Fire and Ice

Starting New

Daryl held Lexi's hand and squeezed it softly as they looked at each other.

"Can you tell me the whereabouts of your client?" the judge asked irritated.

"No your honor, she's....she's um missing," the attorney said, completely flustered.

Daryl and Lexi watched Daryl's attorney speak up.

"Your honor, there is also additional charges against this woman by the police.  Extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion..." The attorney went on and on with a new list of charges.

Nodding his head slowly, the judge sighed.

"Okay, get me a warrant and I'll sign it for her arrest." He said, hammering his gavel.

Daryl and Lexi looked at each other and couldn't help hugging.  She was gone and if she ever came back, she would be in A LOT of trouble.  They both knew it was just a matter of time before she was caught anyway but at least for now, she couldn't touch them.  Driving to his parent's house in the best mood, Daryl and Lexi laughed and teased each other, not being able to wait to tell everyone the good news.  Pulling in the drive, they both smiled broadly as Luke came tearing out of the house.

"Hey buddy" Daryl smiled, spinning him around in the air as Luke squealed with laughter.

Walking up on the porch as Jack, Jane and Merle all stepped out of the door, Lexi beamed at them.

"It's over, she ran.  They have warrants out for her arrest but she's gone.  If she comes back she's in a lot of trouble so I don't think we have to worry about her anymore" Lexi said softly, turning and watching Daryl play with Luke.

"Oh thank goodness" Jane smiled hugging Lexi tight.

"Yes, definitely thank goodness, and thank goodness for Merle.  Without him who knows what would have happened" Lexi smiled, giving a surprised Merle a hug.

"Hey, get your hands off my almost wife!" Daryl teased as Merle turned firetruck engine red.

"Almost?  I thought you told me she was already your wife" Merle teased back, giving Lexi a wink.

"Yeah well..." Daryl said, trying to think of something to say. "She might as well be" he finally said as everyone laughed.

"Alright, I have steaks pulled out for dinner and Jack is getting ready to throw them on the grill.  Come on in and let's chat awhile and you can tell me everything" Jane smiled as they all walked into the house laughing and talking.

Sitting on the back porch, watching Luke use his squirt gun on the targets Jack still had set up, Daryl patted his belly and stretched.

"Good steaks dad, I'm stuffed" he said, sliding his arm around Lexi's shoulders.  

"Yup" Jack said, looking at him. "Hey, you and Lexi find a place yet?" 

"No" Daryl frowned "They're either too big, not big enough, need a new roof, need new plumbing....it goes on and on.  I wouldn't mind putting a little work into it if the price was right but they want an arm and a leg for the house plus giving us the expense of fixing what's wrong" he grumbled.

"Did you know old man Jenkin's place is up for sale?" Jack asked, taking a sip of his beer.

"It is?" Daryl asked, very interested

"Yeah, Burt told me it's been for sale for like a year.  Jenkins died last year and left it to his kids and they're all gone from this place.  Might ask your realtor guy to check into it" Jack said softly.

"I'm going to give him a call right now" Daryl said softly, standing up and pulling his phone out of his pocket, walking a few feet away.

"So what's the deal with this place?" Lexi asked, looking at Daryl's back.