One of the things Fred loved best about going for a ride with Gunn was stopping at the Mini-Mart. While he was filling his tank, she would wander through, looking for new and different snacks. The chip aisle was her favorite, as she would spot a new flavor of crispy treats a mile away. Tonight was no different. She let her eyes roam the shelves. Salt & Vinegar Chips? No, been there, done that! Old Bay Seasoned Chips? That, too. California Dill? Maybe. Salt & Pepper Flavored? No, not in the mood for that tonight. Then a bright red bag caught her eye. Ketchup Flavored Potato Chips! Now that seemed like just what she wanted. Should she get a dip, too? No, just the chips. And some candy. Maybe crispy M&M's. She picked up a large bag of chocolate goodness. Now what's good in the soda cooler? Armed with Vanilla Coke, Ketchup Chips, and Crispy M&M's, Fred headed to the counter. Oh, look, Krispy Kreme Donuts! Cream filled and chocolate frosted. Yum!
Gunn walked in to pay for his gas and Fred's snacks. He was continually amazed at how much the girl could eat and stay so slim. He couldn't understand it. One day, he was sure, she'd balloon up. Probably when she turned 40. If, given their profession, she lived that long. He wondered why she was so crazy about snacks. And, of course, tacos. Probably something to do with her five years in Pylea. Just making up for lost time.
That was part of it, of course. Five years of living on bark and moss and the other delicacies available to a cow hiding from the denizens of that dimension would certainly have an effect. But there was more that no one else knew. She could vaguely remember being hungry all the time. She was young then, very young. There was never enough food to go around. She would sit on her big brother's lap and he would cuddle her, and sing to her, and share his food with her, even though she could tell he was starving, too. Try as she would, she couldn't quite picture his face, just blue eyes and dark hair. After all, she was only four when she was taken to live with the Burkles.
"What do you have, Fred?" Gunn had to smile. Fred got such pleasure out of simple things like snacks.
"Is this too much, Charles?" She looked as if she'd cry if he made her take anything back.
"No, babe, whatever you want." He took them from her to let the clerk ring them up. His eye fell on the rack of tabloids that seemed to be mandatory in every convenience store. Then he gasped. It couldn't be!
"What is it, Charles?"
"What do you know about Argus, Fred?"
"Greek mythology. Giant. Hundred eyes. Guardian. Tricked by Hercules during one of his Twelve Labors. Why?"
"I mean the newspaper."
"Oh, the Argus! My mother loved it. She'd buy it every week. Did you know that Elvis sells Cadillacs in Pittsburgh? Or that the Star Wars movies are written by aliens?"
"Well, look at this issue." He picked it up and held it out to Fred.
"Oh, my God!" The headline screamed L.A. Vampire! And on the front were two pictures of Angel, one normal and one in vamp face. "Good pictures!"
"Not so good, Fred. Not so good at all." He put the paper down on the counter and paid for his purchases. "We have to go show this to Angel, Cordelia, and Lorne now. This is terrible!" Taking her by the hand, he practically dragged her to the truck as she struggled to open the bag of Ketchup Flavored Chips with the other hand.
She glanced at the line of print at the bottom of the page. "I wonder who L.C.S. McDonald is? He says these are his personal experiences with Angel."
Gunn looked at the words Fred had read and shook his head. "What the devil is Evil Lawyer Guy up to now? Hurry up, Fred. This is really, really awful." He started his truck and sped off toward the Hyperion.
To be continued. . .