Hi, guys! Sorry for being so late with the update. I got distracted by things. Also, I don't own my own copy of Finding Nemo; I borrow the DVD from the library. My library doesn't have many copies of the movie, so sometimes I have to wait for a copy to become available. But, anyways, here we are again! So let's get right into it!
Also, I borrowed a bit from Ronnie343's story later in this chapter.
Disclaimer: As I have stated numerous times before, I do not own Finding Nemo.
Samuel was fuming, paying no attention to his fellow officers, who were staring at him with wide eyes, or his father, who had opened the door of the MPU office and was peering in cautiously.
"Marlin, tell me you're joking," he growled into the phone, "A dog ate the only bit of evidence related to this case?"
"You weren't there, Sam!" Marlin said, "That mother dog was a demon, I would've died if I didn't give it the paper back."
Samuel glanced down at his desk, a strong desire to start slamming his head against it building up within him. Instead, he took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger.
"But, c'mon, Sam," Marlin continued, "I told you what the paper said. So, you can send someone off to San Jose or call the police department there and find Nemo, right?"
"Marlin, you don't have a clue how the police work, do you?" Samuel asked, "This isn't like some stupid cop drama on TV, this is real life. I can't just send cops on a search around San Jose based on your words alone."
"But you believe me, don't you?"
"This has nothing to do with trust, Marlin!" Samuel nearly shouted, "I believe you, I really do. But that won't get us anywhere. I can't call up the San Jose PD and tell them to comb the city because my best friend told me his son is there. I need evidence to back up your claim, otherwise we can't do anything!"
"So, what, you're not going to send anyone to search for my son?" Marlin asked coldly.
"I'm not saying that, Marlin," Samuel sighed, "The most I can do is call up the San Jose PD and tell them to keep an eye out for a boy matching Nemo's description. Without any hard evidence or any really solid reason though, they're not going to do an active search. Stuff like that costs a lot of money, you know."
Samuel heard Marlin let out a long breath, the sound of a parent who was rapidly losing hope. Samuel could only imagine what Marlin was feeling at the moment, thinking of his own infant son back home. If it had been his Cody who had been kidnapped, Samuel would probably be acting just like Marlin…
But, unfortunately, real life wasn't like what they showed on those late night dramas…
"Marlin, listen," Samuel started in a reassuring tone, "I know you're going to go off to San Jose. And let me tell you, me and the rest of my team are going to do our damnedest to get as much evidence as quickly as possible."
"…I know…" Marlin said slowly.
"Bud, I swear, you'll be seeing me in San Jose soon enough," Samuel promised.
"…I'm counting on you, Sam…"
"I won't let you down, Marlin."
As Samuel hung up the phone, he hoped that he hadn't made a promise that he wouldn't be able to keep. With that in mind, he gave the other officer who had been regarding him warily a look.
"Don't you guys have cases to crack?" he asked them, which sent them back to work.
Samuel looked towards the door, where Chief Walker was. The chief gave Samuel a nod before slowly shutting the door.
Marlin sat down on the edge of the bed, putting his face in his hands.
So he would have to continue on this search for who knew how long without police help. He didn't hate Samuel for that, not at all. He knew that the police worked differently from what everyone believed based on television and common misconceptions.
"Hey, what's the capital of Kalamazoo?"
Marlin raised his head and glanced at Dory, who was fast asleep on the bed, mumbling random phrases.
"She didn't even stay up for the pizza," Marlin said, smiling just a bit, looking over at the unopened pizza, which had been delivered during Marlin's phone call, on the table.
The clock on the nightstand showed Marlin that it was approaching ten.
"Nemo, please be okay…" Marlin murmured before getting off the bed and heading towards the couch.
"I'm going off to the Capital of Silicon Valley, where are you heading? Oh, don't mind me, heading off to the Capital of Silicon Valley, that's all!"
Marlin felt his eye twitch as he walked down street after street, Dory trailing behind him and happily talking to herself about her amazing recollection of what the note had said.
It was eight in the morning…Marlin had been listening to her go on and on since they left the small inn at half past six…
"Dory, do you mind?" Marlin asked as he looked at the street sign, "I'm trying to find Penn Station."
Marlin had decided as soon as he woke up that he would have to reach San Jose by train, somehow. He had planned on calling a cab to drop Dory off at her house, but Dory had gotten herself ready and dragged Marlin out of the inn before he could even begin dialing the number.
After a few more minutes of searching and hearing Dory's endless chatter, Marlin finally located Penn Station…
…Only to realize, he had no idea what to do next.
Marlin was never one to take the train, even when he was young. And, after Coral's death, Marlin never went anywhere far enough that required a train. So, he didn't know which train to take. Which one would get him to San Jose fast enough?
He took a seat on a nearby bench, trying to figure out his next step. Dory plopped down next to him, happily chattering away.
All around Marlin and Dory were people rushing this way and that, heading for their next train or leaving the station to find out where to go. Here and there were some street performers, trying to make some money with their talents. Musicians, artists, break dancers, and even, to Marlin's surprise, a small group who seemed to be performing charades…
"I'll tell you where I'm going," Dory's voice jarred Marlin out of his thoughts, "Why do I have to say it over and over? I'm heading to the Capital of-"
"Okay, alright, Dory?" Marlin interrupted, unable to take it any longer.
"Huh?" she responded, turning to him with a grin.
"Here's the thing…"
"Uh huh!"
"Well," Marlin went on, a little uneasily, "I just…I think it might be best if…if I carry on from here…on my own."
"Gotcha!" Dory replied with a nod.
"Alone," Marlin continued, realizing Dory didn't understand.
"Uh huh," Dory responded.
"Without-Well, I mean, not without you," Marlin told her, becoming more nervous by the moment and finding it difficult to meet Dory's gaze, "It's just, I don't want you…with me."
Marlin made a mental note to hit himself later for that last line. However, as he looked at Dory's face, he realized his words had gotten through to her.
Dory's smile slowly faded, her eyebrows furrowed just a bit. Marlin could see some of the light in her eyes diminish as the full impact of Marlin's words hit her.
"Huh?" she said softly.
"Listen, I don't want to hurt your feelings," Marlin told her sincerely.
He didn't, he really didn't. After all, despite how childishly Dory acted, Marlin wouldn't know where to go on from this point if it wasn't for her help.
"You want me to leave?" Dory asked, her voice coated with the slightest hint of betrayal, making Marlin feel even worse than before.
"Well, I mean…" Marlin stammered, "I mean, not-Yes, yeah. You know, time's really critical to me and I just can't afford any more delays. And you're one of those people who cause delays."
Marlin could see that he wasn't making the situation any better, but he kept on rambling on. He didn't know why he was finding it so hard to talk to Dory. Though, it was to be expected, in a way. Ever since Nemo's birth, he lost a lot of his ability to carry on a regular conversation with others.
Why, though?
"Sometimes, people who cause delays are a good thing!" Marlin insisted, even as Dory's lower lip started to quiver, "There's a whole group of people…Delay people…"
"Y-you mean…" Dory began shakily as she stood up from the bench, her body trembling and tears beginning to pool in her eyes, "Y-you mean, you d-don't l-like me?"
Marlin flinched as the tears spilled from Dory's eyes. She put her hands over her face and turned her back on Marlin as she started to cry. Marlin scrambled to stop her tears.
"No, of course, I like you!" he said as he stood up and moved in front of her. He put his hands on her arms gently, but Dory kept her face covered, "It's because I like you that I don't want to be with you! It's a…complicated…emotion…"
Marlin trailed off pathetically, realizing he had just made the situation worse as Dory cried even louder than before. He saw that other passersby were staring at the two of them questioningly, whispering amongst themselves.
"Don't cry, Dory," Marlin went on softly, "I really do like you."
"Hey, you!"
Marlin and Dory both turned in the direction of this angry voice. There, standing just a couple feet away from them, was that charades group that Marlin had seen earlier. The four men were glaring at Marlin in a way that made him want to disappear as fast as a group of swimmers when they see a shark in the water.
"Lady, is this guy bothering you?" the leader of the group asked Dory gently as the other men continued to stare at Marlin angrily.
"Um…I don't remember," Dory sniffed, wiping away the few stray tears spilling form her eyes. She looked down at Marlin, "Were you?"
"No, no, no, no, no," Marlin said swiftly, trying to defuse the tension, "We're just-Hey, do you guys know how I can-?"
"Look, pal, we're talkin' to the lovely lady, not you," the group leader snapped at Marlin. The four men pushed Marlin off to the side and surrounded Dory, kind looks on their faces, "Hey, you like impressions, Miss?"
Dory nodded, which led to the men standing side by side just a foot in front of her. Marlin sat back down on the bench, his arms crossed before him and a frown on his face.
"Okay, just like in rehearsals, gentlemen," the leader told his friends, "Nice and easy ones…"
The men got into two pairs and began waltzing silently. Dory giggled a bit as she watched them dance together.
"Alright, Miss, what's happening here?" the leader asked Dory.
"Oh, I know this!" Dory exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly, "I know this, it's…uh…It's definitely…"
"We do things like this in ballrooms…" the group leader said in an encouraging tone.
"Wait, it's…um…"
"It's dancing!" Marlin growled from the bench.
The men stopped their dance and grumbled at Marlin.
"Hey, ginger, let the lady guess!" the group leader told him.
The four men then went down on their hands and knees and started to act, obviously, like dogs. Marlin couldn't help but grimace, still remembering the mother dog and puppy from the day before.
"Man's best friend," the leader told Dory as a hint.
"Oh, it's on the tip of my tongue!" Dory said, a look of concentration on her face.
"Dog!" Marlin coughed.
"Saw that," the leader stated as the men got back to their feet.
"What?" Marlin asked with a shrug.
The four men then started to quickly but carefully form a pyramid.
"Tall and triangular; found in Egypt," the leader said as he got to the top of the pyramid.
"Eiffel Tower!" Dory exclaimed.
"Close enough!" the leader laughed good-naturedly.
The men then started marching around, pretending to be part of a band. Dory laughed and applauded, all of the sadness Marlin's words had caused vanishing.
"Oh, they're good," Dory said as she nudged Marlin, who shot up off the bench angrily.
"Will somebody please give me directions?" he asked loudly, his fists clenched beside him.
The four men crossed their arms and smirked at Marlin. The leader put on an exaggerated angry expression.
"'Will somebody please give me directions'?" he mocked.
Dory chuckled at the impression while Marlin narrowed his eyes at the charades group.
"I'm serious," he spat out.
"Blah, blah, blah," the leader continued to taunt him, "Me, me, blah! Blah, blah, blah, blah, me, me, me!"
Marlin stared at the laughing men and then looked at a giggling Dory. He put on a neutral expression.
"Thank you," he said simply as he turned and headed off towards the station.
"Oh, dear," Dory murmured before going off after Marlin, "Hey, come back!"
Dory sped up and managed to cut Marlin off. Marlin tried to go around Dory, but she quickly moved to jump in front of him, causing him to pause and look at her expectantly.
"What?" he asked sourly.
"Hey, what's the matter?" she inquired gently, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"What's the matter?" Marlin repeated exasperatedly.
As Marlin started to rant, he didn't notice that the four men were continuing to mock him from where they stood several feet away. Dory let out a smirk at them but focused her attention back on Marlin.
"What's the matter is that I am miles away from home and I am stuck with a woman who could probably forget her own name in a snap!" he shouted.
"Well, I bet that's frustrating," Dory replied, nodding while oblivious to the fact that she is the woman in question.
"Yeah, it is…" Marlin said as he gave her a look, "Meanwhile, my son is out there…"
"Your son, Chico?" Dory asked.
"Nemo," Marlin muttered.
"Right, got it," Dory said.
"But, you know what?" Marlin went on as he walked around Dory and started to storm off, "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter that I'm worried about my son, about his safety. It doesn't matter that I might never see him again because no person in this entire freakin' city is going to help me!"
As Marlin marched off, it was silent for just a second…And then…
"Well, I'm helping you."
Marlin paused, his fists becoming unclenched and the tension on his face slowly fading. He gradually looked over his shoulder at Dory, who was giving him a soft smile.
"Wait right there," she told him as she walked back to the charades group.
"Hey, guys!" Dory called to the four men.
"What, is he bothering you again, Miss?" the leader asked her.
"Oh no, he's a good guy," Dory reassured them, "Go easy on him, okay? He's lost his son, Fabio."
Marlin could see a change, a slight softening, in the men's expressions when they looked at him after Dory had said that.
"Any of you guys know the quickest route to the Capital of Silicon Valley?" Dory asked them.
"San Jose, right?" the leader said, "Ted here's got relatives in San Jose."
"Sure do," the one named Ted piped up.
"Hey, they know San Jose!" Dory yelled in Marlin's direction.
"They do?" Marlin muttered to himself before racing over to the group.
"You guys wouldn't know how to get there, would you?" Dory asked them while Marlin looked at them hopefully.
"Getting there directly, not too sure," the leader said, "But there a Lake Shore Limited, Train 49, leaving here in about an hour. That'll take you to Chicago in around nineteen hours. Then, from the Chicago Union Station, you take a Texas Eagle, Train 21, and you'll be on that baby for…I don't know, what'd you guys say, another nineteen?"
The other three men all agreed.
"Yeah, around nineteen hours, and that'll drop you off in Longview, Texas," the leader continued, "You'll have to figure out how to go on from there on your own, but it shouldn't take too long to get to San Jose from there. Now both of those routes have a bunch of stops along the way, so don't get off at the wrong one, alright?"
"Great!" Marlin yelled ecstatically, "That's great! That gets us even closer! Dory, you did it!"
Marlin could help but give Dory a one-armed hug as he laughed. Dory turned red, rather pleased with herself for helping Marlin out, and giggled.
"Oh, please!" she said humbly as she played around with her fingers, "I'm just your little helper. Helpin' along, that's me! …Does this mean I don't have to leave?"
Marlin looked at Dory's hopeful expression before letting out a sigh as he headed towards the station.
"Let's get going, partner," he told her with a grin.
Dory let out an excited squeal before running off after him.
"Hey, fellas, thank you!" Marlin shouted to the charades group.
"Don't mention it!" the leader replied, all ill will between the group and Marlin gone, "Just, uh, loosen up, okay, buddy?"
"Oh, you guys," Dory laughed, pausing while Marlin went on, "You really nailed him."
Dory turned to keep going but the leader of the group ran up and grabbed her arm.
"Ma'am, one more thing," he began, "In Longview, when you're exiting the station, there are two ways to go. There's a dark street that looks pretty shady, but that's the path to go, alright? The other way has been under some major renovation for the past few weeks. Could be pretty dangerous."
"Go down the scary looking path, got it!" Dory told herself, "I'll remember!"
"Dory, c'mon!" Marlin yelled to her from several feet away.
"Coming!" she shouted in return as she ran off to join Marlin.
Go down the scary looking path…That sounded simple enough! All she had to do was remember.
Done! Once again, sorry it took so long to get this chapter out.
I had to look up some train routes to get this chapter right. I couldn't find any direct paths from New York to San Jose. I directed the pair of them to Texas so that I can set up the next part of the story. There's a few more filler chapters ahead. Next chapter, we'll be back with Nemo and the gang. We'll get to learn a little more about the older kids. I might even throw in a little more with Samuel and the MPU.
Once again, I don't pretend to know much about how the police work. I'm only guessing based on how I believe they work that this is what they would do. Hopefully, it's accurate enough.
Until next chapter, please read and review!