Code note: Well it took me a minute to post this but hooray here it is. Nothing pass you readers, I was trying to be subtle in Michonne, how do I say it, uhmm, her well being but I am not here to deny or confirm. BUT I am happy to say my second favorite couple is coming…Soon
The Rhythm of the Night part ii
It was a really good day, but it ends sad and somber when Carl went back in the cell. He wasn't too broken up about it.
"It has to be done," he says to them all.
Enid visits him again, but she doesn't stay. Eugene brings him his meal and they talk about his birthday and if his favorite flavor was still chocolate: It is. Carl completely forgets about his upcoming seventeenth birthday and with all the private planning he's been making, he wonders if he'll be alive to see his eighteenth.
Rick, Michonne, Daryl and Jesus; the four of them in Carl's cabin, will never be able to get use to the agonizing scream, nor the tormented face of the werewolf. It is the same plan every night: No one gets in and no one gets out. Each morning, Jesus would key in the access code and inspect the cell; once satisfied, he leaves and gives the word to the crew that everything went as expected.
This was the plan every night for the next four nights, and on each of those nights, something new happens during each change. Carl would say his sights are getting confused and say random things like street signs and hearing the sound of rushing water in the distance. It wasn't until the seventh night that Rick realizes that Carl may be connected to Negan. It was a hunch, really; but wasn't confirmed until Carl said the name 'Morgans Ale', that was the popular pub in Alexandria.
The next day, The Bandit Hunter receivesan urgent message from Morales, one of the men Rick has left behind to keep an eye on things in Virginia. It seems the Alexandrians were being attacked by a werewolf at night, and antagonized during the day, by a group calling themselves The Saviors. Daryl did not hesitate in getting himself ready to make the trip back to Virginia, only asking for a few of the best; Rick gave him half. Running on no sleep, Daryl left.
Rick's back was to the wall; the Alexandrians sought aide. He wasn't sure how many more nights his son had to endure the change. Rick was enjoying Michonne's company. He has yet to resolve what is it that he really wants with her; there is that upcoming ball of hers, her father's missing documents, and he wasn't any closer to killing Negan. He sends word out to The Rhee's, hoping they were still in place and manning their battleship; This Celluloid Dream was larger. Rick sends a note to the Governor on his unavailability for lunch, as well as his unexpected departure. He assures her he will return as soon as he is able to change course.
The days on ship were keeping Michonne restless; she needs to kill some things. She went looking for Rick and found him at the wheel of the ship with Carl; he was explaining what each button and knob controls.
She marches right up to them, "Rick I'm taking a bike and I'm going to kill some dead."
"Oh, I like that idea, can I come with?" Carl asks, getting excited at the thought of killing some of the dead too.
Rick was against the idea, and was about to voice his opinion on that with a NO, but then he stops; Michonne could have easily taken a bike and left, but she let him know what she wants to do. He watches her mannerism and notice she doesn't look upset; most likely frustrated about something, absolutely. Probably with him and something he did or didn't do.
"Well if it's okay with Michonne, you can go Carl."
They both face him in complete disbelief that he says that.
"What?" he asks, wanting to laugh but keeping a straight face, "Go kill something Carl."
He then goes back to watching the idles of the ship; he really doesn't like how the needle for the third engine keeps going up and down; he calls down to the engine room. When Rick looks back up, he sees that they are both gone; he gets the attention of Abe and Richard and calls them over.
"Look, Michonne and Carl are going out to kill some dead to blow off some steam; follow them at a distance, don't let them, especially Michonne, know you're following them, just make sure they don't fall into any problems."
"Will do," Abe says and both men leave.
Rick feels bad that he has to do this but two of the most important people in his life are going to be on the ground, so it's better feeling safe than sorry.
They return a few hours later and Rick was still at the wheel of the ship; the idle of third engine was giving the engine room listens to Carl, excited and animated, as he begins to tell Rick everything that has happened. It was nonstop; he uses his hands to mime some of the moves he and Michonne made; when Rick looks up to ask Michonne how her excursion went, she was already gone and that bothers Rick very much.
Abe and Richard return a few minutes later.
"Michonne is an enigma. I don't even know if she is human," Abe begins, "Well, obviously she's human, but I mean, just watching her kill some of those dead was like watching a whole new art form."
Richard nods his head, "She really looked out for Carl too; called him on his bullshit when he tried to take out three on his own."
"Great," Rick replies. "Do you think she knew you guys were there?"
Both men shake their heads.
"Nope, we were at a very safe distance; used the scope for viewing and did not interfere at all," Richard answers.
"Good," Rick says, and goes back to communicating with the engine room.
It wasn't until much later, when they were taking their meals that evening in Carl's cabin before he had to go in his cell, when Rick asks Michonne about her day.
"It went well. How was yours?" Michonne responds cordially.
Rick raises his brow, 'Okay so it's going to be that kind of night.' He thinks. "Something is wrong with the third engine; it was a mess to fix."
"Sounds nice," Michonne replies absentmindedly.
"Nice? It was a mess to fix; I nearly threw Jesus off the ship. He clearly didn't know what he was doing." Rick responds, slightly agitated.
Michonne is deep in thought and doesn't respond.
For the whole week of being in each other's company, they say very little. Michonne keeps her mind as busy as she can because she doesn't really want to think about Rick Grimes at all. Yet, he was on her mind every second of the day. The last time they ate together, Carl said something that made her stop to think and reevaluate her life. Michonne had enjoyed the way she had freely lived her life as it was her own. She had planned dinners with Eugene, utilizing his expertise in the kitchen, all to surprise the crew's palette. She tried to read, but gave up when she lacked the concentration; she had even helped Jesus create and draw up weapons. She was being taught to read maps and charts by Aaron and was even taught, and took a liking to sky golf, by Abe. Even then, when she had all of these things to occupy her mind, she still thought about Rick.
Rick continues to watch her openly and quietly wondering where her mind is. "Where are you?" he asks.
Michonne says nothing.
'Lovers' quarrel.' Jesus though while watching them both and sighs on how the night will be.
Carl frowns as he shifts his gaze between his dad, Michonne and Jesus,"This is going to be an extra long night," he mumbles under his breath.
It was the longest and most awkward dinner they all have had. Before being locked in his damn cell for the eighth night, Carl looks at his dad, "Whatever you did, fix it dad."
"I agree," Jesus adds as he punches in the access code locking Carl in. It was the same plan every night. No one gets in and no one gets out and they wait, but then nothing happens. Rick pulls out his pocket watch to look at the time and frowns.
Carl turns to face the three in the room, "Something is different."
Rick tenses up, "What's different?" he asks.
"Nothing, I feel nothing," Carl responds.
Rick exchanges glances with Michonne and Jesus.
"This is good, right? We are on the evening of night eight and Carl feels nothing," Michonne said.
"Interesting, we possibly have seven nights from the evening of a full moon," Jesus says to himself and opens the book he and Daryl have been working on; it had both their drawings and their individual notes. He begins writing his observation note with the date and time.
"This is good," Rick says and walks up to the cell, "Open it."
Jesus looks up from the notebook, "Well let's not be hasty Rick; let's stick to the plan and I'll key in the code at dawn, like what we've been doing the past seven nights. We need to be sure." Jesus then faces Carl, "Is that okay with you?"
"Carl shrugs, "It's your throats. I'm okay with dawn. I may actually get some sleep for the first time since."
It ended up not being a long night for Carl after all; once he lay his head down on the cot he fell right to sleep. Jesus made notes in the book and felt confident that it would only last seven days from a full moon. He closes the book around midnight, and soon fashions a bed in the chair he was in, hoisting his foot in another chair. He fell asleep a few minutes later, leaving Rick to get in Michonne's space.
"Is everything okay Michonne" Rick whispers, concern on his face.
Michonne sighs, "Everything is fine, I'm just restless."
"Well not to worry, if you're looking for action we should be back in Virginia soon, got that third engine working like it should, so not long."
Michonne smiles, and yet her thoughts, again, are elsewhere. She welcomes his nearness and admits to herself that was what she really missed about him the most.
"You getting off the ship for a breather had me thinking," Rick takes another step closer to her,
"And your conclusion to this thought?" she asks.
"We have been in cities of Georgia, Virginia, and New York, and not once have I asked you if you wanted to join me or dine with me off this ship."
"Hmm you're right, you haven't, but things have gotten really…" Michonne wasn't sure how to describe the last few weeks, "Wild. Bizarre."
Rick moves in closer and reaches out to her, slowly pulling her in a tight embrace. He looks down into her brown eyes, "Well something is very clear, here, when I say I miss holding you like this, Michonne."
Michonne gazes into his blue eyes, while wrapping her arms around his neck, "I agree."
"You've been in our company, my company, for nearly six months and recently went from good company, friends, and now lovers."
Michonne smiles as she begins to play with the curls at the nape of his neck, "Lovers, we're lovers now?"
Rick nods his head, "It is very safe to say that your very presence is intoxicating and I want much more from you Michonne."
"And I'm willingly giving it to you."
"I don't want to mess this up. I'm not really good with the whole wining and dining."
Michonne chuckles, "I think we have surpassed the wining and dining."
"Yes, but I want to, and will, do this right: the courting, taking meals together, and then all the really good stuff and things afterwards."
Michonne crosses her brow, "Stuff and things?"
Rick smiles, "You know the part where the good things happen after all that wining and dining."
"I don't know what you mean; can you give me a demonstration?" Michonne asks teasingly.
Rick was happy to oblige her; he tilts his head down to Michonne and captures her lips in a kiss. It was soft and sweet but then Rick tried to pry her lips open with his tongue; she moves back from the kiss.
"Oh, those stuff and things?" she asks. "You do know that we are in the company of others and we both know how every time you use that tongue of yours I lose all senses and find myself leaning against something with that mouth of yours between my legs."
Rick moans at that very truthful statement as he reaches for Michonne and kisses her passionately again.
'Oh god this man can kiss.' Michonne thinks; it felt like she was spinning but grounded. It was really hard to end the wonderful kiss, but she does, to Rick's disappointment.
"Rick," Michonne whispers loudly, "Company."
With frustration written on his face, he replies, "Fine, but the minute daylight hits those windows, Michonne, I have every intention in making up for lost time."
Thank you Siancore and thank you for reading and reviewing. Happy Thanksgiving! - eMMe