Kyle grins and gives Alice's hand a squeeze. He'd just brought her back to drop her off, but an impromptu trip for ice cream seemed to be a very good idea. "That sounds great."
He leans over and gives her lips a long, tender kiss. "You always have the great ideas... especially those involving sugar."
Laughing, he turns the engine back on again and pulls out once more. On the way, maybe he'd swing by the little park where he'd spent hours as a little kid, and where he'd received his first skinned knee after falling off a swing...
...It would be much later when the band would gather at Erik and Theo's apartment. On nights they couldn't actually practice because of the other tenants, they always wound up talking about new songs, what they would change about such-and-such song, how they'd arrange things onstage... the list went on. They couldn't help it - the band was their love... their lives.
"Oooh, we get to open for Skyline?" Theo's eyes widen. "That's awesome! I mean, we've had fun at these few little parties and charities, but this will be an actual concert!"
"Way cool." Russ nods his approval. "All we gotta do is impress the right person sometime and wham! We'll be outta here!"
Kyle grins and leans back in the corner of the couch with Alice. "Yeah, I thought it sounded pretty good myself. Wayne seemed pleased. Might not be huge to him, but it is for us."
Twila claps her hands. "Getting onstage is gonna feel great."
Kyle's fingers absentmindedly toy with Alice's on his lap. "There's just... one problem."
Erik was the first to know what he was talking about, and his shoulders drop a little. "Kip."
All eyes seem to automatically turn in Karla's direction. Kyle gives her the best kind of smile he can. He'd called her specifically tonight to come. He usually didn't... Wayne and Jackie were handling any engagements and business deals until they got a fuller schedule, and Karla didn't have a whole lot to do with managing, per say. Technically, it was Wayne and Jackie's job right now, though the whole band knew that once they started having an actual schedule, they'd be relying on Karla to keep them all straight and going in the right direction. So tonight, Kyle's reason for wanting her there was two-fold. First, he respected her and wanted her in on anything happening. And second, she was the open door to Kip.
"I... didn't bother calling Kip yet," Kyle admits to her. "He's been avoiding band meetings and I was pretty sure he'd turn down this one too. I... we... need to find out what Kip's plans really are. We all want him here, as you well know. But he won't talk to the rest of us about anything but the weather, it seems." He sighs, but retains his smile. "Would you mind letting him know we've got this gig coming up and... find out if he's on board or not?"
"I'm okay." Jason really was... he wasn't good, but he'd had worse days too. His eyes study Katie's, remembering what it felt like to see them, fall into them, and feel her little tugs on his emotions to make him laugh.
Lifting a hand, he brushes her hair aside and cradles her face tenderly. "Rick was here to check on me and make sure everything was alright." He was so tired right now... his body wanted to sleep so badly, but his mind fought against it.
"Katie..." His tone was soft, but serious. "If... if Rick can't find a cure in time..." He knew she wouldn't want him talking like this, but he had to. They had to face reality, and he needed to say things in case he didn't get another chance. "...I couldn't bear the thought of you giving up."
The back of his hand strokes her cheek softly. "I might be new to God's family... but if there's one thing I've learned... it's that we're here for more than just the people we meet along the way. I know you love me and I know you don't want me gone. But God didn't make you just so you could love me then lose out and quit. He made you for more than that."
Jason pauses as wave of pain spiders through his body and he tries not to let it show. "We're here for God's purpose, not ours. Joy can be found in any situation - even this one." His voice starts to crack and he swallows hard, trying to maintain control. "Please... promise me you won't give up... promise me that when I'm gone you won't stop living. The world needs you... God has a bigger plan for you. Please... don't give up."
Susanne nods thoughtfully. "Yeah. I know he did some bad things, but... I still thinks he deserves another chance. If he would just... let someone in." She sighs. "I guess we've given him a choice though, and if he chooses not to accept the help, then we just have to know we did everything we could."
She shrugs and turns to leave, knowing she had a lot of work to catch up on before she left at five. And she was leaving at five, for sure, since she had a date with Chuck tonight, and he was picking her up at her house at six. There was no way she was going to let Reese make her work late tonight.
4/16/11
4/15/11
Path
Looking to Kyle Alice felt so bad for him. His heart was so big, and he worried about Kip she could just see it in his eyes when he talked about him. They were all worried but there was only so much they could do. Alice wished there was more, but what?
"Part of the adventure is not always seeing how clear the path is. But the comforting part is that God is hour tour guide as long as we let him be."
Reaching over and taking Kyle's hand in her own Alice just smiles looking over at him. Things were rough and the path was unclear, but it was one they would face together and things would work out.
"How about we grab some ice cream an than take it from there? The sugar might help."
Just cuddling even close to Jason soaking in his warmth trying to chase the small chill from her bones Katie gives a small smile to Jason as she runs one of her hands through his hair, the other still wrapped around him.
"Con and I went out to lunch this afternoon and I was missing you so I asked him to drop me off here. I just wanted to spend some time with you. "
Nuzzling her head into Jason a little Katie lifts her head and gives Jason a soft kiss on the lips before leaning her head down on the pillow again. Her own eyes felt so heavy but she forced them to stay open so she could continue to see Jason, and just study his face.
"So how are you feeling today?"
Looking up from her desk as Susanna enters again Misty's can't help he sly smile that spread across her face. She new she broke the rules, but it wouldn't be the first time she had done that and she was sure it wouldn't be the last.
"If all that came out of this was Alec being happy for a moment having those cookies and knowing we cared than I would say its a mission complete."
Misty leans her chin on her hands and looks at Susanne again before giving a laugh on her comment about the brothers. It was kind of funny to think how alike Alec and Carson really were.
"I hope they can keep him out of prison too. He really does deserve more than that."
"Part of the adventure is not always seeing how clear the path is. But the comforting part is that God is hour tour guide as long as we let him be."
Reaching over and taking Kyle's hand in her own Alice just smiles looking over at him. Things were rough and the path was unclear, but it was one they would face together and things would work out.
"How about we grab some ice cream an than take it from there? The sugar might help."
Just cuddling even close to Jason soaking in his warmth trying to chase the small chill from her bones Katie gives a small smile to Jason as she runs one of her hands through his hair, the other still wrapped around him.
"Con and I went out to lunch this afternoon and I was missing you so I asked him to drop me off here. I just wanted to spend some time with you. "
Nuzzling her head into Jason a little Katie lifts her head and gives Jason a soft kiss on the lips before leaning her head down on the pillow again. Her own eyes felt so heavy but she forced them to stay open so she could continue to see Jason, and just study his face.
"So how are you feeling today?"
Looking up from her desk as Susanna enters again Misty's can't help he sly smile that spread across her face. She new she broke the rules, but it wouldn't be the first time she had done that and she was sure it wouldn't be the last.
"If all that came out of this was Alec being happy for a moment having those cookies and knowing we cared than I would say its a mission complete."
Misty leans her chin on her hands and looks at Susanne again before giving a laugh on her comment about the brothers. It was kind of funny to think how alike Alec and Carson really were.
"I hope they can keep him out of prison too. He really does deserve more than that."
Quite something
"Yeah... goodnight, Stacy." Eric gives her a little nod and even a little tip of his hat.
Left alone, he looks back up at the moon again, just standing there for several minutes. Finally though, he heads for his bunkhouse. The encounter with Stacy had been unexpected, but now that the ice was broken, maybe he had one less thing to be stressed about. And her daughter... well... Ashlee had done a good job at being a bright spot in his day, and he had to admit that.
Seeing Misty intentionally knock her coffee over, Susanne's eyes widen. Then she realizes what's going on and a scheming smile curls her lips. Following Misty out into the hall, she nonchalantly slips by as Misty stops to talk with Hal. Getting to the stairwell, she waits until she knows the coast is clear before going the rest of the way down.
Hal gives Misty a look that clearly states, "You've got to be kidding me," but he simply sighs. Rising from his chair, he shakes his head. "You know... one of these days nobody's gonna be allowed to have coffee at their desks and it will all be your fault." He shakes a finger at her. "The third time, I'm gonna say you gotta go clean that thing up yourself."
He smirks and heads for the infirmary. Though his tone was stern, it was obvious that he wasn't all that upset, and Misty had him wrapped around her little finger anyway.
Downstairs, Susanne makes her way quickly to he holding cell where Alec was still kept. Since he'd been put in there, he hadn't been out once that she knew of. Knowing the code to get in, she punches the numbers and waits for the door to unlock. When she slips inside, she finds Alec sitting back in the corner of his cot with his knees tucked up to his chest. The look in his eye would be one Susanne would interpret as forlorn... but he'd never admit to that. "Hi, Alec."
Alec's eyebrows rise. "Did they change tactics or what? Sending the woman to break the prisoner now?"
Susanne rolls her eyes. "Can you really see me interrogating someone?"
"Yes."
She gives him a wry grin, then approaches him slowly. "I, um... made some cookies. I thought you might like some." She holds out the bag.
Alec stares at it but doesn't take it yet. "What's the catch?"
"No catch. Just thought you might enjoy them. I know you probably still can't taste an awful lot, but they have quite a bit of chocolate in them so I think you'll be able to taste them. If not, you'll at least get a sugar high."
Alec blinks. Cookies? From Susanne? With no catch? "Nobody but Hal, Reese and Justin are allowed in here. If it wasn't their idea for some sort of bribe, how'd you get down here under the radar?"
Susanne chuckles. "Misty's providing Hal with a nice distraction."
"Misty is a distraction."
"Oh is that a fact?" Susanne bites her lip, trying not to laugh. "Is it her looks or the fact that she doesn't take crap from anybody?"
The corner of Alec's mouth twitches. "Yes." Sitting up a little straighter, he takes the bag of cookies and looks inside. There were way more than any one man needed to eat. Not that he was going to complain.
Susanne lets the quiet linger for a moment before clasping her hands and sighing. "She said to tell you she'd been thinking about you, too."
Alec's eyes shoot back up. His mouth opens for a smart remark, but for some reason, any comment failed to reach the surface. Maybe it was because knowing that meant too much to him for him to make a joke or disrespect it. "Oh."
Susanne smiles. "I gotta get out of here before Hal gets back to his post. Who knows... more goodies might come your way again sometime."
Only after she leaves does Alec try one of the cookies. He couldn't taste it in full, but the soft texture and gooey chocolate was enough to make him eat slowly, savoring the rare treat. Susanne and Misty, huh? Susanne always had a soft spot, and Misty... she was one of the few who had been kind to him. Surely none of that could ever be regained though, no matter if he tried to avoid prison or not... right?
Making it back upstairs without having been caught, Susanne goes back to her office until she knows Hal is back at his post. Then she returns to the infirmary. Going back over to Misty's desk, she gives her a thumbs up. "Thanks. I think Alec appreciated the cookies. Didn't get much out of him, other than he thinks you're quite something."
She grins. "Apparently brothers share tastes. At least we know now he's still human. I just hope Angelica and Reese can keep him out of prison."
Realizing it was Katie who was here, Jason tries to pry his eyes open all the way and at least look halfway alert for her. He didn't need to though... as she lies on the bed with him, he knows he's not expected to get up yet.
Shifting so he can put his arms around her too, he pulls her even closer and kisses the top of her head. "I missed you too. What are you doing back so early?"
"Maybe." Kyle wasn't convinced about any incentive for Kip. He really didn't know what to do with their younger friend. He was so good at what he did, but had had so many setbacks. Even so, the rest of the band really had expected him to bounce back by now... but he hadn't.
Kyle could understand the problems with concentrating - he could certainly relate. He knew it had been a bit embarrassing for Kip, but he also thought that problem had been solved - or at least under control. It would always plague Kip but it had really seemed he'd figured out how to get by and find what he needed to do in order to stick with the band. Kyle still believed that under the surface, Kip had a streak of musical genius, but it just hadn't blossomed yet.
Of course, then there was the whole thing with Kip's dad that really seemed to be the last straw. It was something that still sent pangs to Kyle's heart. Did Kip need some real help? Did he need someone to really talk to and help him through? Was the band enough? Was Karla enough? Or was he crying out for help but no one knew? Or did Kip just need a kick in the seat of his pants to snap out of it? It was hard to tell. Even Erik seemed at a loss for ideas.
Kyle sets his gaze back on Alice and forces a smile to the surface. "Thanks. I know it'll work out. I just wish I knew what that looked like. Having it work out might mean something completely different... not having this band make it at all. Or having it work out might mean we make it big." He shrugs. "I just wish I knew what God had in mind."
He gives a light laugh. "Though I guess knowing that would take the adventure out of it, huh?"
Left alone, he looks back up at the moon again, just standing there for several minutes. Finally though, he heads for his bunkhouse. The encounter with Stacy had been unexpected, but now that the ice was broken, maybe he had one less thing to be stressed about. And her daughter... well... Ashlee had done a good job at being a bright spot in his day, and he had to admit that.
Seeing Misty intentionally knock her coffee over, Susanne's eyes widen. Then she realizes what's going on and a scheming smile curls her lips. Following Misty out into the hall, she nonchalantly slips by as Misty stops to talk with Hal. Getting to the stairwell, she waits until she knows the coast is clear before going the rest of the way down.
Hal gives Misty a look that clearly states, "You've got to be kidding me," but he simply sighs. Rising from his chair, he shakes his head. "You know... one of these days nobody's gonna be allowed to have coffee at their desks and it will all be your fault." He shakes a finger at her. "The third time, I'm gonna say you gotta go clean that thing up yourself."
He smirks and heads for the infirmary. Though his tone was stern, it was obvious that he wasn't all that upset, and Misty had him wrapped around her little finger anyway.
Downstairs, Susanne makes her way quickly to he holding cell where Alec was still kept. Since he'd been put in there, he hadn't been out once that she knew of. Knowing the code to get in, she punches the numbers and waits for the door to unlock. When she slips inside, she finds Alec sitting back in the corner of his cot with his knees tucked up to his chest. The look in his eye would be one Susanne would interpret as forlorn... but he'd never admit to that. "Hi, Alec."
Alec's eyebrows rise. "Did they change tactics or what? Sending the woman to break the prisoner now?"
Susanne rolls her eyes. "Can you really see me interrogating someone?"
"Yes."
She gives him a wry grin, then approaches him slowly. "I, um... made some cookies. I thought you might like some." She holds out the bag.
Alec stares at it but doesn't take it yet. "What's the catch?"
"No catch. Just thought you might enjoy them. I know you probably still can't taste an awful lot, but they have quite a bit of chocolate in them so I think you'll be able to taste them. If not, you'll at least get a sugar high."
Alec blinks. Cookies? From Susanne? With no catch? "Nobody but Hal, Reese and Justin are allowed in here. If it wasn't their idea for some sort of bribe, how'd you get down here under the radar?"
Susanne chuckles. "Misty's providing Hal with a nice distraction."
"Misty is a distraction."
"Oh is that a fact?" Susanne bites her lip, trying not to laugh. "Is it her looks or the fact that she doesn't take crap from anybody?"
The corner of Alec's mouth twitches. "Yes." Sitting up a little straighter, he takes the bag of cookies and looks inside. There were way more than any one man needed to eat. Not that he was going to complain.
Susanne lets the quiet linger for a moment before clasping her hands and sighing. "She said to tell you she'd been thinking about you, too."
Alec's eyes shoot back up. His mouth opens for a smart remark, but for some reason, any comment failed to reach the surface. Maybe it was because knowing that meant too much to him for him to make a joke or disrespect it. "Oh."
Susanne smiles. "I gotta get out of here before Hal gets back to his post. Who knows... more goodies might come your way again sometime."
Only after she leaves does Alec try one of the cookies. He couldn't taste it in full, but the soft texture and gooey chocolate was enough to make him eat slowly, savoring the rare treat. Susanne and Misty, huh? Susanne always had a soft spot, and Misty... she was one of the few who had been kind to him. Surely none of that could ever be regained though, no matter if he tried to avoid prison or not... right?
Making it back upstairs without having been caught, Susanne goes back to her office until she knows Hal is back at his post. Then she returns to the infirmary. Going back over to Misty's desk, she gives her a thumbs up. "Thanks. I think Alec appreciated the cookies. Didn't get much out of him, other than he thinks you're quite something."
She grins. "Apparently brothers share tastes. At least we know now he's still human. I just hope Angelica and Reese can keep him out of prison."
Realizing it was Katie who was here, Jason tries to pry his eyes open all the way and at least look halfway alert for her. He didn't need to though... as she lies on the bed with him, he knows he's not expected to get up yet.
Shifting so he can put his arms around her too, he pulls her even closer and kisses the top of her head. "I missed you too. What are you doing back so early?"
"Maybe." Kyle wasn't convinced about any incentive for Kip. He really didn't know what to do with their younger friend. He was so good at what he did, but had had so many setbacks. Even so, the rest of the band really had expected him to bounce back by now... but he hadn't.
Kyle could understand the problems with concentrating - he could certainly relate. He knew it had been a bit embarrassing for Kip, but he also thought that problem had been solved - or at least under control. It would always plague Kip but it had really seemed he'd figured out how to get by and find what he needed to do in order to stick with the band. Kyle still believed that under the surface, Kip had a streak of musical genius, but it just hadn't blossomed yet.
Of course, then there was the whole thing with Kip's dad that really seemed to be the last straw. It was something that still sent pangs to Kyle's heart. Did Kip need some real help? Did he need someone to really talk to and help him through? Was the band enough? Was Karla enough? Or was he crying out for help but no one knew? Or did Kip just need a kick in the seat of his pants to snap out of it? It was hard to tell. Even Erik seemed at a loss for ideas.
Kyle sets his gaze back on Alice and forces a smile to the surface. "Thanks. I know it'll work out. I just wish I knew what that looked like. Having it work out might mean something completely different... not having this band make it at all. Or having it work out might mean we make it big." He shrugs. "I just wish I knew what God had in mind."
He gives a light laugh. "Though I guess knowing that would take the adventure out of it, huh?"
4/14/11
Keep Believing
Continuing to look at the sky Stacy lets out a small sigh. It was peaceful here and even more so at night. Though dangers did lurk, it was just like a simple soft blanket covered the ranch to keep it protected from the dangers outside.
Looking to Eric again Stacy just study's him for a long moment. There was a sadness about him, maybe it was a loneliness she noticed and it made her wonder. The words he spoke seemed to prove it even more, and listen even closer maybe to her they seemed to hit home as well.
" You didn't interrupt my rounds, you'er just keeping me on my toes. I want everyone to keep up what they normally do so don't think you need to stay out of my way. The last thing I want to do is change things around here. I am just over seeing and being another set of eyes when others are busy."
Straightening a little and letting out a long sigh Stacy give Eric one more glace and smiles to herself still thinking he was rather handsome. Turning a little she gives a nod before departing for the night.
"Thank you for the chat, it was nice. Hope to see you again soon Eric. Goodnight."
As they pull up to Jason's Katie looks to Con and does her best to smile. Things were hard, being on the antidote sucked but she did her best to just accept that it could be worse. So right now she really had no right to complain.
"Thanks Con, I will remember. Tell Jamie I said Hi and tomorrow I'll finish my work."
Reaching over and giving Con a hug Katie gives a nod before leaving the car and making her way up the sidewalk to Jason's. Getting to the door and finding it locked Katie pulls her keys out and unlocks it before stepping inside. Knowing Trooper was inside Kaite moves slow not watching to startle him.
"J, it's Katie. Hey Trooper where is Jason huh boy?"
Looking in the living room and not seeing him there Katie makes her way through the house looking for him before heading to his room. Entering and seeing Jason laying on the bed Katie just watchs him for a moment.
"Hey Babe."
Entering a little more and coming to the bed Katie sinks down on it without saying anything more. Crawling onto the bed and wrapping her arms around Jason Katie burys her head into his neck and gives it a soft kiss just holding him for a long moment.
"I missed you J."
Looking up as Susanne as she places the package on her desk Misty gives a small grin hearing what it was. She loved how big Susanne's heart was and that she cared so much. Misty had wanted to go see Alec herself but she new alone it just wouldn't work. But maybe even if she could get Susanne down there it would be enough to feel like she did something too.
"Mmm...I think I could help you out. But you'd have to move quick and not stay to long. Tell Alec said I've been thinking about him too."
Setting her coffee on the edge of her desk Misty bumps it with her arm to send it over the edge and onto her old printer. If she was frantic enough one might believe her story. Giving a wink to Susanne Misty stands and heads out of the infirmary.
"Crap, crap...this is not good. Hal...Hal."
Getting to the security room Misty knocks on the door and than opens it. Seeing Hal she enters a little ways before bringing her hands up a little.
"Hal I spilled Coffee on my printer and its all over the place. Can you come and dry it off, and take it apart to dry it off for me like you did the last time?"
Misty new this would keep Hal busy at least for a half hour so, so Susanne could go down chat, give Alec the cookies and come back up in good time.
Alice can't help but laugh as she hears Kyle's story about the ice cream. It was great being shown the places Kyle went as a kid and hearing story's about his past. It was something Alice really did enjoy it.
As Kyle's phone rang Alice just continued to look out the windows and enjoy the view. Though her ears perked up a little bit when hearing it was Wayne on the other end. The band had been practicing and everyone was being very pashent with Kip, now she wondered though how long would they wait for him. She new the band would wait, but the record company she wondered about.
Once Kyle hands up the phone Alice says nothing right away. She new in his time he would tell her she wasn't going to rush him..but the look on his face did say it was something important. As Kyle first speaks Alice can't help the little bit of her own joy well inside of her. Having there first gig was a good thing.
"Oh Kyle thats great."
Than hearing Kyle's worry about the bass Alice did understand some of his own fear. He was right, it had been a while since Kip had joined them and no one really heard from him either. It was sad, and it was hard to know there friend was slipping away from them. Alice was happy Karla was there for Kip. At least he had someone who could get through to him but still it made Alice sad.
"Maybe we could stop and see Kip and tell him about the gig. It would be a maybe an intensive for him, or at least something to motivate him. Maybe thats all he really needs?"
Letting out a sigh Alice turns to Kyle a little bit. She felt bad, and wish she had the answers, but all they could really do was pray about it. Kyle had the biggest heart of anyone she new so this had to be even harder on him.
"Its gonna work out Kyle. Some how its going to work out. We just have to keep believe it will."
Looking to Eric again Stacy just study's him for a long moment. There was a sadness about him, maybe it was a loneliness she noticed and it made her wonder. The words he spoke seemed to prove it even more, and listen even closer maybe to her they seemed to hit home as well.
" You didn't interrupt my rounds, you'er just keeping me on my toes. I want everyone to keep up what they normally do so don't think you need to stay out of my way. The last thing I want to do is change things around here. I am just over seeing and being another set of eyes when others are busy."
Straightening a little and letting out a long sigh Stacy give Eric one more glace and smiles to herself still thinking he was rather handsome. Turning a little she gives a nod before departing for the night.
"Thank you for the chat, it was nice. Hope to see you again soon Eric. Goodnight."
As they pull up to Jason's Katie looks to Con and does her best to smile. Things were hard, being on the antidote sucked but she did her best to just accept that it could be worse. So right now she really had no right to complain.
"Thanks Con, I will remember. Tell Jamie I said Hi and tomorrow I'll finish my work."
Reaching over and giving Con a hug Katie gives a nod before leaving the car and making her way up the sidewalk to Jason's. Getting to the door and finding it locked Katie pulls her keys out and unlocks it before stepping inside. Knowing Trooper was inside Kaite moves slow not watching to startle him.
"J, it's Katie. Hey Trooper where is Jason huh boy?"
Looking in the living room and not seeing him there Katie makes her way through the house looking for him before heading to his room. Entering and seeing Jason laying on the bed Katie just watchs him for a moment.
"Hey Babe."
Entering a little more and coming to the bed Katie sinks down on it without saying anything more. Crawling onto the bed and wrapping her arms around Jason Katie burys her head into his neck and gives it a soft kiss just holding him for a long moment.
"I missed you J."
Looking up as Susanne as she places the package on her desk Misty gives a small grin hearing what it was. She loved how big Susanne's heart was and that she cared so much. Misty had wanted to go see Alec herself but she new alone it just wouldn't work. But maybe even if she could get Susanne down there it would be enough to feel like she did something too.
"Mmm...I think I could help you out. But you'd have to move quick and not stay to long. Tell Alec said I've been thinking about him too."
Setting her coffee on the edge of her desk Misty bumps it with her arm to send it over the edge and onto her old printer. If she was frantic enough one might believe her story. Giving a wink to Susanne Misty stands and heads out of the infirmary.
"Crap, crap...this is not good. Hal...Hal."
Getting to the security room Misty knocks on the door and than opens it. Seeing Hal she enters a little ways before bringing her hands up a little.
"Hal I spilled Coffee on my printer and its all over the place. Can you come and dry it off, and take it apart to dry it off for me like you did the last time?"
Misty new this would keep Hal busy at least for a half hour so, so Susanne could go down chat, give Alec the cookies and come back up in good time.
Alice can't help but laugh as she hears Kyle's story about the ice cream. It was great being shown the places Kyle went as a kid and hearing story's about his past. It was something Alice really did enjoy it.
As Kyle's phone rang Alice just continued to look out the windows and enjoy the view. Though her ears perked up a little bit when hearing it was Wayne on the other end. The band had been practicing and everyone was being very pashent with Kip, now she wondered though how long would they wait for him. She new the band would wait, but the record company she wondered about.
Once Kyle hands up the phone Alice says nothing right away. She new in his time he would tell her she wasn't going to rush him..but the look on his face did say it was something important. As Kyle first speaks Alice can't help the little bit of her own joy well inside of her. Having there first gig was a good thing.
"Oh Kyle thats great."
Than hearing Kyle's worry about the bass Alice did understand some of his own fear. He was right, it had been a while since Kip had joined them and no one really heard from him either. It was sad, and it was hard to know there friend was slipping away from them. Alice was happy Karla was there for Kip. At least he had someone who could get through to him but still it made Alice sad.
"Maybe we could stop and see Kip and tell him about the gig. It would be a maybe an intensive for him, or at least something to motivate him. Maybe thats all he really needs?"
Letting out a sigh Alice turns to Kyle a little bit. She felt bad, and wish she had the answers, but all they could really do was pray about it. Kyle had the biggest heart of anyone she new so this had to be even harder on him.
"Its gonna work out Kyle. Some how its going to work out. We just have to keep believe it will."
More chances
"Mm." Eric nods thoughtfully, his eyes finally shifting towards the ground. "Yeah... having a good place to grow up... most people take things like that for granted."
Lifting his face, he looks up at the bright moon. "I guess we take a lot of things in this life for granted," he muses thoughtfully. His tone is quieter. "Maybe we get more chances at things than we even realize... if we just open our eyes to see them."
On a usual day, perhaps he would have found his words too deep. He would have laughed them off, and maybe even would have been embarrassed. But tonight... the still of the dark night and the melancholy he was feeling were enough to thwart his normal reaction. Tonight, his words rang with too much truth for his own heart that was seeking answers. A shooting star rockets across the sky and Eric sighs deeply.
Bringing his train of thought back on track, his eyes lower to Stacy again. "Sorry I disrupted your nightly rounds. I should be out of your way for the rest of the night."
Con refrains from another sigh, and he nods. He reaches over and brushes some of Katie's tears from her face. "Yeah, I can drop you off so you can be with him. I'll make sure your car gets to his place after work, too."
Moving back over to his side of the table, he picks at his food for a little while longer, trying to come up with some more cheerful things to talk about - church, the nice weather, the suspicion that Susanne had a boyfriend and the other day when Hope brought Domino who escaped and ran all over TJY just for the fun of it. The chitchat was a good time filler too, and only when Con is confident that Jason would be alone back at the house, does he get ready to leave.
Getting to Jason's house, Con pulls up to the curb and offers Katie a warm smile. "Hang in there, Kat. Don't hesitate to call me or Jamie if you need anything."
Inside, Jason was still in bed, still stuck between awake and asleep. He thinks he hears a familiar vehicle, and Trooper goes out of the room to investigate, but Jason doesn't bother getting up. He could act strong in front of people, but when he was alone... it seemed any strength he had left just fell apart. It just felt like fighting wasn't worth it anymore.
Rolling over onto his side, his hand lies open and he looks at his scarred palm. Is that all that would be left when this thing was over? Scars to remember the nightmares? Is that all Katie would have left? Just a mark that would forever be a reminder of the pain? He hates the Agency even more.
Susanne slips into the infirmary, making sure no one had seen her, or what she was carrying. Quietly going over to Misty's desk, she reveals a little paper bag. "I made some cookies... and I want to give some to Alec," she whispers. "How do I get past Hal? I know they said we can't see Alec or anything but..." The look in her eye was one of pity. "I just think if he knew someone still cared, he might..." She shrugs. "Maybe it's silly, but I want to do it anyway. I just don't know how without Hal confiscating these."
"So that... is the ice cream shop where I dropped my cone and screamed my fool head off." Kyle grins at Alice as he drives across town after having shown her two more placed he'd frequented when younger. "From what they tell me," he concludes. "I don't have any memory of the event and thankfully, I was only three at the time."
Turning right after stopping at an intersection, his grin widens. "Not that I wouldn't scream my fool head off now if the same thing happened today. I might just-" He's interrupted by his ringing cell phone and he fishes it from his pocket, glancing at the number while still watching the road. "Yeah, this is Kyle. Oh, hi, Wayne." He gives Alice a sidelong glance. "Really?" His eyebrows rise. "Well yeah, of course." He chuckles. "Yes, Karla holds the official calendar, but last I looked, it was empty."
Steering towards Alice's place, he continues to listen. "Mm-hmm. Um, well..." He taps the steering wheel as he thinks. "No, no, we'll do it. I'm sure he'll be on board. He just, um... it's..." Kyle sighs. "Yes, I understand. We all do. One way or another, we'll make it happen.... Yeah, thanks, Wayne. See you soon."
Flipping his phone shut and tucking it back in his pocket, he doesn't tell Alice what it was about just yet. Instead, he remains quiet until he's pulled into the parking lot at Alice's apartment. Cutting the engine, he doesn't get out right away but just plays with his keys. He gives a short laugh and shakes his head. "You'd think I'd be more excited to hear the band has its first gig."
He turns his gaze to Alice and lets his eyes join hers. "Wayne said we get to open for a band in two weeks - sounds like it'll be a good entrance for us... big enough to get some attention but small enough we can handle it. But..." He sighs again. "Without a bass player, we're not gonna get very far."
Kip hadn't been to a practice in weeks, and as far as anyone knew, he rarely got out of the Gram and Gramps, except a couple times with Karla - she was the only one he let close to him lately.
Kyle bites his lip. "What are we gonna do, Pepper? We all agreed we wouldn't move on without Kip, but... if we start saying no to gigs before we even have a lineup... we'll have wasted a lot of people's time... including all ours."
Lifting his face, he looks up at the bright moon. "I guess we take a lot of things in this life for granted," he muses thoughtfully. His tone is quieter. "Maybe we get more chances at things than we even realize... if we just open our eyes to see them."
On a usual day, perhaps he would have found his words too deep. He would have laughed them off, and maybe even would have been embarrassed. But tonight... the still of the dark night and the melancholy he was feeling were enough to thwart his normal reaction. Tonight, his words rang with too much truth for his own heart that was seeking answers. A shooting star rockets across the sky and Eric sighs deeply.
Bringing his train of thought back on track, his eyes lower to Stacy again. "Sorry I disrupted your nightly rounds. I should be out of your way for the rest of the night."
Con refrains from another sigh, and he nods. He reaches over and brushes some of Katie's tears from her face. "Yeah, I can drop you off so you can be with him. I'll make sure your car gets to his place after work, too."
Moving back over to his side of the table, he picks at his food for a little while longer, trying to come up with some more cheerful things to talk about - church, the nice weather, the suspicion that Susanne had a boyfriend and the other day when Hope brought Domino who escaped and ran all over TJY just for the fun of it. The chitchat was a good time filler too, and only when Con is confident that Jason would be alone back at the house, does he get ready to leave.
Getting to Jason's house, Con pulls up to the curb and offers Katie a warm smile. "Hang in there, Kat. Don't hesitate to call me or Jamie if you need anything."
Inside, Jason was still in bed, still stuck between awake and asleep. He thinks he hears a familiar vehicle, and Trooper goes out of the room to investigate, but Jason doesn't bother getting up. He could act strong in front of people, but when he was alone... it seemed any strength he had left just fell apart. It just felt like fighting wasn't worth it anymore.
Rolling over onto his side, his hand lies open and he looks at his scarred palm. Is that all that would be left when this thing was over? Scars to remember the nightmares? Is that all Katie would have left? Just a mark that would forever be a reminder of the pain? He hates the Agency even more.
Susanne slips into the infirmary, making sure no one had seen her, or what she was carrying. Quietly going over to Misty's desk, she reveals a little paper bag. "I made some cookies... and I want to give some to Alec," she whispers. "How do I get past Hal? I know they said we can't see Alec or anything but..." The look in her eye was one of pity. "I just think if he knew someone still cared, he might..." She shrugs. "Maybe it's silly, but I want to do it anyway. I just don't know how without Hal confiscating these."
"So that... is the ice cream shop where I dropped my cone and screamed my fool head off." Kyle grins at Alice as he drives across town after having shown her two more placed he'd frequented when younger. "From what they tell me," he concludes. "I don't have any memory of the event and thankfully, I was only three at the time."
Turning right after stopping at an intersection, his grin widens. "Not that I wouldn't scream my fool head off now if the same thing happened today. I might just-" He's interrupted by his ringing cell phone and he fishes it from his pocket, glancing at the number while still watching the road. "Yeah, this is Kyle. Oh, hi, Wayne." He gives Alice a sidelong glance. "Really?" His eyebrows rise. "Well yeah, of course." He chuckles. "Yes, Karla holds the official calendar, but last I looked, it was empty."
Steering towards Alice's place, he continues to listen. "Mm-hmm. Um, well..." He taps the steering wheel as he thinks. "No, no, we'll do it. I'm sure he'll be on board. He just, um... it's..." Kyle sighs. "Yes, I understand. We all do. One way or another, we'll make it happen.... Yeah, thanks, Wayne. See you soon."
Flipping his phone shut and tucking it back in his pocket, he doesn't tell Alice what it was about just yet. Instead, he remains quiet until he's pulled into the parking lot at Alice's apartment. Cutting the engine, he doesn't get out right away but just plays with his keys. He gives a short laugh and shakes his head. "You'd think I'd be more excited to hear the band has its first gig."
He turns his gaze to Alice and lets his eyes join hers. "Wayne said we get to open for a band in two weeks - sounds like it'll be a good entrance for us... big enough to get some attention but small enough we can handle it. But..." He sighs again. "Without a bass player, we're not gonna get very far."
Kip hadn't been to a practice in weeks, and as far as anyone knew, he rarely got out of the Gram and Gramps, except a couple times with Karla - she was the only one he let close to him lately.
Kyle bites his lip. "What are we gonna do, Pepper? We all agreed we wouldn't move on without Kip, but... if we start saying no to gigs before we even have a lineup... we'll have wasted a lot of people's time... including all ours."
4/13/11
Fun
Feeling Con's arms around her Katie just sinks into him. He was a big fluffy teddy bear, and just feeling his strength around her just made her fell sheltered from the world that was pounding on her door. Con always had a way of doing that.
Giving a sniff and whipping away some of her tears Katie does her best to try and control herself. Everything just seemed to pile up and just the thought of losing and knowing it was coming close was just so hard for her.
"No, I don't think there is anything you can do Con. It's only about time right now, and waiting to see if Rick will find a cure or not."
Sitting up again and looking to her food again Katie's apatite seemed to be gone now. Looking to Con Katie does her best to give him a smile not wanting to make him to much more worried than she new he already was.
"Well, maybe there is one thing but its only something small. On the way back do you think you could drop me off at Jason's? I'd really like to spend some time with him for the rest of the day. I think Reese would understand too."
As Jade leans on him Dan can't help but wrap his arm over her shoulders and holds her close to him. It seemed so natural to do that now, like he had been for years, and years. It was such a good feeling too that Dan tried to keep her close whenever he could.
As Jade pops up thought and he hears about the ice Dan can't help but laugh. He found it rather amusing to say the least. Not to mention seeing Dylan and Jade joking around together was nice, and hearing about there old times even better.
"Well thanks for that tip Dylan. Now if Jade falls asleep on me while we are watching a movie I'll know what to do."
Dan gives Jade a sidelong glance and a wink showing he was kidding even if he did think it would be rather funny to see her reaction. He's never be that mean to poor Jade. Glancing back over to Dylan and Ashlee he can't help but smile himself. He liked hanging out with Dylan and being friends but it was nice to see someone a little closer to his age being around him too.
As Dylan skips over her Ashlee's eyes grow wide as she looks to him. A completely fake shocked look on her face not being able to believe he had just done that. Giving him a little shove with her shoulder Ashlee can't help the smile.
"Well than, next time we play so expect me to take it easy on you."
Giving another laugh Ashlee gives a stretch and a yawn to go along with it. It had been a long but fun night and it was slightly past her bed time but she had been having way to much fun to have called it quits yet. Just this last game, than she would head to bed.
Stacy a thoughtful nod as she turns a little bit and looks across the yard where the lights in the dinning hall were still on. Eric was right, this was a great place to be at and though Stacy had only been here a short while she could already feel the love these people had for each other, and everything around them.
"Well I am happy to be here and to help. Not to mention I think it was good Ashlee came here too. In a way I think she needed this, so she could remember what being a kid is, and able to live her childhood while she is still young."
Breaking her gaze from the building Stacy looks back to Eric again locking eyes with his. They seemed so deep and in the moonlight the took on another color, one that just seemed alluring. She hadn't noticed his eyes before but now that she had it was just to hard to look away.
Giving a sniff and whipping away some of her tears Katie does her best to try and control herself. Everything just seemed to pile up and just the thought of losing and knowing it was coming close was just so hard for her.
"No, I don't think there is anything you can do Con. It's only about time right now, and waiting to see if Rick will find a cure or not."
Sitting up again and looking to her food again Katie's apatite seemed to be gone now. Looking to Con Katie does her best to give him a smile not wanting to make him to much more worried than she new he already was.
"Well, maybe there is one thing but its only something small. On the way back do you think you could drop me off at Jason's? I'd really like to spend some time with him for the rest of the day. I think Reese would understand too."
As Jade leans on him Dan can't help but wrap his arm over her shoulders and holds her close to him. It seemed so natural to do that now, like he had been for years, and years. It was such a good feeling too that Dan tried to keep her close whenever he could.
As Jade pops up thought and he hears about the ice Dan can't help but laugh. He found it rather amusing to say the least. Not to mention seeing Dylan and Jade joking around together was nice, and hearing about there old times even better.
"Well thanks for that tip Dylan. Now if Jade falls asleep on me while we are watching a movie I'll know what to do."
Dan gives Jade a sidelong glance and a wink showing he was kidding even if he did think it would be rather funny to see her reaction. He's never be that mean to poor Jade. Glancing back over to Dylan and Ashlee he can't help but smile himself. He liked hanging out with Dylan and being friends but it was nice to see someone a little closer to his age being around him too.
As Dylan skips over her Ashlee's eyes grow wide as she looks to him. A completely fake shocked look on her face not being able to believe he had just done that. Giving him a little shove with her shoulder Ashlee can't help the smile.
"Well than, next time we play so expect me to take it easy on you."
Giving another laugh Ashlee gives a stretch and a yawn to go along with it. It had been a long but fun night and it was slightly past her bed time but she had been having way to much fun to have called it quits yet. Just this last game, than she would head to bed.
Stacy a thoughtful nod as she turns a little bit and looks across the yard where the lights in the dinning hall were still on. Eric was right, this was a great place to be at and though Stacy had only been here a short while she could already feel the love these people had for each other, and everything around them.
"Well I am happy to be here and to help. Not to mention I think it was good Ashlee came here too. In a way I think she needed this, so she could remember what being a kid is, and able to live her childhood while she is still young."
Breaking her gaze from the building Stacy looks back to Eric again locking eyes with his. They seemed so deep and in the moonlight the took on another color, one that just seemed alluring. She hadn't noticed his eyes before but now that she had it was just to hard to look away.
Always nice
Eric glances down at Stacy's outstretched hand, then back up to her face. The way the light reflected of her cheeks was quite becoming - the shadows placed perfectly along each soft edge. His eyes meet hers for a moment. They'd already met. They'd already shook hands. But perhaps tonight they really were meeting each other for the first time.
Finally, he accepts her handshake. His rough palm envelopes her hand and he grips with a strong touch but not harsh. It was a grip that could be as hard as steel, trained to control a wild mustang... and it was a hand that could be as soft as silk, trained to soothe a horse's spirit.
Perhaps he allows the handshake to linger longer than necessary before he withdraws. "Eric Henson. Nice to meet you, Stacy." His eyes were still on hers. It wasn't a challenging stare, but it was one that he had chosen not to back down from first. There was depth in those moonlit eyes... there was a story behind the sparkling gaze that Eric couldn't quite see. But he knew now there was more than just a tough cop out to get anybody who she thought crossed the line.
"It's hard not to love it here," he agrees. His hands go back to his pockets. "A place like this... sorta just grows on a person." And yet he'd spent the majority of his time on the road. Perhaps he loved it here so much that he didn't want to be a detriment, so staying away had been his way of helping. He was just a dumb truck driver. What did he really have to offer here?
"I'm sure your presence has helped ease some minds around here," he concludes. "Always nice to have another someone on our side."
Being teased back by Ashlee felt different. Dylan wasn't sure why, but maybe it was just the simple fact that he hadn't had much good clean fun in a while. Being with his family... then being in this setting... he just wasn't used to it. But he had to admit to himself that it did feel kinda good. Sticking his tongue out at Ashlee, he finds he is in fact able to play the Draw 4 he'd been holding on to, as payback. While at times that move might make the battle more fierce, for some reason, this time it just serves to create more laughter at the table.
The evening carries on and one by one, players begin to drop out as they start to call it a night. Eventually, it's just Jeff, Jade and Dan, Dylan and Ashlee - though Jade begins to yawn.
"UNO." Jade stifles yet another yawn as she plays her next to the last card. She leans her head on Dan's shoulder, careful not to look at his cards.
"Whoa! No falling asleep on the job," Jeff chides.
"Won't do any good to tell her that." Dylan nods with authority on the subject. "Only way to keep her awake is to put ice down her shirt."
Jade's head snaps up. "One time! One time! And it's following me the rest of my life!"
Dylan comes close to a grin again as he looks at Jeff. "She fell asleep right in the middle of a board game. Couldn't believe it. So what else could a little brother do?" He shrugs. "The ice worked. She upset the whole board so we had to start over, but hey, it woke her up."
Jeff laughs and shakes his head. "I believe it." Lifting his cup, he sighs. "Aw... the coffee is gone. I said when I ran out, I'd go to bed."
"In your wired state?"
"I'm always wired." That was quite the opposite of the truth, but sometimes Jeff liked to ignore his poor health and just pretend he was invincible again. He taps his palm on the table. "Come on. Somebody win so this old man can go to bed."
Dylan tosses down a Skip. "Well, it isn't gonna be Ashlee. Sorry." His eyes give her a sidelong glance.
Watching Dylan and Ashlee, Jade can't help her little smile. Her brother was actually engaging in the activity and Ashlee was cute the way it seemed she'd taken to him. Jade could be mistaken, but it seemed to her that the younger girl might just have a bit of a crush on Dylan. At least Dylan didn't seem to mind, and, on the contrary, was responding well to the open friendship that was obviously being offered. And at this point, seeing Dylan interested in anything at all was an improvement.
Seeing Katie's tear broke Con's heart. He wished he had an answer. He wished he could fix things for his friends. He and Jason had been the best of friends for a long time... and reality was starting to hit him too... and he didn't like it either. Even so, he knew that what he was feeling was only a part of what Katie did. She was losing her love... a chunk of her life.
Abandoning his food, Con slides out from the table only to turn and slide back in to Katie's booth. Putting an arm around her, he envelopes her in a hug. "Jase is gonna be okay," he reasons softly. "One way or the other." Maybe that thought wasn't comforting to her, but it was to him. Whether Jason got well here, or whether God took him, he would be okay. It was just the thought of having a great big hole here that hurt so much.
As he can feel a burning behind his own eyes, Con gives Katie an extra little squeeze. "What can I do for you? How can I help?"
Rick knocks on the front door and hears a low bark but nothing else. "Hotshot?" he calls and knocks again. He tests the doorknob. Locked. He'd try to make his own way in if it weren't for the big dog he knew was waiting on the other side. He got along with Trooper, and the dog wasn't vicious but Rick didn't want to surprise him either. "Jase?" he calls again. Finally he hears foosteps and the door being unlocked.
Jason looks out at Rick a bit drowsily, his red eyes proving he'd been asleep. He pushes the screen door open, not even questioning why Rick was there. "Hey."
"Hi." Rick enters the house and gives Trooper some scratching behind the ears. "I, um... well, I heard that... it..."
"Con talked to you." Jason turns and limps back to the living room. It was all very obvious. He'd gotten quite sick earlier that morning and he knew that Con would tell Rick about it. Easing down on the couch, he puts his foot up on the coffee table, slaps the ice pack on his knee and leans back, closing his eyes. Hearing Rick join him, he doesn't open his eyes but simply holds out his arm, inside up, knowing that an injection was coming.
Rick sighs. "Am I that predictable?" Not receiving a response, he simply administers the antidote. He'd taught Katie how to do it so he wasn't needed every day, but today he wanted the opportunity to check out everything himself.
Jason doesn't even flinch as the needle pricks him. "Where's Katie?"
"At lunch with Con."
"Planned?"
"Yeah." Rick knew he couldn't lie to Jason so there was no point in trying. He sits sideways on the couch and just looks at his young friend for several moments. "I didn't want her to know I was here and worry her."
"She'll know - you gave me the antidote."
"Yeah, but at least it will be after the fact." Rick picks up his bag and finds the pain medication. "How's the knee?"
"Hurts."
"Anything else?"
Jason finally opens his eyes and lets his head turn to Rick. "Everything."
Rick had been afraid of that. "Like what?"
"I ache from my head to my toes. I have a splitting headache that won't go away. I got stomach cramps so bad that I don't even want to eat. Even my teeth seem to hurt." Jason shifts his gaze to the blank television. "Want me to go on?"
Rick hated hearing it, but he needed to know. "Yes."
"All my joints hurt... and this morning I woke up with chest pains."
Another sigh comes and Rick nods. It wasn't going to get any easier than all this. "Jase, I... we could make you more comfortable if you'd be willing to take a room up at the hospital."
Jason swallows hard. "No."
"But it might buy us some time and I could get you on an IV and something stronger to help with the pain and-"
"I don't want to die in a hospital." Though Jason's words were quiet, they were enough to cut Rick off. Jason fingers a loose thread on the couch cushion. "Please don't make me die in a hospital bed with white walls, loud doctors and people crying over me."
Rick holds his emotions in check. "You're not going to die."
"Rick, it's-"
"We're going to fight it. We're going to find the answer, and you're going to live." Rick grits his teeth. "If it's the last thing I do, Jason, I swear I'm going to find the cure."
Jason turns his head and gives him a defeated gaze. "You and I both know I don't have much time left. How about just letting me have some peace, huh?"
"But..." Rick's shoulders drop as he stares back at Jason's pale face. He really couldn't blame him and he knew it. If he was in Jason's position, he might argue for the very same reasons, and if he did, he would want others to treat him with enough respect to leave him be. But that didn't make this any easier. Rick hands Jason a thermometer. "At least let me check you over so I can document the progression."
That, he would do. Jason takes the thermometer and pops it in his mouth under his tongue. If Rick found a cure after he was gone, then maybe it would help someone else down the line or even help in some way with Katie...
...Left alone again in the quiet house, Jason lies in bed where Rick had convinced him to go. He'd managed to keep down a piece of toast and a little bit of juice but that was it. He did have a fever now, a sign that infection was spreading. The pain meds had kicked in and were helping a little bit, but not enough to help him stay comfortable. No matter which way he tossed or turned, the only thing he wanted was to curl up next to Katie... to feel her fingers run through his hair... to listen to her soft hum... to hear her soothing heartbeat. And yet it was Katie that this thing was hurting the most.
Tears sting Jason's eyes before he buries his face in his pillow. And for the millionth time, he asks God why.
Finally, he accepts her handshake. His rough palm envelopes her hand and he grips with a strong touch but not harsh. It was a grip that could be as hard as steel, trained to control a wild mustang... and it was a hand that could be as soft as silk, trained to soothe a horse's spirit.
Perhaps he allows the handshake to linger longer than necessary before he withdraws. "Eric Henson. Nice to meet you, Stacy." His eyes were still on hers. It wasn't a challenging stare, but it was one that he had chosen not to back down from first. There was depth in those moonlit eyes... there was a story behind the sparkling gaze that Eric couldn't quite see. But he knew now there was more than just a tough cop out to get anybody who she thought crossed the line.
"It's hard not to love it here," he agrees. His hands go back to his pockets. "A place like this... sorta just grows on a person." And yet he'd spent the majority of his time on the road. Perhaps he loved it here so much that he didn't want to be a detriment, so staying away had been his way of helping. He was just a dumb truck driver. What did he really have to offer here?
"I'm sure your presence has helped ease some minds around here," he concludes. "Always nice to have another someone on our side."
Being teased back by Ashlee felt different. Dylan wasn't sure why, but maybe it was just the simple fact that he hadn't had much good clean fun in a while. Being with his family... then being in this setting... he just wasn't used to it. But he had to admit to himself that it did feel kinda good. Sticking his tongue out at Ashlee, he finds he is in fact able to play the Draw 4 he'd been holding on to, as payback. While at times that move might make the battle more fierce, for some reason, this time it just serves to create more laughter at the table.
The evening carries on and one by one, players begin to drop out as they start to call it a night. Eventually, it's just Jeff, Jade and Dan, Dylan and Ashlee - though Jade begins to yawn.
"UNO." Jade stifles yet another yawn as she plays her next to the last card. She leans her head on Dan's shoulder, careful not to look at his cards.
"Whoa! No falling asleep on the job," Jeff chides.
"Won't do any good to tell her that." Dylan nods with authority on the subject. "Only way to keep her awake is to put ice down her shirt."
Jade's head snaps up. "One time! One time! And it's following me the rest of my life!"
Dylan comes close to a grin again as he looks at Jeff. "She fell asleep right in the middle of a board game. Couldn't believe it. So what else could a little brother do?" He shrugs. "The ice worked. She upset the whole board so we had to start over, but hey, it woke her up."
Jeff laughs and shakes his head. "I believe it." Lifting his cup, he sighs. "Aw... the coffee is gone. I said when I ran out, I'd go to bed."
"In your wired state?"
"I'm always wired." That was quite the opposite of the truth, but sometimes Jeff liked to ignore his poor health and just pretend he was invincible again. He taps his palm on the table. "Come on. Somebody win so this old man can go to bed."
Dylan tosses down a Skip. "Well, it isn't gonna be Ashlee. Sorry." His eyes give her a sidelong glance.
Watching Dylan and Ashlee, Jade can't help her little smile. Her brother was actually engaging in the activity and Ashlee was cute the way it seemed she'd taken to him. Jade could be mistaken, but it seemed to her that the younger girl might just have a bit of a crush on Dylan. At least Dylan didn't seem to mind, and, on the contrary, was responding well to the open friendship that was obviously being offered. And at this point, seeing Dylan interested in anything at all was an improvement.
Seeing Katie's tear broke Con's heart. He wished he had an answer. He wished he could fix things for his friends. He and Jason had been the best of friends for a long time... and reality was starting to hit him too... and he didn't like it either. Even so, he knew that what he was feeling was only a part of what Katie did. She was losing her love... a chunk of her life.
Abandoning his food, Con slides out from the table only to turn and slide back in to Katie's booth. Putting an arm around her, he envelopes her in a hug. "Jase is gonna be okay," he reasons softly. "One way or the other." Maybe that thought wasn't comforting to her, but it was to him. Whether Jason got well here, or whether God took him, he would be okay. It was just the thought of having a great big hole here that hurt so much.
As he can feel a burning behind his own eyes, Con gives Katie an extra little squeeze. "What can I do for you? How can I help?"
Rick knocks on the front door and hears a low bark but nothing else. "Hotshot?" he calls and knocks again. He tests the doorknob. Locked. He'd try to make his own way in if it weren't for the big dog he knew was waiting on the other side. He got along with Trooper, and the dog wasn't vicious but Rick didn't want to surprise him either. "Jase?" he calls again. Finally he hears foosteps and the door being unlocked.
Jason looks out at Rick a bit drowsily, his red eyes proving he'd been asleep. He pushes the screen door open, not even questioning why Rick was there. "Hey."
"Hi." Rick enters the house and gives Trooper some scratching behind the ears. "I, um... well, I heard that... it..."
"Con talked to you." Jason turns and limps back to the living room. It was all very obvious. He'd gotten quite sick earlier that morning and he knew that Con would tell Rick about it. Easing down on the couch, he puts his foot up on the coffee table, slaps the ice pack on his knee and leans back, closing his eyes. Hearing Rick join him, he doesn't open his eyes but simply holds out his arm, inside up, knowing that an injection was coming.
Rick sighs. "Am I that predictable?" Not receiving a response, he simply administers the antidote. He'd taught Katie how to do it so he wasn't needed every day, but today he wanted the opportunity to check out everything himself.
Jason doesn't even flinch as the needle pricks him. "Where's Katie?"
"At lunch with Con."
"Planned?"
"Yeah." Rick knew he couldn't lie to Jason so there was no point in trying. He sits sideways on the couch and just looks at his young friend for several moments. "I didn't want her to know I was here and worry her."
"She'll know - you gave me the antidote."
"Yeah, but at least it will be after the fact." Rick picks up his bag and finds the pain medication. "How's the knee?"
"Hurts."
"Anything else?"
Jason finally opens his eyes and lets his head turn to Rick. "Everything."
Rick had been afraid of that. "Like what?"
"I ache from my head to my toes. I have a splitting headache that won't go away. I got stomach cramps so bad that I don't even want to eat. Even my teeth seem to hurt." Jason shifts his gaze to the blank television. "Want me to go on?"
Rick hated hearing it, but he needed to know. "Yes."
"All my joints hurt... and this morning I woke up with chest pains."
Another sigh comes and Rick nods. It wasn't going to get any easier than all this. "Jase, I... we could make you more comfortable if you'd be willing to take a room up at the hospital."
Jason swallows hard. "No."
"But it might buy us some time and I could get you on an IV and something stronger to help with the pain and-"
"I don't want to die in a hospital." Though Jason's words were quiet, they were enough to cut Rick off. Jason fingers a loose thread on the couch cushion. "Please don't make me die in a hospital bed with white walls, loud doctors and people crying over me."
Rick holds his emotions in check. "You're not going to die."
"Rick, it's-"
"We're going to fight it. We're going to find the answer, and you're going to live." Rick grits his teeth. "If it's the last thing I do, Jason, I swear I'm going to find the cure."
Jason turns his head and gives him a defeated gaze. "You and I both know I don't have much time left. How about just letting me have some peace, huh?"
"But..." Rick's shoulders drop as he stares back at Jason's pale face. He really couldn't blame him and he knew it. If he was in Jason's position, he might argue for the very same reasons, and if he did, he would want others to treat him with enough respect to leave him be. But that didn't make this any easier. Rick hands Jason a thermometer. "At least let me check you over so I can document the progression."
That, he would do. Jason takes the thermometer and pops it in his mouth under his tongue. If Rick found a cure after he was gone, then maybe it would help someone else down the line or even help in some way with Katie...
...Left alone again in the quiet house, Jason lies in bed where Rick had convinced him to go. He'd managed to keep down a piece of toast and a little bit of juice but that was it. He did have a fever now, a sign that infection was spreading. The pain meds had kicked in and were helping a little bit, but not enough to help him stay comfortable. No matter which way he tossed or turned, the only thing he wanted was to curl up next to Katie... to feel her fingers run through his hair... to listen to her soft hum... to hear her soothing heartbeat. And yet it was Katie that this thing was hurting the most.
Tears sting Jason's eyes before he buries his face in his pillow. And for the millionth time, he asks God why.
4/12/11
I sure wouldn't
Seeing Eric give her his own once over she new she had been caught in doing the same thing and she can't help the little bit of color that crawled up her neck. But as fast as it came it went too and another smile was replaced on her face.
"If I thought that was your best than I sure wouldn't want to see you at your worst."
Humor dances in Stacy's eyes for a quick moment showing she was teasing him and rather enjoying it as well. Maybe there was something different about him and what she saw on the road was just a bad day. Time would tell if there was another softer side to this man.
Holding out her hand to Eric Stacy tilts her head a little into the moonlight just letting the rays wash over her. It was enough light to see but as the same time cast shadows that just seemed to accent everything in the right areas.
"I'm Stacy Cullen. New to the ranch, but so far loving it. It's nice to meet you."
Ashlee leans back in her chair and laughs again breathing in deep. Her side were starting to hurt but it just didn't seem to matter. There was to much fun going on to really care, even if it meant tomorrow being sore would be even worse.
"For an invalid you sure do know how to get around. I'll hand that to you. I've never broken anything but if I did I'm not to sure what I would do. I like being out and about to much to just sit."
Hearing Jeff call Uno Ashlee's eyes widen a little bit but a wave of releaf washes over her as Jade throws down the reverse and Jeff picks up. The game was still on, no one had one yet, though now she new that Dylan's draw four was coming her way not too.
"Yeah, good block Jade."
As Dylan blames her for the trouble being started Ashlee stops talking and just looks at him for a long moment. A grin toying at the side of her mouth as she tried her best to hide it. Not being able to hold it anymore the grin breaks forth as Ashlee gives a little wake to Dylan's shoulder.
"Me, start trouble. Look at this face, does it really look like I was capable of that?"
Ashlee gives a little bat of her eyes as she continues to look at Dylan. Ok maybe she had started it a little but it was still funny to pretend she hadn't. Looking back to the game she quick gives Dylan a glance followed by a wink and than plays a card.
Taking a sip of her drink and thinking for a long moment Katie ponders Con's question. She could give her normal I'm ok like she did everyone else but what was the point? Con new her better than that and it would be an insult to him. That was really something Katie didn't want to do. But how was she really feeling? That was a question Katie didn't even know the answer for sure.
"Oh, thats a loaded question I guess. I'm ok to an existent and than past that I'm stressed, tired, and just want everything to be ok again."
Katie lets out a long sigh as she picks up a fry and drags it through some ketchup. She new it would be a while till everything would be ok...if it ever would be. She didn't like thinking about it not being ok, and what would happened if Rick couldn't fix things. Katie new that if it was Jason's time than it was in God's will but still it was a hard thing to except.
"I just want him to be ok again ya know. Even if that meant being on the antidote for the rest of our lives I would be ok with that as long as Jason was ok."
A small tear formed in Katie's eye as it rolled down her cheek. She often wondered now if they had stayed on the antidote and not made Jason go off it, if things would be different. She couldn't blame herself and she new that but it was a what if she often though about anyways.
"If I thought that was your best than I sure wouldn't want to see you at your worst."
Humor dances in Stacy's eyes for a quick moment showing she was teasing him and rather enjoying it as well. Maybe there was something different about him and what she saw on the road was just a bad day. Time would tell if there was another softer side to this man.
Holding out her hand to Eric Stacy tilts her head a little into the moonlight just letting the rays wash over her. It was enough light to see but as the same time cast shadows that just seemed to accent everything in the right areas.
"I'm Stacy Cullen. New to the ranch, but so far loving it. It's nice to meet you."
Ashlee leans back in her chair and laughs again breathing in deep. Her side were starting to hurt but it just didn't seem to matter. There was to much fun going on to really care, even if it meant tomorrow being sore would be even worse.
"For an invalid you sure do know how to get around. I'll hand that to you. I've never broken anything but if I did I'm not to sure what I would do. I like being out and about to much to just sit."
Hearing Jeff call Uno Ashlee's eyes widen a little bit but a wave of releaf washes over her as Jade throws down the reverse and Jeff picks up. The game was still on, no one had one yet, though now she new that Dylan's draw four was coming her way not too.
"Yeah, good block Jade."
As Dylan blames her for the trouble being started Ashlee stops talking and just looks at him for a long moment. A grin toying at the side of her mouth as she tried her best to hide it. Not being able to hold it anymore the grin breaks forth as Ashlee gives a little wake to Dylan's shoulder.
"Me, start trouble. Look at this face, does it really look like I was capable of that?"
Ashlee gives a little bat of her eyes as she continues to look at Dylan. Ok maybe she had started it a little but it was still funny to pretend she hadn't. Looking back to the game she quick gives Dylan a glance followed by a wink and than plays a card.
Taking a sip of her drink and thinking for a long moment Katie ponders Con's question. She could give her normal I'm ok like she did everyone else but what was the point? Con new her better than that and it would be an insult to him. That was really something Katie didn't want to do. But how was she really feeling? That was a question Katie didn't even know the answer for sure.
"Oh, thats a loaded question I guess. I'm ok to an existent and than past that I'm stressed, tired, and just want everything to be ok again."
Katie lets out a long sigh as she picks up a fry and drags it through some ketchup. She new it would be a while till everything would be ok...if it ever would be. She didn't like thinking about it not being ok, and what would happened if Rick couldn't fix things. Katie new that if it was Jason's time than it was in God's will but still it was a hard thing to except.
"I just want him to be ok again ya know. Even if that meant being on the antidote for the rest of our lives I would be ok with that as long as Jason was ok."
A small tear formed in Katie's eye as it rolled down her cheek. She often wondered now if they had stayed on the antidote and not made Jason go off it, if things would be different. She couldn't blame herself and she new that but it was a what if she often though about anyways.
Not my best
Slightly startled by the female voice behind him, Eric turns, only to be met by the flashlight beam. He holds his hands out to the sides in submission and squints in the bright light until Stacy lowers it. His expression was one of wry amusement. No, he wouldn't want to be a real prowler around here - he'd be dead meat for sure.
If it had been a week prior, Stacy's comment about the ticket would have irritated him. But tonight it simply brings a sheepish grin to his lips, his nose scrunching a little as he cringes. "I suppose I deserved that," he muses ruefully. "As far as the sound of my walk goes, don't get too used to it. I like to change my rhythm every now and again just to throw people off." His eyes were the only thing that revealed he was teasing.
Studying Stacy for a moment, one of his eyebrows lifts a little. Had she just given him a once-over? Again, what would have been irritating not that long ago, now made him feel rather amused. She was going to be living here whether he liked it or not. She was a part of this ranch now, whether he liked it or not. And today... as the feeling of defeat continued to rise within him... it just wasn't worth the fight to try and be at odds. So she'd given him a ticket. Who cared? It had been his fault to begin with and she'd only been doing her job. Him trying to avoid her lately really was pretty childish now that he thought about it.
His mouth opens for an apology but instead, it seemed Stacy was pretty close to an apology herself. Folding his arms, he cocks his head, letting some moonlight below the brim of his hat. Purposefully giving her once-over, he makes it obvious that he's returning her own stare she'd given him. A low chuckle surfaces. "Yeah... I don't got a reason to want things awkward either."
Letting his arms fall so he could put his hands in his pockets, he shifts his weight a little. "I suppose a man ain't got a right to disrespect a woman - let alone a woman with authority." Let alone a woman who was attractive as she, though that was something he wouldn't dare voice. "I guess maybe we got started out on the wrong foot." His crooked grin returns. "But I think it was mostly my fault. You haven't exactly seen me at my best."
Looking to Ashlee, Dylan feigns shock that she would want to get back at him in the game. The twitch at the corner of his mouth evolves into almost a full grin before he hides it again and sends an elbow her way instead. "Be nice... I'm an invalid here, remember?"
"Invalid?!" Jade's jaw drops and she threatens to whack his ankle that sat up beside her.
Dylan automatically flinches, then throws her a smirk. "Watch it."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll..." He really wasn't in a position to be making threats at all. Swinging his gaze back over to Ashlee, he nods. "Or I'll sic this firecracker on you."
"UNO!" Jeff waves his single card in the air. "Does anybody care?"
Jade gasps and throws down a Reverse, which forces Jeff to draw cards instead of playing his last. "Blame it on Dylan. He's stirring up all the trouble."
"Me?!" He leans over and shoves Ashlee playfully with his shoulder. "It's all her, I'm telling ya."
Con smiles as Katie takes her arm, and he leads the way outside. He lets her pick where to go eat, and it doesn't take long to be sitting down and eating their lunch.
Munching on a frenchfry, and after some smalltalk about nothing very important, he cocks his head, just studying Katie. It was nice to spend some time with his "little sister." It seemed they rarely got to see each other anymore other than just saying hi at work. A benefit was her sensitivity to him not hearing well and he could always count on her speaking up and didn't get embarrassed when he had to have her repeat something.
Today though... this lunch was about her, not him. "So..." The thoughtfulness remains in his eyes. "How are you really doing, Kat?" He meant it... this whole thing with Jason had to be rough and he really did want to know how Katie was holding up under it all.
If it had been a week prior, Stacy's comment about the ticket would have irritated him. But tonight it simply brings a sheepish grin to his lips, his nose scrunching a little as he cringes. "I suppose I deserved that," he muses ruefully. "As far as the sound of my walk goes, don't get too used to it. I like to change my rhythm every now and again just to throw people off." His eyes were the only thing that revealed he was teasing.
Studying Stacy for a moment, one of his eyebrows lifts a little. Had she just given him a once-over? Again, what would have been irritating not that long ago, now made him feel rather amused. She was going to be living here whether he liked it or not. She was a part of this ranch now, whether he liked it or not. And today... as the feeling of defeat continued to rise within him... it just wasn't worth the fight to try and be at odds. So she'd given him a ticket. Who cared? It had been his fault to begin with and she'd only been doing her job. Him trying to avoid her lately really was pretty childish now that he thought about it.
His mouth opens for an apology but instead, it seemed Stacy was pretty close to an apology herself. Folding his arms, he cocks his head, letting some moonlight below the brim of his hat. Purposefully giving her once-over, he makes it obvious that he's returning her own stare she'd given him. A low chuckle surfaces. "Yeah... I don't got a reason to want things awkward either."
Letting his arms fall so he could put his hands in his pockets, he shifts his weight a little. "I suppose a man ain't got a right to disrespect a woman - let alone a woman with authority." Let alone a woman who was attractive as she, though that was something he wouldn't dare voice. "I guess maybe we got started out on the wrong foot." His crooked grin returns. "But I think it was mostly my fault. You haven't exactly seen me at my best."
Looking to Ashlee, Dylan feigns shock that she would want to get back at him in the game. The twitch at the corner of his mouth evolves into almost a full grin before he hides it again and sends an elbow her way instead. "Be nice... I'm an invalid here, remember?"
"Invalid?!" Jade's jaw drops and she threatens to whack his ankle that sat up beside her.
Dylan automatically flinches, then throws her a smirk. "Watch it."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll..." He really wasn't in a position to be making threats at all. Swinging his gaze back over to Ashlee, he nods. "Or I'll sic this firecracker on you."
"UNO!" Jeff waves his single card in the air. "Does anybody care?"
Jade gasps and throws down a Reverse, which forces Jeff to draw cards instead of playing his last. "Blame it on Dylan. He's stirring up all the trouble."
"Me?!" He leans over and shoves Ashlee playfully with his shoulder. "It's all her, I'm telling ya."
Con smiles as Katie takes her arm, and he leads the way outside. He lets her pick where to go eat, and it doesn't take long to be sitting down and eating their lunch.
Munching on a frenchfry, and after some smalltalk about nothing very important, he cocks his head, just studying Katie. It was nice to spend some time with his "little sister." It seemed they rarely got to see each other anymore other than just saying hi at work. A benefit was her sensitivity to him not hearing well and he could always count on her speaking up and didn't get embarrassed when he had to have her repeat something.
Today though... this lunch was about her, not him. "So..." The thoughtfulness remains in his eyes. "How are you really doing, Kat?" He meant it... this whole thing with Jason had to be rough and he really did want to know how Katie was holding up under it all.
4/11/11
O.O
Sitting around the table and just enjoying the card game Ashlee couldn't help but laugh and jokes with the others. It was nice to interact with people and get to know them. To have those she new that if she ever was bored around be more than willing to spend there time with her. It was a good feeling to have friends and interact with others.
"Cheater...yes I think Luke is cheating...Angel you need to teach him how not to do that."
Giving a smirk to Luke Angel gives him a backhand to the shoulder playfully. She'd been having fun tonight too and was happy this time she decided to tag along.
"Don't you know the rule of letting the new kid win? Whats wrong with you now she will never want to play cards with us again."
Ashlee can't help but laugh again as she looks over to Dylan and gives a smile. Even thought he didn't smile as full one the little twitch at the couriers of his mouth seemed to match his eyes and on the inside maybe he was smiling and it made her feel good.
"Awww..your gonna hit me with a draw 4 huh? Yeah well what if I reverse it back, and just hit you with one back? Or next time you don't say Uno I wont let it slide and will make you pick up cards."
Ashlee gives a grin as humor dances in her eyes showing how much fun she was having. It had been a great night and though it would be coming to an end soon Ashlee would enjoy the little time left.
Wondering across the grass and checking thing out this had been the normal retain the last few nights. Making everything was ok before she took she spot for half the night where she could see most of the ranch and what went on. Stacy had been enjoying her new job and on top of watching the ranch another person had caught her eye as well and she had been watching him too.
Movement catches Stacy's eye bringing her out of her state of thought. Squinting through the dark she looks to see who was walking across the grass. It was dark and hard to see. Taking out her flash light she turns it on and shines it in Eric's direction.
"Hang on a second."
Drawing a little closer and lowering the flash light a little bit she felt silly noticing it was Eric she was now standing face to face with. Well they were going to run into each other sooner or later. Turning the flash light completely now the only thing left to light up the darkness was the moonlight shinning down on them both.
"Sorry about that, was kind of hard to tell who you were without writing you a ticket. Not to mention I am still trying to get use to everyone's pattern and there own individual sound they make when walking."
A small grin quirks at the courners of Stacy's mouth as she gives Eric a once look over taking him in and not being able to help how good looking he really was.
"I guess I can be kind of brutal when I am working. Kind of just comes with the territory. I hope it wont cause any awkwardness here. Thats really the last thing I want."
Stacy flashes Eric another smile as he moonlight hits her eyes just right causing them to glimmer in the moonlight making them look brighter than normal. She'd thought Eric had seemed like a jerk the find time on the road she had met him, but it was safe to say she wants all that pleasant either. Maybe he was different here and now.
Thinking for a long second Katie wasn't sure. Maybe she should call Jason anyways just to make sure. Shaking her head Katie felt silly for even thinking that. Con had never told a lie to her, and if he said Jason was ok than he must be. Katie had to trust that.
"Alright lets get going. Honestly some time away will be nice."
Grabbing her jacket from the back of her chair Katie throws it over her shoulder before shutting her monitor off and grabbing her keys. Coming out of her cubicle and along side Con she links arms with him before looking up and giving a tired half smile. It really was the best she could muster today.
"Cheater...yes I think Luke is cheating...Angel you need to teach him how not to do that."
Giving a smirk to Luke Angel gives him a backhand to the shoulder playfully. She'd been having fun tonight too and was happy this time she decided to tag along.
"Don't you know the rule of letting the new kid win? Whats wrong with you now she will never want to play cards with us again."
Ashlee can't help but laugh again as she looks over to Dylan and gives a smile. Even thought he didn't smile as full one the little twitch at the couriers of his mouth seemed to match his eyes and on the inside maybe he was smiling and it made her feel good.
"Awww..your gonna hit me with a draw 4 huh? Yeah well what if I reverse it back, and just hit you with one back? Or next time you don't say Uno I wont let it slide and will make you pick up cards."
Ashlee gives a grin as humor dances in her eyes showing how much fun she was having. It had been a great night and though it would be coming to an end soon Ashlee would enjoy the little time left.
Wondering across the grass and checking thing out this had been the normal retain the last few nights. Making everything was ok before she took she spot for half the night where she could see most of the ranch and what went on. Stacy had been enjoying her new job and on top of watching the ranch another person had caught her eye as well and she had been watching him too.
Movement catches Stacy's eye bringing her out of her state of thought. Squinting through the dark she looks to see who was walking across the grass. It was dark and hard to see. Taking out her flash light she turns it on and shines it in Eric's direction.
"Hang on a second."
Drawing a little closer and lowering the flash light a little bit she felt silly noticing it was Eric she was now standing face to face with. Well they were going to run into each other sooner or later. Turning the flash light completely now the only thing left to light up the darkness was the moonlight shinning down on them both.
"Sorry about that, was kind of hard to tell who you were without writing you a ticket. Not to mention I am still trying to get use to everyone's pattern and there own individual sound they make when walking."
A small grin quirks at the courners of Stacy's mouth as she gives Eric a once look over taking him in and not being able to help how good looking he really was.
"I guess I can be kind of brutal when I am working. Kind of just comes with the territory. I hope it wont cause any awkwardness here. Thats really the last thing I want."
Stacy flashes Eric another smile as he moonlight hits her eyes just right causing them to glimmer in the moonlight making them look brighter than normal. She'd thought Eric had seemed like a jerk the find time on the road she had met him, but it was safe to say she wants all that pleasant either. Maybe he was different here and now.
Thinking for a long second Katie wasn't sure. Maybe she should call Jason anyways just to make sure. Shaking her head Katie felt silly for even thinking that. Con had never told a lie to her, and if he said Jason was ok than he must be. Katie had to trust that.
"Alright lets get going. Honestly some time away will be nice."
Grabbing her jacket from the back of her chair Katie throws it over her shoulder before shutting her monitor off and grabbing her keys. Coming out of her cubicle and along side Con she links arms with him before looking up and giving a tired half smile. It really was the best she could muster today.
4/10/11
Worry-free
The tap on the table lifts Dylan's gaze, and one of his eyebrows quirks, signaling his surprise. Daring to look Ashlee in the eye, he searches to see if her invitation is genuine. Did she really know him better than anybody else at the game table? He found that hard to believe, but maybe she'd spoken to him more than the others. Did she really want him there for her, or was she trying to get him involved for some strange reason? All of the above, maybe?
His eyes shift to the table where he sees his sister give him a smile. She'd heard Ashlee too, and it didn't look as though she was apposed. He looks back to Ashlee. Getting a break from school did sound good... maybe he'd stay... for a little while.
Shutting his book, he shrugs. "Yeah, okay." Standing up, he winces and takes a moment before hobbling towards the other table with Ashlee.
Trying to hide surprise, Jeff pulls out a chair next to him. "Have a seat, Tiger."
Dylan smirks. "Only if no one sits across from me." He looks over to his sister who was directly across from him.
She gives him a haughty look. "Oh really? Don't like looking at my mug anymore, eh?"
"No. I need a chair to put my foot up on."
"Oh." Jade grins and stands up, making Dan move too so she could still sit with him. "Why didn't you say so? It's all yours. Want some ice to put on that ankle?"
Dylan had to admit that he appreciated his sister's willingness to help. "Um... yeah, I guess if it's not hard to get at."
As he sits, Jade nods and goes for the kitchen. "No prob. Be right back."
Fifteen minutes later, the game had started. Dylan was settled between Jeff and Ashlee, able to keep his foot up and still play cards. Laughter between most of the players was frequent, and though competition was fierce, it was all in good fun. Somebody makes popcorn and breaks out the pop that was in the kitchen refrigerator. Winning hands rotate between players and at some point, everyone has won at least once, though Luke's in the lead - after which Jeff complains he never should have been invited and is promptly whacked upside the head with as much humor as had been in his own statement.
An hour passes, and Dylan is relaxed, but has yet to join the laughter or even crack a smile... unless the faint grin that tugged at his mouth every now and then counted. Seeing another Skip card played, he rolls his eyes over to Ashlee. "Thanks. A lot," he teases dryly.
"She just likes making you sit out," Jade comments from across the table, throwing her brother a grin. It was good to have him here, interacting at all, whether he was enjoying it as much as the others or not. They didn't always get along as siblings, for sure, but she still loved him and hoped that he'd find his place. "It's a woman thing," she concludes.
"Next game..." Dylan points at her. "You sit over here and get the brunt of all my cards. How about that?"
"Oh no, I'm quite comfy." She pats Dan's leg and leans into his shoulder a little more. "Thanks for the offer though."
Dylan smirks and shakes his head. He gives Ashlee another sidelong glance. "Next time someone plays a Reverse, I have a Draw-4 with your name on it."
It was dark in the barn, except for a few dim lights. It would have been closed up for the night, had Eric not preferred being in here than his bunk for a little while longer. He slowly brushes the red roan mare, his hands lost in the soothing task, and his mind lost far, far away. The sound of the bristles combing through the soft hair tantalizes his ears and brings so many thoughts up from the dead. The scent of the horse infiltrates his nostrils, bringing a collage of memories. The feel of the warm, rippling muscles beneath his palm births scenes in his mind from the past.
It had been so long... so long. His hands pause and he leans his arms across the mare's back, his eyes not seeing anything but years that had gone by. He could still feel the thick leather woven between his fingers as he gripped the reins and a chunk of coarse mane. The first leap always sent his heart into his throat and the trip around the track always felt so much longer than it was in reality. He could still remember the first time he and Mick and been neck and neck and without having even talked about it prior, they'd reached out, clasped hands and crossed the finish line together. And after that, they'd been the unstoppable duo.
A little smile of melancholy curls Eric's lips, his gaze still holding a faraway look. Somehow a wedge had been driven between him and Mick after a while... maybe it was jealousy... maybe it was that they were growing older and beginning to go their separate ways. But no matter their differences, eventually, they'd come back around again, as good a friends as ever. Then Eric had taken that fateful fall and nothing had ever been the same.
Glancing down, he runs his finger through the mare's hair then fingers her mane. He'd lost so much after his accident. It had taken so long for him to regain enough balance and control to even think about riding again... and so many skills had been lost. He could remember struggling with simple math and spelling, proving the depth of damage. Trucking... had been his only way out of a world where he felt stupid daily.
The mare turns her head as much as she could while in the crossties, and looks back at him as if asking if he was going to keep grooming her or just stand there all day. Eric smiles a little and shakes his head. "I'm sorry." He pats her neck lovingly. "You're as bad as a woman who feels neglected."
"It's be being pregnant part. Always makes 'em moody."
Eric swings his gaze over his shoulder, surprised to see Mick wasn't back at the house yet, and he gives him a wry grin. "Yeah, Jim said she was due here pretty soon."
"Mm-hmm." Mick wanders around the other side of the mare, letting his hand trail down her neck before he stops and looks across her back at Eric. He'd seen a light on and had just come to check it out. Maybe finding Eric here was a good thing. "Should be a good foal."
"Out of Turbulence?"
"Nope. Stud from the Mullin's ranch - big grey. Great disposition. Thought about buying him - he's been up for sale a few times. Figured I'd see what kind of foal this girl here would throw first though."
Eric nods absentmindedly as he picks some hair out of the brush he'd been using. His eyes study the bristles for a few moments. He'd been avoiding Mick the last few days... but maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all. Mick didn't seem to hold any grudges... for which Eric was thankful. He'd been a jerk, no doubt, and he wasn't proud of it.
Mick cocks his head as he looks at his brother-in-law, seeing the pensive stare. And he wonders. "You know... sometimes God gives us a second chance with something we love."
Eric's eyes shoot up and they lock with Mick's. Was he referring to horses?
Mick runs his fingers through the mare's mane, tugging at a couple tangles. "I keep telling Rosetta I need an extra set of hands for the training - with riding lessons and normal breaking, I mighta bit off more than I could chew with those fillies that need race training. Gotta have them ready for the track but most of my help either doesn't have the experience or they're kept too busy with other work." He shrugs. "Figure it'll come together somehow, one way or another."
Giving the mare's back a last pat, he sighs and turns down the aisle. "Goodnight, Eric."
Left alone again, Eric grooms the horse for much longer than planned. Was there...hope?
It was at least another half an hour before Eric finally shuts off the lights and make sure all the stalls were closed up for the night. Wandering outside, he shuts the barn door and looks up at the dark night sky, sighing wearily. His walk is rather aimless as he favors his leg... but he still didn't head for his bunkhouse right away. He saw lights still on in the dining room - the late bunch was probably still up playing cards. He really didn't feel like mingling right now. So, he continues to wander, forgetting about the possibility of running into the ranch's new security.
Con chuckles and shakes his head. "Yeah, you know how Jamie gets - she's the jealous type through and through."
Folding his arms, his eyes twinkle with humor before he replies to her wanting to call Jason. "Aw, you think I wouldn't have all the bases covered? I already talked to him. He's fine and he wanted you to have a worry-free break. So we're gonna at least let him think it's worry-free." He winks at Katie and nods towards the exit. "Come on. I'm driving."
"Thanks, Misty." Rick was glad he had her around to help keep his head on straight. Grabbing everything he thought he needed, he aims for the door before stopping again.
Looking over his shoulder, he addresses Misty once more. "When I get back... don't let me forget to call Cindy." The look in his eye was a grim one. "If she wants to spend time with Jason..."
He can't finish his sentence, so he turns and leaves instead.
Tal's eyes glisten as he smiles at Ryan, thoroughly enjoying the time spent with her. It had been even more fun than he thought, and seeing Ryan laugh made it all worth it.
He sighs deeply but nods. "Yeah... " Then his eyes widen. "I just had a vision of your brother coming after me. I think you're right. We definitely need to get back."
Grinning again, he stands up and brushes off his jeans before offering Ryan a hand up too. Just standing with her a moment, he cocks his head and reaches out to tuck her hair behind her ear. "We'll pick up where we left off, tonight when you come over," he reasons.
His eyes shift to the table where he sees his sister give him a smile. She'd heard Ashlee too, and it didn't look as though she was apposed. He looks back to Ashlee. Getting a break from school did sound good... maybe he'd stay... for a little while.
Shutting his book, he shrugs. "Yeah, okay." Standing up, he winces and takes a moment before hobbling towards the other table with Ashlee.
Trying to hide surprise, Jeff pulls out a chair next to him. "Have a seat, Tiger."
Dylan smirks. "Only if no one sits across from me." He looks over to his sister who was directly across from him.
She gives him a haughty look. "Oh really? Don't like looking at my mug anymore, eh?"
"No. I need a chair to put my foot up on."
"Oh." Jade grins and stands up, making Dan move too so she could still sit with him. "Why didn't you say so? It's all yours. Want some ice to put on that ankle?"
Dylan had to admit that he appreciated his sister's willingness to help. "Um... yeah, I guess if it's not hard to get at."
As he sits, Jade nods and goes for the kitchen. "No prob. Be right back."
Fifteen minutes later, the game had started. Dylan was settled between Jeff and Ashlee, able to keep his foot up and still play cards. Laughter between most of the players was frequent, and though competition was fierce, it was all in good fun. Somebody makes popcorn and breaks out the pop that was in the kitchen refrigerator. Winning hands rotate between players and at some point, everyone has won at least once, though Luke's in the lead - after which Jeff complains he never should have been invited and is promptly whacked upside the head with as much humor as had been in his own statement.
An hour passes, and Dylan is relaxed, but has yet to join the laughter or even crack a smile... unless the faint grin that tugged at his mouth every now and then counted. Seeing another Skip card played, he rolls his eyes over to Ashlee. "Thanks. A lot," he teases dryly.
"She just likes making you sit out," Jade comments from across the table, throwing her brother a grin. It was good to have him here, interacting at all, whether he was enjoying it as much as the others or not. They didn't always get along as siblings, for sure, but she still loved him and hoped that he'd find his place. "It's a woman thing," she concludes.
"Next game..." Dylan points at her. "You sit over here and get the brunt of all my cards. How about that?"
"Oh no, I'm quite comfy." She pats Dan's leg and leans into his shoulder a little more. "Thanks for the offer though."
Dylan smirks and shakes his head. He gives Ashlee another sidelong glance. "Next time someone plays a Reverse, I have a Draw-4 with your name on it."
It was dark in the barn, except for a few dim lights. It would have been closed up for the night, had Eric not preferred being in here than his bunk for a little while longer. He slowly brushes the red roan mare, his hands lost in the soothing task, and his mind lost far, far away. The sound of the bristles combing through the soft hair tantalizes his ears and brings so many thoughts up from the dead. The scent of the horse infiltrates his nostrils, bringing a collage of memories. The feel of the warm, rippling muscles beneath his palm births scenes in his mind from the past.
It had been so long... so long. His hands pause and he leans his arms across the mare's back, his eyes not seeing anything but years that had gone by. He could still feel the thick leather woven between his fingers as he gripped the reins and a chunk of coarse mane. The first leap always sent his heart into his throat and the trip around the track always felt so much longer than it was in reality. He could still remember the first time he and Mick and been neck and neck and without having even talked about it prior, they'd reached out, clasped hands and crossed the finish line together. And after that, they'd been the unstoppable duo.
A little smile of melancholy curls Eric's lips, his gaze still holding a faraway look. Somehow a wedge had been driven between him and Mick after a while... maybe it was jealousy... maybe it was that they were growing older and beginning to go their separate ways. But no matter their differences, eventually, they'd come back around again, as good a friends as ever. Then Eric had taken that fateful fall and nothing had ever been the same.
Glancing down, he runs his finger through the mare's hair then fingers her mane. He'd lost so much after his accident. It had taken so long for him to regain enough balance and control to even think about riding again... and so many skills had been lost. He could remember struggling with simple math and spelling, proving the depth of damage. Trucking... had been his only way out of a world where he felt stupid daily.
The mare turns her head as much as she could while in the crossties, and looks back at him as if asking if he was going to keep grooming her or just stand there all day. Eric smiles a little and shakes his head. "I'm sorry." He pats her neck lovingly. "You're as bad as a woman who feels neglected."
"It's be being pregnant part. Always makes 'em moody."
Eric swings his gaze over his shoulder, surprised to see Mick wasn't back at the house yet, and he gives him a wry grin. "Yeah, Jim said she was due here pretty soon."
"Mm-hmm." Mick wanders around the other side of the mare, letting his hand trail down her neck before he stops and looks across her back at Eric. He'd seen a light on and had just come to check it out. Maybe finding Eric here was a good thing. "Should be a good foal."
"Out of Turbulence?"
"Nope. Stud from the Mullin's ranch - big grey. Great disposition. Thought about buying him - he's been up for sale a few times. Figured I'd see what kind of foal this girl here would throw first though."
Eric nods absentmindedly as he picks some hair out of the brush he'd been using. His eyes study the bristles for a few moments. He'd been avoiding Mick the last few days... but maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all. Mick didn't seem to hold any grudges... for which Eric was thankful. He'd been a jerk, no doubt, and he wasn't proud of it.
Mick cocks his head as he looks at his brother-in-law, seeing the pensive stare. And he wonders. "You know... sometimes God gives us a second chance with something we love."
Eric's eyes shoot up and they lock with Mick's. Was he referring to horses?
Mick runs his fingers through the mare's mane, tugging at a couple tangles. "I keep telling Rosetta I need an extra set of hands for the training - with riding lessons and normal breaking, I mighta bit off more than I could chew with those fillies that need race training. Gotta have them ready for the track but most of my help either doesn't have the experience or they're kept too busy with other work." He shrugs. "Figure it'll come together somehow, one way or another."
Giving the mare's back a last pat, he sighs and turns down the aisle. "Goodnight, Eric."
Left alone again, Eric grooms the horse for much longer than planned. Was there...hope?
It was at least another half an hour before Eric finally shuts off the lights and make sure all the stalls were closed up for the night. Wandering outside, he shuts the barn door and looks up at the dark night sky, sighing wearily. His walk is rather aimless as he favors his leg... but he still didn't head for his bunkhouse right away. He saw lights still on in the dining room - the late bunch was probably still up playing cards. He really didn't feel like mingling right now. So, he continues to wander, forgetting about the possibility of running into the ranch's new security.
Con chuckles and shakes his head. "Yeah, you know how Jamie gets - she's the jealous type through and through."
Folding his arms, his eyes twinkle with humor before he replies to her wanting to call Jason. "Aw, you think I wouldn't have all the bases covered? I already talked to him. He's fine and he wanted you to have a worry-free break. So we're gonna at least let him think it's worry-free." He winks at Katie and nods towards the exit. "Come on. I'm driving."
"Thanks, Misty." Rick was glad he had her around to help keep his head on straight. Grabbing everything he thought he needed, he aims for the door before stopping again.
Looking over his shoulder, he addresses Misty once more. "When I get back... don't let me forget to call Cindy." The look in his eye was a grim one. "If she wants to spend time with Jason..."
He can't finish his sentence, so he turns and leaves instead.
Tal's eyes glisten as he smiles at Ryan, thoroughly enjoying the time spent with her. It had been even more fun than he thought, and seeing Ryan laugh made it all worth it.
He sighs deeply but nods. "Yeah... " Then his eyes widen. "I just had a vision of your brother coming after me. I think you're right. We definitely need to get back."
Grinning again, he stands up and brushes off his jeans before offering Ryan a hand up too. Just standing with her a moment, he cocks his head and reaches out to tuck her hair behind her ear. "We'll pick up where we left off, tonight when you come over," he reasons.
Laughter, the best Medicine
Looking up from her text book that had been sitting at the table with her for most of dinner Ashlee gives a smile to Jade. She had a text tomorrow she was studying for but she had spent the last hour doing so, maybe it would be ok this time.
"Yeah sure."
Closing her book and standing Ashlee makes her way to the table before she stops and turns to look at Dylan for a moment and than back at the group. It looked like a lot of people where there and if she asked him to join that wouldn't be her imposing right? They looked friendly enough not to mind and at least than she would know someone there.
Turning and heading over to Dylan's table she taps on it lightly to get his attachen giving him a nice warm smile. She wanted to be friends with him, and she wanted to see him smile more. There was a look in his eyes that showed deep down he wanted to smile but something stopped him from doing it.
"Hey Dylan. I know your trying to study and all but I was wondering if you would like to come play cards too. It would be nice to know someone else at the table too and it would be a nice break from school work. What do you want to say? Wanna try and venture this road with me?"
Looking up at Con Katie smiles big. It had been a little while since she had talked to Con and even longer since she had hung out with him and Jamie. Jason being sick took up most of her time not that is bothered it at all, but it just let little time for her to do anything else.
"Lunch huh? I don't know Jamie keeps me on a tight leash with all this works and everything on top of taking one hundred percent of you time away from her she might double my work load."
Katie gave a little smile. She was trying to be funny but once the joke was said it just didn't seem as funny anymore and she rolled her eyes at herself. She new Jamie wouldn't mind if she tagged along and what she said now just seemed dumb.
"I think I can take a lunch break today. I just need to call Jason to see how he is doing before we go."
It felt strange saying she had to call Jason. It was so abnormal, for them to ever have to pick up the telephone to talk to each other that now it just felt strange. But at least they had that still so they could get a hold of each other when they needed too.
Misty's look held one of worry. It wasn't often a smile wasn't on her face even in hard time, but this time...this was something completely different. This was there friend, someone close to them who was not given a choose to live or die. This was out of there hands and Misty hated it.
"Yeah its right here on the counter."
Standing Misty goes over to the counter and picks up the needle along with the pain killers. Handing them to Rick she lays a hand on his shoulder and trys to give the best smile she could at this point. It was hard, but it was all she had.
"I'm going to keep seeing what I can do. We are going to figure this out, and we are going to save Jason and Katie. One without the other is not an options."
Letting out another laugh at one of Tal's jokes Ryan almost had tears in her eyes. Once Tal started it was on a roll for sure. It had turned out to be a pretty good afternoon and Ryan was pleased with that. She might haven't taken a longer lunch than intended but that just met she would work a little later tonight.
"Tal you have got to stop...my sides hurt so much...oh my goodness."
It had been a long time since Ryan had laughed like this but it felt good. To just open up like this and laugh as loud and as long as they wanted too. Laughter the best medicine....Ryan was starting to think that saying way true.
Looking up at the clouds she finally sits up and glances at her watch and than back at Tal. She didn't want to time to end not yet, but she new she had too. Letting out a small sigh she throws a blade of grass Tal's way.
"Well I better get back or everyone is going to think you kidnapped me. Not that I mind that thought but you might end up having an angry Auto mob coming after you and that...can't end well."
"Yeah sure."
Closing her book and standing Ashlee makes her way to the table before she stops and turns to look at Dylan for a moment and than back at the group. It looked like a lot of people where there and if she asked him to join that wouldn't be her imposing right? They looked friendly enough not to mind and at least than she would know someone there.
Turning and heading over to Dylan's table she taps on it lightly to get his attachen giving him a nice warm smile. She wanted to be friends with him, and she wanted to see him smile more. There was a look in his eyes that showed deep down he wanted to smile but something stopped him from doing it.
"Hey Dylan. I know your trying to study and all but I was wondering if you would like to come play cards too. It would be nice to know someone else at the table too and it would be a nice break from school work. What do you want to say? Wanna try and venture this road with me?"
Looking up at Con Katie smiles big. It had been a little while since she had talked to Con and even longer since she had hung out with him and Jamie. Jason being sick took up most of her time not that is bothered it at all, but it just let little time for her to do anything else.
"Lunch huh? I don't know Jamie keeps me on a tight leash with all this works and everything on top of taking one hundred percent of you time away from her she might double my work load."
Katie gave a little smile. She was trying to be funny but once the joke was said it just didn't seem as funny anymore and she rolled her eyes at herself. She new Jamie wouldn't mind if she tagged along and what she said now just seemed dumb.
"I think I can take a lunch break today. I just need to call Jason to see how he is doing before we go."
It felt strange saying she had to call Jason. It was so abnormal, for them to ever have to pick up the telephone to talk to each other that now it just felt strange. But at least they had that still so they could get a hold of each other when they needed too.
Misty's look held one of worry. It wasn't often a smile wasn't on her face even in hard time, but this time...this was something completely different. This was there friend, someone close to them who was not given a choose to live or die. This was out of there hands and Misty hated it.
"Yeah its right here on the counter."
Standing Misty goes over to the counter and picks up the needle along with the pain killers. Handing them to Rick she lays a hand on his shoulder and trys to give the best smile she could at this point. It was hard, but it was all she had.
"I'm going to keep seeing what I can do. We are going to figure this out, and we are going to save Jason and Katie. One without the other is not an options."
Letting out another laugh at one of Tal's jokes Ryan almost had tears in her eyes. Once Tal started it was on a roll for sure. It had turned out to be a pretty good afternoon and Ryan was pleased with that. She might haven't taken a longer lunch than intended but that just met she would work a little later tonight.
"Tal you have got to stop...my sides hurt so much...oh my goodness."
It had been a long time since Ryan had laughed like this but it felt good. To just open up like this and laugh as loud and as long as they wanted too. Laughter the best medicine....Ryan was starting to think that saying way true.
Looking up at the clouds she finally sits up and glances at her watch and than back at Tal. She didn't want to time to end not yet, but she new she had too. Letting out a small sigh she throws a blade of grass Tal's way.
"Well I better get back or everyone is going to think you kidnapped me. Not that I mind that thought but you might end up having an angry Auto mob coming after you and that...can't end well."
Worsening condition
It turned into a quiet day, and too quickly the hours passed. It was after supper now, and people were starting to filter out of the dining hall for the evening. Some to run errands in town, some to finish last minute chores, and some to just go home and relax. A small group remained though, and the sound of shuffling cards could be easily heard.
Jeff sits back in his chair and fingers the deck of UNO cards. Laughing at something Clint had said, he engages in a conversation with Dan before rescuing his cup of coffee that Luke had just stolen.
Jade munches on a cookie and glances around the room to see if anyone else was sticking around. Smiling, she calls out to a nearby table. "Hey, Ashlee... wanna stay up for a while for some UNO?" It was still early evening... even if Ashlee needed to go to bed sooner than the others, it would be a couple hours yet, and Jade really did want to get to know the younger girl. They weren't all that far apart in age and Ashlee seemed like she could be a lot of fun.
Dylan looks up from his usual corner table where he'd been doing schoolwork throughout supper, gingerly seated with his foot propped up on a chair and leaned back so his ribs and shoulder didn't hurt as much. He wasn't surprised to see a group playing cards, nor was he surprised his sister was inviting Ashlee to join in. Jade had always been like that... friendly, popular... the most rebellious thing Dylan had seen her do was come looking for Mick a while back. She liked people and probably genuinely wanted to include Ashlee in the fun.
Dylan knew his invitation wouldn't be coming - he'd said no so many times that they'd finally quit asking. Not that he cared... right? He needed to get his schoolwork done and besides, UNO wasn't his favorite game...
He puts his eyes back on his history book. Maybe he should go back to his bunk so he wouldn't be distracted.
"Hey, little sister." Con towers over Katie's cubicle wall and smiles down at her. Since Jason had been sick, it seemed the close friends rarely interacted anymore and Con missed it.
"Jamie's off today and I'm hungry for lunch. Wondered if you'd let me buy you a sub or something... take a short break from work...?"
"I don't understand." Rick rubs his eyes and moves away from the microscope. The lab table in the infirmary was cluttered with data readoffs, bloodwork and DNA analysis. And none of it was making any sense.
"There's got to be something to work with. It can't just be invisible." He shakes his head, frustrated. "I know it's a foreign thing to begin with - the telepathy that Jason and Katie have can't be medically or scientifically explained, even though we've tried. But what's happening to Jason's body is real. He's really getting sick. He's really being killed from the inside out. I mean look at this!"
Rick grabs an x-ray and waves it in the air. "That scan we took of his knee when all this happened? Look at the damage! He was fine before the last couple attacks. Now suddenly he needed surgery again because all that cartilage that grew back simply deteriorated. Every weak spot he has is attacked, like whatever it is has intelligence and knows where to go. But there's no reason why!"
Slamming the x-ray back down, he heaves a sigh. He didn't mean to yell at Misty - she had no control over any of this, and she was trying just as hard as he was. He was just so frustrated. Con had been to see Jason this morning and when he'd returned to TJY, he'd come to see Rick. Apparently after Katie had left the house this morning, Jason had taken a nosedive. Thankfully, Con had been there to help him when he'd gotten sick and to get some liquids in him and get him settled down on the couch again before leaving. But Con had said he'd never seen Jason look so pale and it was very obvious that he was extremely worried. And so was Rick. With each passing day, Rick knew that Jason was worsening. He'd stopped visiting TJY... he'd stopped going anywhere but for short walks... he'd stopped playing the guitar.
"I can't tell him he's going to die." Rick's tone had quieted. "He knows it's killing him, but I can't tell him there's nothing we can do... I just can't. I won't."
He gathers up some things to put in his bag. "I'm going to the house to check on him while Con keeps Katie distracted for a while. There's no need in getting her upset." He searches the counter then his bag, then the counter again. "Do you know what I did with that syringe of antidote and pain killer I was going to give Jason?"
"I want to speak with you about your upcoming hearing."
Alec scoffs at Justin and remains slouched on his cot. He was getting tired of these routine sessions... every day was the same... every day went by without hope of any change except when he'd be carted off to be placed behind bars. "What about it? We all know I'm gonna get a guilty verdict."
"You may still have a chance if you fight for it. I just don't want to see anybody else get the guilty verdict, too."
Alec furrows his brow. "Anybody else?"
Justin shrugs as he shifts a little in the folding chair, tapping his pen on the table. "Well, yeah. I mean, you go to prison, there's gonna be other people on trial right behind you who could end up in prison, too."
"Who? I don't understand."
"It's pretty simple really." Justin remains casual, even though on the inside he was continually reminding himself how to deliver the message the way he wanted. It was a little hard to keep his head in the game today. He'd slept well though - even that, he had to admit. It had been a little embarrassing, waking up on the couch with Beth this morning, but she hadn't seemed to mind and really... he hadn't minded so much either. So they'd shared some breakfast before parting ways and by then, Justin had gotten to TJY almost late. But it was getting up and going that had brought back all his worries and stress about everything else, which made it difficult to focus on Alec's bad attitude today. But he had to. "See, Reese got permission to help people like you who have been in the Agency. You go to prison, that will be proof that the program failed."
"So?" Alec was still confused.
"So if the program fails, that's gonna open up the doors to investigation. And if they investigate, they could pull out other people who are on the straight and narrow now but were connected with the Agency in some way or another in the past, and put them on trial."
"Like who? Gage?"
"Him..." Justin pauses, making Alec want more. "And people like Carson... Phinox... Ryder... Misty..." He pauses again. "Ryan."
Alec's eyes flash. "Ryan? Why? She didn't do anything."
"No, but she was planning on contacting the Agency when you disappeared. Now, the other law enforcement may not have all of that information, but believe me you, they will find it. If they get their foot in the door, they'll dig up anything they can. They'll say that Ryan had her own contacts or that she wanted to join the Agency - it would be too risky to let her go. And Misty? Carson? They've both been in a few scrapes since being out of the Agency and those will certainly be used against them. They could even drag Scott back into all of this and put him on trial all over again as a new case."
Alec swallows hard. He wasn't so sure he liked the sound of all that. "Well they can't do that just because I went off the deep end. I mean, that's not fair. Just because I turned doesn't mean the others did."
Justin shrugs. "Maybe not. But you know how the system works. Right now, the Elite is under extreme scrutiny. Reese has put more than his neck on the line with this thing."
"He was stupid to," Alec mutters.
"Was he? He did it because he cared and you know it. Thing is, he cares about those other people too. More is riding on this than just your own future."
"Well what would I have to do? Go grovel in front of the judge or what?"
Justin hides his hope that maybe they were getting somewhere. Alec was thinking through it now. "You just need to tell your story the way you and I both know it needs to be told. Do you want to go to prison?"
Alec glares at him. "Of course not."
"Then you're gonna have to behave like it. Yeah, you're gonna have to swallow your pride, but isn't it worth it? Isn't it worth it if it will keep people like Misty and Ryan out of prison too?"
Alec's eyes drop and he fiddles with his fingernails. He didn't like this. When it was just him, he couldn't care less. But... with the others on the line too... it wasn't so easy to just turn his back and give up. "So I gotta pretend I actually care and lie and say I promise to be a model citizen from here on out."
"Who said anything about lying?" Justin quirks an eyebrow. "You do care. And you can say you'll do your best at reintegrating into society. If you're saved from prison, I would hope that wouldn't be a lie."
Alec still doesn't raise his eyes. He knew he cared. Way deep down, he knew it was true, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Prison was the last thing he wanted... and seeing others put there because of him was not a pleasant thought. But to go and basically beg before the judge? Could he really do that?
Jeff sits back in his chair and fingers the deck of UNO cards. Laughing at something Clint had said, he engages in a conversation with Dan before rescuing his cup of coffee that Luke had just stolen.
Jade munches on a cookie and glances around the room to see if anyone else was sticking around. Smiling, she calls out to a nearby table. "Hey, Ashlee... wanna stay up for a while for some UNO?" It was still early evening... even if Ashlee needed to go to bed sooner than the others, it would be a couple hours yet, and Jade really did want to get to know the younger girl. They weren't all that far apart in age and Ashlee seemed like she could be a lot of fun.
Dylan looks up from his usual corner table where he'd been doing schoolwork throughout supper, gingerly seated with his foot propped up on a chair and leaned back so his ribs and shoulder didn't hurt as much. He wasn't surprised to see a group playing cards, nor was he surprised his sister was inviting Ashlee to join in. Jade had always been like that... friendly, popular... the most rebellious thing Dylan had seen her do was come looking for Mick a while back. She liked people and probably genuinely wanted to include Ashlee in the fun.
Dylan knew his invitation wouldn't be coming - he'd said no so many times that they'd finally quit asking. Not that he cared... right? He needed to get his schoolwork done and besides, UNO wasn't his favorite game...
He puts his eyes back on his history book. Maybe he should go back to his bunk so he wouldn't be distracted.
"Hey, little sister." Con towers over Katie's cubicle wall and smiles down at her. Since Jason had been sick, it seemed the close friends rarely interacted anymore and Con missed it.
"Jamie's off today and I'm hungry for lunch. Wondered if you'd let me buy you a sub or something... take a short break from work...?"
"I don't understand." Rick rubs his eyes and moves away from the microscope. The lab table in the infirmary was cluttered with data readoffs, bloodwork and DNA analysis. And none of it was making any sense.
"There's got to be something to work with. It can't just be invisible." He shakes his head, frustrated. "I know it's a foreign thing to begin with - the telepathy that Jason and Katie have can't be medically or scientifically explained, even though we've tried. But what's happening to Jason's body is real. He's really getting sick. He's really being killed from the inside out. I mean look at this!"
Rick grabs an x-ray and waves it in the air. "That scan we took of his knee when all this happened? Look at the damage! He was fine before the last couple attacks. Now suddenly he needed surgery again because all that cartilage that grew back simply deteriorated. Every weak spot he has is attacked, like whatever it is has intelligence and knows where to go. But there's no reason why!"
Slamming the x-ray back down, he heaves a sigh. He didn't mean to yell at Misty - she had no control over any of this, and she was trying just as hard as he was. He was just so frustrated. Con had been to see Jason this morning and when he'd returned to TJY, he'd come to see Rick. Apparently after Katie had left the house this morning, Jason had taken a nosedive. Thankfully, Con had been there to help him when he'd gotten sick and to get some liquids in him and get him settled down on the couch again before leaving. But Con had said he'd never seen Jason look so pale and it was very obvious that he was extremely worried. And so was Rick. With each passing day, Rick knew that Jason was worsening. He'd stopped visiting TJY... he'd stopped going anywhere but for short walks... he'd stopped playing the guitar.
"I can't tell him he's going to die." Rick's tone had quieted. "He knows it's killing him, but I can't tell him there's nothing we can do... I just can't. I won't."
He gathers up some things to put in his bag. "I'm going to the house to check on him while Con keeps Katie distracted for a while. There's no need in getting her upset." He searches the counter then his bag, then the counter again. "Do you know what I did with that syringe of antidote and pain killer I was going to give Jason?"
"I want to speak with you about your upcoming hearing."
Alec scoffs at Justin and remains slouched on his cot. He was getting tired of these routine sessions... every day was the same... every day went by without hope of any change except when he'd be carted off to be placed behind bars. "What about it? We all know I'm gonna get a guilty verdict."
"You may still have a chance if you fight for it. I just don't want to see anybody else get the guilty verdict, too."
Alec furrows his brow. "Anybody else?"
Justin shrugs as he shifts a little in the folding chair, tapping his pen on the table. "Well, yeah. I mean, you go to prison, there's gonna be other people on trial right behind you who could end up in prison, too."
"Who? I don't understand."
"It's pretty simple really." Justin remains casual, even though on the inside he was continually reminding himself how to deliver the message the way he wanted. It was a little hard to keep his head in the game today. He'd slept well though - even that, he had to admit. It had been a little embarrassing, waking up on the couch with Beth this morning, but she hadn't seemed to mind and really... he hadn't minded so much either. So they'd shared some breakfast before parting ways and by then, Justin had gotten to TJY almost late. But it was getting up and going that had brought back all his worries and stress about everything else, which made it difficult to focus on Alec's bad attitude today. But he had to. "See, Reese got permission to help people like you who have been in the Agency. You go to prison, that will be proof that the program failed."
"So?" Alec was still confused.
"So if the program fails, that's gonna open up the doors to investigation. And if they investigate, they could pull out other people who are on the straight and narrow now but were connected with the Agency in some way or another in the past, and put them on trial."
"Like who? Gage?"
"Him..." Justin pauses, making Alec want more. "And people like Carson... Phinox... Ryder... Misty..." He pauses again. "Ryan."
Alec's eyes flash. "Ryan? Why? She didn't do anything."
"No, but she was planning on contacting the Agency when you disappeared. Now, the other law enforcement may not have all of that information, but believe me you, they will find it. If they get their foot in the door, they'll dig up anything they can. They'll say that Ryan had her own contacts or that she wanted to join the Agency - it would be too risky to let her go. And Misty? Carson? They've both been in a few scrapes since being out of the Agency and those will certainly be used against them. They could even drag Scott back into all of this and put him on trial all over again as a new case."
Alec swallows hard. He wasn't so sure he liked the sound of all that. "Well they can't do that just because I went off the deep end. I mean, that's not fair. Just because I turned doesn't mean the others did."
Justin shrugs. "Maybe not. But you know how the system works. Right now, the Elite is under extreme scrutiny. Reese has put more than his neck on the line with this thing."
"He was stupid to," Alec mutters.
"Was he? He did it because he cared and you know it. Thing is, he cares about those other people too. More is riding on this than just your own future."
"Well what would I have to do? Go grovel in front of the judge or what?"
Justin hides his hope that maybe they were getting somewhere. Alec was thinking through it now. "You just need to tell your story the way you and I both know it needs to be told. Do you want to go to prison?"
Alec glares at him. "Of course not."
"Then you're gonna have to behave like it. Yeah, you're gonna have to swallow your pride, but isn't it worth it? Isn't it worth it if it will keep people like Misty and Ryan out of prison too?"
Alec's eyes drop and he fiddles with his fingernails. He didn't like this. When it was just him, he couldn't care less. But... with the others on the line too... it wasn't so easy to just turn his back and give up. "So I gotta pretend I actually care and lie and say I promise to be a model citizen from here on out."
"Who said anything about lying?" Justin quirks an eyebrow. "You do care. And you can say you'll do your best at reintegrating into society. If you're saved from prison, I would hope that wouldn't be a lie."
Alec still doesn't raise his eyes. He knew he cared. Way deep down, he knew it was true, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Prison was the last thing he wanted... and seeing others put there because of him was not a pleasant thought. But to go and basically beg before the judge? Could he really do that?
4/9/11
Moving the day on
Hearing Luke's comment Angel new it was a sore subject and Luke didn't like always talking about it unless he wanted too. So when the subject was changed Angel didn't push it anymore and just moved onto another topic.
"I know you love your card games. Maybe I'll tag along and finally join in too for once. I think it could be a fun way to spend the evening with you."
Leaning her head on his shoulder again and just enjoying the air and company Angel let out a content sigh. It was going to be a good day, she could feel it already.
Happy with Eric's answer on coming back later Ashlee turns to leave again. What would she do to pass the time before coming back? She didn't know. Exploring more was her first answer but she might get so wrapped up in it that she might miss feeding. Maybe though she could do some school work.
Getting to her bunk and going inside she fishes around her stuff for her math and history book quick sticking them into her backpack along with paper, and some pens. Next getting a blanket she holds onto it before heading out again.
Walking just a little ways along side of of the barns where there was good room to see everything Ashlee lets her backpack slip to the ground as she lays the blanket down and than sits. It was to much of a nice day to have to stay locked inside.
"I know you love your card games. Maybe I'll tag along and finally join in too for once. I think it could be a fun way to spend the evening with you."
Leaning her head on his shoulder again and just enjoying the air and company Angel let out a content sigh. It was going to be a good day, she could feel it already.
Happy with Eric's answer on coming back later Ashlee turns to leave again. What would she do to pass the time before coming back? She didn't know. Exploring more was her first answer but she might get so wrapped up in it that she might miss feeding. Maybe though she could do some school work.
Getting to her bunk and going inside she fishes around her stuff for her math and history book quick sticking them into her backpack along with paper, and some pens. Next getting a blanket she holds onto it before heading out again.
Walking just a little ways along side of of the barns where there was good room to see everything Ashlee lets her backpack slip to the ground as she lays the blanket down and than sits. It was to much of a nice day to have to stay locked inside.
4/7/11
Bored
Luke chuckles. "Yeah... I think Dylan's a lot more like his dad than he sees, or wants to admit. I'm not even sure Mick sees it most days."
His hand rubs Angel's arm absentmindedly as he thinks - a habit he usually didn't even realize existed. "At least Dylan is getting out and doing a few more things now. He still hibernates too much, but at least he's making an effort in a few areas." His lips form a wry grin. "I guess even I'd try to help out but I think all I could do was teach him how to sit in a porch swing, and I'm pretty sure he already knows how to do that."
Even though he was kidding, just a little bit of sarcasm seeps into his tone. Realizing it too late, he tries to change the subject. "So anyway, Jeff's been trying to get an UNO game going forever - I thought I might humor him tonight and stay up at the dining room for a while after supper."
Eric gives a short kind of laugh and nods. He hadn't thought he'd help with chores later but now... maybe he would. "Yeah... I'll be here."
Wandering back down the barn aisle, he looked for something to do to keep himself occupied for a while longer.
Dylan hobbles alongside Sparky, wanting to just make it to his bunkhouse where he could hibernate the rest of the day. This morning's lesson had been a disaster. Usually they waited until late afternoon, but Sparky had known Mick was busy in the office this morning, so he'd had Dylan ride early. Unfortunately, it wasn't the time of day that was the problem. It was just one of those days where everything seemed to go wrong. Now if Dylan could just avoid a bunch of questions...
No such luck.
"Dylan?" Mick stops them, approaching with worry in his eyes from seeing his son limping and being helped along by Sparky. "Are you okay? What happened?"
When Dylan glares at the ground in silence, Sparky is quick to speak. "Oh, just had a little tumble. Nothing but a cracked rib, sprained ankle and a nice black and blue shoulder. He'll be good as new so fast that nobody'll know the difference."
Mick isn't convinced and he folds his arms. "Tumble?"
"Yeah... yeah, but we're good."
The pause that follows is an awkward one. Dylan glances up once to see Mick's face before he looks down again. "Can we just get to my bunk?" he mumbles.
"Not until I know what happened," Mick states flatly. He looks at Sparky with irritation - it wasn't like his brother to skirt around issues like this. "Who's gonna tell me?"
Sparky can feel Dylan tense, and he tries to put out a fire before one started. "While he was riding earlier, a few things went wrong and he got bucked off. Angel's already checked him out though and all he needs is a couple days to-"
"Riding?" Mick's eyebrows had already arched. "Dylan, the hater of horses was riding?"
Dylan's gaze snaps up angrily and he opens his mouth to spit out an angry retort, but Sparky speaks before he can.
"Well, you know how some people change their minds." Sparky keeps his tone light, while he gives Mick a definite look that told him to shut up and he'd talk to him later.
Mick catches the hint and backs off. "Ah. Okay. Well, um... if you need anything, Dylan, let me or Rosetta know, alright?"
Dylan gives him half a nod. "Yeah." Leaning into Sparky, he forces him to keep going, abandoning the short exchange with Mick. Once they reach his bunk, he's helped onto his bed to put his ankle up and Sparky helps him with some ice before leaving him be. Stuck where he was, Dylan grudgingly does his schoolwork, though after an hour of staring at his books, these four walls never felt tighter. One math lesson and one book flung at the floor later, he leans back and stares up at the ceiling, frustrated and bored.
"So what's going on?" Mick spins on his heel as Sparky approaches him from behind in the barn aisle.
Sparky sighs and tips his hat back on his head. "I've been giving Dylan riding lessons. He didn't want you to know about it yet."
"Why not?" Mick throws his arms in the air and paces in circles. "And he gets thrown? What happened?"
"Nothing - it was just a rough day. He was having trouble, Sharpshooter had his own ideas and it just happened." Sparky remains perfectly calm. "You know how it goes."
"Well why didn't Dylan want me to know? I don't get it. One day he hates horses and the next he's riding?"
Sparky furrows his brow and just waits a moment until Mick will look him in the eye. "He was scared, Mick. He never hated horses... he was scared. You just didn't see it."
Mick stops his pacing and stares at his brother. "But he never said-"
"It doesn't matter what he said. It's the truth. And on top of that, he's even more scared of disappointing you. That's why he didn't want you to know about him riding."
"Disappointing me? Why? I don't understand. He told you that?"
"No, but he didn't have to. Look, you two might not get along very well, but you're still his father. You're also the top horseman around here - you think he wants to look stupid in front of you? Take a fall for you to see? He's disappointed you enough. First, he hasn't turned out to be what you wanted in a son, and now you think he'd want to attempt being a horseman in front of you - his father and the best?" Sparky shakes his head. "I can't blame him."
It takes a few moments for the whole thing to sink in, but when it does, Mick's heart sinks just as low. His shoulders drop. "Things really are messed up between him and me, aren't they?"
Sparky purses his lips and nods slowly. "Yeah... yeah, they are. But... that doesn't mean it can't get better. Now, I've never been a parent, but my advice for the moment would be to just keep giving Dylan his space. He's more embarrassed than hurt right now and he thinks you're judging him already."
"But I-"
"I know you're not. But his perspective isn't accurate either. He's hurt, he's frustrated, he's scared, and he wants to be loved but just doesn't know that's what that hole in his life is. He doesn't have hardly any friends, his relationship with his family isn't great, he's stuck at a horse ranch and he's got the Agency after him. It's a heavy load for a kid to bear."
Mick sighs deeply. "So I should just ignore today?"
"Not ignore... but don't make a big deal out of it either. Now's not the time to reprimand or draw attention to what he thinks is a shortcoming. I'll keep working with him... if it's alright with you."
"Yeah... yeah." Mick nods, though his mind was going several directions at once. He was so frustrated... and sad... sad that Dylan was letting Sparky close but not him. But... if that was Dylan's choice, then Mick knew he had to just stay back no matter how hard it was.
His hand rubs Angel's arm absentmindedly as he thinks - a habit he usually didn't even realize existed. "At least Dylan is getting out and doing a few more things now. He still hibernates too much, but at least he's making an effort in a few areas." His lips form a wry grin. "I guess even I'd try to help out but I think all I could do was teach him how to sit in a porch swing, and I'm pretty sure he already knows how to do that."
Even though he was kidding, just a little bit of sarcasm seeps into his tone. Realizing it too late, he tries to change the subject. "So anyway, Jeff's been trying to get an UNO game going forever - I thought I might humor him tonight and stay up at the dining room for a while after supper."
Eric gives a short kind of laugh and nods. He hadn't thought he'd help with chores later but now... maybe he would. "Yeah... I'll be here."
Wandering back down the barn aisle, he looked for something to do to keep himself occupied for a while longer.
Dylan hobbles alongside Sparky, wanting to just make it to his bunkhouse where he could hibernate the rest of the day. This morning's lesson had been a disaster. Usually they waited until late afternoon, but Sparky had known Mick was busy in the office this morning, so he'd had Dylan ride early. Unfortunately, it wasn't the time of day that was the problem. It was just one of those days where everything seemed to go wrong. Now if Dylan could just avoid a bunch of questions...
No such luck.
"Dylan?" Mick stops them, approaching with worry in his eyes from seeing his son limping and being helped along by Sparky. "Are you okay? What happened?"
When Dylan glares at the ground in silence, Sparky is quick to speak. "Oh, just had a little tumble. Nothing but a cracked rib, sprained ankle and a nice black and blue shoulder. He'll be good as new so fast that nobody'll know the difference."
Mick isn't convinced and he folds his arms. "Tumble?"
"Yeah... yeah, but we're good."
The pause that follows is an awkward one. Dylan glances up once to see Mick's face before he looks down again. "Can we just get to my bunk?" he mumbles.
"Not until I know what happened," Mick states flatly. He looks at Sparky with irritation - it wasn't like his brother to skirt around issues like this. "Who's gonna tell me?"
Sparky can feel Dylan tense, and he tries to put out a fire before one started. "While he was riding earlier, a few things went wrong and he got bucked off. Angel's already checked him out though and all he needs is a couple days to-"
"Riding?" Mick's eyebrows had already arched. "Dylan, the hater of horses was riding?"
Dylan's gaze snaps up angrily and he opens his mouth to spit out an angry retort, but Sparky speaks before he can.
"Well, you know how some people change their minds." Sparky keeps his tone light, while he gives Mick a definite look that told him to shut up and he'd talk to him later.
Mick catches the hint and backs off. "Ah. Okay. Well, um... if you need anything, Dylan, let me or Rosetta know, alright?"
Dylan gives him half a nod. "Yeah." Leaning into Sparky, he forces him to keep going, abandoning the short exchange with Mick. Once they reach his bunk, he's helped onto his bed to put his ankle up and Sparky helps him with some ice before leaving him be. Stuck where he was, Dylan grudgingly does his schoolwork, though after an hour of staring at his books, these four walls never felt tighter. One math lesson and one book flung at the floor later, he leans back and stares up at the ceiling, frustrated and bored.
"So what's going on?" Mick spins on his heel as Sparky approaches him from behind in the barn aisle.
Sparky sighs and tips his hat back on his head. "I've been giving Dylan riding lessons. He didn't want you to know about it yet."
"Why not?" Mick throws his arms in the air and paces in circles. "And he gets thrown? What happened?"
"Nothing - it was just a rough day. He was having trouble, Sharpshooter had his own ideas and it just happened." Sparky remains perfectly calm. "You know how it goes."
"Well why didn't Dylan want me to know? I don't get it. One day he hates horses and the next he's riding?"
Sparky furrows his brow and just waits a moment until Mick will look him in the eye. "He was scared, Mick. He never hated horses... he was scared. You just didn't see it."
Mick stops his pacing and stares at his brother. "But he never said-"
"It doesn't matter what he said. It's the truth. And on top of that, he's even more scared of disappointing you. That's why he didn't want you to know about him riding."
"Disappointing me? Why? I don't understand. He told you that?"
"No, but he didn't have to. Look, you two might not get along very well, but you're still his father. You're also the top horseman around here - you think he wants to look stupid in front of you? Take a fall for you to see? He's disappointed you enough. First, he hasn't turned out to be what you wanted in a son, and now you think he'd want to attempt being a horseman in front of you - his father and the best?" Sparky shakes his head. "I can't blame him."
It takes a few moments for the whole thing to sink in, but when it does, Mick's heart sinks just as low. His shoulders drop. "Things really are messed up between him and me, aren't they?"
Sparky purses his lips and nods slowly. "Yeah... yeah, they are. But... that doesn't mean it can't get better. Now, I've never been a parent, but my advice for the moment would be to just keep giving Dylan his space. He's more embarrassed than hurt right now and he thinks you're judging him already."
"But I-"
"I know you're not. But his perspective isn't accurate either. He's hurt, he's frustrated, he's scared, and he wants to be loved but just doesn't know that's what that hole in his life is. He doesn't have hardly any friends, his relationship with his family isn't great, he's stuck at a horse ranch and he's got the Agency after him. It's a heavy load for a kid to bear."
Mick sighs deeply. "So I should just ignore today?"
"Not ignore... but don't make a big deal out of it either. Now's not the time to reprimand or draw attention to what he thinks is a shortcoming. I'll keep working with him... if it's alright with you."
"Yeah... yeah." Mick nods, though his mind was going several directions at once. He was so frustrated... and sad... sad that Dylan was letting Sparky close but not him. But... if that was Dylan's choice, then Mick knew he had to just stay back no matter how hard it was.
Craving
Feeling Justin's hand close over top of hers again Beth moved her head up a little bit for a moment just to look down at both there hands laying there. It was odd in a way to be sitting here, like this with someone. It was something Beth didn't think would ever happen because of who she was. But now she was, and Justin was here too, his hand over hers and it felt nice, warm.
Leaning her head back again a smile on her lips Beth's mind wonders. Did this mean her and Justin were more than friends? Or was it still sitting on the friend level? Wondering Beth didn't know but right now she didn't want to ask either. It was, what it was and Beth wasn't going to mess it up by asking any questions.
As the movie played on and Beth stayed comfortable soon her own eyes fell shut and her hands that ran through Justin's hair seemed to stop as well, but her fingers still lied in his hair comfortable. Sleep had found her at last, and maybe...it was the best sleep she'd had in a long time.
Just cuddling even closer to Luke Angel gives a small giggle at his comment. She love spending time with him and never did a doubt pass through her mind that he would want to be anywhere else, nor would she. This had been something she searched for, for a long time and now finding it how could she ever want something different.
"My day is going alright. Had to patch Dylan up a little, he was riding and got thrown. He's about as bad as Mick with not wanting to accept he got hurt."
Angel shakes her head a little bit before letting out a little laugh. The Henson's were always stubborn Angel new that and she couldn't help but laugh a little bit seeing it carried over into the kids.
Finishing with the horse and handing the towel to Eric Ashlee gives a smile. It felt good being around the horse, and Eric, it felt even better knowing she was helping out even if it wasn't anything big it still felt good.
About to turn and head to find something else to do Ashlee stops as she hears Eric's voice again and his offer about feeding the horse. Feeling her heart speed up a little bit she turned on her heels to look at Eric again a big smile on her face as she cocked her head a little bit.
"I'll be there if you are to show me what to do."
It was nice that Eric showed her how to do two things already today. To have someone explain the reason, and go through the steps without her having to read was a bit refreshing. Not that her mom never did, or she hated how her life was, it was just...different with Eric...maybe something she missed but never really payed attachen to before. But now she realized it was there, and it was almost something she was craving.
Leaning her head back again a smile on her lips Beth's mind wonders. Did this mean her and Justin were more than friends? Or was it still sitting on the friend level? Wondering Beth didn't know but right now she didn't want to ask either. It was, what it was and Beth wasn't going to mess it up by asking any questions.
As the movie played on and Beth stayed comfortable soon her own eyes fell shut and her hands that ran through Justin's hair seemed to stop as well, but her fingers still lied in his hair comfortable. Sleep had found her at last, and maybe...it was the best sleep she'd had in a long time.
Just cuddling even closer to Luke Angel gives a small giggle at his comment. She love spending time with him and never did a doubt pass through her mind that he would want to be anywhere else, nor would she. This had been something she searched for, for a long time and now finding it how could she ever want something different.
"My day is going alright. Had to patch Dylan up a little, he was riding and got thrown. He's about as bad as Mick with not wanting to accept he got hurt."
Angel shakes her head a little bit before letting out a little laugh. The Henson's were always stubborn Angel new that and she couldn't help but laugh a little bit seeing it carried over into the kids.
Finishing with the horse and handing the towel to Eric Ashlee gives a smile. It felt good being around the horse, and Eric, it felt even better knowing she was helping out even if it wasn't anything big it still felt good.
About to turn and head to find something else to do Ashlee stops as she hears Eric's voice again and his offer about feeding the horse. Feeling her heart speed up a little bit she turned on her heels to look at Eric again a big smile on her face as she cocked her head a little bit.
"I'll be there if you are to show me what to do."
It was nice that Eric showed her how to do two things already today. To have someone explain the reason, and go through the steps without her having to read was a bit refreshing. Not that her mom never did, or she hated how her life was, it was just...different with Eric...maybe something she missed but never really payed attachen to before. But now she realized it was there, and it was almost something she was craving.
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