Author's Note: I don't own Grease nor Grease 2 or any of the characters. I only the plot to the story and a few characters which are my own.
Summary: Grease 2 Au. Michael Carrington and Stephanie Zinone grew up together. They went their separate ways after graduation. Michael to the Marine Corp and later Vietnam. Stephanie a recently divorced single mother of two.
Six years later in the summer of 1968. Michael returns to Rydell after being medically discharged from the Marine Corp struggling to adjust back to civilian life. Stephanie recently divorced single mother to two boys.
Chapter 1
Rydell California June 1968
The sun was starting to come over horizon as the bus came to a stop on the edge of town. As I Former Gunnery Sargent Michael Jonathan Carrington stepped off the bus from San Diego. The first rays of the sun coming over horizon illuminated the town I had spent most of my childhood and teenage years in.
Before I had left for Basic Training in San Diego with the Marine Corp. A clean cut eighteen year old looking for adventure and maybe a place to belong. What life plans I had before I left. Didn't fit the plans my father had for me after graduation.
What ever I did never seemed to please my father. It had only gotten worse after my older brother Matthew had died in a car accident a few months before graduation. I hadn't seen nor spoken to my parents since I had left for Basic Training.
The only part of my family I spoke to was my Aunt Edna and Uncle Jack Olsen. And my cousin Sandy Olsen now Zuko.
I heaved my bag onto my shoulder and started to walk/limp into town. I had been medically discharged from the Marine Corp after being wounded in Operation Kingfisher only five days before the operation had finished on the 31st of October last year.
The sun was now over the horizon and now beating down on me. After maybe an hour and half I made it to Cadillac Jack's. Not long after opening.
Dolores Rebchuck was cleaning her section of counter not listen to the other two waitresses on shift with her Vivian Peterson and Nellie Patterson gossiping as they waited for customers. The bell on the main door of dinner jingled as the door opened.
A man about six foot maybe a little taller stepped into the dinner or rather limped in. With a scruffy look about him. Dolores looked at the name on the uniform. It read US MARINES on one side and CARRINGTON on the other.
Her eyes widened a little in shock as she found her self looking or maybe staring at none other Michael Carrington. No one had seen or heard from him since graduation. Dolores had only been a freshmen at Rydell High when he had graduated along side her older sister Paulette and their friends.
"Dolores Rebchuck. You've certainly grown up." I said hardly recognising Dolores. Though it had been six years since I had seen her.
"That's what happens when you've been gone for six years Carrington" Dolores said as I sat down on the bar stool.
"So what's new Woodchuck." I asked using the nickname from school Dolores hated.
"What did I say about calling me that" Dolores said leaning across the counter and punching me in the arm.
"Not to call you that. So are you and Davey still together." I asked.
"Yeah. We're getting married next month on the twenty sixth." Dolores explained before going off to serve another customer before I could answer her.
"Can I get you anything." A waitress named Vivian it said on her name tag asked.
"Coffee. Black and one sugar" I said stretching my right leg out.
"One Coffee Black and on sugar coming up" She said batting her eyes at me. I said nothing in return.
Vivian was chattering on about mindless drivel while she poured the coffee for me. I didn't say anything in reply.
"So are you from around here" She asked once again batting her eyelids at me.
"Yeah. I grew up here. I lived here from when I was three till I left at eighteen." I explained not giving anymore detail as I took a sip of my coffee.
"So what brings you back to this backwater" She asked flirtatiously.
"Private Business" I said taking another sip of my coffee.
"Vivian I pay you to serve people not pick up dates" I heard Lou the old cook pip up from the kitchen.
"Oh shove off Lou." Vivian fired back at him before walk off to talk to her friend.
Thankfully I managed to drink the rest of my coffee in peace. I left a five dollar note on the counter to pay my tab and as a tip.
I got up from the stool. A hot shot of throbbing pain shot up my right leg as I stood up. I gritted my pain as I shouldered my bag and limped out of the dinner. I pushed open and held the door open for someone as they came into the dinner.
I took in the changes to Rydell as I limped to my parents on the east side of town. The main drag of town didn't look all that different. My right leg was started to ache badly.
I found a park bench to sit down. I sat down and stretched out after putting my bag down beside me.
"Say Son. You come back from Vietnam." I glanced to my right as a man maybe thirty years older then me took a seat beside me.
"Yeah. I was there." I half answered. I didn't like to talk about my time in Vietnam for good reason.
"Lost my nephew and son over there. What we see or witness during war time we don't want anybody to know about or heaven forbid see." The stranger said as a sad look crossed his face and a haunted look came into his dark brown eyes.
"You can say that again." I said reaching into my breast pocket for my pack of cigarette and lighter.
"You a Marine" The stranger said looking at my lighter with the Marines emblem and moto written on it.
"I was till I got wounded in October. Shrapnel from a shell messed up my right leg and lower abdomen." I said taking drag. I rolled up my pants leg on my right leg. I didn't miss the stranger sharp intake of breath at the sight of the scars on my leg.
"Your lucky you didn't lose your leg" He said as I unrolled my pants leg.
"So the docs said. Not much I can do with a bum leg neither." I half replied taking a drag from my cigarette.
"You from around here. Or are you just passing through." The stranger asked.
"I grew up here till I left for Basic Training for the Marine Corp at eighteen." I said taking another drag.
"I'm Frank. Frank Peterson." The stranger Frank held out his hand.
"Former Gunnery Sargent Michael Carrington." I said shaking Frank's hand.
"Hang on. You'd be Thomas and Lillian Carrington's eldest boy then"
"I'm the second eldest. There was Matthew. He died in car accident a while ago." I explained taking another drag.
"Your dad never mentioned him. We worked together for a few years. He mentioned you a few times in passing" Frank explained.
"Figured as much" I muttered under my breath. I took one last drag from my cigarette before stumping out with the bottom of my boot. "It was nice to met you Frank. I see you around sometime." I said getting to my feet. I shoulder my bag one more time. I shook Frank's hand once more.
It was just after eight in the morning by the time before I made to the neighbourhood I had grown up in. There were a few new houses that had been built in the time I had been away. I limped further down the street.
I'd made maybe half a block when out of the corner of my eye. I noticed a Rydell PD patrol car driving behind me. I kept walking/limping either after it passed me. I paid it no mind and kept walking/limping.
"Hey" I heard someone call out to me. I turned and looked as two officers got out of the patrol car. I recognised the shorter of the two officers. It was none other the Johnny Nogerlii.
"What are you doing around here" The taller officer asked.
"I live here" I stated dropping my bag on the ground beside me.
"Really I've never seen you around here before." The taller officer asked not believing me. Johnny Nogerlii recognised one of his oldest friend but decided to stay quiet and see how it pane out.
"I've been gone for six years. Don't you have some criminals to go hassle." I said crossing my arms over my arm.
"Hey don't get smart"
"Nogerlii you better put a tighter leaser here on junior." I said glancing in Johnny's direction.
"Still a smart ass I see Shakespeare. I though you'd be over in Vietnam still." Johnny asked glancing over at his partner Harrison glaring in Michael's direction
"I was till I got wounded. I'll catch up with you and boys later." I said avoiding talking anymore about Vietnam.
"Don't be a stranger Carrington" Johnny said before heading back to his patrol car with his partner glaring at me once last time before driving off.
I limped a few more blocks. I walked passed DiMuccis parent's house and Davey's as well. Half a block over was Johnny's parents place along with the Rebchuck's house. Sharon and Rhonda lived a few house down as next door neighbours.
Samuel 'Sam' Alexander Edward Carrington was sitting on the front steps of his childhood home listen to his parents fight inside.
His dog Jax lay on the front porch with his head resting on Sam's lap. His older sister Ellie was down at the beach with her friends and boyfriend David. Sam pulled a worn photo from the front pocket of shirt.
The photo was of his older brother Michael and him. It had been taken shortly before Michael had left for Basic Training for the Marine Corp down in San Diego. He had not seen or heard from his brother since.
Jax stood up and started to bark as a stranger past the house. The stranger didn't just continue to walk past he turned and started to walk or limp down the drive way. Jax shot off the porch and headed straight for the stranger. Sam got to his feet and looked at stranger closer.
"Hey boy. Sam been looking after you" I said knelling down as Jax licked me and wagged his tail.
"Jax come here." Sam called. Jax stayed glued to my side.
"Jax come here" Sam called to him once more.
"He's fine Sam. Jeeze kid you've grown up." I said walking over to my younger brother I hadn't seen in six years.
"Michael" Sam said in shock as he now recognised his older brother. He was six years older. A little taller. He walked with a limp on his right side. A scar on his face caught Sam's attention.
I was cut off from saying anything but the front door slamming shut and screen door behind it.
"Sam I thought told you to keep that mutt locked up" I heard my 'loving' father's voice for the first time in six year.
"Jax sit" I said Jax sat beside me. Sam glanced from me back to our father.
"He's not hurting anyone dad." Sam said not making eye contact with him.
"I don't care Sam. Put him back in his pen now" He said raising his voice. It seemed he hadn't noticed me yet standing behind Sam. Jax went to Sam's side and started to snarl and growl at our father.
"Jax heal" I said raising my voice. Jax sat beside Sam.
"What are doing back here. They kick you out of the Marine Corp." He said noticing me for the first time.
"I see you haven't change any old man. Your still a bastard" I said walking up to where Sam stood.
"Sam go and put Jax back in his pen" I said glaring at my father as he shot me a filthy look as he walked over to his car. Sam did as I asked and took Jax back to his pen in the backyard. I watched my bastard father as he back out the driveway and drive off.
"Michael is that you" I turned around to see my mother for the first time in six years. She looked ten years older then her forty six years.
"Hey ma." I said limping over to where she stood at the bottom of the steps. She was a foot shorter then me at five foot.
Lillian Carrington had been hoping and praying her boy would come back home one day. She had already lost one of her sons. She had though she had lost Michael as well. Due to her husband's stupidity.
Michael and Thomas's relationship had never been good. It had only gotten worse after Matthew had died in that car accident a few months before Michael had left for Basic Training.
"I see nothing's changed." I said as I finally was released from my mom's death like grip of a hug.
"Come on. Let's go inside. We've got some catching up to do. Sam you coming" Mom said to Sam who was standing awkwardly near the side of the house. I picked up my bag and waited for Sam to join us.
We walked up the stairs onto the front porch. Mom headed inside first, Sam went after her. I closed the front door behind me. For the first time in a long I felt like I was home.