A/N: I just realized, after all this time, I've never given a physical description for Christie. She's becoming a major character, and yet no description. If you'd like me to give one, ask and I'll come up with something. Or, if you like to just picture her however you want, feel free to do that as well LOL.
Christie knocked at the door one last time and went around and peeked through the window of the front room of Reichert's house. She could see a light on inside and knew he must be home, but couldn't figure out why he wasn't answering the door. Peering through the net curtains, she saw a bottle sitting on the end table by the couch and Reichert's slumbering form sprawled out on said couch. He was passed out drunk.
"Lot of use you are." she sighed as she headed back to her own house. She couldn't move anyone into any of the empty houses without his say-so, and if he was sleeping off a binge, she'd have to wait to talk to him. She kept an eye out as she walked along, wondering if she'd come across Stein's little buddy, but saw no one. She hadn't seen him since the other day when he'd given her her lovely bruises. She couldn't help but wonder if Reichert knew what was going on, thinking to herself that if Stein was up to something, very likely Reichert not only knew, but approved of it.
Turning down her street she could make out a dimly lit Rick pacing around outside her house. She knew that separating the two was going to be a bit of a bother, but she didn't realize she'd end up with a house guest because of it. "Good news and bad news." she said as she approached. "Which do you want first?"
"Bad." he said, figuring the night couldn't get much worse.
"Reichert's passed out drunk." she replied.
"Then what's the good news?"
"I've got a spare bedroom you can use until he's sobered up and I've spoken to him." she watched him as he continue to pace back and forth. "I'm sorry, but this had to be done."
He simply nodded at her and took a seat on her front steps. "I don't have any of my stuff." he said, the fact was that all he had were the clothes on his back.
"I've gotta move some stuff outta that room." Christie remained on her feet, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her coat. "You could head over and grab some stuff while I do that."
"Okay." he rested his head in his hands.
"Do you want me to do it?" she asked as she watched him, feeling a bit guilty.
"I don't think Lori's too keen on seein' you right now." he looked up and shook his head.
"I don't think she ever is." Christie laughed, liking the idea she made the other woman uncomfortable. "Sorry." she stifled her laughter when she caught a glimpse of the look he shot her. "I don't think you're top of her list of people she wants to see right now, either."
"True." he sighed as he got to his feet, "But I wanna talk to Carl, too. Let him know what's goin' on."
"Okay then." she smiled. "You do your thing and I'll make sure you've got a bed waiting for you when you get back." she walked past, gave his arm a quick squeeze and headed into the house.
Rick took a deep breath to steady his nerves before heading off down the block. He'd hoped things wouldn't be too awkward. He hated that he had been so blind, so self-centered that he didn't notice what their fighting had been doing to the group. He looked around and felt as though that this place had brought them to this point. When they were out there, they were so busy running for their lives that they didn't have much time to fight. In here though, in relative safety, all of their problems were able to come front and center, and it seemed the whole street had a front row seat for the show.
"Hey." T-Dog nodded as Rick approached. "Lori came back and she looked pissed." he whispered.
"What'd she say?" Rick asked, wondering how much the group knew.
"Nothin'" he shook his head. "She was pissed to the point of not talkin'"
"Yeah, well.." Rick didn't know what to say.
"What's goin' on?" Daryl asked as he and Beth approached.
"I'm gonna be movin' out for a bit." Rick said, thinking it best to just say it. "Mine and Lori's fightin's gotten us in hot water..."
"Are you two gonna be okay?" Beth asked, hoping they'd make it through this rough patch.
"Sure." Rick nodded and offered a weak smile. "Just gives us some time to cool off."
"She's in the back with Carol right now." T-Dog informed him.
"I need to grab some stuff..and things.." Rick eyed the door nervously. "Some clothes for the mornin'...ya know?"
"Hey, man, I'll go grab some stuff." T-Dog offered. "You just chill out here for a bit." he didn't want to hear anymore yelling for the night.
"Thanks." Rick patted the large man's shoulder. "Could you send Carl out?" he asked, still hesitant to actually go inside.
"No problem." T-Dog nodded and turned to leave.
"I'm sorry." Rick said as he looked at Beth and Daryl. "We didn't think for a second about you guys gettin' caught up in our fights."
"As long as we don't have to listen to 'em anymore." Daryl shrugged, not really knowing what to say.
"You'll be back." Beth chimed in, ever optimistic. "Like you said, just some time to cool down."
"Yeah." Rick nodded, not totally buying it.
"Dad?" Carl asked as he stepped out onto the porch, looking back and forth at the group.
"We'd better get inside, princess. It's almost past your bedtime." Daryl said as she took Beth by the elbow and led her inside, closing the door behind them.
"What's goin' on?" Carl asked. "T said you needed to talk to me and he's packin' your things."
"Sit down, son." Rick couldn't avoid it much longer. "You know your mom and I have been fightin'." he felt a pang of guilt when his son just nodded nonchalantly. "Well, we've kinda gotten in trouble with the neighbors...and Christie's havin' your mom and I live apart for a bit."
"She can't do that!" Carl snapped, feeling as though his family was being ripped apart unfairly. "You guys fight all the time, so what?"
Rick just stared at his son in disbelief. Had he and Lori really fought so much even before this that his son had grown accustomed to it? "We're gettin' on people's nerves. And we both need time to calm down." he said when he was able to find his voice again.
"It'll be okay, Carl." Lori said, suddenly appearing at the door. "It'll just be for a few days, while we calm down, like your dad said."
"You sure?" Carl asked, looking back and forth between them, looking for assurance.
"Of course." Lori forced a smile.
"Yeah." Rick nodded.
"Okay, a few days." Carl nodded in return. "Then you come home."
"It's bedtime." Lori said, holding her hand out and ushering him in. "Which house will you be in?" she asked, sending Carl upstairs.
"Reichert isn't available..." Rick muttered.
"You're staying with her?" Lori stared at him in disbelief. "I've told you how I feel about her, and even after that, you're gonna stay with her?"
"I've got nowhere else to stay!" he groaned. "She's got a spare room."
"I can't believe this." she shook her head as she glared at him.
"Lori, for the last time..."
"I'm sorry...I just don't completely buy it." she shrugged.
"You know what, Lori?" he started losing his temper. "You're right. T brings me my bag, I'm gonna go back to her place and she and I will go at it like animals in heat!"
"Stop it!" she closed the door and stepped outside. "Just stop!"
"What, don't you wanna hear that you're right?" he snapped. "You've been accusin' me of screwin' around with her, don't wanna hear that you've been right all along?"
"You're being an ass." she crossed her arms over her chest and paced back and forth anxiously.
"And you're being a jealous, hypocritical bitch!" he shot back.
"Both of you shut the hell up!" Hershel appeared, a bag in his hands. "This is why I went and spoke to that girl." he tossed the bag at Rick. "Both of you are acting like fools and I'm sick of it!" he took a deep breath. "Get on outta here, and you get inside and tuck that little boy into bed." he ordered them.
Rick and Lori exchanged one last glance before parting ways, both feeling like errant children who had incurred their father's ire. Looking back, Rick couldn't help feel like they were parting ways for good.