Ch. 14
Compromise
Set after "Burned Up My Tears"
Walt's office was quiet. Finally. Few things had angered him more than finding Wilkins making himself at home here. The man had acted like he owned the place. Any vindication Walt might have felt was lost in the grief of losing Lucian.
There was a quick knock on his office door and then it cracked open.
Vic.
He knew it was her before her head appeared. It was a familiar pattern. There was a measure of comfort to be found there. She looked at him uncertainly.
"Hey, can I come in?"
He nodded. He was pretty sure everyone else had gone home. She came in and pushed the door closed with a click. She sat down gingerly in the chair opposite his desk. There hadn't been time to talk about her coming in to work when he had clearly told her she was on leave.
When had Vic ever listened? Really.
"You okay?"
She was looking at him in that way that always melted something inside of him.
She answered before he did.
"Dumb question. Walt, I'm sorry about Lucian."
He nodded in acceptance.
"Me too."
They sat in silence. He lifted his wrist and looked at his watch.
"It's late, Vic. You should go home and get some rest."
She made a face clearly disagreeing with him.
"Want to grab some dinner?"
It was a simple enough offer on the surface. But to him, it was more. The concern in her voice was clear. So little time had elapsed since they sat in his living room and she confessed to him that she had come gut wrenchingly close to killing herself. And, here she sat, worried about him. Right now, he was too tired to consider the implications of that.
"I'm not hungry."
She sighed.
"Yeah, me either."
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Walt cleared his throat.
"Vic, thanks for coming in on this. I appreciate it but…"
She held up her hand and stopped him.
"Don't say it, Walt."
He felt his jaw tighten.
"You're on medical leave, Vic."
She flapped the same hand at him and rolled her eyes. It was one of the first glimpses of the old Vic.
"I don't have to be if my boss will let me come back to work."
He shook his head.
"No."
She rolled her head forward, her chin touching her upper chest.
"Come on, Walt. Staying cooped up isn't doing me any good. We both know that. I need something to do. I'm bored of sitting around all the time."
"You were shot, Vic. It nearly killed you. Do you get that?"
Her expression grew somber.
"Yes, I get that. But I'm not dead and I promised you to stay that way. I need to feel useful. Jesus, I just need to feel something besides sad all the damn time. It's not healthy."
"It's too soon."
She blew out a frustrated breath.
"Walt, please."
Walt rubbed his temples. As much as he hated to admit it, she had a valid point. He couldn't be with her all the time, even while she was staying in his yard. He had to work, which left her too much time in her own head.
"I had a similar conversation with Branch. I can't…I won't make that mistake twice, Vic. Not with you. Not after…everything."
She tilted her head and studied him.
"But?"
"I understand what you're saying."
She looked at him hopefully.
"So I can come back?"
He leaned forward and rested his arms on his desk.
"Maybe. With some rules in place."
"I don't like the way that sounds."
He shrugged. She relented and nodded at him after a long hesitation.
"What kind of rules?"
She sounded skeptical.
"You have to work here in the office. I don't want you out in the field yet. It's not safe."
She chewed on her lower lip.
"So you want me to sit here instead of sitting at home."
He knew she would take some convincing.
"Well, here you could be helping out on cases. You wouldn't be so bored."
She considered him.
"So…when do I get to do my job again? All of it."
He frowned. He hadn't thought that far ahead.
"Maybe when you're not limping."
Eye roll.
He sighed.
"How about this. You come back on desk duty for at least a week or two. We'll see how it goes from there. If you're feeling up to it and your leg holds up, you can go on some calls with me to start with. I don't want you out by yourself yet."
"That sounds suspiciously like baby-sitting."
He shrugged again.
"Take it or leave it. That's my final offer."
She sighed heavily to make sure he knew she was unhappy with his proposal.
"Fine. We'll do this your way."
"My way would have you actually resting until a doctor cleared you. I'm offering a compromise."
The smallest of smiles tugged at her lips.
"Fair enough."
She was still watching him.
"Something else?"
"Yeah, let's go get some dinner on the way home."
"I told you…"
"You're not hungry. I know. I'm not really hungry either but that hasn't stopped you from insisting I eat. According to you, I have to eat. So that means… you have to eat, too."
She pushed herself up from the chair with a slight grunt.
"So come on. You drive."
He thought about arguing but she was right. She had also completely turned the tables on him using his own words as ammunition.
Vic cocked her head towards the door.
"Come on. It's a compromise."
He had no choice but to smile.
"A compromise."
"Yep. C'mon. We both need it, Walt."
He relented and stood up. Flipping off the light, he waited while she collected her things. Walt took her laptop bag from her without asking.
"Here. Let me."
She started to argue but nodded as she slid her jacket on.
"We all need help sometimes, Vic."
His words held more truth than they were willing to admit. She smiled up at him and it did his heart good to see it. She limped towards the door with Walt next to her.
"Red Pony?"
The question came from Walt in a low rumble.
"Where else?"