Thursday

Lindsey awoke at about 11 the next day. She dressed in jeans and a yellow tank top and multicolored toe socks. Then she tromped downstairs to the garage where she figured everyone else would be. But there were only two people sitting at the bar. She froze.

Gohan grinned at her and extended his coffee mug in her direction. "Want some cappuccino?"

Lindsey blinked.

"I didn't spit in the machine this time," Xander assured her.

"Wh . . . how . . . why . . .?" she stammered.

"I guess that just leaves out where and who, doesn't it?" Gohan cracked.

Xander chuckled.

Lindsey stared at them dumbfounded.

Gohan set his mug on the bar and walked towards her. He wrapped his strong arms around her. "He explained everything," he whispered to her. "Neither of us is mad at you. I should've let you explain."

Lindsey buried her face into his chest. "I shouldn't have kept it a secret. I'm so sorry."

Gohan squeezed her tightly. "I think we were both wrong to some extent."

Lindsey looked up at him. "Me more than you."

Gohan snickered. "Probably."

Lindsey fake-gasped and hit his arm.

Xander grinned. "I told you you'd have your hands full with her."

Lindsey's eyes went wide and her stomach heaved. "What . . . exactly . . . DID you guys talk about?"

Xander shrugged. "Everything."

"Define everything."

"Well, I told him how much you like that one move where I take your . . ."

"No you didn't!" Lindsey shrieked, cutting him off.

Xander laughed.

"You didn't . . ." Lindsey begged.

Xander shook his head. "No, I didn't."

Lindsey sighed in relief.

"What was that?" Gohan asked playfully.

"The two of you are going to make my life hell now, aren't you?"

The two boys grinned at each other.

"That's not a yes," Gohan said.

"That's a hell yes," Xander finished.

Lindsey plopped down on the ground beside the bar and softly banged her head against it over and over. "I hate my life."

Gohan ignored her and returned to his cappuccino. "Just make sure my mom doesn't find out."

Lindsey groaned and hit her head one last final time.

"Maybe she knocked herself out," Gohan said.

"One can only wish," Xander answered, as he took another drink.

*~*~*~*~

Lindsey and the other Z-Girls stood outside the warehouse, wearing their light jackets. It was a cool day - they could've gone without them if they wanted to. The whole group had wondered back into the field behind the warehouse to a place where the ground dropped off quickly.

Several of the boys held cameras.

"Okay, Tumbler, what's the deal with this?" Yorgi asked.

"Well, you guys have seen that MTV Show, Jackass, right?" Tumbler said, grinning.

"Oh Lord," Sophie muttered.

"Well, they say that they're professionals," Tumbler said. "But who the hell is professionally trained to run around Tokyo in a Panda Costume?"

He received a few snickers from his crowd.

"So," he continued. "I have concluded that we can produce our own episodes for our own personal viewing pleasure. I need a volunteer." He grabbed one of the big garbage barrels from the nearby pile of "toys".

"I'll do it!" Kip volunteered. He stepped forward, holding his video camera to his side.

"Get in," Tumbler said. "Mirror Man, stand on the side of the hill down there and tape him rolling down it."

Mirror Man followed orders.

Just then a car pulled up. A few heads turned to glance at it, but then they returned to staring at the idiotic daredevils.

Kip jumped into the barrel and turned on his camera.

"What's going on?" someone asked.

The Z-Girls turned to see Goku and gang standing behind them.

"Kip's preparing to commit suicide," Catie said calmly.

Goku blinked.

"Don't worry, Dad," Gohan said, walking up. "They said something about not having to be professionals."

"What are they going to do?" Yamcha asked.

"Ready MM?" Tumbler called.

"Crazy ass white people!" Mirror Man shouted. He huffed and set his video cam. "Yeah, I'm ready!"

With a crazy smile, Kip ducked down into the barrel and Tumbler knocked it over to its side.

"Do it!" Toby shouted.

Tumbler grinned and pushed the side of the barrel, sending Kip rolling down the hill.

"Good Lord," Yorgi muttered and walked over to the Z-Girls. "Who is this?"

"This is my dad," Gohan introduced Goku.

"Nice to meet you," Goku said pleasantly, extending a hand in Yorgi's direction.

Yorgi stared at him for a moment, then turned to Kolya. He spoke in Russian, "Why the hell does everyone always think I want to shake their filthy hands the first time I meet them? I hate that."

Kolya shrugged and answered in Russian as well. "Bite him or something."

"Why the hell would I bite him?"

Kolya shrugged again. "He'd never offer to shake hands with you again."

Yorgi laughed. "Da." Then he turned back to them and spoke in English. "Lindsey has never told me about you."

"You never asked," Lindsey said absently as she stared at Bryson getting into one of the barrels.

Yorgi shook his head. "You are a rude bitch."

"And you're a selfish prick."

Yorgi stared at her, his expression unreadable. He walked to her side and shoved her harshly to the ground. He kicked her leg. "Don't mouth off to me like that," he spat. "I grow sick of your shit!"

"Dude, I was playing," Lindsey said with hurt eyes. "I didn't mean . . ."

"You should think more before you speak," Yorgi said loudly. He wasn't yelling, but he was damn close.

"Fine," Lindsey muttered and started to get back to her feet.

Yorgi used his boot to shove her back down. "You stay there. Don't get up."

Lindsey huffed and stayed where she was.

"You little," Leelee started after Yorgi as he walked away.

Xander looped one arm around Leelee's waist and used his other to cover her mouth. "He'd sooner shoot you than look at you," Xander warned in a low voice, his mouth close to her ear. "You leave him alone. Lindsey knows better. You shut up."

Leelee's eyes darkened but she said nothing more.

Goku blinked at Yorgi. "What'd I do?"

Lindsey shook her head. "Nothing. He's just uptight. Don't let him bother you."

"Get up," Vegeta ordered.

"Hell no," Lindsey said. "I'm not getting shot today. Been there, done that, not happening again."

"You've been shot?" Trunks asked.

"Once," Lindsey answered.

"What for?" he asked.

"Stealing a horse," she said and stared out over the field, watching as the boys staggered back up the hill after their rides. "She was abused. My friend's dad was beating her. He asked me to help him rescue her. His dad shot me."

"Where?"

Lindsey lifted the right side of her shirt and pulled down the waist of her jeans. A long scar ran across her hip.

"I got shot once," Sabriena snickered. "In my leg." She lifted the left leg of her jeans and revealed two circular scars, one on either side of her calf. "Kirill shot me."

"I didn't mean to!" he shouted from across the group.

She snickered. "It really didn't hurt as much as you'd think."

Kolya suddenly said in a loud voice, "I wonder if we can roll one of these end-over-end?"

Vegeta covered his face with one hand. "I can't stand the madness," he growled. He let his hand drop to his side. "It's sickening."

For once, Goku agreed with Vegeta.

"Let's go inside," Bulma suggested.

"No!" Lindsey cried, jumping up suddenly. "I . . . uh . . . I mean . . . no, it's so much nicer out here and the inside's all messy and Yorgi wouldn't really be happy if ya'll went inside when it's all messed up."

Everyone seemed to eye her suspiciously.

"What?" she asked, trying to smile.

"Yeah, it's a real mess in there," Gohan said.

"Wait," Krillin said. "You let Gohan inside, but you won't let us inside?"

"He's a teenager," Lindsey said. "He's used to people being messy."

"Are you saying we're old?" Goku said, cocking an eyebrow.

"I'm saying, wouldn't you rather watch my brother kill himself on a hill in a barrel?" she grinned, making a Vanna White type of gesture towards her brother as he jumped into the barrel again.

"I'm getting a headache," Vegeta muttered.

"Then go home," Lindsey said. "I'm gonna try this. Jenny, you wanna give it a go?"

Jenny shook her head. "I'm not feeling my best, Lins. I think I'm just gonna go inside and chill."

Lindsey stared at her for a minute. "Ight."

"I'm goin' in with her," Sabriena announced. "I'm kind'a cold." Together, the two of them walked into the warehouse.

"I'll do it!" Catie volunteered.

"That's the spirit!" Lindsey grinned. The two girls jogged over to the boys and stood by, waiting their turns.

Chichi shook her head. "You're sure she's the one you want to spend you life with?"

Goku snickered.

Gohan blushed. "Yes, Mom. I'm sure."

"Well, whatever you say, Gohan, dear," she muttered.

Gohan grinned. "She's fine. She's just hyped up or something, that's all."

"I'm leaving," Vegeta announced when he saw Catie getting into the barrel. "The level of insanity here is just too painful to bear."