Waiting

Jason sighs. Not out of laziness or lack of wanting to help. But out of pure frustration and the feeling of helplessness. It was bad enough Scott had to endure two months of torture most people couldn't even imagine. But now that he was back, why did he have to suffer more?

Jason walks slowly to the bathroom and leans in the doorway, not sure how he could even help at this point. "Hey, buddy, you alright?"

"Mm-hmm." Scott is still leaning against the wall, and manages a nod, though his eyes are closed.

"Can I get you anything?"

Scott shakes his head.

Jason turns around and puts up his hands, showing he doesn't know what to do.

Just then Rick walks back in the infirmary, raising his eyebrows as he looks around, doesn't see Scott, then spots Jason at the other end of the room. "What happened?"

Jason nods into the bathroom. "So much for breakfast."

Rick's shoulders drop and shakes his head, commenting quietly. "He's got himself so worked up that he can't eat right even when he finally relents." Slowly he goes to Jason, nodding that he can go back to Katie. Kneeling down next to Scott, he sets a hand on his shoulder. "You gonna make it?"

Scott shrugs lamely. "I feel like crap."

"I know. Come on." Rick prompts him to get back to his feet. "I won't make you try to eat anything else now."

Scott gradually gets to his feet with Rick's help and trudges back to the bed where he simply lies down on his side, curling up into a ball as was his normal position now.

Rick watches him for a moment, setting his hands on his hips.

Jason gives him a look of question. "What are you going to do?" he asks quietly.

"I don't know. But if he doesn't start cooperating, his body is just going to start shutting down."

"Isn't there anything you can give him? Or anything?" Worry courses through Jason, even for a man that not all that long ago, he'd called an enemy.

Rick shakes his head slowly. "Not unless I hook him back up to an i.v. again and I really didn't want to. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."

He gestures to both Jason and Katie. "He'll be alright now if you guys want to take off. There's nothing else here you can do."

Jason gives a little nod. "Alright. Thanks, Rick. If anything happens, call one of us, will ya?"

"Sure thing."

Jason heads for the door.

Guess that's that. We can come back later to check on things if you want. Otherwise... I guess the day is ours.

Making it back through the main floor, Jason lets his eyes roam to where the other offices were, glad that they'd avoided Austin for now.

Getting outside into the fresh air, Jason takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. His emotions were churning around more than he liked on an average day. There was Scott to think about... he was still burning up about Austin... and now his recent phone conversation with his mother was bothering him too.

Can we just go somewhere?

Jason gets to his truck, tossing his silent dialogue in Katie's direction.

Can we just leave and forget everything that's happening? Just... go...

He sighs and slides in behind the steering wheel, unsure if he and Katie were headed in the same direction or not.

Maybe Mom and Pop's will have to do for today. What do you say?


Rick lays a blanket over Scott and gives the younger man's shoulder a pat before going back to his desk. There wasn't much he could do right now, but let Scott rest. He looked as though he hadn't slept a wink the night before anyway.

Easing into his chair, Rick notices that already his voicemail has a message. Listening carefully, he jots down a note, his interest piqued. In a while... He glances to Scott's resting form. Yes, in a while... he would take a short leave from the office.


"Grease! Hey!" Leo shouts from one end of the garage to the other, seeing only the red hair of the back of Axel's head. "Axel!"

Axel finally hears his name and whirls around. "What?"

"Bring me that black toolbox, would ya?"

Axel glances around, spotting the box under the tool bench. Wiping his hands on a rag, he bends down to lift the heavy box and head in Leo's direction. The other mechanic had two hoses in his hand that he couldn't set down or get into a position where he could have left it to get the tools himself.

Almost there though, Axel suddenly drops the toolbox. It crashes loudly to the floor, the latch popping to send tools all over the concrete floor.

Leo's eyes widen. "Slippery handle?"

"No..." Axel grimaces as he rubs his scarred hand, trying to feel the circulation again. "Sorry."

"You alright?"

"Yeah." Axel's disgust comes through in his tone.

"You go numb again?"

Axel nods. "Yeah."

Leo stands helplessly, unable to leave the tangled mess he was in. "That's been happening a lot lately."

Axel flexes his fingers. "Don't remind me." After a moment, he squats down to pick up the mess. "You needed this wrench, didn't you?"


Rick parks his car, glancing at his watch. It was now late morning, but early enough, Hope should be in. He probably should have called her back first, but there had been too many people around, providing lack of good opportunity, not to mention Scott hadn't drifted to sleep until about twenty minutes ago and Rick had left Misty in charge.

Walking up to the glass door, he enters the building, met by a warm atmosphere. Glancing around, he waits, unsure about what or who he was looking for.


The door to TJY slams shut, echoing across the main floor. Austin stalks towards his office, the glare in his eye one that would make anyone cower. He had been gone for several hours, and now no one was really glad to see him back, especially in this mood.

Reaching Susanne's office, he doesn't even acknowledge her, moving straight into Reese's office. "Reese!"

Reese looks up quickly from his desk, startled to the point of almost standing up. He'd been concentrating so hard on a case that he hadn't heard Austin come in. A bit of a chill runs down his spine as he hears the tone of Austin's voice and sees the look on his face. "Yes?"

"You're fired."

"What?!" Reese is on his feet, his eyes wide. "What for?!"

"Don't give me that," Austin snaps. "You're not that stupid. You weren't stupid enough not to know how to undermine me and get me dragged into an investigation. And if that's the way you work, you're through here."

"Undermine? Investigation???" Reese stares at him dumbly. "What are you talking about?"

"You and Brown are like this." Austin crosses his fingers. "I should have known you'd try to pull a stunt like this. Well it stops now. Pack up. I want you out by tonight." Spinning on his heel, he aims for his own office, slamming yet another door.

Reese blinks, dumbfounded at what had just happened. What on earth...? A figure in his doorway makes him turn and he sees Susanne looking at him with fear and worry.

"Did he... just fire you?" She asks timidly.

"Um... it... looks that way." Reese just stands for a moment, completely shocked. He had no idea what was going on. "I guess... I..." He finally just shrugs. Words couldn't describe the way he felt. He was at a total loss.

Reaching to his belt, he pulls off his Elite badge and looks at it for a moment. This job had been his life for how many years? His mission... his passion... And it was... gone?

Susanne shakes her head stubbornly. "He can't do this to you."

"Oh, but he can."

"Then you have to fight it."

"Fight what? A power-hungry man out to get everybody and who knows all the tricks in the book? It's not an easy win, Susanne."

"But you don't even know what he's talking about!"

"I guess I'll have to find out. But in the meantime..." He gestures to his office, helplessly. "Looks like I have to pack."

New Challange

Giving a smile and a nod Katie looks at Scott and than to Domino.

"Yeah I will watch her for you Scotty. She is in good hands and you dont have to worry about a thing. I have some left over food from when she was with me I was gonna give ya so thats not a problem at all."

Katie looks up again at Jason though her mind felt blank still so many things ran through it. Katie didnt know what to do anymore.

Continuing to follow and help Scott Katie stops for a bref moment to pick up some of the reading matearal for Scott.

He might want this to keep him busy if he stays.

After dropping Domino off, making sure she was all set and heading back to TJY Katie keeps glancing in the mirror at Scott making sure he was ok. Katie was scaired for him

All we can really do is be there for him and be the shelter he needs. Staying close to Jason Katie follows him inside keeping watchful eyes out for anyone who might come to them.

Listing to Scott and Rick talk Katie stands leaning aganst the wall. Scott did need help. His own mind was starting to play games that would lead him down a dangerous path.

It was only confermed more when Scott ran to the bathroom to throw up that he needed even more help.

Yeah He does.

Jotting down the number fast on a peace of paper Hope sets it aside till she is done listing to the rest of her messages.

Once finished she studys the number on the paper. Picking up the phone she dials Reese number letting it ring a few times till his own voice mail picks up.

"Hello Mr. Reese, this is Hope Garrison. You called me about a young man would was in need of a little bit of help. I am usaly in the office monday through friday from 8am- 11:30am than I take lunch from 11:30-12:30pm than I am in the office till about 6pm. If you wanna stop by at all to talk please feel free or give me a call again as we can set up a time to meet at lunch or what not. Thank you very much have a good afternoon."

Hanging up Hope just stairs at the number again for a moment. Something felt differnt before she even new the story of this boy, the feeling was one of challang that might change life forever.

Looking to Carson Herb gives a smile and nods. Though he was sad to see Carson go he was happy at the same time that his friend would be with family. Dani seemed like a great girl with a good head on her shoulders. Herb was glad Carson wanted to move in with her.

"I think it will be good for you Carson. I'm going to miss knowing you here and looking out for the place but I cant exspect you to live in a little room forever ya know?!"

Moving around the kitchen Herb continues to work as the orders come in.

"I'm happy you have decied to move in with Dani. It might gave a chanse to make up some lost time there huh? And that would be a good thing. Family is important and should always be first."