Unheard

Wyatt looks up at Aerith and grins at her question. "It is now." He gestures for her to sit down, then presents her with the small bouquet of flowers. "Don't take this the wrong way or anything - I know we just met - but I couldn't figure out any other way to tell you I was sorry for ditching you the other night."


Domino scurries back and forth, running to her heart's content, finally able to release her pent-up energy with Katie. Eventually, she does slow down though, panting from the exercise. Dropping her toy back at Katie's feet, she sits down and glances around the room as if still waiting for someone else to show up. But he never did. Heaving a sigh she looks up at Katie, seeming to ask when things were going to go back to normal.


Scott blinks in the light, coming out of a deep sleep. A dull pain signals that much of the drugs have worn off throughout the day, and for the moment, his mind is clear. Turning his head, he spies Misty. "So are patients starved to save on the cost of food?" he teases. "Or can a guy get at least a bite of supper around here?"


Jason listens quietly to Nate, every once in a while looking in his eye to see the unmistakable pain from the past. He'd moved on, but it was evident that there was still hurt there...Jason could relate.

His eyes drift to the table as he receives the end of Nate's story. His own hurt and anger provided a resistance against comparing himself to Nate...he was living off the pain right now and he wasn't ready yet to let go. But questions seeped through the cracks. Would he and Katie ever be friends again? Could he ever move on like Nate had? If he didn't stop bottling up his emotions, would he ruin even more chances in life? Was what he'd done with Katie the starting of a pattern he would repeat if something didn't change?

Nate's warning to not allow his experience in prison to rule over him resounds in Jason's mind. But how could he not? He didn't know how to get past it. It was as if someone had erased bits and pieces of his mind to leave him ill-prepared for life, and without remembering how to live without this burden...how to live without the pain...how to live at all.

Like a light being switched off, Jason resumes his attention elsewhere, glancing at his watch. "Guess we should get back before Reese thinks we disappeared too."


Luke gives a little laugh at Angel. "Well I'm not going to sit back and watch you do all the work, so cleaning stalls is out of the question. However, Mick was complaining last week about some of the saddles needing to be oiled and I can do that while sitting down, so I think the tack room is the best option." He gives her shoulders a squeeze. "What would I do without you, hmm?"


Though drowsy, Cindy puts her arms around Wes' neck as he lifts her up, feeling so protected. Once lying in bed, she shakes her head. "I'll be alright...I just got tired is all...but if you want to stay with me for a while I wouldn't complain."


Con's watch beeps from the end table, signaling he had less than an hour to rise, get cleaned up and head out. But his sleeping form on the couch doesn't move. Nothing is heard but the sound of his dreams.