Fly solo

"Mm... well then, if you miss me that much, maybe it'll just make my coming home that more special." Eric grins and gives Stacy's hand a squeeze. 

"For now though, let's talk about going to town this weekend."  Now with her knowing about his job, he'd just as soon move on to another subject and think about hitting the road later. It would make for a much more pleasant morning anyway...

It wasn't long before breakfast was over and the rest of the day had to be faced along with the work that awaited...

...Keeping a close eye on Ashlee and Moonbeam, Eric rides alongside, letting Static pick the pace. It was a nice afternoon - perfect for a ride out in the fields. He'd only had Ashlee out of the corral a couple times, but pretty soon she'd be just fine on her own. Which was a good thing, unless she wanted lessons from someone else while he was gone. He wasn't sure what she'd decide about that one - he'd been working with her almost every day since getting her on a horse and she didn't seem to be tired of it. 

"So... I was telling your mom today about some things I'm gonna have to be doing soon." Straightening out his reins he pulls Static's head back over to keep him from munching on some leaves as they rode alongside a wooded area. 

Eric glances over at Ashlee, pleased that he hadn't had to remind her about keeping her posture yet today. "I've signed on to a couple truck driving jobs." She knew he used to be a truck driver, and he was sure that this news wouldn't bother her in the least. He'd only be gone a week or two at a time, and he'd only signed on for two runs. Of course... what he knew was that driving truck wasn't something you easily hopped in and out of. You were either in or not, and there was a good chance he'd be on the road even after these first couple runs. He also knew that even though he and Stacy hadn't talked about that aspect, that she was well-aware of it too. 

Regardless, he was still sure that Ashlee wouldn't mind as much as her mother thought she would. After all, there was plenty here to keep her busy, she could ride by herself now, there was a lot in the barn to keep her occupied, and she still had Dylan to hang out with too. His absence would surely not disrupt much in her daily life. 

"I take off Monday for the first run and I'll just be gone two weeks is all. Then I'll have a few days back here and the next run won't be quite as long." Nudging Static with his heels, he chides his horse for wanting to veer off the path. "You're doing great with your riding, so while I'm gone you can either get some tips from Sparky maybe, or fly solo, that's up to you." He tosses Ashlee a grin. "I bet Dylan would ride with you too." 

"Hmm..." Clay just nods, paying more attention than his body language showed. He'd heard some about the Elite through Rick and local talk, but he really knew very little about it and what they did. He wasn't so sure who this "Agency" was either, but he wasn't going to ask questions right now. 

Finishing his orange, he stands and walks gingerly to the waste basket to throw away the peel. "Well... for what it's worth... I'm glad you're on this side too. Thanks for patching me up." 

"Alright, Clay. You ready to go?"

Clay turns too quickly and winces, putting a hand to his side. "What? Yeah. I thought you were gonna make me stay here longer." 

Rick shakes his head as he comes in, approaching both him and Misty. "Naw, I'll take you home and keep an eye on you there."

"Okay. Well..." Clay gives Misty a little wave. "Nice to meet ya." 

Rick also nods to Misty. "Thanks for your help. I'll be back to work in the morning."

Seeing Destiny come to the door, Chance's heart skips a beat. He couldn't read the look on her face. He'd obviously surprised her, but... was it a good surprise? Bad? Her eyes were so cryptic. Or had he just been away that long that he could no longer read them? 

"I..." His attempt at answering her initial phrase disperses as he's quite suddenly overtaken by Destiny's embrace. Almost stumbling backward, the flowers are dropped as his arms automatically wrap around her. Her words cut him to the quick and he holds her closer, feeling as though he'd committed yet another crime against this fragile heart. 

"Shhh... it's okay," he comforts. "I'm here now. I'm okay." She did care. She did want to see him. His embrace tightens. 

"They've had me in isolation to ensure maximum security. I had to help pinpoint Underground activity in exchange for being kept in the clear by the Elite. It took longer than we thought and I kept asking to contact you but they wouldn't let me for your safety's sake." 

He kisses the top of her head several times, continuing to hug her tightly until finally prying himself away just far enough to see her face. "I missed you so much," he whispers. "I thought for sure you would have given up on me again." 

Con sighs before rubbing his tired eyes and shoving the newspaper across the kitchen table. Nothing. No jobs that he could do. What was he supposed to do now? 

Rising, he heads for the living room where he flops down on the couch instead. Out of habit he plants his head in a throw pillow with his better ear up. Reaching around, he removes his hearing aid, tossing it onto the coffee table. It helped...but having it in his ear also drove him insane - one of the reasons he'd rarely worn it to work. Not to mention, he couldn't wear it on missions anyway because he couldn't wear that and a communication earpiece at the same time. Nothing worked anymore. And it was all the Agency's fault. 

He recalls becoming so very sick due to the Agency poison. It was then that his hearing had been mercilessly attacked. And slowly...slowly, it had worsened up until this point. Deaf in his left ear and a loss of hearing in his right. And because he hadn't given up sooner, someone had gotten hurt. 

Rolling onto his back, he stares up at the ceiling. He needed to find a job. He needed to earn money. He couldn't let Jamie take the full financial burden. It wasn't right. It was his responsibility. And he felt as though he were failing miserably.  

This end than...

Letting another smile shine through again Stacy couldn't be mad at Eric. She cared to much about him and he made her feel so good. Specially when he said the sweet things like he just had. Two weeks wasn't shabby even if it would feel like longer. Stacy could deal with that the best she could.

   "Something tells me its not that easy and she will notice your gone a great deal. Once you explain everything though I think she will understand too."

Stacy wasn't worried that Ashlee would not understand but only that at first she might think Eric was leaving because of them. Once everything was explain it would be ok, it was only the leading up to that, that would be hard on Ash and she new it.

   "I'm going to miss you very much too."

 Having the subject change Misty didn't mind to much. She had tried to share a little of her faith and what she though with Clay and hoped it sank in but being new to the whole thing herself. So maybe saying a little was better than saying to much.

Hearing Clay's question about what else they did around here Misty couldn't help but laugh. This was a subject she was more comfortable with. Talking about TJY till she was blue in the face was something she liked doing because she new and understood so much about it over the years of working here.

   "Well...they arn't always getting short, blown up, or hurt but there are many times they are too. On the off days though...or the less exciting days we work on research, finding cures, breaking things down so if and when the Agency ever attacks again we can be ready. At least thats what Rick and Myself do."

Standing again and moving a few things around before heading back over to her desk that wasn't to far away Misty sits down. Her feet were starting to hurt a little today from standing on them so long though she really wouldn't say anything. She liked being able to work and she didn't feel she was hurting herself only her feet a little bit.

   "Everyone else on there down time does paper work, look up old cases, and any other odds and ends. Its not all glits and glam but it keeps everyone busy and time to recover. All in all its really not a bad job and I'd rather be on this end than the other one!"

Hearing the door bell Destiny pokes her head out from the kitchen and looks down the hall. She hadn't been expecting anyone today and though some time had past there was still a little fear about someone coming for her. Seeing the shadowy figure on the other side she tried to ration with herself in her head no one would come for her now, not in the middle of the day time right?

Setting the towel down on the counter Destiny slowly makes her way down the hall and to the front door. Just standing there for a long moment with her eyes closed she takes a deep breath before letting it out and opening the door.

Seeing Chance on the other side Destiny just stands there for a moment shocked. It had been so long since she had last seem him and all she had been told was he was on a mission. She had missed him so much after there short reunight.

   "I didn't think I'd see you again for a while..."

Forgetting her fear of answering the door, or the shock when she opened it Destiny takes a step forward and throws her arms around Chance's neck. Pulling him into a big hug and just burying her face into his neck as a few tears escape her eyes.

   "I missed you so much and no one would tell me anything. At first I though maybe you just took off again but when I sat and thought about it...I new better and when I asked...no one would give me any information. Not even if you were ok or not. I couldn't help but fear the worst."

Won't even notice

"Forget you?" Eric gives Stacy a sheepish grin as he shakes his head. "I can do a lot of things, but forgetting about you just ain't one of 'em." He slowly moves his hand from her face, to cup her own palm between both of his. And raising it to his lips, he gives her fingers a tender kiss. "Thank you..." It was a thanks for not being upset with him. For supporting him. For believing in him. 

"Two weeks is gonna seem like an awfully long time, ya know that?" He grins again, his cheeks gaining a little color. It was strange, feeling like this. Like he didn't want to leave. Like two weeks was suddenly an eternity. Like there was more for him here at the ranch than there had been before. Like all of a sudden, he didn't want to be alone on the road. But he knew he had to do it. He needed the money. The ranch needed the money. And somewhere deep down, he also needed to prove to himself that he could drive again and not have it remind him of Dana. But that reason would go unvoiced. 

"I'm gonna take Ashlee out on a ride this afternoon and I'll let her know then. She's got enough to do around here that she probably won't even notice I'm gone." 

Clay keeps his eyes on the orange instead of Misty as she speaks. He always felt twinges of guilt when people talked about God, probably because he'd had that faith once. Now though, it was just hard for him to believe any of that anymore. Or was it that he simply didn't want to? 

Finding the atmosphere silent, he realizes Misty had finished speaking. Finished peeling the orange, he pries apart a slice and pops it in his mouth, savoring the juicy flavor. He wasn't sure when he'd had an orange last, but it sure tasted good today.

Glancing up again, he finally shrugs his response. "Maybe. We'll see." 

Preferring to change the subject, his eyes roam the infirmary. "So what do you do here? I mean, your guys aren't out getting shot up and beat up all the time, are they?"

Stepping up onto the porch, Chance shifted his sunglasses to the top of his head. His eyes held a weary look...tired... worn. But there was life there also. Hope. Hope that perhaps the past would remain as such and that the future would hold something different. Something better. 

Reaching out, he rings the doorbell. In the other hand was a small bouquet of flowers. It was a pitiful attempt after so much time had passed. But he had not been allowed to have contact with Destiny until now. Finally. The question was, would she even want to see him?