Stop Falling (Rick Grimes Romance)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16.......push me harder

After Lori's rock star performance the groups empathy level began to plummet. People began to question the authenticity of her and Shane's story and her behaviour now. Don't get me wrong everyone was happy to see the family had reunited. That and Rick had finally found Carl alive. However the groups fierce loyalty to Rick was proving strong as it was becoming apparent just how Laurie's sudden appearance was going to effect him.

Rick was no longer himself to put it mildly. He hardly laughed if ever. When he smiled his eyes no longer twinkled. Ricks well known patients had seemed to hit the short string as he pull away from everyone. Withdrawn even from those closest to him he was often seen doing things alone or up in the tower to pull double duty on watch. Gone on every run he was the first one out the gate and the last one in. There was little doubt of the negative impact that seemed to be resulting.

So Lori did an about face and changed tactics. She no longer tried to attack me or lord what happens between Rick and I over our heads. Quite the opposite in fact for now she was playing the role of a loving and forgiving wife. Lori was now constantly holding his hand or managing somehow to be touching him. Whispering in Ricks ear and giving him quick kisses. Gazing lovingly into his eyes I found this performance to be as impressive as the last.

The difference with this one...it crushed what was left of my shattered heart. It made me feel physically sick to see her touch him. Anger on the verge of rage would vibrate through my body at the thought of them being intimate. She could call me every name in the book and throw as many tantrums and nothing could compare to the sight of them together.

I was getting real good at playing the avoidance game but I still ran into the two of them daily. Tonight I was determined not to I had more than my fill for the day. Going up the back stairwell to the cells I herd a shuffling sound. There was no possible way for a walker to have gotten in but I knew better safe than sorry. With my knife drawn, my heart in my chest I creeped quietly around the corner.

"Shane?" Dropping my arm I holstered my knife and stepped forward. "Shane what are you doing?"

Looking up from the bottle of vodka I could see he had been hitting it pretty hard. Raising the half empty bottle in a motion of cheers. "I'm celebrating can't you tell." His words were drunken and slurred.

Walking around I sat on the bottom rung of the stair beside him. Shane was a good looking, strong with an athletic build. Thick black hair and deep chocolate brown eyes.

"A stash from the run today?"I asked. "So what are we celebrating?"

Giving me a snort Shane took a deep pull from the bottle and handed it to me. "You really want to talk about it?"

"Or anything else for that matter." I shrugged taking a drink. The vodka burned down my throat settling in a warm pool in my body making me caugh.

Shane tipped his head sideways and raised his eyebrows as he chuckled. In the dim light of the stairwell he really was good looking. "Not much of a drinker?"

Coughing again I shook my head, "No never was. What about you?"

"Not really but I thought hey why not?" Taking the bottle Shane absently rolled it in the palm of his hands. "Seemed like the thing to do tonight."

"Ya and why is that?" I probed

Looking back at me Shane's smile spoke of sadness not happiness. "Not into being the third wheel tonight. There's only so much of that shit I can take."

I knew what he was talking about and exactly how he felt. Grabbing the bottle back from him I took a long pull. Shane gave a questioning look. "What your not the only one."