Yay, chapter two finally! I hope I don't disappoint!

OnigiriBob: Thanks for being my first and only reviewer, you truly showed me I should continue with this wacky idea. I'm glad you enjoyed chapter one and I hope You'll be pleased with this one as well. (:

Rick Crack Fic

Chapter 2

The next few days it was like Jack was on cloud nine. His lips turned in a grin from ear to ear in a smile that seemed wouldn't ever leave. Its funny how one word can make your whole life so pleasant, that word in Jack's case would be yes.

The wedding scheduled for less than a season away and it would be silly to not think the giddy couples weren't overjoyed. Ellen was already working out dress sketches and Siabara working on their rings. (Which was costing Jack a fortune, and even that couldn't waver his smile.)

Karen of course took all credit for the 'accomplishment' and was already bombarding Elli's house hold with wedding plans.

When the sun crept up in the spring morning Jack felt as if his life couldn't be more perfect. Eating up his early breakfast and feeding Braxton his little pug he flipped on the news channel for the proceeding day's weather. Itching for the summer days forecast of his betrothal. He hoped it would be sunny, they were thinking about the top of mother's hill for the ceremony the flower fields below for dinner. He'd have to talk to Ann about catering.

"A cold front seems to be creeping up on us," the cherry weather woman spoke her hands coming over the map. "This cloudy morning will serve as enough proof rain is on its way. And it might be staying for a while too-"Jack clicked it to a new show.

Many times people could be put down by such news of a rainy day, but being on a farm having crops he was overjoyed at the idea. It was one less bothersome chore to do and with the upcoming preparations he was going to need that spare time.

Finishing up his cereal almost on cue a loud knock sounded on the door. He wasn't expecting anyone, but then again the past few day's people had been coming over to congratulate him and Elli all the time.

He set the empty bowl down on the top of his television out of Braxton's reach and shuffled over to the door cocking his head at the rather un-joyed visitor at his door.

"Morning Jack," Carter said his eyes searching behind the farmer to the unkept quarters making Jack nervously step outside closing the door.

"Hey Pastor Carter," Jack smiled. "I was hoping to visit you today and talk more about the plans see-" the look on Carters face made Jack stop. "Something wrong?" he asked.

Carter merely nodded his arm going down to point at a little red wheel barrow on the ground beside him. As Jack's eyes followed slowly and unsurely he flinched to see the little bundle packed in the wagon, the small lifeless body of his dearest and first chicken: Clucky…

"How'd-"Jack had started to form the question when Carter shook his head.

"It seems he's gone to the Goddess Jack, his fodder will be with her now…" Carter slowly leaned over and picked up the little handle dragging the wagon to the entrance. "Come we must prepare a burial."

It took Jack a little bit to move after that. Not one of his pets had ever died before; he kept them healthy, fed them well. He'd even bought Clucky the first day he'd cleared out the coop down at the edge of the farm.

But besides all utter confusion as to how the chicken died he was even more confused at why the pastor had known the chicken died. And his confusion didn't end there. Not two steps out of the farm Rick came bustling down the cobbled path his glasses a skew his hair sticking out from each direction.

"I came as soon as I heard," he gasped. "Oh premature death, why do you bring this upon us Goddess?" his voice cracked making Jack want to point out the chicken was his. He even debated telling the two he knew the chicken had been healthy and not diseased; why not fry it up for dinner?

Knowing that reaction wouldn't go over well though Jack stayed quiet, and a few steps back as the two men pulled his Clucky's body down the road.

"Was he sick Jack?" Rick inquired his voice quiet as he dropped back to walk next to him. It was as if it was his own mother in the little red wagon not the neighboring farms chicken.

"No…" Jack responded still trying to rather himself.

"Did you feed him well?"

"Yes Rick, I've had him for three years possibly old age?" Jack suggested though Rick didn't like the suggestion he crossed his hands over his chest and sped up to Carter and seemed to be whispering soothing words to the heap of feathers below.

If Jack thought the walk to the church was bad enough the funeral was worse. Carter carefully lowered Clucky into a little chicken sized coffin that had the word Clucky engraved in gold at the top and put him in a pre-dug hole in the ground; Rick's eyes watered.

"Here we put to rest a noble chicken," Carter spoke as he stood above a marble tomb stone which Jack read in disbelief:

Here lies young Clucky,

Forcibly pulled from this wonderful world before his time.

Let his soul rest with the Harvest Goddess, may she bless him with all the things his Master could not.

Rest In Peace.

"Do you have something to say?" Carter asked Jack but before he could even fathom what he would say to the dead animal, Rick broke out in sob throwing flowers Jack hadn't realized he had before into the grave. As if on cue the rain had started to drizzle around them, as well.

"Clucky... Was a g-good-"his tears swallowed him as his knees buckled underneath him looking into the hole in despair. He mumbled a lot of words that Jack couldn't understand between the cries but the last few sounded something like 'Rest well old friend…'

"Jack?" Carter asked both heads turning expectantly at the farmer.

"Uh ditto…" he mumbled his eyes wide.

The other men didn't seem to take his words well, and when he and Rick left the little grave yard Jack found it was hard to think as Rick patronized him as they walked.

"You're so insensitive, that chicken gave you the best of its life! It brought you income, meals, baby chickens and all you say is ditto?" he gasped the word like it was the biggest baldest curse in the world.

"It's just a chicken…" Jack whispered under his breath.

"Clucky didn't deserve an owner like you!" Rick growled and Jack found himself growing more and more uncomfortable with the situation.

"Listen Rick don't you think you're a little too-"Jack started but his words word cut off at the fast growing pain in his lower jaw. Rick had hit him.

* * * * * *

"Oo," Jack gasped as his fiancé cleaned his wound.

"Are you okay?" she asked her hand pulling away when he winced.

"I'm fine."

"What that man thought he was doing," she shook her head. Elli to say the least was not happy when she opened the Clinic doors to see her future husband get socked by Rick and hadn't be any happier with the explanation he gave either.

"Honestly over a chicken?" she was muttering. Not many things got Elli ticked, but many things did get her stressed and when she was around someone she was so comfortable with… well many times her thoughts would come out mutterings under her breath. Such as for example… now.

"It's honestly not that bad," Jack gently pushed her away hopping off the little hospital bed. "Don't go worrying about me now alright?" he asked scuffling her hair.

"Alright," she smiled timidly.

"Good girl," he chuckled swiping his lips over her forehead. "Now those unexpected morning plans put me a little of schedule, I should be off."

She nodded, "no more chicken deaths please," she told him and he merely laughed.

"Promise," he told her and with that he hustled out of the little doctor's office. His good spirits though he would find wouldn't stay so high once he returned to his farm...

Not to bad, I hope. Please review and tell me what you think!! ^^