CHAPTER TWO

The sun was high over the sky as the group walked down the dusty road. She could tell they were nearing the Hilltop Café. The traffic on the road was beginning to pick up. Now instead of seeing only one car every so often, they saw two. DG started to fidget. Cain saw her out of the corner of his eye.

"What's wrong?" he asked. DG looked over at him and stopped walking. The rest of the group stopped around her.

"I'm just nervous, it's not everyday you see a large hairy man and a man with a zipper on his head walk into a building. The most creative version we've been able to come up with is a priest and rabbi." Everyone looked at her confused. Glitch turned his head to the side. He man have his brain back, but DG always seemed to confuse him still. Something DG's mind clicked and she gasped. She looked over at DG.

"Give Glitch you hat Cain," she ordered Cain. Cain shook his head. He'd do just about anything for DG, but this crossed a line.

"No. No one wears my hat but me." He put his hands up in protest.

"Yes, but people around here do not go around wearing zippers on their heads." Cain just stood there looking at DG. She gave him a pout and batted her eyes. Cain looked up at the sky. DG had enough as she stomped her foot.

"Damn it! Give him your hat!" She yelled. Cain immediately took off his hat and handed it over to Glitch. He took a step back and shook his head. What just happened? Glitch bowed to Cain and sat the hat on his head. Cain glared.

"Just don't mess it up Zipperhead." He looked over at DG. "Happy?" he asked. DG nodded. She took a step and stopped, remembering one very important thing.

"Oh and no calling me 'princess' or 'your highness'," DG eyed Cain. Cain did not look happy about that, but he nodded anyway. She looked around at her companions. DG hated that she had to hide the quirks that made her friends so enjoyable, but she had no choice. If she showed up at the Hilltop Café with Glitch all exposed like that, she'd never hear the end of it. She would already have to explain Raw to them. She turned and started walking, her sister was at her side in an instant.

"Are we there yet?" She asked her sister. DG kept her eyes forward. "My feet are killing me and when I asked Cain to carry me in his big strong arms, he snorted and walked ahead of me. Really, what you see in him, I'll never know." She crossed her arms and kept a steady eye on her sister. She was going to say something else, but DG spoke up.

"We're here," She called back. The group looked up at the small diner. Only a couple cars scattered the parking lot. DG sighed, they had just missed the lunch rush. Her face relaxed, no sign of Officer Gulch. "Great." she muttered. She turned to her companions.

"Ok, we'll only stay here for a little while, long enough to grab something to eat and a ride back to the house." The group nodded and DG turned around. She opened the door to the diner, holding it open for her friends. Cain, the last one in, turned to DG.

"We'll behave," he whispered. DG looked at his hand.

"Then take you hand off the gun," She whispered back. Cain let go and looked DG in the eye, a grin spread across her face. He shook his hatless head and walked in. DG let go of the door and walked in behind him. She pointed to a booth next to a window and told everyone to take a seat. She could feel the weird looks around her and her company as she walked to the counter. It was as if she were naked and she dropped a trey in a crowded cafeteria.

"ORDER UP!" She heard Carter yell. She watched as Phoebe rushed over to the window, picking up several plates at once. Phoebe carried them over to the counter and looked out into the restaurant. She gasped and clapped her hands.

"Well if it isn't our little missing waitress!" She exclaimed. "What was it? Taking a visit or running away?" DG tried to smile. "Really? What was the reason? Did you think we didn't understand you? Appreciate you?" DG shook her head.

"I just had to get out of Kansas. I wanted to see big cities in other lands. I wanted a chance to visit oceans and see mountains." DG looked over at her old co-worker. Phoebe's face filled with confusion.

"Your mom said you went to find your real family. Is that it?" she asked, pointing behind DG. DG, without turning around, nodded her head. "Really? They look, peculiar. Except for the tall blonde, he's a handsome one. What relation is he? Father? Uncle?" DG didn't answer as she reached over the counter and pulled a few menus from the stack.

"Phoebe, I have a favor," DG said slowly. Phoebe nodded. "I misplaced my wallet. I think I left it on the plane. We had to walk here from the airport and. . ."She trailed off. Phoebe nodded her head, understanding the young woman.

"I get off at 3. I'll give you and your," she paused, looking over at the table, "family a ride to your house. Meanwhile, your meals on me. It's good to have you back DG." DG smiled.

"It's good to see you too," She turned around and walked over to the table, handing out the menus. "Here you go, pick whatever sounds good." She looked around the table at her tired companions. Raw and Glitch sat on one side of the booth, Az and Cain sat on the other side. DG turned to reach for a chair but Cain stopped her. He scooted inwards, pushing Az towards the window. The thought of a Cain sandwich did tempt her, but she declined and sat at the booth right behind them. She needed some time to think anyway. Cain got up and walked over to her booth.

"So this is Kansas." he said sitting across from her. DG nodded. "It really isn't as bleak as you make it out to be. I mean compared to the O.Z, it's a little dull, but I can't imagine it being half as bad as you claim it is." He opened his menu and looked over the items. "What's good?" he asked.

"I usually just get a BLT and shake. It's the only thing I can eat fast enough on my break." She tapped the table with her fingers. Cain let that sink in as he continued to browse the selection. She looked over at him, in a weird, slightly skewed way, this seemed like a date. A very comfortable first date. Sure he wouldn't be pinning his pin on her or making a pass at her in the back of a car, but she could see potential. She pondered this as Phoebe walked up.

"What are you having?" she asked.

"BLT and a chocolate shake." DG monotonously said. Phoebe looked over at Cain. He looked up at her from his menu, his blue eyes deep in thought. "Make it two," DG said, handing Phoebe the menus. Cain looked like he was about to smile, and DG prepared her mental camera to take a snap shot of this momentous occasion. However, it faded back into his normal brooding expression.

"I can't eat another bite," Glitch moaned. He leaned his head against the window, careful not to let the hat slip. Raw leaned his head back against the padded booth.

"Raw eat too much. Much pain and suffering." He closed his eyes and groaned. Az looked at the table. Dozens of plates scattered the surface. Burgers, shakes, and fries littered the stacked plates. She happily reached for another loaded french fry. At about 1000 calories per fry, the magical sticks of starch filled her mouth with happiness, her heart full of love. Cheese, bacon, ranch, and chives once covered the pale yellow snack. Az gobbled up the last of them and sighed.

"Are you guys-" DG stopped short as she turned around to look at the booth. "Doing ok?" She looked over at the mountain of catastrophe and shook her head. Phoebe walked up and crossed her arms.

"My your family can eat." She said, her eyes widening. "Good thing Carter took a smoke break. He'd flip if he saw this mess." DG apologized and Phoebe only smiled. "It's fine. It's probably been a long, tiring trip."

"You have no idea," DG muttered. She looked up at Phoebe and smsiled, happy for all of her help. "Thank you for everything." Phoebe put a hand up.

"Don't even bother. You helped me out a lot when you worked here. I've got to pay you back somehow. Look I'm off in about 10 minutes. Still need a ride?"

"Yes please," DG accepted gratefully. Phoebe nodded.

"Let me just get the coat. I'll send over Annie to clear everything. I'll meet you outside near my car." DG smiled and looked over at Cain. He yawned and stretched, reaching for something. He stopped and looked around frantically. He stopped and sighed. He forgot he gave Glitch his hat. He slid out of the booth and offered a helpful had to DG. She accepted it and he helped her to her feet. The two walked over to the booth and looked down at the carnage.

"Guys, it's time to go." DG watched as Raw yawned. He sat down his napkin and slid out of the booth. Az patted her mouth with the napkin, took one last sip of her shake and got up as well. The four looked down at Glitch. He was fast asleep, his head propped up against the window, Cain's hat tilted to the side. His mouth hung partly open, a soft snore escaping. All of a sudden a large hiccup emerged from the man. He shot up and looked around. DG smiled down at him and offered a hand.

"Why hello there sunshine. It's time to go." Glitch took her hand and wiggled out of the booth.

"To the O.Z?" he asked hopeful. DG shook her head. "Still in Kansas?" he asked. DG nodded wordlessly. Glitch's face fell. "I thought it was all just a very bad dream."

"You'll get used to that feeling," DG said as she walked with her company to the door

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