For there sake

Looking back at Gunner Hope gives him a small shake of her head. She felt bad but she new that he could not stay here himself. He wasn't crazy but it wasn't good for him to stay alone either.

   "I think they would be very proud of you Gunner, but I don't think they would like it much if they new people were trying to help you and you wouldn't let them."

Taking a step closer to Gunner and placing her hand on his Hope had a look that showed she did care a great deal about him and what happened. She did care and this was important for more than one reason.

   "I need you Gunner or Bree sake, and all your friends to consider staying with JT or Bree even. If not than we will had to find you else where to stay. Not because your crazy at all, but because you had had a mental break. That has nothing to do with being crazy or not but its a must to have someone here, or for you to go and be with someone else. I don't want to force you at all because thats not how I like to do things so I would like it if you would do it on your own...please."

Getting Alec's phone call Misty couldn't help her own excitement bubble over as she sat on her desk. She new Alec had been still looking for a job and it had been driving him crazy not to find anything. Hearing how exicted he was now was a good feeling for Misty.

   "Oh wow Alec that's great. I am so happy for you. When do you start?"

Looking at the words over and over again for a long moment and studying it Janet didn;t know Clay all that well but from what she did know he didn't seem like the time to do anything dumb. And yet could they be wrong?

   "Well I dont think Clay seems like someone who might harm themselves. More like an active imagination or just revealing some stress."

Glancing at the paper again and just holding it Janet can't help but take note really to how well it was written. It flowed nicely, made sense and painted a picture in ones head.

   "We could always ask him about it. And it is rather well written."

Dark Wings

Gunner chewed on his lower lip, not looking to Hope, but still listening. He finally shook his head. "I don't wanna burden JT...or Bree." He remained on the floor and started rocking slightly, not even realizing it was a dead giveaway for how nervous and stressed out he was. "It's not fair...not fair to Bree...None of this."

He tried to think straight. Tried to clear his mind. But it felt like he was trapped inside a thick fog with no light to guide him out. Never had he felt so confused and unable to think. 

"I forgot everything," he whimpered. "Why can't I forget about this? Why am I cursed? I just...I want to give up. It's not worth fighting anymore. Just not worth it." 

He turned his eyes to Hope with a pitiful look of desperation. "Am I really going crazy? Too crazy to stay here by myself?" His gaze lowered. "My parents wouldn't be very proud of me, would they?"

"Hey, Misty..." Alec stood in the kitchen on the phone, having just called Misty's cell phone. He knew she was at work, but he was dying to talk to her. 

"I just wanted to let you know that when I was out today, I brought some ice cream home...to celebrate... 'cause... I got a job." A genuine smile was on his face. "It's with the city - I can't figure who put in a good word for me, but somebody must have, since they turned me down once before. Anyway, I get to do work like cleaning up sidewalks, mowing grass at the park, stuff like that." He couldn't help the excitement in his voice. 

"They're gonna give me tasks to do on a weekly basis, and I can work up to thirty hours. If what they give me isn't enough, I can find stuff to do, too. I figure that, plus the few hours with Carson... I can finally start paying you some rent."

Rick sat in the kitchen with Janet, having taken time to come home for lunch. Clay was out job hunting, and it was just as well for the moment. 

"What do you make of this?" Rick furrowed his brow as he studied the handwritten words. He'd found the paper crumpled by the bathroom waste basket, and would have thrown it away - as was probably intended - but some of the words had caught his attention. 

"Dark wings spread to circle high

Above the blood red moon.

Descending into black for prey below,

I shake.

But not in fear.

Muscles poised ready to fire

My arrow into his heart.

Death.

One must die tonight.

Avoiding razor talons, I must fight

Lest I become

One of them.

Dark creature of the night,

Thirsty for slaughter.

For my flesh.

But I am prepped for battle

One arrow pulled to aim.

Yet I find

There is no heart to pierce.

Dark wings spread around me,

Lifting me high

Towards the blood red moon.

I've lost myself.

No longer man.

But a creature of the night.

And heartless, I fall."

Rick sat back and finished off his iced tea. "I didn't know Clay wrote at all, let alone anything so dark. Think its anything to be concerned about?" 

 

Understand more

Pulling a chair out Hope sits down listening to Gunner again. Hearing what happened on his way home she  understood a little better what might be going on and how it was very possible that Gunner had a psychotic break. After having something like that throw into your face it was very possible.

   "I can see how something like that could of made you break down. Having something like that thrown in your face can do that when its traumatic."

Tapping her fingers on the counter for a second. This whole thing took a new turn now. A different direction but at least Hope understood why now. She anger was a little less, and there was much more understanding. If Gunner had only said this from the start than she would of been able to work with this sooner.

   "Being alone right now I dont think is a good thing Gunner. Not because I think you would intentionally hurt yourself, but on mistake. Leave a stove on, fall down the steps, or anything like that."

Hope takes another breath. She did what should could to let Gunner know she didn't think he would mean to hard himself seeing as that was on of the big issues he kept saying. She just wanted to make sure he was going to be ok.

   "Maybe you could stay with JT for a little bit."