The plane landed at goodness knows what time. We piled out with our stuff and man was it steaming. I forgot it was spring going on summer and I wasn't ready for the sweat. "What's the matter love? Too hot?" Angus asked.

"I'm not used to this, is all." He wrapped an arm around me.

"Suppose a hug wouldn't help then." I felt another cramp surge through.

"No, not really." Several cars came to pick us up and take everyone to their houses. Brian, Cliff, and Phil all had to live with Malcolm for the time being as they lived in Florida and New Zealand. I rode in another with Angus.

"It's hot in here," Angus said. "Do you mind?" His thumb pointed to the window next to him.

"Go ahead." He opened it and a splash of breeze came in. "So...we're in Australia now..."

"Sure are."

"Don't you have anything to ask?"

"Don't worry, I'll ask you tonight," he laughed. I crossed my arms. He laughed again and patted my knee.

"Slug bug blue," I said punching Angus' shoulder. He frowned.

"What's that about?"

"Slug bug blue. No slugs back."

"What?"

"You know slug bug? Punch buggy?"

"Oh, yeah. Why are they called slug bugs anyway?"

"'Cause you can't say Volkswagen beetle blue." I punched him. "No Volkswagen beetles back." He laughed and rubbed his arm.

"That's true, I guess you can't. Christ, you got an arm on you."

"I can defend myself that's what."

"I know, Trevor sure as fuck knows."

"Uh, Mike? Angus?"

"Who?"

"Never mind." Silence.

"Slug bug green." I glanced at him.

"You didn't slug me."

"Ah, I don't want to hit you."

"But it's not fair if you don't." He looked at me and lightly swatted me. "Slug bug ain't a game of chums, mate."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Just punch me like a normal person." He pulled back his arm and gave me a real knocker, hitting the bone of my shoulder. "Woah, not like an MMA fighter!"

"You told me to hit you!"

"You hit me in the wrong spot!" I punched him back. So he punched me again. It escalated to where our friendly game turned into a small fist fight. I raised my hand to slug his shoulder again when he grabbed me. He accidentally pulled me when the driver stopped at a red light. The sudden stop had me flying into his lap and my face was inches from his own. My heart was racing for several reasons, and I couldn't get myself to apologize properly. His eyes stared back into mine, concerned, confused, curious above anything. He opened his mouth to speak but I sat up from him before he could form a proper thought. "I'm sorry," I mumbled.

"Me too." The car started moving again and neither of us said another word.

The car pulled into a long driveway that led to a medium sized house. The mailbox was rusted and the front yard was less than tended to. "Should probably get that grass cut huh?" Angus asked. "It's summer here, may as well try." He stepped out and stopped me before I could follow. "Stay here, I'll surprise her."

He left the door open so I stuck my feet out the side. He and the driver went inside leaving me by myself. I rested my head on the seat of the car and twirled my hair. I oughta get that cut again. A breeze thinner than a whistle brushed my face and I sighed. I was there for maybe five minutes until they came out again. "Well, well, well. Who do we have here?"

I smiled and ran over to give Ellen a hug. She looked a little different, but I'd still know her a mile away. "You make the trip okay?" she asked.

"Better then than now."

"What do you mean?" She looked concerned. I glanced over at Angus.

"Well, uh, maybe we should talk over there."

His heart pounded as the two women went a ways over to talk. The farther the distance, the bigger the secret. He couldn't hear what they said, but the way they looked made him nervous. Angus just knew Hannah was explaining to Ellen all that had happened on the tour. Specifically Oregon.

This was the day he'd die. They were both gonna kill him. Ellen for the obvious, and Hannah-just because she could. Damn, he was gonna get it.

"So while we were on the plane home I started getting crampish, and was wondering if you had anything for them."

"Yeah sure, anytime. Is that why we left him?" she smiled pointing at Angus.

Oh crap, they're talking about him.

I laughed. "Yeah. Can't have him digging around in that business."

"Come on, I'll give you something. How bad are they?"

"Pretty bad, which is normal for me."

"Yikes, that's not good." We walked in the house, I think Angus was still outside. "Mine usually have me bedridden, I have Angus take care of me." We laughed again.

What the hell are they laughing about? Plotting?