Marcus was going to leave them alone shortly afterthe game, but hearing Dale's story, he decided he'd involve himselfquite a bit more in this family's...affairs.--------------------------Post-game, Dale stood in the parking lot, waiting with Marcus as Mikeyran up to them."Uh, hi," Mikey said towards Marcus, and looked expectantly at Dale."This is Marcus, a friend I met today." Correction," Marcus followed. "A longtime friend you met today. I'mgood friends with the two of you remember? We've known. .." Gearan grumbled starting forwards, after a pause. "I'll take it."Moving hastily towards the awaiting counter all while continuing to mutter under his breath."The very idea..."He stopped cold a moment later suddenly hearing what was an unmistakable giggle from one of his aids."And if someone wants to be peeling 'fruit leeches' for the next six solar years ... please DO continue!"Gearan snapped without looking."This is such a treat!" Misaki gushed, upon entering the dining area, just behind. He gave me my flight ticket to America and sent me on my way. The next day I was on the red-eye flight to JFK airport in New York. The in flight entertainment was as ‘good’ as usual, as was the food. We were about an hour away from landing and I was sitting comfortably with my eyes closed and music humming into my ears through my headphones. I heard the PA go live over the music, with an unmistakable ‘ding-dong’. Pressing the pause button on my MP3 player, I listened as the captain announced. On this night she arrived dressed in a sleeveless top and a pair of black jeans that she must have had to pour herself into. They hugged her every curve, and I had to force any inappropriate thoughts out of my mind, forcing myself to remember that she had long ago established the line; I wasn’t going to cross it.She hugged me hello, and collapsed into the chair sitting at the table in the hotel room.After a moment, she looked up at me. “I gotta be honest. I’m tired. Can we just order a pizza.