Sorry this isn't a super exciting part. It's sort of a transition chapter.

Ch. 36: falling away

To say that he was overwhelmed would be a massive understatement.

Walt ran his eyes over the selection of phones. Vic knew that, to him, it must seem endless. She didn't give much thought to getting a new phone herself. She knew what she liked and what she wanted. She'd been using cell phones for years now and nothing about the process was notable.

Walt was a different story.

She hadn't really thought much about it until they were in the small store and she could see the expression on his face. A salesman, a young guy who barely looked out of high school, came over to them with a hopeful expression and a purpose. His mood quickly shifted when Vic waved him off and told him she didn't need any help.

The kid deflated.

Vic started away from him, her face turning towards the phones they had on display. Walt followed her without comment or question. This was one situation in which he was completely out of his element. She just about had to drag him here and remind him that he promised. He came in begrudgingly.

"See anything you like?"

Walt gave her an incredulous look.

"You're kidding."

She couldn't help it. There was something about seeing him off balance that she found amusing. Especially when it came to forms of technology that most people found mundane. He was literally the only person she knew who didn't have a phone. Hell, even her father had his own cell phone. Although, working his job in a big city didn't leave him much in the way of options.

She smiled and reached out, picking up a phone.

No one needed to be told that it was for older people. The phone was painfully basic with large numbers that were meant for elderly eyes.

"My grandma has one like this."

Walt tossed her a look and her smile widened. Vic replaced the phone.

"Sorry."

She really wasn't. He knew that.

Vic huffed out a breath and reached for an entirely different phone.

"This…is similar to what I have."

He took the phone from her and turned it around in his hands like it was something artifact from a society he didn't understand.

"Seems complicated."

Vic's brow went up.

"From the man who reads books most people have never heard of."

"Technology isn't the same. Books are simple."

"My point being…you're smart, Walt. You just need to open your mind up a bit."

"My mind is open."

"Yeah right."

She took the phone away from him and set it back down. Tucking her hands into the pockets of her jacket, she started a slow walk along the sample phones. Walt was a few steps behind her, probably not really focusing on anything.

He was only here because of her request.

She paused and picked up another phone.

She turned to find him watching her with a look of apprehension. She resisted the urge to smile. The man wasn't afraid to face armed criminals, but he didn't want to touch a phone.

"This one…is a little more basic."

"Basic?"

"You said the other looked complicated. This one is less…complicated."

She offered him the phone hopefully.

"Pretty big price difference."

He took the phone and looked down at it, turning it around in his hands.

"Less memory and the camera's not great. Something tells me you're not gonna be streaming music or taking a ton of pictures. You don't need all the extra. You can do just about everything you need on this one. Call, text, set up email and social media. Not that you're on social media. I'm just saying."

He eyed the phone in his hands.

"It's small."

The phone did look impossibly small in his big hands.

"It's not that small."

She pulled out her own phone for comparison and held it up. They were comparable. The one he was holding was a little smaller. But, hers wasn't a newer phone and this one was. He looked from her phone to the one that he was holding and nodded, his head bobbing just a bit as though he was really considering what she was saying.

Vic tucked her phone back into her pocket.

"Phones don't look like phones anymore."

Vic glanced up.

"How do you mean?"

He held it up.

"No buttons."

She rolled her eyes.

"You've used my phone, Walt. You know how it works."

"I know. It's just…don't you ever miss the feel of old phones. The weight and the sounds. Do you remember rotary phones?"

A half smiled pulled at her.

"My grandma had one years after they went out. Yes, I know what a rotary phone is. So…do you like this one or…?"

Her question trailed off. Like wasn't the word she should have used. He would never like it. Accept it maybe. But, never like.

"It's okay."

That was about as good as it was going to get from Walt. She knew that. He would never get excited over any type of gadget. That was just his character. He was old fashioned in that way and it would never change.

Not that she wanted to change him. She really didn't. She simply wanted him to compromise on this one thing.

"Okay as in…"

She prodded him. Walt glanced down at the phone again.

"Okay."

Vic got what he was saying and pulled a newly phone still in the package from the shelf. Walt set the sample phone back down and took the box as she offered it to him. His eyes ran over the box as Vic steered him towards the counter to pay.

"Now here is a sight I never thought that I would see. Walt Longmire buying a cell phone."

He gave her a look as she set the box on the counter and pulled out his wallet.

"You owe me for this."

Vic bit down on her lip, repressing the urge to laugh. He paid quickly and took the box, waving off a bag as they walked out of the store.

"I owe you?"

She didn't respond until they were outside. Walt dipped his face, his hat shielding his eyes, but the smile on his face obvious.

"Yep."

She shrugged.

"We'll see."

xxx

"You're kidding!"

Vic shook her head. She held a cup of coffee in her hand and was leaning on her desk as Cady stood in front of her with an incredulous look on her face.

"Nope."

Walt poured himself a cup of coffee and headed for his office. He heard the shuffle of Cady's feet as she followed along behind him, crossing into his office just behind him.

"Do you have it on you."

Walt knew she was talking about the phone. He heard their conversation. He ignored them.

"No, it's at home."

"Why?"

He set his coffee down and turned to Cady.

"It's for personal use. Not work."

"Personal."

She sounded like she might laugh at him. Walt disregarded her tone and sat down in his chair, leaning back slightly. He knew that she found the news he had a phone amusing. It was hard to find fault with her considering how staunchly opposed to carrying a phone he'd always been. The oddness of it all wasn't lost on him.

Neither were the things a woman could get a man to do. He glanced up and out of his open door. Vic was now seated at her desk and didn't seem to be paying then any attention. She probably was, though. It wouldn't surprise him at all if she was smiling at all this.

She hadn't said anything when he left the phone on the desk at the cabin this morning powered off. She spent the night before helping him set it up and showing him the features and what all the phone could do, knowing he wouldn't use most of it. When she showed him where to send and read texts, she must have caught the look on his face.

"What?"

Walt shrugged slightly.

"Wouldn't you rather talk to someone than send a message?"

Vic huffed out a breath.

"Not really. Well…maybe you. It's just…more convenient. Especially when you're busy."

His eyes dropped to the phone in his hand.

"Maybe be less busy."

She gave him a difficult to read look and went back to showing him what all his phone could do. Walt lifted his hand and placed it over hers, effectively stopping her. Vic lifted her eyes and met his again. She didn't say anything. She simply looked at him waiting.

"This is for you. Just…for you."

Her brows knitted together.

"What do you mean?"

"This…"

He removed his hand from hers and tapped the phone.

"…is for you. For…personal use. Okay?"

She looked at him for a long, quiet moment.

"Sure. Although…you should at least give your number too Cady."

He nodded slightly in agreement and she continued her explanation of the phone.

In truth, he didn't want everyone knowing he had a phone. He was a man who still appreciated an in person conversation when he needed to have one. Cell phones and modern technology seemed to be sapping that away from society at large. If someone wanted to talk to him, he wanted them to talk to him. Although, he understood where Vic was coming from. It was less about actually talking to him and more knowing that she could. He, alone, was well aware of her internal struggles as of late. There was no need to resist something he knew would give her peace of mind even if it was a step he was reluctant to take. She was important to him.

It wasn't all that much to ask.

Walt returned to the moment to find Cady looking at him with eyes full of expectation.

"Yep. Personal."

He reiterated his point.

"I've done this job this long without a phone. No reason to start now."

She smiled up at him and Walt felt something inside of him soften.

"Fair enough. I still can't believe Vic talked you into getting a phone. How did she succeed where so many others have failed?"

Cady was kidding with him. Mostly. Although, he could tell that she was genuinely curious. He wasn't going to get into all of that with Cady. It led to a rabbit hole from which there was no easy escape and it opened up a view into Vic's personal demons that wasn't his to share. In Cady's mind, this was a light-hearted moment. In reality, it was anything but.

"It's a uh…compromise."

Cady eyed him, her curiosity still not satisfied. But, she could see that he wasn't willing to go much farther with this conversation.

"A compromise."

"Yep."

She gave him a smile, having some understanding that this went deeper than it seemed. Her expression grew more pensive. Serious even. Thankfully, she didn't voice it with his office door still open.

Cady gave a nod of acknowledgement just as his phone rang.

Walt reached over and lifted it.

"Sheriff's department."

"Walt."

Walt frowned without even meaning to. He knew the voice as soon as he heard it and he didn't like it. It was the Mayor. Sawyer Crane. Dealing with that man was one aspect of this job that he would not miss.

"Mayor."

"Coming down to the wire, aren't you?"

"Yep."

"Do you mind coming by my office later this morning? Say…around ten-thirty?"

He would rather walk out into traffic and take his chances. Walt inhaled soundlessly as Cady wandered from his office and out to Vic. He watched the two women say something that he couldn't hear. He couldn't even see Vic's face.

"Sure."

The answer was half-hearted. Maybe this would be the last time he would have to meet with Crane face to face in his role as Sheriff. He was down to less than two weeks in office and Absaroka County had been blessedly quiet.

"Okay, I will see you then."

Crane hung up without warning and Walt set his phone back into the cradle with a sigh.

xxx

"What a jackass."

There was no argument to be made otherwise.

She said it louder than she intended and the two of them caught a few glances from the patrons surrounding them in the Busy Bee. Vic didn't pay them any attention. She never did. She continued to cut off pieces of her chicken and eat it.

Walt was leaned forward with his arms on the table on either side of his plate.

She'd rolled her eyes predictably when he told her about his meeting with Crane and told him to meet her for an early lunch afterwards so that she could get a play by play. It wasn't an incredibly long story. All Crane really wanted was to let Walt know that he was glad there would be a new Sheriff, but was unhappy that it was Cady Longmire. All without actually saying any of it. It was all insinuated according to Walt.

She wouldn't have minded being a fly on the wall when Crane wasn't able to prod Walt into the kind of response he wanted.

"I think he wishes I was taking you with me."

Vic glanced up from her lunch.

"Me?"

He smiled ever so slightly.

"Yep. He seems to think you might be a bad influence on the new Sheriff."

She smiled as her fork hovered near her mouth.

"There's something to aspire to."

Walt vibrated with a quiet laugh.

Vic set her fork down and sipped her iced tea, studying him.

"He was hoping that he would get someone who will roll over and do whatever he wants. While Cady may be more…agreeable in some aspects, she's no pushover and she knows exactly what kind of games he plays. The lawyer in her will never allow it."

Walt nodded thoughtfully. He agreed with her and she knew it. While Cady was obviously young and inexperienced, she wasn't someone who would be easily manipulated. Not after some of her own experiences in the last year or so. They had all undergone some level of change. Cady was no exceptions. She seemed different now than when Vic first met her. Back when Vic sort of just assumed she was a goody two shoes with no real convictions.

There was a massive shift in that perception.

It wasn't so much that she hadn't liked Cady. They were just such different people and they came from different worlds. In almost any other circumstances, they would never have become friends.

The world was a strange place.

"Yep."

That was all he said.

She knew he worried about Cady and this new role that she was stepping into. But, it was his original idea and they'd come too far to turn back now.

"Is that all he wanted?"

Walt was looking at his half-eaten lunch. After a moment, he looked up.

"You should…be careful."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Of?"

"Crane has it out for you. All his dislike for me…he'll channel that to you."

She shrugged dismissively.

"I am not afraid of Sawyer Crane."

"I know. Just…watch your back. And Cady's."

She looked at him across the table for another few seconds.

"We'll be okay. He doesn't have as much power as he thinks he does. And, you know Cady. She can certainly tell him the law regarding the Mayor's power and how it doesn't reach as far as he wants it to."

One corner of his mouth pulled up.

There was still something in his expression that was…she really couldn't say. It was a hard one to categorize. He could be so good at masking what he was thinking.

"Something else?"

Walt shook his head and pushed his plate away.

"No."

His eyes drifted to her plate and Vic dropped her napkin on the table.

"I'm done."

He nodded as they both stood simultaneously and Walt dropped money on the table to cover the bill and the tip. He grabbed his hat and led the way to the door, pushing it open and waiting for her.

Outside, the sky was blue and the air was cool with the chill of autumn. Vic inhaled deeply. Walt put on his hat and scuffled one boot over the cement sidewalk.

"I'll miss this."

She glanced his way as they started back towards the office.

"What?"

"Having lunch."

Vic eyed him.

"You know…we can still have lunch, Walt. You're retiring. You're not leaving the country. Don't go getting all sentimental on me."

She elbowed him lightly.

Walt's head was bent down and she couldn't really see the expression on his face. She imagined it was pensive. She was kidding with him of course. He got this way lately. Thoughtful and somewhat nostalgic. Not that he could really be blamed for it. It was a big thing for him. Retiring. Walt didn't do change. Not really. The steps that he was taking now were nothing short of monumental for a man like Walt.

She recognized that.

She appreciated it.

They reached the door and Vic opened it, holding it until Walt placed his palm on it to hold it open. They took the stairs silently and Vic walked to the door to the office when she noticed that Walt had stopped. He was standing there watching her in a situation that had played out countless times over her time here.

How many serious conversations had taken place between them right here? Or on the bench along the wall?

"Walt."

Her voice came out quietly as she took a few steps back in his direction. He lifted his eyes slightly and met her gaze.

"I don't mean to. Get sentimental. I just…"

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, removed his hat, and ran his hand over his hair. She watched him. Waiting. She seemed to be getting better at that lately.

"…wanted you to know that."

Their eyes held for a minute more.

"I know."

With that, she turned and walked into the office hearing Walt come in behind her.

xxx

It all felt so final now.

It was hard to describe. The finality of it all.

His meeting with Sawyer Crane only seemed to solidify that thought in his head. He knew it was the last time he would have to deal with the man on a professional level. There was no love lost between either one of them.

It seemed, at this point, like his existence in the office was almost a formality. That would change if something happened, of course. But, the county was quiet and there wasn't much to do other than the ordinary.

He glanced around his office. It was quiet and dim. The only light was coming from the lamp on his desk. There was a tap on his door and then it opened. He knew it was Vic. He didn't need to see her. He was certain that she was the only one even still here other than him.

She stepped into the gap the open door created and leaned on the door, her hand still on the knob.

"Are you staying here all night?"

He shook his head. Vic studied him in that perceptive way that she was so good at, then came all the way into the office and gave the door a light push. She crossed the room and stopped just in front of his desk, her eyes never leaving his.

"What's going on with you?"

"Nothing."

Her face told him she did not believe him. Vic lowered herself into the nearest guest chair and stretched out her legs, crossing her ankles. She inhaled and released the breath. He could see her settling in.

"Go sell that to someone who'll buy it."

Walt leaned back in his chair, trying to relax.

"Just thinking."

Vic gave him a 'no shit' look and tilted her head to one side.

"You? No."

She dropped the mocking tone from her voice as her expression shifted.

"Seriously, Walt What's going on? Why are you sitting in here in the dark by yourself?"

"It's not dark."

She rolled her eyes and he deserved that with his poor attempt at deflection.

"Whatever. Talk to me."

He glanced around the room. He still wasn't great at this. He supposed he never would be.

"My time is almost up."

Her eyes narrowed.

"That sounds…final."

"It is."

"Yeah, you know what I mean. Are you…having second thoughts?"

It was honestly too late even if it were true.

"No. I just…"

He shifted in his seat and cleared his throat.

"…it's…a lot."

She didn't reply right away. Giving him time and space to ensure that he was done with his thought.

"It is. You freaking out a little bit?"

"I don't freak out."

"You do freak out. Trust me. You know, Walt…it's only natural to be scared."

"I'm not scared."

Another eye roll ensued. She ignored the comment.

"It's a big change. Some…trepidation is to be expected."

She paused momentarily.

"Is this what you were thinking about earlier? At lunch?"

He nodded.

"Why didn't you just say something?"

He sighed.

"I just don't want you to worry about this…or me. You have enough on your plate. You don't need my problems."

She gave him a look that told him he was quite possibly an idiot.

"What do you say to me when I say that to you?"

His lack of an answer was all the answer she needed. She smiled knowingly and with satisfaction.

"Exactly. Don't just sit here all mired in your mind. That's not good for you. We both know that. Look…"

She stood up and walked around his desk so that they were on the same side and there was nothing between them. It felt more than physical when she did it. Walt's face lifted since she was now standing over him more or less. Vic leaned on his desk and braced herself with one arm.

"…I know it's hard. Everyone here knows it's hard. Me…moving here from Philly was hard. Change is hard. That's why you don't like it very much. These days…it's not my favorite either. But…this is what you say you want. So…you should…embrace it the best that you can. Think of all the stuff you'll be able to do when you don't have to come here every day. Like…you're treasure hunting thing."

"That's not really a thing."

"Might become a thing."

He doubted that. But, he appreciated what she was trying to do. She seemed more herself these days than she had in a long time. She wasn't entirely back to being fully the person he knew before. She probably wouldn't be. That was the nature of trauma. It changed you. Made you a version of yourself that you didn't always recognize.

Maybe she was finally coming to terms with that.

He spent so much of the last several months worrying about her and trying to take care of her. She was getting her equilibrium back to some degree. She was trying to offer him what it was he'd been offering her since she'd been shot.

"Maybe."

Vic pushed all the way off his desk and stood up straight. She reached out and ran her hands over his hair lightly. He instinctively pushed his head up into her hand and she smiled down at him. Letting her hand drop away, she stepped back and gestured.

"Feel better?"

"Maybe."

Vic rolled her eyes yet again.

"Cute. C'mon. Stop sitting in here by yourself in the not quite dark. Let's go home."

It sounded so natural coming from her. Walt pushed himself up out of his chair and stretched.

"Sounds like a plan."

He grabbed his hat and Vic left his office to gather up her jacket and her laptop bag. She was waiting for him when he emerged from his now truly dark office and pulled the door closed behind him.

It was one more night that he was leaving.

There was only a handful of those left.