(A/N: I've hit a slight dry spell with TNAOSH, so I'm just gonna focus on this for a little while. Please Read & Review.)
The next morning, several trucks arrived at the Independence Inn with boxes of test tubes, chemicals, computers, and books on nuclear physics and radiology. Michel spent 30 minutes trying to convince them to go away before Lorelai stepped in and made him sign for the stuff.
"What is all of this, anyway?" asked Michel.
"It's David's stuff," said Lorelai, "he's moving it into the potting shed so he can do his experiments in a quasi-out of town location."
"But what about the filthy little man already there?"
"Rune moved out last night," said Lorelai, making no attempt to disguise her glee, "And David's paying us a month's rent in advance."
"This is a hotel, Lorelai," said Michel, glaring, "Not an apartment complex. Besides, there is something very strange about a man who only pays in cash – "
"Michel," said Lorelai, now serious, "When Mia isn't here, I am her proxy, not you. I will run this inn however I see fit, and as long as it's profitable, you have a job."
Michel took the hint, but muttered under his breath, "Ceux qui rient le vendredi, pleureront le dimanche."
That night, Dean and Rory lay on the hood of the car Dean had built for her, staring at the stars. The radio played Tim McGraw by Taylor Swift.
"I've never really done this before," said Dean, his voice uncommonly philosophical, "It's nice."
"You see that constellation?" said Rory, pointing, "That's Orion, the hunter. And over there, that's Sagittarius." Dean was too busy staring at Rory. Of course, Rory, being the astute young woman that she was, noticed.
"Dean, what's with you tonight?" she asked in a giggly way.
"You look so beautiful in the moonlight," he replied distantly, "I mean, you're always beautiful, but this is about the prettiest I've ever seen you."
"Ah, you're so sweet," she said, kissing him, "I think this is the best date we've ever been on."
"It may be the only date we can go on for a while," Dean replied quietly, turning his head away from her.
"Why?"
"Taylor's threatening to fire me. Doose's has been broken into twice, with no sign of forced entry. Since he and I have the only keys, he thinks I've been robbing him."
"Dean, that's awful," said Rory, putting her arms around him.
"And God forbid he should consider that his key was stolen and isn't 'lost,'" said Dean bitterly, "I break my back working for him, and he doesn't even have the decency to trust me."
"That's just Taylor," said Rory, "Ultimately, he doesn't trust anyone but Taylor."
Dean turned back to Rory and smiled. "You're a great girlfriend, Rory."
"You are correct," she said, laying her head on his chest.
David carefully went over his equipment, making sure that nothing was damaged or out of place. Once he was satisfied, he went over to his tape-recorder and hit the little red button.
"January 17," he said, speaking loudly enough to be heard by the microphone, "It remains to be seen if I have made a wise choice in coming to this small Connecticut town. While the particular area bears no real scrutiny, the inhabitants seem to be very gossipy, even meddling. Fortunately, the town does not receive the National Register, and it is unlikely that the Hulk will be known here. The equipment I was able to purchase has arrived. My search continues for the serum, henceforth referred to as 'Hulkbuster,' which will end my transformations into the creature. Entry to be continued." He stopped when he heard someone knocking on the shed door.
"David?" said Sookie, poking her head in, "You've been in here almost all day. You should come inside and have some dinner. There's curried chicken, rice, fettuccine alfredo, and cheese soufflé for dessert."
"Uh, I'll be there in just a few minutes, Sookie," said David, "I have to finish a few things here."
"Okay," she said, closing the door. David breathed a sigh of relief and reactivated his tape-recorder.
"Dr. Jeffrey Clive's notes for the creation of Hulkbuster were destroyed in the early 1950's, leaving me nothing other than a vague reference to pineal extract and a type of anabolic reaction caused by gamma ray exposure. With luck, my experimentation with radioactivity-reducing elements and improvements upon my prolixin/amino compound will yield success. Entry concluded."
David shut off the recorder and went to the inn to grab a bite. A few hours and an exceedingly good dinner later, he went to his room on the third floor to prepare for bed. As he shaved, he realized that he had a few gray hairs.
After all this time, he thought to himself, I've finally begun to show my age. Though he appeared to be a fit man in his late 30's, David was much older, approaching his late 70's. He'd realized about 25 years ago that he had the Hulk's regenerative powers to thank for that. Every time he transformed, the Hulk's accelerated healing would partially undo the gradual cellular damage that came with aging.
"But at what cost?" said David to himself, "32 years of my life wasted; widowed twice; not being able to attend my own father's funeral; living with the fear of discovery by that rat bastard, Jack McGee?!"
David realized that his heart-rate was beginning to escalate, and took several deep, steadying breaths to calm himself down. He switched off the lights and flopped down upon the bed, hoping that the nightmares would not come.
(A/N: Still a little slow, but it'll pick up. Please Review.)
TO BE CONTINUED.
