Rick's Home for Reject Mortys

The Furry

"Come on, Morty!" House reached out his hands, ready to catch the other Morty should he fall. Legs shaking, leaning on Glitch, Morty finally walked. He fell against House, laughing.

"I did it!"

"You did!"

Other Mortys crowded around, holding Morty up and congratulating him on figuring out how to use his legs.

Rick smiled from his spot on the couch, gently petting Teddy's head and making sure none of the Mortys got hurt. Speaking of hurt. Rick twisted around to look behind the couch, making sure Hines was still okay.

The poor boy was curled in the corner, rocking with his hands over his ears. Mocha was holding him, gently rubbing the broken child's back. Rick got up, carrying Teddy with him. He let the Morty go and Teddy continued to cling to him, looking up at his face with clear brown eyes.

"Get on my back, bud, I've got work to do."

Teddy crawled around Rick and clung to his back, arms wrapped around his neck. "This good?"

"That's fine, Ted." Rick walked towards the garage, pausing to crouch down and lay his hand on Hines' head. "You'll be okay, baby... I promise." Mocha looked up at him, a pleading expression in his leaf green eyes.

"Can you help him, Daddy?"

Rick stared at Mocha in shock. Daddy? He looked over his shoulder, but Jerry wasn't there, so he couldn't mean his literal father. The mixed boy's eyes were still fixed on Rick's face. "Can you?"

"Yeah baby... I'm sure I can." He gently rubbed Mocha's curls then straightened up and walked quickly to the garage, wiping the tears off his face when he was out of view.

Teddy laid his chin on Rick's shoulder. "It's okay to cry, you know."

Rick gave short laugh, turning his head to kiss Teddy's temple. "Thanks, sweetheart."

"Mmhmm."

Taking a breath to steady himself, Rick went to his worktable and tried to figure out what was wrong in Hines' head.

~~~
Rick rubbed his brow trying to get rid of that persistent ache. "I need a-"

"Painkiller?" Teddy reached over Rick's shoulder, a small pill on his palm.

"And you just... Have those?" Rick took the pill and swallowed it dry.

"I put some in my p-pocket 'cause I know you get he-headaches a lot."

"'Preciate it."

Headache starting to fade, Rick picked up some of the many papers now scattered around his desk. Numbers, figures, equations, all of it amounting to nothing. It didn't matter what he knew if that didn't help him find a 'cure' for Hines.

Rick slammed his palms on the table, spitting out curses. Teddy jumped in surprise. With a sweep of his hand, Rick sent the papers to the floor, frustration making him furious. Why? Why did it have to be so hard? Why couldn't it be easy like every other thing in his worthless life?

With a heavy sigh, he pulled his chair closer and sat down. Teddy squealed when Rick leaned back on him. "Oops. Sorry, sweetie."

"S'okay." Teddy hopped down to the floor and stood close by Rick's side, reaching out to grab one of Rick's hands in both his tiny ones. "I'm sure you'll get it. Y-You're the smartest man in the multiverse!"

"But that's just the problem, Teddy." Rick rested his elbow on the desk, hid his eyes behind his hand. "If I can't fix him th-then no one can. He'll just be b-broken forever. He'll never be okay."