Addiction [Rick Grimes]

Chapter 2

The heavy rain drops rasped against the car windows. The car had been stationary for almost an hour as Rick sat inside unable to move. He stared directly ahead as he listened to the rain fall and the sound of his phone ringing over and over again.

52 missed calls in 46 minutes.

A total of 67 minutes since he had left his home. The home he shared with the woman he thought was the love of his life. The woman he thought was kind, faithful and honest. The woman who had cheated on him.

His heart was shattered and his eyes stung from holding back the tears.

Rick took a deep breath before looking down at his phone. It had stopped ringing. He saw a message come through. It wasn't Lori. It was Shane. His best friend. His work colleague. The man who lived inside the house he was parked outside.

He read the message.

You going to sit out there all night? - Shane

Rick sighed, he knew he couldn't stay out there all night, but realistically he had nowhere else to go. Shane's house was the only option.

Rick picked up his phone and typed out a brief message.

You got beer? - Rick

Always. - Shane

Rick finally made his way out of the car and through the pouring rain towards the front door of his friends house. The door opened wide as he approached and he jogged to get inside.

He was soaked despite the short distance he had travelled from the car to the house and was greeted by warmth and a soft towel. "Thank you, Gabby," Rick said softly as he took the towel from Shane's Wife, Gabriella.

She smiled softly back, "I knew you'd need it eventually, Shane's in the kitchen opening some beers. Why don't you go through and I'll find you out some dry clothes," she said politely.

Rick gave her a half hearted smile and thanked her again before heading towards the kitchen.

"I'm so sorry, man. Lori told Gabriella and Gabriella told me, man...what happened? It was so out of the blue," Shane Walsh asked as he stretched out his arm to pass Rick an opened bottle of cold beer.

Rick was silent trying to find the words without completely falling to pieces.

"She cheated on me," he announced as Gabriella walked into the room with clothes in her hand. "She cheated on me," he repeated slower and quieter.

"What?" Shane and Gabriella exclaimed at once.

Rick didn't know what bothered him more. The fact he had said out loud that his wife had cheated or the horrified looks on his friends faces. "I thought you-you don't know? You said-"

"Lori rang me crying saying you'd left her, left a note and your wedding ring. She never said she had cheated!" Gabriella announced. "Rick, I had no idea. I swear. Oh-I'm so sorry!" She said placing her hand on his arm rubbing up and down his soaked sleeve.

Shane remained silent and unmoving, he was as shocked, but seemed more worried than anything.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Rick. How did you find out? Did she say who?" Shane asked with a slight stutter as if he was questioning himself as he spoke.

Gabriella shushed her husband. "Don't be stupid! Don't ask questions like that," she hissed.

"It's fine, Gabby," Rick sighed. "I've not even spoke to her about it. I came home, saw everything, wine, condoms, her naked in bed. What other explanation is there because I can't think of another," Rick began helplessly. "- I couldn't bare to wake her and listen to whatever lies she would come out with. I just left. Left a note and left. I had no idea where to go, so I came here. I just hope she didn't forget to pick Carl up..." he trailed off.

The three friends stood together and discussed the events, questions were raised, all were shocked and Shane...Shane was silent. Not a word to be said.

"You're always welcome here, you know that. Why don't you go change, have you eaten yet? I can make you something? I'll set up the spare room for you too?"

Shane scoffed.

Gabriella glared at him. "Something to say?"

"Wouldn't be a spare room if you weren't such a bitch," Shane muttered under his breath.

Rick watched the exchange suddenly feeling even worse for coming to them. They clearly had issues of their own. "I'm sorry, I'll go. I don't want-"

"No, you're fine," Gabriella interrupted. "Ignore him, he seems to have forgotten how to be a good friend as well."

Shane rolled his eyes. "Right, whatever. Feel free to stay as long as you want, Rick. If you need anything, I'm sure perfect Gabby will wait on you hand and foot," he guzzled down the rest of his beer as Gabriella stood seething as she glared at her husband. Rick remainder rooted to the spot feeling awkward and unwelcome. "Honestly, stay. Looks like none of us have had a good day and we could all use a good nights sleep."

With that said Shane left the room and made his way upstairs.

Gabriella sighed and rubbed her hand across her face. Rick noted how tired she looked.

"I'm really sorry for any trouble I've caused-" Rick began.

Gabriella tried to smile at him. "No, Rick. You've not caused anything. Don't worry about us, we are here for you. Whatever you need and please stay as long as you need to. Shane's just in a mood because I've complained about how much he's working, but don't worry about that. Get changed. I'll go make the bed up."

She left up the stairs and Rick was alone with his thoughts. He felt awful in so many ways. For what was happening in his own life, for what was happening in his friends. He didn't want to be a burden or get in the way. He thought about leaving and sleeping in his car somewhere, but before he had the chance to put his thoughts into action Gabriella was back with fresh towels in her hands and a smile on her face.

"Here," she said. "Do as your told, shower, change and get some sleep. If it's alright with you I'm going to tell Lori you're here and safe. I'm mad at her, really mad, but I don't think it's entirely fair to not tell her you're safe."

Rick nodded. "That's fine, I understand. She's your friend after all."

"Yeah.." she sighed. "Goodnight, Rick," she said and quickly gave him a hug. She gave a sympathetic smile as she headed back up the stairs, taking her phone out half way up.

What the hell did you do! Rick is here, he's devastated. Give him time to come to you, but make sure you're prepared. - Gabriella.