Mending Fences – Chapter 23: "Together"

ADA Reyes sheepishly led Michonne down the corridor to the holding cells. He pointed to the last cell on the right.

"He's in there."

She walked past him briskly and let out a painful gasp. Rick was laying down on the cold metal seating, eyes closed and his arms folded across his chest.

"Rick…"~*~*~*~*~*

Rick's mind was racing as it was muddied with all kinds of emotions…anger, hurt, pain, sorrow. He had a pounding headache as he tried to sleep. Maggie's previous visit did bring him some measure of temporary relief. His family was ok. Michonne was home with the kids.

Since Maggie left, his worries returned with a vengeance. The soft spoken word of his name jolted him upright. Slowly, he got up and walked to the bars that separated him from one of the persons he loved most in this world.~*~*~*~*~*

Michonne stepped to the jail bars. She hated that she had to reach through them to touch her husband. They both stretched through the bars at the same time and held hands. She stepped forward again and their foreheads touched. That's when she noticed his burst lip. She starts crying.

"Please don't cry." Rick whispered in her ear. She cried harder. He pulled her against the prison bars but it wasn't enough. He looked over at ADA Reyes who was looking at them.

"Open the door." Rick begged. "Please."

ADA Reyes said nothing.

"I CAN'T COMFORT HER LIKE THIS!" He screamed.

ADA Reyes nodded to the officer and the cell door was opened. Michonne entered, slowly and unsure. Rick pulled her into his arms and she buried her face in his shoulder. He caressed her back and scowled at ADA Reyes and the other officer. They left.~*~*~*~*~*

They have been sitting on the cold steel bench in Rick's cell for the past twenty minutes in silence. Michonne was no longer crying. They were caressing each other fingers.

"Are you ok?"

She shook her head.

"You?"

"You cried. You're hurt. My family's hurt. So no…I'm not ok."

"We will get through this." Her voice cracked under her words

"Look at me."

She looked up.

"We will get through this and when this is all over I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

She smiled.

"You have nothing to make up for. You did nothing wrong."

"I love you so much Michonne."

"I love you too."

They kiss passionately.~*~*~*~*~*

Abe was in disguise in a café observing a mark for one of his clients in Germany when he received a text message on his phone. It was from one of his past clients who ended up being a long standing friend.

"I know you haven't been keeping up with the news about your friend Rick otherwise you would have been back here. Rick was arrest."

He immediately called.

"What are you talking about?"

He has been in Germany for weeks and hasn't been looking at any news from back home.

"Some raid he green lighted went wrong and an officer was killed. They are blaming it on Rick."

Abe's mouth instantly went dry. He knew about Rick's year long undercover assignment and that it was a major concern for Michonne, especially with their young family but never expected things to go so far left.

"Got to go. Need to make some calls. Thanks for the heads up."

"No problem."

He dialled Michonne's phone but it went straight to voicemail so he called Morgan. Morgan gave him the condensed version of events. After cursing and swearing, he thanked Morgan and hung up. His next call was to the airline. He was going home.~*~*~*~*~*

It was 1:45am and Michonne lay on Rick's side of the bed watching Logan and Judith sleep. Carl, Sophia and Andre were in Carl's room. She had checked on them a few minutes ago and they were all asleep. It was the second night she was alone with the children without Rick.

It was also the second night she was going without any sleep. How could she with Rick in jail. Maggie and Carol brought over food so she didn't have to stress herself with cooking for the family. They also called her numerous times per day to check up on her.

She was grateful for their support. Logan stirred alittle and settled back down almost immediately. Through the stillness of the night, she heard the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway. Quietly, she slipped out of the bed and went downstairs, cell phone in hand.

She was in the living room when a text came through on her phone. It was from Abe.

"Hey. It's me. Are you up? I'm outside."

She opened the front door and forced a brave smile on her face. Abe saw right through her farce. He stepped inside.

"You don't have to put on a brave face for me Mich."

"Oh Abe!"

They hugged tightly.

"How are you? How are the kids?"

They sat on the sofa.

"We are coping. They arrest Rick in front of the children! Can you believe that?!"

Abe squeezed her hand for comfort.

"Judith and Logan had nightmares last night. They are not sleeping well. Carl got a sprained arm from one of the cops twisting it."

Angry bile rose up in Abe's throat but he swallowed it back down. Michonne had enough to deal with without adding his explosive anger to the mix.

"They are crucifying him in the media! Some of Rick's own colleagues have turned against him. They want him to go to prison!"

She rose from the sofa and went into the kitchen for tissue to wipe her tears. Abe waited for her to return.

"I'm sorry I wasn't around when all this nonsense took place."

"It's ok. I know that when you're on an assignment you complete shut out the world. You're here now. That's all that matters."

"I know that they are sleep but can I go take a look in on them?"

"You don't have to ask that Abe. You know you can. Are you hungry? I can make you a sandwich."

Abe nodded gratefully as he rose for the seat as Michonne headed for the kitchen.~*~*~*~*~*

Abe quietly walked up to the stairs and pushed the door to Rick and Michonne's bedroom. As he rightfully calculated the two youngest Grimes were huddled together under the covers. He walked into the room and the gentle moonlight streamed on them. He smiled at their peaceful faces.

He kissed them both on the forehead and left the room. He walked to the Carl's room and also wasn't surprised to see him with Sophia and Andre on the bed with him. He smiled as he walked into the room and pulled the cover closer over them. He left the room and walked back downstairs where a plate with two turkey sandwiches and a large glass of grapefruit juice await him.

Michonne was contended as she watched him eat. He didn't realized how famished he was until he began eating. He nodded his head in pleasure as he took a sip of the juice.

"I fixed you a plate of food to go."

"No Michonne. You should keep it for the children."

"It's fine. I have plenty. Plus I'm sure Carol and Maggie will drop by with more food. I have more than enough to give you."

"Thanks." He stood up. "I better get going. You need the rest."

They hugged again. Abe turned to leave and she looked around when she saw him stiffen. It was Logan. He was rubbing his eyes. She walked over and scoped him.

"Did we wake you?"

He shook his head and looked over at Abe. She walked over and almost immediately, Logan reached for Abe. Abe took him from Michonne and Logan nestled himself comfortably in his arms, closing his eyes.

"I guess you're staying." She whispered. "You could sleep in Sophia's and Judith's room but the bed might not be too comfortable. It's single beds."

"I'm good right here on the sofa. Just bring me a blanket."

Michonne went into the laundry room and suddenly she was overwhelmed again. Rick needs to come home soon. She walked back out with a large blanket and Abe had already stretched out on the sofa.

"He's out already."

She spread the blanket over them. She kissed her son good night and took off the light.~*~*~*~*~*

Rick stared at the ceiling in his cell. Never in a million years did he think that he would end up here and worse yet…for something he didn't do.

"Are you alright?"

Rick sat up. It was Officer Charleston. He was standing next to the cell. Rick walked over to him.

"I didn't do this."

"You're a lot of things Rick but a murderer isn't one of them."

"I don't understand how the bullets from my gun ended up killing Tiggs."

"Well you need to get a good attorney and figure it out. Your wife can't take this for much longer."

"You think I don't know that!"

Officer Charleston shrunk back from Rick's angry outburst who immediately regrets it.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout at you. It's just…"

"Why are you talking to this murderer?!"

Both men heads turned in the same direction. It was Officer Hart. He was carrying Rick's lunch. Officer Hart walked up to Officer Charleston, completely ignoring Rick.

"Why are you talking to him? He killed Tiggs!"

"You don't really believe that…do you?"

Officer Hart ignored Officer Charleston question and turned to Rick directly.~*~*~*~*~*

Michonne stood in the kitchen making breakfast and preparing lunch for the kids for school. She had visited Rick one more time and he told her to focus on the kids…make sure that they were ok. He was facing ever increasing hostility from some of his colleagues and didn't want her to experience the same.

Despite all of his attempts to protect her, he couldn't protect her from the aggressive attitude of some of their neighbours. Some refused to meet her eyes or return her salutations. Others have outright stopped speaking to her.

She knew that they were gossiping about her as they would form little cliques which would break formation whenever she walked by. However, she was grateful that the neighbourhood children didn't follow their parents' footsteps and remained friends with her children.

She rarely watched the news because Rick's arrest and progression of the investigation dominated it. News channels lambasted Rick about his actions that day and tried digging into his 15 years service as a cop looking for any and all discrepancies to use as ammunition. Thankfully, Rick had a stellar record as a cop which could not be questioned.

"Carl! Sophia! Bring down your brothers and sister! Time to eat!"

Ten minutes later, footsteps came bouncing down the stairs towards the kitchen. Judith and Logan tried to keep up with their older siblings. Michonne helped them into their high chairs while the others devour their breakfast. She watched them, contented.~*~*~*~*~*

Detective Walcott and Colbert sat outside the office of the Police Complaints and Disciplinary Authority. Colbert was abit nervous but Walcott was fuming.

"This is f*cking bullshit! We did our job! He attacked me and I defended myself!" His voice was a hoarse, angry whisper.

"What we did was wrong. We could have used our discretion. For f*ck sake! His kids were there!" Colbert shot to his feet. "Whatever we thought of him, those kids didn't deserve to see their father treated like that!"

The door open and they were summoned inside.~*~*~*~*~*

"We have reviewed your report of the incident involving Officer Grimes and we have reached a decision."

There was a pause from Captain Childs, head of the panel.

"Officer Walcott, you are suspended, without pay for three months for your direct role in this incident. Officer Colbert, you have been assigned to desk duty for three months."

"This is unfair!" Walcott bellowed at the panel. "We shouldn't be punished for doing our jobs!"

"But did you? Sometimes, doing your job means doing nothing! You traumatized innocent children and for what?!"

Walcott said nothing.

"Are you going to seriously sit there and tell me that there wasn't any other way that you could have used to handle the situation differntly? Officer Grimes offered to turn himself in when his wife returned home to stay with children. Why did you think that that wasn't a suitable option? It's not like Officer Grimes was hiding! He made himself available to all of our meetings, investigations and cooperated with all request of him. He wasn't going anywhere!"

Walcott folded his arm when Colbert looked at him.

"Regardless of what he was accused of, Officer Grimes is one of us. The same courtesies that we extend to all of our officers who have been in this circumstance, whether he is presumed guilty or not should have also been extended to him especially since he wasn't a flight risk. You let your ego and pride for whatever reason cloud your judgement."

The room was deadly quiet. Deep down, Walcott knew he couldn't defend himself but he hated Rick. He hated him since they were in the academy together. For early on, everyone could tell that Rick was cut out to be a cop.

He repeated topped the class in investigation and interview skills and he currently holds the top score at the shooting range since they all left the academy 15 years ago. He wouldn't admit it but a tiny percentage of him doesn't really believe that Rick killed Tiggs.

His record as a cop proves that. He saw Tiggs autopsy report. The gun was pressed close to Tiggs's chest. There were burns patterns around the bullet holes on Tiggs's body. In all the maylay, it is possible that someone got hold of Rick's gun and close enough to shoot Tiggs. It could be someone he trusted but shouldn't have.

Either way, he was too proud to admit out loud what he was thinking. Never in a million years. Captain Childs closed the file in front of him.

"The decision of this panel is final. Now get the f*ck out!"~*~*~*~*~*

Michonne was grateful that Maggie agreed to temporary cover some of her duties at the hospital until the frenzy died down. She felt the stares and heard the whispers when she dropped Carl, Sophia and Andre to school. She told them to stick together and look after each other.

Then she wrote a letter to the preschool that Judith and Logan attend asking that they be excused from school for a couple of days. She however, had already made up her mind and planned on keeping them at home whether the school approved or not.~*~*~*~*~*

Three days later…

"Grimes! You have a visitor."

Rick blinked several times. He didn't want Michonne visiting him so often. He was shocked and then grateful to see it was Abe. They shook hands between the bars.

"Sorry I didn't come sooner. I didn't know what happen until one of my clients texted me. I was in Germany on an assignment."

"You're here now. That's all that matters. You should go and see Michonne and the kids."

"I already have. They were my first stop."

Rick smiled. He should have known better. He knows he doesn't have to tell Abe to check in on his family.

"So when are you getting out?"

"I have a bail hearing in a couple of days."

"Do you foresee any hiccups?"

"No. The bail could be high but I am hoping that I will be released on my own merit. I'm not a flight risk. My family is here. I'm not going to leave them."

"Well…let's hope the judge sees it that way too." Abe stepped closer to Rick. "Do you need me to pull any strings? I have a few favours I could call in from my past clients."

"No. I want this to be as clean as possible. I don't want to give them anymore ammunition against me. I don't want anyone claiming impropriety on my part. So many other things have gone wrong already."

"Ok, but don't hesitate to say the word."

Rick nodded.~*~*~*~*~*

Two weeks later…

Michonne waited nervously for the officers to bring Rick into the court room. It was finally his bail hearing after his paperwork got conveniently lost twice, delaying his appearance in court. When Rick was brought in, she rose from her seat. An officer stepped between her and him. Her eyes swelled with tears.

"I'll be ok." He whispered to her.

She nodded sitting back down. During their exchange, they didn't see Officer Tiggs heavily pregnant wife walked in. She and several of her family members were staring coldly ay her. She looked away. They stood again when the judge walked in.~*~*~*~*~*

The prosecutor took ten minutes to present the brief and somewhat distorted facts of the case to support his position of asking Rick to be remanded until trial. Now it was Rick's attorney's turn.

"Your honour. Rick is a family man and the father of very young children. He isn't going anywhere. His wife need him. His children need him."

"BUT WHAT ABOUT ME?!"

All eyes turned around. Mrs Tiggs was on her feet.

"I am a widow because of this man's recklessness! I will never see my husband again! My unborn child will never know his father."

Mrs Tiggs turned to Michonne.

"Why should he get to go home to his family when my husband will never come home to his?"

She turned back to the judge.

"If he's innocent, let the courts decided but until then, he doesn't get to go home as if everything is alright."

The court room was filled with a deafening silence.

"Court will reconvene in ten minutes."~*~*~*~*~*

It was the slowest ten minutes of Michonne's life. She was ringing her own fingers as they all stared at the judge.

"I have heard your argument Mrs Tiggs but there is one flaw in your reasoning. Because the court is rightfully the only body that can pronounce guilt or innocence on a man, we talk the stance that a man is innocent until proven guilty.

Since those are one of the pillars of the justice system, Officer Grimes should be allowed to go home in the interest of that notion that he is infact innocent of what he's accused of and should not be punished unnecessarily for it."

Rick looked back at Michonne who covered her mouth in surprise. Rick is coming home. The judge now looked at Michonne and then to Rick.

"However, I cannot and it should not be ignored of the fact that an officer is dead."

Michonne fell sick to her stomach and Rick's closed his eyes.

"A family was left without a husband and father and while you claimed that you are innocent, there is enough evidence against you. You may not flee because of your young family but we cannot take the chance that should you be release and the pressure mount that you will not abscond. Bail is denied."

Michonne burst into tears as Rick is quickly taken out of the room.~*~*~*~*~*