Unstopable

At Katie's comment, Scott shakes his head. "You have no idea," he says quietly under his breath, "how many people see you that way."

Downing several more cups of coffee, finishing off the mountain dew and cranking up the music prove to get Scott through the next several hours. By the time the sun begins to show itself over the horizon, the equipment has been positioned at the wall, everything cleaned up and cleared away as if nothing had happened all night.

Scott eases down at one of the tables, folding his arms to provide his head with a pillow. He was exhausted. But now it was time to get back to the cabin clean up, change clothes and get back here in time to leave. If he had a spare minute, maybe he'd get some breakfast in there too.

His eyes drift shut as he fights his tiredness. "Thanks for your help, Katie," he mumbles.


Cindy pulls on her shirt and runs a hand through her wet hair, trying to make herself halfway presentable before getting to the ranch. After Wes had helped calm her down, she'd been able to go back to sleep for a couple hours and was now feeling better, physically, at least. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she waits for Wes to get ready too.


Jason exits the bunkhouse quietly, one of the first up, and makes his way off the porch to amble the ranch yard. He doesn't particularly feel like going to the mess hall just yet. The night had been long and he'd gotten little sleep, his mind racing with what would happen today. The thought of going back to prison was almost more than he could take.

"Mornin, you."

Jason turns his head quickly, spotting Jade by the fence. He offers something close to a smile and approaches her slowly. "You're up early."

"So are you." Jade gives a soft sigh. "I was just trying to get things figure out I guess, and decided it wasn't worth lying in bed anymore."

"Worried?"

"Yeah...I finally got my dad back and now he might be taken away again, this time for good."

"We all might," Jason muses.

Jade turns to look up at him. "You gonna be okay?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Aren't I always?"

"No." Jade pats his arm gently with concern. "I don't like seeing you so...sad."

Jason forces a dry laugh. "Me either."


On the steps of the side bunk, Jim sits with Becky in front of him, one step lower, leaning back against him as his arms wrap around her. They've been sitting for at least an hour, watching the sunrise, neither speaking...neither needing to. Everything that could be said had already been spoken...now it was time's duty to do the rest. Jim and Mick had spoken last night as well, and had agreed to the best option.


Mick ambles across the yard toward the mess hall, in not much of a hurry. It was almost as if what was going through everyone's minds was that if they could just slow down enough, maybe time itself would slow down. But that impossibility was just that - impossible.
Glancing to the house, Mick wonders if Rosetta is up yet...he needed to talk to her.


And at one of the bunkhouses, a small object lies near the door to be noticed by anyone coming or going. It would be the last rose, but it would serve its purpose well. Its delicate yellow petals quiver slightly in the morning breeze, its stem wrapped in a short handwritten note.
@->-- You'll always be my hero. Thank you for also being my friend. --<-@


Carson moves a little, ready to roll over in bed, when he realizes that not only is he not in bed, but he's got someone in front of him. Blinking in the dim morning light, he begins to remember. He was still on the couch. Lying on his side to the back, Misty was beside him, his arm still around her.

Relaxing again, he rests his head back down, giving the top of Misty's head a kiss. "Psst...I hate to break it to you," he says quietly, "but it's morning."


"Oh my word!"

Wyatt jumps, startled out of his deep sleep by his father's voice. "Wha? Huh?"

Reese throws off his blanket and lets down the footrest of the easy chair with a thud. "Do you know what time it is?!"

Wyatt squints at the clock, still in a fog. "Ohhh bother. We're supposed to be at the office already." They'd planned to be at TJY early to begin preparing for court and to meet up with Lockheart.

Looking down, he sees Aerith is still cuddled up next to him. He'd love to sleep in late and just stay here, but unfortunately, today was the day that no one could stop. He gives her shoulder a gentle shake. "Sorry, babe, but your pillow is going to have to get up."