
Regret in not eating was at the forefront of Michonne's mind when she carefully stood to maneuver her way through the maze of bodies. She opened her fridge to grab the leftover take out containers of Chinese food and found one with lo mein that would be her breakfast. A huge glass of iced water would wash it down, accompanied by migraine meds.
She looked down her hallway to her bedroom that was simply just that now. She'd never felt that way before this past weekend. Before his visit. It was her haven, where laying on the cushy mattress relaxed her after a long day's work. But now, it reminded her of happier passion filled memories. The night Rick left, she'd slept on the couch, not wanting to be in the huge bed all alone. The next morning, she'd gone in just to get what she needed for her workday and left for the office.
A refreshing shower after a night of debauchery always made her body and mind feel better, so she went into the bathroom. Flashes of her muddled dreams where Rick had a starring role, came back to her as she bathed. Michonne stood under the showerhead and tried to let the stream of water wash away her troubles. Once she got out and wrapped the towel around her body she exited the room. She swallowed the lump in her throat and went into her bedroom.
Instinct kicked in and she went to the chair before stopping in her tracks. Georgia Bulldogs sweatpants were her usual go to when she wanted something quick and easy to throw on. She exhaled deeply and averted to the dresser, pulling out undergarments and putting them on. She grabbed a tank top then fumbled through another drawer for leggings and went to sit on the bed to shimmy into them when she realized her mistake.
She didn't know why she had kept these, let alone put them in her dresser after they were washed. The rip in the knee took her back to being carried down the red dirt path back in Colorado. The attention that Rick gave her wasn't just for her physical. Once they were in his bed, he expressed himself through their intimate connection. He was showing her that he'd be careful with her in all ways. Protective with her heart. His actions proved this. Michonne's heart sped up when she thought about his willingness to migrate not only himself but his son here to New York just to be with her. The removal of his wedding ring was just another visual acknowledgment to demonstrate that he was truly all in.
'…I never really saw a reason to remove it.'
Michonne got up from her bed and retrieved her iPad then began to search sites for what she needed. She could hear the sounds of her friends shuffling through her apartment from down the hall, but she continued until her task was complete. She looked at her wall clock to determine how much time she had. Four hours.
"Michonne what are you doing?" Yumiko sleepily asked after her and Andrea came down the hall to check on her wellbeing.
"Packing."
Andrea smiled and eagerly hopped over. "Let me help."
Michonne looked excited yet nervously at the two of them before nodding her approval. Andrea started looking through her drawer, grabbing lacy panties and bras.
"Andrea, I will need some actual clothes, don't you think?"
"Not if you are doing it right."
Michonne and Yumiko burst out laughing. The feeling of joy was something she needed desperately so she let her body shake with laughter to release the impatient nerves.
"Yumi, can you grab my weekend bag out of the closet?"
"Of course."
"Andrea, put those in there."
They all giggled again. "Colorado, here I come."