WALT

Henrys voice pierced Walt's musings, he was idly going over the days business in his head, making sure he had taken care of all the essential details

"Cady confirmed with Vic, she feels the same way about you as you do about her"

(long blonde hair tossing, limbs sliding alongside each other with urgency and pleasure)

Walts fist closed on the can of Rainier, crushing it and spouting the remaining beer over his hand to splash onto his jean clad thigh. The irony of this was not lost on him as he shook drops of beer off his hand and accepted the cloth Henry handed him. He took his time cleaning up the mess, doing his best to assemble a coherent response

"And how does Cady know this exactly?" and his voice hardly shook at all. The look he received from Henry was long and weighted with meaning as Henry shook his head saying

"Cady asked her, of course" and the hand holding the cloth trembled noticeably so he held it down on the damp spot on his thigh and cautiously asked Henry "Why?"

The tall Indian crossed his arms and leaned back against the bar, giving him a very considering look for a long while and the tone of his voice was wry "Are you prepared to hear a truth? A truth you do not want to hear?"

Walt nodded and grated "Fine, but I need another beer first" and Henry obliged before leaning forward so he could speak directly to Walts ear.

"It is obvious to certain people how you feel about Vic, and it was also obvious she returned the favour. However you are both difficult damaged people with too much baggage to ever actually DO anything about it" the beer can in Walts hand creaked metallically as Henry continued "So we decided to make the decision for you both and confirm one way or another and then share the result" a fluid Indian shrug as Henry stepped back again, placing his large finely made hands on the bar "Walt, now it is up to you what happens next".

Jesus H Christ, Walt swallowed as his stomach did a long slow somersault as he realised the implications of what Henry had just said "You mean I need to talk to her…..?".

Henry nodded and put a familiar round glass bottle on the bar, saying "I suggest you use this". Walt looked at him in confusion so Henry explained "According to Cady she sank two double shots in a couple of minutes when they had their conversation". Walt looked at Henry in shock, when they drank it, they both nursed one single glass over an evening, no wonder Vic had had such an awful hangover the next day. He made a mental note to apologise to her and took the bottle, either way he was sure someone would need it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

VIC

There was a new awkwardness about Walt today and Vic knew that Henry had finally had The Talk with him, probably the previous evening. She knew from experience ie the last few weeks, that the situation wasn't going to get any easier. One of them was going to have to talk to the other, so she donned her 'big girl panties' and walked into his office late in the day and shut the door behind her, and stood there leaning back on it, arms crossed.

They stared at each other for a long moment before she broke the still awkward silence, gazing out the window and remarking in a studied casual tone "I guess Henry talked to you then?".

A long silence and then a rumbling "Yup". She didn't want to leave the comfort of the door but the distance between them was getting embarrassing, so she slouched forward closer to the desk, and stood, hip slung and arms still folded (so defensive!)

"So, apparently we should talk" flat statement, no question in her tone.

Another long wait and another "Yup"

She sighed and resisted the urge to kick the edge of the desk nearest her "Fuck it Walt! Its going to take a fucking long time if you are going to do it one word at a time!".

He nodded and lifted a familiar round glass bottle onto the desk, commenting "Yup, that's why Henry gave me this I suspect" and Vic shuddered "Hell no, I'm not touching that firewater shit ever again"

She aimed her most challenging glare at him and bit out "Talk. Us. When?"

He sighed, and leaned back in his chair "Will you come out to the cabin? I don't want to be disturbed and I want somewhere safe I can pass out if I need too"

Vic nodded one sharp nod, spun around and stalked to the door, pausing with one hand on the knob, she threw back over her shoulder, quietly intent "Cady said you …dreamed about me" and before he had a chance to respond she followed up "I….dream about you too" and she slipped through the door, closing it behind her.

Walt wondered about the odd stress he was sure he heard on the word "dream" and wondered if it really meant what he thought it might. His mouth was suddenly dry and his jeans suddenly a little tighter in places they hadn't been a minute ago