Officer Blue (Rick Grimes FF)

Chapter 39

Getting past Nicholas was easy even if we already got the gesture we are not wanted. Aaron and Eric had accepted us the second we were visible. Now getting through Deanna, that's the one situation that will decide if we are good for the community. If we really passed her auditions.
The room is quiet, she hasn't come in yet. Photos hang of her and some other adults along with thousands of shelves filled with books. My feet glide aginst the floor to the window exposing the community. A bright blue day, family sized houses with children filling the air with laughter. Something none of us had heard in what seems like forever. I turn around towards the couch facing a camera standing in front of me. If i were her, i wouldn't want to record any of this. This world that has turn to hell are not memories but a living nightmare tearing every living cell apart. It turns all of us to monsters and there is no denying that.
"Hello, you must be Iris Scheer." Her hand extends to mine. I haven't shaken a hand in months. It can be a start of a new friend or a start of a new enemy. I hesitate until i finally greet her. "Yeah, that's me."
"I'm Deanna Monroe. Have a seat will you?" I do right away. This couch is like a cloud to me.
"Now you've heard im recording. Will you allow me to?"
"Can i ask what for?" I hesitantly ask. I don't want the entire neighborhood to watch me.
"It's only for the council. For me, my husband and everyone else on it, which isn't alot." I smile, impressed of how friendly she is.
"Is this a way to get to know us?" I ask while twiddling my thumbs. I don't really want to do this. Being separated from my family is something i haven't done in a while. It makes me feel defenseless. Like we were freshly escaping the prison again.
"It's about transparency. I told Rick about it as well. Now are you two together?"
My eyes go back and forth between her and the camera as i answer right away. "Yeah, and i love him." I smile thinking of everything we've done, everything we've been through. She returns it.
"We're good people Deanna. We may seem like a threat and i understand that but we are good people. We've done things nobody is proud of and faced the unforgettable but it's to protect everyone. Nothing is going to change that about us. When Aaron introduced himself to us, i felt a little hope-" i stop. "Is this place true?" I would love this to be a place for Rick and I to grow more. For all of us to have a rest.
"You sure can count on it. Funny thing is, Rick said the same thing. He talked about everyone's past and you. You two are a good match. Fit right in." Shes smiles until she leans over, her hands enclosing eith eachother as her face becomes more serious. "I want to ask something...personal." my nerves rise even though i shouldn't show it. "Go ahead." I say, trying to be as friendly as i can be without being weak.
"What happened to Aron?" This left me in shock. This wasn't the Aaron who saved us but my brother.

~

We had to give our weapons in order to stay here. But then there was a side rule for us; we can keep them in the house but if they were brought outside, they will be taken away. Aaron leads us to our house and i stay next to Rick. "I heard you talked about me today Officer." I nudge his side until his arm went around my waist. "Of course I'll talk about you. During the night, me and you wont be talking though." He bends back straight from my ear. "I don't think youll be awake Rick. As much as i want to, we're all sleep deprived." He takes me hand to his mouth. "as long as you're with me." His lips touch my hand.
"This is your house." Aaron stands in front with all of us. If you need anything, I'm four houses down."
"Thank you." Rick looks back and forth between our family. "What are you guys waiting for?" Carl takes my hand away from Rick while holding Judy and we run inside. "There's water!" Carl says excitedly. "Well what are you waiting for? Hit the showers kiddo." I ruffle his hair.
"I cant remember being in a house this long without having to check my back for Walkers." Rick slips both arms around my waist. We walk around the house like this. "Your beard." I laugh. "It tickles my shoulder." He chuckles into my neck. "Maybe I'll have time to clean my face. Would you like that?" He rocks me back and forth in his arms. "I like it either way." He turns me around looking deeply into my eyes and slowly leaning in until his lips are placed on mine where they're supposed to be. Gentle and slow. That's where it starts. It ends with the door slamming and footsteps running down the stairs. "There might not be alot of hot water." Carl scratches his neck while laughing then heads to Judith in her new crib.
"I call dibs in the shower first." And i break free from his arms.

~

The water trickles down my face. Warm water that hasn't been used up. Finally being able to step in fresh clean water is like refreshing your spirit. I shampoo my hair until two hands take over. "Jeez Rick i didn't even hear you." He kisses my neck. "Stop talking." The soap slips over us as his hands caress me from the top of my thin frame. "Even if there is plenty of water, we can still conserve it."

~

Changing into clean clothes in the room and drying my hair, Rick opens the door with his face clean and no shirt. "Woah where did the bear go?" He grabs me into a hug. He looks hot. Amazing. "I can't tickle you anymore." I take his face in my hands. "I haven't seen you like this since the prison. We might go for round two." I wink until a knock interrupts us from downstairs. "I got it."
"Hey, Rick right? Im Jessie."
I heard the voice from upstairs.
"Yeah?" I stand closer in the hall making sure im not visible to this Jessie. "I brought some stuff. Some towels, clean clothes soap....home essentials. You know, i used to cut hair and 12 other things. I can give you a cut-" Why is she doing this?
"Rick, babe!" I make my way down the stairs and without hesitating I place my arms around his waist, hugging him from behind. "Hey hon." I look at Jessie who looks at me back with her eye twitching. "Oh hey, Im Iris. Rick's girlfriend." I smile while she reflects a fake one. "Oh, Hi. Im Jessie. I just offered Rick a hair cut and you some supplies." She places them on the floor. "How about it?" She looks at Rick. How can she flirt with my Rick when im standing right in front of her. She has no right. Rick inhales a deep breath. "Yeah, you can come by later on. I just have to settle down a bit." My anger boils. Great Rick Great. "Sounds great! Oh i have a son, Ron. Carl went outside with his baby sister and they met. They're good kids so there isn't anything to worry about." She never placed her eyes on mine. "It was nice meeting you two." And she closes the door.
"I would have thought there would be a fight right there." Rick turns around. "Are you okay?" He kisses my forehead while i clench my jaw. "Im fine." I lie "you don't seem fine." I reassure him with a kiss. "Have fun with your appointment. Im going to explore." And he kisses me one more time.
~
We found out that tomorrow a party will be thrown for us. Rick and Michonne have become constables. Everybody has found a job and im still here, waiting for mine. I find out when i meet with Deanna tomorrow.
We all wait downstairs for Rick to come out of our room. As he does, he stands there in his uniform looking as good as ever. "This is sum new." Daryl finally let out a few words. I go up to Rick and hug him with Judy. While you guys make fun of him, i like it."
He clears his throat, happy to be with us all.
"If we get comfortable here, we let our guard down-- this place is gonna make us weak...Carl said that.
But it's not gonna happen.We won't get weak.that's not in us anymore.
We'll make it work.And if they can't make it then we'll just take this place."