Breakfast

Gunner doesn't respond at first, but numbly follows to Con's truck, sliding into the back seat. He sits with his gaze out the window, fighting the burning behind his eyes. "Do with me what you have to," he mutters in defeat. He knew they would take him somewhere other than TJY and other than home. "Just have someone take care of my cat."

Con quirks an eyebrow as he turns his truck around. "I didn't think the apartments where you lived allowed pets."

"They don't." A small grin quirks the edge of Gunner's mouth.

Con rolls his eyes. No wonder Gunner always got himself into trouble. "Always gotta buck the system, don't you?"

"Always."


Three souls make their way across town to the far corner. A hospital comes into view. Had not the purpose been so dim, it would have seemed cheerful. They are greeted warmly with those trained to handle these kinds of visits. Unfortunately, these doctors performed these tasks every day.

An hour slips by... then two. It felt a torture to an already-tortured soul. One minute, Gunner wanted to stay, and the next, he wanted to flee. During the initial evaluation, it was only Con's muscle that held him there. Now it was a closed door...

Gunner sits on the bed, his back leaned into the corner of the room. His arms were wrapped around his knees, his legs up to his chest. He felt... numb. The room was stark. A small table was at one side with a chair. A lamp sits on an otherwise-bare nightstand. A narrow closet in the corner held two more sets of clothes, simple and clean. He could keep nothing of his own.

His bare toes curl down into the mattress and he grits his teeth, half of him wanting to run full-force into the door and bolt. Logic argued with him to stay.

Outside in the hall, a doctor's voice mingles with Con's and Hope's...

"You can let him know you're leaving, if you wish. Tomorrow we will have another evaluation and... we'll go from there."


Alice's red jeep begins to rock back and forth, back and forth. Kyle stands on the bumper, shifting his weight and bouncing to make it sway until he sees Alice look out the window at him. For the first time in quite a while, his eyes are shining brightly. He holds up his hands. In one, he holds a bag of donuts, and in the other, two cans of mountain dew.

Cocking his head, he jumps down from the bumper and wanders to the window, waiting for it to be rolled down. "I need sugar this morning... how about joining me?"