Mending Fences – Chapter 14: "Preparation"
Michonne prides herself as a lover of music but as the mother of five children, the only kind of music she had grown accustomed to was the sound of children…noisy children. Michonne loved the sound of her children talking and laughing happily for the past 16 years and she wouldn't trade it for anything else.
However in the quiet days when the children weren't around and she had some free time for herself, she would pop in a music CD and dance and sway to the melodious tunes. One of these quiet times were driving home on her way from work when she would slip in a CD or tune the radio to her favourite station.
However, as she drove home now she doesn't want music. It's the furthest thing from her mind. She glanced over at the envelope on the front passenger seat next to her containing the pictures. It bothered her. It bothered her that after all this time someone is still after her… her children….her family. Why?
Rick has been keeping his head down low since he returned home and she swore that day when she and Rick became one again that she will not let anyone tear her family apart again…even if she has to shed blood. Michonne pulled over on the shoulder of the hi-way. She took the pictures out of the envelope and looked at them.
She didn't see anything about the van that stood out to her but somehow something about it did look familiar. At this time she just couldn't see what it was. She pulled off the shoulder back onto the highway, heading for home. She needs to have a serious discussion with her husband.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Michonne walked into her home and after quickly greeting her children, she asked for Rick.
"Where is your father?"
Logan pointed upstairs and Michonne headed up. She heard the shower running and realized that Rick was in the bathroom. Closing down the door, she stripped down and got in the shower behind him, hugging him tightly. After a minute, he turned around and faced her, the cold water flowing between them. He tried to kiss her and she pulled away, not looking at him.
"Michonne.."
Without word, Michonne left the shower butt naked walking out into their bedroom and Rick followed her. She stopped short of their bed and turned around to see Rick standing there. She took a deep breath.
"I'm being followed."
Rick's jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed at her.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As Rick looked over the pictures she had taken, Michonne was going through the pictures that were in Rick's file. There were some pictures of a van but it didn't look remotely close to the one that was following her.
"Do you recognize anything on the van?" Michonne asked, her head still looking down at the dozen of pictures.
"No." Rick said tightly.
Looking at the pictures Rick felt himself getting angry. He looked at Michonne highly annoyed at her actions….the risk she took to get these pictures.
"You know you could have been hurt, right?!"
Michonne looked up at him, sensing the agitation in his voice. She couldn't understand why. It confused her.
"What?"
"You don't know how dangerous these people are! These could very well be the same people who set me up! What were you thinking getting so close to them?! You could have been hurt!"
Michonne's mouth dropped open.
"Where is all this coming from?! I was being followed and I did what I could to get proof of who was following me. I was careful!"
"That's not the point Michonne!" Rick shouted at her.
"What did you want me to do Rick?! Nothing?!" Michonne was equally shouting back.
He waved one of the pictures at her.
"You should have called me or Abe or even the police! Look at how close you were to the van! What if they had seen you?! What if you had been caught?!"
"But I didn't!" she screamed at him.
Rick got off the bed and began pacing the room…Michonne's eyes following his every step.
"Then you tried to push your luck by walking towards them?! You don't pull cowboy bullsh*t like this Michonne! It was stupid and reckless! How could you?!" Rick said angrily, finally facing her.
Michonne stared at Rick and he saw the light died in her eyes. Quietly, she reached for her robe at the end of the bed. Slipping it on, she gathered all the pictures she had taken of the van. She snatched the last picture out of Rick's hand shaking her head as she looked at them in her hands. When she eventually looked at Rick, she had tears running down her face and Rick saw hurt and something else he has never seen before in Michonne's eyes. Disappointment.
"I can't believe you just said that to me...talked to me in the way." Michonne said barely above a whisper…her voice breaking up.
With that she turned on her heel and began walking out of their bedroom. Rick reached out to apologize to her but she was having none of it, batting his hands away.
"Don't Rick! Just...don't!" she cried and she rushed out of the room.
Rick heard her crying and a door slammed down the corridor. He rubbed his temple as his stomach was turning in knots. In sixteen years of marriage, they have had many arguments and differences but not once has he ever talked to Michonne like that…ever. He didn't know what came over him while he was looking at those pictures. He was feeling so many emotions at the time.
He was angry that persons were still coming after him…after his family. He was afraid that Michonne could have been caught or even worse…hurt by these said people. Looking at those pictures had him imagining all kinds of 'what if' scenarios.
'What if they had seen her and kidnapped her?' 'What if they had tortured her?' 'What if they had just put a bullet through her brain right there and left her body on the sidewalk like a piece of trash?' Rick walked out of the room and immediately noticed that downstairs was quiet. He walked to the end of the hall at the top of the stairs and looking down, saw five pairs of eyes gathered at the bottom of the stairs staring back up at him.
From the look on their faces he could see the emotions through each pair of eyes. Carl was clearly upset at him, Sophia and Andre looked worried and Judith and Logan looked scared. They had heard the argument…they had heard what he said to their mother, how he ripped into her…for doing the very thing he knows she would have done, what she has been doing for her family and that is to protect them. Rick never felt so ashamed, his heart slipping down into the pit of his stomach.
"I am sorry and I promise to make it up to her."
None of the children said anything as one by one they followed Carl upstairs in an orderly fashion…Sophia, Andre, Judith and Logan.
"Goodnight dad." Carl said when he passed him.
"Goodnight dad."
"Goodnight dad."
Both Judith and Logan hugged Rick at the same time.
"Goodnight daddy." They said in unison. Logan whispered to him. "Tell mummy you love her. That could help."
Rick began to tear up at Logan's words and he hugged him tightly.
"I will."
Rick watched as Carl stood in the corridor making sure his younger siblings were off to bed then went to his own room. He walked to Carl's room door and was about to knock when he heard Michonne spoke.
"You heard that?"
"We all did. Scared Judith and Logan."
"I'm sorry. I need to check in on them."
"No need. I did that already. They are ok."
"Thanks. Are you ok?"
"Sophia and Andre are alittle worried and I'm upset but we're ok. Are you?"
"I'm fine Carl."
"You know he didn't mean it, right?"
"Yeah...doesn't mean it hurts any less."
"He was just scared and worried about you."
"I know."
"You could have been hurt."
"I know."
"He's sorry."
"I know."
"He's standing outside my door."
Michonne laughed softly
"I know."
Carl took up his pillow and blanket.
"Where are you going?"
"I know the drill mom. Dad's gonna come in here, you guys start talking and then fall asleep on my bed so I'm going to crash in Andre's and Logan's room. Goodnight!"
Sure enough, when Carl opened his bedroom door, Rick was standing there, wordless. Carl walked to his brothers room and closed the door. He looked at Michonne who was sitting on the edge of the bed. He walked inside and closed the door behind him.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Michonne said nothing as Rick walked up and kneeled down infront of her. He put his head in her lap and instinctively she began massaging her fingers through his hair causing a single sob to escape from him. She knew that he didn't mean what he said and that he was sorry. He didn't need to say anything; no words needed…their bond was that strong. He's sorry and she's sorry. This right here is all she needs. After ten minutes, Rick finally looked up at her and she kissed him on the lips…both of them smiling.
"Come on. We need to give Carl his room back."
"Why? He expects us to fall asleep here right? I don't think we should disappoint him by actually going back to our room."
"Rick.."
Ignoring her, Rick took three giant steps across the room and took off the light.
"Scoot over!" He shooed at Michonne. She did and Rick snuggled up behind…spooning her. Michonne chuckled and soon after they both fell asleep.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day had passed relatively quickly and smoothly without any incidents or suspicions of any cars following Michonne as she ran some errands. Rick had gone to work and no doubt had told Abe of what happened as he had called and assured her that he will call in some favours to help protect her family. She and Rick decided that when the kids come home from school that they will sit them down and explain the full reality of their situation.
Michonne was seriously thinking about having Logan and Judith home schooled as they are the most vulnerable of the family until this situation is finally resolved but Rick said that he doesn't want any new people having access to their house no matter how trustworthy they may seem. She had even called the hospital and unofficial informed them of her wanting to extend her vacation leave but it wasn't confirmed as yet. Decisions had to be made for the safety her family.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Carl, Logan, Andre, Judith and Sophia sat looking at their parents who was sitting opposite them.
"You're scaring us. What's wrong?"
"Firstly I want to say that I am sorry about what you all heard last night and that everything is fine."
Logan whispered to Carl.
"He told mummy he love her."
Carl rolled his eyes at his baby brother.
"Secondly, your mother discovered that she was being followed and she managed to get some pictures of the van that they were in."
Rick paused to choose his next set of words carefully.
"We don't know for sure but there is a very high possibility that it has to do something with me going to prison."
"I thought that was over?" Andre asked anxiously. "You did your time. Why are they still coming after us?"
"That is what we are going to find out…your father and I." Michonne said, speaking for the first time.
"What are we going to do?" Sophia asked.
"Well we need to make some immediate changes. Since Judith and Logan are the two most vulnerable, I was thinking about having them home schooling but your father doesn't want anyone new having access to our home…which is a very good point."
"I agree with dad." Carl said.
"So what are we going to do?"
"Everyone will have new cell phones with new numbers and you can't give out these numbers to anyone."
"Me too?!" Logan asked excitedly.
"Yes Logan. Both you and Judith will get a cell phone. Your father and Abe are working on safe words and codes to be scripted into your phones in case there is an emergency or if any of you feel threatened in any way."
"That is so cool!" Judith exclaimed.
"Yes…but it is serious business."
"Yes daddy."
"I want you guys to be alert at all times. Carl and Sophia you too are the oldest and I'm sorry but some of the responsibility could fall on the both of you to look after Andre, Judith and Logan if the need arises. However, it is your father's and mine responsibility to look after all five of you no matter what and we are taking this threat very seriously. No one…and I mean no one will separate us again."
The children looked at each other at the fierceness in their mother's voice and words and Rick looked at his wife proudly….his warrior queen.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Michonne smiled as Rick changed into his boxer shorts for bed.
"I need to apologize. I was reckless and foolish for what I did and I am sorry."
Rick smiled.
"But if you ever talk to me like that again...I will cut your nuts off!" Rick and Michonne looked at each other then simultaneously burst out laughing into the night.