FluffyCat: Thanks for the prompys :) I've added them into my queue.


When Rick awoke the next morning, Morty was already gone. Rick sat up and stretched. He could here talking and laughter coming from the kitchen. He stood up and made his way into the other room.

"Good morning, Rick," Birdperson greeted him. "Your daughter has informed me that your kind likes to eat eggs in the morning."

"She's right," Rick said, taking a seat next to Morty. "How're you doing today, kiddo?"

I am fine, Morty signed.

"Beth," Rick said. "The super computer I'm building? I use the same technology in my cellphone." He handed Beth a flip phone. "You should be able to call Summer on that and let her know you're safe."

"Thanks, Dad," Beth replied with a smile. "I can't wait to have my family back together."

Birdperson set a plate of eggs in front of him. "Any big plans for today, Rick?"

"Yeah," Rick responded with a mouth full of eggs. "Big plans. I located some isotope 322 for my supercomputer. Morty and I just have to hop on over to the Jarvain system to get it."

"Dad," Beth interrupted. "Can I talk to you in private?"

"Sure," Rick agreed, standing up. The two made their way back into the living room.

"Can't Morty stay here?" Beth asked. "I know how your adventures go, and Morty's already been through enough."

"It'll be good for him," Rick replied. "He needs to get out of his head."

"What he needs is security," Beth argued. "He's already so fragile."

"He'll be perfectly safe with me," Rick countered. "Besides, why don't you just ask the boy what he wants."

Morty was standing in the doorway. Beth turned around, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry, Morty," she said. "I don't think you're fragile."

I want to go with Rick, he signed.

"Okay, baby. Just come back safe, okay?"

I promise, he signed.

Beth walked towards her son and kissed his forehead. "Alright boys," she said. "Have fun. Stay safe."

"You've got nothing to worry about," Rick assured her. He pulled out his portal gun, set the coordinates, and shot a portal. "Ready, Morty?"

Morty nodded excitedly and followed Rick through the portal. They were in a desert world, sand blowing in the wind. Rick pulled out a tracking device to find the isotope he needed. "Come on, Morty," he said. "It's this way."

They began trekking through the sand. The scenery wasn't particularly exciting, yet Morty was running ahead of him like it was the coolest thing he had ever seen. Rick smiled to himself. Maybe adventuring with this kid would actually be fun.

In the background, he could hear the sound of a car in the distance. "Shit," Rick swore. He started running, grabbed Morty's hand, and pulled him along behind him. "We gotta find that isotope now."

They climbed over a sand dune, and Rick saw the glowing green rock. He shoved his bag into Morty's hands and ran towards the rock. He grabbed it and was about to turn around when he heard a scream.

Morty had his back to him and was facing three rather large men with guns. "Back away from my grandson!" Rick shouted, which distracted them for long enough for Rick to open a portal. He grabbed Morty's hand and dragged him through, back into Birdperson's living room.

Rick took the bag and stuffed the rock inside. "Good work today, Morty. Um, Morty?"

Morty was frozen in place, pale skinned and shaking hard. Rick knelt down next to him and pulled him into a hug. "Hey, it's ok," he whispered, hoping Beth didn't walk in on them. "Nobody's gonna hurt you while grandpa's around."

Morty gave a tiny smile, then turned and buried himself in Rick's shirt. Rick just rubbed his back, whispering, "There, there Morty. Everything's okay."

Rick was starting to think the kid needed therapy for his PTSD. It certainly couldn't hurt him anymore. Whatever Jonathan did to him must have really messed him up, but he still needed the kid's brainwaves for adventures. Rick supposed he would have to squeeze in time to let the lid have therapy. He had never respected therapy before. But then again, he had never seen a case as bad as Morty's before.

He walked into the kitchen and set the isotope down. "Look what Morty helped me get," he announced. Morty shyly entered the room. "I'm really proud of you, bud. You helped me find the material that's gonna power our supercomputer."

Beth ran up to Rick and hugged him. "Thanks so much for the phone," she said. "I was able to call Summer and tell her where we are. She wants to come too, so do you think maybe you could fly down to Earth really quick and get her?"

"Sure," Rick agreed. "As long as it's okay with Birdperson."

"I have no problems," Birdperson said.

"Then it's settled," Beth said.

"We're gonna have a crowded nest for awhile, but I don't mind," Rick replied.

"I also called Jerry." Rick rolled his eyes. "Morty's his son, and he deserves to know what's happening," Beth argued. "Besides, now he can stop worrying about custody."

"Well good," Rick said. "Cuz you, me, Morty, and Summer? We're gonna be a real family."

Morty was smiling brightly. He had to admit, the kid was really cute, and somehow he had wormed his was into the old man's heart just by being himself without even saying a word.