wheelsy_sheriff | (no subject)

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["I gotta have him get word to Mrs. Pardy an' Kate, let 'em know what's goin' on."]

He hates this.

Pulling into Bill's driveway, Rudy gets out of the car and puts on his hat, takes it off, then puts it back on again, all while eying the front door.

He really, really hates this.

Why's he gotta be the bearer of bad news all the time?

He knows why, because Dave's with Bill, and Kelly is with Mrs. Freeda (who Rudy also hates), and Nancy has to watch the station, so that leaves just him.

It's not fair.

Approaching the house, Rudy stops in front of the porch and paces back and forth a few times. He knows he needs to tell Kate what happened to Bill so they can get going, but wants to take a moment to prepare himself.

Be calm, explain the situation, don't worry her or get flustered your ownself.

Heading up the porch, he knocks on the front door, putting his hat back on at the last moment.

"C'mon, Rudy, do this right."

God, he hates this.

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Rudy hesitates, then steps inside, shrinking around Kate so she can close the door.

"Well I wasn't there, had some trouble up at the lodge I was handlin', but uh, Dave an' Bill answered a call down at Mrs. Freeda's place. They was checkin' it out, an' that ol' bat whopped Bill upside the head with a cast iron skillet."

Despite himself, Rudy gives a small snicker that's born of nerves.

"He went down an' Dave called out the paramedics. They're takin' him t'the hospital now."

She's very still.

"Please don't laugh."

She closes her eyes.

God, it's his first day back.

Her eyes open and she licks her lips.

"I have the spare key to the truck. I, um -- "

She checks the pockets of her jeans out of habit.

"It's in my -- my bag, I just need to -- "

She glances at Rudy, willing herself not to lose it in front of him.

"Should I take some things for him if he's admitted?"

Her voice cracks on the last word.

"M'sorry."

His eyes cut down to the ground quickly, and he swallows hard. Listening to her makes him feel even more terrible and he wishes he knew what to say.

Hearing the waver in her voice he chances a glance at her, knot forming in his throat.

"I'm sorry, Kate, but he outta-- Dave said he outta be alright."

Trying to straighten himself up, he gestures towards the door.

"I c'n take you there. Not sure if they're keepin' him or not, but he'd probably 'preciate a change of clothes either way. He uh-- "

Rudy bites his tongue, thinking it might be better not to tell Kate how Bill threw up.

"It's been a bit of a long day," he says, voice and expression full of appology.

"Okay."

She nods, more to herself than anything.

"Okay," she says again, and starts moving toward the bedroom to pack a duffel with sweats, pajamas, and toiletries.

"I'm sorry, I -- make yourself at home, Rudy," she calls over her shoulder. "I'll be just a minute. There's, um, there's fresh coffee; if you want any, just help yourself to the kitchen."

Her hands are shaking as she pulls a black bag from the closet.

"Okay," he nods, unconciously echoing her. "I'mma be right here."

He watches her go, looks towards the kitchen, and stays where he's at, nervously biting the tops of his knuckles.

He feels so bad for Kate, she's been so nice and doesn't deserve this at all. Neither does Bill, for that matter.

Still seeing Kate's shaken expression in his mind's eye, he tries to think of what Bill or Dave would do in this situation. Finally he wills his feet to move and cautiously heads down the hallway. Poking his head into the bedroom, eyes down just incase, he knocks lightly on the doorframe.

"Kate, you uh, y'alright? I know this has gotta be bad for you, so if there 's somethin' I c'n do... "

Her back is to the doorway; she's smoothing her hands over the folded clothes in the duffel bag sitting on the comforter.

She sniffles and shakes her head, not turning just yet.

"I'm fine. I just need, um -- "

She stares hard at the two white T-shirts beneath her palms.

"His toothbrush."

She forces a quick smile, hoping it's reassuring, and gives Rudy's forearm a gentle squeeze as she passes him to retrieve the toothbrush and Bill's deodorant from the bathroom.

"Mrs. Pardy wasn't," he says quietly, moving to the side to be out of Kate's way.

She freezes, her heart leaping onto her tongue.

"God, June -- is she on her way to the hospital?"

Rudy shakes his head helplessly.

"I dunno she-- she didn't wanna come. I offered, an' tried talkin' t'her, but she was upset an' told me to go on."

That horrible feeling that's been twisting his insides all night knots itself again. He rubs at his belly and stares at the floor.

"Practically run me off her porch."

The burn behind Kate's eyes triples.

"Of course she's upset."

Her hand returns to his forearm, tighter this time.

"But that's not your fault, okay?"

He looks up, meeting her eyes.

"I didn't wanna leave her alone like'at, but I still had t'come here, an' she went inside an'-- I didn't know what t'do."

She nods, her stomach twisting.

"It's okay," she says, the words hollow in her ears. "I'll -- I'll call her on the way. I just need to grab a couple more things, and we can go."

"You will?"

His face lightens some with hope.

"I'm sure she'd talk t'you. I just wanna make sure she's alright. June she-- she means everything t'Bill."

Moving past her, he walks backwards down the hall, headed back to the front door.

"Lemme get out your way, I'll wait for you up here."

And he means everything to her.

She swallows thickly and nods, retrieving Bill's toothbrush and her own (just in case), along with a few other necessities.

"Okay," she says, returning to the foyer with the bag slung over her shoulder, keys and cell phone in hand.

She steps into a pair of leather ballet flats and gestures for Rudy to go ahead and step onto the porch; she follows him and turns to lock the door, concentrating on the simple actions so she won't break down.

Pocketing the keys, she flips open her phone to dial June's number as they head toward Rudy's cruiser.

He's about to offer to take the bag, but sees her with the phone and doesn't want to interrupt, so he takes a couple quick strides so he can open the trunk before she gets to the car.

Once the bag is in, he shuts the trunk and hurries around to the passenger side to get the door open for Kate.

He can hear the soft buzzing of the line ringing as Kate moves past him, and he bites his lip, hoping June answers.

Alone in her home, June stares at the ringing phone, afraid to touch it.

She knew it. She knew it all along.

As much as she wanted to be wrong, as much as she prayed to be wrong, she knew that if Bill returned to work he wouldn't be safe.

She'd been waiting all day for the phone call telling her something had happened to Bill to come; stomach tied in knots, fears of the worst on her mind, going back to that night in August when Bill was shot again and again.

When Rudy showed up at the door it was déjá vu, and her heart had stopped.

She listened enough to learn that Bill was alive and headed for the hospital, then she couldn't hear anymore.

Now, with the phone ringing, she's afraid of who's on the line, and what she might hear.

Slowly, just before the machine picks up, she reaches out and answers, closing her eyes and holding her breath.

"Hello?"

She's sure she's going to get the machine when June picks up.

"Mrs. Pardy, it's Kate."

Her free hand is trembling as she clicks her seat belt into place.

"I'm with Rudy -- we're heading to the hospital."

A breath.

"Are you okay? Do you want us to come by and pick you up?"

Rudy buckles himself in and pauses before starting the car, waiting for June's reply.

June's own hand is unsteady, and she lets out a shaky breath.

"Kate."

Looking around her empty living room, she shakes her head.

"I'm-- I'm fine. I-- Rudy told me what happened."

You're not fine.

"Yeah, Mrs. Freeda made a mistake."

Her grip tightens on the phone.

Gently, "We're still at the house, we can come get you if you want."

"Mistake," she repeats. She wants to be mad, but right now she's too upset to muster any anger.

It's too much, and she can't pull herself together. Not wanting to be this way in front of Bill, she says no.

"I can't-- that's alright, you go on an' see t'Bill."

Her lip trembles, and her voice wavers.

"Mrs. Pardy, I -- "

She turns her head toward the passenger window so Rudy won't see the tear that rolls down her cheek.

"I'm sorry."

It's unfair and foolish to hold Kate to her promise, but June can't help thinking about it now.

Managing a slow breath to calm her a moment, June's voice becomes more gentle.

"Thank you, for callin' me, I do appreciate it. An' tell Rudy I'm sorry. Please let someone have me know when Bill's home."

Kate nods, unable to speak past the tightness in her throat for a handful of heartbeats.

"I'll, um -- "

She clears her throat quietly.

"I'll call you as soon as I see the doctor."

"Alright, you two be careful."

She hangs up the phone, letting out a half sob into her hand, then gets up and heads for the bedroom.

Rudy didn't want to be nosy, but it was impossible not to hear Kate's side of the conversation.

When she hangs up, he glances over at her, then with a small frown starts the cruiser and pulls out of the drive.

She closes her eyes for a long moment, willing away the saltwater.

When she opens them, she turns to see Rudy's profile.

"You said it's been a long day, huh?"

He mulls over things to say, but can't think of anything good, so he's relieved when she speaks up first.

Looking over at her, he nods.

"Yeah, been pretty busy."

She tries to smile, a telltale quiver to her chin.

"How -- how're you?"

"I'm alright, my day wasn't too bad," He manages a quick flash of a smile, trying to cheer her some.

"Glad I ain't Bill."

As soon as the words are out he shakes his head and tries quickly to explain himself.

"Not 'cause of what happened with-- I meant 'cause he spent the mornin' with lots of paperwork. That's all."

He sighs, berating himself for being such a lousy person.

"I just-- wouldn't want Bill or Dave's position. Too much responsibility."

"Yeah."

Her eyes fall to her knees, and she grips the phone in one tight fist.

"Rudy, it's all right. I think we're all a little on edge today."

He looks at the gauges on the dash, frown set on his features.

"I'm makin' an' ass of myself, an' I'm sorry."

They pass the city limits sign and he puts on a little more speed.

"You're not."

She leaves the cell in her lap and runs her fingers through her hair, tucking pieces behind her ears.

"You're smooth, next to Bill," she jokes weakly. "He lives with his foot in his mouth."

She licks her lips.

"But you probably know that better than I do -- you've known him a lot longer."

He cracks a small smile to that.

"I am?"

Then gives a small chuckle.

"He sure steps in it sometimes, but bad as he is now, he was a hundred times worse in high school."

That earns the most genuine smile she's managed since she opened the front door, tiny as it may be.

"Yeah?"

Catching that small piece of a smile, he nods.

"Oh yeah, back then he was trippin' up on his own feet, while he was puttin' 'em in his mouth."

She breathes a chuckle, then sniffles.

"I'm kind of sad I missed seeing that."

A road sign tells him that they're almost there and his smile eases off.

"You woulda laughed, an' probably found it cute. Lots of girls did."

Rudy sounds a little jealous of this, but only in a reminiscing sort of way.

Spotting the sign for Bishopville, her heart beats faster.

"Romeo in a football jersey?"

"Nah, the girls liked him, but he was pretty much focused on-- "

He pauses, and thinks maybe he shouldn't finish what he was saying.

Trying to cover himself by taking the moment to change lanes, he shakes his head.

"Bill was too much've a dork t'be Romeo. I was Romeo. In uh, the school play."

He doesn't have to finish; she knows who he isn't naming.

She shifts slightly in her seat, glancing out the windshield, then back to Rudy.

"Drama club?"

(Bill was right.)

"Yeah, see my geography teacher Mrs. Current ran it, an' she had trouble gettin' guys t'join, so she gave me extra credit for it."

He shakes his head at himself.

"You can probably guess that I really needed it."

After a beat, he glances around, suddenly embarrassed, and admits to her, "I kinda liked it, though. It was fun."

She offers him an encouraging half-smile.

"Hey, there's no shame in that -- I always wished I had the courage to get onstage in front of a crowd."

Her expression falters when she sees they've nearly reached the hospital.

Let him be okay, please.

"Well, I wasn't no Brad Pitt or nothin', but I guess I weren't too bad, neither."

He sees her expression shift and looks ahead, seeing the green steeple ontop of the hospital. Working his throat he turns, and navigates the parking lot.

After they've stopped he looks over at her.

"S'gonna be alright, Kate. Bill's good at takin' knocks an' comin' back from 'em. He'll be just fine."

She nods, smoothing her clammy palms down her thighs.

"Yeah. He -- yeah."

Another nod, and she tries to smile for both their sakes.

He nods, giving his own small smile, then gets out of the car.

Coming around quickly to get her door, he then hurries to the trunk to grab her bag.

"Dave outta still be here I think, we c'n find him and see what's what."

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