Ch. 6

10:04 PM

The world was blur of noise and light. Walt shoved through the swarm of police and pulled Vic off to the side. She pushed at him trying to see. He was stronger and more determined. Walt placed his hands on her face and tilted it up towards his.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah..."

She turned back towards the growing crowd around Greg's still form on the ground.

"Vic, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

She pulled away as Cady approached.

"Vic, are you..."

Vic cut her off.

"I'm fine."

She handed the guns to Cady.

"One is mine. It was never fired. The other is the one he brought in."

She turned away before either Cady or Walt could speak again. By the time she reached his side, his eyes had fixed still open, his mouth still agape. Vic lowered her head.

"I told you he wasn't fucking armed."

She wasn't even sure who she was talking to but several of the state officers looked her way. One stepped forward. It was obvious he was in charge.

"We just saved your life, ma'am."

"No you took his. I told you he wasn't armed, goddammit. Son of a bitch."

The officer stiffened. Suddenly Walt was there, hands on her arms steering her away.

"Let them do their jobs, Vic."

She shook him off.

"I told him they wouldn't kill him. I told him to trust me."

Her face grew dark with anger.

"Vic..."

Her throat burned and constricted with pent up emotion. She shook her head again, her voice breaking.

"I told him to trust me and he would be okay."

12:11 AM

The Bronco rolled up in front of the cabin. Walt turned off the engine and looked across the dark space at Vic. She was staring out the window. Trails of moisture ran down her cheeks under both eyes. She looked as tired and ragged as he felt.

"Vic?"

She gave no indication that she heard him. She continued to stare out the passenger window. Walt reached out and touched her shoulder gently. She startled at the contact and tuned her bleary eyes towards him.

"We're home."

Silently she got out and went inside the cabin. Walt tossed his hat and coat aside.

"Why don't you get shower and get into bed."

He noticed how hollow her eyes seemed when she looked at him.

"Were you able to get any news on Henry?"

"Yeah, he's fine. Lost a lot of blood but he's going to be okay."

Vic nodded and went wordlessly into the bathroom. Walt sat on the couch and rested his head in his hands. He heard the shower turn on. He was still sitting when he heard the shower turn off. He sensed her before he saw her. She stood there watching him silently wearing a thermal top and pajama pants. It struck him as odd. She was in the habit of wearing one of his shirts to bed unless it was particularly cold.

"Are you cold? I can build a fire."

She shook her head. He stood up and approached her slowly. Her dark eyes followed him. He stopped right in front of her. He was so close she could feel his breath.

"This wasn't your fault."

She said nothing but looked as though she were digesting his words. She looked down at the floor and then back up to Walt's face.

"I told him he would be okay."

The words hung in the air as she turned and went into the bedroom.

12:52 AM

By the time Walt had showered and came to bed, she was asleep, curled on her side away from him. He sat on the bed watching her sleep. The rise and fall of her chest and the light sounds of her breathing were like the sweetest music he could have heard. He didn't have words for the dread that had filled him when he had taken Henry and left her alone with an armed man. He reached out and brushed hair away from her face. Leaning over, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead and then stretched out next to her. Walt lay in the dark. He wanted to hold her. He wanted her to curl up in his arms like she was normally so fond of doing an fall asleep on him. He was loathe to wake her so he lay there wondering why this was impacting her so severely. What had happened in the time he had and Henry had left and time she and Greg had emerged.

He had no idea how long he lay there. As exhausted as he was, he couldn't find sleep. Vic's sleep was restless. She moved and moaned and mumbled things he couldn't understand. Walt whispered to her in the dark. He ran his hand over her back and her hair trying to calm her, to lull her into a dreamless sleep. He knew she was having nightmares. He knew the nightmares were just beginning.