When Terry Gets Sick
Chapter One: Default Chapter
"Wake up, Terry," Mary McGinnis repeated for the third time, knocking loudly on her son's bedroom door. "And don't forget you have to take Matt to his friend's house for the weekend when he gets home from school!" she added, returning to her own room.
Terry grunted in response and rolled over. He went to sleep again. Unfortunately, fate (and time) were against him.
Bang.
"I'm up Mom!" he shouted in response. "I'll be right there!"
The door opened revealing…
A tall sixteen year old girl with soft raven-black hair curling loosely to her shoulders and whose bright emerald eyes narrowed at the sight of him still tangled in his sheets.
"Sorry, Rach, I thought you were my mom," Terry said, grinning sheepishly.
Rachel Grayson snorted. "We'll be late if you don't get a move on, McGinnis," she reprimanded. "And don't call me Mom."
"You're sure acting like her," he retorted somewhat lamely.
Rachel rolled her eyes and then noticed his expression. Terry looked depressed, lost…heartbroken, rather like a lost puppy.
"You still upset about Dana?" she asked in a gentler tone. Rachel sank down next to him on the unmade bed and wrapped an arm around his broad shoulders.
"Yeah, I guess," Terry muttered, moving out of her embrace. "It just hurt so much to see her with him, you know?"
"I know," Rachel replied, feeling her heart break for him. "I know."
"Anyway…I'll be down in five," he continued, standing.
"Two," Rachel growled, steering their relationship back to the easy teasing, lighthearted way it usually was. It was so much easier than anything else. "We have school in fifteen, Ter."
Batman Beyond Batman Beyond Batman Beyond
"So what are you up to this weekend?" Max asked slyly, winking at Rachel, who immediately turned scarlet.
"I'm working," she replied shortly.
"Just think…late nights, all cozy in that itty bitty little car, Terry in spandex…he might be too tired to go all the way home…" Max looked at Rachel suggestively.
"Give it up, Gibson," Rachel repeated lightly, slamming her locker shut. "He'll go home; he's overjoyed at having it to himself."
"Even better!" Max exclaimed brightly. "Come on Rach, you were alone with him in his room while he was wearing sweats. You loved it; don't deny anything."
Rachel stared her pink-haired friend in the eye. "Alright then, I won't."
"So you're finally going to admit the fact that the real reason he didn't try to get Dana back is because after a year and a half he's finally realized it's you he loves?" Max queried.
"He's still hurting," Rachel answered quietly. "If he has feelings for me, I want him to approach me with them. If I go to Terry right now and tell him everything, it'll completely destroy everything. It's too soon, Max, for anything to happen. Our easy friendship will be ruined."
"You're so old-fashioned," Max scoffed. "He loves you, Rachel. This whole "Dana-broke-my-heart" thing is just an act. Terry thinks you don't love him."
"It's because I love Terry that I'm staying away right now," Rachel said firmly.
Max opened her mouth but was interrupted by Terry's sudden appearance behind Rachel.
"Hey…ready for lunch?" Terry inquired, smiling at the girls.
"Sure," Rachel replied casually. "Max?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…"
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Rachel walked slightly ahead of her friends into the cafeteria. Terry strolled up behind her and noticed for the first time how utterly graceful she was. He caught himself staring at Rachel as she bent over to put a bowl of macaroni and cheese on her tray. Rachel's shirt hugged her curves tightly and Terry saw that it matched her jade colored eyes.
"Staring much?" Max hissed. Terry blushed.
The trio sat around a table, all quiet. Terry's thoughts were wondering why the overprotective Bruce would allow his granddaughter to wear the form-fitting green shirt and tight black jeans. Rachel looked like she was wearing a second skin.
"Sp…Terry, you have the house to yourself this weekend, don't you?" Max asked, carefully observing Rachel's reaction.
"Max, no," Rachel groaned in her ear. Max ignored this.
"Huh?" Terry asked stupidly.
"The house…no one's there, right?" Max echoed.
"Yeah," Terry answered, grinning sheepishly for the second time that day. "My mom's in Metropolis and since they think I have some important job, Matt is at a friend's."
"You do have an important job," Rachel uttered softly. "The most important I can think of."
"Thanks, Rach," Terry said, staring at his now cold slice of pizza. "You're just as important, though."
"Oh," Rachel gasped. "That means a lot."
Max rolled her hazel eyes. God, they were so obvious…
Batman Beyond Batman Beyond Batman Beyond
"You're late," Bruce snarled when the teens entered the Batcave later that afternoon. "I thought you'd be on time for this, Terry, as you want to get home so badly."
"I had to give Matt a ride," Terry returned icily. "So sue me."
Bruce muttered something about "I just may."
"Anyway," Rachel said pointedly. "Can we just get going, Terry?"
"Best idea either of you have had for a long time," Bruce remarked.
The computer's alarm went off. Bruce hobbled over to the monitor and pulled up the news screen.
"The Jokerz," Bruce said unnecessarily.
Terry and Rachel swiftly suited up and climbed into the now slightly bigger car.
"I'm driving," Terry added pointlessly.
The Jokerz were at the harbor, raiding the cargo ships that had just docked.
"Well aren't we just the goody two shoes?" the Joker called Bonk shouted as Firewing flew up from the now parked car and descended onto the Dee Dee twins, knocking them down.
"Firebrat, isn't she sis?" asked one of the redheaded twins.
"Totally," the other agreed. Let's teach her a lesson, Dee Dee."
Firewing snorted. "I've met bread tougher than you two."
Batman, meanwhile, was fighting Bonk and Boo at the same time. He got in a solid punch to Bonk's face and seized him by the shirt front. Batman sent him sailing into Boo's face.
"You alright there, Firewing?" he asked, stepping on Bonk's face.
"Just fine…poor widdle twins are as stupid as they are ugly," Firewing responded, elbowing Dee Dee's stomach. Dee Dee went reeling, clutching her abdomen.
"No one messes with my sister," the other one claimed, rushing forward to finish the fight.
Firewing held up a fist, knowing the psychotic clown was right behind her. Dee Dee clasped her hands to her face, blood spurting from her nose.
Terry secured the jesters with a length of rope and left a note for the Commissioner.
Isn't it past their bedtime?
"Nice work, Bats," Rachel said admiringly as they returned to their car. "Very classic."
Beneath his mask Terry blushed. "You too," he said gruffly, now feeling clammy.
He placed a gloved hand over his mouth.
"Terry?" Rachel hissed. "You OK?"
Terry shook his head violently and darted down an alleyway. Rachel followed him, standing a ways back.
He was sick all over the pavement. Terry forced himself to yank his mask back over his head and staggered back to Rachel. He collapsed into her arms.