Something is Wrong

"Mm-hmm...." Hunter mumbles his agreement that this would work as Katie returns to kiss him  again. Slipping one arm around her shoulders, he holds her close while his other hand finds her hair, raking through it gently.

Feeling Katie deepen the kiss, Hunter returns it with just as much passion. Whether he'd planned it or not, he was enjoying being with Katie more and more each day. She was fun, kind, strong, soft... She was special. Problems or not, her affection was sweet and true, and Hunter liked it. 

Time didn't really seem to matter at the moment, and Hunter didn't care how long they were there as long as Katie didn't mind either. Withdrawing once in a while to kiss her cheek lightly or down her neck, he'd return to her lips again, rubbing her back lightly or toying with her hair. Despite his knee keeping him from moving around like he wanted, he made use of the somewhat uncomfortable position. Each time he'd end a kiss to hug her tightly or brush her cheek with his hand, he'd always return again with passion, just enjoying giving and receiving the affection. No words needed to be spoken, and the silence lingers, broken only by soft murmurs of satisfaction. 

Eventually the kisses grow slower and lighter until Hunter was looking up into Katie's eyes, a soft smile lingering as his hands cradle each side of her face. He was glad they had a spot to be alone so it wouldn't matter how long they'd made out. 

"Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?" he asks quietly. The sunlight bounced off her hair and her eyes were so deep and bright. He wasn't just flippantly flirting - he really did mean it. Katie was beautiful, inside and out. "Trying to leave really was crazy." 

Drawn into Chuck's gentle affection, Susanne trembled, but finally allowed him to hold her more closely and kiss her more deeply. She felt a bit awkward at first, not really knowing what to do, but as he continues with patience, she finally figures out how to return the affection softly, though still lets him lead. 

Her hands find their way to the back of his head and her fingers run lightly through his hair. It was smooth and soft and she liked how it felt under her touch. Being so wrapped up in his arms and feeling more passion from him than she ever had before makes her heart race as more tingles run down her spine. Though it was still a bit frightening, it was also exciting and it felt... nice. He liked her enough to kiss her... really kiss her.

As the kiss slows and they part, Susanne realizes that she was out of breath, and it felt like her face was on fire. Finding Chuck's eyes, she can't help a shy giggle. "If I'da known it was this fun, I mighta tried it sooner." She really did feel like a school girl, all timid and clueless. But with Chuck... it didn't seem to matter. He didn't mind and never pushed, and it just made her like him all the more. 

Her fingers stroke his hair a little more as she smiles at him, trying to calm her wild pulse. "Did... did I do okay?" 

A new smile spreads on Jared's face, hoping that Grace really would come early on Friday. She was the only real outside company he had, and maybe he was finally realizing that she really did want to be his friend, even if he didn't understand why. "Okay... talk to you soon." 

Hanging up the phone, he grins at his mom before looking down at the tray she'd set on his lap. "My goodness... are you trying to make me fat?"

Lydia thumps his arm. "Not fat. But you need more meat on your bones. You are too skinny."

Jared's eyes twinkle and he shakes his head. His mother was a little on the heavy side, she sometimes had trouble with English, and food was a priority. But he was beginning to feel that he loved her, and maybe Grace was right - maybe she really did just love him and felt badly for him, not herself. "Well, I'll do my best..." He looks again at he sandwich, fresh fruit, potato salad, cookies and a tall glass of water. While his taste buds certainly wanted all of it, his stomach still gave him a little trouble some days so he was a bit careful, trying not to overeat. He really didn't want to have to go back to the hospital for any more intestinal trouble like he'd started out with. 

"Thanks, Mom."

Lydia smiles and runs her hand down his cheek. "You're welcome. I will be back soon."

Left alone for a while, Jared turns the sound back on to continue watching television while he eats. Talking to Grace had brightened his day and he felt... good. Unaware of what was going on inside his brain and the healing happening though, he had no idea that this was just a calm before the storm...

And two days later, things were much different...

Seeing a car pull into the driveway, Lydia wipes her hands on her dishtowel, having been washing the dishes in the kitchen. Hurrying to the door, she opens it just as Grace steps up onto the porch. For the first time though, she doesn't beckon Grace inside, but instead, joins her on the porch. "Oh, Grace... I was supposed to call you but... but I just could not." Her face was pale, her eyes flooded with worry and pain as her hands wrung her dishtowel nervously. 

"It's Jared. The day before yesterday... in the afternoon, he... he took a nap and... and I don't know what happened. I found him on the floor and he couldn't get up and he was angry and did not want my help." 

Even though it had not just happened, Lydia was still visibly shaken from the ordeal. "I did not know what to do, so I called Justin and he came but all it did was upset Jared more. Justin got him in bed, but had to go, and he said to just leave Jared alone for a while, so I did. But when I took him supper, he would not talk to me and he did not want to eat." 

Tears form in her eyes as she continues to grip her dishtowel. It was obvious that she had not vented this to anyone else. "All day yesterday and today he has still not eaten and he told me he did not want you to come. He said to call you and cancel the appointment but... but I could not. Something is wrong, Grace." Her voice cracks as she sucks in her breath, trying to remain composed. "I... I thought maybe he would talk to you because you are his only friend. I am sorry, I just... I don't know what to do for him and I don't know why he is so upset. I did not tell Justin he was not better because I did not want to bother him any more. If you would rather leave, I understand."

Inside the house, down the hall and in the makeshift bedroom, Jared sits on his bed, fully dressed on top of the covers. He tightens the muscles in his legs but still cannot move them but inches on their own. But it wasn't that which made him so angry. With arms folded across his chest, his dim eyes stare at the blank wall. His head hurt. His stomach hurt. He wished he'd never survived that accident. He wished no one loved him. He wished he had no friend. 

Flow

Katie can't help but give a little laugh under her breath as Hunter gives out a yelp. She felt bad for his pain but couldn't help the little laugh at the thought he should of known better than to do something silly like that. 

Looking to him as he lays in the grass Katie cocks her head a little bit. Contemplating going back over to Hunter but letting it linger so he would wonder if she really was or not. Katie liked torchering him just a little bit.

   "Well ya know...I don't want to get you to worked up and have you hurt your knee again. Angel would kill me."

Katie gives a little sly smile before shrugging. Shifting around a little bit so she was on her tummy Katie slinks through the grass and over to Hunter so she was over by him but not near his knee. Looking down at him she gives a smile before leaning down and giving him a little kiss and than pulling away again.

   "Mmmm...ok, I think this might work."

Bringing her hand to the side of Hunter's face to cradle it Katie leans down and presses her lips to Hunters again. Just letting the kiss last a while this time Katie lets her emotions flow and deepen knowing Hunter wouldn't mind at all. 

Feeling Susanne tremble a little Chuck tightens his grip on her just a little bit to know everything was ok, and she was safe. He liked being able to provide a shelter for her, and hold her close to keep her safe. It was nice knowing that she needed him just the way he was and didn't want anything more.

   "And you think I do....I'm just going with the flow."

Bringing his hand to the back of Susanne's head and the other around her to support her back Chuck gives a soft smile before leaning into Susanne and pressing his lips against her. Letting some of his emotions, all he had been feeling set free he still holds back just a little. He didn't want to get to into it and scare Susanne right away. So slowly, softly, he let a limited amount of emotions out, to care, caress and show Susanne all he had been feeling. Pulling away slightly his tilts his head the other way and returns pressing his lips to hers once again as his fingers comb through the few loss strands if hair. His grip still firm keeping her ever so safe.

Grace gives a smile. She was happy to brighten Jared's day a little bit or be his sounding bored. It didn't bother her at all and if made him feel better too than it was definitely a good thing.

   "Your welcome Jared anytime. You have a good lunch and I'll see you in a few days. Might even see me a little earlier to just hang out for a little bit. Bye for now!"

I promise

Hunter returns Katie's kisses and chuckles. "Mm... yeah, never too tired for those, and... yes, it's definitely a good time killer." 

Looking at her out of the corner of his eye, he moves to roll over, his intention to teasingly pin her on her back so he could give her some more kisses. His knee, however, protests an he winds up giving a yelp and returning to his back. Cringing, he lets the pain pass before sighing. "Dang knee... it doesn't want me to have any fun at all." 

Turning his head again, to peer at Katie through the grass, he shrugs. "Well, I guess if you want more, you're gonna have to come back over here since I can't come to you. But you better stay longer this time."

Looking back at Chuck, Susanne feels a little tingle run down her spine. How could those eyes of his lie? They were so deep and so true... truer than any eyes she'd ever seen. Everything about him felt so right. Why was she doubting herself so badly? She knew emotions couldn't be dependable... she knew that just because something felt right, that didn't mean it really was right. But there was more to this... a peace... the sense of fitting... the sense of finally finding something she had been missing. He was safe. Respectful. Godly. Gracious. Kind. Oh, why could she not just accept it and fall into a dream come true? 

Swallowing hard, Susanne realizes that she had started to tremble slightly. Quite unsure of herself, she shifts around until she's sitting sideways in Chuck's lap, her arms wrapped around his neck. He was so big and strong and warm... she liked feeling small next to him, so she could feel protected. 

Searching his eyes, she knew what she wanted to do, she just wasn't exactly sure how, and the more she thought about it, the more unsure she got. She knew that surely he could feel her hands trembling at the back of his neck and she could feel her cheeks growing crimson. 

Leaning in, she cocks her head a little, giving his lips a light kiss like she usually did. Drawing away slightly, she catches his eye again, shrinking back just a little. "I... I don't know what I'm doing," she whispers. "So... so just... kiss me like you want to... I promise I won't pull away this time..." 

Though sighing deeply, Jared really did feel appreciation for Grace's words. "Thanks... I guess part of me just hopes that if I ever do remember, that I'll actually be deserving of her loving me." He still had his doubts after those brief flashes of memories the other day when he'd been in his car and at the park. 

"Lunchtime!" Lydia enters the room carrying a tray from the kitchen. 

Jared smiles and motions her over. "Grace, I gotta go. Mom just brought my lunch. Thanks for talking. I'll... see you in a couple days, right?" 

More Often

Finished with cleaning and making he was out to the big tree with Hunter Katie felt content. The walks out that way were always nice and the lane was lined with crabapple trees and her company was nice too. Katie didn't mind at all about the slow walk and didn't try to rush Hunter. It just gave them more time to enjoy the scenes around them, and take in the warm air.

Getting to there destination finally Katie watchs Hunter sit and get comfortable not wanting to crowd him to much right away. Finally seeing him settled and his comment that followed she shakes her head before easing down next to Hunter as well. Giving him a little nudge with her shoulder.

   "Tired, but not tired enough to miss out on some kisses?"

Leaning into him Katie brings her lips to his letting them linger a little bit before pulling away and smiling once coming back to give him a few more quick kisses before pulling away once more. Just looking into his eyes for several moments before finally speaking again.

   "You know this is a good way to kill time can't complain about that. I definitely think we should do this more often."

Susanne's comment about him not being old brings a warmth to his cheeks, and the comment about him being hot brings even more color. She made him feel really good saying that and he couldn't help but bring his face close into hers her feeling her skin against his and smelling the sweet smell of her hair.

   "I'm happy you don't think I am old. Really thats all that matters."

Pulling away and looking down into Susanne's eyes it was something Chuck could do forever. They were so deep, and they sparkled with life. To him they were endless pools of wonder and adventure and around every turn was a new adventure.

Sitting in her recliner Grace gives a nod as she listens to Jared even though she couldn't see her. Grace didn't mind one but that Jared had called her, it was actually kind of nice to hear from him outside there normal hours. It kind of made it more one on one, and that there really was a friendship there.

   "Having your Uncle seem familiar is really a good thing. It means you might be starting to remember a little more because you didn't even have that with your mom to Justin, so I think thats really great."

Hearing about how Jared though his mom was disappointed she thinks for a long moment  trying to gather her words so they came out right. She really didn't think his moment was disappointed, maybe just hopeful for Jared's own sake.

   "Aw Jared I don't think she is disappointed or anything, I think she just hopes for your own sake you will remember better. As for the burden part I am sure she thinks you are far from that. When I am there and we talk about you I see a lot of love in that woman's eyes and if she didn't think you were burden than that wouldn't be there. I think she just loves you so much it hurts to see you have forgotten everything is all."

Burden

Glancing over his shoulder, Hunter grins. "Yeah... I still hear it calling." Part of him would just as soon spend some more time alone, but part of him enjoyed Katie's company too much to do that. And besides all that... he knew that Katie had her reasons for being here at the ranch in the first place - it wasn't about him. He thought she seemed happier lately, but he hadn't talked to her much more about how she felt, how that whole emotional thing was doing, or if she was getting over Jason. Those were things Hunter just didn't bring up, not wanting to overstep his bounds. In the end though... whether he needed extra help now or not, Katie's needs were still very important and the last thing he wanted to do was neglect her.

It didn't take too much longer before Hunter was slowly making his way beside Katie down the lane to the back pasture. It wasn't particularly easy with crutches, especially on some of the rougher ground, but he didn't give up. Once to the tree, he eases down carefully, setting aside his crutches. 

Letting out a long sigh, he lies down on his back, his eyes looking up into the tree branches. "Okay, I'm tired." He was glad it would be a while before they had to make the trek back again.

"Of course..." He cranes his neck to look over and up at Katie. He was weary, he was troubled and confused, and he was frustrated. But at the moment, it would be nice to forget about all that for a while. "...I'm not too tired..." He grins, letting the implication hang in the air.

"Oh, Chuck..." Susanne brings one of his hands up to kiss it before leaning her face into the soft warmth. "I still can't decide if all those nice things you always say are true or not, just because it's so hard to believe anybody could like me that much." One of the things she appreciated about him so much was that even though she continued to be unsure about him, he never got upset with her, allowing her time to think everything through and come to her own conclusions. If he'd had any bad intentions, he would have done it already though, right? And if he was after something else, by now he would have given up, wouldn't he? So did she really need to continue questioning his sincerity? 

Shifting a little to the side, she turns her head so she can see his face. There were still traces of tears on her cheeks, but she smiles. "One of these days, you're just gonna haul off and whack me one, I just know it." 

Her eyes dance with humor. "And by the way... forty-three is far from old, so you don't have an old brain. Forgetful maybe, but not old." Her smile widens. "And trust me... anybody as hott as you cannot yet be over the hill."

"...then yesterday I got a visit from my uncle. I didn't remember him, but I guess I didn't see him much before anyway. Kinda seemed familiar though, ya know?" 

Jared sits propped up on his bed, his television muted as he talks with Grace on the phone. It was the first time he'd taken advantage of calling her. He'd just been... a bit lonely and wanted to tell somebody about the last few days but had no one to tell it to. She'd be coming again in a couple days for his therapy but being bound to his bedroom and only part of the house, forty-eight hours was a long time to Jared. 

"He asked me a bunch of questions but I didn't remember anything. I felt kinda bad but he was nice. Actually.... nicer than I thought he'd be, compared to Justin." Justin had come just last night and had stayed for about fifteen minutes - a record. Jared wondered if maybe he was really trying to make an effort at coming to see him, yet there was still this feeling in the air that his brother simply didn't like him. Not that Jared could blame him, but... it still hurt. 

"I think Mom thought I'd remember more after seeing my uncle though... I think she was kinda disappointed. I really feel like I'm starting to be a burden to her."

Remember

Being pulled over to the sunny spot Chuck didn't mind at all. Just letting Susanne directed him for now on what she wanted, how fast she wanted things. Once she was more comfortable and less shy he wouldn't mind taking control again like a man should in a relationship. It was just at the moment he understood he needed to sit back and chill a little.

As Susanne sits and positions herself between Chuck's legs he just smiles and lets her get comfortable. Letting her place his hands where she wanted them and letting her lay how she wanted too. It was all to comfortable having her that close to him and it give Chuck chills but it also meant she was opening up a little more and no words would be said about it. Leaning his head aganst hers Chuck gives it a small kiss.

   "Sounds pretty lonely to me, even if you convinced yourself you liked it that way. I think anyone was crazy though to not realize you were there. Every time something cool happens at the shop I turn to tell you and remember your at work, or home. Than I have to wait till I see you again and by than my old brain has forgotten what I was so excited about in the first place. Or it could simply be your pure butey that takes my breath away so all words are forgotten."

Tightening his arms around Susanne a little more to let her feel his warmth Chuck lets out a small sigh, it was small but a happy one. In a way He felt bad that Susanne had spent her young life like that but now...now he could make up for it. She deserved so much more, Chuck only hoped that being a music love, motorcycle rider would be enough for her. He wasn't rich but he had everything he needed to live comfortably.

   "Thank you, for making me so happy Susanne."

As Katie cleans she keeps up some small talk with Hunter but moving to the kitchen talking was a little less. Pouring some floor cleaner into the sink and than running the water Katie watches as bubbles form. Continuing to watch them Katie's mind takes her back...back to the time where She and J had to clean the break room. It ended in a bubble fight breaking out and ended with there vow to always love eachother.

Coming back to Katie realizes the sink was almost full and shuts the water off. A single tear had found its way down her cheek and Katie was happy Hunter was in the other room. How could of love have gone so wrong? Was it really the broken connection that messed everything up, had Jason really cheated on her or was Katie looking for an out from something she didn't understand. 

Since coming here it really was not something she had though about much but one thing she had was the face that maybe Jason was telling the truth and he wasn't cheating on her. Maybe she had blown the whole thing out to be more than it was and she didn't even give him a chance to explain. That one thought alone made her sick and hurt. 

Snaking her head Katie didn't want to think about it right now. She wanted to continue having a good time, even though she new come tonight the thought might come again and she wouldn't be able to push it away herself.

   "So...Hunter, I'm almost done here...is that tree still calling our name?"