A/N: Part I of II - A/U - Detective Michonne Wright has an impressive record, solving major crimes for the FBI in Atlanta. But with all of her intellectual knowledge and extensive training, it never prepared her for what was happening right in front of her eyes. ️❤❤❤

️Rated PG

MICHONNE POV

10:30 PM Friday

Deanna casually strolled by and I briefly peered up from my laptop. "Where is everyone?" She said looking around at the empty office.

"Hmm, everyone called in," I said giving her another brief glance. "Glenn wasn't feeling well, Daryl's going to the Carrie Underwood concert, and Rick has a hot date."

"Goddamnit..."Deanna's usually cool manner shifted promptly to agitation, she looked downright irate.

"Captain...?" Now my normally causal face turns into a frown. What in the hell is going on?

"Seriously Lieutenant... you're one of the smartest women in law enforcement..."

Wow, that was nice. I don't remember ever receiving such high praises from my Captain before.

"Thanks, Captain, but I still don't..."

She cut me off in mid-sentence... "The Three Amigos are playing hooky and I want to know why," she grumbled, "They think because I've been AWOL for a couple of days, I wouldn't know any better..." Deanna dug into her pocket, pulling out her cellular.

"Any better about what?" I asked, completely clueless. But now that I think back, the guys were acting a bit strange today. It is not out of the norm for Grimes to behave abnormally, that's just one of his many endearing quirks, but Rhee and Dixon are methodically level headed so...

"I'll give you a clue Detective Wright." She huffed, letting out the last syllable of my name with precise articulation. "Rhee never gets sick, Carrie Underwood's concert is next Friday and Grimes is not on a freaking date, everyone knows he's in love with you.

"What the..!" I didn't mean to say that aloud.

She glared at me dismissively, irritated by my confusion.

"Are you going to make me take back what I just said about how smart you are Michonne?" She grimaces while dialing her phone frantically. She places the phone on my desk pushing the speaker icon; the person she is dialing is not answering, so she hangs up and dials another number.

"I suppose not." I stammer. "But you said everyone knows..."

"Yes, everyone knows Rick is head over heels for you. Mayor knows, hell even Attorney General knows..." She says rolling her eyes. "Everyone..."

"Hello." A male voice answers the phone after several rings.

"Walsh - I need you to track down, my three insubordinate's..." Captain Monroe, picks up her cellular and abruptly turned and left my office, too preoccupied with chasing 'the amigos' down to really answer my questions.

I'm left with my thoughts of confusion and embarrassment. 'Everyone knows' Rick is in love with me? My palms get all sweaty, no longer able to concentrate on work so I slam my notebook shut. The Mayor and Attorney General who've I've only met twice know? My head suddenly feels light.

How can that be when nothing has ever happened between us?

Has he told people he's in love with me? Why would he do something so stupid? He'd totally expose himself to scrutiny and skepticism, he'd lose his credibility as the badass senior detective with the unreadable demur. I'd be labeled as the rookie chick who's more of a distraction than an agent. I'd lose all credibility as a detective in this precinct and I've worked too hard at my career for this bullshit.

I clench my fist into a tight ball.

Are people talking about us?

I mean sure, the attraction is present and accounted for. Rick is a nice-looking guy. Well, he's better than nice; the man is fine, but still. Oh my! I wonder has anyone caught me staring at his cute little ass.

Has he been looking at mine?

I've caught him smiling at me from time to time – no biggie, his nickname is 'officer friendly' cause he smiles a lot. Recalling every single encounter with curly- locks, the very first that pops into my mind is the Commissioners Gala. I was dressed in a white designer dress that was tailored to fit me like a glove.

When the valet approached my car, before he could open my door, Rick was there pulling me out of the car, looking mighty fine in his tux, his normally unruly curls were groomed to perfection. We walked in together and was greeted by the team. When Captain Monroe introduced the team to Mayor Morgan Jones and Attorney General Herschel Greene, I remember the throw-away comment Greene said about how cute of a couple Rick and I made. I corrected him, telling him, Rick and I are only colleagues. Rick was very attentive, every time I finished a drink, Rick was quick to find a server and provide me with another. Later that night, Jones asked me to dance, he jokingly said that he's sure that Rick wants to ask me to dance too. Rick was all smiles the whole night but he never asked me to dance despite all the opportunities, so I shrugged it off.

However, now I'm forced to re-examine everything. If he told Jones he's in love with me. That would most certainly be a way of blocking my chances with other guys in our profession. Jones is respectful and so are a lot of men in our profession, if Rick has placed his claim on me the decent men would honor his request.

There is no way in hell he'd do something like that...Would he?

But Monroe practically said he has done just that. Still, I just cannot see it. If Rick is nothing, he is direct, deception is just not his cup of tea. Aside from his charming good looks, his main feature would be honest, goofy smiles, dire awkwardness around me, and silence.

Oh, crap on a cracker!

He is in love with me!

This is not fair...Damn you, Rick Grimes, damn you and your sweet fine ass to hell! Why do you act like a lovesick pup around me? Why can't you be my platonic professional superiors like Rhee and Dixon?

So now, since I haven't been returning his affections, I'm sure everyone thinks I'm a mean ice-queen. I gather my files and place them in my briefcase. Rick said he has a hot date, but according to Monroe, Rick has a flaming torch for me and there is no way he'd even ask another woman out.

So why the hell would he say he's on a hot date; completely dismissing his affections for me?

This shouldn't bother me, but it does.

I need a drink, a hot bath, and some sleep.

7:30 AM Monday

"Lieutenant Wright," Captain Monroe called me from her office phone.

"Yes, Captain," I answer, sipping my coffee while praying for the caffeine to take effect. I didn't get much rest this weekend. This whole Rick 'loving me' thing has completely destroyed my sanity.

"Bring all the case files you're working on."

"Right away Captain." I gather all my recent files, which are a lot. I'm always the one left to do the guys paperwork, sometimes I feel like a secretary instead of a detective, but this is how most detectives start out. Everyone has to pay their dues. I would have been done with my work if I hadn't also been busy implementing a new electronic filing system for all the case files. I stack all the file folders on her already cluttered desk.

"Jesus, Wright," Monroe exclaimed as she thumbs through my mountain of folders. "How do you do it all?" Before I could answer she continued. "No matter, you won't have to do anything for the next three months. I am making The Three Amigos your desk jockeys. Ringleader Grimes is first up to be your bitch."

"Yes, Captain." I smile brightly. I return to my office and type up instructions on how to file the paperwork in the new electronic database and send it to the guys in a group email. I also print out the instructions and make three copies on the Xerox machine. Just as I am about to leave my office Rick barges in.

"Hello, Lieutenant Wright." He smiled that sweetheart smile while flashing those big blue bedroom eyes my way. I wanted to slap him for making me think about him all weekend, for making my heart flutter like this.

"Hello, Lieutenant Grimes." I manage to say, "Can I help you?"

"Yes, you can." He answered meaningfully, causing the air to become thick with tension.

I let in a deep breath but I might as well had been trying to breathe underwater. He took a step closer, then another and another until there was no space left between us at all.