Morning dawns bright and... too bright

Bret grins as Angelica joins him and Charlotte, not minding that she was there too. Her words make his eyes twinkle. "I'm glad you think so," he teases. It wasn't all that long ago that she wouldn't have trusted him as far as she could throw him. But it was funny how things could change.

He gives Charlotte's hand a little squeeze, looking into her eyes again. "How you gonna keep me and a kid out of trouble, hmm?"


Grinning as Ryan flops down on the couch, Alec returns her kiss. "Mmm... of course I missed you." Shifting on the couch, he stretches out, lying Ryan on her back and leaning half on her and half on the rest of the cushions. With his arm tucked around her, he kisses her again before resting his head against hers. "I have no idea what's happening in the movie," he admits. "I think we're gonna have to start over."

A sly smile comes to his lips. "Or... we could start over here." He kisses her neck lightly. "Or here." He moves his lips up to her cheek. "Or here..." Kissing her lips again, he lets it linger before pulling away as the sound of a motorcycle revs outside and he laughs. "Or we can just finish the movie so I don't die..."


...Sun filtered through the living room window, making Alec squint before closing his eyes again and rolling a little to the side, his arm slipping back down around Ryan. He nuzzles his face into the back of her neck and gives it a kiss, letting his head sink into the pillow again. He knew she'd have to get up and go to work and he'd have to get to TJY too. But he'd stay here as long as he could. Last night he'd fallen asleep before the movie had even finished, and like other times, he'd been allowed to stay on the couch with Ryan.


"No, I should um... I should be okay now." Scott hoped it were true. He didn't want to have another nightmare and he knew that it was going to take him a while for him to get to sleep again at all. But he would try.

"Thanks... Sapphire. For um..." He pauses. "...for answering the phone. I'll... see you tomorrow."

Finishing the call, Scott hangs up and sinks down into his pillow, pulling his blanket up close. It offered little comfort, but any was better than none. He'd been assured his sister was okay and that's all he'd really wanted to know. His eyes drift shut, and he rolls over, a constant prayer on his mind that the nightmare would not come back...


...Scott sits on the floor of his room. For some reason, he found more comfort on the floor than in his chair or bed. The morning light streamed in behind him through the window and he rests his chin on his knees as they were pulled up to his chest, his arms wrapped around his legs. He was in baggy jeans and a t-shirt today, his feet still bare after a shower. Breakfast lay cold on his nightstand where Jenny had set it for him. He'd drank half the orange juice but that's all he'd wanted. He wasn't sure what time it was, or what time Sapphire would come, but it really didn't matter... he would sit here all day anyway.


Leo cracks open one eye, then the other. Everything looked a bit blurry this morning. Where was he, anyway? He wasn't in his bedroom... Starting to sit up, he groans and lies back down as his head spun. It felt like someone had a jackhammer on his brain, the pain pounding his skull. That was a good enough reminder of where he'd been last night.

Managing to open his eyes again, he sees he's in his living room instead of the bedroom. How had he ended up there? He had a vague recollection of Eli... had Eli brought him back from the bar? Leo wasn't even sure.

Fumbling for the phone, he manages to dial the right number, but cringes as someone answers. They didn't have to shout. Calling in sick to the shop, he hangs up again. He felt royally miserable - there was no way he was going to work like this.

Eventually, he finally pries himself from the couch and staggers down the hall, dizzy and his head still throbbing. Getting up and moving though upsets his stomach and he's glad he's already made it to the bathroom. A few minutes later, he's back on the couch again, not even changed out of his clothes. He'd tried - enough trying. He'd just lie here in a miserable heap until this passed or he passed out again, one or the other. He could only hope that Cassy wouldn't get the bright idea to see what he was up to today being on the inside start of the weekend. He wasn't sure if he could face her or not.

Hunny

Just giving a little smile to her brother as he gets out Ryan gives a nod. She understood why he might not want a beer now and couldn't blame him.

"Ok, I'll see you at home."

Pulling away from the curb and heading for home Ryan lets out a long sigh. She new it wasn't her fault Leo was keeping himself down but she still felt a little bad about it. She though for sure Leo would bounce back quicker than he was. There was nothing she could do though other than continue to hope he wouldn't give up.

Finish the drive home after putting some music on her keep her mind busy it dosnt take Ryan long. Looking forward to just getting back into the house and snuggle on the couch with Alec again. He had been a long day filled with its up and downs. Finishing her movie and her quiet time with Alec was something she was looking forward too.

Getting inside and taking she shoes off Ryan wonders into the living room knowing Eli would be in shortly having putting his bike away.

"Hunny...I'm home."

Leaning back and flopping over Alec's lap Ryan looks up at him with a large smile. Leaning up a little bit to put a small kiss on his lips.

"Miss me?"

Hearing Scott say it was ok she came to see him again made Sapphire feel good. This was another step maybe and it did feel good inside. Not to mention Scott being able to make the desition himself was good too.

"Yeah I have no problem with coming in the morning. I'll just call and let Reese know and I will just work a little later."

She really didn't mind doing that at all. Tomorrow nothing important was going on so it wouldn't be interrupting anything and even if it had Sapphire would of put it off till a little later to be able to see her brother because it was important.

"Are you going to be ok to go back to bed or would you like to chat a little more? I don't mind ether way."

Getting to the hospital in a good amount of time Angelica had called who she needed too along with Reese on the way to let him know she might be late to work tomorrow, or not even in depending on what happened.

Once inside her own heart raced with excitement for her sister and Bret. Behind directed where to go, and getting sanitized clothing on Angelica is show to the room where Bret and Charlotte were. Entering she gives a big smile to both of them.

"Madre said she wished you both the best and Abuela is looking down on you both smiling as she great grandchild is brought into this world."

Coming over to the side of the bed Angelica gives a nod to Bret as she takes Charlotte's other hand in her own. Looking down at her sister an seeing the glow it braught such a warmth to her heart.

"I am so proud of both of you. Your going to make great parents!"

Um

Eli looks over to Ryan and studies her for a moment before giving her shoulder a pat. "You can't do anything more than you already have. It's just... one of those things. Just don't blame yourself. You might have been in the middle of it but Leo being in the dulldrums is his own fault, not yours."

Getting out of the car, he leans back in the open door. "Thanks for the lift. I'll be right behind ya... kinda lost my appetite for that beer."


Scott closes his eyes, trying to convince himself that everything now... talking to Sapphire... that it was real, not the dream he'd just had. Her asking if she could come see him divides his train of thought and he hesitates. "Um..."

Did he want to see her again? He did miss her. And it was good to see her the other day. It was still kind of awkward though. There were still things that were unresolved, that seemed to create a rift still. But... but she wanted to come so... so it wouldn't be bad, right? And this time it was her asking, not Justin having her come without informing him about it. It was his own choice... it was up to him. He had the power now and it felt better than having things decided for him.

"Okay... I mean.... yeah... yeah, you can come." He sniffs again, his tears having ceased. "Just um... morning... maybe? Justin's coming sometime too."

Respect

Sinking down onto the couch Sapphire was wide awake now from her adrenaline rushing. She was happy her brother called though it made her feel good on the inside.

"Don't be sorry. You can call me any time it doesn't matter and I will answer your call. Here, or my cell."

Sapphire meant it to. Her and Scott might have hit a rough patch but if he ever needed anything even if it was only to just talk she would be there for him. She'd never leave him to fend on his own or face something without her.

"It was a dream, and we are ok Scott. Your safe, everything is ok. Can I come see you tomorrow? Than you can give me a look over to make sure I'm alright."

Whatever it would take for Scott to be comfortable she would do it, and getting to see him again would be nice on top of it. Though if he said no she'd understand and respect him for that too.

Ryan just gives a shake of her head. Inside feeling badly for making Leo like this and for hurting him like she did. Maybe if things had been different this wouldn't have been so hard for him. Now he had a chance to be happy again and he was letting it slip away.

"I'd say I would talk to him in he morning but I don't think it would do any good."

Letting out another sigh and turning down another street the lights from the bullseye come into view and Ryan pulls off to the side of the road behind Eli's motorcycle.

"I hope he bounces back. He's told me about his friend Cassy and she should like a really nice girl. I just want him to be happy again ya know? I still care he's my friend, and I feel bad I hurt him. I don't know what I can do though."

Moving on

Hearing his sister finally pick up the phone, Scott now really doesn't know what to say. He tries to stay as composed as he can in his state, taking a deep, shaky breath. "Yeah, I'm... I.... I'm okay... I think... I mean... I don't know."

A tear escapes to roll off the side of his face onto his pillow. "It's always so real," he whispers. "It's like I'm there again and... and I can't wake up and... and it just happens all... all over again."

He sniffs and swipes at his eyes with the back of his hand. "I'm sorry... for calling you so late. I just, um..." He clears his throat, trying so hard to not fall to pieces. "Just wanted to make sure it was... um... that it was just a... a dream."


Eli shakes his head. "Naw, I think he'll be okay." He smirks a little. "He threw up enough on the way home I don't think he'll have much left."

Sighing, he leans back, trying to figure it all out as well. "Yeah... I thought he was stronger than this too. Figured he'd gotten mad enough to keep his head up, not take a nosedive."

Still thinking, he recalls some of the things Leo had said. "He mentioned you, then some other new friend or something. A woman. Said she wanted to be his girlfriend or something but when I pursued it, he laughed at me and said she'd just get stolen from him anyway."

Eli shrugs lamely. "Sounds to me like he's just having a hard time moving on at all, or trusting someone else again."