Slayers: The Aurora Part 12

"How is that even possible? I've seen you take less time finding a Jackal with years of experience. You've been searching for nearly a week." Ratchet grumbled angrily.

"The girl is good." Tick told him, not sure what else to say. After chasing her for a solid week the closest he'd come was a day behind her. It was really annoying.

"Not better than you. Now, quit d.i.c.king around avoiding your responsibilities, and get your a.s.s back here." Ratchet sounded as frustrated as Tick felt. d.a.m.n the man, didn't he know that he was doing the best he could.

"No, Ratchet, I am not d.i.c.king around! The girls d.a.m.ned good at running. If they'd sent anyone else the trail would already be lost, days ago. She'd just a day or so ahead of me, and its making me nuts! I want this job done so I can get back home too, a.s.shole. Do you think I want to be chasing a grown a.s.sed woman half way across the Bandits territory?" Tick growled, sitting up on the bed, p.i.s.sed off that his friend thought he was not really trying to find Trick's little sister.

"s.h.i.+t, calm down, Tick." Ratchet aid, realizing that Tick was about to bow his top. Ratchet knew that since Vivi had died he became really f.u.c.king crazy when he got either drunk or mad. He was getting better but he was still not quit right when it came right down to it. He stood pacing the room in front of the bed.

"She's that good, huh?" Ratchet asked after a moment.

"Yeah, she is, and it's really f.u.c.king annoying that I can't seem to pin her down. I am closing in though. It won't be long now, and when I find her, I will do my best not to ring the girl's neck." Tick grumbled, sitting again on the edge of the bed.

"s.h.i.+t, now I get how she and Katie used to get into so much trouble. I never understood how Katie, who is not a planner, could get into so many sc.r.a.pes. She was always finding a way around the club to do whatever it was she wanted. She always dragged Charity with her, and I never knew how she managed it, but Charity being the one to work it out makes a h.e.l.l of a lot more sense." Ratchet let out a humorless laugh that made Tick's fists clench. Yeah, the girl was a pain in the a.s.s, he thought, grimly.

"Yep, the woman's been slipping through my fingers every d.a.m.ned time I get close. It maddening." Tick sighed. "But I need to catch some z's so go get Max so I can tell him good night. I want to be on the road in about three hours. If I'm going to catch her I need to get a move on it."

There was shuffling and then he heard Max's voice crackle through the line making him miss his son even more than he had a moment ago.

"Hi, Dad." He sounded hesitant, and Tick knew that was because he was afraid he would yell at him, which made his heart squeeze. He cleared his throat to by himself time to get his own emotions under control, so that he didn't take his frustration out on his son.

"Son, what were you thinking with the milk? And taking the pies was wrong and you know it." Tick finally managed to say in a firm, but calm voice.

"I know. I'm sorry Dad." Max said.

"Okay, but no more pranks. You know better."

"Okay, I'll try." Max replied in a defeated voice.

Tick sighed. "No, you will do it son. Not one prank, or I will punish you this time." Tick grumbled into the phone. His head hurt, and he hated being this far away from his son.

"I just miss mom." He whispered.

"I do too, buddy. That is not an excuse to act out and you know it."

"Yes, Sir. I love you."

"I love you too, Max. Give the phone back to Uncle Ratchet. Remember what I said, I mean it. No more pranks." Tick waited while Max muttered a solemn goodbye and put Ratchet back on.

"Hey, when do you think you'll be back?" Ratchet asked.

"I don't know. Hopefully soon. This chase is wearing on me."

"I bet. It's kinda funny though. I never thought I find someone better at this s.h.i.+t than you are." Ratchet laughed.

"Shut up a.s.shole, she isn't better. She's just better than most of the s.h.i.+t heads I hunt down. Go do something useful and put Max to bed. I'll be home as soon as I can be."

end.