Daniel hadn't expected teaming up with Johnny to defeat Kreese to be easy, but he hadn't expected it to be this hard either.

They butted heads on almost everything; from the new Dojo name, to their training techniques, to the fact that Johnny shouted at their students, but mostly because he kept leaving empty Coors cans and bottles littered around the garden.

"Could you not drink in front of the students for five minutes?" Daniel asked.

"You told me I couldn't have beer inside," Johnny replied, then drained the last of his can. "So if you think about it, it's kinda your fault that I'm drinking in front of them."

"You spilled a bottle of Coors on my wooden floor and didn't clean it up," Daniel countered. "It was sticky for days."

"Maybe you should get a rug," Johnny said, as he crushed the can with one hand. "They soak that shit right up."

-0-

Then there was the time Johnny got into his second bar fight of the week, Miguel set up a GoFundMe to pay his hospital bill, and Daniel came up with an idea.

"No!" Johnny shouted, when Daniel had suggested adding Johnny to the LaRusso Autos staff, simply so he could get health insurance.

"Why not?" Daniel asked.

"I don't want your pity insurance, LaRusso," Johnny shouted.

"Pity insurance?" Daniel asked in exasperation. "You won't even have to do anything. I'll put you down as working a couple of hours a week, and if something breaks, maybe you can come fix it."

"I'm not gonna fix your toilets for you," Johnny snapped back. "I'll sort it out myself."

"Yeah, but think of all the bar fights you can get into without having to worry about the consequences," Daniel replied.

Johnny paused, then said, "Actually, that's a good point."

"Jesus, I was joking," Daniel said.

"OK, OK," Johnny said. "You can sign me up for that."

"I'll get the paperwork filled out today," Daniel said.

"OK," Johnny nodded, then he pointed a finger. "But this doesn't mean you're the boss of me."

-o-

"I can't take much more of this," Amanda said as Daniel finished describing in great detail every single thing Johnny had done wrong that day over dinner.

"I know," Daniel agreed. "He's literally the worst person I've ever met."

"I'm not talking about Johnny," Amanda said. "I'm talking about you."

"What?" Daniel asked, finally looking at her.

"You, Daniel," Amanda said. "All you do lately is complain about Johnny, and I can't take it any more!"

"But he's just so..." His voice trailed off.

"You knew exactly what he was like before you agreed to this, so you two need to find a way to get along before you end up sleeping in the dojo."

"What do you mean, sleeping in the dojo?" he asked, then it finally clicked in his head. "Oh."

-o-

It all came to a head the day that Amanda and Anthony showed up unexpectedly at the dojo, halfway through a class.

"Finally decided it's time to learn karate?" Daniel asked Anthony. "Well, good for you."

"Yeah," Anthony replied, then he pointed at Johnny. "I want him to teach me though, not you."

Daniel turned to look at Johnny who was grinning that cocky grin that made Daniel want to smack him in the mouth. "What did you say to him?"

"I think I called him a dick about a year ago, but I haven't seen him since then," Johnny replied, still grinning. "But if the kid wants to learn Karate it's fine by me."

"No, no, no, no, that's not happening," Daniel said.

"Hold up," Johnny interrupted, narrowing his eyes. "Why is that not happening?"

"He's my son," Daniel replied.

"So you'll let me teach your daughter, but not your son?"

"Sam already knows Miyagi-Do karate."

"And you don't want me teaching Anthony because...?"

"I don't want you teaching him that Cobra Kai bullshit," Daniel blurted out.

"Well, it's a good thing that I'm not Cobra Kai any more, isn't it?" Johnny said, taking a step closer.

"I don't care," Daniel snapped. "I don't want you teaching my son."

"Yeah, well now you know how it feels!" Johnny shouted back, as he shoved Daniel in the chest.

"That's enough!" Amanda shouted, then she tipped her head towards the garden full of students. "Do you really want to do this in front of them?"

"He started it!" Daniel said.

"Have you heard yourself?" Amanda asked. "How old are you? Six?"

Amanda let out a sigh, then turned towards the students. "OK, kids, sorry for the disruption, but I think it's an early finish for you today."

Amanda took out her purse, and pulled out some money then said, "Sam, will you take Anthony out for the afternoon? Go see a movie, then grab some dinner?"

"OK, mom," Sam replied excitedly, as Amanda handed her the cash.

"Johnny you go home too," Amanda said. "I'll call you later."

"OK," Johnny said, then as he walked behind Amanda's back he pulled a face at Daniel

Daniel stuck out his hand and pointed. "Did- you- He's-"

"Stop it!" Amanda said, as she put her hand on Daniel's chest, and pushed him backwards.

"But-"

"Johnny, go home," Amanda said firmly.

"OK, OK," Johnny replied, as he grabbed his bag.

"Lock up the dojo, and get in the car, NOW," Amanda said, and Daniel knew better than to disobey when she used that tone.

-o-

Amanda had disappeared into the bedroom, taking the laptop and her cell phone with her when they arrived home, and Daniel nervously padded around the kitchen, starting preparations on dinner.

Occasionally he stopped and listened, hearing Amanda's voice drift down the stairs, using that professional tone that was saved for work calls, and he wondered what the hell she was planning.

Amanda came down the stairs right as Daniel began to set the table. He dished the Lasagne out onto plates, and put a bowl of salad between them.

They ate in near silence, with Amanda only responding in non committal phrases, and he couldn't take it any longer.

"Everything OK?" He asked nervously.

"Everything's fine," Amanda said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

Daniel fidgeted with a spoon that he'd placed on the table by mistake, then he broke down and said, "I'm sorry about today."

"It's OK," Amanda replied curtly.

"Johnny just drives me insane," Daniel said. "You must understand why I can't stand him though, right?"

"No," Amanda replied. "I like Johnny."

"You like him?" Daniel gasped.

"Yeah, I think he's great," Amanda replied. "A little rough round the edges sure, but he's hilarious, and he really cares about those kids."

"Oh," Daniel replied, looking down at his dirty plate. He'd never thought Amanda could ever like someone like Johnny, but it also struck him as odd, because she was generally a pretty good judge of character, and Johnny was...

"Maybe if you actually spent some time with him you might get to know him a little better," Amanda pointed out.

Daniel shook his head, and dropped the spoon back onto the table. "I learnt everything I need to know about Johnny Lawrence back in high school."

"People change," Amanda said, with a shrug of the shoulders.

"And he hasn't," Daniel said, then he sighed. "Honestly? You actually like him?"

"Well, I like you don't I?"

"No, no, no, I'm nothing like Johnny," Daniel said, then he thought back to what Ali said at the party. This was the second time someone had said that he and Johnny were somehow alike. Could it actually be true?

"Well," Amanda said, as she pushed her plate forward, and pointedly placed her knife and fork on it. "Thank you for the lovely dinner. It was delicious."

"So, what should we do tonight?" Daniel asked, feeling almost hopeful that he wasn't about to be served divorce papers. "The kids are out, so we could watch a film, maybe?"

"Oh, you won't have time to watch anything. You have too much to do," Amanda said.

"I do?" Daniel asked, feeling confused again. "What do I have to do?"

"You are going camping in the morning," Amanda said. "So you need to spend tonight packing the car, because you need to hit the road early tomorrow if you're going to reach the camp site before dark."

"Why does that sound like you and the kids aren't coming with me?" Daniel asked.

"That's because we aren't," Amanda replied. "You're going with Johnny."

"Noooo, no, no, no," Daniel said. "I'm not going anywhere with him."

"You are, and you will," Amanda said sharply. "You either sort out your issues away from the kids, or you don't come back."

"He'll never agree to it," Daniel said.

"Oh you think, huh?" Amanda asked.

"There's no way he would agree to go camping with me."

"I already called Johnny, and he's packing right now," Amanda said with a grin.

"What?" Daniel gasped.

"Yeah, apparently Johnny loves camping. He used to go all the time with his friends."

"And he knows he's going with me, right?"

"He said he's looking forward to it."

"Great," Daniel said, throwing his hands up. "He's probably planning how he's going to kill me in the woods and make it look like an accident."

"Well, at least I wouldn't have to listen to you complain any more if he did," Amanda said, then she took a sip of her drink.

-o-

Daniel slept fitfully during the night, as his brain ran different scenarios of all the ways that Johnny might kill him and dispose of his body.

"I woke up and LaRusso was gone. I searched for him for days, but couldn't find him anywhere," imaginary Johnny said with a wicked grin.

"He fell off a cliff and landed in the river and the current swept him away," Imaginary Johnny said, as imaginary Amanda comforted him.

"A bear came into our camp and ate him," Imaginary Johnny said to Amanda, as he handed her a glass of wine over a candle lit dinner. "Like all of him. There was no trace of him left. I looked everywhere but he was gone."

Yeah, he really needed to sleep...

-o-

Johnny was still in his bathrobe when he opened the door the next morning, squinting at the early morning light.

"Why aren't you ready?" Daniel asked.

"Can you chill out and stop shouting," Johnny grumbled as he stumbled back towards the kitchen.

"Not a morning person, huh?" Daniel asked, as he closed the door behind himself.

"Everyone knows morning people are assholes so I wouldn't show off about being all perky right now, LaRusso."

"Have you eaten?" Daniel asked.

Johnny scrubbed at his eyes and shook his head.

"OK, go have a shower and I'll make you some breakfast," Daniel said, as he pulled a pan from the pile next to the sink.

"Yeah, good luck with that," Johnny said dismissively as he walked towards the bathroom.

Daniel took two mugs out of the cupboard, and put some water on to boil, then opened the refrigerator. He sighed as he looked at the contents, and wondered if grapes dipped in garlic hummus would make for a healthy breakfast. He closed the door, and instead concentrated on finding the coffee, which turned out to be some dreadful, cheap instant stuff that smelled vaguely coffee, but looked more like cat litter.

As Johnny walked out of the bathroom, dressed in jeans and one of those godawful Eagle Fang T shirts, still scrubbing his hair with a towel, Daniel said, "I made Coffee, I think."

"Thanks, man," Johnny replied, taking a cup.

Daniel took a sip, then grimaced. "Jesus, how can you drink this?"

"Not all of us are rich enough to have that coffee that's been shit out by stray cats, LaRusso."

"Kopi luwak is ingested by Civet cats, not stray cats," Daniel said.

"Whatever. Still drinking shit," Johnny replied.

"Can't be any worse than this," Daniel said, as he tipped the contents of his mug into the sink. "I know I offered to make you breakfast but you don't have any actual food."

"I'll grab something on the way."

"You ready to go?"

"Yeah, I just need to lock up."

"OK, I'll wait in the car," Daniel replied.

Daniel was relieved to escape the stale smell of the so called coffee as he walked out into the fresh air. He climbed into the car, and put the radio on low, knowing that the second Johnny got in he'd start messing about with it anyway.

A few minutes later Johnny finally walked up to the car, and opened the back door.

"Is that all you're taking?" Daniel asked, as Johnny threw a small rucksack onto the seat with a heavy thump, then shut the door.

"I've got a sleeping bag, groundsheet, a couple of T shirts, and lots of beer," Johnny replied as he got in the front seat, and set the remains of his six pack on the floor between his feet. "What else would I need?"

"I dunno, maybe a tent?" Daniel asked.

"Why would I need a tent?" Johnny scoffed. "This is California. It's not like it's going to rain."

"You're not sleeping in my tent," Daniel replied.

"As if I'd want to sleep in your tent."

"I'm not helping you build a shelter either."

Johnny let out a snorting laugh. "I'll sleep on the ground like a real man."

"On the ground?" Daniel asked. "In the open air?"

"Yeah."

"What if a wild animal attacks you?"

"You seriously think a tent's gonna save you from a bear, LaRusso?" Johnny asked, raising an eyebrow.

Daniel sighed. "It doesn't have to be a bear. There are all kinds of animals out there in the woods."

"Oh, yeah?" Johnny asked. "Name one."

"Raccoons," Daniel replied. "What if you get attacked by a Raccoon? They can carry rabies you know?"

Johnny let out a laugh. "There's probably more rabid Raccoons in my dumpster every night than there are in the woods."

"Whatever," Daniel replied. "Don't come crying to me when you get attacked by a Mountain Lion."

"Pretty sure I could take a Mountain Lion in a fight."

"I guess we'll see tonight," Daniel said, as he pulled the car into the street.

-o-

They drove in near silence, then stopped at a gas station, and as Daniel filled up the car, Johnny wandered into the 7-11 next door, and eventually emerged carrying an armful of groceries, and a hot dog in a cardboard box .

"What are those for?" Daniel asked, as Johnny opened the door and started putting the contents of paper bag into his rucksack.

"We need food if we're going camping," Johnny replied. "Unless you plan on going hunting too."

"Doritos, a pack of Hot Dogs, and..." Daniel picked up one of the packets. "Out of date Bologna. Planning to live like a king, eh?"

"It'll be fine when it's cooked."

"I'm amazed you aren't dead, the amount of garbage you eat," Daniel said, as Johnny opened the cardboard box, and took a bite of the hot dog.

"So now even hot dogs aren't good enough for you?"

"Not one from there," Daniel said. "Do you know how many people get food poisoning from gas station hot dogs?"

"I don't, but I'm pretty sure you're gonna tell me," Johnny replied.

"Well... It's a lot," Daniel said.

-o-

After Johnny finished his hot dog and used the bathroom they set off on the last leg of their trip, as they headed out of the city, and into the endless scrubland where mountains towered in the distance.

The journey was largely silent, punctuated by odd bouts of chit chat where Daniel attempted to avoid any subjects which might cause an argument. Johnny idly fiddled with the radio, flicking from station to station, looking for songs he liked. After a while Daniel had to concede he actually did have something in common with Johnny, and they both seemed to share similar taste in music.

It couldn't last of course, because eventually Johnny would actually start speaking...

"When are you going to teach me that move?" Johnny asked.

"Which one?"

"The paralysis one you used on Kreese that meant he couldn't move his arms," Johnny replied. "I never saw how you did it."

"I'm not going to teach you that," Daniel said, shaking his head.

"Why not?"

"Because I know every single time I asked you to do anything you'd use it on me," Daniel replied.

"No I wouldn't."

"Take your feet off the couch Johnny. Paralysis. Don't shout at the kids, Johnny. Paralysis. Can you please take the trash out just once, Johnny. Paralysis," Daniel said.

Johnny let out a chuckle. "Yeah, maybe."

"Oh my god, I was joking," Daniel replied. "You actuallywould?"

"Well, you do bitch at me a lot," Johnny said.

"I'm never teaching you that move," Daniel said, and Johnny let out a snickering laugh.

-o-

The trees alongside the road were getting thicker now, as they headed into the woods, and Daniel gripped the steering wheel tightly trying to calm himself down, so he didn't rise to Johnny's jibes that were clearly designed to make him angry.

"Man, I forgot to bring my spade," Johnny said.

"Why do you need a spade?" Daniel asked. "Amanda probably picked a decent site with toilet facilities."

"Nah, man," Johnny said. "It's for when I bury you in the woods."

"What?" Daniel asked loudly, all his worst fears suddenly coming true.

"Chill out, man. I'm joking," Johnny laughed.

"Really?" Daniel asked.

"Totally joking," Johnny said, nodding his head. "If I wanted to kill you I'd cut your car brake lines in the middle of the night."

"WHAT?" Daniel shouted.

"Man, what is wrong with you?" Johnny asked. "Just chill out, OK? I'm joking."

"I knew this weekend was a mistake," Daniel said, shaking his head. "I knew you'd make it a living hell, but Amanda wouldn't listen to me."

"Do you even know where you're going?" Johnny asked.

"Of course I do," Daniel said, waving his hand at his phone. "Amanda added it to google maps before we left."

"So you don't know where you're going and you're just doing what your phone tells you?" Johnny asked.

Daniel wanted to argue back, but couldn't. "Pretty much, yeah."

"Yeah, and I'm pretty sure you went wrong a few miles back and this isn't even a real road," Johnny said.

"It's probably just the track up the camp site," Daniel said dismissively.

"The little dot thing isn't moving. Is that supposed to move?"

"What?" Daniel asked.

"That's supposed to be us, right?" Johnny asked, pointing at the phone.

"It's not moving?" Daniel asked, looking at the phone, that sat in a cradle.

He felt the steering wheel jerk in his hand, then looked up at the long slick of mud that lay across the track before them, as the car started to swerve to the left.

"Steer into it," he heard Johnny shout as the world seemed to veer on its axis, and suddenly there seemed to be nothing but trees spinning before them.

There was a bang as the everything turned upside down, and a sickening snap as pain shot through his left leg from the ankle up.

Instinctively Daniel threw a hand out to his right, pushing his passenger back into their seat.

His vision went spotty as he tried to comprehend how everything was twisting and didn't make sense, then the spinning stopped with a crash as the car came to rest against a tree, sitting at an awkward angle.

The only sounds Daniel could hear was the high pitched whining of the engine, and the creaking of the tree that was supporting the weight of the car, preventing it from falling into the yawning chasm below.