In Another Lifetime (Chapter 7)
A/N: As always, thanks for the awesome support.
Rick can't think straight. He drags Michonne into the kitchen area, switching on the light quickly and proceeds to check her from head to toe to ensure none of the blood is hers. "Are you hurt? Did he hurt you? What happened?"
Michonne is in a daze but manages, "It's…not….my blood." A lump forms in her throat as tears start to blur her vision. "I…..couldn't…..go….through with it. I….just…..couldn't….but he….." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "He….was….he was gonna….force…." She stops and turns her back to Rick, hugging herself tightly.
"He…slapped me….and threw me on…the bed." She pauses. "He….had a knife….on his….gun belt. I grabbed it and I…..stabbed him….over….and….over."
Rick steps around to face her, wanting so badly to hold her but refraining for the moment. "You did what you had to do."
"I…..I killed…..someone." Voicing those words out loud seem to snap her out of her daze as she realizes the brevity of her actions.
Her eyes dart from left to right wildly. "I….was a lawyer. It was my job to seek….justice….against murderers." She looks to Rick. "It was your….job to put murderers…..behind bars." She starts to sink towards the floor but Rick grabs her. "What have I done?"
"Look at me. Michonne. Look at me," Rick commands, one hand cupping her face. "This was self-defense. Do you hear me? It was self-defense….that's all."
She nods shakily, his beaten and bruised face calling forth some of her anger. "Self-defense." She gasps. "The boys! They can't….see me like this." She steps back, clawing at her dress, pushing it off her shoulders and down past her waist, allowing it to pool at her feet. "I'll burn this. I'll….." A hand on her arm stops her.
"It's gonna be ok," Rick tells her.
"It will be….if you take the boys and go. They'll want me but you….you and the boys will be safe," Michonne tells him.
"I'm not leaving here without you."
They stare into each other's eyes intensely, both realizing an argument is futile.
Michonne finally breaks their stare and looks down, noting that she is standing in front of Rick in nothing but lacy underwear. She scoffs inwardly, thinking that is the least of her worries. "What do you….suggest then? They're going to know….it was me and….they're not going to let me go."
Rick knows he needs Tyreese's help but how would he go about searching him out. He can't leave her side, not now but he has to get his family out of there. He's not sure what to expect from this community once they discover the Governor is dead. He's also not going to wait around to find out. "Let's go….right now."
They both spring into action but come up short with the knock at the door. They look to each other in a slight panic. Michonne bends down and snatches the dress from the floor.
"Go to the bedroom and get dressed," he whispers. "I'll take care of whoever this is."
"Take care of?" Michonne whispers back, that lump forming in her throat again as she detects the menace in Rick's voice.
"Go," he whispers again as he moves towards the door.
Michonne tears out of the kitchen and makes it to her room in record time. She finds a tank top and a pair of jeans, gets dressed, and places her katana at her back, relishing in the feel of competence it gives her. She is about to walk out of the room when she notices her blood stained hands.
"Shit," she curses as she rushes to the bathroom and hurries to clean herself up.
On her return to the living area, Rick has allowed Tyreese inside, his colt aimed at the taller man's head. He demands that Tyreese keep his hands visible as he secures the door and asks if he's alone.
"I am," Tyreese answers. "Shumpert and Martinez are off duty now."
"Good. Look we just want out of here. Can you help us?" Rick asks.
"Rick, I know what happened. I found the body….." Tyreese jumps and takes a step back as Rick pulls the hammer on his colt.
"So what are you here for? Did you come for her?" Rick asks calmly, too calmly.
Tyreese keeps his hands in the air and looks at Rick steadily. "No. I came to talk to you. See if we could work something out."
"Work something out? Like what?"
"Things can be different around here now that the Governor's gone. I knew he was up to no good, but I went along with it. He took us in….me and Sasha…..gave us food, shelter. All we had to do was turn the other cheek, you know." He sighs. "Now that he's gone…..this place can be better. I was hoping you'd stick around for that."
Michonne listens closely, wondering if this is some sort of trap. She steps further into the room. "Why would we stay here? Once everyone finds out, they won't want me here."
Tyreese turns his head to look at her. "We'll make them see reason. I know everyone won't be on board but I'm sure we'll outnumber them." He can't help but notice how well they work together. He's not sure if it's intentional but Rick has him covered from the front and Michonne is at his back. "Can we just talk about it for a minute? I'll let you know what I thought about…what I've been thinking about."
They invite Tyreese to sit and listen intently as they remain standing.
"I found the body and I had every intention of hiding it but the questions will come and they'll come soon. I was thinking we could call a meeting and allow everyone to have a say in what happens with Woodbury now….maybe even elect someone new to lead. My vote would be for you."
"Me?" Rick asks. "What about you? Or Martinez or Shumpert?"
Tyreese sighs. "I don't want the job. I'm doing fine just as I am. Martinez and Shumpert played along a little too well with the Governor's games. Either of them would probably keep things the same way around here and we can't continue living like that. There are some good people here. We can make this work."
"But you don't know that for sure. They could vote to exile me. What I….did was wrong. That can't be ignored," Michonne states.
"That man had your husband beaten and threatened to cut his hand off right in front of you. He did that because he wanted to sleep with you. Most people around here knew about his shady ways…they were just too afraid of being put out or killed themselves if they spoke up against him. Some knew him before the turn and they say they don't know what happened to him or why it happened as quickly as it did. I've been biding my time, observing. Believe me, there are more people ready for a change than those who will want things to stay the same."
"Seems like you've been thinking about this for a while," Rick suggests.
"I have. Things have only been getting worse here. He would've shot you that day we found you in the woods. I'm not sure why he changed his mind." He looks over to Michonne. "I have a pretty good idea though."
"When would you call this meeting?" Michonne asks.
"As soon as possible. Tomorrow or the next day. We should just be forthcoming with the Governor's death….start out clean," Tyreese states.
"And what happens if the community doesn't see things your way? How will I be able to keep my family safe?" Rick wants to know.
Tyreese swallows hard not wanting to think of that outcome but knowing he has to be realistic. "If it comes to that, I'll get you out of here. I promise." He looks between the two. "Listen, take the rest of the night and think it over. I'll come by after breakfast in the morning. I can hold Martinez and Shumpert off for a while but we need to act as quickly as we can."
Rick looks to Michonne who gives him a slight nod. "Alright. We'll see you after breakfast."
Later, Michonne is in the shower allowing the steady stream to wash away the blood and some of the anguish of her recent ordeal. She can't help but replay their conversation with Tyreese and hope that she and Rick will come to the same decision. She is going to tell him that they should pack up and leave. They can go back to the house and it'll be the four of them just like before. They were fine then and they can be fine again.
She gets dressed for bed and wanders to the boys' room to check on them before moving to the living area. Rick has moved the couch in front of the door and taken up a vigil there.
She gives a slight smile and offers, "Hey. I'll keep watch while you shower, ok?"
"It's fine. I'll just…." He trails off as she moves over to him and grasps his hands, pulling him to his feet.
"Go. I'll put some ointment on your face once you're done," she says.
Rick only nods as he moves off to the bathroom. He closes the door and strips down slowly, welcoming the time to unwind and be still for a moment. The comforting spray of the water relaxes him as he considers the decision he has to make for his family. Their stay at Woodbury hasn't been a bad one. Things only just recently made him rethink their decision to become part of this community. With the Governor gone, maybe they can make a true go of it here and carve out a life for themselves and the boys. He only hopes that Michonne sees it that way. She has been through a lot and he wouldn't blame her if she decides she can't remain here.
After a thorough shower, he dresses in jeans and a button down shirt and makes his way back to her. She waits patiently on the couch, bandages and ointment by her side.
Michonne can't help but take in his lack of nightwear and inquires about it.
"We have to be ready for anythang," Rick tells her.
A feeling of apprehension ceases her and she wonders if this is what their lives would be like now. "You're right. I should do the same." She moves to lift herself from the couch.
"Michonne, it's ok. Relax. I'm not gonna let anythang happen to you," Rick tells her.
"But you make a valid point. We don't know what's going to happen. I'll be right back." She is glad he doesn't argue as she makes her way to her bedroom to change.
On her return, she takes her time patching up his face, loving the feel of taking care of him, touching him. Her task is complete all too soon as she resumes a seat next to him on the couch.
"So what do you think about what Tyreese said?"
Rick sighs, wanting her to answer first but decides to voice his opinion and hopes she agrees. "I think we should give this place another try. It'll be different with the Governor gone."
"I was hoping you'd say we could go back to the house," Michonne admits. "We were safe there."
He takes a moment to think before he responds. "You're right. We were safe there, but how long would that have lasted? What if the house isn't habitable anymore? Do you want to be on the road with no true destination again?"
"No, but what happens if these people don't want me here once they know what I've done?"
He covers her hand with one of his. "Then we leave and take our chances out there together."
She sighs heavily. "I…I've made a mess of things. I'm sorry."
He turns toward her. "You didn't do anything to apologize for. What happened happened. It's over and we don't have to talk about it ever again if you don't want to."
"I feel so torn. Part of me is terrified. I didn't know I could be so lethal and the other part is almost….relieved."
Rick is all out of words so he pulls her into his arms and kisses her lightly on her forehead. "Why don't you try and get some sleep? I'll stay up and keep watch."
"I couldn't sleep if I tried. I'll just keep watch with you," she offers.
He releases her reluctantly as they sit in a companionable silence, waiting for the sun to rise.
Michonne opens her eyes slowly and the first thing she encounters is a plaid covered chest. She looks around and realizes her head is in Rick's lap as the rest of her is stretched out on the couch. She groans loudly and covers her face with her hands.
"Good morning."
She drops her hands and looks up at him. "I did it again, didn't I? Fell asleep during watch duty? I really suck at this."
They both laugh as she rises to a sitting position and stifles a yawn.
"Did you sleep at all?" She asks.
"I'm fine." He was about to say more when they hear the creak of a door and two small pajama clad bodies come running their way.
The boys jump on the couch and wrap their arms around them, talking excitedly about last night.
"Dad? Your face?" Carl notices.
"What happened?" Andre inquires as he moves over to Rick and touches his face softly.
"I'm fine. Just got into a little accident is all," Rick answers.
"Like a car accident?" Andre asks.
Michonne knows it's time for a distraction so she asks the boys to help her with breakfast. Rick gives her a relieved smile as he was not prepared to answer questions about his face. He tries to cover a yawn, but she notices and tells him to try and rest for a little while.
"Why is the couch against the door?" Carl asks.
Michonne can only sigh as she follows them into the kitchen. She is beyond relieved to get them off to school once they're done with breakfast and dressed. She didn't realize how apprehensive she'd be about going outside but Rick steps in beside her, grabbing her hand and giving her courage. They both walk the boys to school, then make their way back to the apartment and await Tyreese.
He arrives momentarily and asks about their decision. Rick informs him that they are willing to stay and attend the meeting, but they want out if things aren't decided in their favor. Tyreese thanks them and tells them he will organize the meeting to take place the next day. He also tells them to lay low for the day, but he is sure everything will be fine.
Rick and Michonne agree and after seeing him out, they both pack up as much as they can without alerting the boys' suspicions. It was their back up plan. Michonne is also thankful that this will give Rick the time he needs to get some well-deserved sleep. She offers her bed but he insists on sleeping in the boys' room instead.
The mortification doesn't hit until she is sitting on her bed. Oh no. Does he think I was offering to sleep with him?If he was thinking that, does that mean he just rejected me? She shakes her head and lies back, wondering why she is even having such thoughts. The insecurity about their fate in this community is affecting her more than she thought it would.
Rick is in the kids' room, wondering why he just didn't accept her offer. She was only being nice. It didn't mean anything.Did it? He decides not to dwell on, but realizes he'd be a lot more comfortable in her bed….with her. He leaves the boys' room and makes his way to hers.
She sits up at his approach but doesn't utter a word as he occupies the space next to her. She resumes her previous position, turning on her side to steal glances at him. They inch towards each other until they are almost touching, moving simultaneously as he wraps an arm around her and she rests her head against his chest. The relief and comfort they feel in each other's presence soon lulls them both to sleep.
The next day, the routine is the same as before only this time after seeing the boys off to school, they walk to what used to be an old dance studio for the community meeting. The area is one large room with wall to wall mirrors on either side. Folding chairs and backless benches have been set up in an auditorium style facing a raised stage.
Tyreese is already there as are Sasha, Martinez, and Shumpert. The four of them stand at the front of the room and look towards Rick and Michonne as they enter. More people arrive and Rick and Michonne move aside to allow them in.
He turns to her. "Are you up for this?"
She takes a deep breath and releases it. "Let's just get it over with."
He nods as they both move towards Tyreese who beckoned them over moments before. Both of them watch Martinez and Shumpert closely, wondering if they are already abreast of the reason for the meeting. Neither of the men shows them much interest so it is obvious to Rick and Michonne that the two of them are unaware. Sasha gives them a look and a nod, alerting them that she knows.
They decide to occupy seats side by side right in front. Tyreese continues to wait patiently as the citizens file in slowly, but surely. He soon asks for everyone's attention, his voice loud enough to carry throughout the room. The small sea of faces look up to him expectantly, wondering what the meeting could entail.
"Where's the Governor?" Bob Stookey stands in the back of the room, a brown bag in one hand as he looks straight ahead. "Shouldn't he be the one calling this meeting?" Most people know about Bob and the fact that he keeps to himself. He and the Governor were friends before the outbreak and managed to stay together after losing their families. They also know that the Governor keeps Bob supplied with his liquor, therefore no one takes him seriously.
"Well, that's what we're here to talk about Bob. The Governor is dead."
That statement is met with initial silence as people are wondering if they heard Tyreese correctly.
"What did you just say?" Martinez asks as rumblings start among the crowd.
Rick reaches over and grabs Michonne's hand.
"I said….the Governor is dead."
This time the room erupts with noise as people start questioning each other as well as barking at Tyreese for answers.
"You gotta be lying! Phillip can't die!" Bob yells.
"People, calm down please." Tyreese sighs as that only seems to incite more noise.
Martinez steps up to Tyreese's side. "Hey! Shut the fuck up and let's find out what the hell is going on!" He turns to Tyreese. "How'd he die? Last I saw him, he was doing some entertaining in his apartment." He shifts his eyes to Michonne then back to Tyreese.
"He was stabbed…..repeatedly," Tyreese supplies.
The noise is almost deafening as people are in an uproar, some even getting up to leave.
Martinez frowns as the information and the noise irritate him even more. He raises his rifle in the air and lets off one round, silencing the room. "Any more outbursts like that and I point this son-of-a-bitch into the crowd."
"Calm down, Martinez. There's no need to threaten people like that," Tyreese says.
"Well, who killed him?" A citizen shouts.
"Who cares? That bastard needed to die." Someone in the audience returns.
By now, Michonne is shaking and Rick is regretting ever agreeing to this.
"I called this meeting so everyone would know what happened and so we could discuss how we move forward," Tyreese states.
"Just like that?" Shumpert inputs.
"Exactly. We'll discuss moving on after we handle whoever took the Governor out," Martinez says.
"There's nothing we can do to change it, so let's move on," Sasha inserts.
"Wait. Just wait a fucking minute. Somebody….no not just somebody…our leader is killed and you want to act like that's nothing?" Martinez asks incredulously.
"What we want is for people to start speaking up about the bullshit that's been going on around here. The bullshit that you and Shumpert contributed to," Sasha offers.
Tyreese looks out to the audience. "That's right everybody. Stop looking away and not speaking up. I'm guilty of it too but things can be different now. We don't have to be quiet about it anymore. If you don't like the things the Governor was doing, tell us about it. The world changed, but we don't have to change with it. We can make things better."
The rumblings are low but people are starting to consider Tyreese's words.
"A man was killed right here in our community. A man we all looked up to and y'all don't want to know who did it," Martinez shouts. He narrows his eyes as he looks at Michonne again. He thinks back to that night when they worked the husband over, her leaving with the Governor. She was the last one with him. "It was the Grimes bitch. She did it!"
The rumblings grow even louder as Michonne tenses up and attempts to move. Rick grabs her thigh with one hand, indicating for her to stay put while his other hand rests on his python. He remains calm as he watches Martinez like a hawk.
Martinez walks toward them and Rick lifts to a stand to face him. Michonne does the same as Rick moves over to block her slightly from Martinez's view.
"It was her, wasn't it?" Martinez asks Rick directly. "Let me guess. He told her she was a lousy fuck and…."
Before he could finish his insult, Rick head butted him in the nose and drew his python on Shumpert. Michonne was just as quick to unsheathe her katana.
The room is quiet as everyone waits to see what will happen next.
Martinez covers his nose with his hands, blood flowing freely as he groans.
Sasha points her gun at Shumpert and tells him to grab Martinez's weapon after handing over his own. Tyreese assists her in handling the guns.
Bob stumbles toward the front of the room. "You can't treat them like that. They help run this place. They help keep us safe."
Mr. Charles grabs him and sits him down on a bench. "Let them handle this Bob." He then nods his head at Otis and two other burly men to help him subdue Martinez and Shumpert.
Tyreese is relieved to get the help. He knew everyone wasn't ok with the things the Governor was doing. The rumblings start again so he steps back onto the stage and begins to address the crowd once again.
"The night of the social….the Governor had Rick Grimes beat. Just look at his face. You'll know I'm not lying. He even threatened to cut his hand off and he did all of this in front of his wife. He did it to make her….sleep with him. He made it so she wouldn't have a choice. Now I don't profess to know exactly what happened but looks to me like she decided to take a stand and she didn't become one of his victims."
"Tyreese is right. I'm almost ashamed to admit this but…." Jeanette stampers as she looks to Michonne with guilt. "…the Governor came to me that night and told me to get Michonne to come to his apartment so we could get the wine. He also told me as soon as he got there that I had to leave. I knew what he was about but I did what he asked and I didn't say anything to anybody about it. I'm sorry."
Michonne swallows nervously as Rick looks back at her, his eyes questioning. She drops her gaze, realizing she never got the chance to tell him about that incident.
"The Governor has been forcing people to do things against their will for a while now. I'm glad he's dead." Dawn stands up and looks around the room. "We need someone who's going to be fair and really care about us and this community. I think it should be Rick Grimes."
The people look to her in surprise amid rumblings and whispers. They all knew what Dawn and the Governor were to each other and some are finding it hard to believe that she would speak against him.
"Well, that's another reason why we're here. We're going to take a vote on who should step in and take the Governor's place. If y'all decide that person should be Rick Grimes, then you're going to have to accept him and his family. That includes his wife…..she defended herself against the Governor and it didn't end well for him. I honestly don't think she had a choice and I think she did us a favor."
"Why put this new fella in charge? Why can't you just take over?" Mr. Charles' wife, Althea, asks.
Tyreese nods at her. "Honestly, Ms. Althea, I don't want the job. I contributed to some of the things the Governor was doing and I knew about a whole lot of other stuff that I never said a word about. I want to help make things right but I'll leave the leadership to somebody else."
"Everybody gets to vote, so who else wants to be considered?" Sasha asks.
Michonne keeps eyeing the exit. She wants to leave so badly. Surely Rick won't stay after what just happened. It's obvious to her that Martinez is going to be a problem.
"What about Martinez or Shumpert?" A citizen inquires.
"They were right there alongside the Governor just like I was. Do you want things to change or do you want them to stay the same?" Tyreese probes.
"Just let the new guy do it," someone shouts. "If he messes up, we'll just put somebody else in his place."
"All in favor of Rick Grimes, raise your hand," Tyreese instructs.
Majority of the room lifts a hand including Sasha, Tyreese and Mr. Charles. Grunts can be heard from Martinez and Shumpert but they don't say anything outright. Rick scans the room, taking note of who might be against him. His heart rate increases even more as he realizes the responsibility he'll be accepting. He turns to look at Michonne. Everything rides on her decision. If she wants to leave, they'll leave.
They stare at each other, no words spoken. She slowly but surely lifts her hand and that was all the answer he needed.