Demons from the Past
by Olivia Sutton
Part 4
Disclaimer: This
fanfic is written for fun, for the enjoyment of other fans, and for
reviews, but never for profit, so please don't sue! Based on the new
(2000-2001) version of Randall and Hopkirk (deceased)starring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, copyright to the BBC
2000-2001. (previous version copyrighted 1969 by ITC).
PLEASE
PLEASE NOTE: the individuals, places, and institutions portrayed
in this story are absolutely fictional,
no real person or persons are meant to be implied or suggested in
this fanfic. Any resemblance to real people, teachers, schools or
anything or anyone else is absolutely a co-incidence and accidental.
Warnings:Again, dealing with adult topics, adult situations, and violence (including the aftermath of violence). Please do not read if easily offended or under-age. This story is reluctantly rated R, no one under 18 admitted without parent or guardian. And if you are under-age, for god's sake don't tell me. 'Nuff said.
Demons from the Past
by Olivia Sutton
Part 4
Jeff woke up with a start, and realised the room was filled with light, he stretched and got up, recognising his own bedroom. How'd I get here? What did I do last night?, he walked into the bathroom and washed his face, then returned to his bedroom to put on a dressing gown, before walking out into the lounge.
Jeannie was asleep on the sofa.
"Jeannie?" Jeff said, seeing her there.
Jeannie rolled and woke up, "Jeff, you're awake."
"Yah, um, Jeannie, what happened last night?"
"You don't remember, Jeff?"
"Not really no. How'd I get here?'
"You were very drunk, last night, Jeff. I took you home."
Jeff nodded, "I was? And? Listen, Jeannie, I really can't remember anything. I didn't do anything, untoward, last night, did I?"
"Not untoward, Jeff, not like you mean, but Jeff... Listen, what is the last thing you remember?"
"Arguing with Marty in a pub," Jeff said automatically.
"Arguing with Marty in a pub? You don't remember the last three months?"
Jeff looked at her, then said, "Did I say Marty? Really? No, I meant... I remember the warehouse, Jeannie, and finding... finding the body. And I remember that I decided to get really drunk, stupid, I know, but I did decide to get drunk, though, so I went into a pub. It's not clear, after that, though. Did I get into a fight?"
"No, not a fight."
"Then what, Jeannie?" Jeff sat down on a chair opposite her, "Would you tell me what I did last night? Because I think I need to know."
Jeannie nodded, "Okay, Jeff, but, well, keep in mind you were drunk. I woke up in the office and it was dark, and you were gone. I found the piece of paper with the warehouse address, and then I listened to your message on the answerphone, but it took me some time to find the warehouse. When I got there, there were police everywhere. I finally found out what had happened, but no one knew where you had gone. Eventually, one of the younger officers said you had said something about a pub. So I started looking, Jeff. I looked in every pub I could find near that warehouse, until I found you."
Jeff nodded, "So, you found me, and I was drunk?"
"You were drunk, you were confused, Jeff. You kept talking about Marty. It took me some time, but I finally convinced you to let me drive you home."
"Oh, so you brought me home, and that was it?"
Jeannie looked at him, "You really don't remember, do you?"
Jeff looked at her, "No, I don't. Jesus, Jeannie, what did I do?"
"Jeff, we were in the car park, and..." Jeannie voice began to shake, "We walked past your car, and suddenly you, you asked about the car, so I told you we'd get it in the morning, and you said, you said, "Would have solved all my problems for me, though". God, Jeff, so I asked you about that inside my car, and you told me... Jeff you flat out told me that, first, you'd been thinking about joining Marty, and second that it was something you'd tried before! God, Jeff, tried before? What did you mean, tried before?"
Jeff looked at her, shocked, "I really said all that?'
"Yes, Jeff, you did. Now talk to me about it."
"Well, I... yes, Jeannie, I attempted suicide. Once. A long, long time ago. And I don't want to talk about it. But I don't know why I'd say I thought about joining Marty? I've never thought like that Jeannie."
"You did make an attempt though?"
"A long time ago, yah. And Marty was there, he saved my life, as it happens. Jeannie, really, I'm fine now. It's definitely not something I like to talk about, but I'm fine now."
"Why would you say you were thinking of joining Marty? Why would you tell me that smashing your car would solve your problems? Jeff, what problems?"
Jeff looked at her, "It has been a very difficult case. I suppose I was drunk. I get very depressed when I drink too much, Jeannie. That's why I seldom have more than a pint or two."
"Jeff, are you sure it isn't more than that?"
"I think so. I mean, I haven't felt right since Sir Worthington came into the office, but I haven't felt that wrong, either. Not so as I'd consider something like, well, like dying, Jeannie. I wouldn't do that do you. Especially now, with a baby coming. I mean, Marty's baby, Jeannie, that's fantastic!"
Jeannie looked at him smiling, so different that the horribly depressed, horribly morose man she'd dealt with the night before. "Jeff, is there anything else you want to tell me?"
"I don't think so. I mean, well, this case has reminded me of some things I went through with Marty, a long, long time ago, but it's..." Jeff left off, then continued "I'm fine, Jeannie, I'm all right. I mean, considering what I saw yesterday. Clive Worthington was only thirteen, after all, and I did find the body, but... Jeannie I'm not going to hurt myself. I don't know why I implied I would, maybe it was because I was so drunk, but I'm okay now. Really."
"Okay, Jeff. Get cleaned up and dressed, and I'll take you out to breakfast, okay?"
"Sure, Jeannie."
A few minutes later, Jeff returned to the living room, dressed, shaved and cleaned-up, "Jeannie, we need to phone the Worthingtons, I never contacted them yesterday and..."
"It's all right, Jeff. I contacted them. Sir Worthington needed to identify Clive's body for the police, he will be over to the office later today. We have time for breakfast."
"Okay, Jeannie, well, I'm ready, we may as well go."
"All right, Jeff."
Jeff and Jeannie returned to the office, and Jeff went straight to his desk, and picked up the phone. He searched the desk, found the piece of paper with Worthington's secretary's name on it and dialed, without even sitting at his desk. Jeff spoke into the phone, nodded a few times, then hung-up the phone, walked around and then sat at his desk.
"Jeff?" asked Jeannie, standing in front of Jeff's desk.
"They're coming, Jeannie, Sir and Lady Worthington are coming here, this afternoon."
"I know, I told you that, Jeff, I took care of it, remember?"
Jeff sighed, "I know, but I wanted to make sure, they will need to know what happened."
"Okay, Jeff," said Jeannie, nodded, then she went and sat at Marty's desk, as she sat, she groaned a bit.
"Jeannie? You all right?"
Jeannie nodded, "I'm fine, ate too much for breakfast, I normally eat light, don't worry so much, Jeff. Listen, remember that photo album you showed me a few days ago? You want to frame some of the pictures?"
"That's a great idea, Jeannie!" Jeff said, smiling, "We need to stay in the office, until the Worthingtons arrive, and I haven't gotten a copy of the coroner's report, not yet. The police may be here sometime today, so..."
"So you're saying, we're stuck in the office and you don't mind brightening the place up a bit?" Jeannie smiled.
Jeff smiled at her, "I told you, I didn't mean it when I snapped at you, Jeannie. And sure, why not, the office could use a little cheering up!" He got up and walked to Marty's desk, and opened the picture album, that had sat there since he'd shown it to her earlier.
Jeannie opened the carrier bag that she'd left on the desk, and took out the frames, then started looking at the pictures with Jeff. "Marty came to live with you when he was fourteen?" she asked.
"Yah, Jeannie," Jeff answered, then he pointed to one of the pictures, "I remember that, we went to one of those silly street carnivals, that was the summer after... the summer after Marty moved in."
Jeannie nodded, then carefully took the picture out and put it in a frame.
Suddenly Marty appeared, "Jeff! Jeff?" he shouted. Then he noticed that Jeannie and Jeff were sitting calmly, perfectly all right, and Marty calmed down.
Jeff looked at Marty, then said to Jeannie, "Keep going through the pictures, Jeannie, I'll be back in a minute, okay?"
Jeannie nodded, flipping through the pages.
Jeff left the inner office, then walked through to the outer office and shut that door, before turning to Marty, "Marty?"
"Sorry, Jeff, your thoughts were very intense! I thought you were in desperate trouble."
"Oh," Jeff nodded, "Sorry, the memories were strong, looking at the pictures. Do you remember that little street carnival, Marty?"
Marty nodded, "I do, Jeff, and I'm sorry. It's all right for you to remember the good times, Jeff, I didn't mean to alarm you when I popped in."
"No, that's okay, Marty, I understand, the last few days, I have been, well, in trouble, when I've thought of you."
Marty nodded, "Do you need to talk to me, Jeff?"
"Probably, but I can't right now, Marty. I mean, I have to speak to Clive's parents, today, and I'll probably need to speak to the police, and I'm actually enjoying going through those pictures with Jeannie, I mean, it's been so long, and it..."
"Feels good to remember?" Marty said, finishing Jeff's sentence.
"Yah, it does, Marty," said Jeff, "I should get back in there, you know."
Marty nodded, "Go on, Jeff, go ahead. It's okay."
"You don't mind?"
"Jeff, I'm happy that you weren't in trouble, all right? For once! Now, go ahead, go back to Jeannie. I really should go back to Wyvern, anyway. I'm still trying to find out what he knows about Jeannie and my baby. He's not telling me sommat, and..."
Jeff nodded, "So we both have things to do. Listen, I'll talk to you soon, all right?"
Marty nodded, smiling, "Don't worry so much, Jeff!" Then he disappeared.
Jeff walked back into the office and to Jeannie.
Jeff sat at his desk in his office, drumming his fingers on the desk.
"Stop that, Jeff," said Jeannie, briskly.
Jeff glared at her, then rose from his desk and began pacing in front of it.
Jeannie glared at him, then got up and put her hand on his arm to stop him from moving, "Jeff, please, sit down."
Jeff nodded and returned to his desk.
"I don't know why you're so nervous, Jeff, it's just a meeting with clients, you'll be fine."
Jeff let out a loud sigh, "I don't know, Jeannie, I don't know how the Worthingtons' are going to react. Not well, I 'spose."
"The police will have told them most everything, Jeff, it's not as if you were breaking the news."
"Yah, but..." said Jeff, when there was a noise from the outer office. Jeannie rose from her desk and went to the door that separated the inner and outer offices, then she opened the door.
"Sir Worthington, Lady Worthington, come in," Jeannie said politely, motioning towards the chairs before Jeff's desk.
Jeff rose from his desk, "Sir Worthington, Lady Worthington, please let me express my deepest sympathies," he said, formally.
Sir Worthington nodded, "Thank you," he said equally as formerly, then he sat in a chair before Jeff's desk. His wife sat at his side.
Jeff and Jeannie each sat down.
Lady Worthington looked at Jeff, then said, "What happened? What happened to our Clive? I don't understand!" She put her gloved hand to her face, and touched it lightly.
Jeff took a deep breath, but Jeannie interrupted before he could speak, "I'm sorry, I am, but surely, the police told you, Lady Worthington?"
Sir Worthington looked towards Jeannie, and moisture came to his eyes, "Patience didn't accompany me to the... to see Clive's..." he took a deep breath, "I went alone, but I told her...I told her some of what happened." He looked at his wife.
Jeff nodded, "Again, I am so sorry. It was my fault, I didn't find him soon enough. I wanted too, believe me, I would have done anything to have found him alive."
Lady Patience looked at Jeff, and nodded, briefly, "I'm sure it wasn't your fault, young man, it was my husband who insisted we wait before contacting anyone."
Sir Worthington worried his lip, then answered his wife, "I'm so sorry. Believe me, Patty, I am. I thought I was doing the best for Clive. I thought I was protecting him."
"Ha!" sneered Lady Patience, "Now, tell me, what happened to my boy?"
Jeff took another deep breath, when Jeannie interrupted him again, "Well, Clive was..."
Jeff interrupted her, "Jeannie, please, let me tell them, all right?"
"You sure, Jeff? It's been so difficult for you."
"Jeannie! Would you like to get us some tea?"
"Not really."
"Then shush, and let me tell them, please," he said to her sharply, then he turned his attention to the older couple before him, "I'm very, very sorry, Sir and Lady Worthington. I, we, went to Abbotts Field Comp, and talked to the headmaster, and a few teachers there. Later we returned to the office, Jeannie was resting and I received a tip. I went to the warehouse and I found Clive. I'm very sorry, but he was already gone when I got there."
Lady Worthington nodded, then said, "And his condition?"
Jeff looked at her, quizzically.
"My husband won't tell me, Mr. Randall, perhaps you will."
Sir Worthington reached a hand over to his wife, "I... I had to identify his body, and I saw... I wanted to spare you knowing, Patty dear."
"And I want to know, I'm his... I was his mother, I have a right to know, Geoffrey."
Jeff looked up, then realised that she was referring to her husband. "All right, I'm sorry, I'm very sorry, but went I found him, your son was naked. He'd been beaten quite badly, I'm afraid."
Lady Worthington nodded.
Sir Worthington took her hand, then whispered, "The police, the medical staff, they told me... he was abused, Patty, our Clive was..."
"I haven't seen a coroner's report, yet, but I think he had been molested, Lady Worthington, the bruises were horrific, and I still haven't gotten the image out of my head," added Jeff.
Lady Worthington nodded again, then burst into tears. Sir Worthington went to her and held her, then helped her to stand. Sir Worthington turned to Jeff, "Thank you, Mr. Randall, for... for trying, anyway. It wasn't your fault, you know."
Jeff nodded, wiping tears from his eyes, and rising from his desk. Jeannie rose as well and joined Jeff and the Worthingtons in the middle of the office.
"I'm sorry," said Jeannie, softly.
"I'm so sorry, I am," said Jeff.
Sir Worthington turned to Jeff, and offered him his hand, "It's all right, thank you."
Jeff nodded, and shook the man's hand.
Lady Worthington looked at Jeff, "Thank you. Thank you for being so forthright with me, and thank you, just thank you," she left off, tears in her eyes.
Sir Worthington put his arm around her shoulders, "Come on, dear, we should leave," he began to steer her towards the way out, saying to Jeff as they left, "Thank you again, thank you both," he said, acknowledging Jeannie at last.
Jeff nodded, watching the couple leave the office, then he returned to his desk and sat.
Jeannie moved to the desk and sat on the edge, "That wasn't so bad, now was it?"
Jeff shook his head, "No, it wasn't," he said simply, "But I... I still feel like it was my fault," he went over to the filing cabinet, opened a drawer, and took out a bottle of whisky, and a glass.
"Jeff, I don't think you should..." Jeannie started.
"I need a drink, Jeannie, don't worry, I'm not planning on getting plastered, but I need a drink."
Jeannie looked at him, then looked at the bottle, then went to the door that led to the outer office, "I'm not going to watch you get drunk, Jeff, I'll be back later."
"I'm not going to get drunk!" Jeff shouted at her, but Jeannie was already leaving. "Fine!" Shouted Jeff, "Leave! I'd rather be alone," but his shouts only echoed in the empty office.
Later that evening
Jeannie returned to the office, slamming open the door and striding into the inner office, "Jeff, Jeff, I'm sorry..." but as she entered the inner office she gasped, "Oh, Jeff."
Jeff stood near the window in the inner office, a glass of whiskey in his hand, then turned from looking out the window and faced Jeannie. "Jeannie when Marty was..." Jeff's eyes filled with tears, he took a deep, steadying breath, and continued, "When Marty was raped, I was only fifteen, Jeannie, and barely fifteen at that. He told me what happened, but I didn't entirely understand, not really. I only knew he was hurt, terribly hurt. In the days and months that followed I learnt more, the counseling sessions, his nightmares..." Jeff broke off, and turned back towards the window.
Jeannie moved closer to him, looking at his back, and saw Jeff was shaking. She went to him, put an arm around his shoulders, and said, "Shush, Jeff, it's okay," she quietly took the whiskey from his hand, and set it on the desk, "You've had enough of that, though."
Jeff turned and fell into her arms, "It was hellish, Jeannie, but Marty survived, just. I had months of counseling, and Marty had more, a year, a solid year. Even then he was plagued by nightmares, but we made it through. We both made it through, we both survived."
"That's right, you did, Jeff," said Jeannie, holding him tight and rubbing his back.
Marty appeared at that moment, and saw Jeff in Jeannie's arms, "Hey, Jeff... that's my fiancée!" said Marty.
Jeff ignored Marty and closed his eyes, "Clive Worthington, oh god, Jeannie. He looked so much like Martyhe was only a year younger than Marty when Marty... when Marty was...oh, god, Jeannie," Jeff began to cry in earnest, his head on Jeannie's shoulder, "Oh my god, Jeannie."
"Jeff? Jeff, man, what is it?" said Marty, looking at his mate in confusion.
"Clive was young and horribly hurt... god," said Jeff, opening his eyes, Jeff shuddered as the images hit him again, "When... when I found him in the disused warehouse, it was as if it were Marty and he hadn't survived. I felt like I was fifteen again," Jeff continued.
Marty looked at Jeff, "No, Jeff, man..."
"I don't understand, Jeff," said Jeannie, letting him go.
"It was... I saw... I felt almost as if Clive were Marty. Finding the body... everything. It was like with Marty, or what could have been Marty. Oh, I'm not making any sense."
Marty shuddered and looked at Jeff intently, "No, no Jeff, no... Jeff..."
"You're making perfect sense, Jeff," said Jeannie.
"It was a long time ago," Jeff said, then backed up away from her to lean back against the window sill, then looking at Marty he added, "I don't think I'll ever forget..."
Jeannie realised that Jeff was talking about Marty, and not the body he'd found in the disused warehouse. "And it was a horrible shock, someone no one at that age should have to go through. Jesus, Jeff, what you must have gone through, and what Marty went through!"
Jeannie moved away and sat at Marty's desk, she turned towards the desk and picked up the photograph she had framed earlier that day. The photograph showed Jeff and Marty at a carnival at night, both were smiling and happy, though she could see shadows in Jeff's eyes, and the hint of something dark in Marty's. "Jeff, listen," Jeannie said quietly, staring at the photograph, "Marty told me everything when we got engaged..."
"I know that, Jeannie, you told me, remember?"
"I know, Jeff, but, you don't realise, it was quite a shock. I always knew he was hiding something from his past... but I never imagined... not in my wildest dreams... Jeff, I had never even imagined he'd been through something as awful as all that," Jeannie paused, then turned to look into Jeff's eyes, "Maybe I'm a bit thick, but I just realised, it must have been horrible for you as well."
Jeff sighed, "At the time, me only concerns were for Marty, and protecting him," He looked at Marty, who was stood next to Jeannie, "Getting him out of that house, away from that... monster. I was so scared for him that... nothing else registered, nothing." Jeff looked at Jeannie and continued, "Nothing was as important as being there for Marty, not just the night he told me, but for months afterwards. Even years later, he still had bad nights, Jeannie," Jeff pulled a hand through his hair, "Nothing was more important to me than being there for him, protecting him. Jeannie - Marty was me best mate!" Jeff stated, looking at her as if to state that settled everything.
"Jeff, listen, I know you can't answer me with Jeannie here, but listen, Jeff. You saved me, do you understand? I couldn't have coped on me own," Marty moved closer to Jeff, and reached out, stopping just before touching his shoulder, "Oh, Jeff, man, you can't feel so guilty."
Jeannie nodded, "I know, Jeff, I know."
Jeff turned away, from Jeannie and Marty, and looked out the window at the painting on the blank wall, then whispered, "I miss him."
Jeannie got up from the desk chair and walked to his side, then gently touched his arm, "What did you say, Jeff?"
"I said, I miss him, Jeannie, I miss him, terribly."
Marty watched Jeff, pain in his eyes.
"I miss him, too, Jeff," Jeannie answered, putting her arm around his shoulders.
Jeff shook her hand off and turned around, "Sometimes I still talk to him, Jeannie, but I miss... I miss having him here, real contact, you know? I mean..."
"I know, Jeff, I know."
"Jeff, I'm doing the best I can, I wish we could have saved that boy, I wish you hadn't had to go through that. And I can't tell you..." Marty stopped, then sat on his desk, "Jeff, I never thought I'd say this, but could you get rid of Jeannie so we can talk? Maybe I'm... Am I hurting you more by being a ghost, Jeff?"
Jeff nodded briefly at Marty with his eyes, then said to Jeannie, "Look, Jeannie, I need to be by myself for a little while."
"Jeff, you really shouldn't be alone, right now, you're far too upset."
Jeff spun on his heel towards the window and groaned, Marty materialised in front of him and he gave Marty a look, then he set his shoulders and turned back to Jeannie, "I'll be all right, Jeannie, but I need to be on me own for a bit. I need to be alone."
"Jeff..."
Jeff moved towards her and put a hand on her shoulder, "C'mon, please Jeannie, you don't need to worry about me, I'll be fine, just let me be."
"If you're sure... Look, Jeff, I... I don't want to leave you like this, but if you're sure. Listen," she said, putting a hand on his arm, "If you need to talk, if you want someone here, even if you, can't sleep, or anything you need, phone me? All right, Jeff?"
"I will, Jeannie, now just go," Jeff said quietly.
Jeannie nodded, then moved towards the door, when she reached the door to the outer office she stopped, "Jeff... After last night, are you sure you want to be alone?"
"I'm sure, Jeannie, please, don't worry, I'm okay, I just, I need some time alone, to think, all right?"
Jeannie looked at him intently, then nodded, "Okay, but you'll phone me if you need anything?"
"Yah," Jeff said, aloud, then he whispered, "go Jeannie," then he said, "I'm fine. Just go, let me be, all right?"
Jeannie nodded and left the office.
"I thought she'd never leave. Jeff, man, Jeff..." said Marty.
"Marty, don't leave me, all right? Please... don't talk about not being a ghost any longer. Because I don't know if I could stand not having you here at all, even as a ghost. Marty, I..." Jeff left off.
Marty sat on the desk in front of Jeff, "Jeff... Jeff... I'm sor..."
"And so help me, if you apologise one more time, Marty..."
Marty looked at him and tears welled up in his eyes, "You meant what you said to Jeannie, you do miss me, don't you, Jeff?"
Jeff nodded, "Yah, I do, Marty."
Marty looked at him, wishing for just one minute that he could hold or touch his mate. "Jeff, listen, the boy's death was not your fault."
Jeff looked at Marty and nodded, "It was...I should've..."
"Jeff, you did everything you could. Nothing could have prevented Clive Worthington's death; there was nothing you could have done. As for me... Jeff you saved me. You must realise that! You and your mum and dad gave me the only stable family life I ever knew. Jeff..."
Jeff looked up, "Yah, what is it?"
Marty closed his eyes, "I never told you this, never thought I would, but, I... that night, that night on the playground, at school. You know what I," Marty took a deep breath, then finished, "I almost killed myself, Jeff."
"Oh, no, Marty, no, you wouldn't have... I know you, and you wouldn't have gone through with it."
"I almost did... and if, if it had happened a second time, I would have... somehow... so help me, Jeff, I would NOT have survived it. I couldn't have gone through a second rape at the hands of that monster. I've always known that."
Jeff paled, "Marty, no..."
Marty nodded, closing his eyes, "So there's no need for you to feel so guilty, my death wasn't your fault, Jeff. I don't blame you. I never, ever blamed you, Jeff, believe that. You saved my life. If it weren't for you, you and your mum, your family..." Marty opened his eyes, and looked at Jeff, "I... Jeff, man, me mate, I...You saved my life, Jeff, and I... the way I feel, it's..."
"I know what you're trying to say, Marty, and I feel the same way. You saved my life, too, Marty. You did. You are the other half of my soul, and I..." Jeff paused, "I love you, Marty, as a mate, I mean."
Marty nodded, "I love you, Jeff... and I won't stand by and look at you destroying yourself with guilt over something that couldn't have been helped. By the time Sir Worthington contacted you, Clive was already as good as dead. I'm sorry, Jeff, but it's the truth. You have nothing to feel guilty about. It wasn't your fault. What you need to do, is, Jeff, is you need to catch the bloke that did it, and stop him from hurting anyone else at that school."
Jeff nodded, "Marty would you really have..." Jeff took a deep breath and finished, "...gone through with it?"
"Oh, I shouldn't have told you. I did not tell you that to hurt you, or to scare you with what might have been. But, yes, Jeff, the answer to your question is, and I'm glad it never came to that, believe me, but the answer is, yes. It's part of how I was able to become a ghost. Wyvern... Wyvern was never very forthright on the subject, but I managed to piece together a few things on me own in Limbo."
"Oh, Marty, I am sorry."
"NOT your fault, Jeff, not something for you to feel sorry about."
"Still, Marty..."
"Just remember, you saved me, Jeff, please remember that."
Jeff nodded again, "We need to find the bloke responsible for Clive's death, don't we Marty?"
"YES, Jeff, what do you think I've been trying to tell you?"
Jeff nodded, his expression set with determination.
Marty nodded, "Go after him, Jeff."
"I will, Marty, I will," Jeff answered, grimly.
