I lean back and close my tired eyes. Henry's old beater bounces and moans on the open road. For the first time in a very long time, I pause. I think of the events over the past year and how good it feels to have my best friend by my side as we head down the highway. It reminds me of our high school days. Thirty years ago we would be on our way to pick up a couple of girls for a movie but today, no today, I have credibly threatened a man's life, stopped from killing him, and I have finally been able to say good-bye to my wife.

My hat slides down to cover my face, my arms cross my chest, and I kick my legs out as far as they will go in the old truck. Whatever brief reprieve I can get I will need before I face Vic. How did we cross this invisible line with each other and when it happened I'm not exactly sure. She really has my number because I don't know when she changed from being my deputy to being someone else but she has and I need to deal with it. Vic won't let me off the hook anymore that she made clear.

Henry grinds down the gears and the truck comes to a rolling stop. My eyes open and I am in front of my station.

"Thanks, Henry."

"You are welcome, Walt. You need back-up in there?"

I faintly smile at his sarcasm, "Maybe, but I think I got it." I wave to my friend as he waves back and tapers off down Main Street.

I hit the door and make my way up the long set of stairs, my heart beats like a teenage boy caught with a love note, and dread begins to creep upon my conscious. What the hell is going on with me? Ruby meets me at the top of the stairs and offers her arms, I hug the gentle soul, and she pats my back wiping away tears from her eyes. "Walter, are you ok?"

I nod in the affirmative and make my way to my office passing Vic's occupied desk. She doesn't look up at me and she is sincerely infuriated. I stop at her desk, "Made it back in one piece without killing anybody this time."

She looks up at me out of the corner of her eye, her jaws are clenched but she doesn't say a word. It's like looking at a mirror sometimes. I step closer, my thigh brushing against her desk, "Hey, I'm here. I'm ok. Thanks for everything you did back there."

Vic ponders my countenance for a moment before speaking in a measured tone, "I meant every word I said to you. Every. Word."

My hands fall off my hips and I turn toward my office. Making my way inside, Vic is behind me before I can take my coat and hat off and hang them up.

"Do you want to have this conversation now or later because we are going to have it."

Well, since I don't have a choice I may as well have it now. I am emotionally depleted and I would rather just have the hits keep rolling than have her anger permeate the office and our relationship, whatever our relationship is, shit I don't know.

"Sure, Vic. You want to sit down or just stand there and seethe?"

My sardonic tone pisses her off even more.

"Why are you so mad at me?" I manage the most honest question I have as I fold my legs under my chair scuffing my ropers yet again.

"Where do I begin?"

"At the beginning."

"Are you being funny or being an asshole."

"Neither"

"Walt, you know what, I don't want to talk about it because I realize I was wrong. Wrong about you. " Vic walks out of the office and slips behind her desk without another word transpiring between us and it stays that way for the next few hours.

Finally, I realize that I need a ride home. Ferg has the Bullet at the hospital.

"Vic, um sorry to bother you, but could you give me a ride home?"

Without a word she gets up, grabs her keys, "Ruby, I'm giving the boss a ride. If I'm not back by quittin' time I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night you two."

"Good night, Ruby", I say over my shoulder.

Vic hits the bottom of the stairs in about a second flat, "Come on we're burnin' daylight. I don't have all day to chauffer you around."

This is going to be a long ride home.