Ch 6 - Look Who's Back - The Grimes
Knock. Knock. Knock. Rick jerked awake and reached for the gun at his hip as he scanned his office for the danger. 'Wait. This is my office from before the apocalypse. What...it worked. We went back.' Rick looked at the office door window where an alive and clean man in a brown uniform was waiting with a package for him to open the door. Rick put the safety back on his gun and got up. He walked to the door and opened it.
"Are you Deputy Rick Grimes?" the delivery man asked. Rick nodded his head. The delivery man handed him a clipboard and a pen. "You have a package. Sign by your name please." Rick signed the paper and gave it back. He was handed a large box. Rick closed the door and placed the box on his desk. He looked at the address labels. The sender was a Sam Angel from the Blue Room Group. 'Wonder what Sam sent.' Rick chuckled and walked back to the door, where he locked the door and let down the blinds to the door window so no one could look into his office.
Rick took out his pocket knife and cut thru the tape holding the box closed, then opened the box lid. Inside were two backpacks. He reached in and pulled out a black leather backpack with angel wings, a deputy badge, and the name Rick Grimes embroidered in silver on it. He lifted the backpack out of the box and unzipped it. Inside he found stacks of hundreds, a black credit card with angel wings and his name in silver on it, a letter addressed to him, and two folders.
The first folder held pictures of Shane and Lori having an affair with time and date stamps on them, photos of Lori and other men with dates ranging back to the year they married, a Declaration of Divorce signed by the local judge for him and Lori dated for today, a custody paper granting him full custody of Carl, homeschool authorization papers for Carl, a federal government issued license to carry, teach, buy and sell firearms, and a paid leave of absence approval notice for the next year.
'Well, I'd suspected that Shane and Lori got together before the ZA, but now I know. This makes it easier. For me. Hopefully for Carl as well. Now, what to do about Shane?'
The second folder held the deed for Singletary Preparatory Academy, the building permits for renovations for Singletary Preparatory Academy, the business license for Silver Wings Sanctuary, a black credit card with silver wings on it in the name of Silver Wings Sanctuary, a prepaid contract for Integra Alternative Energy to retrofit the campus with solar panels and wind turbines, and a receipt for the purchase, installation, and delivery of an industrial water purification system.
Rick placed both folders back in the backpack and pulled out the letter. He sat back down in his desk chair and opened the letter.
Rick, the paperwork in the folders is to help prevent any problems and move things along quickly. You have an extended paid leave of absence for the next year, starting today. As far as everyone knows, it has been in the works for months. Shane will be taking over your work duties, and it may just help him in the long run.
It has also been arranged for Carl to be withdrawn from school as he has been approved for homeschool. He is at the school now waiting for you to pick him up once you have finished this letter. Then you two will go to your house, where you will pack everything you want to keep. Leave what you wish Lori to have.
The affair has been happening for 3 months at today's date. But before she got her hooks into Shane, after trying for the entirety of your marriage, Lori has had several affairs with others. Do not let this make you bitter. And do not hate Shane. Lori has been manipulating him and you from day one. You are now free from her manipulations with your divorce finalized and full custody of Carl. Don't let her worm her way back into your lives. And if you can get Shane away from Lori, you have a good chance of saving him.
The Dixons will meet you at your house later today. Once they show up, y'all will head to the school, which has been renamed Silver Wings Sanctuary. The Protectors are already there and hard at work. You and the Council will be pleased with both the plans they have come up with and what they have already accomplished when you arrive. Treat them like family. They have given up being with their families in the afterlife to help. And don't worry about Carol and Sophia. Similar arrangements have been made for them as were made for you and Carl. Both are safe.
There are also some surprises you will encounter over the next year. Enjoy them. After everything your group has been through, y'all deserve it. But always remember the mission. -Sam, AoD.
P.S. Your new ride is out front in your parking space. Respect your car.
Rick folded up the letter, placed it back into the backpack, and zipped it back up. 'How am I supposed to help Shane get free of Lori? And what about Judith? Maybe the others can help me figure out what to do. Time to get out of here and get my son.' He looked at the other backpack that was in the box. On it were the same silver wings, the name Carl Grimes, and a cowboy hat embroidered in silver on it, making Rick glance over by the door to where his uniform hat was hanging and smile. Rick looked around his office and saw his large black duffle bag that was packed full with all of his things he brought to work with him over the years sitting on the floor by the door. He grabbed his duffle bag, the 2 backpacks from the box, and his cowboy hat.
With one last look around, Rick walked out of his office for the last time. He locked the door behind him and placed the keys on Shane's empty desk as he passed it. He walked outside to his parking spot. Instead of his 1999 Chevrolet Impala Police Interceptor, there sat a 2012 Ford Mustang GT in dark navy blue with black racing stripes, a silver badge on each door, blue and white police lights on the roof, a spotlight on each mirror, push bars across the front, and Rick Grimes stenciled in silver on the driver door. There was also a familiar silver robot face symbol on the gas tank door that Rick couldn't quite place.
'That is one sweet ride. Always wanted a mustang. Never thought I'd get one, especially after the walkers. Thanks, Sam.' He walked around to the back and the trunk popped open, letting Rick place the 2 backpacks and duffle bag in it. He closed the trunk, walked back to the driver door which was already open for him, got in and backed out of the parking space. He drove off towards Carl's school to pick him up.
--TWD--
Carl stood next to the main entrance to his school, shifting from one foot to the other, while looking out the window at the driveway. He glanced up at the clock above the secretary's desk. 10.37 am. He didn't know what was going on. He just knew the teacher told him to gather his things and head to the office to wait for his dad to pick him up.
'At least I get to get out of school early. And start my weekend early. Wonder why though.' Carl thought as he saw a black mustang pull up in front of the building. He watched as the driver door opened and his dad stepped out. Carl's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Rick walked to the door and walked inside. He looked straight at Carl and smiled. Rick hugged Carl tightly. Then he pulled back and ruffled his hair.
"You ready to go, buddy? I have a couple of surprises for you." Rick asked Carl as he walked over to the secretary and signed Carl out of school.
"Sure, dad. What's going on?" Carl picked up his jacket and bookbag and followed Rick out to the mustang. "Who's car is this?"
Rick opened the passenger car door and motioned for his son to sit in the seat. Carl wasted no time throwing his stuff in the back seat and sitting down. Rick walked around to the other side and sat down in the driver seat. They buckled up as the car backed out of the parking spot and headed towards their house across town.
"There is a lot we need to discuss son. A lot is going to change in a short amount of time. And something is coming that we need to be prepared for. I can't tell you what at the moment, but trust me when I say that it is gonna get real bad. So everything I do from this point on is to prepare us so that we can not only survive, but thrive as well. Do you understand, Carl?" Rick asked as he drove.
'This didn't happen last time...Does dad remember now?...Sam didn't tell me at what point everyone would be sent back...And it has been two months for me, trying to pretend to be a normal kid. And yet still find a way to prepare. I'll wait and see where this goes before I let him know I remember.' Carl thought as he watched his dad.
"I'm not sure what is going on, but I trust you, Dad. And I know that you have always done what was necessary to keep your family safe. I love you, dad." Carl replied as he started bouncing in his seat. "So, does this mean I don't have to go back to school monday?"
Rick smiled as he looked over at his ten year old son acting like a kid, instead of the hardened survivor he was when he last saw him before dying. "First of all, the car is mine. He was a gift from a friend. Second of all, you will not be going back to your school. You will be home schooled from now on. In fact, I will be taking the next year off as well. We are going to move to a new place, and you will be meeting some new people there. We are heading home at the moment, where we will pack up everything we want to keep. We will not be coming back to the house, so make sure you get everything you want...There is one thing that you need to know before we get to the house though. Before I tell you this, know no matter what, I love you. Ok?" Rick glanced at his son wearily as he pulled over to the side of the road and put the car in park. He turned to face Carl. His son looked back at him in confusion.
"I know that, dad. What's wrong?"
"As of this morning, your mom and I are officially divorced. Apparently, she has been having affairs with several men over the years, going back to the year we first got married." Carl's jaw hung open in shock as he looked at Rick, whose hands were white from his death grip on the steering wheel. "Her latest conquest is Shane. So, I filed for divorce and it was granted this morning. Your mother may not know yet. Also, I was given full custody of you. Your mother no longer has a say in your life. I am sure she will try and use you against me. Using and manipulating people is what she is good at. But since I have full custody of you, there isn't anything she can do."
"Holy shit!...Dad. I'm sorry." Carl reached across the car and wrapped his arms around his father. They pulled away and both wiped there eyes. "What do we do now?"
Rick looked around and saw the two silver wing backpacks that he had placed in the back seat. He grabbed Carl's and passed it to him. "I received this today. It is yours. Open it." Carl sat the bag in his lap and unzipped it. His eyes got real big as he looked at the stacks of hundreds in the bag, along with a boot dagger with holster, and two black and grey beretta 9mm handguns complete with holsters, extra clips, and 6 boxes of ammo. Tucked between the bag and the holsters was a folded paper, which he reached in and pulled out to read.
Carl, be there for your dad. Don't repeat the mistakes of the past. And don't hold others past mistakes against them in this new timeline. Don't worry about Judith. She will still be born when the time is right. And don't worry about your mom. When the walkers come, she will come to the sanctuary. Learn all you can. And remember that fun can be made educational too.
You will be a leader for the younger members of the sanctuary that is being built. Be sure to remember that just because you are in this younger body does not mean you don't know what you are talking about. Do not let anyone talk down to you. Show respect and you will get respect as well.
You will head a Junior Council that will look after the health, training, and interests of those under 18. It will be set up similar to the Council that your dad, Daryl, Merle, Hershel, and Carol are on. Soon, you will meet the others that will join you in the junior council.
Your weapons have been made so that you may wear them at all times without anyone noticing, or setting off any metal detectors. Remember that violence is not the first response to everything. And enjoy the time you have before the end comes. Maybe go to Disney World or something. -Sam, AoD.
Carl looked up at his dad, smiled, and passed him the letter. "Carl, what does this mean...what do you remember?" Rick asked as he handed the letter back. Carl folded the note and placed it back into the bag. He took a deep breath and his eyes met those.of his father.
"Everything."