A/N: OMG, it's been a month. So Nanowrimo completely burned me out. I hadn't written in a whole month. Now that the holidays are over, I'm back to it. Sorry for the long wait and hopefully it won't be that long again. Thanks for all the support and the reviews. They mean the world to me especially when I'm in a rut.

Rick tossed and turned most of the night, the pain meds failing to keep him asleep. The mere mention of Negan left him unsettled. Negan had taken advantage of a very vulnerable time in his life. When he and Lori had first separated and he thought there was a chance they could reconcile, Negan and his vendetta against the Homicide department had stressed him out in a way that nearly cost him everything. The relationship between he and Lori had turned toxic. He was convinced she was unfaithful and ungrateful, while she considered him uncaring and aloof. It was a recipe for disaster and he brought it with him to work. Shane and Hershel covered for him as long as they could but once the Cook case came around and he made a mistake with the chain of custody, Negan not only got his client off as a result but tried to bring Rick down personally. There were a few times when Hershel sent him home for the night and he thought about catching Negan in a back alley to beat his ass. One time he came close but Negan was with his wife Lucille, and despite everything she seemed nice enough. Thanks to some background checking of his own he found out that Lucille was suffering from stage 4 Ovarian cancer and their stupid rivalry fell away. Negan tried to engage him but he refused. Apparently misery loved company and it didn't seem fair to engage with someone whose wife was dying. But for whatever reason, Negan seemed to have it in for him. His life had been enough of a wreck, it made absolutely no sense that Negan had it in for him.

"You ok?" Michonne asked, stretching and clearly not getting any more rest than he was.

"No," he said honestly. "But it will be fine. We will figure it out." He patted her leg hoping she would drop it.

Michonne sighed, looking back over to Carl to verify that he was still asleep. "You should be resting."

"I was but I think I need a back rub."

She giggled and rolled her eyes, relieved that he was able to find his sense of humor despite the shadow of Negan looming. She had her own complicated history with Negan, thanks to their battles in the courtroom, particularly when he and Rick were at each other's throats. It hadn't always been adversarial. At one point in time, she considered them colleagues that had mutually respected one another but that was short lived. "You really are trying to take advantage of this nurse thing arent you?"

"Of course." The smile on his face didn't quite meet his eyes and he knew she could tell. "I think I'm going to go ahead and surrender myself to IAB."

Her hands stopped but he shifted to encourage her to keep going. "Rick…"

"I know what you think but you have to trust me on this. Guys like Negan, they have a way of finding out everything."

Michonne didn't disagree. Of course it was a risk, but him losing his job that meant so much to him was something she took personally. Not just because they were in a relationship, but one of the reasons she got into law was to see justice prevail. Someone as good as Rick didn't deserve to have his career ruined or tainted because of some weird personal vendetta from a weasel like Negan. "Are you sure?"

He nodded, his resolve as strong as steel. "I am. Just like I'm sure about you and me." Turning his head, he kissed one of her hands that was massaging him. "I'm not letting anything come between that. No matter what. Not again."

She sighed but agreed. "So what's the plan?"

"The plan is to lay low, see what happens. Maybe I don't turn myself in but I'm not running from anything either. You will not represent me. If something comes up and they question me, I'll have my union rep there."

"And if it turns into something else? Something more serious?" Michonne didn't trust the Union to handle his case the way they needed to.

"If it turns into something else, then I will find representation. But it won't be you. Let's see how it plays out. He could be blowing smoke and it not materialize into anything. But either way, I don't need him hearing that you are involved in any way. If he wants me, he can come and get me. In the meantime, we focus on getting me better and discharged."

And that's exactly what they did for the next two days until he finally got the all clear to go home. IAB came to question him right before he left the hospital and his story never waivered. Coupled with Abraham's statement, Rick was confident that IAB was satisfied despite what Negan may have up his sleeve.

At first Michonne was going to take care of him at her place but with the kids coming over and having everything he needed at his place, she decided to uproot and go there instead. When Rick saw the size of her bag he quickly let her know that she wouldn't need that many clothes.

"You're incorrigable. I'm sure I will need all these clothes because you and little Ricky are out of commission until the doctor releases you." She dropped the bag next to his dresser while he looked on in frustration.

"Little Ricky? Sounds like you need a reminder."

"If I do, it won't be anytime soon. Doctor's orders."

Shit, he thought to himself. And Michonne didn't make it easy on him with the tiny shorts she walked around in while making him food and cleaning up.

Rick was getting around better and although he tried to feign pain for attention when she was there, she could tell based on his interactions with Carl and Judith that he was much better than he let on.

When the kids were there he was lively and vibrant although still careful of his shoulder. The second the kids left, he was damn near an invalid again.

"I think it's time for my sponge bath," he said in a voice that sounded weak.

Michonne narrowed her eyes, lifting her eyebrow. He had been taking showers with her help for the last week. "Are you serious right now?"

"What? Do you want me just laying around smelling bad?"

She sniffed him and thought it over. "You smell just fine to me."

He waved her off. "Listen closely. We need to talk about the temperature of my water. You have to make sure it's just right. It's good for the skin. Keeps it smooth." Rick tried to hide his smile, loving how much he was driving her crazy.

Under normal circumstances, Michonne would've broken his other shoulder but she appreciated the reprieve from Negan, Lori, work and that he was able to be playful in moments like this. She took a deep breath, holding it in both of her cheeks while she reeled in her need to slap him. "Is that so?"

"Yep."

"I hope you are enjoying this."

He crossed his leg, snuggling into the sofa. "No work, got my woman taking care of me. What else could a crippled old man like me wish for?"

She kicked his foot that was dangling from the sofa. "Crippled? Dramatic much? You only have a few more days of me at your beckon call and then you're on your own."

Her phone chimed and she thought about ignoring it but decided against in case it was about Rick's case. IAB seemed content after his statement but Negan was pushing for Rick's disciplinary file to be entered into evidence. The union rep, Deanna Monroe was trying to get Negan's past with Rick entered in as well to show the obvious conflict of interest.

Michonne went to the bathroom under the guise of running his bath water but read through her text messages instead. She and Deanna had hit it off instantly and she was more competent than Michonne realized. Rick was in good hands and she breathed a sigh of relief reading the message from her. Negan lost his bid which was a win for them. Maybe this nightmare would be over sooner than they expected.

The water was run, halfway between warm and hot as he liked it and she was just about to tell him when she turned and saw him standing at the door in nothing but his boxer briefs.

Michonne swallowed hard, ignoring the desire that threatened to creep in and teased him instead. "It's amazing how well you can undress yourself with one arm when it suits you."

"I can do a lot of things with one good arm," he countered.

"But you won't get to do them until—

"The doctor has cleared me." He cut her off rolling his eyes. She was like a broken record. "Ugh." Dropping the briefs to the ground, he walked past her, his semi hard cock on full display and settled in the tub.

Michonne turned to walk out and to get herself under control.

"Where ya goin?"

She tilted her head and smiled. "I know you don't think I'm getting in there with you."

He sucked his teeth and splashed the water across his chest. "Maybe there's not enough room but you can bathe me at least. I told you I'm struggling here."

It wasn't lost on her that his erection was now above the water and growing harder by the second. Her insides ached. God, she missed him, but she had to be strong and focus on his recovery since he clearly wasn't.

"Ok Grimes. I will bathe you but no funny business."

Rick gave her a wide-eyed innocent look, one she'd seen in the past right before fucking her senseless and instead handed her the washcloth. Every stroke across his body, he moaned trying to egg her on. She bit her lip to stop from laughing and found it hard to ignore him.

Purposely, she avoided the one area he wanted her to caress the most and he noticed. "Miss ADA, I think you missed a spot."

"It looks pretty clean to me."

That was the problem, he thought to himself. He wanted it dirty and covered in her juices. "Nope." His left hand reached for hers and brought the washcloth over his hard cock. The second her fingertips wrapped around him, his stomach concaved. After a few strokes, she dropped the towel taking him fully in her hand instead. Michonne stroked him slow, and he relaxed his hand next to him in the water, giving her full control. Rick watched her as the pressure began to build, thinking about how many times over the past week he watched her roam around his apartment wearing next to nothing and all of it made him anxious to be buried inside of her. Now he pictured her on top of him, her hips rolling around, her pussy gripping him, wet and deep.

"Shit Michonne," he whispered through his teeth. His hand gripped the side of the tub as he climbed higher and higher.

"I got you baby," she whispered, ignoring the throbbing between her legs. And then he exploded, hot spurts on her hand and his stomach. Slowly she stroked him as he came down from his high, heart rate slowing and finally gathering his wits.

"Damn." He needed that more than he realized.

"Now I really have to clean you up."

Rick's laugh was low, the vibration of it rumbling through the water. "Indeed. Let me get out of this water though."

She helped him stand and when he was in front of her naked, she couldn't help but want to stroke him again.

"If you get it back up, you're going to have to give me more than a hand job to get it back down," he warned her.

Maybe if she was really careful they could—

And the doorbell rang.

"Who the hell is that?" he asked more than a little irritated. "Shit." He could tell that Michonne was close to giving in but now that they had company there was no way to pick up where they left off.

Michonne tossed him a towel and then went to the front door. "You dry yourself and I'll be right back."

"Who is it?"

She looked in the peephole as the person answered. "It's Judith."

Her temporary happiness was overshadowed by who she knew had to be with her. "And Lori."

Michonne took a deep breath to steady herself and opened the door. Rick hadn't mentioned that they were coming over. Of course she didn't mind the kids but Lori's presence was always a test of her patience. "Hey there honey," Michonne said as she opened the door purposely keeping her eyes focused down so she wouldn't have to look at Lori straight away.

"I bought dad some juice and his favorite sandwich."

She bent down so they were eye level. "Well you are just in time. He was just saying he was hungry. It's a good thing you came to the rescue."

Carl leaned in to hand her the bag. "Here ya go."

"Thanks."

"We were at the grocery store and they insisted on coming by," Lori said interrupting while taking a look around. Clearly she was searching for any evidence that Michonne had fully moved in. "If I knew he had company then I would've waited."

Carl gave her a side eye and shifted uncomfortably. Everyone knew that Michonne was taking care of Rick when he got discharged.

Michonne ignored the dig. "It's always fine if they—"

"Hey who was at the door?" Rick asked coming around the corner with just boxers on and his robe opened. When he met Lori's horrified look and Carl's embarrassed one, he hurried to close it up.

"Daddy daddy, I brung you juice," Judith said running to him, oblivious to the awkward scene.

"You did," he said trying not to sound as awkward as he felt. "Thank you princess."

Judith walked to the dishwasher and proceeded to open it but Michonne intervened. "Whatcha looking for?"

"A cup," she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She brought it over to Rick, took the juice out of the bag and tried to open it.

"Oh no," everyone bellowed simultaneously. With Judith pouring, the juice would be everywhere but in the cup.

Carl stepped up and dropped his backpack near the coffee table. "I got it." When she got ready to protest, he put the jug in her hand and acted as if he was just helping her pour. "See. Just like that."

Ignoring Carl, she shoved the cup to her dad. "Here daddy. Drink it all so you can be big and strong again."

Rick drank from the cup, his eyes peeking above it at Lori and Michonne. Lately they found themselves in each other's space a lot more frequently than he planned them to so early in their relationship. This was all supposed to be a well oiled machine. The plan was to slowly acclimate them to the situation and each other with the kids well being first and foremost. But as they say, you make plans and God laughs. Well God must've been having a hell of a chuckle at his expense lately.

"This is good," Rick said to Judith's delight. "I feel better and stronger already." He took off his sling, resting his arm on his thigh to show her.

"Good." She turned around to her mom. "See Mommy. Told ya it would help."

Rick smiled and helped her onto his lap. "You know just what I need."

Carl went into his bag and pulled out some food. "We bought you something to eat too. Sorry Michonne, didn't realize you were here yet or we would've gotten you something too." He left out that he suggested getting her something but Lori shot it down.

Michonne waved him off. "No problem Carl. I was just about to cook anyway."

Lori scoffed and mumbled under her breath. "Yeah right."

Michonne's head whipped around and she was about to say something but held back. There was plenty of work she had to catch up on while Rick was visiting with the kids and before she gave Lori a piece of her mind. "I'm going to go to the back and get some work done."

Before Rick could say anything, she grabbed her bag, went into the room and shut the door.

Carl glared at Lori while Rick distracted Judith with one of her dolls that was laying around. "Can you watch your sister for a minute while me and your mom step outside?"

Lori rolled her eyes, knowing what was coming. Suddenly Rick found a voice and defending his new girlfriend was the main reason he decided to use it. As soon as he shut the door she tore in to him. "Don't you dare bring me out here to chastise me about what I say to her?"

Rick looked around the hall to make sure no one could hear them. "You got that wrong. I brought you out here to tell you what was going on and to chastise you about how you talk to her," he said through his teeth. He would never regret his kids but picturing himself dealing with Lori for the rest of his life was really weighing on him. "Now which one do you want to hear first?"

Her curiousity got the better of her. "What do you mean something's going on?"

"I'm only telling you this in case people start sneaking around. One in particular."

She waited for him to finish and gestured for him to get on with it. Rick scrubbed his hand down his face in disgust. "I'm being investigated because of the shooting. The guy is claiming self defense."

"What?"

"Yeah. It's bullshit the whole thing," he said leaning against the door and taking some respite in the fact that for once they weren't against each other and she seemed to be listening. "I'm only letting you know to be careful. This thing could take a personal turn."

Lori crossed her arms surprised by his comment. "Why would it get personal?"

Rick thought long and hard before giving her any more details. "The person representing him is Negan."

Lori flinched but tried to recover. "Oh."

"Yeah so I don't know what he's going to try and pull. I don't know if he would go so far and try to reach out to you and ask about the divorce to say that's my reason for acting a certain way." Her lack of response got his attention. She was in a fog and he tilted his head to the side, taking her in. "You ok?"

She hugged herself and pulled her coat tighter. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine," she stuttered nervously tucking her hair behind her ears. "You know how it was back then. It was a tough time."

Rick nodded. "I agree. But it's going to be fine. My union rep is pretty damn good and she's keeping Michonne in the loop so with the two of them on this thing everything should be fine but we need to make—."

Lori scoffed and her arms fell. "For fuck's sake Rick."

He stood up, ready to go on offense. "Don't start."

But Lori didn't listen. "Michonne to the rescue. As long as she's on the case then everything would be fine. The world will be perfect. Is she going to conquer global hunger and bring about world peace while she's at it?"

Rick narrowed his eyes and shook his head in disgust. How he was once in love and married to this woman was beyond him. "I dont know why I thought for once we could have a decent conversation. You can wait in the car. Ill send the kids back down in a few minutes once I finish eating."

He reached for the doorknob, standing in the crack of the door. "Goodnight." Lori stood a second longer which gave him the chance to say what else he wanted to say. "In the future, don't show up here without calling. And the underhanded comments toward Michonne end now." And he shut the door behind him leaving her speechless in the hallway.

Lori shuffled back and forth, her hand combing through her hair. She didn't know what to do with both the information and chastising he had just given her. Taking her phone out of her purse, she hovered over the number she hadn't called in some time and was surprised when he answered on the first ring. "We need to talk."