This chapter take place on dimension C-134. Rick C137 and Morty do not make an appearence yet.
Beth's eyes shot to the phone when it rang. It was the Animal Hospital! She was safe at least for a little while. She made small rounds around the house to make sure everyone was prepared. She took the brunt of His anger and abuse. She knew though if she was gone the rest of the family would be easy targets.
"Summer...The hospital called. I have to go in." She opened the door to find summer typing away on her phone. Her room was neat and tidy. She was conservatively dressed for her age. Sumner looked a the door as it slowly opened. She was relieved it was her mother.
"Ok Mom!" Summer was not happy. She was left alone most of the time but sometimes He would just yell at her for being a stupid girl child. But that was enough to send her to be wearing black most of the time. But the nightly visits were becoming more frequent.
She went to the next room hers and Jerry's. She opened the door to change. Inside was Jerry sleeping in. The long days of job searching was getting to him. His father in law almost sabotaging his efforts at every turn just didn't help matter either.
"Hey I have to go in."
"Do...you have to, hun?"
"I know but you know there is nothing i can do. I am the main bread winner around here."
Jerry looked depressed. Jerry was the one that got the verbal abusiage. Convincing them to stay together for the kids wasn't Ricks style. But they found out why. Jerry was such an easy target for Rick.
Beth started to get dressed for work. She changed into her scrubs and comfortable shoes. "Just try and stay out of his line of sight. Ok?"
"I'll try...Good news though. I have an Interview tomorrow. I might even make it if i sneak out of the house this time."
She gave him a tiny kiss on the forhead. It had been two years since their marrage had been real but Rick was keeping them together when they would have went through an amiable divorce. "I'm glad hun. See you later"
"Have you seen...?" Concern filled Jerry's eyes.
"No. I think he is off with Rick."
Beth sighed. Morty got it the worst. Dragged off to who knows where. Always coming back with scars bruises and more nervous than ever. Morty always went to his room after they came back and shut the door. Beth more often than not had to bring dinner to him so he would eat. The boy looked underweight as it was. Beth wondered if he even ate on their adventures.
There was a sort of agreement with the family. If Morty was back then Rick was back. Seeing Morty meant everyone was to mentally prepare for the worst. At least they would be ready
Sci-Fi noises came from the garage. Morty came in half his hair singed and was holding his arm close to his side. "W...W...w...We're back"
"Thank God!" Beth said. happy to see Morty alive. "Is he..."
"N...Normal...mom."
"Right. I have to go into the hospital I am about to leave."
"Don't go Mom..."
"I have to, Morty. I will be home soon. I promise."
Beth grabbed the keys and her purse then headed out to the driveway got into her car and left.
Leaving the family with Rick.
RIck was in the garage. "Where the fuck is my vodka?" Rick started to go through his cabinate. He then found a bottle and took a big swig of it. That felt better. He really didn't want to go into the house of the lazy assses but he smelled food and he was hungery.
Rick was all excited from his last adventure. he had a boner that needed to be taken care of. He decided to look for Beth. But Beth had left a note that she was at work. Great, That left Summer. She was begining to be more work than before because she had finally had her first period. But She was there and he was there, that was enough for him.
Rick almost smiled. He had this family in the bag. Most of the other Ricks complained about their families. He had the Smiths right the way he liked them, afraid of him. So afraid he could do anything to them and they would just take it. They had seen enough of him and He constantly reminded Morty why you don't cross him, and what would happen to the family if he ever did. That point was proven time and time again on their adventures.
Rick headed upstairs to Summers room to "talk" to her. An hour later he came out zipping his pants back up.
Jerry could hear the whole thing. he tried to interfear once, got frozen for a week for his trouble. He didn't see anything but he was frozen in Summers room for a week as Summer could only look at her father frozen in time mid fist thrown. A reminder of how powerless they all were.
Morty on the other hand was broken. Phycally emotionally mentally broken. He did not enjoy their adventures. He was injured most of the time and beaten for his mistakes. But he did it for the family. As a way for them to get reprive from Rick. Morty could control one thing in his life however. His day dreams. His dreams of a different life. Somewhere out there was a Rick that cared for his Morty. Somewhere out there was a Rick that did not abuse the family. That brought him comfort. He wished he could meet one of these kind Ricks.
That night the family finally went to bed. Beth had not come home. The family was begining to wonder what happened to her. They found out. She had gotten into a car accident with a drunk driver. She didn't make it.
Morty's life was going to get much worse.