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 3
Rydell California June 1968
I woke with a start when there was a knock on my bedroom door. I sat up and looked over at my alarm clock on the bedside table next to the half empty bottle of beer. It read 6:23 P.M.
"Michael." I heard Sam say from the other side of the door.
"Yeah Sam." I answered swinging my legs over the side of the bed.
"Mom said to tell you dinners will be ready soon." Sam said from the other side of the door.
"I'll be down in a minute or two" I said grabbing my boots and pulling them on. I heard Sam's footsteps as he headed down the hall towards the stairs.
I stood up from my bed. I gritted my teeth as pain shot through my right leg. I limped out of my room closing the door behind me. And headed towards the stairs.
Eleanor 'Ellie' Kathleen Josephine Carrington glanced up as from setting the table with her younger brother Sam. Her father was in the living room with a glass of whiskey as per usual. Ellie nearly dropped the plate she had in her hand when she saw her older brother Michael for the first time in six years.
She noticed he was limping on his right side. Sam glanced at Michael briefly before caring on setting the table for dinner.
"Do you guys need a hand setting the table" I asked looking from Ellie back to Sam.
"Yeah you could make yourself useful. And give us a hand." Ellie said.
"All you had to do was ask Shortass" I said ruffling Ellie's hair.
"What did I tell you about calling me that" Ellie said before punching me in the arm. I halfheartedly and jokingly shoved her a little.
"Are you three setting the table or are you to busy fooling around to do it." Our bastard father growled at us as he walked through into the kitchen. I glared after him. There had been a reason I had left home and not come home for six years.
We finished setting table just as Mom brought dinner in from the kitchen. We all took our seats. Our loving father sat at the head of the table. Mom sat on his right, Sam to his left. Ellie sat next to Mom across from me.
We ate dinner in mostly silence. You could cut the tension in the room with a knife or maybe a meat cleaver to be more precise. Sam was pushing his peas around on his plate with his fork.
"Sam don't play with your food" Mom said scolding him slightly.
"I'm not playing with my food. I'm just not really hungry Mom." Sam said not really looking up from his plate.
"Ok. Just eat what you can" Mom said. My right leg was aching badly. I pushed my chair back.
"Anybody want anything from the kitchen" I asked as I stood up.
"No thank you dear" Mom said. Ellie and Sam said nothing. 'Dad' said nothing and took a sip from maybe his second whiskey that night.
I limped into the kitchen to escape the choking kind of tension at the dinner table. I grabbed a drink of water from the tap. I limped back into the dinning room. I sat back down at the table.
The phone ringing from the hallway broke the silence that had fallen back over the dinner table. I stood up and limped towards the door seeing as I was closer.
"Carrington Residence" I said picking up the receiver after making it to the phone.
"Ah is Ellie there" I heard a male voice on the other end of the line.
"Yeah she's here. May I ask who's calling" I asked.
"Its David" The guy David said from his end of line. He sounded nervous about something.
"Just hang on a sec. I'll go get her for yea." I said laying the receiver down on the side table.
I limped back towards the dinning room. I passed my father in the living room. Sam, Ellie and Mom where clearing the table when I limped in.
"Who was that on the phone Michael." Mom asked
"Somebody called David for Ellie." I said as I grabbed a few things to take back into the kitchen. Ellie handed the plates in her hands to Sam before scurrying off to the phone for some reason. Mom headed towards the living room.
"Who's David by the way" I asked as me and Sam came into the kitchen.
"Ellie's boyfriend." Sam answered as he set the dishes on the sink.
"Ah. That explains it then" I said chuckling to self quietly.
"Explains what" Sam asked.
"He was nervous when I asked who he was. And Ellie rushing off to phone." I said putting the plug in the drain.
"She'll be on the phone for a while then" Sam said grabbing a tea towel.
"You like this David guy" I asked as I washed one plate and handed it to Sam to dry.
"He's ok I guess." Sam said half halfheartedly. I didn't press him further on it
We continued to do the dishes in relative silence. I handed Sam the last item to dry. I pulled the plug from the drain and let the water drain. I wiped my hands dry on a tea towel.
After we finished putting the dishes away. I grabbed a six pack from the fridge and headed towards the front porch. Sam headed towards the stairs and possible his room. I passed Ellie in the hallway still on the phone to her boyfriend. I set the six pack on steps beside me as I sat down on the steps of the front porch.
I cracked the top off the first beer and sat it on the step. I grabbed my lighter and pack of cigarettes.
"You do know those things are going to kill you" I heard Ellie say from behind me as I lit my cigarette. I hadn't heard the front door and screen door open nor close.
"So they say" I said taking a drag from my cigarette. I took a sip of my beer and set it down beside me.
Ellie glanced over at Michael as they sat in silence on the front porch steps. He seemed so different from the Michael she remembered before he had left for Basic Training. Though it had been six years since they had seen each other before today.
I took another sip of my half empty beer. My leg was started to ache. I stretched out my right leg to help dull the pain.
"What happened to your leg" Ellie asked before grabbing an unopened beer from the opened six pack sitting in between us.
"Shrapnel from an Artillery Shell got me in my right leg and lower abdomen" I half muttered under my breath.
"Ellie, Michael. What are you doing out there" I turned around to see Mom standing at the front door.
"Just talking Ma. I'm going to head off to bed anyway." I said standing up. I bent down and picked up what was left of the six pack.
"It's just after seven. What's it past your bedtime old man" Ellie sassed as she stood up next to me.
"I have work in morning Eleanor" I said grabbing the unopened beer bottle from her hands.
"Don't call me Eleanor. Michael Jonathan" Ellie said punching me in the arm for good measure.
"Well don't use my full name Eleanor Katherine Josephine" I said before heading back inside. "Night Ma." I said kissing her on the cheek. I made a detour at the kitchen to put the beer back in the fridge.
I limped up the stairs and headed towards my room. I glanced at the medals that sat on top the dresser. I limped over to the dresser. I picked up the row of medals.
There was a knock on my bedroom door.
"It's open" I said placing the medals back on the dresser. I glanced over my shoulder as the door opened and my mom stepped into the room.
"Are you alright Michael. You where pretty quite at dinner." My mom asked concerned as to why I had been quite at dinner.
"I'm fine Mom. It's just going to take me sometime to readjust back to civilian life "I said turning around to face her and leaning back against the dresser.
"I'd better let you go to bed. You've got work in the morning. Good night Michael" Mom said before she left my room.
"Night Ma" I said as the door shut. I toed off my boots and got changed for bed.
I slept fitfully that night. I woke up in a cold sweat two or three times from nightmares of Vietnam. I had been staring up at the ceiling for the past hour. I glanced at the clock on my bed side table it read 4.34 a.m.
I pushed back the covers. I swung my legs over the side of the bed. I stood up and limped across the room and headed out the door towards the bathroom.
Half and Hour later I limped down the stairs. Nobody was awake that I knew of. I headed towards the kitchen. I fixed myself some breakfast and cup of coffee before I headed off to work.
It was quarter to six when I pulled up at Jake's. The garage didn't open from another twenty minutes. I pulled off my sunglasses and put them in the front pocket of my shirt. I pulled my helmet off and set it on the handlebars of my motorcycle.
I limped over to the office of the garage. I opened the door to the office Mr Zinone looked up from a desk full of paper work as I limped inside.
"You'll be needing these" Mr Zinone said throwing a pair of coveralls at me. I caught them.
"Thanks" I said before going to change. Five minutes I limped back over side door to the office.
Davey was standing with a couple other mechanics. One I recognised as the youngest Zinone Josh. The other two I didn't know.
"Right seeing as we're all here now. This is Michael Carrington. He'll be working here now. Davey you, Michael and Josh have got the Plymouth, Buick and Dodge to do. Greg and Jesse you've got Old man Jackson's Ford and Mrs Finch Studebaker" Mr Zinone said laying out who was doing what today.
"Hey Shakespeare you want to give me a hand with the Plymouth "Davey asked walking over to what by the looks of it was a 1966 Plymouth Satellite.
"Yeah no problem" I replied limping over to the Plymouth. I could feel someone's eyes watching me from behind. I glanced over my shoulder at the other mechanics Greg and Jesse.
"So what needs doing to the Plymouth" I asked Davey.
"Filters and Oil Change" Davey Replied
The day passed slowly. The five of us got through a number of cars. Jesse seemed to have attitude problem or it could just have been me he had a problem with. Greg was ok to a point.
I slide out from under the Chrysler New Yorker Davey and I where working on. I wiped my oil stained hands on a rag. Josh was dealing with a customer out near the pumps checking their oil or cleaning the windscreen. Jesse and Greg where working another couple of cars.
My leg seemed to be giving me less trouble today then it had yesterday. I glanced at my watch. It was just after four knock off wasn't for a few more hours.
"Hey Michael could you grab a 9/16th wrench for me" Davey asked from under the hood of the Chrysler.
"Yeah no worries." I limped over to toolboxes. I rummaged around the toolbox for a couple minutes before I found said wrench. I limped back over Chrysler.
"Here" I said passing the wrench to Davey.
"Thanks" Davey said after I passed the wrench to him.
"Who the fuck has been messing around in my tool box" I heard Jesse one of the other mechanics swear not five minutes later.
"Keep your hair on Wilkinson. It not ever your toolbox. I don't see your name written on it." Josh pipped up from the under the hood of the Pontiac he was working on.
"Did I ask you option Josh. I didn't think so" He growled at Josh. He's friend Greg rolled his eyes and went back to doing the oil change on a Chevrolet El Camino.
"He always a loose cannon like that" I asked turning to Davey.
"Yea. He looses his shit at pretty much everything." Davey commented losing some more bolts. I shook my head.
"Would you just let it go Jesse. So someone was rummaging around in the toolbox and messed it up a little who cares." Greg said from underneath the El Camino.
"I care alright. I had the dame thing in an order for a reason. I bet it was that dame leatherneck Carrington." Jesse muttered darkly under breath.
"What's your problem with Michael anyway Wilkinson. He hasn't done anything to you. He said what maybe half a dozen words to any of us today." Josh commented from where he was working.
"Nobody asked your option Zinone" Jesse snarled back at him.
"He's right Jess. You've had a chip on your shoulder about him all day. Just let it go already" His friend Greg advised.
"Stay out of this Greg." Jesse snapped at him.
"What the hell is your problem with me Jesse. I've done nothing to you." I asked throwing the rag on a 44 gallon drum.
"Your a fucking baby killer" He snarled at me. It wasn't the first time I had heard that term.
"Like you've ever seen combat Jesse. You don't know shit about me or what I saw over in Nam."I snarled back at him.
"Like I'd even care" He Snipped at me.
"Maybe you should think before you shoot your mouth off" I reminded Jesse. He lunged for me Josh and Greg held him back. The side door to the office opened Mr Zinone stepped out
"What's going on here" Mr Zinone asked looking at us for an answered
"Just a miss understanding boss" Davey said from beside me.
"If you two want to go ten rounds with each other. Do it on your own time. Not mine." Mr Zinone said before heading back inside.
Jesse continued to glare at me. I ignored the daggers he was sending my way and went back to work.
"You know he's going to try and cause you more trouble now Mike" Davey stated before turning his attention back to the Chrysler.
"Don't worry about it Davey I can handle my self" I said. If came down to a fight I could drop with one or two punches.
"I know. Just be careful alright"
The rest of work day was uneventful. Jesse kept well away from me and I did the same thing. We all knock off about six.
It was just on six thirty when I pulled into the driveway at home. An unfamiliar car was parked in the street out the front. I cut the engine to my motorcycle and put the kickstand out. I was just unstrapping my helmet when a car pulled up. It was just Ellie.
I limped to the back porch. The smell of whatever was for dinner caught my attention as I walked/limped into the kitchen.
"Michael Jonthan Carrington" I looked up at the sound of my name. I turned to see my Aunt Edna Olsen standing next to my mom. I hadn't seen her in six years.
"Hey Aunt Edna" I said limping over to hug her. She was a little taller then Mom but not by much. I was still more then half a foot taller then her.
"I'm glad your back in one piece Michael" Aunt Edna said as I released her.
"Almost one piece "I said under my breath." Is Uncle Jack here" I asked just as my Uncle walked into the kitchen from the dinning room.
"Lillian I swear. I don't know how in good heaven you stay married to that man" Uncle Jack said not noticing I was in the room.
"I wondered the same thing too Uncle Jack" I said announcing my presence to him.
"Michael. Welcome home son." Uncle Jack said extending his hand to me to shake. Uncle Jack had been more of a father to me then my own father.
"Its good to be back. So anyone else here I haven't seen yet" I asked after shaking Uncle Jack's hand.
"Sandy and Danny are joining us for dinner." Mom said answering my question." And you should most likely get cleaned up for dinner. "She said eyeing my grease and oil stained cloths.
Sandy Olsen-Zuko wasn't looking forward to dinner with her Aunt Lillian and Uncle Thomas Carrington all that much. Sandy loved her Aunt Lillian dearly as she did her cousins Michael, Ellie and Sam. She didn't have much time for her Uncle Thomas, she tolerated him to a point but that was as far as it went.
"At least your Mom and Dad will be there" Danny pointed as he parked the car out the front of the Carrington household.
"I can understand why Michael left and hasn't come back. The way he treats Aunt Lillian" Sandy commented to Danny as she got out of the car.
"I remember after Matthew died. He treated Mike like he was to blame for Matthew dying." Danny replied as they walked up to the front door.
Danny knocked on the front door. A few minutes later the door opened. It was Ellie Carrington who answered the door.
"Mom. Sandy and Danny are here" Ellie yelled through to the kitchen as she let them in.
"Ok. Can you go and get your brothers and tell them to set the table." Aunt Lillian called from the kitchen.
"Ok Mom" Ellie answered before heading towards the stair case.
I was pulling on a shirt when there was a knock at my bedroom door.
"What" I said mufflingly from beneath the shirt I was pulling on.
"Mom said for you and Sam to set the table for dinner. Sandy and Danny are here too" Ellie said before moving way from the door.
I finished getting dressed and headed downstairs to set the table. Things seemed to be less awkward between Sam, Ellie and me today. I thought to my self as I limped towards the dinning room.
Sandy and Danny where helping Sam to set the table when the door to the dinning room opened from the living room. Sandy nearly dropped the plate in her hand when she saw Michael.
"Mickey. It's good too see you back" Danny said he moved over to shake my hand.
"It's good to see you to Danny. Sandy your going to catch flies "I said after shaking Danny's hand.
"I see nothing changed Michael your still a smart ass. It's good to see you cousin" Sandy said as she came over to hug me.
"You as well" I said hugging her back.
A few minutes later Mom called to day dinner was ready. It was going to be another interesting family dinner to say the least. There was a good thing to come out of the night. I got to catch up with my cousin as well as my Aunt and Uncle.
