Chapter Text
The Walker clan, as one would expect are devastated. Lovable ruffian Hoyt Rawlins, at the ranch that day to confront his best
friend about the kiss with Geri ended up joining Cordell in a bogus bank robbery in order to save his (Hoyt's) adopted family.
The resulting shoot-out favored the Walkers until Hoyt, moving up to verify that he's put down the criminal Clint West, was
stabbed by the coward and bled out in Mawreen's arms. Walker, still on leave stayed close to the ranch; he responded to
Micki and Trey's well wishes but that was it.
"Should we drive out there, do you think?" Trey asked her one morning as they lay in bed.
"Let's give him space," she said and hugging him tight added "My priority has to be taking care of MY family now. I want you to
be more careful until you are completely cleared by the Doc-and I mean after he provides documentation that I can read
and verify, because you are TRI-CKY!"
"I'm...worried Baby...I wasn't completely straight earlier-about the Doc's report. He didn't say that I could drive next week; the truth
is he doesn't know when or if I can drive again."
" DIOS , Trey: you're TREMBLING...OH, AMOR !-shhh, shhh; I'm here Love. I'll BE HERE...you're fine;
you're OK..."
After a while, he calmed down, and Micki said "The same way that I pledged to confide in YOU totally and completely, that door
swings both ways, Love. I can't support you or help if I don't know what's happening. Whatever happens with your TBI I'm here.
We're MICKI and TREY-all we do is-"
" WIN ; Trey ad Micki win."
"Right, that's what I said: Micki and Trey win."
"You win!" Trey conceded, with a laugh.
candmcandmcandmcandmcandmcandmcandmcandmcandm
The Walkers go about their day in a kind of trance-Hoyt's death devastated them all equally. Abeline and Cordell, as his
adopted mother figure and best friend, are more affected than the rest. :"Do you think Uncle Hoyt's at peace?" a deeply
saddened Stella asked her brother.
"I dunno," he said. "I hope so. Dad's having a hard time with...it."
"Yeah...what do we do, Augie?"
"We'll be there for him. We don't whine or complain or make things difficult. We stay close-to him and Mawlene."
"Right. That's what we do. Are you OK?"
She can see the traces of tears in his eyes. "Nah."
He hugged her around the shoulders when she said 'Me neither."
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
"Bret." Liam sniffled after greeting his ex.
"I'm so sorry, Babe." They hug and Bret placed a light kiss on one side of his jaw. "Mawlene, Mr. Walker...there aren't
words..."
"Naw...there ain't," Bon Walker said quietly.
"Thank you, Love." Abilene embraced him, and cupped his face in her palm. "Sit; you're staying."
"I couldn't intrude..."
"Nonsense. That's decided."
-STATION NINETEEN-
Detective Ryan Tanner parked outside the station until he saw Robert Sullivan depart; on the way to his Fire Department-
issued SUV, Andy Herrera (Sullivan) ran out. Ryan turned away as she embraced and kissed him enthusiastically, then
returned inside. Only then did he collect himself and stand at the front door to be buzzed in by Emmett Dixon. "Vic;
Andy" he greeted the two women leaning over 'Probie's' shoulder to stare at whatever was on his laptop screen.
"What's up, Stranger?" Vic hailed.
"Stranger is right!" Andy put in. "Couldn't stay away from our delicious food?"
"Ha, ha...I'm actually here to see Chief Ripley."
"I'll escort you," said Emmett.
"We'll watch the desk," Vic offered.
Tanner left the Chief's office twenty minutes later; he rushed past Vic and Andy and made for his unmarked cruiser;
Andy caught up with him just as he was about to slide in. "Hey! What's the rush?"
"High-alert...Chief Ripley can explain it all-I gotta get back."
"There's no reason it has to be like this between us, Ry. I'm still your friend."
"I know. I need some time to adjust. Congrats on the new baby, by the way. I haven't had a chance to visit."
"You and JENNA are welcome anytime," she said pointedly."
"Right; I really have to run. Good seeing you, Ands."
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Inside, Ripley gathered A and B shifts in the vehicle bay for an announcement. "Detective Tanner was here with some very very
disturbing news earlier. A violent gang that traffics in narcotics, people, and arms in Texas has expanded to Washington State;
they have ties to the Sons Of Anarchy in California and could be part of Michael Dixon's crimes. Chief Hendrix believes that
they may be in this area to supply The Washington State Militia, Proud Boys, and Boogaloo Boys and an off-shoot, violent anti-
vax group called NO VAXX with weapons. This means the FD and hospitals could be targeted. For that reason, I suggest that
you keep your heads on a swivel. FBI, ATF, Washington State Police, and King County Sheriffs are coordinating with the Mayor's
office and Seattle PD on security. Please make sure that your cell phones are OFF silent and within arms reach at all times. That's
all, eyes open during the rest of the shift."
"Chief?" asked Cutler.
"Yes, Cutler."
"What's the name of this gang out of Texas?"
"Right...I didn't mention the name, did I?" Ripley said sheepishly. "Northside Nation."
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Chief Leon Hendrix gently taps the top of his Executive Assistant's head, indicating that she should 'finish up'; she sped
up the pace of her bobbing head, and thus the lewd noises caused by her energetic fellation: 'gliiick gluuug-glerp gaaak...'
One hand flat on his twelve-pack; the fingers of the other manipulating his large, heavy 'sack' she skillfully brings him to
a conclusion, careful not to let any spill onto his tailored trousers. "Good work, Tarsh," he smiled warmly.
'S'm job, Chief," she snarked. She brushed her teeth in his private lavatory; by that time he'd adjusted his clothing and together
they go down the hall and into the main conference room...
"I'm going to get right to it, Chiefs and Departments Heads," he began. "The dossiers passed out by Natarsha detail what has been
validated as a clear and present danger to Seattle and the entire region. The criminal organizations detailed in them are why I've
instructed the Organized Crime Division of Seattle PD to put together a task force to answer that threat. I've already fielded calls
from the FBI's Critical Response Unit in New York-they have a meeting planned for their regional office in the next two days. I'm
happy to report that the Assistant Director of NYO himself sees fit to run the investigation himself. Captain Luna: you'll assign
your best detectives to this from Major Crimes?"
"Of course, Chief," replied Celia Luna. "Detectives Villa and Rosewood. I've left it to them to choose their teams from the other
divisions for the task force."
"Excellent! Let's turn to page 4 in the dossier..."
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
"La nena queja por ustedes diaro, Anni...hago lo que puedo, pero ¿cuando pueden regresan a casa? (The baby's crying for the two of
you, Anni...I'll do what I can but when will you return home?)
"Mañana, mas pronto, Mami...esta despierta ella?" (Tomorrow, soonest Mommy...is she awake?)
"No, hija, dormida." (No, sleeping).
"It's fine; we'll see her tomorrow.
"TOMORROW, Anni..."
"No matter what," Annalise promised. She filled Rosie in on the way to roust one of their informants. "Damn!" he muttered. "We swore that
what we do would never touch her life-and definitely not cut into our time with her. Once we finish this out..."
"YES; we have to think about how whether it's worth it keep doing this."
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Victoria Hughes asked if their family is in danger. "Are these creeps racists, Lucas?"
No SECRETS, no LIES he reminds himself: "There are...indications," he admitted. "We'll have a protective detail, and Sheriffs are
posted around the clock at the daycare."
"Couldn't we have an FBI detail? You could ask READE-he was in Afghanistan around the time that you were, you said."
"Hmmm...I don't know, Vic; that's probably against protocol, Babe-"
"DO I GIVE A FUCK ABOUT PROTOCOL RIGHT NOW-DO I?? I'm TERRIFIED, Lucas!"
"I know I know," he tried to soothe her, pulling her close. "I won't let anything happens to us, I promise."
Their twins began screaming, awoken by their Mother's outburst. Lucas lets them cry for a few minutes until his wife regained her
composure. Quieting, Victoria added, "And my PARENTS," as they mount the stairs.
"Of course-I'll arrange it tonight...and I'll ask Reade tonight as well, off the record."
"Thank you, Baby."
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
On the outskirts of Seattle Tanner parks his department-issued Dodge Charger in a recessed copse of trees, his forehead
resting against the steering wheel...the more he tries to empty his mind and relax, the more his brain reverts back to the
stomach-twisting conversation of 45 minutes ago:
Tanner: Look...the Mayor ordered Dixon to form a task force: the PD's Org Crime division, King County Sheriffs, and State Police;
the FBI is headed here from New York to link up with Spokane to lead the investigation. I-I can't be part of this anymore...X: Come, Detective Tanner; Gregory Tanner absconded with funds belonging to our organization: a sizeable amount which
are quite aware. Some of that money belongs to our partners in Eastern Europe, Mexico, and other parts of the globe. We
asked the gentleman rather...insistently, shall we say and so you should not think less of the gentleman as despite his best
efforts he revealed to us that YOU now possess our funds. The interest has been calculated to a reasonable
$30,000 and your debt is now $480,000.Tanner: I-I only have the-the original amount minus what my Dad spent and...what I spent: $425,640. Of course, I'll return
it i-immediately.X: (laughs) Oh...we're beyond that Detective. Our combined organizations transfer TEN TIMES that amount each DAY.
No; what we require from you is daily reports on all details surrounding this task force-no matter how minor. In exchange
you receive a how do you say it?-ah yes!-a 'clean slate'.Tanner: I can't do that; I CAN'T!
X: I see. Well...you'll want to say your final goodbyes to your wife and children, then. I'd do it soon. He sighed, then
went on: In the end no matter how wealthy a man is, or how good his health in the end all he has is his family.
Someone will be around in 48 hours.Tanner: Wait! WAIT!! You win. Whatever you want...don't s-s-send anyone...please!
X: Much better. I'll be in touch. (click)
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Carina waits until Montgomery, followed by her wife bolt out of the station, jump into the Aid Car and take off, siren
blaring and slips inside, waving to Baby Dixon at the front desk: "Congratulations Emmett on your SFD certification!
You deserve it!"
"Hey-thanks! I'm glad that's over! Did you see Maya: she just left in the Aid Car."
She responds "Yes, I saw her thank you...is Andy or Victoria about?"
"Ummm: Andy and Chuef Sullivan are in her office working on the SFD threat assessment protocols; Vic should be putting
the afternoon meal together."
She says that she'll see him later and goes up the stairs to the Beanery, where she finds Hughes.
"Hey Girl!" Vic said cheerfully. "Maya just went out on Aid car; shouldn't be long."
"As I was coming in she was leaving...umm...how much are you able to say about the state of alert that I've heard about?
I would guess not very much."
"Hey, Girl!"