Who are you?

Quinn Morgendorffer answered the ringing phone and brought a smile onto her face as she did.

“This is Quinn.” She said.

“Yes this is the Morgendorffer residence.” She said as an official sounding voice asked.

“My parents aren’t home right now. Yes Daria lives here, she’s my sister.” Quinn said cautiously.

“Is she ok?” Quinn asked quickly.

“Is she in jail?” Quinn gasped.

“Well can’t I just drive there and pick her up?” Quinn asked.

“If she’s not being held on any charges then why not, she’s 18; my parents won’t be home till late tomorrow.” Quinn said firmly.

“Ok, that’s going to take me a few hours to get there so tell her I’m on the way.” Quinn said sounding completely shocked.

She hung up the phone and gathered keys and one of her parent’s emergency credit cards and headed out the door.
:Aren’t I supposed to be the one sitting in a police station waiting for her to come pick me up.: Quinn thought as she climbed into her mother’s SUV and quickly pulled out of the driveway.


She drove with the radio playing loudly to bury out any thoughts or concerns that kept trying to rear their heads at her as she drove and the passage of time blurred.
:Daria getting in trouble right before she’s due to leave for college, this doesn’t make sense.: She thought.

When she crossed into Virginia she was getting exhausted and by the time she pulled into the police station she was ready to sleep for a month.

She walked inside the station and was led back into a room marked Detectives. It looked like the rooms always did on TV with rows of desks and cops wandering around.

She didn’t see her sister anywhere in the room and she felt a lump raise in her throat until suit clad officer came over.

“Miss. Morgendorffer, we’re been waiting. Your sister is over here.” He said pointing toward a green haired blanket that was sitting over in a corner and Quinn couldn’t understand what she was seeing.

“She’s fine, the doctor patched up her face and arm. The cast should come off in a few weeks and the stitches on her forehead and cheek will need to be removed in a week. She’s got a few pain pill prescriptions that need to be filled.” The officer said as Quinn walked toward the stranger and she was ready to expose whoever had the nerve to pretend to be her sister.

He stopped talking when he realized she wasn’t listening to him anymore. She was moving toward the girl on the bench and she looked ready to explode and he was getting prepared to pull them apart if needed.

She saw the boots that stuck out uncovered and realized she had the wrong idea.

The green hair shifted and her sister looked back at her with a grimace. Bandages covered the side of her check and forehead and twin black eyes and a small cut on her nose, none of it hid her identity.

“Daria!” Quinn gasped.

“Hey.” Daria said weakly.

“You can take her home; if we need anything else we have your number. Try to stay out of trouble Miss.” The officer finished looking straight at Daria.

“Ya.” Daria mumbled.

“What happened?” Quinn said her head swimming.

“Can we get out of here? I’ll tell you everything just get me home ok.” Daria said and she stood and it was clear she was in pain and the plain white cast that graced her right forearm caused another hitch in Quinn’s chest.

“Sure.” Quinn said and fought the urge to grab her sister and help her along.

Daria dropped the blanket onto the bench and started toward the doors and Quinn fought back the questions that were screaming in her mind, not the least was the t-shirt that Daria was wearing.
When they got to the parking lot and Daria saw the SUV she groaned as Quinn unlocked the doors and moved around to help her get in.
:Well I’m not tired anymore.: Quinn thought bitterly as she walked back around and got in and looked over at her sister.

“Can we stop somewhere to fill my prescriptions and pick up some food? I’m supposed to take them with food.” Daria said as Quinn pulled out of the parking lot.

“Ya.” Quinn said and then she demanded. “What the hell is going on here?”

“Please I’ll tell you everything but it really hurts right now and I haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday.” Daria said with a shaky voice.

“Are you ok?” Quinn asked, she had never heard Daria sound like she did right now.

“Besides getting my ass kicked I’m going to be ok.” Daria admitted.

“I think I passed a pharmacy by the interstate and there were a lot of fast food places there. I know you don’t want to go inside, we’ll hit the drive-though.” Quinn said guessing that Daria didn’t want to be spectacle at the moment.

“Thanks.” Daria tried to smile but it turned into an expression of pain.

They picked up the pain pills and some cheese burgers and Daria ate gingerly and then took two of her pills and she sighed as they started kicking in.

“Get some sleep.” Quinn said. “We can talk when we get home.”

Daria nodded but she was clearly grateful and in minutes she was asleep.

:But we are going to talk then.: Quinn thought as she drove on through the setting sun.
:Who are you?: She thought as she peeked at the sleeping form next to her.

Part 2

Quinn pulled into the driveway and saw Jane waiting for her near the door.

“Please Jane I can’t talk now, just give me this one shot, trust me and be there around midnight.” Quinn had told Jane when she called her sister’s friend on the way home.

“I’ll be there.” Jane had agreed.

“Ok Princess what’s so big that I needed to get off work early.” Jane said as she approached the car.

Quinn pointed to the passenger seat where Daria still slept.

“Damn.” Jane said as she took in the cast and bruises.

“I don’t think I can carry her by myself.” Quinn said getting out of the SUV and walking around it.

“I got her.” Jane said before carefully opening the door and moving Daria onto her shoulder like a sack of grain, carefully trying to not bump the broken arm.

“Open the door and clear a path to the couch.” Jane said as she started toward the house.

Quinn ran ahead and opened the front door before moving to the couch and preparing it.

Jane gently rolled her friend onto the couch and took a few moments to inspect the damage.

“Jesus Christ.” Jane swore.

“Stitches on two places on her head, broken arm and I’m pretty sure her ribs are taped. She is beat to hell.” Jane sighed.

“I know.” Quinn said sadly.

“I saw her two days ago, we got together for pizza. She didn’t have green hair then.” Jane said confused.

“She said she was spending the night at a friends and I just assumed it was you and that was yesterday. She didn’t have green hair then either.” Quinn said thoughtfully.

“I’m not going to even start on the shirt.” Jane stood up and stretched out.

“She said she would tell me everything so we just have to wait for her to wake up.” Quinn sighed as she draped a blanket over Daria’s sleeping form.

“Cool. You got any coffee?” Jane said still in shock.

“C’mon, my treat.” Quinn said and head toward the kitchen.

“Alright and Quinn you took a risk not telling what was happening on the phone. I might not have showed up.” Jane followed behind her.

“I didn’t think you would believe me and I didn’t want to try to convince you with Daria in the seat next to me.” Quinn shrugged.

“Fair enough but I trusted you and well it was a good bet. Next time I’ll try not to give you as hard of time.” Jane said.

“I promised you if it’s ever for something like I need a ride, I’ll just tell you that.” Quinn said cheerfully.

“Now what the hell is going on?” Jane’s mode changed in a blink.

“No idea, I didn’t think she was Daria after I got to the police station. It’s her but I’ve never seen her like this. I have no idea who that is in there and I’m feeling about two inches tall right now. I don’t know what’s happening with my own sister.” Quinn said calmly as she started the coffee.

“Good, misery loves company and I’m feeling like the worst best friend in the world at the moment.” Jane smirked.

“When she wakes up I’m going to hug her then she’s got about three hundred questions to answer.” Quinn sighed as they both watched the coffee drip.

“Hell I only have 4. Who, Why, What and When.” Jane chuckled.

“When?” Quinn said puzzled.

“The shirt.” Jane said and Quinn nodded.

“It’s going to be a long week.” Quinn sighed.

“When are your parent due back?” Jane asked.

“Tomorrow or I guess today around 10 pm, that’s when their flight lands anyway.” Quinn replied.

“Is it ok if I crash for a while?” Jane said.

“Don’t want to wait for the coffee.” Quinn grinned.

“I don’t want to think about this right now and if I drink that coffee I’ll be up half the night and that’s all I’ll be thinking about.” Jane admitted.

“You can use Daria’s room.” Quinn offered.

“Nah, I’ll just catch some winks in one of the chairs.” Jane said as she got up and walked back into the living room.





It was around 7 in the morning when Quinn woke up to a strangled scream and she sat upright in the recliner she was sleeping in.

“Daria!” Quinn said as she struggled to escape from the tangle of blankets and make her way to her sister.

“I’m ok, I banged my arm when I woke up.” Her sister said in pain.

“I’ll get you some water so you can take you’re pills.” Jane said and she hurried to the kitchen.

“You feeling better?” Quinn asked when she finally managed to cross the ten feet to the couch.

“Ya, thanks for letting me sleep. I guess I owe you a long talk.” Daria sighed.

“Let me get something for you to eat with the pills and then we can talk until you pass out again.” Quinn said ruefully.

“Sounds like a plan. When did Jane get here?” Daria tried to smile again.

"Last night. I called her." Quinn answered.

Quinn passed Jane heading back to the living with a glass of water and had to bite her tongue.

:I am not going to withhold her medicine just so I can interrogate her.: She told her self angrily.

She grabbed a couple of Daria’s pop tarts and returned to the living room and handed them to her sister and then took a seat in front of her on the floor next to Jane.

Daria quickly ate a pair and then downed a few pills and sighed.

“Ok, what’s going on?” Jane demanded.

“I went to a music show and some nutcases with baseball bats showed up and started beating the hell out of everyone. I got separated from … the group of people I went with and I got cornered. Quinn, any chance you have a pair of my glasses hidden away somewhere because that was my last pair.” Daria said touching her nose.

Quinn shook her head no and Daria sighed.

“The doctor said I’m ok just banged up a bit. The stitches will come out in a week and 6 weeks or so and I can get the cast off.” Daria said and she looked down at cast and noticed something.

“Get well soon, I love you Quinn.” Daria read.

“What, you’re supposed to sign casts.” Quinn defended.

“I’m ok.” Daria promised.

“Why I believe that is one hundred percent true I think some details are being glossed over.” Jane said coldly.

“What I’m not allowed to have more friends than just you, I was going to invite you but you told me you had to work this weekend.” Daria sighed.

“Green hair.” Quinn butted in.

“It was a punk music tribute so I wanted to pay my respects.” Daria said and she started to nod and tilt over.

“Damn, she conking on us.” Jane cursed.

“Let her, she needs sleep more than anything right now.” Quinn said as Jane went to shake Daria.

Daria had started to lean was already half asleep. “Sorry.” She muttered before her eyes fluttered closed and she was sleep again.

“We need to make a list of questions to ask if she’s only going to be awake for 10 minutes at a pop.” Jane groaned.

“I started some fresh coffee when I got Daria’s pop tarts so help yourself.” Quinn said shaking her head.

“Thanks.” Jane.




Quinn was expecting company when the doorbell started going off and she moved from the living room and turned back to look at Jane.

“I’ll get rid of whoever it is.” Quinn said hoping it was one of the former fashion club.

She opened the door and took in the black clad girl with dark purple lipstick and spiky black dyed hair.

“Can I help you?” Quinn said nervously.

“Has Daria called or come home?” The girl said quickly. She was nervous and Quinn noted that her left hand was bandaged up.

“Who are you?” Quinn demanded.

“I’m Lore, Lorena. I’m a friend of Daria’s. I think me and you use to have a few classes together.” Lore said.

“Well I’ve never heard Daria talk about you.” Quinn said and started to close the door.

“Please, I’m really worried about her, we got separated last night and I scared she might be hurt.” Lore said shoving her leg into the door.

“You were at the concert too?” Quinn pushed.

“Concert, what concert? We were at a ... Oh damn.” Lore said quietly.

“She got hurt but she’s resting now, c’mon in.” Quinn said and she opened the door.

“Quinn who is it?” Jane’s voice called from the living room.

“Of course Jane is here.” Lore said bitterly as she came inside and head toward the living room.

Lore walked to the couch and stared down at Daria’s sleeping form.

She knelt and gently took Daria’s uninjured hand. “I’m so sorry, I thought you were with Greg and Jennifer.” She whispered to Daria ear.

“Who are you and what do you know about what happened to her?” Jane demanded.

The girl didn’t answer and Quinn saw a look of anger cross the goth’s face.

“Please.” Quinn pleaded.

“It was just supposed to be a night of bonding and music and then three truck loads of drunk rednecks showed up and they started attacking everyone.” Lore started with a sigh.

Part 3


Lore was about to continue with her tale when Daria squeezed her hand and muttered.

“Hey.”

The three girls looked down at the still form, surprised at the sudden voice.

“Hey yourself.” Lore said and Jane and Quinn moved in closer.

“Did you get out ok?” Daria slurred tiredly.

“Ya.” Lore said but her eyes darted to her bandaged hand before returning to look at Daria’s.

Daria looked down and saw and groaned. “How bad?”

“Just some stitches from getting tossed into a window.” Lore shrugged.

“I though you were ahead of me.” Daria stated.

“When I realized you didn’t get out in time I went back to the hall and ran into some trouble.” Lore admitted.

“I really didn’t expect that much excitement.” Daria said and her eyelids closed gently.

“What’s wrong with her?” Lore demanded fearfully.

“She’s on pain meds and it’s putting her to sleep.” Quinn answered.

Jane reached over and grabbed the goth’s shoulders and pulled her to feet and glared at her.

“Just what did you get her mixed up in?” Jane accused.

“Get your hands off of me before I smack you with my good hand.” Lore threatened.

“Try it and you can go through another window.” Jane snarled at her.

“Stop it, both of you or get out.” Quinn yelled.

“I’m not going anywhere, she’s MY best friend.” Jane said but she let go the other girl’s shoulder.

“Perfect Jane, go to hell. I’m not leaving either.” Lore said fiercely.

“You been giving me attitude since you got here and I’m not in the mood for it.” Jane said but she kept her distance.

“And I’m sick of you. Everyday I have to hear about Jane this and that. I am so sick of feeling like I’m competing with you.” Lore said harshly.

“What in hell are you talking about?” Jane said honestly confused.

Lore groaned as she looked between Quinn and Jane and then back at Daria.

“Oh god I am so going to hold this over her head. Neither of you have any idea what’s happened do you.” Lore groaned.

“Not a clue.” Quinn said getting annoyed.

“It wasn’t a rock concert or anything, there was music, a couple of really good punk bands but that’s pretty normal for a protest.” Lore sighed as she sat back down next to the couch and gently stroked Daria’s face.

“Protest. Oh damn.” Jane said and she watched the intimate caress. “How long have you two been dating?” She sighed.

“Three weeks, we ran into each other at the mall. I think she was visiting you at your job.” Lore smiled.

“Ok.” Jane said and she waved her hand for more.

“Anyway I knocked into her and dumped over her drink and I offered to buy her another one and she couldn’t because she was going to hear your brother play. I was bored so I invited myself along. I didn’t realize until after I kissed her that she hadn’t thought of the night as a date.” Lore laughed gently.

“But you did end up together.” Quinn said.

“Ya, I walked her to the door and kissed her and she freaked and I apologized and then I kissed her again and she kissed me and I ended up sneaking down the stairs at 6 in the morning.” Lore sighed and rubbed the top of Daria’s head.

“Ok so that explains the t-shirt. You said a protest.” Jane pressed.

“It was a allow homesexuals the right to marry protest and like I said some rednecks showed up and started knocking in heads. We got separated and I couldn’t find her. I looked everywhere and when I couldn’t find her I figured I needed to tell her folks incase she wasn’t here yet.” Lore admitted.

“That is a pretty sucky date, a protest.” Jane joked.

“At least we weren’t sitting around watching TV or eating nasty pizza.” Lore barked.

“Easy, she was joking.” Quinn said carefully.

“Sorry I have some issues with the whole Daria and Jane friendship thing. So much repressed sexual tension that god help whoever has to clean up after they finally go at it.” Lore replied.

“I’m not gay.” Jane defended herself.

“Ya whatever. Keep your hands off my girl and I’ll believe whatever you want.” Lore said doubtfully.

“Daria’s gay.” Quinn said thoughtfully.

“Oh ya.” Lore grinned evilly.

“And you are her girlfriend.” Quinn mused.

“She even gave me her secret decoder ring.” Lore said and she pulled a necklace out from her shirt and on it was a cheap plastic ring of the type that used to come in cereal boxes thirty years ago.

“Damn, I didn’t think she would ever part with that.” Jane said looking surprised but convinced.

“It’s a cheap plastic ring.” Quinn groaned.

“It’s a keepsake, she found it when you and her went exploring in an abandoned house in Texas.” Lore said shaking her head sadly at Quinn.

“I don’t remember that.” Quinn admitted.

“Daria does. It was like ten years ago.” Jane said with a smile.

“How much is it going to cost for you not to tell your parents?” Lore asked Quinn.

“What?” Quinn gasped.

“I’ve seen how this works with you two, I have plenty of money saved up. Just put a number out there.” Lore sighed.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to start off by saying that you’ll pay any price.” Quinn mumbled. “Takes all the fun out of it.”

“I don’t have time for games, it’s really important to me that Daria doesn’t get outted before she’s ready.” Lore sighed.

Quinn stared at the gothic girl intensely and Jane noticed her gaze the lingering on the necklace and the toy that hung there and tried to beam a thought blast at her.
:Don’t, she’ll give it to you in a second and just tell Daria she lost it last night but don’t. If you care a bit about Daria please don’t.:

“1 dollar.” Quinn said suddenly causing Jane to release the air she had been holding in her lungs in a long exhale.

Lore smiled warmly and pulled out a winkled dollar bill and handed it over.

“Thank you.” Lore said as she turned back to Daria’s sleeping form.

“No problem." Quinn smiled weakly.

"That's great but we need to get her ready for Jake and Helen getting home if she really wants to keep it a secret.” Jane said.

“Well the hair isn’t going to be a problem. I can take care of that in a matter of minutes and the shirt is just a matter of changing it but what are we going to tell them about how she got hurt?” Quinn said nervously.

“Damn, we need Daria to think of a decent plan.” Lore sighed.

“What plan?” Daria groaned from the couch.

“The how to keep your parents from knowing you got beat up at a gay rally thing.” Jane answered and she helped Daria sit up.

“Oh god Lore you didn’t tell them.” Daria groaned louder.

“Yes I did.” Lore answered.

“I’ve already blackmailed her and she paid up now we need a plan.” Quinn said quickly.

“Oh god there isn’t anyway to hide all this and the minute we come up with a story Mom will be calling the cops to find out all the details.” Daria said sadly.

“So what do we do?” Quinn said calmly.

“Is running an option?” Daria joked and winced as she shifted around, holding her ribs carefully.

“I think we can come up with something, maybe you got in a fight over a guy or stumbled into a mosh pit or something.” Lore tried.

“I thought you would be happy to have me out so we wouldn’t have to sneak around anymore.” Daria said surprised.

“Of course I will be but I want you to be happy too.” Lore sighed.

No one spoke for a few moments and then Jane sighed.

“Quinn get whatever you need to fix her hair and let’s get another shirt we can get on around the cast and get her changed. Maybe she’s going to get busted but that doesn’t mean she needs to take a hit for green hair and a “How many times until it's not experimenting anymore” t-shirt too.” Jane said firmly.

“Why bother, they’re going to freak if my hair is green or not.” Daria replied sound defeated.

“Do you want to keep having green hair?” Lore asked.

“No.” Daria answered.

“Then hush.” Lore said sweetly.



Lore walked into the back yard while Quinn was doing Daria’s hair and lit up a cigar and puffed it as she stared out into the afternoon sky.

“Look, I don’t know anything about you and Daria but I do promise you that I’m not wanting to hook up with her.” Jane said joining her.

“It’s just hard enough to find out I’m a freak but then I find another freak who’s really cool and we click and it’s like everything they’re always trying to sell in movies and TV but she's still hasn't told anyone yet.” Lore sighed.

“Daria said something like that once, I think. To our ex-boyfriend before they hooked up.” Jane said thoughtfully.

“I hate Tom.” Lore sighed.

“Oh I’m liking you more and more.” Jane smirked.

“Don’t get fresh.” Lore smiled.

“Sorry I grabbed you.” Jane said.

“Sorry I was a total bitch.” Lore admitted with a sigh.

“Don’t be dissing pizza again and we’ll be ok.” Jane grinned.