--I still don't own anyone but Gabe and Edith. Thought I'd mention, too, that this one is obviously going to be longer than the other two. ...just thought you'd like to know. ^_^;--

Broadway is dark tonight
Little bit weaker than it used to be
Broadway is dark tonight
See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
Waitin' for his turn to die
--
from Broadway by The Goo Goo Dolls

Gabe wheeled Micah into the dining room five short minutes later. The Garretts were already at the table; Lacey glared at them as they entered, but the rest of them just shifted uncomfortably. Edith was absent, supposedly out exploring Hemmingford. Micah wasn't sure exactly what there was to explore in Hemmingford, but he didn't ask questions.
"I made casserole," Angela said pleasantly, and began spooning out some lumpy-looking brown stuff onto Danny's plate.
"Looks great," Micah murmured, trying to be courteous. Truthfully, it looked like something he'd seen once in a pig trough. Gabe sat beside him and flashed a smile around the table.
"Thanks for letting us stay at the Bed 'N Breakfast," she said politely. Garrett stabbed his casserole and shoved the bite into his mouth.
"No trouble at all, Miss Sterling. It's the least we could do, dragging you down to No-Man's Land." Micah picked up his fork to push the food around on his plate.
"Hasn't changed much," he said quietly, then glanced up as another chair scraped across the floor. It was Jedediah, grinning sheepishly as he joined the rest of the table.
"Sorry," Jed said apologetically. "I got kinda sidetracked. Ruth was tramping around in the garden again."
"Again?" Angela sat down and pushed the casserole dish towards Jedediah. "I thought you told her not to do that just yesterday!" The brown haired boy shrugged, eagerly shoveling a bite of casserole into his mouth.
"I did. Apparently, it slipped her mind. Again." Garrett snorted over his plate.
"Slippery as her mind is, she needs to remember that there are rules here." Micah smiled to himself. He wasn't even sure Ruth had a mind.
"Maybe Micah better tell her," Jedediah suggested through a mouthful of food. His eyes flicked towards Micah, who had frowned at the mention of his name. "I'm sure she'd listen then." Jed's face was complacent, but Micah didn't like the coolness behind it.
"What makes you so sure?" he asked quietly. Jed shrugged again.
"She listened to you quite well before." Micah's frown deepened; this didn't sound at all like his old friend.
"Drop it, Jed," he said softly. Jedediah's face twitched into a slight smirk.
"Sure thing, Micah." He stabbed at his casserole, paused, then glanced up at Gabe. "So, Gabe," he began slowly, pushing the food around on his plate, "how did you meet Micah?"
"I thought we told you about this already, Jedediah," murmured Garrett.
"We did," Danny said quietly. Jedediah waved a hand at them, eyes remaining on Gabe.
"I wanted to hear it from her." Micah felt his frown turn into a glare. Old friend or not, he didn't like the way Jed was staring at Gabe.
"Well--" Gabe glanced up, saw the four or five gazes on her, and blushed a faint pink. "--from what I heard, some travelers found Micah injured in a cornfield near here, and they brought him to Central Hospital in St. Cecilia, where I live." She offered a small smile. "I work at Central, and I was his nurse. The rest is history, I s'ppose." Micah nodded a little, wanting the conversation to end soon. Jed still had his eyes locked on Gabe.
"Yeah," Micah said, watching Jedediah carefully. "Can we talk about something else?" The older boy paused, then finally glanced at Micah. Gabe sighed, happy to be out of the spotlight.
"What else would you like to talk about, Micah?" Jed asked quietly. There was definite venom behind his voice, and Micah didn't like it. He stiffened a little.
"Stop being an ass," he murmured, and the Garretts shifted uncomfortably. Jedediah just offered a thin smile.
"Yes, sir." He looked down to his plate, silent at last. Micah glanced around the table discreetly; everyone looked uncomfortable, aside from Lacey, who was smirking at the ceiling. Apparently, she enjoyed the little conversation that had just taken place. Micah wanted to smack the smirk off her face -- as well as perform a suitable punishment for Jedediah -- but it wouldn't go over well, especially not on his first night in Hemmingford. He lowered his eyes and remained silent. Danny coughed into his hand to ease the tension.
"Good casserole, Mom," he murmured. They ate the rest of lunch in silence.

Micah scowled as he wheeled into the empty living room.
"I didn't like it," he said sullenly. Gabe ambled along behind him, taking a seat in an armchair.
"He was a little... forward," she agreed, "but nothing to be upset about, Micah." He ran a hand through his hair and scowled.
"Gabe, he stared at you all during dinner! And what about that--"
"Micah." She leaned forward and placed her hand gently over his. "Forget him for a while, okay? I think we've had this discussion before. About being jealous?" Micah snorted quietly, but Gabe smiled and went on. "Look, we've been here for half a day and already you're getting yourself all worked up. Chill." He chewed his lower lip slightly, then grinned a little.
"I'm chilled. Frozen, actually." Gabe laughed quietly.
"Don't get too cold," she murmured, and wiggled her eyebrows. Micah snickered into his hand.
"Fine, fine. You've got me in a better mood." He smiled and brought her hand to his lips, kissing it lightly. "Happy now?"
"Oh, quite," Gabe said pleasantly, and jerked her hand away. "But I don't think you deserve any dessert." Micah pursed his lips into a playful pout.
"I've been a good boy," he said, grabbing for her hand again. Gabe snickered and danced away.
"Not until you talk to Jed later." Micah's teasing scowl turned into a real one.
"With the way he's been acting?" he asked incredulously. "Be serious!"
"I am." Gabe backed into the doorframe and gave him a sultry look. "And until you make up with this friend of yours and find out what's bothering him, you'll be seriously alone -- romantically speaking." Micah whined playfully, wheeling towards her.
"But that's not fair!" Gabe scampered away into the next room.
"I never said it was," she called, and giggled softly. Micah rounded the corner.
"Gabe," he complained, then stopped as his wheelchair bumped into Gabe's legs. She smiled down at him and dropped to a knee.
"Talk to him," she said, tone firm. Micah scrunched his face up in frustration.
"But--"
"Micah," she said deliberately, and pressed her lips to his in a tender kiss.
(that's nice)
Micah brought up his hands to hold her face gently, but Gabe pulled away too fast.
"Talk to him," she repeated. He stared at her, then sighed in defeat.
"Oh, fine." Micah leaned back in his chair, defeated. "I'll talk to Jed."
"Thank you, sweetheart." Gabe gave him another kiss, but it was quick and unsatisfactory. She must've noticed the disappointment in his face, because she grinned and ruffled his hair. "You'll get more after you talk to Jedediah." Micah wheeled towards the dining room, where he thought Jed was probably waiting.
"Christ. I feel like a trained dog." Gabe giggled softly behind him, not moving from the living room.
"Maybe if you bark a little, I'll throw in a biscuit or two." He pushed the door open with the palm of his hand.
"Ha, ha. Funny." There was a pause as he struggled through the doorway.
"Be nice," Gabe added gently. Micah hesitated, then laughed again. There was no mirth there.
"Sure thing."

Jedediah was waiting at the table.
"Hey," he said simply. Micah heard the door close behind him. He wheeled closer to the table.
"What the hell were you doing at lunch?" he demanded, and bumped into one of the chairs.
(Woah. You heard Gabe. Chill, Captain Conniption.)
Jedediah smiled calmly.
"A little on edge, are we?" Micah crossed his arms tightly over his chest.
"I have plenty of reasons to be," he said thinly, and scowled. "What is your problem, Jedediah? You're acting like such a jackass--"
"Look who's talking," Jed said, tone cool. "You just come back when you decide that you want to--"
"Garrett dragged me back here!" Micah clenched his teeth hard enough to hurt. "Don't make it seem like all this is my fault! I never wanted to come in the first place!" Jedediah tilted his head slightly, brown brows meeting in an angry scowl.
"Now Hemmingford is too good for you?" he asked softly. Micah shook his head in disbelief.
"What is your freaking problem, Jed?" He paused, then added, "I need to talk to Naomi and see what's really been going on with you. She'll tell me why you're acting like you've got a stick up your ass." Jedediah stiffened immediately; Micah noticed.
"Naomi's dead," Jed said softly. Micah's frown immediately withered.
"Oh--" He flushed a faint pink, realizing that it was him who'd been acting like an ass. "--oh, Jed, I'm so sorry--"
"Part of the cornfield had caught on fire," Jed murmured, eyes lowered. His cold complacence had disappeared, leaving him quiet and vulnerable. Micah shifted uncomfortably in his chair, already regretting his insults. "She got trapped in the confusion, and they were all running all over the place--" He paused, voice cracking, but continued. "--and I -- I couldn't find her, so I ran--" Micah wheeled closer and put his hand on Jed's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. Jedediah squeezed his eyes closed.
"When we found her," he whispered, "she was black, Micah, she was completely black--" The older boy leaned forward and put his face in his hands, shaking with silent tears. Micah screamed at himself mentally.
(You moron! Bringing up the subject of his dead little sister, and insulting him, calling him an ass -- you're an ass, you insensitive prick. You're the ass here.)
He rubbed Jed's shoulder soothingly with the flat of his palm.
"I'm sorry, Jed," he murmured. After a moment, Jedediah straightened and hurriedly wiped his face.
"I'm okay, it's okay. I'm fine. I'm fine." He let out a slow breath. "I'm fine." Jed smiled weakly. "I'm real sorry for being such a moron, Micah. I've been kind of... stressed lately."
"It's my fault, too," Micah insisted, pulling back his hand. "Look, Jed, I'm not gonna be here for a long time, so we might as well be civil to each other, right?" Jedediah offered an apologetic grin.
"All right," he agreed, then paused. His face clouded over slightly. "Just one more thing." Micah noticed the sudden change of mood and felt a frown twitch his brows.
"Okay, what's that?" Jed crossed his arms slowly over his chest.
"Gabe." Micah immediately stiffened, fingers tightening around the armrests of his chair. It was not a subject he would discuss with much understanding.
"What about her?" he asked coolly. Jed scratched at his head.
"She's your girlfriend?" His friendly air had evaporated, as had Micah's patience.
"Yes," he said through clenched teeth.
"Micah," Jedediah said, leaning forward on his elbows, "she's an outlander." Micah felt a hot flare of anger rise in his chest.
"You're going too far, Jed," he whispered. He had absolutely no right to judge anyone, as far as Micah was concerned. Dead sister or not.
"No, I think you are." Jedediah stood up and began to walk in a lazy circle around the dinner table. "There are plenty of girls here you could've picked, all blessed by He Who Walks Behind The Rows! Sure, maybe not Ruth, but Esther and Jezebel--"
"I don't love Ruth or Esther or Jezebel!" Micah wheeled towards the door. Enough was enough; maybe this boy had been his friend once, but exceptions could be made if this was the way he was going to act. "I'm in love with Gabe! I'm sorry if that doesn't fit in with your plan of Utopia, Jed, but frankly -- I don't give a damn!" Jedediah was quiet; Micah pushed his wheelchair through the doorway and was unsuccessful. He tried again, but the wheels were wedged awkwardly in the wooden frame. "Stupid door," he spat.
"Love," Jed said thoughtfully, "or lust?" Micah gave the chair another hard push, taking his anger out on the wheels. It was still jammed firmly in the doorway.
"Don't make it sound like a sin," he snarled, and tried again. "Jed, I'm sorry about Naomi. I really am. But all this --" Micah turned to glare at him over his shoulder. "--it's over, Jed, over. Don't get your hopes up; no matter what Ruth's been squawking about, I'm not bringing Him back. Gabe and I are happy." He finally squeezed through the doorway and began wheeling down the hall. Jedediah watched after him.
"Are you really?" he murmured.
"Jed," Micah said softly, halting the chair for only a moment, "we're doing the news story to get Garrett off my back. And then we're going home." Jedediah shrugged, then smirked.
"Good luck." Micah glared at him for one long, painfully silent moment, then finally wheeled out the front door and to the porch. He thought he heard Jed add under his breath, "You're going to need it."