DC - Chapter 25

   Panic woke up. Panic more importantly woke up on his own. He lay quietly. He could now see how Merry slept with him. Her left arm around his neck, her right arm over his chest, her right leg slung over him. Gently captured, gently held down. She had said that she sleeps just fine with him, and if he "stirred", she just instinctively "shushed" him back to sleep. Like a little kid.

   Panic idly missed the kissing magic as he thought of it. Falling asleep during a deep passionate kiss… then being woken up the next morning with what seemed like the same deep passionate kiss? It was almost magical.

   He was suddenly the last several days sleeping long and deep. Getting repaired. Merry was fixing him some way somehow. Did she know she was working on a male machine, adjusting his air fuel mixture like a mechanic, setting him up to run right? He didn't really know. She could be doing it on instinct, or doing it on purpose. Why ask and risk ruining it.

   As slowly and as stealthily as he could manage, he palmed his phone. Wow, it was early morning. Panic smiled. Merry had him taking little short naps, but when he went to sleep… she kept him asleep. Speedy had been managing his ragged sleep'n'wake cycles as best he had been able to… but Merry was way better at it. She could quite naturally put him to sleep, and keep him there.

   Panic fought the urge to giggle. He idly wondered if he was allowed to be awake yet. He thought it would be fun to test it. He stirred a little. Moved around as if he was readjusting his sleeping position.

   Merry's right hand came up easily to her left hand into a gentle hug around his neck. Her face was already high on his chest; this buried her face into his neck. Already feeling her breathing, it went from washing over his chest to warming his neck and ear. That felt really warm and wonderful.

   She was attached to him. Literally, he thought. Like a tumor that he didn't mind. No, she was no tumor. She looked good on him, around him, with him. Tumors are imperfection, people like you in spite of the tumor, if at all. She was no tumor.

   What was she? Too early to tell, just enjoy it. Panic was old enough to know better. You don't demand to know, it can sometimes ruin the magic. He knew she was no tumor though. She was no parasite either. She wouldn't so much as let him buy her a coffee and a bagel. She clearly preferred to have her own small apartment to herself she didn't have to share with roommates. So, she didn't have to depend on anyone else for her living arrangements.

   No juggling roommates. No looking for a replacement when one moved out. She dragged him by the hand to her little motel apartment every night, she didn't try to come to his. Hell, she didn't want taken out to dinner or anything like that, she fed him. As soon as she found out he smoked? Well, she had taken care of that for him as well.

   She wasn't a tumor, something just there on you. She was no parasite, wanting and needing anything. She did however, attach herself to him. He decided she was more like a remora. The smaller fish that had a powerful sucker on top of its head. The remora attached itself to the much larger, much more dangerous shark.

   The remora got little scraps from the shark's meals. Too small for the shark who gulped big hunks down, they would otherwise go to waste… these were big meals for the remora. The shark would not eat the remora though, and would even actively protect it from any other predatory fish. The remora groomed the shark. Bit little things that would otherwise annoy the shark or grow on it. The remora was no parasite… it was useful and the shark enjoyed its presence.

   Panic stirred again and Merry gently tugged at his neck and pressed her thigh and leg down on him. He felt the gentle "shh" in his neck. He gently rolled over and kissed her.

   "Mmm. You're awake."

   Kissed her again…

   "Yep."

   She smiled and narrowed her eyes at him playfully mad.

   "Stay…"

   She reached for her cell phone and checked the time, put it back.

   "Okay, you're allowed up."

   "What…"

   "Sleep is all you ever needed. You're dark circles around yer eyes? Almost gone."

   "Well, how did I sleep last night?"

   He got another kiss and a smile.

   "Really really good… you only needed shushed once all night I know of. Hm. Won't be long then, I think you're gonna be able to sleep through the night soon. All by yourself, if you want to."

   "What. No more boat anchor on me?"

   Merry smiled.

   "You never complained before."

   "No, I never complained."

   "Hm. You complaining now?"

   "No, I'm definitely not complaining."

   "So… you don't mind someone sleeping right on you?"

   "Not in the least. Mr. Fuzzy sleeps right up against me at home."

   "Yeah. Bitty Kitty sometimes sleeps on you. It doesn't wake you up."

   "I'm used to it. I like it."

   "Someone is taking care of you're… Mr. Fuzzy while you're away working, right?"

   "Oh yeah. Neighbor I trust. Mr. Fuzzy can get in and out of the house by himself. The only thing he's missing, is Daddy. I'll be home eventually."

   "You miss him?"

   "Very much. Told you before, Daddy wuvs his fuzzy widdle man."

   Merry smiled.

   "So. You just like coming here, because you like my cat then…"

   "Yeah. You got me. Any chance I can get rid of you, and just take the cat?"

   Merry smiled.

   "Nope. We're a package deal."

   Bitty Kitty walked up and wormed his way between their stomachs. Purred into both of them.

   Merry grinned…

   "We said the word 'cat' one too many times…"

   "It's fine…"

   They both put their hands to running over the warm purring cat. Bitty Kitty enjoyed having four hands all over him instead of just two at once.

   "I have a thing with cats. Excuse me…"

   Merry smiled…

   "Go on. Molest Bitty Kitty. He seems to like it…"

   She smiled, watching Panic talk baby talk to the cat. Touched noses with it, then they pressed noses. Went to cheek rubbing, which degenerated into him running his face all over the cat. Bitty kept his claws in and rubbed his paws on Panic's head and face. Purred loudly. More nose touching and cheek rubbing, before Bitty opened his mouth, and rubbed his teeth on Panic's nose.

   Panic finally looked up at Merry, head propped up on her hand and elbow.

   "Kitty kisses."

   "Uh huh. I see this. What do we… call this…"

   "Why?"

   "Just curious what I should call it."

   "I call it… special kitty luvvins."

   "Is… that different than you're normal laying with the cat like you do?"

   "You want the technical terms, science girl?"

   Merry smiled…

   "Oh yeah. You know it gets science girl all hot and bothered, when you get all… scientific… and technical…"

   "All right. Cat's laying near me? That's together time."

   "Together time… gotcha."

   "If the cat's on me, or up against me? That's snuggle time."

   "Mmm. Snuggling is better than just together."

   "Yeah. That's the rank basics. There's individual acts. Nose touches. Paw touches. Cheek rubs. Anything under the covers? Is snuggle time."

   "Hm. We don't get under the covers, aren't we still snuggling?"

   "We're not cats. We communicate our own way, as human to human. This is all… human to cat, cat to human communication."

   "Science girl smells a lecture coming on."

   "Science boy does not want to annoy science girl. Science girl can put a stop to her lecture, any time she wants to…"

   "Told you. Science girl gets all… hot when you get all… technical. Continue the lecture."

   "Cat's can't talk to us. But, they talk to us in cat language."

   "Non verbal language…"

   "Yes, exactly. Cat sticks its tail straight up in the air? That's the kitty middle finger. The kitty 'fuck you', you don't wanna get that."

   "I don't see that…"

   "Well. If you don't swat the cat for getting on the furniture, swat it away from your plate of food, totally ignore the cat when it meows at you or rubs on you? You won't see it. Cat's don't like being swatted, yelled at, or ignored."

   "You don't say."

   "I do. I take great pains, to communicate to the cat, that I'm a buddy. No swatting. No yelling. No pushing away. No matter how much I would rather not have the cat on me? I will pick the cat up for if only ten seconds, then put it down gently. No yell, no swat, no ignore."

   "Hm. Continue…"

   "Cat's are predators. When a cat wants to be friendly with you? They want you to show how you're relaxed with them. The cat wants to put its best weapons on you, right on your face. The claws. The teeth. When you let the predator put it's best weapons on your face? You're telling the cat you're relaxed and friendly."

   "This is how cats talk to their owners?"

   "Yes. This is how cats talk to each other. You're not a cat owner, by the way."

   "Funny. I could have sworn… I have a cat."

   "No. Maybe to you. To the cat? The cat has a buddy. If anything, in the cat's scheme of things? The cat sort of owns 'you'. The cat shows this, by marking you."

   "Bitty Kitty is peeing on me when I'm asleep?"

   "No. He's marking you with scent glands you can't smell. His cheeks have them. When he rubs his cheeks on you hard? He's marking you as his."

   "Great. I'm furniture. He does that to the TV and the chair and the bed."

   "Exactly. All places he likes. They're his. He likes you, too. You're… his."

   "Hmm…"

   "What?"

   "Nothing."

   "No, what."

   "I was just noticing…"

   "And? Do I have to smack it out of you?"

   "Mmm. That could be fun…"

   "Ha. What?"

   "Okay. I'm just noticing. You put your hands on my face. You touch noses with me and rub noses hard, just like you do to the cat. You rub cheeks. You rub your face all over me after we… get done."

   "Do I now?"

   "Yes. You do."

   "Well then. I guess I like you."

   Merry winked at him, smiling.

   "I hadn't really noticed before. Glad you finally told me."

   "I'm pretty sure, you already knew I liked you."

   Merry smiled at him…

   "I already knew. Any closing lecture on cat to human language?"

   "Grooming. You see how the cat likes being rubbed. Scratched. Kissed. Fur gone through?"

   "Yes…"

   "That's grooming behavior. Grooming, along with food? Are priceless and more precious than gold, in the animal kingdom. You give food and treats? You groom? It's like handing out bars of solid gold."

   "Hm. So, I'm yer cat, then."

   Panic thought about it.

   "Yeah. Don't take this the wrong way, I mean it as the highest compliment. I truly hold animals above all people. No agenda. They just like you, or not. Animals? Are amazingly loyal. A human? Can turn on you. Animals? Typically won't."

   Merry smiled.

   "Oh, you got that right. I know all too well, that humans can turn on you."

   "I remember. Your feeb boyfriends."

   "Yeah. I didn't know with the first one. Or the second one. When they're done playing with you? They drop you, but… later on… they trade you to another feeb."

   "What do you mean?"

   Merry smiled laconically.

   "Like little boys trading baseball cards?"

   "Yeah…?"

   "You're one of the little cop groupie girls. They let another one know you're up for it. Then…"

   "Then… married cheating feeb number two…"

   "Yeah… took three of them, for me to get the message."

   "And… you're not a cop groupie."

   "No. I'm not…"

   "I noticed."

   "Good…"

   "Are… we leading up to some… talk?"

   "What talk would that be?"

   "I don't know. If you wanted to, you could, is all."

   "Oh. It's easy to forget, you didn't date a lot, and you definitely didn't date around this screwed up city…"

   "Okay…"

   "You… what. Wonder what we are?"

   "You… don't have to tell me anything. I don't really care. I'm happy."

   "No, it's fine. The youngsters? They call it 'hooking up'… hooking up has replaced 'dating' me and you probably remember from high school."

   "So. We hooked up."

   "Yeah."

   "Are… we… said to be… hooked up, then?"

   "We are."

   "Does that make us… boyfriend and girlfriend?"

   "Not technically, science boy. This is the city."

   "What else do I need to know…"

   "Hm. We hooked up. We are in… what the magazine experts call… the infatuation phase."

   "Ooh. A phase. I love it when science girl gets all technical. What's the infatuation phase entail?"

   "You can't keep your hands off each other. Some call it the newlywed phase, same thing. It's the hormone phase."

   "I like the infatuation phase. Science girl."

   Merry smiled…

   "Everyone does."

   "Is there… another phase?"

   Merry licked the tip of his nose…

   "That… is where I'm different."

   "How are you different?"

   "Eh. The magazine experts, they call it… setting boundaries. I already set all the boundaries on night one. What are my rules?"

   "Don't be married. Don't fuck your friends."

   "Got a problem with any of that?"

   "None whatsoever…"

   "Then? We're good."

   "That's it?"

   "I told you, I'm not complicated. We hooked up. We're enjoying the infatuation phase. I already told you, silly. I don't set an egg timer. I don't really have a bunch of rules. If you don't fuck up royally, you're fine by me."

   "It's just too easy…"

   "Like I said… do you want it to be all complicated?"

   "I guess I'm like you. I enjoy it. I don't question it."

   "Yeah. I noticed. You never once quizzed me, on the fuck my friends part."

   "What? Am I supposed to be demanding to fuck your friends? I don't get it…"

   "No, silly. Don't fuck my friends. You're… a guy. If you wanna fuck someone else, just don't tell me about it. Don't rub my nose in it. That's 'fucking up royally'…"

   "Oh. You too, then."

   "What about me?"

   "Then you get the same priveleges."

   Merry smiled…

   "Oh. We're in the infatuation phase. It's honestly no issue. I ask you to stop by every night, and you do. Unless you're banging randoms in the bathroom somewhere, and honestly, you don't seem to be that type…"

   "No, I'm not."

   "Well, I'm not giving blowjobs in the bathroom either. Yes, some girls go for that, I'm not one of them."

   "Good."

   "Okay. See, during the hormone, infatuation phase? Pretty easy."

   "Merry. You're not shy. Do you… want weekends only? Days off?"

   "Oh. I forget you don't really know me. Here's what my mating habits are like… if you're asking?"

   "I'm not asking… if you're telling, fine…"

   "Whatever. A guy fucks up royally? Shitcanned. I swear off men forever. I refuse to date, until I feel like it. It lasts… months, I guess. Then? I finally get infatuated with some nice guy again. That's you. You already know, you don't have to jump through hoops. I don't train my men like other women do. I think that shit's silly."

   "You don't want to fuck other guys?"

   "No. I like a guy? I jump on him… literally, if you hadn't noticed… that's my guy. If I wanted to fuck some other guy? I wouldn't be… infatuated. That's just my way… you? You're a guy, and… you're in the city. It's kind of an amusement park, and… don't think I haven't noticed you finally got your precious FBI ID… it's your ticket to ride the other rides. I'm just sure someone pointed it out to you, I ain't stupid how shit works around here."

   "You're telling me to…"

   Merry laughed.

   "You're so cute. Look. You seem to really enjoy the… Merry go round in the amusement park. If you wanna try out the other rides, it's fine. I think we both know, your ID badge, is your ride free all night pass around the amusement park."

   "Merry, do you wanna know what my mating habits are?"

   "I'm not asking. But, if you're telling… fine."

   "I don't go out drinking much. I go out to eat and have a drink with the guys at the Hoover building I work with. Me and Speedy will go out some. He's like me, when we do go out? It's for dinner. We don't run around the bars like the boys do."

   "Where are your mating habits in there?"

   "What mating habits. If I already have a girl? I already have a girl. If I don't have one? Then I don't have one. I don't go out… looking. Tomcatting."

   "What do you do then?"

   "Whatever. Before my project, then after it I'll go back to it. I do my thing. I go to work if I'm working. When I'm off work or not working? I work on my own things. I had a girl for a long time, but, that ended. A while ago. As you said? It's been months. If a girl shows interest? Well… here we are."

   "You're really not a man whore, are you?"

   "When I was a little kid, sure. As an adult though? There's more to life than money and sex. In practical terms, I know I need some money. I know I need some sex, but… I don't run my life on those things."

   "Most men do."

   "I'm not most men."

   "Well. I don't have you on a leash, colonel. You're 'allowed' to run around with the boys from work or your boyfriend Speedy you're on the project with. I don't wanna wear you out."

   "Well. Since we had this little… talk… am I going to wear you out? Riding the Merry go round every night?"

   "I seem to like it. Keep doing what you're doing, if you like it. I sure seem to, dont I?"

   "Well. You're infatuated."

   "So are you."

   "Do you want me to keep seeing you at work? Sleeping here?"

   "Sure. You… wanna see if you can wear me out, huh?"

   "It's fun trying."

   "I try to make it fun. You know what guys like? Women's magazines."

   "No. Tell me."

   "You want a happy guy? Feed him, fuck him. Simple as that. You sure you don't wanna try out some other rides in this amusement park?"

   "No. I, uh, really enjoy the Merry go round. It's… a lot of fun. I can't really picture what the other rides are gonna give me."

   "Oh. That. What do you like? I'll pretty much do anything with my guy. What do you want?"

   "What do you mean?"

   Merry smiled.

   "You don't want anything… special?"

   "I'm fine… with the daily special."

   "Uh huh. Changes every day, doesn't it?"

   Panic nodded. Smiled.

   "You're shy. That's sweet. Okay, the daily special? It changes. Every day, every night. It'll take you a long time, to eat the whole menu, just eating off the daily special. Now, if you want something you liked? Just tell me."

   "Okay…"

   "We got a couple hours. Pick something you liked."

   "Whatever's fine."

   Merry leaned down into his face. Kissed him, then grabbed him rough by the chin like she did sometimes.

   "You open your fucking mouth, and you tell me what you want… right… now…"

   "Well, if you're asking…"

   "I am. Spit it the fuck out…"

   "I really liked that… slow thing you did. The one where you barely moved much?"

   Merry's face softened.

   "There. Wasn't that easy? You liked the slow ride. I call it the nothing-fuck."

   "Gimme the nothing-fuck."

   "Now. The game plan is… you don't move. You stay still. This is supposed to train your guy's dick? To last longer. So he can fuck you longer. So… the longer you can last, doing nothing? The better grade you get. Don't. Move. I do everything…"

   Panic lost track of time. For a whole lot of "nothing", it sure was entertaining. Merry enjoyed giving him a running commentary, in her dirty voice she liked to use.

   "You see, here's how it works. When a guy gets hard? He gets hard. When you start to go down? A little wet comes out. Then… I give just a… tiny… little…"

   She smiled and gave one of her teeny little flicks of her hips, then back to nothing. That worked, for all the next to nothing it was.

   "See? Practically nothing. It's the nothing-fuck…"

   His job was to lay still and not move. Not a hard thing to enjoy. She gave him eye contact. Faces. Played with her hair and breasts. All without moving. Every once in a while? The tiniest little flick of the hips.

   She laughed when she did it. The object of the game? Was to extend it as long as possible. After quite some time, it got harder and harder to sit completely still like she wanted. Merry would have none of it. She laid down on him, pinning him, entwined their fingers and squeezed them down firmly.

    She went to the hot slow kissing he remembered he had liked about it.

   "You can last longer. I'm just sure of it."

   Turned out, he could. Eventually, after what seemed forever, he couldn't help trying to squirm.

   "You have to fight it. You want me to quit? Sit still…"

   After what seemed like forever, she finally told him he was getting close. She bit and kissed his neck, kept asking if he was ready. He never said no.

   She finally whispered into his neck, that they were going to count to ten. Together. That he had to sit completely still for this part. Or she would quit, for certain.

   Every couple numbers, seemingly on random, got the tiniest little flick of the hips. Finally on ten… she gave a couple of soft, gentle, almost imperceptible flicks of her hips. Laughing and attacking his neck as he predictably exploded and could no longer sit still.

   She sat up again, and shook her finger "no"…

   The game went on. This second round, naturally, had more movements. Not much, but… enough to extend the game a good bit.

   Finally, when she was done teasing him, she buried her face in his neck and announced that their pleasant morning flight? Was about to encounter a lot of turbulence. Out of nowhere, she laughed, bit and kissed his neck, and set about… turbulence.

   The game ended eventually, after however long he couldn't fathom. Nor really cared. It suddenly went back from wild turbulence… to sudden frozen movement, like it had all started the first time.

   She kissed him, then gave a couple of soft flicks… and the second ride on Merry airlines finally… crash landed.

   She continued to pin him down as best she could, until he was completely spent. She whispered into his ear…

   "The article, says that the second time? That's called… overstimulation. You like it when science girl gets all… technical, huh?"

   He nodded.

   "Good… now we can have our morning wake and bake. It ruins the nothing-fuck, but, now we're good."

   They usually had a joint, but for something different she had a small pipe. She filled it up, and inhaled deeply. Held it in… then pinned him down and made him inhale, and exhale after holding. She finished the pipe this way. Then packed it up, and rolled over and put him on top. Told him it was his turn to go first. He did.

   They took their time with a now usual shared morning shower. She had already taught him, they were to soap and wash each other. Thoroughly, and to have fun doing it. Then rinse each other, then dry each other off. Panic said he enjoyed the soaping up the best, either way. Merry claimed she liked drying off, again either way, she didn't know why. She winked at him, and said that in winter? To prevent winter dry skin, that itches? You simply had to have an oil treatment.

   Right at this after shower moment, she was leaning back on the sink, standing on the "door mat" that she had in the bathroom for something water resistant to stand on, after exiting her big motel shower. The door mat? Was obviously intended to be cute when guests were leaving. "I'll Miss You", it proclaimed. She was halding a foot out, smiling, for him to now dry her off. Then, the other, before he started going up the legs with the soft, fuzzy towel.

   "Hope you're around some winter. You think that would be fun?"

   "Well, it does sound moderately better than getting itchy in winter."

   "I know… right?"

   Then it was on to the brushing teeth game. She asked him if his favorite part was watching her spit? He smiled and admitted it was. She did it more, ever more delicately. Eye contact when she did it. Laughing at the face he made for the little makeouts with toothpaste in between her cute little spits.

   When they were done, they went back out into the room to each get dressed for work. Merry reminded him that if he was "going into the office" to stop back at his room, and take a change of clothes. So no one would smell anything on him… she smiled and reminded him he "worked" around a bunch of "pigs".

   "Gotcha. I always go home to change anyways, but, good looking out."

   "Always… we're early… walk a girl to work?"

   "Oh yeah. My favorite part."

   "Ah, I ain't buying that one, but… nice try…"

   "Well, that's when I get to walk around with you. Show you off."

   Merry smiled.

   "That's fine. I don't mind. Did you know that walking around freely with your lover, is a way to show off that you're not scared 'someone else' is going to see?"

   "Had… not thought of that. Magazine article?"

   "How to tell if your man is a horn dog without asking him…"

   "I suppose I pass muster? I'd hate to piss the editor off."

   "No. I can't find a test you don't pass. You don't have to try."

   "Well. I guess you're not scared of being spotted either. I'm glad I got science girl, to teach me all these rules."

   "Oh. You just probably wouldn't want to walk me past the Hoover building in the morning when everyone's going in…"

   "Why not? Afraid I'll cost you your side action?"

   "Oh. You're funny. No… trying to keep you from getting any shit. I'm really unpopular there. They call me 'Bloody Mary'."

   "I'm impressed. And here all this time, I thought you were just this sweet, innocent little thing. You got a real AKA and everything, huh?"

   "If you wanna piss anyone off? Just let it slip you're fucking Bloody Mary, and watch the fur fly… but, I don't recommend it."

   "Yeah. I forgot about the little cops wives drunken brawl."

   "Yeah… there's a little more to the story? But… like I said. I wouldn't go showing me off on any nights out with the boys. It won't end well."

   "Yeah, I already seen how well you play with the feebs."

   "Actually? To be accurate, you saw how I don't play with the feebs. I ain't no cop groupie. In fact? I'm just about, the complete opposite."

   "Am I still allowed to bring the boys in for lunch or dinner?"

   "Sure."

   "Question?"

   "Yeah…"

   "Why are you Bloody Mary?"

   "Oh, that. Remember you heard about the cops wives? They would go out and get drunk, the three of them? Then come into work? Push me around, kick me slap me? Call me a whore?"

   "Yeah…"

   "Well, by the third time they pulled this shit, I'd had enough. They were actually thinking I had to leave town. Her girlfriends are egging her on to 'run this skank out of town'…"

   "Okay, so, where's the bloody part? You maced her, then you all got into a brawl with them and you and the girls at work."

   "Right. After I maced her? I was doing the salad bar. You know those heavy bowls for the salad bar?"

   "Yeah…"

   "Sprayed her, whacked her right over the head with one, broke the plate on her head. Then the brawl started…"

   "Oh. Bloody Mary…"

   "Hey. They do say, nothing bleeds like the scalp…"

   "Did you go to jail? You got a rap sheet?"

   "Nope. See, by that time? I had figured out… the local cops wouldn't do jack shit. So…"

   "So…?"

   "So… if the cops can't do anything anyways, might as well."

   Panic smiled.

   "That's funny."

   "Yeah. Here's the funnier part. We got the three drunken wives on video, three times, coming in, putting their hands on me, chasing me around. Three times the local cops came, and laughed and left. All on video. So? Next time? The cops thought they were gonna run me in. I told them to fuck off, I had these women on video, three times. I had the cops on video, laughing at me, all three times. Turned out if you wanna do nothing, you have to keep doing nothing."

   "I like it. It's entertaining. How bad did the wife get hurt?"

   Merry shrugged.

   "Couple stitches. Boo hoo."

   Merry started smirking, then giggling.

   "What?"

   "Stitches in the head? They… uh… shave the area they're going to stitch. And… it was more than a couple stitches…"

   Panic started laughing.

   "You mean…"

   Merry belly laughed.

   "Imagine a wife with expensive clothes and hair do? Now, she looks like frankenstein."

   They were both laughing and trying not to, which naturally made them laugh even more. Merry couldn't help making it worse.

   "Girl at work on another shift? Saw her out somewhere else… we all started calling her… franken-stitches… which got nicknamed into calling them all the… franken-bitches."

   Panic couldn't control laughter at all now.

   "Oh fuck… what… what did the other ones look like…"

   "Bloody nose, bloody lips… and a swollen up face. Limping around holding their ribs."

   "I'm… getting a much clearer picture of things now."

   "What?"

   "Oh… little things. Couple guys at work, rolled their eyes. Pretty sure I overheard a few jibes in my direction, I let it pass like I didn't hear it, or didn't care… still…"

   "You're a big boy. Don't take the bait."

   "No… I typically let everything pass, but only up to a certain point. This will pass, or… it will keep getting bolder. You know, they'll start saying it to my face."

   "Eh. High school shit."

   "Yeah, except… I don't play that game. If this keeps up, I'm gonna have to embarrass someone. I don't put up with shit after a certain point. I'm not a feeb, I'm a civilian… I don't have to eat shit. I don't have a career at stake. Someone else's boss? Ain't my boss."

   "Well, that's sweet and all, but… don't ruin your project over it…"

   Just then, as if on cue… Panic's cell went off.

   "Oh, hold on Merry. We'll get you to work in a minute…"

   "It's fine. We're early. Talk."

   "Yeah!"

   "Good morning to you."

   "Well, I'm walking my girlfriend to work. I'll be in a little later. Just stop by floor 3, east wing. I'm not hard to find, guy. I'm working out of the senior's office there."

   "Well, if it's concerning the case I'm consulting on, what's the problem with seeing me there?"

   "Oh. See, right there. If it doesn't concern my case? I don't see where I can help you. See, I'm a civilian consultant…"

   "Well, if you know so much… then, I don't see where I have to even talk to you. I have enough to do already, and I'm working for free. I'm just saying. I probably don't want involved, if it ain't concerning my case."

   "Would you mind, if I brought someone along? I'm a civilian. How about I bring my senior in with me? Or at least, let me bring in the state cop I'm working with."

   "See, I'm not real big on secrecy. Especially since, this ain't my sandbox I'm playing in. It's all got nothing to do with me."

   "Oh."

   "Hey buddy? Let me remind you, I don't know you. My suggestion to you is? Stop with the hard roll you're on, and go back to trying to sweet talk me. Because after what you just said? The next words out of your mouth, had better be polite. I'm losing my patience."

   "Actually? I feel like, I'm completely entitled to lose my patience."

   "Okay. Look, put the other guy back on. At least he knew how to be polite. We do this polite? Or, we don't do this. Am I making myself clear? Another thing… if I even do agree to meet with you guys? I'm telling you right now… I want polite. This whole thing, where you take control of the conversation, telling me what I'm going to do? That ain't flying with me…"

   "Why? Because… maybe everyone's all impressed with you and whatever you do… me? I could care less. Not… my… problem. We meet and talk polite? Or, we don't meet at all."

   "Oh. No, that's not going to work. I'm not coming to your playground…"

   "Well. I'm going to continue walking my girlfriend to her work. Then? I'm going to stop in and see if I missed anything in my office I work out of. Then? I'll call you, and suggest somewhere you can meet with me. Take it or leave it. And remember, the key thing dealing with me is? Be… polite… check your phone. This number work for you? Okay then. Bye."

   "What was all that?"

   "I honestly don't know, I can't wait to find out."

   "Maybe it's a break in your case…"

   "Doesn't sound like it, sounds like some kind of… in house squabble. I don't work here, I don't want involved."

   "Well, I still get walked to work. Cause on account of your car is there…"

   "Don't rush. It ain't concerning my case, I don't really care."

   They started walking Merry to work. Slowly. Merry was holding hands, smiling. Happy like a younger girl. Panic had to admit, he felt ten years younger too. The infatuation phase? Was quite pleasant. Everyone understands, on a technical level or even just in a pure layman's viewpoint… that the body floods with hormones and chemicals, and it feels great.

   "So…"

   "Yes?"

   "Are… you gonna stop by for lunch? Late night dinner?"

   Panic smiled.

   "If you promise I ain't wearing you out? I'll do both."

   "Lunch… oh. You told your new friends, you'd only meet on your own home turf. Let me guess where that is, you feel comfortable at."

   "Bingo. Do me a favor?"

   "Pretty much anything."

   "When we come in? Sit us near a good view of the cameras in there, okay? I just want a record of meeting these assholes."

   "Right by the salad bar is pretty good."

   "Wherever's fine."

   "You been thinking about what you want to order tonight?"

   "I'll worry about dinner when I have dinner, Merry."

   "No, silly. Your after dinner plans… think, in flight menu…"

   "Oh, right. I don't know, that slow ride? That's going to be my favorite, I think."

   Merry smiled.

   "Well, there's something you should know about overstimulation…"

   "What's that?"

   "Well, remember your first one? Once."

   "Okay…"

   "Your second one? It took longer. Twice…"

   "Yeah…"

   "Well, every time we play that game? It's supposed to go a little slower. Take a little longer. Now that I know I can get two out of you? I'm just gonna have to go for three next time…"

   "Ooh…"

   "Yeah… just remember. The second one, you remember how you can't sit still?"

   "Oh yeah…"

   "Right. Over-stimulation gets worse each time. If I try to work it after the second one? You're gonna go crazy…"

   "How can I say no to that?"

   "Well, with my panties shoved in your mouth? You won't be able to…"

   Before Panic could say anything, she kissed him and laughed.

   "You're so cute. Don't worry, we have great coverage with cameras. The salad bar? Was a joke. You know, if yer friends get uppity? I'll whack one over the head with a salad bowl. Won't be the first time, you know."

   Merry smiled as she turned back, and waved and blew him a kiss. He stood there and waved back, like a grinning idiot.

   He laughed as he walked around to his car. Merry was right about one thing, well, several things actually. He was sleeping better. He was sleeping deeper. He supposed he did look better, and more importantly he felt better. Much better. No doubt, the hormones flooding his system from having a new love interest were working their magic as well. He felt ten years younger.

   Though she didn't know it, she had been right about something else as well. Just like she had to cheat the system sometimes, when the complicated system at work broke down and didn't work as intended? He was going to have to cheat some at another, even bigger and vastly more complicated system.

   What had she basically said of it all? That the bigger the system, the easier it really was. That did make sense.

   Panic drove back to his own motel room. Changed clothes, because as Merry had noted, he was going into work. Best to be professional, or at least smell professional. Funny, how right now and for the forseeable future? He was under orders. Get more sleep, have some fun. Merry took care of both of those counts, handily.

   Off to work. Right before he left? He looked down, into Speedy's open suitcase. What would Speedy care? He borrowed the shirt he wanted, and was off.