Very short chapter. It's just a short chapter because it's Exam week and I'm kinda busy. Oh well, make do with what ya got! Enjoy!

Chapter Title: The Pain
Chapter Rating: T-M (for Murdoc)

Murdoc wouldn't come out of the Winnebago. Russel had gone to the car lot and said dinner was ready, but Murdoc never answered him.

The Satanist pulled his knees closer to his chest. He looked straight ahead staring at nothing in particular, since his thoughts were occupied. Murdoc felt sick. He already went over to his toilet to puke but nothing came out. His stomach fluttered repeatedly and he began to feel worse and worse. He even tried to sleep off the sickness but he just couldn't sleep. His body wouldn't let him.

"Fuck..." he moaned, closing his eyes.

Murdoc's body wanted something. He could tell since he wasn't puking. Or maybe he just wanted to puke; he hadn't a clue. He felt as though he physically wanted something and he was fighting the urge to get it. He wouldn't let it take over his body.

"Fuck!" he hollered, sitting up. He leaned over, still gripping his stomach tightly. "Fuck this! Why th' fuck is this 'appening?!"

Cortez was sitting down on Murdoc's side table. The raven tilted his head as it looked at the bassist.

He looked up at the bird. "Whaddya want?" he hissed at it.

The bird titled its large head even more.

Murdoc laughed quietly. "M'fine."

Cortez ruffled his feathers.

"Okay fine... m' not."

The bird continued to gaze at Murdoc.

"I'm gettin' bett'eh. Sorta," Murdoc muttered, looking at the floor. "I feel lil' sick 'cos, well – never mind. I'm not tellin' you. S' a secret. The same secret I wouldn't tell... dent-head." He cringed at his mate's nickname.

The Satanist grabbed his greasy hair tightly and groaned loudly.

"Damn it, Cortez..." Murdoc growled, looking up at the bird. "Ev'eh randomly wanted ta punch someone in th' face?"

The raven's beady eyes continued watching his owner.

"You wanna know wot's wrong with me?" Murdoc asked, leaning back on his hands. "I want summthin' so bad an' I know I'm never gonna get it. So I'm pretty much takin' out the 'want' on myself. An' m' turnin' the 'want' into pain."

Cortez did something with his head which looked something like a nod.

"You understand?"

His bird did the same thing.

Murdoc smiled. "Face-ache woz right. You animals are awright to talk to."

Cortez nodded again.

Murdoc cringed and held his stomach tightly. "It's tellin' me to do summthin'. The pain..."

The bird tiled his head.

"If I do summthin', I can fix it. The pain will go away, I know it. But right now, m' stuck with it 'cos I'm not sure I can do much of anythin'."

Cortez tilted his head even more, looking a little more confused.

Murdoc smirked. "You want me ta do summthin' about it?"

The bird then nodded.

"I can't."

Cortez titled his head again.

"I can't 'cos –" Murdoc swallowed, shaking his head. "I'm – I'm scared."

Cortez' eyes widened.

Murdoc ran a hand through his hair. "I don't wanna screw myself over. M' scared to do anythin'."

Cortez' eyes intensified. He cawed quietly.

"You – you really want me ta do summthin' dont cha?" Murdoc questioned.

Cortez nodded.

"I can't. Well – not yet. Maybe I can wait it off. Maybe I could forget about it an' th' pain'll go away –"

The raven shook its head.

Murdoc's eyes narrowed. "It won't happen?"

The bird shook his head again.

Murdoc chuckled lowly. "I know."

Cortez watched him carefully, then titled his head once again.

"I don't know," Murdoc replied, answering the raven's silent question. "I don't know how I'll fix this Cortez. It killin' me slowly, so it has ta be fixed soon."

Cortez nodded.

"It's decided then?" Murdoc asked, smiling widely.

The bird nodded once again.

"Tonight's the night I'm gonna try and do this."