'Author's Note: I don't own Grease nor Grease 2 or any of the Character. The only thing I own is the plot to the story and a few characters of my own
Summary: Grease 2 Au. One Shot. What if the T-Birds and Pink Ladies hadn't turned up just as Michael was about to reveal the true identity of the 'Cool Rider' to Stephanie? How would that have changed the course of the movie?
AN: Alright here's Chapter 27
Chapter 27
25th December 1968, Rydell California
It wasn't quite dawn yet on Christmas morning. I had driven nearly all night from LA to get home before the others woke up. I yawned tiredly as I passed the Welcome to Rydell sign population etc.
I stopped at the red light on the outskirts of town near the old industrial area on West Mile Rd. I let my thoughts wonder back to the first months I had been in Vietnam.
4th June 1965 Chu, Lai
It had been just been a month since we had arrived at Chu Lai from Camp Pendleton. I sat on ammo crate looking up at the night sky. I took a drag from my half smoked cigarette that rested in my bandaged right hand.
I had cut my right hand deep enough the week before that it needed stiches. I blew out the smoke from the drag of the cigarette I had just taken.
"Hey Mike" I looked over to my left as Red, Clinton and Tex walked over to where I was seated on an ammo crate.
"Hey" I said taking another drag from my cigarette. I looked back up at the night sky. My thoughts turned back to those that I had left behind back in Rydell.
"You alright man "Red asked as he leaned against at an ammo crate. Clinton was sitting beside him on my left and Tex sat on my right.
"Yea just thinking about home" I said turning my attention away from the night sky.
"Home or your Fiancé" Clinton asked as he lit his own Cigarette and offered a light to Red.
"Both" I said taking one last drag from my cigarette before I stamped it out with the bottom of my combat boots.
"Yea I bet" Tex pipped up. I reached over and smacked him across the back of his head.
"What was that for?" Tex asked as he rubbed the back of his head where I had smacked him the upside of the head.
"Keep you mind out of the gutter," I said.
"What like you two anit done anything" Tex prompted.
"Since when did my love life become the topic of choice "I said rolling myself a cigarette?
"Well that you mention it" Red said putting his two cents worth in.
"Not that I'm going to tell you bastards anything about that" I said taking a drag from my cigarette.
"Oh come Mike don't be like" Clinton faked pouting. I rolled my eyes and tried to keep a serious face.
"Well at least I can keep a girl unlike Tex," I said.
"So shut up you mongrels. Just because I have had a few girlfriends doesn't mean fucking shit."
"When did a dozen girlfriends since we finished our training for the Marine Corp count as a few" I asked taking the piss out of him.
"Yea like you're a saint in that department"
"Yea I am I've only had two girlfriend. One I thought I loved until she decided to cheat on me with my best friend at the time. And the other one just happens to be the woman I love and is going to be wife and the mother of my well our children in the future" I said taking another drag of my cigarette.
I smiled at the memory as I turned into our street. I pulled up outside the house. I turned off the engine. I grabbed my bag and Christmas present for Connor in my other arm.
I pulled on my old combat jacket and placed the present inside before zipping it up. It turned out I was going to be a father again in March-April. I locked up the Peterbilt before I headed towards the house.
I glanced at my watch as I grabbed the keys to the house from my pocket. It twenty to five in the morning.
Two hours later.
Stephanie walked into the living room and stop midway through the doorway. Her husband was passed out on the couch. He was still fully clothed and fast asleep.
Something was peeking out through his zipped up jacket. Well a tiny head was pocking out of it. It didn't move from where it lay on Michael's chest as his chest rose and fell with every breath he took in his sleep. It was a puppy from the looks of it
The puppy that was lying on Michael's chest opened one eye then another. It yawned and barked once. I opened my eyes and sat up and was careful to displace the pup I had found at abandoned at a truck stop in Huston a week ago.
I looked over to my right to see Stephanie standing in the doorway into the living room. I stood up from the couch. I grabbed the pup from my coat and placed him on the floor.
13th January 1969, Rydell California
Today was my 25th birthday and Connor's 2nd birthday. I looked behind me to watch Steph as she slept. I sighed and rubbed the back of my head. I was hardly the man I had been or should be.
War had a way of fucking you up. I knew I was suffering from Combat Stress. The nightmares/dreams or rather flashback of Vietnam where becoming more frequent.
There was no way I was going to turn to drugs to curve the Combat Stress I was suffering. I had seen what using drugs and alcohol to numb the pain of Combat Stress had done to others. And it wasn't in the least bit pretty at all.
I was trying to put the past behind me. I hadn't dared mention to Steph about the run-ins I had with protesters against the Vietnam War. There had been a few times when I had come close to hitting them.
I grabbed some clean clothes and changed. I sat out on the back porch with Ace at my feet and Connor's Black Labrador pup Sarge laid his head on my left foot.
The sun was had half risen from behind the horizon. I took a sip of my half-finished beer and took a drag of my half-finished cigarette. I had to soon pick up a load in Santa Monica before heading east towards North Carolina.
I finished off my beer and walked into the kitchen to throw it away. I packed my bag and gear. I kissed the top of Steph's head and headed towards Connor's room on my way out of the house.
I glanced at my watch it was just after six in the morning. I wouldn't get to Santa Monica until Mid-day. I had to be in Denver by this time tomorrow.
10th February, 1969 Austin, Texas.
It was just after ten a clock here in Austin. It was probably just after eight at home. I was making a call home before I headed to Dallas with a load to drop-off and pick up another to take back to San Francisco.
"Carrington Residence" I frowned when I heard Billy answer the phone.
"Billy where's Stephanie" I asked not knowing why he was answering the phone.
"Her grandfather died yesterday. Marie and Steph are going to Harrisburg for the funeral. They're flying out of LA in an hour. Steph wanted me to look after Connor until you got back" Billy explained.
"Well do you mind looking after Connor until we both get back? I'm going to call my boss and see if I can get a load heading towards Harrisburg from Dallas instead of the one to San Francisco." I said having made up mind that I would try and get to Harrisburg as quickly as possible.
"Nah it's not a problem" Billy said.
"All right thanks' Billy" I said before we said our goodbyes.
After I had called the Depo in Rydell and had negotiated with Hank Markham my boss about swapping loads with another driver so that I could go to Harrisburg
11th February 1969, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Maire Zinone glanced around the family home she and her six other siblings had grown up in. Her mom Beatrice or Betty as those that knew personally was grieving the death of her husband Daniel of 56 years.
Marie was fifth child of six. She had three older brothers before Vivian had been born in 1918. Her oldest brother Daniel Junior had been born in 1914 than Jacob and Samuel in 1915-1916.
In total there were four boys and two girls. There youngest brother George was coming from Australia where he had moved to after the war in 1947.
Betty Gilson watched her granddaughter Stephanie. Marie and Anthony's third child. Daniel and her had raised four boys and two girls here and watched them grow up and marry and have children.
Daniel had seen some of his grate grandchildren before he died three days ago. The funeral was tomorrow. George their youngest was due to arrive here in Harrisburg soon with his family.
Daniel Junior the eldest of her and Daniel's children went to answer the door. A man who looked to be in his mid-twenties stood at the door. He had a scruffy look about him. An untrimmed beard and unkempt hair. It wasn't exactly long enough to be called a mullet.
Stephanie glanced passed her Uncle Daniel to see her husband standing in the doorway. Why or rather was Michael here in Harrisburg. He most of have talked to Billy otherwise would he be here.
13th February 1969, Harrisburg Pennsylvania
The wake for Daniel Gilson had started maybe half an hour ago. I had never met the man that Steph's grandfather on Marie's side of the family. There had to be a couple of hundred people whom had come to the funeral.
It seemed that he was a well-respected man in the community. I had been looked down on for my appearance. Mostly by Stephanie's Aunt Vivian the woman never had a nice thing to say about anyone that was for sure or so I gathered.
"I am sorry for your loss Betty. Daniel was a fine friend and man" Someone said to Steph's grandmother behind me.
"Thank you Albert. I know Daniel thought of you as a son to him" Betty said to the man called Albert.
"Who is that man there" The one called Albert asked Betty. I didn't know who they were talking about but I had a gut feeling it was about me.
"Oh that is Marie's daughter's husband" Betty replied to Albert's question. That confirmed my gut feeling they were talking about me.
"I don't think so Albert. Marie said he used to be in Marine Corp until May of last year" Betty commented to Albert.
"No doubt he was dishonourable discharged by the looks of him" Albert sneered from behind me. I had more than enough.
"You tend to judge a man by his appearance rather than who he is as a person" I snapped having heard them enough of the both berating me behind my back while I was within ear shot.
"I don't recall inviting you into the conversation Mr. "Albert prompted not knowing my full name.
"Former Gunnery Sargent Michael Carrington B-Company 2nd Battalion 4th Marines" I said resisting the urge to hit the insufferable bastard. "Excuse me Mrs Gilson" I said before leaving the room.
Stephanie found her husband sitting on the front porch steps of her grandparents' house. He seemed to be irritated and anger about something or someone.
"Babe you alright" I turned my head from rolling myself a cigarette to see Steph standing behind me.
"Yea I'm just sick of people judging me when they don't either know me" I said helping her to sit down beside me.
"My Aunt Vivian again"
"Nah not this time. Some guy called Albert and your grandmother a little" I explained.
"What did they say" Stephanie asked. I knew she didn't take to kindly to her family treating me like crap like I didn't take very kindly to people saying nasty to my family and friends.
"I don't want you losing your cool and put undue stress on my futures sons, daughters or son and daughter" I said trying to calm her down before she went and told them off.
"Michael Royston Carrington. You should know by now I am not a bloody china doll. I can fit my own battles." Steph somewhat scolding me.
"Yes I know that Mrs Carrington" I said kissing the side of her head and wrapped my arms around. I rested one hand on her stomach the was swelling with our child or rather children.