AN: I do proofread these several times, but occasionally mistakes get through, which are mine. Another short chapter.

Ch 5

He drew in a breath and stretched out until realization hit that he wasn't at his home and his head wasn't on a pillow.

"Rise and shine, cowboy."

He glanced up to see Vic looking down at him.

"Mornin' Vic."

"It is, barely. I figured you'd want to be up and about before we got company."

"Yeah. What time is it?"

"4:30am. I figured that would give you time to go home and clean up if you wanted or you sleep a bit longer and wash up here. You and I are on the early shift so no one should be showing up until 7 or so."

Truth be told, he didn't want to move. He slept better than he had in a long time. Not sure if it was because he finally shared some of the burdens he was carrying or simply because he was with Vic. He supposed it was probably both. It was the first time since Fales showed up in his life that he hadn't had a nightmare.

"You sleep?"

"No."

He figured as much. He could tell she was too alert to have be awakened by an alarm and since he didn't hear one, she most likely turned it off so he wouldn't be startled. Deciding he'd worn out his welcome in their current positions, he rolled his body into a seated position so she could get up and move.

"You can have the bathroom first. I'm going to go down and get my bag out of the Bronco."

He grabbed her hand, currently on the cushion between them, and squeezed it.

"Back in a minute."

Walt took his leave to give her some privacy and take some time to get some fresh air. There was something about the morning air in the late fall. He looked up and down the deserted street and crossed to get his things out of the truck. He thought he would feel embarrassed or ashamed, but he didn't. He also thought Vic would think less of him, but that wasn't the case either. All in all, it felt good to have someone in on the secret. All of it. Someone he could trust not to run their mouth or use it against him.

Never one to trust quickly, Walt was used to having only Henry and Martha. In a way, they were the two perfect people because he knew there were things he'd never tell Martha and there were other things he'd never tell Henry. Losing Martha the way he had turned his world upside down. Lying to Cady. Finding her murderer. Getting sliced open. Trying to bury all the pain and anger. Trying to do his job. Trying to keep his job. Then Vic showed up at the station, a fresh faced, foul mouthed beauty with the brains to back it up. He really couldn't help but like her. She didn't take anyone's crap, gave as good as she got and was eager to learn.

Once he got back into the swing of things at the office, he found that he called on her a lot. He enjoyed working with her and also liked her. He knew when he had to pull her off Mathias that she had his back and his trust in her quickly followed. Trust in her instincts, in her abilities and in her as a partner. He never really had a partner since he became Sheriff, but more and more Vic was filling that role.

Crossing back to the station, he started up the stairs and waited for Vic to finish up leaning against the front of his desk. He didn't want to give the impression he was hiding behind a barrier to avoid her. He grinned as she strode in still looking a bit disheveled.

"Come here, Vic."

"You know I don't like taking orders from men in my personal life."

He returned her smile and actually laughed as she planted her feet and put her hands on her hips.

"Please."

He reached out his hand and it occurred to him he could just as easily be asking her to dance. She took his hand and stepped up to him. Peering upward with that smirk of hers, he looked down at her and for once he didn't have trouble finding the words.

"I want to thank you. Can you stifle the ball bustin' long enough for me to do that?"

TBC