New day

*Katie gives a nod and follows Jason out of his house keeping fairly quiet herself on the way back to her apartment. She was feeling a little bit tired but nothing a nice cold shower would take care of.

Once getting to her apartment Katie turns before getting out of the car and gives a smile to Jason. She had happy he was still thinking of Texas. It would bee a nice mini vacation and it would be great to see everyone again as well.*

"Yeah I'd like that. I think some time away would be nice. Not to mention being able to see that cute little sister you have now."

*Katie smiles as she reaches out and gives Jason's arm a pat.*

"I'll see ya a little bit later at work J."

*Katie leaves the truck and toss a wave to Jason before heading inside to take a shower and get dressed only to leave again for work.*

*Jess stairs forward for a moment as she takes a sip of coffee lost in thought and replying.*

"Grab onto something in the light huh? Not easy to do now-a-days. Not to mention people like me don't deserve the light. We are just blotches on everyones perfect world that they would sooner forget about than bother to help."

*Finally looking down at her hands and the tiny cuts and a few bruses left than lined them she lets out a heavy sigh. Jess wasn't sure if she dident mind the darkness or not. At least if she hide away people wouldn't see the dirt, and the past she hid.

As Axel moves closer Jess gives him a sidelong glance. Little leery for a moment but than turns to him a little more.*

"Axel huh, so now I know why they called you grease."

*Jess can't help but give a small smile at the mention to the annoying nickname but still found humor in it.

Looking down at Axel's hand Jess just stairs for a moment before slowly and causioly almost as if Axel might bite reaches her own out and takes his hand giving it a shake.*

"I'm Jess."

*Charlotte picks up her phone and dials Bret's number. She dident have to work untill the afternoon today and thought maybe breakfest might be nice.

Listing to the phone ring and ring and ring she finally gets the answering service.*

"Bre......tttttttttt.....How can you still be sleeping? It's 9 am you should be awake. Why arnt you awake? Well....I flipped a coin and it said I should go to breakfest and I thought maybe you would want to come...but......since your not answering your phone...I guess I will go alone. Unless you get this and decied to come and join me. You knowww....where I will beeeee. Maybe after words I will stop at the bar for a morning beer.....You better not be wallowing....Byeeeee...."

*Hanging up the phone Charlotte rolls her eyes at herself and shakes her head. Hoping out of bed she heads into the bathroom to get ready and than head out to the restront.*

Eyes

Feeling Katie's finger under his chin, Jason looks up at her, sensing and deciphering what she's thinking. As her finger runs along his face, he closes his eyes for just a moment, gently closing some remnant feelings he did not want to be known.

Alright. We start over.

Jason leans back down to finish lacing his boots and listens to the options. "I didn't know where you car was. If it's at your place then I might as well just drop you off so you'll have a vehicle at work." He didn't want to finish off his statement that showing up at TJY with her might not be the best thing, even if they were innocent. No matter what there was or wasn't between them, they were both in a tough spot. No matter whether they cared what other people thought or not, they were still in a tough spot.

Standing up, Jason limps to the door, grabbing a crutch. "All aboard that's going aboard!" he calls.

Trooper comes bounding down the hall, shaking the floor.

Jason gives as little smirk. "Alright, big guy. You're on for today. Come on." He opens the door so the dog can go out first, then holds it open for Katie too before he locks it shut.

The ride to Katie's is fairly quiet... Jason keeps his mind as blank as possible, trying both to relax and not invade Katie's space either. He'd done quite enough of that already.

Pulling up to the curb, Jason puts the truck in park, but keeps it running. "Guess I'll see you later at work. Thanks... for everything, and..." He pauses, not knowing if plans had now changed or not, but was determined to forget about yesterday and any of its implications. He might have let it slip that feelings still existed for Katie...but for now...right now...he would revert back to the way things were in the hopes that awkwardness simply wouldn't exist. "We'll have to talk about going to Texas soon. If, um...if you want anyone else to go along, that's great...Ty might want to catch a ride, or Scott might even like to come so he can spend some time with you."

He gives a grin. "Or maybe you just want alone time, and if that's the case, I'll have the pilot tie me out on the wing so you can fly in peace."


Axel's eyes narrow slightly as he reads into Jess' words. The wheels working in his mind are almost visible. "Maybe you ought to find something to hang onto while you're in the light so you don't fall back again."

He takes a sip of his coffee, letting the warm liquid slide slowly down his throat. He glances back to Jess, and slips onto a stool closer to her, extending his hand. "Name's Axel."


Though Carson is working in the kitchen, he keeps one eye to the front counter, a little bit leery about this guy. He'd been with a good bunch last night, but Carson didn't know him from anyone else, and right about now, he wasn't easily trusting of any man around Jess.


Bret rolls over in bed and grabs his buzzing alarm clock, ripping it from the wall and sending it hurling across his bedroom. Burying his head under his pillow, he shuts out the world. Last night had not gone well...it hadn't gone well at all. He didn't remember if he'd had any plans for today or not...he didn't remember if Charlotte was working today or not...all he knew was that it was too early to get up. With the hangover he felt, any time before noon was too early.


To: Jason
From: Ireland's Neighbor
Subject: Lunch
Hey, Hotshot. You, me lunch today? Chinese? Let me know.
-Scott

Darkness to light

*Katie can feel Jason's emotions change and knows that he is still sorry. She hated when Jason felt bad about something when really he shouldn't anymore. Going over to Jason as her laces his boots Katie brings a finger under his chin and puts pressure to make him look at her in the eyes. Her emotions behind them proving she meant what she was thinking.

Stop thinking about yesterday. Whats done is done and we are both sorry. It's time to move past it and starts towards what the new day. Ok?

Katie gives a smile before removing her finger from Jason's chin and run it along the side of his face for a moment in a friendly manor before answering his question.*

"To my place would be good. Than if you wanna stay and drive me you can. I promise I won't take long, but if you wanna leave after dropping me off that's fine too I can always take my car. One or the other is ok with me."

*Jess is silent for a moment thinking about Axel's question and forming an answer in her mind before speaking.*

"Normally I try to keep my eyes closed as long as I can. Till finally I am forced to wake. This morning, I just couldn't go back to sleep..so I went for a walk and found myself here. So, I guess I get ranked from the darkness into the light, only to fall back to the darkness."

Gentle or roaring

Jason knows he did keep Katie up a little bit last night, but doesn’t bother to point that out. He knew that Katie didn’t mind…her heart was too big.

Eating breakfast, Jason knows it’s been a while since he’s had a good breakfast like this. He usually just grabbed some juice on the way out, and if he happened to be hungry, he might get something from the breakroom. Otherwise, his stomach usually waited until lunchtime for anything like this…. It was a nice change.

Finishing up, Jason heads to take a shower, and is quick about getting ready, knowing that not only is he late, but he’s making Katie late too.

Finally, he emerges from the hallway, his hair still wet, sinking down in the living room chair to pull on his boots to lace them up. “Sorry we’re a bit late this morning,” he apologizes aloud. “Where do I need to take you first? Home? Then work?”

A subtle flux in his emotions signals that he’s still thinking about yesterday, still guilty from their argument…still wondering if they’ve truly moved passed it or not.



Axel returns a smile to Jess and nods. “Mornin’.”

His eyes dancing, he looks at Mabel with a grin. “Nope, I’m good with just the coffee.” Taking a sip, he sighs. “Mm…and it’s an awfully good. Thank you.”

Just sitting and sipping slowly, Axel finally eyes Jess again. “So does the morning ease you gently into the day, or does it come in roaring, disturbing sleep to yank you into daylight?”