Addiction [Rick Grimes]

Chapter 6

The months passed by slowly. Eventually it was all over town about Lori and Shane's affair. Many people gave them dirty looks and even verbal abuse in the streets for what they had done. Rick was such a highly respected member of the public and police force. No one had believed the rumours at the start. Everyone knew how close Shane and Rick were and had been since childhood, but when Shane and Lori ventured out as a couple, the truth - majority if it - came out.

Rick continued to live with Gabriella. He had insisted on more than one occasion that he should stay at his mother's, but Gabriella shot the idea down every time. "Why sleep on a couch when there's a perfectly good bed upstairs?"

While he continued to insist he was also glad that she wouldn't allow it. She had sunk deep into depression and she needed him, but he also needed her.

Gabriella and Shane's divorce hadn't been going as well as Rick and Loris. Shane point blank refused the divorce, he tore the papers up and shoved them into the mail box for Gabriella to find the next day.

Neither Rick or Gabriella could understand why Shane was so against the divorce when he was also trying to play happy families with Lori. It was one of the many mysteries they would encounter with Shane.

Shane had unofficially moved into Loris home, the home Rick still paid half towards every month. The thought made him sick, but Shane and Lori both refused to admit openly that they were doing anything wrong. Insisting that Shane never cheated on Gabriella with her, although it was more than obvious that he did. Lori tried to convince anyone who would listen that she took Shane in simply because Gabriella had kicked him out. After all, he was her friend too.

When Rick returned home one evening after work Gabriella was sat on the couch sipping her third glass of wine of the evening. She was relatively tipsy, but she had become tolerant to the drinking during the last few months.

Rick sat down beside the dark haired woman, she had her hair pinned back, but still looked disheveled. "Are you okay?" She asked as she poured him a glass of red wine.

Rick - who wasn't much of a drinker - drank the entire glass of wine and filled it back up before he started to talk, he was extremely frustrated. "It's been months and the whole town is still talking about Lori and Shane. I arrested some guy this afternoon and even he wanted to quiz me on the situation," he sighed, "I'm tired of being the topic of their conversations. I just want to forget it all happened and move on."

"I've learnt to ignore it now," she drawled as she began to pull the pins from her hair, throwing them haphazardly onto the arm of the couch, "bunch of assholes."

He smirked, but said nothing more.

"Take out?" She asked changing the topic of conversation, as she shook her hair from the bun it had previously been in.

He nodded. "Sounds good. Pizza?"

"Yes, please. You order, I'll grab the wine!"

She filled their glasses, almost overflowing, giggling to herself as she sucked the dribble of wine from her thumb. "That's the last of it, have to raid the whiskey cabinet next," she announced.

Gabriella was a bit more than tipsy by the time the doorbell rang. Rick had disappeared to the bathroom so she headed for the door.

She stumbled slightly before she swung the door open, the handle bouncing off the wall with a bang.

"Glenn! She cheered enthusiastically as she laid eyes on the familiar pizza delivery boy. "You always bring my pizza," she slurred

"H-hey Mrs Walsh," Glenn replied nervously as he attempted to hand the box of pizza to Gabriella.

She frowned, pushing her hair back from her face, "Its not Walsh," she grumbled

Glenn looked even more uncomfortable than he did when she answered the door, "oh," was all he could managed as Gabriella took the pizza box from his hand and handed him the cash.

"Don't ever cheat on your lovely lady, Glenn, it hurts, it really hurts and even though you've been a total, cheating, ass she will still love you and it will only hurt her more," she slurred, tears welling in her eyes. 

"I wouldn't do that to Maggie, Mrs-Not Walsh Soon," he chucked nervously.

Gabriella laughed initially, but it soon became a sob. Glenn stood awkwardly at the door as Rick stumbled into view.

"Thank you," Rick said to the young man before him. Glenn nodded his head and turned his back to the duo and headed away before Rick shut the door.

Rick wrapped his arm around Gabriella and took the pizza from her hand as he guided her to the kitchen. He placed the pizza on the table and shushed her gently. "Come on, Gabs, no crying remember. You've got to be strong," he whispered gently as she hugged him tighter.

She sniffed. "I want Shane back."

He sighed and hugged her back tight, his mind slightly fuzzy from the alcohol, "no you don't. Stop thinking like that, Shane is a worthless piece of -"

"Don't you think I know that?" She snapped looking up at him, "it doesn't stop me from loving him. Maybe he changed, m-maybe he won't do it again. I should talk to him," she declared wiping her tears and stepping away from Ricks embrace.

"Snap out of it!" Rick shouted, "if you do that you will be opening yourself up to more pain, do you really want that? How many times does he have to hurt you for you to finally let go?"

She stared up at him, not saying a single word.

"You are smart, beautiful, you have the biggest heart, you're generous, caring, funny, loyal, you're my closest friend," Rick couldn't stop listing her best traits.

She began to smile as he spoke, no one had ever said such kind words to her, but then her smile faltered, "when will it stop hurting?" She asked weakly.

"I don't know, because I'm still hurting too and together we will figure it out."

"I'm sorry for being selfish, I've been so wrapped up in my own pain that I forgot you were hurting too."

He shook his head and pulled her close, "don't be sorry, but maybe we should both lay off the wine. Poor Glenn may never return."

They both laughed and hugged for a few seconds longer before finally getting it together to sit down and eat their meal.

_____

3 updates in one day, that's unusual for me.

More to come soon!