"I’m in. All the way. Big Bro is kidding himself — Pa will dump on us all when the time comes. If he’s clean, we won’t get shit — but if he ain’t, we’ll need it," Damian replied.
"Okay, then. When do we start?" Jean asked.
"Well, he’ll be at the site now, probably," Louise guessed. "Why don’t one of you boys go with someone to check?"
Candace nodded. "Who’s going, then?"
"I’ll go," Lon volunteered. "I’ll take Terence and Sally." He waved at Sally and she got up and started dressing.
"Get directions and everything," Jean directed, "so we can all find it."
"Right," Lon agreed.
"Beth, why don’t you and Toby and I go to the store for equipment?" Candace suggested. Beth nodded and got tacit permission to get back into her clothing, too.
Rick nodded. "Good idea — if anyone knows what we need in the way of electronics, it’s Toby." There were general nods. "Teela and I will follow Lon, so we can find the place — and we can do tomorrow — can’t we?" He flicked a glance at Teela.
"Sure," she agreed. "When do you think we need to be watching?"
Louise thought about it. "Well, there is the question of whether he’s going to work in the first place, but I’m not too worried about that. Lunch time, maybe? Call me and we’ll figure out where he’s supposed to be tomorrow…"
"You’ll need to stop by my place," Toby instructed, "to get cameras and binoculars and stuff and instruction in how to use them. Better do that about ten, I guess."
"Okay," Rick nodded.
"We’ll head home," Louise declared, "in case he’s coming home early. Call us if you don’t find him," she instructed Terence.
"I’ll check on the dog." Damian grinned from ear to ear, while various others rolled their eyes.
"I’ll go on the shopping trip, I guess…" Jean interjected. Anything to be with Toby…
"Might as well," Toby grinned.
The group split up, Lon and Sally and Terence piling into Lon’s car, Candace and Beth and Toby and Jean into Beth’s minivan, Rick and Teela following Lon and company in Rick’s car, and Louise and Damian heading home in Louise’s car. Once they were headed out, Louise turned to Damian, "I don’t think you need to be in no rush to find a dog, Boy."
"Yeah, yeah," Damian rolled his eyes. "They SAID they’d do it!"
"I know, but them saying that they would do something like that makes the whole thing unnecessary, I figure. If they’ll go that far…"
"Mama, they got pictures of you — they need pictures of them a lot worse!" Damian insisted.
"Okay, Boy — but you listen to me! Do NOT tip your hand about this! Those girls are not gonna be in the middle of some circus — and you can’t be inviting someone ELSE not in the group to watch or anything! That will just make things worse! If you can’t come up with a reason to borrow that dog that makes sense and doesn’t raise suspicions, DON’T BOTHER TO TRY! You understand? Don’t go planning to be in on it, either! Besides, they’ll just be posing for the camera, not actually doing anything…"
"Okay, I get it! I’m cool! But I still might want to watch…" Damian insisted.
Louise eyed him, disgusted, but said nothing.
Terence’s presence filtered communication in Lon’s car, but there was no one with Rick and Teela…
"Dogs?" Rick ranted. "Louise’s husband?"
"Baby, they were looking for something — and the dog thing works! We don’t have to actually FUCK one!" Teela argued.
"I know, but DAMN!"
Teela shrugged. "Worry about it when they find a dog, Baby! In the meantime, they’re happy that we’re willing to do something serious…"
"Like fuck Terence’s dad? Some big black guy?"
"It’s for the group!" Teela pouted.
"Well, maybe so, but…"
"Baby, what are you worried about?" Teela asked.
"I’m not ready to be sharing you around," Rick grunted. "This is the second time in two days you’ve been asked to do something with a black guy. You’re MINE, dammit!"
"Oh I am, am I?" Teela flared. "You own me? Like Lon owns Sally?"
"Not like that," Rick argued, "but I thought I was number one. If you want something else…"
"Oh, no! No!" Teela leaned across the seat and grabbed his arm. "It’s not like that at all! Wait! Let’s talk about this!" Teela felt a gaping hole where the pit of her stomach used to be.
"I’m listening." Rick glared at the road.
"I thought … Aren’t you having sex with Candace and Beth and Louise?"
"Maybe not, now."
"Won’t that cause problems?"
"I don’t know. Maybe."
"I thought we agreed that if you needed to you can…" Teela said carefully.
"But you have to be there," Rick retorted.
"I just said that," Teela murmured. "It … might not make sense."
"I’m good with it," Rick retorted. "Especially if it also applies to you!"
"Well, okay, then," Teela backpedaled. "We can do that."
"You’re not having ANY kind of sex with ANY other guy until I have sex with someone else! Clear?" Rick insisted. "Even then…"
"Baby…" Teela broke off, frustrated. What was wrong with him?
Rick flashed a look at her. "Are you that hot to try out someone else?"
"No, not at all!" Teela replied. "I thought it would make it easier on you if I was willing…" She eyed him. "Baby, are you jealous?"
"No…"
"Well, you shouldn’t be! None of those guys is gonna take a serious interest in ME! I don’t even know why YOU do, but I’m glad…" Teela sniffled a bit.
Rick shook his head. "It’s just … everybody else is … bigger…"
"Oh," Teela blinked. "I don’t know if I…"
"No, you DON’T, do you?" Rick interjected.
"Baby, I don’t see anyone telling you to go home…" Teela argued. "Beth says you’re just fine…"
"She SAYS that, but we haven’t fucked, really, since the Carters showed up…" Rick replied.
"Well I think you’re wonderful!" Teela insisted.
"You might not, once Damian or Terence — or even Lon or Toby — gets a hold of you!" Rick retorted. "Not to mention Terence’s dad!"
"Baby, I really don’t think…"
"That’s for sure!" Rick retorted acidly.
Teela started to cry. "Baby, please! Don’t be like that! I’m sorry! I’ll back out of that thing, okay? Please don’t be mad!"
Rick eyed her sidelong. "You’ll back out?"
"Uh huh."
"No strange guys?"
"Uh uh."
"We’re up front about everything, right?"
"Yes, Baby! You’re my man! I don’t want anyone else!"
"What about that crap about trying other guys? Getting experience? Being slutty? Maybe following your mother’s footsteps?" Rick pressed.
"I … Only things you approve first — is that okay?"
"It’ll do," Rick grunted. "I don’t know if I’d like having you do ANYBODY else…"
"If it means losing you…"
"All right. Let’s forget it for now." Rick wrapped an arm around Teela’s shaking shoulders.
Chapter 47
Posted: March 29, 2009 - 07:15:29 pm
"That’s Pa’s truck," Terence pointed it out.
"Okay, we’ll roll by and park down the block," Lon said. "Then we can get Rick and Teela in on things, too." He went on past two buildings and parked. Rick pulled in behind him, and at Lon’s wave, everybody got out. "Terence says that’s his dad’s truck," Lon said, pointing it out to Rick and Teela.
"So he’s here, then?" Rick asked.