The road

Scott listens quietly to Hope, half paying attention, and half letting his mind wander. He knew his friends cared about him... and deep down, he knew he wasn't really crazy. He just couldn't get his mind to cope. She was right.

He can't help but be surprised at Hope letting him go, and he turns, his eyebrows raised. His hand slips off the window and he just looks at her, trying to understand. Rick had tried so hard to get him to come... had done everything but threaten him. And now... Hope was just going to let him go?

Scott lets his eye study her face and her own eyes, trying to understand her methods...trying to understand where she was coming from and why she was willing to let him go.


"God, please watch over Scott." Rick's words were whispered as he sat at his desk, his hands folded, his head resting on them. "I don't know what's happening in his heart and mind, but You do. Please...please bring him comfort. Somehow, some way... don't let him go. If the clinic is where he can get the help he needs, please.... somehow help him to see it and stay." His prayer was a plea for his coworker... a plea for his friend... a plea for a member of this close-knit family. "Show him how to live again... show him the road he has to take."


Scott swallows hard and opens his mouth to respond, but what could he say? He really didn't want to be here. He wanted to go back out to the car and have Katie take him home. Even TJY would be better than this, though he was so tired of being in the infirmary. This was one of the first times someone was letting him make up his own mind.

Finally making up his mind, he turns to make his way slowly back to the door. His hand was shaking a little as he gripped the knob, though he didn't know why. It was as if an invisible force was trying to make him stay, while his emotions were driving him away.

Looking over his shoulder once more, he sees Hope again, feeling as though he'd just wasted her time. Then in a quick movement, he opens the door as if scared if he didn't, he never would.

His blind eye to the left, he doesn't even see one of the secretaries walking by. Taken completely off guard, the crash is over in a second, but the damage is done.

The secretary gives a little shriek, totally surprised by the door suddenly opening, and she doesn't have enough time to stop. Papers, pens, paperclips and folders cascade to the floor in one big mess. She stumbles backward a couple steps to regain her balance, her eyes wide.

Scott, however, didn't have enough balance in the first place, and is taken right off his feet. The collision sends him ricocheting off the wall and stumbling to the floor. His weak wrist buckles and one of his knees scrapes the floor hard, burning his skin. Without the gumption to catch himself well, he falls hard, increasing the shock.

His face red, he tries to right himself, but the incident has taken its toll. Nothing had changed. He couldn't see well enough, he was a klutz at the least, and all he was capable of was embarrassing himself. What was the point? He wasn't good for anything but causing trouble and getting in people's way.

The mockery rings in his ears. Words of the past, but still so fresh. Words that convinced him he was no good. Words that convinced him he was worthless. They had been right... it had all been true.

Though on his feet again, the words of the secretary's apology fade into a foggy oblivion. Scott doesn't even realize that he's slid to the floor again, this time his knees tucked up against his chest, his arms around his legs in a protective position that had served to block out the world for over two months.

Rocking slightly, he closes his eyes tight to keep out the tears. Part of his mind knew that this wasn't necessary...that all he was doing was making a scene. But the other part of his mind had lost it's grip on reality, holding him here like a whipped and terrified puppy. There was nothing here to fear, yet the terror still surged through his veins.

Home

Quietly Hope watches Scott as he looks around the room at all the pictures as if he was in his own world. Studying his eyes, Hope trys to look behond the blank look seeing the pain that layed deep inside. This young man had been hurt and his life was taken away. Now what was left was pain and misary.

Continuing to watch Scott Hope takes note to the small smile on his face as he looks at the picture that was on her desk of Mick and Rosetta. A bit of curosity rises in her at his action though she does not say anything about it. That smile, that one single smile told here there was hope yet for him. Taking a pen Hope jots a quick note down as a reminder for another time also making a few other notes as well.

"Your not out of your mind you know. Your scars are thick and your pain is deep. Your mind is trying to cover up the pain you feel but its not sure how. Some of us have strong enough minds and can mask our pain, while other peoples minds arnt that strong and find other ways to hide the pain or let it out. These are the times we should worry because its not healthy. But this happens not because your out of you mind but because simply you mind does not know how to cope. Your friends also care a great deal for you Scott. They dont want to lose you again that is why they wanted you here."

Falling silent again Hope continues to once again watch Scott. The fear in his eyes as he looked at her shattered Hope's heart. As Scott looks to her and his eyes plead Hope is silent untill he is done talking. Letting out a sigh and clearing her throut Hope jots another note before looking up at Scott again.

"You can go home Scott. I can't make you stay and talk with me. I want you to be here because you want to be not because someone is making you...."

Hope is quiet for a moment. Forcing someone to stay and talk with her wouldnt help if anything it could hinder. Hope couldnt help Scott untill he wanted to help himself.

"...Your free to go Scott and maybe I'll see you next week same time."

Hope smiles at Scott. She didnt want to let him go, she didnt want him to leave but she couldnt keep him eather. There wasnt enough for her to want him to stay. She feared if he walked out that door she might never see him again, but if that was so it was his choise and she couldnt change that.

I just...

Carson smirks at Misty toying with him as though she were going to leave, and he straightens up, ready to say something back, but she turns to him first.

Receiving her warm embrace, Carson braces one hand on the counter, while he slides his other arm around her, a smile on his face. It felt good to have Misty back in his life... she had been one of the missing puzzle pieces. Looking her in the eye as she draws back, he studies her gaze, wondering what might be going through her mind.

As she takes him closer for a kiss, his hand slips on the counter, bringing him in for a bit harsher of an exchange than intended. "Mhh," came his grunt of complaint, though he regained posture and let the kiss linger for a moment or two.

Drawing back, he takes his arm from around her to lay his palm against her face. "We better go before they throw us out," he teases. "Let me grab my jacket."


Scott doesn't like having to wait, and is tempted to turn around and walk out, but something keeps him there. Instead, he sits on the edge of a chair, enveloping himself in his own little world until he has to stand again.

Meeting Hope, his eyes study her for just a moment. She wasn't what he'd expected. He wasn't sure what he had expected, but she seemed so... young? No, that wasn't quite it. He didn't know what it was that surprised him, but it passed quickly.

Hesitantly returning her handshake, he doesn't want to be put at ease. He doesn't want to be here, and doesn't really have the desire to continue here. But her hand was so warm and inviting, even he found it hard to resist following her.

Stepping in through the door, Scott bristles, not liking being that far from an exit. He didn't know this building, and that made it all the more worse. Noting that Hope opened the windows, he eyes her curiously. Could she read him that well that quickly, or had she simply been informed about him through Rick?

Still silent, Scott glances around the room, taking note of the paintings on the wall. Something about them seemed familiar. For a moment, he's lost in thought, trying to figure it out.

Hope's voice snaps him back to attention, almost making him jump, even though her tone was a soothing one. It takes a second for it to register what she'd just said, and he contemplates his options. With his hands still stuffed in his hoodie pockets, he picks the choice that could get him out of here faster than the others. "I'll stand," he replies quietly.

Wandering a little closer to her desk, he sees a framed photo that catches him by surprise, and he squints to make sure he was seeing what he thought. Feeling a little bolder than normal, he reaches out to run a finger over the glass that protected the memory of Mick and Rosetta's wedding. An ever-so-slight smile moves the edge of his mouth. Though confused about how Hope was connected to the Henson's, he lets his curiosity go for now. It was a small world - who knew how she knew them.

Putting his hand back into his pocket, he gives a little nod. "Nice picture," he comments a little wryly. He wondered where the rest of his photography had ended up at. Probably much of it had been thrown away after his assumed-death.

Backing away a couple steps, he lets his eyes continue roaming the room even though Hope is speaking to him. It takes him several long moments before finally he sighs and lets his gaze find hers. How must he look to her? What must she think of his physical appearance? And what exactly had Rick told her?

"I'm here because I'm out of my mind half the time." Scott gives a defeated shrug. "Because my friends are worried I'm gonna kill myself, and because I can't...can't seem to handle anything anymore."

He finally drops his gaze and wanders over to one of the windows. "Living is more frightening than death," he muses, almost to himself. The sun was shining warm, but he felt cold.

Turning around, his expression pleads with Hope as the emotions pool behind his eyes. "I don't want to be here. I didn't want to come. I..." He swallows hard, trying to figure out if he felt like crying or not, and if he did, how to stop it. "I just wanted to go home. I just wanted to be normal again."

He turns back around, taking a hand to rest his palm against the cool glass. His hand was so thin. "I just want it all to end."

First Meeting

An even bigger smile forms on Misty's face as she hears Carson with a slight hint of the old sassy spark as she seems him. Shaking her head she lets out a small chuckle

"Well I kind of took the rest of the day off myself. I just had to get out of there. Dont know if I am going to get in trouble for it or not but I dont much care. I just couldnt stand it any longer."

A misgivish look enters Misty's eyes as the sparkle remains.

"But...if you dont want to spend time with me I can always go..."

Misty stands for a moment like she just might leave but a small glimmer in her eye tells differnt. Turning back around she reachs over the counter and wraps her arms around Carson. Holding him for a moment Misty finally moves away just a little look deep into Carson's eyes for a moment untill she drew slowly closer to him. Feeling his breath on her skin Misty's heart starts to race she her lips gently touch Carson, the feeling washing over her the kiss ever passionit.

Looking up from the desk the receptionist gives a friendly smile to Scott.

"Why Hello there. Give me one second to look up your name fast."

Getting Scott's name the receptionist turns to the computer and does a bit of typing before she turns back to Scott again.

"Ok your apointment is in about 5 min. If you want to take a seat I will let Hope know your here."

The soft smile the rested on the lips of the receptionist never moves, or faulters. The smile was one that was true.

"Hope Mr. Johnson is here to see you."

On the other end of the intercome a soft voice almost like a soft song playing replys back.

"Thank you Miss. Granger I shall be out momentarly."

Going back to her paperwork and what she was going Miss. Granger lets Scott sit if he wants not drawing attachen to him as if she was watching him. Though she was keeping track of what he was doing.

The time slowly pass and second feel like hours but like everything the time comes no matter how we want it to stop for us to sometimes face our greatest fears.

The door to the office on the left of the receptionist desk finally opens as a medium size woman with long curly brown hair emerges. Fashened in a black silk shair and a pare of black jeans a business air was about her yet the smile on her lips and the light that shown in her eyes was soft and comfortaing. Coming over to Scott she holds out her hand as she smiled.

"Hello Scott. I'm Hope Garrison. Its nice to meet you."

Still offering a smile Hope takes a few steps back and motions to her office.

"Lets step into my office where we might have a little more privecy to talk."

Leading the way into the office Hope closes the door behind them yet opens a few windows though it was cold outside. She tryed to make it feel more comfortable for Scott so he didnt quiet feel trapped. With the windows open it let in air and sounds making the room seem bigger than it was.

Sitting down at her desk she offers one of the chairs to Scott as she shuffles some papers on her desk before she finds Scott's folder.

"You can sit or stand, you can even walk around the room if you like. What ever makes you feel comfortable Scott."

Staying silent for a moment Hope just watches Scott trying to take in from first glance everything she could not wanting to bomb bard him with to many questions at once. Finally as the silence linger Hope speaks up again.

"So Scott...Rick has told me a little bit about you and why your here but I would like to hear it from you if I could. Could you tell me why you think your here and if you think this will be good for you or not?"