Chapter 12

The house Rick once called home that held so many memories stared back at him. He remembered carrying a pregnant Lori over the threshold, the countless hours of Overtime he worked to save up for the down payment, Carl's first birthday and running out of the house to the hospital when her water broke with Judith. And then there were the other memories. The countless fights and wishing he had a bigger home so he could hide when he couldn't stand the tension. The nights on the couch, the apple she threw at his head when he suggested that she got pregnant with Judith to save their ailing marriage and retreating to his "secret" hideout that wasn't so secret anymore now that he shared with Michonne. The thought of her brought a smile to his face and postpoined what he knew was looming on the other side of the door.

It was decorated with an orange, brown and dark yellow wreath, basquing in the colors of Autumn. It was a tradition that Lori started when they moved in, a decoration for every season, and that consistency gave him a little hope. That some how, some way they would come through all of this on the other side. He never got the chance to see what a healthy divorced couple looked like. His parents insisted on staying together despite their obvious misery up until his dad's last breath and why he tried to do the same. But at some point despite the urgings from his mother, and the vows he took, he decided to let go. He didn't want to fight anymore. And Lori agreed initially but the last few weeks had shown something different. She was suddenly more interested in him and he felt it was in large part because she could sense that he moved on.

Rick rang the doorbell, the urge to use his key long gone. Lori told him he could but it didn't seem right anymore. This wasn't his home anymore. It was hers.

"Hey," she said as she opened the door and walked away leaving him standing there. He walked in and shut the door behind him.

In the kitchen he could hear her chopping something on the island and the fact that she had a knife in her hand didn't grant him much comfort. "Sorry I'm a little late."

She was quiet for a moment before saying back, "That seems to be the norm these days."

Here we go, he thought. But this time he wasn't backing down. "It's not just these days. Remember, that was one of your main issues when we were married that I was always late or missing in action. But it's "these days" because suddenly something changed and you decided to care again."

Lori stood in shock. Rick was never one to be vocal and that was half the issue in their marriage. "Well look who found a voice all of a sudden. Michonne help you with that?"

Rick shook his head and chuckled. "Of course. So let's get right into it. You being pissed has nothing to do with Michonne."

"It has everything to do with Michonne," she yelled and turned towards him. It wasn't until she saw the fear on Rick's face that she realized the knife was in her hand. "Really? You think I would hurt you." She scoffed and put the knife in the sink, wiping her hands on the apron.

"These days I'm not quite sure, ya know? You're different."

"I'm different? You're sleeping with your best friend and kept it from me, helping around the house, not being all moody and a mute and I'm different?" She was pissed. This was the version of Rick she thought she married and now he was for someone else.

Rick stepped closer to her. "Just so we are clear I don't owe you an explanation about me and Michonne." Lori got ready to interrupt but he stopped her. "But since she was around before we got divorced then I'm going to give you one. There was nothing going on between me and her while you and I were marrried."

Lori threw her hands in the air, walking away from him. "Oh please."

"I'm serious. Do you think I would cheat on you? I know you don't think much of me but I'm not a cheater."

"Do I think you were fucking her while we were married? No. But you damn sure wanted to."

Rick rolled his eyes and put his hand on his forehead trying to calm himself. "You are so full of it. There was someone with roaming eyes in this marriage and it wasn't me."

Lori stepped back as if he hit her. "Me?"

"Yes. You. You think I didn't notice the new bras and panties you would lay out and being all secretive about your phone?"

She couldn't believe he was going there. "I'm glad you noticed. Now if only you would've done something with the information."

"What?"

"Confront me! Speak! Do what you're doing now. That's what I wanted. I was never with anyone Rick. Was I tempted sometimes because I just wanted to feel wanted? Yeah. But I never slept with anyone else. I swear to you that I didn't."

"Well neither did I."

Lori sat on the stool feeling like she needed to rest. "I know you didn't Rick but it almost would've been easier if you had. I saw the connection between you two. I saw that you liked her, was attracted to her and that there was a deeper connection between the two of you."

Rick sat in the stool next to her trying to think back. Had it been that obvious? He struggled even now to remember when it happened. When he first felt that he and Michonne were something different. It was before Maggie opened her mouth but he couldn't quite tell when.

"Do you remember Judith's second birthday party?" she asked breaking his reverie.

He did. It was about a year and half ago. "Yeah, here at the house."

"You and I had just had a big fight because you showed up late because of work. Michonne was here before you with Maggie, I could tell she was uncomfortable. We kept our distance but Judith ran over to her, so happy to see her. And then you came in a few minutes later. Judith shouted for you and you went straight to her and Michonne. I thought you would take her and then bring her back to play with friends or come and see where I was but you didn't."

"Lori, that doesn't mean anything. We probably got caught up talking about work."

"No you weren't. I got closer and you two were talking to Judith about her new favorite book. You had told Michonne all about it at work apparently. Goodnight Moon. And Michonne was telling Judith how she loved the book too. And then Carl walked up and he started talking comic books. 22 minutes. That's how long you stayed there talking to her. The four of you. It was like I didn't exist."

He reached out to her then. "Lori—"

"No," she pulled her hand away. "I know it sounds ridiculous to you. Like I'm overreacting or being foolish. But it's not to me. I was struggling to connect with my husband. I was trying to find something that we could be on the same page with and then seamlessly you have that with someone else. Put yourself in my shoes for one damn second. How would you feel if I did that?"

Rick's head started pounding. How had he gotten it so wrong? He never wanted to be the person that did this to someone else. There were problems in his marriage but he never saw the situation from her perspective.

"That's why I said it would've been easier for you to cheat on me. I would've rather you fuck her than fall in love with her."

Rick opened his mouth to respond but heard shuffling behind him.

"Shh." Followed by "ouch."

Lori buried her head in her hands on the counter as Judith fell over in the hallway. "Hey," Rick said startled by her presence. "What are you doing here munchkin?"

Judith stood nervously in the hallway and then turned to the side looking at something that was blocked by the kitchen wall. Carl cleared his throat and then made himself visible. Rick exhaled and turned accusingly at Lori. He thought the kids were gone or he would've never had that conversation. He reeled it in for the sake of them and spoke with an even tone. "Hey there munchkin, why aren't you at school?"

She ran into his arms, pushing her messy curls out of her face. "Mommy said that you would take me and that I could go in late because I was up late with nightmares."

He kissed her forehead and looked over to Carl. "Yeah I thought I would hang out and go in a little late too to catch a ride with you guys. I tried to text you dad but I guess you missed it."

Rick looked down at his phone. He had missed the text and another one from Shane asking when he was coming in. "Sorry about that. I was just talking to your mom."

"Yeah I heard."

Judith looked between them with a look of guilt at her eavesdropping.

"I tried to catch Jude from listening but well—"

Rick wanted to know then and there what all he heard but he had to save face.

"Is Mommy crying?"

Rick was ready to lie but Lori jumped up and quickly swatted away the tears from her face. "No mommy is just super tired from being up with you all night."

Their daughter didn't look like she believed it but like the Grimes family had learned to do well over the past year, she let it slide and laid her head on her dad's shoulder.

Lori reached out for her, gave her a quick hug and then set her down on the ground. "Now you Miss Nosey, go get your backpack so daddy can't take you both to school."

She ran off at the speed of light and Carl stood watching both of his parents. Between his mom's tears and his dad's defeated posture he didn't know what to make of what he heard. "C'mon dad. We can wait for Jude on the porch. She has a bunch of her unicorns she's trying to stuff in backpack anyway that will take forever."

Lori jumped to attention. "She better not. Judith Grimes I told you not to bring those to school," she bellowed as she headed up the stairs.

"She's still trying to bring her toys to school?"

Carl took off his booksack and motioned his dad to the porch. "No she's not but it buys us some time. I know you're wondering what I heard. I know it's Michonne you're seeing and I know Mom thinks that you guys have been..well involved for awhile."

Rick leaned his head back and tried to gather his wits. "I really didn't mean to have that talk while you guys were here."

"I know you didn't know. I think she did it on purpose. Not telling you that we were here. That's why I tried to text you."

He frowned and looked between the house and Carl. "Why would she do that?"

Carl shrugged. "I think she wanted us to hear about Michonne and that it possibly had been going on for awhile. If I had to guess."

Rick's thoughts were on the tip of his tongue. Some of the pity he felt for Lori had begun to fall away at her confession about the birthday party and his indifference towards her was morphing into a strong dislike but he spared his son. He'd been witness to enough.

And on cue, Lori came barreling through the front door out of breath. "Carl, she actually was just fixing her hair. She didn't have her toys."

Rick turned away looking at the street. He couldn't stand to look at her without risking saying something he couldn't take back.

"Did I interrupt something?" she asked looking between the two of them.

Carl kissed her on the cheek. "Nothing just now we're running super late. Come on Jude," he yelled into the house.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. Bye Mommy," she said hugging Lori's waist.

Rick started towards the car without looking back. Judith babbled the entire car ride while his mind wandered. He stole glances at Carl in the rearview mirror trying to feel him out. The edge of Carl's lip turned up into a wry smile and Rick was thankful that he was handling all of this so well. It was a shame that he was dealing with this level of drama at his age. He should've been dealing with his own teen angst.

"Daddy are you listening to me?" Judith's arms were folded and she pouted. "I was trying to tell you a story about my barbies."

"Of course I was listening to you," Rick lied.

"Are you telling the truth daddy? Mama said it's not good to lie."

Rick let out a deep breath. Of all people. Well at least she was trying to instill some type of values in their kids although she wasn't following them herself. He dropped them both off at school, Carl first since it was closer and then Judith who was a block away. As he carried her inside, she hugged his neck tighter than usual.

"Sweetheart, everything ok?"

She nodded but wouldn't look into his eyes.

"Remember what you just told me about telling the truth? Are you telling daddy the truth?"

She shook her head no.

"What's wrong?"

"I just really miss you," she mumbled and Rick's heart broke into a thousand pieces.

"I miss you too sweetie. All the time."

Judith hugged him again. "All the time?"

"Yep, all the time," he assured her and she gave him a thin smile so he decided to push it more. "I even miss you right now."

She giggled and pointed to herself. "But I'm right here silly."

"I know that but sometimes you love someone so much that you miss them before they go away from you for a little while. Like you're about to go to school and I won't see you for a few hours."

She smiled and he could see her carefree little spirit returning.

"Now you be a good girl for Miss Thompson today okay?"

"K."

He knocked on the door, let her in and Judith took her seat among her friends. Smiling, he waved at her teacher and was greeted unceremoniously with an eye roll. Was she that mad that Judith was late? And then he remembered. Her and Lori had become quite friendly over the past year. Of course she remained cordial through their divorce, but now that he was dating someone else, he was public enemy number 1. There would be more where that came from but he didn't care. The only thing on his mind now was that he had to tell Michonne that maybe they needed to postpone telling anyone at work until everything with Lori was settled. He couldn't have his personal and professional life going into an upheaval at the same time. He'd been there once and he didn't want to be there again if it could be helped.

From the car, he thought about calling her but his phone rang in his hand right as we about to.

"Hello"

"Damn where are you?" Shane was irritated.

"I told you I would be late."

"I didn't think you would be this damn late. We have to be in court for the Hickman trial in 30 damn minutes."

"Shit." He hit the steering wheel and put his key in the ignition. "Sorry man I got hung up with Lori."

"Oh." If anyone understood the dynamics between him and Lori it was Shane. He'd spent more than a few nights on his sofa after they agreed to divorce until he found an apartment. They were just about to kill each other as roommates when Rick finally found a place and signed a lease. "I'll be right there."

"No time man. Just meet us there."

Michonne was prepping Glenn and Shane when an agitated looking Rick walked in. "Sorry I'm late."

"Fall in line Grimes."

She focused on Glenn and tried her hardest not to stare at Rick. She had so many questions and wanted the details of what happened with Lori. Based on his demeanor, she imagined that it didn't go too well. "Remember don't give any additional details, esepcially regarding the diary. I know they are going to ask about that because they know it's our weakness."

"Because the chain of custody was compromised?" Shane asked.

"Yeah."

"That's horseshit."

"Hey, I know that and you know that. But, that's how it goes. Play it close to the vest and we can win this one."

He nodded and left to get a drink of water before the proceedings started. The court reporter and a few spectators began to file in. "Rick we have a few minutes to prepare," she said. The three of them stood awkwardly with Michonne and Rick stealing glances at each other and then at Glenn.

Glenn sighed. "Oh let me see if Shane needs some help getting water."

"Appreciate it," Rick said and sat in the chair next to her so his voice wouldn't have to project.

When he didn't start telling her about Lori, she went right into prepping him. "Okay, well in your case the only weakness you have is the questioning you did with Shane. His attorney is going to make it seem—"

"Yeah I know," he cut her off and exhaled. "Lori didn't take it well. She cried, said I cheated on her."

Michonne went on the defence. "Did you tell her we never—" and then she looked up and saw that more people were coming in. She sat down and inched her chair closer to him so she could speak low. "Did you tell her everything?"

"I told her that nothing happened while we were married but she said that was a lie. She said that I emotionally cheated and she wished I would've just fucked you instead of falling in love with you."

Damn. It was a lot to unpack but she didn't have time because the judge was calling the court to order. They all took their seats and the proceedings began. After drowning in a bunch of motions and posturing by the defense, they only got through one witness with no assurance that Rick, Shane or Glenn would even be called as witnesses. They were used to it but Rick was anxious to get his testimony out of the way. Admittedly, he didnt listen to much of what was going on. Most of it was a lot of legal jargon that bored him anyway. Michonne handled it like a pro as always but his mind wandered to the situation with Lori. He didn't know what his next step should be. Confiding in Michonne seemed like the right thing to do but a part of him wondered if he should keep some of it to himself. It was his drama not hers, and he didn't want her to feel compelled to help fix anything. This was his mess. She was. And while some of Lori's feelings had merit, the way she handled it negated a lot of her argument..

"Courts adjuourned." The gavel brought him back to the present.

Michonne walked up to them gathered in the back row.

Glenn patted her on the arm. "Good job counselor. All your motions got approved even though his dick attorney was throwing everything at you."

Shane agreed. "Yeah you handled it like a pro."

"Thanks," she smiled and straightened her briefcase.

Rick cleared his throat. "Yeah yeah you did a great job." It was obvious that he was preoccupied.

"Thanks."

They were about to walk out when the baliff approached them.

"Hey, Abraham what's going on?"

"Sorry to put a monkey wrench in whatever plans you have but I need a favor. Eugene got sick and I need someone to help me escort this psycho back to jail. It has to be two people."

Michonne raised her eyebrow and looked over at Hickman who was watching them all pretty closely. "What does the judge have to say about that? They are potential witnesses."

Abraham waved her off. "No big deal. Already cleared it with the boss lady. Just don't talk or flirt with him and everything should be fine."

Shane laughed at the lame joke and apologized. "Sorry man, but Glenn and I have to meet with Hershel in 20."

Rick shut his eyes, knowing where this was going. Michonne looked disappointed too knowing that she would have to wait just that much longer to talk to him about everything.

Abraham looked at him expectantly.

"Sure. I'll go with you."

"Appreciate your enthusiasm," he said giving Rick a firm handshake that got his attention.

He smiled back at Michonne. "I'll talk to you soon okay?"

She nodded and wished she could give him a kiss.

"Come on, let's go transport this piece of shit."

Michonne was back at her office thinking about what Rick said about Lori. It had only been an hour since she left the courthouse but the bits he told her were on a constant loop her head. How had they emotionally cheated? Yes, they were probably closer than a married man and a single woman should've been but they always played it cool. They barely even touched while they were friends save a few hugs here and there. Sure, they hung out and had lunches and dinners but they were always juyst friendly. Weren't they? There were looks that maybe lasted a little too long but they always had a certain energy between them. But between work and his marriage, he stayed out of her personal business and she did the same. "Michonne!" Maggie came barreling around the corner almost tripping in her high heels.

"Glenn's been trying to call you. There was a shooting at the courthouse."

It took the longest 3 seconds of her life for her to put together what Maggie was trying to say.

The courthouse.

Rick.

"Rick's been shot."

Michonne flew out of her seat leaving everything behind.

"He's going to be okay."

"Maggie get out of the way." She didn't want to talk or hear anything first hand. She needed to see him for herself.

Maggie stopped her and closed the office door. "Listen to me," she said putting her hands on a defiant Michonne's shoulders. "He's alive. He's about to go into surgery. He took a bullet to the shoulder but he's okay."

The tears were falling and she didn't know when she started crying. Rick. And it happened an hour ago. She didn't even know. But of course it wasn't her the station would've called as next of kin. That honor probably still went to Lori. But he was okay. The thought of there being any other outcome made her sick to her stomach.

There was a loud tapping on her office door and Maggie answered. An out of breath Glenn was waiting for them. "I got here as fast as I could," he said leaning against the doorway. "Come on Michonne. Shane's already on his way to the hospital. I came to get you. You shouldn't be driving right now. I'll take you to him."

There wasn't time for her to register that Glenn obviously knew about them. She just needed to get to Rick as soon as possible.

"I'm going to go and take care of this pre-trial motion for you."

Her palm hit her forehead. She had court in a couple of hours and had already forgotten. "Damn I forgot."

"And that's why I got it. Go. Ill be there as soon as it's done."

Michonne exhaled and hugged her, the gesture bringing tears to her eyes. "Thank you so much."

"He's going to be fine. Promise."

She furiously wiped her tears and left. In the car, Glenn didn't talk and she was grateful. She didn't want to answer any questions and didn't think she could be much company until she saw Rick for herself.

Glenn let her out at the main entrance while he went to park the car. She raced in and because she knew people at Grady Memorial, she had no trouble getting the information of where he was and when he would be out of surgery.

She paced the waiting room, ignoring buzzes from her phone. It wasn't Rick and anything else would be work so she let the calls go to voicemail. The double doors opened and she was relieved to see Glenn, who looked more nervous and antsy than usual. With wide eyes, he immediately started explaining. "I just ran into her on the way up here. Maybe you should—"

And then she heard the voice. "Of course you're here, should've known."

As luck or karma would have it, Michonne found herself face to face with Rick's ex-wife.

A/N: Don't worry. Rick is really fine but his past (Lori), present and future (Michonne) are about to collide.