A new day

*As the sun peaks over the harizon Rosetta slowly opens her eyes feeling an arm around her. As she eyes open Micks sleeping face looks back at her a smile cross her face. This was a perfect moment. Rosetta dosent move just a bit longer. Mick had, had a rough night and she dident want to disturb him.*

*As the birds chirp and the sun it fully up, Wes makes his way to the mess hall looking for Cindy.*

*Angel is busy in the kitchen whiping up some breakfest. Today was going to be a good day.*

*Wendy streaches and lays in her bed for a long moment not wanting to get up yet. It was strange but for some reson a strang feeling knocked on the door.*

~*~Laura's place~*~

*Katie smiles at Laura.* "Ya I know. But I like cooking the little I can." *As Katie finishs up doing the dishes she hears Wyatt hon. Grabing her jacket and puting her sunglass she starts for the door. Remember what she made for Wyatt. Going back into the kitchen she grabs the container. After geting into Wyatt's car she smiles at him.* "Good Morning. I though you might be alittle hungry." *Katie hands the container to Wyatt.*

Through the night

Cindy returns Wes’ hug just a little awkwardly, but forces herself not to resist. Fear will not ruin this evening…not this time. “Thanks, Wes…I had a good time too…” Her eyes linger on his for just a moment before she turns to go in her bunk. “Good night.”


Mick is quiet for a long while, trying to shake off the bad dream, but it sticks with him as if clutching his mind with sharp talons. He’s finally calmed down though, his exhaustion starting to take back over. Without saying anything, he leans over to position himself on his side, and pulls Rosetta down next to him, wrapping an arm around her, just wanting to know she’s safe, her presence reminding him that it had only been a dream. Before he knows it, he’s asleep again, not waking until the morning.


Jason’s alarm goes off and his eyes fly open. He quickly shuts it off, then rubs his face wearily, yawning and stretching. Rolling out of bed, he sees it’s still dark out. Probably no one else is up yet.
He dresses and grabs his crutches, throwing on a jacket and making his way to the mess hall. He enters quietly and goes to the kitchen, not bothering to turn on any lights, but retrieves and downs a glass of orange juice. Satisfied for now, he heads back outside. He was done moping… it was time to kick into high gear.
He goes back to his bunk where he promptly begins an exercise routine, first for his knee, then the rest of his body. Wincing, he grits his teeth against the pain that shoots down his leg. It had to go ignored – he would not let it get the best of him. Sweat trickles down the side of his face as his muscles strain against the pushups. He wanted to run, but if forced not to because of his knee, he would work all the harder on other things.
As the sun begins to peek over the horizon, Jason ceases his workout, and showers. Dressed once again, he takes a long look at himself in the mirror. Moving on was never easy. But moving ahead was a necessity.
Grabbing his crutches again, he heads back to the mess hall, several computer printouts in hand.


Laura comes into the kitchen and raises her eyebrows. “Wow, two mornings in a row,” she teases. “I hope you know it’s not a requirement of you staying here.” She grabs some juice from the fridge, still running a hand through her hair to get it to dry from her shower. “Did Wyatt say what time he’d be here?”
A honk outside answers her.
“Oh, drat, he’s earlier than I thought!” She throws Katie a look of apology. “Sorry. Guess we’re in a bit of a rush.”

For no one

*As Wes pulls into the Ranch and parks the car she sits for a long moment. Than geting out of the car he walks over to Cindy's door and opens it offering his hand to her her out. Finally they get to her bunk. Wes pulls Cindy close and gives her a hug.* " If only this night would never end. I had a fantastic time, thank you." *Wes gives Cindy a kiss on the forhead.*

*Rosetta continues to rub Mick's back.* "Hey, Hey....I'm not going anywhere." *Rosetta wraps her arms around Mick.* "Sure I will..." *Rosetta runs her hands though Mick's hair and she hums softly* "...I'll stay as long as you need me."

*Day turns to night and night turns once more. Life stoodstill for the night and now, it was starting to spring to life again with the rising of the sun. Everyone from the ranch starts to make there way to the mess hall. Far off Katie wakes and once again makes breakfest. This time puting a bit aside marking Wyatt's name on the top. The day starts time stands still for no one!*

Stay?

Luke watches Angel leave, keeping an eye on her until she disappears into her quarters. He heaves a contented sigh and sits back in the swing, lingering for a long while. Finally getting up the gumption to go to bed, he takes a moment to stand, and slowly heads to his bunk, taking his time as his legs resist the movement. Making it to bed, he falls to sleep quickly, so worried about the future, but so happy as well.

Jason sits straight up in bed. Like a lightbulb had gone on, he remembered where he'd seen that name. Throwing off his covers, he ignores the protest of his knee and goes to his desk, flipping open his laptop. He had to make sure, while it was fresh in his mind. Theories and calculations start coming to him like a barrage of bullets. Was this another puzzle piece found?


Cindy giggles and stares at the menu herself, finally settling on a simple cone with chocolate ice cream. She takes her time eating, sitting with Wes at a small table before they head back to the ranch. She’s quiet on the ride, tired, but allowing herself the happiness of the moment. As they pull back into the ranch, she sits awkwardly for a minute, unsure how to bring the evening with Wes to a close.


Mick closes his eyes again for a moment, letting Rosetta’s touch calm him and bring him back to reality. He looks in her eyes, his face wrought with a new kind of tension. “I thought I lost you,” he whispers. Had it really been a simple dream? Did it mean nothing, that he should just forget about? It seemed to have engraved itself too deeply to ever erase those images…that voice…
He reaches out to cradle Rosetta’s face with a hand, the inner torment coursing through his gaze.
He lies toward the back of the couch, and his voice is tight, almost timid as his tone is low. “Stay with me?”

I'm here

*Katie opens she eyes slowly still half asleep. Feel a cold wet toung on her nose she relizing its the cat.* "Well hey there Henry." *Reaching out from under the covers Katie pets Henry.* " Have you comes to keep me company sweety." *After peting him a while longer Katie rests her hand next to her face and drifts off to sleep again.*

~*~Back at the Ranch~*~

*Angel stairs at the ring for a long moment her eyes filling with tears. Tears of joy. Finally Angel looks up deep into Luke's eyes. Throwsing her arms around him.* "Its so pretty I love it. Thank you Luke. I am the luckyest girl around. After a little while longer or siting and chating, watching the night sky Angel yawns.* "Well I better get going to bed. I'm no use to anyone tired." *Angel smiles and give Luke a kiss goodnight.* "I'll see you in the morning Luke. GoodNight." *Angel turns and starts to walk to her bunk a new stride in her step. She felt young again.*

*Wes smiles at Cindy and starts up the truck.* "Ice cream it is my lady. And away we go in your charriet." *Wes cant help but laugh as he pulls out of the parking lot making his way to the ice cream shop. With in minutes they are there and Wes is studing the wall for what he wants.* "Maybe a banannasplit sounds good."

*As Rosetta hears Mick call out in his sleep. Puting her book down she walks over to the coutch as he shoots up. Placing a hand on his sounder she eases dowon on the floor next to him.* "Hey, It was just a dream I'm here. Want to talk about it?" *Rosetta smiles up at Mick as she gently rubs his back.*

Nightmare

Laura bids Katie goodnight, and after finishing her movie, she does some cleaning, then heads to bed herself.

Henry wanders down the hall, getting used to a second person in the apartment, and he nudges Katie's door open. After looking around the room, he hops up on her bed near her face and starts to purr.


Jason lies awake in bed, his eyes aimed toward the ceiling, but focusing on nothing. His mind has been in turmoil all day as guilt has crept into his conscience. He had been a jerk. He had messed up royally. Despite his agreement with why he had done some of the things he had, he had handled the situations poorly, resulting in him losing his friend...his best friend. But he couldn't keep dwelling on it. He had to pick himself up and move on, no matter what it took. Whether he liked it or not, he was here to do a job. He was here to help others, not himself. He was learning an awful lot about himself in the process, but in the end, he was here to protect innocent people and to help bring down a criminal racket. He'd done some things right, and he'd made some mistakes. But if he continued to dwell on them, he would be defeating his purpose...he'd be defeating himself. Just like JT had said...he needed to start fighting for himself and begin the forward momentum he needed to pull himself back up out of the rut he'd gotten himself stuck in. He was sorry about Katie...and he could admit now that he missed her. He missed talking with her...sharing with her... he missed knowing that he didn't need to tell her all - she instinctively knew it already. And knowing that she'd sent him that email...she'd opened the door back up... but Jason knew that right now, it would be best to simply leave that door alone. Maybe she was ready to patch things up, but if he reinserted himself into her life again right now, it might just make things harder for her...harder for them both...maybe they simply needed to let things go. It wasn't an easy call, but perhaps it's what should have happened, despite the rough way in which it did. They had been good friends...and it was better to have experienced that, than not having had it at all. Perhaps when Jason was ready, that door would still be open. But he had to learn how to move on first.
Jason rolls over, pulling his blanket up further to his shoulder. No...it was no longer about him...it was about the people around him. He had been selfish...no matter how right he had felt, or how much he could justify his actions, they had been born of selfishness and pride. Even his sudden trip to TJY...no matter if Carter had been testing him or not, after receiving the privilege of being allowed back on the team, he should have realized what he knew now. It wasn't about his rank, his position, or what his job was. It was about serving and doing his utmost best to fulfill his role. It was about them.


Luke wraps his arm around Angel and just holds her for several minutes, almost afraid to speak lest he break the moment in which he feels so much joy and peace. Finally though, he shifts his weight, reaching into his pocket. "Well...if that's really he way you feel..." He pauses. "I don't know what I did to be blessed with someone like you... You deserve a whole lot more than I could ever give...but maybe this will help." He takes her hand in his and gently slips a ring onto her finger, the dainty diamond twinkling delicately in the moonlight.


Cindy can't help giggling as Wes picks her up. Her cheeks grow red, but as she wraps her arm around Wes' neck to hang on, she ignores the funny stares from other people, not caring a bit what they think. Once back in the truck, she shrugs, still grinning. "I don't need anything...unless that late night ice cream place is yelling as loudly at you as it is to me."


Mick is so exhausted that he doesn't even wake as Rosetta situates him on the couch. Instead he rolls over on his side, burrowing further into the cushions.

Despite his body's tiredness though, his mind is racing with random thoughts, creating scenes and evoking buried emotions brought out through dreams. What starts out as a generic setting quickly becomes a nightmare of war. Mick is surrounded by his family and friends, but they're not at the ranch. They're somewhere dark and cold. They're fighting...fighting against an unseen enemy that blindsides them at every turn. Gunfire echoes through the alleyway, and people run down the street. He hears a scream for help, but cannot lift his feet to move towards the sound. Suddenly he's looking down on the scene as if it's a movie playing before him. Mick can see the faces...he feels the pain...the torment...the terror. The pain tears his heart in two as he sees his family hurting, but is unable to help. In an instant of horror, his brothers are gunned down. He can hear another scream and knows it's Rosetta.

Mick cries out in desperation to the only one he can imagine stopping this battle. "God, help us, please! Stop this suffering!" But instead of the hoped-for peace, a voice whispers back in his ear, hissing with condemnation. "He doesn't know you, Mick...when have you given Him anything but pleas for help? When have you done anything for Him? When have you taken the time to get to know Him?" A mocking laugh cackles. "You do not claim Him as your God, yet you expect him to claim you as His child? You never accepted His Son as your Savior, yet you expect a bridge to Him? You expect peace? You expect to escape eternal punishment? You fool."

Suddenly an image of Sparky's face flashes in front of Mick, his eyes full of sorrow - the same sorrow that had shown through as he'd begged for his brother's attention while expressing his concern and his own experiences through Christ. It was a look begging Mick to believe...begging him to accept the Truth. Yet it had been denied.

In an instant, the world goes black, enveloped in an impenetrable fog. There is nothing - only a pressing feeling of despair so deep that it chokes the very life out of anyone who enters.
Mick feels as if he's been pushed off a cliff, falling towards his death, alone with no one to catch him.

Mick's whole body tenses, jolting him from his nightmare. A cold sweat pours down the back of his neck, and his pulse is racing. He blinks in the dimness of the room, trying to decipher his surroundings and talk himself down from the horrid images he'd just experienced. He rubs a hand over his face, unable to shake the lingering feelings his nightmare had pressed into his soul. "Dang, Sparky," he mumbles. "What did you do to me?"