If Ricks Did Love

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. It means a lot that everyone's enjoying the story so far. This chapter is a bit angsty. But you'll love the interactions. Well, here we go.

She felt his fingers dig into her cheek, the four blackened ovals that would remain and discolor her skin long after the blood had dried from her veins. The scream was stifled. She could hear him panting, the pleasure in his breath, like an animal in heat. He was not stealing but rather claiming what was to be rightfully his. He did not speak, no need to tell her not to fight, to make a sound. His fingers did all the work. Cling, hook, crush, threaten to unhinge her very jaw if another sound were to leave her lips. That was how she was to remain. Silent. Taken. Silent. Raped. Silent. Die. Silent.

His coarse tongue licked at her skin, stubby fingers curled in her hair.

Call it luck. Call it a spur of the moment, but licking was all he could do. Summer had gotten out of Mr. Jellybean's grip, bashed him up and ran.

When she'd gotten back to Rick, she was shaky and afraid. She wanted to say something….to anyone.

She wanted to tell Rick what happened, but she was ashamed.

She wanted to tell the owners of this establishment that not making gender separate bathrooms was stupid.

"Summer. Y-you know, I'm actually having some fun here. Sorry for being a dick earlier."

A door opened behind them and Summer tucked her head under Rick's arm, her quiet sobs muffled and her tears wetting his shirt.

"I don't care about losing the bet, Grandpa Rick. I just wanna go home. Take me home...please."

Her pleas were ignored as Rick's eyes narrowed at the jellybean that limped from the bathroom.

When Summer cried there was a rawness to it, like the pain was still an open wound. He grabbed hold of her shoulders and pushed her back. "Hey calm down. We'll go now, if that's what you want. But it's no failure, okay?"

"Yes." She had whispered.

She didn't expect to see him again. She didn't suspect him to be a king. When King Jellybean, busted and bruised, was being carried on his throne, Summer grabbed hold of Rick, telling him that she just wanted to leave.

But Rick raised a gun, shooting King Jellybean right in his head.

They did not speak as they returned home. Summer just wanted to curl up in a ball and die. She wanted out once again.

When they ended up in the garage, she still did not open her mouth. Morty came in with a big smile, wanting to tell her all about his date with Jessica that Mr. Meeseeks had created, but she stormed pass, going into the bathroom.

The boys face formed a sad frown. "What happened?"

Rick shook his head. "Nothing. Just get to bed, Morty."

He waited a while to barge into the bathroom. Summer would first contemplate the day's events. She would self deprecate and then she would pick up the razor.

That was Rick's time to intervene. He unlocked the door on his own and his granddaughter stared startled, razor barely an inch away from her wrist.

He sighed, running a palm over his temple. "Don't do it, Summer. Just don't fucking do it."

She dropped the razor and groaned, more out of frustration and self-pity than anything. "I'm sorry." She cried. She was sorry for being weak. Sorry she let it happen. Sorry she was crying, because if anything. Summer didn't fucking cry before people. "I...I...I…."

Rick moved forward, hugging the girl close. She sobbed into his chest unceasingly, hands clutching at his white jacket. He held her in silence, rocking her slowly as her tears soaked his chest. A tiny lapse let her pull away, blinking lashes heavy with tears, before she collapsed again, her howls of misery worsening. The pain must have come in waves, minutes of sobbing broken apart by short pauses for recovering breaths, before hurling her back into the outstretched arms of his grief.

Summer had fallen asleep against him, wet tears upon her face. It was Rick who put her to bed, but Morty crawled up beside her, placing his forehead on hers. He would protect his sister.

When she arose the next morning, it wasn't pleasant. Waking up hadn't been a pleasure for a long time. There was a fleeting moment when Summer was whole again, but it evaporated faster than fall rain off the burnt earth.

Her eyelids were drooping, then the adventure from yesterday came into mind.

Her lids that were drooping and leaden with sleep snapped open as violently as if she'd been woken by sirens wailing.

She wanted to run out of her skin. She felt disgusting and dirty and deserving of everything that happened to her in this life.

Looking around the room, her eyes stopped on a curly head of brown hair. Morty lay in his pajamas, snuggled against her side, but drooling on her cover.

As she shifted, he snuggled closer, a snore escaping his mouth. "I love you, Summer." his barely audible comment made her shudder and she blinked her tears away.

Of course yesterday was traumatizing. Of course it would take some weeks to get over it, but Summer didn't deny the fact that she gave king Jellybean a run for his money. She kicked his ass. And she was stronger than that. If she could live through depression, she could live through this.

She would be strong and happy for Morty because despite everything, he needed her too. If Summer fell victim to her own problems, Morty would become dangerously aware of his parent's lack of love and attention.

She yawned, supposing that she and Morty could just take the day off and rest. "Love you too."

Darkness clouded her vision and she slept.

Rick somehow knew Summer wouldn't be up for an adventure. So he stayed in the garage all day, working working working on something that would make him feel better about himself.

"You know….destroying Mr. Jellybeans village isn't going to help."

The older man turned, finding Morty in the doorway, with a sympathetic look upon his face. And suddenly, he regretted telling the boy about the events he was sure nearly happened.

Rick looked back to his work. "You know, since you're a lot like your father, I don't expect you to understand anything. Why aren't you in school, Morty?"

"Summer asked me to stay home for the day."

There was a stillness that followed after. Rick stayed still. Morty stayed still. It was the kind of stillness that even a feather would fall without drifting one way or the other. The air was straight and silent, the dust dangled more as if it had been painted there. Should Morty be able to feel the beating of his lashes - that would have been the only breeze. It was still, utterly still.

And the stillness, Rick's stillness, frightened Morty. Perhaps it is the sunlight peeking in making his grandfather's skin so pale, or the lack of wind letting every hair hang without movement, Morty wasn't sure. Rick didn't even blink, just kept his eyes on the device as if it whispered secrets to him.

Eventually, Morty's eyes widened in realization and he smiled sadly at the ground.

"Uh...yeah. She's fine...if that's what you were wondering."

The moment unstiffened Rick and he continued working.

"Y-you know my sister's always going to be okay, Rick. She always is. She's just sad sometimes."

I know. And she has the bruises to prove it, Rick wanted to say, but he stayed silent.

"But she stays strong. She doesn't like crying because she thinks it's weak."

She's tough. I know that.

"She has a weird philosophy of life. Kind of like that chick from that movie. She could die at any moment, but the tragedy, she says, is that she doesn't."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because I…. I don't want her to get hurt. And I don't want anyone to damage her anymore than she already is. So, Rick don't hurt her."

Rick stood then. He and Morty stared at one another for some time.

"What do you think I came back for?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. So what else did you come in here for?"

Morty fumbled with his hands a little. "I was wondering if you could...you know you go on so many adventures with Summer and…"

Rick rolled his eyes. "Spit it out, Morty."

"Could you make something for Jessica to like me?"

"Like what?"

"There's our annual flu season dance tonight. I don't need to go to school, but I can still go. Could you please make a potion so she'll fall in love with me?"

Rick held in his snort because Summer was right. Morty, in some dumb fucking way, was disgustingly adorable.

So disgustingly adorable that maybe the world didn't deserve him.

But he held it in because fuck that, Ricks didn't do 'adorable.' It was almost forbidden as it was stupid.

"Listen, Morty." He touched the fourteen year old's shoulder. "I hate break it to you, but, what people call 'love' is just a chemical reaction that compels animals to breed. It hits hard, Morty, then it slowly fades, leaving you stranded in a failing marriage. I did it. Your parents are gonna do it. Break the cycle, Morty. Rise above. Focus on science. Like your sister."

Jerry had stopped by the door some point between failed marriage and science. "A what now? What's all this about science?"

Morty bit his lip, seemingly embarrassed. "I'm trying to get Jessica to love me instead of this cool guy named Brad."

Jerry stepped further into the garage and Rick wanted to pull his hair out. Couldn't they see that he was busy? He was trying to save Summer.

"Well, try not to worry about it, Morty. You're a good kid and there's not a premium on that right now, but you'll be getting girls sometime after Brad's out of shape."

Morty groaned, somehow wishing that Summer was alright so she could give advice. "You're missing the point, dad. I don't want girls. I want Jessica."

"Ah, well, I remember feeling that way about a young lady named 'Your Mom' and that's not an urban diss. Your mom was my Jessica. I remember the first time I saw her. I thought-"

"I should get her pregnant and then she'll have to marry me." Rick interrupted. And then make the baby feel like everything is it's fault, he added silently, bitterly.

Jerry's mouth gaped. "I beg your pardon, Rick. Inappropriate."

"Sorry, please proceed with your story about banging my daughter in high school."

Jerry grew a vibrant red, muttered something along the lines of 'follow your heart' and ushered himself out.

Morty turned back to Rick, staring hopeful. Rick sighed, rubbing his temple. "Ugh, fine. I'll have something ready by the time you go to the dance tonight."

"However," he began as Morty's eyes smiled for him. "I need you to do something for me. Get a strand of Summer's hair for me."

Once he'd actually gotten an orange strand, he pushed Morty out, opting to glare at his newly created device: the memory portal gun.

He didn't know if he should actually use it. If he did, he'd be angry. If he didn't, it would plague him forever.

Destroying Mr. Jellybeans village isn't going to help.

Morty's words hung in the air like wind and Rick sneered. Of course it wouldn't help. But if he saw, he'd know how to help her.

Placing the strand of hair within a small latch on the gun, and shooting before him, he waited patiently for something to pop up on the screen. Eventually, a robotic voice spoke and Summer's photo appeared.

"Summer Smith; earth dimension C-137; age 17; status alive. Finding Summer's memories for…."

"Yesterday evening." Rick spoke clearly.

"Okay. Finding Summer's memories for yesterday evening."

A few images scanned through. Like Summer waking up and giving Morty some extra cash for school. Then her and Rick's silly argument about their adventures. Dale, the giant. And eventually the restaurant/bar they ended up in.

Summer had been washing her hands in the bar's gender neutral bathroom. When a seemingly nice Jellybean began asking about her crazy day.

Summer gave him the smallest ounce of trust and that had placed her in a fight for her life. Rick grimaced when he watched King Jellybean slightly grind against her and lick her face. Eventually, Summer had gained the upper hand and punched him a few times. Then slammed his head between the toilet seat.

Rick took out the strand from the gun and hissed, placing it within his pocket.

So maybe he wouldn't destroy King Jellybean's village. Because maybe they knew nothing of his shitty actions.

But fuck that, Rick would find something else. If he had to defy all logic and bring the bastard back to life, he would damnit. He'd do it and he'd give him a more deserving death.

Because nobody fucked with his grandkids. Not even their parents. Not while he was alive.

Rick left the garage, deciding he would go check on Summer.

When he got there, Summer wasn't laying down, surprisingly. She sat up on her bed, shaking her head at every outfit Morty showed her. Jerry stood there too, watching as she worked.

"You want to look presentable, Morty. Wearing a t-shirt and jeans isn't going to work for Jessica. This suit is perfect."

Jerry spoke up then. "What'll he be looking for when he wears that. The suit will definitely get him a kiss."

Summer rolled her eyes and turned to her father. "Dad. You don't love people in hopes of a reward. You love them unconditionally."

Rick smirked. "Ugh. Jerry. When did- when did this happen you know? Your kid- eurp-telling you off, huh? Well Summer, I'd know. She's a lot smarter than you."

Her eyes found Rick's and she smiled. "Good morning, grandpa Rick."

He raised his brows in surprise. "Morning. I think you mean evening, Summer. It's five pm."

He messed up her ponytail just a tad, making her laugh. "I must have been super sleepy. I slept the whole day."

Rick flopped on her bed with a huge sigh, laying down as he did. "What's all this about?"

"I'm trying to make Morty look presentable for later. The dance is in two hours."

Rick stood. "Two hours. Well I better get to work then."

"Alright, Morty. I just gotta- eurp- combine it with some of your DNA."

For a while, Morty stared confused before he unzipped his pants. "Oh, well, okay."

Rick rolled his eyes, something he seemed to be doing a lot with the boy. "I need a hair, Morty. I need one of your hairs. This isn't Game of Thrones."

Morty blushed deeply and then winced as he pulled a strand of curly hair from his head. He waited for some time until Rick was finished with the bottle.

"What is it?"

"It's a serum that has the genetic makeup of voles, a rodent that pair bonds with its mate for life. Use this and you'll get laid tonight."

Morty smiled big and wide. "Aw gee, thanks, Rick. But...is there anything that could go wrong with this serum?"

Rick had already began working again. "No...not really…..unless she has the flu." But Morty was already gone before he finished. And somehow, Rick supposed the boy scattered when he hear the first vibrations of the letter 'N.'

He shook his head and went back to work. So maybe he couldn't bring King Jellybean to life just to kill him. But that didn't stop Rick from going to every timeline, making sure the man's existence would be rare.

He'd kill King Jellybean before he even became a king. He'd kill him over and over. And if there was no king Jellybean, Rick would kill his parents. Just to make sure the creep would never exist.

He felt stupid and un-Rick-like. Because never had he felt this way about anyone. Never would he go this far for anyone. Not for Birdperdon, not for Scaunchy, not for anyone. It just wouldn't feel right.

Fuck...fuck...fuck. Ricks didn't do love, but if they did….

They would love Summer like she was the last of their kind. It would be as if she spoke the same language as them, yet no one else couldn't. To be around Summer would be like finally not being alone - as if all their lives, they'd been isolated, in a windowless and doorless room... and then suddenly Summer walked in as if strolling over a meadow. How was it that she was so much more than sunshine?

If Ricks did, they'd love Summer more than anything. Because the Rickest of them already did.

And he loved her so much, that he stayed where he was. In that garage, conspiring to ruin every King Jellybean in the multiverse.

The need for revenge was like a rat gnawing at his soul, relentless, unceasing, it could only be stopped by the cold steel of a rat trap, a trap he would devise himself. His need for revenge was like an abscess on the skin of the soul that could only be cured by the cruel sharp steel point of revenge. Festering like a septic wound, and the only effective antibiotic is cold hard revenge. Savage. Spiteful. A dish best served cold. Unforgiving. Rick would bare a grudge until he died or took revenge, whichever came first. Settling old scores. Brutal. Callous. Satisfying. Empty. Pointless. Excessive. Mean spirited. It appealed to his twisted and dark sense of humour.

The only thing that broke him from his thoughts was Summer's voice. Standing straight, the man moved to the living room, finding Jerry sitting worried and Summer curled up on the couch with a blanket, watching the nearly silent television.

Jerry groaned, the sound coming out as a bit whiney. "She's not responding to my texts."

"Careful, dad. Jealousy turns women off."

His dumb son in law looked up to Summer as if she were making it worse. "Well, isn't that convenient?"

Rick stepped in. "Not for the men they cheat on, no."

Summer shook her head, not really listening to the conversation. "God, grandpa, you're such a dick."

"Sorry, Summer, your opinion means very little to me."

Jerry groaned once more and stood. "I'm going to her job and I'm going to see why she's being called in so late."

With that, he marched out with a determined look. Rick stared after, but sighed, sitting next to Summer. "Your dumb dad's going to make a fool of himself."

"Hmm. Maybe."

She said tiredly. Rick sighed. "Summer…. I'm sorry."

She looked up then. "Huh?"

"It's not something I'd say often, so I'm not saying it again. I just want you to know that I'll be here when anyone hurts you. I'll be sure to take them out."

Summer regarded him for some time. Then she shrugged and snuggled back in the couch.

"Thank you." She whispered, probably trying to eliminate her memories. She laid her head on his shoulder, probably sleepy. "I'm sorry for trying to choose an adventure myself."

"Not your fault, Summer."

"When I want in that bathroom, grandpa Rick, I should have been cau-"

"Shut up." He interrupted. He meant it, but not rudely. And somehow, Summer got the point that he already knew.

"I'm not perfect. I know people say I'm smart and mom says I'm pretty, but sometimes I don't feel like it. I'm not perfect. But that's okay because you aren't either. Right, grandpa?"

Rick, despite his mood, laughed. "Hell no. I don't think that's real. I'm not perfect, but I'd follow you into hell if that's what it took to keep you safe."

She hummed and snuggled closer. As her consciousness ebbed, her mind went into free fall, swirling with the beautiful chaos of a new dream.

If Ricks did love, they would love this too. The way Summer fell asleep. Slowly, and then all at once.

Her philosophy of life is that she might die at any moment. The tragedy, she says, is that she didn't.

Rick sighed heavily and stared at the fading cuts on her arm. Then his eyes met the bruises on her face and chest, probably from her fight with King Jellybean. Cautiously, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled the teen closer. His beer ridden lips touched her forehead and remained until Rick spoke. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "I am, Summer."

Sorry for being such a dick and sorry for coming back too late. Some slashes on her arm must have been his doing too.

"I'm so sorry."

Someone banged on the patio glass not an hour later. His eyes were big and black and he seemed in love. It made Rick cringe. This was probably one of those creeps that had a crush on Summer at school. But the next words that left the teen's mouth made him shudder.

"Where's Morty?"

Rick hissed and stood fast. "Shit." And through all the banging and the curses, Summer did not move. She must have been very tired.

He watched her one last time before he scattered out the door. She would be alright. Summer knew how to hold her own. It was Morty that would worry him.

Rick sighed heavily as he watched the people hit against his cruiser, chants of Morty filling the spaces.

He wondered if Summer had woken up and realized that he'd left her. He wondered how many people were outside the house, trying to get in. He wondered if Summer hated him.

"Ugh...Morty…." he didn't finish. Wouldn't. But he felt so stupid. For being the smartest being in the universe, that was saying something.

"How are we going to fix it, Rick?"

"I don't know what I was thinking. Mantises are the opposite of voles? Obviously DNA is a bit more complicated than that. You know what, Morty? This right here is gunna do the trick, baby. It's koala, mixed with rattlesnake, chimpanzee, cactus, shark, golden retriever, and just a smidge of dinosaur. Should add up to normal humanity."

"I don't-That doesn't make any sense, Rick. How does that add up to a normal humanity?"

"What-What do you want me to show you my math? I'm sorry are you the scientist or are you the kid who wanted to get laid?"

Morty grew silent, watching as Rick worked diligently on his new invention. "Is...is Summer okay? Are my parents fine?"

Rick grit his teeth. "I don't know." He seemed to be saying that a lot around the Smith family.

Just as expected, Morty put his hands on his face. "Aww Geez. What are we going to do? I love my parents because they provide for me, but I- what if Summer- I can't think like this, Rick. I can't- Summer's all I have, Rick."

"Morty! Calm the fuck down. Let me think."

"Why'd you leave, Summer? I thought you loved her."

Again, there was that stillness. The air consumed all and the movement remained still. How was it that Morty could read him so well? That was Summer's job.

"Sorry, kid. Ricks don't do love. It's stupid. It gets in the way." He poured a few droplets of water into his new serum, smiling triumphantly. "There. This shit's done, so let's get this shit rolling. We gott- eurp- sprinkle this over the city, M-Morty."

They moved around the city, watching as everyone lost their mantis antennas.

"Well, what do we have here, Morty? Looks like I was right and you were wrong. Huh? I-I-I-I-bet you feel pretty stupid right about now. I bet you feel like the world's smallest man that you were doubting me…..about this whole thing, Morty."

"Oh, Rick. Something's not right." The boy muttered, staring horrified out the window.

"Yeah, you. You're not right ... ever."

"No! No! Look you idiot!"

Rick looked out the window, seeing that the citizens were now transforming into weird alien monsters "Bet your loving this, Morty. This must be the best day of your life. You get the be Mayor of I Told You Town."

"What are we gonna do? It's going to spread, Rick. It's going to go all over the world."

"I need out of this cruiser. I need space to think. I'll fly us to a tall roof and you can hyperventilate there."

Although there were odd monsters trying to get on the roof, that wasn't what worried him.

They'd sat on that roof for hours wondering if Summer, Beth, and Jerry were still alive. It was almost okay to say Beth and Jerry were gone, but neither man nor teen thought Summer would go out like this.

Morty groaned. "What are we going to do, Rick?"

He sighed heavily, but stood anyway. Summer wouldn't be turning up anytime soon. So it'd be best if they just found another dimension. Found a new Summer.

The man hopped into his cruiser, watching Morty do the same. "I guess we just-"

Suddenly, he was cut off by a series of gunshots, which were all fired in rapid succession.

"What the Rick?" He asked.

Jumping out of his cruiser, Rick looked down, watching as Summer walked through the cronenbergs, shooting any that came close.

She shot again as one tried tackling her. "Even if I knew where my brother was, I wouldn't let you fucks have him."

The two pistols Summer had in her hands had come from Rick's safe. And as much as he wanted to tell her off, he wouldn't deny the relief and happiness that flooded through him. Summer, like always, could hold her own. Despite what happened with King Jellybean, she was up defending herself and her family.

Rick jumped back in his cruiser, ignoring Morty's cries of curiosity.

Swooping off the roof, he smiled. "Computer, grab Summer."

The cruiser grabbed hold of Summer and pushed her in the window. Morty jumped on her. "Summer! Aww geez, are you- what's going on?"

She shook her head. "I should be asking you both."

Morty explained the situation, admitting both he and Rick's role in ending the world.

When finished, Summer just shook her head. "We're a long way from fixing anything. What are you going to do, grandpa?"

"I should kick your ass for touching my pistols." She frowned. "Nice job back there." she smiled.

"It kind of sucks. Those things were just people. So that's what I'm killing."

"Don't think about it." Rick pulled out his portal gun. "Hold on you two."

Rick opened a portal and stepped inside, watching he and Morty before going into the living room. Summer sat on the couch and he called swiftly. "Summer could you come to the garage for a second?"

He went back through the portal when she stood. All they had to do was wait.

"Wow, Rick, I gotta say, you really pulled a rabbit out of your hat this time. I mean, I really thought that the whole place was gonna be messed up for good, but here you did it. You figured out that crazy solution, like you always do. Whoo! That's some great luck."

"Come on, Morty, luck had nothing to do with it. I'm great. That's the real reason. Now, Morty, what do you say, buddy? Will you have me a screwdriver so I can finish my ionic defibulizer?"

"Sure thing, Rick. Here's the screwdriver."

"Alright, Morty, thank you very much. We got one screw turn, and two screw turns and-"

Summer walked in, standing next to Morty. "You wanted me, grandpa-"

The machine blew, killing all three occupants of the garage.

Rick's portal opened again. When Summer gave witness to the bodies, she turned, hiding Morty's face in her stomach just as he came in.

"What's going on?" His question was muffled and Summer glared hard at Rick. He sighed, but handed her a blindfold.

"You have to keep this on Morty. And sit right here for a few minutes and I'll explain. Don't take those off."

"Why?"

"The world is too bright right now."

While Rick placed the bodies in a trunk and took the shovel out back, Summer sat busy, scrubbing up blood with an intergalactic sponge.

The job was relatively quick, and before further questions were asked, Summer had removed Morty's blindfold. There were things that she could take, but she'd be damned if Morty had to see the things she saw.

"What's going on?" Morty questioned. "Is everything back to normal?"

"It's fine, Morty. Everything's fine. There's an infinite number of realities, Morty, and in a few dozen of those, I got lucky and turned everything back to normal. I just happened to come across one of those realities in which both of us happened to die at this time and Summer existed. Now, we can just slip into the places of our dead selves in this reality and everything will be fine. We're not skipping a beat, guys."

Morty processed the information and Rick wanted to thank Summer. If he'd seen the bodies and the blood, he could have taken it a lot worse.

"What about the other reality?"

"What about the reality where Hitler cured cancer, Morty? The answer is don't think about it. It's not like we can do this every week, anyways. We get one or two more of these, tops. Because your sister doesn't exist in most of 'em."

Morty's expression melded and he bit his fingertips, a sign of fear. "Why does Summer only exist in a few realities?"

Rick grew frustrated. "Because, Morty. Most Summers were killed in your mom's stomach."

The claim made Morty gasp, and seemingly hyperventilate.

"Don't scare him." Summer nearly yelled.

"Why would you not existing scare him? You should be scared. Because it scares me damnit!"

The silence that followed was soft, but uncomfortable. From then on, no one could call Rick out for the dumb shit he said. And if he'd said rude shit to Summer, he'd be called out himself. He couldn't say that he didn't give a fuck about her. He couldn't say he didn't love her.

Because if Summer not existing bothered him, anything pertaining to her getting hurt bothered him. And he couldn't say he didn't care about her, because Summer and Morty already knew.

Rick didn't do love, but he sure as hell loved his granddaughter. It was the only exception.