Chapter Text
The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the quiet room. Rick rubbed at his eyes restlessly. He was so tired. His body ached and he knew he hadn't slept more than a few hours in days. His strength was sapped. He pushed the pain and loss from his mind and tried to concentrate on the papers lying on his desk.
"This has to be done," he whispers.
"It has to."
He sighed heavily, twisting in his chair, as he thought about this room. This house. The place he had agonized over buying. The home he had brought Lori to on their wedding night. The place they had lived and loved and started their family in. Carl had taken his first steps right over there by the fireplace. Lori had always loved putting up the Christmas tree in front of those double French doors leading to the patio. Tears ran slowly down his cheeks. Oh, how he missed them!
He cleared his throat and brushed the tears away once again studying the papers. His salary was not enough. He couldn't keep the house. He didn't see any other solution but to sell. It was a big house. Plenty of room for a family he had always thought. But, he didn't have that anymore. Fate had seen to that. A snowy night. A slick road. And they were taken from him. He knew he couldn't let his mind slip into that space. He had to think. He had to figure out a plan. It was either signing these papers and putting the house up for sale or he would lose what was left of his sanity. He raised the pen and was almost ready to sign when his phone buzzed in his pocket. His head dropped to his chest and he sighed putting down the pen.
Pulling out his phone he saw that it was, Shane. Shane was his best friend. His partner and pretty much all that was keeping him going these days.
"Hey, Shane," he answered.
"Hey brother, how you doing?"
"I'm ok, I guess. Getting ready to sign these damn papers."
"Man I am so sorry. I know how difficult this is for you."
"Yeah. It's not what I wanted. I wanted to at least have this place to remember them in."
"I know buddy, I know. Listen. Let me come by and pick you up. We can go have a drink first. Might make it easier."
Rick was reluctant. He really hadn't gone out in the last few months. Not since the accident. Shane must have sensed his hesitation.
"Rick, you need a break. You need to get out a little bit, just to relax"
"Ok, ok. I know you're right. I do think I need a bit of liquid courage tonight."
Rick didn't think he needed to worry about his appearance to go to the local watering hole. Everybody in this sleepy little town knew each other anyway. No sense in trying to impress. They were going to be talking about him all night behind his back anyway.
Not ten minutes later he heard Shane pull up into the driveway. Rick was surprised he was in his truck and not his police crusier. He practically drove that thing everywhere. Grabbing a ball cap and a jacket, Rick quickly headed out the door to join Shane.
Shane seemed very happy that he had taken him up on his offer. He smiled widely and clapped Rick on the shoulder.
"Glad you decided to come."
"Yeah, I needed the distraction," Rick said easily.
He and Shane had been friends since grade school. Rick, Shane and their friend Daryl had been inseparable. The three musketeers or in some cases the three stooges. You didn't see one without one of the others in tow. But life had moved on and Daryl and his dad and brother had moved away after the death of his mother. From then on he and Shane had been joined at the hip.
It was Shane who had introduced him to Lori the first day of freshman year. He couldn't really say it was love at first sight. In fact it took him years to decide that Lori was the one he wanted to spend his life with. It always seemed like something was missing in those days. Something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He finally made the decision right after he and Shane had graduated top of their class from the police academy. Rick had never looked back. His marriage to Lori wasn't perfect, but it was everything he wanted. When Carl was born he was on top of the world. They were a real family and he was in heaven. A few years past and Carl was soon turning three. He and Lori were trying to get pregnant again, hoping for a girl this time. But all that came to an end. So suddenly! So completely. Rick was sure he would never recover. And now he faced the prospect of losing the house. He definitely needed a distraction.
He wanted to get drunk. So drunk he wouldn't have to think about any of it. Just for a little while. The more he thought about it as they drove along the more convinced he became. Yes! This was exactly what he needed. He would drink himself into oblivion.
Shane kept up a cheerful conversation as they made their way to Joe's Bar. He talked about Glenn's latest conquest, Maggie, the farmers daughter. And Andrea's crush on her new co-worker, Michonne. Dale, over at the garage was having trouble with a couple of his new hires. He was looking for a new mechanic. Rick didn't know anyone who could help. When they finally got to the bar Rick was hoping a beer would shut Shane up.
They walked inside the smoky room and let the atmosphere soak into them. It was nice to be back at Joe's, Rick decided. He had missed the easy feel of the place. He and Shane had often threw back a few rounds when they weren't on duty. Played a few games of pool or darts and just let the stress of the day melt away.
He and Shane grabbed a table and several people came over to shake his hand and say they were glad to see him. No one mentioned Lori but he could see it in their eyes. The pity. The sadness. It was time for Rick to face people again. It was good that he had come.
A couple of drinks in Shane suggested a game of pool. Rick quickly complied. He liked pool, especially when he was a little buzzed. He wasn't any good at it but he was happy to play none the less.
He was lining up a shot when he heard the front door open. He looked the table over and decided what he would do. He chalked the cue and bent over the table. He missed of course but he had tried really hard. Shane laughed heartily. He joked about Ricks ability to shoot a gun but he sucked at pool. Rick laughed and wobbled over to the bar for another drink. His plan to get shitfaced was well underway.
He leaned against the bar and waited patiently as Joe served the newcomer. Rick couldn't help but give him the once over as he waited. He noticed he had on rough jeans with many holes in them. He had on chunky motorcycle boots, shit kickers he thought they were affectionately called. He carried a wallet hooked with a chain to his belt. A biker, obviously. He was wearing a gang cut that Rick didn't recognize. His vest sporting a couple of dusty angel wings. Must be from out of town he thought.
His gaze lingered on the man's build. The strong arms he could see from the cut off sleeves of his shirt. Strong wide shoulders that tapered to a trim, lean waist. He simply looked strong and efficient. Like he did the kind of work that required him to use those muscles very day. But more importantly he looked familiar. Something about the way he held himself made Rick want to take another look. If he had stopped to realize he was checking this guy out he would have been as embarrassed as hell. But he was tipsy and just didn't think about it.
His blond hair was thick and shaggy. It grazed the middle of his ears and dipped around his collar like he had missed a few haircuts. Rick wanted to see his face but it was angled away from him. He leaned further over the bar and almost lost his balance.
Joe quickly steadied him and served him another beer. The stranger had tucked into his drink with his head down lost in his own world. Rick was still intrigued but he couldn't get a good look at him. He went back to the game his curiosity not appeased, but he soon forgot about the man as he continued to drink. Soon he forgot everything. And that was good.