Vic turns off the alarm and rolls over to snuggle back into her pillow. She has already hit the snooze button several times but is tired of the alarm continuing to go off. Why on earth did they agree to meet at 8:00 when they were up so late? After Branch and Henry had come back in to the office last night, the four of them stayed and talked well past closing. Walt wanted Branch to go over everything again so he could listen with a clearer head than he had the first time. It was such a relief to see him back doing what he does best instead of hell bent on revenge. She had been really concerned about what he might do after finding out about Barlow's involvement in his wife's murder and his first reaction confirmed she had been justified in that concern. Thankfully it was something she didn't have to worry about any more. Vic was just drifting back to sleep again when her phone rang. Groaning she reached over and looked at the caller ID. However, unlike last night at the hospital, what she saw this morning made her smile. She rolls onto her back and answers the phone.

"Good morning!"

"Mornin'"

Walt's deep voice sends shivers down her spine as she remembers the warm, moist sensation of his lips and tongue running along her ear and down her neck last night before Henry had knocked and interrupted them. She closes her eyes and sighs softly.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I was worried you'd oversleep."

Okay, not quite the flirtatious talk she was hoping for. She opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling. "Really?"

"You often talk about how much you love your sleep and I know you couldn't have gotten much last night, so I thought it might help out if I gave you a call."

"Okay. You've never seemed to be worried about what time I got up before. Why so concerned now?"

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, "Well, I just really need you to be at the station this morning so we can get started on the Connally case."

Work. Of course that's why he'd be calling. It couldn't be to perhaps initiate a conversation they should have about what is going on with them. It couldn't be because he wanted to tell her how good her skin tastes. It couldn't be for him to declare his undying love and ask her to run away with him to live happily ever after. Okay, she knew that was a little extreme. She didn't want to admit it but she was a bit disappointed he was only calling about work. When did she become such a girl?

"Walt, I know there's a lot to do to get a solid case built against Barlow. Don't worry, I'll be there."

"It's not that Vic."

Okay, so maybe he doesn't have problems with his short term memory after all and he does recall what he did in Henry's office last night. Good, because she certainly remembers it.

"Then what is it."

"When I said I need you there what I really mean is...that I...need you there."

"You're being a little cryptic Walt."

"Vic, I was in a bad place last night and after hearing about Barlow I started barreling down a dark road to an even worse place. You were able to pull me back. I'm not sure anyone else short of Martha would have been able to do that. When I say I need you, that's what I'm talking about. As much as I don't like to admit it, I need you right now. I need you as a reminder to walk the line."

Vic can't help but grin, "Oh, okay. Well, don't worry. I'm awake and not likely to go back to sleep now that I've been talking. I promise. I'll be there when you need me to be."

"Good." She can hear the relief in his voice, "I'll see you in a little while."

Vic ends the call, sets the phone back on the nightstand and stretches her arms up over her head before exhaling, bringing them down and settling her body deeper into the bed. She hasn't felt this peaceful in a long time. She lingers in her cozy blankets a little while longer thinking back to the time just before she headed home last night, or actually, early this morning. Branch left first. After sharing his conversation with Barlow yet another time he was exhausted and needed to get home to a safe place to regroup. Henry left the office to make sure all the closing work had been done in the bar and Walt walked Vic out to the parking lot.

She noticed he was walking closer to her than usual, close enough that they kept bumping into each other. He was also moving more slowly than his long stride typically allows. As they approached her truck and she reached to open the door he put his hand on her arm and stopped her.

She turned to him, "Is everything okay?"

He smiled slightly at her, "Yep."

She waited for him to go on but he didn't. He just looked at her for a few minutes. Then he inhaled, cautiously reached out and wrapped his arms around her in an enveloping hug before slowly letting the breath back out. The hug was soft and warm and firm and rugged all at the same time. The side of her face was pressed into the well worn denim of his shirt and her nose was tickled by his soft shearling coat. She was surrounded by his scent and could hear the reassuring beat of his heart. It was quite possibly one of the best and most complete feelings she had ever experienced. She felt like she was . . . home. After holding her for several minutes Walt eased his grip and stepped back. He gave her a big smile this time, "Good night Vic." He opened her door and closed it after she got in. Then he winked at her before walking back into the Red Pony. Vic wasn't sure what she had expected to happen beyond that. She knew the timing wasn't really right for anything more than that. Still, she couldn't keep from smiling her entire drive home. She finally had an inkling that perhaps the feelings she has been trying to fight and failing to conquer were not entirely one sided.