This is the first part in a Georgia/Rube untitled series.
Please R&R.
Disclaimer: Dead like me and its characters are the creation of Bryan Fuller et al. and are copy written under MGM/Showtime/etc. No infringement of their rights is intended. The stories written under the penname Gabigail, however, do belong to me. None of my work is written for profit and is intended for entertainment purposes only.
Summer's Sweet Caress
Let me tell you a story. A story about a young, honey haired, brown eyed, eighteen-year old girl, cusping on adulthood. Not knowing the fundamentals, who I am, what I want to be, or if I want to be. Normally, one would have their lifetime to figure all of that out. Let me just say that I'm not that lucky, or maybe I am, despite the fact that the whole lifetime thing for me actually ends up being only eighteen years.
My first day in the real world turns out to be my last. I awake with the usual pleasantries with my mother, her basically yelling at me to get a move on because Delores Herbig, the lady at the temp agency, called with a job for me. If I recall the last words my mother said to me were, and I quote, "there's going to be a funeral if you don't get your ass out of bed." I'm sure she was pretty sorry for saying such an awful thing, but I will never truly know.
The event of my death happens on my lunch break. This odd guy asks me the time, and then my middle name or something. I'm not quite sure. All I know is that I trip over this frog, stumble up the steps, and see this flaming thing, which later I find out to be a zero g toilet seat from the Space Station MIR, just before it hits me.
"Aw shit!" I recall exclaiming. Apparently some idiot made a mistake in the calculation and what was supposed to end up in the Pacific Ocean; basically ploughs me into the pavement. I don't suppose it's a pretty sight for onlookers. The oddest thing at that moment is it should have been the end, but I quickly realise that no one notices me as I madly pace back and forth muttering something to the effect of this isn't happening as some guy runs through me as he attempts to help those who need it. Great! I'm dead! Believe me, I go through all the stages that one might go through.
"Hey dead girl. Hold on there a minute." I hear his voice before I actually see him. I think he's around his late thirties, possibly early forties; he wears a sweater and slacks. That's Rube; he's un-dead and will become my un-dead boss. Then I see this beautiful, almost angelic, curly haired brunette wearing this amazing sky blue satin dress with a matching long organza scarf. I find out that her name is Betty. She quickly replaces my 'lost' ask me my name, nametag.
"This belongs to you." She says sweetly with a gentle smile as she places it where it once resided. It's strange, but I feel comfortable with them, almost as though I belong, which is a weird feeling, seeing that I never fit in before.
Hoping to ease my transition from alive to un-dead, Rube thinks it best for me to witness my own autopsy, which might I add is the most morbid thing one can experience. Not only that, but what makes it that much harder is the realization that the coroner doing the autopsy will be the first man to touch my naked body. How much does that royally suck? I sneer at Rube when he adds that I have to hang around until my physical body has been laid to rest.
As if the experience of witnessing my own autopsy isn't bad enough, attending my wake is quite the eye opener. My mother as usual holds herself together quite well, until the arrival of a bouquet of balloons arrives. My father is on autopilot and I'm pretty sure the guy who just embraced him wasn't just a friend either. The world around me seems to stop as my eyes fall upon my little sister Reggie. It's then that I actually see her for the first time and follow her up to my bedroom where she conceals herself in what once was my closet. As I sit watching her for the longest time and can see the sadness in her eyes, it becomes apparent that it is I who is the invisible sister.
The evening air is fragranced with flowers in retrospect I wish I had taken more time to appreciate the things that I now realize I've taken for granted. Like being alive for starters. I sit myself upon the shoulder height stone wall that fronts my family's home, Rube leans casually against the wall beside me.
"So what's next?" I ask. "Onward and upward?" I ask, thinking that this is the conclusion of this is your life.
"Onward not upward. No pearly gates for you, no choirs or angels neither.
"You dick, you're sending me to hell?"
"Don't flatter yourself, you're not that interesting." He pauses in thought. "You little dead girl are going to be a grim reaper." I don't know if his words actually fall on deaf ears, or it really takes me that moment for them to sink in.
"Huh?" my only response. Great! A job offer without a choice, I can't believe this! I think as we make our way down the street.
We arrive at this place called Der Waffle Haus; it's a very interesting restaurant that reminds me of the Sound of Music even though the name implies its German. There's this stone fireplace over on the far wall that has this really cheesy coo-coo clock over it. The high ceilings are in a dark wood that is carried on to the booths dividers and onto the laminated tabletops, but is brightened with an interesting colour scheme, orange and cream walls, with pea green vinyl booth seats and cream and brown tartan counter stools. We sit at a booth beside the large window and I cannot help but find the yodeling music playing in the background annoying. Rube sits across from me with Betty. The waitress takes his order and turns to me. Wait a minute. Turns to me? I wonder how she can possibly see me.
"Order something will you. Before she thinks you're retarded." He says with a smile.
"I'll have what he's having." I say quickly without thought. Betty finishes applying her deep ruby lipstick with the aid of a butter knife.
"Nothing for me, I have an appointment downtown." She announces, "I hope it's not another hooker." She adds under her breath before leaving us to eat. That's the short story of how I became a grim reaper. Swear to god.
Fast forward a bit to a month later, and you would think that it would get easier, but somehow I still don't think I'm ever going to get the hang of it. In fact, it seems to me to be getting more difficult with time. This morning I will meet up again with the gang, have breakfast at the waffle house, get my Post-it and fulfil an unknown service to society.
The bell over the door signals my entrance to Der Waffle Haus. I quickly scan the restaurant and immediately spot Rube sitting in his usual corner at our usual table, but I don't see any of the others. Its funny how he always knows it's me and pretends not to notice until I slip into the vacant seat in front of him.
"Good morning." I say with a smile. He looks up and smiles at me, something that he normally doesn't do, but this morning he seems different. I'm not exactly sure why. Who cares? The sun is shinning and summer is in full swing, how can I not be happy?
"Morning Peanut." He replies as he finishes filling in the empty boxes in the word puzzle he's working on. I scoop the entertainment section and quickly scan through the headlines. When I look up he's almost staring at me again. What? I think to myself feeling a bit self-conscious as if I have some sort of weird growth sticking out of my head or something.
"Where is everyone?" I ask, not really wanting to sit across from him in silence while I mull over the menu.
"Oh, they'll be here." He says in a fairly pleasant tone. As if on cue Mason, Roxy and Daisy arrive at the same time, which is pretty unusual.
"Morning luv." Mason says with a smile as he scoots me over so he and Daisy can sit on my side of the table, leaving the seat beside Rube empty for Roxy to sit. Usually that's my place to sit. I think it's because Mason and Daisy are afraid of Rube. Mason snatches the menu from me and looks at its contents, while Roxy opens the one that Rube had left for whoever wanted it on the table.
"Georgia, you didn't wake me this morning." Daisy says with a slight pout on her raspberry painted lips.
"I was actually up pretty early and went for a run to clear my mind. When I got back, I took a quick shower and headed over. I didn't make enough noise?" I ask with astonishment in tone because I know how many times and how loud I cursed when I stubbed my toe on the table in the upstairs hallway, which just happens to be between my bedroom and the bathroom. I'm thinking I should move it.
"No, I didn't hear you at all, you're pretty quiet when you want to be." She replies and puts the menu down as Kiffany arrives to take our orders. "I'll have whole wheat toast, no butter and plain yogurt with strawberries and pineapple." She says sweetly. Mason takes a deep breath as though he has just closed his eyes and wherever his finger lands is his order.
"Combo number five." He smiles brightly, "and could I get a glass of that freshly squeezed orange juice." He adds. Kiffany finishes taking the rest of our orders and heads back to the kitchen. Rube folds his puzzle up and puts in on the floor under the table with the rest of his newspaper. He leans forward, resting his hands on the tabletop and looks at us. This can't be good, I think as I suddenly feel as though I'm slowly shrinking in my seat, or at the very least wishing I could. His warn brown leather day planner, held closed with an elastic band, sits just beside his left elbow waiting for him to open and give us our appointments, but today he appears to take great pleasure in prolonging the inevitable.
Kiffany returns with our orders and sets them in front of us with her usual smile. Mason quickly digs in, chomping away seemingly obviously to the fact that we still don't have our Post-its. Maybe he doesn't really care whether or not he gets one; just that it's a slight inconvenience in between whatever it is that he enjoys doing. Funny thing is, as long as I've known him; I've never really known him. Sure, we've hung out sometimes, but nothing really outside of reaper business, which to my dismay is much like the rest of the crew, an observation that I have to include Daisy in even though we are roommates.
But I shall exclude Rube from this general observation because for the most part, he's the only one that I actually spend the most time with in between assignments. Nay, it's business, but still he's been the one to help me through the transition, the one who listens when I need to scream at the top of my lungs, and he's always there no matter how much I piss him off.
I'm not sure if its because he feels that I still need a babysitter and the others don't want the job, or that he wants to be sure that I'm not going home again, that I make the break from life to un-life; I'm still not sure, but this day seems no different from the rest. Except that we have a group reap and there are very few instances that this happens. To my dismay it's another wedding. How depressing is that?
I cannot help but frown when I think about the last group appointment we had. It too had been a wedding, very close to my becoming a reaper, and I had to reap the soul of a schizophrenic guy who I actually thought was a lot more sane then the average person. I had to get rid of my dress because every time I looked at it, I felt horrible. He had been my first un-dead kiss, which increased the emotional difficulty in reaping his soul when the time came.
My train of thought is interrupted by the supposed center of the universe.
"Post-it please." Daisy says after finishing her meal, she holds out her hand expecting a Post-it to be placed between slender fingers. Rube looks at her for a long moment before pushing his plate aside and opening the day planner to today's date. In the same black ink that he writes our Post-its with, is the division of today's appointments. From where I sit, I can see that he has already prepared the group Post-its and is quickly writing our individual appointments on fresh Post-its from the side pocket of the planner. Strange, he usually has everything done and it's simply a matter of handing them out.
He sits back awaiting our reactions. I decide to say nothing because I notice that on my Post-it, it has a small j in brackets. A group and a joint appointment in one day, great! I think to myself as I tuck the yellow sticky slips in a pocket in my jacket before nosy Mason can get a glimpse. Rube stares at me for a moment as if he had a feeling that I would be the one to protest and I think for the first time, I have surprised him.
I take a deep breath and motion for Daisy and Mason to let me out. I have some shopping to do. I need a new dress for starters.
"I'm coming with." Roxy says and puts her share of the bill on the table. "What? You guys think I have a dress for this occasion? I missed the last one." she rolls her eyes and after I put my share on the table, we leave.
"What's with her?" Daisy asks. "She didn't even ask if I wanted to join them." She pouts slightly and Rube cannot help but let his smirk show. "Forget it! I'll go by myself." She quips and heads out after double-checking the time of her appointments. It is the first time that I know of that Mason and Rube are left at the table together, too bad I'm not a fly on the wall, that may have been an interesting conversation, but I let the door close behind me before I get an idea of what male bonding is all about.
Let me tell you that shopping is one of my least favourite things, and I'm a girl, I'm supposed to love shopping. Anyways, Roxy and I find a nice dress shop to get the outfits that will allow us to blend in. We even break for lunch before going to my place to prepare ourselves for our group appointment. We stop at a nice restaurant and I cannot help but smile. It's a nice change from Der Waffle Haus let me tell you. We sit and a very nice waiter takes our orders. While we wait, we chat about this and that. After our orders have arrived I finally get the nerve to ask Roxy the burning questions that I have been waiting to ask.
"What do you think of Rube?" I ask. I would never ask Daisy this question because I'm pretty sure I know the answer.
"What do you mean?" Roxy asks before taking a sip of her ice tea. Geeze, must I draw her a picture.
"I mean, what you think of him? As a boss I guess."
"I think he's." she's not stupid and pauses for a moment. "Wait a minute; you're not asking me for that kind of information, you're looking for a different kind aren't you? You want the 4-1-1." She tilts her head and smiles brightly. "Despite his ultra tough no nonsense attitude, he's actually a very kind, compassionate, understanding man. However, he can be a real you-know-what when he wants to be, which I'm sure you've experienced in some way shape or form. Right now, count your blessings that you're in his good book, get into that bad book and you could be looking far into eternity for his forgiveness." She pauses taking another sip. She's the second person to mention that I stay in his good book. Mason equated Rube with a volcano; only that repairing the damage could take longer than a matter of days.
"How long have you known him?" I ask before taking a bite of the chicken salad I ordered.
"Oh I guess that would be around twenty one years or so." She gets a far off look and I wonder if I should be asking her any more. I recall that it was only last month that she went through a tough patch, which I later found out to be the anniversary of her death. I figure that it is better not to bring that up, unless she wants to share with me, but otherwise surface conversation is fine. "He's a pillar of strength. I don't know how long he's been doing what he's been doing, but however long it's been he's damn good at it." She adds taking a forkful of her salad.
"I gathered that." I say with a smile. We check the time and head over to my place to get ready for the wedding, or rather appointments. Why is it always a "you jump, I jump" thing? I wonder. This reap reeks of the last wedding, and I really can't get myself into reaper mode as I slip into my new dress, put on my shoes and stare at myself in the full length mirror to see how to wear my hair.
"I'd put it up." That's Roxy; Daisy just tilts her head and fiddles a bit with it for a moment.
"I'd leave it down, but then again up also works, so it's up to you." She's such a pain in the butt and damn good at it too. I think I'll take Roxy's opinion into consideration and put it up. Last week when I was cleaning I found this beautiful rose clip, I think it will add sophistication to my appearance.
"That's perfect." Roxy says happily and actually smiles at me. I never really know with her. Is she the Roxy of this moment? Or the cold hearted chick that writes tickets for a living. I think she'll always be a mystery to me. Oh well I think to myself as I grab a shawl and drape it over my shoulders before heading downstairs meet Mason and Rube.
You'd never believe it, but Mason actually cleans up nicely, when he wants to, but I cannot take my eyes off of Rube, he looks very handsome. By the looks of them, this wedding is far more dressed up than the last one we attended, where I got away with a summer slip dress and Rube and Mason dressed in casual clothes. I smile and we head to the church.
"So you all know what we're doing?" Rube says looking directly at me. Man if looks could kill, I'd be beyond six feet under. "No distractions?" he asks as if accusing me of nearly messing up the last wedding with my rendezvous. I nod and try not to feel guilty. We arrive at the church and Rube sticks to me like glue, I'm not exactly sure why and I have this funny feeling that he's more of a distraction than any boy could be. Besides, it isn't as though I'm going to dodge my responsibility. Did I just make reference to responsibility? I must be a mess, or maybe Rube is actually rubbing off on me.
We take our seats. Mason and Daisy will take the souls of the bride and groom. Roxy sits a few rows away in wait for the matron of honour, while Rube and I sit across from her, I think Rube is going to take the best man's, I'm still not clear on that reap, but even if its me, there's no way to mess that one up, he can always take my hand and guide it, I smile at the thought and hope I don't mess it up, I hardly want to upset him any more than I have already.
I know that I'm supposed to be paying attention, but throughout the ceremony I find it increasingly difficult, I think it has a lot to do with the fact that its pretty much standing room only and I'm literally smooched up against the side of the pew with Rube's thigh pressed against mine, the heat radiating from him is totally driving me insane and I'm not sure how much longer I can sit like this.
I look down at my folded hands in my lap, and let my gaze wander across his legs to the person sitting beside him and notice that there is at least breathing room, so he could move at least an inch or so. I say nothing, nor do I gesture for him to move, instead I try to think of other things; like Mason in his underwear, I think he feels me shutter at the thought.
It isn't until the priest announces them husband and wife, or maybe it's the strum of happy music that I snap out of my reverie and get my mind set on my appointment. I stand and I can feel Rube right beside me, his arm is around my waist, his hand just rests on my hip.
"Your mark is the best man." He whispers in my ear, his breath is warm against my skin. I can see the others accomplish their job and then I complete my own. I wonder what's going to happen. Then I hear the shots and screams. Everyone inside the church literally drops to the floor until the shots stop and its safe to stand.
Someone forgot to mention that this was something akin to Romeo and Juliet, but only mob style and that this is a forbidden marriage. Oh well, I think to myself as we leave the scene with four extra members. We round the corner stopping in the church's rear parking lot, the lightshow begins and the happy couple makes their way towards it. After it closes around them, the other light shows happen and the maid of honour has disappeared almost as quickly as the bride and groom. The best man is a bit longer in his acceptance of his death, and Rube actually helps him realize his situation and step into the great whatever.
Mission accomplished, we make our way to our vehicles, Rube's truck and Roxy's car. The three of us figure that we go home with who brought us, and that would be Roxy, but as I go with the gang, I suddenly hear Rube clear his throat. Not good.
"Where do you think you're going Peanut?" he asks practically standing in the middle of the parking lot. I look at Daisy and then back towards Rube.
"I'm going back with Roxy?" I answer in a tone that's more of a question. He rolls his eyes in response. It suddenly hits me. "I suppose I should be leaving with you. Am I right?"
"Get in." he says and I practically run towards his truck and he opens the door for me. "We have a dinner dance thing to attend." He says. "I didn't want you to get too comfortable and then have to dress again." He closes the door and makes his way to his side slides in and starts the engine.
"Oh I see." I say nodding. So this has to do with my joint appointment, I just didn't know that I would be spending it with him; I somehow thought it would be Mason or even Daisy. I sit in silence and watch the road and from time to time glance over at Rube as he weaves in and out of traffic, his full concentration on the road ahead. I don't really know what to or not to say, but all I know is that this silence is an okay thing.
When we arrive at the address, he cuts the engine and turns to me. I can tell by the look on his face that he's dead serious, but then I wonder how he chose me for this appointment if he didn't think me capable.
"Here's the deal. We're attending this benefit thing. It's a dinner slash dance gala. I'm not joining you because I don't think that you can handle it, I thought it would be a good time for us to get to know one and other, outside of Der Waffle Haus and all. You and I haven't really had the same chance that I have had with the others." I nod my agreement, but even so, Rube's my boss and that's just plain weird, isn't it? I wonder as he exits the truck and opens the door for me. Opening my door? That seems odd, when I'm perfectly capable of doing said activity, but then again, this is Rube and well to put it mildly you just go with it.
"Thank you." I say with a smile and he smiles in return, I like it when he's smiling, he looks dapper, even cute, and I catch myself before I blush as he holds out his arm for me to accept and we head into the party. He hands our invitation to one of the ushers and he directs us to our table.
"How am I going to know who my mark is?" I ask.
"You'll know." He says simply. That seems to be the answer to all of my questions. Great! I smile and let him seat me at our table. I try to act grown up, I don't want to disappoint Rube and I manage fairly well through dinner.
A fair sized band has started to tune their instruments as the guests finish desert, which I might add is a piece of heaven. I look at my Post-it and the around me, taking in the beautifully decorated ballroom. It seems that more than one Graveling is orchestrating this accident. Gravelings are these weird little demons I guess that set things in motion; we really aren't supposed to see them, but for some reason I'm not that lucky. I place my hand on Rube's shoulder and lean in towards him to comment and catch myself inhaling his cologne, he smells so good that I nearly forget what I'm thinking.
"I see them too." He says as if reading my mind. I sit back up in my chair and look around for my mark. Actually I don't find my mark, my mark finds me.
A rather dashing young man taps me on my shoulder.
"I noticed you from across the room and wondered if you would do me the honour of sharing a dance with me?" he's so smooth that I nod and allow him to lead me to the dance floor. "My name is Hunter Allen. You are?" he asks suavely. I smile before answering.
"My name is George." I say simply, not thinking if I should really say that or not. I just take a quick glance at my watch and see that it's nearly the time of his appointment, so I run my hand down his back as we sway to the music and take his soul before whatever must transpire does. When the music ends I smile my thanks and head straight for the French doors, which I'm pretty sure lead out to a balcony. I suddenly need air, but just as the thought enters my mind I can hear the commotion. I don't know exactly how it happened, but it did and standing beside me is H. Allen.
"Come with me." I say leading him out. I get the air I need and hopefully he finds his ending. I take comfort when we are greeted by a series of bright, beautiful lights. "Those are for you." I say quietly and like the countless others before him he follows wherever they will take him. Sometimes I wonder where that is, even though Rube has said many times that we cannot go where they do, but just as that thought enters my mind, I think of Betty and how she jumped in after one of her reaps.
I wonder if I could ever have her guts, I think to myself as I lean against the railing and look out. It is a chilly night and I move my wrap right around my shoulders as I let the light wind kiss my face. I take a deep breath and can still smell the scent of the flowers from the vast garden. Then I feel the warmth of another body behind me. I smell the familiar cologne and know in an instant that it's Rube so I let myself fall back into him as he rests his hands upon mine.
Is this what he meant by getting to know one and other? I mean the job is done after all and we would normally just leave right? I ponder that for a moment before moving slightly so I can stand beside him. He looks at me for a moment as if knowing what I'm about to say. I see the warmth in his eyes and feel an odd sense of electricity running through my body, I didn't even feel that when I was dancing with Hunter. It's something so unexplainable that I find myself dumbfounded at my new experience.
"You okay Peanut?" he asks nonchalantly.
"Yeah, I think so. How about a dance before we get out of here." I ask him with a gentle smile. His face seems to light up and we head back to the party, which seems to have continued. How sick is that? I wonder as we join the other dancers on the dance floor. I know it looks odd to the rest of the world, the two of us. Like a father, daughter or uncle, niece, but I don't care. Right now it's Rube and I and the rest doesn't seem important.
Rube drives me home and actually walks me to the door. I am slightly surprised to find Roxy and Mason still here, they appear to have been waiting up for me, but didn't quite expect to see Rube with me. They ask no questions and Daisy invites him in for a cup of tea or coffee or something and we sit around the kitchen table talking about the party.
"How come Georgia got to go?" Daisy wines slightly before taking a sip of her hot beverage.
"It isn't like that." Rube replies, not wanting to reveal his true motivation. I can pickup on it and stay a safe distance from him and the conversation, for fear of revealing too much. I'm also a bit too tired to really think right now, and would prefer to go to bed and dream of the party and my dance with Rube.
"Thanks again for the ride back Rube, everyone I hope that you have a good evening, but I'm going to turn in." I say with a legitimate slight yawn. Go figure, it really has been a long day and sleep is ever so inviting. I skip the ritual before bed shower, for the oddest reason I don't want to lose his scent from my skin and I crawl under the covers and turn out the light.
The next morning feels like a new day and I spring from bed and head to the bathroom to shower before Sunday breakfast. I head downstairs to find Daisy in her usual spot plastering make-up on her porcelain face.
"You look fine." I say sarcastically.
"Georgia, if you only put half the amount of effort into your looks as you do avoiding them you would absolutely understand." She announces as if there is an audience.
"Whatever." I roll my eyes. "Are you ready yet?" I ask just then remember that at the very least Mason thinks I'm pretty, who needs make-up, I smile.
"Almost." She smiles and adds a final dusting of whatever it is she puts on. She could seriously go without make-up, but it's a ritual, so I don't mess with her so long as we're not late, she can do whatever the hell she wants to, to herself.
We arrive at Der Waffle Haus and the rest of the gang is already there. Without thinking I sit myself beside Rube and Daisy beside me, pressing me into him slightly. Somehow this Sunday I don't mind so much.