Lots of years...

Rick heaves a tired but contented sigh as he feels his wife's touch, enjoying the times that she could come to see him at work. Straightening as she leaves to warm up his late supper, the infirmary grows quiet again, and he turns back to his work, wanting to finish up a few things before he ate.

But no sooner had he started, and a groan from Scott's bed makes Rick turn around to check on his patient. Going over to him, he finds that Scott is drenched in sweat, apparently having been dreaming without Rick knowing it.

He sits on the edge of the bed and gently lays a hand on Scott's shoulder, now as his young friend starts to fight against his blankets, mumbling incoherently. "Scott.... come on, wake up. You're dreaming again... Scott..."

Scott's mind is totally enveloped in the nightmare that was attacking. It was so vivid. So real. So full of scenes that had been true, that reality was skewed. "No," he mumbles. "No, don't... she didn't.... No..... I won't... Stop it!"

"Scott." Rick grasps Scott's shoulder more firmly, his voice louder. "Wake up, Scott."

Suddenly, Scott sits up so fast that his own head whacks Rick in the face. Caught off balance, Rick slides off the bed to the floor, putting a hand to the side of his face, slightly dazed. Before he can react, Scott has risen from the bed as well, tripping over Rick's legs.

He stumbles forward, the look in his eye to make one question whether he was still asleep or awake. Grabbing the counter for support, his hand knocks into a tray of tools, sending them flying onto the floor. Looking down, at his feet he spies a scalpel.

Rick's eyes widen as he sees Scott bend down and pick it up. "Scott... what are you doing?"

Scott doesn't seem to hear him, just staring at the lethal knife in his hand. He looks to Rick, then to himself, the fear and ultimate confusion written on his face.

Rick scrambles to his feet to quickly make it to his friend, but Scott has turned on him, a threat flashing in his eyes.

"Scott..." Rick holds his hands to the side, trying to remain calm. "It's okay. Put the knife down, alright? You're at TJY... you're safe. It's me... Rick... Come on... put it down." A prayer is immediately in the back of his mind.

Scott looks down to eye the tool that had become a weapon, slowly turning it in his palm so the blade was towards himself instead.

A chill runs down Rick's spine. "Put it down," he warns again firmly. "It's over. You're safe. They can't hurt you anymore."

The next instant is a blur. Scott's aim to his own wrist is precise, but Rick's reflexes are faster. Almost too quick to even comprehend what just happened, Rick has Scott from behind, his arms wrapped around him in a firm hold.

Scott's own arms are locked to his sides, the scalpel now back on the floor. He fights against the restraint, kicking at Rick's legs and trying to break free. "No!" he screams. "Let me go!"

"Scott, calm down!" Rick is determined not to let go, but struggles, despite Scott's lack of physical strength.

Scott continues to resist, the sweat still pouring down his face, his eye bloodshot, his breathing growing shallower. Another scream surfaces. "No!" Throwing his weight back, he knocks both himself and Rick off balance.

Rick tumbles back into the counter, but holds his grip. Desperate, he takes a chance and lets go with one arm. Grasping at Scott's flailing body, his other hand reaches behind him on the counter where he knew the syringe was sitting. He'd almost put it away earlier, thinking he wouldn't need it, but now was glad he hadn't.

Though being tossed around, and smacked with Scott's now-free arm, he tries to prep the needle carefully, still having on arm wrapped around Scott's thin frame.

In an instant, the shot has been given, and the affect is almost immediate. Scott's pulse is racing, but he gradually starts to slow down, his words becoming slurred. Blinking, he tries to keep the room in focus, but everything goes black.

Rick grasps Scott's limp body, but his own knees have grown weak, and he simply slides to the floor. Leaned back against the counter, he tries to catch his breath, only now realizing that his arm hurt. Glancing down, he sees a tear in his lab coat near his shoulder, and blood had seeped through. Apparently the scalpel had gotten him before it had been dropped.

They syringe still in his hand, he just sits, exhausted from the short but intense struggle. He wouldn't be going home tonight. More than likely, Scott would wake up later not to even remember his episode, but Rick wasn't about to leave him alone... not after this.

"Janet?" He calls out to his wife, knowing he needed help to get Scott back over to the bed, then to patch up his small wound. He wipes the sweat from his brow, his adrenaline making his hands shake slightly. "Janet?" The door had been closed - she may not have even heard a thing from the break room.


Reese can’t help a quiet chuckle at Angelica’s question about answering the door. “Only when somebody sneaks up on me.”

Stepping further to the side, he opens the door wider. “Come on in.” Going in behind her, he reaches to the side to find the switch, turning on the kitchen light to the right, and the living room light several feet ahead.

“You didn’t tell me what you were doing in this neck of the woods,” Reese comments as he moves to make coffee. Suddenly he realizes that Angelica has never been here before, and he turns around quickly. “Throw your jacket wherever. Make yourself at home.” Though he’s making an effort to act normal, he can’t hide the weariness in his voice. Any other day, he might find himself all thumbs, or worried about things not being straightened up enough while Angelica was there... but tonight he was too tired to think about it.

Turning back to the coffee maker, he finishes up the task, and soon the aroma is drifting in the air, waking the senses. And not long after, Reese has shown Angelica to the living room, somehow winding up near the far wall, staring at photos that had been hung. Talk had been light… even for two so devoted to work, that subject had somehow seemed too heavy tonight. And though both knew that much was being unsaid about Angelica’s surprise visit, neither felt the need to discuss the why of it. It just didn’t seem to matter.

“…and here’s Wyatt with some of his cousins.” Reese points to one of the framed pictures, his coffee mug in hand. His eyes drift over the family pictures. They were windows to the past… the only tangible representation of what his life perhaps was like before, with his wife and son.

“And graduation…” He can’t help the feeling of pride for that picture of Wyatt.

Giving a little sigh, he shakes his head. “Lots of years gone by, Angelica. Lots of years. You work so hard to build something up… put all your passion into a single mission… all to one day be told that you’re not needed… that you’re not wanted anymore.”

He taps a finger on his coffee mug, then takes a swig before his voice reveals too much emotion. Today had been harder than he’d like to admit.


Axel gives Jess a sidelong glance, catching her eye. "Rainbows are always there... it just takes the right angle to see them."

Glancing out the window to the side of the auto shop, he sighs. He needed to get inside and figure out how to keep himself from doing this again. In the meantime, his embarrassment had lessened some, but was still there.

"Keep this thing between us?" He turns his head to look at Jess again. "The other guys would be all over me if they knew."

Giving Jess a little smile, he moves to rest his hand on the door handle. "Thanks again, and..." He hesitates, wondering if maybe he shouldn't say anything at all, but he finally does. "...dont' be too hurt. Carson didn't keep you in the dark on purpose."

Getting out of the car, the chilly wind hits him again, making him shiver. Leaning down, he looks back at Jess. "Stay here a minute... I'm not sure if I locked myself out or not."

Walking gingerly to the steps, he's up them in a flash, his barefeet burning against the cold steps. Reaching the door, he finds it open. Relieved, he turns around and gives Jess a little wave to let her know she could leave. And in a moment, he's disappeared inside.


A scream pierces the night, the shrill sound bouncing off the walls and waking Carson with such violence that he sits bolt upright and is on his feet in an instant. Woken from a deep sleep, he just stands for a moment, wondering if what he'd heard had been real, or a part of a dream.

Opening the bedroom door, he peers out into the hall. Nothing. Glancing to the left he sees the bathroom light on under the door. "Dani?" he calls quietly. No answer.

The hairs on the back of his neck stand up, and he pads down to the bathroom, stopping himself just before he opened the door. His sister wasn't exactly a little girl anymore. "Dani?" he asks again, tapping a knuckle on the door. "Are you..."

The door suddenly flies open, a wide-eyed Dani staring back at him. But it wasn't a look of fear on her face... it was more a look of pure irritation. "Carson Gabriel!"

Carson's own eyes widen and he backs up a step. "What? What did I do?"

Dani is breathing heavily and sets her hands on her hips as she looks up at her brother. "Remember I told you there was no need to set rules here while you lived with me?"

"Um... yeah?"

"I changed my mind."

Carson blinks. He'd heard her scream. He'd thought something was wrong. What on earth had he done?

Dani continues to glare at him. "Let me make one thing perfectly clear." Her voice raises as she speaks. "When you're done in here, put the toilet seat down!"

Carson's hand automatically goes to his mouth, covering up what might have become a smile that so desperately wanted to emerge. He looks down at Dani's frantic state, the mental images almost too much to keep the laughter at bay. "Um... yes... okay... I think I can do that." He nods, still keeping his mouth hidden. Unfortunately, his eyes give him away.

Dani's own eyes narrow. "It's not funny," she mutters.

"Just a little?"

"No!"

"Did you fall in?"

"Carson!" Dani sends a light fist into his chest. "You have no idea what it's like to get up in the dead of night to an experience like that! It's... it's..."

"Quite traumatic, apparently." Carson nods, lowering his arm to block another weak punch. But as he does, he chokes on a laugh. "At least I didn't need to come pull you out."

"You..." Dani glares at him, pointing her finger for emphasis. But at this point, even she can't deny that what had happened really was quite funny. She tries not to let her smile slip, but somehow it does, curling the edge of her mouth. "You are... are...."

"Very sorry." Carson coughs to cover up his own laugh. "You gonna stay mad at me forever?"

Dani bites her lip, then looks down, her shoulders starting to shake as her laughter finally bubbles over.

Carson bends over a little and reaches under her chin to lift it up, making sure she was laughing and not having a fit. Finding she was, he lets his own laughter slip as well.

Feeling like a total idiot, Dani leans back against the wall, holding her sides as they start to ache.

"Breathe," Carson advises between his own laughing. "I can't lose you now. Not after your heroic survival instincts saving you from the perils of the life-threatening drain."

All his words do is serve to increase Dani's laughter until both of them are laughing so hard, they wind up sitting on the floor making complete fools out of themselves.

Dani shakes her head. "I wasn't even awake," she manages as a tear rolls down her face. "I tell you what though... I sure woke up fast."

Both are sent into another fit of laughter until finally they're too worn out to keep on going. Just staring at each other, they try to catch their breath.

"Well..." Dani nods with satisfaction. "That was fun."

"Shall we do it again?"

"No!" Dani giggles. "It better not happen again."


Jason leans back further into his couch, the sound of the tv not really penetrating his consciousness. His mind was elsewhere...on too many different things. Though the day had been quiet, so much he knew was going on around them. So much he knew himself and Katie were not involved in, but would be. Being away from TJY, contact with Rick had informed them of surface issues, but the depth really wasn't known.

The news of Scott possibly getting help was a relief. That much was good. But news of Reese's termination had sent hopes plummeting again. Jason couldn't believe what Austin was doing. He partially blamed himself for Reese's predicament. More than likely it stemmed from the investigation that he and Katie had started, however Brown hadn't stated it that way exactly when he'd called Jason to tell him Austin had been formally warned.

That in itself was good to know. At least Austin knew that people were watching and did have the power to punish if he continued to bend the rules. At the same time though, had it simply made things worse? He wondered.

Jason and Katie had talked some, but not a whole lot. Not much could really be said. They didn't have any plan of action... nothing really to do. All they could do was wait out the remainder of their two week suspension and keep tabs on what was happening so they wouldn't be in for too many surprises when they got back.

And though not keeping his emotions completely to himself, Jason did keep some of his thoughts in his own mind. He needed to mull them over... chew on them for a while before allowing them to be pulled into the emotional stream that flowed in Katie's direction.

Getting up and going to the window, he looks out on the lit street. The sky was dark, but the stars were hidden by city lights. A part of him missed Texas, where he'd been able to see for miles, countless stars shining from horizon to horizon. There had been a feeling of freedom there... a freedom he used to feel here, but no longer did.

Sighing, he leans an arm on the window frame, hooking a hand in his pocket. Scott. His mind continued to revert to his friend. His friend... funny how that sounded now. Jason could still remember when he'd been so angry... so very angry that Scott had rather stolen Katie from him. At that point, he never would have believed that later they would make up after that. But Scott's heart was so big... his forgiveness so genuine... his love so deep. So deep for Katie that he had later given her up with more grace than Jason had ever seen. And he had held no malice towards Jason...only an open door of friendship.

"So why does someone like that have to go through this?" Jason's whisper makes a little patch of fog on the cold window.

Glancing up to the blank sky, he remembers the thoughts that had gone through his mind during the mission to rescue Scott. He'd made no promises - that much he knew. But he had said he would look into a few things if they found him alive. As of yet, he had not fulfilled that commitment.

Looking over his shoulder for a moment, he spies the little Bible his mother had slipped into his bag on his last visit to Texas. He hadn't been surprised. She'd been trying to get him back into the whole God thing for years. He remembered going to church as a kid. But after everything had fallen apart, he hadn't wanted to be around people. Despite his ability to mask what he had been feeling, he hadn't wanted to deal with any of that, and had fought strong enough that his mother had finally given up, as had Austin.

But now... Jason had made the mistake of telling God he'd check some things out and consider the whole thing again if they could get Scott home safe. ...Home safe?

Jason looks back outside, his eyes narrowing as a slow anger churns. "You call this home safe?" he speaks aloud. "Why did you even let us find him if this was going to happen? Wouldn't it have been better just to let him die in peace than have this mental torment? It'll take a miracle for him to pull through. And for what? So he can always carry this around with him?"

He shakes his head in disgust, but suddenly his own words are flung back in his face. 'It'll take a miracle.' And who was the One who made miracles happen?

He smirks. "Touché." Sighing, he leans his head against the window frame. "You were pretty important to Scott, weren't you? He never did back down from that. Even after we thought he'd died, he was still strong... still trying to get me to see it anyway."

Pulling out old memories, Jason realizes he remembered more about what he'd been taught than he thought. He had just never bothered to think about it. He'd never wanted to. But in this quiet moment of reflection, he recalled his mother's voice, quoting scriptures... them praying before meals... watching his mother have her quiet time in the mornings when she thought he was still in bed.

"Father..." Jason knew people referred to God as their Father in Heaven and Christians claimed to be like His children. "What do I need another father for?" he almost scoffs. "I got a dad who never even knew I existed, and even if he did he probably wouldn't care. I got a grandfather who's a jerk and betrayed all the trust I ever had in him. My great-grandfather has never even pretended like he cared about me. So what would I want with another Father?"

Suddenly Jason sees in his mind, a note stuck to the refrigerator door in the house he'd grown up in. It was on his mother's favorite lilac paper, her handwriting so neat. "He will never leave you nor forsake you."

He can't help rolling his eyes slightly and focusing upward again. "Thanks a lot. You're not helping my case much, you realize this."

At the very least, he'd said he would maybe read a Bible and at least consider his options. Tonight was a night he couldn't sleep anyway. And in the end, whether he actually believed all this or not, it might be handy to know a little bit more about what drove Scott, and what kept Katie's faith alive too. She never had pushed him... never had tried to get him to go to church with her... but it was that quietness that had piqued his interest more than once. He'd seen a change in her since she'd started calling herself a Christian, even if he'd never said anything about it. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to at least get a handle on where she was coming from... and why Scott thought it was so important for him to know this stuff too.

Sighing, Jason pushes away from the window and goes to flop back down on the couch again, reaching down to pick up the Bible. "Alright, you won this round. But don't expect me to get all religious here."