trouble

During the heated argument, Jason’s emotions are already too far out of control for him to realize what he’s doing to Katie. Until he hears her cry out.

Snapping back to attention, he reaches over to her, but it’s almost like an electrical shock – a warning not to strengthen the connection right now.

Withdrawing quickly, he grits his teeth, trying to focus. Trying to calm himself. A severe headache forms, and he can feel his sugar starting to drop.

The voices around him start to muddle together, but when Misty moves to leave, his eyes follow her. Her words hit him like a knife to the gut. Yes… he’d kept a very similar secret once… joining JetStream had all been a secret, and exposed just like tonight. By accident.

"Jason... Jase..."

He blinks and looks down at Jen who had been trying to get his attention. Worry surged through her eyes. "You okay?" She could see his bloodshot eyes and the bead of sweat that trickled down the side of his face, and she knew the dangers.

Jason can feel his hands starting to tremble, and he knew this wasn't good. He manages to shake his head. He had to hang on... just a few more minutes... he had to...

"Phil, help him," Jen directs quietly but firmly.

Phil takes Jason's arm. "What do you need?"

"Nothing." Jason shrugs off Phil's hand. "I need to get out of here." He looks to Katie, his eyes full of apology. But it was too late. He couldn't hang on any longer. His little bout with his own temper had tipped the scales just enough.

Turning around, he heads down the back hall. There was the exit, or a few empty rooms. Anything to get him away from people. He could feel the wave coming. But it was just sitting at the edge and he didn't know why. It felt like he was in a head-on car collision, but everything had paused right before the crash. Something was wrong. Something was missing. He didn't want to force out his emotions on his own, why weren't they affecting him like normal? Why hadn't he broke down yet?

Stopping near the exit, he leans against the wall, feeling weak. But suddenly he realizes what it is. Nothing had triggered a flashback. Flashbacks were what his emotions fed on to cause an eruption, and it hadn't happened. And for the first time, Jason wished it had. He hated living through the living nightmares, but the pain that was starting to surge through his body was worse. For the first time, he had to let his emotions out by himself. But he didn't know how.

Before he realizes it, Jason is on the floor. The lights in the ceiling above him start to flicker, and the door begins to rattle. Curling up into a tight ball, he shakes violently, thrown into a state of almost unconsciousness, his eyes rolling back in his head. The world around him was lost, and he didn't know how to pull himself back out again.


The group from Cryptic, stand confused and concerned, none knowing anything about Jason and Katie, a bit shocked by what was happening around them. They didn't know who to worry about more - Kyle, Katie or Jason.

Axel can feel Jess' uneasiness growing, and doesn't like it. Grabbing an extension cord to roll up, he ignores the episode inside, and ignores his own reasons for not wanting to go back outside either. He gives Jess' shoulder a gentle pat with his hand. "Come on. I need help out with the pickup."

Rocky is close enough to hear, and quirks an eyebrow, but knows what his friend is doing, and is grateful. He felt badly for Jess too. Hopefully it would only take a few minutes for everything to die back down.

JetStream stands stunned and helpless, seeing Jason go down, and Katie on her way down as well. No one knew what to do, and it certainly couldn't be easily explained to their friends who were clueless.


Kyle sits behind his steering wheel, his keys still in his hands as he fidgets with them. Misty opening the passenger door doesn't seem to startle him as he doesn't move.

For a long moment, he doesn't even answer her. His jaw muscles tighten and relax, tighten and relax, proving the tension he was feeling despite his still form. Swallowing hard, he finally turns his head to look at her. His eyes are red, holding back tears he would never dare to let fall in front of anybody. It was apparent that what he was feeling right now ran much deeper than this single incident.

"Not really," he eventually answers quietly. He turns his head to lay his eyes elsewhere. "There's not a whole lot more to say."