Anne, replied, babe.

KAY Kay POV...The Fledgling AKA The Never-ending story. There was no doubt what the trouble was as frantic shoppers ran from the growl of a hairy thing, bipedal, about my height, but wide, reaching out to several children. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. No wonder they keep their prices so low. Who goes in first? Neither of us took the call.”

”Just chill, Scully. You’ll get your chance. No way L.A.’s gonna run out of this demon shit. I’ll take it.” Gunn said.
“This isn’t some kind of woman thing, is it? Cause I was fighting stuff off while you were in the sandbox, huh?”

“That’s where you’re wrong, “ Gunn said, opening the door. “No sandboxes in my neighborhood.”

With the door open, I was conscious of the worst smell I’d ever smelled. And that’s saying something, I’m telling you. It was bad enough to knock a buzzard off a shitwagon, if you’ll pardon my French. “Ok, this time, I’ll be the secondary.”

But I might as well have saved my breath. He was already trying to get the thing away from the shoppers.I hoped he wouldn’t pick someplace too closed off, because he could get cornered, but he was faster and better with his hands than I expected. And the shit I would get from Munch, if he heard that. You can really get to miss anything, it’s true.

At first it seemed like it would be an easy one, with Gunn holding all the advantage, but the thing got a burst of strength from somewhere, and knocked my partner(thinking that felt like cheating on Felton, huh?) flat. As I was wondering what I could bring to the party, and thinking maybe Wes was right, that I didn’t pay enough attention to this demon jazz, a little pencil-neck on a bike comes up to the car.
“Ma’am, you can’t park there.”

“I know you’re not talking to me. Not while me and my bunky are dealing with your little pest-control problem, you’re not. Come back in fifteen, huh? One law-enforcement type to another.”

”This lot is clearly designated “Employees Only.” Pencil-neck said.

“Which was probably a huge relief as they ran screaming for their lives, huh?” I got out and waved my finger in his face, wishing we were in Balmer so I could give him the full treatment.

“Look, I don’t know what time of the month it is, but you’re still gonna have to move.”

“Ok, that’s it...” I never thought I’d be glad to see that funky demon, but it wouldn’t have played right if Gee heard I went Dirty Harriet on some little geek.

It roared, and its breath straightened my hair. “Hey, short, dark, and gruesome,” I told it. I didn’t trust myself with the new, mystical-style piece, and there were too many people for my gun.I had to go back to the first ever self-defense I ever learned. Dear Diary, today was the day I kicked a demon in the nuts.

Dear Diary, today was the day I kicked a demon in the nuts.

BWAH! Love it, love it, love it!

Thanks!

Or what looked like its nuts. Wesley probably knows more about it than I think is strictly kosher, but it staggered around like that boy in ninth-grade algebra that snapped my recently acquired bra. Once.(Now, I think I went a little crazy cause my mom died, but then I felt like Gloria Steinem when I told the principal “I was just showing him how much I like him, Mr. Delacroix.” That was always what he said when girls got hassled in the halls. I think my dad gave up me a little after that. But just a little.)

(rolling on the floor, whimpering at Pencil Neck and the demon with the nards)

Holy moly. I laughed so hard Aidan squealed in his sleep. Had to tag. Erika, you're brilliant.

(still completely hugging self over concept of officious pimply parking official being more worried about the car than the demon)

You know they're out there. I do. Deena, thanks! Kay would be proud.

Or what looked like its nuts. Wesley probably knows more about it than I think is strictly kosher, but it staggered around like that boy in ninth-grade algebra that snapped my recently acquired bra. Once.(Now, I think I went a little crazy cause my mom died, but then I felt like Gloria Steinem when I told the principal “I was just showing him how much I like him, Mr. Delacroix.” That was always what he said when girls got hassled in the halls. I think my dad gave up me a little after that. But just a little.)
Gunn came up behind me, huffing and puffing, carrying a long sword. “Damn,” he said. “Scully’s got skills!”

I knew I hadn’t done anything much, just aimed my 7 ½ in a soft place, but it still felt good. Nobody here knew to worry about me or care what the doctor said. “I didn’t do anything you wouldn’t,huh?”

“You made it distracted so I can cut its head off.”

“You’re shitting me...busting the rookie’s chops, huh?”

“Nope, not at all. That shit always works. Even creepy-crawlies can’t live with their heads off.”

”Really. Just like...” And I draw my finger across my own neck. Which makes me flustered cause it reminds of that stupid dream so I start with that gallows humor junk.
“One way to cut down on those pesky court dates, hmm?”

“ I don’t do it lightly. We’re fighting for our lives out here. “Gunn tussles with the thing, and slices into its neck. Green stuff, somewhere in consistency between human blood and paint, shoots out of the gash.

“Ugh.” I said, cause it’s hot and smelly, and oh, man, somebody I knew just cut something’s head off.

“I thought you knew.” Gunn said. “I should have warned you.”

”Nothing to lose your head over, hon.”

“But sometimes it’s more complicated, huh? Like this one redball I worked. Poor tourist got shot by a stick-up guy. Terrible, right? Yeah. But we catch the guy and his story’s sad too. Mom’s a fiend, dad’s been dead years...he’s trying to fit in with an aunt in the burbs. Hanging out with real yos, probably trying to keep it real, or some bullshit.”

”Keeping it real is not bullshit.”

“Whatever. Well, anyway this poor sweet guy shoots somebody trying to show how big his dick is. Or something...I’ve still never figured that one out. ‘I had the power but forgot who I was.’Poor Vaughn. Or I guess it’s Malik, now.
” “You wanna help me take an end?” Gunn asks, indicating the 10-7 demon. “Disposal is included in the price.”

“What I wouldn’t give for a crime scene tech. Right now I’d blow Newt Gingrich not to have to touch that shit.’

”I wouldn’t go that far,” Gunn said.

“What? Ten seconds out of your life.”

“ I think I have the wrong coloring for him.”

“Could be, my friend, at that.”

Just then, the guardian of the parking lot comes back. “Euw, that’s disgusting.”

”You’re welcome.” I said.

“You’re gonna have to move that. Liability issues.”

“Oh, well, I would,” I said. “But as you pointed out so helpfully, earlier, I’m in the wrong lot over here.”

“ Everybody makes mistakes.”

“Yeah, you know...cleaning that up’ll give you a chance to figure out what yours was, huh? Good luck, and lift with your knees, ok hon?”
And we were off like a dirty shirt.

“Scully, that was evil.”

“Yeah, but he deserved it.”