wheelsy_sheriff

Christ, is he tired.

It's late, and Kate is probably asleep by now, so Bill closes the door on his cruiser as soft as he can before dragging himself up the driveway and porch steps.

Lousy day, lousy week, hell, if he could he'd write off the whole damn month.

He didn't even bother to button his flannel when he changed after work at the station, and a light wind whips the tails of his shirt as he sorts through his keys.

Getting the door open, he steps inside with three things on his mind; a beer, a bite to eat, and bed.

It's taken a little longer than he had hoped to get things together with the department in order to schedule some time off, but Bill's finally managed it (leaving him owing Dave big), and now he just needs to get out.

The morning's been busy. Bill and Dave spent part of it intervening in a feud between a couple of old-timers, rounding up a lot of stray piglets, and talking Mrs. Freeda down from a statue out in front of the post office, where she was giving a tirade over the increasing cost of stamps.

After seeing her home safely and being "forced" into a couple pieces of pie, Bill is in a rush when he gets back to the station.

He moves around the office, getting things straight while Dave follows him around, and Nancy, the dispatcher and receptionist, trails them, trying to get Bill's attention.

"Head back out and check on Otis and Dale tomorrow," Bill says over his shoulder to Dave. "Those two were pretty riled this time, an' you know they won't let the other alone if they feel wronged."

Dave nods, Nancy speaks up.

"Sheriff-- "

Moving for his desk, Bill grabs a stack of paperwork and shoves it into a file, ignoring Nancy.

"Remind Rudy he's helpin' at the church rummage sale, an' you gotta put in the payroll Monday mornin', I won't be back in time for it."

"Got it, sheriff."

"Hey, sheriff-- "

Bill walks past Nancy and shoves the file he just stuffed into a cabinet.

"You got where t'reach me," Bill continues, "but, I don't want no calls 'less there's another invasion or Pete gets his hands on a nuke, alright?"

"Alright," Dave nods, popping off half a salute that earns him a Look. Shaking his head, Dave holds his hands up. "Relax, Bill, things'll be fine. So, relax, an' have a good time."

"Okay, I'll-- "

"Bill."

Nancy finally gains Bill's attention. Huffing, she holds out a small stack of papers.

"These come while you were out. They're-- "

Bill makes a face at the papers, taking them and reaching for a pen.

"Where do I put it?"

"These are for-- " Nancy tries again and Bill shakes his head.

"Where do I sign?"

Nancy shuffles the pages, pointing out a few spots.

"They came through this mornin'," Nancy says, watching him.

Bill leans against the desk and puts down quick signatures and initials, then hands it back, returning his focus to Dave.

"Don't let things fall apart while I'm gone."

Dave snorts and Bill smiles.

"See y'all later."

Bill grabs his keys and heads out quick, leaving behind a smiling Dave, and a flustered Nancy.

*****

Stepping through the front door, Bill heaves a sigh, smiling as he works the buttons off on the front of his uniform.

"Finally got away. You ready?"

It's Friday night and Henenlotter's Saddle Lounge is busy, but there's a table in the corner empty and waiting for Bill and his two deputies when they walk in.

Friendly greetings meet them as they pass through the bar, and all three men look to be in a good mood when they sit down, especially Dave and Rudy, who share a smile as they sit.

"So, Bill, seein' as t'how this is our first Friday since you've gotten back, Rudy an' I have decided somethin'," Dave says as Mary the waitress sets down three beers in front of the trio.

Bill looks at Dave and Rudy. Rudy is already set to burst out laughing.

"What's that?" Bill asks, taking a drink.

"You're buyin'," Dave answers, clinking his bottle to the bottom of Bill's, then taking a drink with a smirk.

Rudy lets his laughter out and Bill gives them each a Look.

"S'only fair, Bill," Rudy manages, after having a drink. "Dave an' I have had t'pay all this time."

"I haven't been here all this time," Bill argues, sounding indignant.

"Yeah, an' we've missed you somethin' fierce." Dave nods.

"Missed you payin'," Rudy says, and both deputies laugh.

"Assholes," Bill mutters, before he starts laughing himself.


They've been drinking, talking, and laughing for awhile when Rudy leans over and shakes Dave by the shoulder.

"Hey, hey, y'think it's time for his present?"

Dave is taking a pull on his long neck bottle and almost chokes.

"Oh yeah, yeah. I guess it is."

Bill eyes them both.

"What?"

"We got y'somethin' sheriff," Rudy replies, grinning ear to ear as Dave gives Mary a signal.

Bill turns his wary gaze from the deputies down to the tray Mary brings over; something big and round sits on top of it, covered by a dish towel.

With a bemused head shake, Mary sets it down and walks off.

"Now Bill, after recent events, Rudy an' I have decided that a standard uniform just ain't gonna cut it for you," Dave explains while Rudy nods. "So, we talked t'coach Akers, an'-- "

"Taa-daa!" Rudy says loudly, pulling off the towel to reveal an Earl Bassett High football helmet.

"S'good protection 'gainst linemen, wildlife, an' crazy ass old ladies armed with cast iron." Dave gives the helmet a rap with his knuckles, and Bill bursts into loud laughter.

"Well c'mon, put it on," Rudy insists.

Still laughing, and shaking his head, Bill takes off his cap and pulls on the helmet.

"Just like old times, ain't it?" Rudy says.

"Nah, if it were old times, y'all would be dressed like turtles." Bill cracks up, then fits the neck of his bottle through the face mask and takes a drink.


"You make the call."

"No, you make the call."

"Would someone just call already? M'drunk as shit over here an' need t'lay down." Rudy's voice is almost a groan as he sits in the middle of Bill and Dave arguing.

"Rudy, y'just shut th'hell up, y'ain't even got no one t'call in the first place," Bill says, tilting his head so he can glare at Rudy through the helmet still on his head.

"Yeah, y'-- y'need a girl, Rudy, so we can bug her for rides home," Dave says in agreement.

Rudy sulks, and Bill and Dave turn back to arguing with each other.

"J-- just call Kate t'pick us up."

"No I-- I can't." Bill shakes his head, and hiccups.

"Why not?" Dave demands, bumping the edge of the table with his bottle as he tries to set his beer down.

"'Cause... 'cause-- " Bill's face lights up then, and he smirks. "'Cause she ain't got nothin' but th'truck, an' we can't all fit."

"We'll throw Rudy in the back."

"What if he falls out again?"

"Yeah, what if I fall out 'gain?" Rudy puts in, leaning on Dave.

Dave works on an argument, frowns, then throws up his arms in disgust, knocking Rudy off of him.

"Aw, shit, fine! Lemme go call Sarah. God dammit, I hate both of y'all."

He stalks off, leaving Bill and Rudy laughing behind him.


Sarah has been waiting for the call, and is only a bit exasperated when it comes. She listens patiently as Dave goes through all manner of excuses about why they're calling her, and she even stifles a sigh when he's through.

"Y'all just stay put, alright?" she says, already shrugging on a light jacket while she juggles the phone.

"Alright, sweetheart," Dave replies, voice slurred but pleased.

"I mean it, David," she says, grabbing her keys. "Don't none of you go anywhere, I'm not runnin' no search party tonight."

"Don't worry, Bill's with Rudy, he won't get lost," Dave assures.

"Yeah, well you keep an eye on Bill, too. I'll be there in just a bit."

"Okay, love you."

"Love you, too." Sarah hangs up the phone with a soft sigh, then heads out to her car.



Loading the three officers into the car is a chore and a half, but somehow it gets accomplished; she puts all three in the backseat.

The singing she takes with many eye rolls, Bill still has his helmet on, and she ends up having to retrieve Dave after he gets out of the car while she's walking Rudy in.

She'll be glad for Kate's help with Bill when she gets him home, and as she's driving towards his house, listening to Bill and her husband belting out country songs, she realizes it might have been smart to have reinforcements from the start.

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



Since arriving at the hospital Bill has been examined, asked more questions, and had several tests performed.

The exam showed some of his motor skills a bit lacking, but he was able to answer most of the questions, and while he can't remember all of the tests, they came out clear for serious injury.

He got sick a couple more times, but after the last time of throwing up off the side of the stretcher he felt a bit better, and when they finally put him in a room the nurse turned the lights down, which helped, too.

Now he's just tired, tired and ready to go home. He's not quite sure what the hold up is, but is hoping it's just waiting on someone to come get him.

They gave him pain killers, and those are finally starting to kick in, so he dozes in bed, exhausted after what's been a pretty shitty day.

["S'good t'be home."]



They went to bed hours ago, though Bill's not sure how many. He doesn't want to chance a look at the clock and see how late or early it is.

He's slept on and off, but anticipation for the morning, and thoughts around tomorrow, keep him mostly awake. Kate's stirring beside him also has him aware instead of asleep.

He doesn't know what she's dreaming about, unlike him she doesn't usually say much in her sleep, but he's got an idea. Despite everything tonight she said and did to celebrate his going back to work, he knows she's still worried. Guilt is stuck high in his chest for putting her, and his mom, through it, but there's nothing he can do about it.

Nothing short of quitting, anyways, and that's something he can't do.

Staring at the shadows on the wall, he tries to fall asleep, feeling that if he can just make it to morning and get back to the job he'll be able to show them that it's going to be alright. He can handle the job, and take care of himself, and there's no reason to worry like they are.

The hard part is going to sleep.

["Doc""]



Kate is downstairs looking for more candy canes to replace those missing from the tree (something Bill knows absolutely nothing about) and Boo has finally settled down for a nap.

Taking advantage of Kate's being gone, Bill is at the table that's been set up as a wrapping station, trying to get the gifts he picked up for Kate the other day wrapped before she comes back up.

The tape, as always, is being difficult.

His only success so far is getting them into a plain box, so at least if she comes in she can't see what he's got. He's hoping to get the job finished, though, and the present stashed amongst Boo's gifts before Kate makes it back.

[i'm so tired but i can't sleep standin' on the edge of something much too deep]



It's still very early when Bill finds himself awake again. Kate's asleep, curled on her side and doesn't seem to be sleeping very well.

Frowning to himself he gets up. Slowly. He's stiff and sore and has to suck in a breath to stifle a groan when he rises from the bed.

Shuffling around the suite he heads to the bathroom and stares at himself and the lack of bruises in the mirror for a few long minutes before leaving.

He's hungry, and his body feels drained and overtaxed so he moves on to the kitchen where he sits at the table with a bowl of plain cornflakes. He just needs something in his stomach, and he needs to think. There's so much mess to sort through right now, and on top it all his failures are staring him straight in the face.

She didn't sleep well at all last night.

After Bill left she had shut herself in the house and went between bouts of anger, crying and numbness that left her completely drained, but wasn't enough to help her sleep past the images of that night in August.


Rudy standing out on the front porch, hat in his hands and a look of stunned fear in his eyes.

"Mrs.-- Mrs.-- June, y'gotta... Bill, he's-- I'm sorry."

The doctor approaching her in the waiting room.

"He's serious but stable"

Bill in a hospital bed.

"I was shot."

Everything from that horrible night played out in front of her eyes, closed or not, as she lay in bed, and today now finds her exhausted and still struggling with the news that he really is going back to the job that nearly killed him.

She's just finished a crying spell, under control and settling into numb, when the phone rings.

Hesitating when she sees Bill's name on the caller ID, she answers with a steady voice.

"Hello?"

Brett Favre is a cheating bastard.

That's all Bill has to say.

After losing to the Packers three games in a row he gave up the Madden for a couple hours. The mess of puzzle pieces on the coffee table show what he was doing during that time, but then puzzles got boring and he thought he might have worked out a strategy so he's at it again.

All that's left of his bar bake sale goodies is half the chocolate chip muffin (covered in leftover extra icing) and crumbs and chocolate smudges on the table and corner of his mouth a crumpled napkin from the rest.

He's fully focused on the game as Peyton Manning scrambles in the pocket and launches a Hail Mary down the field.

"Catch it. Catch it. Christ, you better catch it..."

["I'm planning on going with you, if that's okay."]


It's been months since he's been in uniform, even longer since he's worn the one he's putting on now.

It's a little tight, but then it always seemed that way to him, and he doesn't have the badge to go with it.

Straightening the jacket he twists his neck, trying to free up room in the collar. Taking a slow breath he stares at his reflection in the mirror a moment then picks up his cap sitting on the counter by the sink.

Leaving the bathroom he heads down the hallway to the bedroom and stands in the doorway.

"Ready?"

-----

It's cold, a dusting of snow on the ground and a cold breeze blowing through the cemetery, whipping the coats of the mourners and the edges of the flag draped over the casket.

His ears and fingers burn red with the cold but Bill stands stoical through the ceremony.

Kate is at his side, and although his eyes shift only between the casket and Mrs. Hargrove standing by, he can feel her presence next him.

It takes a conscious effort but he doesn't flinch when the rifles sound, and when it's over and the crowd breaks he keeps his place instead of leaving quickly, waiting as the rest of the attendees speak with Hargrove's widow.

She says a tearful 'thank you' to the last in line and looks up, eyes locking on Bill's. He walks over and doesn't break her gaze until he's in front of her.

"Mrs. Hargrove, I wanna say I'm sorry for your husband." There's more in his voice than sympathy, it's an apology and the woman before him can hear it.

She shakes her head, chin trembling.

"No... it's not... "

Bill looks up then and the guilt he's been carrying breaks in his eyes.

"I'm sorry..."

Suddenly she closes the distance between them and she's hugging him fiercely, face pressed against his chest.

"It's not your fault, Sheriff, please... Chris loved his job, an' he'd never... he'd never blame you so please... don't-- "

He only hesitates a moment before his arms go around her. He feels her body trembling and holds on a little tighter, nodding to her words, hearing them finally,

"This isn't your fault -- it isn't."

and believing them, finally.