A/E to the episode Monkee Mayor. My idea of what might have happened if Zeckenbush carried out his threat.

In loving memory of Michael Nesmith.

~M~

"Nesmith. I'm Wilbur Zeckenbush."

"Zeckenbush?!" Davy exclaimed.

"So you're, well, I-I, um, I think you bettered know, Mr. Zeckenbush, that I'm goin' on television tonight and expose you and your whole racket." Mike tried to show confidence in spite of how he seemed to be struggling for words.

"How can you do that when your entire campaign is financed by me?"

"Oh, give me a break, man, I didn't take any money from you."

"No, but you took money from people who work for me. And I got the canceled checks to prove it."

"He's putting you on." Peter shook his head.

"Yeah, well, I guess maybe I wasn't as persuasive as, as I thought."

"Quit while ya can, Nesmith. If you withdraw, I'll leave you alone. But if you don't, I'll getcha. And your friends."

After Zeckenbush left, slamming the door behind him, the guys looked at each other nervously.

"You don't really think he'd try something major, do you?"

Micky, Davy, and Peter shared concerned glances at the slight shake in Mike's voice.

"Nah, I'm sure he's just trying to scare us," Davy assured him.

"It's working." Peter stepped closer to Micky.

Micky rolled his eyes. "All this means is that we're making him nervous. So that means you've got a good chance of winning, Mike. He wouldn't care if he wasn't worried."

"Yeah, I suppose. I'm just don't want to get anybody hurt or anything."

~M~

Mike picked up the 'sabatooged' posters of himself. The other fellas were so engrossed in giving Mike a pep talk before the television show that they didn't even notice that Mike had walked away and started cleaning the mess about ten minutes ago. Mike smiled as he watched them scribble all over the chalkboard while arguing with each other. He knew they meant well. But Zeckenbush's threat had Mike on edge. He knew the band could survive if he left for a while to be mayor. But if anything happened to one of the guys, he wasn't sure what they'd do. Well, in reality, he wasn't sure what he'd do. He was very much aware that the guys could take his place if needed, both in the band and in life. They could flounder a bit, but they always pulled through in any situation they ended up in. He held up one of the posters with a beard drawn on his face. It didn't look half bad, really. Someday he'd have to grow one. Realizing how quiet the room had gotten, he looked up to see the other three Monkees watching him.

"What are you doing?" Davy took the stack of posters from him.

Mike motioned to the whole living room. "I'm cleaning. Campaign or not, we still have to live here." He stepped back to let Mrs. Filchok through with her knitting. "And so does everybody else."

"When you win the campaign, they won't have to live here." Micky turned to Davy and Peter. "If Mike is going to win, he needs focus. And to focus, he needs sustenance. And to have sustenance, you two need to bring it to him."

"What?"

Davy rolled his eyes. "He means we're going to get food, Peter."

"Oh. That's a good idea, Mick!"

Micky gave Peter a pat on the back. "That's why I'm the campaign manager. Now be off!"

Mike saw the look pass between Micky and Davy. Mike sighed. Davy was taking Peter to get food so Micky could talk to Mike. Great. A heart-to-heart was the last thing Mike wanted right now. Once the door closed, Mike shrugged at Micky. "Can I keep cleaning or do I need to sit down for this?"

"You can do whatever you want." It always amazed Mike how much older Micky looked when there was no trace of fun or silliness on his face. It reminded him again that Micky was perfectly capable of being a leader, he just chose not to.

Quickly seeing that there was no way he would be able to get out of the talk, Mike sat on the couch. "Let's get this over with. What do you want to talk about?"

"I saw that."

"What? Me sitting down? That means your eyes are still good, I did it right in front of you."

"I saw the look you had while you were cleaning up."

"Annoyance at having to clean up political 'sabatooge'?"

"Resignation."

"Look, man, Zeckenbush can't keep me from helping our neighbors. I'm not resigning from the race."

"You think we don't need you."

Mike stood up and walked away. Micky ran in front of him and blocked the door. "Tell me I'm wrong."

"You're wrong." Mike headed to the stairs.

Micky ran ahead and jumped over the railing to get in front. "Now tell me I'm wrong without lying."

"Okay, fine!" Mike threw his hands in the air. "I was having a pity party. Happy? I'm just worried for you fellas and don't want to get you hurt. because of some idea I had."

"Running for mayor wasn't your idea, it was mine. And Peter and Davy were totally for it. If any of us does get hurt, it will be that creep Zeckenbush's fault, not yours. Understood?"

Mike smiled. "Since when did you become a parental figure?"

Micky took an overly dramatic bow. "You taught me well. Every time I get feeling worthless, you pull me aside and give me a stern talking to."

"So now I'm the father and you're the mother?"

Micky made a face. "I don't think I'm ready to be a mother. Give me a few more years."

The phone ringing interrupted anything more to be said. Mike shook his head with amusement as he went to answer it. "Hello?"

Micky stepped nearer as Mike's face paled. "Okay, we'll be there as soon as we can." Mike slammed the phone down. "Come on, Davy and Peter were in an accident, we've got to get to the hospital!"