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Chapter VII: Beggars and Horses
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The bottom of her teacup probably doesn't have the answers to her questions, but Michonne stares in search of an epiphany. The tea has run cold, and it must be bitter. Michonne isn't a tea person, but vodka isn't the appropriate choice of drink at nine in the morning.
She shoves her thumbs in her eyelids, and she attempts to clog her tear ducts. Michonne swore she wouldn't shed a tear over the situation. Richard Grimes junior isn't worth a tear. He isn't worth the energy and the heartache.
However, she doesn't control what is worth a heartache. Her heart is beyond aching, and Michonne's heart is agonizing. Michonne's heart is fluttering. Michonne's heart is swinging between two emotional extremes. As soon as his lips were on hers, she knew she was making a mistake. Now, the time to face the consequences has come.
Therefore, Michonne hopes her teacup might have the answer. She needs a moment to sort through the conflict between her mind and her body. Her body is singing praises of Rick Grimes. Her body has declared Rick the only lover, which it wants. Every inch of her skin tingles at the thought of him. She continues to taste him on her lips, and she craves him. As for her mind, Rick Grimes is an asshole. Rick Grimes is a mistake, but a mistake that she was ready to repeat.
Michonne shakes her head, and she attempts to erase thoughts of Rick. Although, the task seems impossible. She is continuously reliving last night, and Michonne is unsure if she wants to forget everything that transpired last night. Who wants to forget the best sex of their life? She used to fantasy about Rick, and the fantasies don't compete with the reality.
Michonne closes her eyes, and she allows her head to sink down. She rests her head on her forearm, and she mentally chastises herself for her weakness. Those tears will eventually fall. For now, Michonne will try to forget Rick.
"Have you seen Richard?" Morgan asks as he enters the kitchen.
He places a kiss on the crown of his granddaughter's head. Michonne sighs, and how can she forget him when mention of his name rises her blood pressure.
"He left this morning. Why?" Michonne reluctantly replies.
She straightens herself, and she drinks the remaining of her cold bitter tea. She faces Morgan, and Michonne hopes her facial expression doesn't betray her turmoil.
"Some legal aspect to work on for the inheritance," Morgan responds.
He is on his wait out of the kitchen when he glances at Michonne. Morgan returns to the table, and he drags a chair out to sit by Michonne. He knows that lost expression in her eyes. Richard Grimes junior is somehow responsible for it.
"Are you okay, baby?" Morgan questions, but the answer is obvious by the frown lines on Michonne's forehead.
"I'm fine… How are you doing after last night?" Michonne attempts to redirect the conversation.
"I shouldn't be the focus, sweetheart." He knowingly says, "The night was rough for everyone. I guess for you more than anyone. What Carlton said…?" Morgan doesn't know how to follow those words.
How low Carlton went last night is unbelievable. He knew the boy was dumb, but he never expected the viciousness. Morgan didn't anticipate so much anger, but he should have foreseen that Richard senior's will would divide an already deeply broken family.
"I have heard worse, and gossip magazines wrote worse things about me," Michonne attempts to reassure her grandfather.
Last night unsettled Morgan, and Michonne doesn't think Carlton's insults and threats should weight on her grandfather's shoulder.
"Well, you still have the right to be upset about it. Although, Richard was upset enough on your behalf. Carlton deserves every second of that ass whooping." He says with quiet satisfaction.
"Don't encourage it, grandpa. I doubt Rick was fighting for my honour when he has called me worst names and treated me like a whore too." The bitterness festers Michonne's words.
Who does something so disrespectful? A note with a sentence, Rick does not care for Michonne. She doesn't want her anger to resurface because tears come associated to it.
"Perhaps, you should consider giving him an ass whooping too," Morgan advises with the uttermost seriousness, "You have the bad habit to allow Richard to get away with everything, and worse, you forgive without giving him a chance to apologize," Morgan sighs and pursues, "I understand that love is blind. However, sometimes you need to take off the pink coloured glasses and see the bullshit. After, you can deal with it accordingly with a firm ass whooping," Morgan advises.
Michonne's statement confirmed his initial suspicions. Morgan truly hopes Richard senior was right. With Rick and Michonne, things can go extremely well or one of them will destroy the other. So far, Rick has relentlessly aimed to hurt Michonne.
"I don't love Rick," Michonne unconvincingly denies her feelings.
She wants to believe that she is not stupid enough to fall for Rick. Michonne doesn't want to face the consequences attached to the admission of her feelings.
"I swear last night you two convinced the entire neighbourhood otherwise," Morgan says with false surprise in his voice, "If he wasn't your husband, I will have a lot to say. His childhood home, Y'all hold nothing sacred," Morgan points with a side eye.
Michonne doesn't know how to respond to that statement. She didn't think about how loud she could have been last night. Somehow, she forgot that her grandfather was in the same house. Michonne simply let her head sink on the table. Embarrassment appears to be the most appropriate response to Morgan's statement.
"Grandpa… No." She embarrassingly groans.
"I'm saying think before lying to me," Morgan disregards Michonne's embarrassment.
"I'm not in love with Rick. We hardly tolerate each other," Michonne insists.
"Is there a new way to call that amount of devotion, admiration, and ability to forgive this day? You're too old to lie to yourself, and you're too old to give your all to a man without questioning what you gain from it," Morgan wisely continues.
"You wanted me to marry him…" Michonne defensively counters.
"Never once, I stipulated that you should let him walk all over you to keep him happy," Morgan points out the flaws in Michonne's defence, "That is all on you. I told you, and I'm telling you again. Give your husband an ass whooping when he is out of line, which is every damn time. Although, your instinct is to reward him for every little decent act," Morgan all-knowingly finishes.
Michonne has no ground to argue the facts, and last night confirms Morgan's statement. She silently listens for as long as she can.
"Thanks for the advice, but my lawyer will be calling his lawyer to work on the divorce." She stubbornly replies.
"Maybe that is the ass whooping that he needs," Morgan doesn't attempt to insist on the topic.
The silence closes the conversation. Michonne stands to pour herself more tea, and she offers a cup to Morgan. Once again, Michonne loses herself to her doubts and question about last night.
"When are you leaving?" Morgan asks, and Michonne escapes her mind.
"In three hours." She answers with slight relief.
"Then come with me, and so I can show you off to the entire town," Morgan says with a small smile.
"Grandpa, don't be ridiculous," Michonne laughs and she knows that was Morgan's aim.
"I need to go to the supermarket. Come with me, and so I can proudly say this is Michonne, my granddaughter. She is a Hollywood star," Morgan insists with a lighter tone.
"I'm a singer not in movies yet," Michonne corrects him, but she joins his quiet laugh.
"Even better," Morgan doesn't allow Michonne's reluctance to dampen his spirit.
"I will grab my suitcase, and you can drop me in the airport after you parade me," Michonne ultimately agrees.
The fact that she does return her meal every time is a miracle. Jessie keeps her eyes closed while Carlton's hand explores her body. Ten years of this torture, ten years of allowing his wrinkled dick to penetrate her walls. Where is her reward? Where is the colossal fortune that she deserves?
Carlton kisses Jessie as he drives in her, and she keeps her eyes closed. She can't wait for him to come. She is considering replacing his Viagra pills. The hope and the promises of a colossal fortune no longer keep her focus. Sex with Carlton is a deplorable act, and Jessie fakes an orgasm to encourage Carlton to come. Unfortunately, for her, he seems to have the energy to go for hours.
Jessie attempts to distract her mind from what is happening. She will rather fantasize about whom she wishes to fuck. She heard him last night, and she heard her moans. She has never felt so envious and angry. With thoughts of Michonne and Rick going at it, Jessie can't even escape in her mind. She feels so angry and betrayed.
She opens her eyes to face a sweaty Carlton with his face distorted in pleasure. She wants to push him away from her body. She frustratedly watches him poorly handle her body. She fakes her moans, and she is so angry. Jessie couldn't sleep after last night, and she is already thinking about confronting Rick. She will remind him that she feels much better than that whore, who he married.
Carlton continues to thrust until he spends himself inside Jessie. She breathes a sigh of relief, and she pats his head. She will be sore the entire day for this pitiful attempt at sex. She feels so frustrated with the turn, which her life took last night.
"What are you going to do about this mess?" Jessie demands while Carlton is lost in post-coital bliss.
"How can they usurp your inheritance that way?" Jessie angrily asks.
How can they usurp her hard-earned money? She fucked this decrepit body for ten years. She risked her happiness with Rick. Her reward can't be a residence in Atlanta and an allowance while that Hollywood bitch receives everything that should belong to Jessie. From Judith's jewellery to Rick's dick, everything should be hers. Jessie knew she was justified in hating Richard senior.
"I have my lawyers working on everything. I worked hard to keep Grimes and Jones up to a standard. An allowance from Richard, Dad must have lost his mind. Morgan took advantage of my father," Carlton angrily replies.
Carlton knows what he deserves, and he can believe that his father would favour Richard. Although, his father favouring Rick has been a part of the reasons why he couldn't stand his son. Rick always stood as an obstacle to Carlton's life. Rick's past with Jessie exacerbated that feeling in Carlton.
"I should try talking to Rick. Resonate with him and see if he is willing to turn on Morgan," Jessie softly proposes.
Although, she has other reasons in mind. She can't lose Rick. Now with his fortune, she even has more reason to want him back. Jessie believes that she can't find her way back to Rick's bed. Michonne is simply a stepping-stone, and she forgives him.
"Why would you go around him? Do you still feel something for him?" Carlton demands with irritation.
He hasn't missed the look, which his wife throws to his son. Carlton saw Jessie go after Rick during the funeral, but he hasn't dared to question his wife. He is afraid to infuriate her.
"Why do you have to blame me for a past mistake?" Jessie indignantly asks, and she moves out of Carlton embrace "Rick was a onetime thing, and he didn't understand it. He fixated on me. When I was drunk and vulnerable, he took advantage of me. I didn't press charge for your father's sake, and I wasn't sure anyone will believe me." She wills the tears while she tells her lies.
They abundantly fall on her cheeks, and Carlton feels apologetic. He drags Jessie back into his arms.
"I simply want to help you even if it means being around Rick. I love you so much, and I will sacrifice so much for you. I know what Grimes and Jones represent for you," Jessie finishes with a magisterial act of guilt trip.
She knows how to manipulate Carlton better than anyone does. She knows his weakness, and she knows how to stroke his ego. How pitiful is it that a man so old can be so insecure and naïve. A simple mention of his son sends him in panic, and the illusion that he has a victory against Rick keeps him content. Carlton disgusts Jessie.
"I will handle it. You don't have to put yourself under any emotional pain. I know that Christmas Eve still haunts you," Carlton softens, as Jessie knew he would, and he automatically shifts the blame onto his son, "I know you care for me. I know you love me. I don't blame you for anything. Richard on the other hand, he has a vendetta against me. He won't hesitate to use you in the process. He will use you to get to me because I love you," Carlton continues to share his delusions.
He deeply believes Rick has a vendetta against him over how he treated his mother. Although, for years Rick idolater his father. Carlton's constant infidelities on his wife started to change Rick's perception of the man.
However, the rift in the relationship came when Carlton abandon his sick wife to his son care. Richard senior never forgave him for such an act of cowardice, and Carlton blamed his son for it too.
"I love you…" Jessie unpassionately replies.
Shane pushes the bottle of water toward Rick, and he can tell there is something different about Rick. Although, he can pinpoint the difference. Shane throws himself on Rick's couch, and he sits a bottle of beer in front of him. He had no idea why Rick wanted an immediate meeting. Rick returned from king county two days ago, and Shane returned from Japan last night.
"Can you take a look at this?" Rick exchanges a brown envelope with the bottle of water, which Shane pushed in his direction.
"A contestation of a will," Shane read aloud the first line, "Should I check it as your friend or as your lawyer?" He demands as he moves to the next line.
"Whatever suits you? I have had enough of legal matters," Rick exhaustively answers.
After the will's reading, Rick wants to put everything behind him. However, his life is slowly turning into a succession of legal conflict. Rick takes a long sip of his water.
"You won't like what this means. Finish your bottle of water first," Shane warns as he continues to peruse the legal claim contain in the contestation.
"Shane?" Rick hesitantly questions his best friend.
Rick doesn't need more problems. Between the past one and those, which he voluntarily creates, Rick has enough to last a lifetime. He doesn't even want to brush everything regarding the biggest problem in his life, Michonne.
"Your father and a Maggie Rhee are contesting your grandfather's will. The legal notice is to inform you," Shane explains as he puts down the file.
"My dad, I expected nothing else. Maggie comes as a surprise," Rick sighs, and he feels frustrated with the situation.
Obviously, Carlton will contest the will. However, he doesn't understand Maggie's claim. As far as he remembers, Grandpa Richard took her in when she was five. Rick doesn't know the specific, but Carlton one day came with a child. The following day, Rick had a cousin. However, Maggie always has been loyal to Carlton and he should not receive the news as a surprise.
"What happened in king county?" Shane asks as he can sense the anguish.
Shane also knows enough about Rick past to know that the trip must have been difficult. Now, this contestation of will leads Shane to believe that Richard senior's funeral wasn't the worst thing that happened.
"The actual reason behind your presence in my house," Rick says, and he glances at his finger.
Two days and he has not removed his wedding band, and he doesn't feel the need to remove it. He has other sources of preoccupation. He can't rid himself of the thoughts. Rick hasn't spent a day without thinking about Michonne.
"My charming presence wasn't what you were after. You didn't miss me a tiny bit. Feed a man before you break his heart," Shane jokes, and he feigns indignation.
"You think that you're funny," Rick frustratedly says.
"I was funny without my balanced relationship. Now, I'm that friend with a lame joke because he heard them from his girlfriend," Shane responds.
"As far as I know Sasha is funny," Rick takes a jab at Shane.
"If you like the no-nonsense, stern, and quiet type," Shane jokingly replies.
"You know she is your longest relationship," Rick points out.
"The bitterness comes with the longevity, and I say if you like the no-nonsense, stern, and quiet type, which I'm head over heel about," Shane responds
"It hardly three months. Longevity" Rick counters.
"Feels like an eternity and some extra shit. It is fucking good you should try. Find yourself a lady for longer than a night." Shane responds and laughs.
He knows how Rick has a sworn hatred for relationships. However, he does have an active sexual life.
"That is rich coming from you. My 'relationship' lasted more hours than anything you had before Sasha," Rick counters.
He does like to think about his coping mechanism, and sex happens to be an excellent way to maintain his control. Which is why he had to do the most self-destructive thing and have sex with Michonne. He anticipated the consequences, but this is beyond what he ever foresaw. This craving has turned to an ache, and he hates the meaning, which that night has started to take in his mind.
"Yeah… I can't argue that one. So what happened in king county that needs my expertise," Shane returns to their previous topic.
"I need to get a divorce," Rick says, and Shane freezes.
He stares at Rick expecting the statement to be a joke. Rick Grimes, who can't handle any form of relationship, is married. There is a succession of question racing to his mind.
"And I thought this type of statement followed a trip in Vegas," Shane bursts into a laugh.
"Shane?" Rick chastises his friend, and the situation already annoys Rick enough.
"Look, let me find joy in this. God knows you never let me live down my thirty-six hours marriage with a stripper. I deserved to enjoy the ripe fruit of karma," Shane continues to laugh at Rick's misfortune.
"Don't even think our situation is similar. I was blackmailed into it. Grandpa Richard had this ludicrous idea, and it was a close to his will too," Rick clarifies.
"Look out, you're marrying for money and shit… so you were the stripper in the king county version of the fast wedding. Richard Grimes junior full of surprise." Shane ignores Rick's frustration, and he continues mocking the situation.
"Shane, this is serious." He exhaustively says.
"Therefore, I'm seriously asking who the lucky bird is," Shane replies, and he barely contains a laugh.
"Michonne Jones, Grandpa Morgan's granddaughter," Rick answers with frustration.
Every passing second, he regrets talking to Shane.
"Jailbait Michonne… your walking wet dream… and you want a divorce. I always knew you were a dumbass, but you have surpassed my expectation… jailbait Michonne," Shane demands confirmation.
He looks at Rick, and he waits for the announcement that everything is a prank. Although, Rick is unfazed by Shane's antics. He wants everything to be over before he takes his next breath. Rick wants that divorce completed before he becomes used to the idea of being married.
"Get out, Shane," Rick demands in frustration.
"I can't be punished for baring the truth… did you have sex?" Shane doesn't move, and he takes a sip of his beer.
He places his feet on Rick's table to prove a point. Rick sighs, and he regrets calling Shane. He is about to have a conversation that will infuriate him. Rick can foresee it after a glance at the grin spreading on Shane's lips
"The relevance of that question," Rick demands.
He doesn't want to revisit that night, but he hasn't done anything else for the last two days. After the debacle with Jessie, Rick never attached any emotions to sex. Aside from the desire to be in control, sex is mostly a meaningless act to Rick. He has had great sex through the years, but nothing ever felt as glorious. He never poured so much emotion into the act.
The worst part was the aftermath. The hours, which he spent watching Michonne sleep. The act of watching her sleep felt too natural. Her petite body firmly pressed against his body, everything felt too perfect. Rick felt scared, and he felt regrets for losing a chance at these ten years ago. He couldn't stand it, and the pain became oppressive, which was the reason why he drafted that ridiculous note. He couldn't stand the perfection of Michonne sleeping in his arms.
"Ground for annulment, and we had a betting pool. Daryl thought that you were holding onto sex until her eighteenth birthday… I knew you were no predator so I betted on the wedding night. Almost lost hope on that one," Shane nonchalantly replies.
Rick stares at his friend, and he is unsure of what he heard. He knew he was creating unnecessary complications.
"Y'all ain't shit. She was 17 years old," Rick points out.
"I wasn't the one in a fully committed relationship with a teenager. That was you," Shane defends himself.
"I avoided her like the plague that year what are you talking about," Shane's statement seriously confuses Rick.
"See a healthy couple. Michonne needs this and that. I have never seen anyone so dedicated to his cousin's best friend. No lie, we thought you were fucking on the low," Shane explains, and Rick continues to be appalled by what he hears.
"She was seventeen years old. What is wrong with you people? If I thought one of you was with a seventeen-year-old trust me I will be calling the police and her parents on you," Rick says with a frustrated glare directed toward Shane.
"Which is why I said you will be waiting for the wedding to pluck that flower," Shane responds unbothered by Rick statement.
"I don't want to hear more of this. Can you handle the divorce or not," Rick sighs and he waits for Shane's answer.
"I can, but I will advise you to wait until that will issue is solved," Shane answers.
He checks the contestation for a second time, and he returns the file to Rick. From the few lines, which he has read, Shane can predict the mess that will come out of it.
"Also this came," Rick pushes another letter toward Shane.
"A court order," Shane says when he reads the last line.
"I don't know how much is this inheritance, but your father desperately wants it. This is a court order to proceed with an autopsy on your grandfather," Shane returns the piece of paper to Rick.
"Is there a way to stop him? Why would he want grandpa grave dug up," Rick demands?
He no longer knows if his father has an ounce of moral. Why would he go to such length over an inheritance?
"Yeah…but it won't look good if you go in a civil court for contestation. Everyone will think that you have something to hide," Shane explains, and he questioningly stares at Rick, "You don't have something to hide, right? You didn't kill an old man for his money after he graciously played matchmaker for you and the woman of your dream. I know the money can be tempting, but that would be low. You're my moral compass; I look up to you and shit," Shane can't keep his seriousness.
"Shane, fuck off," Rick responds.
"Well congratulation on the wedding, and I know you fucked. You have that post glow, which you never get from all that non-marital sex," Shane continues to mock Rick as he stands to leave Rick's place.
"You don't make sense," Rick says frustrated.
"I will send you my bill for all this legal business, and I'm charging extra because I'm helping you make a dumbass move. Who divorces their biggest crush and America sweetheart? Guess it a dumbass. Although, you will have to wait until you can settle this contestation," Shane says by the door.
…
Jessie holds on the piece of paper tightly while she makes her way to Pete's office. She can't believe what that old decrepit man did. Carlton Grimes is useless, and since the will's reading, she regrets more and more marrying him.
"Fix this?" She shoves the piece of paper against Pete's chest.
Pete looks up, and he doesn't understand the reason behind her visit. He even less understands the reason for her fury. He takes the piece of paper, and he starts to read it.
"Fix what?" He demands as he reads line after line.
"For once in your life, be of use to me Pete," Jessie shouts in frustration.
She starts pacing back and forth. Jessie glares at Pete, and she waits for his contribution. Pete puts the piece of paper down, and he doesn't know what Jessie expects of him. He doesn't know if it is another tantrum or she wants to rant about having sex with Carlton.
"Read it…fucking read it," Jessie takes back the piece of paper, and she shoves it into Pete's face.
She has never been so furious, and she can't express it how angry she feels. How did that fool of Carlton decide to disregard her advice?
"A court order for an autopsy," Pete reads aloud, and Jessie implodes.
The pacing increases and she grabs the first object that she can and throws it against the wall.
"He had to do it. That old wrinkle idiot had to do it." She shouts.
"What is going on?" Pete stares in confusion.
However, her outburst of anger doesn't come as a surprise. This is the Jessie, who he knows. Unstable and sometimes, he believes her to be psychotic.
"Carlton requested an autopsy on Richard Senior's body," Jessie quietly replies after taking a deep breath.
"Why… Jessie, you told me it was without risk. Just keep him from treatment and it'll be over. No, they will see that he was untreated…" Pete starts to panic, and Jessie glares at him.
"Shut up, you think that is our biggest problem. Do you think that his death before a hospital transfer was a coincidence? I wanted to protect you," Jessie says as she sits on Pete's desk, and she takes his face in her hands.
She kisses him with as much passion as she can muster, and she spews her usual lies.
"I wanted to protect you," Jessie whispers between kisses
"Jessie?" Pete confusedly asks.
"You have to help me back…" She kisses him with desperation "you have to help me hide it." She starts to unzip her blouse.
"How?" Pete pries his lips away from Jessie's one, and he isn't as stupid as her husband is.
If he heard Jessie right, she confessed Richard senior's murder. How does she want him to help? Does she think he will incriminate himself for her beautiful eyes? Pete moves away from Jessie. He will not fall for her old tricks.
"This is going to go to pathology. I have no power to prevent it," Pete tells Jessie.
He also has no intention to become complicit. An actual physical murder goes beyond what he agreed to help her. She is going to fall alone. Pete won't allow Jessie to take him in her fall.
"Of what use are you to me if you can't do anything to protect me," Jessie demands, and she zips back up her blouse.
Every ounce of care disappears in her eyes, and the vindication returns with great strength.
"Jessie…" Pete attempts to calm her.
"I will handle it myself I guess." She leaves the room with a threatening glance in Pete's direction.
Michonne doesn't know why she agreed to meet him in a restaurant at night, but she expected to discuss her upcoming project. She blows the smoke of her cigarette, and her mind escapes the conversation with Philip.
After everything, he continues to believe that he has some control over her. Michonne closes her eyes, and she sighs. Sasha was right, and it was a bad idea to keep Philip has a manager. Michonne doesn't want to have a conversation about how they were great when it was great. She takes a big gulp of her wine, and she tries to ignore Philip.
"Look, I'm not asking you to leave your husband. I'm not stupid, and I see of what use he can be to us. I'm simply telling you that I'm willing to share. I will keep it a secret between us," Philip reaches for Michonne's hand.
"I have no one to blame but…" Michonne stops mid-sentence when she notices a familiar face.
A set of angry blue eyes stares at her, and Michonne can't take her eyes away from Rick who is across the restaurant. She didn't see him when she arrived, and he seems to have arrived in the last minutes. He has his eyes on Philip and her.
Michonne draws a deep breath, and she gulps what remains of her wine. Philip attempts to gain back her attention, and he frames her face with his hand. Rick stares at the pair, and Michonne stares at Rick. For a second Rick and Michonne can't avert their eyes from each other.
"Philip, enough…" Michonne pushes Philip's hand away from her face.
She calls for the waiter and asks for something stronger than wine. How does he dare to stare at her and directs accusations to her? When Michonne returns her eyes on Rick, he is engrossed in a conversation with another man.
"Are you listening to me?" Philip grabs Michonne chin, and he forces her to look at him.
"No…I'm not listening to you, and I don't intend to listen to you," Michonne bluntly answers, and she returns her glance to the table where Rick sits.
He is back at staring at her, and he glares at Philip's hand. Michonne drains the tumbler of scotch, which the waiter brought for her, and she asks for another one. She didn't expect to meet Rick so soon.
His lawyer yet to contact her, and she has yet to forget about their night. The tension in the room pulls on every muscle in her body, and she wants to ignore Rick. However, she can't. Tired of what Rick assumes to be cosiness between Philip and Michonne, he stands from his table and heads to the bathroom.
"Philip, I think I will no longer need your services. You can find another gullible girl," Michonne says as she rushes to follow Rick.
She picks her tumbler, and she needs the courage to have this conversation. Michonne empties the scotch in one gulp. Her body is warm, and her mind is a bit foggy. However, she feels brave enough to confront Rick and express her frustration. She is tired of being his personal doormat.
The liquid courage in her bloodstream or the anger pushes Michonne to follow Rick in the male bathroom. She locks the door to prevent anyone from coming in, and she mostly wants to prevent Rick from leaving.
"Can I talk to you?" She says when she manages to climb on the sink.
Rick zips his pant back up, and he looks at the woman sitting on the sink. He takes a deep breath, and he forbids himself to touch her. She looks as gorgeous as she did the last time he saw her. He wants her the same way he did the last time or even more because he knows how glorious having her feels.
"Michonne?" Rick feigns nonchalance.
However, he internally weathers a storm. He doesn't know what he wants to do. Rick doesn't know if he should passionately kiss her to remind her why every other man would live her unsatisfied, or if he should express all his frustration for her siege of his mind. Rick decides to do nothing, and he heads for the locked door.
"Why don't you listen to me?" Michonne leaves the sink, and she pulls Rick back. "Why don't you tell what is wrong?" She shoves Rick away with frustration. "I will fix it. I will fix us." She reaches for his face and frames his face. "I will fix us if you let me," Michonne's thumbs caress Rick's lips.
He wants to trust her words, and he will love to give in everything, which has kept him awake this last week. Rick wants to believe that Michonne can't fix everything. However, he takes a step back and chooses to guard himself against her.
"Are you drunk?" Rick asks Michonne, and his voice is full of condescension.
His question is a harsh verbal slap. Michonne frees Rick, and she puts some distance between them. She needs to breathe.
"Am I drunk? It is not of relevance right now," Michonne replies.
Rick sighs and heads for the door. Michonne stops him again, and she is frustrated. She is drunk, and her mood is as precarious as her balance. Tonight, she will force him to listen to her.
"I'm working right now, and I don't have time for this," Rick says with growing irritation, and he swats Michonne's hand away from his arm.
The last thing, which he expected to happen during a scheduled business meeting, was to find his wife and her boyfriend having a cosy couple moment. He spent an entire week agonizing over Michonne, and she spends her week with another man. He does need to add more grievance to the list.
"For what Rick…" Michonne asks with an edge to her voice, and Rick questioningly stares at her.
"You don't time for what Richard…" Michonne's voice rises and she throws her left heel at Rick, who miraculously dodges it.
Her grandfather is right. She has had enough, and he deserves to have his was whooped for making her jump through woes. Michonne removes her other shoe. Rick stares at Michonne as if she has lost her mind.
"You don't have time for me… you don't have time for me." She throws the shoe in her hand, and Rick dodges it again.
She takes a deep breath, and she tells herself that Rick Grimes can't be the cause of her growing insanity. However, she is so frustrated.
"You have made it abundantly clear," Michonne attempts to calm herself, but every time she thinks about the morning after he made love to her.
She isn't stupid or delusional. Although, she tried to convince herself that she was being one of those things. She knows the difference between making love and fucking. What Rick did that night was the former. She feels so disrespected and furious.
"A note…a freaking note," Michonne shoves Rick, but he barely moves.
…
….
…
He tries to regain his countenance. Rick convinces himself that he has no reason to entertain her when she is drunk. Once again, he tries to leave the room, but she stops him.
"If you want to talk, we will do so when you sober and in other company than your boyfriend," Rick allows some of his frustration to slip through his answer.
"Why do you make me go through this?" Michonne waves her arm around the male bathroom. "What is it? I'm not good enough for you." She pulls on Rick's tie so he can look at her.
She hates it when he refuses to look at. She also hates it when he looks at her. A confused individual, this is who Rick Grimes has turned her into in a week.
"I'm not her, and I don't get wet for your father… Do I have to sleep with Carlton to get more than a note?" Michonne spits the word with as much venom as she can.
She pushes Rick away multiple time until she breaks his restraint. Rick grabs her arms, and he immobilizes her.
"Michonne, enough," Rick orders, but she is too furious to quiet her emotions
"Every time …Every time... it doesn't matter now or ten years ago. It doesn't matter… it doesn't matter. I'm the dumb one forgive you the time of the day. I'm dumb for caring for your worthless ass. I was dumb then, and I'm a whole clown now," Michonne exhaustively pours her heart out.
"Are you done?" Rick demands
Michonne can no longer take it. She can no longer suppress her tears. They were meant to fall. Rick Grimes knows how to twist the knife. He knows how to hurt her better than anyone does.
"Not until you tell me what I did to you. Tell me what I did to you." She demands.
"Why didn't you come to me that night?" Rick releases Michonne, and he walks the furthest away from her.
He doesn't know why he feels the need to answer her question. A week spent thinking about her. Seven days spent craving every inch of her skin. Perhaps, he is exhausted. Therefore, he obeys to her demand. He responds to her anguish by throwing his pain at her feet.
"So I could make a fool of myself. Therefore, I could help give you that joy. After the show you put on for me, I was supposed to confront you. How would it have gone?" Michonne responds with as much fury as she can display.
"If you had asked me. I would have told you that I was drunk out of mind. I felt too sick to move. I felt drunk enough to cross the inappropriate line to kiss. I was too drunk to do anything beyond laying on the sofa where you left me," Rick whispers those words.
Even when Carlton confronted him, he didn't dare to detail the night. However, Michonne demanded to know. The week has left him vulnerable, and she has left him vulnerable.
"If you had asked me…If only you had confirmed your fact before running to Carlton, you would have known that she dragged me into that room. I was too out of it to move. If you had asked, I would have told you how I dodged every time that she tried to kiss me... I would have told you how she grabbed my face and shoved her tongue while I begged her to get off me. You would have known how hard I tried to get her off me until my arm felt like cotton. I tried until I couldn't move. I tried until it felt pointless…and I tried until I had an escape… You were standing there you were the escape." Rick can't breathe, and the words come out as breathy whispers.
He doesn't dare to look at Michonne. Everything will feel too real. He doesn't want to relieve that night, and he feels so vulnerable. This is what Michonne makes to him. She renders him vulnerable. She demanded to know, and so he has to dig every crevice of his mind. He has to uproot his fragile balance.
"If you had asked before running your mouth to tell my father than I was in love with Jessie for months, you would have known that she harassed me for weeks. She would follow me everywhere. You didn't care enough to ask. You cared about your little-broken heart. You cared about your ego." The accusations resurface, and his anger weakens his voice.
"You cared about everything but what it could have meant for me. You already knew Carlton wouldn't think to punish his new shiny toy. They were always his priority. You wanted to punish me for breaking your heart, and you ran to my father. Congratulations, I was truly punished," Rick finally looks at Michonne.
"Get out of my house or I will make sure to have you arrested for taking advantages of her. Fund closed, no roof on my head, and the entire house thinking I'm a rapist. Merry Christmas to me," Rick finishes speaking.
He has never told a word to anyone. He would have told her if she didn't demand to know. Now, she knows what she did to him. She didn't care enough for him. She simply didn't allow him to tell his version. If no one believed him, she would have. He knew it, and he hoped it. However, she didn't believe the person, who he fought so hard to remain for her.
"I never said a word to Carlton," Michonne reaches for Rick, but the distance is beyond a physical one. "I was angry, but I wouldn't have done that after what happened with your mother. I was mad. I was heartbroken. I was disappointed. I was seventeen years old. What was I supposed to believe? One second you're kissing me and the next second you're… Yes, I ran with what I saw. I did what any girl with a broken girl do. I talked to my best friend," Michonne tries to reach Rick, but he pushes her hand away.
He doesn't want to feel vulnerable. Once was enough, and he never wants to feel like that Christmas Eve.
"I told Maggie and no one else. She swore that she wouldn't tell a soul. I made her swear to keep it between her and me. I told no one else but Maggie…only Maggie…I told no one..." Michonne repeats and she doesn't know what can fix this.
She doesn't know how to take his pain away, and Michonne wants to take it all. She wants to destroy these haunting memories. She wants to take back her jab about him having sex with Jessie. She wants to kill Jessie. She ultimately wants to fix what Jessie broke because Rick believes that Michonne can fix it.
"Doesn't change much to the past. Now, that you have heard it, can I return to my table?" Rick closes himself to Michonne.
"You hate me on principle. I can't fix it…I can't fix that. To you it doesn't matter if I'm guilty, it has to be me. Jessie, Maggie, Carlton or anyone else won't do. I can't fix it. How am I supposed to fix us?" She questions Rick.
"Michonne, stop," Rick refuses to pursue the conversation.
"You don't care, and you want me to be guilty. Only me?" Michonne insists
"Michonne, stop," Rick is exhausted.
"I'm sorry," She kisses him, and he can help how he react to her.
Rick returns Michonne's kiss. He holds onto her with desperation. His fingers sink in her dreadlocks, and he pushes her against the bathroom wall. He presses her body against his. He kisses her with abandon. Michonne is not naïve. This is not forgiveness. He is trying to drown her under his frustration. He wants her to feel as weak as he feels after reliving his trauma. He kisses her until they both can breathe. His forehead rest against her. Their breaths intermingle at every pant.
"It's not enough…" Michonne knowingly says, and she reads him in his eyes. "Tell me what you want. Tell me what you want me to do, Rick." She doesn't know what will salvage what Jessie destroyed.
"I want you completely out of my life. I want a semblance of control. I can't have that with you around. Michonne, please…please… " Rick grazes his lips against hers, and he pushes his body away from her.
"Okay…"
Rick's phone rings, and he groans. The night was rough enough, and he picks his phone without checking on the id.
"Hello?" Rick answers half asleep.
"Are we speaking to Mr Richard Grimes Junior?" The interlocutor demands.
The use of his full name arouses Rick's mind. He checks his phone screen to identify the caller, but the caller is unknown. He heart constricts for a second, and he sits down.
"Yeah… What is going on?" Rick hesitantly demands
"This is agent Davis of the NYPD. We're calling you in regard to a traffic accident." The interlocutor answers.
"I haven't been involved in a traffic accident," Rick answers slight confused by the situation.
"One of the victims' social security card was pulled out. We believe her to be your wife. Your presence to New York Presbyterian is needed for legal decisions concerning her management. " Agent Davis explains.
From the moment when Rick hears the word wife, his mind freezes. What follows is Rick's mechanically reacting to the situation. He knows to grab a shirt, and he picks his car keys. He forgets his shoes and to lock his house.
He miraculously remembers how to drive. He speeds through the streets of New York, and he finds himself in a hospital lobby. Panicked and out breath, the tears pool in the corner of his eyes. He remains calm enough to handle the situation.
"Hi…where is my wife. They brought her here after a traffic accident," Rick asks the nurse with desperation.
"What is your wife name?" The nurse calmly asks Rick.
"Michonne… Michonne Jones…Michonne Grimes." He has no idea what name she has started to use since their marriage.
"We have a Michonne Grimes." The nurse answers and she quickly goes through the admission list.
Rick's mind holds on a small detail for its sanity. Michonne Grimes and she is his wife. She is his Michonne. He needs her to stay in his life. He was being irrational.
"Emergency Department, trauma surgery." The nurse gives the details to Rick.
"Rick Grimes, they have been waiting for you." She says while Rick rushes to the emergency department.
…
…
Rick is too emotionally distress to recognize Philip in one of the room. He doesn't care for his surrounding, and he rushes toward the room, which the nurses told him he could find Michonne.
"Michonne… that is my wife," Rick shouts when the hospital staff holds him back.
He can see her feet, but there is medical personnel surrounding her. His heart is at the edge of an arrest. He can't lose her. He was being irrational when he told those words. He swears he will fix them. He will work on what is wrong. He doesn't matter if he is unable to feel any control around her. He will tell how to fix what he can't fix on his own.
"You can't get in. We are trying to stabilize her, and we need you to sign the consent form so they can proceed with her treatment." The male nurse tells Rick.
Rick is on the verge to follow the nurse when he hears that strident sound. It echoes above anything. It drowns his heartbeat. He can only focus on her feet. His wife…His Michonne… He can't lose her, and he is supposed to have a future with her.
"Can you hear me?" The nurse asks Rick.
Rick can only hear the whistle sound from the monitor, and he stares at her feet. His wife…his Michonne…she needs to come back because he has been the ultimate asshole, but he can't be a good husband. He will take care of her as he promised Richard senior.
"What is going on?" Rick finally finds his words.
"Emergency department, trauma surgery. Doctor Siddiq al-saif. Matriculation 156987 requires the CPR cart and a reanimation team in room b137." He hears coming from Michonne's room
"What is going on?" Rick attempts to enter the room, but the nurse holds him back.
"What is happening to my wife?" Rick demands in panic
"Nothing is happening to your wife, Mr Grimes." The nurse calmly tells Rick. "But she is stable and with a broken arm. However, she lost too much blood and we need to induce an artificial coma."
"Why do they need to reanimate her?" Rick refuses to trust the nurse.
"This is a triage room. Your wife isn't the only patient there, and you're standing in the way."
Ps: I wouldn't do you dirty like that... Michonne is fine