Journey

The cold ocean air nipped Frankie in her face to the point where she had to cover it with her hand. She hadn't packed any heavy jackets.

"You cold luv?", 2D asked.

"I'll be fine"

Noodle took off her own coat and passed it to Frankie.

"Oh Noodle you don't have to do that"

"Just take it", she smiled and put the jacket on Frankie herself.

"Thanks."

"Here comes Murdoc", Russell pointed towards what looked like a huge black shark rising to the surface. The black shark swam up to the dock and stopped. A few seconds later an impatient Murdoc opened the hatch of the sub yelling, "Well let's get a move on then!", before vanishing into the bowels of the sub again.

The band mates climbed on top of the sub. Russell was the first to jump in, carrying Frankie's things with him. He reappeared a few moments later, extending a hand to help Frankie down. Frankie took his hand and felt her way down the dark opening.

"So nice of you to join us", Murdoc said sarcastically. He looked up at the ceiling of the ship, "Come on faceache! I know you're holding things up!"

"Alright I'm commin, Muds", 2D hollered, as he climbed down the ladder.

An evil smile appeared across the basset's face, he gave the ship's steering wheel a quick jerk, and 2D fell to the ship's hard metal floor.

"Dammit Muds", 2D picked himself up and sat on one of sub's benches.

Murdoc was hysterical, leaning over on the wheel laughing. He looked up when he heard a knock on the front mirror of the ship.

"Oh shit!", he yelled and backed up, tripping over Frankie' suitcase. A large octopus had its suckers attached to the window. The octopus was pulled off the window, revealing a smiling Noodle.

Russell, 2D, and Frankie were practically falling over themselves with laugher. A few seconds later, the sub's hatch was closed and a soaking wet Noodle appeared.

"Not funny Nod's", Murdoc tried to compose himself, and retook his seat at the captain's chair.

"Yeah, that shit was hilarious", Russell added knocking Noodle on the shoulder lightly.

"Well jokes on you Nod's", Murdoc joked, "You'll be in those soaking wet clothes for a good twenty hours"

Noodle walked next to the green man and shook herself violently, throwing water in every direction, she was almost completely dry within seconds. Murdoc, on the other hand, got caught in the crossfire. The sub began to refill with snickers.

"Great", he mumbled, and began to steer the sub.


The journey was halfway over, and most of the band mates had fallen asleep. Noodle was nestled up with Russell on the back bench, 2D was laying down, snoring loudly in a deep sleep, taking up most of the front bench, and Frankie was sitting up next to 2D, her back to the wall, looking out of the window across from her.

Murdoc was still steering the sub. He turned around briefly for a moment and grumbled to himself.

"Why are you still up?"

"Can't sleep"

"Well since you're awake you mind helping me out with this map", he gestured his head towards the map sitting in the empty chair next to him.

Frankie walked over and took the seat next to him, spreading the map out in her lap.

"There's a trench coming up, I know", he said glancing over at the map, "Does it say I should turn left or right?"

Frankie studied the map, "It looks like you should make a left."

"I thought so", he returned his attention to the front mirror.

Frankie folded the map, and began to stand up.

Murdoc whispered something under his breath.

"You say something?"

He rolled his eyes and repeated, "I'm sorry about ugh…yeah well you know"

"Apology accepted"

"You sure you wanna be heading back so soon", he looked at her briefly. "I could go back you kno…if you were have'n second thoughts…"

Frankie sighed and fell back into the seat. "I don't know"

"I read that message; you shouldn't be going back with him"

"Well it's my fault for not telling my parents"

"What", he said angrily, "It's those crap parents of yours who can't even come and get you themselves' fault."

Frankie stayed silent. She knew he was right.

"Look, I'm sorry", he continued, "But…", he looked uncomfortable for a moment, "I just know what it's like not having decent parents"

"But they're good people", Frankie protested, "They give me a house to live in, they never hit me or anything-"

"Yeah but they're so damn oblivious to your cousin that does", he shook his head, "Fuck'n unbelievable, even I saw the damn bruises on your arm." He began shaking his head again, "How often do you see them in a week?"

"Well by the time they get in I'm usually asleep anyway, but it's always been that way, since I was young."

Murdoc stared out of the window like he was deep in thought, "My father was a terrible man….horrible really… the day I moved out of the house was the best day of my life. No sense in dwelling in that now, but wot I'm try'n to say is that maybe it's time to move on"

"Move on…but they're my parents"

"You're nineteen ain't yah?"

"Well…yeah, but…"

"Then there's no need to stay with them, if they're gonna keep leaving you with your cousin. Besides I don't think you'll miss them much. You've been on plastic beach for months, and I haven't heard you say word about them."

"Guess there really isn't that much to say"

Frankie suddenly wanted to ask him if his father was somehow connected with how he treats 2D, but she decided against it. It looked like a topic he didn't care to talk much about.

"I know what I'm saying sounds crazy", he continued, "But…well….you know…just want to know you're safe."

"Thanks Murdoc", she smiled.

"Wot?", he began to smile with her.

"Nothing…it's just…I knew Noodle liked you for a reason…just didn't know what it was until now"