Ever since getting back from Ufbon, Morty had been acting a little different. Not only had he stopped talking to the older man, he was putting as much distance between them as possible at night, barely touching his food, and looking at Rick with that strange, fearful look that he had when Rick had first picked him up.

He had asked Birdperson to check up on him and see if he could figure out what was troubling him, figuring that Birdperson's calm presence would make the child feel safe. As Birdperson entered the small closet of a room that had become Rick's lab, Rick looked up hopefully. Birdperson stood over him, looking at the wires Rick was messing with. "Well?" Rick asked.

"You already know that Morty is a traumatized kid," Birdperson said calmly.

Rick sighed in frustration, putting the wires down. "Yeah, but he was starting to open up to me, starting to trust me. And now he can barely even look at me." It hurt more than Rick wanted to admit.

Birdperson looked Rick up and down. "You really have changed," he said softly.

It was true. Meeting Morty had changed him in ways he had never expected or even wanted, but there was no going back now. Rick sighed and set down the wires, unable to focus. "I'm gonna go out with Morty," he announced.

With a nod, Birdperson stepped out of the room, giving space for Rick to do so as well. Rick sighed as he walked down the short hall. He hadn't been out with Morty since Ufbon, and he wasn't even sure if Morty would still want to go with the way he was regressing.

As he entered the living room, he saw Morty laying huddled on the pull-out couch with a dead stare. Rick sat, and Morty gazed up at him nervously. "Hey, buddy," Rick greeted with a soft smile. He reached out and brushed the boy's hair. "How'd you like to go computer shopping with me?"

"Computer shopping?" came Summer's voice from behind him as she entered the room. "I thought you were building a computer."

Rick rolled his eyes. "I'm building a super computer, and for that I need a regular computer."

"Whatever," Summer said with a shrug. "I'm going for a walk outside. This place is beautiful."

He looked back at Morty, who's expression hadn't changed. "What do you say?" Rick asked hopefully. Morty sat up and began to put his shoes on, which Rick took as a yes. His heart still fell though. The boy hadn't even nodded. "You feeling alright, Morty?"

The boy looked back at him and nodded with that same empty stare. Rick frowned, causing Morty to shrink back. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, wishing he could read the boy's mind. Once Morty was finished, Rick set the coordinates and opened a portal.

Morty waited patiently for Rick to come around the side of the couch to enter the portal with him. On the other side, Morty looked around before staring up in confusion. Rick raised half his brow, urging him to ask his question. Where are we, Morty signed.

"Earth," Rick replied. "Best Buy to be exact. And unless we run into another robbery, this should be a perfectly safe mission."

The boy seemed to relax at the familiar setting. "So, which laptop do you want?" Rick asked. "I mean, I'm going to completely strip and rewire it, but you can at least get one that looks cool. Maybe one that has one of those webcam things. Oh, and don't worry about money. I've got plenty of Earth money."

Morty stared cautiously up at him. Rick gave an encouraging smile and nod, and the boy walked over to the laptops section. After a few minutes of browsing, he picked up a box and brought it back to Rick. The old man didn't even bother to see what brand it was; he just checked its size and dimensions. "Yes," he replied. "This is perfect. Thanks Morty."

Rick looked down at Morty expecting a small smile, but the boy didn't even look at him. Feeling dejected, Rick walked over to the cashier with Morty following behind him. He payed for the computer without really paying any attention to what the cashier was saying. He kept Morty in his peripheral vision, and he could see that the boy wasn't paying much attention either. Morty stood awkwardly with his hands behind his back, staring at his shoes.

When Rick had finished, he grabbed the shopping bag and his portal gun and set the coordinates. Without thinking, he gently touched Morty's shoulder, and the boy's flinch felt like a knife in his stomach. Without another word, the pair stepped through and onto the purple world of Nafdrib.

Once again, Morty looked up at him in confusion. Rick made the same gesture with his brow, encouraging Morty to ask. Why are we here, Morty signed.

"We're here because this is a safe space," Rick answered. "And you obviously don't feel safe." Rick sat down on the purple ground and folded his hands in his lap. "So, why don't you tell me what's been bothering you?"

Morty bit at his lip as he looked away from Rick. He could see the conflict in Morty's eyes. Rick looked up at him, silently pleading Morty to open up to him once more. The boy stood still for a moment before signing, It's not important.

"Not important? Of course i-" Rick froze. Not important. Suddenly, his exchange with the dealer from Ufbon came flashing back to him. "This is about that dealer on Ufbon, isn't it?" Rick questioned gently. Morty didn't respond, but his blush told Rick everything he needed to know.

Rick sighed. "Listen, kid." Morty stared at him cautiously. "That dealer we met on Ufbon is extremely predatory. I said you weren't important because that look he was giving you was dangerous. I told you I wouldn't let anything bad happen to you, and that guy is nothing but bad news."

He saw the realization hit Morty's eyes, which began to water. Rick motioned for the kid to come sit down next to him, which he did. Morty let out a strangled sob, and Rick pulled him into a one-armed hug. "I... I'm sorry," Morty whispered.

"Don't be sorry," Rick replied gently. "It's not your fault."

"I'm really screwed up, aren't I?" Morty asked as he began to cry harder.

Rick didn't have an answer for him. Instead, he just held on tighter while Morty let it all out.