When You're Around

Susanne giggled at Chuck's humor before nuzzling into his hug. She sighed deeply and wrapped her arms around his waist, glad that he was so flexible and willing to go with the flow, even when she'd ruined dinner. 

"Yeah don't gnaw off your arm, please...I like both of them to hold me." 

After a moment of just enjoying his embrace, she finally pulled away and grinned up at him. "If we have to go downtown anyway...can we take your bike?"

Gunner had been lost in his own little world, so when he heard Bree's voice, he jumped, startled. "Huh? Oh..." He glanced in the backseat and shrugged. "Naw...I mean...it's not much." 

He hadn't talked to her all day, which was not his norm, but he knew that by now Bree would know everything either from Hope or JT. And it wasn't fun. He didn't like being in this position. He didn't like needing them to take care of him. He didn't like not understanding why he felt the way he did. Nothing made sense. 

Realizing he was still just sitting there, he finally forced himself to unbuckle his seatbelt and exit the car. Walking around to Bree, he gave her a small hug and kiss, but it was quite obvious he was either very distracted or very tired...maybe both. 

"Deja vu," he mumbled as he reached in the backseat to grab his two bags. "First time I was getting out of a mental hospital. This time I'm just going mental in general." 

He shut the door and sighed before he looked back at Bree. As quickly as the irritation had come, it was gone, leaving his eyes faraway and hollow. "I don't know what's happening to me," he admitted softly. "And I'm sorry you have to put up with me 'til I get it figured out. I wouldn't be here if Hope hadn't insisted." 

Though not as much on guard as he should be, Garret was unsurprised by Victoria's sudden presence. Still ignoring the rain, he returned her embrace, feeling almost a sense of relief that his arms could finally hold her again. Four weeks was an eternity. 

Instead of answering her question, he pulled back slightly, his palm finding the side of her face. Leaning in, he kissed her with passion, letting the depth speak for his emotions. He'd missed her. He cared for her. She was his sanity in  this chaos. Lightning created a silhouette of their embrace before thunder again shook the sky. It did little to Garret's concentration on Victoria though. 

Eventually drawing away, his hand remained on her face, his thumb caressing her cheek. Despite the rain streaming down his own face though, it could not hide the darkness in his gaze.

"I'm only okay when you're around," he finally answered. "When you're not, the world doesn't exist, and nothing else matters."