Strawberry

Sunday Oct 18, 1992

Deej arrived after Nick had made eggs and gotten them mostly consumed. She didn't want anything, well, but then he talked her into pop tarts and milk.

"Breakfast is important."

"Bleh, I can't eat much in the morning, but yeah I know, I'm better about it when in training, guess that's my cue."

Sam had asked to just help unload, evidently she's down from April not being around; understandable.

So they head out, Nick drives this leg, and right away she sets the tone, 

"Um, we need to have a couple adult conversations."

"I didn't bring a note."

"HA. But, well, we need to decide what to tell people when they ask about our plans."

"For the future?"

"No for the past."

He glances over flatly.

"Okay...but yeah...girls get asked if and when and how many babies, you know."

"Ahh, guess I've been able to duck most of that being in college."

"Yeah, and that's my answer, I'm getting a degree, end of story."

"But then they ask ‘after that?’"

"Right, and we're spending time together so..."

Nick remains pensive.

"Did I freak you out?"

"No, it's just...all the tuxes and registry and the announcement in the paper..."

She smiles, "Yeah, that's not us, is it?"

"It all seems so...excessive."

"Well, have you ever been to a wedding, like a second marriage, where they just dress up and it's just close family?"

"That would be a relief."

"Yeah, I have no need for all the trappings, hell, how many of those don't work out?"

"How many couples have you seen over the years who come to church just to get hitched then split? I mean, you never see them again then usually hear they split up?"

"I lost count, so yeah."

Nick thinks a second. "Can you imagine an announcement in the paper where we're making faces?"

She seems to find this a delicious thought to savor to as they turn onto the main county road, then spends the rest of the trip just watching the trees and fields shed their dew.

The trip isn’t long, less than halfway to campus, and he asks, "Hey you ready for this?"

"Pssh."

"Sounds about right."

He pulls into Dawsons' and looks like no one's home, as expected, they were going out for breakfast or such, and backs up toward the door. She gets them in and they head to her room right off the living room, door is closed. Deej slowly opens up and flips the light as if expecting someone inside, but of course there's not. 

She goes straight to the bed to pick up an envelope, opens it and raises a eyebrow at a check and pay stub. 

"Well this will come in handy-dandy."

Nick looks around. "So what all goes?"

"Well you're familiar with this thing here that I was sleeping on, then my dresser and those boxes."

"Check."

So they go to work and naturally it's done in about the time it took to drive over. She takes one last look around the room, then turns to Nick,

"Hey, can you check that shutter door out there, just to make sure?"

So he does and finds something, addressed to Danni but not from him. He presents it to her and she just goes still.

"Wow."

For now she puts it in her back pocket with the check and takes another look around, for good measure, then pops her key off the ring and sets it on the counter.

"OK, let's lock ourselves out."

She walks ahead and he gets a tad distracted by the fact her back pockets have stuff in them and nearly jumps when she asks if he'll take the wheel once more. As they pull out, sure enough, she's already reading the letter.

"I think I can guess at least part of that."

Deej just shakes her head in some kind of disgust or disbelief.

"She actually wants to get lunch with me sometime."

"Will you have appetite?"

"Appetite to hold her down on the ground and pull her head out of her ass."

"Can I watch?" Then he regrets that immediately, "Sorry."

She glances over, "Actually that helps some. But yeah, you can probably guess this, nobody understands her and she needs her space, laa laa laa."

"Inexperience and freedom are a bad mix aren't they?"

"Like ammonia and vinegar."

"Someone paid attention in chemistry."

"Well, it was a safety course I took but yeah."

"Still." 

Nick leaves her to ponder a bit, and sure enough she just watches the world go by. Eventually he asks, 

"Wanna grab a coffee?"

"We can, I'd rather have juice though. There's a decent chance of some at the house too if you wanna roll the dice."

"Yeah why not, we have plenty o’time."

She scoots over and leans on him. "Do I make a better arm warmer?"

"The best. Starting to think that was a red flag of sorts."

"Yeah but who knew a storm was brewing?"

"Why do we have to be adults?"

"Oh that reminds me, before I forget...um, the doctor will ask me things this week."

"Why did my blood just run cold?"

"Relax, your name won't come up, but I plan to say I don't intend to get pregnant or even have intercourse for that matter. I hate to ask but, does that...fit your intentions?"

Nick swallows and cracks his window a bit. "I think you should go with that hon."

She takes his right hand and plants one on the back of it. "We seem to have plenty of options and I'm not about to get ambitious."

Nick takes a deep breath. 

She looks up at him, "Sorry if this makes you nervous, but I want to be ready."

"Oh I know, just a lot to think about."

"Worse than the alternative?"

"Absolutely not, just there's a lot to this adult stuff."

Deej just sighs and they drive on.

At the Eversole homestead the gang is up and moving but easing into the day, the new MO since home group started. Right away Deej checks the counter, "You're in luck, dear, look!" Sure enough there's some fresh coffee. She grabs him a mug and he fills 'er up.

Nancy beams from the table, "We thought you might like some."

For this Nick just floats by and plants one on the top of her head and she giggles.

Deej gives him a wry look and shakes her head.

Nick then heads toward the couch next to Sam and her homework, sits down right next and scoops her up in his free arm with intentional awkwardness, 

"You OK Bub?"

He can see her lighten up and releases the squeeze. "Whatcha workin' on?"

"English Lit."

"Yeah I barely made it through that, only got along with the teacher outside of class, couldn't handle her Kentucky draw slogging through Bay-uh-WULF."

This gets a chuckle. "Good ol' MacBeth."

"I wish I could remember some quotes, just some idiots in class laughing about Gay-Wayne."

She looks over with a smirk, "Real mature."

"Is that the one with the trouble, trouble boil and bubble?"

"It rhymes with that at least."

"Hey they don't pay me to read Shakespeare."

She giggles and continues writing so he rejoins his coffee already in progress, thinking how this is how she must appear at school, always in concentration, the other side of the coin.

Deej and Nancy keep flashing glances over that way. Evidently Dean is out on a jog this morning, which another clue to this here gene pool.

After a few minutes the elder sister comes over, "Should we head over when you're done?"

"If you're ready?"

"Can I fix the hair?"

"Is it broken?"

Right on cue she just sticks her tongue out and darts down the hall. Nick takes a sip.

Sam clears her throat and reads a sentence she just finished, then asks,

"Does that make sense?"

Nick paraphrases it back.

She pauses. "Is that a suggestion?"

"I was telling you what I heard. A paraphrase."

"OH, derp, good. I'm blond remember?"

Nick just grins and takes another sip.

Right about then there's a jiggle of the front door handle then a knock. Nancy jumps up, 

"Now who locked that?" She lets Dean back in the house.

He asks, "I thought I left that unlocked."

From down the hallway, "Aren't you glad to have me back Daddy?"

"I should have known. Hey Nick!"

"Morning, Boss," he can't resist but grins big.

"Now now."

"So do you run every day?"

"Well I try several runs a week, except in extreme weather."

"You are a soldier, I'm better on the bike."

"Sure, cycling is great too, what is it, two and a half miles riding is one mile jogging?"

"Sounds right, for me it's more for mental health, the air and scenery."

"Well good for you, maybe Danni will join you sometime."

"I think we both know she would run and I would try to keep up on the bike."

This gets a laugh just as she emerges from the hallway, "What the who why where?"

Nick jumps in, "Was just saying you offered to pull me in a wagon while you jog."

She ignores the laughter, "You milking that mug or are we gonna do this?"

Nick gets up and motions toward the sink, gets a nod, posits his empty mug then joins the exodus. Everyone but Nancy converges on the pickup. After Deej grabs a box, Sam leans into Nick,

"What did you think of the drawing?"

"Got it framed and on the wall already."

Sam covers her mouth, "She's gonna shhhhh-hmmmmm-flip!"

"Exactly, I love it. Played some with the tape last night too."

This gets her jumping around gleefully until Nick grabs a box and they start hauling. Eventually they collaborate on the futon which will likely find a place in the living room for now.

Deej grabs her purse and promises to be back for a bit of sister time before the week starts, then once outside she blocks Nick from entering the truck with the sultry face, having brushed out the pony tail, left a few playful strands loose and done her usual minimal touch ups that go a long, long way.

"How did you ever get so smooth?" Then punctuates it with sugar.

Nick sweetens the sugar for a few moments till she catches her breath then wipes some drool.

"Dammit, mm, alright, follow me?" 

Nick just holds the embrace and drinks her in.

"Dipshit, I have to drive, remember, you're making me all gooey."

"And who started this?'

"Shut up." And he lets her wiggle free. "Follow me?"

"Anywhere."

She doesn't acknowledge this but gets in her car and backs out, and he follows. Once at the grandparents' she tosses him her keys, 

"This is what you get, I'll be quick."

Nick gets comfy in the drive seat of her Poncho. Someone he worked with at the store mentioned how these seats are fully extendable in situations involving carnal pleasures, so he messes with the adjuster. He doesn't find much range and wonders if it's the Grand Prix with that kind of latitude. Not something to ask Noreen anytime soon.

Before long the passenger door opens and he gets the seat and mirrors situated.

"Having fun are we?"

Nick buckles up, "Starting to think you just like to sit over there all cool while I drive."

"It's fun to watch you, and you make me feel safe."

"Is that a chick thing?"

"Yes it is a chick thing."

"Even for independent chicks?"

"I think you are figuring us out and must be dealt with."

He looks over and she's very content, eyes closed dreamily, but before long,

"Would you have asked April out if we hadn't...god I don't even know how to finish that sentence."

"I dunno, there was a vibe at times but I wouldn't know where to start."

Silence. 

Nick looks over to find a blank look.

"What?"

"So remind me..."

"Yaess?"

She pauses, "So remind me…after you did that…um blow up,  at the church, we didn't get to talk much, who did you talk to?"

Nick has to think. "Well it got so weird, all the drama with that church, then at school I got stares and whispers, then...in a weird way I think Vance and I had groupies of sorts, girls that seemed kinda shady."

"And?"

"That was a cold winter, kinda struggled to keep up with school for a while, then spring came around and riding the bike helped."

"But you didn't talk to anyone?"

"After things calmed down, well a little, here and there, at school, well, and Geena for a few days. One time, well the next year, there was this girl they wanted me to tutor in math, a freshman, but that was awkward, she's nice looking but kind of a pain, just wants attention."

"Mmm hmmm."

"But that next year was just…well, we went camping at Hectors' like usual but Tim ended up getting laid by that divorced woman and made things even weirder."

"WHAT?"

Nick looks over at her, "Yeah, we all watched fireworks and he took her up on an invitation to her camper and badda-bing-badda-boom."

"No freakin' way."

"Way. She wouldn't give him her phone number so seemed like just burning off carbon, starting over, whatever."

She draws a deep breath but keeps up the stare.

"So yeah, it was stuff like that, I sat with a group at lunch that I'd known for a while but they couldn't understand anything but party. And when I did speak to girls it was usually the wrong thing, probably sent the wrong signal, was just trying to be funny.” He feels a deep twinge of regret since there’s someone he can’t yet mention, but that will have to wait.

Deej leans over and pecks his cheek. "It's OK."

They are now in the town street grid. "Did you do much better?"

"Did you ever figure that a lot of those in a <finger quotes> good Christian school pretty much do whatever the hell they want and maintain an image?"

"Always kinda wondered."

"There ya go. But I did have a fun lunch group for a while there, we held committee meetings and did the Roberts rules, turned a lot of heads when we all said AYE."

Nick chuckles, “Oh I bet.”

"I'm glad you didn't have to go through it, although would have loved to have you around."

"I think we each paid our dues. There were two or three Academy girls that joined us after getting pregnant."

"The death penalty. Probably some males for this and that?"

"Yeah and that worked both ways, we expelled a few that had to do a stint over there."

"You'd think they were rock stars, too."

"Groupies?"

"It was pathetic."

Right about then they pull in to the gravel patch at the end of the yard they maintain to help keep the driveway clear. 

Deej asks, "Are we good on time?"

"Just right, we leave as soon as the crock pot is done."

"Ooh that will make the trip smell good."

They enter the house to the smell of crock pot goodness but no parents in sight. 

Nick dismisses it with, "Must be getting ready."

"Mmmm hmmm, sure," Deej taunts, then sticks out her tongue and gyrates her hips around.

Nick shakes his head, "Alright Sam," then heads up the stairs, only to be tackled, and almost simultaneously her hands find a thigh and a ribcage.

She cackles incessantly, Nick tries to warn, "We're gonna slide off."

"Not as long as my butt is on a step we won't."

Eventually he musters free and crawls into his room. 

Deej follows and instantly freaks out, "Eezzh...zzht...muh...I'll snap that little twig!"

Nick turns to find both hands on her head and both eyes full open and zeroed on his recent art acquisition.

"You were saying, dear?"

"Just when...last night?"

Nick grins.

"I should throw your ass back on those stairs."

"What did I do?"

"Did she frame it?"

"I may have helped, just a teeensy tiny -"

"Are you two ready to leave?" Irene from downstairs.

"Deejay is picking her nose but should be about done."

Deej cocks back a mock swing.

"What are you now, kindergartners? I need someone to put this crock pot in the wagon."

"Nick just volunteered if you can believe it," Deej motions him toward the door and they proceed to a 99% innocent backseat encounter, where she sticks behind shotgun and pulls him to the center to lean on her, at some point whispering, "I don't wanna be in the mirrors."

Girls.

They tend to speak in whispers just above the Bears pregame show that Ned has panned to the dash speaker nearest him. Irene has a crossword puzzle book.

Nick leans up to relay something, Deej leans down, "You're gorgeous."

This earns a menacing growl.

"Danni is he bothering you?"

"He just complimented me."

"Nick how DARE you."

Ned chimes in, "You know you can't win with these types right?"

Ned gets a light slap and Nick a squeeze of the ribcage, with Deej whispering, "I think they've seemed...friskier lately, don't you?"

Nick just grunts.

A little later on, Deej starts anew, "Are you ready to say goodbye to the bangs?"

"Your trademark?"

"This gal is starting over, gonna grow 'em out and do a part."

"Mmmmm hmmmmm," in a wolf-whistle cadence.

"I didn't think you'd object." 

Then a bit later, she adds, "Sam wants to get some more skirts and do the tights thing."

Irene jumps in, "Oh that would be cute."

"Yeah I think she's getting out of her shell some."

Nick, "I keep thinking she's gonna dye her hair."

"Um, that idea stays in this car, got it?"

Nick grunts again. Irene chuckles.

"Actually it all sets up a trip to the thrift store, Mom loves that."

Irene, "I've found a lot of nice things there, like a really well kept secret."

Deej, "It really is. So do you guys like the home group so far?"'

Irene turns around, "We really do, it means so much more with just three or four families, well, couples really, you know, it’s for  kids too."

Nick, "It certainly for sleeping in the next morning."

This gets him two simultaneous swats.

Deej, "Isn't it really about a 24 hour sabbath observance, not just the group activity?"

Irene, "Yes it is, a time of reflection and rest."

Deej, "Well it's really helped out in our gang."

Irene, "Certainly glad to hear it. And I might like to join you for thrifting and lunch if it works out."

Deej, "Sure, I'll tell Mom."

Through all this Nick just relaxes and tries to concentrate on both audio streams going on and probably dozes off.

Gradually that conversation ebbs and Deej leans on Nick's head. Before long she gets inspired,

"Too bad this car doesn't have one of those rumble seats in the back, we could watch the world go by in reverse."

Nick stirs, "We'd need a mirror to read the signs."

She nudges him. "Remind me, how long as your granddad been gone?"

"Two years this summer."

She pauses. "We're lucky to have them any amount of time aren't we?"

"Always too short."

She pecks him on the head and keeps leaning.

"Just curious, on that proposal you sent Dad, are the computers coming from that guy we saw at Lombo's"

"Oh Fred? Yeah - heh- that's an option. Goody suggested that and Deke was impressed, they can go with Fred or get the Gateways in the moo-cow boxes like we have at the school."

"Hear that gang, he's schmart."

Irene coughs conspicuously and Ned warns, 

"It's a trick."

Nick grunts.

Deej lowers her voice again, "You know we're proud of you, and I'm sure old Tuttle will lick it right up."

Nick has to laugh.

"Okay I have no idea why I said that."

Nick laughs harder and gets slapped, then eggs her on,

"What's old Tuttle like then?"

"Typical old fart. You'll be right at home."

Nick just grunts. 

Before long Deej digs an emery board out of her purse and starts whisking away. 

For some reason Nick thinks to ask her quietly, 

"When did you drink your first beer?"

"Grandpa."

This gets them both laughing deliciously.

"Howbout you?"

"Noreen."

"Nice."

"That was right after a strange experience, long story."

"I got time."

So Nick relates the Delano saga.

"Wow, hell of a way to earn a beer."

"Or half of one."

"We'll have to share one sometime."

"We'll have to sneak one sometime."

She plants another one on his head.

Nick probably dozes off to be awakened by Ned, "Touchdown Bears."

"Finally," Deej offers.

"Do you follow 'em hon?”

"Well...how shall I put this...after a while you learn the best time to ask Daddy for something is when they're up by two or three TDs."

Ned chuckles.

Irene, "I'll remember that."

"Good luck," Ned fires back.

Nick chuckles, then realizes he has a gas pocket, lets it slide, thousand one...thousand two...

"God Deej, crack a window, that's nasty."

He feels drafts from more than one window coming down about an inch.

"Yeah right, I don't think so," Deej fires back.

Irene turns around, "At least he didn't ask you to clap and make a gas sandwich."

"WHAT?" This gets Deej fired up, laughs hysterically and struggles to keep quiet.

"Those boys, I had -" then she turns facing the doors to let Ned hear the radio, "I had to keep hiding the bread for a while there."

Ned pipes up out of left field, “Just don’t rip one at your grandma’s table like that one time.”

Nick tries a defense, “Hey it...got away from me.”

“I’ll say it did, sounded like a tire shop with the impact wrench, THDDDDDT-THDDDDDDDDDT”

At this point Deej is about to fly apart but grabs Nick by the waist and uses his back as a sound shield, and this goes on for a solid minute, 

"You gonna make it there sport?"

She bites his back and goes off into another full-lung gale, "Ohh," then a series of discrete burps as she taps her sternum.

"Deej?"

After some gasps, "Yeah I'll live, god Nick..." and soon gets her head back near his and pulls him in for sugar. 

Irene offers a Kleenex, Deej accepts, "Thanks I was about to use his shirt."

"Why not, he does."

Nick grunts.

Out comes the compact, she mutters, “So much for mascara,” fusses with it for a bit leans against Nick.

"Hi."

"Alright, so what was the funniest thing you ever did?"

"Hmmm...OK, well there was the time, I was about nine probably and we would hang out at the neighbors. One time they had some Koolaid packets sitting out and I did a bad thing."

"Okay..."

"Snuck one home and...<sighs>...I always had my own cup at the kitchen sink, I put the powder in there and filled up the cup with water, it just sat at the bottom so I put my hand on the top and shook it up, and it kept squirting out and went everywhere."

Nick starts to laugh quietly.

"Shut up...well I hear someone coming to the kitchen so I try to hide the evidence and drink it down...man I thought I was gonna die right there."

"Pretty intense."

"It was the kind you add your own sugar, so yeah, couldn't swallow so it went everywhere."

"My hero."

"Shut up you...fartclapper."

"Clap on PPPPT PPPT clap off PPT."

She covers his mouth and Irene takes a swat for good measure.

"Yeah I got marched back and had to 'fess up, still had it allllll over me."

"Talk about being caught red handed."

"Red chested, faced, you name it."

Nick fishes for a response but comes up empty, they are getting close to destination anyway so he sits up and pulls Deej in. 

She just smiles and drinks in the new world passing by.

Before long they pull in. Ned is first in, finds the game already on TV and Nick grabs the crock pot.

Gramma guides him to the spot at the counter and gets her hug, then the introduction,

"This is Danielle, Danni ...Deejay."

"Good to meet you dear, call me June."

"Nice to finally meet you, June."

"Have you been friends for long?"

Nick jumps in, "She's the strawberry."

June gets this wide eyed look of surprise, "Wow you have known each other a while?"

Deej is just as surprised, in a full lung voice,"Strawberry?" The irony of her turning as red as one is almost too much.

"Oh he told Paps about you once and he just loved asking Nick about you, seemed you two stopped talking after a while?"

Nick rescues, "Yeah it's a long story."

"June do you need any help?" Deej offers as an escape.

"Sure, if you'd like to set the table."

Nick steps over to the couch to escape a most menacing side-eye from Deej as she heads to wash her hands.

He watches a few plays and cut to ad break. Bears are beating Tampa Bay but seems everyone beats Tampa Bay.

Before long the table is set and Deej plants right next to him for interrogation,

"Strawberry?" 

Nick sighs, "Paps asked me if I was talking to any girls and so he asked what you're like, I said a tall pretty strawberry with freckles."

She just holds her stare then sighs, "Swanson, what am I gonna do with you?" then sneaks a peck, and adds, "And you couldn't have warned me?"

He shrugs, "Oops."

"Mmmm hmmm." She notices the score, "Isn't this about the best they've done all year?"

Ned speaks up, "Just about, pretty sure Ditka has run his course."

"Sounds like it."

Nick remembers, "Didn't you have a tape of that Superbowl Shuffle?"

She smiles, "It was one of the few secular songs Sam and I could dance around to, well, at least from this century."

"Figures."

"Soups on!" 

"Come an get it!"

June offers grace then immediately wants to know everything from the young'uns.

They gracefully recount their history, well, mostly Deej does most of the recounting as Nick feels like he's on a keg of dynamite.

Ned somehow manages to sit with a view of the TV. 

Once the narrative reaches present tense, June asks the inevitable, "Have you talked about marriage?"

Ned steps in, "Mom."

Deej looks at Nick with a grin, "We've talked about it."

Nick fesses, "Actually we talked about how to field that question."

This blows up the table and even Ned chuckles, "That's muh boyyy."

From there the topics bounce around to the usual. Gramma made her killer pot roast that he didn't learn to appreciate until late in high school, it practically falls apart when you look at it.

Irene had supplied a pot of scalloped potatoes so June wouldn't have to do so much, but she made green bean casserole so they're all set with a pie in the oven still.

Nick waits a bit before taking his plate to the sink but decides to take a walk, always has to visit the old shack and see what it has to say. He only needs to stand at the door, even with the equipment gone and the space redone as a semi-functional office this is a place of reverence. Someone had placed an ornamental microphone there as a nice touch, Nick would like to see similar as a code key, might have to ask around.

About then he senses a presence then a face next to his own and arms around him. After a few seconds, he observes, "I think I can still smell the cherry pipe tobacco."

Deej takes a couple breaths, "Smells more like strawberry," then offers a peck.

"He would have loved you."

She just squeezes tighter. "So did you get all his stuff?"

"Most of it, he donated the amp to a club, but other than that Gramma said to get it cleared out and we went to work, hardest thing I ever did."

Deej just sighs. "Sometimes it's best to rip off the bandaid and let the wound heal."

"Yeah, she needed to change this around." He taps her hand and they head back to the living room.

Third quarter just started and pie is cooling. This is a good place to be.

Nick turns to Deej, "Want a tour of outside or shoot some pool?"

"It's nice out, let's do that first."

Naturally the centerpiece is the tower footing. Jim had made arrangements for the local yokels to take it all down so June wouldn't have to worry about it, now it seems like a special concrete memorial.

"Did you get to play out here a lot?"

"Yeah sometimes, mostly before the privacy fence went up. I think they got tired of all the urchins messing up the grass and flowerbeds."

"Why do I get the feeling you would do that sooner than later?"

"Put up fences? Hell yeah."

"At's muh boyyy," and she pats his rear.

They head inside and proceed to the basement, Nick narrates, "Sometimes Mom and Dad shoot a few when we're here."

Deej racks 'em up then makes a saucy approach while chalking her cue, "Flip ya for the break?"

"I'll end up SPLAT against a wall."

"Ok you break."

"So...I hit right on the 1 or between it and another?"

"Ok I'll break." She gets into position, lines up the shot a little, then fumbles with her top buttons to show cleavage, throws him a wink, then sends 'em all over creation, sinking one.

"I take it they had one of these things at Asstickle?"

"Maybe."

"Worse ways to blow off steam."

"Absolutely."

So they continue on with more or less a game of 8-ball and Deej throwing her moves around and trying not to laugh at herself, which is what makes it all pop. At one point she almost scratches when trying a shot behind her back.

Nick finally gets the last one in, and she slithers over, 

"Well well, looks like you have no...more...balls."

"Maybe I could scare up a couple more," pulls her in and the expected shenanigans start, she wraps that leg around and he works things up and around, when there's a voice from up the stairs, 

"Pie is ready!"

Nick whispers, "Oh I bet it is."

"Not for you it's not," as Deej pulls back, flashes a smirk and stares him down while buttoning back up then storms up the stairs. 

Nick follows but she has enough lead to suggest, "Nick should only get a gas sandwich."

He can hear his mom laugh the hardest, then rounds the corner to ask what kind of pie.

Deej fires off, "Sorry, not strawberry," which lands her an even bigger laugh.

June rescues him, "Nick it's blueberry and you can have some as my guest. After this fine young lady gets hers of course."

Deej sticks out her tongue at him and and on it goes.

They end up on the couch with said pie, and she admits, "Why did you never bring me up here before?"

"Thought about it, but there was the Tim situation."

"Oh. Yeah. Still..."

"We would have had to tie him to the hood."

"Or you."

Nick flashes a flat glance between bites.

"Well, for the record, you really do know how to show a girl a good time."

"Just going with the flow."

"And?"

Nick just shakes his head.

Game is wrapping up and they usually don't stay long on these trips since June has a group thing around 5 on Sundays.

After a bit more standing around Nick returns the crock pot - ooh, with some pot roast in it - to its rightful spot in the wagon's rear deck, then back in to hug Gramma. It never struck him till now how well she does on her own, another strong, independent gal in the mix.

The gals lead the way out and Deej takes Irene's arm, 

"Think these here males can get us home while we catch up."

"That's a wonderful idea."

Ned tosses Nick the keys, "Daddy's tired, let's see if you can still drive this thing. We'll have to fuel up at the usual spot."

As they're getting started Deej asks, "Hon did you really take your driver test in this wagon?"

"Yipper do."

"And what scores?"

"I think 85 on the cones and 90 on the driving. Can you beat that?"

"Pass."

The gals laugh and so it goes. At the refueling stop Ned grabs a coffee for Nick and big Sunday Tribune while prepaying, gives him something to focus on and probably fall asleep with. Once they get started he quickly dials in the late game and is all set, just like at home.

Falcons and 49ers, the latter of those gives Nick a few things to ponder as the road stretches out. Thankfully the coffee has cream, it has surely been sitting there all day. This situation always brings to mind the Far Side where the buzzards are glad for ketchup when a carcass is not so fresh.

"Dad did cream this for me? Awww."

"Yeah it was pretty ripe. Should put some hair on your chest."

From the back, "You just made Danni  blush."

"My strawberry," Nick can't resist.

"I'd flick your ear if you weren't driving," she warns.

With military stealth, Ned reaches over and gives the wheel a quick hitch, causes gasps in the back seat.

"EDGAR WAYNE!" admonishes Irene.

Nick shakes his head, "Mom just went nuclear, you heard it here first." He can hear Deej pretty amused back there then they go back to their murmuring.

The western sky takes on clouds in a dramatic, almost foreboding structure and overtakes the sun. Somehow this reminds him of the grunge scene, all the sadness and angst, party is over. Strange how grunge was a few years too late it likely would have fit his latter high school malaise pretty well. It’s also sort of…industrial, in a way, like those machine labs at the campus, or all the factories he’s passed on trips, with no idea what they make. Although, he’s keenly aware that tucked in the Chicago suburbs is one that makes electrolytic capacitors.

Nick doesn't make much progress with the coffee and chugs it down at room temperature as they reach town. Everyone had pretty much chilled out for the ride home except for Deej leaning up to his left and subtly asking if they could rest a bit before she heads home.

Once they do arrive Nick dutifully returns the crock pot and finds a message on the machine, from Sam for her big sis, so he relays it once Deej is done in the bathroom. Nick takes his turn draining some coffee and finds her wrapping up the callback.

"She's just wanting to know when I'll get back, told her about an hour," after which she holds the same gaze as by the pool table.

"You really were something throwing that cue around."

She just pushes the door to the nearly-closed state that shields them from most intrusion and makes a glance toward the shades, which Nick draws. She holds the same gaze while unbuttoning her blouse all the way this time then she lies down on the bed, leaned on one arm.

Nick takes his place and lets her lead, and at that she doesn't take her time, pretty soon has his shirt up and jeans undone and fishes out the Joker. She's very determined and works her magic, after bout a minute he whispers,

"You're a bad girl today."

She uses one hand to undo her own jeans and pull them down some, 

"You gonna spank me?"

He's simply awed by her knack but at the same time this is classic Deej taken to a whole new level. From here it's not long till the moment is approaching and she uses her teeth a little here and there, and it lasts quite a while and he has no choice but to collapse. She repacks him and he helps get his jeans back up, then realizes there's no mess. 

"Umm, where did that end up?"

She giggles as she gets into place resting on his shoulder.

"You didn't," he presses.

"Mmmmm hmmm," more giggles and a peck on the cheek, "now I have some of you to take home."

Nick has no choice but to doze off, then finally gets his wits,

"You're pure magic when you wanna be, lady."

"Maybe I just get inspired in the right ways."

He starts rubbing her back and gets a hand beneath her open blouse but she squeezes him still.

"Hon-"

"This is what you get for showing me a good time and treating me like you do, just relax."

"I want to taste you."

She shivers, then sighs, "Nicky...you know how self conscious I am, don't mean to be, but things need to be cleaned up first."

"Howbout your tummy?"

Another shiver. Silence.

She loosens her grip and he pulls her in for a good once over, tongues and all but maneuvering all around her back and stomach, ignoring the girls until she offers. Eventually he rolls her onto her back and starts kissing further southward and she pulls her bra up, so he pays appropriate respect, then slowly approaches the navel. His hands start to work her jeans a bit and she coos, and just a few seconds later she gasps and twitches. Silence.

He returns to his original position but this girl is out cold. Nick pulls his own shirt off but puts her headlights away, then carefully scoops her around back onto his shoulder and now they can rest a bit.

Nick guesses he dozed off a couple more times before she stirs, clears her throat, and squeaks out, 

"Now who is it working magic?"

"Hey I just go with the flow."

Deej just grunts. Gradually her breathing sounds more wakeful. 

"Does your bed smell like me for long after I've been in it?"

"Not long enough."

She giggles. "Mmm, one of these days things will line up when we get to be totally alone and you'll get full range, I'll do my best to not pop too soon."

"Same here."

She giggles, "I should get home, remember all that shit we carried in? It'll be like Christmas rediscovering what's in the boxes."

"And little sis needs big sis."

"OH, gonna start running with Dad some mornings."

"Can he keep up with you?"

"Heh, I'm the slacker these days so we'll see. But I can feel myself getting sluggish and do not like it."

"Could you teach karate at your level?"

"Yeah as an assistant for the starters."

"Sounds right."

"Well see..." then switches to muppet voice, "VEE SHALL SEE," then pulls him in for more sugar.

"Thanks for this weekend, dear."

"Mmmm this was the best, I seriously don't think I ever laughed that hard."

"Sheesh."

"OH, just thought of something, what's the chance you guys will play golf with Vance, like with your dad and...Tim?"

"I'll have to ask him, was thinking about it but I'll be the rookie stooge - DON'T say it."

She just smiles and pecks his nose.

"Timbutt is about due for a trip home, been since summer, I hear he may bring a someone back too."

Raising her eyebrows, "Really now, is she human?"

"We'll settle for less than three heads."

She chuckles and starts redoing her blouse "Alright tater..<peck>...um, call me?"

"When's best nowadays?"

"Hmm, depends on whether you want me alone or in a group."

"Gotcha."

Nick gets himself back to public appearance while she grabs a brush from her purse and does the same.

They descend the stairs to find Ned asleep under his Tribune and Deej plops down next to Irene to give her a squeeze and a peck.

At her car she gets a mini-once over, more of a quarter-over, and she embarks..

This has been a long day but the wind is low and there's daylight left, so he bundles up a bit and takes a fall bike ride, just for about twenty minutes, but for some reason he thinks of April and wonders how that situation is going, not that the situation makes much sense.

Upon returning he finds Ned staring at the last plays of the game, 

"Dad were you planning to play any more golf one of these days?"

"Hmmm? Oh, maybe, sure been a while."

"I think someone's hoping we can hit a few with Vance, sounds like he's become a real junkie at it. I could rent clubs."

"Yeah we could handicap you to the moon, your boss used to play, all that could be good for a laugh."

"Hmm, I'll see."

Irene just smiles and Nick senses she's in on Deej's angle, one way or another.

But an intricate day like this calls for a soak to clear the head, and so it goes.

Batman...Returns!

Saturday

This afternoon finds the gang in the cheap seats still running a big summer hit, Nick figures, it has Danny DeVito so what the hell.

Seated next to him, as expected is a lovely strawberry blond and to her right the fair, possibly brilliant, curly blond Sam, both in denim skirts, the knee-length kind. When they got out of the car Sam asked if she looks like a young lady for once, and by instinct Nick pinched her cheek and she grinned, albeit demurely.

To Sam's right is a short, ever fair brunette and to April's right is Vance. Nick had just spoken to him last night, felt he should try Vance's apartment and left a message that got returned within an hour.

They talked in generalities, about work, golf, but Vance never brought up the dating thing. Nick asked in general how it was going, and got a terse, "going good." Other than that Vance was glad to hear about his venture into consulting and that Deke seemed more buoyant and full of life than ever, was finally seeing someone after his brief marriage had fallen apart back in the '60s.

And that was it. Deej hadn't prompted Nick to reach out but he figured it was best, and it segued nicely into today's adventure.

Except that, about a third of the way into the picture Deej became irritated and motioned his attention over to April's lap, that had a jacket over it and Vance's arm extending somewhere beneath, well, we all know where. 

Nick responds to this with a raised eyebrow and Deej tries to get comfortable but can't seem to, and emits a huff with every reposition. Nick brings her hand up to his face and plants one on the back of her hand, this calms her down some, she sighs and tries to watch the show.

As soon as the credits start April stands up and puts on said jacket and Vance leans over and waves to them, "Thanks guys, we're taking off."

April never makes eye contact with anyone as Deej just watches them.

She had already related how April got back to Eversoles’ about 11:30 last night and hardly talked to anyone, then this morning gathered her things into her car and hugged Nancy for letting her stay a couple nights.

The remaining three slowly make it to the lobby even though the crowd is only quarter-capacity. Deej is still in a daze.

Sam asks, soberly, "Is she still staying with us?"

Deej just shrugs, then tries to shake off the funk, "We should get you over there."

They head out to her car and she hands Nick the keys. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all. Just give me cues."

They head out of the main drag over to the grandparents who had lent her the pickup for moving.

Aside for some turn cues Deej says little until they get about halfway. "OK I'll just say it...that's just tacky, right next to...Sam, I'm sorry if that was weird, right next to you."

Sam tries, "It's OK, I mean, people do that all the time."

"Yeah but we're older...I...fuck it all."

Sam leans up and tries to console her sister. She's got the guitar back there with her and promised to provide her grandparents some entertainment before supper.

Deej does her best, "Did you guys like the movie?"

Nick chimes first, "Yeah was trying to remember all the TV shows those guys were in."'

Sam, "I love the color, I wasn't allowed to see the first Batman movie, they say it was dark."

Nick, "A guy I worked with is the biggest Batman freak ever, got the Prince soundtrack and jammed it in his car every day it seemed like."

Deej pipes up, "I love Prince's music but you know how that goes around this here Bible Belt."

Nick, "Yeah you'd think he was the Antichrist."

This gets snickers from both sisters.

Deej flashes a smile again finally, "I thought that was George Michael?"

By then they arrive and Deej indicates that they should all go in, which turns into a pleasant set of reintroduction and reminiscing, good vibes and the hint of approval.

They get out to her car and she takes the wheel back this time, they head over to her place to switch cars.

Once onto the road she sighs, "OK, it's the weekend, can we switch back to us for a while?"

"You're driving."

She looks over and smiles for the first time he's seen today.

It's only about three miles to her place there in the settlement. Her folks are just getting ready for home group and Dean confirms the fax came through yesterday,

"Looks good, can you come out next week and go over it with the owners?"

"Oh I think that can be arranged, call you Monday?"

"I usually answer to Dean but why not?"

This gets a huge moan from the ladies, the elder of which drags her husband out the door during a handshake.

Deej heads toward the hallway while attempting that sultry gaze she keeps getting better at.

"Where we headed?"

She heads back toward what should be her old room across from Sam's. then pauses a minute, then melts into defeat. She sighs,  

"That little shit - sorry, god, please get me outta here."

"As you wish." Nick slowly notices how spartan their place is, few things on the walls, but there are holes, evidently redecorating as part of this renaissance of sorts.

Deej brightens up a tad. "Princess Bride?"

"Finally got a good look at that recently."

She takes a breath and looks around, looks like she's fighting tears, "Let's....go..."

She's extremely elegant in this state, but also not the time to point it out. So, just, "Yeah."

For some reason he heads straight to Sears, on the strip. Their standalone Sears is a bit smaller than most mall-sized Searses that he's been to on road trips but theirs still has the adjoining garage, so the store serves as an enormous waiting room while they change your tires.

They enter the front to be greeted by racks of women's apparel and the aroma of a nearby perfume counter. Sears really is trying to soften their image. She takes a bit of interest in a few things then has to ask, 

"You don't come here often, do you?"

She looks up at him, pensively, "You know, I really hate to buy clothes. Most of what I wear is a gift."

"I love the tights."

"Oh...yeah they last much longer than hose."

He cannot resist. "How many animals are in a pair of pantyhose."

She stops and looks up at him flatly with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"Lessee...two....no..."

"Don't screw it up."

He winces, then spits it out, "Ten little piggies, two calves, an ass and a mackerel you can't see."

This gets a Mona Lisa look. "But you can feel it, if you're lucky....punk."

Nick just winks at her and looks around some. Usually when in here he heads to the electronics to see how far things have come.

She steps to his side and they head that way, past the Pioneers, he observes, 

"Wonder how a SuperTuner would do with our antenna?"'

"Is it worth it?"

"Would have been a few years ago."

She pulls close and pecks his cheek and just kinda leans. Nick squeezes her, takes her hand, and heads towards the CDs.

For old time sake he thumbs through the Zs, doesn't find Eliminator but of course they have ZZ Top’s recent greatest hits with the eye candy on the cover.

Speaking of eye candy, she's staring into space again.

He pulls her close, "How about the home goods?"

She smiles, "Why not."

So they gradually head that way and pass the shelving, commodes, Nick can't help it, 

"How often do little kids go for it?"

She just throws a slight grin and grabs his left buttock, then strolls on. They meander on a bit and the curtains catch her eye, and right about then, Noreen rounds the corner. Nick sees her first, 

"Well look what the cat dragged in."

The gals look at each other, naturally Noreen locks onto Deej and lights up, 

"Well hello dear, so good to see you." They hug.

Nick chimes in, why not, "Getting some ideas for up the road?"

"We brought the brats in to see Batman, leave it to me to bail at the last minute."

"We just saw it."

The gals start jabbering, and before long, Noreen looks at him, 

"Get lost, go play in traffic."

Deej joins in, "Yeah go find mommy a new bra."

"WHAT?" His amused alarm is all his own.

They lean on each other cracking up as they wonder off, and Nick is left to, yes, look at their butts.

So he roams around and dutifully lets them coalesce, the least he can do, his two women of the year. One taller, some would say prettier, the other, well, damn, how does he get so lucky. 

He reflects upon something Deej mentioned on the phone earlier, how April had been asking Sam about her recent adventure, she kept getting Sam to relate the details, seemingly out of concern, but...

Anyway, no use dwelling on something you can't control. He heads back to the stereos, remembers how they used to have more of those standalone console units with the speakers, all-in-one for those who don't like to fool with wiring. One time they were up at the grandparents and went to Montgomery Ward and there was a cool looking slate blue system, and the cabinet felt like masonry, he couldn't tell, but was sure that the receiver included some shortwave bands, probably the 5-15 MHz range - now why couldn't we bring that home?

About then he hears Deej, "How did we know he'd be here?"

Noreen chimes in, "OK you can have her back now, my gang should be headed back toward daylight soon enough."

The gals hug once again, then Noreen passes him, "Do like I told ya, stud," then smacks his ass pretty hard before heading toward the door.

Deej walks up to him shaking her head, and with the lightest expression he's seen all day, embraces him, "God I love her. Wish we could hang out more, could use a big sister."

"Yeah. She's a concept."

Deej just stares him down and uses her eyebrows for punctuation, "So....stud...we know where the parents are, and where they ain't. Your move."

"Is Uncle Frank still hanging around?"

She pauses and leans her head a tad. "I'd say he's about done, nothing we can't handle."

They head toward the front door as they'd entered, she has his arm.

He opens the passenger and she wraps herself around him as she does, and presses in, staring him down. They start a sultry burn of PDA that echoes the campus walk. When this pauses, she relates,

"Noreen could tell I'm about to lose my mind."

"Let's go see what we can do."

They arrive at an empty house that will stay that way for a bit yet, the home group includes a small potluck. Nick grabs the mail and sets it on the counter, then stands looking out the patio door, dressed in jeans, brown leather shoes and a hallowed go-to sweater that had been with him a few trips around the sun. 

Deej joins and leans her head on his, she just holds that and stares, deep into her own troubled mind. He hadn't been sure how to interpret the phrase 'losing my mind' but it doesn't seem to be as emotive as it had been the past couple weekends. But still, here we are.

He scoops her up and rejoins what started in the parking lot, and she's still into it. He moves around to her neck. She speaks up,

"Mmmm. Alright, here's the deal. I need to...check on things...in the bathroom up there." She pokes his chest lightly. "You...get...comfortable."

They stroll casually up the stairs then part ways. As soon as the bathroom door closes he drops the casual. Drapes are closed, pillows are fluffed...well, not much more to do, well, has to pee. Through the bathroom door he advises, 

"Be right back."

Nick shimmies down the stairs then around back to the master downstairs bath. During the whiz he realizes this could give her some time, so he milks it, splashes his face a bit, combs the hair, whips off the sweater, why not carry it in.

While heading back up the stairs he sees the bathroom door open and light off, so...sure enough, she's lying on the bed in just her tights and unbuttoned blouse with a black bra showing.

He stops cold. "Well."

There is just enough light to see her smile. 

He joins her on the bed as her eyes follow his.

"So...what's the situation."

"All clear, for the moment....I'll pretty much stay in place for the time being."

"Yes m'aam."

He leans in and they rejoin the tongues thing. Then the neck. Before long she starts to pull down the tights then gives him the dancing eyebrows.

Instinctively he gets to his knees as she pulls the tights up, and instinctively he loses the pants, then remembers the other night's conversation and takes a hint.

Nick gets into place in a missionary stance and feeds his helper though her tights and she sets it into place, 

"Good boy....gimme that sugar."

Already he can feel a load is not far off, so he may need to delay it for her sake. She smells simply wonderful with the musk of the day, mixed in with anger and disappointment. No need to hurry. 

They knead the dough in a slow rhythm but her hands are working them both. His nature is to reach for some natural lube but this is her show given the circumstances. 

At some point she flips open her bra, "Look but don't touch, I'm pretty sensitive."

Damn.

He can feel a some dampness growing on his undercarriage and doesn't care what all it entails, but can't hold out much longer. She's always been kinda random, unpredictable, and that's no different in this -

And with that, several days' worth surprises her tummy and sends her over the edge. After his supply is exhausted they keep the rhythm as she grows more antsy, rolls her head from side to side and suddenly 

PUFF

Against his sack, as she grunts, 

"OHHH that's what you get."

Then relaxes to catch her breath.

"Was it ever this intense for you?"

Nick pauses to gather his mind, then, "It was always pretty unreal, but with you it's intense with you being from the 'hood."

She instantly bursts into hard laughter, snorts then laughs even harder.

Nick takes this as a queue to grab a washcloth. He returns and she takes it, trying to catch her breath.

"Here let me use this, can you grab another one for you and...I'll keep this here?"

"Sure," and he runs off to clean up.

Nick returns to find her now just in the tights with one arm behind her back, he takes the spot near the wall that she left.

She leans to face him, touches his chest, and asks, 

"Tell me how you and Noreen met."

"Deej -"

"Please?"

He pauses. "Can I just look at you?"

"Sure, while you're talking."

He sighs. "My junior year, we went to a super bowl party at..." and relates it, or paraphrases, best he can with her prompting.

"Deej, just let me say, in this light...and when you cried earlier, wow."

"Thanks, really. I never know how you see me that way."

"Your eyes are that rare pale blue, you just glow right now."

She shakes her head and they exchange a peck.

He continues, "Okay...so yeah, no idea why but I went upstairs and there...."

Her eyes get bigger with each detail.

"I still can't believe it, but now I know it was two nerds in a chance encounter."

She looks to the side for a while and takes a few breaths. "Nick I was lying here trying to be all sexy."

"That's just it, be Deej, be Danni. Be you."

She sighs, then after a pause, slightly tearing again, "I promise to...if...you can help me discover just who she is," poking his chest to emphasize the syllables.

He wipes her tears. 

"So you finally got, well, that, around back."

"Deej...it's really one of those things that is over way too soon."

She looks at him expecting more.

"Then you have to clean up and, well, it has to come back out."

"Still. I want to try sometime."

Nick sighs. "We'd need to try a finger first."'

She smirks, "I got the time."

"You're pretty sensitive right now, aren't you?"

She looks to the side, a tad defeated, "Well, yeah."

"What's the deal?"

She sighs, "I'm being stupid."

"Deej." and scoops her up. Instinctively his hand on her back starts to move downward, gets into the back of the tights.

She speaks up, "I'm not going to stop you."

"I'm afraid you won't like it and you'll feel bad."

"I'll feel worse if we don't try."

Nick pecks her on the lips, "Right back." He darts into the bathroom and comes back with the little rounded square jar.

"And you keep that handy...for...."

"Chafing."

"Of course."

He scoops a finger load then resumes his position. "You sure?"

"Get busy." Her eyes are closed.

Gently and gradually he makes his way to the back entrance, taps it, she reacts as expected, then starts to massage the ring, she moves with him, so far so good.

"Ready?"

"Mmmm."

He gently presses in, very, very slowly, would like to make circles but she feels tense.

"Are you relaxed."

She sighs. "Nicky, I think you were right."

He gently pulls back.

"I'm sorry."

"For what, being honest?"

She thinks a second. "Alright, gimme that jar.."

"Huh?"

"You heard me. Pretty sure it works both ways, sport."

She never fails to bring a surprise.

Before he knows it he's straddling her middle and she has one finger round back and the other working out an encore. She leans in and runs her tongue around the tip for a bit, then kneads out another bead, this one makes his nuts ache as they do with a double dip.

"There we go, all better." She proceeds to rub the proceeds all over her bosoms then reach for her bra, then looks at him and busts up laughing.

"Have you lost your mind or found it?"

"Right now I could give a fat hairy fuck," then pulls him in for a smooch. "You rest up for a minute, stud, I'll head down the hall and freshen up."

"Deal." Nick had never felt so tired in his own bed.

Almost instantly, he must have dozed off, she calls "Can I let this rag soak in the sink?"

"There's Woolite in the cabinet."

A pause. "Just why is there Woolite in a boy's bathroom?"

"Chafing."

At this point he gets re-dressed then asks through the door above the running water, "You hungry yet?"

"Hey, yeah."

"Leftovers?"

"Always."

He heads to the fridge and she appears about two minutes later looking fresh as a daisy and they settle on some baked chicken and choice of sides. OOH, two half-cobs of corn left. 

After clearing plates they mosey to the couch, he grabs an end seat and pats for her to park it right in front of him, then once in place she looks over with a raised eyebrow,

"Now what?"

"We chill."

She just maintains the look so he grabs a hassock to provide a place for her feets to rest, also grabs the remote and finds the news with the volume down low.

Still maintaining her gaze, "You know that's easier said than done for me."

"Well either lean back or stay there an let me drink you in."

This gets an exasperated puff. "Has anyone ever called you incorrigible?"

"Sounds like a fancy college word. Someone's been using her thesaurus."

She takes a deep breath, stares into space. "I know you're right, been trying to work on my chill lately but, well, you're the only one that seems to give a damn."

"What else we gonna do, hunt them down and kick their asses?"

This gets a raised eyebrow. "Too easy. Yeah they'll learn their lesson, one way or another."

Nick lets this float.

Suddenly she looks around and finds the VCR clock, "Is that the right time?"

"Should be close, I can't stand it being off."

This gets a smirk, "Can I use the phone?"

"Of course."

"I need to stop putting this off, then I'll be all yours."

He thinks he could offer a shoulder rub at some point but with her nerves this may not be the time.

After a few steps, "Oh...would you be available...tomorrow, for some moving? I'll try to bring your favorite blond brat too."

"Cherbret."

This earns a peck and she hops off to the kitchen table so he flips around the channels and naturally finds MST3k, winner winner. 

Tomorrow is shaping up to be another adventure. Funny what happens when you have a mystical figure come to life and waltz back into your own spacetime.

Over the course of about two commercial breaks he can pick out a few words and almost dozes off, may have when she comes back to the couch, this time leaning back on him fully.

"Everything OK?."

He hears a sniff, "As good as it can be." Nick is able to find some tears to wipe. "Thanks. Okay...Bev totally understands what I need to do and...for the rest of it we're all doing out best."

"Good."

"Um, is tomorrow morning OK?"

"Uh yeah, you gonna play hookie from Sunday School?"

She smiles, "If we can get it over with then that leaves the rest of the day."

"Logical." 

She grabs his hands. "At least there will be check for me...OH, and she said they might need my help in the office."

"Yeah you've got a lot going on commit to roofing."

"My family couldn't agree more, let alone Bob."

"You'll be back home."

After a pause, "Can you friggin' believe that?"

"A brave new world. Noticed the bare walls over there."

"Oh I didn't mention, yeah, Sam is in charge of redecorating."

"Very nice."

"Unfortunately she likes to draw me."

"Her hero."

"Stop it, and you're becoming one faster than you realize. She told me about that complement the other day, talented little shit, that made her day."

"Did she run and tell your mom?"

"Uhhh no, that stays between sibba-lings."

"Sounds right, I think I'm still under oath for a few." He had been playing with her hair and rubbing her temples. "Is that relaxing?"

"Actually it is. Um, speaking of secrets...you shared a pretty biggun upstairs, I need to share one."

"Rutroh."

"Well...you're the only one I ever shared this with, or could...but during my freshman year I may have injured some drunk in the little town by Asstickle."

Nick pauses. "Your training kicked in?"

"You could say that...you know how I react physically, your poor leg, when you made me crazy..." She giggles, "Wow, see? Anyway...AHEM...but yeah I cut between two buildings and this guy stepped out from behind a dumpster, just a few feet away, he was just so nasty and seemed confused but he reached toward me and next thing I know I grabbed his legs and tossed him over my shoulder and heard a THUMP, turned around and he had hit the open door of a dumpster and was sliding down."

She pauses. "I didn't even mean it that way, but I basically threw a guy into the trash." 

She sobs more and the breathing has worked up so he reaches for her hands. "Easy, hon."

After a few bated breaths she continues. "So yeah I looked around and no one saw, and I was too...its a new town and I didn't know if there were police...I just ducked back to my room."

"Wow, understandable."

"That guy coulda been dangerous, but after thinking about it he was probably just as confused as me."

"Hard to say."

"I figured I'd just wait to hear if the campus announced anything but hours and days went by, back to normal. No one even mentioned it, so it just stayed weird. I've thought about contacting the sheriff over there but what if, you know the guy died?"

Nick pauses. "How bout we talk to Deke about this sometime?"

After a few gasps, and with little voice left, "Yeah, yeah, thanks Nicky."

He leans in to scoop her up some. He had already shut the TV off when she finished the phone call and went back to rubbing her temples. She finally seems spent, Nick has no idea why this was the goal but this amazing girl feels like a bag of sand leaning against him. He ponders switching the TV back on, hears her dozing off, then holds off on the TV. Some music would be nice, but...

It's striking how the past couple of weeks have brought so much more clarity and vibrancy to life. Noreen now seems like a John The Baptist of sorts, a forerunner to get him ready, and she would get a roaring laugh from that.

After surely dozing off for a few clicks this time he fishes for the remote and quietly resumes MST, but before long she stirs.

"Nicky?"

"Yes dear."

"This is perfect."

"No complaints here."

She grabs one of his hands, repositions, and before long nods off a few more times, but the catnaps get further apart by the time the garage door startles her.

"It's a raid," Nick can't resist.

"Here we are good kids fully clothed."

"Can't win 'em all," which gets an elbow nudge.

Momentarily there are footsteps approaching then Ned's voice, "Are you two gonna hog the TV so I have to watch the game in a bedroom?"

"Dear," Irene scolds.

Deej sits up and yawns while giving Ned a dirty look and he grins it off.

Nick pipes up, "Let him have his old TV, I need to get this tired girl home."

Deej heads over to catch up with the mom figure and find her shoes and Ned settles into a recliner without another word, Nick tosses the remote in a think-fast manner to try for a fumble but Ned recovers.

After he unlocks the passenger door in the fading cool sunlight with slight breeze she turns facing him and wraps her leg and gets that staredown thing going.

"You were kinda nervous upstairs."

"Just stare me down with, well, both pairs of headlights."

She grins. "Nick why do you seem to like my body? I have hardly any chest and I'm a mile wide through here," motioning at her hips, "I'm this amazon...jock...tomboy-"

"Stop, it all comes together to form a hell of a statue, those hips are pretty shapely You’re a babe, just accept it.."

Stare intensifies, "Ummm hmmm." Then rolls her eyes, "I mean, thanks, really."

"You're hot without even trying."

She pulls him in for an embrace. "Why am I such a tired girl?"

Nick thinks. "Why are we barely adults and solving everyone's problems?"

"You got a point there, meester. Hey can we get ice cream?"

"Good call."

"Just keep in mind, once I get on my feet, I'll treat sometimes, got it?"

"I was thinking maybe most times."

She licks his face and gets slobber in his nostrils, whips around to take the shotgun seat and laughs relentlessly as he sputters and fumbles with his shirt collar to clean it off.

They get underway and Nick thinks of some loose ends to tie up, "So where are things with Sam, did she apologize to that dude?"

She gasps, "Oh...yeah....that didn't happen till I was around to kinda grease the gears, and talk about awkward, the boy was scared to death of both of us and Sam struggled to, well, even sound human."

Nick pauses. "I want to laugh but fighting it."

Deej shrugs, "Yeah that's about it, but she was sincere."

"So had she ever gotten into trouble?"

"Not really, got good grades and just her goofy self - well, at home, pretty sure she's all business at school, but she gets the most out of being creative, so we'll head down that road. "

"I noticed you never leave her by herself."

"Actually she's made it clear she doesn't like to be by herself, we know that now, so that works out. And now I see what you mean, the Noreen similarity, and that's a good thing. Then she's like me, not really into girly shit and like you, well, comfortable in her own head, if that makes sense."

"She really has the goods with the guitar."

"Nick you know we have to bug her put it down to do chores and homework, it's amazing."

"Does she have anything to tune it with?"

"She's been using an old, really a toy keyboard."

"That works. If I get myself a tuner I might see if they make me a deal on two."

"That would be sweet."

"Been meaning to ask, have you ever considered working for your dad?"

She just shoots him a look.

"Yeah he'd end up working for you."

"I'd fire his butt."

Nick looks over and she's giggling toward the window.

"What?"

That's fun to think about actually.

"I'm starting to feel sorry for your dad."

"He's got it as bad as your poor MOTHER," poking his right shoulder

"Yeah that's fair. Seems like he can take charge at work, but..."

"Exactly, he's learning though."

They pull in to the DQ on the strip and unanimously decide to do drive through, she gets a Heath Blizzard and Nick just a lime slush, then pulls into a space in the open part of a large nearby lot.

Between bites she digs in, "Nicholas are you stalling?"

"You got a date later?"'

She takes another bite, then, "I nearly just flashed a tit just now," and laughs quietly toward the window.

Nick looks out his window and takes a sip.

After a couple more bites, "Are you OK with what we do, when we're alone?"

He glances her way, then gently reaches over to her shoulder, down towards her blouse buttons, feels around and finds some crusty remnants. "I'd say we both are, dear."

She smiles, looks down to scoop up some more Blizzard, "Just keeping tabs, this is weird and I don't want you to feel trapped."

"Compelled is a better word, dear."

She sighs, "But compelled by what exactly, dear?"

He thinks, "Well I'm pretty curious, but curiosity isn't enough, we all know that."

She takes another bite and looks over.

"After all this time I need to see the story through. I want you to win."

She sighs an looks out her window. "Dammit, that's where I start to freak out. I tend to rely on myself too much."

"That's understandable, you had to live in a bubble most of your life."

She puffs an ironic laugh. "Yeah...it's sad, I've sat while professors and pastors relate how they live behind a veil, or a veneer, very inward by nature but they keep up a public facade, just seems so...artificial. I mean...there a lot of folks I absolutely adore, so sincere and focused on others, on the greater good. Some never marry, I think of them as wards of the church, if that makes sense. 

"I'm probably guilty of that veneer thing."

She grabs his hand, "Nick...not to that extent, and you just have a good nature, it's genuine, trust me. And you're an example of not needing some…organization…to be real and doing good."

"If you say so."

She's done scraping around the Blizzard cup. "I do, and thanks hon, do you keep a trash bag?"

"Crap still need one, we'll hit a can on the way out."

She giggles. 

"Do I want to know."

She giggles harder and turns red.

"Laugh it up...fuzzball."

This gets a "HAHHHHHHN," or her best attempt at one, then a colossal burp and she goes off the rails laughing for a couple minutes.

Nik just shakes his head, "Alright tired girl, let's get you settled in, I have a feeling you'll wanna soak and continue your therapy."

"OOhhh yeah, too bad it'll be solo." 

Nick lets that ride while he gets onto the main drag, looks over to find her anticipating a response.

"You gonna put on some jazz during that soak?"

"Mmmm. One thing about that old Chrysler was the bench seat, we're segregated in here."

"Yeah true."

"What do you think about when we're together."

Nick pauses. "Well, the day kinda comes back in flashes, I try to remember things to ask you about, and sometimes I think of your undergarments."

She goes into another gale of laughter. "Seriously, my undergarments are from Kmart usually."

"Why does your hair always smell so nice?"

"Aussie. Well, sometimes I mix it with VO5 when short on cash, but I try to keep Aussie around."

"What about in the early days?"

"Oh, back then Finesse."

"Ahhh yeah, kinda made me crazy."

"OK, hold it right there...define crazy?"

"Can't think about anything else."

"Mmmm. What about...below the belt?"

Pauses. "I guess that usually kicks in at the end of the day, in the shower or in bed."

"That's what I thought, kind of a loner...loner with a boner," then claps her hands and bursts into laughter.

Nick reaches over and grabs her thigh then remembers she's not very ticklish, "Ahh shit."

"That's right!"

"You're ticklish other places I bet."

"Eventually we'll be naked together, can you handle that?"

Nick pauses longer than usual. "Yeah, but I have a photographic memory, I want to think of you as the babe I remember."

Silence.

Nick looks over and she's leaning back, eyes closed, smiling.

He lets that float the rest of the trip.

They enter her house to find a dark living room, Nancy at the kitchen table working a puzzle and the petite crazy blond running out of her room with a huge grin.

"Did you play for Grams and Gramps?" Deej asks.

"Yeah, they fell asleep."

Nick observes, "That's a complement you know, seriously."

"Yeah I must be doing something right."

"OH, don't move," and she runs back to her room and back out with a tape and hands it to Nick.

His eyes get big. "Oh yeah, thanks, I'll play it on the way home."

She bounces on her heels as Deej turns on a lamp and sets her purse down, Nick takes a cue to grab some couch as Deej catches her mom up.

Sam just kinda floats around, Nick asks, "Are there any other musicians at school?"

"Band geeks."

"You know what I mean, anyone in a rock band?"

She makes a face, "I think there are some...dudes that play...like...death...metal? They grow their hair out long and always act stoned."

"Yeah that would be different. We didn't have any bands that I know of in town, everyone was consumed with partying."

She grins, as a cartoon would, her face contorts sardonically as a human face is capable, "Around here they're consumed with farming and screwing sheep."

From the kitchen, "SAMANTHA MARIE!"

"Sorry...humping sheep, better?"

Nick is about to implode trying not to laugh, but Deej steals the scene with a tackle that would impress any given NFL coach and commences the, well, sistering.

Nancy floats over, in a blouse similar the one Deej is wearing and the same long denim skirt she's probably worn all her life. "Nick, you don't know how glad we are that you seem to appreciate what we've unleashed upon this earth." and motions to the one-sided wrestling match that's taken over the living room.

Nick just takes a deep breath, "Well you don't need a TV in here do you?"

Nancy covers her laugh, gets slightly flushed, then taps his arm as she turns back to the kitchen. It's clear that Deej gets her height from Dean but Sam must either take after like a pint-sized aunt or had stunted growth. Nancy is just...in between somewhere. Maybe she's the milkman's mom.

But there's no doubt they're all related and he's now convinced that girls simply do everything better. He and his semi-human brother could never be this entertaining, one of them always took it too far right off the bat and it's over soon as it starts.

Nick is just about to go see Nancy's puzzle when the battle ceases, Deej gets up, 

"Alright this gal's gotta pee like a horse."

Sam tiptoes behind her then quickly appears with a small folder, 

"Get this to your car, hurry."

He starts to look at it, then she emphasizes,

“NOW!"

So Nick sneaks it out and slips it under the seat, just in case, and leaves the tape on the seat as a cover.

He slips back into the house just as Deej reemerges from the hallway and assesses, then focuses on him.

"Forget something?"

"I put the tape in the car so I don't forget it."

She turns to Sam. "Is that your story too?"

Sam does the grin and bouncy eyebrows.

Deej eyes them alternatively them with suspicion. "We'll just see."

Nick chimes in, "So did everything come out okay?"

This gets a dirty look from the older one and continued grin and eyebrows from the younger one.

"Mom, is it OK if Sam goes with us to Dawson's tomorrow morning?"

"Yes if she wants to." To Nick this feels like a courtesy since Deej is pretty much in charge these days.

She turns to Sam, who nods coherently.

Then to Nick, "We all set?"

"Yeah one way or another, do we need Dad's truck."

Deej snaps her fingers then grabs the phone and within a couple minutes confirms they can get into Gramp’s full-sized pickup with a hidden key and use it as long as they need, even though it will only be one trip.

After hanging up she walks up to Nick with full eye contact, just so he can hear "You sticking around?"

In kind, just so she can hear "Will we both fit in your tub?"

She pops him on the rear. "Daft boy."

"I should prollably get home and decompress."

She cocks her head, "I didn't mean to take over your weekends Nicky."

"What's the use having a Deej if you don't go on adventures?"

"MMM that we do." She turns toward the kitchen, "Say bye to Mom - I think Dad's watching the game."

"A lot of that going around."

"Yeah," then louder, "See ya Nancy." He turns to the blond dancing herself around the room, "Gunnite Brat."

This gets a mean face then a grin and a wave, he remembers the folder beneath his seat.

They stroll out to the Celeca and wind down their time for the day and just embrace.

Finally Deej speaks up, "Think I'll wait till everyone's settled in before a bath, get some time in with the little monster and see if she has any homework left."

"You're a good parent."

She slaps his arm, "Shut up."

"Will you put on some jazz?"

"Oh I think we have that capability, it's at the bottom of the dial?"

"You'll find it."

She giggles.

"Sad thing is I'm pretty sure I know why you're laughing."

This sets off it off more, "Alright nerd, go home to yo momma, see your ass tomorrow." She pecks him and walks to the house.

"Nite."

Once on the road, Nick pops the tape in and sure enough it's what he heard the other day, then mixed up some, just a stream of consciousness set to music, really kinda mesmerizing. He stops for fuel on the way and continues, only getting about 12 minutes of the tape reviewed and more to come, so this will be part of tonight's jazz fix for certain.

Once at home he runs in and learns there's Sunday dinner at gramma Swanson's tomorrow, just with gramma, but it's OK if the moving will take too long. 

Let's find out. While changing into house attire Nick calls the gal and she's all bubbly about it, sure they can if he can handle her showing up around 8. 

"Yes, hon, jeans are fine, you know we'll be casual."

"Ok I'll just bring a compact, gotta be a girl some of the time."

Right about then Tim beeped in so he transfers the conn and gets ready for a shower, soak really isn't called for tonight.

While toweling off he remembers the folder and has to throw on sweats to retrieve it from the driveway. Therein, from a time known only to the ages is a pencil portrait of the eternal Deej in pencil, with a hint of hair spray, probably to protect the lead. He'll have to find out which of the sisters drew this but the sentiment of the gift says it all, and before long it takes its place on the corkboard nudged among some tacks.

Nick flips on the old garage-sale lava lamp then rewinds the tape, and starts from the beginning. Whatever recorder she used is aligned with his and there's not much hiss for a normal bias tape. It will be up to him to teach her about such things, in time, but for now, wow. 

After surely dozing off at some point he realizes there is just hiss, so he stops the tape and rewinds, then heads downstairs to see if they have any spare frames. There are some in the closet that can be reused, so he does, with a construction paper mat, and soon has the work enshrined on a spot of wall that could surely use it. Plus, when Deej sees it she'll punch the moon.

Might as well burn off some carbon, so he tries to tune the knockoff strat with the piano while Ned dozes off through the late quarters of a college encounter. Finally it sounds close enough so back upstairs to take on the tape. 

First thing is to get past the distractions, like realizing he really needs a stand, as well as a tuner, but for now just lean against the bed and...play. The tape lead provides plenty of time to get into place. Virtual Sam starts strumming so he tries the A minor scale. The trick is to find something that fits the room, matches the landscape whereas most initial attempts are a bull in a china shop.

A few minutes in there's a really intricate arpeggio that gives him pause, must be moving around in the chord, something he had always found impossible. It's becoming clear that he stands to learn a lot from this zany little chick. Then she moves on, evidently in the same key, he has to give her credit for keeping it simple for him at this point.

As the tape goes on for just over 20 minutes he starts to find the moves that work better than others, this is a start. Just once through tonight, then jazz.

At some point Nick remembers to set an alarm for 7:45 to begin the next adventure.

The Stairwell

Wednesday

Somehow April looks perfectly natural, seated pensively on the stairwell, resting her chin on both wrists.

Deej is perfectly natural laughing with Irene in the kitchen.

Ned is perfectly natural in the small den reading the paper and, mainly, not being in the living room.

What's increasingly natural is Sam playing Nick's acoustic right there on their couch, albeit, Nick doesn't find his own electric playing all that natural.

Deej had woken up not feeling any worse and never recorded a fever, just felt warm, although she flashed him a couple looks that hint Uncle Frank has pulled up to the curb.

Evidently Sam took some guitar at Eastern and really got into it, she seems such a natural, even hums melodies.

"Nice," he comments.

Sam flashes a grimace, "It's just chords."

"Know any minors?"

"Yeah...what?"

"Minor chord progressions, like E minor or somethin', it's the sadder chords."

"Oh...yeah, I just kinda ramble, but like this?" and starts an arpeggio in what he recognizes as A minor.

"There it is...can you harmonize, like, keep it in that key?"

Hesitantly, "I think so..." This chick clearly has no way to know the depths of her talents. 

So they go on, he does some stuff in that scale and it fits, she goes to some major chords, who knows if from training or instinct. Eventually she finds what must be a seventh, looks like an E, hangs there, then gracefully resolves.

Irene chimes in, "That's pretty guys, I could almost join in on piano."

"Wow would you look at the time - " Nick starts.

"Be nice to your mother!" Deej blasts.

Sam just keeps on playing.

Nick glances over at April who's smiling over her preoccupation, he tries to find where Sam's at now and it kinda works, tries some major scale but had never gotten inspired with those.

At some point Deej comes over and leans on him, but it's a cover. She talks softly to stay below the music. "Can you hear me? Be subtle."

"Mmmm hmm."

"April is staying with us. Long story but she had a huge fight with her mom last night."

"UMMMM ummmm."

"Exactly."

"You do look hot with that guitar."

"Even though it's a knock off?"

"I'll knock you off."

"Always do."

She looks at him wryly. "Carry on," then gets up to go sit by the little brunette.

Irene starts snapping pictures.

Nick jabs, "Did you get one of Dad in there?"

"He's off duty. Smile."

Nick makes a mock grin and she snaps it anyway.

"Alright girls -"

He hears screams and looks to see them whimsically try to prevent each other from crawling up the stairs while Irene grabs a couple shots. 

Sam stops playing to laugh.

Nick switches to a boogie and tries to embellish.

Sam starts to imitate.

Nick pauses, "Hey if I send a tape with you can you record some of those chords you do?"

Sam looks up, "I don't have one of these, remember?"

"Take it with you."

Her eyes get huge, "Serious?"

"Yeah, as long as you play it, hang onto it."

She jumps up and grabs him around the shoulders.

Irene had been standing by and yells up the stairs, "Danni someone's making moves on your fella."'

"She can have him."

Sam starts in with the mock moves, "Oh dahhhhling mwah mwah mwah."

Nick turns down the master pot on his knockoff, sets it down and tries to walk towards the stairs with this pint-sized prosthesis hanging on as she spews all kinds of Pepe le Pew epithets,

"...mwaha MWAH...I am zee flow-ehrrrr and you are ze bee, no? Ah mwahh ah mwah ah mwah.."

"Deej, fix this!" Nick pleads up the stairs to where the babes are probably exchanging babe glances as they look around his room.

Irene laughs hysterically.

Nick is pretty sure Ned peeks in for a few moments to get an eyeful.

Deej appears at the top of the stairs and just drinks it all in before motioning April out.

Finally Sam plants her feet, Nick turns to find her grinning maniacally at Deej with the eyebrows in motion.

"Nick did you make a new fwiend."

"She can use that guitar all she wants."

This gets a howbout-that kinda glance from Deej. 

April seems genuinely amused at this point, good.

They start to ascend and he meets Deej halfway.

"Any news from that interview?"

"Not yet, I gave them both numbers just in case."

"Does this mean you're in limbo?"

"Kinda, yeah, Bob would call if he really needed me."

"Well enjoy it while yer young, kid."

She rolls her eyes. "So she can borrow that?"

"Of course, I won't play it much and did you hear that?"

"I had never heard her play, had no idea. She's really good at art and Mom had her try piano but it didn't go anywhere."

"Well if she ever wanted to try it again look no further."

"Who knows. Thanks again babe."

They do a quick peck but not inconspicuous enough to get a wooo out of Sam.

Deej just fires, "So you wanna walk home, is that it?" Then turns back to Nick.

"We should take off, school night and all."

"Why does it feel like I should offer help moving?"

Rolls her eyes again, "Hold that thought, we'll have to see how things settle, this has gotten weird."

"Yeah."

Lowers her voice, "I can't get <nods toward April>...to talk but...she seems impatient and really wants what we have."

"A lightning strike?"

She smiles, "Boy, don't make me drag your ass up these stairs, you know I can."

Nick sighs.

"But you're right...she's...well she's talking to your mom at least."

"That's a good sign I bet. Oh, tomorrow night I get with Deke for the Chinese bribe thing."

She smiles, "Very cool, call me after that if we don't talk before 'kay?"

"'Kay."

They pause and lean in for a longer one, this time to no fanfare.

"Well give Uncle Frank my best."

She rolls her eyes once again then grins, "That old bastard is doing a number on the basement, just hope the rug can hold up."

Nick grimaces.

"You're welcome," then she craftily pinches his ass and joins the gals.

Nick runs up to find a blank cassette and gets another squeeze from Sam, and notes, "You really are a talented little shit aren't you?"

This gets a very bright smile.

Deej cuts in for a final hug, "You're so good with her, she needs this."

"Reminds me of a younger Noreen."

This gets a raised eyebrow and a smirk, "Do I need to worry?"

"Nah, cartoons are for laughs."

"OH she's a cartoon alright."

They hug, she leaves, Nick settles in.

Spaghetti

Tuesday

"Hi."

Our hero had not yet realized someone stands to his left for staring at his screen with a template contract for a gig. To get to this point he gotten a hold of Deke yesterday, 

"Glad to hear it, you're moving up in this world. You should start with a book, that campus library is sure to have something, use that for starters then I'll go over it with you over a beer or two, or you can bring Chinese - the EXPENSIVE stuff," then laughs maniacally.

And before that he had gotten an enthusiastic confirmation from Goody,

"Nick this is why we're here, to help you get on a vector to, well, whatever is next - your hours are a guaranteed minimum, so we can certainly work around whatever you need to do, go for it."

He turns and takes a pause to drink in a sight for sore eyes, top to bottom and back. Deej had mentioned an interview on campus, something for which Bob was more than glad to excuse an absence, and for this she had put together a burgundy top, black pleated skirt just above the knee and black tights and soft flats. He hadn't seen her so 'cleaned up' in quite a while and this is the epitome of Deej-ness: tall yet modest, adorable yet capable. 

"Hi yourself."

There's an informal lab in that room so she leans into a quiet giggle, "Like what you see?"

"Wish I had a picture."

This causes a slight flush and she looks to the side, "Stop it."

"How'd it go, slick?"

"Pretty good I think, she was hard to read but said I'd hear soon."

"Is it admin of sorts?"

"Yeap, at the gym."

"Right up your alley."

"Well you WORK in an alley."

"Yeah yeah, did you get the whole day off from roofing?"

"Too damn windy today so it worked out..." then glances at his screen, "hey, is that what I think it is?"

Nick jumps up and pretends to shield it. 

She grabs his ribs and he reacts rather nasally, she fights off a laugh.

"You always were ticklish...dork."

"And you have sensitive knees."

She takes a swipe, "You know..." looks around and lowers her voice, "you know what that did to me, I shouldn't have hit you so hard but, anyway..." and she may have flushed a bit again.

"Well I learned a lesson I won't forget."

She looks right at him, "Well we both did. Anyway, you going to lunch in a bit?"

"Yeah...finally got a hold of Noreen, you could join -"

"No, Nicky, go catch up with her, tell her hi."

He pauses a second. "Okay...but are you free later?"

She pauses and slowly smiles, and looks down at him still seated, fishes keys out of her purse, contorts her face and points a key at him, slowly twists it, and in a growl, "call me if you daaarrre."

He stands up but she just scampers off while staring him down with a wry grin that drives home the dare, and almost...almost fulfills a pleasantly freaky dream he had a while back.

Girls.

------------------------

Nick arrives at the cafeteria and tries to spot her inside but doesn't, turns around to check the influx and there stands his summer gal.

They exchange a smile and hesitant shoulder hug.

"You've been busy," he starts.

After a hesitation, "Probably on purpose," and she looks at him with a dullness he’s rarely seen.

"You look well rested at least."

"It's getting better, just...you know."

"Yeah." He pretends to know but can only guess. "My treat?"

She smiles. "Kay."

For some reason they have swiss cheesesteaks today and he can't resist, she just gets a salad. They find a couple spots across from each other, she seems lethargic and doesn't look at him much.

"Are you OK with this," he asks.

She smiles a little, "Nick I have to be OK with this, it's a calling and...I think we both knew..."

"Yeah...no regrets?"

"Nick - you know better."

"Just suremakin'"

Smiles and shakes her head and takes a bite.

After he finishes a bite, "I thought about asking if you needed someone to take proofing work, but then that seems pretty specific and, well, sporadic."

She thinks and nods, "Yeah it is but if anyone asks, is Danni interested?"

"I mentioned it and she's willing to check it out, but today she interviewed over at the gym, that would get her off roofs for the most part."

"Oh that's great, hope it works out, tell her hi."

"She says hi as well."

"Really like that gal, maybe a bunch of us can do something before I take off."

"Yeah she would agree."

Noreen offers her water cup for a toast, they toast and drink in agreement.

After a couple more silent bites, she goes on, "How's the car?"

"It's working out, love the mileage."

She grins. "Just not as much room in back..."

He throws her a droll look and she has to put her head down to laugh.

"So, I have to ask, are you....OK?"

He finishes a bite. "Still adjusting, but....this has been a hell of a year hasn't it?"

She takes a deep breath, "You can say that again."

Nick starts to repeat it and gets a look, then wisely leaves it at that. Then remembers, "OH, I may have a side gig, office PC upgrade, Deejay's dad is the manager of a shop."

Her eyes pick up, "Wow, not bad."

"Deke is helping with the contract."

"There ya go, good luck hon - um, dude."

He throws her another look.

"I know, I know, just trying to be careful."

"We didn't get where we got by being careful, dear."

She sighs and takes a bite, gets that down, then adds, "We had such a safe space, for me at least, hopefully for you as well...I wouldn't have been able to be in that space...otherwise, you know, how things worked out."

"Yeap. Same here."

She smiles and keeps on digging in.

Nick looks around, he's done with his sammich. "I think I'm getting close to being a true alumni, alumnus? Of this place, into the wild."

"One step at a time."

"Think you'll settle back around here?"

She pauses, smirks, "I'd like to but, you know how it is...how many of the, like the Ph.Ds…the phuds… they're from all over."

"Your boss is from England."

She points her fork at him in agreement, "Exactly. A gig's a gig, just like in music."

"Do you have a place there yet?"

She clears her throat, "This past weekend I saw three, dragged Arden with me for good measure, any one of them will do with the stipend."

"OK good." 

She takes a studied look, "What are you thinking."

"Well, there could be moments where I'm tempted to run up for the weekend..."

She kicks his shin under the table. "And I'd be tempted to rip something off of you and mail it to your house, dig?"

Nick bends over and rubs the affected area. "How do I attract such violent women?"

This gets the show-ending laugh. "You OK?"

"Yeah I'll live once the blood stops squirting."

"Alright, I gotta get back, walk with me?"

"If I can."

So they bust their trays and they stroll to about the midway point, settle for a mutual cheek peck, "Don't be a stranger," in her usual admonishment.

------------------------

Well, Deej can definitely cook, not that he had any doubts. He accepted the dare and gave her a ring around 3:30 and she offered two choices, a quiet evening or double date, with her preference being the former. This is surprising for a normally group-friendly gal, but the biggest surprise was April meeting Vance over at the Pondo.

"Yeah, I guess he finally got curious enough."

"Man to be a fly on the wall..."

She giggles and takes a bite of garlic toast, that's all she's having after she guaranteed him safety from not feeling the greatest and expecting a visit from Uncle Frank - evidently Aunt Flo is too obvious.

This was the first time Nick had been inside the Dawson's place. The parents were bowling tonight and so they had the house to themselves.

"So how's things over at your home place?" He asks between fork loads of spaghetti she'd made the night before. 

"About the same, Sam's back at school but seems bored. I’m torn since I wish I could be there, but then, Mom and Dad need to figure some things out, so..."

"Yeah. Are you still gonna show her some martial arts?”

"Hoping to get some gals together, maybe some moms and April. Noreen if she wanted to."

"Ahh I see."

"Are you about ready with that contract, or whatever?"

"Yeah pretty much, just need to take it over to Deke's along with a bribe, I'll grab some Chinese."

This gets a laugh, then she thinks, "I don't think I ever got to meet him, is he still working?"

"Pretty much retired but still on the bar, that's a nice spot if you're healthy, which he seems to be. You get to pick your work and just help out when you want."

"That's awesome."

"Yea really neat guy."

They are finished with supper and Nick takes his own plate to the sink. 

"You are trained well, Young Jedi," she observes with some sauce.

Normally he would reach for a hug but she seems guarded from not feeling the greatest.

"Wanna watch some TV for a bit? I'll probably turn in early and read my old letters - thanks so much for those.

"Nuthin' to it."

He sits on the couch first to set the scene and she eases down about half a foot to his left with the remote and starts flipping around.

"What sounds good?"

"I usually watch Cheers if anything," which of course brings to mind the lake adventure with Noreen.

"OK," and she flips around but can't find it, then hands him the remote, "Here." Right about then she puts a hand on her lower belly, "mmmm."

Nick can hear gurgling.

"Not good," she says while getting up and ducks into the hallway john.

Nick tries to find Cheers but can't concentrate enough to remember which channel it would be on, their lineup seems off, must be a different provider out here. Finally he settles on Happy Days and right about then he hears a flush. Not long after this she emerges from the door with a washcloth on her head and stops in the hallway.

"Are you OK?" he asks.

"I feel hot and think I'm coming down with something, I don't want you to get it."

"I hate to leave you like this though."

"I know, but this ain't my first rodeo, gonna lie down."

"Good idea. Call me later if you can't sleep?"

"Maybe, talk to you for sure tomorrow, sorry it's a short date."

"Better than nothing."

She smiles while leaning against the wall and it feels like he's in the way of her recovery.

"Want this on still?"

"Nah."

"Well get some rest and feel better."

She blows him a kiss, "Be careful."

So he is careful and arrives home around 7:30.

Irene is at the piano, a good sign. 

"Hey did you see Danni?"

"Yeah we ate but she started feeling feverish and sent me home."

Irene just looks at him.

"She thinks it's a bug, probably what I had a couple weeks ago."

Irene smiles, "Well I hope not too serious, was starting to wonder if you got her too...excited..."

"Mom!"

She laughs and lets him off the hook. "Did you eat something?"

"Yeah she made spaghetti last night and I had leftovers, she just had a piece of toast."

"The poor thing, well she's a trooper to want to see you in that condition."

Nick just shakes his head and starts up the stairs.

------------------------

About 10:30 the phone rings.

"Nick?" Guess who.

"Hey, how do you feel."

"Started feeling a sore throat so I grabbed some stuff and went to my old bedroom, after all...(takes a sip)...after all the Dawsons have done the last thing I want is to make them sick."

"Well, hope this doesn't knock you out and Mom says so too."

"She's the best. Can you talk a while?"

"As long as your voice holds up." 

"MMM, well maybe the night's not a total loss then. I thought of a bunch of questions, do you mind?"

"Deej..."

"I know, I'm silly, but....remind me, what do you watch on TV?"

"Stupid shit, I tape the Mystery Science Theatre for rainy days, got into Python this year."

"Oh, that makes sense for a wise guy."

"Hey I try. Howbout you? Well besides the mysteries."

"Promise not to be too hard on me?"

"Umm..."

"Well...let me rephrase...."

"I promise."

"Okay...I kinda got hooked on 90210."

"Well that's not so bad...has some nice scenery."

"Oh...yes...it...does."

"Something for everyone. So is that what we'll curl up and watch one of these days."

Silence.

"You OK."

"Nicky..."

"What?"

"I think you know."

"So you're talking quietly."

"Yeah just so little ears aren't too nosy."

"Could anyone else be on the line?"

"Nope, we never got phones in our rooms, which is probably a good thing, if that makes sense."

"Yeah it can be."

"Anyway...um...since we're alone..."

Nick tries to deepen his voice but sinuses keep it raspy, "Yeass?" He also switches on some classical.

She lowers her volume, "If we were ever really....really...alone, do you want the lights on or off?"

"Well..."

"Be honest."

"Don't take it the wrong way, I'd rather feel than see."

"That's what I thought."

"And...sometimes it's nice if not all the clothes are off."

He just hears a sigh then "mmmmm."

"Are these all the right answers?"

"No complaints from this end....OH...oh...so, when we were younger...did you look at my butt?"

"Does a deer shit in the woods?"

She snickers, "Touché!"

They both crack up.

Nick continues, "Umm, every chance I got. Especially in that long skirt, damn."

This gets a hard sigh, "OH you stop it right now, I'm blushing all over."

"Like I said, shroud of a thousand mysteries."

She pauses. "OK, so now that some of those mysteries are known...um...did you like it, the other day?"

"No complaints here."

"Nick...that was...you did...well, I don't want to go into detail but...you knew what to do. I know you've had some practice, but...just so you know…wow."

"I bet you taste heavenly."

Silence.

He waits it out this time.

Finally she clears her throat. "Nicky, how do you do that?"

"What?"

"I swear you're a perfect crime."

"I wish I'd thought to say that."

Another pause. "Mmmm, anyway...I think you know me well enough, there's so much going on, sometimes...I just need to think about good things."

"Deej, you know you don't need to explain."

"I know, I'm probably trying to figure it all out."

"Aren't we all?"

"Yeah. I know I keep saying it, but thanks for being there."

"Hon I'd rather me be here than someone else."

She giggles. "Me too."

"So were you gonna work tomorrow?"

"Bleh, I think Bob was going to keep me on a reserve status kind of thing, they're on a smaller job. Nick they are so gracious, I swear they think of me as a cause, it's so sweet."

"Well you help out around the house right?"

"As much as I can yeah."

"And April is their only daughter?"

"Yeap, after two boys, which probably factors in."

"Yeah. So was she back yet when you bailed?"

"Nope, her folks had just gotten back when I left, her mom seemed a bit concerned about her but then this is new ground, she’s usually such a homebody."

"Hmm, yeah."

"Anyway they might have decided to see a movie, I don't think we're worried."

"Nah."

"They didn't really want me to come here but understood."

"Sounds about right."

She sighs.

"Are you still thinking to enroll in the winter?"

"Yeah probably, the wheels are in motion."

"Good."

"And next week - oh shit, hope I'm better - next week we have that trip to the ol' lady doctor."

"And I have no comment on that."

She laughs, "Yeah, sorry, joy-joy-joy."

"Are you gonna vote?"

"Yeah, oh yeah, I never changed my permanent address so I'll vote here. You?"

"Yeah, plan to, talking to Noreen gave me a lot to think about this year."

"She's an academic so I think we're on the same page."

"Probably."

"I love you, Nick."

"Deej."

"I snuck that on you, sorry."

"Deej, we've been in tune for a long time now, pretty sure we know how to love each other."

Silence. Then sniffs.

"Isn't it crazy how we can communicate through letters and like this?"

"Yeah...(draws a breath)...yeah it sure is."

He lets that float.

"Nicky...just so you know, when we get to be...really...alone...you don't have to please me, just whatever..."

"Deej...sometimes it's good just to rub."

She pauses, "Like, with the clothes on?"

"More or less."

This gets an ornery giggle, "Mmmm hmmm. It's just, when you kiss me, like on the trail...my God I forgot where I was."

"I think I did too for a second."

"Yeah guys are different, and you are probably wayy less emotional than I get, and you know me I’m usually, you know, but....mmmmm."

"It goes by too quickly."

"It really does. Just...you know I need you to keep me on earth, I don't want to get carried away. I mean, I don't...well..."

"Deej, we'll be fine...but do you mean alone time or in general?"

She laughs, "Actually I think you just psyched me out, that's it. I'm probably more afraid of going nuts than losing control."

"Umm, you're the sanest person I've ever met, at least that I know so well."

"Thanks. Still, I've never been here - listen to me, who the hell HAS ever been here?"

"I love you, Deej."

Silence. 

Silence.

"I know, Nicky." She sighs.

"Are you more convinced we're gonna be OK?"

"Actually, I am."

"How do you feel, the cold or whatever?"

Pause. "It's still there. Probably the last few weeks catching up to me."

"It'll do that. I had the crud just before you got back here."

"Yeah I remember now, how bad was it?"

"Well I went to work even though it was questionable, got to the school and Sue - our dean - denied me entry and sent me home. Spent Friday and Saturday in quarantine then it let up after that, just slept in and out, soaked in the tub."

"OOOhh that's gonna happen soon, will give me some....alone...time..."

"Gonna wash those naughty thoughts away?"

"A bath would be nice to share..."

"That would be for the advanced class."

"Something to look forward to."

For some reason a Spock quote comes to Nick's mind, about having not being always as good as wanting, but it doesn't really apply. Still, 

"I think I asked, but you ever watch Star Trek?"

"Oh god, if you can believe it my parents geek out on that. I watched some but, you know."

"What if we're curled up?"

"Your place or mine?"

"It's a date."

"Oh Nicky, we're gonna be just fine."

"You know it."

"Well, you gotta work and I gotta rest up. Actually, hell I might just soak."

"It does a body good."

She giggles, "You don't want to know where my mind went."

"Umm, pretty sure I do know after the other night."

She cracks up for nearly a minute.

Nick just enjoys her laughter.

 "Alright smarty pants -"

"Hey do you ever watch the British shows?"

"Yeah sometimes like on PBS?"

"That Are You Being Served is hilarious, they show it late at night since it's pretty naughty."

"Is that the one where the lady talks about her pussy and it's all double entendres?"

Now Nick laughs for about a minute.

"What? I suppose I win a prize?"

"OHH honey, that's the one."

"Yeah those are pretty funny, sometimes we girls would try to watch when the morality police weren't around."

"Oh joy."

"Yeah good times for all."

"Well we got a lot to look forward to."

"Yes we do, I'm gonna think about it in the tub, love you and...sweet dreams."

"Love you Deej. Feel better."

"Nite."