Didn't know!

"Because Axel family is everything, and God wouldn't want you to be mad at your brother forever. I know its a scary thing and thats ok to be scared."

Ryan new she had to get back down to work not even sure if Alec was going to come for lunch today but she would work a little more if and till he showed up. They weren't busy today and most her work was done so she new it would be ok if she jetted out a little early with Alec.

She wanted to stay and talk to Axel more but she wasnt sure what else to say. He was a strong willed guy for sure so anything she said would have a retort unless he really wanted to do something about it himself.

"I know your stronger than you think Axel. You can do it, and make it through this. You be scared to elan on those friends and love ones you do have. Anyways I better get back. Take it easy ok and if you just need to chat you know where I am."

Turning and heading out of the apartment Ryan makes her way down again to the auto shop again to continue working.

Deciding where they would eat Anastasia smiles. She was kinda happy his car wouldn't start it was just a little bit longer than she would get to stay with Quinn now. Seeing the toe truck pull in Anastasia stands and gives a nod to Leo as he gets out of the car. She'd seen him before from when her own car had been in the shop.

Just watching Leo and Quinn interact she just watches and listens. Cocking her head a little at the mention to Axel, and seeing Quinn's reaction she found it a little strange but waited till Leo was gone before say anything.

"Did you know that guy Leo was talking about? You looked like you saw a ghost. Was...that your brother? If it was...I am sorry, I didn't know."

Anastasia couldn't help but ask as they walked back to her car. In a way this whole thing was a little interesting to her to see how God was unfolding everything. To her it just seemed cool, and to be part of it and to meet someone as wonderful as Quinn was her added bonus. But on the other had if that was his brother she would feel bad a little. She didn't want to put Quinn in a position like that.

"Ok, food here we come to have a little more fun before our time is done."

Stopping as she slid her sunglasses down her face she gives a little quirk.

"I am a poet and didn't know it, cool!"

Let's go

"Yeah, well in a situation like that, it's awfully hard to plant the evidence," Axel retorts under his breath. It wasn't like it was a glass he'd used that was presented as the evidence. They'd checked out the girl - planting just wasn't possible in Axel's mind.

He listens to Ryan though, maybe deep down grateful for her insistence. Jess had encouraged him, Carson had encouraged him... but maybe sometimes it took a little extra boost from someone else.

"I know I got friends like you that will stand by me..." He shakes his head. "But what if I find out the truth of the matter is that it really was me? Then what? I don't know if I could live with myself."

Looking down, the emotions surge through his eyes and he grits his teeth. This really was a nightmare.

"Besides, why go to the bother of all that just to prove something to someone who turned their back on me? If my brother doesn't believe me and take my word for it now, what's the point of proof? I wouldn't want that kind of trust back from him. It's not real."

Axel knew that he was just using excuses. The fact of the matter remained that he was scared. Period. He was scared of finding evidence or remembering something that would only prove it really had been him. He knew friends like Ryan didn't believe he was capable of such an act, but what if he hadn't been in his right mind?

His eyes drift back up to Ryan, searching her stubborn gaze. "I just... I just don't know, Ryan. I don't know if I can do this."


"Leo!"

Leo's head pops up from the open hood of the car, glancing over to the office where Darrel was hollering at him. "Yeah?"

"Tow job. You're up."

Leo looks around and sighs. He was almost done, but everyone else was busier. "Yeah, ok." Wiping his hands and setting down his wrench, he goes to grab the truck keys and waves to the other guys. "Don't have too much fun while I'm gone."

"You kidding?" Jed teases back. "We never have fun around here."

"Right." Leo laughs and heads to the office to get the location and then goes for the tow truck.


Quinn smiles and shakes his head, but words don't come yet. Instead, he returns Anastasia's gaze. She was so full of life... so full of peace... a warm light. "I guess I don't care either," he finally responds.

Seeing a stray strand of hair blowing across her face, his hand reaches up to brush it aside and tuck it behind her ear. "But I guess we've got fifteen minutes to figure it out."

Sighing a little he turns and wanders to the curb to sit down and wait outside for the tow truck. While they wait, it's decided they'll go to a little diner of Anastasia's recommendation, but before too much smalltalk can happen, the truck arrives.


Leo parks near the other cars, unsure which one it is, but seeing the man and woman standing up from the curb, he knows that these are the ones who needed the help.

"Hey... got car trouble?"

Quinn nods and thumbs to his car. "Won't start. Was running fine and..."

Leo grins. "Kaplooey?"

Quinn chuckles. "Yeah."

"Alright, well, lets get 'er hooked up, I'll take down your info and we'll get started. Need a lift to the shop?"

"No. Gonna run and get some lunch and I got a ride after that."

"Sounds good." Leo sets to work and before long, the car is hooked up and ready to go. "Okay, just sign here, give me a phone number and... we'll be set to go."

Quinn nods and takes the clipboard from him, printing and signing his name and jotting down his cell number. "That should do it. All you need?"

"Yep." Leo takes the paperwork and scans it for a moment, grinning. "Hey, I work with a Thornton. Couple hours alright?"

Quinn quirks an eyebrow, ignoring the question. "Another Thornton, huh?"

"Mm-hmm." Leo nods, jotting down a note or two. "On of our mechanics. Axel. Relative of yours?"

Quinn immediately bristles, his fingers tightening into his palm. "Couple hours would be fine. I'll be there."

Leo looks up, wondering if he'd just said something wrong. "Yeah, sure, okay. I'll make sure we look at it right away so you can get back on the road as soon as possible."

"Great. Thanks." Quinn tucks his hands in his pockets and watches as his car is towed away. Staring after it, he shakes his head slowly. "Axel. A mechanic. Now that's funny." A scoffing laugh surfaces for the irony of someone named Axel working on cars. What was more ironic though was the fact that Axel happened to work at this auto shop. He knew Anastasia hadn't known though - she wasn't like that. He did wonder though what would happen now. He had no intention of seeing his brother again. Maybe he'd be lucky and Axel wouldn't be working today.

Taking a deep breath, he spins around to look at Anastasia again. He forces a smile, completely skirting around the whole Axel issue. "I'm ready to eat... let's go."

Auto Shop

Ryan gives a shake of her head as she continues to stand in front of Axel. She wasn't going to let him beat himself up over this. She wasn't to good with consoling people but she was good at standing for what she alone believe in, and having a friend beat into themselves was not something she'd let continue.

"DNA is as easy to get from a person as asking for a pencil. In everything we touch, drink from, brush against our DNA is left behind. To be manipulated, and placed into a crime scene it really is just as easy."

Letting out a sigh Ryan was quiet for a moment. Her own mind seemed to jump all over the place. The though of her brother seemed to come to her most. John always blamed himself for there father's death. It had been his job to secure the jack and when it gave way he always went over and over about how he could of checked it better. No matter what they told him about how it could of happened to anyone and it was not his fault he never listened.

"Forgetting will only last so long, you know that Axel. Prove your brother wrong, and everyone else who said you where guilty. There are ways to still prove your innocent its just the fact of digging, and looking. You do have people who will stand behind you too. Don't give up on yourself so quickly."

Giving a nod and a smile Anastasia turns and heads back into the record shop motioning for Quinn to follow. Not taking to long to find the number she dials J&J's number. Getting an answer she gives a little nod to Quinn.

"Hi, I have a car over at Disk O Round that has broken down and I need someone to come toe it for me and asses the situation before fixing it. Yeah, ok that would be great thank so much."

Hanging up the phone and turning back to Quinn she was satisfied. She had gone to this auto shop a lot and new they were good.

"Ok, they said it will be about fifteen minutes. So any idea's on where to eat? Don't matter to me as long as your eating with me."

Anastasia's eyes sparkle in the sun light as she looks back at Quinn her eyes running over his face falling deep into his eyes as they come to them.

Drop me off

A faint smile tugs the corner of Axel's mouth. He was grateful for women like Ryan and Jess who didn't shy away from his history. They looked at him as he was today, not someone he might have been. "Thanks."

Rubbing his hands over his face, he groans, considering Ryan's suggestion. "There's nothing to retrace from that night. I was with a couple guys and a girl - the victim. I called it early and went home. Fell asleep and the next morning I was being arrested. There is nothing more to it than that. The guys claimed I rejoined them and then caught me in the act. DNA proved their story and it was over. I had no defense then and I have no defense now."

Looking at Ryan, he was so desperate, yet so resigned to the fact that nothing would ever change. "When this came up a while back here... I thought I'd go prove my innocence. But I realized there's no way to do it. Why was my DNA found? What other explanation is there? I'll forever be guilty." That thought alone made Axel sick. "And my brother will forever believe it." He shakes his head. "I just need to forget about it and move on."


Quinn sighs, but a wry grin was on his lips. Maybe whatever was wrong with the car would only take a couple hours to fix and he could be on his way again. Another piece to the puzzle? He'd like to think not, even if his gut said otherwise. He wasn't being kept here for a reason, was he?

"Alright... let's call the shop and they can tow my car. We can go eat, then go to the shop - if you don't mind. And then... well, I guess that depends on what the mechanics say. But I'm sure you can just drop me off and then I'll be able to leave from there."