#moving truck rental near me

[proprenovators]

www.proprenovators.com

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[moveitusa]

How To Find the Best Budget Truck Rental in Las Vegas?

Are you moving soon but worried about the skyrocketing costs of hiring a truck? Don't fret! We've got your back. In this blog post, we'll unveil the secrets to finding the best budget truck rental that won't break the bank or compromise on quality. So, whether you're relocating across town or embarking on a cross-country adventure, get ready to discover cost-saving tips and tricks that guarantee a stress-free move without emptying your wallet. Get ready to take notes because we're about to revolutionise how you approach moving expenses!

If you are planning to move or transport large items, renting a truck can be a cost-effective and convenient option. One of the top companies in the truck rental industry is Budget Truck Rental. With over 2,800 locations across the United States, they offer reliable and affordable trucks for all your moving needs.

In this section, we will introduce you to Budget Truck Rentals and provide an overview of their services, pricing options, and additional features that make them stand out from other rental companies.

What is Budget Truck Rental?

Budget Truck Rental is a subsidiary of Move It, one of the largest car and truck rental companies in the world. They have been in business for over 15 years and have established themselves as a trusted brand in the transportation industry.

The company offers a wide range of trucks for personal and commercial use at competitive prices. They also provide excellent customer service with 24/7 roadside assistance available for any unexpected issues during your trip.

Budget Truck Rental offers various services to meet different moving needs. Their fleet includes cargo vans, pickup trucks, 12-foot trucks, 16-foot trucks, 26-foot trucks, and more. You can choose between one-way or round-trip rentals depending on your destination.

Factors to consider when choosing a budget truck rental

Choosing the right budget truck rental for your upcoming move can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to determine which one will best suit your needs and budget. To help you make an informed decision, here are some key factors to consider when choosing a budget truck rental:

1. Size of Truck:

The first and most important factor to consider is the size of the truck. You need to ensure that the truck you choose has enough space to accommodate all your belongings without overloading it. A general rule of thumb is to have 150 cubic feet of space for every fully furnished room in your home.

2. Distance of Move:

The distance of your move plays a significant role in determining the cost of a budget truck rental. If you are moving locally, it might be more cost-effective to rent a smaller truck as you won't have to pay for mileage charges. However, if you are moving long-distance, opting for a larger truck may save you money in terms of fuel costs and time.

3. Duration of Rental:

Another crucial factor to consider is how long you will need the rental truck. Most companies offer daily or weekly rates, with discounted prices for longer rentals. It's essential to plan out your move timeline and choose a rental option that fits within your schedule and budget.

4. Insurance Coverage:

Before renting a budget truck, make sure to check what insurance coverage is included in the rental price or if it's an additional cost.

How to research and compare different options

When it comes to finding the best budget truck rental, it's important to do your research and compare different options. This will help you make an informed decision and ensure that you get the most value for your money.

Here are some steps to follow when researching and comparing different budget truck rental options:

1. Determine Your Needs: The first step is to determine your specific needs for the truck rental. Consider factors such as the size of your move, the distance you need to travel, and any additional services you may require like packing supplies or moving assistance. This will help narrow down your search and save time in comparing irrelevant options.

2. Check Online Reviews: One of the best ways to research different truck rental companies is by reading online reviews from previous customers. These reviews can give you valuable insights into their experiences with a particular company, including their level of customer service, pricing, and overall satisfaction.

3. Compare Prices: As with any major purchase, it's important to compare prices from multiple companies before making a decision. Look at the rates for various truck sizes and distances to get an idea of what each company charges. Keep in mind that while price is important, it should not be the only factor influencing your decision.

4. Inquire About Hidden Fees: When comparing prices, be sure to ask about any potential hidden fees that may not be included in the initial quote. These could include things like fuel surcharges or extra mileage fees if you go over a certain distance.

Tips for getting the best deals and discounts

Finding a budget truck rental can often be a daunting task, especially when you're trying to save money. However, with the right tips and tricks, you can score some amazing deals and discounts on your next truck rental. Here are some helpful tips for getting the best deals and discounts when looking for a budget truck rental.

1. Book early: One of the easiest ways to secure a good deal on a budget truck rental is by booking early. Many companies offer discounted rates if you book in advance, so it's always recommended to start your search as soon as possible. This will also give you enough time to compare prices from different companies and choose the most affordable option.

2. Check for promotions and discounts: Before making a reservation, take some time to research current promotions and discounts offered by various truck rental companies. These can range from seasonal offers to loyalty programs or special deals for certain groups such as students or military personnel. By taking advantage of these promotions, you could potentially save a significant amount of money on your rental.

3. Utilize comparison websites: Comparison websites are an excellent tool for finding the best deals on budget truck rentals. They allow you to easily compare prices from multiple companies in one place, saving you time and effort while ensuring that you get the best price available.

4. Consider off-peak times: Just like flights or hotel bookings, renting a truck during peak periods can be more expensive than off-peak times.

Understanding rental agreements and insurance options

Understanding rental agreements and insurance options is an essential step in finding the best budget truck rental. It is important to thoroughly read and understand the rental agreement before signing it, as well as considering the various insurance options available to ensure that you are fully covered during your move.

Rental Agreement: A rental agreement is a legally binding contract between you and the truck rental company. It outlines all the terms and conditions of the rental, including the cost, duration, mileage limits, fuel policies, and any additional fees or charges. It is crucial to carefully review this document to avoid any surprises or misunderstandings later on.

Here are some key points to look out for in a rental agreement:

1. Rental Duration: The first thing you should check is how long you can keep the truck. Most companies offer daily or weekly rentals, but if you need it for longer periods, make sure to clarify with the company beforehand.

2. Mileage Limits: Many truck rental companies have mileage restrictions that determine how far you can drive without incurring extra charges. Make sure to choose a company that offers unlimited mileage if your move requires extensive driving.

3. Fuel Policies: Some companies require renters to return the truck with a full tank of gas while others may charge for missing fuel when returning the vehicle. Be aware of these policies so that you can plan accordingly.

Alternative options for moving on a budget

Moving can be a costly endeavor, but it doesn't have to break the bank. If a budget truck rental is not the best option for you, there are other alternatives available that can help you save money while still getting your belongings from point A to point B. Here are some alternative options for moving on a budget.

1. Renting a cargo van or pickup truck: Instead of opting for a large moving truck, consider renting a smaller vehicle such as a cargo van or pickup truck. These vehicles are typically cheaper to rent and have better gas mileage than larger trucks. They may not be able to fit all of your belongings in one trip, but if you don't have too many items to move, this could be a more affordable option.

2. Utilizing shared moving services: Another cost-effective option is utilizing shared moving services such as U-Haul's "U-Box" or PODS containers. With these services, you only pay for the space that your belongings take up within the container or box, rather than renting an entire truck. This can be particularly useful if you're moving long-distance and need time to pack and unpack at your own pace.

3. Hiring professional movers for labor-only services: If you're comfortable with driving a truck yourself but need assistance with packing and loading/unloading heavy items, consider hiring professional movers for labor-only services. 

Conclusion: Making the right choice for your specific needs

Choosing the best budget truck rental can seem like a daunting task, but with the right information and considerations, you can make an informed decision that meets your specific needs. In this concluding section, we will discuss some key factors to consider when making your final decision.

1. Determine your budget:

Before you start looking at different truck rental companies, it is essential to determine how much you are willing to spend on your move. This will help narrow down your options and prevent you from overspending. Keep in mind that while choosing the cheapest option may seem appealing, it may not always be the most cost-effective in the long run.

2. Assess the size of your move:

The size of your move will play a significant role in deciding which truck rental company is suitable for you. If you have a large household with many items to transport, then opting for a larger truck from a reputable company would be more beneficial, as they typically offer better rates for bigger trucks.

3. Consider distance and duration of travel:

If you are planning on moving long-distance or over an extended period, it is crucial to look into additional fees that may apply. Some companies charge extra for one-way trips or if the vehicle is kept longer than initially agreed upon.

4. Read reviews:

One of the best ways to gauge customer satisfaction and overall experience with a truck rental company is by reading online reviews from previous customers.

[hhprojectmanagement]

Junk Removal Services Dubai

Junk Removal services Collect Home Furniture, Office Furniture, Home Appliance, Hotel Appliance, Recyclables Item, Home Carpets, Clothes, Hot Tubs, Decks, Sheds, Fencing, Mattress, Generators, Garden Waste, Yard Debris, Tires, Fluids & Chemicals, Kitchen Stove, Microwave, Washer, Dryer, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Paper, Cardboard, Plastics, Metal, And also many items that are not included in this list and are unnecessary for your use. We do Residential as well as Commercial site junk removal in Dubai Whether you have a single item to be removed, or a full house and garden to clear from rubbish, we can help you out with your rubbish removal today. Our workers collect and dispose of any amount of rubbish in Dubai. We remove the waste from your garden. Our rates are cheaper than other Junk removal companies in Dubai We also dispose of your Household Furniture. We have licensed for rubbish removal in Dubai.

Our team comprises experienced professionals dedicated to delivering high-quality, reliable, and environmentally conscious services. We believe in the power of a clean space to transform your life and business, and we are here to make that happen. Quick Junk Removal Services Dubai is your go-to solution for all your Free junk removal needs in the bustling city of Dubai. We understand the importance of maintaining a clean and clutter-free environment, whether it’s your home,

[kevinthemover]

Website : http://kevinthemover.com

Address : 4262 Pershing Street, Norton, OH 44203

Phone : +1 330-808-5130

Local and Long-distance moving. House, Apartment, Businesses. Serving Northeastern Ohio and all areas in between south to Columbus.

Business mail : kevinslongdistancemoving@gmail.com

[stairhoppermoversmerrimack]

(via GIPHY)

[whatdaikesneed]

Near the beginning of last summer, a dyke in my community helped me empty out a moving truck. When she volunteered, she was bragging about how strong she was, and her girlfriend was so horny about it. But after three hours of moving boxes in the hot sun, she wound up laying, face down, on my dining room floor, panting and dripping with sweat.

I got us a couple of beers and laid down on the floor next to her. She chugged it, so I handed her mine, and she bodied that as well. I said "That's hot," and she rolled onto her side to glare at me. Her chest was so covered in sweat that her T-shirt was clinging to her tits. I rubbed her shoulder, and said, "Thank you for helping today," and she softened.

We talked for a little while as her buzz set in. I didn't take my hand off her. Instead, I moved in closer, and moved my hand off her shoulder and onto her side, under her arm. She said I shouldn't, because she was all gross and sweaty, but I said I really didn't mind. "There's something very hot about a woman's sweat. And you smell amazing." She snorted laughing at that, and shoved her soaking wet armpit in my face. So I licked it. The way she moaned when I pushed my tongue into the sensitive skin of her hairy armpit, I knew I had her.

I wrapped my arms around her, grabbing her ass and pulling her crotch into mine as I went to town on her armpit, before moving up her shoulder to her neck, and chin, and mouth. She kissed like she thought if she went hard enough it'd cure cancer. (I've seen the way she kisses her girlfriend since, when they're alone together. It's nothing like this.)

I helped her pull her shorts off, and got down and started eating her pussy. (Pro tip for dyke breakers: get good at eating pussy, and go for it without asking. "Better oral" is what a lot of dykes tell themselves about why women are better than men in bed, proving that wrong will make it hard for her to think through why she should protect her gold star when your cock is right there.) She put her hands in my hair and held me down while she talked about how gross she feels about getting her pussy eaten when it's soaked in sweat and totally ungroomed. It turned me on so much when she started talking about her body hair like it was an embarrassing oversight and not a statement. I've known this woman for almost a year at this point, and she was proud of her bush.

While I was eating her, I started fingering her pussy and her ass. She kind of shamefully said "you can fuck me if you want," but I ignored her and kept eating pussy. After I made her cum again, she said it louder, more firmly. Then "do you want to fuck me?" Then "I want you to fuck me." Then "please fuck me. God, I'm begging." She came at least three more times during this saga, before she went off the deep end: "I need your cock inside me more than I've ever needed anything!"

I lifted my head up, and climbed on top of her, and, rubbing my bulge against her bare cunt, I kissed along her jawline and said, "are you sure?"

She just kept murmuring "please, please, please, please, please"

So I said "What about [girlfriend]?"

And she said "Please I need your cock so bad right now I'll do anything."

I said, "This is what your body is for, isn't it? You've just figured it out."

And she had tears running down the sides of her face, as her feminism and her lesbianism broke underneath me, and she said, "Yes, that's what it's for. My body is for your cock to fill, and I need you to fill it or I'm going to lose my mind."

So I took out my cock, and I fucked her on the dining room floor.

We made it to the bedroom eventually. The bed wasn't set up, but we pulled the mattress down onto the floor and threw a sheet on it. The rest of our clothes came off. We fucked for hours, there's no way she didn't sober up pretty early into it. When we went and dropped off the rental truck, before we turned in the keys, we fucked again in the cargo area. Then we went back to my place, she stripped her clothes back off as soon as we walked in the door, and she got on her knees and started sucking my dick.

She's still with that girlfriend, and still a proud and loud feminist lesbian. She secretly films them having sex, and we watch the videos together when I fuck her. She's started cheating on her girlfriend with another woman, too, and she also shares photos and secret sex tapes from that affair with me. She says it's to give me more material to fuck her to, but I think she also just developed a taste for cheating. I'm gonna see if I can get her to start sneaking around and fucking other men.

[millerflintstone]

News!

We've been packing up our house over the past few months and have started the process with a couple of realtors about selling our house and finding a rental house in or near Albuquerque, NM. We'll be viewing our second rental possibility on Wednesday. We're gonna talk with the realtor representing that property today at some point. We've seen one property that is a possibility. We'll hopefully get our house listed in the next couple of weeks.

We visited NM in late 2018 and fully had plans to go out again and better scout areas and get a better idea of where to settle down but then life had other plans*. And then there was quarantine and everything we all went through. So, we just decided to get out of GA sooner rather than later.

My current worry is the drive out there. I have so much anxiety about driving cross country by myself. Unfriendly will have stuff in his truck he doesn't want on a moving van, as will I in my car, so we wouldn't be taking turns driving. I'm just an anxious driver in general. I started looking up options for transporting my car last week and got sidetracked.

Anyway, fingers crossed we'll be out there by August.

*I ended up needing a hysterectomy which was a slow healing experience for me. We both had family die between 2019 and 2021. My job situation blew up between 2021 and 2022 and I didn't work for most of 2023. That's the quick and dirty version for folks who haven't been around since then

[shewasverynice]

Fandoms: 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen 

⚠️ SPOILER HEAVY ⚠️

Major Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death 

Full tags/warnings on Chapter links post

Major Characters: Original Character, Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, Ieiri Shoko, Yaga Masamichi, Nanami Kento, Haibara Yu, Tsukumo Yuki, Choso

‎‧₊˚✧ Chapter 35✧˚₊‧

The afternoon sun hung heavy over the lot, casting long shadows between the moving vans and delivery trucks. The place was alive with workers loading and unloading, clipboard-wielding supervisors barking orders, and the occasional frustrated customer arguing inside the rental office. It was the kind of organized chaos that made sneaking around a challenge—but not impossible.

Yaga adjusted the brim of his cap, glancing at his team of teen girls. Boe looked relaxed, hands in her pockets, while Rin bounced on her toes nervously with her fingers fidgeting in her pockets. Shoko took a slow drag of her cigarette, unimpressed with the whole situation.

Yaga nodded toward the smallest of the moving vans where a man was inspecting the tires. "Shoko, go talk to that guy by the van. Stall him," he said, his voice hushed.

Shoko flicked the ash to the pavement. "Yeah, yeah," she sighed, exhaling a plume of dark smoke, "No problem."

She sauntered over, her movements lazy but intentional, stopping just short of the man who was leaning against the van, eyeing the lot like a watchdog.

"Hey," she said, blowing out another slow stream of smoke.

The man looked at her suspiciously before he asked, "Can I help you?"

Shoko gave him an easy smile, shrugging. "My dad’s inside renting a van," she lied, "Said it might take a while. Figured I’d get some fresh air."

His eyes flicked toward the rental office. His shoulders eased just a fraction. "Yeah? Lotta people renting today. What’s he hauling?" he asked, placing the pen in his hand behind his ear.

She exhaled, feigning boredom. "Some furniture. I dunno, he just told me to stay put. You work here long?"

The man grunted, his suspicion dulling under the weight of small talk. Shoko kept him distracted, throwing in a laugh here and there, making sure his eyes stayed off the rest of her team.

Meanwhile, Yaga gestured to Boe and Rin. "You're up," he muttered.

Boe gave him a two-fingered salute before slipping off with Rin. They moved swiftly through the maze of vehicles, reaching the back door of the rental office without drawing attention. Boe crouched, pulling out a small kit, and with practiced ease, worked the lock. Rin stood close, keeping watch while biting her lip in excitement.

With a quiet click, the door gave way. They slipped inside, moving fast but careful. The office was small, mostly paperwork, a desk, and a wall lined with hooks holding dozens of keys. Boe scanned the hooks, but Rin was faster.

"Got it," she whispered, eyes locking onto the right set. "Number 42." She reached up, plucked them from the hook, and handed them off to Boe with a triumphant smirk. "Let’s go."

They retraced their steps, slipping back out just as effortlessly as they had entered. By the time they reached Yaga, he was already near the driver's side door of the van. Boe handed him the keys, and Yaga wasted no time unlocking it.

"In," he ordered.

Rin and Boe climbed into the truck, Rin practically bouncing in her seat while Boe just stretched out like it was a casual Sunday drive. Yaga started the engine, the low rumble drowned in the noise of the busy lot. He glanced up, meeting Shoko’s eyes out the passenger side window.

She caught his cue instantly. "Anyway, looks like he’s almost done. Catch you later, yeah?" She winked at the worker before casually strolling toward the van. The second she was close enough, Yaga gunned it, and she hopped onto the step, yanking the door shut behind her.

The lot erupted into shouts. A man near the gate, startled by the sudden movement, scrambled to slam it shut.

Too late.

Yaga barreled through, the gate creaking violently as they sped past. The man stumbled back, arms flailing.

Rin whooped, slamming her hand on the dashboard. "Clean getaway!"

Boe grinned, stretching out. "Told you it’d be easy."

Yaga just shook his head, focused on the road ahead.

The van rumbled down the street, disappearing into the afternoon traffic, leaving nothing behind but the distant sound of shouting workers and a very confused rental lot employee.

"So, now we need to head to the store," Rin said, looking over the list in her hands, "Best if we divide and conquer right? We need to move before the police find the van."

"Correct," Yaga agreed as he drove down the winding road, "Remember, perishable goods are ideal. We need to account for winter as well. Everything we can get we will fill inside the van."

"Oh, I—I thought we—" Rin hastily closed up the bag that she'd strapped to her chest, "We're stealing that too?"

"We've already committed a crime," Yaga explained calmly, "We will take as many supplies as we can get and that will be it for now."

"I'll hit the food then," Boe said, "I'll grab a cart and just fill up on the whole canned isle."

"Good," Yaga said, nodding to her. He glanced at Shoko and Rin and said, "You two focus on blankets, coats, socks, and anything warm you can find. Also any of the dry goods we needed as well. Laundry soap, toiletries, that sort of thing. I'll work on getting us space heaters and a generator."

"What will we do about gas?" Shoko asked, "Or are you going to run it another way?"

"Ideally we will have the electricity running again soon," Yaga explained, "But for now we'll need to steal gasoline."

"What if we get caught?" Rin asked, "What should we—"

"Use your cursed energy if you need to," Yaga said, glancing at the girls, "This is no time for us to be concerned with that. We will deal with the consequences later. Do anything you need, but do not hurt any civilians."

"Oh," Boe pointed at him, "You think the Kamo are waiting for us don't you?"

Yaga's hands tightened on the wheel when he nodded. "I believe they will be, yes."

"Sweet," she chuckled, "Then this will be extra fun for me."

They didn’t slow down until they reached the massive parking lot of the biggest mega-store in town. Yaga pulled the van up to the closest door and killed the engine. The team climbed out, wasting no time in splitting up.

Boe snagged a cart and headed straight for the canned goods and non-perishable food items. She moved with purpose, arms sweeping entire rows of vegetables, soups, and prepackaged meals into the cart. The metal frame groaned under the weight, but she wasn’t stopping. As she reached for another stack of canned beans, a chill ran down her spine.

Boe’s fingers tensed around a can. She wouldn’t mistake that filthy energy anywhere. Her heart pounded, but she forced herself to stay casual, pushing the cart forward. As she turned the corner, she caught movement in her peripheral vision—a figure ducking back behind the aisle.

Boe bit back a grin. If they wanted to play, she was game.

With a sharp pivot, she took off, sprinting down the aisle with the overloaded cart. The metal wheels screeched against the floor. Behind her, the sound of hurried footsteps chased after her.

"Dicks!" she taunted, looking over her shoulder at her pursuers. She kicked at a display just as she passed it, sending a barrage of jars crashing onto the ground and spraying red sauce all over the ground and the men behind her. She laughed as she skidded for the door and as soon as she reached the van she lifted it up and threw it into the back before heading bravely back inside.

Meanwhile, across the store, Shoko and Rin focused on their own mission. They swept through the clothing section, grabbing blankets, coats, thick socks—anything to help against the coming winter. Packs of t-shirts, gloves, and scarves filled their arms as they moved fast but carefully.

Rin glanced up just as they turned a corner. A small group lingered near the entrance, their eyes fixed on them.

With a sudden burst, Shoko and Rin sprinted for the exit, throwing as much of their haul as possible into the back of the van. Just as they reached it, Boe’s cart came barreling toward them—already stuffed with food. She flashed them a grin as she passed, not breaking stride. Without hesitation, Shoko and Rin exchanged a glance and nodded.

Then, they turned and ran back inside.

The store had erupted into chaos. Employees shouted, customers scrambled away, and now the Kamo clan men were closing in. Rin bared her teeth, dragging her tongue across them as they lengthened and sharpened. Her nails extended into lethal points as she flicked her hands out. A feral grin spread across her face.

"Come on then," she taunted.

As the Kamo men advanced, Shoko used the distraction to slip away, snatching another cart and heading straight back for more dry goods.

Boe, meanwhile, had reached the food section again. She grinned as a group of men tried to corner her. With a flick of her fingers, blood-red daggers materialized, floating in the air around her.

"Well?" she smirked. "What are you waiting for?"

And then, the fighting truly began.

Every second counted now. The longer they stayed, the closer the authorities would get. They had to gather everything they could and make their escape—before it was too late.

Rin let out a wild grin, her claws extending as she leapt into the fray. She slashed, swiping at the nearest thug, forcing him back. Another lunged at her, but she twisted, sinking her fangs into his forearm. He screamed, stumbling away. Her hair whipped out like living vines, wrapping around another man’s leg and yanking him off balance.

The Kamo men quickly realized she was more trouble than they’d expected. Instead of engaging her directly, they tried to maneuver around her—heading straight for Shoko.

Rin snarled. "Oh, you’re not getting past me."

She lunged, spinning into a brutal kick that sent one thug sprawling. Her claws caught another across the chest, tearing through fabric and skin. The rest hesitated, clearly reevaluating their approach.

Shoko, meanwhile, kept moving, cart piled high with supplies. She didn’t look back. She didn’t need to. Rin had it covered.

Boe hauled down another aisle with her arm out with the cart right against the shelves. Down she went, dumping everything into the car with wild abandon and a loud whoop of excitement. "Outta my way!" she howled, laughing as people scattered in her wake.

The Kamo behind her called out orders, separating their group to try to ambush her from the other directions. Boe whipped around, swinging the cart with her, and changed directions. She charged straight at them, knocking them aside before she made her third mad dash for the door.

"Wrap it up!" She called as soon as she caught sight of Shoko, "Where is Yaga?"

"He's coming!" Shoko replied, tossing things into the van.

"I'm here!" Yaga's voice rang out a moment later. Beside him were many of his bigger cursed corpses. All of them worked together carrying a large generator and they quickly tossed it in. He glanced at the girls as they finished loading their own things, then asked, "Where is Rin?"

"Still inside," Shoko said, "She's coming. Pull up to the front!"

The girls and the cursed corpses piled into the van and Yaga got it running, and just as he'd hoped, as soon as he pulled up to the front Rin was ducking out of the door. She leapt forward, her arm outstretched for Boe who was leaning out the window. With one hand she grasped onto Boe and the other she dug her claws deep into the door of the vehicle as they sped away.

"Excellent job," Yaga muttered, keeping his eyes on the road.

Rin landed in the seat beside Boe, panting as her nails and fangs receded. Shoko got to work healing her wounds and Boe climbed over the two of them in the seat.

"They're gonna follow," Boe said, watching as the Kamo men piled into cars in the parking lot. "Want me to deal with them?"

"Yes," Yaga answered, glancing at his side mirror, "Any means necessary."

The moving van swerved violently, tires screeching against the asphalt as Yaga gritted his teeth, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. The two black cars in pursuit roared behind them, their engines growling as they gained ground. The Kamo clan wasn’t letting them go without a fight.

Boe braced herself against the open passenger window, her green eyes locked on the pursuing vehicles. Blood coiled around her fingers, shaping into wicked daggers. She hurled one, watching as it narrowly missed a tire, skidding uselessly across the pavement.

"Shit," she hissed, yanking herself back in as another shot ricocheted off the van’s metal frame.

"Slow down and breathe," Yaga barked, eyes flicking to the rear view mirror. "Don’t waste it."

Behind them, Shoko exhaled in relief, wiping sweat from her brow as Rin jolted upright, fully healed. There was no hesitation—Rin flexed her fingers, claws gleaming, and with a swift, fluid motion, she climbed out through the van’s roof hatch, bracing against the wind.

Shoko barely had time to shift before Boe leaned further out, preparing another attack. With a sigh, she gripped Boe’s waist tightly, holding her in place as she took aim again.

Rin moved like a shadow, scaling the roof of the van as if it were solid ground. Her hair whipped in the wind as she crouched low, eyes fixed on the first car. The second she saw an opening, she launched herself. Her weight crashed down onto the hood of the first vehicle. The driver barely had time to react before panic set in. The car veered wildly, tires screeching as it careened off the road and slammed into a guardrail.

Rin didn’t wait—she pushed off, claws sinking into the second car’s roof. But they were ready for her this time.

A man in the backseat twisted, his arms coated in a writhing mass of blood, forming an arrow as he aimed it at her heart. Before he could release, Boe’s dagger found its mark—buried deep into his skull. His eyes went blank, and without a sound, he slumped forward, tumbling out of the car and into the rushing road below.

The driver swore, jerking the wheel as Rin tore into the vehicle, claws ripping through metal, ready to finish this chase before it could go any further.

"She's on the other car?!" Shoko shouted catching sight through the mirror, "We gotta get her before we leave her behind!"

"Morishita!" Boe called, "Come back!"

Rin glanced up at Boe, then pointed down at the car that she was essentially tearing open like a can of anchovies. Boe waved to her again and shouted, "Get back here! I got it!"

Rin glanced down in the vehicle, then back up at the moving van. She watched as Boe was taking aim at the driver and nodded. Yaga slowed the van for just a moment as they took a turn and she knew that was her best shot. Just as Boe loosed the bloody dagger, Rin leapt for the back of the van. Boe's dagger hit the target and she howled as the car whipped violently before driving into the guard railing.

"Fuck yes!" she hollered, "Both are gone!"

"Good," Yaga gritted, "And Rin?"

There was a knock on the back of the moving van, the sound ringing from somewhere behind Yaga's head inside the metal vehicle. "Back here, Sensei!" Rin called.

Yaga sighed with relief. "Good. Very good."

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

"Five days," Sarah mumbled, standing at the edge of the barrier. She watched the winding road out of the forest as if at any second Rin, Boe, Shoko and Yaga would come walking up just like they should have. She bit her lip, chewing at the skin as her eyes flicked around for any kind of sign.

"C'mon, don't stress yourself out," Satoru called to her from the courtyard, "They'll make it. They're all strong."

"But what if something happened?" she asked, turning to walk back towards the others. "What if they got caught or if they—"

"Sarah, relax!" Satoru said, clapping a hand on her back, "It's fine!"

"She has a point," Yuki chimed in, carrying a basket of clothes with her as she left the girl's side of the buildings. "We may need to go look for them soon."

Satoru glared at Yuki. "No. We should trust them to get it done."

"Maybe I should have made a checkpoint here," Sarah muttered, but Satoru scoffed loudly. She looked up at him, but he was still glaring daggers at Yuki.

"No," he said firmly, "You don't have to do that anymore."

"But that's my whole shit, like…" She waved her hands aimlessly, "That's my big contribution here! If I don't do anything then I—"

"That's not the only thing you can do!" Satoru said with another loud scoff, "Don't say that. You're not just here for us to use like a save point in case we mess up!"

Sarah stared at him. She opened her mouth to retort, but he waved away her answer and grinned. "C'mon now, I hate when you talk like that. Don't sell yourself short, okay? You took care of those plant things, right?" She couldn't hide her smile, but she still tried. He laughed and pointed at her, "See? Not nothing."

"Okay well, whatever," she tried to cross her arms and appear as if she wasn't proud of herself, but she knew he knew her better than that. "I still think we should do it though."

"I actually agree with that sentiment," Suguru added as he joined the two of them in the courtyard. "As much as I hate the idea of actually doing it, if we had some of your ashes once we're all here then we know we have a safe place to return if something goes wrong later on."

"But we'd have to kill her," Satoru said, glancing at Suguru, "And I don't know if we can burn her body to make ashes the right way."

Suguru stared at him as he considered that for a moment. "That's actually a good point," he finally said, "If we want to be able to use her technique we may need to find a way to accomplish—"

"Listen to yourself!" Satoru shouted, "You're agreeing with doing that? Really?"

"Satoru," Suguru said softly, "We need to use every advantage we have and this is a different situation than she was in previously. Sarah isn't being used as a tool for this, she's being incredibly helpful and willing to do it for all of our safety. It's not as if we're just using her for our own gain this time."

"I know—I know I just don't like it," Satoru sighed, running a hand through his hair. He looked down at Sarah who smiled at him.

"It's okay," she said, "Really, I don't mind."

Satoru's brows knitted together and he looked away from her with a frustrated grunt. "Don't just agree if you're actually scared," he mumbled, "Don't pretend you're not afraid to die."

"It… it's not permanent!" She said, but even she couldn't deny the waver in her voice. She swallowed and shook her head then added, "I am scared. I am. I wont lie about it, but we can't pretend like my technique isn't perfect for this. If we can make our own checkpoints then we have a lot less to worry about."

Yuki appeared beside the three of them with a pleased smile on her face. "The problem wouldn't be how we make the ashes, the problem is how long it would take," she said calmly, "Without a cremation oven we would also be burning a body outside which makes a lot of smoke and smells pretty awful."

"Lovely," Satoru gritted.

"We could easily burn her body and just take her bones after and crush them up," Yuki suggested, "We wouldn't have to worry about accidentally collecting wood ash as well then. But it would take a lot of wood to do this."

"Can we get the fire hot enough to burn her completely without an oven?" Suguru asked, turning to Yuki. "Or would we need to build something for that to work?"

"No, we could open air the thing if we need to," Yuki said, waving her hand, "It'll just take a lot longer. If we burn a body the slow way it's gonna take days. The benefit of the oven is that we…"

Satoru had long since grabbed Sarah's hand and pulled her away from the conversation. He scowled as he tugged her with him, leading her into the main temple building. She didn't fight back, even when he placed his hands on her shoulders and forced her to sit down. He plopped down beside her with a huff, and shook his head.

"You mad, huh?" she said with a playful smirk, but he clearly wasn't in the mood to play.

"It's so wrong," He muttered.

"It's kinda fucked up," she admitted, "But I mean, a lot of cursed techniques are in a way."

"A lot of techniques don't require someone to kill themselves," Satoru grumbled. He glanced at her, a frown on his face when he said, "It just feels like if we aren't careful we'll be doing the same thing the geezers were."

"No way," she scoffed, "This isn't the same at all. Suguru was right. I'm offering to do it this time. I want to help!"

Satoru shook his head. "I know it's not the same, but I also know you're just trying to be reasonable," he said softly, "You're trying to do what you think we all want you to do. I know that's what you're thinking."

Her lips parted as if to protest, but she quickly shut her mouth again. She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and hiding her face behind them.

"See?" he said, jutting his chin towards her, "Nailed it, didn't I?" He tilted his head, "You know you have to remember it this time. You know it's not the same. One of us will have to kill you and you don't get to just wake up like nothing happened when it's all over."

"I know that, I do," she sighed, "But I can't be selfish when it's the right thing."

"You can be selfish," Satoru murmured, placing his hand on top of her head. "Don't put on a brave face. Just tell me if you don't want to do it. Tell me the truth. I'll back you up no matter what you choose."

"It's not that simple," she said, shaking off his hand. "It's not and you know it. When we have a tool we could use that benefits everyone and all it would take it some uncomfy stuff for me then why—"

"Don't diminish it," Satoru said, "It's not just some uncomfy moment. You have to die. You don't remember what it was like when you did it before, but I promise you it's not something you want to remember."

"You say that like someone who's died," Sarah said. She glanced at him, then looked ahead again when she asked, "You've done this before haven't you?"

"I have," Satoru admitted, "And I've talked to you about it too." He reached out and gently grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "And when you sent me back with the ritual I saw how scared you were."

"How do you know I was scared?" she asked, stubbornly pursing her lips, "Maybe I was just worried about fucking it up?"

"Don't try to be funny," he scowled, swatting the back of her head when he released her chin, "C'mon, I'm really pissed off here."

"I know," she chuckled, "Sorry. I just wanted to make you smile."

"Tryin' to act like me?" he teased. He couldn't help but smile just a little and she grinned at him.

"Okay, then fine, I'll say it," she said. She inhaled through her nose and turned to face him, her legs crossed with her hands placed on her feet. "Yes, I don't really want to do it," she finally admitted, "I'm really really scared that it's going to hurt like nothing else and I'm really scared that someone might fuck it up and then I'm gone for good. I'm scared that someone will have to put themselves in danger and start this whole process over again and have to go get ashes from like forever ago and we have to do all this crazy shit again."

She reached out to gently punch his chest and continued, "But making me say it outloud is just gonna make me more scared. You know I do much better if I just don't think about it."

He nodded, reaching up to clasp a hand around her fist. "But if you don't think about these things you'll just end up letting people use you again," he said softly, "If you just let yourself get swept up in all of it we won't know if we're going too far for you."

"I think you have a big misunderstanding about how much I trust all of you," Sarah said, trying to tug her fist back.

Satoru held firmly and shook his head. "No, I think you have no idea how easily someone can be used like that just because it's more convenient for everyone else," he said.

"Well, you've been keeping me safe from that so far, right?" Sarah asked, "I know I have you to make me stop if I let too much go."

"But what if it was me that asked you too much?" He asked softly. He hesitantly reached out then brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. "You… I mean, well, I know you… you still…" he stumbled over his words a little, then cleared his throat. "It's not like I don't know how you feel about me."

She blushed and swatted at his arm. "Don't you dare look at me that way!" She snapped, "That's so unfair."

He laughed gently, nudging her as he moved away from her again. "But that is something I need you to think about," he said softly, "I'm really afraid that you'll get carried away even if it's me. Especially if it's me." He sat back on his palms, looking up at the sky, "I made a promise to you that you wouldn't have to make this sacrifice anymore, too. I didn't want you to have to worry about it ever again and just rely on me."

"But that's ridiculous," she huffed, "When we have a solution that would help all of us and the only inconvenience is for me, then why not do it?"

"It's not just inconvenient only for you," Satoru narrowed his eyes as he spoke, "Don't you think I get lonely when you're not here? Plus we can't do this the easy way and it'll take longer than just a few days for you to come back! You'll probably be dead for like a week maybe even two!"

"But you'll be okay," she said, "You… you've got Suguru and everyone else here to—"

"But I don't want to be without you that long!" Satoru blurted, "I hate it when I can't see you at least for a little while every day!"

She blinked and he watched her face slowly turn completely red. She snapped up to her feet, her mouth open and her hands aimlessly clenching and clearly unsure of where to go at that moment. Finally, she managed out a, "Why would you say that to me?!"

"Because I want you around!" He said simply, "I want to see you every day. I want to be someone you can feel safe with. I want to—"

"Don't say stuff like that," she mumbled.

"You always say sweet stuff like that," he teased, "You always said it should be normal for friends to talk about these things, right? It shouldn't be any different."

She didn't laugh this time though. Instead she glared at him and mumbled, "It's very different. This is completely different. Especially when you know I'm really trying to get over you…"

Satoru raised his eyebrow. He hesitated for a beat then asked, "Well, how's that going for you?"

Sarah gasped and turned on her heel with a muttered, "Bastard."

Satoru watched her hurry off and he groaned. He let himself fall back on the wooden floor, rubbing his face with his hands. "Why the fuck did I say that?" he muttered into his hands.

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Taglist: @inthedarkshadows000

[440mxs-wife]

The Country Doctor, Chapter 1: A Fresh Start

Pairing: Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy x F!Reader (eventual). Other Characters are the usual suspects: Jim Kirk, Nyota Uhura. Spock, Montgomery Scott, Hikaru Sulu, Pavel Chekov (to be introduced in later chapters.) OMC's Travis Myers and Miles Cooper.

Word Count: 4530

Warnings: Divorce, break-up, ruthless businessmen, mentions of infidelity, but mostly fluffy (for now)

Summary: Fresh off of his divorce, Dr. McCoy receives word that he has inherited a 5,000-acre farm and home in Logan, Montana. Finally, he has an opportunity for a clean slate and to start his own clinic out west and leave his ex-wife behind. Along the way, he'll meet a cast of unique characters, each with a place in his new small-town life. But there could be trouble ahead in the form of a powerful CEO hell-bent on acquiring Leonard's property by any means necessary.

A/N: This idea was posted by @hailbop1701, with a specific list of plot points/dialog to be included. I won't put the list here, because it'll give away too much. Not sure how many parts there'll be, but I hope you like where I take the story.

A/N 2: If you’ve been tagged here, it’s because you’ve interacted one or more times on a McCoy story of mine, or we’re moots. Whether you like or reblog, I am eternally grateful for your support. If anyone else would like to be tagged on any future Karl Urban character postings, or would rather leave the Crazy Train, please let me know. Thank you, and enjoy the show!

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"Court is adjourned."

That was the declaration eight weeks ago, when Dr. Leonard H. McCoy sat at a table with his attorney in the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia. The Honorable Judge Michael Simmons had just pounded his gavel on the bench to signify an end to the McCoy v. McCoy divorce proceedings. Unfortunately, his now-ex-wife, Jocelyn, had the better attorney, which resulted in a somewhat less-than-equitable division of their assets.

At least Leonard was able to keep his vintage pickup truck and the 4-bedroom, 2 bath, ranch-style home he had lived in with Jocelyn. She basically got everything else in the settlement, though, including most of the furniture. She didn't technically need the furniture, since she was moving in with her new boyfriend. However, he had a rental property that needed furnishings, so that's where they went.

Two weeks after the divorce was finalized, Leonard received correspondence from a law firm in Montana, with a request for his presence. The letter did not specify the reason for the request, and when he called the law office, no one was authorized to divulge any information. He didn't want to find himself on the wrong side of the law and besides, he was more than a little curious. Luckily, the law firm had a satellite office in Atlanta, so that's where he attended the meeting.

An hour or so after the meeting ended, a slightly dazed Leonard walked out of the attorney's office with a file folder and a property deed in his hand. The meeting was for the reading of the will for his distant uncle, Walter McCoy. Around 5,000 acres of land in Montana along with an old craftsman-style farmhouse were bequeathed to him to do with as he pleased. There were also various outbuildings on the property, such as a machine shed, a barn with a hay loft, and horse stables.

He had options. There was an Eastern conglomerate, NorthStar Corp, that was willing to pay a more than fair price to buy it from him, lock, stock, and barrel. With what they were offering, Leonard wouldn't have to worry about money for the foreseeable future, if ever. Or, he could make the break from Georgia and his ex-wife with her boy-toy to make a go of it in Logan, Montana. Although Leonard wanted to stay near his mother, Eleanora, he had to consider that this was his chance to start over somewhere else.

When he told his best friend, James T. Kirk, about his inheritance, Jim could hardly contain his excitement. He considered it to be the start to a great adventure and was more than willing to accompany Leonard.

Jim had no family ties to speak of, preferring to live a sort of nomadic existence. He even offered to take turns driving the moving truck the 1,900 or so miles to Montana. "Good music, good snacks, and good company are all we need to get us to our destination, Bones," Kirk told him with a wide grin.

The more Leonard thought about it, the more he warmed up to the idea of starting somewhere new. A place where he wouldn't have to worry about running into someone who knew about the divorce and wouldn't hesitate to share an opinion about it. So, with Jim's help, he cleared his house out of any remaining items, put them in storage, then contacted a realtor to list it for sale.

After only a few showings, a deal was quickly closed, with a $30,000.00 profit in his bank account to show for it. Leonard and Jim loaded up his remaining possessions into the moving van, hooked up a car trailer with Leonard's pickup truck on it, and headed west to Montana. The pair made a few stops along the way, renting a hotel room to rest for the night before hitting the road again the next morning.

The more miles Leonard put behind him, the more comfortable and free he felt with his decision. He wasn't too keen on leaving his mother behind, but she assured him that she would be fine, even encouraged him to take this leap. He made a note to send her a plane ticket so she could visit once he got settled.

Nearly four days and more than 1,900 miles later, Leonard turned into the gravel driveway that led to his new home. It was a charcoal gray with white trim craftsman-style farmhouse with a tall, red brick chimney on one side. The wooden wrap-around porch was accented with white, tapered columns, set on top of the slotted railing framing the area. He appreciated the large windows, which would bring in a good amount of natural light, as well as soft breezes on lazy summer days.

"Well? Is it everything you expected?" Jim asked.

"I didn't exactly know what to expect, Jim. I don't even remember either of my parents ever mentioning an 'Uncle Walter McCoy'. He isn't someone I knew well enough for him to leave me something like this, but I'll do my best to make the most of it. From what I've seen so far, though, at least the outside looks fine," Leonard replied.

"That's the spirit, Bones! Let's go have a look at the grounds, then inside the house. After that, we can start unloading your stuff," Jim grinned as he scrambled out of the truck.

Leonard stepped down from the driver's seat and closed the door. "Sure, Jim. Why not," he muttered to himself. He fished the house keys out of his pocket on his way up the porch steps. The front door was made of solid oak with a dark finish and leaded glass panels arranged in a geometric design. He inserted the key into the lock and tilted his head back. "Here goes nothin', I guess," he murmured, pushing the door open.

***

At just after 2:00pm, you stopped by the post office to retrieve your mail that had piled up over the last couple of days. Before you left, you strolled up to the counter to chat with your best friend, Nyota Uhura. Her shift was almost over, so she suggested the two of you meet for coffee and a snack at the Java Station Café on Main Street.

While you waited for her at the café, you thought about how you met her and what brought you back to Logan, Montana. Your now-ex-boyfriend, Travis Myers, had convinced you to move with him from Logan to Bozeman. He'd landed a lucrative position as in-house counsel for a large and powerful corporation. You found work at a tech company doing data entry work for a medical office. Not too terribly taxing nor was it what you wanted for a career, but it paid well.

Around the six-month mark of living together in the big city, Travis started coming home later and later in the evening. Missed date nights and other outings were becoming more frequent, with him coming to bed late and leaving before you woke up. Whenever you tried to talk to him about it, he always chalked it up to working late on a big case or project, so you let it go.

The last straw was when the two of you were supposed to meet a few of your friends for dinner. Since he was late picking you up from home, you asked one of them to drive you to the restaurant. From the lobby, you called Travis and told him to meet you there.

Just before you said your goodbyes, you heard, "Come back to bed, baby, I'm cold" in a woman's voice. You were furious, demanding to know who the woman was and how long he had been seeing her. After first denying everything, he ultimately confessed it was his assistant and it had been going on for about six weeks. You felt your world collapsing around you at his admission. Dinner was forgotten while your friends drove you back to the apartment to pack up your belongings.

You couch-surfed for about a month before finding an apartment back in Logan, where you had previously lived with your parents. Because Travis paid for most of the expenses such as rent and utilities, you were able to save up quite a nest egg to cover your new living situation. However, you weren't sure how much longer your savings would hold out, so you decided to look for a job to make ends meet.

The bell above the door tinkled, and Nyota rushed over to your table. After a brief hug, you both sat down and waited for your server to appear and take your order. Uhura was practically vibrating with energy, which meant she had something exciting to share. A few minutes later, with your order submitted, she spilled her secret.

"You'll never guess what happened today!" she exclaimed. "Two men came in today to file a change of address card."

You snorted. "That sounds like something that happens every day around here, Nyota, not that interesting. You're nearly jumping out of your skin about this. What is so compelling about them that has you barely able to sit still long enough to tell me?"

Uhura made a face at you to show her displeasure. "If you can keep from insulting me, I'll tell you," she pouted. You held up your hands in surrender as her cue to continue. "They moved here from Georgia, and one of them has the most tantalizing Southern accent. They were both tall, one blond hair with striking blue eyes, and the other dark hair and hazel eyes. He seemed a little grumpy at first, but Blue Eyes was the more charming of the two," she explained.

"Did you get a look at their new address, the one here?" you asked.

"The one with dark hair listed his name as Dr. Leonard H. McCoy, and his address matched the one for Walter McCoy's place," she replied.

Now she had your attention. Every so often, you drove by the farm, wishing you lived there instead of your small, one-bedroom apartment. You had thoughts about what it would be like to buy the place one day so you could fix it up and return it to some of its old glory. You'd heard through the grapevine that the owner passed away a few months back. It was also mentioned that ownership would pass to his only other living relative.

"I've always thought about that place, what it looks like inside, how I would spruce it up. Wait a minute, did you say Doctor McCoy?" you squeaked.

"And her brain has finally caught up with her mouth," Uhura joked. "I was wondering when you'd catch on to that tidbit of information. That house has a separate office space, ideal for treating patients. Word travels fast in this town, and once folks get to know there's a doctor in town again, Dr. McCoy is bound to need help. You know, with paperwork or coordinating treatment of his patients. Know anyone with those kind of skills?" she grinned.

In addition to your data entry job, you had acquired some basic medical training. The town had a couple of paramedics within the Volunteer Fire Department for the more serious cases. For now, it was enough, but it would be nice for the vacancy to be filled, especially by a handsome doctor. "Hmm. Maybe I should head out that way, introduce myself, see if he needs any help." Beg him for a job, you silently added.

"That's the spirit! If you're done with your coffee, we should drive out there and check things out. You in?" she held out her hand for you to shake.

After draining the last of your cappuccino, you nodded and shook her hand. "I'm all in," you declared.

***

Leonard and Jim wandered the property, taking in the condition and contents of the outbuildings. Many of the machines and tools were left behind. They noted which items were and were not still functional, to determine what could be easily returned to service or sold for parts. The good news was, the buildings themselves were structurally sound, although at least in need of a new outer coat of paint.

As for the house itself, Leonard was pleased to find a side entrance that led to an office, set apart from the main house. It was perfect for starting his clinic, with a small area that could function as a waiting room, and enough space for a reception desk. He made a note to check in town for a secondhand store to pick up a desk, some chairs and other furnishings.

Jim joked and told him that all he needed now was a pretty receptionist who could also perform nursing duties. Leonard glared at him in response, reminding him that after the way divorce went, he wasn't at all interested in dating. "Just doctorin'," he affirmed. "Maybe fishin', if the winds are just right," he added with a smirk.

A tour of the home's interior revealed hardwood flooring in the bedrooms and living room, while ceramic tiles covered the floor in the eat-in kitchen. There was a separate dining room space between the kitchen and living room. The centerpiece of the living room was a fireplace made with gray bricks and had a dark wooden mantle above it.

Before his arrival, Leonard contacted the utilities and asked for them to be turned on and transferred into his name. That gave Leonard and Jim a chance to determine what worked and what needed repaired. For the most part, the electrical system was in good working order, except for a few outlets that may need replaced or updated.

The water situation was another story. At first, when Jim turned on the high-arching faucet in the kitchen, the white farmhouse sink reflected a light brownish tint to the water. The pedestal sink and clawfoot tub in the main bathroom, plus the sinks in the half-baths were the same shade of brown. However, the more they let the water run, the clearer it became, which helped ease their minds a bit.

Leonard walked back out to the porch to make a mental list of what he'd need to bring the old house back to life and working order. The hardwood floors were in good condition, though they could use a bit of polish applied to them. There were a few non-working electrical outlets that would need an electrician's expertise to chase down the problem. In the bedrooms, there were spots where the wallpaper was peeling away from the wall. Not exactly a fan of wallpaper, Leonard decided it would be better to tear it all down and paint instead.

Overall, the pluses outweighed the minuses, such as the updated appliances in the kitchen and quartz countertops. Leonard could definitely see himself cooking up a Sunday dinner of his mother's chicken and dumplings with a peach cobbler. As an avid reader, he also loved the built-in bookshelves to showcase his personal library of classics. And the side-door entrance to the office space provided a break between his professional life and his personal life.

Jim joined him out on the porch and gazed out over the mature trees that dotted the property. "So now that you've taken the grand tour, what do you think, Bones?"

Leonard thought for a moment before answering. "Think I'm gonna like it here. Let's start unloading the truck," he directed. "Good thing we hit those consignment shops on the way here, or you wouldn't have a bed to sleep in," he jested.

Jim was about to unlatch the door on the moving truck when he noticed a car turning into the driveway. "Welcoming Committee?" he wondered. Leonard shook his head and rolled his eyes while he walked over to stand next to Jim. They both watched as the car rolled to a stop near the front of the truck.

***

The drive to the McCoy place only took about twenty minutes, which you spent silently reviewing your qualifications. Uhura could tell you were worried about making a good impression, which she was sure you would. She told you not to worry about it, that you were the best candidate for the job, if Dr. McCoy was hiring. "What if he's not hiring, though?" you asked.

"Then we'll have to convince him that he'll need your help, being the only doc in town. There really is no way around it, he will require an assistant," she reasoned. Her response sounded logical, so you accepted it and kept driving out to meet your prospective employer.

Soon your car was pulling into the driveway, where a large moving truck was parked. Upon seeing the two men standing to one side, you had to admit that Uhura was right. They were both strikingly handsome men. The dark-aired man carried a stern look on his face and his arms were crossed over his chest. The blond seemed a little more easygoing, self-assured, bordering on cocky, as if he knew what a good-looking man he was.

As you exited your vehicle, the men had started walking in your direction. "You ladies lost or somethin'?" the dark-haired man drawled. Ohhhh, that accent was enough to make you weak in the knees, you thought. You held on to your open door for balance.

"Yeah, can we help you?" the blond man wondered with a smirk.

When your brain finally rebooted, you responded, "Actually, we were hoping to be of assistance to you, since you're new in town." At this, you introduced the two of you and learned that the blond was James T. Kirk, or "Jim" he offered with a waggle of his eyebrows. His grumpy companion with the dark hair was the Dr. Leonard H. McCoy who now owned the property.

"I think we can manage fine with just the two of us. Good day, la--" Leonard was interrupted by Jim, who pulled him aside.

"Wait a minute, Bones, let's not be too hasty. I mean, these are a couple of gorgeous women who showed up out of nowhere to see us," Jim pointed out. "It wouldn't hurt to hear what they had to say, now would it?"

Leonard pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in exasperation. He was here to be a physician, to take care of people who need help, not dip a toe in the dating pool. When he looked up, he noticed that Jim had left his side and was talking to Uhura, while you had stepped up in his place.

"Excuse me, Dr. McCoy? I understand that my friend and I just turned up unannounced on your doorstep, and you don't know anything about us. But this is a pretty small town, and I should tell you, it won't take long for people to learn that we have a new physician to replace old Doc Thomas. Therefore, I'm offering you my services. I have some basic medical training, and I used to do data entry for a medical company back in Bozeman," you explained.

"Bozeman? Why on earth would you ever leave there to live here? Not to say that what I've seen so far of Logan isn't simply charming," Leonard added with more than a hint of sarcasm.

"I'll be glad to share that little tidbit of information once we've gotten used to working together," you shot back. "By hiring me, you'll have a well-organized appointment calendar, along with accurate patient files. You'll also have someone who knows how to take and record vitals, which leaves you free to do the doctorin'. So, do we have a deal?" you asked, your hand outstretched.

Leonard took a moment to consider your offer, bold though it was. He had to concede that in a town of this size, word would get around about a new physician and spread like wildfire. He'd probably end up with a huge influx of patients. Even if it was only at first, he might become easily overwhelmed. Patient care was of the utmost importance to him, and if you could make things easier for him, who was he to reject such a proposition?

His lack of response translated to you as a decline of your offer of assistance. As you started to withdraw your hand, he quickly grabbed it and clasped it between his own. "Whoa, hold on there just a minute. All right, you have a deal, but we'll do this as a trial run. A three-month probationary period, take it or leave it," he bartered, fighting the urge to smile.

"Thank you, Dr. McCoy! Three months? That'll be more than enough time for you to decide you can't live without me! In-in the office, I mean," you clarified.

Leonard couldn't help but smile at your blunder. "All right, now that we have that settled, I hope you'll excuse me and Casanova over there with your friend. We have a lot to unload, and I'd like to sleep in my own bed tonight rather than the couch," he stated.

"We can help, if that's okay with you? With four sets of hands, we can be done in no time. Besides, I've always been kind of curious about what the inside of your house looks like," you admitted.

You are one interesting woman, Leonard thought to himself. "Okay, let's get started then. Once we get everything out of the truck, I'll take you on the nickel tour," he winked. He whistled to get Jim's and Uhura's attention, then opened up the back of the truck.

***

"There, I think that's the last of it," Leonard declared after he removed the final box from the moving truck and placed it on the lawn. He jumped up to grab the leather strap, then pulled down the rolling door until it was flush with the deck. He latched and locked the door, picked up the box, and brought it into his new home.

 Jim and Uhura had taken your car into town to pick up something for dinner, which left you alone with Leonard. During the unloading, you didn't get much of a chance to stop and look around. But now that most of the heavy lifting was done, you seized the opportunity to take in your surroundings.

You were so caught up in admiring the home's features that you didn't hear Dr. McCoy slide up next to you. "If you have your nickel, I'm ready to start the tour," he grinned. You dug in your pocket, which luckily contained the right coin for the price of your ticket. "Ready when you are, Dr. McCoy," you replied, handing over the 5 cents.

***

Video Conference Call -- Bozeman, Montana

Travis checked his watch to see that he had another ten minutes before his conference call was scheduled to start. He opened the blue file folder in front of him, which was sent from his employer regarding a property they wanted to acquire in Logan, Montana. He sat back in his chair as he thought about how you'd moved there after breaking up with him. Before he could stroll any further down Memory Lane, his alarm beeped to let him know it was time to start the call.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," Travis greeted. He could see the CEO, Miles Cooper, at the head of the table, surrounded by other members of NorthStar Corp's Board of Executives.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Myers. I see you have the file in front of you, so let's begin. We understand that the principal owner of the McCoy property has passed away. As such, we want to move forward and make the new owner an offer to purchase the parcel of land and whatever's on it. The house, barn, stables--everything, down to the last shingle," Mr. Cooper explained.

"My source tells me that the new owner drove all the way from Atlanta, Georgia to check out the property. He is also a doctor, and the town has been without one since the last one died. In my opinion, this could present a problem. He may decide to stay and 'hang out his shingle', as it were," Travis pointed out.

Mr. Cooper leaned back in his chair and rested his steepled index fingers on his chin as he contemplated his next move. As he considered this new development, conversation buzzed around him among the other executives. According to one of the scientific reports he received, there were plenty of reasons for encouraging the good doctor to sell.

The report mentioned the discovery of several veins of copper and silver running beneath the surface. The financial gains from mining those resources would more than cover the initial investment paid to acquire the property. Whether the new owner was aware of these precious metals was unknown, but Cooper needed to act fast before the doctor learned of their existence.

With a wave of his hand, silence returned to the board room as Mr. Cooper had made a decision. "Mr. Myers, I suggest you do your best to convince Dr. McCoy to sell the property to us. I will have a new purchase offer drawn up that's more than fair, and you should strongly encourage him to accept it."

Travis carefully considered Mr. Cooper's words that carried the barest hint of a threat behind them. "Sir, I will present your offer; however, we should be prepared for him to turn it down and decide to become the town's doctor."

"You worry about getting a signature on that purchase agreement, Myers, and I will worry about whether or not a contingency plan will be needed. Before the previous owner's death, this was a working farm, right? Lots of tools, machinery? Farming is considered to be one of the most dangerous professions, you know. Accidents can and do happen. It would be unfortunate if an accident should befall the good Dr. McCoy," Mr. Cooper replied darkly.

There was no mistake in Mr. Cooper's intent this time. "Absolutely, sir. I will find a way to present your offer that will make it difficult if not impossible to decline it."

Mr. Cooper's eyes brightened and a smile graced his face. "Excellent, Myers, I knew I could count on you. I'll send that new offer over to you as soon as I have it and we'll go from there," he stated. "I appreciate your cooperation, Myers, I certainly won't forget it."

"And thank you, Sir. I welcome this opportunity, and I will not let you down," Travis concluded.

"Let us hope not, Myers. I'd hate for you to experience any....negative fallout, should you be unable to close this deal," Mr. Cooper remarked ominously before disconnecting the call.

Travis relaxed in his chair and began to formulate a plan in his mind. A sly grin crept across his face as he thought of the perfect way to get an inside look into the doctor's life.

Of course, it involved a trip to Logan and should he happen to run into you, so much the better. For him, anyway. Though there was a near 100% chance that you would want nothing to do with him. If that was the case, his plan may be a bust before it even gets started.

Especially after the way things ended between you discovering his infidelity. For that reason alone, it was likely your walls of protection against him and his crap were nearly guaranteed to be sky-high. But it was a chance he was willing to take, because he did not want to disappoint his client. Something told him that with a failure of this magnitude, Mr. Cooper was capable of making his life a living hell.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tags: @marvelouslytrekking @spacedancer1701 @anna-phora @hailbop1701 @writercole @lassie-bird @never--doubt @phoenixisred @wayward-dreamer @erindiggory @strangesgirls @dumpsterhippie @genevablog26 @lokis-deares @medicatemedrmccoy @rooweighton @mamamercurymist @d-doki-doki @malmeansbad @imamotherfuckingstar-lord @ghosttrekkie @noforkingclue @bellestalesoffiction

[spudlord]

Crowd Funding !!

Venmo: jesse-a94

Cash app: $jessethecutie

Paypal or zelle: jesserosea94@gmail.com

475/2500 I don't know if I even have active followers anymore over here but I am sharing this everywhere I can because I'm pretty desperate. I know money is tight for everyone and there are so many worthy causes and people to donate to right now so I was really hesitant to toward to crowd funding for this but I am at my breaking point. Please consider helping 2 queers find better housing closer to our jobs& friends. Even if you can only send 1 dollar, every penny will help. If you can't donate, please consider sharing!My wife& I are near our breaking point with our current housing situation. I'm asking for donations to help us move.

I didn't want to turn to crowd funding for this but I'm beginning to feel desperate. Based on the rent we could afford monthly we need about 2000 dollars for move in fees, but we've been hoping to save around 2500 to be safe since moving comes with a lot of unexpected costs and we'd need to rent a moving truck since we don't own a car. We currently have 475 dollars set aside and will also be trying our best to put aside every extra penny we have after bills&groceries& other necessities.

We're 2 disabled queer people trying hard to get our shit together. We've been trying to save for months to move us and our 2 cats but every time we get close an emergency happens or one or both of us gets sick and misses a lot of work. Our current rental house is moldy, and has a laundry list of issues that are impacting our health. It's also a 2 hour commute one way via bus to our jobs. We're trying to move to the Oak Park or Ferndale area so we're walking distance from our jobs, and many of our friends/support network, to be closer to my doctors, and closer to more bus lines since I can't drive due to my disability. Thank you for hearing me out at least and please consider sharing or donating or helping in any way you may be able to.

[iamprchung]

The Spider and the FBI: Part 4 "As If Painted in Place"

Forced of the road, and carried down a raging river, miraculously surviving a mob hitman attacking them on the road, Scully, Skinner and their prisoner find themselves on foot, traveling across the open plains of Wyoming. Meanwhile, Mulder is dealing with two eccentric young women that need his help almost as much as Scully and Skinner.

"As If Painted in Place"

Part IV of "The Spider and the FBI"

by PR Chung

County Road 434

Wyoming

Friday, July 3rd

"You know this is your fault."

Mulder looked up from the trunk at Sally, squinting against the blazing daylight. Her accusation was brilliantly stunning. "What?" He nearly laughed.

Marylou looked between the two of them, apprehensive.

"Could you please explain to me how this is my fault?" He asked Sally, walking from behind the car to motion at the flattened rear tire.

"If we hadn't come this way I-- I wouldn't have run over that thingy in the road back there." Sally generalized, waving her arm in the direction they had come.

Mulder looked back down the road; his mouth twisted with dazzled contemplation.

"What thingy?" He questioned turning back to her. "There was no thingy in the road. The damn tire just went flat, that's it!"

"I know I ran over something," she insisted, "and I wouldn't have if we hadn't come down this road."

"This direction was your idea." He argued.

"I wouldn't have come this way if you weren't with us," she continued, now looking to her friend. "I only came this way to get him to a phone."

"This way?" Mulder repeated. "We're practically in Montana, do you realize that?" Neither of the women said anything. "You have taken me halfway across this state in the complete opposite direction that I should have been going. There's a rental car sitting on the side of the road, four hundred miles from here, that's closer to civilization than we are right now. My partner and superior have probably entered and left the state of Nebraska by now, if they're lucky enough not to have run into the man intent on killing the prisoner they're transporting. And here I am, arguing about my ambiguous role in your narrow view of the universe."

Both of the women remained silent; they were looking past him down the road.

Mulder heard the sound of a vehicle and turned seeing a battered pick-up truck heading toward them. He gave it a circumspect look, one corner of his upper lip drawing back with trepidation. The truck began slowing as it neared them, and Mulder could see two men peering out the windshield with half-witted grins plastered across their faces.

"Get in the car," he called back over his shoulder.

Marylou immediately moved towards the door, Sally too, but only to grab her purse off the front seat. "You get in the car, woozy agent," she spat at Mulder, "I'm not."

"Sally, what are you doing?" Marylou demanded.

"Hey there." Mulder turned seeing one of the men leaning out the open window of the truck. "Having some trouble here, huh?"

"No, just a flat."

"Gotta spare?" The driver called and leaned forward for a better view of the scene.

"Right there." Mulder kept it short.

"Got air in it?" the passenger asked laughing.

"Yeah, got air. Even have a jack and lug wrench."

"Well, what do you know about that?" The passengers turned to the driver, and they laughed hard, too hard for Mulder's comfort.

"Will you take me to the next town?" Sally was suddenly at the driver's window.

The two men looked startled for an instant.

"Uh...?" said the passenger glancing back at Mulder.

"Sally?" Marylou yelled at her friend jumping back out of the car where she'd been watching from.

"Uh..." said the driver also glancing back at Mulder as he reached for his door handle.

"No, I don't think this is a good idea," Mulder announced starting for the truck.

"Maybe you don't, but I don't care what you think," Sally snapped at him through the truck windows and across the two men. "Come on, open up and let me in."

"Uh... all.. all right," the driver said and got out.

"Sally, no," Marylou pleaded with her. "Come on, we'll get the tire changed and everything will be fine."

"I don't even care, okay? Since he turned up this whole trip has really lost its appeal for me." She tossed her purse in on the truck seat next to the passenger and started to climb in.

"Sally, come on," Mulder tried, laboring for his best and most gracious of smiles. "There's no sense in abandoning your road trip. I'll get out of your hair in the very next town, I promise. You'll never have to see me ever again."

She looked at him for a long moment, hovering halfway in the truck.

"Forget it." She plopped down in the seat jaw set. "Let's go."

"Sally," Marylou ran up to the truck near tears. "No, don't go with these guys."

"We're good guys," the driver assured her getting back in behind the wheel.

"We'll take good care of your friend." The passenger assured her.

"Come on, come on, let's go."

"Sally, damn it, think about this," Mulder was having trouble keeping the agitation from his voice, he could feel his jaw tensing and knew he was talking through gritted teeth.

"Please."

Even the driver was starting to wonder. "You sure about...?"

"Come on, I want to go." Sally practically yelled at him refusing to look at Mulder or Marylou.

"All right..."

The passengers waved and smiled as they drove away back down the road leaving a dusty wake behind.

"Shit!" Mulder yelled turning to the trunk of the Mustang.

Marylou gasped. "I can't believe she just left with those guys."

"Just some more shit to make my life harder than it already is," Mulder declared hauling the spare out of the trunk.

****************************

The sound was so loud it was almost deafening; the raging torrent of muddy water Walter Skinner found himself battling and at the same time utilizing to reach Scully. She was just ahead of him; the water tossing and turning her like so much driftwood, her head bobbing up and down below the surface, her eyes were wide, and her mouth gaped as she gasped for breath.

Bright day and rushing then a split second of deathly silence and gray followed again by the rushing and brightness and gasping and coughing. Scully sucked in great gulps of air each time she managed to throw her head back far enough from the water to breathe, but the water was in her eyes, her mouth and nose. Don't panic, she had tried telling herself at first, but all equanimity deserted her once she felt the river winning. Fighting the current was like bench pressing four hundred pounds while being hit with a fire hose on full. Her arms were growing numb, her throat burned from choking-

Don’t panic!

Gasp! "Hel-" Cough! "-p!"

Silence. Rush. Gasp. Choke!

Clutch!

Her fingers brushed at something solid, her shoulder next but whatever it was gone, still she...

Don't panic! She thought. "Help-!" She choked up in the blaze of day around her.

Clutch! Silence. Rush. Gasp!

Choke...

Silence...

"Scully!" Skinner shouted when he saw only her back surface. He spat and choked away dark water struggling to turn face up, kicking then with all his strength shoulders first along the current toward her still form.

He bumped into something and fought to turn again thinking it was Scully but finding it was only a piece of debris; a knot of branches and grass torn loose from the riverbank. Then, his heart nearly stopped when he realized he'd overshot her somehow.

At the last minute, Skinner caught the snarled branches that were precariously caught up on bank, holding himself above water as Scully was carried close enough for him to reach out and grab.

Snaking his arm around her under her arms he hoisted the weight of her upper body up and toward him bringing her head up from the water on back onto his shoulder, but in the effort to do so he lost his grip on the branches.

As though they were tethered to a truck moving at top speed he and Scully were jerked away from the bank by the current. Water blinded him, choked him, fought him for control and possession of Scully but he would not let go of her, would not let her head dip below the murky surface again no matter how many times his did.

"Hey!" Skinner heard someone shouting just barely above the sound of the rushing water. "Hey! Here! Here! Up here!" Skinner shook his head and tried to squeeze his eyes clear of water, seeing finally a blur pacing him and Scully along the bank in an offish, excited dance. "Up here! There's rocks ahead!"

It was Bernstein.

The news about rocks ahead was a mixed blessing Skinner realized and prepared himself for what would undoubtedly be a brutal impact. As best he could he forced himself and Scully into the current attempting to keep as much of his head and neck out of the way of anything hard ahead.

"Okay, okay!" Bernstein was shouting now. "Get ready! Now, grab them! Grab them!"

Blindly, Skinner reached out with one arm connecting hard with an out cropping of rock just a foot or two from the riverbank. His grip wasn't solid, if Bernstein didn't hurry he'd be swept away again with Scully's weight helping the furious current.

Bernstein tiptoed along the slippery rocks, a long branch in his hands and huge goose egg of a bug sting smack dab between his eyes. "Grab on to the end!" He called Skinner.

"I can't! I'll lose my grip on her! Come down here and help me!"

"I could slip and fall in," Bernstein argued back poking the branch toward Skinner. "I went through hell getting out of this friggin' river once with these cuffs on, I'm not doing it again!"

"Damn you, Bernstein! Help me!"

"I am, grab on!" Bernstein inched his way out a little further and slipped to the end of the branch near Skinner's hand. "Just grab on!"

His fingers were slipping, his arm around Scully was going numb—

He let go of the rock to grab the branch-- and missed.

"Oh, Jesus!" Bernstein yelped as Skinner and Scully washed away from him.

An eternity of mere seconds passed before Skinner felt his head and shoulders jabbed repeatedly as he was shoved into another accumulation of branches down river. The force of river water pressed him nearly under the branches and then rolled and twisted his body toward the soggy bank like so much flotsam. His body weak, his muscles burning with exhaustion... he was too close to give up.

He pulled himself along the branches until he was close enough to hoist Scully forward away from him and against the muddy bank using her weight as an anchor, pulling himself up next to her. He hung over her peeling wet tangled hair from her face that was pale, checking and finding that she wasn't breathing.

"Scully..." he breathed, his voice husky with alarm. He rolled her onto her side to clear any water still in her mouth or throat to begin CPR. "Scully, can you hear me?" He continued to talk to her as he worked, turning her onto her over again, tilting her head back. "Dana, come on, sweetheart..."

"Oh, God," Bernstein gasped as he stumbled on the scene, startled by the sight of the crisis.

Skinner was only marginally aware of the man's presence as he began blowing his breath into Scully, delivering even breaths, and watching for the rise and fall of her chest, speaking softly, ardently to her. "Come on, take a breath... Take a breath, damn it..." He pleaded and cursed in breathless whispers over her ashen lips, water dripping from his face onto hers, his eyes boring down on her as though he could bring her back to consciousness with his will alone.

Panic began to surge up through him, his mind twisting with distraught thoughts. Why the hell did she jump in? Because she was doing her job-- Why did she have to be so damn dedicated?

Three, maybe four, breaths he'd filled her lungs with when she jerked beneath him, her arms tensing then flailing as she gasped and coughed.

"That's it," Skinner nearly shouted, heart swelling as he helped her turn on her side to retch away excess water. "Get it out, that's it."

"Yes!" Bernstein exclaimed giving a little victory shake of his cuffed hands in the air.

It was then that Skinner took full notice of the man again, shooting him a momentary glacial glare before he came to his feet.

"Oh..." Bernstein hesitated only a moment, frozen with surprise as Skinner charged toward him before he turned to run. "Shit!"

He didn't get but a few yards before two hands clamped down on his shoulders like vice grips and spun him around. Skinner's face was so close to his Bernstein could see himself in the man's cold dark eyes.

"You son of bitch!" Skinner shouted in his face shaking him by fists full of his shirt as well as a copious quantity of skin and hair beneath the fabric.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Bernstein cried out averting his face away from Skinner hot breath.

"You sure the hell are!" Skinner bellowed, "I should kick your ass but good you sorry son of a bitch..."

"I thought you could reach it— I didn't know— I thought it would work— It works in the movies!"

"This isn't a damn movie—"

"Hey..." Skinner broke off glancing back at Scully; she was watching him roughing up Bernstein warily.

"I'll tell her."

Skinner looked Bernstein evenly in the eyes. "You'll tell her what?" He hissed from between clinched teeth.

"Tell me..." Scully choked some, "tell me what?"

Skinner half turned to look back at her, wordless as realization flickered in his eyes.

"Sweetheart..." Bernstein whispered with mock seduction in Skinner's face.

***************************************

County Road 434

Washakie County, Wyoming

10: 28 a.m.

"Is she always this reckless?"

Marylou looked at Mulder, his question apparently striking an uncomfortable note with her.

"Not like this." She answered turning back to look at the road, wringing her hands in her lap.

Mulder gripped the steering wheel and shook his head, mouthing a curse, admonishing himself for not listening to his instincts. Something intangible had spoken to him on that road, a whisper out of the pre-dawn light, a word of caution. How could he have confused innocuous mischief with an all-out commitment to causing trouble and grief?

And how the hell could she have gone with them?

How many young woman's murders had he been briefed about, read the reports on, been unfortunate enough to witness the aftermath? And why, because of some foolhardy sense of immortality people seem to walk around believing?

"Oh my god!" Mulder reflexively jerked the steering wheel when she shouted causing the Mustang to swerve wildly. "There, look, it's those two guys."

Marylou was pointing ahead. Mulder could see two figures lumbering listlessly down the shoulder of the narrow road. His mind began to reel. Where was Sally? Why were these two walking? Where was the truck? How many side roads had there been between here and where they had picked her up? How many brushy areas? How many bridges?

Mulder brought the car to an abrupt halt on the heels of the two men, jumping out and rushing up to them before either could fully react.

"Where is she?" Mulder demanded. The two looked back at him as though dazed. He grabbed the one closest to him, the man who had been driving earlier. "Where is Sally?"

"Hey man, I don't know!"

"She took our truck!" The passenger declared separating Mulder from his companion.

"Bullshit," Mulder spat suspiciously. "I suppose you were just driving along and wham!"

"We were talkin' and drinking beer," the passenger whined.

"We didn't try anything." The driver declared.

"Didn't try anything."

"She's the one that was acting all cutesy-"

"What the hell did you do?" Mulder yelled at them, knowing that they were lying.

"Nothing! Nothing! We didn't do anything. She told us she had a gun in her purse and made us pull over and get out."

"A gun?" He shot a questioning glare at Marylou.

"She doesn't have a gun, Fox..." She told him, her eyes pinched with apprehension. "But she has... taken cars before."

"Taken?" He repeated, stunned.

Marylou swallowed hard. "When someone would make her mad or piss her off... she'd get even by taking their car..." Mulder glanced back at the Mustang and she shook her head. "Oh, no, that really is hers."

"Ah," Mulder moaned throwing his head back wincing up to the sky, perhaps to ask simply why or maybe even to say a little prayer for some semblance of mercy. Question or appeal, he was interrupted.

"Fox," Marylou said his name again and again touched his arm. "We need to find her."

He hesitated, ready to refuse on so many distinct levels of reasoning against just that, but stopped, seeing the wariness in Marylou's eyes and knew this wasn't the first time she would have had to collect her friend from a bad situation.

*************************************

Hamburger Hamlet

Bethesda, Maryland

12:23 p.m. EST

A little frazzled and very excited Kimberly Cook scooted through the staggered patio tables heading for the restaurant entrance. Near breathless she hauled open the door immediately hit with a blast of refrigerated air from inside, her skin pulling into gooseflesh as she hastily began to scan faces in the crowd.

"Kimmy, here!" There he was, waving to her from a small cozy table in the bar, his smile almost blinding in its shear perfection, like everything about him. Sometimes she just couldn't believe it. He had model good looks, was charming and funny, and so romantic. And that smile, oh he could just drive her to her knees with that smile and those twinkling blue eyes.

She grinned wildly dashing to join him.

Don't act stupid. Don't act stupid. She repeated to herself, nervous and excited.

"Jess," she called his name zestfully, loving the way it sounded, thrilled when others turned to see her joining him. They were so absolutely suited for each other, and she wanted everyone to witness just how well suited they were, how lucky and happy she was.

"Hey, there, gorgeous," he laughed grabbing her up in his arms to kiss her fully on the lips. Kim nearly swooned, feeling her knees weakening beneath her. "You look so beautiful, more beautiful than last night." She blushed just at the mention of last night. "But I thought you weren't going to make it, angel."

"I'm so sorry," she apologized covering his hands with hers. "Just one person after another wanted something from me while I was trying to leave my office. I finally just had to walk out. I'm so sorry. You'll forgive me?"

"It's okay," he smiled and looked at her, his eyes dancing, "But will you have time to stay for lunch?"

Kim waved her hand in the air, carefree. "I think I can swing a little extra time for lunch today."

Jess cocked a light brown brow. "Kimberly..." he said her name low, mocking suspicion, "I don't want you getting in trouble with that boss of yours..."

She labored for seriousness, lowering her voice as she looked deeply into his eyes and said, "Well, he’s out of town right now. I thought I mentioned that?"

"That's right..." Jess said, nodding his head thoughtfully.

She shrugged. "And if he calls my voice mail will get it. I could take the rest of the day off if I wanted to." She tossed her head, throwing her red hair back as much as its short length would allow.

"Well, great. But he wouldn't come back unexpectedly, would he?"

She made a raspberry sound as she unfolded her napkin and put it across her lap. "No, I doubt it, he's in the middle of...uh, well, he's doing something rather important. But I know he's got to be back by Tuesday."

"Tuesday? Where is he going to be for so long?" Jess asked while motioning for the waiter to come over.

"Well, right now he's in Wisconsin- Oh. No, I mean...um... somewhere in Wyoming." She laughed and rolled her eyes slapping her head. "It's those "w" names."

Jess laughed. "You are so cute. I could just eat you up."

Now he had said some pretty fantastic things in the last week but that had to be about most fantastic, she thought feeling her whole-body flush...

***************************************

Somewhere, Wyoming

Midday...

In the stark midday sunlight, Skinner and Scully stood out against the tall, tawny prairie grasses in their blue wind breakers, Bernstein in his still somewhat white dress shirt and khakis dividing them. Their clothes had dried quickly in the heat of the day but had grown uncomfortably stiff and hot during the course of their trek across the seemingly endless expanse of grassland.

They had been walking for only an hour or two, heading away from the river, having decided not to return to the car where Gryzwac could be lying in wait or easily watching the area for their return, and already, if the knicks and scraps from the window glass hitting him wasn't bad enough, Skinner suspected that his head was becoming sunburnt. The resulting peeling process of a burnt scalp, he thought, wasn't in the least... appealing. It wasn't as though he easily wore a ball cap into the office with any degree of comfort or dignity— if he ever got back to his office alive.

He glanced at Scully briefly then Bernstein. If any of them got back alive, he thought again.

If it was Gryzwac who had run them off the road, and he had no reason to believe otherwise, it was unlikely that the man was going to give up looking for them. But how in the hell had he found them in the first place, Skinner thought angrily. Was he somehow monitoring their cell phone usage? Or was it as simple as the monitoring of local law enforcement bands on a scanner?

The news of federal agents arriving at the local sheriff's department was uncommon enough to be tossed back and forth between dispatchers and deputies, a real break in the humdrum routine. That was one possibility, but it still didn't explain how Gryzwac and Machenko had found where Mulder and Scully had been with Bernstein, albeit they were late enough getting there that Scully had already left with Bernstein. There was only one explanation left. There was an information leak within the bureau.

Scully fanned away one of the many insects buzzing around in the knee-high grass, feeling ironically thirsty despite the fact that she had nearly drowned not but a few hours before.

She would have too, she thought stealing a glimpse of Skinner who was walking a few paces ahead of Bernstein. She would have drowned if it hadn't been for him. She couldn’t remember a great deal of what happened, flashes and impressions mostly, which was probably for the best. She’d dealt with terrorizing memories of drowning once before; she didn't need to struggle to bury a whole new set of bad memories and sensations; the panic and taste of fear that no child should ever have to experience.

Her brothers had gone in, and it had looked so easy- so simple, and so she had gone in, too. There was no thought given by a four-year-old to the fact that she had never swum before. For an eternity it seemed, there was blackness and an inviting gurgle of water grasping her until a sudden light hit her eyes as her father yanked her up from below the surface of Chatchom’s pond.

"Starbuck!" She recalled the loud, domineering voice. Anger and fear tangled together as he called to her. "What were you thinking, sweetheart—"

No, wait, Scully stopped to think.

Her father had never called her that, ever. Sweetheart? Where had she gotten that phrase? She pondered the obscure reference rearing up from apparently nowhere until Bernstein broke her chain of thought.

"Just what the hell are we doing?" He blasted. "Are we going to walk to Washington D.C.?"

Neither Skinner nor Scully responded.

"Do either of you have the slightest clue where we're going here?" He whined hobbling along as though he'd been walking for days on blistered feet.

"Hell," Scully finally broke her silence able to take no more of the man's bellyaching. "And we're taking you with us."

"Ah, Ariel speaks again!" Bernstein mocked surprise throwing his hands up in a hallelujah-like gesture. Again, like the first three or four times, Scully ignored the Little Mermaid reference.

Amazed, she glanced at Skinner, not knowing how he had recovered his composure so successfully after practically throttling Bernstein on the riverbank, nor how he had maintained it so well considering the situation. Herself, aside from having nearly drowned, clothes stiff and hot, hair matted, sinuses aching and burning, nauseated from too much water taken in, gun lost, cell phone waterlogged, and a nail broken into the quick... she wasn't in much of a mood.

"My feet are killing me." He whined again.

"Deal with it," she told him. "You're not the first man who’s had to walk across these prairies, you know?"

"I know. I know," he replied craning his head around to look at her, allowing her an unobstructed view of the still huge insect sting right between his brows. "I also know I'm not some savage Indian or a roughneck frontiersman— I'm a regular guy whose shoes are killing him. I'm going to have to see a podiatrist."

"Take your shoes off." Skinner recommended.

"Take them off?" Bernstein gasped.

"For thousands of years men ran barefoot through these grasses, I think you could manage it for a few hours." Scully assured him with half-baked seriousness.

"A few hours? Have you looked around? "He asked making a sweeping gesture of his cuffed hands. "More like a few days of walking. There's nothing in site for miles except for more and more of this!" He kicked at the grass, looking awkward and nearly losing his balance in the process.

Skinner and Scully traded glances, amused. She then hesitated to look down at something she'd stepped on. Skinner stopped as well, watching her bend to inspect something on the ground, letting Bernstein wonder ahead on his own, he wouldn't get far from sight out here in the open. She stood with something small and dark pinched between her fingers. She gave him an amused half smile holding the object up to show him.

"An arrowhead." She announced and laughed quietly.

He watched her examine her unusually timed discovery for a moment, captured by the delicate way she turned the object in her fingers and childlike glow of amusement that brushed her lips with a whisper of a smile... Watching her for that moment, he was incredibly taken by this woman.

"So, Sgt. Bilko," Bernstein called back to Skinner as he loped along, "what is the plan?"

Skinner flicked a glance his way, setting his jaw.

"It can't be much of a plan," Bernstein said before there could be any response. "No car. No phone. And no idea of where we ar-uhhh!"

"I think we've got a pretty good idea now," Scully muttered as she watched Bernstein's chaotic display of gestures spent to free himself from a broken barbed wire fence. "We're on someone's property."

The two agents started walking toward Bernstein at a leisurely pace seeing no great need to hurry to his rescue.

"A ranch more than likely," Skinner offered scanning the area, repositioning his glasses.

He'd done this several times Scully had noticed, and she didn't believe the frames had fared very well after their travels down the river nestled in his pocket. She had been truly amazed that they weren't broken when she saw him retrieve from his shirt pocket earlier.

Bernstein angrily snorted from where he was now sitting on the ground, hopelessly entangled in the loose barb wire. Jerking his arms up to inspect the elbow of his left sleeve he wrinkled his nose and flared his nostrils at the deep brown muck he found stuck there.

"Ock! Oh! Ock!" He gagged swinging his arms away from himself.

Scully pulled her lips inward biting at them hard not to laugh aloud.

In defiance of his pained expression Skinner's eyes seemed to dance with gratification.

"A cattle ranch, apparently." Scully added at last.

***********************************

Ten Sleep, Wyoming

1:34 p.m.

"There," Jink exclaimed leaning over the back seat throwing his arm over Mulder's shoulder pointing toward ahead at something on the side of the road. "I see my truck."

"Where?" Mulder asked him, flicking his eyes back and forth between the road and the rear-view mirror.

"I see it, too," Harley agreed also sitting forward against the back of Marylou's seat.

"The restaurant," Marylou directed Mulder's attention to the building tucked in between an intensely busy truck stop and a chain motel.

He scanned the parking lot of the small restaurant slowing to pull in, wondering how the hell these two could have picked their truck out of the multitude of rusted, beat-up pickups filling the lot. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Jink hollered back, "I can already see the gash I put in the rear fender when I backed into my dad's bull."

Mulder nodded. "Of course, how stupid of me." He muttered cranking the wheel into a left turn off the highway.

While he waited for a parking space as another truck pulled out the two men got out and started over to their truck, checking it out and yelling back and forth about beer then cigarettes. Marylou had followed them halfway to the truck before she stopped and just stood in the middle of the driveway until Mulder parked and got out of the car.

"What are you doing?" he asked her, coming around the back of the Mustang.

"I don't know." She shrugged watching the two men search for what was apparently their last pack of cigarettes in the truck.

"Come on and let's look inside for her." Mulder urged her wondering why the hesitation suddenly.

Hit by the loud clank of plates and flatware, pool balls slapping together, and the tinkle of some country lament, Mulder and Marylou approached the small register counter seeing that restaurant was teeming with activity. Constructed of bare wood, the walls covered with framed photos of locals in slice-of-life type poses. There was a small counter up front with a bowl of toothpicks mixed in with mints, beside it stood an ancient looking Tempest video game, next to that a row of candy machines boasting a nickel price tag on each.

Mulder and Marylou stretched their necks in alternating directions searching the booths and tables for Sally, Mulder keeping an eye on Jink and Harley still out in the parking lot, hoping they would just take off after they found their pack of smokes, but he had a bad feeling once they got their nicotine fix they would be looking for a certain young woman.

Marylou grabbed Mulder’s arm suddenly dragging him forward into the dining room. "I see her."

In a booth near the back of the dining room Sally sat with her back to the rest of the patrons, apparently the entire contents of her purse spread out over the table, a mug of coffee carefully placed at the center like an altar piece. She was still digging more things out of her purse when they stepped up to booth.

She looked up at Marylou and Mulder, her lips pinched together hard.

"What's a screwed-up girl like you doing in a nice place like this?" Mulder said before he could stop himself.

"Great!" Sally spat and threw a handful of gum wrappers on the table.

Glaring at him Marylou ground her elbow into Mulder's ribs hard, nearly knocking the wind from him. "Shut up!" She told him between a whisper and a shout before taking a seat in the booth across from her friend. She eyed the mixture of garbage and necessities across the table for a second or two before asking Sally quietly, "what are you looking for?"

She appeared to ignore the question continuing to dig in her purse, only stopping briefly to watch Mulder sit down next to Marylou, then tossed a tampon with a torn, wrinkled wrapped onto the table in his direction.

"Hon, those two fellas you took the truck from are in the parking lot." Marylou told her friend, keeping her voice carefully neutral.

Sally tossed a battered toothbrush missing more than a few bristles from its head onto the table and glanced toward the front windows. "And?" She said turning back.

"Well, as soon as they find their cigarettes," Mulder began, smirking, "they're probably going to come in here looking for you, if they don't call a cop first."

She huffed, laboring with a false smile. "They won't be finding their cigarettes." She said and threw a pack of Menthols on the table.

Mulder took a deep breath, steadying his voice. "Listen," he said sitting forward, "there are obviously some unresolved issues on your plate but I'm just not hungry enough to eat that bullshit right now."

Marylou started to say something, but he silenced her holding a finger up. "Now we can get out of here before those two good ol' boys come rambling in here with the local fuzz, you two go your way and I'll go mine, or I can get up and walk out of here and never look back as they drag your sour little ass off kicking and screaming to the county jail."

Sally glared at him. "What's your deal?" she asked squinting her eyes as though trying to figure out the answer at the same time she asked it. "Just go call your partner and boss and leave me alone."

"Please," Marylou pleaded with her. "He's trying to help."

"Why?" She shrugged her shoulders. "You're basically a cop yourself, why don't you just take me into custody and turn me over to the locals?"

"Do you know how lucky you are?" Mulder said perhaps too loudly, turning heads from the nearby tables and booths. He lowered his voice, "do you know how many pretty young women I've seen dead in a ditch or shallow grave because they thought they were untouchable and took that ride. Those two could have beat the hell out of you, raped you, dismembered your body and sprinkled your remains all over the damn state. Or worse, they could have kept you captive, tortured you blind until they'd had enough fun then left you to waste away and die in your own excrement."

"My God," Sally breathed squinting at him, "you're a real asshole."

He shook his head. "Come on, Marylou," he said taking her hand and getting up from the booth. "You're not involve in this, let's get out of here."

"No, wait," she resisted, pulling her hand from his. She turned to Sally urgently, tears starting to well up in her eyes. "Please don't screw everything up again, this was supposed to be a fun weekend. It's not even the fourth yet."

"Oh well, shit," Sally declared beginning to shovel stuff from the table back into her purse carelessly. "I wouldn't want to screw everything up again. Heaven forbid. You know I didn't want to pick him up in the first place, you practically begged me to pick him..."

"If you're gathering up all that crap because you've decided to leave," Mulder interrupted her, sounding urgent, looking toward the front windows. "I suggest you hurry."

Marylou and Sally looked back seeing Jink and Harley heading toward the restaurant, appearing highly excited with their mouths running back and forth to one another.

"Well shit." Sally muttered indifferently.

"Come on, hurry," Marylou urged her beginning to gather up handfuls of junk from the table to shove in her purse.

"All right, all right... Jesus, be careful."

Jink and Harley were at the front door now.

"Forget it," Mulder said ushering them out of the booth, eyes on the two men. "Let's go."

"How the hell are we going to leave, they're right there at the exit." Sally complained.

"Where there's will there's an open door."

In a hustled sort of stroll, trying to look casual, the three of them headed toward the restaurant kitchen, Mulder leading them. Jink and Harley were at the front counter, asking the waitress working the register questions and scanning the dining room, game room and bar.

"Hey!"

Mulder turned his head back, seeing Harley approaching from across the room. "Just keep going," he told Marylou and turned back to meet Harley, preoccupying his attention in some way. Twirling something shiny in front of him was a brief consideration.

"Where the hell are you three going?" He demanded from Mulder.

"When you gotta go, you gotta go," Mulder laughed. "Bathrooms. We were just heading to the bathroom." He glanced around behind the man looking for the other who was nowhere to be seen. "Where's Jinx, or was it Pixie?"

"Jink. And he went to keep an eye on your car," Harley poked at Mulder. "We don't want anyone leaving here before the police get here."

Mulder nodded stiffly, his mind working hard on the problem. "That's smart thinking," he complimented the man pulling his id case from his pocket, "but you know what, I've got this under control." He flashed his badge and ID at the man. "I'm a federal agent."

The man blinked at him. "Yeah? So what?"

So much for stunning him with that, Mulder thought grimacing. He nodded thoughtfully, placing his hand on Harley's shoulder, turning him as he spoke carefully. "Exactly, see I'm under cover..."

"In that suit?"

Shit. "You've got a sharp eye." Mulder laughed and it was hollow. "I bet you've already figured out which one of these people in here is the contact."

"Huh? Contact?" The man dumbly said abruptly searching faces in the dining room.

"Shhh, don't let him know you know who he is."

"Oh, sorry, right," he agreed, confused, and frowning as he took another long obvious sweeping glance at the patrons.

"I have to apologize to both you and Jink about my assistant's impulsive behavior," Mulder continued his story, praying to the goblins of spontaneity for all their help as he guilefully maneuvered Harley toward the front door. "When we got that flat and she knew how important it was that someone be here to meet our contact, she took the ride with you fellas."

"But she said..."

Mulder nodded breaking his sentence, "I know, she took your truck but only because she didn't want to break our cover story." He leaned against the front door leading Harley out, saying, "Sally is very dedicated."

"Hey! Hey! Damn it!"

Harley and Mulder froze.

Jink was half jumping, half running across the parking lot kicking up whiffs of dust as he went after Marylou who was running away from the Mustang covering her head. Mulder gasped patting his pants pockets— he had the keys!

"Leave her alone!" Sally came screaming from between two parked trucks swinging her huge purse at Jink.

"Son of a bitch!" Harley cursed firing a hot scowl at Mulder before he bolted into the parking lot to help his friend.

Mulder sprinted for the Mustang digging the keys out from his pocket, seeing chaos of the Dukes of Hazard caliber descending upon the parking lot; Marylou squealing away from first Jink then Harley as Sally beat Jink about the head and shoulders with a bag that had to weigh fifteen pounds, dust flying everywhere. The only components to complete the farce were a fat guy in a white suit and some smokin' banjo music.

Mulder jumped in the car and got it started, racing the engine a little too hard, catching Harley's attention. He shifted in his pursuit of Marylou and started for the Mustang. Mulder shot out of the parking space fast, nearly hitting Harley. The man slammed his hands down on the trunk lid, yelling something Mulder couldn't understand but knew was probably not friendly.

Cranking the steering wheel wildly with one hand and shifting like a stock car driver with the other, Mulder got turned around and headed toward the exit where Sally had forced Jink nearly into the highway with her handbag assault. Marylou had stopped and was crying compulsively in the middle of the parking lot.

"Get in!" Mulder shouted at her braking hard next to her.

In the seconds, her fumbling of the door handle afforded him Mulder checked the rear-view mirrors. Harley was coming up hot on their tail, and beyond his irate expression Mulder could see the restaurant patrons had flocked to the windows and front door to watch the spectacle.

Marylou screamed when she saw Harley. She got the door open and fell into the front seat. Mulder didn't wait for her to shut the door. He punched the gas just as Harley made a mad swing for the trunk lid causing him to fall as the car moved from under his grasp.

Seeing the Mustang heading her way, Sally withdrew her handbag only to haul off and kick Jink in the crouch before she made a break for the open car door to jump in.

The Mustang fish-tailed out of the parking lot onto the highway leaving Jink and Harley in a pale cloud of dust.

*******************************

Roy's PDQ Mart

Dove Tail, Wyoming

2:46 p.m.

"Wouldn't ya' like to be a peppa', too?" Opening the refrigerator case, he laughed as softly to himself as he had been singing the soda jingle.

He plucked a soda bottle from the case and opened it on the spot, drinking half of it before his cell phone rang, interrupting about the only moment of serenity he'd had today.

"Yeah," he answered wiping sticky soda from the corners of his mouth. "Oh, really? Well, you know something, that's yesterday's news, you stupid son-of-a-bitch!" Gryzwac barked back to the person on the other end of the line walking toward the checkout counter.

"I already knew that, and do you know why I already knew that?" He set the open soda on the counter and dug out his money clip as the purchase was rung up, the man running the register stealing nervous glances too often not to be anything but obvious.

"Well, for one thing, I didn't need your happy mother fuckin ass to tell me— you hear me. I don't wait 'til the eleventh hour to get the job done then half-ass it up— No, I don't even want to hear your excuses. You have no idea what I've got to deal with here— No, I've got a scanner, and it's doing your job just dandy. A police scanner, you dumb... Yeah, exactly, so I've got to listen to these hayseed hick fuckers non-stop to find out what Royce's good money is going in your faggot pocket for— No, I'll make sure Royce hears about this."

Gryzwac snapped the phone off, puffing hard.

After a moment he looked at the man behind the counter, his mouth gone slack with a weak smile, his eyes glazed. "Guess that fella didn't do a very good job, huh?" he remarked, laughing nervously.

"Yeah," Gryzwac grunted cocking his head, "now give me my fuckin change!"

**************************************

J. Edgar Hoover Building

Washington, D.C.

3:46 p.m. EST

"AD Skinner's office," Kim Cook answered the phone flinching at the sound of her own harried tone.

Everything had gone haywire since she got back from lunch, and she could have kicked herself because it was her fault, at least in some part. If she hadn't had been so impatient, so giddy to meet with Jess for lunch then she would have got the call, yet she would have probably had to cancel with Jess then... So maybe it was better that she'd run out ignoring the ring of the phone before lunch. She winced, reprimanding herself for the selfish thought.

"Kim, this is Agent Mulder, I've been unable to reach either AD Skinner or Agent Scully-"

"No one can reach them," she said abruptly before he could finish.

"What do you mean no one? What's happened?"

"I talked to the Assistant Director this morning and made arrangements for him and Agent Scully to pick up the information you had sent here at the Albany County Sheriff's department, but they haven't made it there yet and neither of them can be reached on their cell phones."

"How overdue are they?" he asked, as another head popped in the door of the outer office.

It was Director Stroud's assistant. "Any word?" She whispered ignoring Kim motioning for silence while on the phone.

Kim shook her head then rubbed her temples hard. "Several hours. The Albany County Sheriff has begun a search along the route they were believed to be traveling."

"I need the number for that Sheriff's department, Kim."

"I've got it right here..."

*************************************

A Tasty Freeze

Long Switch, Wyoming

3:37 p.m. MST

Mulder came away from the phone booth quickly, tense. Marylou was almost afraid to ask what the matter was. He had been using the phone for a very long time, making several calls, and writing things down hurriedly on the paper he'd gotten from her. Would she and Sally be going to jail after all? Could he not do anything to help? Would the local authorities not be swayed by his unique and charming power of persuasion?

"It's not good is it?" She asked him, shaking her head, her arms crossed over her chest tightly. "They're going to take us to jail, aren't they?"

Hearing this Sally brought her head up from the seat where she'd been trying to doze.

Mulder looked up distractedly from the scrap of paper he'd written a great deal of information on while he was talking on the phone. He seemed confused by what she was saying.

"Uh, no." He told the two of them, going around to car trunk. "No, not at all. In fact, it looks like Jink and Harley are the ones who may be arrested."

"What?" Sally said getting out of the car, intensely curious about this development.

"Uh, several people at the restaurant apparently called the police stating that Jink and Harley were harassing some patrons and chased them from the property. I didn't get much out in the way of an explanation before they realized we were the patrons involved." He smiled, squinting hard against the afternoon sun. "You're off the hook."

"Woo-hoo!" Sally hooted slapping high five with Marylou.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." Marylou sang running to Mulder throwing her arms around his neck.

He laughed. "No problem," he told her withdrawing from her strangle hold of an embrace.

"But something's wrong, isn't it?" Sally intuitively questioned him leaning against the fender.

He looked at her thoughtfully. The tension between them seemed to be fading.

"I can't reach my partner or my superior who she's with," he answered, popping the trunk open. "Actually no one has seen them or been able to reach them since this morning." Neither of the women seemed to know how to respond. Neither did Mulder. "I need to go help look for them."

Sally sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, lifting a single dark brow. "Where do you need to get to now?"

"Don't worry, I'm getting a ride." He smiled thin lipped and pointed over her shoulder at the Sheriff's cruiser rolling into the parking lot of the Tasty Freeze. "Good timing, huh?"

"Couldn't have written it better," she replied with a tilt of her head, her brow arched.

Mulder looked at Marylou. She looked like she was about to cry again, and he felt guilty. He'd known the two of them less than twelve hours but felt as though it was a lifetime. He was going to remember these two... My God, how could he forget, he questioned himself.

"Bye." Marylou said and made a small wave like a little girl, her big dark eyes, and lashes moistening.

"Promise me you two will stay out of trouble." He said retrieving his bag from the trunk.

"Sure thing," Sally assured him, but he didn't feel very assured.

"Take care of yourselves." He shut the trunk and started for the cruiser.

"Aren't you gonna' give her a kiss good-bye or anything?"

Mulder froze. "Huh?"

Sally jerked her thumb in Marylou's direction. "She's so infatuated with you it's making me sick that you can't see it."

Marylou gasped, making a sound as though someone had knocked the wind from her, and threw one hand over her eyes and the other over her heart, devastated by Sally’s outing.

"You live in an interesting world, Sally." Mulder remarked. "Judging by what I've seen and heard in just the few hours that I've known the two of you, my mind reels at the possibilities and repercussions of knowing you any longer."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Sally smiled.

Mulder smiled and set his bag down to pull his ID case out of his jacket, quickly retrieving a card that he took to Marylou. "Hold onto this." He said giving her his business card. She nodded finding it hard to look directly at him. "Be good." He whispered and kissed her cheek.

"I will." She sniffed watching him walk for the cruiser again. "You, too."

*****************************************

Somewhere, Wyoming

The sun had dipped in the sky and shadows were growing long as the day approached its close. And although the light quality across the land had changed the sky remained a brilliant blue contrasted by cottony white puffs of cloud that seemed to stand perfectly still, as if painted in place.

The vista was so overwhelming, Scully thought as she studied the great expanse of azure, unconditionally breathtaking. No wonder there was such romanticism attached to the western half of the United States, one couldn't help but feel inspired and captured by the bold distinction of the land not to mention the rich history that had unfolded across it.

And yes, that was all well and good, but putting aside the awe and wonderment the bare fact still remained— she had been walking a very long time across an all too unpopulated patch of earth. How long, she wondered glancing at her watch only to remember it had stopped working. So much for waterproof.

Chalking up her watch as one more item on her list of things to repair or replace thanks to this assignment she closed the gap between herself and Skinner. "What's the time?" she asked him quietly.

"Late for an appointment?" Bernstein snorted as Skinner checked his wristwatch.

"A quarter to seven," he answered ignoring Bernstein.

She nodded looking disappointed; it was getting very late, and it was beginning to look as though they'd be sleeping alfresco for the night.

"Hmm," she murmured to no one in particular, "definitely not a dead monotonous period under a roof tonight I'm afraid."

Skinner served her with a curious side long glance. She smiled, a little embarrassed and feeling obligated to explain herself. "Travels with a Donkey, by Stevenson, whose justification for sleeping outside is one that describes those who sleep inside experiencing only a blank uneventful slumber while the man who sleeps afield bears witness to the splendor of nature transforming throughout the night."

He looked at her thoughtfully, and after a moment cynically stated, "sounds like he didn't do much sleeping outside."

Scully pressed her mouth closed against an unbidden laugh. "I don't know."

"Well, I'm glad you're finding this predicament we're in so amusing," Bernstein scolded them. "I'm personally not finding a damn thing funny about the aspect of sleeping out in the open."

"You'll change your mind once you've snuggled up next to one of these cows," Skinner nearly smirked.

Scully noticed the slight curl tugging at the corner of his mouth and knew he was as tired and punchy as she was feeling. To hide her smile, she turned away from him, making a sweeping glance around at the cows languidly grazing throughout the area, some mere patches of color in the distance.

They had passed a number of them along their hike, some leisurely stamping back and forth through broken fencing downed by either the previous night's storm or cattle spooked by the storm, but most were clustered together in whatever shade they could find.

Shade, though, seemed be becoming more readily available as the landscape grew hillier and prominently spotted with brush and shrubs, small cropping of trees, looking more and more like a Remington painting sans the characters or horses.

"You speak like a man of experience, Bilko." Bernstein threw back the lame reference.

Regardless of Bernstein's discourteousness there was an underlying truth to his statement. Scully thought about it for a moment, there had been a change, almost imperceptible, but there just the same, in the way Skinner carried himself over the last few hours. She sensed it but until now had not been able to label his air of familiarity with this element.

Scully knew so little about Skinner’s background, where he was from or grew up. Could he have lived in an area like this, she wondered. Or was his ease perhaps the same sense of occidental sentimentalism she'd been thinking of, a sense of freedom within simpler boundaries lessening the steady stress and strain of life?

"I do," Skinner agreed with Bernstein, giving Scully a start. Had she assumed correctly? "Walking up wind of you for so long now, I just thought you'd feel more at home with others that smelt just as bad as you do."

Okay, maybe not, she realized. There was something there she discovered, the dwindling rays of sunlight glinting off a smooth surface.

"There's something over there," she announced pointing.

Both Skinner and Bernstein followed the length of her arm and finger seeing the same glint of light.

"What is that?" Bernstein questioned bending and twisting to get a better look. "It looks like a..."

"An RV." Skinner finished Bernstein's statement.

------------------------------------------------------------

Continued in part 5

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Experiencing Narcissism 101 - Part 3

June 24th, 2024

Here we are nearing the end of Pride Month. I’ve challenged myself to write everyday and I’ve found it very useful in examining my past and realizing that I am actually very resilient. Yesterday I wrote about events leading up to the point of coming back from a trip with John. Today, the story continues.

I put my plan into action and began taking steroids above and beyond what I needed for Testosterone Replacement Therapy. I was taking injections because my testosterone was low due to my HIV medications. I supplemented with street testosterone as did John. In the course of my doing so, I put on more than 25 pounds and ended up at 250 pounds at my maximum. I continued abusing them up until 2013 when I moved to Nova Scotia with John.

John convinced me that I should be reducing the amount of time that I worked. At that time, I was a full-time teacher, a group fitness leader at a community centre and also a mentor for a master’s program at a university. The only real solution he suggested was to move from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. The reason was due to other cities didn’t seem inviting for either of us. I did suggest Montreal, but John didn’t speak French and thought it wasn’t a good idea. That summer, we jumped on a plane and took a quick trip to Nova Scotia. We explored a place called Annapolis Valley, which is fertile area of the province. We even looked at homes, but didn’t find anything that we liked. We returned home and made our decision.

We decided we would move to Windsor, Nova Scotia in October 2013. We also got married as it seemed the right thing to do. I resigned from the school board and put the house up for sale. It sold while we were enroute. We climbed into my truck with two dogs and a cat, travelling across Canada to Nova Scotia. During the trip, we argued a lot. The shouting continued and I decided that it was just part of my new life and bit my tongue. John did berate me for being quiet, which in my mind was better than screaming back at him. We found an apartment - literally on the fly - as we went across Canada. The hardest part was finding a rental unit that accepted dogs.

We lucked out and stayed in a place in Windsor until early 2015 when we found a house on the South Shore - which later became known as Otter Cottage. During the time in Nova Scotia, John had problems finding a job. I was accepted as a substitute and started working. He didn’t and that left him open to do other things. In fact, I caught him cheating on me several times. So, we negotiated an open relationship where we would explore together to fulfill everyone’s needs.

During our time there in Windsor, I got a phone call from my doctor. She told me to go to the hospital immediately because my bloodwork indicated that I had had a heart attack. We went to emergency immediately and I discovered that I had an enlarged heart due to the large amount of steroids. I spent four days in the hospital while they did tests. John visited everyday, but complained constantly about having to drive into the city. With supervision, I weaned myself off the steroids and reduced my testosterone to the appropriate level and quit the street steroids. It was clear that I had almost killed myself. I began kicking myself for having been so stupid to abuse steroids that much to satisfy the wishes of another person.

Once into Otter Cottage, I got a job in the Halifax and ended up with a permanent position teaching French Immersion. John then decided to become a real estate agent. So, I paid for his education. During the time of moving to the South Shore, our relationship was really strained. John was constantly getting angry at just about everyone - of course, including me. He constantly seemed frustrated and I did everything I could including buying antiques for him and giving him a room to decorate. That didn’t help and we argued constantly. Several times, I told him that I had had enough. Suddenly, John would turn back to a charmer and everything was great - for a few short weeks or month.

John finished his real estate school and managed to sell at least three properties, using a car that I had bought for him. At the same time, I discovered that he was still cheating on me. In late 2016, John mentioned that his former employer in Montreal had suggested offering him a job. I had had enough of all the nonsense. When I heard that, I told John that I wanted him to take the job and be out of the house by next week. So, he packed the car with everything he could and then moved everything he thought belonged to him into the antique room he had decorated. He went to Montreal and suddenly I felt a real relief - until the divorce proceedings started.

In the six years we were together, John paid rent three months in the time we were in my house in Vancouver. He bought groceries maybe twice. In Nova Scotia, he paid for nothing. I didn’t see any of the profits from the sales of the properties he had sold. I got a lawyer and proceeded with the divorce. We had to live apart for at least a year before we could legally divorce. That year was a year from hell for me.

John, now in Montreal, would contact me and screamed at me for not moving the stuff he wanted to Montreal. I told him that the lawyer told me to do that until we had settled the divorce.  His request was half of everything. I provided all my receipts for everything, showing that John had paid little. He never paid for heating, mortgage payments, gym fees, and much more. During that time, John began a classic narcissistic pattern - he tried to show me how he was a victim. He sent me pictures of him in the hospital. He sent me pictures of his empty fridge. He called me constantly asking for money. I had to continue to say no. He turned several local friends against me saying I was withholding his belongings. I told those local friends that they didn’t know what was really going on. Needless to say, I didn’t continue those friendships.

The calls continued along with emails, texts until I had to block him. He even called my school during a lesson and interrupted. He called me at the gym as well, asking an attendant to find me. I put a stop to all of that. At the end of the year apart, I made him an offer and let him know that he would get nothing more. He begrudgingly accepted it and immediately demanded his things sent. I had packed them into a pod as I was sick of seeing the pile of things in the living room. In typical fashion, he demanded that I allow one of his friends to sit and watch the pod be repacked so that his belongings would be safe. Ironically, the movers told me that I had done an amazing job and that repacking wasn’t necessary! At this point, I didn’t care; he had to pay for the moving costs.

Even after the papers were signed and we were officially divorced he continued to harass me with phone calls and texts on anonymous lines. I was so tired of it that I went to the local RCMP and lodged a complaint and asked the calls, texts and emails stop. The Sûreté du Québec (the provincial police in Quebec) paid him a visit and told him that if he contacted me again, he would be arrested. That was the last time I ever heard from him. In that year and a half, he contacted me more than 668 times by various methods.

In 2018 I was officially free of John. Otter Cottage was in my name, the car payments for John’s car were now his responsibility and I began my new life as a divorced gay man. As a side note, that fall as I was cleaning the gardens, I found a pile of broken mugs, coasters and John’s medication all thrown into the bushes. It seemed that whenever he was angry, he would throw things off the verandah - just like when he used to go out and scream at the top of his lungs at the people he hated.

So what was it like to live with a narcissist? Looking at the 9 points of Special Me, I saw countless examples of all 9 points and more from him. He always though he was the most important person at all times. He felt entitled to everything without having to work for it. He was exploitative, arrogant, lacked empathy and always showed off so that others could admire him. He also was easily able to play the victim and everything that he did was turned back on my so that it was all my fault. Anyone who didn’t agree with him immediately became the enemy - me included.

I saw a counsellor and learned to deal with the aftermath of living six years with John. The counsellor suggested I buy a book called “Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care About Has Borderline Personality Disorder.” All what was discussed in the book, I found in John. The only thing the book didn’t help me with was getting along with him and thankfully I never wanted to do so. In the end, I believe he was also obsessive compulsive as well.

During my counselling time, I came to acknowledge my part in those six years. I had been codependent and allowed him to do all of those things. I also discovered that I had to learn to love myself, always take care of myself first before helping others and learning how a narcissist latches onto a caregiver such as myself. I forgave myself for almost killing myself on steroids to please John. I watched my health and have not abused them since.

At that point, I was really sure that I knew what the signs were and vowed to never get involved with a narcissist. Did I succeed? I’ll leave that to tomorrow’s blog… For Pride, I am celebrating my inner self and my self love. Now that I have worked on myself, someone like John would never be able to pry their way into my life. 

Carpe diem, everyone.

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The Ultimate Guide to Trailer Rentals Near Me in Hackettstown, NJ

Planning an event in Hackettstown, NJ, comes with many decisions. From finding the right venue to coordinating logistics, every detail matters. If transportation or hauling equipment is on your checklist, renting a trailer might be one of the most practical solutions. But where do you start searching? You've likely Google "trailer rentals near me" or "Trailer Rentals Hackettstown," only to find yourself overwhelmed by options.

This guide is designed to make your search easier and help you find the best trailer rental services in Hackettstown, NJ.

Why Trailer Rentals Are a Must for Your Event in Hackettstown

Hackettstown is known for its stunning outdoor venues and vibrant community events in Warren County. If you're hosting an event here, transportation or equipment hauling is likely part of your planning process. Renting a trailer is often the simplest, most cost-effective solution for:

Event Setup: Hauling tables, chairs, tents, or sound systems to your venue.

Vendor Needs: Food trucks or caterers requiring extra cooking or serving equipment space.

DIY Moves: Handling decorations, supplies, or other gear if you prefer a hands-on approach.

Finding reliable "trailer rentals near me" in Hackettstown ensures that your event setup and logistics run smoothly, allowing you to focus more on the experience and less on the hassle.

Types of Trailers Available for Rental in Hackettstown, NJ

Not all trailers are created equal! The type of trailer you choose depends on the nature of your event. Here are the most common options available when searching for "trailer rentals near me":

1. Enclosed Trailers: Perfect for protecting your items from weather or theft, enclosed trailers are ideal for transporting valuable or sensitive items like sound equipment, electronics, or decorations. These are commonly used for weddings, performances, and corporate events.

2. Utility Trailers: Utility trailers are open and versatile, suited for hauling bulky items like tables, chairs, or even landscaping equipment if your event involves outdoor beautification.

3. Flatbed Trailers: A flatbed trailer is your best bet if you need to move large or oddly shaped items—like staging platforms or oversized props. These are popular among event organizers who require substantial space.

4. Refrigerated Trailers: Planning a food or beverage-centered event? Refrigerated trailers are a lifesaver for keeping perishable items fresh, making them perfect for catering services or outdoor picnics.

5. Car Trailers: Hosting a car show or transporting vintage vehicles for an event? Car trailers provide the secure, specialized hauling you need.

What to Consider Before Renting a Trailer

When searching for "trailer rental near me," it's essential to ask the right questions and remember your event requirements. Here's what you should consider:

1. Trailer Size: Think about the volume and weight of your items. A too-small trailer may force multiple trips, while an oversized one might be unnecessarily expensive. Be upfront about your needs when talking to the rental company.

2. Duration of the Rental: How long do you need the trailer? Some companies charge hourly, while others offer daily or weekly rates. If your event spans multiple days, discuss flexible pricing.

3. Towing Vehicle Requirements: Does your towing vehicle meet the requirements? Most trailers have specific weight and hitch compatibility necessities. If you're unsure, consult the rental provider.

4. Insurance Coverage: Even with the best planning, accidents can happen. Ensure the trailer rental service offers insurance options or clarify if your personal or business insurance covers rental trailers.

5. Customer Reviews: Search for "Trailer Rentals Hackettstown" and look at testimonials or reviews to find reputable providers with a history of reliable service.

Tips for a Seamless Trailer Rental Experience

To make the most of your rental experience, consider the following tips:

Reserve Early: Trailers book up quickly, especially during Hackettstown's busy event seasons. Make reservations as soon as your event date is confirmed.

Inspect Beforehand: Ask your provider to inspect the trailer before taking it. Look for damage, faulty locks, or issues with the towing hitch.

Sign Up for Add-Ons: Ask about optional accessories like ramps, safety chains, or locks for extra convenience and security.

Plan Your Route: If hauling large items, map out a safe and straightforward path to your destination. Be mindful of tight corners or steep inclines.

Wrapping Up

When planning an event in Hackettstown, logistical headaches are the last thing you want. Renting the perfect trailer ensures your event essentials are transported securely and efficiently. By understanding the types of trailers available, knowing what to consider during the rental process, and choosing a trusted provider, you can eliminate stress and focus on hosting a fantastic event.

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Affordable Trucks Hire Options Near You

For Mudgee companies, tradespeople, and homeowners, selecting the appropriate truck hire choice could be revolutionary. Whether your demand is for a temporary furniture transfer, a heavy-duty truck, or a building site, you want dependable and reasonably priced answers. This page looks at the most reasonably priced truck hire businesses in your neighbourhood and offers doable advice for a hassle-free encounter.

Why Consider Local Trucks Hire Services?

Mudgee businesses and people should rent a truck locally for various reasons.

Convenience: The shorter distance between pick-up and drop-off locations makes moving things easier with a truck hire near me.

Cost Savings: Using local carriers' cheap rates will help you to save money by avoiding long-distance fees.

Flexible Options Several companies provide both short-term and long-term rental truck hire to meet the demands of different projects.

Choosing a close provider will help reduce your administrative load so you can concentrate on finishing the current work.

Top Features to Look for in Trucks Hire Services

Keep the following in mind when searching for a truck for hire near me to obtain the best deal:

Vehicle Variety: Look for service providers that provide a range of vehicles, from trucks hire to little vans, so you may get about when times are tight.

Transparent Pricing: Clearly state whether there are any unanticipated costs. To have an exact pricing estimate, ask for a written quote.

Well-Maintained Vehicles: Well-kept cars are safer and less prone to problems.

Flexible Scheduling: Changing your plans will save money and time regardless of the time you require a car.

Tips to Make the Most of Your Truck Hire Experience

Plan Ahead: During busy times, book your vehicle early. This guarantees availability and helps reduce costs.

Choose the Right Size: Calculate the weight you intend to transport before leasing an automobile to ensure you get the correct size.

Inspect Before Use: Ensure the truck is not damaged or has no technological problems before use. This will help avoid later problems.

Understand the Terms: To prevent unexpected shocks, understand the fuel rules, maximum mileage, and return policies.

Professional and reasonably priced rental truck hire services could make your life much easier whether you need extra power for a relocation or you're a contractor working on a big project. If you pay attention to Mudgee companies and apply the advice in this article, the procedure will be simple and affordable.

Are you ready to start? Start your hunt for the ideal truck hire choice straight away in your neighbourhood!