Rating: PG

Summary: More conversations...more arguments...more 24-year-old assholes.

Spoilers: Nope.
 

MICHAEL:

Thank God I get off at 6 today. I've got homework, which isn't done, and I promised Dad I'd write a piece for TMB-Langly's sort of had to slack off, so I said I'd do it.

This, of course, was two days ago, and he hasn't seen me.

I am going to get killed when I get there.

Oh well.
 

ALLY:

We're out in the hallway, readying to leave, when Chris and Julie catch up with us.

"Whaddya want?" Langly asks his nephew brusquely. "We're going, okay?"

Chris looks at him coldly. "You know, if she hadn't gotten back in contact with you, she'd still be where she belongs today."

Langly cackles, a harsh, uncomfortable sound. "That's bullshit and you know it, dude. She made up her mind a long time ago."

"She abandoned her family, her HUSBAND, because of you!" Chris is definitely going florid in the face.

Langly shrugs. "Hey, if it helps you sleep at night, you can think that. Ally? C'mon." He takes my arm.

"You're a disgrace, you know that, Uncle?" Chris tells him sharply. "You flout the law, you marry this...this woman..."

Langly turns on his heels and leans in closer to the bigger man. "One more word about her, and I rearrange your face. Just like your dad did for me before I got married. You got it?"

Chris looks mocking. "A wonderful solution to all your problems, isn't it, Uncle?"

"Seems to work for you dad." Langly shoots back at a hundred miles an hour.

"My father believes in discipline, which is something you've always lacked! He tried to give it to you when you were younger, but no, you always knew better-"

"I knew he was an asshole."

"Don't you ever speak of my father that way!"

"Then keep your mouth shut about my wife, and we'll call it even!" We're trying to bail out, but Chris moves in front of us.

"In the event you can donate to my mother, don't think this gives you license to keep up this corruption that you've introduced her to. Believe me, she's coming back."

"I don't think so, big boy." Langly's voice is surprisingly mild. "Y'know, Joanie's 53 years old...I think she can make up her own mind."

"Not when she's under the influence of the devil, she can't."

This makes Langly smile. "You give me way too much credit, you know that? But hey, you always did think I was totally awesome when you were younger. Ally? C'mon. Let's see how the kiddies are doing."

As usual, he got the last word.

This time, I'm happy about it.
 

MICHAEL:

I have GOT to get the 'Stang working, this weekend.

I wonder if Kelly knows anything about cars.

Nah. But maybe she can bring her books and keep me company while I try to breathe life into it.

The weather sucks, and the bus trip takes fucking forever. And the sidewalk up the hill to Chateau Langly is real slick, even with lug soles on my boots.

I check to see if Kelly's in, but she worked today, and she's not there yet. Probably having a bitch of a time getting out of DC. I scratch her a post-it and tell her I'm out in the offices and come and see me when she gets there.

When I get to the offices, all three of them are there, clicking away. Byers and Langly say hi kind of absently. My dad doesn't say anything for a minute.

Then he does. "Where the hell were you last night?"

"Hey, I was here."

"You were?" Langly looks surprised. "Usually we know when you're around, Junior. What were YOU up to?" He's leering at me.

"Hey, for your information, Kelly and I were just hanging out and we fell asleep, and that's ALL that happened! Now if you don't mind, I've got work to do!"

Dad looks real pissed. "You could at least call and say what you're doing, you know."

"Well, I fell asleep, I'm sorry. Occasionally that happens!"

"Not in your girlfriend's bedroom, it doesn't."

"Well, it did, and you can leave me the fuck alone now!"

"Michael, watch your mouth!" Dad is real irate. "And you will keep me informed as to what you're doing and where you'll be. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, like you always tell me where you're going and what YOU'RE up to!"

"I do make the effort."

"Yeah, like you just take off sometimes and I could be dying or something and I'd have no clue where to find you-"

"Michael, that's enough! Either you follow my rules, or you find another place to live. Are we clear on that?"

"I do follow your rules! Jesus Christ, you'd think I was ten or something!"

"And your sense of responsibility has suggested at times that that's about how old you are!"

"I don't think so, Melvin!" I shout back at him.

Uh-oh. Went too far, I think.

His voice is a growl now. "Michael, I'm the parent here, and you're the child. Understood?"

Is he out of his mind? I'm almost 25!

"I'm working inside!" I announce to them. "I'm gonna go work on Ally's computer, where people don't give me SHIT every minute!" I grab my backpack and stalk off.

As I'm leaving, I can hear Byers' voice, real quiet.

"Frohike, he's not a child anymore."

I can't hear my dad's response, and I don't want to.
 

ALLY:

Michael comes storming into the house, asks if he can use my computer, I tell him fine.

I'm sitting at the table studying with Miranda and Kelly. I'm gratified that Kelly helps Miranda out with her work, and the two seem to have a good rapport.

Even better, Kelly said we'd had enough, she'd make dinner-so long as we didn't mind grilled cheese and soup.

She could serve me dog food right now, and as long as I didn't have to deal with preparation or cleanup, I'd be grateful.

I think I may have misjudged the girl. I took her to be ambitious, self-centered, uptight.

She's all of that. But she's growing up fast.

And Michael, in spite of his fury, stops long enough to give her a hug and a quick kiss. He tells her he missed her. She doesn't say anything, but her smile suggests she feels likewise.

It's good to see her smile. She still seems depressed some of the time, but when she's around Michael, you can see her warmth beginning to emerge.

I'd have been hard pressed to admit it three months ago, but maybe he's good for her.

And she for him. He's pissed right now-over what, I don't know, but even so, he's not as hasty to anger as he once was. He picks his battles more carefully now.

And with the haircut Miranda gave him, and new contact lenses, the little guy is a fox. When I first met him, I thought he looked pathetically punky-nerdy.

He hasn't changed his wardrobe, but goddamn, age and grooming do wonders for this baby.

And love. It's all over his face and his gestures. Michael can still be surly, but I'm seeing a lot less surly in him these days. And more of the sweet Frohike smile that in his father is rare, but cherished.

I wonder what Kelly thinks of the nose ring.

Langly wanders in a few minutes later, presumably to grab a beer. He asks if I let Junior invade my computer, and I tell him I did, he seemed upset about something, does he know what?

Langly says, yeah, I just wanna make sure he's okay.
 

MICHAEL:

It's one thing if my dad wants to bag on me. But bagging on me in front of the guys, that's like way too far.

No wonder I get treated like the village idiot out there. My dad gives me NO respect at all. And they pick up on it.

Course, the prof did stick up for me. Not that it would do any good. My dad is amazingly stubborn.

The door opens-Jesus Christ, doesn't anybody knock around here?

"What do you want?" I glare at the figure of Langly closing the door behind him. "And don't you ever knock?"

"Like to point out, Junior, that this is MY bedroom. Mine and Ally's."

"So? I'm working in here. You need something? I gotta get this article done, okay? I'm not gonna be that long, if I don't get interrupted!"

He sort of laughs. "Jesus, Junior, calm down. Just came to see how you were. That's all. I guess I got my answer."

Oh. I gulp. I figure he's gonna bail now. But he doesn't.

Oh fuck. I haven't even asked him how his sister is.

"How's Joan?" I ask. I guess better late than never.

"Not so good." He looks pretty down when I ask that. Maybe I should've kept my mouth shut.

"Dad says she's got some type of leukemia."

"Yeah, and it's ugly. But maybe she'll be okay. I'm gonna found out tomorrow if I can donate bone marrow to her. That's her best shot." He sticks his tongue out. "I hate that test. Hurts like hell."

"Hey, you're a big boy, Langly."

"Yeah, guess I am, aren't I?" He laughs a little. "We're having a hard time convincing your dad you are too, but don't sweat it, we'll get him to come over to the dark side eventually."

"Not likely. I will be six years old forever in his brain."

"Yeah, well, you know. He's your dad. It's probably real scary seeing you all grown up and having a girlfriend and all this stuff. Hey, it scares the hell out of me every time I see Miranda with Jesse."

"You treat him like shit, you know."

"Yeah, I do. I'm such an asshole. But man, he breaks her heart, or anything else, I'll kill him."

"Seems like an okay guy. Give him a break."

He shakes his head and laughs. "No way. I cherish the look of fear in a young man's eyes." He's grinning wickedly now.

"You would. Sorry to break it to you, Blonde Boy, but I'm not afraid of you."

"Yeah, well, you're not dating my stepdaughter, either. Thank God."

"I think anybody that takes on Miranda deserves a reward."

"She's pretty intense sometimes, but she's a pretty good kid. Mostly. Seems to like Kelly. Least they don't fight like you guys did."

"That's 'cause Kelly's smart and hides her towels."

"Ah, yes. Miranda the towel sucking monster."

We look at each other and totally crack up-this is exactly what I think of Miranda.

"So Blonde Boy? You nervous about tomorrow?"

He winces, hard. "Oh, yeah. But not so much about the test-okay, a little about the test. More about...well, you know...what if I don't match Joanie?"

"Gotta be something they can do."

"Yeah, poison her...which they might have to do, anyway, even if I match...shit, Junior, this sucks."

He looks real helpless all of a sudden. He's sitting on the edge of the bed, his arms wrapped around his knees with his chin settled down on them.

"So tell me, Junior...what would you do if Leslie was dying?"

What?!

"Leslie's not dying. She's fine and bitchy and mean and I don't want to deal with her."

"Wrong answer, Junior. Try again."

"Look, you can't compare me and Les to you and Joan. I mean, you got no gripe with Joan, right?"

"No...only that she fucking deserted me for thirteen years." He sounds a bit angry. Weird. "But she's my sister, and I got her back, and even if I didn't..."

"So what's the point here, Blonde Boy?   I got work to do."

"Point is, Junior, you oughta try and make things right between you and your people. I think that includes your sister."

"Look, I talk to my mom every once in a while now, and that's hard enough." I still don't like thinking about my mom. "I try and talk to Les...y'know, I don't think she wants to have anything to do with me. You ever think of that?"

He shrugs. "Not the point."

"So what is the point, already?" I'm REALLY in a bad mood now.

"Point is, Junior, you want your dad to see you like a grownup, right?"

"I am one. He oughta."

"No. You gotta prove to him you are. Sorry. I think trying to make it okay between you and Leslie would do a lot to convince him you're going that way."

"Yeah, and what if she blows me off?"

"Hey, you tried. Joanie could've blown me off...but I guess she was ready to have me back around again. I got lucky. Not saying you will. But hey, if Leslie was dying, would you donate to her?"

I think about that. "Well...probably...you know, it's not like I want her to die or anything. I just don't like her, that's all."

"Yeah, but, don't you listen to anything I say, Junior? Jesus!"

"I listen to you plenty, Langly, and it gets me in a whole shitload of trouble."

"Not true, not true. Listen, I'm telling you, Junior. Don't be stupid like I was. I bet you bucks that that's what your dad's telling you, too."

"I'm getting real tired of being treated like I'm in junior high, goddammit."

"Then, goddammit, act like you're not. What'd I tell you, Junior? You were a kid when this happened. Well, guess what? You're not a kid anymore. So act like the man you wanna be."

"You're a great one to talk, asshole."

"Yeah, I am, you little fuckrag, because I did fuck up, and it's hard, and all I can do is try. Didn't say it was always easy and fun. But you know what? It worked. After a while, your dad quit treating me like a juvenile delinquent and started giving me some respect. He'll do the same for you. Promise. But you gotta make the call."

"This is like royally unfair. I mean, you make it sound like it's all on me."

"Sorry. System isn't set up for your convenience, Junior. Sure as hell wasn't set up for mine. I mean, last thing I feel like doing tomorrow is going in and getting tortured tomorrow, and lemme tell you, it's torture, but it's my sister, and maybe I can help her, and that's all that matters. I think that's what adults do."

I know how much he's gonna hate this.

And it dawns on me: the dude is like way scared.

Way scared of what's going to go down with his sister. And probably scared of getting needles stuck in his bones, too, but not as much.

I get up from the computer and sit down next to him.

"Rough deal about Joan, man," I tell him.

"Yeah." He's dry-eyed, but you can tell he's kind of close to breaking.

"I mean, you just got her back and all, not a year ago."

"Yeah."

"So what's gonna happen if you are a match for her?"

"Don't know. I assume they'll suck out some more of my guts, give 'em to her."

"Better than the alternative, I suppose."

"Oh, yeah."

"Well, we'll just try to think that you match her and it'll be cool."

He doesn't say anything, but he leans his head on my shoulder, which is real funny, because he's so much bigger than me, and he weighs a lot more and almost knocks me over.

But he's really having a hard go with this.

I gotta respect him for trying.

I slap an arm around his one shoulder. "You'll be okay, dude."

"Yeah. Least Ally's going with me."

"She staying for the test?"

"Yeah. She's usually real cool. I'd like her there."

"So how long do you have to wait before you find out?"

"Don't know. Guess they'll tell us tomorrow how long it takes."

"Waiting kills."

"That it does. Lately, that seems like all we do is wait." He turns and looks at me. "Hey, guess who I saw today? One of the most odious creatures you'll ever want to meet."

"Barney?"

That gets a chuckle out of him. "No, my nephew."

"Didn't know you had a nephew."

"Wish I didn't right now. You know, he's your age. And what's really amazing is, he's an even bigger asshole than you, Junior."

"Fuck you, Langly."

"Ah, that's my boy."

We get called. Dinner is served.

END OF PART 52