Disclaimer: I own nothing. Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha are gods.


After allowing Charles to get into the car first, followed by Abigail, who took a seat on the manager's far side, the band shuffled noisily into the DethLimo, lead by Nathan who took the other seat flanking Charles.

Pickles sat down proclaiming, "On our way to the world's shortest concert… sweet!"

Soon the car start moving and Charles took a deep breath and sat a little straighter. Then, as a thought hit him he quickly asked "Is everyone in here?" He hadn't heard from several of the band members since he sat down.

Nathan leaned over and whispered that they were all there just as Pickles replied as well.

"Yeah, everyone's here, dood. Me, Abigail, Nathan, Murderface, Skwissgaar…"

Suddenly Murderface piped up "Oh my gosch, where'sch Toki?"

"What!?" Charles exclaimed. He was about to call the driver to turn around when Toki's voice permeated the car.

"But I ams right heres!"

"MURDERFACE!" Nathan yelled, and Charles felt him get up. He grabbed for the singer and ended up grasping the back of his pants. He tried to pull him back down.

"Do NOT fuck with Charles like that. EVER! ANY OF YOU!" Nathan stood for a moment, stooping because of the low roof and leaning against Charles's hold, but not pulling out of it. Then, having presumably calmed down, at least a little, he turned to sit back down in his place.

"I mean it!" he grumbled.

Charles felt the need to speak for himself.

"Ah... Let's just get through this event, everyone, alright?" He figured he didn't need to chastise anyone after they'd just most likely endured the glare of death from Nathan. Not that he wanted Nathan to jump to his rescue all the time either, but if this put an end to any further jokes at his expense he did appreciate it.

"What's to get through, dood?" Pickles asked innocently. "We go out on stage and we're all like 'Hey fans, we're makin' a new album!' and they'll be all like 'we fuckin' love you Dethklok, you're so fuckng awesome' and we'll be like 'yeah, we know' and then we leave and, then we get drunk. Bing bang boom. Done. Speaking of which, someone pass me some booze will ya?"

"Ah, maybe take it easy on the alcohol, today…" Charles started.

"Sure, this is just to take the edge off. You know, you seem a little tense. You want some?"

"God no. I mean, ah, no, I'm fine."

"I brought someones heres for yous, Charles," Toki spoke up.

Oh god, please tell me he doesn't have that cat with him. Charles must have visibly winced because Toki seemed concerned when he continued, "I thoughts you liked Deddy Bear?"

"Oh, him. Yes, I am, ah, quite fond of Deddy Bear, Toki." He sat motionless for a second and then it occurred to him that Toki probably wanted him to take the bear. He reached over to receive the stuffed animal as Toki shoved it eagerly in his hands.

"I knews this days woulds be scarys for yous, beings outs there ins the darks. I ams sometimes afraids of the darks too. Deddy helps."

Charles wished he could look into the young man's eyes at that moment and glimpse where this delicate gesture had come from. Despite being the baby of the group, emotionally as well as in age, Toki could, on occasion, display the sensitivity and wisdom of an old man. Charles also knew that, as a child, Toki had been often been forced to spend time alone in the darkness of what was referred to as the "Punishment Hole". Thinking of this, the coming events suddenly lost some of their trepidation. Charles knew he was at least among friends.

Feeling more confident, Charles straightened up and said, "Thank you Toki. And thank you all of you for being here and agreeing to do this album. I think both the press and the fans are going to be very happy. Now, did you all look at the notes that Abigail sent over?" Abigail had come up with the production plans for the event.

"Oh yeah, we looked at 'em." Pickles replied.

"Ah… Did you guys read them?"

"Ohhhh… now, that's a different question…." The drummer replied and Charles could hear his casual lop-sided grin.

"And I think I know the answer to that question." Abigail piped in. "It's fine," she said as if she had expected this. "Let's just go over it now."

She proceeded to concisely tell the band when they were to wait back stage, enter, and leave, in accordance with the plan.

When she was done she turned to Charles and said quietly, "A press conference is not the ideal re-introduction into public after what you've been through. I know you know how loud and chaotic they are. Don't try to focus on getting your bearings through sound, it will only confuse you. Just trust me, I will guide you through it. There's going to be music played during the intro and outro. This was something that was insisted upon, which makes sense, but you may find it very disorienting. I don't need to tell you it's going to be loud. But the Gears will have a very clear path back stage for us. It will be an easy in and out for you too, Charles. I'll be with you. You just reconnect with the press and the people and do what you always do. It's going to be good." He felt her place a comforting hand on his leg.

"Hey, I can guide him too…" Nathan spoke up.

"I know, Nathan," Charles interjected, turning to the singer. "But your job today is to be with the band. The fans need to see Dethklok, present and together." He reached for the larger man's hand and gave it a squeeze.

Abigail continued to explain. "This is about you guys and your manager and the fact that business is resuming as usual. I am just acting as an accessory today, to help things go more smoothly for Charles."

"Okay, but I'll be watching you." Nathan cautioned.

Charles had to stop from rolling his eyes at Nathan's suspicion, though he also felt the corners of his mouth rising in a slight grin at the sentiment it portrayed. Abigail, for her part, seemed to take the singer's vigilance as a positive thing.

"Good. We should all be watching each other after what happened at the last publicity event."

There was suddenly a heavy silence at the reminder of the event just a few months back where Charles had been abducted, experimented on and accidentally blinded in the process. Charles took a deep breath.

"And of course we'll all be constantly flanked by Gears," Abigail continued quickly, as if she regretted bringing up that dark day. But the reminder was good, for all of them, Charles thought. They needed to be aware.

Soon Charles felt the vehicle slow down and come to a stop. They had arrived at their destination and the world was waiting.