This chapter is slow and more introspective than anything. The story will pick up.

Ch. 2: Progress

The smell of fish wafted to Walt on the air in the small cabin that he and Henry were staying in. Fishing hadn't been as good as they expected. They did manage to catch enough for a decent dinner. Henry set the tray of fish on top of the small oven and looked to Walt.

"This is ready."

It had been a long time since he and Henry did something like this. It was the kind of thing they did frequently in their youth. As they grew older and life handed them responsibilities, they didn't have the time that they once did. Still, they managed to find time once a year or so to get away and do the activities they'd always enjoyed.

As the years passed them by, life grew more complicated and the trips stopped altogether. Walt was the Sheriff and Henry has his business at the Red Pony. It wasn't that their friendship diminished as much as it changed the same way that they did. Walt had to admit in recent times their friendship had suffered. He could accept that he was primarily accountable for that.

Their lives had again taken sharp turns and everyone was reminded of how fragile life could actually be. So, now they were trying to rebuild what they had lost. The trip was Henry's idea. On some level, it needed to be. Walt was retired with no job to report to. His time and the way he spent it were his own. Henry had taken over the casino and the change had taken up the bulk of his time.

Now, that had mostly calmed down. The initial transition was over and Henry had his bearings. Mostly. Leadership was not new to him. The scale of the casino was. Walt sensed a new confidence in his friend, a sense of pride that hadn't been there before. He knew how much it meant to Henry to help his people. This casino offered him that chance in a way that nothing else had or ever would.

Walt would not begrudge him.

Not this time.

His previous unbending attitude about the casino and what it meant for Absaroka County had brought him nothing but problems.

It was one of the aspects of his personality that he resolved to change, his unwillingness to accept change.

The two men made themselves plates of food and sat at the table eating. There wasn't much talking between them as they ate. Walt complimented Henry on how good the meal was. No surprise there. He noticed that Henry's dark eyes kept settling on him. He knew that there was a question, or more, coming.

"Is everything okay?"

Walt was more than halfway done with his food when Henry posed the question. Walt looked up.

"Yep. Told you it was good."

Henry continued to study him with a perceptiveness that came from decades of friendship.

"I do not mean the food."

Walt knew that he didn't. He knew Henry well enough to know when there was something on his mind. This was clearly one of those moments. Walt waited as he always did in these situations. He would see what was on Henry's mind before he decided how deep to go. It was a constant annoyance for Henry, Walt's refusal to be an open book.

"Is something wrong?"

"No."

Henry rephrased the question to no avail. It was the truth. Nothing was wrong. Not really. This was the longest trip they had taken lately. They started with day long fishing trips, sometimes on Walt's property. It was somewhat like old times even though those times were gone and they were never coming back. That was what life and aging did to you.

When he first tossed the idea of coming here to Vic, she didn't have much of a reaction. She simply nodded and asked him when he thought they would go. When he extended an invitation to her to come along, she looked at him like he was out of his mind. He shouldn't have been surprised. She never took him up on his offers to come with them back home either. Vic didn't fish. The idea of sitting around with lines in the water waiting for a fish to come along and take the bait was not something that appealed to her. Knowing Vic as he did, it made perfect sense. He just wanted her to know that he was trying to include her if she wanted to be included.

"You're kidding?"

She stopped just short of laughing at the idea. Walt shook his head.

"I'm not."

"You want me to go ice fishing?"

The way that she said "ice fishing" let him know exactly how she felt about that idea.

"Walt…"

She was gauging him.

"You know I don't fish."

"You haven't tried it."

"Yeah, well, it sounds boring as hell. And…ice fishing…"

Again, her tone spoke for itself. Vic wasn't particularly outdoorsy. She didn't actively avoid outdoor activities. She was willing to ride the horse when he asked and take walks with him with no argument. She even seemed to enjoy herself in spite of the nerves she felt when she rode horseback. A handful of times, they'd gone on picnics. His property offered what town could not. Privacy and the ability to be themselves without scrutiny. Those generally ended with activities that Vic found more enjoyable or with them simply existing in the moment.

That was a different ballgame according to Vic. She was willing to indulge him to a point. Going out and sitting on a frozen lake while they fished stretched the limits of what she was going to expose herself to. She made that clear.

"Too cold."

That was her reply. Walt smiled slightly.

"Has to be to ice fish."

The reply earned him a look.

"No kidding. Walt, you know that freezing my ass off is not my idea of a good time."

Fair enough.

This was exactly the answer he anticipated. He just wanted her to know that she was welcome into all aspects of his life.

"Besides…"

She continued without waiting for him.

"…you and Henry have some things to work out."

Her voice had taken on a gentler tone. It was the truth.

"Yeah."

She reached out and placed her hand over his. The warmth of her touch spread through him in a way that nothing else could.

"You and I can do something else."

That peaked his curiosity.

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. You know…there are better things to do in winter than fishing and freezing."

"Are there?"

It drove her crazy when he did that and Walt knew it. This time, she ignored it.

"Yes. There are other ways to spend time in a cabin."

Walt felt his mouth go dry and he knew that talk of fishing trips was over for the night.

"Walt?"

He snapped back into the moment.

"Hmm?"

"What are you thinking about so hard?"

Walt was quiet for a few minutes. True to form, Henry waited and continued to eat.

"There was a time…you and I would have pitched a tent to do this kind of thing."

Henry gave him an odd look at the comment. If Henry didn't know Walt better, it might've really thrown him off.

"Would you have preferred that?"

"Nope. It's just an observation."

"An observation about what?"

"Change."

Understanding dawned over Henry.

"Ah. This is about change."

Walt shifted in his chair.

"A lot has changed. For both of us."

Henry nodded slowly.

"It has. Do you have regrets about that?"

Walt answered quickly.

"No. I don't."

It was true. As resistant as he was to change, the alterations he'd made in his life recently all seemed to be for the best. They required adjustments on his part. That was something Walt wasn't good at. He found the best method was to take things day by day. So far, that seemed to be working.

"Are you sure?"

Walt cleared his throat and tried to clear his mind.

"I'm sure. Retiring was the right thing to do. It was time. You could argue it was past time. I just…wanted to be sure and leave things the right way."

"And you feel that you have done that?"

"Yep."

"Cady is taking to the job?"

"You've talked to her. You know the answer to that."

Henry smiled.

"I was looking for your opinion."

"Yes, I think she is."

Henry continued to look at him.

"And the other big change you have made recently."

It wasn't really a question as much as it was a lead-in.

Vic.

"What about it?"

"Things are going well?"

Walt met Henry's eyes.

"You still have doubts?"

"It is not my place to judge your relationship, Walt. I was only cautioning you. I do not want to see you get hurt. And…the two of you were under so much stress."

Walt looked away. Henry had never outright said he didn't think this would last. It was just that Walt knew him so well and he could see the reserve in Henry. It wasn't much different than most of the other reactions they got when people found out about them. No one said anything that Walt hadn't already debated with himself internally. The kiss they shared in the truck might have been impulsive on his part, but the feeling behind it was not new and neither was the struggle within himself.

"That doesn't make the feelings less real."

"That is fair."

Walt sighed. He didn't want to talk about this anymore.

xxx

It was just after dark when Henry returned from the small store not too far from the cabin. It was the only store nearby and sold a bit of everything. It was also one of the only spots where a person could get a cell phone to work out here. There was a time Walt wouldn't have cared about that. That was yet another change in his life. He'd made the trek on foot in order to call Vic to let her know that they made it. The call had been full of static so they kept it short and to the point.

Henry went for the same reason. While he was more comfortable now with his role at the casino, he tried to keep his finger on the pulse of the business. There was no small shortage of work to be found in the wake of Nighthorse's departure. Henry brought in new people in order to ensure the place was being run legally and honestly. He wanted to cast off the shadows of Strand and Nighthorse and he was doing just that.

"How is everything?"

There was a stressed set to Henry's face when he came inside and shed his coat.

"There have been some bumps."

Walt studied his friend.

"Something big?"

Henry was aware that Walt still held mixed feelings about the casino. It was something that wasn't likely to change. Like many issues that arose over the years of their friendship, it was accepted and moved on from.

"No, but…"

Henry's voice trailed off.

"You wanna head back tonight?"

Walt wasn't sure where the question came from. Their time in this small cabin had been a good reprieve for them both. Vic was right about that. This was something that he and Henry needed. Like any other relationship, friendship changed over time.

He could see Henry thinking about it.

"You would not mind?"

"Nope. Fishing hasn't been very good anyway."

They had talked about trying once more in the morning before heading home. Instead, they could simply pack up and leave. Walt felt like he had gotten out of this what he needed. He wouldn't mind going home.

Henry nodded to him.

"I would appreciate that."

Walt stood up slowly and glanced around the cabin. It was sparse, but served a purpose. It wasn't like they could complain since they weren't being charged for their stay here thanks to a friend of Henry's.

"If we leave soon, we'll be home well before midnight. You going straight to the casino?"

"More than likely."

Walt started to tuck his clothes into the duffel bag he carried. He didn't bother sorting. He would do that later on once he was home. He briefly considered calling Vic once they were on the road and decided against it. He could have texted her like Vic was always prodding him to do. He didn't like texting. He would do it occasionally and Vic texted him a good bit. It just felt impersonal.

Vic would roll her eyes at that one.

He smiled at the thought. He missed her when he was gone. This was the first trip he'd taken since the weather turned cold. In the late summer and fall, he'd made quite a few excursions looking for Lucian's treasure. That was how he came to think of it. As Lucian's. Admittedly, the first trip was less about finding treasure and more about finding some peace within himself as well as a suitable resting place for the old Sheriff's ashes. Lucian would not want to spend eternity in a coffee can.

Nor should he.

He still didn't really care about treasure or money. It was less about that and more about finding pieces of himself he lost over the years when he discarded his own well being and that of those around him. Vic never questioned his motives and he was grateful for that. Expressing himself verbally was a struggle for him. She seemed to understand this was something that he needed to do and accepted it. Except for the first trip, he was never gone for very long. Sometimes, he actually looked for the treasure, others he was simply content to exist in the greatest church he knew. Nature.

Within a half hour, they were in the Bronco and headed back to civilization. As soon as Henry had a signal, he started making calls. Walt didn't really listen. Casino business held no interest for him and he soon found himself lost in his own thoughts as he drove.

He wasn't sure Vic would be up when he got home. Her schedule was so dictated by her job. If it was an easy day, she was more prone to lounge around. A busy day would land her in bed earlier. He knew she wasn't off the next day. There was always the chance that she could take off. If things at the office were slow, she wasn't opposed to the idea. He knew that from experience.

In the passenger seat, Henry continued to talk. Walt kept his eyes on the road and his hands on the wheel. Every so often, he would glance at the clock on the dash to check the time. As the miles passed under the tires of the Bronco, he felt his booted foot push down a little harder on the gas pedal.

xxx

The cabin was dark when Walt pulled in.

Walt parked in front of the cabin next to Vic's white work truck. He grabbed his bag from the back and walked carefully up the steps. If she was already asleep, there was no reason to wake her up. He eased his key in and turned the knob. Vic always locked the door and made fun of him when he did not, which wasn't as often as it once was.

Inside, he closed and locked the door with a click. He set his bag down out of the way and decided that he would leave it there until morning. Walt removed his hat and coat and put them aside. Toeing off his boots, he crossed the floor in his socks to the fireplace. There was still a decent fire going, but it was slowly losing strength. He took a few minutes to carefully add a log and stoke the fire back to life. The living room lit up more around him in the orangish light. Satisfied that it would last some time, he entered the bedroom.

With the light from the living room, he could just see her in the bed. Walt paused and listened to the cadence of her breathing. She was sleeping deeply as far as he could tell. A small smile crossed his lips as he watched momentarily before grabbing some clean clothes and slipping into the bathroom. Walt didn't turn on the light until he closed the door. Once the door was closed and the light on, he turned on the shower and gave the water time to warm up as he undressed and brushed his teeth.

In the shower, he washed his hair and body. The hot water felt good on his skin. The small cabin he and Henry stayed in had a shower, but the water was lukewarm at best. After spending so much time out in the cold, a hot shower felt better than he would have imagined just a few minutes ago. Once he was done, he shut off the water and dressed for bed in pajama pants.

Back in the bedroom, he paused again to take her in. Vic was on her back with the blankets pulled up around her waist. Her breathing was still deep and steady. As he approached, she made a low noise and rolled onto her side so that she was facing his direction. As soon as he lowered himself onto the mattress, her breathing changed and she moved again as she slipped from sleep into the moment. Walt placed his hand on her arm. Her skin was cool to the touch.

"Didn't meant to wake you."

Walt got into bed. She was studying him with a sleepy confusion that he found cute. He wouldn't use that word with her, but it was the one that came to mind. There was something about her just out of sleep that he found undeniably alluring. Something in him stirred and Walt forced the feeling down for the time being.

"What're you doing here?"

"Got back early."

"No shit."

Walt suppressed a laugh. She didn't say anything else and neither did he. He moved a little closer to her. Underneath the blankets, she was warm and inviting. Vic turned her face into his shoulder and he heard her inhale. She would be back asleep soon. Vic's arm slid over his abdomen and they both drifted off.

It felt like the night flew by, telling him that he slept soundly in his own bed. He was up with the sun as usual. Even in retirement, he struggled to sleep any later than dawn or just after. Beside him, Vic was still sleeping. He watched her briefly, then got up and dressed. She wouldn't be all that far behind and it surprised him that she caught a possible murder case while he was gone. He would be lying to say he wasn't disappointed that work was busy. Otherwise, Walt thought she would've stayed home. But, work was work and there wasn't anything she could do about it.

He would never hold that against her.

After Vic left, he took his time having a second cup of coffee. It was a cold morning and would be a cold day. He would go into town and buy groceries. That was his primary goal for today. They wouldn't be open for a while yet, though. So, there was no reason for him to hurry. He liked that about his life now. There was no rush to get anywhere or do anything. The lack of urgency was welcome.

He carried his bag into the bedroom and emptied it. The clothes were then tossed into the washing machine, which he started. Once that was done, he washed the mugs they used for coffee, dried them, and put them back in the cabinet. He wasn't normally so on top of things and cleaning was rarely at the top of his list. He felt good this morning. There was definitely something to be said for getting a good night's rest in his own bed.

Walt checked the contents of the kitchen and made a mental list of what they needed. He knew that he should write it down and was destined to forget something once he actually got to the store. He would make sure to get the basics. Anything else could always be picked up later. The modified role reversal wasn't lost on him. Neither he or Vic were all that great with the more domestic side of life such as groceries and cleaning. But, it was a task that needed doing and she was at work. So, it fell to him. Truth was, he did most of the cooking when they ate in. He didn't mind. It kept him occupied.

There wasn't much about their relationship that was traditional. Walt didn't mind. Vic certainly didn't care. He found it bothered others more and that puzzled him. Why be concerned with someone else's personal life? As long as the two of them were satisfied with their lives, it wasn't anyone else's business.

If there was one aspect of being Sheriff that he was grateful to be out from under, it was the expectation that he live his life a certain way. He'd always been a private man. That could be difficult when you were an elected official. People assumed that voting for you gave them some right to your private life. Walt supposed in some cases it might. If your personal life affected your job performance, he could understand the thought process. Wanting to have an opinion just to have one was a different story.

Walt checked the time and decided to head into town. He stuffed his wallet into his back pocket and pulled on his boots. Collecting his coat and hat, he put them on as well. Keys in hand, he started for the door when he stopped and looked at his desk. His cell phone lay there. That was a thought he wouldn't have imagined having before. It was Vic who pressed for the phone and he conceded once he gave it some thought. As much as he disliked them, it felt like a small thing she was asking and he understood the emotion behind it.

He still wasn't overly keen on the idea, but was able to admit there were some benefits to the phone. He still preferred real conversation over messages and emails. That would never change. To Vic's credit, she didn't pressure him about carrying the phone all the time. He liked the idea of still being able to disconnect from the world around him and not be tethered to technology.

He didn't need a phone just to go to the store and left the phone on the desk.

xxx

Walt decided to have breakfast before he went to the store. He didn't have much to do today, so there was no reason to be in any hurry. The thought of having a lazy breakfast at the Busy Bee was too much of a pull to resist. By the time he parked on the street and went inside, the early morning rush was over and the place was quieter than it would have been earlier.

He bypassed the tables and took a seat at the counter. Dorothy gave him a smile as she placed a mug in front of him and filled it up with coffee without being asked.

"Morning, Walt."

"Morning."

"Do you want a menu?"

Walt didn't know why she asked that. He couldn't remember ever asking her for one.

"No, thanks. Just…the usual."

He also couldn't recall at what point "the usual" became all he ever asked for without even knowing what it was. It changed from day to day which didn't make any sense if you really thought about it. On occasion, she would also toss out what "the special" was. Still, it was always the usual for him. Dorothy never set any food in front of him that wasn't good.

"Sure thing."

True to form, she didn't tell him exactly what he would be getting. She simply left him sitting there to prepare his food. The situation was predictable and he liked that. With all the change that entered his life recently, it was good to know that some things were still the same as always. He didn't get in as much as he did when he worked nearby.

Walt sipped his coffee while he waited for his food. There were only a few patrons on the café for now. Walt knew that would change once the clock tipped them into the lunch hour. Like breakfast, the place would get busy all over again.

"How is retirement treating you?"

Walt turned his attention back to Dorothy who worked as she spoke to him.

"Can't complain."

"Never thought I would see the day. You know…I threaten it every once in a while."

Walt smiled a bit. Dorothy started to continue when the door opened. Dorothy's eyes shifted and a smile crossed her face.

"Well, if it isn't the Sheriffs of the past and present."

Walt turned to see Cady.

"Hey."

Cady offered him a tired smile.

"Hey."

She turned her attention back to Dorothy.

"Could I get the same as yesterday?"

"Sure. Just give me a few minutes."

Cady nodded and took a seat beside Walt.

"You made it back."

"Yep. Last night."

Cady gave him a curious look, but didn't voice the question he was expecting. Based on her expression, he figured Vic mentioned he was back early. Whatever thought she might've had, she released it.

"Nice trip?"

"Yep."

Cady gave him a look similar to the one Vic gave him when he did that to her.

"You buy breakfast every morning?"

He changed the subject. It seemed the safest option.

Cady shook her head.

"Not every morning. But, when everyone is stressed over an investigation, it seems to help."

"Vic mentioned the case."

She understood what he was saying without his actually saying it. Cady dipped her chin slightly.

"She says you never really get used to it."

That sounded like something Vic would say. As much bravado as she could produce when needed, he knew that she was deeply sensitive underneath. He wondered if Cady saw that and how much.

It was the truth. Over the years, he learned to deal with it enough to get his job done. He learned how to compartmentalize murder and senseless deaths in order to solve a case and provide closure for a family. He never got accustomed to it, though. He never took it lightly and he knew that Vic didn't either.

"She's right."

On the stool beside him, Cady shifted.

"It's my first…."

Cady dropped the volume of her voice so that it was just above a whisper.

"…investigation like this."

He knew that, of course, even though it hadn't occurred to him until she said it.

"You okay?"

Cady shrugged.

"Ask me after we solve it."

She didn't give any details about the case and he didn't ask for them. It was hard to keep himself out of their investigations. To him, it felt necessary for the time being. It had only been a few months since he left office and Cady took over. As tempting as it was to involve himself, he felt like they both needed separation. She needed to establish herself as the Sheriff and not as the daughter of Walt Longmire. That was one thing that Vic repeated to him over and over. She was right and he was aware of that.

Walt cleared his throat.

"You've got a good staff, Cady. Let that work for you."

They could be somewhat of a motley crew, but they got the job done.

"I know. And…they all know more than me about this. It makes me feel…"

She paused.

"…inadequate."

Walt leaned towards his daughter a little.

"You aren't. They just have more experience than you. Learn from them."

"Oh…I am. Vic…is a better teacher than she gives herself credit for. And…she's really good at her job."

"Yes, she is."

He certainly didn't know where he would be without her. There was an honesty in Vic that was hard to find. So many people told you what you wanted to hear and shied away from the truth. Vic was the opposite. She spoke whatever came to mind with little or no filter. As brusque as it could be, he learned to appreciate that about her. She didn't hold back, not even when it was in her best interest.

Dorothy returned and set a bag on the counter as well as a cup holder filled with cups of coffee.

"Here you go. Yours is coming."

The second comment was directed at Walt. Cady paid and grabbed the office breakfast.

"Thanks."

Dorothy returned the smile.

"Anytime."

Cady turned her attention to Walt. He could see the somber expression she wore without any effort and he understood where it came from. As smart and educated as she was, she had a lot to learn about law enforcement and the roller coaster of emotion that came along with it. There was only so much that he could offer her advice on. The rest was up to her. The way she handled the darker aspects of her job was something only she could manage.

"Thank you."

"Take care of yourself, Punk."

His voice was low when he said it. In that moment, he was purely her father and not the former Sheriff. It was the one constant role in his life and he wished he had done a better job at times. There was no way to go back, though. Only forward.

She smiled and pushed through the door.

"Here you go."

Dorothy set a plate laden with eggs, hashbrowns, biscuits, and bacon in front of him. Walt accepted the food with a smile and started to eat. It was good, of course. Dorothy's food always was. It was just harder to enjoy after his conversation with Cady just now. His appetite wasn't as strong as it was when he first sat down with the idea of having breakfast.

Some things never changed.

xxx

After his breakfast, Walt sat in the Bronco and looked off towards the Sheriff's office. It still felt strange to not go there every day. To know that someone else was sitting behind the desk in his old office. The building looked quiet from this distance. No one came or went for the few minutes that he sat there.

Walt knew that appearances could be deceiving. Inside would be anything but calm. They would all be working on something. It was likely they were all contributing to the case in some way. Vic was likely taking the lead given Cady's lack of practical on the job experience. In contrast, Vic had plenty of experience. It was one of the reasons Walt always wanted her perspective on cases when she worked for him. Coming from a much larger city, her personal catalog was much more vast than could be achieved in Durant, Wyoming.

Cady seemed to recognize that she should defer to the more experienced in a case like this one and that was the sign of a true leader in his mind. To know when someone knew more than you about a subject and to accept that as a learning curve.

Any worries he possessed about Cady and Vic working together were gone now. The two of them had more than proven that it was possible in spite of what went on outside of the office. Not that Cady had been opposed to them. Surprised. Wary in the same was as Henry. She seemed to have moved beyond that faster. Maybe because she had the benefit of seeing them together more than Henry did.

Cady's surprise about the two of them being together was about equal to the surprise on Vic's face when he suggested Cady as the new Sheriff. They were all learning how to navigate this new reality they existed in. As far as he was concerned, they were doing a better job of it than he could've anticipated. It seemed that Vic's time spent living with Cady had proven beneficial to what had once been a tenuous relationship. They were very different women in a lot of ways, similar in others.

Walt sighed and started up the engine. The slight cough as the engine turned over wasn't lost on him. The Bronco was old and needed more upkeep as the days went by. Vic suggested more than once that he replace it. He didn't have any intention of doing that. Just because something was older didn't mean it needed to be replaced.

It still got the job done.

The words echoed in the back of his mind along with a smile that she gave him once when he said that. It was way back near the beginning when they were still getting to know each other. As much as they clicked early on, they both had secrets that didn't come out until later on.

Walt pushed the thoughts out of his mind and returned his attention to the Bronco. Once he got home, he would pop the hood and have a look underneath. He wasn't a mechanic by any stretch. He knew his vehicle. He would see if there was anything obvious before he took it to a garage to have it looked at. Like most things, with proper care, it would last.

That seemed more prophetic than he intended.

Walt pulled out and headed for the store, going through the mental list he made earlier that morning and adding a few things he hadn't thought of before. At the grocery store, he was methodical in his selections as he made his way though the aisles.

Shopping was mundane and never something he liked doing. Martha did. She loved to cook and experiment with different ingredients. She could spend more time than imaginable comparing products and trying to decide what she wanted. The memory tugged at something in his chest and he allowed it to. Once, he would've tried to suppress it and the pain that it brought him. There was still some level of hurt attached to thinking of Martha. It was different now. The sharpness was gone. Thankfully. Now, it was more of a dull ache at times. At other times, the memories brought a smile to his face. He would always love her. He would always miss her.

He survived when he thought it wasn't possible.

He was still here.

In the beginning, there was a level of guilt to 'moving on.' It was one of the reasons he was unable to establish a real relationship with women like Lizzie and Donna. It was a reason, not the only reason. That was one of the things that he found so confusing.

How could he miss Martha so profoundly when he had feelings for another woman? Feelings that were both foreign and familiar all at the same time. With Vic, nothing ever came easy.

Walt blinked the idea away. He was here to buy groceries and not get bogged down in thoughts. He was like that a lot now. Even Vic commented on it and that was saying something considering she was always kidding him about getting lost in his own head.

It was something that he wanted to do less so that he could experience the moment that he was living in. A work in progress. That was the phrase that came to mind with regards to himself as well as Vic and everyone else in the world. Maybe that was one of the reasons for their existence in such an imperfect world. Maybe that was why some left before others.

Walt released a breath and felt his heart thump is his chest. His thoughts weren't normally so dark and he wasn't sure why they had taken that turn now. He wasn't really one to believe in fate. He was more of a "we make our choices and live with them kind of person."

Of course, he would never claim to know everything.