Emergency Meeting

Just the thought of going to get his dog, Scott relaxes a little bit. He hadn't seen Domino for several days, and missed her something awful.

He directs Hope to Katie and Laura's house, finding that at least he had something to talk about that way. Once there, he just has Hope pull up to the curb, and he gets out himself to get Domino. Walking quickly up the short sidewalk, he heads to the porch, then fishes in his pocket. Laura had given him a key just for this reason.

He hears his dog barking on the other side of the door, and a small grin surfaces. "Just me, Domino," he greets.

Without even seeing him, Domino's bark shifts to an anxious yip as she waits.

Scott fools with the key for a moment before finally getting inside, and he's met with an excited furball, jumping up and down on his legs, begging for his attention. A smile curls his lips and he bends down to pick her up, burying his face in her soft warmth. Receiving lots of slobbery kisses, he sets her back down and looks around for her leash. "Come on," he croons. "We're going for a walk."

Domino races to the other end of the living room where she digs through her mess of toys to reveal her leash. Picking it up in her mouth, she trots back to Scott, tripping once as she accidentally steps on the leash as she goes.

Scott shakes his head in amusement. "Guess you're feeling cooped up too, aren't you?" Getting her clipped onto the leash, he jots a quick note to Laura in case she came back over lunch, then leaves again, locking the door behind him.

Domino trots obediently at her master's heel, her ears perked, alert to every sight and sound. Getting to the car, she hesitates, sniffing warily. Scott gets inside and sits, looking back out at his dog. "Well come on. I told Hope you liked car rides."

Domino cocks her head to look around Scott at the stranger. She comes closer slowly, then decides it must be safe if Scott is there. Hunkering down, she springs up to jump into Scott's lap for the ride.

Scott shuts the door and buckles himself in, already feeling better with the new company. "Domino, Hope... Hope, Domino."

The little dog sniffs in Hope's direction, giving a little woof.

Scott pats her on the back. "She's alright," he assures. "It's her car we're in after all. You should be nice to her."

Domino responds by cautiously stepping forward and stretching her neck out to sniff Hope's hand, then lick her fingers. Then, as if the introduction was over, she turns around, makes one circle, then sits in Scott's lap, facing the windshield. She was ready.

Scott rolls his eyes. "Are you quite ready?"

Domino woofs softly, paying great attention to the road ahead as if she were in control of the moving vehicle.

Though the ride is quiet, Scott's hand constantly stroke's his dog, not realizing just what an impact she had on his own demeanor. Arriving to the park, he's relieved to see it's fairly quiet today, and they had their pick of tables to finish their lunch at.

Getting out of the car, Domino strains against her leash, sniffing everywhere and proving her energy by wrapping her leash around Scott's legs several times. It was a miracle he didn't trip and fall, but he didn't reprimand her - he was too glad to be playing with her to care.

They find a nearby table, and Scott sits across from Hope, opening up the styrofoam take-out box. Domino proves she knows exactly what those kinds of boxes hold. Putting her front paws up on the bench, she begs her master with a sorrowful look.

"Uh-uh." Scott shakes his head. "I know Laura fed you this morning."

Sighing, Domino sits back down, but then gets a better idea. She goes around the other side of Scott, jumps up on the bench next to him, and rest her chin on the table. Her ears perked and her eyes shining big and bright, it would take a cold heart to ignore her.

Scott smirks, then looks to Hope. "Did I mention she knows how to get her way?" Shaking his head, he picks out a piece of chicken from his food, and hands it to her. Domino takes it ever so gently, chewing it in a very lady-like fashion.

Distracted from the way his stomach had felt earlier, Scott manages to take another bite himself.

Satisfied that she got a taste, Domino jumps back onto the ground, and suddenly shoots across the grass, dragging her leash along with her.

Scott looks up, raising his eyebrows. "Hey!" he calls after her. "Where do you think you're going?"

Domino had her eye on a stick that was just her size, and didn't stop until she had it between her teeth. Showing off her trophy, she comes bounding back to the table. Halfway there though, her foot lands on her leash. Coming to an abrupt halt, she rolls too summersaults, the stick flying.

Blinking, she rights herself, the leash now hanging over her ears as a head ornament. But retaining her dignity, she picks her stick back up and continues her route, this time keeping her speed to a trot.

A genuine smile surfaces on Scott's face, followed by a quiet laugh. Some might not think a thing of it. But anybody having spent time with him since his return would surely notice that this was indeed rare.

Domino comes back to the table, proudly bearing her stick, completely oblivious to the fact that she looked hilarious with her leash draped over her head. Aiming for Hope, she drops the stick near her feet and sits down, waiting. The leash slowly slides from her head and back onto the ground.

Scott fidgets with his fork, a small smile still faintly visible. "She doesn't ask just anybody to throw toys for her."


Rocky paces his apartment, undecided and uncomfortable. He had to tell the others. He had to. He couldn't just let this go. They would need an explanation, not to mention, they had to decide very quickly about tonight's concert. Axel... one of their own... had a past no one could have imagined. Whether he'd stayed clean during the last year or not, how could they trust him? How could they just ignore what had been discovered? Acting Christian about it was one thing. Forgiving was one thing. But for the sake of all involved, distrust was a given, and he wouldn't feel guilty about feeling that distrust. Friend or foe, a past like that couldn't just slide by unnoticed. Axel had been secretive at the very least, which only increased suspicion of his current intentions.

Finally, Rocky picks up the phone and dials Joel. "Joel, it's Rocky. Emergency Cryptic meeting. No, it can't wait. We need to meet now. My place is fine. Call Kyle too."


Ryder's eyes widen as Katie makes a dash to join the brawl. He makes a step back out of the way, and just watches, surprised that everybody was this loose when they had such and intense mission. Then again, what else were they supposed to do?

Getting knocked off of Carson, Jason lets out a yelp. "Hey! Whose side are you on?"

"Oh, Katie, you are my hero!" Carson laughs.

"Sure..." Jason wrestles Katie to the side. "He needs a girl to take me down."

"I almost had you," Carson defends as he lies on his back, still panting.

Jason struggles with Katie, finally pinning her on her back. "Aha! See what you get for interfering? Now you'll have to pay." He leans in close, ready to give her a kiss.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Carson shifts, quickly wrapping his legs around Jason's waist and throwing him backward. "No smooching on the job!"

Ryder quirks an eyebrow. Was it all fun and games between Jason and Katie, or had he missed something?

As Jason flies back, his head lands on a table leg and he groans. "You realize when you hurt me, you hurt her," he accuses.

"Only if you let it," Carson counters, pulling himself up in a sitting position.

Jason throws him a look. "Since when did you become so wise about this?"

"Well somebody has to keep you two in line."

"And you think you're capable of that?"

Carson shrugs. "With you, maybe. But not this sheila over here."

"Now that I believe."

Ryder shakes his head and moves to the refrigerator. Part of him was amused, and part of him wished he could join the fun, but he wasn't quite sure how to break into this group. They were different than others from TJY he'd met. Opening the fridge, he scans the contents and grimaces. Going for the freezer, he sees a few steaks. "Anybody up for beef for supper?"

Carson perks up and pulls himself up off the floor. "Only if I get to cook it."

Seeing the coast is clear, Jason crawls back over to Katie, stealing the kiss he'd attempted earlier.
Ha! Poor guy doesn't even know what's hit him with the two of us.

Carson keeps his back turned. "Cut it out you two, you're embarrassing the rest of us."

Ryder throws Carson a look of question, which is answered by a roll of the eyes. Ah, so Jason and Katie were together then. Ryder was even more embarrassed about the day before now, and was glad Katie hadn't told anyone of his little diversion.