One Day

Jeff turns his head to see Rosetta and quirks an eyebrow at her before shrugging. "Eh... I guess if being this tired is feeling better, then yeah." 

Sighing, he studies his bedsheets for a few moments before looking back up at his sister. He really didn't know what to say. He was miserable. Exhausted. Didn't want to be here. Didn't want others to be worrying about him. But he knew he needed to bite his tongue, too. 

"You going back to the ranch?" 

Turning, Luke smiles at Katie. "Hey, good morning, Katie." He nods as he turns off the nozzle on the hose. "Yeah, some help would be great, actually. I got some soap here and a couple brushes if you wanna work on one side of her and I'll take the other." 

Grabbing the necessary items, he goes around the other side of the sopping wet filly to begin scrubbing her. "Maybe with your help I can get these few horses done by the time my legs give out on me," he muses. 

...After wiping sweat from his brow, Hunter throws another pitchfork full of manure into the wheelbarrow. He didn't know how many times he'd already walked back and forth to the manure pile, and they were only on the second stall. He wasn't about to quit until told to though - if Mick could do all this work, then so could he. 

Mick watches Hunter as they work, every once in a while, a small smile slipping through. They had chatted just a little bit since working, but conversation could be difficult when trying to concentrate on the task, let alone talking while breathing heavily from the hot work. 

"So... you know how to ride a horse?" 

Hunter pauses his work just for a moment before shaking his head. "Nah. I know how to sit on a horse, make it go and stop and steer. But that's about it." 

Mick chuckles. "Most people think that is riding a horse." 

Hunter smirks and sets to work again. "Then they don't realize all there is to it. I don't pretend to know - it's safer that way." 

Mick just grins, secretly impressed with Hunter's honesty. Many a city-slicker who had ridden a time or two in their life, considered themselves knowing how to ride and wound up just making a fool out of themselves. "Who taught you what you do know?"

"An uncle of mine. He owned a little farm where I used to spend some of my summers. He had a couple horses so he taught me how to get on and go." Hunter smile a little at the memory as he throws more manure into the wheelbarrow. "Been quite a while though."

"Wanna ride while you're here?"

"Maybe, if there's time. I don't want to bother anybody."

Mick rolls his eyes. "As if. We like riders - it exercises the horses." He gives Hunter a sidelong glance. "I give riding lessons... got one happening tomorrow if you want to join in for a refresher course." 

Hunter lifts his eyebrows, unsure. And then... he really would like to get back in the saddle again. He'd always enjoyed it as a kid. And maybe if he was okay with it, he and Katie might get to ride together too, and that would definitely be fun. "Um... sure. If I'm not at the hospital with Katie, that is."

Mick nods. "If you are, we'll work something else out." 

...An hour later, Hunter was drenched in sweat, but still working hard, though by now his stomach was complaining that he'd had nothing to eat yet today. Somehow though, the physical work felt good. He wasn't just sitting around his apartment doing nothing. And while some would hate this kind of work... he was rather enjoying it, even when Mick went to do something else and he was left on his own for a while. It felt a little awkward, yet nice at the same time. 

Watching Grace and listening, Jared begins to see some of what made her so different. She was happy with the simple things. Most people weren't. But she not only was happy with the simple things, but she took the time to enjoy and embrace them. The clouds. Flowers. Her passing reference to God makes him wonder about her religious beliefs, but regardless, she definitely had an element of peace about her. 

Setting aside his plate too, Jared looks around for a moment, trying to figure out how he could do this. Finally using his arms to shift himself around, it was a bit awkward, and surely didn't look pretty, but he eventually gets himself turned around to lie on his back next to Grace. Aimed in the opposite direction, his shoulder was near her hand and vice versa. 

Staring up at the clouds, he sighs. "Maybe you're right... but if slow is the only pace, it gets old kinda fast." 

With eyes still searching, he grins and points to the sky. "I see a dragon." 

Hearing Victoria's voice, Garret's eyes open a bit groggily. Her voice was relaxing... her cool touch was soothing to his feverishly hot skin. "I'll be okay," he assures quietly. He didn't know if she knew what had happened or not. Did she know it was not a bullet wound or an accident? He wasn't sure.

Taking her hand in his, his palm is overly warm. Putting her fingers to his lips, he kisses them softly. "You shouldn't be in here," he warns. She knew better than to come to his quarters. Why had she? Had she been that worried about him? He hated it that they'd had so few quiet moments together lately. It was unfair.

Squinting at her in the dark, he lifts his free hand to cradle her face as his thumb runs along her cheek. "But I'm glad you are," he relents. A bead of sweat trickles down the side of his face and he swallows hard. "One day... one day we'll be able to see each other in the light."

Shadows

Rosetta gives a laugh again before standing and giving a little stretch. The night of sleeping in a chair had really done a number on her back so now standing and stretching really felt good.

   "Alright I"ll be right back than."

Walking past Jay Rosetta knocks and than enters Jeff room giving a small smile to him. If was was going to leave for a little bit she wanted to let him know. Even if he didn't want her to be here to begin with it was still the right thing to do.

   "Morning! Feeling any better?"

   "Alright I'll see if Luke needs any help than. Just take it easy on him Eric I mean he still needs to drive me to the hospital after all."

Katie gives a smirk and shakes her head as Eric turns to leave before looking at Hunter again. Taking the last sip of her coffee. She wasn't worried about Hunter being with Eric and Mick. She new they would take good care of him for her.

   "If you need help with anything don't hesitate to ask. My uncles are good like that and would be more than willing to help. They might work you hard but not to death."

Putting her cup in the sink Katie takes Hunters and wells to joins her. Walking past him Katie's arm brushes his as she looks over she shoulder at him and gives another smile. She again was happy Hunter had come. It was a good place for him, it was a good place for anything who just needed that extra time to find them self.

   "I'll see you in a little bit."

...Having her own work cloths on and her boots Katie heads for the area she figured Luke would be cleaning the horses. It was one of the few spots that had little mud when water was applied. Coming around the corner and seeing she had guess correctly Katie gives a wave to Luke.

   "Morning Luke! I though this morning you'd like some help with the horses. "

Giving another smile to Jared Graces eyes sparkled. It was unusual for her to offer friendship to one of her patents once there therapy was done. But the connection she felt with Jared seemed so strong of a friendship to turn it away would be a wast.

   "I wouldn't mind pushing you around. Sometimes slow is better you know. How can you smell a flower if your passing it to quickly right?"

Placing her empty plate back into the basket Grace gives a content sigh and lays back on the blanket making sure her dress was tucked around her dress around her. Just looking up at the clouds go by Grace's smile grows even more. 

   "Life's to short not to take it slow and enjoy the little thing God has given us. Even if its something simple like time with a friend, watching the clouds drift by, or walking the great wall of china. Slow, sometimes is good."

Slipping through the shadows the only thing saw was mabe the tale ends of a whisping nightgown. Walking in the shadows had become all to common and this was just how life for some people was. If there was a daylight to walk in one might even know how.

Silently entering Garrets room Victoria has long mastered the art of silence. It was life, it was living even if it was the wrong way. To go against it would mean death and Victoria was not ready to join her mother yet. 

   "Garret..."

Moving slowly over to his bed it seemed lately laying, healing was becoming more common for Garret. Victoria hated it and it hurt every time she silently saw him return a little worse than the last time.

Running her hand down the side of Garret's face She gives a smile. He looked slightly better than when he first arrived home but still not his best. 

   "Hey...I this time for sure I was going to lose you. You didn't look so hot returning."

Scared

Jay's jaw drops in mock shock at the suggestion he was old, and he points a teasing finger at Rosetta, warning her. "Very funny..." 

Nodding, he thumbs to Jeff's room. "Well, I don't know what time you want to go, but he's awake now. Don't know what kind of mood he'll be in after our little talk, but he seemed okay a few minutes ago. I can stay as long as you want though before we go." 

Eric mulls over Katie's offer for a moment, but shakes his head, his eyes gaining a strange glint that he doesn't explain. "Naw, we just need another strong back. You go ahead and do whatever you want with the horses. I think Luke is actually trying to clean up a couple of those yearlings before a buyer comes to look at them today - you might see if he needs a hand." 

Glancing back to Hunter, he gives him a once-over. "You got work clothes with ya?" 

Hunter nods. "Yeah..." He'd brought some work boots and some old jeans and shirts just in case he wound up working - looked like it had been a good idea. "Just lemme go change and I can meet you in the barn." 

"Good deal." Eric nods and turns to head out again. "See you guys out there." 

Watching him leave, Hunter takes another long swallow of coffee and grimaces as it goes down. Looking to Katie, he nods though. "Looks like I got something to keep me busy for a while." He grins and forces himself to finish his morning drink. He was happy for the opportunity to do something right now. He'd sit with Katie in the hospital all day long if she wanted, but keeping his hands busy would at least keep his mind from wandering to less pleasant topics... 

...It was just a short while later and Hunter was in the barn, wandering down the aisles to find Eric. Instead, he comes upon Mick instead, back in the far stalls. 

Mick, ankle deep in manure, looks up and grins at Hunter. "Mornin'." 

"Hey... Eric said he needed help...?"

"Oh yeah. He's got Jim helping him down at the other end, so you can stick around and help me." Mick gestures to a shovel and pitchfork in the corner. "Help yourself." 

Surveying the stall and the wheelbarrow Mick was using, Hunter nods. It wasn't as if this was hard to figure out. Grabbing a pitchfork, he comes in and sets to work. 

Outside, Luke aims the hose at the filly, soaking down her coat that was full of dried mud and grass. He'd actually gotten himself up out of bed at dawn this morning and had wanted to take advantage of a good day and not stay in bed when he didn't have to. It wasn't often anymore that he was able to do a whole lot of useful tasks around the barn, but with Jeff out of the game right now, Luke felt an even greater responsibility. 

Having been concentrating on his sandwich, Jared's eyes look up quickly at Grace. Her words were rather poetic and they surprised him. Surely she was just kidding though, right? She was just his physical therapist - when the job was over, that was it. She probably just wanted to encourage him and be nice... right? He notices her cheeks are red, which contradicted his theory. 

Finishing the half sandwich, a new grin spreads on his face. "I guess I'll need somebody to show me the world," he reasons, "since I don't remember any of it." He cocks his head, his gaze remaining on her face. "Of course... that just means I'll have to get on my feet that much sooner. I can't have you pushing me around all over the place all the time. That would just slow us down." 

Still grinning, his tone teases her. And yet, behind the teasing... behind his eyes... behind that veil of confidence and flirting... there was someone who was scared of that world out there. Scared of what he no longer knew. Scared of feeling just as alone out there as he did in that hospital room.

In a place like the Agency, time never seems to exist, despite the rising and setting of the sun. No job is ever wholly complete. No goal is ever wholly reached. Caught in this tragic form of manipulation, agents are like hamsters running on wheels that expend total energy yet lead them nowhere. Only worse are those agents that have realized through sheer willpower that they are trapped. And when that realization begins to take root, eyes see only beyond these confines, creating a gnawing in the gut - a drive to break free. But to risk rebellion is to risk one's life. So one must keep on running. Keep on heeding commands. Keep on towards unattainable goals. For survival is the only option...

The black van pulls into the drive way, having just come from the airstrip. It was normal. Common. Almost boring in a way. It never changed.

Life at the Estate had become dully consistent. Medridge spent more and more time here and less time traveling to labs or facilities. During the past month, he had traveled some, but not as he used to. Was it his age? No one dare ask.

Agents had come and gone. Some had never returned. Others, like Garret and Victoria continued an unpredictable cycle of being called away to missions then whisked back to the Estate once more. What used to be an infrequent hideaway had become their own home base - but even that  was never a sure thing. No one knew when they would be permanently relocated. But if anyone preferred the Estate, best behavior was a must. And most everyone there knew that this luxurious location was better than most Agency establishments.

Stepping out of the van first was Deacon - he had been the head driver for the past three weeks and rarely spoke to any other agents. His silence made him a favorite of Medridge - perfect for a driver that could never speak of their location.

Coming to the side of the van, Deacon slid open the door, just in time to catch Garret before he fell out. Garret clung to the big man to keep himself from slumping to the ground. Sweat trickled down the sides of his face and his eyes held a strange blur. He'd been gone for five days. To where, only he knew.

Slinging one of Garret's arms over his shoulders, Deacon leads Garret to the house, half helping, half dragging him. A medic meets them at the door and he is ushered inside where he disappears into the confines of the basement lab.

Only several hours later would Garret lie in his own bed in the smaller house at the edge of the property. Medridge's personal doctor would be seen coming and going, but only every so often, leaving Garret on his own for most of the day and into the evening.