When I get into the office, Ruby and Ferg are both at their desks already, which is how it is most days.

"G'mornin' Sherriff!" Ferg is always so cheery in the morning.

"Hey, Ferg. good morning, Ruby." I wave a hand at her as I turn to head into my office.

My faithful friend smiles at me. "Good morning, Walter."

I settle in at my desk and I notice a post-it note that I wrote to myself last Friday. It's a reminder to talk to Vic about Branch coming back to work. He still has a ways to go before he can come back full time, but I want to make sure she's okay with being around him again. I'm sure she won't have a problem with it, but if I'm being honest, it makes me nervous. I know Vic can handle herself, but I still can't get the image of Branch throwing her up against that window out of my head.

I walk out and ask Ruby if I have any notes.

"Yes, I'll come read them to you in a minute."

"Thanks. On your way in will you leave one on Vic's desk for her to come see me once she's in please?" I tap a couple fingers on the corner of Vic's desk.

"Sure thing."

I head back into my office and Ruby comes in a minute later with my notes.

"Only a few things today, Walter."

"Okay, shoot."

She sits down in the chair and crosses her legs. "Branch's therapist called, he said you wanted a recommendation on when he should return to work. He wants you to call him back."

"Okay, I'll do that this morning."

"Okay," she flips to the next note. "James Martin called and said someone stole his dog, again."

I stare back at her, unconvinced. "That's the third time in the last 6 months."

"That's what I said."

I sigh. "Send Ferg out there to look around. Tell him to stop at the store first and buy a dog leash and give it to James. I'm sure the dog will wander home tomorrow, just like the last two times."

Ruby takes the pen from behind her ear and scribbles a note on the paper. "Ok, and the last one-"

There are two small knocks on the door before it opens. Vic's standing there with a coffee cup in one hand and a sticky note in the other.

"Hey, am I interrupting? I got your post-it." She waves the note in front of her.

"Oh, good morning, Vic. He's all yours, I was just going over Walter's notes for the day." Ruby stands to leave, but turns back to him before she reaches the door. "Don't forget about your lunch with Cady, 12:30."

I smile. I definitely would have forgotten if it weren't for the reminder.

I look back at my deputy who's eyeing me from the doorway. "Good morning, Vic."

"Hey," she replies nonchalantly.

For a moment, I forgot why I wanted to talk to her. I've been having trouble with that lately. Vic's presence sometimes makes it hard to think clearly. Lately, it's been happening more frequently. Even from across the room I'm entranced by her glistening golden eyes.

"Did you need something?" She interrupts my thoughts as she waves the post-it in the air again; she almost looks annoyed.

"Yeah, uhh have a seat." I shift in my chair, trying to decide where exactly to start. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Okayyyy." Her expression switches from annoyance to curiosity. "Shoot."

"How are you doing?"

She doesn't answer right away, but just stares back at me, her eyes squinting. "That's your question? You see me almost every day, Walt. You have to call me into your office to ask me how I'm doing?"

It's just a question; I'm trying to be nice and make small talk. Her defensiveness makes me nervous. "Well, I uh… I realized I never asked you how you felt, uhh, about me letting Branch slowly ease back into taking shifts here."

She looks surprised. "You're asking me how I feel about Branch?"

I nod.

"I'm fine."

I have to take my eyes off of hers for a few moments before I lose my train of thought again. I look out the window briefly before turning back to her. "Well, I just now how much he, uhh put you through, and I want to make sure you're comfortable working with him before I agree to let him come back, uhh, permanently."

"I'm fine, Walt. I'm not afraid of Branch." She seems a bit offended that I'm insinuating that she is.

"I never said you were afraid of him."

"Good, because I'm not." She states matter-of-factly.

I stare back at her, wondering why she feels the need to be so strong. I'd venture to bet that it has something to do with being the only female in a family of male cops.

"Ok then. I'll sign the papers so that he can come back to work full-time. I'll be keeping a close eye on him, to make sure he stays in line."

She looks uncomfortable, and she clears her throat as she shifts in her chair. "You don't have to do that, I can take care of myself."

There it is, again.

I try to smile. "Yeah, I think you've mentioned that before. Even so, it's my job to protect my deputies. Get used to it."

She gives me a weak smile back. "Is that all you wanted to talk about?"

"Uhh, yep. That was it."

"Ok."

She stands up to leave and I motion for her to leave the door open. I watch as she sways her hips from side to side as she walks back to her desk.

I shouldn't be staring at my deputy this way, but like I said, my eyes have a mind of their own lately.