July is Flash Fiction Month!
This one didn't turn out quite the way I wanted but, for the moment, it'll do. I hope you like it!
Title: Flash Fiction #5
Fandom: The Walking Dead
Characters: Rick Grimes, Lori Grimes, Carl Grimes
Word Count: 394 words
Warnings: None
A/N-Disclaimer: I don’t own Rick Grimes or anything else associated with The Walking Dead (much to my everlasting regret). I just like to take Rick out and play with him every now and then. This is unedited and unbeta’d - if you see anything that needs correction, please let me know! Concrit is always welcome!
***
“Lori, if you’ll stop yelling for just a minute, maybe I can get a word in edgewise. What have I done this time?” Rick Grimes stood at the foot of the bed, his hands on his hips, watching as his wife stomped from the bedroom to the bathroom and back again, throwing clothes into the hamper and making a bigger mess than the rooms had been in before.
Lori whirled around and threw the armload of clothes she’d been carrying at Rick, her eyes flashing in anger. “What have you done? What haven’t you done? What difference does it even make anymore, Rick?” She walked over to stand in front of him and poked her finger in his chest to accentuate her point. “I told you yesterday that I needed you home by 6:00. Carl’s baseball game, remember? You promised us both you’d be here. And when did you finally come rolling in? Midnight!”
Sighing, Rick tried to take Lori’s hands but she pulled away from him, turning her back to him and stalking back to the other room. “Lori, honey, I was working! You know, that job I have that pays the bills and puts food on the damn table? Remember that? I’m Deputy Sheriff, Lori. I have responsibilities. You act like I was out with another woman or something.”
Lori muttered, “I wish you had been out with another woman. At least then we could just go our separate ways and be done with it.”
Rick’s eyes widened in shock; he felt like the breath had been knocked out of him. “Lori… you don’t mean that. I know you don’t.”
Lori turned to look at Rick, tears in her eyes. “I don’t know what I mean anymore, Rick. I’m just so tired of this. Tired of you always being gone. Tired of having to explain to Carl that Daddy’s working again, he’ll be home soon. Tired of the cold dinners and going to sleep by myself. Wondering if… Carl deserves more. I deserve more. I know your job is important but…” Her voice broke and she turned away, opening the door and walking out into the living room.
As Carl stood by the front door, watching and waiting, Lori turned back and said, “You know what the worst part is, Rick? Sometimes, I wonder if you even care about us at all.”