Missing

JT's heart hurt as he watched his friend in so much pain. He couldn't imagine the nightmare Gunner must be going through, and only wanted to help. But he didn't know how.

Grateful for Hope's intervention, he stood back and remained quiet. It felt like waiting for a volcano to erupt...and just as unmanageable.

Gunner could feel another tear trickle down his cheek, and as much as it bothered him, he let it be. The worst part about being here – about these sessions with Hope – was that there were no secrets. Nothing to hide behind. Now allowance for silence. Here was where wounds were ripped open and his pride abolished. And it hurt. A lot.

“I’m always trapped here.” The retort came out hoarsely through thick emotions. “Just because I have a choice between losing my job entirely or not, doesn’t make it less of a trap.”

The anger returned to his vacant eyes. “If people around here actually cared, they’d leave me alone.” There was more. More emotions. More feelings running rampant. More words on the tip of his tongue. But he swallowed them. His gaze met JT’s and Hope’s once more before he spun around to leave the office, slamming the door shut behind him.

Only now did JT realize he’d been holding his breath, and he let it out slowly before rubbing his hands over his face. “Well…at the very least, we hit a nerve, which probably means we were traveling down the path of truth…finally.”

He looked over at Hope, his expression one of quiet concern. “Let’s hope he acknowledges it.”

They could hope all they wanted, but no one would know if Gunner had accepted what had been revealed. Not that day. Or that night. Or the following day or night. And by the third day, Reese made the search official. No one had seen or heard from Gunner since the session in Hope’s office. There was no trace of where he might have gone. No trace of his car. And his cell phone was going unanswered. He had simply disappeared...

…JT sighed and hung up the phone in the living room before turning to look at Bree. “Still nothing.” He’d been talking to Reese, but there was simply no news. Pete and Con had teamed up to hunt down any lead they could, and neither had been successful thus far.

“Reese is worried the Agency is involved. Con is more worried Gunner went and either hurt himself or went after some other bad guy figment of his imagination.” JT sank down into his chair, wishing he had better news for his niece. Neither one of them had worked the past two days, too worried and too busy trying to help find Gunner. “Still no trace of his car. His apartment hasn't been touched, and as far as all data shows, he hasn’t used his cell phone at all." 

He glanced at his niece with just as much concern for her as for Gunner. "They'll find him...I know they will."

Hearing his phone, Hunter quit tinkering with his motorcycle and wiped his hands on a rag before viewing Katie’s text message. It was an odd sort of feeling that hit him. Not quite jealousy. Not quite concern. Not quite…anything, really. Except it was almost like when a question is asked, even though the answer is already known. At least, the emotion could be considered similar on a different plane...or something like that.

He chewed on the inside of his lower lip while his thumbs worked out a reply.

No sweat. Yeah morning is still on. 

Later.

He thought about more. But he hit “send” before typing anything else. Jason and Katie went a long way back and had a lot of history together. Not to mention, they still worked together. It was only natural that they should join up to chat every once in a while. And yet…

Hunter looked at his phone again and started another text message. Only this time, it wasn’t to Katie. 

Jason smirked at Katie before taking another sip of his coffee. “Yeah, I’m Jason alright. It’s a wonder people have put up with me all this time. Seems all I keep doing is messing things up. Good enough to keep my head above water, but enough of a hothead to keep making that one wrong choice.”

He shook his head and let his eyes rest on hers. “I should have seen it that very first time you got me help when I needed it. When you were the only one who knew I was in trouble and either came running yourself, or made someone else do it. You’ve always been there, no matter how stupid I’ve been, or the stunts I’ve pulled.”

He swallowed hard and dropped his gaze as his emotions started to churn. He needed to stop now. But he also needed to be honest. “No matter what I put you through, or how many times I pulled away…how many times I hurt you and made you suffer because I felt chained to you through our connection. You always took me back. Always forgave.”

It wasn’t a feeling of romance that moved his hand towards hers on the table. It wasn’t a gesture born of flirtatiousness. It was only tender gratefulness that was wrapped within his touch as his fingers curled around hers to give them a gentle squeeze. It was an apology. And one that had come too late.

“You were always stronger than me,” he whispered. “Maybe it’s just taken me this long with this much loss to finally see it. I…still hurt…thinking about how things ended with us. I can’t deny feeling it was unfair. But…if I’d have been fair to you in the first place, it probably never would have happened.”

He let go of her hand and cleared his throat before returning to his coffee. “And I’ve now been unfair to Misty, too, by getting into a relationship with her in the first place. I guess…all I can do now is try to pick up the pieces and hope she forgives me. And…try not to let it affect my work or else Reese really have my head.” He managed a wry grin. “Not that that’s any different than normal.”

Clint really didn’t feel like talking, much less consoling this girl. But the tender spot in his heart – no matter how much he tried to ignore it – won out.

He stopped what he was doing to cross his arms and lean back against the workbench, forgetting about his own problems for at least a little while. “Ah…the truth comes out.”

He shook his head at Ashlee. “I grew up without a dad, too. And when I did finally find him, I discovered I’d known him all along, and he just never had the guts to tell me. And now…” He stopped himself short. “Well, we won’t get into that. My point is, I can see where you’re coming from, and I don’t blame you. If you weren’t a little scared of being let down again, I’d be worried.”

He pursed his lips and just studied her for a couple moments. “But know this…If you don’t give Eric a chance…If you decide to push him away out of fear, you’ll do that the rest of your life, and trust me, you’ll regret it. At some point, you’re going to have to have a little faith in someone, or else you’ll wind up alone and miserable.”

Maybe it was a little harsh for a girl her age, but he was only being honest. “Now, I know you trust your mom. And if she – after all she’s been through – has the nerve to put her trust in Eric…then it’s probably safe.” He shrugged. “And if you’d ask me, I’d tell you he’s one of the most loyal guys you’ll ever meet, and as far as I can tell, he cares about you and your mom a lot.”

He moved to resume putting some random tools away. “People come and go from our lives all the time – there’s nothing we can do to control it. But if you don’t learn to let yourself care about someone in the few moments we have them, you won’t care at all. And I’d hate to see the kind of person you’d end up being if you went that route.”

Alone

Hope didn't mind letting JT take the lead on this. Maybe if Gunner heard it from someone like family he would take it a little easier. She had no doubt he'd be upset, and thats why she was there but maybe just maybe with a little luck it might so smoother than she played it in her own head.

Watching Gunner as JT talked Hope could see the stress written on his face and the pain in his eyes. She new that this had to be a shock and maybe even a little hard to handle. Seeing Gunner get more and more upset, and his words match Hope felt bad. She really honestly did. Something like this was never easy no matter how she wished it was.

   "Not proud of ourselves, but just trying to help you weather you want to believe it or not Gunner. We want the same thing for you, that you want. Closure so you can move on with yourself, with everything it has to offer."

Seeing the tears that ran down Gunner's cheek made Hope's heart break even more. She couldn't even imagine the pain he was in and hurt the filled his heart. Hearing his question she was quiet for a long moment. She wanted Gunner to stay, but she wanted him to stay on his own, not be forced.

Looking to JT she gives a small nod before looking back to Gunner and laying a hand on his arm. There was so much she wanted to do but so little she really could.

   "You are never trapped here Gunner unless you want to be. You have always been free to come and go as you want. Just know before you go, we do care about you, and we are here if and when you need us."

Letting go of Gunner's arm she gives it a small pat before taking a few steps back and letting Gunner free to go. Giving a glance at JT she hoped he understood why she did what she did.

Giving a smile as Jason accepts her offer Katie nods and pulls out her phone shooting a fast message to Hunter.

 Hey, I just wanted to let you know that Jason
needed someone to talk to, and I happened to 
be around. So we are just going to grab 
something to eat. See you in the morning still?

Slipping her phone back into her pocket Katie stands and heads for the door. She had mixed feelings about this, and she hoped Hunter understood. It was just lunch, between two friends right?

Getting to the bagel shop Katie orders some tea, and a light salad. She didn't want anything to heavy to eat, but she did want something. Listing to Jason Katie takes a sip of tea. A small laugh surfaced at the mention of everyone Jason had tried to make it work with only to see it slip away and at the same time, she felt bad too.

   "Nah, I dont think there is wrong with you. Maybe not the best choices were made, but I dont think there is anything wrong with you. Takes two, to make and break a relationship."

Looking down again Katie is silent for a moment thinking about the turn there own relationship had taken. She new most of it was her fault. She'd been quick to jump, didn't try and talk things out, it had been one big ball of mess. 

   "I guess we need to make mistakes to learn. Some times sad ending come out of it, but I guess its just part of life really. I'm sure once Misty calms down too, and what not she'll understand. After all who could stand not talking to you? Your Jason!"

Feeling Alec's arm around her Misty just sinks into him. She might not have showed it but she just needed to feel safe, and cared for at the moment. Everything had gone wrong in so little amount of time. Carson, Jason...she wasn't sure what else she could take.

   "Can you just hold me till I fall asleep? I just....dont want to be alone."

Hearing Eric had something for her Ashlee can't help but feel a little excitement. But at the same time she still had her mix emotions. She was really happy to see Eric, but still he was going to leave again and she'd miss him once more. It hurt, and if he left maybe he didn't care that much. It confused Ashlee and she didn't like it.

   "Ok, see ya in a bit."

Tossing the pop can in the trash and moving to the work bench Ashlee picked at some of the loose wood. Picking up one of the wrenches she places into the tool box.

   "If I hang out with him, I'll stop being mad at him, and if I stop being mad at him than I'll just miss him when he leaves again and why should I miss him if he doesn't care about us and leaves."

Taking in a deep breath and than lets it out again. She didn't mean to unload everything on Clint, he was just there and she was frustrated. She hated feeling like this, and she didnt even know who to talk to about it.

   "Sorry, I kind of just blurted out."

Cage

JT wasn’t really sure about sitting in on the next session with Gunner but…maybe Hope was right. Maybe Gunner would react differently if he were here and could help walk him through the evidence.

“Yeah…sure…okay. I have to work part of the night tonight but I have off tomorrow so that should be alright…”


…Gunner  was in no hurry to get to Hope’s office to keep his appointment, but he knew if he missed it, he’d just have people jumping down his throat for it. Yesterday had been a complete bust. He’d slept for most of it, and had gotten nowhere. He wasn’t even a hundred percent sure what he’d done in the evening, but he had a vague memory of watching a movie with Bree.

Avoiding anyone else at TJY, he finally got himself to Hope’s office ten minutes late. Upon entering though, he stopped short. What on earth was JT doing here?

“Hey, Gunner.” JT sat in an extra chair, and offered a smile.

“Um…hey.” Gunner set his sunglasses up on top of his head and gave Hope a wary look. “What’s…going on?”

JT took the lead, having already gone over things with Hope. “Just had a bit of information Hope thought I should share with you so I thought I’d sit in on things today.”

“Oh…kay…” Gunner eased down in his normal chair, but sat on the edge, not sure if he liked this or not. No…no, he was pretty sure he didn’t like it at all. But he’d stay, if only to make them happy. “So shoot. What’s so important you gotta watch my brain picked apart?”

JT smirked, but shook his head instead of retorting. “Well, I knew you’d been investigating the past so…I did a bit of nosing around on my own…” He proceeded to explain everything he’d already shared with Hope. About the people, circumstances, and what he’d learned about Gunner’s family. It made sense. The pieces fit. But as he finished, there was only awkward silence that filled the office.

Gunner was visibly rigid, his jaw hard at work grinding his teeth. He had said nothing throughout JT’s explanation, and even now was eerily quiet. He finally looked at Hope, giving her eyes a good long search before glancing back to JT. A forced smile creased his lips, though his knee had already started to bounce, proving his nerves were close to giving out. “So… let me guess… This is the part where one of you tries to tell me that all this time, I’ve been coming up with grand theories about how my parents died, because really, deep down I have a terrible guilt for driving my father away and maybe even a guilt for causing the accident itself. That all I’ve done is built a huge imaginative story just to cover up my own blame.”

JT blinked and glanced at Hope, unsure how to proceed. Gunner was partly right. And to any eye – even the untrained – it was very obvious that a cord had been struck. Something had hit Gunner, and had hit him hard. “Well… it’s –”

“And you two apparently are quite proud of yourselves for coming up with this little theory.” Gunner stood, not caring what else JT had to say. His smile was gone as he looked to Hope again. “I don’t know what it is that you think you’re trying to solve, or how you think you’re delving into my psyche by this whole charade, but let me tell you –”

“Take it easy,” JT interrupted, now standing as well. “We’re just trying to help.”

“Help? With this load of crap?” Gunner’s eyes blazed. “Don’t you think I went down that path myself? Don’t you think I checked out all those same people? Don’t you think I covered all those leads?”

“Did you?”

Silence.

JT cocked his head. “Well? Did you really?”

As suddenly as Gunner’s anger had erupted, it vanished almost-dangerously fast. Tears sprang into his eyes and he turned for the door, only to have it quickly blocked by JT. “Let me go,” he hissed.

“Stay,” JT pleaded. “Talk it out. Please. You need this.”

Gunner felt sick. His head hurt, his stomach churned, and he felt suffocated. His hands clenched into fists as he turned back around and stared at Hope. “Alright, Doc.” His voice was hoarse as he fought against emotions. “Your call.” A silent tear ran down his cheek. “You gonna let me out of this cage or keep me here 'til I can’t breathe anymore?”


A long pause followed Katie's invitation. Jason straightened up and just looked at her, not knowing if he was more surprised that she'd invited him, or more surprised that it felt way too easy to say yes. But...should he? What about Hunter? Wouldn't he be upset with Katie going somewhere with her ex, no matter how innocent? Yet...it was Katie's risk, not Jason's. Really, it was none of Jason's business. Katie was just trying to be a friend, so if Hunter had a problem, it was between the two of them...right? 

Jason chewed on the inside of his lower lip. There was a warning within him...something that told him not to walk this line. Something that told him he shouldn't say yes. And yet there was also the part that had brought him here tonight in the first place...the part that didn't want to be alone right now and just wanted a friend. 

"Okay." He quirked a little smile. "Not sure I want food, but coffee sounds good..."

...It didn't take long before he was sitting across from Katie in the little bagel shop a few blocks from TJY. It was one of the few quieter places open later in the evening, and they had good food and coffee, too. 

Jason wrapped his hands around his coffee cup, enjoying the warmth on his palms. It was strange...sitting here with Katie. Just the two of them. It wasn't like when they were on the job or together on a stakeout. Though he'd been quiet, a sorry sort of laugh was what broke the silence. "Ya know..." He shook his head and looked up at Katie, his eyes meeting hers. "I'm beginning to think there's something wrong with me." 

He shrugged and took a sip of his coffee. "Jade...you...Camryn...you again... and again...Misty..." A sigh surfaced. "There's only one common factor: me." His eye dropped. "Guess I didn't realize how many times I'd messed things up 'til now. I still think I made the right choice with Misty, but I prolly never should've gotten involved in the first place. Just not smart enough to stay out of the fire, I guess."


Alec was shocked by Misty's words, and for a moment he wasn't even sure how to respond. Jason had called things off? Because of Carson? It sort of made sense, and sort of didn't. Either way, Alec had been under the impression that things had been going well. He couldn't help but wonder what had happened, and now there seemed to be a lot of questions. Regardless, it was Jason's business to do whatever he wanted. But that didn't mean Alec felt any less badly for Misty.

His heart hurt as he looked at how sad she was. Even if she wasn't ultra emotional right now, it would still have been a blow. He didn't like seeing Misty upset and crying. It just...didn't feel good and he had no idea what to do. 

Moving a little closer on the couch, he slipped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle hug. "I'm so sorry." He wished he could make her feel better. He wished he could just solve this entire mess. But he knew he couldn't. All he could do was give her an extra squeeze and a kiss on the top of her head. "Is there anything I can do?"


Ashlee's response was not at all what Eric had expected. He hadn't thought she'd be elated, but her lack of any enthusiasm at seeing him made his heart sink just a little bit. Maybe his impression that he'd be missed had just been his own need to feel wanted and wasn't really the actual truth. At least Stacy had seemed pleased to see him.

He blinked, his smile fading as he shrugged. "Oh. Well, okay."

Clint fingered his pop can as he looked between the girl and Eric. Something seemed off, all of a sudden. Did Ashlee's strange behavior have something to do with Eric's return? That in itself was odd, since he'd assumed she adored Eric. "I won't be too much longer here," he commented. "I think it's time to give this beast a rest for the night, so all I have left is cleaning up a few loose tools."

"Alright." Eric's finger tapped the door absentmindedly as he tried to catch Ashlee's eye, but she was looking down now. "Well, I'll be in, eating. See me sometime though, Ash, 'cause I brought back something for ya." He smiled again and nodded to Clint. "See ya later."

Only after he was gone did Clint set down his pop can before starting in on organizing some of the tools on the workbench. "This isn't gonna take me long," he mentioned over his shoulder. Ashlee's choice wasn't any of his business, but he didn't want to contribute to any tension either. "You can go hang with Eric if you want. I don't mind."

Some coffee...

Seeing a grin from Jason even if it was small made Katie smile too. Continuing to listen to Jason Katie was slightly surprised by the news of Jason and Misty. When she'd seen them together even if it was only from a distance she always thought they looked happy and nothing could split them. But hearing this it only made her slightly more confused.

   "I do have to say I am a bit surprised. I mean in a way I understand where you are coming from, and I don't think what you did was wrong. We all have our own convictions, and if you think this was right than who is to tell you differently?"

Putting her pencil down and just looking at Jason for a long second Katie turned in her chair. She could see how hurt he was. While yes this was an awkward situation she couldn't fault Jason for that. He needed a friend to talk to, and she did know him pretty well. Even if it was hard, and it did hurt she wanted to be there for Jason.

   "You're not bothering me. I needed a break from going over these older cases and making sure everything was filled out on the forms right anyways. I was thinking about going to grab some coffee and a bite to eat. Want to come along?"

Hearing Alec's motorcycle pull up Misty didn't even hardly move. She new he'd be home soon, and she new He's be worried if her saw her like this but honestly, she lacked the energy to care, or even try to clean herself up. Everything was still fresh and new, maybe she was in a little shock, or a state if denial, but deep down she new it was true.

Knowing he was now in the same room as her Misty let out a long sigh before sucking in her breath again. Slowly looking up at Alec she blinks a little trying her best not to cry again. She felt alone. Even though Jason said he still wanted to be friends, it just wasn't the same.

   "Jason broke up with me. He said he didn't feel right being with me as long as I was married to Carson still."

Just saying those words stung Misty's heart even more. Tears started to fill her eyes again as she looked down at her hands that were pulling apart a tissue. She'd didn't like being seen like this but she couldn't help it. She felt to many things at once to help it.

Hearing everything JT had to say Hope leaned back in her chair. A lot of what he said made sense. It was surprising but it made sense with some of the behavior he was showing. It still was a difficult situation to deal with, and she wondered if there was a right way to handle it.

   "Well, I do think these are some good things to know definitely. It's just how to go about it all that has me stumped now. I really think Gunner should know...its the how to tell him."

Standing and pacing for a few moments Hope thinks deeply. Before stopping and looking at JT. If Gunner was like family, maybe it was best if family told him.

   "Gunner is coming here tomorrow, maybe we can tell him together. I think maybe if you told him it might be a little easier. What do you think?"

To: Rosalyn
From: Chad

:-D I look forward to it more than anyone will
ever know. Have a good dinner my sweet.
Till we can talk again *hug and kiss*

Putting his phone down after sending the text he gives a little smile. Maybe there was hope after all. Even if no one else believed it he did.

Getting up from his seat he grabs his jacket and heads out the door. Maybe if he hurried he could still catch breakfast with the others.

Taking a sip from her own can Ashlee gives a little laugh as a slight bit spills from the can onto the ground. Giving a sheepish look she pulls a tissue from her pocket and bends down to wipe it up. Catching the door open Ashlee look up seeing Eric. Standing again she stuffs the tissue into her pocket before shifting a little. She'd missed him, but she had been trying to avoid him. He was just going to leave again and the though hurt just thinking about it, without getting attached first.

   "I'm...not to hungry at the moment."

Ashlee's stomach growled in protest.  She'd hoped no one heard it though.

   "You can go ahead. I might be in later. I'm going to help Clint..if he needs it for a little bit. Thanks though."

Trying to give her best smile Ashlee took another sip of her pop before looking down.  Even if she tried to hide it she new he look gave her away, and maybe even one could tell she was disappointed in herself for saying no.

Investigation

Jason forced a small grin, though it did little to remove the shadows from his eyes. "Yeah...yeah, I'm okay." His gaze dropped though. Was he actually going to stand here and lie? That didn't seem right. But neither did it seem right to be talking to her about this. Would the awkwardness ever truly go away? They had so much history...so many shared emotions. Things could never go back to the way they were, but how could they even be...normal?

He straightened and lifted his chin, but only to rest his elbows on the wall and hide his eyes in his palms. No...he couldn't lie, and if he didn't talk to someone, it would just make him feel worse. "I broke up with Misty tonight," he mumbled. There. He'd said it. And now that he had, it just emphasized the truth to himself. Saying it aloud somehow made it seem more real, and the pain seemed to grow just a little more sharp.

It wasn't until he'd taken a deep breath did he finally raise his eyes once more. The tears would not fall...but they were there, hiding behind the wall he'd created to protect himself. "The whole thing with her and Carson..." He shrugged lamely. "I just didn't feel it was right to continue a relationship with her while she's still married. I mean..." He sighed. It felt so wrong and so right at the same time.

Jason's gaze met Katie's, and he wished he knew what she was thinking. Would she think him a jerk for leaving Misty at a time like this? She was a good friend of hers, after all. "I guess I don't know any more what I think of Carson, and if God prefers them to work it out somehow, I didn't want to be the one standing in the way. I don't want to live with that on my conscience...that they might break their vows forever because I got in the middle."

He ran his thumbnail across the top of the wall, and hit a slight notch that he suddenly remembered making on some other occasion when he'd been upset. His fingers apparently still had their same nervous habits. His eyes found the floor again. This had to be weird for Katie, and he hadn't meant it to be. "I'm sorry," he apologized quietly. "I didn't mean to put you in an awkward position. I just...didn't have anybody else to talk to. I'm sure you've got better things to do than listen to me vent about my personal life."


Alec was a little surprised he didn't see Jason's truck, as he pulled his motorcycle into the driveway. Usually Jason stayed later than this, but... it really wasn't any of Alec's business anyway. Once parked in the garage, he headed inside the house. There was little reason, but he liked letting Misty know he was home before going out to his shed for the night. And...one thing his shed lacked was a shower.

"Honey, I'm home!" He shut the door behind himself and took off his leather jacket, slinging it over his shoulder. Seeing a light on in the living room, he wandered that direction. "Man, things sure look lively around here," he teased. Not even the television was on. "I smell like sweat and pizza grease, so I'm gonna..." His voice trailed off as he neared the couch and spotted Misty. Immediately, he knew something wasn't right, and his pulse quickened. "...shower," he finished.

Coming closer, his concern grew. Was she crying? "Hey..." His voice had softened, and he came around to sit on the edge of the couch near Misty. "You okay? What happened?"


It wasn't that JT thought no one else could handle this or that Hope and Bree weren't doing all they could to help Gunner...but he just had a hunch he wanted to follow. He'd asked Gunner about his family around the time of the accident, and Gunner had always just pushed that topic aside, saying he knew all there was to know about that, and it wasn't worth pursuing. They were still after a killer, quite possibly with Agency ties, which had nothing to do with family or friends. And yet...something about it just didn't seem quite right. Several days had gone by, and Gunner was no less on edge. Not that JT thought it would be an overnight cure, but something had to be done. Something had to end Gunner's obsession before he went mad or drove away the people who cared most about him...

"Franklin?" The man furrowed his brow while wiping his hands on a towel.

It had taken quite a bit of doing for JT to find him in Knox. There were an awful lot of dead ends, which just added to the mystery. Thankfully the little pottery shop was not busy today, providing an ample opportunity to chat. "Yeah." He handed Paul a photo of Gunner.

After Paul took the picture, a look of recognition crossed his face. "Wow. Yeah...yeah, I knew him. We hung out in high school. Weren't best friends or anything but we almost always wound up at the same lunch table." He cocked his head at JT. "What's all this about?"

"Did you have any contact with Brent after high school?"

"Not really. Well, maybe a couple times, then he was in an accident that took his memory. He didn't remember me, so there wasn't much to go on. I went off to college and that was it."

"So you didn't help him or anything?"

Paul quirked an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, he was pretty bitter and didn't want much to do with anything. I heard his folks' insurance took care of most of the bills and stuff, and a lawyer was making sure he was set. There wasn't much I could do." He paused to study JT's face. "Why?"

"Just digging. Brent's wanted to find out a few things about his past and I'm trying to help."

"Ah." Paul wandered back to his pottery wheel and sat down to start working again. "I suppose it sucks to not remember, but there was stuff I wouldn't want to remember." He chuckled. "Did he ever remember the trouble he got himself into?"

JT followed him and watched him work for a moment. "Trouble? No, he still has no memory prior to the accident."

"Well, he was quite a rebel in high school. Too smart for his own good if you ask me, but his dad wasn't too pleased."

"Oh?"

"Eh, I didn't know the guy, but Brent told me he could be pretty rough, especially when Brent would get himself in trouble. Got suspended once for lipping off to the principal one too many times - thought he might never be back, the way his dad talked. But I guess we all thought we had parents who were too hard on us when we were that age."

JT eyed the lump of clay that began going around in circles on the wheel, while Paul's hands started to shape it. "I see. Did you know anything else about Brent's parents?"

"Not really, other than their marriage was on the rocks."

"Yeah?"

"Mm-hmm." Paul kept his eyes on his work and was quiet for several moments before giving up and letting the wheel stop. He sighed and looked back up at JT. "I haven't thought about all this in years, ya know? But parts are coming back to me. I remember once at lunch, Brent was all upset about something and I razzed him about it. He spouted off at me and ended up telling me he'd found out his parents were getting a divorce." He shook his head. "Fool kid thought it was 'cause of him. Said he'd been too much trouble and his dad had finally had it, so was leaving."

JT folded his arms, his mind hard at work. "How long after that was the accident?"

"Not too long. I was surprised they were all in the same car, to tell you the truth. Figured his dad had already split, but I guess not..."

...As JT drove down the highway, his thoughts were a mess of facts and theories. A very interesting story was being built, and he wondered if there were any answers therein. He had just enough time today to make one more stop. And maybe, just maybe, it would shed more light on the dark puzzle...

"Yeah, I remember that night well." The attractive middle-aged woman offered JT a drink, to which he shook his head. She shrugged and poured herself one anyway before rejoining him in the plush living room. "Sam and Lynn were their cool selves, like usual. Oh, they hadn't always been that way - just for a couple years. Anybody could tell they were having problems." She took a sip of her drink, her rings clinking lightly on the glass. "'Course me and Harry weren't exactly best friends at that point either."

JT gave Renee a wry grin, but found little real humor in all of this. "So backtrack just as little...It was a business party that afternoon? And Brent came along with his parents?"

"Right. He hung out with my boy for a while, until Sam and Lynn got into it."

"So they fought?"

"Sure did. I don't know how it started, but Sam was throwing around the insults pretty good, and that was without having had anything to drink."

JT tried to imagine what was being described to him. "And then they left?"

"Oh, yes. Slamming door - the whole bit." Renee took another sip of her drink before setting the glass down on the elegant coffee table.

"And Brent?"

"Followed them out like a whipped puppy. Oh, he tried to act all tough, but he was mortified that his parents had caused a scene like that. The rest of us just went on, hoping the whole thing would blow over." Renee sighed as she remembered. "We were all shocked to hear of the accident, and we all wished we could have talked Sam and Lynn into staying longer - maybe they could have avoided what happened."

JT nodded slowly. "One can always wonder..."


...And wonder, he did. Although less than he had before. Driving back to North Springs, he had plenty of time to think and put pieces together. The only thing left now was to figure out what to do with them.

Gunner really had been completely on his own after getting out of the hospital. The family lawyer had assisted with paying off bills and legal advice, but otherwise, Gunner had to rely on himself. It was true that no family had shown up - a fact that still felt strange. Apparently there were a couple friends that lent a hand, but it seemed he, or his family, had no close friends that had stepped in to help. Gunner had been to visit his parents' graves, however, he'd missed the funeral as he'd been in the hospital for so long. From what JT had been able to dig up, the funeral had been very small.

Then there was the thing about Gunner being a troublemaker and upsetting his father. And his parents who had been just ready to divorce. Had Gunner really blamed himself as Paul had implied? What a horrible thing for a kid to experience. Yet Gunner remembered none of it. But did his subconscious? Even though memories did not exist, was it possible for emotional footprints to linger? Was it possible for something to remain, tucked way down deep, that toyed with his emotions - remnants of feeling guilty for his parent's behavior? And was it because of their argument that an accident had happened? A man had served time in prison for vehicular manslaughter, yet Gunner remained unsatisfied. Was it really a shrouded truth like he claimed, or was there guilt in his own heart?

Was there anything to all of this, or was it just random facts that meant nothing? JT didn't know. But he'd gone about as far as he could on his own. The only thing he could do now was pass the information along...

..."Hope?"JT knocked on her office door before entering, a few papers in hand. "I didn't want to bother you, but I had a few things that...well..." He shrugged and approached her desk to hand her the papers that had handwritten notes jotted on them. "Just some stuff I dug up. Gunner may think he's the only one who can investigate, but this can be our little secret."

He gave her a wry grin. "I don't know if this will help or anything, but I just did a little research about Gunner's family. I got the impression he'd done an awful lot of fact searching about the accident, but not his family before that point, and..." He shrugged again. "Call it a hunch, I dunno..." He went on to explain all the things he'd learned, and who he'd talked to, still not sure if it all meant anything, but hoping it would help in some way.

"So anyway...I just thought I'd stop by. Gunner's part of our family now and I just want to help."


Rosalyn sniffed and wiped her eyes, unable to help but smile a little at Chad’s text. Oh, how she wished things were simpler. Why did they have to be so hard? Why did something so beautiful have to be so complicated?

To Chad:
From Rosalyn:
It’s one of my best memories too.

Would she have more memories like that? She couldn’t help but wonder.

I gotta get back to the others before
I’m missed at supper. Will text more
again soon.

Standing, she was just turning to go back into the dining room, when a shadow caught her eye. Looking up quickly, she was startled to see her father. “Oh. Dad. Need something?”

Jim shook his head. “We just wondered where you’d disappeared to was all.” He glanced at the phone in her hand, then cocked his head, seeing a strange redness to her eyes. “You okay?”

“Of course.” She tucked her phone back in her pocket and forced a smiled. “I was just checking some texts while everybody was busy eating. Figured I wouldn’t have time once the all dishes needed to be done.”

“Ah.” Jim smiled. There still wasn’t something right about that look on her face though. It was the same look she’d gained as a child when she’d done something wrong but was keeping it a secret. Not quite guilt, but almost. And why did she look as though she’d been crying? “Who’d you hear from?”

The question was so direct, Rosalyn’s mind couldn’t think fast enough. Her mouth opened, but instead of saying anything, she just blinked for a moment. “Oh, um… well just… a friend.” She nodded. “That’s all. Nothing important.”

Jim’s smile remained, but he also didn’t move from the doorway, still blocking her path to the dining room.  “I’ll never understand the significance of texting without it being important,” he teased. “Which friend was it this time? Hannah?”

Rosalyn swallowed hard. She could feel her cheeks growing warm, and there was nothing she could do about it. “No. Just a friend.”

“I see.” Jim nodded slowly. “A guy, maybe?”

He knew. Rosalyn wished she weren’t so transparent, but her father knew her way too well. Her smile faded as her jaw tightened. “Maybe,” she responded tersely. “But I’d rather not talk about it. Now…excuse me.” She gestured to the blocked doorway. “I need to check and see if anyone needs anything else.”

Jim sighed and shook his head. “What’s it gonna take, Rosalyn?”

“For what?”

“For you to get your head on straight. For you to give up on someone who will do nothing but cause you grief in the long run. I thought you’d already gotten past that man.”

A tear ran down Rosalyn’s face as her eyes blazed with anger. “I asked you to excuse me.” Her words were spoken through gritted teeth. “Move.”

Jim held up his hands and stepped to the side. “Just…” He didn’t finish his sentence. There was no point, since Rosalyn had already brushed past him and was gone.

Instead of checking to see if anyone needed anything, as planned, Rosalyn ignored everyone, and headed straight for the door. Once outside, she aimed for the barns, but after arriving, she kept on walking. Her route continued until she’d reached the small orchard. It was after sundown, and starting to get chilly, but she didn’t care. Her jacket  had been left behind, and the evening breeze sent goosebumps up and down her arms, but she ignored it. All she wanted to do was cry.


A chuckle managed to surface, and Clint shook his head. “I’m afraid this tractor needs a mechanic’s eye, but thanks. I’m glad somebody wants to help.”

He took a long sip of Mountain Dew before sighing deeply. “Mm…I prolly drink way too much of it. This, and coffee.” He took another swig before his gaze moved to the door that was being pushed open.

“Well, I thought for sure somebody just left the light on.” Eric grinned as he poked his head inside the garage. He’d been walking to the dining hall to join Stacy when he’d seen the light and just thought he’d save energy and shut it off. He was surprised, though, to find not only Clint, but Ashlee too.

His grin widened into a smile. “Hey, Ash! Thought you’d have gone with your mom to supper. Wanna join us?” He threw her a wink. “Dinners on the road have been awful lonely.”

Back to a Time...

Getting another text message Chad chuckles. He was a flirt wasn't he? Most people would think he was like that with everyone but really he wasn't. There was just something about Rosalyn that was extra special and just made him want to go that extra mile.

To: Rosalyn
From: Chad

Ya your right. I am a flirt, and you just
bring that extra out. 

Reading about her dad Chad couldn't help his heart sink a little bit. He hated that things when like this and her dad was giving her such a hard time. Family was everything to her, and this just tore her apart and thus tore him apart too. 

I'm sorry about your dad. I wish I could
give you a big ol hug too. I hope to be
able to as well. 

A smile comes to Chads lips as he closes his eye and remembers there tree. It was the one place he could close his eyes and always recall that place and the emotions involved with it. 

I can always see that tree when I close
my eyes. And you are always right there
with it. It's one of the best memories I own.

Playing with a screwdriver she had in her hand Ashlee was quiet for a second. Weather her and Clint's reasons were different from being absent from the others she had a feeling in a way, it was the same too. She'd never talked much to Clint before but something about today, or maybe it was because he knew a little on how she felt in his own way his company was nice.

   "What are you working on that needs to be fixed? I don't know much about fixing stuff, but I know a little."

Seeing Clint hold up the can for her Ashlee gives a small smile and puts the screwdriver down before walking over to Clint and taking the can. 

   "Thanks!"

Pulling back the tab and opening the pop Ashlee takes a sip before closing her eyes and just savoring the taste for a moment. It had been a long time since she's had a pop and she didn't realize how much she missed it.

   "Mmm...I almost forgot what pop tasted like. This sugary goodness is not something I get often. Thank you."

Sitting at her desk and not knowing anyone else was there except for maybe Ty Katie gives a jump to Jason's voice. Recovering quickly Katie gives him a smile. For a second though she is lost in thought to anything he had just said. Her mind was taken back to what seemed like so long ago when her and Jason were still together and he would stand at her cubicle and look down right cute. Some things never changed. Bring herself back to the present Katie realizes Jason had been talking and maybe he'd asked her a question?

   "Life got complicated the day we grew up, maybe even before that."

Now taking a closer look at Jason she realizes he didn't look so hot. If there was ever a time she wished more that they had there connection it was now. But the old fashion way would just have to do. 

   "You're not looking so hot..are you ok?"

Once Jason had left Misty continues to just sit. Leaning back, sitting up, moving sideways she tried to get comfortable but just couldn't. Tears started to pool in her eyes, and than finally escape. She couldn't blame Jason for his desition, he was doing what he thought was right. After all Carson hadn't signed the papers yet, and who new if he would. If she'd been Jason she wouldn't want to wait around forever.

And with those thoughts Misty's sadness, and hurt turned to anger as well. Anger that Cason yet again runed another good thing in her life. An endless nightmare of pain, hurt, and who new what else. And it only made her cry harder.

Complicated

It was the look in Misty's eyes that caused a painful crack in Jason's heart. It was her withdrawing her hand from his that caused the crack to bleed. Why did doing what was right have to hurt so badly? He wanted to reach out to her. Touch her face. Hug her. Tell her it was going to be alright. Tell her that he never meant to hurt her. That he really did have feelings for her. That she was going to be okay. That he was still here for her whenever she needed him. But even as all those words collided in his mind, he knew that letting them spill forth would only cause more pain. He'd said what he needed. To say more would just make more of a mess.

His eyes fell as he swallowed hard. He didn't want to leave her like this...but he would respect her wishes. After all, if he were in her place, he probably would have reacted with much more emotion, and would have wanted him gone, too.

"Okay." Jason's voice was still quiet. Still gentle. But oh, how it hurt. He slowly rose to his feet and turned to leave, but paused for a moment, only to reach down and give her shoulder just a soft squeeze. He opened his mouth while trying to find an appropriate close to their time together, but nothing seemed to fit. So it was silence that followed him to the door.

He looked back one last time, his fingers fiddling awkwardly with his keys. "If you need anything..." It sounded so trite, but it was all he had now. "I'm still around." And that was that.

Driving through town a few minutes later, Jason aimed for TJY. Work wasn’t usually his haven, but he just didn’t want to go home yet. Maybe doing some paperwork would at least get his mind off things for a while and he could postpone the inevitable meeting with his tangled thoughts.

Once at work and inside, he pocketed his truck keys and wandered across the main floor. It was dark, and though not having scanned the parking lot, he assumed the only other people here were Hal and Ty. So when he saw an extra light on in one of the cubicles, it caught him by surprise. Nearing, he realized it was Katie. What was she doing here at this hour? He wouldn’t bother her – she was probably just catching up on something quick before leaving.

But just as Jason reached the hallway, his feet seemed to stop on their own, and he glanced back over his shoulder. Since that one stakeout, the awkwardness had seemed to dissolve a little more every day, and working together hadn’t been so hard lately. Even so, it wasn’t like they were really friends anymore…were they? A strange little pang made Jason’s stomach quiver. He’d come here to work, but all of a sudden, it was the last thing he wanted to do. He didn’t know what he wanted. But being alone at the moment just made him feel depressed.

Before he could stop himself, his feet were in control again, and in a matter of seconds, he was standing out on the main floor. He leaned his arms on the top of Katie’s cubicle wall and looked down at her, just like he used to. Tonight though, the twinkle in his gaze was absent. There was no teasing grin. No cute wink. Not even a smile. A strange silence was his only greeting.

For the longest moment, all he could do was just look at Katie. Not even sure why he was here, finding something to say wasn’t easy. It wasn’t as if they shared much conversation anymore. And for the first time in a very long time, he wished words weren’t necessary. His emotions were churning, and instead of being able to share and release them, they were just bottled up underneath the surface. But she didn't want to know about all that. She had her life and he had his.

“Aw, Katie…” He groaned and leaned his forehead on his arms, hiding his face. He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t talk to her about his problems. But tonight…right now…he had no one else. “When…?” He sighed and lifted his head again, but left his chin resting on his arms. His eyes were dark…strained…fighting back tears. He found her own eyes and searched them. “When did life get so complicated?”


Clint gave a little scoff, but didn’t stop Ashlee from helping collect the tools off the floor. “Both. I’m too busy to be hungry.” He really wasn’t sure how much truth there was in that though.

He picked up a hammer and put it back where it belonged. “Actually, I’m just not feeling much like socializing.” There was little point in denying how he felt. If Ashlee told anybody…so be it. “Unfortunately, work in here isn’t going well, so I’m quickly running out of options.”

He tossed a wrench into a pile of other wrenches before glancing at the younger girl and shaking his head. He wasn’t sure why she was talking to him or why she wasn’t hungry for dinner, but maybe she had her own unspoken reasons, just like he did.

A sigh surfaced, showing that his temper had calmed down. Now he was just back to being depressed. He moved to the nearby refrigerator and retrieved a can of Pepsi. Pausing, he looked at Ashlee again and held up a second can to ask if she wanted one, too.


To: Chad
From: Rosalyn
You’re still a flirt…but I miss it. 
Every day, I miss you more. I try to forget, 
but I can’t. I try to escape this mess, 
but I can’t do that either. Dad’s worse, 
and all I want is to be in your arms again.

A tear fell from Rosalyn’s eye. Everybody else was eating. She was alone in the living room, having slipped away unnoticed. Sitting on the couch, she stared at her phone. She was miserable. As much as she tried not to think about Chad…to forget…to convince herself that he’d never be back and she was better off without him…the aching in her heart only grew. She’d give anything to get a hug from Chad right about now. And he was on the other side of the world…whether in England, or even right here, as long as her dad had anything to do with it.

I visit our tree almost every day when 
I feel lonely.

She'd promised herself she would pull away from Chad. That she wouldn't express to him how much she missed him or act like it was a big deal. There was too much at stake. It was too risky. But here she was anyway, spilling it to him through her text message. 

I miss feeling wanted. 

Time

Chinese food was good but something was just not right. All day something had been different. At work, dinner, and now. Misty couldn't help the feeling she had in he pit of her stomach. Something bad was going to happen. She didn't know what, when, or why but she couldn't shake the feeling that lingered, and her feelings were almost always right.

Now settling down on the couch and having Jason become a little more serous the feeling was back, and Misty didn't like his tone, how he said they needed to talk, the way he held her hand. Misty didn't like the start of this at all, already.

As Jason talked her fears came true. In a way she understood what he was saying. She might not agree, and might think differently but she couldn't condom Jason for what he though was right. Though it confused her why he started this in the first place if it was just going to end in heartache. Did she believe he loved her, yes she did, and she new he cared. Maybe thats what made this whole thing even harder.

Misty stays quiet as Jason continues to speak. Looking at him, away from him, down at there hands, and back at him her eyes couldn't focus on one thing and though the tears filled her eyes she did not allow then to flood over, and though the food she eat now felt like it might come back up, she didn't let it. Opening her mouth two or three times to say something Misty closed it each time without saying a word. She didn't know what to say. Her emotions were all over the bored, and she wasn't sure how to feel. Finally moving her hand from Jason's Misty places them in her lap and lets out a sigh before looking at him and giving a half smile.

   "I guess that's that than."

Looking down at her hands for a long second Misty didn't know how to feel. She wasn't mad at Jason, but she did feel anger. Just with someone else. With Jason she was sad, disappointed, and heart broken.

   "I think it would be best if you left for now, I just need time."

Coming in to the work room more Ashlee didn't take her eyes off Clint even when he looked at her long and hard back her eyes didn't waver. They didn't talk much but she'd seem him around the ranch. Sometimes alone, and sometimes with his family. Tonight something was different, and maybe it was just the thought of having someone who didn't want to be in a group of people like herself.

   "I could ask you the same thing."

Bending down and helping Clint pick up some of the tools Ashlee is quiet for a second looking at them before placing them down and looking at him again.

   "Wasn't to hungry yet. What about you? To much work or just not hungry."

Getting Rosalyn's message again Chad couldn't help but smile as a little laugh slipped out. He reply was not what he expected and the talk of weather was slightly strange but he didn't mind. She replied and thats what really mattered.

Nice weather is always a good thing :)
I've missed you over the last few weeks.
Though I hold you smile close to me.

Chad closes his eyes for a second picturing Rosalyn's face again in his head like he had so many times before.

And so the wind blows,
and the days seem to never end.
A sap I am around you, I shall
be. How do you do this to me?

   "Hey, corny is good sometimes you know. Depending who your talking to anyways."

Getting outside and looking up at Scott Hope smiles. It was like old times, but not old times all at once. A bit of sadness lingered, but a new start was nice too. She didn't want to get a head of herself, or push to hard she wanted Scott to take the lead on this when he though he was ready, but this was a start. A new bit of hope she could hang on to.

   "I'll see you at work. Good Night Scott."

Turning Hope heads to her car but stops. Turning around to Scott again and just looking at him for a moment before smiling again and letting the twinkle in her eye glow. Brighter than it had in a long while.

   "And Scott...thanks for tonight. It was nice."

So Sorry

“Hungry? You kidding? I’m starving.” Eric grinned as he walked with Stacy to his bunkhouse. “I think I had breakfast this morning, but that was it. Wanted to get back here so bad, I didn’t bother stopping for lunch.”

He came to a halt in front of the little porch, and turned to look down at her once more. Setting a gentle finger under her chin, he bent to give her a tender kiss on the lips. “Save me a spot at the table…I’ll be cleaned up in five minutes.”


Hearing her phone quietly beep, Rosalyn then felt her heart give a little jump. She’d set a specific tone for any texts from Chad, so she knew he was replying. Right in the middle of finishing up the rest of supper preparations though, she had to wait several minutes before finally being able to look and see what he’d said.

Seeing the picture, she smiled. His job seemed like such a romantic one, with him being able to travel the world. She wondered if she really could be with him, if she actually would make it “better” or if she’d just be in the way. Not that it was an option anyway, but it did make her wonder.

Anything new with me? Of course not.
Same old story. Different day.
Housework & cooking. Guess I cant
say I dont do what Im good at right?
So boring. No guests right now. Nice
but too quiet.

She wanted to say more. She wanted to confide in him and tell him how withdrawn and sullen her father had been lately. How bitter he seemed to have become in such a short time. She wanted to tell Chad how much she missed his company, and how much she wanted to see him again. But doing that would just make her hope, and hoping meant disappointment in the end.

At least the weather has been nice.

She rolled her eyes. Weather. Such an interesting topic. She sent the message anyway and pocketed her phone. Unless she wanted any negative attention, she probably wouldn’t have a chance to text more until after supper. But deep down, she secretly hoped he’d hear back from Chad anyway.


Still leaning his hands on the workbench, and still angry, the sudden arrival of someone else startled Clint from his thoughts. He turned his head quickly, doubly surprised that it was Ashlee. Having a witness, though, took the edge off his temper for now.

He scoffed and shook his head before he straightened and reached for a hammer that had landed at his feet. “That’s one good thing about tools,” he muttered. “You can’t kill ‘em.” Even though his anger lingered, he knew well enough that he couldn’t leave the mess he’d just created. Only after picking up a few more tools though, did he realize Ashlee was still there.

He set a couple wrenches back in their place before pausing to give the girl a long, hard look. They rarely spoke to each other…mainly just because they had very little in common, including age. Tonight though, he knew he should tread carefully. She might be a lot younger than he, but she was very smart, and mature for her age – at least as far as he could tell. Having her see him lose his temper was a blow to his pride, and also a threat that someone else might hear of this episode.

Breaking his gaze, he returned to cleaning up. “Isn’t everybody eating supper by now? How come you’re not over at the dining hall?”


Gunner mustered up a new, small smile and reached up to take Bree’s hand, and kissed it lightly. “Thanks. See you… in the morning.” One more hug, and he let her go, aiming himself to the spare room again. This time though, he took what he should have earlier, and was finally able to sleep again. Sleep without nightmares…that’s all he wanted. But someday…he wanted it without a pill. Oh how he longed for a mind and heart clear of the darkness that haunted him.


Scott held the door open for Hope, and joined her outside in the cool evening air. He tucked his hands in his pockets and grinned a little as he nodded. “Yeah…okay. I guess you’ll be hearing from me then.”

He couldn’t help the light laugh that surfaced. “I’m assuming that sounded just as corny as I think it did.” He looked down at Hope, studying her face by the light of the streetlight. It was so strange…how looking at her, he saw a close friend and a stranger all at once.

“Have a good night, Hope. I’ll catch ya at work soon.”


“Ordering in is always good, so you don’t have to cook,” Jason teased. He kept his concentration fixed on stirring the pasta, even when Misty asked him her question.

“Yeah…yeah, sure.” He finally glanced at her and smiled. Opening his mouth, he was ready to say more, but was cut off as Mackenzie shot through the kitchen, almost running into them both, and being followed just as fast by Alec. She was screeching, he was yelling, and had Jason not already known they were roughhousing, he would have thought the place was on fire. “Good grief! Alec! You’re a bad influence!”

“It’s her fault, not mine!” By now, Alec was already in the other room, and from the sounds of things, had caught his prey.

Jason just shook his head and laughed. “Okay…I think this pasta is about done. Good thing too, so I don’t pass out from starvation.”

The rest of the evening, he didn’t bring up about tomorrow night any more. Plans were set, and he really didn’t want to make a huge deal if he didn’t need to. Not only that, but he wasn’t so sure he’d actually have the guts to accomplish what he intended…

…The day had been way too long. Jason hadn’t been able to concentrate on work all day, and over lunch, he’d gone to see Con to tell him he just couldn’t go through with having a talk with Misty. His friend had reminded him why he’d set out to do this in the first place though, so after regaining his courage, Jason had kept his date with Misty at her place.

Ordering out Chinese had been fun, although the meal had been quieter than usual. Now sitting on the couch listening to music, Jason knew if he waited any longer, it would just make things worse.

After a sigh, he scooted back a little on the couch and turned sideways so he could see Misty better. It wasn’t time for cuddling though. All he did was take one of her hands and let his thumb run gently over her knuckles. “Misty, there’s…there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

His eyes found hers, and he swallowed hard. “Before I do though, I just want to make sure you know how much I care about you.” A small smile surfaced. “Actually, I’m pretty sure if you pressed it, I’d probably wind up admitting that I’ve started falling in love with you.” A little color entered his cheeks, but he kept going. “That’s why…that’s why this is gonna be really hard for me to say, but…I just want you to hear me out, because it’s really important to me.” He gave her hand an extra squeeze.

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately…maybe you’d call it soul searching. And…I’ve realized that sometimes what seems right on the surface…underneath it really isn’t. And what my heart says to do isn’t always right either.” He paused for just a moment to make sure his thoughts remained on track, while his eyes remained on Misty’s. “When I…first heard what Carson did to you, I was so angry. I couldn’t understand why he’d do something like that. I still don’t understand it all. I wanted so badly to help you, because you deserved better than that. So…I did…and…I found out I cared for you more than I thought.”

He readjusted her hand between his own, and cleared his throat. “I, um…I don’t know much about marriage, and I don’t pretend to. But what I’ve learned is that the vows made aren’t to be taken lightly. And…I think I’ve taken your vows with Carson too lightly.” He cringed on the inside, but knew he had to keep going. “Mine’s not to judge whether or not you should divorce Carson. That’s between you, him and God. But what IS mine is a choice. A choice to stand between you and the man you married, or to be the man of integrity I’m trying to be, and not get in the way of a relationship promised for life in front of God.”

At this point, Jason knew there was no going back. And though he was sure Misty knew now where he was headed with this, he still had to say it. “Misty, I love spending time with you…being over here…just…everything about you, I enjoy. All I can do is hope you believe me, because it’s true. From the bottom of my heart, I care for you, and…and I desperately want to stay friends.”

Friends…that word sounded so cold, suddenly. Jason’s eyes dropped and he touched her ring finger tenderly. His voice became quiet. “But…but even though you took off your wedding band…you’re still married. And as desperately as I want to be close to you…it just isn’t right. Not as long as you’re still married to Carson.”

His eyes rose once more, his gaze full of fear. Fear for what she might say. Fear for what might happen between them now. He was breaking up with one of the best things that had happened to him, and most people might call him crazy. But in his heart of hearts, he knew it was right. And doing what was right was more important to him than doing what he wanted.

“I’m so sorry.” He was whispering now. “I feel like I led you on, and I didn’t mean to. My feelings haven’t changed. Just my choices.” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so terrible inside. “I know your goal is to divorce Carson, and I can’t tell you want to do or not do. And when it’s all over, you may not ever want to speak to me again, but…but I hope you do. I just know that for now…this is the right thing for me to do.”

Good Thing

  "A few days is better than not seeing you at all before you left again."
Keeping her arm around Eric's wast and leaning into him slightly. She really had missed him more than she'd ever tell anyone. Having him around was something she'd gotten use, to and she looked forward to his return.

   "Exciting, exciting...does watching someone fall off a horse, or seeing horses escape from the south fence and everyone running around like chickens with there head chopped off count as exciting?"

Stacy gives a laugh looking up at Eric, her eyes sparkle. She always saw things around the ranch. It was her job anyways. Sometimes people new she was watching and sometimes they didn't. But her got to see everything.  Laughter, crying, daily life here at the ranch and it always made her smile even if she was only watching. It was an amazing place, full of magic indeed.

   "So are you hungry? I hear Rosalyn was the one cooking tonight."

Sitting in the open window Chad lets his out foot dangle out, whole his other was propped up his arm folded over his knee. Looking out over the tall buildings of Landon he watched as the rain pelted the roofs and made tiny pools. It seemed the rain matched his mood. When he'd left the ranch Rosalyn and himself seemed to be ok, but deep down he new it wasn't. Playing her sad look in his head over and over again made him miss her even more. He wished he could hold her, hug her...so close, but worlds apart.

   "Hey Chad we are going to get someone to eat. Want to come?"

Turning his head to his brother he gives a little shake. Strange as it was food was the last thing he wanted right now.

   "No you guys go, I'm good."

Looking back out the window once Chad heard the door close he leans his head back and lets out a long sigh. The day was gloomy, he felt gloomy, Chad missed Rosalyn, but he was trying to give her space, and a small place in his heart was thinking maybe she really had though it best they ended it.

Hearing his phone go off in his pocket Chad was about to ignore it but if  it was is brother, he'd never hear the end of it. Much to his surprise though it wasn't, and it was a long awaited text from Rosalyn. Reading it he can't help but smile. He did wonder if she really was ok, but he smiled non the less. She cared enough to still text him and that made him feel good.

From: Chad
To: Rosalyn

Hey there! I was wondering when
I'd hear from you. It been quite quiet
around here. For the next few weeks 
we are in London. It's been rainy here,
but its still nice. It would be even better
with you though.

Opening his camera Chad take a pic from the window looking out over all the houses at the sun rising. It was a pretty amazing picture to look at.

Here you go. This is my view right now.
Anything new with you?

Hearing a loud noise in the garadge as she walked by made Ashlee jump. She should be in the dinning hall getting ready for dinner but she didn't much feel like it today. Maybe she'd get something to eat later. Now, now her mind was wondering what was going on in there. Everyone else should be eating. 

Slipping inside quietly and seeing a light on Ashlee wonders farther in. Partly because she was nosie, and partly because she wanted to make sure everything was ok. Seeing Clint Ashlee just stands there for a long moment watching him. He was the last person she ever would of expected to see get frustrated. Finally clearing her throat a little bit she give a half smile.

   "Man, good thing those tools don't know you're looking at them like that. I think they would keel over dead."

At Jason's comment about dinner tomorrow Misty would normally be excited but studying his face for a moment Misty had a sinking feeling there was more the the invite of dinner, than he was letting on. It could be all in her head, hormones running over time or something.

   "Yeah that sounds great to me. I can cook again, or we can order in. I dont mind either."

Going back to what she was doing for a second Misty lets out a small sigh before looking to Jason again. Now she was going to worry all night. That feeling in the pit of her stomach just was going to eat away at her.

   "Is everything ok?"

   "I love you too, no matter what, now and forever. No matter what crazy adventures, or mystery we have to uncover. Nothing will ever make me love you less."

Being scooped up in Gunner's arms Bree lets out a small squeal wrapping her arms around his neck, leaning her head on his shoulder she just lets him carry her. She liked it when he picked her up, or put his arms around her. It showed his true strength and she felt safe in his arms.

Once being put back down Bree looks up into Gunner's eyes bringing her hand to the side of his face and just softly brushing his cheek. Somewhere deep in his eyes she could still see the glimmer that made her hope things would be ok. She new they would be, with time and pashents.

   "Who ever thought a vampire would need something to help him sleep."

Giving a smile and leaning up to kiss his lips Bree backs away still her hand on his cheek.

   "Try and get a little sleep. If you need anything I'm right down the hall. Than tomorrow we can work on a plan of attack for finding out the truth."

   "I think we were pretty good at supporting each other. My lifes not all roses either. Not exactly a weed patch but there are some here and there."

Taking the last sip of her own tea Hope pushes her glass aside looking around the dinner before looking back at Scott and giving a small smile. The little dog had become her friend too and she new the little attitude she could get.

   "Now that would be a horrible thing. She might not come and get treats from me anymore."

Gathering her things and grabbing her jacket to put it on, Hope follows Scott to the door walking slowly. She really didn't want this moment to end. It had been a nice night and she'd enjoyed the company so much. But hear Scott suggestion for lunch made her feel a little better. This wouldn't be the last, but the first of many she hoped.

   "I think lunch sounds great. I'll even let you pick the day you are feeling up to it. You know I dont do much, and where to find me. Thank you for the coffee and chat tonight Scott. It was really nice."

Buried Anger

Eric chuckled and slid his arms around Stacy to give her a hug and kiss the top of her head. “Mm…I missed you too.”

Drawing back, he offered her a smile. “At least we got a couple days here before I leave again, eh?” He turned, keeping one arm around her shoulders, and picked his bag back up again. Continuing his route to the bunkhouse, he kept her by his side. “So…anything exciting going on? Wait, don’t tell me. I don’t wanna know if I missed anything.”


Jim stood at the window of the dining hall, a hot cup of tea in hand. Supper would be soon, but he knew his stomach wouldn’t tolerate very much, and tea seemed to help. Or maybe it just helped soothe his nerves, which was the whole cause for his stomach issues recently anyway. Not that he’d admit it. Becky kept wanting him to go see Angel, but he refused, already knowing he didn’t feel well because of his own stress.

“Was that Eric’s truck I saw?” Becky comes up behind her husband and laid a hand on his arm.

“Mm-hmm.” Jim took a sip of his tea.

“Oh good. I’m glad he got back alright. I’ll have Rosalyn set an extra place.”

“She working tonight?”

“Of course.”

“Mm.”

Becky’s eyebrows rose slightly at Jim’s odd tone. “Why wouldn’t she be?”

Jim shrugged. “I could think of plenty reasons.”

A sigh was Becky’s only response. Studying Jim’s face, her concern only grew. He looked so very tired. Thin. His eyes were dark, and he still showed lingering signs from his brawl with Mick. He never talked about it though, always refusing to speak of it. And his relationship with Rosalyn was no nearer mending than it had been with Chad here.

Jim glanced over his shoulder as his wife walked away. There was a part of him that felt sad and broken. But it was that part he didn’t let surface. All he allowed to be seen was the bitterness. If his family didn’t want to respect him any more, then he didn’t owe them any more effort.

Looking back out the window, he scrunched his eyes shut and opened them again before squinting, then rubbing them with the heel of his hand. That was something else he wasn’t talking about either.

In the kitchen, Rosalyn worked quietly…more quietly than normal. Jade had the night off, which was fine. Keeping busy was the only thing Rosalyn had lately to keep her mind off that which would just make her sad anyway.

“Rosalyn? Set an extra place. Eric just got home and I’m assuming he’ll be in for supper and will probably be hungry.”

“Huh? Oh. Yeah. Okay.” Rosalyn wiped her hands on her apron and moved to retrieve another plate, glass and set of silverware. Others were filing in, and she took a moment to observe as she set the extra place. It was a normal evening. As normal as it could be, anyway. Her father was back to socializing…or rather, back to being present. Socializing was a different matter altogether. Since his fight with Mick, he’d remained withdrawn. Rosalyn theorized that he felt embarrassed and guilty, but Jim, of course, had never opened the subject.

Going back to the kitchen, she checked the beef and potatoes in the oven, deciding to give it a few more minutes. Leaning back against the counter, she felt the cell phone in her pocket. She pulled it out and scrolled through recent text messages, none of which were from Chad. She didn’t expect anything else though. She hadn’t contacted him since he’d left. He was probably waiting for her to make the first move, and she just hadn’t yet. Not while her feelings were still so messed up. But the longer she waited, the more she missed him.

“Ros’lyn!”

She turned quickly to see Kaylee bounding into the kitchen. Rosalyn smiled and pocketed her phone before she scooped the little girl up in her arms. “Hey, Pumpkin… Hungry?”

“Uh-huh.” Kaylee nodded emphatically, making her pigtails bounce.

“Where’s mommy and daddy, hmm?”

“Ou’ dere.” Kaylee pointed to the dining room.

Rosalyn looked back out into the other room and spotted Cindy and Wes. She smiled and gave Kaylee an extra hug. It was so nice to see the little family all together again. She hoped her observation was true – that Wes was settling in well and starting to get used to being back here again. The only thing she didn’t understand was Clint’s behavior. She knew he was upset with Jim, but it seemed her brother was overall more withdrawn since Wes had returned. As close as they’d been before, it really was rather puzzling.

The timer on the oven broke Rosalyn’s thoughts and she gave Kaylee a kiss on the cheek before setting her down. “Better get back out there before you’re missed.”

“Otay!” Kaylee trotted back into the dining room to make her rounds to her favorite people, as was her habit.

Rosalyn shook her head in amusement before returning to the oven. As she was letting the meal cool a little though, her thoughts returned to where they’d been before.

Although hesitant, she finally took her phone back out of her pocket.

From: Rosalyn
To: Chad
Just had a free moment. Wanted to say
hi. Hope all is well with u.

She paused. What else could she say? She’d ignored him since he’d left. If he had any  brains at all, he probably thought she’d backed out completely by now. That notion was still a possibility in her mind, but she hadn’t chosen it…yet. The question was, would she? If she could convince Chad she really didn’t want to see him ever again, there would be far less stress on her end.

I’m doing fine.

She swallowed hard. That was pretty close to a lie.

Are you somewhere exciting on the
job? Send pix.

[send]

Out in the garage, the activity of the ranch was drowned out by loud rock music blaring from the radio. Clint knew what time it was. He knew supper would be in just a few minutes. But that had no bearing on his current activity. No one would miss him. He’d told Wendy he had to get the ranch tractor fixed, so she knew he probably wouldn’t be eating until later. And more than likely, no one else would notice his absence. No matter the case, his current task was not going well.

As another problem was found, Clint growled in frustration. Moving to step down from the tractor, his foot slipped, which sent him to the concrete floor much more quickly than planned. Stumbling and twisting his ankle, he winced in pain. That was it. That was just…it.

With his temper getting the best of him, the next sound was a toolbox being sent across the workbench at high speed to crash into a shelf then onto the floor, sending tools everywhere. The radio had barely been missed, continuing to blare despite the tantrum.

Clint leaned on the workbench and glared at the tools. He hated this. All of this. The work, the stress, everything. Nothing was going right, he was stuck in the same place day after day, and nothing he did would ever change it. He hated the ranch, and he hated this shop.


Jason kept his arms around Misty and grinned. “You kidding? I wouldn’t want to get in the middle of that for anything. Those two would gang up on me, and I wouldn’t have the slightest chance of survival.”

Only after giving her a little squeeze did he move to the side to take over the noodles. “So I was thinking… Alec said he’s gonna work late at Mom and Pop’s tomorrow night and Mackenzie won’t be here, so…” He shrugged, his eyes remaining focused on the stove. “I thought maybe it could just be you and me for supper or something.” Truth be told, his stomach had just formed a little knot. It wasn’t just supper he was aiming at, and he knew it. But he didn’t want to worry Misty by telling her they needed to talk, and he still had yet to decide just how he was going to say what he needed to.

A light laugh surfaced at Bree’s comment about kicking someone in the shin, and Gunner’s dark cloud passed for the moment. He yawned and reached up to ruffle her hair. “I’m not sure how good I am at convincing myself of anything…but I’m glad you think so highly of me.”

He moved to place a tender kiss on her cheek. “I do love you…and I just wanna get out of this mess.” Without much warning, he stood, picking Bree up in his arms. While much of his mind was confused and depressed, there was still a part of him that appreciated Bree, loved her, and knew that somehow, some way, he had to make it through this – if not for himself, then for her.

It wasn’t until they were back in the house that he set her down again. “Thanks for looking after me,” he mentioned softly. “I think I’ll be okay now. I got something to help me sleep…just hoped I wouldn’t need it, but I guess I do. Just, um…wake me up when you leave in the morning if I’m not up."


As Hope touched Scott, his eyes drifted down to their hands, but he didn’t pull away. He’d forgotten how caring her touch was…how warm she was…how much he missed her.

His gaze rose again as he listened, and he searched her eyes. He could see everything he did before. Her hope. Her love. No matter how much he’d fought it, he knew without a doubt that she still loved him and wished for the return of a relationship. But tonight…tonight, instead of it upsetting him, he found it strangely comforting. Perhaps it was just knowing that even though he felt as though he’d spun out of control, there was still one solid place to land that hadn’t changed. It was still there. Still safe.

“I guess I never thought of it as me understanding you,” he responded wryly. “Always seemed to me that I was the one leaning on you.” He didn’t mean to put himself down – it just truly was the way he’d seen things.

After picking up his cup once more, it was then that he discovered he’d finished his coffee, and a new grin creased his lips. “Huh…guess that’s that.” He sighed and checked his watch, unsure how to end their time here, and feeling awkward again. “I, um…suppose I better get going before Domino disowns me…”

He looked back up at Hope and cocked his head a little. “Maybe…we can do lunch sometime…or something…since I’m working more now.”