Mending Fences – Chapter 22 "Public Opinion"

Michonne stared worried at Rick as he stared at the TV. For the past two weeks, the raid dominated the news, more specifically the death of Officer Tiggs. Nothing was said of the dangerous amounts of Mama X was confiscated. No mentioned of the dozens of children that was saved in the future because of the raid.

Only the negative was hammered over and over again. There were small group and other high profile person clamouring for the name of the officer who green lighted the raid that resulted in Tiggs's death. As promised, Captain Fletcher managed to keep Rick's name out of the media by threatening all officers and other personnel in the station.

If anyone breathes Rick's name there would be hell to pay. The whole situation irritated her and it was causing Rick to lose sleep. He took an extended leave of absence which the Captain agreed with. The kids enjoy their father being around when they came home from school.

He was careful to not show his anxiety around them but at night, when the children were asleep and in the privacy of their bedroom, he would stare at the ceiling, clenching his jaw in the dark. She would just lay down next to him, touching him gently, not saying a word.

Then he would turn and bury his face in her chest. She held him and they would fall has been their ritual ever since the raid and she feared that she was losing him. More importantly, she feared the kids could be slowly losing their father.~*~*~*~*~*

ADA Reyes sat alone in his dark office with his eyes closed. His secret secondary phone was ringing for the third time and he had a huge knot in the pit of his stomach. Everyone else had gone home. He picked up the receiver and placed it to his ear. A voice spoke first.

"It's time."

"It's not that easy. When I sign this, it will set off a chain reaction."

"What's your point?"

"The evidence is there but with a good attorney, it can be easily explained away with Rick's report."

"It's enough to get a conviction."

"If I stretched the evidence to enormous capacity. I have to convince 12 men and women that a highly decorated cop of over 12 years service wilfully or negligently shot a cop."

"I'm convinced." The voice laughed.

"This is not a fucking joke. My career is on the line."

"The money you're being paid to watch my back can buy your career ten times over."

"Money can't buy a good reputation."

"Well, if you do your job you will get rich and keep your precious reputation."

Reyes said nothing.

"Get the warrant and f*cking sign it!"

Then there was a dial tone. He dialled a number and another voice picked up.

"Alvin. It's Reyes."

"Do you know what time it is?"

"I need a warrant."

"For what and for who?"

"For Detective Grimes for negligent homicide of Officer Tiggs."

"Do you have the evidence for support the charge?"

Reyes swallowed hard.

"Yes."

"I'll call the clerk. You'll have your warrant by morning."~*~*~*~*~*

Reyes signed the warrant and handed it to Detectives Walcott and Colbert.

"Go pick him up."~*~*~*~*~*

Rick, Judith and Logan were playing in the front yard. He was tickling them on the large play mat and they were screaming in delight. Morgan pulled up in the minivan with Carl, Sophia, Andre, Abby, Isaiah and Gwen. They bounced out of the vehicle.

"Good evening daddy." Carl, Sophia and Andre said in unison.

"Good evening Uncle Rick."

Rick gave both his kids and nieces and nephew a big group hug. Andre stayed outside with his younger siblings while Carl and the others went inside. Rick and Morgan greeted each other.

"How are you holding up?"

"Well, its' been two weeks and they haven't arrested me."

"And it's not for the lack of trying. The press have been crucifying you. Interest groups are calling for your head. I'm surprised your name isn't in the papers."

"Fletcher did that. He basically threatened everyone at the station."

"Where's Michonne?"

"At work."

"How is she?"

"She worried about me and how all this is affecting the kids."

"And what about her? She should be taking care of herself as well. This is affecting her too whether she realizes it or not."

Rick nodded in agreement.

"I have to get back to the office. Need to help Carol stay on top of things. Someone has to report the truth of the situation."

"Thanks for everything Morgan….for not smearing me in the press."

"I'm just being objective Rick. You are the only person who really knows what happened and whenever you are ready to talk, we are ready to listen."

The gentlemen shook hands again and Morgan left.~*~*~*~*~*

Rick watched Logan, Judith and Andre eat sandwiches on the play mat. Two black SUV sedans pulled up and Detectives Walcott and Colbert exited. Three uniformed officers exited the other vehicle and followed closely behind them.

"Carl!"

Carl came running outside.

"Yes Dad!"

Carl stopped confused seeing the men walking up their driveway. Rick pointed to the toddlers.

"Take them inside now and call you mother."

"Dad! What's going on?"

He looked between his father and the men.

"Take them, go inside and call your mother! Now!"

The sternness in Rick startled the younger children and they huddled around Rick's foot. He kneeled down and pulled them close.

"I'm just going to talk to these men. Go with Carl."

Carl took Logan's hand and the others followed in single file into the house. Rick watched them and when they disappeared into the house he turned and faced the detectives folding his hand across his chest.

"What are you doing here?"

Detective Walcott stepped forward pulling a piece of paper from his jacket. Some of his neighbours were already out of their houses looking on.

"Are you really doing this? Here? At my house with my children just 5 feet from me?"

He spoke through clenched jaw. Walcott shrugged his shoulder indifferently.

"You don't need to serve the warrant here. I'm the only adult here with the children. As soon as my wife comes home I'll surrender to Fletcher."

Colbert looked behind Rick and saw pairs of frightened eyes looking at them through the window. Carl was pacing the porch on the phone. Rick looked back at him then back to the detectives.

"He's calling her right now. I can't leave them home by themselves."

Colbert touched Walcott on his shoulder and spoke softly.

"Maybe we shouldn't do this. The children are watching."

Walcott became irritable.

"Isn't this sweet? This officer wants us to wait for his wife to come home to be with their kids and right now there is a pregnant woman whose husband will never come home to her ever again!"

Colbert grabbed Walcott's arm.

"This is not the time and place for this."

"I'm here to serve this warrant and that's exactly what I'm going to do. No special treatments."

Walcott advanced towards Rick.~*~*~*~*~*

"How's Rick?"

Maggie sat in Michonne's office. The door was closed.

"Not well."

"How are you?"

"Not well."

"And the kids?"

Michonne looked at her.

"Take comfort that Rick's name is not splashed all over the news."

"If they arrest him, all that will be gone and then what?"~*~*~*~*~*

When Walcott stepped toward him, Rick stepped back.

"You can make this easy or hard. Make your choice."

Rick looked back at Carl on the porch with Sophia was standing next to him. The others were at the window, curtains drawn looking out. He knew he couldn't make a scene here, not infront of the children. Ms Tilling, a senior neighbour looking on from next door came over to him.

"Go. I'll look after them until Michonne comes home."

Rick nodded and stepping forward, he held out his hand.

"I'll go quietly."

Walcott smiled, taking out the cuffs .

"Jesus Christ! Is that necessary?! The children are watching" Colbert protested.

Walcott ignored his colleague and squeezed the cuffs down hard on Rick's wrists. He winced and jerked away but Walcott grabbed him firmly at his side. They began leading Rick towards the vehicles. Carl dropped the phone and ran towards them.

"Where are you taking him?!"

He pushed the officers away from his father. Ms Tillings rushed after and grabbed Carl, and pulling him away.

"Dad!"

"It's alright Carl! Stay with Ms Tillings and the others."

"Leave my dad alone!"

Andre came running outside screaming for his father. Sophia held back Judith with one hand and held the phone in the other. The other officers ran forward and one of them scoped up Logan, while the other two blocked Abby, Gwen and Isaiah from getting to Rick. Carl broke free from Ms Tillings and ran back towards Rick.

"Carl! Don't!"

He ignored his father and wedged himself between Walcott, Colbert and his father. He clung unto Rick refusing to let go. Ms Tillings grabbed Carl again and tried to pull him off.

"No!"

Walcott was losing his patience and in a fit of rage, he grabbed Carl, yanking him and twisting his arm in the process away from Ms Tilling and pushed him to the ground. He cried out in pain. Colbert stood horrified by his colleague's actions.~*~*~*~*~*

Michonne checked her phone for any messages. She had just come out of a meeting with the hospital's board. She saw six missed call with another one coming in. She answered and her heart stopped in her chest. It was Sophia crying hysterically.

"Mummy! They're taking daddy! They're taking daddy!"~*~*~*~*~*

Rick only saw red seeing his son on the ground hurt. He rushed Walcott, rammed his knee into his crotch and when he was doubling over, head butted him sending him quicker to the ground.

There were screams and shouts everywhere…from Ms Tillings, from other neighbours rushing over to quell the disturbance and from the children. The uniformed officers were trying their best to calm the children and Detective Colbert was trying to keep Rick off his partner.~*~*~*~*~*

Michonne shot to her feet, her heart racing.

"Who's taking daddy?!"

"The police! Carl's hurt! Mummy I'm scared! Please come home!"

Michonne heard more screams in the background.

"Oh God!"

Maggie who was on her feet the whole time grabbed Michonne.

"What's wrong Mich?!"

"I have to get home! They are arresting Rick! Infront of my children!"

She fled the office with Maggie following closely behind her.~*~*~*~*~*

The commotion at the Grimes's residence now became a full-fledged show. All the neighbours were out. Some remained on their lawns and others came over and assisted the officers with the children. Ms Tillings held Carl to her and he held his sprained arm. Colbert tried to pull Rick off Walcott but it was difficult because Rick was mad with rage.

He himself was mad with rage. This could have been handled better. He knows Walcott is a hothead but he didn't know of the extent until now. He didn't have to do this infront of the children…young children. Rick's hands were handcuffed to the front and he was using it to pummel his partner and he didn't blame him.

There may be division presently on whether Rick's to blame for Officer Tiggs death but the one thing that is commonly said about Rick is that he loves his wife and kids to death. Rick's angry words cut through his thoughts.

"You muthaf*cker! You hurt my son!"

He handed two solid blows to Walcott's face. When Rick raised his hand for a third time, it gave Colbert the opening he was waiting for. He locked his arms high around Rick's chest so he couldn't bring down his arms again. He twisted his body and slammed Rick face down in the dirt.

"Daddy!"

It knocked the wind out of them and Rick had a busted lip where his teeth nicked him. Colbert pinned him down.

"Stop fighting please! The children."

Rick glanced up and he immediately regretted his attack on Walcott. They were huddled together staring at him with trauma filled eyes. His children have never seen him this way. His nieces and nephew have never seen him this way.

"I'm sorry!" he cried out to them and they ran to him.

Colbert brought him up to his knees and they clustered around him, hugging him from all angles. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Walcott stepping angry towards them and he stood between forcefully Rick and his partner.

"Enough of this! I will bring Grimes in."

Walcott didn't budge and Colbert stood his ground.

"You really don't want to challenge me on this. I will have dozen of witnesses to bring in to back my story of what an asshole you were here today."

Walcott was livid. He surveyed the crowd gathered and it was clear that despite what Rick may be accused of, right now he was the enemy.

"I'll meet you back at the station."

Walcott and one uniformed officer left.

"We have to go."

Rick nodded and spoke softly to the children.

"Michonne is coming home soon and everything will be alright."

Carl and Sophia guided everyone back to the house. Ms Tilling nodded to him and Rick allowed the officer to take him to the vehicle. He broke down as they drove away.~*~*~*~*~*

Maggie drove so when they pulled up in the driveway, Michonne jumped out and race to her house, leaving the car door opened. She knows that Michonne barely had time to see the small gathering of neighbours across the street. Maggie stared at them and they disbursed.~*~*~*~*~*

Once inside, Michonne called out to her children.

"Carl! Sophia!"

"Mummy!" Andre came running from the back yard.

She swallowed him in her arms as she kissed and wiped his tears.

"Where are your brother and sisters?"

"They are here."

When Michonne turned around Ms Tillings, Ms Fredericks and Mr Coombs walked in from the backyard with the other children following them. Carl had Logan in one arm and his bandage on his wrist. Sophia had Judith, Abby, Gwen and Isaiah.

"Aunt Michonne!"

She called them all over to her and she hugged and kissed each of them as they sat on the sofa.

"What happened?"

All the children began speaking at once.

"They arrested Rick Michonne….infront of them. It was horrible."

"What happened to your hand Carl?"

"Mr Coomb said it's just a sprain. I'll be fine."

Michonne nodded to him and he nodded back. She whispered to Maggie. She had tears in her eyes.

"Can you please check on Rick at the police station? I can't leave them."

"I'll call you when I get there."

Maggie was gone for about ten minutes when Morgan and Carol rushed in. Abby and the twins rushed to their parents.

"Are you guys alright?"

They nodded.

Carol and Morgan went over to Michonne and Carol and Michonne hugged tightly.

"I'm sorry! I can't believe they arrested Rick like that! Infront of the kids!" Carol cried. "How could they do that infront of Judith and Logan?! They're babies!"

Morgan kissed his wife.

"I'm going to the station to see Rick."

"Maggie already left. She's on her way there as well."

Carol attended to the children as Michonne walked her neighbours to the door.

"I can't tell you how grateful I am for what you guys did for me and my family. I'm sure Rick is grateful too."

"What they did wasn't right Michonne. I don't care what they said Rick did. The children comes first."

"Thank you."

She hugged each of them and they left.~*~*~*~*~*

Maggie walked into the station and asked for Officer Rick Grimes at the front desk. Several officers looked at her.

"Wait here."

Minutes later, Captain Fletcher walked out to meet her.

"I'm Captain Fletcher. This way."

Maggie followed the Captain through the station, down a corridor to the back. Maggie gasped shocked seeing Rick in the cell.

"Rick."

He jumped to his feet.

"Maggie?" he grabbed hold of the prison bars. "Where's Michonne? Is she home with the kids?"

Rick's voice was frantic and it broke Maggie's heart.

"Yes. She at home with the kids."

"Are they ok?" Is she ok?"

Maggie didn't know how to answer Rick's questions. If she told him that they were ok, he would know that she is lying and think the worst but if she told him the truth, he could be crushed and blame himself for their pain. She said nothing but her eyes told him the truth. Morgan appeared behind Maggie.

"We are here for you Rick."~*~*~*~*~*

Michonne gripped the edge of the kitchen sink. She was fighting hard not to cry. Abby and the twins asked if they could stay over for the night and she agreed. She was upstairs tucking them in for the evening so that they could settle down and give Michonne a few minutes to herself.

Right now, her chest was pounding and she was having trouble breathing. She gasped twice and her knees buckled beneath him. She fell to the ground, twisting her ankle in the process. She bit down hard on her lip to stop herself from screaming out.

She was sweating. She was having a panic attack and was beginning to blackout. She needed to feel physical pain to snap her brain awake. She bit her lips again... hard and her eyes widen and watered. She tasted blood. When the pain subsided she looked around and she saw that she was still alone. She broke down in quiet sobs.~*~*~*~*~*

Carol make sure all the kids were snugged tight in Rick and Michonne's bedroom. Carl, Andre, Isaiah and Logan slept on thick sheets on the floor at the foot of the bed. Sophia, Abby, Gwen and Judith slept in the bed. She took off the light and closed the door behind her. She walked down the steps and when she bend the corner, Michonne was on the floor crying.~*~*~*~*~*

The screams of Judith and Logan sent Carol and Michonne flying into the bedroom.

"Daddy!"

Carol grabbed Judith and Michonne grabbed Logan and they rocked the crying children in their arms.

"Daddy will be home soon ok! He will he home very soon. I promise."~*~*~*~*~*

ADA Reyes was in his office with Detective Colbert and Walcott reading them the riot act when he heard a commotion outside. It was all over the place what happened at the Grimes residence and Reyes expected some huge backlash. Rick may be under arrest but he is still a cop and certain courtesies should have been extended to him and his family.

"You can't go in there!" a voice protested outside.

"You just watched me!"

Michonne barged into the office and was greeted with guilty and defiant eyes.

"Mrs Grimes…"

"My two year old son and three year old daughter woke up screaming for their father last night!"

She pointed an angry finger at Reyes.

"Regardless of the ridiculous accusations you arrested my husband for, our children didn't deserve this! How dare you do this to them! THEY ARE INNOCENT!"

"Mrs Grimes! What happened yesterday was a tragedy and it was not our intention to traumatize your children. I want to assure you that the officers who did this will be severely disciplined."

"What are their names?! I want to know who they are!"

"That is not necessary Mrs Grimes."

"Who are they?!"

The room office fell silent. There wasn't any movement inside or outside the ADA's office. Michonne knew that everyone was listening but she didn't care. Her eyes bulged when Reyes involuntarily looked in Walcott's and Colbert's direction. She slowly and shakily looked at them.

Wack!

Wack!

Her hands hurt from the slaps that she had just delivered.

"If you two come near to my house again I will sue you for everything you got!"

She turned back to Reyes.

"I want to see my husband! NOW!"~*~*~*~*~*