Morning comes again

Band practice continues for about another hour, the guys all enjoying it, and not really wanting it to end, even though they were tired from a long day.

Jason's voice accompanies his playing, the tone so mellow and sweet, that could put anyone in a trance. Even when the tempo picks up, and the rock sound gets rougher, his voice remains smooth, seeming to hold them all together.

Kyle joins in with backup on some of the songs, but mainly sticks to his keyboard as usual, allowing Jason the lead both instrumentally and vocally.

When the notes of the last song finally die away, Jason just sits for a few minutes

This was the first nice distraction I've had in a while... I don't want to give it up and go back to the real world.

He tosses Katie a look, accompanied by a crooked grin.

Rocky leans back in his chair, twirling his pop can in his hand. "So, Kyle, when are you gonna be singing in the spotlight, eh?"

Kyle looks up quickly from his music. He eyes Rocky for a moment, almost as if warning him not to say more

Jason sees it, and quirks an eyebrow.

What was that for? Is it just me, or is Kyle just being strange tonight?

Phil looks to Rocky with a response. "He had the spotlight for a while this year when Jason was gone."

"Oh yeah, that's right."

Kyle rolls his eyes. "Everyone was glad when Jason got back."

Mike smirks. "You did fine."

Rocky eyes Kyle almost suspiciously as if asking a question, or implying he knew more. "I'm sure he did."

"I keep trying to get him to sing more," Jason adds. "But he insists on staying in the background."

Kyle shrugs. "You're the better singer."

Now it's Jason's turn to roll his eyes. He, Mike, Jen and Phil would probably all agree that Kyle's voice wasn't as strong as his. Kyle had a nice tone and was musically talented, but it was a simple fact that while Jason had been gone, JetStream had suffered some. They'd done very well still, and had not been in dire straights, but it was simply known that Jason had the stronger voice. But even so, they didn't like saying it, and Kyle still didn't give himself enough credit, even if he wasn't meant to be the lead singer. "Oh, just stop," Jason chides. "We're a team, remember? It takes all of us to get the right sound, no matter who is singing or playing the instruments."

"Amen," Mike agrees.

Rocky continues to look at Kyle, his eyes narrowing slightly as if waiting for him to say something, but it never comes.

Jen shakes her head and wheels herself to the stairs. "Sorry to break up you little boys, but I need help upstairs, unless you're all too involved in your egos."

Mike laughs and gets up from his drumset. "Aw, we wouldn't leave you, you know that."

"Mm...at least you wouldn't." Jen's eyes sparkle as Mike comes to lift her up and carry her up the stairs. Phil is close behind, carrying the wheelchair.

The basement grows quiet for another minute until finally Rocky stands up and stretches. "Well... g'night, y'all. See you soon." He ambles upstairs with a yawn, ready to head home.

Jason sighs and sets his guitar aside, looking in Katie's direction. "Guess it's my turn. Trooper won't forgive me if I'm any later than this... either that or I'll have a mess to clean up."

He grins a little, then shifts his gaze to where Kyle was still standing, just seeming to be studying the keyboard for no apparent reason. "Hey..."

Kyle looks up quickly. "Yeah?"

"You alright?"

A smile surfaces on Kyle's face. "Of course. Why?"

"Guess you seemed a little far away a few times."

"Not feeling the greatest." Kyle shrugs, but his quirky smile remains. "Had a headache all day, my right contact is giving me problems and I'm kinda tired. Sorry if I bummed out on you guys."

"Nah." Jason finally stands up and shakes his head. "I know I wasn't a hundred percent tonight either."

"Oh, but we'll be ready for the next show," Kyle nods with confidence. He laughs. "And if we aren't, we'll give the audience a good show anyway."

Jason chuckles. "That's for sure. ...Alright, well... see ya later."

"Okay, man. Later."


"Night, Carson."

"Yeah... good night." Carson watches Axel leave before letting himself in the back door of Mom and Pop's and going to his room. Easing down on the bed, he lets out a long sigh. He was grateful for Axel's company. They hadn't talked much. Axel hadn't pushed, and Carson had kept most to himself. The quiet had been different though. A cup of coffee instead of a shot of whiskey had been different, and Axel's quiet company had been different. But...Carson had to admit that it was probably better. At least he wasn't feeling guilty for doing anything stupid. All he was feeling right now was sorrow for how Jess must be feeling.

Looking at the clock, he sees it's late, but he'd done some thinking tonight, and a phone call was due. Going out into the hall, he dials and waits, getting the answering machine. She probably slept through the ringing. "Hey, Dani, um... sorry if I woke you up. I, um... guess I'm ready to take you up on your offer if it still stands. Decided maybe a change would be good, ya know?"

In truth, after tonight, he really did want a change. Something. Anything. Though he hoped for a friendship with Jess, he knew that a light in his life was gone now, and without her, and without the one who had stolen his heart, things just seemed to have turned gray. Within twenty-four hours, things had changed again, and he needed a distraction. Maybe he just hoped that a change of scenery would help.

He clears his throat. "So anyway... stop by tomorrow sometime maybe and we'll talk. Night, sis. See ya."

Hanging up, he trudges back to his room, hoping that sleep would come easier than the day had gone.


Axel ambles down the sidewalk, hands in his pockets as he breathes in the night air. Becoming friends with Carson hadn't been planned, and it was an interesting relationship they were forming. Axel found Carson's behavior and thought processes intriguing, knowing without asking how the past had obviously shaped him.

Much had gone unsaid, but neither had cared. Both men knew better than to ask too many questions, each knowing too much about the other to have any disrespect.

Axel finally makes it back to the auto shop, but instead of going upstairs, he sits at the bottom for a long while, simply enjoying the quiet... the night. Being able to see the stars signified a freedom he savored.


Receiving Misty's prompting, Scott sighs and shuffles the cards. Finally he reaches out and takes one more bite of his supper, though says nothing.

Contemplating a moment, he shrugs and starts to deal out some cards, signaling that Misty is free to join him.

He's quiet, forcing himself to make a little small talk as they play a couple games. He really was grateful that Misty didn't mind sticking around for a while. At least it was a few more minutes that he could concentrate on something else.

By the time she goes home, they were even on wins, and three quarters of Scott's supper had been eaten. Now under the watch of Hal, the night starts, and Scott endures another round of nightmares until finally morning comes again...


"...How you feeling? I see you did a good job on supper last night."

Scott felt like a little kid as Rick greeted him that morning. He scoots up in bed, still under the blanket, and stifles a yawn. "Can I go home today?"

"Well... I promised you could. And I'm a man of my word. So when I go home tonight, I'll take you home, alright?"

Scott wanted to go now, but he also knew Rick wanted him there for the majority of the day in case his absence would work against him when trying to save his own job... if that job even really existed anymore. "Okay," he mumbles quietly.

Rick sighs deeply and slowly comes to sit on the bed. More needed to be said, and he feared the reaction, but this wasn't something he could spring on him at the last minute. "Scott... there's something else I want you to do for me, too."

Scott looks up quickly. "But you promised I..."

"You can go home," Rick assures. "And I won't make this an ultimatum. But I hope you'll consider it."

Scott swallows hard, his thin fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. Domino crawls up from the foot of the bed to come sit on Scott's lap, almost as if trying to give him courage. He moves his hand from the blanket to her head, scratching her lightly.

"Scott..." Rick prompts him gently. "I think it would be good for you if...if you talked with somebody about what happened."

Scott's eyes shoot up, flashing with a mixture of emotions too quickly to be adequately read. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I want you to gain back your strength physically... and mentally too."

Scott's inner defenses rise. What happened to him was private. It hurt, and he didn't like exposing that wound. He could work through it on his own. "You want me to see a shrink," he mumbles.

Rick shakes his head. "Come on... don't twist it around." He keeps his tone soft and gentle. "I think it would be good for you to see a counselor. Get some things off your chest. Talk about..."

"No." Scott's retort comes as the most firm as anything he's said since he'd been back. His eyes fall downward and he looks at his dog.

"Please? It would..."

"No."

"But you can..."

"I don't want to!" Scott's raised voice comes as a bit of a surprise, as does his glare, even though he won't look up at Rick. He can feel hot tears pooling behind his eyes, and fights to keep them back. His tone comes back softer, almost childlike. "I just want to go home."

Rick's shoulders drop. He wasn't going to give up - this was too important for Scott's well-being, not to mention the effort it had taken just to get funding. But maybe for now, easing off would be best. "I'll take you home," he relents. "Come on... get yourself up for the day. I brought you some breakfast."

Moving to his desk, he writes a quick email to Misty, not wanting an audible conversation.
Trying to get Scott to see a counselor. Don't know what will convince him though. Any ideas?


Laura scurries around the house, not bothering to dry her hair, grabbing a quick breakfast of toast, and hurrying to the door. She was an hour late for work, and nothing seemed to be going her way this morning.

Tripping over Henry, she apologizes as he howls and goes running down the hall. "Sorry Henry!" She sighs and heads for the door.

Opening it up, she stops, almost stepping on the small object between the main and screen doors. A smile spreads on her lips. She knew this was not for her, but it still made her feel good, knowing that someone cared so much for her friend.

Picking up the red rose, she goes and sets it on the kitchen table, knowing Katie will see it when she gets up.


"So..." Bret swallows the rest of his coffee. "...he wants me to at least go down to the track and talk. I'm not sure exactly what he wants me to do, but I don't think I want to ride a circuit. They used to keep a few guys at the track just for local racing... kinda like building up the track, rather than one driver. They liked to get people to come here to see their drivers, rather than send them all out. Not exactly the norm, and a lot of drivers didn't like it because they were stuck in one place unless they found sponsorship somewhere else, but... it's a little more stable as long as you keep winning."

He stops and shrugs, trying to catch his breath from the long spiel. He eyes Charlotte, wondering at her response. "I... guess I'd like to go see what Kirk has to say is all. And..." He pauses again. "I don't know..."

Bret doesn't realize how strongly the longing shows in his eyes. "Thought maybe this could by my job 'til spring or something, if you're alright with it."


"Hey, Jess..." Axel cradles the shop phone between his chin and shoulder, hating leaving messages on answering machines. "Uh, just wanted to let you know your car will be done this afternoon. You can pick it up any time. I should be around all day, but if I'm not, just ask for Leo, and he'll settle things up for you."

He paces around the inside of the office, getting tangled in the phone cord. He always felt like an idiot, talking to a machine. He always hoped at least halfway through, someone would pick up the phone, so he could make up for mumbling incoherently. "So... yeah."