Hurt feelings

Axel shakes his head and grins as Jess comes back yet again, this time ending the rainbow analogies.

Continuing the meal, he listens to her question, then processes it carefully. Finally he gives a little nod. "Yeah... Cryptic came along at a time in my life I was looking for a way out, so traveling was something I was attracted to. That, and the music, of course."

He pauses to finish off his sandwich and take a swig of his drink. "I gotta say though... after a while, the road got kind of old... for all of us. The rest of them have been at it longer than me, and we were all feeling it. We had a contract to do so many shows in so many places within a certain amount of time. Halfway through, we agreed that once that was up, we'd take a break for a while. And so... here we are."

He shrugs. "Hence why I'm now covered in oil and grease instead of sitting at the sound booth."

For a moment, his gaze becomes almost hazy his eyes seeming to focus on the ice in his glass. "Sometimes taking time to stop and smell the roses outweighs the animal inside that wants to keep on running."

Giving a little sigh, he reaches onto his belt to pull out a pocket watch from its leather pouch. "Unfortunately, there's never enough time to smell the roses, once you're stopped. And in my case, an irritable boss is waiting at the other end."

Quirking a grin again, he looks back up at Jess. "Thanks for spending lunch with the likes of me. I enjoyed it."


The ringing phone startles Cindy from her work in the laundry room, and she steps over the full basket to stumble into the hall and grab the receiver in the kitchen just before the answering machine picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hey, Mom."

Cindy's mouth widens into a smile. "Jason. How are you?"

"Oh... hanging in there."

Cindy furrows her brow. "That doesn't sound so great."

"Yeah, well... lot's been happening over here. Guess I just wanted to let you know about them."

Jason eases down onto his couch, joined by Trooper who lies down quietly on the floor beside him.

Cindy takes the cordless phone back to the other room with her to finish folding towels. "S0, tell me about it."

"Well... at the moment, I'm on suspension."

"What? You've been suspended?" Cindy pauses her folding. "But why? How?"

"Not just me. It's me and Katie both."

Cindy stops again, her imagination going too far. "Please explain before I think something up."

"We went against Austin. It wasn't pretty."

"Oh, Jase... what happened?"

"First, have you talked to Austin lately?"

Cindy resumes her work as she thinks. "I guess maybe it's been about a week. He and I had a really good talk before he left. He was really concerned about you, and he was trying to..."

"Mom..." Jason cuts her off. "He's been feeding you a line of baloney like he has to everybody else."

Cindy's eyes widen, and she blinks in surprise. "Well Jason, why on earth would you..."

"Trust me." Jason's tone grows firmer. "I don't know what his game is, but it's not good. That's what I wanted to tell you. He's running TJY like a military base, he's got no mercy for anybody, and he's got it out for anybody who dares question his authority."

Cindy cocks her head as she hears the front door, and wanders back out into the hall, the phone still to her ear. Glancing around the corner, she sees Wes and smiles her greeting, though she tries to stay on track with her son. "That doesn't sound like him, Jase. Are you sure you're not just bucking structure?"

"Of course I'm sure! Look, you know we went after Scott and all that? And found him? Austin actually interrogated him after that. Messed up Scott bad. Then when confronted, he just says it was protocol."

Cindy frowns as she moves about the kitchen to fix Wes a late lunch. "Surely he had his reasons. I can't imagine him hurting one of his own men on purpose."

"Oh, he covered that too by letting Scott go."

"What?"

"Yeah, he canned him. Though some of us are working on that not happening."

"Are you sure you have all the pieces?" Cindy's worry increases. She gets a plate down from the cupboard, moving to prepare a sandwich. "I mean... I know Austin and that's just not like..."

Jason's frustration grows. "Look, I'm just telling you the facts."

"I know, but do you know everything? Maybe Austin had his reasons about Scott. And maybe he's just trying to make TJY a better place. You can't blame him for that."

Jason sits up a little straighter on his couch, suddenly feeling as though instead of simply informing his mother, he had to defend himself. "No, he didn't have any reasons, other than to torture Scott! And he's ruining TJY, not making it better."

Cindy sighs, her motherly instincts taking over. "It can't be that bad. He wouldn't do anything to harm the corporation or deliberately do things to make his staff unhappy."

"He would and he is!"

Cindy finishes up the sandwich and moves to the table to put it down for Wes, then goes to get him something to drink. "I think you're reading him wrong. The man I spoke to just before he left wouldn't have done that. He cares about his agent, and you're the most important to him too. He loves you Jason. Give him a chance to fill Carter's shoes. It can't be easy, and..."

"He doesn't love me!" Jason is on his feet, pacing as his anger starts to churn. "Do you really want to know what kind of a man he is?"

"Well I thought he..."

"I'll tell you. He helped put me in prison."

Cindy stops in her tracks at the refrigerator. "What?"

"You heard me."

"Oh, Jason, come on." Cindy puts a hand on her hip. "Why on earth would he do something like that? How did you find that information?"

"I found it in his own office. It's as plain as day. Don't believe me, I'll send you a copy."

"I'm sorry, but I just can't believe he'd do something like that." A pain hits Cindy's heart as she remembers how awful the time was when she knew her son was in prison. She couldn't believe that Austin was capable of instigating that, or helping make that happen. "Did you talk to him about it?"

"Of course not!"

"Well maybe you should, and hear his side. I'm sure there's a logical explanation for whatever it was you found."

"There isn't! He sold me out, Mom! Don't you get it?!"

"But Jason, I..."

"You know what? Forget it." Jason throws his arm in the air. "Just forget it. I called because I wanted to let you know what was going on in case he tried to pull a stunt with you too. But apparently he's already convinced you he's the nicest guy on earth. So I guess I'm alone in this one."

Cindy blinks again as she receives Jason's harsh tone. "I'm sorry, I just..."

"You want to do yourself a favor? Don't trust him any more, and tell the others not to either. But if you prefer taking his side over my word, then so be it. I can't stop you."

Cindy's voice starts to waver. "Jason, please... I just think that..."

"No." Jason grits his teeth. He'd expected support, not the need to defend himself, especially with his own mother. "Just go on trusting him. I'm not. If you don't like it, fine, but don't go telling me what a nice guy he is, when you haven't been here to see what's been going on."

"I..."

"I'll talk to you later.''

"No, wait, I..." Cindy drops her arm, shutting off the phone with her thumb. Jason had hung up. Turning, she leans back against the kitchen counter, stunned. She didn't know what to think. She'd always trusted Austin. She couldn't believe he'd be doing those kinds of things. But she wanted to trust Jason too.

A tear escapes to run down her cheek. Jason had never yelled at her before.

Swallowing hard, she numbly takes Wes' drink to the table, then sinks down in a chair. It was obvious Jason was very upset over the whole thing, but... had he really meant to be so harsh with her? Had he really hung up on her, just like that? They'd had their differences, but he'd never made her feel like this before.

Another tear rolls down her face, and she wipes it off quickly. She didn't want to worry Wes, while at the same time, she was hurt and just felt like she needed a hug.

Jason groans and tosses his cell phone on the table. That had not gone well at all. He hadn't wanted to yell at his mom - he never did. But she just wouldn't listen!

Trudging down the hall, he flops onto his bed, closing his eyes. Maybe if he took a nap, he'd wake up to find everything better.

Light

Looking back at Axel Jess can't help the smile that forms on her lips. Axel was a quiet guy and Jess didnt mind that but when something came up they could go back and forth about it was fun. Trying to think of things to out wit eachother even if they didnt mean to was something intresting.

"As that really might be true the rainbow itself at least has to have its own bit of light to acomapny the others."

Giving another shake of her head she looks down at her food again taking a bit. She was getting use to Axel being around that was for sure and it was kind of nice. Knowing maybe she had more than one friend to eat with now.

"So, you go around with Cryptic...how do you like that? It sound like it might be fun. Never being in one place for to long, always moving...I dont know the idea sounds kind of nice to me."

Reflection

Axel listens to Jess intently, taking in her every word, his mind at work at her facial expressions, tone and body language as she spoke. Intrigue plays in his eyes, and he doesn't ask for more than what she gives, pleased simply with what she was willing to share.

At her final statement though, he looks up from his food quickly, a bit of heat rising to his cheeks. Feeling strange for the warm sensation, he chuckles and clears his throat. "Hmm, well..."

He shrugs and finally finds himself again, the same faint smile hanging on to the corner of his mouth. "I live alone above the auto shop... I don't have any pets either, though I like dogs. No kids, and as of...." He lifts his eyes to the ceiling as if calculating. "...at least six years ago, I don't have a girlfriend."

His relaxed look remains, though he glances down for a moment, taking a bite of his sandwich again to fill the silence. "As for being a rainbow..." He glances up at her again, his gaze soft and gentle, not to be taken as assuming or flirtatious, but simply thoughtful. "Rainbows are only formed by reflecting the light that's already around them."


Jason stands helplessly, wanting to bad to do something for Scott, but knowing that Katie was right. Once she's brought the food and other things, he looks down at her for a moment before drawing her into a hug.

I hurt for him too...

Waiting another moment or two just in case Scott came, Jason finally steps back down off the porch, ambling back to his truck.

Well... I got some shopping to do... gonna make a few calls... then all that's left is coming back here. Thought I'd find a good vantage point about eight o'clock or so, after it's dark. If you're up to it, we can meet up then.


Scott shifts his weight as he hears Katie's voice, and slowly lifts his head, listening until he heard steps off the porch and at least one vehicle starting up. Gradually, he unfolds his legs to stand up and trudge to the door. Opening it cautiously, he sees no one is there anymore, then looks down to see what Katie had brought.

He gives a little sigh and just stands looking at it for a moment. He was so grateful... he didn't deserve friends like these, and it almost hurt. At the same time, he felt badly for not letting them in or talking to them. He was pushing them away... but he just didn't feel like interacting right now. He'd finally gotten away from all the attention at TJY, for now.... he just wanted to be left alone.

Thinking, he finally leans down to pick up the bags and take them inside.

What makes a rainbow shine?

Taking note to where they sit Jess is a little saprised but it makes her smile inside. She hadnt noticed it to much untill the day Axel had picked her up in the pick up but he was very consider it of her. Thinking back to when Jess first met him her face had still been healing and though a few scars still marked her face most was healed now. It wasnt hard for anyone to probley know Jess had a rough time. It made her smile and set her a little more at ease seeing he went out of his way to make her feel safe.

As the table remaind quiet for the most part Jess dont really mind. Looking over the menu for at least 20 times she finally figures out what she wants and order. Before long the meal was here. Slowly eating her food Jess thinks about Axel's comment. Glaning up Jess catchs sight of the scars on his hands and can only wonder what happend but thought for now it was best not to go asking personal questions when she hardly new him. Still mulling over his comment Jess figures maybe if she left a few things out it wouldnt be so bad to tell him a little more. Looking up Jess catches Axel's eye giving a small smile.

"Well I live alone, no pets though I always wanted a small dog. I dont have any kids, and as of yesterday...."

Jess stops for a moment as a flicker of shadness pass through her eyes as she looks down at her plate and moves a french fry around before looking up again a smile trying to makes its way out again.

"...I dont have a boyfriend anymore, but I guess thats for the best anyways. Don't really have any friends, my life has been a mess and alot less than perfect. As for anything alse about me its intresting, but something I would rather just keep in the past for right now."

Jess new she was leaving out alot of stuff to tell Axel but sometimes it just hurt to much to talk about it still and just thinking about what happend with Peter and how her friends turned there back on her made her sick. Sometimes old habits died hard but at least she did them alone now. Alone...maybe that was they best way to be.

Remeber what Axel said about a hidden light Jess gives a small chuckel as she takes a sip of her milk.

"So you think I have a hidden light huh? I guess I've never really been told that one before. What about you? All I know is you name, you forget to put gas in your truck, and you have a stuning smile. What makes my personal rainbow shine?"

Coming along next to Jason Katie looks into Scott's window and her heart drops. It was so hard to see Scott like this. It hurt so much and it made her even more upset inside. This wasnt write, it was all wrong. Stepping down from the window Katie shakes her head.

There isnt anything we can do saddly J. The most is we can keep checking up on him to make sure he is still....

Katie's words trail off. Was alive really the word to use. Scott certinly was not ok, and he was not much for alive eather. All his life had been sucked out of him.

...breathing, and dosent need anything.

Going back to the car Katie takes the food she had, had Herb box up for Scoot and grabs a bad with some books and magazeans in it. Going back to the front door Katie sets the stuff off to the side a little and knocks on the door once more before talking a little louder through the door.

"Scotty, I am leaving some food out here for you and something to drink. Herb made it just for you its your fav. Also I have some of your old books and magazeans out here so you'll have something to read. If you need anything Scotty please call ok?"

Moving away from the door Katie shakes her head as she looks to Jason. The emotions inside, everything hurt for her friend.

Lets leave him alone for now. We can come back later to keep watch over him.