Jamie?

Though bumped only lightly, Kyle stumbles forward, then whirls around, wielding the spatula as a sword. “Hey! Don’t them things come with brakes? Or are you trying to run me over, missy?” His eyes glint with mischief, a silly grin toying at his mouth as he stares Katie in the eye.

“Want to help, eh?” He turns to the screened back door of the house. “Hey Mike! The lady is bored out here!”

Mike was already on his way back out with an empty bowl and two grocery sacks with fresh fruit. “Great. Then it looks like I have a volunteer to help Jen cut up this fruit and mix it together.” He winks at Katie. “Come on to the picnic table. You and Jen can get started.”

“Don’t take her too far,” Kyle warns as he keeps an eye on the fire. “I’m liable to get lonely over here.”

“Then let these keep you company.” Phil brings out the hamburger patties to set on the edge of the grill.

Kyle grimaces. “The fire isn’t hot enough yet.”

Phil pats him on the shoulder. “Then I guess you got your work cut out for you, don’t ya?”


Banter is tossed back and forth amongst the three guys as always, Jason observing from the table, content to be on the outside for now.

It doesn’t seem like long before the meal is ready and laid out on the table to begin eating. Chatter is random and fun, keeping the evening lively. Halfway through the meal, Jason catches Katie’s eye again. He just wants to get this thing over with, no matter how fun the atmosphere was.


Con numbly allows Jamie to help him, too tired to even care. Lying back down, his eyes drift shut. He feels Jamie’s hand on his face, and for an instant, somehow a small bit of peace is absorbed.

…Con wakes with a start. He stares into the dim living room and blinks, trying to get his bearings. His head throbs, and his throat burns, but though a fever is still present, his body doesn’t feel as hot. His hand moves to remove the now-warm towels, and he tilts his head, trying to remember what happened just only an hour and a half earlier. It all seems so foggy. He’s still exhausted, and somewhere knows that he’s not thinking all that clearly.

It finally dawns on him just who it was who he’d seen and heard. Emotions aren’t much in the way though, as he feels too weak to care one way or the other. But he’s not completely positive his mind hadn’t been playing tricks on him. Opening his mouth, his voice is barely audible. “Jamie?”