Been a while...

Seeing Grace smile, Jared feels a sense of relief - she hadn't minded his affection. She approved. 

Caressing her cheek with his thumb, he finally draws back, still holding her hand and giving it an extra squeeze. Did he really have feelings for her? Feelings deeper than friendship? Yes... he did. 

Leaning back against the wall again, he turns his focus back to the photos, leaving the moment with Grace to remain where it was - in the past, not to be spoiled by explanation or justification. It was what it was - nothing more, nothing less. 

"And this was a trip to the zoo apparently." Jared arcs an eyebrow at a picture of him hanging off a monkey statue. "But I... don't remember that." He grins, settling in closer to Grace. "Justin was always the quirker, not me. Must've been a rare moment."

Nate's question seems to go unnoticed for a moment as Jaz furrows her brow. "Con... as in Con Gibbs?" She'd heard about him - bad from the Agency, good from Carson. Wasn't his wife the one Carson had something to do with right before changing sides? Jaz couldn't remember. But if that was the case, maybe they didn't like Carson. And if they didn't like Carson, then there was a good chance they wouldn't like her. But if Con had seemed positive then...

Bringing her thoughts back into focus, she looks at Nate for a moment, hoping she could trust him as much as she felt she could. "Um... I'll... I'll come with you to TJY." Standing, she runs a hand through her hair trying to think of all she might need. At least her tears were dry for now. She wouldn't make Nate stay here though - he had better things to do. "Just... give me a couple minutes to throw a bag together in case I don't get back here right away."

It really didn't take her much longer than those couple minutes to gather a couple sets of clothes and a few personal items, thrown into a backpack. After all, she didn't have that much to begin with. After slipping on a pair of flipflops and pulling her hair back into a low ponytail, she finds Nate again, backpack slung over her shoulder. "Okay... I'm ready, and... thank you. I really appreciate this." 

"The nice thing is, that it doesn't matter where we've been or how far off the path we've strayed. He's still there waiting - unmoving and unchanging. No matter what we've done, His love and forgiveness covers it. And despite what we may think, He always wants us to talk to Him, no matter what we're feeling, good or bad. For me... well, I guess I learned a while back that life was a whole lot easier when I let Him share my burdens, rather than trying to do it all myself. I could handle a lot - but not enough. He didn't mind that it took me so long to realize it, and He was more than willing to take me in and give me the peace I'd needed but fought for so many years." 

Hunter sits under the tree in the pasture, his eyes watching the clouds roll by. It felt like just yesterday he and Katie were sitting here... yet almost like a lifetime as well. Time was funny. In a way though, the way he was feeling, it almost did seem as though a lifetime had passed for him. The way he thought... the way he processed things... the way he felt deep inside.

Mick's words from the day before had come back to him. Hunter had been helping him fix the hay baler and conversation had somehow turned to God. It was one of the few times Hunter had been willing to discuss it and... Mick really had made a lot of sense. Whether or not he had though, there was an undeniable ache in the pit of Hunter's heart, and he knew good and well what it was from. He'd known all along - he'd just been unwilling to admit it. 

Squinting at the sunlight sky, he sighs deeply. He'd realized many things over the last few weeks. Things about himself. About why he did some of the things he did. About issues he'd avoided for so long. His parents - his father in particular. Kyle. His drinking. Having felt little love growing up and having been rejected as he was, it was no wonder he reacted the way he did to any rejection after that. It just... hadn't made sense until now. It was no wonder he'd overreacted with Kyle - with Alice and the whole Break Out incident. His wanderings all had to do with him running away from what he was really feeling. And his drinking... it was just a lousy habit of trying to numb what he'd thought were just surface feelings - when in reality it had been the deeper wounds he'd been trying to bury. 

It all made sense now. He'd just never thought through it before. He'd never taken the time to look at his hurt and figure out why it was there to begin with. And now that answers were falling into place... there was just one more piece missing. One more thing to do before true healing could begin. Before he could start letting go of the things he needed to.

"God... I know it's been a while..."

"So you dating him, or what?" Colt crunches on a potato chip, sitting with Ariel in the grass by the pasture fence as they ate lunch. 

Ariel shrugs and takes a sip from her water bottle. "Naw. I mean, we've gone out a few times, but that's it. Last I knew, he still hadn't decided if he was even staying or going back to Mexico - not exactly something I want to get involved with if he's just gonna take off." 

Colt quirks an eyebrow. "He's still staying with the Elite?" 

"Yeah. I don't think he likes it, so I don't know why he won't make up his mind. They've even offered to help him find his own place."

"Hmm. Sounds like he would rather go back home to me."

"I can't tell." Ariel finishes of her sandwich, chewing thoughtfully. "He's got an awfully thick wall. Every once in a while I see through it and get a glimmer of the guy inside, but then he's right back to hiding himself." 

"Maybe he has a lot to hide." 

Ariel smirks at her brother. "You still don't like him, do you?" 

"Well, first impressions do a lot." Colt recalls seeing Trey drunk at Ariel's place. "What I see is a spoiled guy with little self-control and who is taking advantage of his situation by living free until he can get his butt in gear and make up his mind for himself. Maybe if he had his mommy, he'd-" Colt stops short as he receives a whack over the head - a hard one. "Ouch!" 

Ariel scowls at him. "Must you be so doggone negative all the time?"

"I just call it as I see it." Colt rubs his head. "Maybe that was harsh, but you know I'm picky when it comes to guys who hit on my sister." 

Ariel can't help her grin. "And if I wasn't your sister?" 

Colt shrugs. "Then I'd say he's a guy who seems to have little direction, and I'd feel kinda bad for him."

"Hmm." Ariel is skeptical, but she accepts it. 

Colt munches on a couple more chips, squinting out across the pasture. He always enjoyed the days when his sister could join him at the stable... even if he might not admit it aloud. "Think he'd like to come to the church picnic?" 

"Don't know. I can ask though." Ariel gives him a sidelong glance, her grin returning. "You ol' softy, you." 

Colt's lips curl into a smile. "Just don't tell anybody. Might ruin my reputation."

Ariel scoffs. "Don't fool yourself - everybody knows you're a softy."

Remember

Being pulled into Jared just a little bit closer Grace can feel her own grip tighten slightly. She let the kiss continuing not minding it much. It had surprised her but she was not scared, even hearing about Jared's past. Maybe she had gotten to know a part of him no one else had seen, the part of Jared that even with his past was locked away, the soft side.

As the kiss comes to an end and Jared pulls away Grace opens her eyes and just lets the soft smile spread across her lips. He heart beating so much faster now that it already had started too. Leaning her head into his hand they were soft, caring and they made her feel....safe.

   "Mmmm..yes it will. I think it's one of the best new ones...and thank you Jared."

As Rick comes back and gives her the soft pat to her shoulder Misty lets out a sigh. Would things be ok and would they work out? She wasn't so sure about that or when things would be ok and normal again but she new she hated the continues pleading Carson was doing and hoped this now was the end of it.

   "Thanks Rick, sooner or late it has too."

So many things were happening and going on Misty didn't even know where to start. She was trying to do what was best for her and on the same hand everything hurt and reminded of her past she had with the man who was going to become her Ex. Misty still cared about him and the hardest thing was seeing him now regret his desition and knowing he really was just trying to protect her and the baby. Still that didn't make this whole thing ok and couldn't just sweep it under the carpet like nothing happened.

   "Thanks Con, just let me know and than we can set things up."

Nate new that he'd have to talk to Jamie and it was only right and that didn't bother him at all. After all they were married and bring a strange ex Agency woman into there home was a big deal. He was happy than Con was at least going to talk to her though and see if they could work something up.

   "Talk to ya again soon. Bye."

Hanging up the phone and putting it back in his pocket Nate goes from the living room back into the kitchen. Sitting down at the place setting next to Jaz she gives her a soft smile, he could be rough, and he didn't take his job lightly but when someone was in danger he didn't take that lightly either.

   "I talked to Con and he said he was going to have to talk to his Wife but as long as she was ok with it there would be no problem. So he's going to talk to her and get back to me soon."

Leaning back in the chair for a second Nate new he was going to have to get back to work soon but he hated leaving Jaz here by herself. Maybe she would come to TJY with him just to stay there till they new something more. Than she wouldn't have to be alone, but if he called Reese and told him where he was than he could stay here too and be on call.

   "Would you like to come back to TJY with me till we know more or do you want me to stay here with you?"