A dance

A faint grin creases Axel's lips, but he doesn't turn around, still cleaning himself up at the sink. The pause is long, and some might think he didn't hear Jess, but after he's finished drying his hands, he ambles to the open garage door.

"Well, alright then." Grabbing a hoodie off a nail by the door, he pulls it on over his t-shirt to hide the grime. He motions with his head for Jess to follow, and exits into the parking lot.

Just as they get into the fresh air though, a voice behind them makes Axel stop. Leo had beat them to the outdoors, reading aloud a paper with handwritten words.

"A dance.
Elements of nature form.
So distinguished and so rare.
A dance.
Spheres of moisture, glistening true.
Gravity controlled, but willed by fire.
A dance.
Raindrops meet a burning sun.
But squelched they will not be.
A dance.
Bursting forth, the colors sparked.
The light severed to reveal.
A dance.
Between the raindrops and the light.
Arched to bridge the worlds,
Of two,
Who dance."

Leo as he stares at the page with raised eyebrows. "So now we know what our dear friend Axel does in his spare time around here. Lovely... just lovely."

Though Leo had been looking for an embarrassed reaction, Axel doesn't give it to him. Instead, he simply shakes his head. "Well, Leo... You can read. I'm proud of you." He turns his head to shout back inside. "Hey, Jed! Next time you have trouble with reading the label on a box, just ask Leo here. He's improving by leaps and bounds!"

"Oh, stop!" Leo smacks Axel on the head with the paper.

Axel lets a grin slip as he calmly retrieves his writing. "Keep it up, Leo. One day you might be able to actually speak as intelligently as the things you read."

"Why you..." Leo's mouth hangs open, but no comeback comes to mind quick enough.

Axel folds the paper and stuffs it in his back pocket before turning back around and aiming for the sidewalk once more. He throws Jess a humorous glance. "Coming or what?"

He's quiet as they walk down to the little restaurant. Not seeming to be too deep in thought, but quiet nonetheless.

Settling down at a small table near the window, once their inside and have their food ordered, Axel leans back in his chair, giving a little sigh of content. "Ya know, sometimes just getting away from the shop for a while is worth the walk."

He rubs his scarred hand absentmindedly as it starts to tingle again. "'Course, it helps to have someone to talk to other than Leo too." He chuckles softly, his eyes showing that even if he razzed Leo, they were friends.


"Thank you, Miss Garrison." Rick concludes his phone call. "Appreciate everything and... We, or at least Scott, will be seeing you soon. I'll do my best to get him to his appointment."

Hanging up, he rubs a tired hand over his face, stifling a yawn. A couple hours of sleep at home hadn't done a whole lot of good.


Scott blinks, staring at Dalton for several seconds, thinking he must have heard incorrectly. But no... he hadn't. Dalton really had gotten his job back for him. But... how... why...

He swallows hard, unsure how to even react. He'd been so sure that he'd never be back working here, at least as far as Austin was concerned. He'd been so sure that there was no place for him anymore. Did they really love him around here that much? Could Dalton really use his help that much?

A bit timidly, Scott steps forward, eying Dalton's hand, as if almost afraid of what the intentions were behind the gesture. But ever so slowly, he reaches out, finally taking Dalton's hand. Something close to a smile emerges, but too much confusion remains for any celebration.

Backing off a little, he studies Dalton for a moment. There were a lot of questions as to how he'd convinced Austin of this, but... at this point, Scott wasn't going to complain. He didn't think he was worth much here anymore, and he didn't really think he could contribute much, but at least his haven was back... at least he knew he wouln't be thrown out.

"Um... Thank you... I guess. I... don't really know what to say." Scott stumbles through his words, unsure if it was his brain that was jumbled, or just his immediate thoughts. "I'm not sure I deserve this..." His eyes fall to the floor, but he forces himself to look up again. "But if Austin agreed then... I guess I'll do what I can."


Luke offers a smile as Angel approaches, but can see the strain behind her eyes. As she settles in next to him, he puts his arm around her, drawing her even closer, and planting a gentle kiss on her head.

Listening to her, he knows she's hurting, and so is he. So is everyone, it seemed. Some more than others, but in reality, everyone was feeling stress, whether it was related to the episode with Clint and Wendy, or to what was happening in Nevada with their friend. Whatever the case, the tension had been rising whether people wanted to admit it or not.

"Wendy will be okay," he assures softly. "It wasn't in the plans but... she'll be okay. God's not going to leave her high and dry because she made a mistake. And... I have faith in Clint too. Maybe more than I should, but he's going to be the one taking care of Wendy here pretty soon."

Luke gives Angel another little squeeze. He knew his own protectiveness he felt towards Wendy, but couldn't imagine how Angel felt... having to let go of her daughter more quickly than anticipated.

A deep sigh is let out slowly, and after a moment, Luke shifts on the couch to pull Angel almost onto his lap so he can wrap both arms around her. "We're all wondering about Austin... I don't understand either. I even talked to Brent earlier, and he's just as confused as anyone. I guess all we can do right now is pray... Pray that whatever Austin is going through isn't as major as it seems, and... pray that too many bridges don't get burned."

Resting his head against hers, he knows it isn't that simple. There had to be more to the story than they knew. But what else could be done? Austin had been their friend... but what could they possibly do?

Friends

Jess shoots her head up giving a small jump as Axel was being called. The sharp voice startled her just a little causing her to move closer to Axel out of habbet feeling for a moment a bit valnarable. But seeinf Axel turn to him and now hearing the calm voice Jess relaxes just a little knowing everything was ok.

Shaking her head and giving a laugh as the rock music plays Jess leans a little closer to Axel.

"You know it usaly depends the kind of mood I am in, and I like rock just as much as the next person but I'd rather have some classic playing more than anything."

Strating and walks twords the front Jess stops for a moment as Axel's invatation or non invatation. The courners of her mouth curling.

"Well I was going to head to get something to eat myself and for a moment I was scaired I was gonna have to eat alone but since your heading to the same place as me I might as well follow if you dont mind."

Jess stuffs her keys in her pocket and turns to look at Axel.

Thinking for a moment Hope taps her pencil absentmindedly on her desk as she talked to Rick.

"Well without seeing Scott first to see his condition I really dont know how accurit my addvice would be but from what you told me on the phone my best guess would be to keep him comfortable and calm. If he admisphere is comfortable than he just might get a better night sleep."

Standing Hope walks over to her filing cabnet pulling out another folder for her next pashent who would be there soon.

"Other than that Mr. Johnston there really isnt anything you can do till I see Scott."

Sitting at his desk and hearing someone enter the office Dalton feels a bit irratated for a moment that someone entered without knocking. Looking up from his desk Dalton is about to say something when he see just who entered the office. Seeing Scott Dalton's face softens and a new attitude is formed and a small smile makes its way across the big mans face.

"Hey there Scott. I was going to stop by and see how you were in a bit but, I guess you found me first."

As Scott asks about his own name being on the door again Dalton cant help the flutter that formed in telling the new to Scott that he could stay though keeping his cool and not letting it show through.

"Well, I was able to work it out so you could stayand we could have two tech guys. I know alot, but there is so much more I could learn and I'd want the best to teach me. Its not much but I was happy to do it because this place loves you, and I dont want them to lose you."

Finally a brauder smile forms, one not offten seen on the face of this giant. But something about Scott changed him, something about him made Dalton feel good and it felt even better to know he had helped someone.

"Congradulations Scott you made it to friend status."

Dalton holds out his hand to Scott offering a handshake.

Poking her head into the house Angle scans the room for Luke. Finally her eyes rest on him and a smile cross her face. Entering all the way she walks over to the couch and sits down next to him bringing a hand to his chest and resting her head on his shoulder. So much went through her mind it was hard to figure out one thing alone.

"Whats happening to the everything Luke. We once wanted peace for our kids and that never came. Now...now Wendy has to grow up fasted than planed, and she has bene thrown into a world she cant even understand yet. I know I didnt but I feel like I failed somewhere."

A small sniffle comes as a tiny tear rolls down Angel's cheek. Everything piled up, she was strong but now the bucket was starting to overflow once again. She was happy and over joyed in like but not the stress was in piles.

"And than there is Austin. I don't understand whats gotten into him. He seems ok when he went back to Nevada. I even talked to him before he left and now, this person that is firing people and being a tyrint its just...not him."

Angel keeps her face burryed into Luck's shoulder. Everything was so confusing, and sometimes so hard to bear. But being close to her husband she found the comfort and love she need. Anytime, anyplace.