Mirror - Chapter 11

Four years ago…..

It has been a month since Cayla's disappearance. The police visited the Peter's home several time during that period but they brought no new updates or leads in the case. Andre also visited Michonne many times to the open displeasure of Randy.

He always brought Cindy and Kiki with him. Cindy cried and apologized to Michonne several times for not being able to save Cayla and Michonne reassured the distraught little girl that it was not her fault…that she had nothing to apologize for.

Sufficed to say…as time went on, their marriage deteriorated rapidly. Cayla was the main glue holding them together as they were having problems long before she was taken. Now that she is gone, there is nothing between them.

If they weren't giving each other the cold shoulder, when they do talk, it was mostly arguments and the blame game being played. One time, Andre dropped by unexpected and caught Randy ripping into her.

She was crying and Randy was screaming and Andre intervened. They ended up in a scuffle and Randy sustaining a black eye, Andre, a busted lip and Michonne, sprained ankle because she was trying to part them and she fell down.

One week later, Randy moved out but luckily she wasn't left entirely alone. Andre was her rock, so was her neighbours. They closed ranks around her and she want or lacked for nothing. They did her shopping, cooking and anything else that she needed.

Two months later, she saw Randy with another woman in his arms. They were talking and laughing. In a rage, she confronted him and they ended up in the most dreadful screaming match in the middle of the street.

She went home in tears and five months later, she was a divorcee. The months, then a little over a year rolled by and the police visits grew less and less until it was reduce to a simple courtesy phone call once every month…maybe more if she called them herself for updates.

The calls gave her no comfort and visits had totally stopped. That's when the first letter arrived for her in the mail claiming to know where her daughter is. It came in the form of an address. She took this info to Detective Walsh.

He and other detective jumped at the chance to redeem themselves in a case that has been haunting the police department. However, soon their own faith began to waiver and she had simply become a nuisance to them as she had heard expressed from Shane himself at the coroner's office. Since then, she has been on her own.~*~*~*~*~*~

Carol popped her head into Rick's office.

"Hey. Are you ok?"

He forced a smile on his lips.

"I'm trying to be."

She walked in and sat down opposite him.

"Want to talk about it?"

"No. I just want this empty feeling to go away. It still hurts."

"It will always hurt Rick. It's the anniversary of Carl's death. It's supposed to hurt/"

Rick said nothing.

"Do you need me to go with you to Carl's grave?"

"Thanks but I'll be meeting Sasha there."

"Ok."

Carol left the office and Rick rubbed his tired eyes. He picked up the phone and dialled Sasha's number. After three rings, she picked up.

"Hey. What time am I coming to pick you up for?"

"I was just about to call you. Abe called me. I think he's depressed. He asked if I could come and visit him today."

"Ok. That's good."

"I don't know what it is but I think this year is particularly bad. He asked me to bring pictures of Dylan and his favourite toys."

Sasha began sobbing over the phone.

"He's so broken Rick! I want to help him but I don't know how!"

"Go to him Sasha. Don't worry about me."

"Are you sure you don't want to come?"

"I'll be fine."

"But you will be alone."

Rick thought for a second then smiled.

"Actually I wouldn't. Tell Abe I'll be coming to visit him soon."

"I will."

After he hung up from Sasha, he picked up his car keys and left the office.~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Rick?"

Michonne stood by the door.

"Is everything ok?"

Rick shifted nervously on his feet.

"Yes. Everything is fine." He paused. "I was just wondering…are you busy right now?"

"I was just about to prepare some chicken soup for lunch."

"Ok. Sorry to disturb you."

Rick turned and began walking down to pathway when she reached out and caught him by his arm.

"Wait!"

She turned him around.

"Talk to me!"

"I just need to be somewhere today and I could really really use the company."

"Ok. Let me get my purse. Don't…leave."

Rick nodded and Michonne rushed inside. Few minutes later she came back out. They got into his car and left.~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Michonne noticed that Rick wasn't his usual chatty self on their drive to wherever they were going. She picked up on his sombre mood so she decided to wait to see where they were going, instead of asking. When they pulled in the gates marked Lincoln Memorial Cemetery her heart sank. She looked over just in time to see him swallow hard. Quietly he parked and when they got out of the car, she followed his lead until they arrived at a grave. The head stone was marked:

In loving memory

of

Carl Grimes

An angel taken too soon

Gone but never forgotten

Michonne stood next to Rick; his eyes were closed when she looked at him. When he opened them, he took out a post card and placed it on the grave. There were other items on the grave like flowers and small toys.

She looked down at his hand and it was trembling slightly. She knows all too well that words doesn't bring any comfort to a parent who has lost a child, so she did the only thing that she could think of.

She put her hand in his, interlacing their fingers. Rick squeezed them tightly, pulling her closer to him. They stood there in complete silence.~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Well…well…well!"

Rick and Michonne's heads spun around. Michonne didn't know who the woman was but from the look on Rick's face, he did. The woman stared at them.

"Who is this?"

Rick didn't answer the woman's question and it was making Michonne nervous. The woman glanced down and saw their clasped hands. She flew into a rage. She rushed up and slapped Rick hard, causing Michonne to pull away, covering her mouth in total shock.

"How dare you bring one of your bitches to my son's grave!"

Rick cheeks reddened as it absorbed the slap. He didn't retaliate…merely looked at her. Lori raised her hand to hit Rick again when he grabbed it with one hand in mid-air. Lori dropped her purse in the other hand, raised it and slapped Rick again.

She was about to deliver a third blow when unexpectedly, Rick grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into a nearby tree.

"Oh my God! Rick!" Michonne shrieked out.

She stepped forward but was confused about intervening. She didn't know if she would have made matters worse. The look in Lori's eyes mirrored Michonne's. It was utter and complete shock.

"I'M F*CKING SICK OF YOUR SHIT LORI!" Rick screamed.

He squeezed slightly.

"You blame me for everything that went wrong in our marriage but the truth is YOU were a terrible wife! You complained when things were good! You complained when things were bad! All you ever did was complain, complain, complain! Nothing was ever good enough for you!"

"Rick!" Michonne reached out to him but he shook off her hands, ignoring her.

"You are the whore that cheated on me…your husband! You're the one that wasn't a good mother to her own child. You are the one who took me…a grieving father to court and sue him for the death of his child!"

He took a deep, laboured breath.

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe if you were a good mother, then Carl would have really been alive today?! He wouldn't have been with a babysitter and some asshole wouldn't have ploughed his car into them! Abe's son might have been alive today too. He and Carl would have been at a play date at your house, him and Ellie. Simone might have already been at her class if she didn't have to come to pick up Carl! Everyone would have been alive!"

Rick was crying now as he slowly let go of Lori's neck.

"Every day I wish it was me in that car. I wish that I had died instead of Carl but you know what? The truth is I wished it was you!" He pointed a finger in Lori's face.

"IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU IN THE CAR! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO SHOULD HAVE DIED THAT DAY! Then my son would have been here…with me. I hate you! I hate you so much!"

Rick spun around and walked away. Michonne followed only looking back once to see Lori rubbing her neck. She only stared back at them, still thunderstruck by Rick's words. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Michonne drove Rick's car home. He was in no position to drive…not after what just happened. She briefly stopped at a convenient store and bought an ice pack for Rick's face and some aspirin for the headache he was surely going to have later on. Half an hour later, they were infront of her house. She got of the driver's seat and Rick slipped in from the passenger side. She closed the door.

"You could stay here until your head cool off."

"Thanks but I think I better get home. I need to sleep off today's events."

"Ok. Call me when you get home. Drive safely."

"I will."

Michonne watched as Rick pulled out of her driveway. She waved at him and he waved back and he disappeared down the street.~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As he drove home, Rick thought about Michonne's offer for him to stay with her until his head is levelled. He was tempted beyond belief to accept her offer but it could have spelt disaster for him or her or both of them.

He was already attracted to her emotionally, physically and sexually and to be this upset and in such close proximity to her could have led to the very thing that Carol warned him about.

From the way she operated…buying the ice pack and aspirins for him, it was clear she was a nurturer…a comforter and right now he is in serious need of comforting. He was proud of himself for keeping such restraint.~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Michonne opened her eyes slowly. It was the third time her phone was ringing. She glanced at the table clock. It was 10pm. She answered the phone groggy.

"Hello…"

"Hey Michonne…it's Carol."

"Hi. Is everything ok?"

"Where you with Rick today?"

"Yes…around lunch time. Why?"

"You need to come down to the police station."

"Why?"

"He's been arrested."~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Michonne met Carol outside of the police station. They walked inside.

"What's going on?"

"Lori had Rick arrested!"

"For what?"

"She said Rick attacked her; beat her up at their son's grave."

"She attacked him. Rick was defending himself! He didn't beat her up!"

They walked down the corridor to a room. Inside were Lori and two officers. Lori glared at her and continued talking to the officers.

"I was so scared for my life. I came to honor my son's grave and he just grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against the tree."

"He was defending himself against you! You were hitting him!"

The officer turned to Lori.

"Is that true ma'am?"

"I was emotional officer! He brought her to our son's grave!" She pointed an accusing finger at Michonne. "How could he bring another woman there?!"

"Hold up! I am not Rick's girlfriend. We belong to the same support group for parents who lost children! We are friends!"

"Ma'am…you still didn't answer the question. Did you put your hands on him first?"

Lori's fake tears were beginning to dry up and the real Lori was slowly emerging.

"Look at my neck! He did this to me! How can a husband beat up his own wife?!"

"He's your EX! Ex husband!"

"Stay out of this bimbo!" Lori hissed at her.

Seeing that he wouldn't be getting any straight answers from Lori, the officer turned to Michonne.

"Do you have any proof that she attacked her ex husband first?"

"No but…." Michonne paused. "Yes!"

She dug into her bag and pulled out the credit card receipt she had. She gave it to the officer.

"Look. I paid for an ice pack for his cheeks and a bottle of aspirin for the headache he was having. She slapped him twice and when she was going to slap him a third time that's when he grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the tree. Then she stopped"

The officer glanced at the receipt and signalled to a junior officer.

"Please release Mr Grimes from hold up!"

"WHAT?!"

The officer turned to Lori.

"Leave or you will be arrest for assault!"

Lori stormed out of the room, snaring at Michonne as she pass.

"You can wait for Mr Grimes in the corridor."

Michonne and Carol walked out and took a seat on the corridor. Carol received a phone call and she had to step outside. Another officer gestured to her and she walked over to him.

"Mr Grimes will be out soon. Can you please sign for his things?"

"Sure."

Michonne sign for them and when she turned around a familiar face greeted her.~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hi."

Michonne stared at Officer Walsh.

"Hello."

Shane moved awkwardly on his feet infront of her.

"Uh…why are you here?"

Michonne stared at him. Shane pressed on.

"Did you get anymore leads concerning Cayla?"

Michonne snickered.

"No…but what if I did? It's not like you would investigate right? You made it perfectly clear that investigating my daughter's case was wasting police time and resources…so what do you care?!"

Shane abruptly grabbed Michonne by the arm and dragged her towards a room.

"What are you doing? Get your hands off me!"

"Be quiet!"

Michonne looked at Shane's irritable face. She didn't say another word as he pulled her into a room and locked the door behind them. It was the interrogation room.

"When are you going to let that go?!"

"Why should I? Did I hurt your feelings?! I wasn't lying! You did say those things."

"And I'm sorry! Alright!" Shane screamed at her.

Michonne shrunk back.

"I know that you don't want to hear this but the reality is your daughter case has gone cold. It's been four years."

Michonne began shaking her head.

"I don't want to hear this!"

"Well you have too! It's been four years she was taken."

"Shut up!"

"No leads!"

Michonne dropped the items in her hand and covered her ears.

"Shut up!"

"No witnesses!"

"Shut up!"

"No suspects!"

"Shut...up!"

"I'm sorry Michonne but the cold hard truth is there are hundreds of other children who have gone missing and still haven't been found. Some of them never will be."

Shane took a step towards her but she took a step back.

"You know what my truth is detective? My truth is that Cayla is my child. I carried her for 9 month and my truth is that I will never give up on her even though you can. I will find my baby…either dead or alive."

She gathered her things and pushed pass the detective and left the room.~*~*~*~*~*~

The drive home to Michonne's house was painfully quiet. Michonne invited him inside and against his better judgement, he followed her in. He could see that she was upset.

"I'm sorry that this whole thing with me and Lori upset you. It probably brought up unpleasant memories for you."

"It wasn't you. It was…"

"What Michonne?" Rick moved closer to her in the kitchen.

"Detective Walsh said some things to me tonight that I can't get out of my head! He said that there are hundreds of children still missing just like Cayla and some of them will never be found."

Michonne faced him as she took in a sharp gulp of air into her lungs.

"I just want the pain to stop! I don't want to hurt any more. I want someone to hold me and….."

Rick's lips on her's cut off the rest of the sentence. He grabbed her hips against him and as they kissed, they slowly walked backwards until Michonne's back was jammed up against the refrigerator.

She snaked her hands around his neck and caressed his shoulders. Rick ravished her lips and stuck his tongue deep down her throat. Within minutes, Michonne felt Rick's growth as he grind hard against her.

Without warning he unbutton her jeans and slipped his hand aggressively down in her panties. She opened her legs just enough and Rick got the access he needed. He slipped two fingers in and in seconds she was wet…slippery. He pulled away and nibbled in her ear, whispering.

"Tonight is not about pain or loss or suffering. Tonight is about comfort…our comfort."

"Yes." She whispered back.~*~*~*~*~*~

The trek from the kitchen to her bedroom was a complete blur. All she cared about right now was the pleasurable nakedness of herself and her companion. The soft kisses on her inner thighs draped by the prickly goodness of his stubble caused her toes of lock painfully..

Her quiet moans and his long groans decorated the bedroom's air. His warm tongue searched her robustly and then dived in for the kill.

"Oh God!"

She pulled up her knees until they touched the tip of her nipples and that was all Rick needed. He pressed his face in…hard and his tongue met the forbidden inner spot. Rick dragged his tongue slowly…wickedly…purposeful and Michonne shuddered quietly in the dark.

He repeated the process twice more, each time slower than the last. Her body was no longer her own. She had no control over the passionate shakes of her body or the volume of liquid essence that gushed from her and all over Rick's face and sheets.

Pulling out his tongue, Rick kissed from there, up her tummy and between her breasts straight up to her lips. It was the first time she tasted herself...she wouldn't mind tasting it again before the morning comes.

He slipped into her. He filled her up nice and tight. She moved her hips and he slid in deeper. His lips never left hers as he began crunching into her, with measured and sturdy stabs.

After five minutes, she began contracting around him so he stopped abruptly…delaying her release. She grabbed a fist full of his hair and gave it wicked tug. He resumed thrusting and when she contracted again he stopped. She bit his lip and drew a trace of blood. They giggled but he still kept still.

Rick hooked his both elbows under the nape on her knees, pinning her in the perfect folded position and he was off. He didn't stop when she contracted and exploded on him the first, second or third time. She pulled her lips away to take vital, crucial living breaths.

"Oh God! Oh God!" She dug her nails into his flesh and he grunted in pain but he recovered quickly each time her bouncing breasts brush against his chest. He grind into her faster and harder. The fourth wave was a tsunami and all she had to do was ride it out.

She grabbed unto the bedhead for meagre support and gasped as Rick just pumped. She erupted first, shivering violently.

"Ohhhhhh…..godddddddddd"

That was Rick's breaking point. He thrust his hips forward holding steady. He huffed and released. Michonne felt his warm seeds spill into her. With every cock pulse, she filled up more. That feeling and knowledge sent her into several mini shivers….her eyes filling with water and a strangled, dribble cry escaped her throat.

Rick slowly released her legs and she wrapped them around his waist, keeping him deep inside her. He stuffed his tongue in her mouth and they kissed passionately. Then they pulled apart.

"Thank you." They said simultaneously and burst out laughing in the night.~*~*~*~*~*~

Rick woke up the next morning confused. He could have sworn he fell asleep spooning Michonne. She was not in the bed. He looked at the time. It was 3am in the morning. She slipped out of the bed and walked downstairs to meet lights in the kitchen.~*~*~*~*~*~

Michonne forgot how much good sex can make you hungry. In fact…she was famished. She was standing in the kitchen, on her third sandwich when she was gobbled up from behind. Rick planted wet kisses on her neck and he sat down on the nearby stood.

She leaned back on him, handing him a bite of her sandwich. They both chewed in silence for a few minutes until Rick broke it.

"So what does this means for us?"

He kissed her bare left shoulder.

"I don't know."

"For the record I have always liked you."

Michonne looked at him over surprised.

"Really?"

"Yep."

"I didn't realized."

"So how do you feel about me?"

"Before tonight?"

He nodded.

"You have been really nice to me. I haven't gotten that in a very long time. It feels good. Tonight you have been reallllly good to me."

Rick laughed.

"You think we could have something….you and me?"

Michonne turned around fully to face Rick.

"Do you want to?"

"I don't want to force you if you are not ready for a relationship but yes….I want to be with you."

Michonne looked thoughtful.

"We could take it as slow as you want."

"Wouldn't that be bad for you…for us. You are my sponsor at the meetings. If people find out…they will talk."

"A – It's no-one business what we do. B – We will be careful as possible not to be found out until we are ready to come out as a couple and C – If they find out…who cares. We are both consenting adults."

"It will still looks bad."

"Ok. How about this. We keep this arrangement we have right here going and move forward when we both are ready to do so."

Michonne kissed him.

"Deal."

Rick pushed his hands down her panties again.

"Hmmmm. Still wet."

Michonne giggled.

"Yes…I am."

She straddled Rick and rotate her hips on him, bringing him to arousal within seconds.

"Ready for round two?"

She nibbled on his neck in reply and squealed out in delight as Rick dropped to the floor. As he pulled off his pants Carol quickly crossed his mind. F*ck! Carol is going to kill me.~*~*~*~*~*~*