"Rick's been shot," Michonne said stating the obvious and trying to ignore the weight of those words. Saying it out loud made it all the more real. They were here because he was somewhere in this hospital with a bullet in his shoulder and she had no idea how he was doing. "Of course I would be here. Even if—"
"Even if what?" Lori took a step towards her. "Even if what? Say it."
Michonne let out a heavy sigh and mustered up every bit of will power. Her emotions were like a land mine and arguing with Lori would be just what she needed to trigger the live wire but she had the future to think about. The kids. Rick. Every word, every interaction had much larger implications. "Look. I know you're upset."
Lori folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Don't you patronize me."
"I suggest you step back."
Lori stood still for a moment and wisely stepped back.
Michonne continued. "I'm not patronizing you. The father of your children is laying in an OR right now with god knows how much damage done to his shoulder that could affect his career, his livelihood and who knows what else. " It was working. Lori's face softened and the wrinkles of genuine concern were there. "We can table this. There's plenty of time for you to say whatever you want to say to me but if you do it now"
Lori waited for her to finish and Michonne swallowed to regain her composure. "If you do it now we may both end up saying some things we can't take back. So my suggestion to you is to Let. It. Go."
Although it was clearly the right thing to do, Lori stood defiant at Michonne's tone. "Watch how you talk to me."
"Or what?" Michonne snapped back.
"Hey hey," Glenn said running to stand between them. "This is the last thing Rick needs right now. Lori you know he would be pissed if he knew you were starting a fight in the waiting room. If you can't get it together then you're going to have to leave."
Both women gaped at him. Neither had seen Glenn assert himself before, at least not this way. Lori threw her hands up in surrender and retreated to the opposite wall, leaning her head back and taking deep breaths.
Michonne's hands were shaking. They hadn't stopped since she got the news. She was too antsy to sit down, but didn't want to take a walk in case the doctor came out with some news and she was too worked up to talk on the phone. Instead, she settled for texting Maggie.
Made it to the hospital. Rick in surgery. Thanks again for covering for me.
Her reply was instant. Dont mention it. Heading into court now.
By the way, you may want to give Glenn a chance. The way he handled me and Lori just now, boy's got a little alpha male tucked in there somewhere.
Not one to mince words Maggie replied, BYE.
That made her smile and she needed it. Just as she was about to take a seat, a doctor came from behind the double doors.
"Family for Richard Grimes.."
"Here," Glenn spoke up. "We're here."
"Bullet went through and through. Tore some muscle and cartilage. He's got some physical therapy ahead of him but other than that, we're going to keep him here for a few days for observation and then he can go home."
Lori breathed a sigh of relief and Michonne fought back tears to reply, "Thank you Doctor."
"Please. Just call me Siddiq," he told her and flipped through the forms in his hands. "I take it neither of you are Captain Hershel Greene," he said taking note of the two women and Asian guy standing in front of him. "I was trying to notify his next of kin of some paperwork that needs to be completed and aftercare he will need at home."
"I'm his wife," Lori spoke up.
"Oh, you must be Michonne. That's the other Emergency Contact he had other than his boss."
The air left the room. Lori's jaw hit the floor, along with Michonne's for different reasons. Glenn stood still as a statue trying not to smile and hoping that if he didn't move, they would all forget he was there.
Michonne stepped up, "I'm actually Michonne."
"Oh," the doctor said looking between the two of them with a mix of confusion and curiosity at the interesting situation. "Ok well the nurse will want to speak with you and Hershel to go over a few things. He will be in recovery for an hour and then we will come get you as soon as he's moved to his room."
She shook his hand. "Thank you again. For everything."
He nodded and disappeared behind the doors.
"I need to update Hershel and check in with Shane. He got called to visit a victim here when he came to see Rick," Glenn said approaching both women. "Can I leave you two alone for a minute?"
Lori put her head in her hands and Michonne gave Glenn a reassuring smile. "We will be fine." She had to stop her self from adding that if Lori did say something it would be a good thing she was already in a hospital.
"Ok, I'll be right back."
Michonne sent a few emails and texts while sitting in a group of chairs opposite from Lori.
Lori cried quietly in her hands, occasionally brushing her hair behind her ears. "I can't believe this is my life. I can't believe he's here and I'm here and you're here."
Michonne sat up, prepared to battle if she needed to but hoping it wouldn't come to that. Mentally and physically she was already exhausted. "He's going to be fine," was all she offered.
"I know he is," Lori said leaning forward to look at her straight on. "Eventually we—this will all be fine. But in the meantime, I need to dealwith the fact that my marriage is over. He's found someone else. My family is over."
Michonne wanted to pounce and tell her that her family had been over, but once again she held back. Watching Lori broken especially while Rick was recovering from a gunshot was almost too much to take. She needed fresh air but couldn't bring herself to leave. It was almost time for him to have visitors and she couldn't miss it. Without a word, she went to fix herself some coffee still in view of the double doors so she wouldn't miss anything. She was stirring in some creamer when she felt someone behind her.
"Hey," Glenn said with Shane close behind him.
She hugged them both. "Hey, have you guys got any more information?"
"Nothing yet," Shane said. "Same as you but don't worry. If his shoulder is half as hard as that head of his, he will be just fine."
She smiled and took a sip of her coffee. Being around them and away from Rick's past a few feet away helped her relax a little.
"So how are you holding up?" Glenn asked. She could see the genuine concern on his face.
Michonne shrugged, unable to verbalize exactly what she felt.
Shane spoke up. "Well I'm glad I didn't have to arrest you."
Michonne stepped back, confused. "Arrest me for what?"
"Shit when I heard you and Lori were alone down here, I figured I would come back to you two rolling around on the floor slapboxing." He looked up as if he was daydreaming. "Oh what a sight that woud've been."
"You're crazy." Michonne rolled her eyes and went back to drinking her coffee, leaning against the table.
"Well you know how you women get. Fighting over the same guy."
Glenn's eyes widened and Michonne paused. "Fighting over a guy?"
Shane huffed and rolled his eyes. "Oh come on now Chonne. Are we still walking around here acting like Rick ain't knockin the stuffin off that muffin."
Glenn started choking and she put her cup down to pat him on the back, the whole time glaring at Shane. "Who told you that?"
Rick wouldn't talk about her like that with his friends would he? She leaned over making sure Lori couldn't hear them but she was far enough away that she couldn't.
"Don't worry. I didn't get it from loverboy, but it's pretty damn obvious."
"Obvious to who?"
"Damn Michonne we're detectives. Hell if I couldn't figure out the two of you were boning someone needs to take my damn badge." He took off his badge and handed it to her and she slapped his hand away.
"Damn."
Shane laughed, clipping his badge back on his hip. "If it makes you feel better, I only suspected but my boy Glenn confirmed it for me when he heard you two going at it in the shower."
Glenn tried to pivot but Michonne grabbed his arm. "You heard us?"
He grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "Why do you think I hung around for so long. That call had been over."
She looked between the both of them and her annoyance turned to amusement. "Shit. Does Hershel know?"
"I'm pretty sure he suspects but he doesn't know for sure," Shane said. He moved next to her to make himself a cup of coffee. "But you two keep banging at the station and he's going to find out soon enough."
"Don't worry that won't be happening again. As a matter of fact after we disclose, I'm sure you won't be seeing me in your precinct much at all."
"Grimes family," a twenty-something nurse called.
"Yes," Glenn rushed up.
"We are here," Lori spoke up with Shane and Michonne right behind her.
"He's in recovery," the nurse explained. "But he's still a little out of it. Only one person at a time. Are you Lori?"
She asked to Michonne.
"No I am," Lori spoke up.
"He wants to see you."
Michonne's heart dropped. He wanted to see Lori first.
"Of course," she responded and turned to give Michonne a smug look.
As soon as the doors closed and Lori disappeared from sight, Glenn and Shane tried to give her some reassurance. "I'm sure he just wants to get it out of the way," Glenn tried to reason.
"Their conversations are always a mess. He probably just didn't want anyone to hear," Shane said but she waved them off. She didn't want to hear excuses.
At this point she wasn't going to jump to conclusions until she heard from him.
They were making small time for only a few minutes when Lori came storming out of the double doors and out of the waiting area.
"Oh my god, is he okay?" Michonne asked.
The nurse came out to tell them they could go in with a sheepish look. "He's fine. It's only supposed to be one visitor at a time but all of you can go in now for a few minutes but only one of you can stay."
Shane smiled with a flirtatious gleam in his eye. "Thank you very much. I'll be sure we follow your directions. You're in charge."
"I am indeed. Don't you forget it," she said back.
Michonne and Glenn were already walking down the hall but Glenn had to reach back and grab him. "Your partner. In bed. Shot remember?"
"Oh yeah," he snapped back to reality and turned back to the nurse. "See you later?"
Michonne scoffed and smiled. Some things never changed.
She took a deep breath and turned the door handle, trying to brace herself for what she would see. Rick was asleep with his mouth open, his hospital gown open over his left shoulder and his arm in a sling. His curls were piled high and messy and the beeping of the machines left her in a trance. She stayed closer to the door while Glenn and Shane inched closer.
"You awake man?" Glenn asked leaning in.
When he got closer to his face, Rick puckered his lips and Glenn jumped back.
"Aww man."
"Come just a little bit closer," Rick joked but still sounding groggy.
Shane smiled, relieved. "I told you the son of a bitch would be fine. Man if you wanted a few days off, you should've just asked for 'em. Don't go faking no gunshot wounds."
Rick's chuckle turned into a cough and Michonne's knuckles turned white from gripping the door handle so hard.
"Come on over Michonne I'm not going to bite," he said. She was frozen in place but when Glenn and Shane stepped back to make room for her, she took a few steps forward. Her tears hit the floor as she walked, and she sniffed trying to reel them back in. It was clear he was fine but seeing him in a hospital bed just reminded her how she almost lost him.
As she got closer, Rick felt himself starting to relax. Arguing with Lori had made him tense but he was happy that Michonne was there and hadn't left despite whatever bullshit Lori probably gave her in the waiting room. There would be time to discuss all of that later. Right now, he just needed to be in the arms of the woman he loved.
"Hey," she said wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Hey you," he said. He was about to reach for her hand but stopped.
"Oh for fucks sake, just grab her damn hand and kiss her." Shane had enough of them pussyfooting around.
Rick smiled. "Yow know don't you?"
"Am I going to have to tell you the same thing I told Michonne? You're a damn detective. You couldn't detect that we knew?"
Michonne laughed threw her tears and she squeezed Rick's hand. Feeling the warmth of him pumped new life into her body.
Rick ignored Shane and focused on Michonne. Her troubled eyes and somber look. He could feel the tension in her body even though she seemed more relaxed now than when she first entered.
"Ooook." Glenn motioned to Shane. "I think that's our cue."
Shane shook his head and gave Rick's leg a little shake. "Hey man we will be back in the morning."
"Ok. Thanks for coming."
"Thanks for not having me have to get a new partner."
They were walking out of the door when Rick and Michonne heard Shane say, "He's so pussy whipped I don't think he heard one word we were saying."
"How are you?" Rick asked, patting the side of his bed for her to sit.
There wasn't much room so he began to scoot over. "No, don't move. I don't want you to hurt yourself."
He grunted. "It's fine. Lay with me."
She hesitated.
"It's okay I already cleared it with the nurse."
She laughed and took off her shoes. "You mean the one that's probably giving Shane her number as we speak."
"Oh god." He lifted up his good arm so she could snuggle into him. "I hope she doesn't take it out on me when she realizes he's an ass."
She snickered but burrowed her nose into his chest. He was there. Alive and well.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said reading her mind.
She swallowed the tears in her throat. "I was scared Rick."
"I know baby." He kissed her forehead and held her closer. "I'm sorry. The bastard got a few shots off before I put him down."
Michonne froze. "A few shots? Is Abraham—?"
"He's okay. Got shot in the ass though."
She looked up at him to verify if he was joking. He wasn't. "Wow."
"Yeah, crazy day." The elephant was in the room so he decided to dive right in. "Lori will be back shortly."
Michonne tensed.
"She's bringing the kids by. I want to see them. They were the first thing I thought about when I got shot and then you of course. Lori wasn't too keen on bringing Judith up here but I know once she finds out what happened she's going to raise hell until she gets her way."
She must get that from her mother, Michonne thought.
"Is that why Lori ran out of here so upset?"
She sat up, leaning on her elbow to face him. "Part of it. She wasn't too happy that I changed the names for my next of kin but we update those pretty regularly. Once I changed my marital status with the department, I took care of that too. She let me know you were in the waiting room. I told her to get the kids and bring them back before they cut off visiting hours."
Michonne stayed silent, taking it all in. This thing with Lori didn't show any signs of mellowing out.
"Are you thinking that we shouldn't disclose at work because of all this?"
Rick sighed and rubbed her back. "I thought that this morning after I talked to her,but now I think we need to go ahead and put it all out there. I don't trust her. Don't want her holding anything over our heads. Hershel is going to come see me tomorrow, he wanted to give me a little time alone with the kids," he explained.
Michonne let the gravity of what he was saying hit her. Carol would immediately pull her from all of their cases.
"So if you're good with it. I want to tell him tomorrow. And you should probably do the same with Carol."
She nodded. "Ok."
"Hey." He nudged her. "You're having second thoughts?"
She shook her head. "No." After witnessing Rick take all the necessary steps to be with her, she wasn't hesitant anymore. Yes, it would be a change. For all of them. But it was a step she was ready to take.
"I love you. I'm ready. I'll talk to Carol tomorrow." To seal the deal she kissed him and when she tried to pull back, he sucked her bottom lip. Rick moaned when she finally broke free. "Come back here, I wasn't finished yet."
She giggled, happy to see that even after having a pretty traumatic day he was still his mannish self. "You are quite finished. You just got shot remember?"
"I got shot in the shoulder, not my dick."
She rolled her eyes. "Charming."
"As always."
"Well you know I'll probably be released in the next few days and I'm going to need someone to take care of me."
Michonne sat up and leaned against the bed rail to get a good look at him. "Oh is that right?"
"Yep. Doctor said that since I'm immobile, I'll need help putting on clothes, or taking them off," he wiggling his eyebrows. "And someone to bathe me."
Michonne giggled and as usual with Rick, the rest of the world fell away. No Lori. No gunshot wounds. No switching jobs. Just them. "If you think I'm going to bathe you.
"Sponge bath," he corrected her.
"If you think I'm going to give you a sponge bath, you must've had more of that pain medication than I thought. You're clearly high."
Rick remained indignant. "Don't worry pretty lady. I'll tell you exactly how I like my baths. They have to be a certain temperature. I'll walk you through."
She scoffed playfully knowing full well that she would take care of him. Even his sponge baths. "Oh well that's very kind of you."
"It's the least I could do."
Rick yawned, his new dose of meds starting to kick in. He fought to stay awake, not wanting his time with her to end. "You know what else the nurse said?"
"What's that?"
"That I will need a lot of physical activity to help me get better, if you know what I mean."
She giggled so loud she had to cover her mouth. "You are ridiculous. I'm sure she said physical therapy, not physical activity."
He yawned again and could feel himself fading. "I heard physical activity."
"So let me get this straight." She laid back down cuddling into him. "You can't bathe, feed or take care of yourself but you can have sex."
Rick gave her a lazy grin. "Crazy isn't it?"
He was quiet for a moment and she thought he had fallen asleep but when she looked up he was still fighting it. "Rick. Sleep."
He rubbed her hair and began to let himself succumb.
"I'll be here when you wake up."
Rick smiled and then he was sound asleep.
Careful not to wake him, she moved gently and positioned herself to hold him, placing his head on her chest and rubbing her fingers through his hair. The monitors beeped every few seconds and his chest continued to rise and fall. He was alive. And that was all that mattered.
"I love you Rick. And everything is going to be just fine." She kissed his forehead and fell asleep.
Coming up: The Grimes kids come to visit at the hospital while Michonne is still there.
also, thank you guys for your lovely reviews and support of this story. It really does brighten my day.