1/1/10

Guitar Hero

Looking up from the computer Dalton gives a short nod as the two men enter giving a quick look to Scott he pushs a can of Mountain Dew twords him not wanting to make a big deal for Scott's sake but letting him know it was ok.

"Easy there buddy."

If anyone wanted to try and get to Scott they would have to go through him first and that was not an easy task.

Typing a few more things Dalton finally looks up at Gunner. A grin moves across his lips. He liked doing this even if it was against the law. It was still fun and it was to help someone else so it felt even better.

"I can do that. It will take a few moments after you guys get there to get the snap shots so the times are right. I can even get one of Bree's room as long as she stays still."

Dalton gave a sidelong glance to Scott. They both had seen that Bree had done little moving for the last days as they watched her, and the whole hospital without anyone knowing. He didn't want to come right out and say that to Gunner though. He was already worried enough.

"We have some mics set up for you guys to keep in contact with us. Scott can brief you on them. They are not like normal TJY issued ones so TJY cant get in trouble for all this. If anything goes wrong it will only be our butts on the line."

Sliding off the stool Libby grabs her own drink after it was refilled throwing some money on the counter. Starting to walk away from the counter she makes sure Ty is close behind before starting to point things out. It was nice today was not a busy day so it would be easyer to get in some game time too.

"This room here is the older games and when I mean older I mean old school. Zelda, Pac Man, Wave Racer, Punch Out, you man an old arcade game you use to play and I am sure its here."

Libby goes from mashean to mashean in the first room pointing out games, giving little background on them and just actually enojying having someone to listen to.

The rest of the tour goes pretty quick of the last 2 rooms with differnt games, and the small fast food place connected, where the bathrooms were, and just a place to sit and chat if you wanted while music played.

Circling around to a room they had not been to yet Libby gets a smile on her face as they enter. Here, was a single game that stood alone. On the side it read Guitar Hero.

"This here, is my most favorite game to play. They were going to take it out a little bit ago because the Guitar's kept breaking, but they said if I could fix it they would keep it. So now its still here and I love playing it. Look..."

Libby points to the screen. The top three high scores were hers with the initials LAS. Picking up both the Guitar's Libby holds one our to Ty with a smile.

"Wanna give it a try with me. Its real easy and addicting once you get the hang of it."

Brief Terror

Ty gives a little smirk before taking a sip of his pop. He'd told Libby when she'd picked him up from the road that he'd failed a test, but she didn't know how many times or why. Trying again wouldn't make any difference, unless his guessing got better. "I... don't think I'm gonna try again." He shrugs it off, moving on quickly as listens to her talk.

"Yeah well... this twenty-two-year-old doesn't always fit in a prefab mold either, so you're safe with me." Sliding off the stool and grabbing his cup with straw, he gestures to the other side of the arcade. "Lead the way, I'm all ears with time to kill."


It was dark. Gunner knew that just a few people remained at TJY, two of whom he'd asked to stay so he knew they'd be there. It was quiet on the main floor though with only a few overhead lights on, creating a bit of an eerie atmosphere.

JT follows behind Gunner, his nerves running high. He didn't like this secrecy and tip-toeing around TJY, but he'd reached his limit. He might have argued with Gunner in the beginning, but enough was enough. The old adrenaline from helping the Texas gang so many years ago was returning to his veins and there was a determination in his stride.

Scott works alongside Dalton, working past security barricades and swapping information. Gunner had called earlier and asked them to get as far as they possibly could... and had implied he would need them after hours.

A knock on the door makes Scott jump and he looks up to see two men dressed in black. For a split second, his blood runs cold and he knows that he just put the edge of the desk in a vice grip. It was a nightmare that only lasted less than a second, but it made his stomach flip and his face pale. It was Gunner.... it was just Gunner and JT.

Gunner sees the brief look of terror on Scott's face and gives him a glance of apology. "Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you."

"Yeah." Scott lets his breath out and eyes Dalton a moment before trying to concentrate again. "Yeah, it's fine. We got all the stuff you wanted."

Gunner ambles forward. He and JT both were in black jeans, hoodies and baseball caps. Leaning on the desk, he eyes Dalton. "Scott said earlier there wasn't a cam in some of the rooms, including Bree's - most likely so no one could ever find a tape. But he said you'd gotten into the security system for all the hallways and main entrances. Can you swap out clean shots so we can get in undetected?"

Not much

Hopping back up on her own stool next to Ty, Libby grabs her own pepsi giving a little laugh of her own at Ty's comment of a root beer in place of a beer. It was nice having someone there that she actually care what they had to say.

Perking up a little at the mention to a car Libby's brain worked as she new a place that could help Ty with cheap prices.

"Getting your bike fixed would be a good thing, but I think a car would even be faster. If you take your test again and pass...I know a place you can get cars cheap I could show ya."

Taking another sip of her pop Libby swivels back and forth on her chair a little bit the smile still on her face. Finishing the drink off Libby turns all the way around resting her back against the bar.

"I guess you could consider it a hang out. A 22 year old sanding most of her time around video games. I think most people think its strange. I like playing games though, and it keeps me out of trouble."

Turning her head to look at Ty over her shoulder Libby flashs him a smile as her eyes seem to twinkle in the dim lights.

"It's not much but I can show you around if you like?!"

Hellooooo Ty

Entering the arcade, Ty can't be too surprised to see Libby, since he was wondering if he'd see her anyway, but he was a bit surprised by her greeting. He lifts his eyebrows as she chides him for taking so long to show up and he blinks, really not sure how to react from the enthusiastic welcome. On a certain level though, it did do something for his ego to think that she'd been waiting to see him again.

"Um..."

He really doesn't have time to react as Libby takes his hand and pulls him towards the counter. "Well..." Sitting down on a stool, a smile finally forms on his face. His laugh is one that's quiet and light, but it has a warmth to it. Not many people had the opportunity to hear him laugh.

"Alright then... if I can't have a beer, it might as well be root beer." He nods to the person behind the counter, knowing that they'd heard him. Swiveling the stool around to see Libby, he cocks his head. "Yeah, takes me a while to get around, ya know. Hoofing it tends to be slow. Though I think tomorrow I'll have time to take my bike down to the shop and see if they can fix it."

He shrugs, his eyes roaming the arcade. It was a quiet day here today with not many people. "A car would fix all those problems wouldn't it though?" He rolls his eyes and turns around in time to receive his rootbeer and retrieve some change from his pocket. "So... this is your hangout, huh?"

Worth it

Sitting at the bar style counter Libby suck on the straw watching the her pop start to go down. Today was a rather boring day with nothing else to do. Coming here was the only thing keeping her from finding trouble or trouble finding her as it often did.

Hearing the small bell on the door ring over the sounds of the video games in the background Libby looks to the door like she often did. Maybe day someone worth it would walk through those doors. Today, it just seemed to be her lucky day.

Twirling around in the stool Libby jumps down from the sigh perch. A little bit on the shorter side she still stood tall with an air about her that was not cocky, but she was comfortable and maybe sometimes full of herself but that didn't come often. Walking over to Ty she smiles placing her hands on her hips.

"Its about time you found your way here. I was starting to think I'd come to come and hunt you down myself just to see you again."

A grin forms on her face as she stairs back at Ty. Even if she didn't know a lick about Ty it was nice to have someone here she actually would like talking too. Reaching out Libby catchs some of Ty's fingers in her hand. Starting to walk she gently pulls him twords the bar.

"Come on lets get you a drink and than I can show you around."

Stopping Libby looks over her shoulder and gives a smile to Ty.

"A drink of pop that is. If you want anything stronger this is NOT the place to look for it. Come on."

Tell me

Laura doesn't say a word at first, just watching Nate's reaction. She was scared to death, giving him this kind of news. It was life-changing, and unplanned. Would he be happy? Upset? Sad?

But seeing the look in his eye as he turns to her, all fear seemed to vanish. She saw happiness. She saw an excitement she had never seen there. Fear, yes, but they were both scared of this new step. But there was excitement... true excitement. And that look alone made her beam. Nate was happy. This was making him happy. Maybe she still was unsure and she still needed to come to terms with this, but knowing that this was making him happy made it all worth it.

Wrapping her arms around him as he hugs her close, she trembles from all of the overwhelming emotions. Being pulled back to see his eyes once more, her face hurts as she can't quit smiling. A tear runs down the side of her face and a laugh comes out. "Me? The strong one? That's a switch."

She sniffs and is glad when he embraces her again. "I love you too... so much."

Taken into his kiss, she doesn't hold back any passion from him. All she wanted right now was to be the wife he deserved and make sure that the things she did pleased him and made him happy. She had loved him when she had married him, but each day it had grown more and more. She hadn't thought she could love him any more, but today, she did.

Her eyes were closed and she cocks her head the other way, reaching up through his embrace to let her fingers slide through his hair. She loved the way it felt on her fingertips and how warm and strong he felt against her as he kept her close.

This was their moment. This was their time.


"Another dead end." JT hangs up the phone and sinks into a kitchen chair. "Another dead end, Gunner. How can people have so much power?"

"Because they're cheats and liars," Gunner states flatly. He leans against the doorway, looking at Bree's uncle. He himself hadn't eaten anything in two days and sleep was something he no longer wanted.

JT sighs. "What about you?"

"I got everything I need."

JT looks up to see Gunner's eyes. "What do you mean?"

Gunner grits his teeth. "I don't think you want to hear about it."

JT knew all too well what he meant. "I told you-"

"I don't care." Gunner's eyes flash. "It's been too long, JT, and you know it. Who knows what kind of shape Bree is in by now. Do you know what kinds of medications they've got her on? Do you know the schedule of shock therapy they're putting her through?"

"No."

"Well, I do." Gunner takes some folded papers from his back pocket. Dalton had given them to him earlier. "See these? These are records. And there's more where they came from. We've got a tap on their security cameras. We've got security schedules. We've got doctors' names and sample IDs. We've got the works. Now when are you gonna give in and see this is the only way?"

For once, JT doesn't yell. "I just don't want to lose her... One wrong step and I will lose my niece forever... can't you understand that?"

"And I'll lose the only person that I've ever loved."

JT's eyes flicker. He didn't know that Gunner's feelings ran so deep. "You think I don't want to go along with your plan? You think I haven't wanted to since the beginning? I'm itching to grab my shotgun and go. But think about what will happen if we fail."

"Then we don't."

"But how can you be sure?"

"Do you really want to hear about it?"

JT sighs deeply. He was at his wits end. He had stuck the side of the law through this whole thing, fighting Gunner tooth and toenail to stay on the right side. And every day he had fought with himself, battling his own disagreements with what to do. Could he give in so easily now? After he'd been so firm with Gunner? Could he really give in now?

The phone rings. Jumping, he answers it immediately. It was his lawyer. But it wasn't good news. They'd taken several steps backward today. There was more than one judge under the control of money but they couldn't prove where that money was coming from whether they thought it was Bree's father or not. And JT's lawyer was getting scared. He was ready to back out.

JT hangs up the phone, feeling as though they'd hit the last brick wall. If his lawyer backed out, they were done. He looks up at Gunner, who was still standing in the doorway, having listened to half the phone conversation. It was obvious by the look on his face that he knew it wasn't good. JT swallows hard, looking back down to his phone.

When he glances up again, there was an anger in his eyes that he had held at bay up until this point. His voice comes out as cold as ice. "Tell me your plan."


Ty trudges down the sidewalk, kicking an abandoned pop can as he went. Maybe it was a childish thing to do, but it was better than kicking people in the head like he wanted to. He'd worked half the night cleaning at TJY and was getting pretty tired of emptying garbage. Not because he hated it, but because he knew that's all he was smart enough to do.

His bike still had not been repaired and he'd given up taking his driving test anymore, so he was stuck walking everywhere. Wyatt offered to take him places but he didn't like that idea either. At least with walking he was getting exercise and not mooching.

One more swift kick and the pop can goes too far out of his path to bother chasing it down. He sighs. He'd taken the long way home today, gotten a bite to eat, tried to find something good on tv, taken a nap then had headed out again for no apparent reason. He had no friends. He had nothing he enjoyed doing. His parents had invited him to the ranch for Christmas, but he didn't really feel like he fit there either.

Continuing down the sidewalk, Ty stops by the lighted window of the video arcade. He passed by here every once in a while, but bad experiences on his tail always pulled him away before he could get himself in trouble. One memory stuck in his mind though, of a young woman who had been very nice to him. He'd like her, but hadn't seen her since she'd given him a ride. He did remember she'd mentioned the arcade though.

Feeling he had nothing to lose, Ty pulls open the door. At the very least, he could grab a soda pop and hang out. He was pretty out of practice when it came to any of the games.

Scared

Taking the small package from Laura Nate holds it in his hand for a long moment before unwrapping it. Still unsure of what was going on and why Laura didn't just give this to him when they opened gifts with everyone else.

Slowly opening the small package Nate is cafel being able to feel through the paper this time was smell and fragile. Moving the last peace of paper out of the way Nate looks down at it for a long moment. He'd always been a father to Maggie, so maybe this made Laura think about that for him. But something still felt odd. Why would she take him all the way out here just for that?

Looking up with question on his face Nate searches Laura's eyes and right before he was about to ask the glint was seen, and the glow formed. Nate felt as thought his words were stuck in his own throat. A wave of being nervous himself, to a wave of being happy seemed to pass over him all at once.

His eyes slightly wide, his mouth hug open for just a second his own words just didnt want to form.

"I...are you sure? I mean of course your sure but...I mean...we hadn't planed this..and I though we were being carful. I.."

Nate's words trail off as he looks down at the ornament again and than back up at Laura. A smile finally passing across his lips, as his own glow seems appear off him.

A baby, a father, a child...a family.

Standing again he reaches out to Laura and pulls her into his strong arms as he holds her tight leaning his head down into her hair smelling the sweet fragrance of it. His heart seeming to beat a million times faster than before.

"A baby, we are going to have a baby."

This had to run second best to marrying Laura, and having there own little family with Maggie. Now it would grow with another, He would be a father, Laura a mother, and Maggie would be an aunt. Nate had never felt a time when he had been so excited and so scared at the same time.

Pulling away just a little and looking down into Laura's eyes Nate had a few tears in his own. Not sad ones, but happy ones. His heart felt like it was going to explode from every single emotion that was running through it.

"I love you Laura with all my heart. Your going to have to be my solid ground on this one because this big lug is scared he is gonna break something now."

Brushing a little hair from Laura face Nate tucks it behind her ear. Just looking deep into her eyes. His own had his emotions of excitement and though he was scared, that was a normal reaction for anyone expecting there first child.

Leaning into Laura Nate holds her close to him as his press his lips to hers on more time. All his emotions seeming to come through in that one kiss. The moment lingering as they were alone, with no one to see the intimate kiss that took place.

#1

A laugh escapes Laura's lips as her nervousness is overcome with humor for a moment. Looking up at Nate, she shakes her head. "If I was breaking up with you, would I drag you all the way out to one of my favorite spots?" She laughs again, standing on her tip toes to give him a little kiss. "No... no, I'm not breaking up with you."

Sighing, she looks out over the land again and rests her head on Nate's shoulder. Her hand was still trembling, though she squeezed his fingers to try and cover it up.

All of a sudden, she gives a little jump as if surprised. "Oh. How could I forget?" She hadn't forgotten, but it was a good line. Straightening, she reaches into her jeans pocket and pulls out an object wrapped in red tissue paper. "When Paula and I were shopping yesterday, I picked this up for you. I thought we could hang it on the tree at home."

Handing it to Nate, she waits. She'd seen it in the store and had known it was what she wanted. It was only a simple ornament in the shape of a Christmas wreath, all pretty with red and green and a little bit of gold. Ceramic... nothing special. But on the bottom was as place for words, and the words on this one were "#1 Daddy."

Breaking up!

Following Laura's directions Nate doesn't say much as they drive even though he is confused. Twisting and turning Nate's curiosity builds until Laura tells them to stop. Turning off the car and hesitantly getting out a smile formed on his face though he didn't understand what was going on.

Following Laura and listing to her Nate's mind wonders to a million different things. Why was she bringing him here, and what was going on? Feeling Laura's hand slip into his he gives it a gentil squeeze. The view here was pretty, but than feeling her tremble a little she turns to her and cocks his head.

"Are you breaking up with me?"

Nate can't help the small grin that made it to his lips, he had to joke or he was going to go crazy with wonder and worry.

Lost?

Laura gives Nate another hug. "Thank you. Won't take me but a minute to get my jacket."

It ended up being more than just a minute with all the greetings that had to go around, but eventually, Laura is with Nate in the car on the way to town. It wasn't the shortest drive, but she didn't mind. She rather like it today. The length, that is. It gave her more time to think.

Though having been enthusiastic starting out, now butterflies in her stomach were bothersome. She'd become quiet as well and her mouth felt dry. Looking out the window, her hands fidget in her lap.

"Oh, turn here," she suddenly directs Nate. "It's a different way." Nodding, she points down a back road. Eventually though, she makes him take another few turns, then says they might be lost. Seeming to be just a little flustered, it's not surprising that she might be lost, but having Nate slow, Laura waves him down. "Oh, oh.... stop here."

They were in the middle of nowhere.

Grinning, she unbuckles and gets out of the car before Nate can stop her and she gestures for him to follow her. Waiting for him to join her, she takes him by the arm and almost drags him to a stand of trees. Then right on the other side is a wide valley hidden from view from the car.

Laura just stands and closes her eyes, breathing in the air. "I'm sorry," she apologizes. "I didn't think you'd come if I told you we were going out in the middle of nowhere."

She looks up to give her husband a sheepish smile. "Con and I... we used to come here when we were younger. If we had a fight or had something important to talk about, we'd come here. Our voices could echo off the rocks and bounce back in our faces, but no one else could hear. This is where our hearts were shared."

Slipping her hand down into Nate's, her fingers have started to tremble.

Ok

Looking back at Laura Nate just stands for a moment. He'd been driving since this morning and was quite tired to be honest. But looking down into Laura's eyes and seeing how much she wanted to go how could he say no? He'd do anything for Laura.

Peeking into the screen door and seeing Maggie already with the other kids putting the second batch of gifts he had brought under the tree Nate new she would be ok.

"Ok, we can go. Go grab a jacket and I will say hi to everyone fast and let them know we will be back."

Could we?

Laura giggles as Nate picks her up, and slings her arms around his neck. "I could never catch cold with you holding me."

Once they're up on the porch, she slides down but doesn't let him go inside yet. "Paula and I found this great new little diner in town... and they've got this huge Christmas tree that's just gorgeous... and it's just beautiful. I was hoping you and I could go eat lunch there? Paula said she'd watch Maggie..."

Laura's eyes plead with Nate's to say yes. "Alone time before family dinner? Could we?"