Morty opened his eyes to see an angry Rick standing above him.

'Why can't I take it back and go to sleep?'

He tried to get up, but it felt like his head was exploding. Like it was lighter and heavier at the same time. Rick forced his body down. "Don't" he growled. The deja vu gave Morty chills. "You lost a lot of blood." Rick frowned, more like he was talking to himself. "Lie down so you won't pass out again." He handed him some pills. "Take these first." Morty took them without a word. He looked at his surroundings. He was sitting on Rick's cot in his room. It gave him a tingling feeling. Suddenly, the previous events before blacking out hit him. "Um, what happened?" His voice came out more miserable than he expected.

"The same shit that happens every time, Morty." Rick said with a bored expression. " I told you not to do something. You did it and got hurt."

"He was a Morty!" He snapped

"No. 'He' was what it wanted you to think it was. It was a fucking shapeshifter you moron!" Rick snapped back.

"Why the FUCK didn't you tell me the villagers were shapeshifters?" Morty bit sharply.

Rick crossed his arms stubbornly. "I didn't think you'd fail at avoiding doing the only thing I told you not to. Maybe I just didn't want to waste my time on you !" He spat the last sentence with so much venom like he hated Morty with his life.

"Why did it even bite me?!"

"It was a vampire. I think that should be pretty obvious by now."

"You didn't tell me the villagers were shapeshifting freaking VAMPIRES?"

"No I did- fucking -not! You know why? Maybe I just wanted to see you suffer!"

"What? Why?!"

"Because you're a piece of shit!" Rick poked him accusingly.

"Tha-th-that doesn't make any sense! Where is this coming from?! What is all this madness for?!"

"Don't act dumb Morty." Rick lowered his voice dangerously and narrowed his eyes. His next sentence made Morty's blood freeze "You know exactly what." Morty swallowed with difficulty. All of a sudden he couldn't look at Rick. He was so screwed.

"Why, Morty?" Rick broke the silence.

"I'm sorry." He answered with a pleading hint of regret.

"What do you mean you're sorry?" Rick said with his brow raised." You just do it for fun and the next second, you're fucking apologizing?"

"It was stupid. Okay? I know that. I- I- I- I shouldn't have done it in the first place."

"I think we're talking about two different things here." Rick slowly announced.

Realization hit Morty like a brick wall. He might not have been screwed back then, but OH was he screwed now.

"Oh" was his brilliant reply.

Rick leaned back to create some space. "I, uh, I was talking about you avoiding adventures and shit. It was getting really annoying" He mumbled and shrugged casually.

Morty inwardly slapped himself. Of course he didn't have a clue. He erased his memory. He was just upset Morty skipped on their adventures.

"And what the fuck were you sorry for?" Rick looked at him questioningly.

"Um." The floor carpets had really interesting patterns, Morty thought.

"Well?" Rick challenged, suspicious.

"Nothing"

"Nothing". Rick echoed.

"Yeah,just- just leave me alone, Rick" he muttered quietly.

"Yeah. Want me to rip out my soul right now and get nothing in return?" Rick's voice rose again as he stepped closer and shook his hands could do nothing but watch in fear.

"Morty, I wanted to let you know that you've been such a pain in my ass that I don't know why I still bother to bring you along." He hissed. His words bore into Morty's soul. "I save your ass from the boring everyday life you have and you fucking complain about it. I show you around the universe- scratch that. I show you the fucking MULTIVERSE. And you keep talking about not having a normal life. Do you know how many people would give away a thousand times more than their normal life to see and experience what you do? I take every bullet and keep you safe from any threat I see coming. Do you know who else was a shapeshifter? That jellybean motherfucker. If I had let him live, you might not have been alive right now. Lets not forget that happened on your own damn adventure! You, the fucking useless ten year old whiny son of a bitch who needs my help to tie his laces gets to choose a whole adventure in every ten- which always goes wrong and I get you out of that shithole you created for yourself. But I really wonder why don't I take that away from you. You know what other Ricks do to Mortys like you? They put a fucking chip in their brain. Yeaaah, Morty. Soak it in. I'm the smartest man in the universe and I know that's the best way. But I don't do it. Why? I don't know goddamnit!" He was going nuts. Morty stayed frozen just looking at him and trying to take in all he was saying. Jellybean? Chip?!

Rick shook his head violently."After all this shit. Every damage you've done. Every mistake that YOU made and I paid for-"

"Why do I still love- "

"That just makes me feel more guilty about what I-"

Everything sank in an ugly silence.

"What did you just say?" They both said in unison.

The thick tension was raising Morty's anxiety. Just when he thought he was about to lose it, Rick spoke.

"Did we say anything?". Rick gave him a meaningful glance.

Morty gulped." N-no. W-we didn't"

Rick hummed in approval. "That's what I thought."

Rick went back to his workbench and Morty got out of the garage without a word.