A/N: This isn't necessarily a sequel, but it ties in with another story I've written called Where Your Loyalties Lie. If you don't want to go looking for it, basically it's a one-shot exploring what Cavendish and Dakota would have been like in the 2nd dimension. It will provide context for this story, but it shouldn't be necessary to read.
Dakota had thought that he and Cavendish would be fired from P.I.G. Cavendish had run off and broken so many rules. It would be unreasonable to expect to be put back to work as normal. He was shocked, but relieved, when Bob Block just gave Cavendish a passive aggressive reprimand and put them back to work. Cavendish was discouraged, but Dakota would take this over being fired or punished any day.
They were put back onto janitorial duty, which Cavendish hated, but Dakota thought was for the best. Simple jobs would probably be all they could handle right now. They were probably capable of a lot, but Dakota thought that their greatest strength was that they worked well together, and that just wasn't the case right now.
Dakota was still hurt that Cavendish had erased his memory and left him behind. Cavendish had apologized, but that didn't magically undo what he had done, or promise that he wouldn't do something like that again. It would take time for Dakota to trust Cavendish again. Easy, safe, janitorial jobs would give them the chance to do just that.
They'd had a few assignments, and had gone back to headquarters twice for some disciplinary training, which was just paperwork and a lesson that reminded them about the importance of following the rules set out in front of them. At work, things were going about as well as expected. With Cavendish, Dakota felt like things were just getting worse.
Dakota felt like he was walking on eggshells around his partner, not wanting to give him any reason to leave again. Cavendish, on the other hand, had made no changes. He was the same Cavendish as always, which made Dakota feel like Cavendish felt like he had no reason to change. It implied that he believed that he hadn't really done anything wrong.
How could Dakota go back to trusting him when it had only gotten him hurt in the past? He'd read once in a fortune cookie that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result. Wasn't that always what he did when it came to Cavendish?
When Dakota realized that Cavendish wasn't going to change his ways, or apologize more than he already had, he put on the painfully familiar mask that he always wore. Pretend that nothing was wrong. Give nobody a reason to worry. Nobody needed to know that he wasn't fine, because nobody would care if they did know.
A few weeks into this Dakota was woken up far too early by the beeping of their communicator screen. He groaned and rolled over on the couch, just wanting to go back to sleep. He hadn't been able to fall asleep until about four in the morning. He didn't know what time it was, but he knew that it was too early for him to be up. Cavendish didn't agree.
"We have an assignment." Cavendish nudged his shoulder harshly. "Now's not the time to be lazy." His voice was just toeing the line between playfully teasing and irritated. Dakota hated that he didn't know which way his friend meant it. He couldn't help but assume the worst. It hurt, like being told that he was selfish all over again.
He wanted to groan and refuse to get up. He wanted to claim he was sick and plead for a day off. He was sure that Bob Block would give it to him. That man had been incredibly lenient with Dakota on the days that he just couldn't bring himself to work. He would understand.
Cavendish, however, would not.
"Hnh." Dakota moaned tiredly as he slowly made himself sit up. Cavendish wasn't even waiting for him impatiently. He was already standing in front of the screen, answering the call. Dakota sighed, adjusted his glasses, and got up to stand behind his partner.
"And there's the other one." Bob Block smiled charmingly at the both of them. Dakota had the feeling that they really weren't going to like today's assignment. "Sorry to ruin your beauty sleep, boys, but I've got a treat for you this morning. An assignment that you two will be absolutely perfect for."
Cavendish looked unimpressed. "Let me guess. Alien clean-up?"
"Not exactly." Bob Block said. "Come to headquarters and we'll go over the details there." He looked past Cavendish and stared right at Dakota. "I've got some donuts waiting here for you." That woke Dakota right up. He would still much rather be asleep, but donuts would do a lot to fill this hurt and pain in his chest.
"We're on our way." Dakota said. Bob Block nodded and the transmission ended. Dakota yawned and stretched. Cavendish just gave him a slightly annoyed look. "What?"
"Is bribing you with food honestly the only thing that will convince you to do your job?" Cavendish asked. It was the kind of thing that he had said countless times before, and it always stung a bit. This time though, it made Dakota want to forget about the donuts, forget about work, forget about Cavendish, and just sleep all day. It made him feel completely empty.
"Can you just not?" Dakota asked. He tried to keep his voice steady, but some of his vulnerability must have slipped through. Cavendish looked alarmed, confused, and just a little contrite.
"A-alright." Cavendish said. "My apologies."
Dakota sighed. It was so hard to be upset with Cavendish for not apologizing when he did have his moments where he would sincerely and unhesitantly apologize when he knew that he'd done something to upset Dakota. It just made him feel like a jerk for feeling like Cav's apology for leaving him wasn't good enough.
"Forget it." Dakota muttered. "It's fine. I'm just tired."
Cavendish looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn't. They just went to the car and set out. Neither of them talked to each other on the way to headquarters. Cavendish just drove in silence while Dakota stared blankly out the window, wishing that his partner would know that something was wrong and do something about it.
By the time they pulled up to the P.I.G. headquarters Cavendish seemed to have forgotten any of his concern about Dakota. He was focused completely on the job ahead of them. He eagerly went inside, and Dakota reluctantly followed him. Bob Block was waiting for them. For the first time Dakota wondered if this actually was an important mission, because they rarely came to headquarters to get their assignment, and never had Bob Block been there to wait for them. He always had more important things to do.
"Good to see you here so soon, boys." Bob Block said. He was holding a pastry bag and cup from a local coffee shop. He offered the cup to Cavendish and the bag to Dakota. "Black tea with a splash of milk, and just a hint of honey, just the way you like it."
Cavendish looked stunned to be given his favorite drink. Feeling hopeful, Dakota looked into the pastry bag to see two donuts, a chocolate filled with cream and topped with sprinkles, and a maple bacon. His favorites. There were also a dozen or so donut holes. Maybe this was too much sugar for one person, but Dakota could easily eat all of it on his own, and he appreciated that his boss recognized it.
Cavendish looked suspicious. "You're bribing us."
"Oh, I wouldn't call it that." Bob Block waved off the accusation. "I just want you boys to be relaxed and keep an open mind. You're not in trouble." He gestured for them to follow him towards the meeting rooms. Dakota hadn't actually thought that they were in trouble, but now he couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong.
As they walked down the halls he looked around and noticed that everybody seemed to be tense and busy. Something serious was going on. Something that was a little outside of P.I.G.'s realm of expertise, because all of these agents were experts in their field.
Dakota got through his maple bacon donut by the time they got to the meeting room. They were led inside, and Dakota faltered slightly in his steps when he saw that there was already somebody in the room waiting for them.
"M-Mr. Block?" Dakota choked in his donut hole.
"Sir." Cavendish straightened. Dakota on the other hand instinctively stepped back and tried to make himself smaller. It was his fault that they'd been fired, after all. He'd always thought that they'd gotten off easy. Seeing Mr. Block here now, Dakota was worried that he had changed his mind on the punishment and was here to arrest them or something.
"What are you doing here?" Dakota asked anxiously. Bob Block put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and he led him to sit in a chair across from Mr. Block. Cavendish reluctantly sat next to him.
'Don't worry, you're not in trouble." Bob Block told them again. Mr. Block's eyes narrowed. Even if they weren't in trouble, it wasn't what he wanted.
"I'm here because I don't have a lot of options." Mr. Block muttered grumpily. He had two files laid on the table in front of him. He pushed them towards them. Dakota looked at the file and was immediately intrigued and confused.
"Another dimension?" Dakota frowned. "What's that got to do with time travel?"
"There are theories that other dimensions are just other timelines." Cavendish said. "The bureau doesn't often deal with them, because the timeline has settled itself."
"We don't want to change the timeline of the other dimension." Mr. Block said irritably. "We just want to know what happened in that timeline to make things happen the way they did, so that we know what to avoid in our dimension."
Cavendish was reading through the notes. Dakota barely glanced at his folder. "What's this got to do with us?"
"Trust me, I wouldn't be here if I had any other choice." Mr. Block said.
"This is a secret mission." Bob Block said. He leaned back in his own chair and interlocked his fingers. "In this other dimension, the B.o.T.T. has been completely destroyed. If time travelers are sent and discovered, they'll be in danger."
Cavendish crossed his arms defensively. "Are we being sent because we're expandable?"
"You're being sent because you're uniquely situated and we don't think the two of you would be in the same danger." Bob Block said. He didn't explain more.
"Hang on, hang on, we're going?" Dakota grimaced. "Don't you have someone more qualified?" Cavendish elbowed him just a little too harshly.
"Why are you complaining? This is the change that we've been waiting for." Cavendish said. "To prove that we're ready for serious assignments."
Dakota frowned. "That's what you want."
Bob Block leaned forward in his seat. "What do you want, Dakota?"
He sighed and crossed his arms. "It doesn't matter. I'm not going to get it." He wanted Cavendish to listen to him. He wanted his friend to care about and respect him. He wanted Cavendish to actually treat him like they were friends.
Bob Block looked like he wanted to push more, but Cavendish and Mr. Block were impatient and ready to get to work.
"The two of you will go to the other dimension and find out what happened." Mr. Block said. "Don't try to play heroes. Don't dawdle. Get in, get the information, and get out. Do you understand?"
"Of course, sir." Cavendish said. Dakota nodded.
"Where are we supposed to get this information anyway?" Dakota asked.
"We'll go to the source." Cavendish had his nose buried in his folder. Dakota didn't know what that meant, but he didn't think that further arguing would accomplish anything. He could recognize the look in Cavendish's eyes. His partner was determined and wasn't about to let anything stop him. If Dakota didn't want his friend to leave him behind again he just needed to go along with it.
Bob Block cleared his throat and stood up. He looked at Mr. Block. "Why don't you take Cavendish and show him the inter-dimensional portal in the basement? I want to have a word with Dakota for a minute. We'll be right behind you."
Dakota groaned and slouched in his chair. He knew what this was about, and he wasn't looking forward to it. He looked to Cavendish to question the way that their boss was singling him out, but the older man either didn't notice or didn't care. Cavendish followed Mr. Block out of the room, listening attentively to directions. As soon as they were gone Bob Block came to the chair right next to Dakota. He sat down and turned to face him.
"I know you're probably tired of hearing this, but I have to ask. Especially for a mission as important as this." Bob Block said. "Will you be okay working with Cavendish?"
Dakota sighed and took a massive bite of his maple bacon donut, both because he wanted to eat away his feelings, and because if he was eating then he could delay having to answer.
Bob Block was far more patient than his descendant. He just waited while Dakota chewed, swallowed, sighed, and picked at the bacon.
"I'm trying." Dakota said. "He'll still my partner, and I'll still do anything I can to help him."
"But that's not what I asked." Bob Block said simply.
"No, it's not." Dakota acknowledged. He could work with Cavendish, but would he be okay with it? Dakota didn't feel okay right now at all. The partnership had always felt incredibly unbalanced. Dakota wouldn't hesitate to break rules for Cavendish's sake. In return his friend had erased his memory, left him behind, and claimed it was for his own good when they both knew that Cavendish just wanted glory and he felt that Dakota was holding him back.
"Look, I don't know if I'm going to be okay." Dakota said honestly. "But I know that if I don't work with Cavendish at all, I definitely won't be okay."
Bob Block didn't look surprised. They'd already had similar conversations. "You'll work with Cavendish, but when this mission is over I'm going to make that counseling I've recommended for you mandatory. Understand?"
"Yeah, I get it." Dakota played with the sleeve of his jacket, not caring at all that his fingers were sticky from his donut and he was getting it all over his clothes.
"Good." Bob Block stood up. "Now, if you're sure you're ready to work, it's time to get started. You know how Block gets when he'd kept waiting." Dakota did, indeed, know. He couldn't count the number of times that their old boss had yelled at and scolded them for failing an assignment, or not completing it fast enough. Dakota was just glad that they always got their paperwork turned in on time. They hadn't needed to give Mr. Block any more reason to hate them.
Dakota followed Bob Block out of the meeting room. They made their way downstairs, where P.I.G. kept most of their paranormal artifacts and alien technology. Dakota didn't completely understand how an inter-dimensional portal fit into either of those categories, unless it was created by aliens or somehow occurred naturally in nature or something. But he didn't mention his observation. Surely P.I.G. had a reason behind this, even if he didn't completely understand it.
Cavendish and Mr. Block were waiting for them in the portal room. They weren't standing in front of a gate or traditional portal. Instead Mr. Block was holding what looked like a watch.
"It's so simple that even an idiot can use it." Mr. Block said grumpily. "So you should be fine." He handed Cavendish the watch.
"Your confidence is overwhelming." Cavendish said dryly. He began to fidget with the dials, but Mr. Block hit his hand.
"I already told you, the settings are where they need to be." Mr. Block said. "Just push the button to open the portal. You'll have three hours, and then a portal to bring you back will open automatically.
"What if we miss the portal?" Dakota asked. Mr. Block looked furious, but that was nothing new.
"If by some miracle you idiots miss the portal two feet in front of you, or if you need to come back early, turn the dial counter clockwise while pushing the button, and a portal will open up for you." Mr. Block sounded like he was barely keeping himself from yelling. He must either be really worried about this threat to the B.o.T.T., or he really hated working with Cavendish and Dakota. He didn't know which one was more likely.
Dakota looked at the watch on Cavendish's wrist. They would only be given one portal. Dakota couldn't help the doubts that creeped into his mind. Because he didn't want to be yelled at for asking a stupid question, and he didn't want to see the look of defensive indignation on Cavendish's face, he looked at Bob Block.
"What if we get separated, and one of us isn't there for the portal?" Dakota asked. Bob Block seemed to understand the unsaid question. What was Dakota supposed to do if Cavendish abandoned him again?
Bob Block just smiled at him. "This isn't our only interdimensional portal. One way or another, we'll get you boys home. Still, why don't the two of you do your best to stick together? You're supposed to be partners, after all."
"Of course, sir." Cavendish said. "Don't worry. I'll make sure that he doesn't get distracted and wander off."
Dakota frowned. "Seriously? You think that I'm the one who is going to wander off?"
Cavendish gave him a critical look. "What are you insinuating?"
"I'm not insinuating anything." Dakota scowled. "I'm saying that of the two of us, I'm not the one with a history of running off."
Cavendish looked stricken, and Dakota almost felt bad, but then his partner's face darkened furiously. "Excuse me?! I thought we'd gotten past that. I apologized. What more do you want from me?"
Dakota had been ready for a fight, but now that Cavendish was ready to acknowledge him he felt all of his fight drain out of him. He sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. He shook his head.
"Forget it, let's just go." Dakota muttered. "We have a job to do, and we both know there's nothing you care about more than your job."
Cavendish looked like he wanted to say more, either angrily or out of concern, but he glanced at the Blocks, who were watching them, judgmentally. Mr. Block was probably looking for a reason to justify to himself that they couldn't handle the job. Bob Block on the other hand was looking for a reason to send Dakota, and probably Cavendish too, to counseling before the mission instead of after it.
"We'll discuss this further later." Cavendish said. It sounded more like a promise than a threat, and that should be what Dakota wanted, but he hated hearing it. Either the conversation would go all wrong and he would end up feeling even worse, or they wouldn't talk at all, and Dakota would be longing for a conversation that he really didn't want.
Still, Cavendish was waiting for an answer, so Dakota nodded. Satisfied, Cavendish pushed the button on the inter-dimensional watch thing, opening up the portal.
"Remember, this is a recon mission." Mr. Block said. "Your job is to find out what hte problem is, not try to fix it." Dakota didn't know whether they were being told to avoid trying to fix things because it was too late for this dimension, or because Mr. Block had absolutely no confidence in their ability to fix anything.
Dakota supposed it didn't really matter. He knew that this mission was important, and that should be exciting, but all he felt was fatigue and dread. He was ready to go home.
"Let's just get this over with." Dakota sighed. He and Cavendish stepped through the portal into the unfamiliar dimension.