Three a.m.

Hunter just smiles as he walks alongside Katie. Despite the bad dreams and trouble sleeping, he really wouldn't want to trade this time with anything else. Being with Katie was fun, and he was loving everything else here too. He just hoped he didn't wear out his welcome. Everybody was treating him as if he belonged here and he didn't want to take that for granted. He knew that not every guest hat the same privileges he did... 

...The days were the same, really. Working, riding, working, family time, working, fun time. And even though the routine remained relatively the same, Hunter still didn't tire of it.

Given a sleep aid by Angel, the first night taking it, Hunter finally, finally slept the night through. Regaining his energy, he was sure that the nightmares were over. But the second night, even a sleep aid didn't keep away the darkness. Waking exhausted and aching all over, it took all he had just to make it through the day without collapsing. He managed though, throwing on a smile and pitching in with work like always. This time he tried going to bed early. But not only did the nightmare hit again, but it hit almost immediately, leaving Hunter awake with his heart pounding at just after eleven.

Staring up at the ceiling drenched in sweat with heart pounding, Hunter felt as though he were going mad. This was completely insane. He had no answers. He had no reason to be having these awful, awful nightmares. What was wrong with him? What was happening? 

Turning to the clock, he's dismayed to discover what time it was. He'd only been in bed half an hour. Seriously? How could he get up at this hour? He couldn't go sit on his porch all night and force himself to stay awake! This was ridiculous! 

Feeling his nerves at the breaking point, Hunter's mind wanders to the one thing he'd wanted all this past week. He'd said nothing to anyone, and he'd done a good job of pushing it from his mind, but... right about now he was more desperate than ever. His mouth waters and he glances at the clock again. It was time to nip this thing in the bud once and for all. He couldn't stand it any longer. He couldn't stay here in bed and fight this thing until dawn - his nerves just couldn't handle it. 

Rising angrily from bed, he dresses and glances out the window to make sure that all the other buildings were dark. They were. Grabbing his wallet and keys, he quietly exits his bunkhouse, making sure the door was shut softly. Heading towards the garage, his motorcycle boots quietly crunch on the driveway. Glancing around again, he makes sure he hasn't yet alerted anybody. 

Once at his bike, he inserts his key before pushing it down the driveway. He didn't want to start it up here and wake anybody. The last thing he wanted was to disturb the sleeping.

Glaring at the darkness he walks, he grits his teeth. This was more than annoying. It was frustrating, stupid, irritating and downright miserable. There was no reason he should put up with it. He'd battle it his way this time. He'd numb it. Forget it. Then move on. 

Reaching the end of the long driveway, he looks back over his shoulder to find no movement. Mounting up, he dons his helmet then fires the bike to life. He'd be back before anybody even knew he was gone. Once on the blacktop, he waits about a mile before switching gears again and taking off at a high speed. The dark road was nearly deserted - to his advantage as he aims towards down with little regard for the speed limit... 

Three a.m. 

"Please answer, Katie..." Hunter holds the phone to his ear as he mumbles under his breath. One ring. Two. Would her cell phone even wake her? 

Closing his eyes, he leans against the cool concrete wall. Three rings. "C'mon..." Would she even answer a number she didn't recognize? It was a long shot, but it was the only shot he could think of as he tries to keep his thoughts straight within his throbbing head. 

Jared can't help but laugh at Grace's silliness. He'd think something was wrong with her if he didn't see that genuine sparkle of life in her eyes. And... whether he wanted to admit it or not, she was bringing a smile to his own face too. 

It takes him much longer to get any momentum going with just his upper body, but he finally does and has a nice pace going. "Yeah... I suppose it's better than that," he agrees. Glancing at Grace out of the corner of his eye, he notices just how pretty she is as she goes back and forth, her hair blowing in the wind. She was so relaxed. So alive. 

Looking forward again, the chains slide under his fingers with each swing. And quite suddenly, he's very far away. It was a similar swingset... the chains felt the same. But he was swinging much higher. And so was someone else. A young boy. In the swing next to him. They were laughing. Talking. He was daring the boy to jump from the swing as it swung upward. The boy insists they both do it, so he agrees. Yet something doesn't feel right. He feels...angry at something. All at once, he's counting down one... two... and three. The other boy lets go of his swing, flying through the air. But... Jared doesn't. The other boy lands hard on the ground - harder than anticipated and he rolls several feet before stopping. He lays limp for a moment or two then grasps his arm, crying out in pain. He'd broken his arm. But Jared was still on his swing. He was laughing. He'd never planned on jumping too. He'd just wanted to see if that other boy would try it and fail. That boy. His... brother. 

Yanked back to reality, Jared had been paying little attention to the present, and suddenly realizes his balance was gone. He wasn't swinging very high, so the fall wasn't all that painful - his pride was hurt more than his tailbone. 

Landing in the dust, the swing bonks him on the head, and he throws a glare at it, even though it was his own stupid fault for falling. Looking at his legs, he gives a little growl of frustration. But maybe it was more frustration for what his mind had just seen, more than for his fall. Surely that wasn't a true memory. Surely he hadn't been so cruel... had he? A knot forms in his gut. 

Looking over at Grace, he rolls his eyes. "I guess a crash landing is what I get for trying to fly. Was I at least graceful?" 

Kick in the head

Having Hunter put his arm around her Katie gives a smile and leans in close. She liked it when Hunter pulled her those close and she felt his warmth. It was nice and it make her feel good. Maybe it was that he seemed rough on the outside that made it so much better but there was just a feeling there that Katie liked.

   "You make it sound like being around you is a chore or something. When really, its not...not that much anyways."

Giving a little grin and making her way out the door Katie makes her way across the grass with Hunter. Katie was really enjoying him being here too. There were people here her age that she could talk to and hang out with but she really was never close to them. So having Hunter here made it just a little better to be able to spend her time with someone.

   "How could I say no to you let alone riding. You bet ya we can."

Watching Jared for a second on the swing making sure he didn't fall off Grace gives a smile. He was now determined to get the swing going and she was glad. If he at least tried that was what made her happy. Not to mention making it kind of fun just seemed like less work for Jared.

   "Take off in....five....four....three....two....one!"

Giving a laugh and going to the swing next to him Grace starts out slow herself. It had been so long since she last was on a swing. She hadn't forgotten how to but she new since I had been a while this would be a work out for herself as well.

   "Ok...here I come pulling up behind ya....and lift off.:

Moving her legs and upper body Grace picks up a little bit of speed herself and starts to swing. Smiling and giving a laugh he made her stomach feel funny when she would come down on the swing. The sensation was different but she liked it. 

   "Now this is fun...don't you think? Much better than getting kicked in the head."

Looking up at Justin and into his eyes Beth smiles back at him. Searching his face till she feels his hand on her face and her eyes fall shut. His hand was warm, protecting, strong, and so gentile. Leaning her head into Justin's hand a little bit before returns the soft kiss as there lips meet. Just letting her heart thump and forgetting about everything else for the moment.

   "Mmm...Good Morning Justin."

Opening her eyes and looking back at Justin Beth couldn't hide the smile. Bad things happened in life but Justin was one of the good things. She could only than God for giving her such a good friend and boyfriend. 

Pulling Justin closer to her Beth wraps her arms around his neck in a hug just letting it linger for several moments. Finally breaking it and stepping away Beth smiles taking Justin's hand and locking fingers with it.

   "Maybe tonight when I get out of work would you like to come over and watch a movie or something?"

Maybe

Hunter nods and stands up after pulling on his boots. "Yeah... coffee sounds good. That'll at least keep me going for a while." 

Giving Katie a wry grin, he slings an arm over her shoulder, leading her to the door. "Thanks for putting up with me. I really am enjoying being here." 

Pausing at the door, he looks down at her and bites his lip. It had been a long time since he'd had anyone care about him as much as she seemed to. It was... nice. He felt worth something and maybe that was something he hadn't even realized he'd been missing. Leaning closer to her, he places a soft kiss on her cheek. 

Opening the door for her, he lets her out first then follows. "Wanna go riding again today?"

Slowly making the short trek to the swings, Jared would never admit how scary this was. He was sure at any moment he was going to topple over and hurt both him and Grace. He hadn't had much practice trying to stand on his own, let along walk, so even with hanging on to Grace, his legs didn't want to cooperate very well. 

Thankfully, Grace was as patient as always and Jared made the effort not to complain even when it hurt. Once reaching the swingset, he leans on the poles, holding himself up for a few moments to catch his breath. His lower back and legs ached just from that short distance, but in a way... it kind of felt good. At least he was starting to be able to move his legs a little more and that helped. 

Shaking his head and just grinning at Grace's enthusiasm, how could he refuse? With her help again, he gets seated on the swing that was just high enough that his feet wouldn't drag on the ground. He laughs at her comment and rolls his eyes. "I hardly think I'm ready to fly." 

Looking down at his limp legs, he sighs. Gritting his teeth he slowly, slowly succeeds in moving his lower legs back and forth just enough to give the swing a little bit of motion. Maybe... just maybe he really would walk again. 

He glances up at Grace, a proud little smile on his lips. Even if they'd quit therapy earlier, he felt much more accomplished doing something like this and actually seeing the improvement from when he'd started out. He wouldn't have thought he'd be able to make it all the way over here, let alone be able to move his legs at all after all that. But he could... and it made him just a little bit excited. 

"Okay..." Moving his upper body back and forth, he starts the swing - it would take a while to get up any speed, but this, he could do. "Get out of my way," he teases, "I'm preparing for takeoff." 

Seeing the shyness in Beth's eyes, Justin smiles. Her enthusiastic kiss the other night at the coffee shop must have been a rare occurrence - only now did he wonder if perhaps it had been a bit of a shock to her, causing her to not want to try that again yet, even if she'd liked it. And he didn't mind. He'd enjoyed her passion in that first kiss, but he knew now - seeing this look in her eyes - that taking things slow was the best route. And maybe one day in the not-so-far future, he'd receive that same passion again and be allowed to return it as well. For now though, that little blush in her cheeks was cute and he wouldn't spoil it by trying for another deep kiss. 

Resting his palm on her cheek, he leans down slowly and lets a very tender kiss linger on her lips for just a moment or two before pulling back. "Good morning."