Chewed out

Succeeding in bringing a genuine smile to Misty's face, and hearing her laughter, Kyle's own smile widens. He knew he goofed off a lot...he knew he'd always been the class clown...he knew he could act like an idiot sometimes...but if someone smiled and felt some joy because of his natural antics, it always made him feel as though maybe he did have a purpose in this life.

Splashing her back, he laughs. "The point? Who cares what the point is? Fun is pointless, and that's the point."

Playing around in the rain and the fountain water a while longer, finally he plops down on the edge of the fountain, breathing heavily and still laughing. He and Misty were both soaked to the bone, but neither cared. It was a warm evening and it was refreshing.

Kyle takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, just listening to the sounds of the water around them. They were alone in the park, but it didn't feel empty. "Well..." He didn't want to quit before Misty was ready to leave but he was utterly exhausted from his day at work. "...my evening is about over, ready to end in a hot shower and a good night sleep. You be alright getting home in your soggy state?"


Carson would prefer to be left alone...he'd prefer that Nate just leave him to his miserable state...but he doesn't have the energy or sense to argue. He sluggishly follows Nate again, leaning on him as they go back to his bedroom.

Sinking into bed again, Carson closes his eyes tight, a headache already starting to form. Whether he remembered this in the morning or not, his hangover was going to be a doozy.

As Nate leaves the room, Carson opens one eye slightly to see him walk away. What was it that made Nate stay? There were only two people that had ever been so kind to him like this. Nate...and Misty.

Carson buries his head deeper into his pillow, trying to forget. But the dreams he has through the night, only remind him of what he's lost. Somehow though, sleep stays with him until dawn.


As Katie responds verbally to Jason's inner thoughts, he suddenly realizes the strange communication that had just happened. Normally he would have pointed it out. But tonight he was just too weary, with a much heavier burden on his heart.

Hearing Katie's words that she's there for him, he gives a little nod. "I know..." Katie was always there for him. No matter if everyone else in the world turned their backs on him, Katie was there. He'd severed their relationship, he'd abused her friendship, he'd risked everything...yet tonight, she was still there, lending a hand...lending her shoulder.

The ride to TJY is quiet. Too quiet. Jason's mind runs back over and over his fight with Camryn, his memory sparing him no details. He knew Katie was probably sensing everything too, but for once, he wasn't embarrassed. She knew everything about him - there was nothing in his personal life he could really hide from her, nor did he really want to anymore.

Jason's eyes remain glued to the dark road ahead. A dry, sorry laugh emerges. "You know...for the first time in my life...I felt ready." He shifts his weight in his seat, trying to get comfortable around the pain of his minor injuries. "I know I've never settled down much... My focus has always been on TJY...missions...danger...that excitement. But..."

He swallows hard, the intense emotions building unwanted tears behind his eyes again. There was no rain to hide them here in the car. "...when I was with Camryn...I guess I looked forward to being married..." Another sorry laugh escapes. "...having a family...being a dad." He shakes his head. He'd never expressed those feelings to anyone before. Never had he voiced any dreams other than working for TJY or pursuing his music. "I guess maybe that's just not in the cards for me."

A weary sigh seeps out, and Jason sinks further into the seat, finally closing his eyes, just letting the silence rule. But his mind was far from silent. It was still going around and around, wreaking havoc on his heart. He remains quiet the rest of the ride back, listening to the rain pelt against the windows.


Rick gathers up his things and turns off the infirmary lights, heading down the hall and to the TJY exit. He'd worked extra late tonight on some paperwork, but had just called Janet to let her know he'd be coming home. Her promised late night supper made his stomach growl.

Just as he's stepping out into the rain though, he sees headlights approaching, and a car parking. Katie's car? What was she doing here so late? He watches as Katie gets out and helps a limping Jason toward the building. Supper forgotten, he meets them halfway to relieve the weight from Katie's shoulders. "What on earth happened?!"

Jason cringes a little as he leans on Rick to head inside. "Wiped out on my bike."

Rick grits his teeth, a million and one thoughts running through his mind, but he holds them off until they've gotten inside and back to the infirmary. He directs Jason to sit up on the table, and takes his own jacket off again, now prepared to stay a while. "Your bike, huh?" He looks over Jason's bruised arm, then down to his knee, checking out the wound beneath the torn jeans.

"Yeah."

Rick is in no mood for games. "And how did this happen?"

"There was a tree down in the road."

"Mm-hmm...and how fast were you going?"

Jason lifts an eyebrow. "I don't know."

"Jason..." Rick stops his examination and looks Jason in the eye. "I told you not to ride your motorcycle until your leg was healed. Not only did you not listen to me, but you decided to go for a ride at top speed in weather that I don't even like driving a car in!" He glares at his younger friend, frustrated with the situation. "I need you to get undressed," he directs firmly, "so I can look at your knee."

Jason looks at Rick, then at Katie, then back to Rick.

Rick rolls his eyes. "Embarrassment between you two?" He sighs. "Katie, would you mind stepping out, and while you're there, calling Janet to tell her to hold supper for me?"

Within minutes, the door is open again, Jason in a dry shirt and shorts, letting Rick look at his knee.

Rick frowns as he pokes and prods. "Well, you bruised it...again." His tone indicates his displeasure at all of this. "How about next time you just hit it a little harder so we can just cut the whole leg off and you won't have to worry about it anymore?"

Jason grits his teeth. "Aw, Rick, quit it."

"No, you quit it!" Rick straightens, his hands on his hips, ignoring Katie's presence for a moment. He had no idea what had driven Jason to be reckless tonight. "When are you going to learn, Hotshot? When you kill yourself? Do you want to ruin your knee permanently? Do you want to never walk again? Do you want to damage that bone so much that I can't do any more repair on it? I'm already giving you daily shots for the pain and from what I can tell, they're not doing much good anymore."

Jason inwardly cringes. He hadn't told anyone about that.

Rick isn't finished. "And why aren't they doing any good? Because you continue to insist on being stupid!" He turns, tossing a tool into the sink where it clangs loudly. "Now I could pamper you and wrap that knee and tell you to stay here all night, and ice it every two hours, but I don't think I will. You know why?" He throws his hands up in the air. "Because I give up. You want to ruin your body, go right ahead. I'm finished trying to tell you what to do."

Jason's eyes have long since drifted to the floor, his emotions boiling, a strong irritated anger now in the mix. He knew Rick was right - he was reckless. He hadn't taken it as easy as he should have, and he'd ignored the signs that his knee was getting worse not better. "But I can't stop living," he retorts under his breath.

Rick scowls at him. "You think abusing your knee is living? You could have been completely healed in a month, yet it's now been how long? And we're right back to square one, save that pin that's in here - which, by the way needs to be reset because of your shinnanigens, so guess what? You get to have another surgery tomorrow."

Jason's heart drops. Surgery? Again? He opens his mouth, but Rick cuts him off.

"Wheelchair? Crutches? I'm not going to tell you, because I just hope it hurts so much that you won't want to be walking on it!"

Jason is so angry, but at the same time, lacks the energy to fight back any more. What a perfect ending to his day... It fit. Why not just keep piling it on? Sliding up further on the table, he simply eases down on his side to rest his head on the thin pillow, his eyes reflecting a much deeper sorrow than a physical injury.

Rick blinks, unable to help an amount of surprise. Jason wasn't yelling back? That was new. For just a second, Rick wonders if he'd maybe yelled too much.

Laughing

*Katie continues to hold Jason being the shoulder for him. Finally being able to return what he always did for her. As she holds him and his emotions, feeling pour out Katie understands what happend and her heart goes out to Jason. Her friend was hurting, he was hurting bad. His heart lay in peaces and Katie felt so very sorry for him. Katie wants to say something to Jason but I'm sorry isent enough and it will be ok just dosent cut it. The best think Katie knows she can do is shelter her friend.

Standing with Jason Katie helps him to her car and out of the rain. Slipping into the passanger side Katie gets Jason's message and gives a nod. Giving his hand a light pat before pulling away.*

"I think Rick was working late."

*Katie lets out a sigh as she drives down the road trying to get to there destination.*

"J...I'm here for you if you need me ok?"

*Katie felt stupid saying those words. Oh course she was there thats was one of the reason's Camryn broke up with Jason. but she wasent sure anything alse she could say would even come close to what would help Jason. Katie cant help but feel her blood boil just a tiny bit. Once again this connection had made people unhappy and now someone like Jason who deserved this was hurting from it.

Katie trys to keep her own emotions in check. Jason dident need the strain on him at the moment on top of everything alse.*

*Misty parks her car and slowly follows Kyle to the fountain as the rain washes over her. It felt light, it felt cool, it felt almost refreshing.

Misty stands at the fountains edge just stairing at the water as the rain made small ripples. Kyle's laughing going unnoticed at first till Misty feels Kyle's hand in hers and spins her around. A small but true smile comes to Misty's face as she spins, now Kyle's laughter behind hurd is almost like a calming wind chime.

Receving Kyle's hat on her head Misty looks out at him from under the bring the small smile still on her face as a small giggle escaps her lips.

And than hearing the words slip from Kyle's mouth like the sung words where normal speak to him, Misty watches intently. Loving the sound that the sweet song and Kyles voice made.

Misty listens to the words closly, taking each one in. Continuing to watch him and hearing her name implamented into the song Misty cant help but giggle again and little louder this time.

Reaching down she runs her hand through the cooling water. Just letting the water flow over her fingers, and around the base of her hand. Kyle's voice and the colors in the water almost hypnatising.

As the water is splashed at Misty she gives a jump and looks up still from under Kyle's hat. Her lips turning into more of a smile, and for a moment for a split second all Misty's sarrow is lost as she starts to laugh even more splashing water back at Kyle. Trying to talk between the laughs and splashes.*

"So whats the point of all this splashing we are wet anyway. We might as well just jump in."

*Misty continues to splash Kyle as her smile grows slightly and her laughing becomes more true.*

*Nate continues to sit with Carson not moving untill Carson speaks. For a moment Nate is silent as if continplating to go home as Carson said. Finally though Nate stands looking down at Carson.*

"Oh shut up and accept help from a friend would ya. Let get you back to your room."

*Nate bends down and helps Carson up once again to bring him back to his room. He slings Carson's one arm around his neck as he saports most of his weaght. He was stuborn in his ways sometimes and this was one of those time. He wasent going to leave Carson when he was like this. There was no way he was going to leave his friend stranded.*

Evolving further

Jason can see headlights coming down the road, and the closer they come, the more sure he is of who it is. Lifting his head only slightly, he doesn’t try to move, but just feels numb all over. He can hear Katie’s soft footsteps approaching through the rain. It’s all like a bad dream he can’t wake from.

Flinching just a little as she covers his fresh wound, he almost says something, but words just don’t seem to come.

As Katie’s arms move around him, it’s more than Jason can take. Feeling a fool, but unable to control the level of emotions he’s experiencing, he finally falls apart.

Leaning into Katie, he rests his head on her shoulder, his tears masked by the rain that is falling. He hurt physically, but worse was the pain in his heart.

Katie’s touch begins to draw out his emotions, and he lets them go freely, unwilling to fight this time. Sadness, grief, sorrow, anger, confusion. The emotions paint a picture of what had happened…the words exchanged between him and Camryn…the end result of her leaving her ring on the table before walking away.

Allowing the emotions to outline these events, Jason knows that without words, Katie would know exactly what happened. And for once…for one of the first times, he’s glad that they have this connection.

In reality, it’s only a few minutes, but it feels like an eternity that the two just sit on the roadside. Jason swallows hard and finally lifts his head, though his eyes don’t meet Katie’s. He glances to her car. Still no words are needed.

Turning, he picks up his helmet and tries to get his feet under himself to stand up, but he has to use Katie to help him a little. Limping to her car, he takes off his jacket, taking note of the tear he hadn’t noticed in the sleeve, but not really caring. He’d have to come back for his bike tomorrow, but most likely it would be out of commission for a while if not for good.

Sliding into the passenger seat, he waits for Katie to get in too, his hand automatically going to rub his knee. He’d feel pain and misery before. But this was a new kind of pain…one he’d never experienced quite like this before.

Jason is still silent, finally leaning back in the seat and closing his eyes. He just wanted to find a corner somewhere and curl up in a little ball to shut out the world. But his physical pain keeps him from mentally shutting down.

The thoughts come without him even realizing what he’s doing. But the communication is there despite the lack of verbal exchange.

Thanks, Katie. I need to go see Rick to make sure I’m okay.


Kyle can see just the bit of uneasiness in Misty’s eyes, and knows she probably feels strangely that he’s just asked her to go with him, but he tries to help her relax, keeping his own body language and tone casual.

“Never gone out in the rain just for the fun of it?” He tsks with a chuckle. “Then you’re in for a treat. Come on.” He nods to the door in response to her suggestion. “I’ll take my truck. You can follow in your car.” He didn’t’ want to invade any space or hinder her from getting away any time she wanted.

…The rain is coming just a little steadier now, and Kyle parks his truck by the curb and gets out, his baseball cap shielding his face. Waiting for Misty, he grins and walks toward the center of the park. Once there, the fountain is bubbling and spraying, lights displaying colors of blue, red and green within the water, creating almost as fairytale-like atmosphere.

Kyle laughs and holds out his arms, spinning and looking up at the rain clouds in the dark. Getting completely soaked, he looks to Misty again and grabs her hand without warning, spinning her around, letting the rain come down around him. His contagious energy motivates his actions and his laughter.

Stopping, he takes off his hat and slaps it onto Misty’s head, his eyes twinkling with his ever-present mischief. He knew Misty was hurting…he knew her heart ached. But one could never stop living.

“It’s just you and me, baby,
We’re dancing in the rain.
It’s just you and me, Misty,
Dancing in the rain.”

Kyle’s smile remains on his face as his words rings out. Though being silly, his voice is strong and mellow, pleasing to the ears.

“We’re fightin’ off our sorrows,
Dancing in the rain.
Washing our cares away,
Dancing in the rain.

Oh time don’t stop,
We’re making the most of it.
Time don’t stop,
So we’re learning to see it through.
Time don’t stop,
We’re spinning in circles,
Around, around and around, around,
Around, and around and around…”

Scott spins under the rain, running his hand through the fountain to splash the lit-up water into the night air.

“It’s just you and me, baby,
We’re dancing in the rain.
It’s just you and me, Misty,
Dancing in the rain.

We’re forgetting all the bad times,
Dancing in the rain.
Washing our tears away…
…We’re dancing in the rain.”

Kyle stops by the fountain, leaning down to reach his hand into the blue water, cupping his fingers and bringing a splash out in Misty’s direction.


Carson is remotely aware that Nate is in the bathroom with him, and accepts the water. At first that doesn’t even want to stay down, but it’s soon that he’s able to drink half a glass without getting sick anymore.

By now, his stomach ached from being sick, and his energy is spent. He just numly stasys on the floor, leaning back against the wall. Though still inebriated, he’s not quite as drunk, and can at least figure out what’s going on.

“Go home Nate,” he mutters. “You got better things to do than…than sitting here watching me puke my guts out.”

Carson closes his eyes, his world spinning.


Dani lets out a long sigh as she stares at her laptop’s screen. This was the only thing she had to go on. It was weird…one wouldn’t think it would be so hard to find someone. One would think you could just ask the right people. But Dani had had far worse luck, running into brick wall after brick wall. But somewhere along the way she’d found a name she recognized, and an email address.
From: Danielle Davis
To: Angelica Lockheart
Subject: Carson Banks
Hi, Angelica. I don’t know if you remember me or not. I took refuge once in your home earlier this year when my brother, Carson Banks was keeping me from danger.
He is the reason I write to you now. It’s taken me this long just to get this far, and I still fear it’s a shot in the dark. I’ve been trying to get in touch with Carson but have had no luck. I have heard nothing since the incident here in California. I have tried calling him and writing him, but to no avail. I don’t know if he was taken to jail, or if he’s even alive and well. My greatest fear is that he simply has rejected contact despite our brief and touching reunion.
If you have any idea where he is, or have any information at all, I would greatly appreciate your help.
Thank you for your present help, as well as your help in the past.
-Danielle Davis (Dani Banks)