Meeting

Days are funny. For some, they are part of a new life as one struggles to find their path. They are an uphill climb, not something to be hated, but not easy either.

Ryder wanders the mall, feeling a bit lost. Katie had dropped him off two hours earlier, and by now he figured he had what he needed. Finding a bench, he just sits a while, watching the people walk by. It was different here. So much was the same as home, but so much was not. Would he ever get used to it?

For some, the days are like wading through mud. They stretch the emotional muscles, each step harder than the last, pure will-power the only thing that keeps one going.

Carson sinks down in a chair in the kitchen, weary from the day. He only had a few hours left, but it felt like today had been the longest ever. He'd worked. He'd talked with Rocky, trying to gain wisdom. He'd called Jess and left a message, just to say hi. He'd called Misty, and found relief that she would be with him tomorrow to meet Mackenzie. He'd seen Dani over lunch and had talked about Alec. He hadn't talked to Herb about his job though. And talk of Mackenzie had so far only been kept between him and Dani and Misty. There was just so much going on. He prayed the day would come to a close quickly.

For others, the days can be quiet victories, ones that continue to expose the scars, yet shed light in the dark corners, chasing away the fears and relieving the soul.

Scott sits in Hope's office, talking quietly, with Domino in his lap. Today had been a calm session, one that he had talked a bit more than normal. He felt better today. He felt more confident. He was dealing with discovering how to stand up for himself without the anger, and was realizing how he could overcome fears by knowing he was not weak. The only damper on the day was the realization that his days with Hope would soon be coming to an end.

And yet for others, the days might signal the coming of a new walk in life. The closing of a chapter and the starting of another. Something that would perhaps bring slight fear, but not one to make a soul tremble... not when they had someone to walk with them down that new road.

Axel sits with Jess on the porch swing, the afternoon hours passing by. It had been a very quiet day, but one that he would remember always. Peace existed here, that much was for certain. And being with Jess... well, there was a new element there, and he couldn't deny enjoying it. He only wished they could stay here always, but he knew they had to move on. Just a little longer... just another day or two...

For wandering souls, the days are sheer torture, agonizingly slow, full of hours that drag by. They seem pointless and dull with nothing to look forward to.

Alec slouches on the cot in the holding cell. At least he wasn't cuffed to the pipe today. He'd been to the interrogation room twice. Once with Reese. Once with Jason and Nate. Each time he'd wound up talking, though grudgingly. He hadn't had much of a choice, and now was beginning to realize that there really was no way out of this. He wasn't going to be let free... and no one would be coming for him. This was it. This was his fate... and soon, they would throw him behind bars.

But regardless of how days are viewed, they all come to and end, to start the cycle all over again. Sometimes they brought on new perspectives and new feelings. Sometimes they brought on the very same feelings. But in the end, the clock still ticks. Time still moves on.

Carson paces beside the tree in the park, his eyes bouncing from the parking lot to the street to Misty, to the ground and back again. They'd only been waiting for fifteen minutes but it felt like an eternity. Misty had picked him up from work and they'd both come to the park to wait on the meeting. Carson knew that Misty would want to get back to TJY soon as Angel was continuing to improve, but he was just nervous enough that he wasn't about to tell her she could go. He wanted her there with him.

A rental SUV pulls up to the park, stopping in the gravel lot. Heather gets out from the driver's side, then walks around to open up the passenger door. Emerging is a slim little girl, her blond hair pulled back into a ponytail at her neck, covered partially by the baseball cap she wore. She looks around the park, her eyes searching. Refusing Heather's hand, she chooses to walk alongside on her own.

Approaching the couple, Mackenzie spies Carson, and her eyes never leave him. The question was evident on her face: was this her father?

Carson swallows hard, and shifts his weight, feeling ridiculous. It was a little girl. A kid. What on earth was he scared of?

Heather leads Mackenzie up to Carson and Misty, giving Carson a nod. "Mr. Banks. I'm glad you made it." She looks down to the girl. "Mackenzie, this is..."

"My dad," Mackenzie finishes. She gives Carson a bold once-over and extends her hand.

Carson quirks an eyebrow. There was no fear in this girl. He accepts the handshake, his own rough hand enveloping hers.

"Miss Jones said you didn't want to meet me."

Carson blinks. "Well now... you certainly cut right to the chase."

"What does that mean?"

"Um..." Carson is at a total loss, completely out of his element. He'd killed, he'd tortured men and women, he'd done everything in the book, but when it came to kids, he felt like an idiot. "It means you say exactly what you mean without waiting."

"Oh." Mackenzie continues to stare up at him. "Do you have an accent 'cause you're from Australia?"

"Yes."

"Mom said that's where you were from. How come you're not there now?"

"Well, it's..." Carson stops, shaking his head. "It's a long story."

Mackenzie's eyes drift to Misty. "Is she your wife?"

A laugh sticks in Carson's throat. "No. She's my girlfriend though."

"Oh." Mackenzie thinks for a moment, then extends her hand to Misty too. "Hi."