Falling Down (Rick Grimes Romance)

Chapter 9

It's nice when the timing works out so perfectly. When a person sets themselves up for their own beating. Lori could have kept her trap shut but instead she opened it and I got to feed her own words back to her. I was acting childish and petty when it came to Lori but I didn't care. I will freely admit that I am as much at fault and share equally in the constant friction that existed between us. I will also say I have absolutely no intentions of being the bigger person here either.

In my mind it was simple. Lori didn't deserve Rick before the world became zombie ridden. To stupid to know what she had their marriage was in ruin and heading towards divorce. As far as the here and now she didn't deserve Rick either. If Rick had died never waking from the comma his body wouldn't have even been cold before she spread her legs for another. I had heard all her excuses for her becoming an adulterating whore and that's just what they were excuses. I thought he was dead....I was dead inside....It was the trauma of everything. A hundred and one excuses that all amounted to the fact Lori wanted to get her rocks off.

It wasn't just the fact that Lori was a whore trying to wear a disguise of innocence and pity but the way in which she treated Rick. Whinny and demanding she was constantly expecting more of him. Nothing seeming met her satisfaction. Playing the victim and holding Ricks relationship with me over his head. Sarcastically second guessing Ricks every step as she tried to act superior. Lori was unhappy and she wanted to make sure Rick was just as unhappy as she was. After years of marriage she knew what buttons to push and what strings to pull to keep Rick trapped in her control and misery.

I on the other hand loved Rick. I could easily appreciate the man he was and the man he was becoming. Ricks strength as leader, his loyalty as a friend and his compassion as a lover knew no bounds. Happiness was never an issue, never a thought, it just was. I didn't take Rick for granted but cherished every moment with him. I deserved Rick but despite it all I lost him to a bitch like Lori. Where once I loved I was left with spite and a need for revenge.

Walking into the conference room where the council met was humbling. Sasha, Daryl and Carol sat along one side of the table. Down the other side was Maggie, Glenn while Rick sat at the head of the table. My stomach rolled as I sucked in a deep breath. Trying to not dwell on the fact the other head of the table chair sat empty as a painful reminder of the loss of Hershel. Pulling the chair out beside Maggie I quietly took my seat.

"Michone and Tyres are on tower watch so let's get this done so we can start our day." Rick looked over at me his eyes cold and unforgiving. "I think you should personally train three of us and then the others can be trained over time."

At first I figured Rick was simply stating fact and that their was nothing rhetorical about his comment. Not until he narrowed his eyes and glared at me did I realize he was waiting for a response. "Uh...ok so who do you want me to train?"

Rick sat there for a moment staring at me as if I was a blithering moron. Finally he looked away at the others as he slowly scratched his hand along his jaw line. "I'm going to say Daryl and Carol because then the runs and camp are covered. Maggie you too because I'm sure you already know some things your dad taught you."

Without giving the others a chance to say anything Rick continued, "We don't have any runs coming up right away. Daryl I want you to start."

This wasn't so much a matter of a council meeting I thought to myself. It was Rick saying what he wanted and expecting the others to do exactly as he stated. No discussion was partaken and others opinions were not welcome. The declaration of power and control was clearly in Ricks hands. Things had unequivocally changed in the three months since I had left. Shocked I looked at Rick hardly able to recognized the man I loved. He had changed but as far as I was concerned not for the good.