Deception (Chapter 12)
A/N: So the journey continues. Thank you all once again for the awesome support.
He is true to his word like always as hours later they are in her home gym warming up before he teaches her some basic self-defense moves. They both should be tired as they barely got any sleep but they are energized and looking forward to working out together. He first quizzes her on the best body parts to hit. She pulls from memory and answers, "The face, groin, and knees."
They slowly go through the specific places she should target on the face and how to enact those strikes. From there she simulates kicks to the groin and knees but makes no true contact. He tells her to utilize all available appendages….head, hands, elbows, knees, feet….anything to take her attacker down.
An hour flies by before they decide to take a break. Her personal assistant arrives to go over her schedule and a few other things so she exits the gym to take care of that while Rick meets up with T-Dog and Shane, looking over their evidence once again.
The black and white photos of the bomb incident hold more interest than anything else. Something is niggling at his memory but he can't seem to piece it together. He sits quietly, staring at the photos, praying that whatever clues they hold will be revealed soon.
Another week passes and she has scheduled interviews that will air after the promotional event so they travel to a local studio where entertainment news affiliates and paparazzi await. She exits the limo with Rick at her side and waves to the cameras but doesn't stop for photos or questions. The network has been very clear about how they want to announce her return.
Rick, Shane, Morgan, and T-Dog are ever vigilant, two at her side while one is at the exit/entrance, and the other is at the car. Her personal assistant is there as well, doing his job diligently. Three interviews later, she is preparing to leave and tells Rick she'd like to stop for some grocery items.
His first instinct is to tell her no but he realizes they are going to have to start acting as normal as possible to try to flush this stalker out.
"Give me a list and I'll have what you need delivered," Morgan suggests.
"Morgan it's just the grocery store. We can go to the one closest to the house," Michonne states.
"I…." Morgan's statement is lost in the excitement as the sliding doors open with their approach and the waiting group starts firing off questions and the flashes from cameras have him and Rick shielding her. Shane was at the door, keeping the crowd at bay as she makes her way to the car.
Once inside the safety of the vehicle, Morgan tries to broach the subject again but Rick shuts him down, telling them they'd make a 15 minute grocery run.
The next day Michonne is advised by her attorneys that Michael Anthony would be charged for crimes in Georgia and California but Georgia would have precedence since the crimes he committed there would garner a heavier sentence. She can't help but feel as if she is being pulled in twenty different directions. Between the mess with Mike, the stalker at large, and her career, she is missing the comfort of a life she felt in control of. Maybe getting back to work and being on a regular schedule would help her feel normal again. They would be returning to New York to start filming the show and although she is not looking forward to returning, to reliving the memories of the bomb incident, she realizes she has to face everything head on.
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Target practice ensues at a private range and she gets better and better each time they are there. Her boyfriend is an excellent instructor although his very presence tends to distract her. She has to force herself to concentrate especially when he enacts a hands on demonstration. She wonders if he even realizes the affect he has on her as he is always so businesslike and professional. That makes her want to rip his clothes off and do him right there regardless of who could be watching. She gives herself a mental shake and aims at the target, firing off every round in the gun, her heart and her loins pumping with adrenaline.
They are now home in the gym sparring with an audience this time. Shane and T-Dog decide to join them to see just how good Michonne has gotten since Rick has been bragging about her. An area in the gym had been cleared of equipment and he placed mats on the floor to cushion any falls.
They both don fingerless boxing gloves, protective head gear, and mouth pieces and meet in the center of the mats. T-Dog and Shane share a look before turning their attention back to Rick and Michonne. The latter two touch fists before engaging in a match.
Shane watches as time and time again Michonne breaks free of Rick's hold and pulls her punches. He also notices that Rick is not being as forceful as he could be. He shakes his head and yells, "Hold up! Y'all are going about this all wrong." He looks to Rick. "You're being soft with her and you know it."
"Soft?" Michonne scoffs breathlessly. "How is that?"
"I'm not being soft with her," Rick denies.
"Hey man. I get it. She's your woman and…."
"That has nothing to do with it," Rick returns.
"It has everything to do with it and I don't blame you," T-Dog inserts.
"What? You think you can do better Shane?" Michonne challenges.
"Well I sure ain't gonna take it easy with you like your man here."
"Let's go," she states.
"Hold on now…." Rick starts but she interrupts him.
"It's fine. Let's see what he's got."
Rick reluctantly takes off his gloves and hands them to Shane then joins T-Dog on the sidelines. He cringes as his best friend and his girlfriend touch fists and start circling each other, both adopting a fighter's stance.
Shane tests her with a couple of punches that she avoids smoothly. He then taps her side that she clearly left open but that only prompts her to counter with a hook to his face. He takes a step back as he wasn't expecting her to react so quickly.
Michonne decides to be the aggressor, moving into Shane's space and throwing hits to his mid-section before drawing back out of his range.
He comes around targeting her jaw but she ducks and jabs him in the ribs. She was about to hit him again but he rushes her, grabbing her around the waist and taking her to the mat.
Rick gasps and takes a step toward them but T-Dog stays him. They watch as Michonne quickly pulls her knees toward her chest and kicks Shane back with all her might sending him sprawling away from her. She hops up swiftly, reverting to a fighting stance like before.
T-Dog and Rick let out a 'whoop', watching to see what Shane would do next. The latter shakes his head and gives Michonne a smile, admiring her abilities. He surprises her with a kick to the calves, knocking her to the mat again. He lifts his foot but she doesn't give him a chance to connect. She grabs his ankle and twists it, unbalancing him enough to produce a fall. She throws her legs toward his head, clenching his neck between her calves. She grabs the arm within her reach, wrapping her arms around it and not letting go. Every time he tries to move, she tightens her grip mercilessly.
She lets go when he finally taps the mat, signaling that he has had enough. She jumps up with a yelp, running towards Rick and grabbing him into a hug. "Did you see that?"
"That was amazing babe."
"I know I ain't seen a woman take Shane down like that," T-Dog states with a laugh.
Shane remains on the mat, trying to catch his breath. He shakes his head. "Damn girl. That grip ain't no joke. I guess Rick's been teaching you something. Woo!"
Michonne turns to face him. "Try not to underestimate us again." She walks over to him and offers a hand to help him to his feet.
"Yes ma'am," Shane agrees, accepting her hand with a grin.
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The day for the promotional event finally arrives and it will be packed with interviews, photo shoots, autograph signing, etc. Her team is ready as always only this time Deanna joins the entourage. Michonne does what she does best, giving the crowd what they want. She is on her way to the first event, a panel interview where they will officially announce her return to TV. Rick, Morgan, Deanna, and her PR assistant wait on the sidelines as she walks the carpet, posing for photos and moving on to answer a few questions.
She leans in to hear what the interviewer would ask, preparing with a basic answer even though most affiliates have guessed what her appearance here means.
"So how are things with the bodyguard boyfriend?"
Michonne frowns as the camera pans away from her to focus in on Rick who is nearby. She becomes a bit flustered as that was not a question she was expecting. She has never been in this position before as all other reports of her boyfriends were false. She wants to shout that she's in love but at the same time her relationship with Rick is one thing she doesn't want to share with the world. "Is that the rumor now?"
"Oh come on. We've seen the two of you together. Give us the scoop."
"Of course you've seen us together. He's my bodyguard. Anything else?" She deflects smoothly and decides to move on as the interviewer seemed adamant about getting an answer to that particular question.
The next few interviewers ask entertainment questions which she answers quickly and makes her way to her team to move inside the arena.
Hours later, they are finally nearing the end of the event which has been a huge success. Fans came out in droves and the announcement of her return brought a deafening reaction. The network producers, the executives and her co-stars are all pleased with the positive feedback.
The stars of the show are seated side by side at a table decorated with network memorabilia, autographing photos of themselves or anything the fans request. The room is so packed that the bodies inside are giving off more heat than the air conditioning can overrule. Michonne takes several sips of water in an attempt to keep cool. She has signed so much that her fingers are starting to cramp.
Her eyes pop as a huge, bulking guy steps to her, his arms full of merchandise from her movies. He has spiky blonde hair and blue eyes, a bulging nose and full pink lips. She takes in his attire….a dirty plaid shirt that's sleeveless and dusty looking jeans. She smiles up at him and offers a greeting.
He replies with a soft, melodic voice that doesn't match his appearance at all. "I've wanted to meet you for so long. I just love all of your movies. I'm your biggest fan."
Rick stands near and watches the exchange with interest. The guy has to be the tallest person in the room. His radar shot sky high when he first saw him and realized he was in line for Michonne but then he told himself 'you can't judge a book by its cover' and calmed down even more once he heard the dude's voice. He scoffs inwardly and hopes he moves on quickly.
"I know the rules said only two items but I know how kind and sweet you are so I was hoping I could get a few of my collectibles signed," the giant asks nicely. He drops the items on the table loudly and Michonne tries to scribble on them as fast as possible.
"Thank you so much for coming. I really appreciate your support," she tells him with a smile.
"You truly are the sweetest. I just love you so much," he gushes. "Do you….do you think I could have a hug?"
"Oh I'm sorry. We aren't allowed to move from our stations but I'll….."
"Do you know how long I had to wait in that line to get up here and you won't give me one little hug?"
Michonne sits back as she detects a little bass in his voice now. "I really wish I could but I can't break all the rules." She signs the last item and pushes them back towards him. "There ya go."
The table goes flying to her left and people start scattering as nothing is left but air between her and the hulking fan. She gasps and looks up at him as he takes a step toward her. Out of the corner of her eye she detects the tip of a brown cowboy boot and a flash of blue as Rick uses the table next to where hers used to be to propel himself into the air and onto the giant's back. He wraps his arms around the guy's neck, putting him into a vise like sleeper hold.
Michonne jumps to a stand and gasps again as the guy doesn't seem to want to go down. He reaches up behind him trying to grab Rick so she acts instinctively and delivers a solid kick to his groin. That sends him to his knees as Shane, T-Dog, and Morgan move in with their guns drawn.
Rick continues to hold the guy, rendering him unconscious as he didn't want anyone on the team to have to put a bullet in him. Sweat is popping out everyone from the exertion and the adrenaline but he doesn't let go until he is 100% sure the guy is out.
"What the hell?" T-Dog responds.
Rick can't even answer as he tries to catch his breath. He gives Michonne a nod, letting her know he's ok and watches as security marches in to take the guy away and restore order.
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She misses California as soon as they board the plane for New York. She reaches over and grabs Rick's hand, taking comfort in his close proximity. Deanna was across the way with her assistant, making plans for a celebratory dinner at her home that very night. Michonne wasn't looking forward to it but she knew it was her manager's way of keeping her busy and to observe her success.
Hours later, she is smiling like a Cheshire cat as she witnesses her boyfriend bringing their luggage upstairs to her room. She didn't even have to broach the subject. She figured he'd resume residence in the room he occupied before since the space was practically untouched and plenty of his clothes and personal items still remained there. She decides not to comment as he makes another trip to bring in more of their things.
They were executing finishing touches side by side in the bathroom mirror before exiting for Deanna's dinner, both being playful and laughing. Rick realizes just how used to this he could get and wonders about the possibilities. He's not even sure why he didn't remain in the room he had before. He knows he wants to be with her and if she had any qualms about the arrangement, she would've said something.
He steps back and watches as she puts on a pair of earrings and adjusts her hair that she pinned up in a bun. His eyes drop to her shoes, a multi-colored platform heel, and move upward to admire the tangerine colored sleeveless jumpsuit she is wearing. "You are so beautiful."
She returns his gaze, her mind wandering with thoughts of foregoing the dinner and ending up in bed with him. The navy suit falls perfectly on his frame, the black button down open at the neck. "Why thank you. You're very handsome yourself Mr. Grimes."
Of course they were late but Deanna welcomes them all the same, instructing them to convene in her study for drinks before dinner. Spencer is already there waiting for guests. Before long, Deanna joins them and she is forever talking entertainment so Rick leaves Michonne to it and walks around curiously. They'd actually stayed in this house but he never noticed the décor or anything. Not that he's interested but at the moment looking at paintings and photos was more appealing than listening to Deanna.
He gives a slight smile as T-Dog and Shane join him. The two of them are still taking digs at him for 'conquering the giant' and bring it up every chance they get. He tries to ignore them as he continues looking at some framed black and white photos lined along the walls of Deanna's study. Something about the photos jars his memory and he takes an even closer look.
"What the….." He snatches one of the photos from the wall and looks closely at it. He turns around and walks toward the others. He holds the photo up and asks, "Who took these? These photos."
Deanna frowns at the interruption but is ready to dismiss Rick as she answers casually, "Spencer credited himself as a photographer at one point but that hobby has been put to rest. Right darling?" She goes on talking while Spencer smiles sheepishly.
Rick tosses the framed picture to the floor, walks over to where Spencer is seated and fists the younger man's shirt, pulling him to his feet only to land a resounding blow to his nose.
Michonne jumps to a stand. "RICK!" She watches in horror as blood splatters Spencer's face and Rick's hand, both of them going to the floor, the latter continuing to pummel the former.
T-Dog and Shane stand nearby in confusion but don't attempt to stop Rick as they know their friend and he isn't doing this for the hell of it. Deanna spurs Morgan into action as she yells at him to stop Rick.
Morgan grabs Rick from behind, begging him to stop. "What are you doing?!"
"It was him! He took those fucking pictures! They've got the same watermark as the photos from the bomb incident!" Rick yells.
That information renders everyone speechless so Rick takes the opportunity to kick Spencer as he breaks free from Morgan. He goes down to one knee and pulls Spencer close. "Tell me what you did you son of a bitch! Did you plant the fucking bomb too?!"
"Stop this! Stop this right now!" Deanna demands.
Rick draws back and hits Spencer again. "Not until I get some answers."
Michonne groans, shaking her head as she tries to comprehend what's happening. "Rick….please. I know Spencer. He wouldn't…."
Her boyfriend answers with another right to Spencer's jaw. "You better start talking."
Deanna looks to Michonne helplessly, knowing that her transgressions and her son's have finally caught up to her. "It was me. He did it…..because of me."
