Fic: Follow You Home - California Sun (08/26)

Nov 03, 2008 20:42

Title: Follow You Home - California Sun (08/26)
Author: Erin (erinm_4600)
Characters, Pairing: Cain and DG, but if you saw 'em in the miniseries, they're here or mentioned. Plus some OCs
Rating: PG
Summary: Between the football team, his family and a final exam, Cain's feeling the pressure. And he thought all his trouble was simply falling for his best friend...
Warning: post-series, directly after California Tin. Blame n_e_star, for she fed Steve. ;) *with thanks to ALL the fandom for the love*
Disclaimer: The original characters belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors. The rest of 'em are mine.

Prologue | California Queen | California Tin
California Sun: Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine | Part Ten | Part Eleven | Part Twelve | Part Thirteen | Part Fourteen | Part Fifteen | Part Sixteen | Part Seventeen | Part Eighteen | Part Nineteen | Part Twenty | Part Twenty-One | Part Twenty-Two | Part Twenty-Three | Part Twenty-Four | Part Twenty-Five | Part Twenty-Six
Five | Waking Up (CaliSun 20.2) | Almost Like Being in Love (CaliSun 24.5) | An Hour and 45 Minutes | Hava Nagila | Unexpected

Deciding to continue, Cain put the page aside and found himself looking at another piece of paper, similar to the one he'd used to write his notes to Glitch, Jeb an the Queen.

I don't know what to do with you.
I wonder if you've ever seen the ocean. Everyone should see the ocean.
I'll take you to the ocean.

The day jeans meet the Zone will be a good day.
Just sayin'
I can't believe I was so stupid to put you on that train.
Three times. Each way.
I know it's been a few years, but still. I didn't think.
I am so sorry. II

Cain let a smile slip. She had already apologized to him multiple times that day about the train. And, multiple times, he had assured her that it wasn't a problem. Granted, the first time the lights flickered, his heart jumped a bit. But, really... it had been three years.

And the ocean was 'very cool', as Josh liked to say. DG had asked him why he was so jumpy about the sand, which led them to a discussion about Zone history, which made the train ride back to her apartment much shorter.

You have the Barb Harris Seal of Approval.
That's a good thing. Hard to impress that woman.

Cain snorted and shook his head as he turned the page over and added it to the pile. He saw the words across the top of the next page and ran a hand over his mouth and jaw. The whole page only contained one message.

Why didn't you just stay away? I
I asked them not to tell you. I knew that we'd fight. I don't want to fight.
Oh, God... I don't want to fight.

Cain closed his eyes and looked away from the notes. He wasn't exactly fond of that night, either. And he never had apologized for his part in the argument. It occurred to him that every fight they'd had, neither of them ever actually apologized. They just moved on to the next thing.

Making a mental note to actually apologize to her, Cain glanced at the page again and raised an eyebrow. He reached for the last page and glanced it over, as well. In two pages, there were three lines. Three simple lines.

What was that about?

Shaking his head, Cain put both pages on the pile and found himself looking at another page from the Huntington.

I should go home and apologize. I shouldn't have left like that. You're right: I wasn't going back. Well... maybe some day.
Am I that obvious? You haven't seen me in nearly a year and you saw right through me.
How do you do that?
I should apologize. I have to apologize. You were right. I am wrong. Always wrong.
I am so sorry.

Oh God. No. Please No.

Cain realized that she must have tacked the last bit on after talking to Jeanie on the phone. She'd told him that Jeanie was the one to tell her where he'd gone, which is how she found him up the mountain.

He'd intended to simply send the trunk through with the notes and tell DG about it later. And then there she was, in the clearing. She thought he was leaving her there and he was just trying to let everyone know they were fine.

Y'know, Cain... I've been in some pretty scary situations. I think that I'd have to put that whole experience somewhere above hanging off the side of the tower and being locked in the tomb.

He gave a sad smile to the empty apartment and sighed. Looking back, he could have handled that better.

I have to say that you're adapting to LA far too easily. You scare me sometimes, Tin Man.
You didn't have to help me with the beads. Did I thank you? I can't remember. I'll have to thank you again, just in case.

Those kids love you. I wonder what the Zone would say if I told them the big, bad Wyatt Cain was a softie? They'd probably lock me up.
Good thing I have photos. Which you will never see...
Ever.
Happy First Halloween.

Cain blinked and cocked his head slightly. She had pictures of him painted up like a clown?

WYATT CAIN... I SWEAR TO GOD!
If I could slap you... What the HELL were you thinking?
I find it very hard to believe that no one's ever gotten a sunburn in the Zone.
You are in for so much pain... and I wish I could do something, but there's nothing I can do.
I wouldn't wish this on my enemy. Well... maybe the witch.
Her, I'd slap.
You are the most stubborn man in the history of the Zone AND the Other Side. I swear.
I wish I could fix this.
And you got a job. Without telling me. Not that I need to know but I NEED TO KNOW. Does the concept of emergency contact mean anything to you? Seriously? What if you were Jeb and I was you?
What would you do then? Huh? I mean, let's ignore the fact that neither you or Jeb would be here, but still.
Why didn't you just tell me? Am I that scary? Really?
You know you can win any argument just by giving me the look. I've seen you do it.
STUBBORN ASS.
You really need a bed, Cain. You can't sleep on the couch. It's not comfortable. Of course, I suppose anything's better than the ground. But still.
Your pillow smells like you. <--That isn't meant to be as creepy as it sounds. Just an observation. Damnit

He laughed through the entire note. Painful as the original situation was, her reactions on paper were rather entertaining. Some of this discussion they had, he remembered.

Why was she having longer conversations with him through pen and paper than actually talking to him? Was he that hard to talk to?

'Yes.'

It entertains me how much you like White Christmas.

Today is my mother's birthday. The Queen. The one I don't remember past three years and a few random memories.
Today is the day we put up the tree. And go out for dinner.
And I just figured it out. My non-parents, every year, had me celebrate her birthday. But they never told me.
I had friends growing up who were adopted. They knew it and they were okay. Why couldn't they tell me?
Really, it would have made our week of adventure so much easier. And what kid doesn't imagine they're a princess?
Well, probably not you...
Part of me doesn't want to put up the tree. But I had three years of no tradition.
I wish I could remember my family.
I wish my parents could remember me.
I'm really glad you’re here. I should tell you more. I'm sorry I don't.

Cain smiled again. They had this conversation at the diner. And, she was correct: he never imagined he was a princess.

You are awesome. Bill Engvall-awesome.

This made no sense to him. He'd ask her about it later. Without mentioning he'd read the letter, of course.

series: calisun (fyh), fic: tin man, series: follow you home

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