Overnight Bag

Hearing Grace wouldn't be coming today, Lydia sighed. She hoped this had nothing to do with what happened yesterday, but was also a little concerned. Grace didn't usually do things like not call in to work.

Jared took out one earbud as his mother came to his open doorway. "What?"

She gave him a bit of a motherly look. "Grace is not coming today. And I do not blame her after how you treated her."

Watching his mother simply leave, Jared's eyes narrowed. Sure. Blame him. Why not? He didn't care anyway. Grace had left him on the ground yesterday. If she didn't want to come back, then so be it.

Just as he was starting to listen to his music again, he felt his cell phone vibrate. Without a number her recognized, he almost let it go to voicemail, then on a whim, he decided to answer it. "Yeah?" As soon as he heard Grace's strained voice, his blood ran cold. "Grace, what... what happened, whats.." He was cut off as the male voice came on the line. And when the call was over, his heart was racing. What was happening? Where was Grace? Who was the man? Was she okay? Why was she hurt? Who had hurt her? And why on earth did they want him to talk to Justin? Justin. He was just a counselor. Wait, no, he did something for the cops or something right? Was he involved in something heavy? Why would anyone harm Grace?
Feeling utterly helpless, he went to dial Justin but realized he didn't have his number. "Mom!" he yelled. "Mom!"

Lydia came quickly. "What on earth is wrong?"

"Justin. His number." Jared couldn't speak clearly and held up his phone, frustrated. "What's Justin's number."

Lydia frowned. "Why, what..."

"Just give me his number!"

"Alright, alright!" Lydia scowled at him before reciting the memorized number. "Now tell me...." She gave up as Jared was already dialing, and walked away, more annoyed than anything.


Justin was just walking out of one of the wards at Brookshire when his phone rang. Coaxing the two dogs up into his pickup, he fished his phone from his pocket. "Hello?"

"Justin? I just got a call about Grace. I think she's hurt and some guy said I needed to tell you. What's going on?"

"Whoa, whoa." Justin slid in behind the wheel. "Slow down."

"How can I slow down?! Grace is hurt and I don't know where she is!"

Justin began to realize that something really serious was going on. This was no joke. "Okay, tell me exactly what happened."

"I just did! Grace called. She was upset and said she was hurt. I didn't even have time to talk to her and a guy got on and said I needed to get in contact with you if I ever wanted to see Grace alive again. Justin, what the heck is going on?!" 

The wheels in Justin's mind were already turning - quickly. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. He started his pickup. "I don't know. But I'm going to find out, okay? Just hang tight."

"As if I could do anything else. What are you involved in? Why did they want me to call you?"

"I don't know, Jared!" Justin looked both ways before peeling out of the parking lot. He didn't want to be mean to his brother, but right now was not the time to try and explain all he did every day. He had never yet been targeted by the Agency. Had that now changed? "Just don't do anything. I'll be in touch as soon as I know something."

"Shouldn't I call the police?"

"No. Don't. Just stay put and call me back if you get another call." Justin hung up on his brother and dialed with one hand as he drove. "Reese? We might have a situation." He explained what Jared had just told him. "I don't know what this is about. It could be some disgruntled client of mine, but I'm more afraid it's the Agency, just because whoever it is actually took the long way around to get to me, and that seems to be one of the Agency's talents."

"Agreed. I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'll start looking into this. Where are you at?"

"I'm on my way to pick up my girlfriend and get her somewhere safe, then I'm coming in."

"Good man. I'll send someone to your brother's to make sure he and your mother are okay."

"Thanks. I'll be there as soon as I can." Justin tossed his phone into the passenger seat as he sped down the highway. He made it to Beth's in record time. Knowing it was her day off work, he hoped she was home, and after knocking on her apartment door, he didn't wait for her to answer, but went on inside. "Beth? Beth," he called. Finding her in the kitchen, he set his hands on her shoulders, relief covering his face that she was okay. "Pack an overnight bag - you're coming with me. I'll explain on the way to North Springs."


Mick had just dozed off when the knock at the door sent him jerking bolt upright in bed. He blinked in the dark before hearing the knock again and realizing what it was. Who on earth would bother them at this hour? Maybe some of the horses got loose or something.

Yawning, he gave Rosetta's shoulder a gentle pat. There was no need to get everybody out of bed. "I'll be back," he informed sleepily. "Don't go anywhere." He pulled on a pair of jeans and threw on a open flannel shirt over his tee before trudging to the door in his bare feet.

Turning on the porch light as he opened the door, he was surprised to see Stacy. Then he was concerned. "Stacy... what's wrong?"


Lane remained on his knees in the pasture, but he knew he couldn't stay there. No matter how sick this whole thing made him feel, ignoring it was certainly not an option. It wouldn't fix itself. He had to do what he'd come to do. 

Finally rising to his feet once more, he wandered a while before aiming back towards the barns.


Levi's smile widened as Karla responded to everything he'd said - positively and with enthusiasm. He opened his mouth, then stopped at her final comment, his eyes going wide. Spinning around to see his dad, he bit his lip. "Oops."

Keith smirked at him and shook his head before turning his concentration back to his phone call. 

Levi cringed inwardly. His dad didn't like something he was doing. He could tell. But it was too late now. He looked back to Karla. "Okay, so let's start with lunch tomorrow and see what happens. Is that slow enough?" He grinned. "How's Tou Han's Chinese sound to you? On me. We'll call it an interview."

Dead or Alive

Hearing the woman answer the phone the voice on the other end was very professional. Grace hadn't show up to work today and though they were annoyed that now they had to cancel all her appointments they new it was there job anyways.

   "Hi Ms. Hawks,  Sorry to bother you this is Kim from the hospital. I was just calling to let you know Grace never showed up for work today. So she wont be making it to your sons appointment this afternoon."

Continuing to let the phone ring the person on the other end just waited, and wait till finally a voice answered he other end. Handing the phone off again, giving a look that could kill anyone.

As the phone is brought up to her ear Grace can't help the tears that streamed down her face. She hurt all over and the scent of blood was strong. She wasn't sure what was going on or what had happened. After she left Jared's house yesterday she'd been so out of it everything just became a blur.

    "Jared....I don't know what they want. Please....everything hurts...."

Before she could say anything more the phone was yanked away from her and a gag put back over her mouth. What was going to happen to her? Was this going to be the end? Was this it for her?

   "If you ever want to see your girlfriend alive again I'd get in contact with your brother before she bleeds to death."

Nothing more was said as the line went dead. 

Doing her rounds was never hard, but she was always alert, and something about the new visitor made her hair stand on end. Mick seemed a little tense around him and the face she wasn't introduced as anymore than just Stacy made her even more concerned. So tonight she made sure that every corner was searched, every bunk was locked, or occupied. 

Movement catch the corner of her eye. Stay a bit away seeing the figure step out of the shadow she see its lane and her hair again stands on end. Maybe he was just looking around but why would he do that now? It was late, and he could do it just as easy with his sister in the morning. Something just wasn't right and Stacy didn't like it.

Continuing to watch her concern grew and grew till Lane feel down in the field. She needed to tell Mick. There just wasn't something right with this whole thing and she couldn't just let this slid. Even if it was nothing she'd rather tell someone and find that out than let it slide and it be something more.

Heading right to the main house Stacy hated having to wake anyone but she had to. Knocking on the door loudly she hoped she wouldn't wake the little one too.

Karla can't help but laugh again as Levi seemed to move a million miles and hour and just seemed to excited that she wanted to work with them. She needed these laughs and she was thankful for them. She could only think of one person who had control over this situation and he new exactly what she needed.

   "Pay dosent concern me, I don't have any other job at the moment, three days a week sounds good too and yes...lunch tomorrow sounds lovely. Only...if you promise to slow down a little bit. You are going to end up hurting yourself and I think your dad might hurt himself too if you dont take notice he is trying to flag you down."

Tired and Sore

Mick tossed Rosetta a wink as he returned her smile. He knew she'd read his face, and he'd express his concerns to her later when they were alone. He wouldn't voice them now - especially when Angel was enjoying her brother as much as she was...

...As soon as it felt appropriate, Lane said his goodnights. It might have seemed just a little early, but he was tired, and though he wouldn't admit it, he was overwhelmed and just needed some quiet. Going to bed early was the best excuse, with the promise he'd see everyone tomorrow, and help out in the barns...

...Everyone else was in bed. At least Lane assumed so, since it was after midnight and no lights were on. Despite being exhausted though, his mind was wide awake - and had been since he'd left the group earlier. He slowly wandered out past the barns, his eyes roaming the dark surroundings. This place really had changed and grown. It wasn't the same ranch he remembered.

Reaching the back gate, he unlatched it and let himself into the pasture. Once he went a short distance, he stopped to stare up at the starlit sky. Thousands upon thousands of stars could be seen tonight. And normally, he'd enjoy it. Normally he'd take it all in with wonder and imagine how he could capture such a scene. But not tonight. It was uncertain how long he'd stood, before the weight came crashing down on him.

Falling to his knees he hung his head, closing his eyes shut tight. The people here...his sister...everyone... How could he follow through with this? How could he destroy such goodness, peace and kindness? He couldn't. But he had to. He had no choice. But it was already destroying his soul.


Jared didn't look at Grace as she spoke. He heard her alright though, and it stung. But he refused to respond, and instead he just stayed where he was to wallow in his misery. His wet, painful misery.

Eventually, long after Grace was gone, he made it to his feet and to the door, where Lydia finally came to help. He didn't talk to her about what happened, but simply let her help him into some dry clothes and into bed where he spent the rest of the day, refusing supper.

The following day, Lydia couldn't get him out of bed. It wasn't that he wasn't able - although he was mighty sore from the previous day - but he simply refused. By the time Grace was to come in the afternoon, he still hadn't even eaten anything. 

Tired and sore, he lay stretched out on top of his bed, propped up with pillows. Eyes closed, he listened to music through his headphones in an attempt to drown out the world.


"A band? Sweet!" Levi's eyes lit up. "You serious about wanting the job? I mean, really?" It seemed too good to be true. "I was half-kidding, but we could definitely use some organizing around here."

He hooked his thumbs in his jeans pockets as he grew at ease. "We were just ready to throw a help-wanted sign in the window. It's not like we don't wanna be more organized or can't - we've just been so busy that it's been a nightmare keeping everything straight."

Keith talked on the phone while listening with one ear to his son's conversation, and waved at him but failed to get his attention.

Levi nodded to his own desk. "We offer advertising services. I do a lot of graphic designing, and we make connections for folks for like, say, business cards or brochures, or connect their businesses to newspapers or radio to help boost awareness. We do all the designing and footwork so the businesses don't have to. And...business is booming at the moment, so...it would be awesome to have someone to help clean things up and maybe handle the phones and stuff."

Keith waved again, a little more frantically, but Levi still didn't see him.

"I can't quote you what we can pay since we hadn't yet decided on the details, but I can definitely say we'd love to have someone here three days a week to start out. And we'd train you, of course. How about tomorrow?"

Realizing he was going very fast, Levi halted his thoughts and his mouth as he bit his lip. "Unless, of course, you're already working another job and need time or something. Or maybe three days a week won't even work for you." He stopped again as his brain took off once more. "I know - can you do lunch tomorrow? We can talk details then."

Over at his own desk, Keith threw up his hands while maintaining his phone conversation. Intervening now was pointless.