Interruption

Carson looks up as he hears an engine start, and picks up on loud music. His eyes follow Misty’s fast car out of the parking lot.

He grits his teeth and grabs a leftover pack of smokes from his pocket, leaving behind his attempt at quitting. Trying to suppress his emotions, he shifts the weight of his bag and continues his trek across the parking lot, giving a lazy salute to the guard on duty.

Hitting the curb, Carson throws down the cigarette and puts it out with his foot. He looks both ways down the road, only now trying to figure out where he was going.

As he stands, a car suddenly comes into view. It was older…a blue station wagon…nothing odd about it, but for some reason it caught Carson’s attention. He takes one step back as instinct directs him to watch the car as it drives by. There were two men…nothing strange…they headed down the dead-end road towards the place where Carson had been with Misty just the other night. He’d seen Misty head in that direction too.

Shrugging it off, Carson turns left and starts down the sidewalk. But something triggers a picture in his memory bank. He’d recognized the driver of that car…who was it? He stops. Thinks. Turns back around.

Drew.

Carson’s blood runs cold. No…it couldn’t be Drew…could it? They were headed to where Misty had gone…surely there wasn’t a connection…was there?

He stands, as if his feet were stuck to the pavement. An unidentifiable feeling stirs deep within him. He was so angry…but something was trying to combat it. Yet he doesn’t move. He only watches the deserted road, feeling as though a storm is coming.


The blue station wagon comes to a stop near Misty’s car and sits, the engine idling for several minutes. Two men get out and head in her direction…quietly…stealthily.

As Misty stands with her eyes close, a sudden “click” breaks the silence as a handgun is cocked.

“Well, well, well.” Drew tilts his head. “Look who we got here.”

Vance snickers, his gun pointed at Misty’s head. “A little lonely out here, don’t you think?”

Drew gives a sly grin. “Thought you got away from us for good, did you, Misty? Hmm? I hear Carson is trying to join our ranks again after he screwed up by taking you from me. Kinda interesting, isn’t it?” He gestures to the parked car, his tone growing stern. “You’re coming with us.”

Vance moves forward to grab Misty’s arm and yank her down the hill to the car, his gun still threatening her life.

Reaching the car, Vance forces her into the backseat with him so he can keep her in his sights. Drew gets in behind the wheel, and puts it in gear, burning rubber as they head back down the road.


Carson’s ears perk up to the sound of a revving engine. He turns a little to see the blue car coming back, and he tenses, his eyes focused on the windows. Was that…


Wyatt sighs deeply, his fingers slowly combing Katie’s hair. He leans his head back against Jason’s desk, knowing that Katie has fallen asleep. His legs are growing a little numb, but he doesn’t move.

He can see the pain that Katie is going through, and it hurts his own heart. He can only offer her so much comfort…he can only go so far. He can only allow his heart to take so many steps before stopping. But if this is all he can do…then it is the most he can do, and Katie deserved his most.

Finally letting his hand stop on her shoulder, Wyatt lets his own eyes drift closed, his work for the day forgotten…

“…Katie?” Wyatt rubs her arm gently. It had been another hour, and Katie should probably be taken home before she slept here any longer, curled up like this. “Katie, hon, you want me to take you home?”


“Are you interrupting me again?” Clint rolls out from under the car, craning his neck to see Wendy, a mischievous look in his eye. “With you around, I’ll never get this thing done.”

He spies the food and lifts his eyebrow. “Of course…everybody needs a break.”

Tossing his tools aside, he gets his feet under himself to stand from the creeper, stretching out his back and making it pop several times. “Oh yeah.” He takes a deep breath and comes to plop down on a stool by the workbench. “What would I do without you?” he teases.


Austin wipes his mouth with a napkin and takes a sip of his iced tea, when a movement out the window catches his eye. Cocking his head, he sees the figure of a woman.

He stands up to get a closer look, then goes to the door of the mess hall and exits onto the porch, giving a wave. “Jamie!” He gives her a broad smile. “Are you a sight for sore eyes. Pete’s been bugging me all morning, asking if you’d arrived or not. I think he just wants to see a familiar face.”

Austin chuckles and gestures to the door. “Come on in. We’re just in the middle of lunch if you’re hungry.”