Escort

Bret grins and peeks into a mirror by the hall. He hadn't seen the small streak of grease on the side of his face, nor the rest of the grime. "Okay," he relents. "I'll wash my face. But you'll have to blame Noah. We sorta had a brawl... Well... I guess maybe it was Landon's fault. But that was after..."

His voice trails off and he gives Charlotte a sheepish look. "What can I say... boys will be boys."

Shaking his head, he aims for the bathroom. "Ten minutes. But my stomach won't last any longer than that."

Once in the bathroom though, he pokes his head out again to holler back to the kitchen. "You, on the other hand, look perfect. Don't change a thing."



Austin just stands awkwardly for a moment. He shouldn't be surprised that Angel had dropped by, but for some reason it had caught him off guard. Besides that, he couldn't help but be just a little bit suspicious. No on from the ranch had talked to him lately... did they know everything that had been happening, and if they did, what were they saying about him?

At Angel's last comment, he tried to bring himself back to attention. "No. No, for pete's sake. I was dosing, but it's not too late. Not like I got an exciting night life or something."

He closes the door and gestures for Angel to come into the living room and sit down as he turns on an extra light. Switching off the television, he eases down in another chair, just studying her for a moment. "Surprised Luke let you come to Nevada without him," he muses with a slight teasing tone. It doesn't go over as well as intended though, and he drops his gaze, suddenly feeling awkward.

Looking back up at Angel, he purses his lips in thought. "There's more to this than just a social call isn't there..." He sighs deeply. "You a scout for the others, or come of your own accord?"


Rocky searches Jess' eyes for a moment, making sure that she was telling the truth when she said she was okay. Pursing his lips, he gives her a little reassuring nod, his body visibly relaxing after knowing the chaos was over. Few would notice that he starts to reach out to give Jess' arm a pat, but then withdraws instead.

"Talk about an evening... You're never gonna want to hang out with this bunch again," he teases.

Axel's knowledge that Jess is alright puts him a bit more at ease, and he gives her a crooked grin. "Good. Thought for a minute there you might wind up with some broken bones."

Rocky smirks at him. "I was just reacting. You wouldn't have done differently if you'd been the one standing there."

"I might have at least shoved her away from the glass." Though keeping a straight face, Axel's eyes prove that he's only kidding around.

Rocky rolls his eyes and sighs, turning to Jess. "My apologies if I was too rough. I'm just glad you're alright."

"And yes," Axel interrupts to finally answer Jess' question. "Everyone else is too. Jen's pretty shook up, but she'll be alright. Phil's going to take her home and make sure she gets settled okay."

"Hey, guys..." Carson joins the threesome as the police cars start away from the scene, leaving them in peace. For now, he had pasted on a pleasant expression, not letting Axel's earlier words get to him just yet. He slings an arm around Jess to give her a little squeeze, knowing he's the only one in the room who could get away with that at the moment. "Bet you wish you woulda stayed home."

"Well, she would have missed an awfully good concert," Rocky muses.

Carson chuckles and lets Jess go. "Yeah well... now I get to spend a long night here."

"You want help?" Axel offers. "Be glad to."

Carson shakes his head. "Naw, that's alright. Not much you can do. I just have to sweep up all this glass and put some plastic up or something. Herb's not gonna be happy, but at least this time it wasn't my fault."

The four are interrupted for just a moment as Phil calls to them, letting them know that he and Jen are leaving. Once they're gone, Rocky gives a deep sigh. "Well... Axel, you ready for a ride home?"

Axel shakes his head. "Thought I'd walk tonight."

Rocky shakes his head in wry annoyance. "You and your walking. Alright, fine." He turns to Jess. "I can follow you home if you like," he offers. "Just to make sure no other bizarre storms roll through."

"She is the bizarre storm," Axel quips.

"What?"

Axel almost chuckles and tosses Jess a wink. "Nothing."

Rocky lets it drop and simply looks to Jess with question, not knowing if she was the type to want an escort or not.

Carson moves to pick up his broom again, starting to calculate just how he was going to patch this up for the night and make it livable for the next day.

Ok...

"I can't wait to go with you. From all the talk it seems like a great time just watching as much as it is driving."

Watching Bret head for the door Charlotte's smile stays on her face as her eyes twinkle in the light from the kitchen. Taking a step forward to payfuly swat Bret away She laughs before turning back around to place her flowers in a vase calling over her shoulder.

"We can go to the nice Greek dinner right down the road if ya want. Its will be a nice dinner but no you dont have to change."

Turning again Charlotte eyes Bret and his dirt covered cloths. Shaking her head she just smiled. Who cared what Bret looked like. In clean closes or dirty he was still the man she loved and having him there with here was all she wanted.

Charlotte's smile turns into a playful grin as she jokes.

"At least wash the dirt off you face though ok? I want to not have to squint to see those handsome eyes of yours."

Smiling back at Austin as he opens the door Angel steps into side. Glancing at her watch she relizes just what time it was. My how the time had slipped by without here even relizing it.

"Hey you. Sorry I showed up so late. I didnt even relize what time it was."

Stepping farther into the house she sets her small bag she was carrys down on Austins table. Before turning back to him. Was something wrong? Now that was a question to ask...yes something was wrong, many things were wrong but now was not the time to bring most of them up.

"Oh no nothings wrong I just hadnt seen ya in a while and I guess I wanted to. I wasnt able to catch you at work."

She wasnt lieing at the moment, other than being tired she felt fine and didnt think anything was wrong. So it was a little white lie and she new it, but Angel hadnt come here to talk about her problems. She had come to see her friend she hadnt seen in a while and make sure everything was ok with him after she had been told from Misty about everything that had been going on.

"If its to late I can come back another time its not a problem."

Driving down the street Misty had really no destination in mind. She was tired but she didnt want to sleep let alone even know if she could. The darkness called to her lonly heart. She wasnt even sure if she really was lonly or not. She felt happy in the morning but when the darkness came so did the feeling.

Coming to a look out not many people know about and only one other person had been there with her before Misty gets out of her car to make the short climb. Sitting on the egde of the peace of wood Misty stairs into the harizone where she new the sun would come. Sometimes sitting , thinking and waiting for the pretty in the world was a good way to spend the hours.

Not moving, or opening her eyes a soft smile forms on Katie's sleeping lips and Jason's arm wraps around her. Though she was asleep subcontuly she could still feel him and it braught her instint comfort.

Bring her hand to the one that was wrapped around her Katie places her hand ontop of Jasons. Tonight she would sleep in peace and the whole night through.

..Feeling Rockys hand on her her shoulder and seeing the men Jess freezes. In a situation like this Jess though of others more than her ownself. The fear that ran threw here were for these people she had just met and for Jen. How hard it was to sit by and watch as a gun was help to her head. Knowing you were helpless to stop anything, but also knowing better than to move.

Just watching Jess stays still not sure everything thats going on but only catching bits and peaces of Axel and Carson's conversation. The glances here and there from Axel and knowing Rocky was beside her gave her the confadince not to pass out yet her fear ran high.

As everything starts to go down and Jess is pushed to the floor by Rocky Jess lets out a little shreak. Feeling herself shake underneath Rocky Jess holds her eyes closed tight waiting for the whole thing is over.

Finally as Rocky lifts himself off of her and helps her stands Jess looks around at the mess. Her heart still raced face as everything was still clear in her mind. Looking to Rocky Jess gives the best smile she can as her eyes lock with Rockys for a moment.

"Yeah I think I am ok, just pretty shook up."

Wrapping her own arms around herself she turns her head face as Axel comes over. Giving another smile.

"Yeah I think I am. Is everyone alse ok?"