Chapter 18, Finishing Things up

Tex dusted her hands off together as if she'd just gotten done working in a garden or in the dirt, but what she'd done hadn't even been outside. Actually, it wasn't even really her; she was just taking all the glory for herself as usual. It'd been two months since they'd placed the zealots, Maine and the Director under arrest for…what they'd done. Tex couldn't really come up with anything to call it, so when she'd arrested the Director and Maine, she'd just said they were under arrest for stealing Wash's identity. They had done that, so technically it wasn't out of context.

She strolled outside the jail door. On the steps, Church, Tucker, Wash and Mass all sat waiting for her. She'd gone in to see if there was even a bail for either of them and if there was a chance of parole. Turned out, there was not even a chance for them getting out this time. Maine especially who wasn't even in this prison, but a maximum security prison in California. Bastard, she was glad that neither of them was getting out.

"Not a chance, both of them are gonna be in here for life." Everyone sighed in relief and turned back to what they'd been doing before which was different for each of them. Tucker was texting Sister, Church was watching Cobalt roll in the grass and Wash and Mass were chatting about what had happened. Tex proceeded to sit next to Church, squinting in the light.

A few cars went by as other voices rung through the air, but neither of them said anything for a moment. Church slowly turned to her, seeing as breeze lifted her hair slightly away from her face. "Only two more days, are you excited?" she looked up at him, no expression.

"No. I don't get excited, Church. I'm just…I don't know."

"Happy?" She shrugged and looked away. Happy? She never felt happy; she was Tex for god's sake.

"Yes…" He chuckled and hugged her

"I'm happy too, for the first time in my life. " She rolled her eyes and pulled away, swatting at him.

"Yeah yeah, let's take Cobalt for a walk." They both got up and started walking side by side, Cobalt prancing happily a few paces ahead, tail wagging and down. Every time a loud noise sounded like sirens or a dog barking, he would look up and stop, his ears pricking.

"You think things'll get boring after this?" She stuffed her hands in her pockets and looked at Cobalt.

"No way, it'll only get less life threatening." He sighed in relief, Cobalt looking up, ears pricked from a siren in the distance.

"Oh thank God, I needed less deadly things to happen. Risking my life isn't in my job description." Tex chuckled.

"You work at an insurance office."

"Exactly." They were both quiet for awhile, going halfway around the detention facility before either of them spoke. "I feel bad for Tucker."

"Why? Because I'm taking all the credit?"

"No, because the kid still doesn't have anybody." Tex considered that.

"He has Sister. They're even living together."

"Yeah, but I mean a lady who won't cheat on him, 'ya know? Like a serious relationship." Tex pushed her hand into Church's, giving it a squeeze.

"He doesn't want one."

"I'm not entirely convinced, but whatever you say." Crickets were beginning their songs as dusk began to turn to twilight.

"You think we'll ever you know…have kids?"

"I don't think it's possible, but there are alternatives you know."

"So you're considering it?"

"Yeah."

"Fuck yes. We should adopt an Albino kid." She glanced up at him curiously in bewilderment.

"Why an Albino kid?"

"I'm just throwing ideas out; don't shoot them down until you look into it."She laughed as they made it around the building in time to hear something ending, whether that is an argument or just a conversation.

"We should totally get a two seat bike! Then we could ride it around town!" Mass then proceeded to emphasize or whatever the hell she was doing when she hugged Wash's arm and began to nuzzle it with her eyes closed like a cat rubbing itself against a person's leg.

"Guess it would save money on gas," he agreed strangely enough, though sounding a little agitated by her.

"If I could get Church off his lazy ass, I'd have him do a lot of things, lucky you, Mass." She nodded happily or maybe she was still just nuzzling, Tex couldn't tell.

"Hey, I'm not lazy."

"You're worse."

"Love you.'"She shook her head and stepped away. "Hey…"

"Love you too, loser." It was just silence for awhile before a red car speeded up and a woman with dark brown hair ran out, looking half hysterical. She started towards Mass, pushing everyone out of her away to do so.

"Megan!" At the sound of the frantic voice, Mass jumped up, dragging Washington with her.

"Mom!" Her mother hugged her, wrapping her arms around her so tightly her knuckles were white and even she looked like she could pry the clingy woman away from her lover.

"Urg." Wash tugged on his arm to get away, but Megan wouldn't budge. How was he ever going to get away from her to go to bed tonight?

"You worried me when you and your boyfriend disappeared." Wash was about to say something when Megan cut him off.

"It's okay Mama, he took care of me."

"He better have, that's what men are supposed to do for their ladies." She tore away from her daughter and glanced at Wash. "Can you do that? Because if you can't, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave my daughter alone." Church and Tucker both began laughing quietly as Tex just grinned evilly at the blackmail she was getting. Wash on the other hand looked red.

"Yeah…I think I can…"

"Think?' He quickly backtracked.

"No, I know."

"Good, that's what I was hoping you'd say." Mass didn't even seem to catch his embarrassment.

"Did you bring Daddy?"

"No, but he wants to see you ASAP." Mass glanced at Wash like she needed his permission to go and he just stared at her, puzzled.

"Do you mind?"

"Oh, um, no." She then Eskimo kissed him excitedly, grinning the whole time.

"Love you." He hesitated if only for the sake of scaring her.

"Love you too." Her mother than began to drag her away as she waved after him enthusiastically.

"Bye Davidpoo!" If nothing else turned him bright red, that did. And if nothing else made the other men around him break into hysterical laughter, that did it. Even Tex was laughing.

"Davidpoo?!" she gasped between laughs. He pulled out his keys sheepishly as Mass got in the car and blew a kiss to him before her mother drove off.

"I'm going home, jackasses…"

"Oh, don't be a bad sport!" Church shouted, but wash was walking towards the parking lot already. "Ha ha, I can tell that they're gonna be a lot of fun."

"Tell me about it," Tex smiled.

"Hey, guys, I gotta go, Sister'll be here in like six minutes or less." Tucker stood and began to pet Cobalt who was lapping at his hand.

"Have fun with that."

"You gonna miss me Cobalt? I'll come back soon." The dog then began to lap at his leg. Church didn't appreciate Tucker breathing all over his dog, but maybe it just tastes him to eat him later. You know, after it gets reinforcements. Maybe they'd kidnap him, except for Tucker, it wouldn't be called kidnapping, it'd be called retard-napped.

"Don't come back too soon, he needs to get his minions and boil the water." Tucker stared up at Church in confusion, retard didn't even catch on. "He's gonna eat you fucking retard."

"But he likes me, he's licking me."

"No, he's not licking you, Tucker, he's tasting you. Once he's decided you're the best option out there, you'll be done for." Tucker looked down at the dog licking him and suddenly looked terrified of it. Retard could infiltrate a base that had men with guns, but he didn't even have enough brain power to realize a dog couldn't possibly boil water.

It sounded like a sputtering and snarling engine was getting closer then until Sister pulled up on Tucker's motorcycle wearing a miniskirt, high heels and leather shirt with so much cleavage it looked like she was about to be exposed. "Hey, Lavi! I'm here." He stood and walked over, taking her seat and her getting on the back.

"Since when does she call you Lavi, Tucker?"

"Since she wanted to! Catch you later bitches!" He sped off, the engine only snarling now and was out of sight within seconds.

"We should get going too," Tex said once the snarling had vanished, getting to her feet and slinging her purse over her shoulder. Church nodded and started to the car, her catching up quickly, him taking her hand in his.

"Looks like everything's finally coming together, huh?" She nodded, looking up at the twinkling stars.

"Yeah, it does."

"About time. Whatda think'll happen now?"

Not sure, I know we'll get married, but that's all I know." He paused.

"You think you could do me a favor at the reception?" She looked at him now as he smirked.

"What?"

"Aim your bouquet at Megan. I'll return the favor by throwing the garter in Wash's direction, it'll be funny to see their reactions, especially hers, she'll be all clingy again. Ha ha." Tex paused to consider it.

"Deal."

Sorry 'bout the shortness of this chapter but I had trouble even dragging it out as long as I did. Good news though, the next chapter'll be a lot longer, bad news: the next chapter is the last chapter. I know! It's finally about to end! This thing has a strong presence in my heart and it always will, but truth be told, I can't drag it out any longer. The story's over, as you can see. Now it's just time for a happy ending. Meta's captured, the AI are all gone, the Director's in for life and the Chairman won't do anything to our star-crossed characters. Plus it's not just that, this thing is just about 20 chapters long and I'm ready to wrap up all these older ones so I can put my old work behind me and get to the newer stuff that is much more in-character and complex in storyline.

I'd like to say also that I'm not posting a preview because I don't want to spoil anything. Thanks to all! Review pleeeease?