Mending Fences – Chapter 11: "Close Call"

(3 months later)

It is Saturday afternoon and Michonne looked on from the kitchen back door as Rick played football with Andre, Judith and Logan. Carl and Sophia had gone to the movies with a couple of their friends from school. Things have been so good in her family it's as if Rick never left. All the residual hurt and anger she had once harboured is completely gone.

Michonne smiled to herself. After their marathon coupling session for which Sophia was unfortunately privy to hearing, they had a pregnancy scare. While they were both happy about adding to their family, Michonne did have some reservations about having another baby. Logan, their last born is six, soon to be seven in a couple of months. That means she is atleast five years out of practice with handling a toddler.

In addition to that, Rick in now re-navigating his way back into society as well as their individual hectic schedules. She discussed these concerns with Rick who understood her position and they both decided that they would start using birth control. Rick initially offered to buy condoms but Michonne decline. Her reasoning? She wanted to feel Rick raw…skin to skin…nothing between them.

Rick couldn't agree more. When he suggested that they try the pull out method Michonne laughed in his face. She remembers their conversation while they were cuddling on the sofa after a late night dinner. The kids were at Carol's for the weekend.***************

'You?! Pull out?!'

'Yes me! I can do it!'

Michonne looked at her husband and then burst out laughing.

'What? You don't believe me?'

'No….I don't because I know you can't!'

Michonne saw the mischief in Rick's eyes.

'Well let's put it to the test.'

Michonne now sat up…intrigued.

'Ok and if you don't make it?'

'I'll give you whatever you want.'

Michonne looked at him.

'Are you sure?'

'Yes.'

'Anything?'

'Anything!'*************

That night they made love three times. The first two times was an epic failure. Rick failed miserably. He begged for another chance which Michonne was happy to oblige him. She knew he wanted to prove his point despite her knowing better but he almost succeeded though…almost. The cost to Rick? An upgrade to Michonne wedding ring which was five years overdue. Michonne and Maggie had a good laugh as she showed off her new, shiny wedding band.

'I think he knew would have failed.' Maggie laughed.

'Oh...we both knew that!' Michonne grinned. 'He just wanted to have some fun and so did I!'**************

Then it was decided that she would go on the pill. Michonne felt weird using protection with Rick.. She has never used contraceptives of any kind…ever. After doing careful research, she bought her very first box of contraceptives at the age of 35.*************

Rick saw Michonne deep in thought by the kitchen. He whispered to the kids so that they can distract her whilst he sneaked around to the side of the house. He jumped out suddenly, startling her.

"Rick!"

Andre, Judith and Logan erupted with laughter as Rick pulled Michonne close from behind and nuzzled his face in her neck tickling her.

"Stop!' she giggled.

He turned her around to face him.

"I need to go to the supermarket."

"Can we come?" The children asked in unison. Rick nodded and they ran inside to get ready. Rick looked at Michonne as she watched the children run inside. She turned back to see Rick looking at her smiling.

"What?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For loving me and giving me everything."

Michonne kissed him.

"You are very much welcomed."***************

Rick pushed the shopping cart along the aisle behind as Michonne, Andre, Judith and Logan fill it up. They stopped at the poultry section as Michonne can't decide what she wants. Rick picked up a nice juicy steak cut. He smiled…imagining himself cuddling up to Michonne after a nice steak picnic in the gardens. Michonne saw his smile and smiled too. Then they looked at each other. They were thinking the same thing.

"I'll be right back." Michonne said as she darted off to one of the other aisles. Logan followed her.*************

Michonne was in the spices and seasoning aisle when Logan touched her.

"Mummy?'

"Hmmm." Michonne's focus was on the reading on the oregano spice bottle label.

"Who is that?"

"Who is what?" Michonne asked, still focused on the bottles.

"The man who was just watching us?"

That got her attention. She looked at him.

"What?"

Logan pointed up towards the end of their aisle. Michonne looked up. There was no one there. She looked at Logan.

"Someone was there mummy! I swear!"

Michonne squinted her eyes at Logan. He folded his arms in defiance and began walking up the aisle. Michonne followed him. On reaching around the aisle, they saw a man's body dash between two aisles.

"There!" Logan shouted and he took off running.

"Logan! Wait!" Michonne shouted as she ran behind him. She reached the end of the aisle and was about to turn the corner when she heard her son cry out. She saw Logan on the ground.

"Omg! Logan!"

Michonne rushed up to him. She cradled her son in her arms.

"Mummy!" Logan cries as he held his head. When she examined him she saw blood.

"Oh God! Rick!"*************

Rick was just about to choose another prime piece of steak cut when he heard Michonne cry out. Rick looked at Andre and Judith.

"Is that mom?" Andre asked looking at his father and sister.

Rick, Andre and Judith left the cart and began walking briskly towards the direction of the shout. It was when he heard his name was when Rick was sure that it was his wife. He broke out in a sprint, closely followed by his children. When they bent the third corner in the second aisle the first thing they saw was blood on the floor. When he looked up, he saw Michonne cradling their son in her arms in tears near the cashier's station. There was a crowd of people around her…including two security officers.

"Michonne!" he screamed out.

Michonne turned towards him…Logan clinging on to her for dear life. It took only seconds for Rick to reach them and pushed through the crowd.

"What happened?!" Rick asked breathless as he cradled Michonne's tear stained face in his arms.

Michonne tried to speak but only sobs came out. He looked down at her bloody shirt. Logan now reached for him.

"Daddy!" Logan cried.

Rick held his son close as Andre and Judith crowded around them. Judith started to cry and Andre hugged her for comfort.

"What happened Logan."

"The man hit me!"

"What?!" Rick said angrily as he looked around at the dozen of faces that were now surrounding them. Michonne stepped close and caressed Rick's face to calm him. He looked into her frightened eyes then looked at Andre and Judith.

"I need you to come this way sir…you and your family."

They looked around and saw it was a security officer gesturing to them. They followed him outside to one of the security vehicles.

"You are being taken to the hospital so your son can get medical attention. The police have already been notified. They will meet you there."

Rick and family got into the vehicle and left.************

A man quietly observed Rick and Michonne and their children as they got into the vehicle a short distance away. He was parked in a vehicle in a strategic location. He focused his gaze on Michonne as she cries holding her son in her arms. Then he turned his attention to Rick and saw how he guarded Michonne and the children fiercely. A frown appeared on his face.****************

When Abe arrived at the hospital and walked down the corridor he saw an enraged Rick raving at a police officer. He quickens his pace.

"How the hell does a six year old kid gets attacked in a supermarket and there are no witnesses?! That's bullshit!"

"Sir…I need you to calm down."

Abe was close enough to see the red in Rick's eyes. He needs to diffuse the situation.

"Don't tell me to calm down! That's my son!"

Abe grabbed Rick and pushed him into a nearby room. He locked the door. They glared at each other.************

Michonne stood in the familiar room...a room she has walked into many times in her days as a nurse. She looked on as Glen began doing the stitches on Logan head. He cried out and stretched out his hands to her. She immediately rushed to the bed to comfort him.

"I'm here pumpkin."

Logan stopped crying for a bit...it was clear he felt much safer with his mother there. In five minutes Glen was done. Logan got eight stitches. Michonne hugged Glen.

"Thank you!" she said with tears in her eyes.

"You don't have to thank me. You know that."

Suddenly her phone began to vibrate. She looked at it. It was Maggie. Glen nodded and Michonne answered.

"Maggie?"

"Oh my god Mich! What happened? I just saw Glen's text message. Is Logan alright?!"

"Yes…he is. Glen just finished giving him stitches."

Michonne started sobbing gently.

"I could have lost him Maggie! I could have lost my child! Who could have done this?! He's just a kid!"

"Where's Rick?"

"He was just outside talking to an officer."

"Talking?!"

"Well..shouting. Abe is here. He diffused the situation."

Michonne heard voices in the background.

"Where are you?"

"I'm at a mothers-to-be yoga class. Shit! They are ready to resume. I'm coming to the hospital."

"No…stay. That is important!"

"But Michonne?!"

"No buts! This is your first baby Mags! Besides you can't help me here anyway."

Maggie said nothing. She knew she was right.

"I'll call you as soon as I am done ok! As soon as I'm done!"

"Ok."************

"How did you know I was here?"

"Your wife had the good sense to call me."

Rick pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Thanks. I was just about to punch that asshole out there."

"I know. What happened?"

"I don't know!" Rick shouted in frustration. "No one knows."

"OK. What did Logan say?"

"He said someone hit him."

"What?"

"Yes! Someone attacked my son and no-one saw anything! Can you believe that shit?!"

There was a couple of minutes of silence between them.

"I'm going to see my son."

Abe stepped aside.*************

When they entered Logan's hospital room, they saw Michonne on the bed cradling him. It appears that they were sleeping. Abe looked at Rick and gestured for them to go outside. Once outside Abe spoke first.

"You can't do anymore here Rick."

Rick stared at him.

"But what we can do is go down to the supermarket and pull some security tapes.

Rick smiled.**************

The supermarket manager, Abe, Rick and the operator in the security room stood in the manager's office.

"Are you f*cking kidding me right now?!" Abe asked fuming.

Rick picked up a chair and threw it across the room.

"My son could have died! What do you mean there are no security tapes.?!"

"We are presently changing our security company providers so the old cameras were taken down but the new ones haven't been installed yet."

Rick lunged at the short, chubby man behind the desk. Abe managed to grabbed him just in time and pushed him up against the wall.

"Calm down Rick!" Abe whispered to him. "I know you are angry but think about Michonne. She' already worried sick about Logan."

Rick took a deep breathe to calm himself. Abe was right. Michonne doesn't deserve anymore grief. Logan getting hurt is enough for her to worry about.

"I'm good." Rick said through a shaky voice. Abe released him and turned to the manager.

"Do you have tapes anywhere?"

"Yes. The ones at the entrances and exits are still operation for another two weeks."

The tapes were pulled up but there was no one that stood out as suspicious to them. Then Abe realized one their greatest limitations. Eye witnesses. Logan in particular.

"We need to get a copy of these. We have to study it in further details." Abe said.

"You can't."

Abe pointed to Rick.

"Do you see this man here?! He was going to rip your head off! His wife is at hospital grieving right now because your company didn't provide a safe environment for their son! Was it a mistake to stop him earlier. Do you want to be sued by the Grimes family? Their 6 year old son was attacked in your supermarket. It is a public place without security cameras! He could have died! He still might."

Rick flinched slightly at the thought of his son dying. It was unthinkable. Abe's scare tactics worked. The manager quickly made a copy and gave it to Abe.

"Here! Don't ever come back!"**************

Glen came into the room to talk to Michonne. He gently woke her up.

"Follow me outside. Let's talk."

Michonne kissed Logan's forehead and followed him. He saw the worried look on her face.

"Logan will be ok." Then he came closer to her. "But between you and me...this could have been worse. The blow narrowly missed the soft palate at the top of his head. We both know this."

Michonne nodded in agreement.

"I'm sorry for prying but do you think this could be because of what happened with Rick?"

Michonne shook her head.

"No. Rick did his time. He's not making any waves. Besides...it's been months. Why come at him now?"

"Ok. Just be careful."

"I will. Thanks again."

Glen smiled. Michonne went back into the room with her son. As she looked at Logan sleeping peacefully, she bursted into tears. She pulled out her phone and dialled Rick's number to give him the news.