There was a long moment of silence where Morty simply starred at Rick in astonishment. Rick stared back seemingly unaffected by his confusion. "Rick…That's not a job…" he muttered finally and then started laughing. "If it is, then you owe me a few paychecks because I've been your 'assistant' for years." He quipped, putting air quotations around the word assistant as he spoke. Rick shook his head and sat up in his chair. "No Morty. This will be different. I'd pay you a reasonable amount for your help. It's only fair since you're eighteen now but I can only offer you this job if you're ready for it." He explained and Morty realized that he was 100% serious.

His eyes widened and his mouth opened and closed uselessly. "I don't- I don't know Rick…" he finally replied before looking off to the side. To Morty's surprise, Rick simply nodded. "I won't push you to make a decision. If you want to…and if you're ready to go back out into the field…then the job's yours but if not then simply tell me and that will be that." He explained and then added with a smile, "Although, I think you'll enjoy working with me a little more than working at McDonalds." Morty stared at him for a moment and then nodded weakly with a smile. "I-I guess I'll think about it…" He mumbled and Rick simply nodded at him before turning back to his blueprints.

That night, Morty lay awake in bed staring at the ceiling and thinking about Rick's proposition. He couldn't lie to himself. The idea of working alongside Rick again as they sped across the galaxy was enticing, but was he ready? Suddenly, images of being alone in a jail cell while strangers violated every part of his being flashed across his eyes and he screwed them shut tightly, willing the images away. He wasn't sure he could do it. He wasn't sure he was strong enough to move on yet but what else could he do? He couldn't continue the way he was now, barely eating or sleeping while the memories of his time in that place tormented him day and night. Maybe this was what he needed to move on.

The thought seemed stupid even to himself. That jumping back into the very lifestyle that had destroyed him in the first place might heal him in some way but he just couldn't help the slight excitement that rose up in him at the prospect. Maybe it was wrong of him, to be so addicted to the rush, the adrenaline, of running for his life with Rick at his side but it was who he was. Other memories of Rick smiling at him when he said or did something just right also surfaced to his mind and he found the pleasure of those memories outweighing the bad ones and of course there was Rick.

What else mattered when it came to Rick? Morty had accepted long ago that he had an unhealthy affection for the genius. That maybe he even loved him but he could never tell him that. It wasn't because Rick was much older than him, or even because he was his grandfather because let's be honest, Morty had seen enough messed up shit in the galaxy to make the morals of the situation pale in comparison. It was because he was afraid of what Rick would say in return. What if he was disgusted or worse, what if he left? Morty couldn't handle that thought. Once before, he had told Rick, "I can handle it if you leave," and it may have been true then but it sure as hell wasn't now. Telling the man was out of the question but maybe, just maybe, he could take this opportunity to selfishly soak up as much of the man as he could. Morty found that simple thought was all it took to push him over the edge. It was decided. He was going to be working for Rick.

"Okay." Morty said and Rick jumped slightly from where he had been working at his desk in the garage the next morning. "Jesus Morty! What have I told you about sneaking up on me-." He began but then stopped abruptly and spun around in his chair. "Wait. Okay?" he said and Morty laughed before nodding his head. "Okay, I'll be you're assistant." He confirmed and Rick smiled widely. "Alright then!" he exclaimed but then his face fell slightly and Morty quirked his head to the side in confusion. "What is it?" he asked. Rick was quiet for a moment, trying to think of the right way to talk without giving Morty the wrong idea.

"Are you sure you're ready?" he finally asked and Morty looked at him before glancing away at the ground. "I don't know if I'll ever be ready…but I have to do something Rick." He stated plainly. Rick looked at him thoughtfully for a moment more and then stood. He placed a hand gently on Morty's shoulder and smiled. "We'll start off slow." He said and Morty's heart thudded in his chest at how thoughtful the statement was. Rick had changed a lot in the past year and part of Morty missed the old Rick but the other part, the more selfish part, was basking in the glory of his blatant affection. "I guess we need to tell the family." Rick suddenly said, breaking Morty out of his thoughts. He groaned and put his head in his hands. "I didn't even think about that. Mom is gonna freak." He said and Rick laughed loudly. "You just let m-me worry about that." He said and patted Morty on the shoulder once again before walking past him towards the garage door.

Later that evening, they had called the family into the living room and everyone sat waiting and wondering what was going on. Beth rung her hands nervously and looked between the two of them while Summer sat texting away on her phone. "So what's up?" Jerry finally said.

Morty glanced at Rick who was leaned up against the living room wall with his flask in hand. Rick just gave him an encouraging nod. "Well…um… I-I found a job." He said lamely and Jerry smiled at him. "Okay! See! I told you he would be fine Beth!" he said excitedly looking at his wife. Beth gave him a dirty look and turned her attention back to Morty with a softer expression. "That-that's good sweetie…but um…are you sure you're ready-because you really don't have to do this!" she said nervously and Morty resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her.

"Yes I'm sure." He said encouragingly. Finally, Summer decided to join the conversation by adding, "So where will you be working?" There was a long moment of silence that actually caused Summer to look up from her phone curiously. "Morty?" Beth asked gently and he shook himself, trying to regain his resolve. "Well…It-it's…um…It's with-." He began but was cut off by Rick's gruff voice. "He's going to be working for me." He said plainly and the room erupted into chaos. "Absolutely not!" Beth yelled while Jerry jumped from his chair and said, "Are you crazy! You're not taking my son back out there!" Summer who had been shaking her head quietly added, "Grandpa Rick that's the dumbest idea I've ever heard."

They continued to argue on until Morty found that their voices were becoming garbled and irritating. "Stop!" he suddenly yelled and the room went silent. Everyone starred at him, even Rick. "This is my decision. None of you have the right to tell me what's best for me. Rick didn't force me into this. I made the decision myself and its final. Now you can take my decision and move on with it or you can shut up!" he yelled and there was a quiet shock that spread through the room. Before they could begin arguing again, Morty grabbed Rick by the lapel of his lab coat and dragged him into the garage. "Well I think that went great." He said sarcastically once they were alone. Morty let out a huff of air and collapsed into Rick's desk chair. Without even thinking, he pulled out a pack of camels from his jean pocket and lit a cigarette before freezing to look up at Rick. Rick gave him a look but then laughed and shook his head.

"Yeah. I need one too." He said and Morty relaxed before tossing the pack, and lighter over to the man. Rick didn't ask when Morty had started smoking. He could guess when and he had done enough messed up shit in his time that he really had no right to lecture the boy on the dangers of smoking. They sat for a moment in peaceful silence while they smoked. Finally, Morty put out his cigarette's in an old cup of coffee on Rick's desk and turned back to the man.

"So when do I start?"