(no subject)

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He wakes up thirsty. Too many damn Swee Tarts, or maybe it was all those Sour Patch Kids. Whatever it was, Bill eases out of bed and heads for the small kitchen area, leaving Kate to sleep.

Grabbing a carton of orange juice from the fridge, he turns to take it to the table, then drops it on the floor. The carton hits the tile with a slosh-thump, but Bill's attention is on the man sitting in a chair pulled out from the table.

"Hey there, Bill."

Carton forgotten, Bill backs up quickly. He bumps into the fridge, and stands there gaping.

"W-- Wally?"

The deputy smiles, giving a nod.

"Yeah, it's me."

Bill's heart is high up in his throat as he looks the man over.

Wally is dead.

Wally is dead, and this isn't the first time Bill's run into him since Wally's been dead.

The last time didn't go so well.

"What the hell do you want?"

Wally's smile fades, and he shakes his head.

"Relax, Bill, I ain't here t'hurt you."

Wally holds his hands out, palms up. They're empty, and more importantly, they look normal. Everything about Wally looks normal, like he was before the slug invasion in Wheelsy.

He isn't even in uniform. Instead he has on the old beat-up flannel button-down he'd wear whenever they'd hit the lake for some fishing, and a pair of well-worn blue jeans.

Bill notes all of this and backs down some, but still keeps a wariness and distance.

"So what do you want?"

"Oh, just kinda checkin' in. S'been awhile. I see you got yourself a girl."

At the mention of Kate, Bill's eyes narrow and he moves from the wall and to the open way between the kitchen area and the suite, putting himself between Wally and Kate.

"You stay away from her."

"Jesus Christ, Bill, I ain't here to make trouble. I was just sayin', that's all. I'm happy for you; thought you'd never work yourself past Starla."

Bill doesn't move, and Wally gives a sigh, throwing a hand up.

"Alright, fine. Can't say I blame you, everything that's happened, but you are bein' an ass right now, just so's you know."

Wally stands, and Bill's hands clench tight at his sides as his heart pounds in his ears.

"Listen t'me," Wally says, making no move to close the distance between them. "You're my friend, an' I was damn happy an' proud t'serve under you, sheriff. You've done a good job, but I gotta tell ya, there's trouble comin'."

Bill's hands relax a fraction, and he gives Wally a quizzical look.

"Trouble? What do you mean? Not the-- "

Before Bill can finish Wally shakes his head.

"No, not them again. Slugs are gone, this is somethin' else. Just watch yourself, an' the boys. Be careful who you keep company with."

"What? What is it? What's goin' on?"

Wally shakes his head again, expression turning sad.

"Take care, Bill. Was good t'see you again."

"Hey, wait a sec, what the hell are you talkin' about?"

Wally hitches his pants up, and turns away.

When Bill moves to follow his eyes open suddenly as a hand falls on his shoulder.

Bill jerks in his chair and turns his head to see Kate standing close by, her hand hanging in the air between them.

"Sweetheart?"

Looking around, he realizes he's asleep at the table. His eyes scan the kitchen area, then fall on Kate; his Adam's apple bobs.

"I was thirsty."

Kate looks him over, an orange juice carton in her other hand.

"I can get you a glass," she offers.

He looks at the carton, and shakes his head, standing slowly.

"No, I'm just-- that's alright. Let's get back to bed."

She hesitates, but when he offers his hand she takes it, and after the juice gets put away they settle back in bed together.

Bill holds her in his arms, his eyes on the shadows around them, and his thoughts on Wally's words.