Rated G
Ending to Story Starter #6
After, he walked the streets of Malibu Beach, his hands stuffed into his pockets. He hated this. He hated the look of pain on Micky's face. He hated being the one to put that there. He hated the sadness in the others' eyes when the rent went up yet again. He hated---
He hated knocking pretty girls down! "I'm so sorry!" He helped her up and smiled. "Hi, Julie."
The pretty brunette who worked at the bank smiled at him. "Hi, Mike! What are you doing out here all alone in the cold?"
"Brooding. You?"
She pointed at the dog who was currently watering a fire hydrant. "Walking Bruiser."
Mike couldn't help but smile again. Bruiser was a chihuahua who couldn't hurt a fly. "How's Dan?"
"Dan's fine. He's at home with the kids, watching over the meal. I needed a break from ....cooking. Okay, what is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mentioned the meal and you looked like you'd been kicked in the head!"
"It's nothing -- truly."
"C'mon. Walk and talk."
And under her gentle probing, it all came out. "Oh, Mike, why didn't you tell someone?"
He shrugged. "Nothin' anyone can do. He's our landlord, he's got every right to--"
"No he doesn't. Here...go home." She pressed forty dollars into his hands. "Go get your fixin's and go home."
"Julie, I can't accept--"
"It's not charity. You'll be paying me back. Now GO."
He smiled and kissed her cheek. "I owe you!" he called as he jogged away.
"That you do, sweetheart," she smiled and tugged Bruiser toward home.
The meal was a hit. The Monday after Thanksgiving there came a knock on the Monkees' door. Mike opened it to reveal a pale and shaking Babbitt. "Mister Babbitt! What..."
"I've been given a choice," he sighed. "Lower your rent and not raise it again -- or go to jail for slumlording." He handed Mike back the fifty dollars' difference between the last payment and this one. "Your rent is now back to fifty dollars a month. It'll stay that way. I..." He swallowed hard. "I have to arrange for repairs now." He turned and left.
Mike blinked at the money in his hand. ".........Julie."
He ran to her house, and she smiled at him, bouncing her baby girl on her hip. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Babbitt! How-- what---"
She grinned. "Mike, what does Dan do?"
"He's a ......." His eyes widened. ".....prosecutor. Oh JULIE, you didn't have to--"
"That's what friends do, Mike. And we're more than friends, remember?" She leaned forward and kissed his cheek again. "We always have been."
"Hmph." He grinned at her. "Stubbourn as you always were."
"Of course. That's what comes from sharing a womb with a view with you. Now go home, you idiot."
"Oh -- here." He handed her the forty dollars back. "Paid in full."
"Oh no. You keep that. You pay me back by watching Jill and Gary four times -- at our discretion -- for free."
"Not on a night we play a gig."
She held out a hand. "DEAL!"
"Deal!" And it was done.