Richonne (Short Love Stories) The Leader (Chapter 19)
A/N: Another request from Babe Malf. Hope you enjoy.
Michonne was in a fight for her life. She ignores the pain as the Governor slams her against the wall, palming her face before shoving her head first into an aquarium of heads, walker and human. He tries to pull her away, but she grabs onto the aquarium making it crash to the floor. He releases his hold on her in the confusion. She sputters and coughs, trying to free her lungs of water, breathing in as deeply as she can. Her katana is within reach so she moves toward it, crawling on her belly, feeling the scrape of glass against her forearms, her exposed midriff, and even poking through her pants.
A fingertip had just touched the hilt of her sword when she feels the Governor's arm snake around her neck, choking her. She claws at his arm, but can't get him to relinquish his relentless hold. She gasps for air, desperate not to pass out. She eyes a piece of glass still intact on the box of the aquarium. She grabs it, ignoring the pain as the glass cuts into her fingers, her fingerless gloves useless in the moment. She shoves the shard blindly toward his face, feeling relief at his scream of pain and the ability to breathe. Quickly, she retrieves her katana, tossing the sheath over her shoulder, and points it toward the Governor.
He rests against the wall, the shard of glass protruding from an eye, his whimpers and moans of pain audible. "Don't….don't kill me."
Michonne drives her sword into the middle of his forehead as if he hadn't spoken at all. She moves to a full stance and watches as the life flows from his body. Assured that her mission has been completed, she quietly and stealthily finds her way back to find the group she led there.
She locates them by the train tracks at the entrance/exit of Woodbury. Their leader, Rick, is the first to notice her. He leads with his gun drawn, pointing it at her head.
"Put your hands up," he orders in a harsh whisper.
She reluctantly does as she is told, turning her back to him as he orders her to turn around. The sound of him unsheathing her weapon is distinct in the silence of the night. She rests her back against the train car, feeling the exhaustion trying to overtake her.
He leans down into her face, his eyes boring into hers. "You get what you came for?" He can tell she has been in some sort of fight as the cuts and scrapes on her face, arms, and hands are evident.
"Where are the rest of your people?" She asks.
"They got Oscar," Rick says as Maggie follows with, "Daryl's missing. You didn't see him?"
Michonne looks to Maggie and shakes her head no only to have Rick back in her face again, threatening her.
"If something happens to Daryl, I will kill…"
She cuts him off. "I brought you here to save them."
"Thanks for the help." He backs away but never takes his eyes off of her.
"You'll need help getting them back to the prison or going in there for Daryl. Either way, you need me," she states.
He continues to watch her closely, his breathing heavy and fast. He was about to speak when they hear leaves crunching, alerting them to someone's approach. Rick and Maggie point their guns in the direction of the noise only to see Daryl emerge from behind some trees.
Maggie gasps, "How….how did you get out?"
"Let's go. It's chaos in there. Somebody took the Governor out." He looks pointedly at Michonne as he helps Glenn to his feet and they make their way out of Woodbury.
They travel slowly but soon arrive at the car, everyone loading weapons and bags into the hatchback. Michonne waits off to the side, not sure if she will be welcomed back to the prison or not. Rick looks at her as he closes the hatch and walks over to her, closely.
"We patch you up and you are gone," he tells her coarsely.
She gives him a slight nod and enters the car, resting quietly as they journey through the night.
Two days later, she packs her meager belongings and prepares to leave the prison. Rick and a few others had left earlier going on a run. Maggie is on guard duty and unsure about letting her leave.
"Maybe we should wait until Rick gets back," Maggie suggests.
"No, I'd rather leave now. We both know he doesn't want me here, so this is for the best. Thanks for everything. I really appreciate it," Michonne returns.
"Where will you go?"
"I think I'll try my luck with Woodbury again. There should be a much better atmosphere around that place now." She smiles.
Impulsively, Maggie gives her a hug. "Take care of yourself. If things don't work out, please come back. I don't care what Rick says. Ok?"
Michonne nods, surprised at the quick friendship that developed between her and this young woman. She waves fondly as she makes her way out of the prison gates.
Three months later, Michonne is flourishing and practically running Woodbury with the help of Martinez, Shumpert, and Milton. She made her way back there safely and was quickly hailed, praised, and respected for being the one who got rid of the Governor. She also earned her place as leader for being smart, resilient, and a warrior, never hesitating to step up and do what needs to be done. Under her leadership, the walls have been fortified, they go on runs for food and supplies, not to steal from others, and there are no more pit fights. The people of Woodbury seem to be happier and more willing to contribute to the community's development and survival. She is even taking in new comers. Just one month ago, Tyreese and his sister, Sasha were welcomed.
Meanwhile, at the prison, they have had breach after breach as walkers are getting inside from an unchartered part of the prison. The fences are weakened as walkers continue to gravitate to one particular area. Rick finally has to make the decision to leave. They have no choice as the walker population continues to grow and becomes too much for them to handle.
Unbeknownst to Rick, Maggie and Glenn knew about Michonne taking over at Woodbury. They had unexpectedly met her and a group scouting for supplies a couple of weeks ago. Maggie was more than happy to see her and to find out that she had gone to Woodbury and it had worked out for her. Maggie remembers their conversation as they are packing up to leave.
After they load the vehicles and are ready to travel, Maggie turns to Rick. "I know where we can go. We'll be ok there."
"Where?"
"Just trust me, ok?"
A little over thirty minutes later, the group pulls up to the gates at Woodbury. Rick slams his way out of the truck and walks up to the car where Maggie is seated in the driver's seat.
"Are you crazy leading us back to this place?" He asks.
"It's not like it was before. Please. Just give this a try," Maggie tells him.
Michonne saw them from her perch on the wall. She orders her men to open the gates as she makes her way down to greet them. Maggie leads the group as she notices Michonne at the entrance.
"Hey. I hope you're still taking people in. We need a place to stay. The prison was overrun. Walkers were everywhere, so we had to leave," Maggie informs.
Michonne smiles as she gives Maggie a nod and instructs them to drive their vehicles inside. She notices the frown on Rick's face, but chooses to ignore him.
The next several days are spent helping the new comers become more acclimated to their new living quarters. She allows them to choose where they would like to live and also what jobs they'd like to have. Everyone seems ready to fit in, except for Rick. He chose an apartment for him and his children, but has yet to choose a job. Michonne continues to keep her distance.
The morning hour is early as Michonne is in the garden, practicing with her sword. She has had time to find books and even a few DVDs related to mastering the katana. She is interrupted as she notices a certain brown sheriff's hat hovering over a rose bush by the corner.
"Can I help you with something?" She asks loudly.
The young boy from the prison emerges slowly. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I just….I've seen you out here before and was wondering if I could learn, too."
"That's something you'd have to ok with your dad, Carl," Michonne tells him.
His eyes pop with surprise. "You know my name? You know who I am?"
"It's my job to know who lives here. Anyway, I think it's a great idea, but you should check with your dad first."
He nods and seems reluctant to leave.
"This is awful early for a kid your age. Have you even had breakfast?" She asks.
He shakes his head no.
She smiles. "Well, how would you like an omelet?"
The friendship between Michonne and Carl continues to grow as does her connection with the others from the prison. All save for Rick. They both continue to keep their distance from each other. He finally spoke with Martinez about taking shifts on the wall and maybe going on the next run. Michonne notes that as progress but limits her interaction with him.
She and Carl are at her apartment as she agreed to let him come over and peruse through her book and comic book collection. He is smiling from ear to ear as he sits in the corner, going through the books.
"How did you find so many of them? It's going to take a long time to read them all," Carl realizes.
"I've been picking them up here and there for months now. You can take some with you if you want. I know you'll take care of them," she returns.
There is a knock at the door, so she moves off to answer it. She was still smiling about Carl's excitement when she opens the door. Rick Grimes is on the other side and her smile quickly falters.
"Yes? Can I help you?" She asks.
"Hi. I was wondering if Carl was here. He didn't come home for lunch and Maggie said they only had school for two hours this morning, so….." Rick trails off, giving Michonne an opportunity to answer him.
"He's here. I told him he was welcome to my book collection." She steps aside as she realizes her rudeness in not inviting him in. "Come in please."
Rick steps over the threshold, thanking her as he looks around her apartment.
"He's in here." Michonne guides him to her bedroom as the books and comics were all piled in a corner of the room. She has yet to stack them on a book case as one case is already full and she hasn't procured another one.
Carl and his dad greet each other. "Dad, look at all these books. It'll take me forever to read them."
Rick can't help but smile at his son's animation. He hasn't seen him this excited in a long time. "I was coming to make sure you get some lunch. When you didn't come home…."
Carl cuts him off. "Oh, I'm having lunch with Michonne. I guess I should have asked you about that, huh? Sorry, but is it ok?"
Rick nods. "Sure." He turns to Michonne. "I don't mind if you don't mind."
Michonne is pleasantly surprised as those are the nicest words she has ever heard from this man. "I don't mind at all. You're welcome to stay as well. I have more than enough."
Rick realizes that he actually wouldn't mind having lunch with this woman and his son, so he agrees.
They are all having a snack after their lunch of sandwiches and soup. Michonne and Carl are munching on apple slices while they debate about superheroes. Rick feels a little left out, but is entertained just listening to them. He looks from one to the other and wonders yet again what it is about this woman that stirs him. He wanted to dislike her but realizes he can't. She really hasn't given him a reason to.
"Dad, did you hear me?" Carl asks.
"I'm sorry, son. What was that?" Rick inquires.
"The sword. Michonne will teach me how to use it, but only if it's ok with you, so can I?" Carl's eyes are dancing with excitement. He looks like the boy he was before the world went crazy.
Rick clears his throat as he feels himself getting emotional. "Yes, that's ok with me."
"Thanks Dad." He turns to Michonne. "So, can we start tomorrow?"
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Rick is on the wall, preparing for watch duty as he observes Michonne talking with Martinez. The two of them appear to be close. He knows he helps her keep this place running, but he wonders what else he helps her with. He wants to look away, but can't especially when she laughs at something Martinez says. He swallows as her smile is something to behold, softening her face and enhancing her beauty. He looks away quickly wondering what has gotten into him.
The next morning, he is up early with Carl and Judith as he knows exactly where Carl is headed.
"I thought I'd check out your sword practice this morning, then we could come back here for breakfast before you head off to school," Rick tells his son.
Carl agrees as his only focus is getting to Michonne. They walk over together, Rick feeding Judith a bottle on the way.
Michonne is surprised to see him and the baby, but she doesn't protest as they sit on a nearby bench and watch her practice with Carl.
Almost an hour later, practice is done and Michonne is offering Carl another one of her famous omelets.
"Well, I kinda think my dad wanted me to have breakfast with him, so…" Carl trails off as Michonne approaches Rick.
"Would you like to come over for breakfast? I make an amazing omelet. Maybe some oatmeal for Judith? She's taking table food now, isn't she?" She offers.
Rick can barely contain his smile as he agrees and the four of them move off to her apartment.
Over the next several weeks, Michonne develops a friendship with Rick Grimes. He really seems like a good guy compared to what she witnessed when she first met him. He continues to take shifts for watch duty, volunteers to go on runs before she can ask, and has even started helping with the vegetable and fruit gardens.
For weeks now, a few of the female residents have been pleading with Michonne to give them permission to throw a party. The vibe felt too much like something the Governor would do, but she decides to agree as they haven't had anything remotely close to a celebration of any kind. She feels like it won't do the community any harm and it's ok for them to enjoy themselves every now and again.
She is drawn into the excitement of it all by Maggie, Sasha, and Beth. She has grown closer to the people from the prison and she can only smile as she realizes Rick and Carl are the reason behind it.
The night of the party has arrived and she is in her apartment, putting the finishing touches on her hair and makeup. She chose a flowing red jersey dress that clings in all the right places. One of the good things about Woodbury is that there was an abandoned clothing store in the barricaded area. They found all kinds of clothing items boxed up in a back storage room. The dress was one of her finds. She smiles at herself in the small bathroom mirror as she goes in search of her shoes.
A knock at the door prompts her to abort that task as she goes to answer it. She smiles with surprise as Carl and Rick, who is holding Judith, are standing at her door, both looking handsome in dress shirts and jeans. Little Judith is wearing a pink dress and matching shoes.
"We'd like to escort you to the party if that's ok?" Rick asks cautiously as he slyly looks her up and down, appreciating the view.
"That would be great. Come on in. I was just putting my shoes on," she tells them as she moves aside to let them in. They stand in the living room area, waiting patiently.
Minutes later, Michonne joins them. "All ready."
Rick takes another opportunity to look at her. "You look great."
She smiles. "So do you. Come on, let's go."
The party is in full swing and everyone really seems to be enjoying themselves. Michonne is talking with Maggie and Sasha, thanking them for all their help in putting the event together.
Sasha takes a sip from her drink, throwing a pointed look at Maggie. "So, you came to the party with Rick, huh?"
Michonne looks at Sasha. "Oh, he and the kids just came over to walk with me."
"Yeah which means you came together," Sasha reiterates.
"What are you getting at Sasha?" Michonne asks.
"What's going on with you two?" Sasha returns.
"I remember when you hated each other," Maggie inputs.
"We're just friends and I never hated Rick," Michonne allows.
"I've never seen him look at his friends like he looks at you," Maggie says with a laugh.
Sasha joins her as Michonne continues to deny their claims.
Meanwhile, across the way Rick is definitely not looking at Michonne like she's his friend. Beth ran off with Judith a while ago and he is trying to get up his nerve to approach Michonne for a dance. Soft instrumental music is playing, but not too loudly as they want to prevent attracting unwanted attention. Martinez notices him checking Michonne out, so he moves over to Rick quietly.
"She's a beautiful woman, huh?" Martinez asks.
Rick quickly composes his expression, almost embarrassed to be caught gawking at her like a teenaged boy with a crush. "Everything ok with you tonight?"
"Yeah, sure. How about you?" Martinez counters.
"Yeah, this party is a nice change for once," Rick is determined to keep the conversation off the subject of Michonne.
"Sure. Look, I'll cut right to the chase. I've been after that ass for months now. If she's going to give it up to anybody, it's going to be me. Got it?" Martinez looks directly at Rick, trying to intimidate him.
Rick scoffs obviously anything but intimidated. "First of all, you shouldn't talk about her like that and second, the choice will be hers, not yours. Enjoy the rest of the party." He moves away from Martinez and makes a beeline straight for Michonne.
Martinez watches with hate in his eyes as Rick leads Michonne onto the makeshift dance floor that Tyreese and Shumpert created with individual plank boards. He silently stews with rage as she spends the remainder of the evening by Rick's side, talking and laughing with him easily.
The next day, Martinez is at her door under the pretense he needs to discuss the next plan for a run. She invites him in as she has done plenty of times before, asking him about his concerns.
He closes the door and faces her in the living room area. "So what's with you and this Grimes dude?"
Michonne is clearly taken aback. "What are you talking about? You said you needed to talk about the run. Has Rick asked to go or something?"
"No, I want to know what's going on with you and him. You two sure were chummy last night," he relays.
"First of all, that's none of your business, you shouldn't concern yourself with who I'm associating with. Second of all, if you don't want to discuss community business, then it's time for you to leave." Michonne is adamant.
"So this guy gets a chance but I don't?" Martinez asks.
"Martinez, we had this conversation months ago. I told you I wasn't interested. End of story, ok?" She walks over to the door and opens it. "Please leave."
He walks to the door slowly, stopping in front of her. He points a finger in her face. "You better not be fucking him."
"Are you threatening me?" She realizes in that moment that she is seeing a side of Martinez he only exhibited outside their walls. He has never directed this aggression towards her, so she better show him better than tell him. She pulls her left arm close to her body and slams him across the face with an elbow.
He lands with a hard thud in the hallway outside her door. He closes his eyes as pain explodes through his face and blood trickles from his busted nose. "You stupid bitch! I'll….." He looks up to find her gone. Before he can lift himself to his knees, she is back, standing before him with her katana in hand.
"You were saying?" The sword doesn't waiver. She is holding it steady and sure, ready to show him how lethal she can be.
He calms down immediately. "I…I'm sorry. I just thought…you and me…."
"You thought wrong. Now go to the infirmary and get yourself patched up." She watches as he gathers his weapon and skulks off.
She prayed that would be the end of Martinez and his misplaced infatuation or whatever he was experiencing but she was wrong. He wasn't brave enough to say anything to her but she noticed two nights in a row that Rick was on watch duty. Martinez handles that schedule and he should know that Rick needs to be on days so he can be home with his kids at night. She sighs heavily as she has to deal with this situation right now.
She finds Martinez and informs him of her observations. "We try to accommodate everyone here and there is no reason he should have to be on night watch."
"He said he didn't mind," Martinez counters.
"Just do what's right and put the man back on day shift." She finalizes the conversation with a look as she moves off to handle other business.
Two nights later, she is enjoying dinner with the Grimes family as Rick invited her the day before. They share stories of what they were doing when they realized the world had changed. Seeing that it was bringing back too many sad memories for all of them, Michonne moves the conversation to the latest movie she had watched. She informs Carl that she will let him borrow her DVD player so he and his dad could take in a few movies.
Hours later, she is beyond flattered as Rick is actually walking her to her apartment.
"You know you really didn't have to do this. I can make it home safely," she teases.
"I know. Just spending a little more time with you. That's all," he returns.
She can't help the excitement she feels with those words. Her stomach does a little somersault as they share a smile. Shortly, they arrive at her apartment. She wants so badly to invite him in, but doesn't want to appear too eager or too obvious. They stand in her open doorway, eyeing each other.
"Well, thanks for the company tonight. I really enjoyed it. Hope we can get together again real soon," he tells her.
She nods. "My place next time, ok?"
He agrees. "Well, goodnight." He leans in cautiously to place a kiss on her cheek. Before he could back away, she turns to connect her lips to his, fisting a hand in his shirt to pull him to her.
Rick quickly moves inside, closing the door behind him, his back connecting with the door as she slams her body against his and continues to kiss him. They moan simultaneously as they taste each other and begin to explore with their hands.
Michonne takes a step back from him, never breaking eye contact. She removes her katana, then proceeds to pull her sweater and tank top over her head, standing before him in a black bra and her jeans, letting him know exactly what she wants.
He steps away from the door, removes his gun belt, then unbuttons his shirt and tosses it to the floor to join her clothes. They come together again in a passionate kiss, moving their way to her bedroom.
Hours later, she is waking him with tiny kisses to his neck and chest. She smiles when he opens his eyes, still unable to believe the incredible connection she has developed with this man. "I hate to wake you, but I don't want Carl wondering what happened to you."
Rick smiles, pulling the sheet away from her to gaze upon her beautiful body. "I'll leave soon. He's completely knocked out right now, so he's not missing me." He starts kissing her neck, caressing her breasts gently.
She shudders with his touch. "Well, if you say so." They continue to make love well into the morning hours.
Rick leaves Michonne's apartment feeling lighter than he has in ages. He smiles as he remembers everything they shared, making his way back to his apartment and his children. Unbeknownst to him, Martinez is watching and he knows exactly where Rick just came from.