Quiet

Once Katie goes to make the sandwiches, Jeff heads to his horse's stall to start saddling up. He knew Katie would give him all the time in the world, but he wouldn't lollygag. 

As he has his mount in the crossties, movement catches his eye and he looks down the barn aisle to see Eric and Stacy walking by. Together. Yes, obviously together. Again, that strange little feeling enters his gut and he sighs. Well, so much for that. Hopefully Eric was happy at any rate. It did seem a little unfair though. He'd had it in mind to do something special with Stacy and Ashlee as a belated birthday treat for Ashlee but... maybe that wouldn't be so smart now.

Pain brings his mind back to what he was doing, and he realizes that he'd just cut his hand on the buckle to his saddle's girth. Muttering under his breath, he wipes the blood off on his jeans, but it the cut was just deep enough that it didn't want to stop bleeding. Sighing, he goes to the supply room for the first aid kit. He knew good and well to take care of this one - he was on blood thinner for his heart and if he didn't get this covered, he might never get it to stop bleeding. Strike two for the day.

It takes a bit of doing, along with several bandaids, but once he's finally got that under control, he goes back to tacking up, trying hard not to let these things get to him. Everything was fine. He was fine. Things were good. His daughter was here... it was going to be a good day. 

Once finished, he leads his horse outside to wait for Katie. 

Jason laughs and heads out into the hall. "The Sandwich Basket it is then. Do I look like a guy who would argue with the baby? Ten bucks says he or she will have at least five times your stubbornness, and that, I will not go up against." 

Leading the way outside and to his pickup, the ride to the little restaurant doesn't take long. It was a little later in the evening so it wasn't very busy - which was pleasant. 

Seated to the side, Jason works on his sub, while conversation has a bit of a hard time coming. It was kind of strange though... even though there were many pauses, Jason didn't feel they were awkward. As unfortunate as it was, he and Misty had something in common right now and neither needed to say it. 

"Mmm." Pete returns Nikki's kiss before smiling. "I can't decide. I want to help with the dishes, but you fit so nicely right here that I could just stand here all night." 

Giving her a little squeeze, he finally lets her go, moving to the side and grabbing a towel. "Your mom's asleep on the couch," he informs. "She seemed pretty zonked from the day." 

He pauses and wipes a plate thoughtfully. "What did the doctor say at her appointment the other day?" 

Sitting on her couch with a good book, Ariel is a little surprised to hear Trey's voice. "Hey there..." 

Hearing his offer, she quirks an eyebrow. Dinner? He'd even pick her up? That seemed pretty nice of him. Did she want to?" 

"Umm..." She glances to the wall to squint at the calendar. It was clear. She worked during the day but the evening didn't have anything going on unless she went to the stable. Did she really want to go hang out with Trey? The last time they'd met had been kind of nice and at the very least, she knew he needed some good friends right now. She also wondered if he'd decided yet on whether he was going to stay in Nevada or go back to Mexico. Maybe that's what he wanted to talk to her about. 

"Okay. Tell me what time and I'll be ready."

Baby Said

All saddled and ready Katie continues to brush her horse as she waits for Jeff. She didn't mind how long he was she could stand here and brush for hours knowing the horse wouldn't mind either. Hearing Jeff though she turns and gives a smile.

   "No problem, I don't have anything else planned so take your time."

Hearing about the food Katie takes the rains of the horse and ties it around on of the posts.

   "I'll go grab them while you get ready."

Katie didn't mind and Jeff wouldn't feel rushed. She could get the food and Jeff could get ready it was killing two birds with one stone and a way to calm her excitement a little bit.

Heading to the dinning hall and into the kitchen Katie find the stuff to make sandwiches and pulls everything out getting to work. Once she was finished she starts looking for the bag she new use to be around here somewhere for lunches to be packed in when riding was the method of transportation.

Misty smiles a little and shakes her head. She new Jason would have given her a hard time and she probley would of done the same to him but for once she didn't balm him for wanting to work late when she new why she was doing was almost the same.

   "I have to pick huh? When than your driving. I don't want to have to do all of the work now."

Just giving a faint smile Misty grabs her leather jacket and her wallet before starting to exit the infirmary with Jason. Thinking about where she wanted to eat her stomach gave a learch to somethings she thought about while other seemed to make her even more hungry.

   "I don't think I am the one deciding where to eat at. Everything I think of my stomach feels sick."

Misty can't help but give a genuine laugh. It was still strange thinking of herself having a baby but she was slowly getting use to the idea, and was starting to get excited.

   "The baby said the Sandwich Basket sounded good. As long as thats ok with you."

As Pete comes up behind her Nikki can't help the smile and the small murmur of pleasure. She loved feeling his arms around her. It made her feel safe, sheltered, loved, and everything else in between. Pete just had a special way of making her feel extra special.

   "Can't have you feeling left out ya know. You can help by drying the dishes...or just standing there holding me. That's always a big help."

Turning her head to the side Nikki gives Pete a soft kiss on the lips before pulling away. Just looking into his eyes the smile never leaves her face. If someone had told her a long time ago that some day Pete and herself would be in a very happy relationship she would of told them only in her dreams. But now it had become real and she could never be more happy.

   "Hey Ariel, its Trey!"

It had been over a week since Trey had talked to Ariel last but he had done it to give her a little space. Things had been hairy since the night he had gotten drunk and in a way he was still ashamed.  But now he was slightly lonely, and maybe it was time to try things again.

   "I was wondering if tomorrow you would like to go to dinner. I can pick you up around four if thats not to early."

Heart attack

Jeff's eyes drift to the floor, knowing good and well that Angel was chiding him under her gentle tone. He also knew she was right. And he was also frustrated. 

Accepting the bottle of pills, he nods. "Okay... I'll let you know how I feel." He remains seated for a few moments longer, just studying the bottle, lost in thought. It had been a good visit with his brother... and a bad one at the same time. He knew he deserved Angel's reminder to take it easy, but sometimes when he just wanted to let off some steam, he was trapped between letting his emotions out and making himself ill - or worse. He had a weak heart, a weak immune system and just about anything else that could be weak... and he knew it. Getting a simple cold was cause for concern. Getting too upset or even too excited could give him a heart attack. And most of the time he didn't feel very good - he just hid it well. There were days he considered just throwing a temper tantrum so he'd have that heart attack and just be done. With his luck though, he'd survive as a vegetable.

Finally standing, he forces a perky smile to Angel. "Thanks. I'm heading out to ride, but I promise I won't do any crazy stunts... at least not very many." 

Grinning, he tosses her a wink. "See ya later." Heading outside, he tucks the bottle in his pocket and takes route to the barn. Finding Katie, he gives her a warm hug. "Good morning, Sunshine. Give your old man a few minutes to saddle up and I'll be ready to go. Oh, and there's some sandwiches in the kitchen fridge we can grab before we go." 

Jason gives Misty a grin. "I'd give you a bad time myself for working this late... if I wasn't doing the same thing."

Biting his lip, he looks down at her and finally nods. "Yeah... I guess things are just a little too quiet, even with Trooper giving me a bad time." He shrugs. "I got an invite to go bowling with some friends but... I dunno... guess I wasn't in the mood." 

A pause follows before he shrugs and fishes his keys from his pocket. "Well... I'm ready whenever. We can take both our cars or I can drive us if you want. You're gonna have to pick the place anyway."

Pete leans on the kitchen door frame just watching Nikki wash the dishes from supper. A faint smile was pasted on his lips, his mind seeming to be far away. He'd had a nice evening here with Nikki and her mom. He liked it just as well as a date night, enjoying both their company and being in their home. There was a peace here that was too inviting not to feel. 

Eventually coming into the kitchen in his socks, his footsteps are almost silent. Approaching Nikki from behind, he slips his arms around her waist and leans his head over her shoulder to blow a soap bubble in the air. "Can I help? I feel left out."

Don't listen

Looking Jeff over Angel just listens to him at the same time. She could tell there was more to what he was saying and things might have been a little worse than what he was leading onto but she wouldn't push the issue to much. He was here now and she was looking him over so that was good. 

   "What is it with you guys humm? I tell you to take it easy and you don't listen to me."

Angel shakes her head her eyes twinkling to show she was not upset but she did mean what she said. If they would slow down a little bit and just relax things would be better but one thing she had learned if anything was the guys at this ranch where thick headed, but she loved them all anyways.

   "Well I don't normally like putting people on medicine when I know they  can control it on there own but maybe in this case if I give you a low dose it might be a good thing. You're going to still have to try and take it easy though...and I mean it Jeff? If you don't its going to be the death of you."

 Going over to her cabnit and looking through the bottles Angel finally finds the one she is looking for. Separating it into another bottle she goes to the computer and prints out a label before putting it on the bottle as well and talking back over to Jeff.

   "Here you go. Take one a day with some thing to eat. Come and see me again in a few weeks and we will see how your feeling ok?"

Holding a finger up to Jason to wait one second Misty continues to write a formula down she had been thinking about. Getting to the end she finally looks up and gives a small smile. Most everyone was gone now though Misty still felt like someone was there it seemed her guess of it being Jason was right.

   "Getting something for dinner sounds nice. It will get me to stop working too. If Reese finds out I haven't gone home yet...I'll hear it tomorrow."

Closing the folder she had been working on and turning around to put it back in the file cabnit Misty closes and locks it. Turning she stands at the desk for a moment before looking up at Jason again and studying his eyes. Did he really not want to go home or did he know she didn't want to go home either. Maybe it was a little bit of both, and through this time they could support each other.

   "I guess we both have something else in common too now. We don't want to face home alone."


  

Half truth

Jeff was glad that Katie liked it her and liked spending time with him. The only thing he'd argue was that he didn't feel he'd been there enough for her... especially when she'd been growing up. Though at the time he'd given her up to Jay he had felt it was best, there were days now he held regrets. 

"Alright then, it's a date." He smiles, already looking forward to tomorrow...

"Oh good, I hope the answer is yes." Eric gives Stacy a flirtatious look before standing up and gathering their dirty bowls to take to the sink. "Looks like I'll see you in a little while then...

"...we kinda got in a little spat..." Okay, so it was more than a spat and thinking about it still got Jeff's hackles up. But he really didn't want to go into details. Sitting in the chair in Angel's office, he chews on the inside of his lip, hoping she wouldn't read into things too much... but she usually could see right through him, and he feared what she might say. It was the next morning, and he had come to her bright and early to get this over with before meeting Katie in the barn. 

"Anyway, I guess maybe I got a little too riled 'cause I sorta got short of breath... chest got kinda tight..." No, really tight, but he wasn't going to admit it. "I went and laid down for a while and I felt better though." Actually, he'd gone to lay down so in case he passed out, he wouldn't fall to the floor.  

He shrugs. "When Rick was here that one time, he suggested something for anxiety or something like that so... I guess I thought maybe I should see you about it." 

It was quitting time for the day, but Jason found himself still in his office. Not that he wanted to work, but he didn't really want to go home just yet. 

Finally though, he leaves his office to wander down the hall. Knocking lightly on the infirmary door, he pokes his head in to find Rick gone for the day but Misty still working. Not surprising. Jason suspected she didn't want to go home either. 

"Hey..." Coming in and walking slowly to her desk, he hooks his thumbs in his pockets. "Thought you might still be here." 

He wanted to ask how her day had been but... he knew it probably hadn't been so great. "You wouldn't wanna.... go grab a sandwich or something for supper, would you? I'm looking for excuses not to go home yet."