Pages from Hatter's Notebook

An Old Dog

It was a warm summer afternoon and Hatter lay snuggled up with Elly, both spent, just nuzzling and cuddling in the aftermath. The door crashed open and before Hatter could move, he felt the sharp sting of a whip across his back.

Rolling off the bed, he was up and had hold of the hand, high in the air still grasped around the handle, ready to bring it down again. It was the Count, Elly's Count.

"No!" She screamed sitting up in bed. "Stop this!"

The Count struggled slightly, enough to see he wasn't going to break Hatter's grip "I told you to be discreet!" He shouted. "You whore!"

"I am…we are!" Elly started to cry, holding the sheet up to cover herself.

"Get out." Hatter said softly, squeezing his hand just a little, just enough to hurt.

The Count winced, glaring at Hatter. "This is MY house! That's MY wife." He wanted to spit on this boy. "If anyone's leaving, it's you!"

Hatter grinned. "Wanna bet?" He laughed. "Now get out and don't come back." He let go of his hand, jerking the whip away from him. "Before I use this on you." Hatter turned back to the bed to comfort Elly. "And I if hear you've hurt Elly…"

The Count laughed bitterly and turned to leave. "You'll be dead by morning."

"Don't bet on it, yeah?" Hatter waited till he left then pulled Elly into his arms. "There, there Luv. It'll be all right."

Two men sat in companionable silence, sharing a hookah.

"So you're gonna trick him."

"On the contrary, I am going to convince him of the necessity of his sacrifice."

"You think he'll willingly agree to go underground and protect the databanks? Take care of the refugees?"

"He will do as he's told, willing or unwilling."

"He's unstable, paranoid."

"What better man to protect our treasure."

"I've made arrangements with one of the Black Market people, calls himself Hatter." Caterpillar opened a book and tucked the bookmark behind his ear, the little boat rocking gently in the water.

"No, not him!" Dodo hissed standing on the edge of the pool. "Anyone but him!"

"You will work with Hatter, trading for food and supplies." Caterpillar ran a finger down the page, searching for his place.

"I won't have anything to do with him!" Dodo looked for something to hit, to smash his fist on.

"He will be delivering a shipment of food later this week." Caterpillar yawned.

"No! You don't know what he's done!" Dodo forced himself not to stomp his foot.

"Your personal issues are of no concern."

"But…" Dodo looked down, thinking furiously.

"Dodo." Calm, always so calm and methodical. "This is not about you."

"He's a thief and a liar! A wastrel! A two-faced conman!"

"Then it's up to you to make sure we don't get cheated."

"I won't-" Dodo's face twisted into a mask of hate.

Caterpillar took a slow puff on the hookah and glanced up at Dodo. "You will do as you're told."

Dodo swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth. Caterpillar might look like a mild and harmless little man behind those glasses, but he was as ruthless as the Queen. More so, as he had the reputation of dealing efficiently with people. Dodo would take his chances with the Queen, but he wouldn't cross Caterpillar.

"I want to go outside and breathe clean air. It's been too long since I've seen trees and the grass."

"It's too dangerous. I'll have someone send you a tree for your office."

"But…Cate-"

"Don't use that name in public!"

"Sorry." Dodo looked around, afraid to say the Hospital of Dreams was hardly public.

"If there's nothing else." Caterpillar took another long puff. "Go back through the tunnels and make sure no one sees you."

Hatter sauntered in and plopped down in the chair across from the big desk. With a sigh he put his feet up on a short stack of books on the edge of the desk.

Dodo glared and knocked Hatter's feet down. "Show some respect."

Hatter grinned and tipped his hat back a bit. This should be fun. Poking a caged possum with a stick. He laughed out loud.

"Here's how this is gonna work." Hatter picked up a book and flipped through it. "I'll send you a message, you'll send someone with my cut, and he can look over the goods." He'd read this one. "If you want them delivered, that'll be extra."

"If you had any common decency, you'd supply us for free." Dodo snatched the book out of Hatter's hand and laid it carefully back on his desk. "Leave the books alone. What'd you know about books."

"Free? Nothing's free." Hatter shook his head. "I have expenses… cost of goods, bribes…that sort of thing."

"You should be thankful, you're being allowed this chance to work against the Queen. But, oh, you probably love the Queen and her degenerate methods."

Hatter looked up at him and Dodo blinked at the look of hatred in his eyes. "No." He said softly. "I might take a job for her, I might take a job for you…but I work for me. I don't love anybody."

"Damn you! We don't need your help!" Dodo shouted slamming his fist down on his desk causing everything to jump. "You're despicable!"

"Then starve. " Hatter shrugged. "It's all the same to me."

Dodo fumed. He was trapped and he knew it. "Fine. We'll do it your way. For now."

"Figured you see it my way." Hatter stood to go. "I'm not in this for my health. I don't get involved in lost causes."

"One of these days…" Dodo trailed off. "You'll get what's coming to you."

"Maybe so, but it won't be from you, old man." Hatter laughed.

"It sickens me to have to deal with you." Dodo said vehemently. "I hate you!"

"Yeah? Ain't life grand?" Hatter grinned and walked to the door. "How's Elly?"

AN: Dodo really hated Hatter, resented him. Seemed a lot more going on than just Dodo dealing with a two-faced con. Dodo was full of rage and didn't hesitate to shoot Hatter. He really enjoyed beating the crap out of him in the corridor. Didn't seem to be too much in control… I mean, come on, Duck and Owl? Two very incompetent lieutenants.

For Elly's story...see A Dish Served Cold

Sorry this one is so short. Hope you like it. Please R&R