A/N: Okay, new plan. Originally this was going to be one big chapter covering all the prep and the funeral and lots of stuff in between. Now however, I'm breaking it into 2 chapters. This is the first part, obviously. I hope to have the 2nd half finished and posted by next Saturday. But I have a big meaty scene planned (I hope reality lives up to my hype, we'll see) and well anyway, the length would probably have gotten way out of control. So here goes, another update, ahead of my schedule. Enjoy. As always, thank you for reading, reviewing, following &/or favorite-ing. Much appreciated. I'd like to thank my reviewers who I haven't been able to PM because they weren't registered-Staci, Guest and Nichole. I appreciate you taking the time to leave me a review. I love hearing from all of you. Reviews-good and concrit-are always welcomed.
Disclaimer: You know the drill, I own zip, zilch, nada. All VM related stuff belongs to the genius that is Rob Thomas. I also don't own any of the games, songs, and other pop culture type references made within this chapter.
Chapter 8—A quest
About halfway through the almost 6 hour trip back to Neptune, the pick-ax of a hangover headache started drilling into Dick's head again. He squenched his eyes shut, hoping sleep would overtake him. It didn't. Finally he nudged Mac's shoulder.
"Hand me the Advil bottle, would you?"
Mac dug through her laptop bag, which in her world doubled as her purse. She pulled out the bottle and handed it to him. "There you go."
"Thanks." Dick opened the bottle and poured out 4 orange pills. He dry swallowed them and once again closed his eyes, waiting for the medicine to kick in.
"I think you exceeded the dosage there, bud."
"It's just a suggestion, a starting point," Dick mumbled with his eyes still shut tight against the unrelenting sun shining through the car. Finally the aching eased. His breathing evened out, sleep draped over him.
As Dick slept, Mac, Logan and Veronica volleyed several topics of conversation back and forth—classes, media vultures, Dick, and Logan finally opened up a bit about the first few days after Aaron's death, when Veronica was in New York City with her dad.
"I'm sure Big Dick's funeral will be standing room only, compared to Aaron's," Logan said. "I sure as hell had better things to do."
"Was Trina there?" Mac asked. She noticed Logan never referred to his dad as anything but Aaron anymore. His confession during their visit to Rachel, Nevada still echoed through her.
"Of course, she was probably the only one who loved him. All that showed up were Trina, a couple lawyers, a few aging groupies, and a director. They were only mourners. Though I'm not sure there was any real mourning going on honestly. Except for Trina's big old crocodile tears, and that was probably for the camera's benefit, mainly."
"So the press was there."
"Lurking everywhere. It earned Trina her 15 minutes of fame plus an extra helping too. So, any more media calls, Mac?"
"One more this morning, when we were in the lobby checking out."
"Mac has a new job title to go with her new role. Press secretary."
"That's our Mac, press secretary, card counter extraordinaire, plus Grade My Ass programmer."
"I'm blushing, Logan. You make me sound like a real Renaissance woman. You know, if there were computers back then."
By mid afternoon they reached Neptune city limits. Veronica mused to herself that it felt much longer than 7 days since they'd started their Spring Break road trip. Logan had remarked it would be epic, and drilling down to his definition of epic, it certainly had lived up to that hype. Lives ruined, bloodshed. Spanning years in just 7 days time.
Once back in the suite, Dick, still groggy from his long nap in the car, barely muttered 'see you later' before retreating to his room. Mac followed him, firmly shutting the door behind her.
"He needs hair of the dog," Logan remarked to Ronnie.
"I don't think that would get the boss' approval."
"I don't think, for once, the boss gets much of a say."
Veronica gave him a dubious look in return but didn't retort. She didn't really need to though.
"I know Dick better than any of you. Well, okay, Macster has me beat these days, especially in the more carnal sense, but otherwise my point remains."
"I'm not buying what you're selling."
"Look, we just need to give him a break, that's all. If he wants to go all Margarittaville for a while, if that's what it takes to get through this, so be it. I'll take him surfing tomorrow, but tonight he needs to cut loose again."
"I'm just glad I'm not his liver."
"Why don't you and Mac do something tonight. Have a girl's night. She needs some time off too. Monday's going to suck ass."
"I'll offer. Not sure even if I taze her to get out the door, her head will be in the game. Besides neither of us are the cry-it-out over cathartic chick-flick types."
"I know sugarpuss. You're more butch than Dick."
"Hell, so's Mac for that matter."
"True."
"How about paintball? Or the arcade?"
"That might have a decent shot at working. I'll suggest it at least."
"Well don't discount the taze either, you're quite convincing where Mr. Sparky is concerned."
"Yeah? I'll have to try that out with you sometime," She purred.
"How do you do that? You manage to make threatening me with your taser sound like foreplay."
"I'm just that good!"
"You're good, how?" Mac asked coming into the living room.
"Ronnie can use her taser to make men sit up and beg."
"Especially Logan."
"Sorry I asked. Dick is back on the phone with the lawyers. Tuesday he's got a meeting about the will. The accountants will be there too. Big Dick's service is firmed up for 1 o'clock Monday. V, remind me to get food ordered from downstairs for the afternoon. I thought we could all gather here afterward. That work for you, Logan?"
"Of course. You don't have to ask me. This is Dick's place too," Logan assured her.
"Sure, Mac. Just sandwiches, or a more elaborate spread?"
"Sandwiches I guess. Nothing fancy."
"Ratner can help with all that."
"Okay, thanks."
"Logan and I were thinking maybe he and Dick should just hang out here tonight while you and I go out somewhere."
"Like a girl's night, Bond?"
"Exactly."
"Oh goody, we could get a mani/pedi and follow it up with a chick flick and drink some white wine."
"Or a good old-fashioned round of shoot 'em up zombie target hunting."
"I had my heart set on the pedi, but I guess I could squeeze in zombie shooting."
"We can get our nails done after, Q."
"There ya go. Seriously though, what the frak is this zombie shooting you talk of? Did you turn Buffy on me, but with zombies rather than vampires?"
"No, I haven't turned slayer yet. It's like laser tag but with zombies."
"'Nuff said. Usually you would have me at zombies, but I don't know. I'd hate to leave Dick alone tonight."
"He won't be alone, I'll be with him. I thought, I don't know, maybe he'll open up more with it being just the 2 of us. Or not. Maybe I'm wrong. Either way, I don't think he'll be up for going out. But you two should do something fun. Things are going to get worse before they get better." Logan said, looking at Mac, brown eyes pleading.
"Maybe he will open up more to you. Text me though if, well, anything happens."
"I will."
"We'll just shoot some zombies and then grab coffee at Java the Hut," Veronica assured Mac.
"You buying?"
"I happen to recall someone in this room just won 10 G's this week, and it wasn't me."
"Dutch it is then."
Mac, Veronica, and Logan sat around discussing logistics. Just then the door opened and Dick came out of his room. He absently swiped a hand over his still puffy, bloodshot eyes. His hair was damp from a recent shower.
"Hey guys," Dick said, his voice lacked it usual mocking tone but was more upbeat than it had been the past day and a half or so. Mac was surprised to realize how little time had actually lapsed, it felt much longer than that. Dick crossed the room and flopped next to Mac onto the large L-shaped leather sofa that dominated most of the living area. "Whatcha doing? Discussing world peace? Swapping tips to end global warming?"
"Keeping Neptune safe from zombies, actually."
"You going all Slayer on us, Ronnie?"
"That's what I said," Mac interjected.
"Ack! Now they even say the same things, Logan."
"Aw, they share a brain now. How precious."
"We still have miles to go until we're on your level, guys. So don't sweat it. You're still the epic-est."
"Good, I'll be able to sleep better tonight knowing our title is safe. What about you, sugarpuss?"
"For now, at least," Dick clarified. He leaned over to lightly tickle Mac. She laughed and scooted away.
"You look better," Veronica said to Dick.
"I feel half human, at least," he replied. "At first when you said you were going to shoot zombies I got a little afraid, thinking you meant me."
"Veronica knows this laser tag place where you shoot zombies. Not sure how that works but we were planning on going there tonight."
"The Living Dead Laser Quest. I know it. Animatronic zombies," Dick grinned, then just as quickly it faded to a faint frown.
"So, do you and Logan want to join V and I while we kick some zombie ass?" Mac offered, ignoring Logan's head shake.
"No, I don't think so. The Beav-, uh Cass and I went there a few times. I don't think tonight..." Dick paused mid thought when he saw Mac's stricken expression. "It's okay, I actually have a couple decent memories of the place. We can all go there another time, Mackie. I just think I'll stay here tonight though. Why don't the 3 of you go?"
"Actually man, I was thinking you and I could hang here together while the girls go off and keep us men folk safe from otherworldly creatures."
"Okay by me. I'm not the best company these days though." Dick said, sighing.
"I'm a big boy." Logan said. "I don't have to be entertained 24/7. Besides, it's not like you're the best company under good circumstances." He smirked. Dick returned it with interest.
Soon it was time to get ready. While the girls went into their respective rooms to shower and change, Logan stayed behind to order room service.
Dick got up to follow Mac into the bedroom.
"So, what does one wear while slaying zombies?" Mac wondered aloud.
"Jeans, a tee shirt, and comfy sneakers."
"Can't go wrong with that ensemble." Taking his suggestion, she crossed the room to retrieve the clothes in question from her overnight bag. She chose her new Area 51 tee shirt, "Be Smart. Be Skeptical," and a pair of black skinny jeans.
As Mac went into the en suite bathroom to take a shower, Dick stretched out on his bed. He listened to the water running from the shower. It wasn't drowning out the memories that kept circling around his mind. Cassidy at age 10 riding around the cul-de-sac, his feet duct taped to the pedals. He spent hours out there on his bike. Dick, on the other hand, played video games. He'd forgot that memory—blocked it out—until drinks with his dad summer before last brought it back to the surface again.
That whole drinks with dad thing had been designed to cram several years of lost father-son bonding time in a span of just a couple of months, the small kernel of time left before his dad started serving his prison term. Though the goal was to bring them closer together, in realty it had the opposite effect. The guilt his dad tried to share with his oldest son further widened the chasm between them. Logan had tried to convince Dick that the happy hour routine with his dad was a bad idea, but years of programming by Big Dick overruled those protests.
Eventually the sound of water, its staccato beat soothing, lulled Dick to sleep. He was softly snoring, curled up on his left side by the time Mac finished showering and getting dressed. She smiled down at him and softly kissed him on his forehead. His foot moved slightly but that was the only response she got. Mac turned and left the room, quietly closing the bedroom door behind her.
By the time she came back into the living room Logan was removing the covers from the dishes room service had just delivered.
"Where's Ratner," Mac asked upon seeing the rolling cart.
"He just left."
"I need to talk to him about Monday. I guess that can wait til tomorrow. What all did you get?"
"3 cheeseburgers and fries. And for you, a wheatgrass shake." Logan laughed at the look of disgust on Mac's face. "Just kidding. Black bean burger and a salad for you. That's your usual, right?"
"It is. Wow, I trained Dick well and in return he trained you. Impressive."
"Well, thanks to Ronnie, I am actually moldable."
"Who knew?"
"Me," Veronica said coming into the living room. She smiled real big when she saw the cart filled with food. "I'm starving. Hook me up, Logan!"
"Are you ever not hungry?"
"Maybe when I'm asleep. Where's Dick," Veronica inquired.
"Sleeping."
"You should go with us then," Veronica said to Logan.
"No. I don't think he needs to be alone now. Besides I just want to hang here."
Mac grabbed the platter with her black bean burger and the salad, and sat down on the couch to eat. Veronica followed suit. "We won't be gone long. How long could it possibly take to kill a zombie?"
**********At the Zombie Laser Tag Place*************
Forty-five minutes later Mac and Veronica were in the staging area of the Living Dead Zombie Laser Quest arena, strapping on their standard issue vests and selecting their laser guns. After a quick spiel on the rules and laser "gun" safety Mac was ready to get in there and kick some zombie ass. She looked over and caught V's eye roll.
"I can do this in my sleep," Veronica whispered.
Mac was about to respond back when the underpaid teen employee glared at them. She held her hands up in mock surrender. The annoyed employee went back to his lecture.
A few minutes later they were released into the open arena. It was a huge wide open expanse in a re-purposed old warehouse. Reflecting off the black walls and the neon orange and green day glo painted partitions mapping out a maze on the main floor were flashing strobe lights. There were 3 levels of play altogether, with narrow cat walks, ramps and several sets of stair cases connecting it all together.
Saturday nights were reserved for the 18 and over crowd, so Mac was relieved that as she was dodging animatronic zombies she didn't have to dodge gaggles of kids Ryan's age too.
Low by Flo Rida was being pumped over the air waves. The bass reverberated through the massive space, giving it a kind of party-vibe. Her hips swaying to the beat, she crept down the first section of the maze, her laser gun on the ready, the fingers' of her right hand on the trigger, eager to be pressed down and bag & tag her first zombie victim.
Mac suspected if Dick was with her she'd be getting a big old gun safety lesson right now, but since he wasn't there with her she didn't really care about her breech of etiquette, as long as she didn't kicked out that is. She looked left, then right, vaguely aware of Veronica beside her. She wondered if any of V's training last summer with the FBI included annihilating zombies in a reconditioned warehouse. If so, maybe she'd join her there this summer. Nah.
Out of the corner of her eye Mac saw something approaching slowly, the gait jerky. Whoosh. She pumped the trigger of her laser gun. It hit the zombie's vest dead center. But one rule that had been drilled into them during the introduction was the zombies only stay "dead" for 15 seconds, otherwise, of course, they wouldn't be zombies.
"Okay, V, one victim down. Get ready to..." Mac started, but before she could even finish that sentence the zombie charged back up. "Run!"
Normally running wasn't allowed in Laser Tag, but it was a necessity for Laser Tag zombie addition especially if you didn't want to join the ranks of the living dead. Mac had no desire to join them, thank you.
Mac and Veronica took off in a sprint, easily outpacing the robotic zombie. They zigged and then zagged around the maze. Suddenly Veronica turned and saw another zombie creeping up on them, freaky with its long red wig, long nightgown and pale white (skull) face glowing in the strobing lights. She shrieked a little and Mac whipped around to look but Veronica was the one that got the shot off.
The game continued like that, they'd plod along the twisty and winding path up a level then down 2, and back to the main floor again, encountering zombies lurking in corners and in a couple cases seeming to walk through the walls impeding their progress. Male zombies, female zombies, even a cat zombie. Occasionally they'd encounter another group of players, and would walk along with them for awhile before branching off on their own again. Mac was really getting into the thrill of the hunt, the feel of "taking down" a member of the undead. It was the perfect way to channel her feelings about the past 24 hours. She couldn't help drawing a few parallels between the death of Big Dick and slaying animatronic zombies. There was something cathartic about shooting a gun, knowing of course no zombies would actually be harmed in the whole process.
While she was musing that over, 2 things happened virtually simultaneously; Mac literally bumped into Max, and then while recovering from the shock of running into someone she knew, a zombie tagged her.
Target hit! The automated voice of the sensor on her vest announced.
"Oh shut up!" Mac muttered looking down at her vest. Then she looked back up."Uh Max. Of all the laser tag arenas in all of Neptune, you had to walk into mine."
"I'd ask what brings you here, but I'd say the answer is pretty obvious," he replied back.
As Mac stood off to the side talking to Max, Veronica continued on her way to slay more zombies. As Mac had been "shot" she was easily able to evade the enemy. She didn't stray far though. If this were real life, or a real zombie Apocalypse, she'd have stayed to the bitter end fending off the enemy, protecting her fallen friend. However, now, it wasn't zombies further attacking Mac that had her on alert though. Mac's body language conveyed a certain bit of wariness.
Mac quickly finished her chat with Max and ran to catch up with Veronica, taking a shot at a zombie in doctor scrubs.
As they reunited, Veronica was about to ask Mac about her conversation with Max when she herself took a shot from a stealth little zombie dressed eerily similar to a member of the Neptune pep squad complete with pom poms and everything. Veronica half expected it to break into a rah rah cheer after its successful shot. She rolled her eyes as her own vest announced Target hit.
Five minutes later the round had ended and the 2 girls were checking their vests and guns back into the supply room. Mac registered more shots than Veronica but both girls had racked up quite a zombie kill list. They were sweaty but both enjoyed the game. Mac idly wondered if Dick was still napping.
**********Neptune Grand suite************
Logan was on his 2nd round of Overlord and his 3rd beer when Dick came out into the living room. He grunted something unintelligible and slumped down on the couch beside Logan. He noticed the remaining 3 beers sitting on the coffee table in front of him and leaned over slightly to grab one. He used his shirt to twist off the top and then slumped back against the couch again. He took a big sip then sighed.
"When you're finished with this round, reset it for 2 players." Dick said a couple minutes later.
"I can set it now."
"No, that's okay. I'll wait." Dick's eyes settled on the plate with a burger and 2 fries on it. "Was that for me? Or did you just decide to drink dinner instead?"
"It was for you. I left the burger, but I ate your fries."
"I see."
"Fries only have a life cycle of like 4 minutes. Any longer than that they get cold and yucky."
"A life cycle of 4 minutes? You sound like Mackie there with the trivia."
Five minutes later Logan reset the game for 2 players. Dick was already opening his 2nd beer and munching on the cold cheeseburger. He placed the burger plate beside him and leaned forward to retrieve the other controller.
Dick was up first. He ruled over his minions, traversing through the 7 levels corresponding to the 7 deadly sins. For perhaps the first time ever, Dick found himself analyzing the game as he deftly pressed the buttons of the controller. Greed was Big Dick. That was an obvious parallel right there.
He took another deep drink of his beer with one hand, the other hand directing his minions onward towards the conquering Overlord. Lust (adultery?). Ditto. Wrath, Cassidy. Envy, a bit of both of them. A bit of all of them maybe. All the Casablancas men, of which now he was the only remaining member. That sucked. He took another sip of his beer. And another. Another. As the game progressed, Dick utilized the corruption feature, so his overlord was classified as really evil. Another family legacy, he thought bitterly.
After Dick was done traversing through all 7 levels—and all 7 sins—it was once again Logan's turn. As he watched his buddy's Overlord rule over the minions he reached for the last beer. He opened it and took a big sip. He hoped there were more beer in the mini-fridge by the bar.
*********Java the Hut*********
"We didn't talk much, V," Mac said before taking a drink of her vanilla soy latte. "You should know that, you were there."
"Just curious. You seemed a little freaked to see Max there." Veronica took a sip of her Irish Coffee.
"Not freaked. Just surprised."
"So this wasn't a planned tryst then," Veronica joked.
"Uh no. Definitely not."
"What do you think our inferior halves are doing now?"
"Playing video games in a state of inebriation, what else is there to do in Neptune?"
"Slay zombies."
"Surprisingly we're not on a Hellmouth."
"Sometimes I'm not so sure about that, Mac-attack."
They laughed, the camaraderie of 2 Neptune survivors.
Over sips of coffee, they discussed the plans for Big Dick's service Monday afternoon. Veronica also made some suggestions for last minute details involving the gathering Mac was planning for after the service.
Finally Mac confessed to her best friend that she'd been channeling a lot of rage towards Dick Sr. on the zombies.
"Sounds like a healthy coping mechanism to me."
"You think?"
"Of course. You love Dick, you saw how he was mistreated, of course you're pissed. It's okay you know, to grieve for Dick's pain rather than what happened to Big Dick."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. You're human. You had to have some vague notion that you are a human, right? With all the failings that come with that job description." Veronica smirked.
"No! Surely you jest." Mac smiled though, remembering how it wasn't very long ago she was the one reminding V of her human status. She pulled her cell out of her messenger bag/purse. No missed calls.
She was about to put it away again when it rang. She glanced at the screen, it was an unfamiliar number.
"Hello?" Mac answered, suspiciously. "No comment." She waited a beat, getting annoyed as the persistent reporter kept up the barrage of questions anyway. "I said no comment." Finally she took a deep breath and started to say "Dammit, no fucking comment." Then the phone was forcefully pried from her hand.
"I believe my client just told you no comment," Veronica said confidently, with the practiced air of a professional. She ended the call, and handed the phone back to the now flustered Mac.
"Thanks, V."
"No problem. Try not to let the press get to you."
"Press? No, that was my family." Mac laughed at the expression on Veronica's face. "No, just joking. You should have seen your face though. Yes, the media vultures keep chasing this story. I'm just praying for a big juicy celebrity scandal to break. Something to get them off of Dick's scent."
"Well, this is California, you shouldn't have to wait too long."
Ten minutes later they each put $6 on the table and left Java.
**********The Neptune Grand Suite*********
Logan continued to play Overlord for awhile, going systematically through the levels and layers of the game, ruling over and manipulating his team of minions. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Dick get up from the couch. Soon he was back with 2 more 6 packs of a microbrew they both liked. Dick popped the top off a bottle, took a sip and leaned his head back.
Logan stopped the game mid level, right in the midst of defeating Gluttony. He smiled sardonically as he grabbed another beer off the table.
Dick's head popped up when he saw that Logan had ended the game. "You didn't lose already, did you?"
"Hell no. I was winning actually. I just got a little bored with this."
"Bored with winning?"
"When it's business as usual, it gets a little tedious." Logan joked.
The conversation dwindled and they sat there for a couple minutes not saying anything, just drinking their beer. It wasn't an uncomfortable type of silence. Logan didn't want to let it stretch out too long though.
He nodded to Dick's growing collection of empty beer bottles. "Drinking away your grief, huh? I get it man. I've done it more than a few times. Every time Ronnie and I break up for one."
Dick grunted at that. Then he replied "trying to drown my sorrows, actually. But turns out they learned to swim." He looked away when Logan flashed him a look full of compassion and sympathy. That would be his undoing, and he wasn't ready for that yet.
Just then the snick of the key card in the door alerted them that Mac and Veronica were back.
"Macalicious," Dick greeted when she came into his view. She went over to him, gave him a brief kiss on his head, grabbed a beer off the table and plopped down beside him.
"Did our boy behave, Logan? Do I get a good report? He played nice with the others, right?"
"He patiently waited his turn, he shared his toys, and drank his beers like a good boy."
Veronica crossed the room to the mini-fridge grabbing a can of coke before flopping down on the couch and curling up into Logan's warm body.
The girls launched into a brief summary of their zombie hunting experiences, and then they all started swapping strategies for Overlord. Before long though their long day in the car and longer night caught up to everyone and both couples soon went to their respective bedrooms.
Needing comfort, Dick curled up in bed with Mackie and started kissing her. She responded back and soon they in the middle of making love. Afterwards, Dick fell into a deep, exhaustive, dreamless sleep. Mac watched him for a couple of minutes, listening to his soft snores before falling into a deep sleep herself. They both had a tough couple of days coming up.
TBC...
LateVMLover, those Buffy references are for you! And any other Buffy fans here (like me!), like most of you I'm sure. Also, the line where Dick said his sorrows learned to swim, that's from "End of the World" by U2, an awesome song. I love that line and wish I could take credit for it. But alas it all belongs to Bono. There's a big empty box waiting to be filled up down below. :)
