would you

A grin twitches at the corner of Carson’s mouth and he moves, placing a hand on the wall on each side of Misty. Bringing his face closer to her, he stares into her eyes. Leaning in, his lips almost touch hers, his breath on her cheek, but he suddenly withdraws, moving away from her back toward the door. “Nah, I don’t want to hurt you. You might overdo it.”


Scott’s ears pop, waking him up, and he winces from a headache. Looking around, he realizes that the plane is descending. Yawning and stretching, he turns his head to see Katie, and picks up her hand to give it a kiss. “I was great company, wasn’t I?” He looks at her with apology, but grins. “I guess we’re about ready to kick some courtroom butt aren’t we.”


A bit of chatter starts up again as the plane circles and lands on the runway. After the plane is stopped and everything set, the group exits, finding a TJY van driven by Wyatt. “Hey, guys!” He stands outside, opening the doors for the group. “How was the trip?”

Conversations are struck up once more as everyone piles into the vehicle. Wyatt makes stops at houses to drop people off at their homes, reminding everyone they only had an hour and a half before they needed to be back to TJY where everyone would travel as a group to the courthouse in the next town over.

Jason opts to go to TJY instead of the apartment, so he stays in the van with Wyatt on the way back, also with Jim and Ty.


It doesn’t take long for people to start filtering back in to work, checking in and making final arrangements before that afternoon.


Reese calls to the knock on the door. “Come in.” Seeing Lockheart, he smiles. “Well…the time has come.” He gestures to an extra chair. “Take a seat and take a load off before we get another load added on.” He shakes his head, giving a little sigh. “Everyone who’s going should be coming back here soon…they’re all as ready as they can be. Sheriff Brown said no one in particular would have to testify unless the judge requested it…we’re just banking on what Brown has already told him, and on what you can present. Brown said that he couldn’t tell how the judge felt after receiving the information he’d already given him, so….” He shrugs, forcing a chuckle, despite the seriousness of the situation. “I guess we got our work cut out for us.”


Jason slowly walks down the sidewalk, Trooper obediently staying by his side. The thought had come to Jason already that if things went sour today, who knew where Trooper would end up. Such a large dog....who was unmanageable by most would most certainly not find a home, and instead, be put down. Jason couldn't imagine that happening...yet he had no control over it.

Though knowing he had to get back to TJY, the longing just to stay away from it all kept him walking just a little further as he headed towards downtown.

A jogging figure comes up the opposite side of the street. Her bright green tanktop and shorts make her hard to miss, and earphones accent her head. As she glances across the street, she spots Jason and after looking both ways, she crosses over, slowing to a walk. Taking her earphones out, she grins. "Well hi there."

Jason pauses his walk, offering Camryn somewhat of a smile. "We've got to quit meeting like this."

"I know it. Sometime it ought to be planned."

Jason gives her a slight smirk at the implication. "Little warm for a jog."

"Yeah..." Camryn is still trying to catch her breath. "But I overslept so I didn't get it in this morning when I wanted to." She cocks her head. "The heat apparently didn't keep you away either." Reaching down, she offers a hand to Trooper, and after receiving his sniff and lick of approval, she scratches his head.

"Nah, he needed out." Jason shrugs. He's quiet for a moment, not really sure where this conversation should head.

Camryn straightens and studies his face. "You look like you lost your best friend."

Jason raises his eyebrows, finding it interesting that a saying could be that close to the truth. "Oh...maybe I did...or perhaps I'm going to." Thinking for a few seconds, an idea pops into his head. It was ridiculous, but he was desperate at this point. "Hey, you like Trooper here, don't you?"

"He's gorgeous." Camryn nods.

"There's a chance that after today I won't be able to keep him," Jason states bluntly.

Camryn's eyebrows shoot up. "Are you asking me what I think you're asking?"

"Probably."

"Well...what's going to happen today?"

"Look, it's got to do with my job. There's a big court hearing today and...no one can even try predicting the results. Hopefully it will change nothing...but there's a chance that I won't be coming back."

"Wow." Camryn grows more serious, sensing that this was no laughing matter. "I guess...I guess I'd say I'd take him, but I'm in apartment where I can't have pets."

Jason sighs. "It was worth a try."

"I do have an uncle who lives outside of town though," Camryn suggests. "He's got a farm and he's got five dogs already...I could ask him...knowing him, he'd much rather take Trooper than see him go to the pound."

Hope flickers in Jason's eye. "That would be great. If...if things don't turn out well, this afternoon, I'm going to have someone bring Trooper to the park. If your uncle can take him, could you, or your uncle yourself meet him there?"

Camryn's concern increases, but she nods. "You're being pretty mysterious, but for some reason I trust you."

"Thank you, Camryn." Jason nods, grateful. "Trooper can be a brute, but he doesn't deserve the pound."