Floats

Gunner lifts his eyebrows, a little surprised, but he doesn't argue. Putting the car in gear, he pulls away from the curb, takes a U-turn and heads back to TJY. Really, he'd just won a battle. But for some reason, he didn't feel like celebrating.

Once at TJY, he lets Hope off at the door. "See you later then," was as much as he'd said since leaving the scene. Instead of parking and coming inside too though, he leaves once again, not bothering to inform anyone where he was going.

At first he heads to the outskirts of town, the rolling cemetery in sight. But he changes his mind and leads left instead.

The little shop isn't very busy. It was just as well. Ordering a large rootbeer float, Gunner sits in the booth alone, his feet propped up on the other side. He had no paperwork today. No laptop today.

He fiddles with the straw and takes a long drink of the cold treat, almost giving himself a brain freeze.

"You're chasing ghosts, Gunner."

He takes his spoon and dishes out some ice cream to suck on.

"You've become the bad guy."

He orders a second float.


Jay doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Katie, holding her close. His own tears fall. "Oh, Katie..." Her words meant more to him than she would ever know. "I love you so much... and I'm sorry."

Kissing the top of her head, he keeps holding her, not wanting to ever have to let her go. But he knew he had to.

Taking a deep breath, he pulls back just a little, reaching up to wipe away some of her tears, while his own remained. "And you'll always be my daughter too," he whispers. "That will never, ever change."

There was a lot more to be said... a lot more to be explained... but for now... for now this would do. Jay points Katie towards Jeff. "I have to go get Angel... You need to say what you want before..." He lets his sentence trail off, unfinished. "I'll be right back."

Though almost completely out of it, Jeff had seen the embrace, and he felt at peace. Something told him that it would all be okay now.