Chapter Text
“Shane!” Ryan burst into their shared office waving a crumpled printout in the air, like it was a golden ticket. Hair wild, and eyes even wilder.
“We have to go to Michigan. Right now!” he exclaimed, slapping the printout on the desk.
“Right now?”
“Yes! Right now!”
Shane sighed with all the weariness his tall frame could convey. “Okay, I’ll bite.” He said, leaning forward. “Why do we have to drop everything we currently have going on, mess up our filming schedule, add a couple thousand dollars worth of expenses to an already tight budget, and in the process probably give Steven an aneurysm, just so we can visit the Great Mitten State?"
“Bigfoot!” Ryan waved the paper in the air again, like it was the answer to everything, and not the slightly damp, very wrinkled, low quality printout that it was. Apparently they also needed to replace their toner. He’d have to remember to send out a supply request email.
“And why is that? You don’t really even believe in Bigfoot,” Shane said. “Not going to lie, bud, right now you’re giving off strong Ancient Aliens Guy vibes. Can we bring the crazy down a notch?”
“His name is Giorgio A. Tsoukalos.”
“Of course you know that.”
“BFRO,” Ryan started - but at Shane’s blank look, he amended - “Bigfoot Field Research Organization, just confirmed a Class A sighting in Monroe, Michigan. Class A! And, the sighting happened less than a week ago. This is a piping-hot lead, with backing from a scientific organization!"
Shane’s shoulders visibly tightened throughout Ryan’s impassioned speech. Looking more uncomfortable with every word. “I’m not even going to touch the ‘scientific organization’ part right now, but do they have any photos or video of this supposed sighting? Any concrete evidence?”
“Well, no. But BFRO said the witnesses were credible!”
Shane's shoulders loosened. “Well, if BFRO says so.”
“Why aren’t you excited about this? This is something you’ve admitted that you actually believe in.” Ryan asked, deflated. He knew the only chance he had of convincing Steven the trip would be worth the expense is if he had Shane on his side.
All three of them might have equal stakes in the company, but they decided that everyone had to be on board with any big expenditures, and Steven was always the hard sell. As it should be. If he wasn’t, Ryan and Shane would have bankrupted the company the first year with their escalating ideas and bits. They egg each other on and Steven brings them back down to earth. It’s why their team works so well.
At seeing the other man look so defeated, and knowing he was the cause, Shane caved. He was never able to really deny Ryan anything. If it was within his power, and Ryan wanted it, Ryan got it. “Okay, why don’t you start a battle plan on how we can convince Steven? I have to make a phone call, but when I get back, I’ll jump in and we can tackle Steven together.”
“Yes!” Ryan fist pumped the air. “You won’t regret this, it’s going to be great. With such a fresh lead, we’ll definitely find something!”
Shane gave a tight smile, and grabbed his phone. “I’m sure we will,” he said, and headed outside to his car, for maximum privacy. He did not want to risk anyone overhearing this conversation.
As soon as he had the door closed, he was hitting his Dad’s contact info.
“Hey son.” Mark Madej’s voice echoed across the line.
“Who was it?” Shane demanded.
“I’m doing alright, thanks for asking. How about you?”
“Sorry Dad, it’s hard to remember pleasantries when I’m a little freaked out because my best friend just came to me wanting to go Bigfoot hunting in our family’s backyard. Apparently there’s been a recent sighting!”
Mark sighed wearily, “Yeah, it was your cousin Larry.”
Shane groaned, “Larry, really? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Your Aunt Sharon wanted to keep it as quiet as possible. You know how they are.”
“You guys know what I do for a living! Surely it crossed your mind that Ryan would want to investigate. He has search alerts set up for things like this! A heads up would have given me a fighting chance to come up with a reason not to. Now, Ryan is in our office coming up with a way to convince Steven that hunting for my cousin is a great idea, and we’ll probably be flying to Michigan as soon as he can get tickets!”
“Well,” Mark’s calming tone came across the phone and soothed Shane’s nerves the same way it always did back when he was a little boy. “I’m sorry this situation put you in a bit of a pickle son, but I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I’d be surprised if Sharon lets Larry leave the house at all in the next year.” He chuckled, “That boy is going to be on lock down for sure. The only thing that’s going to be in those woods for a good while are the deer and bears.”
Shane blew out a breath, “Alright, that makes sense.” He was unable to stay annoyed with his Dad for long. “Can you at least give Aunt Sharon a heads up that we’re going to be out there? I really don’t want to catch them unaware.”
“Sure, I’ll do that right after we hang up. And son, if you have the time, make sure you boys come and see us. You know your Mom and I would love to see you, and Ryan is always welcome too.”
“Yeah, I’ll see what we can do. Look, I gotta go. If I don’t get back soon, Ryan’s probably going to come searching for me, and I do not need him hearing us talk about this. Love you.”
“Love you too, son. Don’t shoot your cousin.”
Hanging up his phone and tossing it in the passenger seat, Shane sighed and hit his head on the steering wheel. Now he just had to figure out how to film a show that’s entertaining enough to warrant the budget they’re about to blow, keep Ryan from finding a real Bigfoot without making it seem like he’s trying to keep him from finding a real Bigfoot, and somehow work in a visit to his parents. Oh, and also keep his parents from revealing his giant crush on Ryan, because his mom has no chill and has been planning their wedding since before Shane let slip his feelings about the guy.
Easy, Right?
Shane groaned. “Fuck my life.”
By the time Shane got back inside, Ryan had already outlined three potential pitch angles, two probable budget justifications, and drawn a detailed Venn diagram on their whiteboard, explaining the overlap between cryptid sightings and youtube video engagement metrics. Stick figures were involved somehow.
Steven never stood a chance.
Less than forty-eight hours later, they were rumbling down a dirt access road in Monroe County, Michigan.
In an RV.
Because of course Ryan had insisted.
And Shane had exactly zero idea how he was supposed to keep Ryan from accidentally discovering his cousin.