"Give me a good reason why I shouldn't be crying? I get no call from you as to where you're at. You go get drunk, then ride your bike back here. You could have gotten yourself killed." I had tears flowing down my face. I ran to the bathroom and shut the door, then slid down to the floor, still crying.

Throttle carefully got out of bed and walked to the bathroom and opened the door. He saw me sitting behind the door, head in between my knees, crying. He came in and kneeled down in front of me. He lifted my head up and saw the streaks of tears down my face.

"I don't like when women cry. Makes my heart break. I'm so sorry for making you worry about me. Maybe I shouldn't have told Charley not to get me that cell phone. When we get back to Chicago, I'll have Charley hook me up with a cell phone, ok."

I wiped my face with my hand and smiled. "That's my girl. No more tears, ok?"

I nodded my head. "While you were out, Charley text me."

"What did she want?"

"Vinnie is in the hospital there. Food poisoning. She wants you to head back as soon as you can. The Drs. at the hospital need to know how to deal with Martian Mouse physiology so they can help Vinnie. Right now, they have him on a morphine drip to ease the pain."

The look in Throttle's eyes made me wanna cry again. "But babe, what about you? I can't leave you here alone."

"I'll be fine. We can pick up on our vacay when you get back. I just need money."

"Let me call my card and make you a secondary holder of the card." I got up and went out to the other room and grabbed my phone. I turned around and he was standing right in front of me. I handed him my phone and he called the card company.

About 10 mins. later, the authorization of a secondary holder was approved. He handed me the phone back and got his wallet out. He gave me his card to use while he was gone.

"Just promise me that you'll be safe heading back to Chicago. And please, please call me when you get to Charley's."

He smiled at me. "I promise to call when I get to Charley's. I'll be back as soon as I can, baby."

"Take as much time as you need, Throttle. I know you've been friends with Vinnie for a long time."

"You and Charley were talking about us, huh?"

"Yep. If you guys were coming around the garage all the time, I needed to know about you guys. The basics, anyway."

"Did you ask Charley why Modo didn't give the Drs. what they needed?"

"Something about not liking hospitals. I can't imagine someone like Modo to not like hospitals."

"That is odd. I'll be sure to ask him when I get back to Chicago. I better get my things packed for my trip back."

"Just be careful. I don't wanna lose you, babe. You mean too damn much to me."

Throttle hugged and kissed me, then he started packing his things for his trip back to Chicago.

After he was done packing, he got the key out of his pocket and laid it on the dresser, then walked out to his bike. He unlocked his saddle bag and got his helmet out and at the same time, put his duffle bag in it.

He got on his bike, looked back at me while I was standing in the doorway, then put his helmet on. He started up the bike and left. I watched him go until he was out of eyesight. 'I love you, Throttle. Please come back safe.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

That afternoon, I had called Charley to let her know that Throttle is on his way back to Chicago and that he is to call me as soon as he gets to get garage.

"Don't worry, Mike. I'll make sure he calls. I'm sorry to ruin your vacay."

"Don't be. Vinnie's life is more important than my vacay. How did he end up with food poisoning, anyway?"

"Bad batch of hot dogs."

"Of course. I'm managing to get Throttle to try other things, and surprisingly he's enjoyed everything he's tried."

"That's good. You getting him to take more showers, too?"

"Yep. He likes being able to have privacy when showering. No privacy at the ball field."

"I can understand that. Do you remember me telling you about the vacay brochures I saw Modo looking at?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"He told me that he plans to take me on a vacay soon."

"I know he doesn't work, so how's he going to pay for the vacay? And where is he going to take you?"

"It turns out that he has been working. Its only part time, but, he works at a Harley-Davidson shop as a, get this, wrench jockey. He's been saving all his paychecks."

"You 2 would look good together. I can't see you with Vinnie, Charley."

"Hate to disappoint you, Mike, but Vinnie and I have been together for about 2 months."

"Hopefully, you tell Modo. He's more of the domestic type. Vinnie is not. He's too wild and, no offense, but too set on himself."

"Since Vinnie was admitted to the hospital, I've been rethinking my relationship with him. He's a great guy, bit wild like you said, but he can be sweet when he wants to be."

"At the wrong time from what I've heard."

"Very true, but he does mean well. Maybe you're right. Maybe I'd be better off with someone like Modo."

"I know I'm right. He treats you with the respect you deserve. Has Vinnie ever shown you respect, other than thanking you for repairing his bike?"

"Nope. Modo is always helping me around the garage, even when I don't need help. He's such a sweetheart."

"Then while you 2 are on your vacay, tell him how you feel. When I met them for the first time last week, I saw how you looked at him. You've fallen in love with Modo."

"Damn. I can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"Nope."

"I think I can hear Throttle's bike. Didn't he just leave there this morning?"

"Yep. I told him to be safe on the way back there. He also wants you to hook him up with a cell phone."

"Not a problem. Do I need to ask him why or are you going to tell me?"

"He came back to the motel room plastered last night. He left a note saying he'd be out for a while, but didn't say where he'd be. I was worried about where he was. No way to get a hold of him. I told him so, too. So, he apologized to me and told me that he wants you to get him a cell phone so this incident doesn't happen again."

"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but you have domesticated him. He told me that not even Carbine could do that on his last trip to Mars. When he came back, he wasn't happy. He was never happy after his calls with her, then the last call to her was when he broke it off. He was miserable. Then last week, when you finally met the guys, I saw something in Throttle that I hadn't seen in him since they arrived on Earth. I saw him perk up. He was happy after laying eyes on you. You have made him very happy, Mike."

"He's made me very happy, too, Charley. Throttle has been so good to me. When I got sick, he offered his own blood to help me. I got a transfusion of Martian blood after finding out that him and I have the same blood type. Because of Throttle, I'm still alive."

"Hey, Throttle just pulled up. You wanna talk with him?"

"Sure. I'm glad he made it in one piece."

Charley took the phone into the garage and handed it to Throttle. "Your girlfriend is on the phone."

Throttle took the phone. "Yeah babe."

"Just making sure you arrived safely."

"Of course. Did you doubt?"

"You mice are known for riding recklessly. I have a right to be worried about you, hot stuff."

"I know you do, Michelle. I'll be back as soon as I can so we can finish that vacay."

"I don't expect you to do a turn around trip."

"Honestly babe, I can't stay away from you for long. So, I'm making it a turn around trip. Being with you is a like a breath of fresh air."

"Awwww, thanks baby. Go help Vinnie and keep me updated. I love you, Throttle."

"I will babe and I love you too." Then he hung up the phone.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

About 30 mins. later, Throttle and Charley drove to the hospital in Charley's truck. "I go from the hospital in California to the hospital here in Chicago. I just hope Vinnie will be ok. How did he land in the hospital, anyway?"

"Bad batch of hot dogs."

"Why am I not surprised. I told him that one day he would end up in the hospital, but I didn't think it would actually happen."

"Guess you guys don't have cast iron stomachs like you thought, huh?"

"I never said that. That's Vinnie's thing. Besides, Michelle has gotten me trying other things."

"That's what she told me. I told her that she's domesticated you."

Throttle looked at her. "I wouldn't go that far, Charley. Just being a good boyfriend."

"Yeah, right. I'm just glad that you're happy with her."

"Happy doesn't explain how I feel about her, Charley. I love this woman to death. I'll do anything for her."

"From what she told me, you did. You gave her a blood transfusion to save her life."

"Yes, I did and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Hell, I'd give my life for her, Charley."

"You really love her that much, Throttle?"

"Yes, I do. Don't mention this to her, but I plan to ask her to marry me after our vacay."

"My lips are sealed. Can I tell Modo at least?"

Throttle smiled. "Yeah, you can."
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

After they arrived at the hospital, Charley parked the truck, they got out and headed for the sliding doors of the hospital.

After they walked in, Charley asked what room Vinnie was in. The secretary pointed to the room right behind them. They turned around and saw Vinnie hooked up to all kinds of monitors.

It saddened both of them to see Vinnie like that. He should be on his bike, shooting goons, helping to take down Limburger, not in a hospital hooked up to monitors.

They walked into Vinnie's room and saw the Dr. checking on him. He looked up and saw Charley and Throttle walk in.

The Dr. came over to them. "You must be Throttle. Before we sedated your friend, he was telling us about you. I'm Dr. Satori. What can you tell me about your physiology?"

"Its no different than that of a Human, really. I just gave my girlfriend a blood transfusion earlier this week. It looks like you're doing everything just fine, Dr."

"If there's anything I need, how can I get a hold of you?"

Throttle wrote down my cell number for the Dr. "This is my girlfriend's number. You can reach me on it." Then he looked at Vinnie.

"Does he know we're here?"

"I don't know. I have to make rounds, so I'll leave you 2 with your friend. Talk to him and see if you get a response. We've tried since being sedated, but that was last night. He should have awoken by now."

"Maybe our voices might wake him up. He didn't give you any problems about being stuck with needles, did he? He doesn't like needles."

"That's why he was sedated. He wouldn't stop squirming."

"That's Vinnie. He doesn't like to stay still."

"So we've noticed. Have a good day."
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

After the Dr. left, Throttle pulled up a chair next to Vinnie's bed and grabbed a hold of his hand and squeezed it. "Hey Vinnie. Charley and I came to see you. I heard you were being a pain in the ass when they were trying to poke you with needles. You gotta get over your fear of needles."

Throttle felt a squeeze on his hand. "Charley, I think he's waking up."

Vinnie slowly opened his eyes and saw a tan blur sitting next to him. He focused his eyes better and saw Throttle. "Hey bro. How's it going?"

"Save your strength, Vinnie. Just glad that you're awake. I rushed back here to help you. I think you better lay off the dogs for a while, bro."

"I think you're right. They nearly killed me. How's that girl of yours?"

"In California waiting for me to come back. In fact, I need to call her. I told her I'd keep her updated on your condition."

"Here Throttle. Use my cell phone to call her."

"Thanks Charley." Then he took her cell phone and called me.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

California. Best Western Motel. My phone was going off. I looked at the number and saw that it was Charley's cell.

"Hello."

"Hey babe. Vinnie's awake and doing a bit better."

"That's good news. Can I talk to him for a bit?"

Throttle handed the phone over to Vinnie. "Michelle wants to talk to you, Vinnie."

Vinnie took the phone. "Hey Doll. How's the weather over there?"

"How you doing, Vin?"

"Better. I hear you were on vacation. I'm sorry for ruining it."

"Vincent, don't you dare apologize. I told Throttle that the rest of my vacay can wait until he gets back here. You're more important right now."

"Awww, thanks, but I have a good woman to come visit and you need to finish your vacay with Throttle. I'll be fine now."

"You sure, Vin?"

"Yeah."

"Ok. Give the phone back to Throttle."

He handed the phone back to Throttle. "What's up, babe?"

"Vinnie told me that we need to get back to our vacay and not to worry about him."

Throttle looked at Vinnie and shook his head. He couldn't believe that Vinnie would say something like that.

"What do you think we should do? I'm fine with coming back if that's what you want?"

"If that's what you wanna do, its fine by me."

"Then as soon as Charley and I get back to the garage, I'll get on my bike and head back there."

"Stop by my place first and get some fresh clothes for me and grab those shoes for yourself. You're going to need them if we do any more hiking. I think Charley has a spare key to my place."

"Ok babe. I'll be back there as soon as I can. I love you, Michelle."

"I love you too, Throttle. Be safe."

"I will, beautiful." Then he hung up and gave Charley back her phone.

"Keep it for now, Throttle. At least until you get back from your vacay."

Then she turned to Vinnie. She gave him a kiss on his nose. "I'll be back tomorrow, Vinnie. I have to take Throttle back to the garage and finish up work."

"Ok Charley. Be careful going back to California, bro."

"I will Vinnie. Get better, ok."

Vinnie smiled and nodded his head. Then closed his eyes and drifted back into slumberland.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Back at the garage, Throttle had gotten the spare key from Charley, then got his bike and headed for my place to get what I asked for.

On his way there, he met up with Modo, who was out patrolling the streets.

"Hey big fella. Everything all quiet?"

"Surprisingly, yeah. Where have you been all this time, bro?"

"California with Michelle. I came back to give the Dr. info on our physiology since Vinnie is in the hospital."

"You staying?"

"Can't Modo. I told Michelle I'd come back to California to finish our vacay."

"She has you whipped, Throttle. You don't live at the 'board with us anymore. You don't go out and patrol with us anymore, either."

"Now wait a minute! I am not whipped. I just took advantage of the quietness that's going on at lard butt's tower. You should too. We've all been overdue for a vacay, that's why I took Michelle on one to California."

"So, what are you doing right now?"

"On my way to her place to pick up some things for her and I, then I'm off to California."

"Be careful heading back there."

"I will, Modo. Later."