Collateral Damage
Rick grasps Michonne's left hand in his resting them both against his bowed forehead. Her right hand gently strokes her belly. The emergency room bustles around them with raised voices, distant cries and the incessant beeping of monitors. Each muscle in his body is rigid and his mind holds but one thought. They have to be okay. The voice of Dr. Bennett breaks the terrifying silence. "I came as soon as I could…emergency c-section," she explains after yanking the curtain back.
Dressed in lavender scrubs she picks up the chart from the foot of the bed glancing back and forth between the admitting nurse's notes and the information provided by the patient and fetal monitors. Michonne finds her voice, "Please…please…save my babies," she sobs with her eyes closed.
"Whoa…slow down. Your blood pressure is absolutely too high but we are not at worst case scenario. First, I need to complete an exam to determine what is going on and then we talk. What the babies need right now is a calm mommy. Can you do that?" Naomi reassures.
She sniffles and nods keeping her eyes fixed on Rick. "What do I do…how do I help," Rick rasps from his dry throat never taking his eyes off Michonne.
"You are in charge of ice chips, breathing exercises or anything else that might help lower her pressure," she instructs.
Gideon races across town speaking frantically into his phone trying desperately to capture all the details, observations and information from the dramatic turn of events at Kings' County's trial of the century. The embargoed story could run tomorrow but today's events would require at least a week to capture the true essence of the horror, corruption and accountability that would emerge over the remaining days.
The one aspect of the story that continued to engage his mind was Andrea Harrison. Her response to the criminal behavior was abnormal to say the least. She appeared almost relieved when the shackles were placed around his ankles, waist and wrists. He made a note to himself to follow up with her firm in Atlanta. If his hunch was correct Philip Blake's wife had an angle he needed to explore.
Carl waits in DA Monroe's office. She completed her press conference and by all accounts her speech plus the question and answer session were a rousing political success. He could not help by smile to himself during her opening statement. Although she delivered the words with passion he could only hear Justice's voice in his head. She had worked tirelessly to craft the perfect tone through structure, pacing and every rhetorical device within her skill set. My girl is a genius.
"Carl, thank you for meeting with me," she interrupts his quiet reflection.
He nods, "What can I do for you DA Monroe?"
"Michonne de-briefed me on the challenges the security team faced with the City Council. Specifically, the additional funding you requested for emergency alarms in conference and bathrooms," she introduces crisply.
Carl's jaw tightens. "This is exactly the scenario we predicted and they did not listen. ADA Grimes was in significant danger with no means of defense. Think of the domestic violence and assault victims at risk every day within the halls of justice. We should be a safe space," he grits out.
Deanna nods in agreement. "We are going to fix this…strike while the fire is hot. Pull your team together; update the data and increase the budget. We will shame them into full funding," she winks conspiratorially.
His eyes widen, "You will have the revised draft by the close of business today," he assures.
"By the way, let your gifted better half know she knocked it out of the park. I have never sounded so good," she compliments.
His chest feels with pride, "Will do." He stands and pauses before reaching the door, "Have you heard anything?" He does not have to elaborate.
"No, have you?" she responds quietly. He shakes his head and swallows the lump in his throat.
"She is the toughest woman we know…have faith," she encourages.
"Jeffrey…Andre. I am taking today to work from my office here in Atlanta. If you can continue to keep me informed as facts on the ground change in Kings' County I would appreciate it."
"Absolutely, I need positive, productive activity because I want to show up at the jail with my shovel and some Hefty bags. He is fucking with the wrong family," he spews.
"You ain't never lied…but we will handle him within the confines of the law. I know every deep, dark corner of civil litigation. Predatory sexual assault and non-consensual detainment always pays a heavy price. When we are done with him there will be nothing left. This is still between the two of us. I do not need Little M under additional stress," he trails off.
Jeffrey picks up his grief, "We haven't heard anything either," he answers the unasked question.
"Thank you. We were a close knit family but have no doubt you and Jolene are one of us," he brings the call to a close.
"The feeling is mutual," he disconnects.
Naomi removes her gloves sliding effortlessly on her stool to deposit them into the trash receptacle. Michonne lies back in the elevated hospital bed with her feet in the stirrups. Rick stands on the left side of the bed stroking her locs away from her face. Her breathing is even and the beads of sweat across her upper lip are gone. "I have a few questions? Do you feel answer pressure or pain across your abdomen or back?"
"No. My breathing is mostly back to normal and my heart no longer races," she shares evenly. She listens to Rick exhale from the depth of his gut. He is an absolute rock…sure and steady.
"Good, your blood pressure is approaching the normal range. My immediate concern is rectified; however…" she pauses. "You dilated to a one and you are only six months pregnant. We need to alter our original pregnancy plan," she explains in a gentle voice.
Rick's booted feet shift from left to right. He rests all his weight on his left hip and stiffens his spine to receive the next piece of information. He keeps his fingers tangled in her locs allowing his thumb to soothe the worried frown from her forehead.
"At a minimum you will spend the night in the hospital. I want strict monitoring of you and the babies. I will order an IV for fluids and I am prescribing a steroid. The steroid is strictly for the babies. I want to boost their lung development. You may experience side effects," Rick cuts her off.
"You are concerned about early labor," he interjects.
Dr. Bennett shakes her head, "Not right now…given all that you described Michonne; your body responded logically to the fight or flight situation. By morning if your blood pressure remains within the normal range and your cervix does not open further I will discharge you home for one full week of bed rest," she puts her hand up to stop the questions. "You may shower' use the restroom at your convenience."
"I assume we have a follow up appointment with you at the end of the week?" Michonne inquires.
Naomi nods, "A nurse will arrive to take you to your room for the night. I know you are scared but we can do this. What do you always say?" I need their 'we can conquer the world' energy back.
Michonne looks up at Rick before taking a breath, "Team Grimes," a small confident smile returns.
He leans down placing a tender kiss to her temple, "Team Grimes."
Jolene cleaned the house from top to bottom. She attempts to crotchet another blanket but her hands tremble so violently and her tears run so freely she gives up the struggle. She moves to her knees in front of the couch resting her elbows against the cushion bending her arms and clasping her hands tightly before bowing her head in prayer. "Lord, I know we are not given more than we can bare but…you need to help me understand…I do not believe I can do this," her plea is disturbed by the body next to her. She squints at her husband.
"Abraham Lincoln said…I have been driven to my knees because I had nowhere else to go-or something like that. I know what you are thinking…God and I have been fighting for better part of two decades. For my grandbabies I am willing to apologize…forgive and forget…beg forgiveness for being a stubborn heathen. Whatever is necessary," he chokes out in sorrow and remorse.
She reaches over with her left hand and clasps his right hand tightly. Have mercy Jesus…have mercy.
Rick finishes the call to his mother and listens to Michonne speak to her Uncle Andre. He sits on the edge of her hospital bed using both hands to remove his boots before pulling the tails of his uniform shirt from his pants. "Handsome, visiting hours," she does not get to finish.
"'Chonne, today has been too long and I have zero fucks to give. I will not be away from my family. If the powers that be want me out of this room they better bring an army and I doubt that would get me out of this bed," his voice is rugged and resolved.
She scoots over to make space in the cramped hospital bed. He throws his shirt in the available chair before climbing in behind her mindful of the IV attached to her hand. He looks up to watch the fluid drip from the bag. I have to trust that whatever they prescribed will fix it because I can't.
She knows him, "Hey Daddy, tell us a bedtime story." He needs a purpose…a task to complete.
He cradles her belly. "A story, hmm…Once upon a time there was a lonely sheriff who met a gorgeous queen." He feels her laugh against his chest. She came to town and made his whole world a better place." He can feel her smile. "He built up all his courage and asked if he could be her knight in denim armor."
Michonne burst into giggles holding her hand against the tip of her nose. She narrates the movement in her womb, "I think they are enjoying your story. Keep going," she states in a hushed tone.
He kisses the back of her head and then her shoulder. He can feel the babies moving under his hand. Sure and steady. "The queen said yes after she saw him use his big gun," he grinds against her plump behind.
She is roaring in laughter, "Are you seriously telling our children a dirty, X-rated bedtime story?"
"Of course not," he re-directs, "I am sorry babies but your Mama's hormones are out of control," he laughs.
Michonne shakes her head against the pillow, "How much do I love you…there really are no words."
"I love you more…each of you…I love you more."