Chapter 2

It's been a month and they still haven't found Zero. Where ever he is he's hiding well. Jeb and I are getting along better. We go out together once a week. Just to get away from everything and be young. I created a spell to make him an identity in this world. He can go out by himself now. He has a driver's license and I taught him how to drive my Jeep. He's got a job as a busboy at the Hilltop so we can keep an eye on each other. And he did make fun of my uniform. I punched him in the arm. We got a message from Cain about 3 weeks ago; he was taking a trip to the Realm of the Unwanted to scout for Zero. I have a bad feeling that he's not going to be successful.

Jeb and I are both on shift at the Hilltop when Gulch comes in. I take him his pie and he asks me to sit.

"Carter! I'm taking 5!" I yell as I sit across from Sherriff Gulch.

"It better just be 5, DG!" he yells back at me.

"What did you want to talk to me about, Sherriff?"

"Well, on my way here I ran across a man looking for you and Jeb. He was dressed kinda strange, riding a white horse, a real cowboy. Ring any bells?"

"Hmm, cowboy? What do you mean he was dressed strange? What was he wearing? What did he look like?" I ask him. My heart's pounding. Who could be looking for us?

"Well, to be honest he looked a little like Jeb. He was wearing this green coat and a gray hat."

"It's ok, Sherriff. He's Jeb's father. He's probably already made himself at home with Mom and Pops. Thanks for letting me know though." Relief spreads through my body. It's just Cain. Wait… what's he doing here?

"Alright, DG, if you're sure. You need help you just call me, okay?" Gulch has been nicer since I got back. Of course not speeding down the roads on my bike seems to help.

"I know, thanks, Sherriff." I smile at him and go back to the kitchen. I grab my cell out of my bag and call home.

"Mom, it's DG. Is Cain there? He is? Okay just checking. Gulch mentioned something about running in to him and I just wanted to check to make sure. Yeah, he's driving home. Yes, we'll be careful." I hang up and get back to work.

I drop of an order and Jeb is bussing a table and I take the opportunity to talk to him.

"Hey, Jeb?"

"Yeah, Deeg?" He's taken to calling me Deeg now. It's kinda cute. No it's not cute. Jeb Cain is not cute. He's just a pest.



"Gulch just told me he ran into a cowboy looking us. I called Mom and Pops and your dad is here. Probably wants to tell us that they haven't found him yet and we have to stay longer."

"Probably. Still, it will be good to see him."

"Want to see if we can take off early?"

"Sure," he said with a bright smile. Mmm, nice smile. Stop it, DG!! You cannot fall for Jeb Cain… oh who am I kidding? I've fallen, and hard.

I head back to talk to Carter. I tell him that Jeb's dad is in town and they haven't seen each other in a month due to Cain's work. He lets us go early. I thank him and go tell Jeb. We pile in the jeep and head home. We parked in the drive way and burst through the front door.

"Cain?!"

"Dad?!"

"In the kitchen." God, it's good to hear his voice. Jeb and I look at each other and smile as we both take off running. We reach the kitchen door and stop. He's sitting there drinking coffee like it's normal. He looks up at us and smiles as he stands, holding his arms out for us. We rush forward and he takes us both in fierce hug. "Oh, I've missed you both."

"We've missed you too, Dad." I can hear the smile in Jeb's voice and I don't dare open my eyes for fear that this is a dream and Cain's not really here and we are not going home. He lets us go and we all sit in the living room.

"So, what's going on? Are we going home?" Jeb asks.

Cain tries to look anywhere but at Jeb or me. I knew this visit was not going to be anything good. He just came to check on us.

"It's ok, Mr. Cain. We aren't going home yet, are we?" I ask.

"No, you're not. I just came to check on you, to make sure that you are both ok. I'm sorry." The light in his eyes fades a bit.

"When do you have to leave?" Jeb's voice has gone cold.

"Tomorrow night."

"So, what's going on at home? How are Mom, Dad and Az?" I pause for a moment and his eyes catch mine, "How are you?"

"Well your parents have taken back control of the Realm and reinstated local governments and even put the Tin Men back on the streets. Raw is helping your sister heal and after Glitch got his brain back he's be working on getting a recording of Azkadellia being pulled free of the witch to all city centers. I've been looking everywhere I can think of to find that rat. He's just vanished." Cain starts pacing. He's agitated and I can understand why. I don't like having that maniac out there.



"You should watch for Travel Storms. Tornado season is going to start soon. That's when I'd slip through, when a twister would be common on this side." I comment.

"That's a good idea, DG; we'll keep an eye out for that. Now, I want you to tell me how you two have been doing."

"Well," I start, "I got my job back at the Hilltop. And I created a spell to give Jeb an identity in this world so he works there too."

We tell him about Jeb learning to drive my bike and the Jeep and how we are getting along better. I tell him about practicing and getting better with my magick. Jeb tells him about going to movies and working at the diner.

"I'm glad that you two are getting along and that things are going well here."

"Dinner!" Mom calls from the kitchen.

Mom and Pops made fried chicken for dinner and we all ate our fill. We talked for a while longer before I decided to go to bed. I climb the stairs to my room and change into my favorite flannel pj's. As I crawl into bed I can hear arguing coming form the living room.

"…I can't believe this! You are so full of it! You're warning me off? Oh but of course I forgot the great Wyatt Cain knows what's best for everyone!"

"Hey, I may have missed out on a lot of your life but I am still your father, damn it and you will not talk to me like that!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Both of you need to shut up. Voices carry in this old house something fierce. I wouldn't be surprised if DG heard everything the two of you have said down here," Popsicle to the rescue.

I sit on my bed trying to figure what they were arguing about, and that leads me to try to process the fact that Jeb Cain might have feelings for me. What am I supposed to do?